The New Oxford American

Dictionary

Contents

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The Dictionary  ·  A–Z

Key to the Abbreviations

Key to the Pronunciations

About this Book

Copyright © 2005 by Oxford University Press, Inc
eBook Copyright © 2008

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A 1 (also a) n. (pl. As or A's) 1 the first letter of the alphabet.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- denoting the first in a set of items, categories, sizes, etc.

- denoting the first of two or more hypothetical people or things: suppose A had killed B.

- the highest class of academic mark.

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

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

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

2 a shape like that of a capital A: [in combination] an A-shape. See also A-FRAME, A-LINE.

3 [MUSIC] the sixth note of the diatonic scale of C major.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a key based on a scale with A as its keynote.

<PHRASES>
□ from A to B from one's starting point to one's destination: most road atlases will get you from A to B.

□ from A to Z over the entire range; completely: make sure you understand the subject from A to Z.

Linked entries:

A-FRAME ■

A-LINE ■

A 2 abbr.
- ace (used in describing play in bridge and other card games): you cash AK of hearts.

- ampere(s).

- (Å) ångstrom(s).

- answer: Q: What’s the senator’s zodiac sign? A: He’s a Leo.

- (in personal ads) Asian.

- a dry cell battery size.

- BRIT., INFORMAL A level.

a (an before a vowel sound) [called the indefinite article] adj. 1 used when referring to someone or something for the first time in a text or conversation: a man came out of the room; it has been an honor to have you; we need people with a knowledge of languages. Compare with THE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used with units of measurement to mean one such unit: a hundred; a quarter of an hour.

- [with negative] one single; any: I simply haven't a thing to wear.

- used when mentioning the name of someone not known to the speaker: a Mr. Smith telephoned.

- someone like (the name specified): you're no better than a Hitler.

2 used to indicate membership of a class of people or things: he is a lawyer; this car is a BMW.

3 used when expressing rates or ratios; in, to, or for each; per: typing 60 words a minute; cost as much as eight dollars a dozen.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: weak form of Old English 'one'.

<USAGE>
1 The article a can be pronounced either , when stressed ("He gave you a flower?"that is, only one flower), or , when unstressed ("He gave you a flower?"that is, the emphasis is on flower, not on the number of flowers). The form an is used before words beginning with a vowel sound.

2 On the question of using a or an before words beginning with h, see also usage at AN.

Linked entries:

THE ■

AN ■

a- 1 prefix not; without: atheistic; atypical.

<ORIGIN> from Greek.

a- 2 prefix to; toward: aside; ashore.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- in a specified state or manner: asleep; aloud.

- in the process of (an activity) a-hunting.

- on: afoot.

- in: nowadays.

<ORIGIN> Old English, unstressed form of ON.

Linked entries:

ON ■

a- 3 prefix variant spelling of AD- assimilated before sc, sp, and st (as in ascend, aspire, and astringent).

Linked entries:

AD- ■

a- 4 prefix 1 of: anew. <ORIGIN> unstressed form of OF

2 utterly: abash. <ORIGIN> from Anglo-Norman French (corresponding to Old French e-, es-), from Latin ex.

Linked entries:

OF ■

-a 1 suffix forming: 1 ancient or Latinized modern names of animals and plants: primula.

2 names of oxides: baryta.

3 geographical names: Africa.

4 ancient or Latinized modern feminine forenames: Lydia.

5 nouns from Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish: duenna; stanza.

<ORIGIN> representing a Greek, Latin, or Romance feminine singular.

-a 2 suffix forming plural nouns: 1 from Greek or Latin neuter plurals corresponding to a singular in -um or -on (such as addenda, phenomena.)

2 in names (often from modern Latin) of zoological groups: Protista; Insectivora.

-a 3 suffix INFORMAL 1 of: coupla.

2 have: mighta.

3 to: oughta.

<ORIGIN> representing a casual pronunciation.

A1 adj. INFORMAL very good or well; excellent: guitar in A1 condition.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [NAUTICAL] (of a vessel) equipped to the highest standard, esp. as certified by a classification society; first-class.

A3 n. [mass noun] a standard European size of paper, 420 × 297 mm: [as modifier] A3 posters.
<SPECIAL USAGE> paper of this size: a prospectus printed on A3.

A4 n. [mass noun] a standard European size of paper, 210 × 297 mm: [as modifier] an A4 page.
<SPECIAL USAGE> paper of this size: several sheets of A4.

A5 n. [mass noun] a standard European size of paper, 210 × 148 mm: [as modifier] a little A5 booklet.
<SPECIAL USAGE> paper of this size: printed on A5.

AA abbr.
- Alcoholics Anonymous.

- antiaircraft.

- administrative assistant.

- Associate of Arts.

- a dry cell battery size.

aa n. [GEOLOGY] basaltic lava forming very rough jagged masses with a light frothy texture. Often contrasted with PAHOEHOE.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Hawaiian a-'a.

Linked entries:

PAHOEHOE ■

AAA abbr. American Automobile Association.
- [BASEBALL] see TRIPLE A.

- a 1.5 volt dry cell battery size.

Linked entries:

TRIPLE A ■

AAAS abbr. American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Aa·chen an industrial city and spa in western Germany, in North Rhine-Westphalia; pop. 244,440. French name AIX-LA-CHAPELLE.

Linked entries:

AIX-LA-CHAPELLE ■

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

Aal·borg (also Ål·borg) an industrial city and port in northern Jutland, Denmark; pop. 155,000.

Aal·to (Hugo) Alvar (Henrik) (1898-1976), Finnish architect and designer. He is known as the inventor of bent plywood furniture.

AAM abbr. air-to-air missile.

A&M abbr. Agricultural and Mechanical (college): Texas A&M.

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

aard·vark n. a nocturnal burrowing mammal with long ears, a tubular snout, and a long extensible tongue, feeding on ants and termites. Aardvarks are native to Africa and have no close relatives. Also called ANT BEAR.
<INFO>  Orycteropus afer, the only living member of the family Orycteropidae and order Tubulidentata.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from South African Dutch, from aarde 'earth' + vark 'pig'.

Linked entries:

ANT BEAR ■

aard·wolf n. (pl. -wolves) a nocturnal black-striped African mammal of the hyena family, feeding mainly on termites.
<INFO>  Proteles cristatus, family Hyaenidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from South African Dutch, from aarde 'earth' + wolf 'wolf'.

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

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: imitative, lengthened form of AH, to express a prolonged cry.

Linked entries:

AH ■

Aar·hus (also År·hus) a city on the coast of eastern Jutland, Denmark; pop. 261,440.

Aar·on 1 (in the Bible) brother of Moses and traditional founder of the Jewish priesthood.

Aar·on 2 Hank (1934- ), U.S. baseball player; full name Henry Louis Aaron. He set the all-time career record for home runs (755) and runs batted in (2,297). Baseball Hall of Fame (1982).

Aar·on's beard n. a name given to various plants, esp. the ROSE OF SHARON (sense 2).

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

Linked entries:

ROSE OF SHARON ■

Aar·on's rod n. another term for the great or common mullein.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: alluding to AARON, whose staff was said to have flowered (Numbers 17:8).

AARP abbr. American Association of Retired Persons.

AAU abbr. Amateur Athletic Union.

AAUP abbr.
- American Association of University Presses.

- American Association of University Professors.

AAVE abbr. [LINGUISTICS] African-American Vernacular English.

AB 1 n. a human blood type (in the ABO system) containing both the A and B agglutinogens. In blood transfusion, a person with blood of this group is a potential universal recipient.

AB 2 abbr.
- able seaman; able-bodied seaman. <ORIGIN> from able-bodied.

- Bachelor of Arts. <ORIGIN> from Latin Artium Baccalaureus.

- airman basic.

- [BASEBALL] at bat.

- Alberta (in official postal use).

Ab 1 (also Av ) n. (in the Jewish calendar) the eleventh month of the civil year and the fifth month of the religious year, usually coinciding with parts of July and August.

<ORIGIN> from Hebrew .

Ab 2 [BIOLOGY] abbr. antibody.

ab- (also abs-) prefix away; from: abaxial; abominate.

<ORIGIN> from Latin.

ABA abbr.
- American Bar Association.

- American Basketball Association.

- American Bankers Association.

- American Booksellers Association.

a·ba·ca n. a large herbaceous Philippine plant of the banana family that yields Manila hemp.
<INFO>  Musa textilis, family Musaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Manila hemp.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: via Spanish from Tagalog abaká.

a·back adv. 1 ARCHAIC toward or situated to the rear: the little strip of pasture aback of the house.

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

<PHRASES> take someone aback shock or surprise someone: he was taken aback by the sharpness in her voice.

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

ab·a·cus n. (pl. -cus·es) 1 an oblong frame with rows of wires or grooves along which beads are slid, used for calculating.

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

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

A·ba·dan a major port and oil-refining center on an island of the same name on the Shatt al-Arab waterway in western Iran; pop. 308,000.

A·bad·don (in the Bible) a name for the Devil or for hell.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English : via Greek from Hebrew 'destruction'. Its use for 'hell' arose in the late 17th cent.

a·baft [NAUTICAL] adv. in or behind the stern of a ship.

■ prep. nearer the stern than; behind: the yacht has a shower just abaft the galley.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'backward'): from A-2 (expressing motion) + archaic baft 'in the rear'.

Linked entries:

A- ■

A·ba·kan an industrial city in south central Russia, capital of the republic of Khakassia; pop. 154,000. Former name (until 1931) UST-ABAKANSKOE.

Linked entries:

UST-ABAKANSKOE ■

ab·a·lo·ne n. an edible mollusk of warm seas that has a shallow ear-shaped shell lined with mother-of-pearl and pierced with respiratory holes. Also called EAR SHELL.
<INFO>  Genus Haliotis, family Haliotidae, class Gastropoda.

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

Linked entries:

EAR SHELL ■

a·ban·don v. [trans.] 1 give up completely (a course of action, a practice, or a way of thinking): he had clearly abandoned all pretense of trying to succeed. See note at RELINQUISH.
<SPECIAL USAGE> discontinue (a scheduled event) before completion: against the background of perceived threats, the tour was abandoned.

2 cease to support or look after (someone); desert: her natural mother had abandoned her at an early age.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- leave (a place, typically a building) empty or uninhabited, without intending to return: derelict houses were abandoned.

- leave (something, typically a vehicle or a vessel) decisively, esp. as an act of survival: he abandoned his vehicle and tried to flee on foot.

- (abandon someone/something to) condemn someone or something to (a specified fate) by ceasing to take an interest in or look after them: it was an attempt to persuade businesses not to abandon the area to inner-city deprivation.

3 (abandon oneself to) allow onself to indulge in (a desire or impulse): abandoning herself to moony fantasies.

■ n. complete lack of inhibition or restraint: she sings and sways with total abandon.

<PHRASES> abandon ship leave a ship because it is sinking.

<DERIVATIVES> a·ban·don·ment n.

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

Linked entries:

BAN ■

a·ban·doned adj. 1 (of a person) having been deserted or cast off: a home for orphan and abandoned boys.

2 (of a building or vehicle) remaining empty or unused; having been left for good: an abandoned jeep stood in the street.

3 unrestrained; uninhibited: a wild, abandoned dance.

a·base v. [trans.] behave in a way so as to belittle or degrade (someone): I watched my colleagues abasing themselves before the board of trustees. See note at HUMBLE.

<DERIVATIVES> a·base·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French abaissier, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + baissier 'to lower', based on late Latin bassus 'short of stature'. The spelling has been influenced by BASE^2 .

Linked entries:

BASE ■

a·bash v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (abashed) cause to feel embarrassed, disconcerted, or ashamed: she was not abashed at being caught.

<DERIVATIVES> a·bash·ment n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French abaïss-; compare with Old French esbaïss-, lengthened stem of esbaïr, from es- 'utterly' + baïr 'astound'.

a·bate v. [intrans.] (of something perceived as hostile, threatening, or negative) become less intense or widespread: the storm suddenly abated. See note at ALLEVIATE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause to become smaller or less intense: nothing abated his crusading zeal.

- [trans.] [LAW] lessen, reduce, or remove (esp. a nuisance): this action would not have been sufficient to abate the odor nuisance.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the legal sense 'put a stop to (a nuisance)'): from Old French abatre 'to fell', from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + batre 'to beat' (from Latin battere, battuere 'to beat').

a·bate·ment n. (often in legal use) the ending, reduction, or lessening of something: noise abatement | an abatement in the purchase price.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, from Old French abatre 'fell, put an end to' (see ABATE).

Linked entries:

ABATE ■

ab·at·toir n. a slaughterhouse.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, from abattre 'to fell'.

a bat·tu·ta adv. [MUSIC] (typically as a direction) returning to strict tempo.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'to the beating'.

ab·ax·i·al adj. [BOTANY] facing away from the stem of a plant (esp. denoting the lower surface of a leaf). The opposite of ADAXIAL.

Linked entries:

ADAXIAL ■

abaya n. a full-length, sleeveless outer garment worn by Arabs.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Arabic .

Ab·ba n. (in the New Testament) an intimate term for God as father.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in the Syrian Orthodox and Coptic churches) a title given to bishops and patriarchs.

<ORIGIN> via Greek from Aramaic 'daddy'.

ab·ba·cy n. (pl. -cies) the office or period of office of an abbot or abbess.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin abbacia, from abbas, abbat- (see ABBOT).

Linked entries:

ABBOT ■

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

Ab·bas·id adj. of or relating to a dynasty of caliphs who ruled in Baghdad from 750 to 1258.

■ n. a member of this dynasty.

ab·ba·tial adj. of or relating to an abbey, abbot, or abbess.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from medieval Latin abbatialis, from abbas, abbat- (see ABBOT).

Linked entries:

ABBOT ■

ab·bé n. (in France) an abbot or other cleric: the abbé was his confessor | [as title] Abbé Pierre.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: French, from ecclesiastical Latin abbas, abbat- (see ABBOT).

Linked entries:

ABBOT ■

ab·bess n. a woman who is the head of an abbey of nuns.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French abbesse 'female abbot', from ecclesiastical Latin abbatissa, from abbas, abbat- (see ABBOT).

Linked entries:

ABBOT ■

Abbe·vill·i·an (also Abbe·vil·l·ean) adj. DATED [ARCHAEOLOGY] of, relating to, or denoting the first Paleolithic culture in Europe. It is now usually referred to as the Lower Acheulean.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (the Abbevillian) the Abbevillian culture or period.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from French Abbevillien 'from Abbeville,' a town in northern France where tools from this culture were discovered.

ab·bey n. (pl. -beys) the building or buildings occupied by a community of monks or nuns.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a church or house that was formerly an abbey.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French abbeïe, from medieval Latin abbatia 'abbacy', from abbas, abbat- (see ABBOT).

Linked entries:

ABBOT ■

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

ab·bot n. a man who is the head of an abbey of monks.

<ORIGIN> Old English abbod, from ecclesiastical Latin abbas, abbat-, from Greek abbas 'father', from Aramaic (see ABBA).

Ab·bott Berenice, (1898-1991), U.S. photographer and teacher of photography. She is noted for her documentation of New York City in the 1930s, published in Changing New York (1939). She edited The World of Atgel (1964).

abbr. abbr. abbreviation.

ab·bre·vi·ate v. [trans.] (usu. be abbreviated) shorten (a word, phrase, or text): the business of artists and repertory, commonly abbreviated to A&R | [as adj.] (abbreviated) this book is an abbreviated version of the earlier work.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin abbreviat- 'shortened', from the verb abbreviare, from Latin brevis 'short'.

ab·bre·vi·a·tion (abbr.: abbr.) n. a shortened form of a word or phrase.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the process or result of abbreviating.

ABC 1 n. the alphabet.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also ABCs) the rudiments of a subject: the ABCs of emergency heart-lung resuscitation.

- an alphabetical guide: an ABC of Civil War battlefields.

<PHRASES> easy (or simple) as ABC extremely easy or straightforward.

ABC 2 abbr. American Broadcasting Company.

ABC Is·lands an acronym for the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao.

ABD abbr. all but dissertation, used to denote a student who has completed all other parts of a doctorate: ABDs will be considered, but receipt of the doctorate will be a condition of tenure.

ab·di·cate v. [intrans.] (of a monarch) renounce one's throne: in 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated as German emperor | [trans.] Ferdinand abdicated the throne in favor of the emperor's brother.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] fail to fulfill or undertake (a responsibility or duty): the government was accused of abdicating its responsibility | [intrans.] the secretary of state should not abdicate from leadership on educational issues.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·di·ca·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin abdicat- 'renounced', from the verb abdicare, from ab- 'away, from' + dicare 'declare'.

ab·do·men n. the part of the body of a vertebrate containing the digestive organs; the belly. In humans and other mammals, it is bounded by the diaphragm and the pelvis.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ZOOLOGY] the posterior part of the body of an arthropod, esp. the segments of an insect's body behind the thorax.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·dom·i·nal adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin.

ab·du·cens nerve n. [ANATOMY] each of the sixth pair of cranial nerves, supplying the muscles concerned with the lateral movement of the eyeballs.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: abducens (modern Latin, 'leading away'), from the Latin verb abducere.

ab·duct v. [trans.] 1 take (someone) away illegally by force or deception; kidnap: the millionaire who disappeared may have been abducted.

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

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin abduct- 'led away', from abducere, from ab- 'away, from'+ ducere 'to lead'.

Linked entries:

ADDUCT ■

ab·duct·ee n. a person who has been abducted.

ab·duc·tion n. 1 the action or an instance of forcibly taking a person or persons away against their will: they organized the abduction of Mr. Cordes on his way to the airport | abductions by armed men in plain clothes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in legal use) the illegal removal of a child from parents or guardians.

2 [PHYSIOLOGY] the movement of a limb or other part away from the midline of the body, or from another part. The opposite of ADDUCTION (see ADDUCT^1 ).

Linked entries:

ADDUCT ■

ab·duc·tor n. 1 a person who abducts another person.

2 (also abductor muscle) [ANATOMY] a muscle whose contraction moves a limb or part away from the midline of the body, or from another part. Compare with ADDUCTOR.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any of a number of specific muscles in the hand, forearm, or foot: [followed by Latin genitive] abductor pollicis.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as a term in anatomy): modern Latin (see ABDUCT).

Linked entries:

ADDUCTOR ■

ABDUCT ■

Ab·dul Ha·mid II (1842-1918), the last sultan of Turkey 1876-1909. An autocratic ruler, he was deposed after the revolt of the Young Turks.

Ab·dul-Jab·bar , Kareem, (1947-), U.S. basketball player; former name Lewis Ferdinand Alcindor. He played professionally for the Milwaukee Bucks 1969-75 and the Los Angeles Lakers 1975-89 and holds several records.

Ab·dul·lah ibn Hus·sein (1882-1951), king of Jordan 1946-51. After serving as emir of Transjordan from 1921, he became king of Jordan at the time of independence. He was assassinated in 1951.

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

Ab·dul Rah·man Tunku (1903-90), Malayan statesman; prime minister of Malaya 1957-63 and of Malaysia 1963-70.

a·beam adv. on a line at right angles to a ship's or an aircraft's length.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (abeam of) opposite the middle of (a ship or aircraft): she was lying almost abeam of us.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from A-2 (expressing general direction) + BEAM.

Linked entries:

A- ■

BEAM ■

a·be·ce·dar·i·an adj. 1 arranged alphabetically: in abecedarian sequence.

2 rudimentary; elementary: abecedarian technology.

■ n. a person who is just learning; a novice.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from late Latin abecedarius 'alphabetical' (from the names of the letters a, b, c, d) + -AN.

Linked entries:

-AN ■

a·bed adv. ARCHAIC in bed.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from A-2 'in, on' + BED.

Linked entries:

A- ■

BED ■

A·bel 1 (in the Bible) the second son of Adam and Eve, murdered by his brother Cain.

A·bel 2 Niels Henrik (1802-29), Norwegian mathematician. He developed the concept of elliptic functions, independently of Jacobi, and did work on integral equations and power series.

Ab·e·lard Peter (1079-1142), French scholar, theologian, and philosopher. He is famous for his tragic love affair with his student Héloïse. See also HÉLOÏSE.

Linked entries:

HÉLOÏSE ■

a·bele n. the white poplar.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin albellus, diminutive of albus 'white'. The term was reintroduced in the late 16th cent. from Dutch abeel (from Old French abel), when specimens were imported from the Netherlands.

A·be·li·an adj. [MATHEMATICS] (of a group) having members related by a commutative operation (i.e., a×b = b×a).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after N. H. Abel (see ABEL^2 ).

Linked entries:

ABEL ■

A·be·na·ki n. variant spelling of ABNAKI.

Linked entries:

ABNAKI ■

A·be·o·ku·ta a city in southwestern Nigeria, capital of the state of Ogun; pop. 308,800.

Ab·er·deen 1 a city and seaport in northeastern Scotland, a center of the off-shore North Sea oil industry; pop. 201,100.

2 a town in northeastern Maryland, on Chesapeake Bay; pop. 13,087. A major military test range is nearby.

3 a city in northeastern South Dakota, a dairy center; pop. 24,658.

Ab·er·deen An·gus n. an animal of a Scottish breed of hornless black beef cattle. Also called BLACK ANGUS.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.

Linked entries:

BLACK ANGUS ■

Ab·er·nath·y Ralph David (1926-90), U.S. minister and civil rights activist. He served as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) from 1968 until 1977. His autobiography, And the Walls Came Tumbling Down, was published in 1989.

ab·er·rant adj. departing from an accepted standard.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHIEFLY BIOLOGY] diverging from the normal type: aberrant chromosomes.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·er·rance n. ab·er·ran·cy n. ab·er·rant·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin aberrant- 'wandering away', from the verb aberrare, from ab- 'away, from' + errare 'to stray'.

ab·er·ra·tion n. a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically one that is unwelcome: they described the outbreak of violence in the area as an aberration.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person whose beliefs or behavior are unusual or unacceptable: evil men are an aberration.

- a departure from someone's usual moral character or mental ability, typically for the worse: I see these activities as some kind of mental aberration.

- [BIOLOGY] a characteristic that deviates from the normal type: color aberrations.

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

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

<DERIVATIVES> ab·er·ra·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin aberratio(n-), from aberrare 'to stray' (see ABERRANT).

Linked entries:

ABERRANT ■

Ab·er·ta·we see SWANSEA.

Linked entries:

SWANSEA ■

a·bet v. (a·bet·ted, a·bet·ting) [trans.] encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular, to commit a crime or other offense: he was not guilty of murder but was guilty of aiding and abetting others.
<SPECIAL USAGE> encourage or assist someone to commit (a crime): we are aiding and abetting this illegal traffic.

<DERIVATIVES> a·bet·ment n. a·bet·tor (also a·bet·ter) n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'urge to do something good or bad'): from Old French abeter, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + beter 'hound, urge on'.

a·bey·ance n. a state of temporary disuse or suspension: matters were held in abeyance pending further inquiries.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] the position of being without, or waiting for, an owner or claimant.

<DERIVATIVES> a·bey·ant adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the legal sense): from Old French abeance 'aspiration to a title', from abeer 'aspire after', from a- 'toward' + beer 'to gape'.

ab·hor v. (-horred, -hor·ring) [trans.] FORMAL regard with disgust and hatred: professional tax preparers abhor a flat tax because it would dry up their business. See note at DESPISE.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·hor·rer n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin abhorrere, from ab- 'away from' + horrere 'to shudder'.

ab·hor·rence n. a feeling of repulsion; disgusted loathing: the thought of marrying him filled her with abhorrence; society's abhorrence of crime.

ab·hor·rent adj. inspiring disgust and loathing; repugnant: racial discrimination was abhorrent to us all. See note at OFFENSIVE.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin abhorrent- 'shuddering away from in horror', from the verb abhorrere (see ABHOR).

Linked entries:

ABHOR ■

a·bide v. 1 [intrans.] (abide by) accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or recommendation): I said I would abide by their decision.

2 [trans.] (can/could not abide) INFORMAL be unable to tolerate (someone or something): if there is one thing I cannot abide it is a lack of discipline.

3 [intrans.] (of a feeling or a memory) continue without fading or being lost.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC live; dwell.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'wait', from 'onward' + (see BIDE).

Linked entries:

BIDE ■

a·bid·ing adj. [attrib.] (of a feeling or a memory) lasting a long time; enduring: he had an abiding respect for her.

<DERIVATIVES> a·bid·ing·ly adv.

Ab·i·djan the chief port of the Ivory Coast, the capital 1935-83; pop. 1,850,000.

Abi·lene 1 a commercial city in east central Kansas; pop. 6,242. It was the first terminus of the Chisholm Trail.

2 a city in north central Texas, an agricultural and oil industry center; pop. 106,654.

a·bil·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) 1 [in sing., with infinitive] the capacity to do something: the manager had lost his ability to motivate the players; the tax bears no relationship to people's ability to pay.

2 talent that enables someone to achieve a great deal: a man of exceptional ability.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in the context of education) a level of mental power: a student of below average ability | students of all abilities.

- a special talent or skill: much depends on the person's abilities and aptitudes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French ablete, from Latin habilitas, from habilis 'able'.

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

<ORIGIN> from French -abilité or Latin -abilitas, noun endings.

Ab·ing·ton a township in southeastern Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia; pop. 56,103.

ab in·i·ti·o adv. from the beginning (used chiefly in formal or legal contexts): the agreement should be declared void ab initio.

■ adj. [attrib.] starting from the beginning: he was instructing ab initio pilots.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: Latin.

a·bi·o·gen·e·sis n. technical term for SPONTANEOUS GENERATION.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from A-1 'not' + Greek bios 'life' + GENESIS.

Linked entries:

SPONTANEOUS GENERATION ■

A- ■

GENESIS ■

a·bi·ot·ic adj. physical rather than biological; not derived from living organisms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> devoid of life; sterile.

Ab·i·qui·u a ranching community in northern New Mexico, the longtime home of artist Georgia O'Keeffe.

ab·ject adj. 1 [attrib.] (of a situation or condition) extremely bad, unpleasant, and degrading: abject poverty.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an unhappy state of mind) experienced to the maximum degree: his letter plunged her into abject misery.

- (of a failure) absolute and humiliating.

2 (of a person or their behavior) completely without pride or dignity; self-abasing: an abject apology.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·jec·tion n. ab·ject·ly adv. ab·ject·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'rejected'): from Latin abjectus, past participle of abjicere 'reject', from ab- 'away' + jacere 'to throw'.

ab·jure v. [trans.] FORMAL solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim): his refusal to abjure the Catholic faith.

<PHRASES> abjure the realm HISTORICAL swear an oath to leave a country or realm forever.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·ju·ra·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin abjurare, from ab- 'away' + jurare 'swear'.

Ab·khaz (also Ab·kha·zi·an ) adj. of or relating to Abkhazia, its people, or their language.

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

2 a Northwest Caucasian language.

Ab·kha·zi·a an autonomous territory in northwestern Georgia, south of the Caucasus mountains on the Black Sea; pop. 537,500; capital, Sokhumi. In 1992, Abkhazia unilaterally declared itself independent, sparking ongoing armed conflict with Georgia.

ab·la·tion n. 1 the surgical removal of body tissue.

2 the removal of snow and ice by melting or evaporation, typically from a glacier or iceberg.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the erosion of rock, typically by wind action.

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

<DERIVATIVES> ab·late v.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'taking away, removal'): from late Latin ablatio(n-), from Latin ablat- 'taken away', from ab- 'away' + lat- 'carried' (from the verb ferre).

ab·la·tive adj. [attrib.] 1 [GRAMMAR] relating to or denoting a case (esp. in Latin) of nouns and pronouns (and words in grammatical agreement with them) indicating separation or an agent, instrument, or location.

2 (of surgical treatment) involving ablation.

3 of, relating to, or subject to ablation through melting or evaporation: the spacecraft's ablative heat shield.

■ n. [GRAMMAR] a word in the ablative case.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the ablative) the ablative case.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French ablative (feminine of ablatif), Latin ablativus, from ablat- 'taken away' (see ABLATION).

Linked entries:

ABLATION ■

ab·la·tive ab·so·lute n. a construction in Latin that consists of a noun and participle or adjective in the ablative case and that is syntactically independent of the rest of the sentence.

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

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from German, from ab 'off' + Laut 'sound'.

a·blaze adj. [predic.] burning fiercely: his clothes were ablaze | [as complement] farm buildings were set ablaze.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- very brightly colored or lighted: New England is ablaze with color in autumn.

- made bright by a strong emotion: his eyes were ablaze with anger.

a·ble adj. (a·bler, a·blest) 1 [with infinitive] having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something: he was able to read Greek at the age of eight; he would never be able to afford such a big house.

2 having considerable skill, proficiency, or intelligence: the dancers were technically very able.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also in the sense 'easy to use, suitable'): from Old French hable, from Latin habilis 'handy', from habere 'to hold'.

-able suffix forming adjectives meaning: 1 able to be: calculable.

2 due to be: payable.

3 subject to: taxable.

4 relevant to or in accordance with: fashionable.

5 having the quality to: suitable; comfortable.

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

Linked entries:

ABLE ■

a·ble-bod·ied adj. fit, strong, and healthy; not physically disabled: he was the only able-bodied man on the farm.

a·ble-bod·ied sea·man n. (also a·ble sea·man) a merchant seaman qualified to perform all routine duties.

a·bled adj. having a full range of physical or mental abilities; not disabled. See also DIFFERENTLY ABLED.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: back-formation from DISABLED.

Linked entries:

DIFFERENTLY ABLED ■

DISABLED ■

a·ble·ism (also a·blism) n. discrimination in favor of able-bodied people.

<DERIVATIVES> a·ble·ist n. & adj.

a·ble sea·man n. an able-bodied seaman.

a·bloom adj. [predic.] covered in flowers.

ab·lu·tion n. (usu. ablutions) the act of washing oneself (often used for humorously formal effect): the women performed their ablutions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a ceremonial act of washing parts of the body or sacred containers.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·lu·tion·ar·y adj.

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

a·bly adv. skillfully; competently: Steven has summed up our concerns very ably.

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

ABM abbr. antiballistic missile.

Ab·na·ki (also Ab·e·na·ki ) n. (pl. same or -kis) 1 a member of a North American Indian people of Maine on the Atlantic coast to southern Quebec.

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

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> from French Abénaqui, from Eastern Abnaki.

ab·ne·gate v. [trans.] renounce or reject (something desired or valuable): he attempts to abnegate personal responsibility.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·ne·ga·tor n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin abnegat- 'renounced', from the verb abnegare, from ab- 'away, off' + negare 'deny'.

ab·ne·ga·tion n. the act of renouncing or rejecting something: abnegation of political law-making power.
<SPECIAL USAGE> self-denial.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin abnegatio(n-), from the verb abnegare (see ABNEGATE).

Linked entries:

ABNEGATE ■

ab·nor·mal adj. deviating from what is normal or usual, typically in a way that is undesirable or worrying: the illness is recognizable from the patient's abnormal behavior.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·nor·mal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: alteration (by association with Latin abnormis 'monstrosity') of 16th-cent. anormal, from French, variant of anomal, via Latin from Greek (see ANOMALOUS).

Linked entries:

ANOMALOUS ■

ab·nor·mal·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) an abnormal feature, characteristic, or occurrence, typically in a medical context: a chromosome abnormality.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the quality or state of being abnormal.

A·bo (also a·bo) AUSTRAL., INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE n. (pl. A·bos) an Aborigine.

■ adj. Aboriginal.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: abbreviation.

Å·bo Swedish name for TURKU.

Linked entries:

TURKU ■

a·board adv. & prep. on or into (a ship, aircraft, train, or other vehicle): [as adv.] welcome aboard, sir; the plane crashed, killing all 158 people aboard | [as prep.] climbing aboard the yacht.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- on or onto (a horse): [as adv.] with Migliore aboard, he won the cup at a gallop.

- FIGURATIVE into an organization or team as a new member: [as adv.] coming aboard as IBM's new chairman.

- [BASEBALL] on base as a runner: putting their first batter aboard.

<PHRASES> all aboard! a call warning passengers to get on a ship, train, or bus that is about to depart.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from A-2 (expressing motion) + BOARD, reinforced by Old French à bord.

Linked entries:

A- ■

BOARD ■

a·bode 1 n. FORMAL or POETIC/LITERARY a place of residence; a house or home: her current abode | HUMOROUS my humble abode.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- residence: a place of abode.

- ARCHAIC a stay; a sojourn.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'act of waiting'): verbal noun from ABIDE.

Linked entries:

ABIDE ■

a·bode 2 v. archaic past of ABIDE.

Linked entries:

ABIDE ■

a·bol·ish v. [trans.] formally put an end to (a system, practice, or institution): the tax was abolished in 1977.

<DERIVATIVES> a·bol·ish·er n. a·bol·ish·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French aboliss-, lengthened stem of abolir, from Latin abolere 'destroy'.

ab·o·li·tion n. the action or an act of abolishing a system, practice, or institution: the abolition of child labor.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Latin abolitio(n-), from abolere 'destroy'.

ab·o·li·tion·ist n. a person who favors the abolition of a practice or institution, esp. capital punishment or (formerly) slavery.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·o·li·tion·ism n.

ab·o·ma·sum n. (pl. -sa ) [ZOOLOGY] the fourth stomach of a ruminant, which receives food from the omasum and passes it to the small intestine.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: modern Latin, from ab- 'away, from' + omasum (see OMASUM).

Linked entries:

OMASUM ■

A-bomb n. short for ATOM BOMB.

Linked entries:

ATOM BOMB ■

Ab·o·mey a town in southern Benin, capital of the former kingdom of Dahomey; pop. 54,400.

a·bom·i·na·ble adj. causing moral revulsion: the uprising was suppressed with abominable cruelty. See note at OFFENSIVE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL very unpleasant: a cup of abominable tea.

<DERIVATIVES> a·bom·i·na·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin abominabilis, from abominari (see ABOMINATE). The term was once widely believed to be from AB- 'away from' + Latin homine (from homo 'human being'), thus 'inhuman, beastly', and frequently spelled abhominable until the 17th cent.

Linked entries:

ABOMINATE ■

AB- ■

A·bom·i·na·ble Snow·man n. (pl. -men) another term for YETI.

Linked entries:

YETI ■

a·bom·i·nate v. [trans.] FORMAL detest; loathe: they abominated the very idea of monarchy.

<DERIVATIVES> a·bom·i·na·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin abominat- 'deprecated', from the verb abominari, from ab- 'away, from' + omen, omin- 'omen'.

a·bom·i·na·tion n. a thing that causes disgust or hatred: the Pharisees regarded Gentiles as an abomination to God | INFORMAL concrete abominations masquerading as hotels.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a feeling of hatred: their abomination of indulgence.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin abominatio(n-), from the verb abominari (see ABOMINATE).

Linked entries:

ABOMINATE ■

ab·o·ral adj. [ZOOLOGY] relating to or denoting the side or end that is furthest from the mouth, esp. in animals that lack clear upper and lower sides, such as echinoderms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> moving or leading away from the mouth: propagated in an aboral direction.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·o·ral·ly adv.

ab·o·rig·i·nal adj. (of human races, animals, and plants) inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times or from before the arrival of colonists; indigenous. See note at NATIVE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Aboriginal) of or relating to the Australian Aboriginals or their languages.

■ n. an aboriginal inhabitant of a place.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Aboriginal) a person belonging to one of the indigenous peoples of Australia.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin aborigines 'original inhabitants' (see ABORIGINE) + -AL.

<USAGE>
Both Aboriginals and Aborigines) are standard plural forms when referring to Australian Aboriginal peoples.

Linked entries:

ABORIGINE ■

-AL ■

Ab·o·rig·i·nal·i·ty n. the distinctive culture of aboriginal peoples, esp. those in Australia: their music reflects their Aboriginality.

ab·o·rig·i·ne n. a person, animal, or plant that has been in a country or region from earliest times.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Aborigine) an aboriginal inhabitant of Australia.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: back-formation from the 16th-cent. plural aborigines 'original inhabitants' (in classical times referring to those of Italy and Greece), from the Latin phrase ab origine 'from the beginning'.

<USAGE>
See usage at ABORIGINAL.

Linked entries:

ABORIGINAL ■

a·born·ing adv. while being born or produced: the idea died aborning.

■ adj. [predic.] being born or produced: in the early 1960s, hippiedom was aborning.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from a- 'in the process of' + borning, verbal noun from born (North American dialect usage) 'to be born'.

a·bort v. [trans.] 1 carry out or undergo the abortion of (a fetus).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of a pregnant woman or female animal) have a miscarriage, with loss of the fetus.

- [intrans.] [BIOLOGY] (of an embryonic organ or organism) remain undeveloped; fail to mature.

2 bring to a premature end because of a problem or fault: the pilot aborted his landing.

■ n. INFORMAL or TECHNICAL an act of aborting a flight, space mission, or other enterprise: there was an abort because of bad weather.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin aboriri 'miscarry', from ab- 'away, from' + oriri 'be born'.

a·bor·ti·fa·cient [MEDICINE] adj. (chiefly of a drug) causing abortion.

■ n. an abortifacient drug.

a·bor·tion n. 1 the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the expulsion of a fetus from the uterus by natural causes before it is able to survive independently.

- [BIOLOGY] the arrest of the development of an organ, typically a seed or fruit.

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

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin abortio(n-), from aboriri 'miscarry' (see ABORT).

Linked entries:

ABORT ■

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

a·bor·tion pill n. INFORMAL a drug that can induce abortion, esp. mifepristone.

a·bor·tive adj. 1 failing to produce the intended result: she made two abortive attempts at suicide.

2 [BIOLOGY], DATED (of an organ or organism) rudimentary; arrested in development: abortive medusae.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MEDICINE] (of a virus infection) failing to produce symptoms.

3 [attrib.] RARE causing or resulting in abortion: abortive techniques.

<DERIVATIVES> a·bor·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a noun denoting a stillborn child or animal): via Old French from Latin abortivus, from aboriri 'miscarry' (see ABORT).

Linked entries:

ABORT ■

a·bor·tus fe·ver n. the commonest form of undulant fever in humans.
<INFO>  Brucella abortus

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Latin abortus 'miscarriage'.

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

a·bou·li·a n. variant spelling of ABULIA.

Linked entries:

ABULIA ■

a·bound v. [intrans.] exist in large numbers or amounts: rumors of a further scandal abound.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (abound in/with) have in large numbers or amounts: this land abounds with wildlife.

<DERIVATIVES> a·bound·ing adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'overflow, be abundant'): from Old French abunder, from Latin abundare 'overflow', from ab- 'from' + undare 'surge' (from unda 'a wave').

a·bout prep. 1 on the subject of; concerning: I was thinking about you; I asked him about his beliefs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- so as to affect: there's nothing we can do about it.

- (be about) be involved or to do with; have the intention of: it's all about having fun.

2 used to indicate movement within a particular area: she looked about the room.

3 used to express location in a particular place: rugs strewn about the hall; he produced a knife from somewhere about his person.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used to describe a quality apparent in a person: there was a look about her that said everything.

■ adv. 1 used to indicate movement in an area: men were floundering about; finding my way about.

2 used to express location in a particular place: there was a lot of flu about; a thief about in the hotel.

3 (used with a number or quantity) approximately: reduced by about 5 percent; he's about 35.

<PHRASES>
□ about to do something intending to do something or close to doing something very soon: the ceremony was about to begin.

□ be not about to do something be unwilling to do something: he is not about to step down after so long.

□ how about see HOW^1 .

□ just about see JUST.

□ know what one is about INFORMAL be aware of the implications of one’s actions or of a situation, and of how best to deal with them.

□ up and about see UP.

□ what about see WHAT.

<ORIGIN> Old English , from on + 'outside of'.

Linked entries:

HOW ■

JUST ■

UP ■

WHAT ■

a·bout-face n. (chiefly in military contexts) a turn made so as to face the opposite direction: he did an about-face and marched out of the tent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a complete change of opinion or policy: he threatened to stop helping us, but did a complete about-face.

■ v. [intrans.] turn so as to face the opposite direction.

■ exclam. (about face!) (in military contexts) a command to make an about-face.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: shortening of right-about face.

a·bove prep. 1 in extended space over and not touching: a display of fireworks above the town | [with v.] a cable runs above the duct.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- extending upward over: her arms above her head.

- higher than and to one side of; overlooking: in the hills above the capital; on the wall above the altar.

2 at a higher level or layer than: bruises above both eyes; small windows above the aisles.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- higher in grade or rank than: at a level above the common people.

- considered of higher status or worth than; too good for: she married above her; above reproach.

- in preference to: they cynically chose profit above car safety.

- at a higher volume or pitch than: above a whisper; it went unheard above the din.

3 higher than (a specified amount, rate, or norm): above average; above freezing; above sea level | the unemployment rate will soar above its present level.

■ adv. at a higher level or layer: place a quantity of mud in a jar with water above.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- higher in grade or rank: an officer of the rank of superintendent or above.

- higher than a specified amount, rate, or norm: boats of 31 ft. or above.

- (in printed text) mentioned earlier or further up on the same page: the two cases described above; see above left | [as adj.] at the above address | [as n.] since writing the above, I have reconsidered.

<PHRASES>
□ above all (else) more so than anything else: he was concerned above all to speak the truth.

□ above oneself conceited; arrogant.

□ from above from overhead: branches rained from above.
- from a position of higher rank or authority: mass culture is imposed from above.

□ not be above be capable of stooping to (an unworthy act): he was not above practical jokes.

□ over and above see OVER.

<ORIGIN> Old English abufan (as an adverb), from a- 'on' + bufan (from bi 'by' + ufan 'above').

Linked entries:

OVER ■

a·bove·board adj. legitimate, honest, and open: certain transactions were not totally aboveboard.

■ adv. legitimately, honestly, and openly: the accountants acted completely aboveboard.

ab o·vo adv. from the very beginning.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: Latin, literally 'from the egg'.

Abp. abbr. Archbishop.

ab·ra·ca·dab·ra exclam. a word said by magicians when performing a magic trick.

■ n. INFORMAL the implausibly easy achievement of difficult feats: where a computer and a little abracadabra turn a freeze-dried steak into a romantic dinner.
<SPECIAL USAGE> language, typically in the form of gibberish, used to give the impression of arcane knowledge or power: I get so fed up with all the mumbo jumbo and abracadabra.

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

a·brade v. [trans.] scrape or wear away by friction or erosion: a landscape slowly abraded by a fine, stinging dust.

<DERIVATIVES> a·brad·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin abradere, from ab- 'away, from' + radere 'to scrape'.

A·bra·ham (in the Bible) the Hebrew patriarch from whom all Jews trace their descent.

A·bra·ham, Plains of see PLAINS OF ABRAHAM.

Linked entries:

PLAINS OF ABRAHAM ■

A·bra·ham·ic (also a·bra·ham·ic) adj. 1 denoting any or all of the religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) that revere Abraham, the Biblical patriarch: the monotheistic faiths that grew out of the Abrahamic heritage.

2 relating specifically to the Biblical patriarch Abraham.

A·bra·hams Harold (Maurice) (1899-1978), English athlete. In 1924 he became the first Englishman to win the 100 meters in the Olympic Games. His story was retold in the movie Chariots of Fire (1981).

a·bra·sion n. the process of scraping or wearing away: the metal is resistant to abrasion.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an area damaged by scraping or wearing away: there were cuts and abrasions to the lips and jaw.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin abrasio(n-), from the verb abradere (see ABRADE).

Linked entries:

ABRADE ■

a·bra·sive adj. (of a substance or material) capable of polishing or cleaning a hard surface by rubbing or grinding.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- tending to rub or graze the skin: the trees were abrasive to the touch.

- FIGURATIVE (of sounds or music) rough to the ear; harsh: fast abrasive rhythms.

- FIGURATIVE (of a person or manner) showing little concern for the feelings of others; harsh: her abrasive and arrogant personal style won her few friends.

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

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (as a noun): from Latin abras- 'abraded', from the verb abradere (see ABRADE), + -IVE.

Linked entries:

ABRADE ■

-IVE ■

a·bra·zo n. (pl. -zos) an embrace.

<ORIGIN> Spanish.

ab·re·act v. [trans.] [PSYCHOLOGY] release (an emotion) by abreaction.
<SPECIAL USAGE> cause (someone) to undergo abreaction.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: back-formation from ABREACTION.

Linked entries:

ABREACTION ■

ab·re·ac·tion n. [PSYCHOLOGY] the expression and consequent release of a previously repressed emotion, achieved through reliving the experience that caused it (typically through hypnosis or suggestion).

<DERIVATIVES> ab·re·ac·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from AB- 'away from' + REACTION, translating German Abreagierung.

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AB- ■

REACTION ■

a·breast adv. 1 side by side and facing the same way: the path was wide enough for two people to walk abreast; they were riding three abreast.

2 alongside or even with something: the cart came abreast of the Americans in their ricksha.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE up to date with the latest news, ideas, or information: keeping abreast of developments.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from A-2 'in' + BREAST.

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A- ■

BREAST ■

a·bridge v. [trans.] (usu. be abridged) 1 shorten (a book, movie, speech, or other text) without losing the sense: the cassettes have been abridged from the original stories | [as adj.] (abridged) an abridged text of his speech.

2 [LAW] curtail (rights or privileges): even the right to free speech can be abridged.

<DERIVATIVES> a·bridg·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'deprive of'): from Old French abregier, from late Latin abbreviare 'cut short' (see ABBREVIATE).

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ABBREVIATE ■

a·bridg·ment (also a·bridge·ment) n. 1 a shortened version of a larger work: an abridgment of Shakespeare's Henry VI.

2 [LAW] a curtailment of rights: the abridgment of the rights of ownership.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French abregement, from the verb abreg(i)er (see ABRIDGE).

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ABRIDGE ■

a·broad adv. 1 in or to a foreign country or countries: we usually go abroad for a week in May; competition from companies at home and abroad.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED or HUMOROUS out of doors: few people ventured abroad from their warm houses.

2 in different directions; over a wide area: millions of seeds are annually scattered abroad.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a feeling or rumor) widely current: there is a new buccaneering spirit abroad.

- freely moving about: con artists abroad on the streets of the town.

3 ARCHAIC wide of the mark; in error.

■ n. foreign countries considered collectively: servicemen returning from abroad.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from A-2 'on' + BROAD.

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A- ■

BROAD ■

ab·ro·gate v. [trans.] FORMAL repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement): a proposal to abrogate temporarily the right to strike. See note at VOID.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·ro·ga·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Latin abrogat- 'repealed', from the verb abrogare, from ab- 'away, from' + rogare 'propose a law'.

<USAGE>
The verbs abrogate and arrogate are quite different in meaning. While abrogate means ‘repeal (a law),’ arrogate means ‘take or claim (something) for oneself without justification,’ often in the structure arrogate something to oneself, as in the emergency committee arrogated to itself whatever powers it chose.

ab·rupt adj. 1 sudden and unexpected: I was surprised by the abrupt change of subject; our round of golf came to an abrupt end on the 13th hole.

2 brief to the point of rudeness; curt: you were rather abrupt with that young man.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a style of speech or writing) not flowing smoothly; disjointed.

3 steep; precipitous: the abrupt double peak of the mountain.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·rupt·ly adv. ab·rupt·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin abruptus 'broken off, steep', past participle of abrumpere, from ab- 'away, from' + rumpere 'break'.

ab·rup·tion n. TECHNICAL the sudden breaking away of a portion from a mass.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also placental abruption) [MEDICINE] separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus, esp. when it occurs prematurely during pregnancy.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin abruptio(n)-, from abrumpere 'break off' (see ABRUPT).

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ABRUPT ■

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

- anti-lock braking system (for motor vehicles).

abs INFORMAL n. the abdominal muscles.

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

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AB- ■

Ab·sa·ro·ka Range a range of the Rocky Mountains in Montana and Wyoming.

ab·scess n. a swollen area within body tissue, containing an accumulation of pus.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin abscessus 'a going away', from the verb abscedere, from ab- 'away from' + cedere 'go', referring to the elimination of infected matter via the pus.

ab·scise v. [trans.] cut off or away.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] [BOTANY] separate by abscission; fall off.

ab·scis·ic ac·id n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a plant hormone that promotes leaf detachment, induces seed and bud dormancy, and inhibits germination.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: abscisic from the earlier name for the hormone abscisin, from ABSCISSION.

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ABSCISSION ■

ab·scis·sa n. (pl. -scis·sae or -scis·sas) [MATHEMATICS] (in a system of coordinates) the x-coordinate, the distance from a point to the vertical or y-axis measured parallel to the horizontal or x-axis. Compare with ORDINATE.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting the part of a line between a point on it and the point of intersection with an ordinate): from modern Latin abscissa (linea) 'cutoff (line)', feminine past participle of abscindere (see ABSCISSION).

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ORDINATE ■

ABSCISSION ■

ab·scis·sion n. [BOTANY] the natural detachment of parts of a plant, typically dead leaves and ripe fruit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any act of cutting off.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin abscissio(n-), from abscindere, from ab- 'off, away' + scindere 'to cut'.

ab·scond v. [intrans.] leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to avoid detection of or arrest for an unlawful action such as theft: she absconded with the remaining thousand dollars.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of someone on bail) fail to surrender oneself for custody at the appointed time.

- (of a person kept in detention or under supervision) escape: 176 detainees absconded.

- (of a colony of honeybees, esp. Africanized ones) entirely abandon a hive or nest.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·scond·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'hide, conceal (oneself)'): from Latin abscondere 'hide', from ab- 'away, from' + condere 'stow'.

ab·seil n. & v. another term for RAPPEL.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·seil·er n.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from German abseilen, from ab 'down' + Seil 'rope'.

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RAPPEL ■

ab·sence n. the state of being away from a place or person: the letter had arrived during his absence; I supervised the rehearsal in the absence of the director.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an occasion or period of being away from a place or person: repeated absences from school.

- (absence of) the nonexistence or lack of: she found his total absence of facial expression disconcerting. See note at LACK.

<PHRASES>
□ absence makes the heart grow fonder PROVERB you feel more affection for those you love when parted from them.

□ absence of mind failure to concentrate on or remember what one is doing.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin absentia, from absens, absent- (see ABSENT).

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ABSENT ■

ab·sent adj. 1 not present in a place or at an occasion: most students were absent from school at least once; absent colleagues.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a part or feature of the body) not forming part of a creature in which it might be expected: wings are absent in several species of crane flies.

2 (of an expression or manner) showing that someone is not paying attention to what is being said or done: she looked up with an absent smile.

■ v. (absent oneself) stay or go away: various people absented themselves because of his presence; halfway through the meal, he absented himself from the table.

■ prep. FORMAL without: employees could not be fired absent other evidence.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·sent·ly adv. (in sense 2).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin absens, absent- 'being absent', present participle of abesse, from ab- 'from, away' + esse 'to be'.

ab·sen·tee n. a person who is expected or required to be present at a place or event but is not.

ab·sen·tee bal·lot n. a ballot completed and typically mailed in advance of an election by a voter who is unable to be present at the polls.

ab·sen·tee·ism n. the practice of regularly staying away from work or school without good reason.

ab·sen·tee land·lord n. a landlord who does not live at and rarely visits the property that they rent out.

ab·sent·mind·ed adj. (of a person or a person's behavior or manner) having or showing a habitually forgetful or inattentive disposition: an absentminded smile.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·sent·mind·ed·ly adv. ab·sent·mind·ed·ness n.

ab·sinthe (also ab·sinth) n. 1 the shrub wormwood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an essence made from this.

2 a potent green aniseed-flavored liqueur that turns milky when water is added. Prepared from wormwood, it is now largely banned because of its toxicity.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French absinthe, from Latin absinthium, from Greek apsinthion 'wormwood'.

ab·sit o·men exclam. used to express the hope that a reference to something undesirable should not foreshadow its arrival or occurrence.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: Latin, literally 'may this (evil) omen be absent'.

ab·so·lute adj. 1 not qualified or diminished in any way; total: absolute secrecy; absolute silence; the attention he gave you was absolute.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used for general emphasis when expressing an opinion: the policy is absolute folly.

- (of powers or rights) not subject to any limitation; unconditional: no one dared challenge her absolute authority; human right to life is absolute.

- (of a ruler) having unrestricted power: he proclaimed himself absolute monarch.

- [LAW] (of a decree) final: the decree of nullity was made absolute.

- [LAW] see ABSOLUTE TITLE.

2 viewed or existing independently and not in relation to other things; not relative or comparative: absolute moral standards.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GRAMMAR] (of a construction) syntactically independent of the rest of the sentence, as in dinner being over, we left the table.

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

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

■ n. [PHILOSOPHY] a value or principle that is regarded as universally valid or that may be viewed without relation to other things: good and evil are presented as absolutes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the absolute) [PHILOSOPHY] that which exists without being dependent on anything else.

- (the absolute) [THEOLOGY] ultimate reality; God.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·so·lute·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin absolutus 'freed, unrestricted', past participle of absolvere (see ABSOLVE).

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ABSOLUTE TITLE ■

ABSOLVE ■

ab·so·lute ad·van·tage n. [ECONOMICS] the ability of an individual or group to carry out a particular economic activity more efficiently than another individual or group.

ab·so·lute al·co·hol n. ethanol containing less than one percent of water by weight.

ab·so·lute·ly adv. 1 with no qualification, restriction, or limitation; totally: she trusted him absolutely | [as submodifier] you're absolutely right.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used to emphasize the truth or appropriateness of a very strong or exaggerated statement: he absolutely adores that car | [as submodifier] Dad was absolutely furious.

- [with negative] none whatsoever: she had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.

- [sentence adverb] used to emphasize a statement or opinion: it's absolutely pouring out there; it's absolutely ages since I went to a party.

- [as exclam.] INFORMAL used to express and emphasize one's assent or agreement: “Did they give you a free hand when you joined the band?” “Absolutely!”

2 independently; not viewed in relation to other things or factors: white-collar crime increased both absolutely and in comparison with other categories.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GRAMMAR] (of a verb) without a stated object.

ab·so·lute mag·ni·tude n. [ASTRONOMY] the magnitude (brightness) of a celestial object as it would be seen at a standard distance of 10 parsecs. Compare with APPARENT MAGNITUDE.

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APPARENT MAGNITUDE ■

ab·so·lute ma·jor·i·ty n. a majority over all rivals combined; more than half.

ab·so·lute mu·sic n. instrumental music composed purely as music, and not intended to represent or illustrate something else. Compare with PROGRAM MUSIC.

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PROGRAM MUSIC ■

ab·so·lute pitch n. [MUSIC] the ability to recognize the pitch of a note or produce any given note; perfect pitch.
<SPECIAL USAGE> pitch according to a fixed standard defined by the frequency of the sound vibration.

ab·so·lute tem·per·a·ture n. a temperature measured from absolute zero in kelvins. (Symbol: T)

ab·so·lute ti·tle n. [LAW] guaranteed title to the ownership of a property or lease.

ab·so·lute u·nit n. a unit of measurement that is defined in terms of the fundamental units of a system (mass, length, and time) and is not based on arbitrary definitions.

ab·so·lute val·ue n. 1 [MATHEMATICS] the magnitude of a real number without regard to its sign. Also called MODULUS.
<INFO>  The absolute value of a complex number a^2 + ib is the positive square root of a^2 + b^2.

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

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MODULUS ■

ab·so·lute ze·ro n. the lowest temperature that is theoretically possible, at which the motion of particles that constitutes heat would be minimal. It is zero on the Kelvin scale, equivalent to -273.15°C or -459.67°F.

ab·so·lu·tion n. formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an ecclesiastical declaration of forgiveness of sins: the priest administered absolution.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin absolutio(n-), from the verb absolvere (see ABSOLVE).

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ABSOLVE ■

ab·so·lut·ism n. the acceptance of or belief in absolute principles in political, philosophical, ethical, or theological matters.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·so·lut·ist n. & adj.

ab·so·lut·ize v. [trans.] [CHIEFLY PHILOSOPHY] & [THEOLOGY] make (or treat as) absolute.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·so·lut·i·za·tion n.

ab·solve v. [trans.] set or declare (someone) free from blame, guilt, or responsibility: the pardon absolved them of any crimes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY] give absolution for (a sin).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin absolvere 'set free, acquit', from ab- 'from' + solvere 'loosen'.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
absolve, acquit, exempt, exonerate, forgive, pardon, vindicate

To varying degrees, all of these words mean to free from guilt or blame, and some are most frequently heard in a legal or political context.

Absolve is the most general term, meaning to set free or releasenot only from guilt or blame, but from a duty or obligation (absolved from her promise to serve on the committee) or from the penalties for a violation.

Pardon is usually associated with the actions of a government or military official (President Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon following his resignation in the wake of the Watergate scandal) and specifically refers to a release from prosecution or punishment.

It is usually a legal official who decides to acquit someonethat is, release someone from a specific and formal accusation of wrongdoing (the court acquitted the accused due to lack of evidence).

Exonerate suggests relief (its origin suggests the lifting of a burden), often in a moral sense, from a definite charge so that not even the suspicion of wrongdoing remains (completely exonerated from the accusation of cheating).

A person who is vindicated is also off the hook, usually due to the examination of evidence (she vindicated herself by producing the missing documents).

Exempt has less to do with guilt and punishment and more to do with duty and obligation (exempt from paying taxes).

To forgive, however, is the most magnanimous act of all: It implies not only giving up on the idea that an offense should be punished, but also relinquishing any feelings of resentment or vengefulness (“To err is human; to forgive divine”).

ab·so·nant adj. ARCHAIC discordant or unreasonable.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin ab- 'away, from' + sonant- 'sounding', from sonare, on the pattern of words such as dissonant.

ab·sorb v. [trans.] 1 take in or soak up (energy, or a liquid or other substance) by chemical or physical action, typically gradually: buildings can be designed to absorb and retain heat; steroids are absorbed into the bloodstream.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- take in and assimilate (information, ideas, or experience): she absorbed the information in silence.

- take control of (a smaller or less powerful entity), making it a part of oneself by assimilation: the family firm was absorbed into a larger group.

- use or take up (time or resources): arms spending absorbs roughly 2 percent of the national income.

- take up and reduce the effect or intensity of (sound or an impact): deep-pile carpets absorbed all sound of the outside world.

2 engross the attention of (someone): the work absorbed him and continued to make him happy.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·sorb·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin absorbere, from ab- 'from' + sorbere 'suck in'.

ab·sorb·a·ble adj. able to be absorbed, esp. into the body.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·sorb·a·bil·i·ty n.

ab·sorb·ance n. [PHYSICS] a measure of the capacity of a substance to absorb light of a specified wavelength. It is equal to the logarithm of the reciprocal of the transmittance.

ab·sorbed adj. [predic.] intensely engaged; engrossed: she sat in an armchair, absorbed in a book.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·sorb·ed·ly adv.

ab·sorbed dose n. [PHYSICS] the energy of ionizing radiation absorbed per unit mass by a body, often measured in rads.

ab·sorb·ent adj. (of a material) able to soak up liquid easily: drain on absorbent paper towels.

■ n. a substance or item that soaks up liquid easily.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·sorb·en·cy n.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Latin absorbent- 'swallowing up', from the verb absorbere (see ABSORB).

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ABSORB ■

ab·sorb·ent cot·ton n. fluffy wadding of a kind originally made from raw cotton, used for cleansing wounds, removing cosmetics, and padding delicate objects.

ab·sorb·ing adj. intensely interesting; engrossing: an absorbing account of their marriage.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·sorb·ing·ly adv.

ab·sorp·tion n. 1 the process or action by which one thing absorbs or is absorbed by another: | East Germany's absorption into West Germany; shock absorption.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHYSICS] the process or action by which neutrons are absorbed by the nucleus.

2 the fact or state of being engrossed in something: her absorption in the problems of the Third World.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·sorp·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'the swallowing up of something'): from Latin absorptio(n-), from absorbere 'swallow up' (see ABSORB).

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ABSORB ■

ab·sorp·tion neb·u·la n. [ASTRONOMY] another term for DARK NEBULA.

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DARK NEBULA ■

ab·sorp·tion spec·trum n. [PHYSICS] a spectrum of electromagnetic radiation transmitted through a substance, showing dark lines or bands due to absorption of specific wavelengths. Compare with EMISSION SPECTRUM.

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EMISSION SPECTRUM ■

ab·squat·u·late v. [intrans.] HUMOROUS leave abruptly: some overthrown dictator who had absquatulated to the U.S.A.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·squat·u·la·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: blend, simulating a Latin form, of abscond, squattle 'depart', and perambulate.

ab·stain v. [intrans.] 1 restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something: abstaining from chocolate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> refrain from drinking alcohol: most pregnant women abstain or drink very little.

2 formally decline to vote either for or against a proposal or motion: forty-one voted with the opposition, and some sixty more abstained.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·stain·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French abstenir, from Latin abstinere, from ab- 'from' + tenere 'hold'.

ab·ste·mi·ous adj. not self-indulgent, esp. when eating and drinking: “We only had a bottle.” “Very abstemious of you.”

<DERIVATIVES> ab·ste·mi·ous·ly adv. ab·ste·mi·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin abstemius (from ab- 'from' + a word related to temetum 'strong drink') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

ab·sten·tion n. 1 an instance of declining to vote for or against a proposal or motion: a resolution passed by 126 votes to none, with six abstentions.

2 the fact or practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something; abstinence: alcohol consumption versus abstention.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·sten·tion·ism n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (denoting the act of keeping back or restraining): from late Latin abstentio(n-), from the verb abstinere (see ABSTAIN).

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ABSTAIN ■

ab·sti·nence n. the fact or practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, typically alcohol: I started drinking again after six years of abstinence.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·sti·nent adj. ab·sti·nent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from Latin abstinentia, from the verb abstinere (see ABSTAIN).

<THE RIGHT WORD>
abnegation, abstemiousness, abstinence, continence, forbearance, moderation, temperance

Abstinence implies voluntary self-denial and is usually associated with the non-indulgence of an appetite (total abstinence from cigarettes and alcohol).

Abstemiousness is the quality or habit of being abstinent; an abstemious person would be one who is moderate when it comes to eating and drinking.

Moderation, temperance, and continence all imply various forms of self-restraint or self-denial: moderation is the avoidance of extremes or excesses (he drank in moderation); temperance is habitual moderation, or even total abstinence, particularly with regard to alcohol (the nineteenth-century temperance movement); and continence (in this regard) refers to self-restraint with regard to sexual activity.

Forbearance is self-control, the patient endurance that characterizes deliberately holding back from action or response.

Abnegation is the rejection or renunciation of something that is generally held in high esteem (abnegation of the Christian Church), although it can also mean to refuse or deny oneself a particular right, claim, or convenience (abnegation of worldly goods).

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ABSTAIN ■

ab·stract adj. existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence: abstract concepts such as love or beauty.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- dealing with ideas rather than events: the novel was too abstract and esoteric to sustain much attention.

- not based on a particular instance; theoretical: we have been discussing the problem in a very abstract manner.

- (of a word, esp. a noun) denoting an idea, quality, or state rather than a concrete object: abstract words like truth or equality.

- of or relating to abstract art: abstract pictures that look like commercial color charts.

■ v. [trans.] 1 consider (something) theoretically or separately from something else: to abstract science and religion from their historical context can lead to anachronism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] form a general idea in this way: he cannot form a general notion by abstracting from particulars.

2 extract or remove (something): applications to abstract more water from streams.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used euphemistically to say that someone has stolen something: his pockets contained all he had been able to abstract from the apartment.

- (abstract oneself) withdraw: as our relationship deepened you seemed to abstract yourself.

3 make a written summary of (an article or book): staff who index and abstract material for an online database.

■ n. 1 a summary or statement of the contents of a book, article, or formal speech: the abstracts must be as concise as possible.

2 an abstract work of art: a big unframed abstract.

3 (the abstract) that which is abstract; the theoretical consideration of something: the abstract must be made concrete by examples.

<PHRASES> in the abstract in a general way; without reference to specific instances: there's a fine line between promoting U.S. business interests in the abstract and promoting specific companies.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·stract·ly adv. ab·strac·tor n. (in sense 3 of the v.).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin abstractus, literally 'drawn away', past participle of abstrahere, from ab- 'from' + trahere 'draw off'.

ab·stract art n. art that does not attempt to represent external, recognizable reality but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors, and textures.

ab·stract·ed adj. showing a lack of concentration on what is happening around one: she seemed abstracted and unaware of her surroundings; an abstracted smile.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·stract·ed·ly adv.

ab·stract ex·pres·sion·ism n. a development of abstract art that originated in New York in the 1940s and 1950s and aimed at subjective emotional expression with particular emphasis on the creative spontaneous act (e.g., action painting). Leading figures were Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·stract ex·pres·sion·ist n.

ab·strac·tion n. 1 the quality of dealing with ideas rather than events: topics will vary in degrees of abstraction.
<SPECIAL USAGE> something that exists only as an idea: the question can no longer be treated as an academic abstraction.

2 freedom from representational qualities in art: geometric abstraction has been a mainstay in her work.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an abstract work of art.

3 a state of preoccupation: she sensed his momentary abstraction.

4 the process of considering something independently of its associations, attributes, or concrete accompaniments: they tend to interpret Jesus's words in abstraction from any historical context.

5 the process of removing something, esp. water from a river or other source: the abstraction of water from springs and wells.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin abstractio(n-), from the verb abstrahere 'draw away' (see ABSTRACT).

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ABSTRACT ■

ab·strac·tion·ism n. the principles and practice of abstract art.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the presentation of ideas in abstract terms.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·strac·tion·ist n.

ab·stract of ti·tle n. [LAW] a summary giving details of the title deeds and documents that prove an owner's right to dispose of land, together with any encumbrances that relate to the property.

ab·struse adj. difficult to understand; obscure: an abstruse philosophical inquiry. See note at OBSCURE.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·struse·ly adv. ab·struse·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin abstrusus 'put away, hidden', from abstrudere 'conceal', from ab- 'from' + trudere 'to push'.

ab·surd adj. (of an idea or suggestion) wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate: it would be absurd to blame contemporary Germans for Nazi crimes; so you think I'm a spy? How absurd! | [as n.] (the absurd) he had a keen eye for the incongruous and the absurd.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person or a person's behavior or actions) foolish; unreasonable: she was being absurdand imagining things.

- (of an object or situation) arousing amusement or derision; ridiculous: gym shorts and knee socks looked absurd on such a tall girl.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·surd·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin absurdus 'out of tune', hence 'irrational'; related to surdus 'deaf, dull'.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
absurd, foolish, ludicrous, preposterous, ridiculous, unreasonable

We call something absurd when it is utterly inconsistent with what common sense or experience tells us (she found herself in the absurd position of having to defend the intelligence of a cockroach).

Ludicrous applies to whatever is so incongruous that it provokes laughter or scorn (a ludicrous suggestion that he might escape unnoticed if he dressed up as a woman), and ridiculous implies that ridicule or mockery is the only appropriate response (she tried to look younger, but succeeded only in making herself look ridiculous).

Foolish behavior shows a lack of intelligence or good judgment (it was foolish to keep that much money under a mattress), while unreasonable behavior implies that the person has intentionally acted contrary to good sense (his response was totally unreasonable in view of the fact that he'd asked for their honest opinion).

Preposterous should be reserved for those acts or situations that are glaringly absurd or ludicrous. For example, it might be unreasonable to judge an entire nation on the basis of one tourist's experience and foolish to turn down an opportunity to visit that country on those grounds alone, but it would be preposterous to suggest that everyone who comes to the U.S. will be robbed at gunpoint.

ab·surd·ism n. the belief that human beings exist in a purposeless, chaotic universe.

<DERIVATIVES> ab·surd·ist adj. & n.

ab·surd·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) the quality or state of being ridiculous or wildly unreasonable: Duncan laughed at the absurdity of the situation | the absurdities of haute cuisine.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'dissonance'): from Latin absurditas, from absurdus (see ABSURD).

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ABSURD ■

a·bub·ble adj. [predic.] full of excitement and enthusiasm: he was abubble with the news.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from A-2 'in the process of' + BUBBLE.

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A- ■

BUBBLE ■

A·bu Dha·bi the largest of the seven member states of the United Arab Emirates, lying between Oman and the Gulf coast; pop. 670,125. The former sheikhdom joined the federation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the capital of this state; pop. 242,975. It is also the federal capital of the United Arab Emirates.

A·bu·ja a newly built city in central Nigeria, designated in 1982 to replace Lagos as the national capital; pop. 378,670.

a·bu·li·a (also a·bou·li·a) n. an absence of willpower or an inability to act decisively, as a symptom of mental illness.

<ORIGIN>  mid 19th cent.: coined from A-1 'without' + Greek 'the will'.

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A- ■

Abu Mu·sa a small island in the Persian Gulf. Formerly held by the emirate of Sharjah, it was occupied by Iran by agreement from 1971 until it was taken over by them in 1992.

A·bu·na n. a title given to the Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

<ORIGIN> Amharic, from Arabic 'our father'.

a·bun·dance n. a very large quantity of something: the tropical island boasts an abundance of wildlife.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the quantity or amount of something, e.g., a chemical element or an animal or plant species, present in a particular area, volume, sample, etc.: estimates of abundance of harp seals; the relative abundances of carbon and nitrogen.

- (in solo whist) a bid by which a player undertakes to make nine or more tricks.

- the state or condition of having a copious quantity of something; plentifulness: vines and figs grew in abundance.

- plentifulness of the good things of life; prosperity: the growth of industry promised wealth and abundance.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin abundantia, from abundant- 'overflowing', from the verb abundare (see ABOUND).

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ABOUND ■

a·bun·dant adj. existing or available in large quantities; plentiful: there was abundant evidence to support the theory. See note at PREVALENT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [predic.] (abundant in) having plenty of something: the riverbanks were abundant in wild plants.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin abundant- 'abounding', from the verb abundare (see ABOUND).

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ABOUND ■

a·bun·dant·ly adv. in large quantities; plentifully: the plant grows abundantly in the wild.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as submodifier] extremely: my boss made it abundantly clear that if I didn't like it, I should look for another job.

a·buse v. [trans.] 1 use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse: the judge abused his power by imposing the fines.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make excessive and habitual use of (alcohol or drugs, esp. illegal ones).

2 treat (a person or an animal) with cruelty or violence, esp. regularly or repeatedly: riders who abuse their horses should be prosecuted.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- assault (someone, esp. a woman or child) sexually: he was a depraved man who had abused his two young daughters | [as adj.] (abused) abused children.

- use or treat in such a way as to cause damage or harm: he had been abusing his body for years.

- speak in an insulting and offensive way to or about (someone): the referee was abused by players from both teams.

■ n. 1 the improper use of something: alcohol abuse | an abuse of public funds.
<SPECIAL USAGE> unjust or corrupt practice: protection against fraud and abuse | human rights abuses.

2 cruel and violent treatment of a person or animal: a black eye and other signs of physical abuse.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- violent treatment involving sexual assault, esp. on a repeated basis: young people who have suffered sexual abuse.

- insulting and offensive language: waving his fists and hurling abuse at the driver.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin abus- 'misused', from the verb abuti, from ab- 'away' (i.e., 'wrongly') + uti 'to use'.

a·bus·er n. [usu. with adj.] someone who regularly or habitually abuses someone or something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- someone who makes excessive use of alcohol or illegal drugs: intravenous drug abusers.

- someone who sexually assaults another person, esp. a woman or child: an alleged child abuser.

A·bu Sim·bel the site of two huge rock-cut temples in southern Egypt, built during the reign of Ramses II in the 13th century BC, and commemorating him and his first wife Nefertari. Following the building of the High Dam at Aswan, the monument was rebuilt higher on the hillside.

a·bu·sive adj. 1 extremely offensive and insulting: abusive language; he became quite abusive and swore at her.

2 engaging in or characterized by habitual violence and cruelty: abusive parents; an abusive relationship.

3 involving injustice or illegality: the abusive and predatory practices of businesses.

<DERIVATIVES> a·bu·sive·ly adv. a·bu·sive·ness n.

a·bus·tle adj. [predic.] bustling; busy: the main drag is always abustle with inventive sidewalk artists.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from A-2 'in the process of' + BUSTLE^1 .

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BUSTLE ■

a·but v. (a·but·ted, a·but·ting) [trans.] (of an area of land or a building) be next to or have a common boundary with: gardens abutting Great Prescott Street | [intrans.] a park abutting on an area of wasteland.
<SPECIAL USAGE> touch or lean upon: masonry may crumble where a roof abuts it.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: the sense 'have a common boundary' from Anglo-Latin abuttare, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + Old French but 'end'; the sense 'lean upon' (late 16th cent.) from Old French abouter, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + bouter 'strike, butt', of Germanic origin.

a·bu·ti·lon n. a herbaceous plant or shrub of the mallow family, native to warm climates and typically bearing showy yellow, red, or mauve flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Abutilon, family Malvaceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Arabic 'Indian mallow'.

a·but·ment n. a structure built to support the lateral pressure of an arch or span, e.g., at the ends of a bridge.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the process of supporting something with such a structure.

- a point at which something abuts against something else.

a·but·ter n. the owner of property that abuts (touches on) another.

a·buzz adj. [predic.] filled with a continuous humming sound: the room was abuzz with mosquitoes | FIGURATIVE the city was abuzz with rumors.

ABV abbr. alcohol by volume.

a·bysm n. a literary or poetic term for ABYSS: the abysm from which nightmares crawl.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French abisme, medieval Latin abysmus, alteration of late Latin abyssus 'bottomless pit', the ending being assimilated to the Greek ending -ismos.

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ABYSS ■

a·bys·mal adj. 1 INFORMAL extremely bad; appalling: the quality of her work is abysmal.

2 POETIC/LITERARY very deep.

<DERIVATIVES> a·bys·mal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (used literally as in sense 2): from ABYSM. Sense 1 dates from the early 19th cent.

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ABYSM ■

a·byss n. a deep or seemingly bottomless chasm: a rope led down into the dark abyss | FIGURATIVE I was stagnating in an abyss of boredom.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE a wide or profound difference between people; a gulf: the abyss between the two nations.

- FIGURATIVE the regions of hell conceived of as a bottomless pit: Satan's dark abyss.

- (the abyss) FIGURATIVE a catastrophic situation seen as likely to occur: teetering on the edge of the abyss of a total political wipeout.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'infernal pit'): via late Latin from Greek abussos 'bottomless', from a- 'without' + bussos 'depth'.

a·byss·al adj. CHIEFLY TECHNICAL relating to or denoting the depths or bed of the ocean, esp. between about 10,000 and 20,000 feet (3,000 and 6,000 m) down: the genera found in the abyssal North Atlantic.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GEOLOGY] another term for PLUTONIC (sense 1).

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from late Latin abyssalis 'belonging to an abyss' (see ABYSS).

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PLUTONIC ■

ABYSS ■

Ab·ys·sin·i·a former name for ETHIOPIA.

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ETHIOPIA ■

Ab·ys·sin·i·an adj. HISTORICAL of or relating to Abyssinia or its people.

■ n. 1 HISTORICAL a native of Abyssinia.

2 (also Abyssinian cat) a domestic cat of a breed having long ears and short brown hair flecked with gray.

Ab·zug Bella (Savitsky) (1920-98), U.S. politician, lawyer, and women's rights activist. She helped to found Women Strike for Peace in 1961. Serving in Congress as a Democrat from New York, she fought for the rights of women and of the poor.

AC abbr.
- (also ac) alternating current:

- (also ac) air conditioning: a sedan with power steering and AC.

- before Christ. <ORIGIN> from Latin ante Christum.

- appellation contrôlée: AC Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

- athletic club.

- (ac.) acre: a 22-ac. site.

Ac symbol the chemical element actinium.

a/c abbr.
- account. <ORIGIN> from the obsolete phrase account current denoting a continuous account detailing sums paid and received.

- (also A/C) air conditioning.

ac- prefix variant spelling of AD- assimilated before c and q (as in accept, acquit, and acquiesce).

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AD- ■

-ac suffix forming adjectives that are also often (or only) used as nouns, such as maniac. Compare with -ACAL.

<ORIGIN> from Greek -akos via Latin -acus or French -aque.

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-ACAL ■

a·ca·cia (also a·ca·cia tree) n. a tree or shrub of warm climates that bears spikes or clusters of yellow or white flowers and is frequently thorny.
<INFO>  Genus Acacia, family Leguminosae: numerous species, including A. senegal, which yields gum arabic.

<SPECIAL USAGE> see FALSE ACACIA.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek akakia.

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FALSE ACACIA ■

ac·a·deme n. the academic environment or community; academia: bridging the gap between industry and academe; the groves of academe.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'academy'): from Latin academia, reinforced by Greek (see ACADEMY).

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ACADEMY ■

ac·a·de·mi·a n. the environment or community concerned with the pursuit of research, education, and scholarship: he spent his working life in academia.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Latin (see ACADEMY).

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ACADEMY ■

ac·a·dem·ic adj. 1 of or relating to education and scholarship: academic achievement; he had no academic qualifications.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of or relating to an educational or scholarly institution or environment: students resplendent in academic dress.

- (of an institution or a course of study) placing a greater emphasis on reading and study than on technical or practical work: an academic high school that prepares students for the best colleges and universities.

- (of a person) interested in or excelling at scholarly pursuits and activities: Ben is not an academic child but he tries hard.

- (of an art form) conventional, esp. in an idealized or excessively formal way: academic painting.

2 not of practical relevance; of only theoretical interest: the debate has been largely academic.

■ n. a teacher or scholar in a college or institute of higher education.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·a·dem·i·cal·ly adv. [sentence adverb].

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French académique or medieval Latin academicus, from academia (see ACADEMY).

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ACADEMY ■

ac·a·de·mi·cian n. 1 an academic; an intellectual.

2 a member of an academy, esp. of the Royal Academy of Arts, the Académie Française, or the Russian Academy of Sciences.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French académicien, from medieval Latin academicus (see ACADEMIC).

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ACADEMIC ■

ac·a·dem·i·cism (also a·cad·e·mism ) n. adherence to formal or conventional rules and traditions in art or literature: the opposition between academicism and creative authenticity.

ac·a·dem·ic year n. the period of the year during which students attend an educational institution, usually from September to June. Also called SCHOOL YEAR.

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SCHOOL YEAR ■

a·cad·e·my n. (pl. -mies) 1 a place of study or training in a special field: a police academy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- HISTORICAL a place of study.

- a secondary school, typically a private one: he had passed all his finals at Ephebus Academy.

- (the Academy) the teaching school founded by Plato.

2 a society or institution of distinguished scholars, artists, or scientists, that aims to promote and maintain standards in its particular field: the National Academy of Sciences.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the community of scholars; academe: a writing and publishing world outside the academy.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the garden where Plato taught): from French académie or Latin academia, from Greek , from Akadmos, the hero after whom Plato's garden was named.

A·cad·e·my A·ward n. TRADEMARK any of a series of awards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Hollywood given annually since 1928 for achievement in the movie industry in various categories; an Oscar.

A·ca·di·a a former French colony established in 1604 in the territory that now forms Nova Scotia in Canada. Contested by France and Britain, it was ceded to Britain in 1763, and French Acadians were deported to other parts of North America, esp. Louisiana.

<ORIGIN> from Acadie, the French name for Nova Scotia.

A·ca·di·an CHIEFLY HISTORICAL adj. of or relating to Acadia or its people.

■ n. a native or inhabitant of Acadia.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- CHIEFLY CANADIAN a French-speaking descendant of the early French settlers in Acadia.

- a descendant of the Acadians deported to Louisiana in the 18th century; a Cajun.

ac·a·jou n. 1 the wood of certain tropical timber-yielding trees, esp. mahogany.

2 another term for CASHEW.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, via Portuguese from Tupi acajú.

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CASHEW ■

-acal suffix forming adjectives from nouns and adjectives usually ending in -ac, such as maniacal, often making a distinction from nouns ending in -ac (as in maniacal compared with maniac).

a·cal·cu·li·a n. [MEDICINE] loss of the ability to perform simple arithmetic calculations, typically resulting from disease or injury of the parietal lobe of the brain.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from A-1 'not' + Latin calculare 'calculate' + -IA^1 .

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-IA ■

acantho- (also acanth- before a vowel) comb. form having thornlike characteristics.

<ORIGIN> from Greek akantha 'thorn'.

A·can·tho·ceph·a·la [ZOOLOGY] a small phylum of parasitic invertebrates that comprises the thorny-headed worms.

<DERIVATIVES> a·can·tho·ceph·a·lan adj. & n. a·can·tho·ceph·a·lid adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from ACANTHO- 'thorn' + Greek 'head'.

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ACANTHO- ■

ac·an·tho·di·an n. a small spiny-finned, jawed fossil fish of a group found chiefly in the Devonian period.
<INFO>  Acanthodii

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Acanthodii (from ACANTHO-) + -AN.

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ACANTHO- ■

-AN ■

a·can·thus n. 1 a herbaceous plant or shrub with bold flower spikes and spiny decorative leaves, native to Mediterranean regions.
<INFO>  Genus Acanthus, family Acanthaceae: many species.
<ORIGIN> via Latin from Greek akanthos, from akantha 'thorn', from 'sharp point'.

2 [ARCHITECTURE] a conventionalized representation of an acanthus leaf, used esp. as a decoration for Corinthian column capitals.

a cap·pel·la adj. & adv. (with reference to choral music) without instrumental accompaniment: [as adj.] an a cappella Mass | [as adv.] the trio usually performs a cappella.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] relating to or concerned with such music: the English a cappella tradition.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'in chapel style'.

A·ca·pul·co a port and resort in southern Mexico, on the Pacific coast; pop. 592,290. Full name ACAPULCO DE JUÁREZ.

Ac·a·ri (also Ac·a·ri·na ) [ZOOLOGY] a large order (or subclass) of small arachnids that comprises the mites and ticks. They are distinguished by an apparent lack of body divisions.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·a·rid n. & adj. ac·a·rine n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from acarus, from Greek akari 'mite'.

a·car·i·cide n. a substance poisonous to mites or ticks.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek akari 'mite, tick' + -CIDE.

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-CIDE ■

ac·a·rol·o·gy n. the study of mites and ticks.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·a·rol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek akari 'mite, tick' + -LOGY.

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-LOGY ■

a·cat·a·lec·tic [PROSODY] adj. (of a line of verse) having the full number of syllables.

■ n. a line of verse of such a type.

Ac·ca·di·an n. variant spelling of AKKADIAN.

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AKKADIAN ■

ac·cede v. [intrans.] FORMAL 1 assent or agree to a demand, request, or treaty: the authorities did not accede to the strikers' demands.

2 assume an office or position: he acceded to the post of director in September.
<SPECIAL USAGE> become a member of a community or organization: Albania acceded to the IMF in 1990.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'come forward, approach'): from Latin accedere, from ad- 'to' + cedere 'give way, yield'.

ac·cel·er·an·do [MUSIC] adj. & adv. with a gradual increase of speed (used chiefly as a direction).

■ n. (pl. -dos or -di ) a passage to be performed with such an acceleration.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

ac·cel·er·ant n. a substance used to aid the spread of fire: stolen accelerants could be used as firebombs.

■ adj. accelerating or causing acceleration: accelerant factors for carcinoma.

ac·cel·er·ate v. [intrans.] (of a vehicle or other physical object) begin to move more quickly: the car accelerated toward her.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- increase in amount or extent: inflation started to accelerate | [as adj.] (accelerating) accelerating industrial activity.

- [PHYSICS] undergo a change in velocity.

- [trans.] cause to go faster: the key question is whether stress accelerates aging.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cel·er·a·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (in the sense 'hasten the occurrence of'): from Latin accelerat- 'hastened', from the verb accelerare, from ad- 'toward' + celer 'swift'.

ac·cel·er·at·ed learn·ing n. 1 an intensive method of study employing techniques that enable material to be learned in a relatively short time.

2 a program of learning that allows certain students, esp. those more academically able, to progress through school more rapidly than others.

ac·cel·er·a·tion n. increase in the rate or speed of something: the acceleration of the industrialization process; an acceleration in the divorce rate.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [PHYSICS] the rate of change of velocity per unit of time.

- a vehicle's capacity to gain speed within a short time: a Formula One car is superior to an Indy car in its acceleration.

ac·cel·er·a·tor n. something that brings about acceleration, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the device, typically a pedal, that controls the speed of a vehicle's engine.

- [PHYSICS] an apparatus for accelerating charged particles to high velocities.

- a substance that speeds up a chemical process, typically the vulcanization of rubber or the curing of a plastic.

- [COMPUTING] short for ACCELERATOR BOARD.

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ACCELERATOR BOARD ■

ac·cel·er·a·tor board (also accelerator card) n. an accessory circuit board that can be plugged into a small computer to increase the speed of its processor or input/output operations.

ac·cel·er·om·e·ter n. an instrument for measuring acceleration, typically that of an automobile, ship, aircraft, or spacecraft, or that involved in the vibration of a machine, building, or other structure.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from ACCELERATE + -METER.

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ACCELERATE ■

-METER ■

ac·cent n. 1 a distinctive mode of pronunciation of a language, esp. one associated with a particular nation, locality, or social class: a strong German accent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the mode of pronunciation used by native speakers of a language: she never mastered the French accent.

2 a distinct emphasis given to a syllable or word in speech by stress or pitch.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a mark on a letter or word to indicate pitch, stress, or vowel quality.

- [MUSIC] an emphasis on a particular note or chord.

3 [in sing.] a special or particular emphasis: the accent is on participation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a feature that gives a distinctive visual emphasis to something: blue woodwork and accents of red.

■ v. [trans.] emphasize (a particular feature): fabrics that accent the background colors in the room.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MUSIC] play (a note, a beat of the bar, etc.) with an accent.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cen·tu·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'intonation'): from Latin accentus 'tone, signal, or intensity' (from ad- 'to' + cantus 'song'), translating Greek 'a song sung to music, intonation'.

ac·cent·ed adj. 1 spoken with or characterized by a particular accent: he spoke in slightly accented English.

2 (of a word or syllable) marked with a stress or other accent.

ac·cen·tor n. a small Eurasian songbird with generally drab-colored plumage.
<INFO>  Family Prunellidae and genus Prunella: several species.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from late Latin, from ad- 'to' + cantor 'singer'.

ac·cen·tu·ate v. [trans.] make more noticeable or prominent: his jacket unfortunately accentuated his paunch.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from medieval Latin accentuat- 'accented', from the verb accentuare, from accentus 'tone' (see ACCENT).

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ACCENT ■

ac·cen·tu·a·tion n. the action of emphasizing something: the accentuation of the Treasury's currency policy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the prominence of a thing relative to the normal: a condition where there is an accentuation of female characteristics.

- the manner in which accents are apparent in pronunciation, or indicated in writing.

ac·cept v. [trans.] 1 consent to receive (a thing offered): he accepted a pen as a present.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- agree to undertake (an offered position or responsibility).

- give an affirmative answer to (an offer or proposal); say yes to: he would accept their offer and see what happened | [intrans.] Tim offered Brian a lift home and he accepted.

- DATED say yes to a proposal of marriage from (a man): Ronald is a good match and she ought to accept him.

- receive as adequate, valid, or suitable: the college accepted her as a student; credit cards are widely accepted.

- regard favorably or with approval; welcome: the Harvard literati never accepted him as one of them.

- agree to meet (a draft or bill of exchange) by signing it.

- (of a thing) be designed to allow (something) to be inserted or applied: vending machines that accepted 100-yen coins for cans of beer.

2 believe or come to recognize (an opinion, explanation, etc.) as valid or correct: this tentative explanation came to be accepted by the group | [with clause] it is accepted that aging is a continuous process | [as adj.] (accepted) he wasn't handsome in the accepted sense.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- be prepared to subscribe to (a belief or philosophy): accept the tenets of the Episcopalian faith.

- take upon oneself (a responsibility or liability); acknowledge: Jenkins is willing to accept his responsibility | [with clause] he accepts that he made a mistake.

- tolerate or submit to (something unpleasant or undesired): they accepted the need to cut expenses.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cept·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin acceptare, frequentative of accipere 'take something to oneself', from ad- 'to' + capere 'take'.

<USAGE>
Accept, which means 'take (that which is offered),' may be confused with the verb except, which means 'exclude.' Thus: I accept the terms of your offer, but I wish to except the clause calling for repayment of the deposit.

ac·cept·a·ble adj. 1 able to be agreed on; suitable: has tried to find a solution acceptable to everyone.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- adequate; satisfactory: an acceptable substitute for champagne.

- pleasing; welcome: some coffee would be most acceptable.

2 able to be tolerated or allowed: pollution in the city had reached four times the acceptable level.

<PHRASES> the acceptable face of the tolerable or attractive manifestation or aspect of: he presents himself as the acceptable face of gambling.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cept·a·bil·i·ty n. ac·cept·a·ble·ness n. ac·cept·a·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from late Latin acceptabilis, from acceptare (see ACCEPT).

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ACCEPT ■

ac·cept·ance n. 1 the action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered: charges involving the acceptance of bribes | [as adj.] an acceptance speech | he had an acceptance from the magazine.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- agreement to meet a draft or bill of exchange, effected by signing it.

- a draft or bill so accepted.

2 the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable, typically to be admitted into a group: you must wait for acceptance into the club.

3 agreement with or belief in an idea, opinion, or explanation: acceptance of the teaching of the church.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- approval or favorable regard: the options proposed by the report gained acceptance.

- willingness to tolerate a difficult or unpleasant situation: a mood of resigned acceptance.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Old French, from accepter (see ACCEPT).

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ACCEPT ■

ac·cept·ant adj. (acceptant of) RARE willingly accepting.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, 'accepting', present participle of accepter 'to accept'.

ac·cep·ta·tion n. a particular sense or the generally recognized meaning (common acceptation) of a word or phrase.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally in the sense 'favorable reception, approval'): from late Latin acceptatio(n-), from the verb acceptare (see ACCEPT). The current sense dates from the early 17th cent.

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ACCEPT ■

ac·cep·tor n. a person or thing that accepts something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person or bank that accepts a draft or bill of exchange.

- [CHEMISTRY] an atom or molecule that is able to bind to or accept an electron or other species.

- [PHYSICS] such an atom forming a positive hole in a semiconductor.

ac·cess n. 1 a means of approaching or entering a place: the staircase gives access to the top floor; wheelchair access | the building has a side access.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the right or opportunity to use or benefit from something: do you have access to a computer?; awards to help people gain access to training.

- the right or opportunity to approach or see someone: we were denied access to our grandson.

- the action or process of obtaining or retrieving information stored in a computer's memory: this prevents unauthorized access or inadvertent deletion of the file.

- the condition of being able to be reached or obtained: a campaign to improve road access for the disabled.

- [as adj.] denoting noncommercial broadcasting produced by local independent groups, rather than by professionals: public-access television.

2 [in sing.] an attack or outburst of an emotion: I was suddenly overcome with an access of rage.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be accessed) 1 [COMPUTING] obtain, examine, or retrieve (data or a file).

2 approach or enter (a place): single rooms have private baths accessed via the balcony.

3 gain the right or opportunity to use or benefit from (something).

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'sudden attack of illness'): from Latin accessus, from the verb accedere 'to approach' (see ACCEDE). Sense 1 is first recorded in the early 17th cent.

<USAGE>
The verb access is standard and common in computing and related terminology. But its use outside computing contexts, although well established in the language, is sometimes criticized as being 'jargon' ( you must use a password to access the account). Other words or phrases such as 'enter' or 'gain access to' are suggested as ready substitutes.

For another example of a controversial formation of a verb from a noun, see usage at IMPACT.

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ACCEDE ■

ac·cess charge (also access fee) n. a charge made for the use of computer or local telephone-network facilities.

ac·cess course n. an educational course enabling those without traditional qualifications to become eligible for higher education.

ac·ces·si·ble adj. 1 (of a place) able to be reached or entered: the town is accessible by bus; the building has been made accessible to disabled people.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an object, service, or facility) able to be easily obtained or used: making learning opportunities more accessible to adults.

- easily understood: his Latin grammar is lucid and accessible.

- able to be reached or entered by people in wheelchairs: it provides specialized features such as nonslip floors and accessible entrances.

2 (of a person, typically one in a position of authority or importance) friendly and easy to talk to; approachable: he is more accessible than most tycoons.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·ces·si·bil·i·ty n. ac·ces·si·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin accessibilis, from Latin access- 'approached', from the verb accedere (see ACCEDE).

Linked entries:

ACCEDE ■

ac·ces·sion n. 1 the attainment or acquisition of a position of rank or power, typically that of monarch or president: the queen's accession to the throne; lost the vote on the Fortas accession to the chief justiceship.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action or process of formally joining or being accepted by an association, institution, or group: the accession of Spain and Portugal into the European Community.

2 a new item added to an existing collection of books, paintings, or artifacts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an amount added to an existing quantity of something: did not anticipate any further accession of wealth from the man's estate.

3 the formal acceptance of a treaty or agreement: accession to the Treaty of Paris.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be accessioned) record the addition of (a new item) to a library, museum, or other collection.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the general sense 'something added'): from Latin accession-, from the verb accedere 'approach, come to' (see ACCEDE).

Linked entries:

ACCEDE ■

ac·ces·so·rize v. [trans.] provide or complement (a garment) with fashion accessories: the leisure suits were accessorized with white vinyl loafers and matching belts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> serve as a fashion accessory to (a garment): leggings accessorize the shortest skirts.

ac·ces·so·ry (also ac·ces·sa·ry) n. (pl. -ries) 1 a thing that can be added to something else in order to make it more useful, versatile, or attractive: a range of bathroom accessories.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a small article or item of clothing carried or worn to complement a garment or outfit: among the hottest items are hair accessories such as rhinestone-studded barrettes.

2 [LAW] someone who gives assistance to the perpetrator of a crime, without directly committing it, sometimes without being present: she was charged as an accessory to murder.

■ adj. [attrib.] CHIEFLY TECHNICAL contributing to or aiding an activity or process in a minor way; subsidiary or supplementary: functionally the maxillae are a pair of accessory jaws.

<PHRASES> accessory before (or after) the fact [LAW], DATED a person who incites or assists someone to commit a crime (or knowingly aids someone who has committed a crime).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin accessorius 'additional thing', from Latin access- 'increased', from the verb accedere (see ACCEDE).

Linked entries:

ACCEDE ■

ac·ces·so·ry cell n. [PHYSIOLOGY] any of various cells of the immune system that interact with T cells in the initiation of the immune response.

ac·ces·so·ry min·er·al n. [GEOLOGY] a constituent mineral present in small quantity and not taken into account in identifying a rock.

ac·ces·so·ry nerve n. [ANATOMY] each of the eleventh pair of cranial nerves, supplying certain muscles in the neck and shoulder.

ac·cess pro·vid·er n. another term for SERVICE PROVIDER.

Linked entries:

SERVICE PROVIDER ■

ac·cess road n. a road giving access to a place or to another road.

ac·cess time n. [COMPUTING] the time taken to retrieve data from storage.

ac·ciac·ca·tu·ra n. (pl. -tu·ras or -tu·re ) [MUSIC] a grace note performed as quickly as possible before an essential note of a melody, and falling before the beat.

<ORIGIN> Italian, from acciaccare 'to crush'.

ac·ci·dence n. the part of grammar that deals with the inflections of words.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from late Latin accidentia (translation of Greek parepomena 'things happening alongside'), neuter plural of the present participle of accidere 'happen' (see ACCIDENT).

Linked entries:

ACCIDENT ■

ac·ci·dent n. 1 an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury: he had an accident at the factory | if you are unable to work owing to accident or sickness | [as adj.] an accident investigator.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a crash involving road or other vehicles, typically one that causes serious damage or injury: four people were killed in a car accident.

- INFORMAL used euphemistically to refer to an incidence of incontinence, typically by a child or an animal.

2 an event that happens by chance or that is without apparent or deliberate cause: the pregnancy was an accident; it is no accident that my tale features a tragic romance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the working of fortune; chance: my faith is an accident of birth, not a matter of principled commitment; he came to Harvard largely through accident.

3 [PHILOSOPHY] (in Aristotelian thought) a property of a thing that is not essential to its nature.

<PHRASES>
□ an accident waiting to happen
1 a potentially disastrous situation, typically caused by negligent or faulty procedures.

2 a person certain to cause trouble.

□ accidents will happen however careful you try to be, it is inevitable that some unfortunate or unforeseen events will occur: problems like these should not occur, but accidents will happen.

□ by accident unintentionally; by chance.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'an event'): via Old French from Latin accident- 'happening', from the verb accidere, from ad- 'toward, to' + cadere 'to fall'.

ac·ci·den·tal adj. 1 happening by chance, unintentionally, or unexpectedly: a verdict of accidental death; the damage might have been accidental.

2 incidental; subsidiary: the location is accidental and contributes nothing to the tension between the characters in the poem.

3 [PHILOSOPHY] (in Aristotelian thought) relating to or denoting properties that are not essential to a thing's nature.

■ n. 1 [MUSIC] a sign indicating a momentary departure from the key signature by raising or lowering a note.

2 [ORNITHOLOGY] another term for VAGRANT.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·ci·den·tal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in senses 2 and 3 of the adjective): from late Latin accidentalis, from Latin accident- 'happening' (see ACCIDENT).

<THE RIGHT WORD>
accidental, adventitious, casual, contingent, fortuitous, incidental

Things don't always go as planned, but there are many ways to describe the role that chance plays.

Accidental applies to events that occur entirely by chance (an accidental encounter with the candidate outside the men's room); but it is so strongly influenced by the noun “accident” that it carries connotations of undesirable or possibly disastrous results (an accidental miscalculation of the distance he had to jump).

A casual act or event is one that is random or unpremeditated (a casual conversation with her son's teacher in the grocery store), in which the role that chance plays is not always clear.

Something that is incidental may or may not involve chance; it typically refers to what is secondary or nonessential (incidental expenses in the budget) or what occurs without design or regularity (incidental lighting throughout the garden).

Adventitious also implies the lack of an essential relationship, referring to something that is a mere random occurrence (adventitious circumstances that led to victory).

In contrast, contingent points to something that is entirely dependent on an uncertain event for its existence or occurrence (travel plans that are contingent upon the weather).

Fortuitous refers to chance events of a fortunate nature; it is about as far as one can get from accidental (a fortuitous meeting with the candidate outside the men's room just before the press conference).

Linked entries:

VAGRANT ■

ACCIDENT ■

ac·ci·dent-prone adj. tending to be involved in a greater than average number of accidents.

ac·ci·die n. acedia.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin accidia, alteration of ACEDIA. Obsolete after the 16th cent., the term was revived in the late 19th cent.

Linked entries:

ACEDIA ■

ac·cip·i·ter n. [ORNITHOLOGY] a hawk of a group distinguished by short, broad wings and relatively long legs, adapted for fast flight in wooded country.
<INFO>  Accipiter and related genera, family Accipitridae: numerous species, including the goshawk.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Latin, literally 'hawk, bird of prey'.

ac·cip·i·trine adj. [attrib.] [ORNITHOLOGY] of or relating to birds of a family that includes most diurnal birds of prey other than falcons, New World vultures, and the osprey.
<INFO>  Family Accipitridae; treated as a subfamily (Accipitrinae) in this sense when the osprey is included in this family.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from Latin accipiter 'bird of prey'.

ac·claim v. [trans.] (usu. be acclaimed) praise enthusiastically and publicly: the conference was acclaimed as a considerable success | [trans.] he was acclaimed a great painter. See note at PRAISE.

■ n. enthusiastic and public praise: she has won acclaim for her commitment to democracy.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'express approval',: from Latin acclamare, from ad- 'to' + clamare 'to shout'. The spelling has been influenced by association with CLAIM. Current senses date from the 17th cent.

Linked entries:

CLAIM ■

ac·cla·ma·tion n. loud and enthusiastic approval, typically to welcome or honor someone or something: the tackle brought the fans to their feet in acclamation | the president was again greeted by the acclamations of all present.

<PHRASES> by acclamation
1 (of election, agreement, etc.) by overwhelming vocal approval and without ballot.

2 CANADIAN (of election) by virtue of being the sole candidate.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin acclamatio(n-), from acclamare 'shout at', later 'shout in approval' (see ACCLAIM).

Linked entries:

ACCLAIM ■

ac·cli·mate v. [intrans.] (usu. be acclimated) become accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions: it will take a few days to get acclimated to the altitude.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BIOLOGY] respond physiologically or behaviorally to a change in a single environmental factor: trees may acclimate to high CO_2 levels by reducing the number of stomata. Compare with ACCLIMATIZE.

- [trans.] [BOTANY] & [HORTICULTURE] harden off (a plant).

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cli·ma·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French acclimater, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + climat 'climate'.

Linked entries:

ACCLIMATIZE ■

ac·cli·ma·tize v. [intrans.] acclimate: they acclimatized themselves before ascending Everest.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BIOLOGY] respond physiologically or behaviorally to changes in a complex of environmental factors. Compare with ACCLIMATE.

- [trans.] [BOTANY] & [HORTICULTURE] harden off (a plant).

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cli·ma·ti·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French acclimater 'acclimatize' + -IZE.

Linked entries:

ACCLIMATE ■

-IZE ■

ac·cliv·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) an upward slope.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cliv·i·tous adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin acclivitas, from acclivis, from ad- 'toward' + clivus 'a slope'.

ac·co·lade n. 1 an award or privilege granted as a special honor or as an acknowledgment of merit: the ultimate official accolade of a visit by the president.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an expression of praise or admiration.

2 a touch on a person's shoulders with a sword at the bestowing of a knighthood.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French, from Provençal acolada, literally 'embrace around the neck (when bestowing knighthood)', from Latin ad- 'at, to' + collum 'neck'.

ac·com·mo·date v. [trans.] 1 (of physical space, esp. a building) provide lodging or sufficient space for: the cabins accommodate up to 6 people.

2 fit in with the wishes or needs of: any language must accommodate new concepts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (accommodate to) adapt to: making consumers accommodate to the realities of today's marketplace.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·com·mo·da·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin accommodat- 'made fitting', from the verb accommodare, from ad- 'to' + commodus 'fitting'.

ac·com·mo·dat·ing adj. fitting in with someone's wishes or demands in a helpful way.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·com·mo·dat·ing·ly adv.

ac·com·mo·da·tion n. 1 an action of accommodating or the process of being accommodated.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. accommodations) a room, group of rooms, or building in which someone may live or stay: the cost includes airfare and hotel accommodations.

- (accommodations) lodging; room and board: the company offers a number of guesthouse accommodations in Cape Cod.

- the available space for occupants in a building, vehicle, or vessel: there was lifeboat accommodation for 1,178 people.

- the provision of a room or lodging: the building is used exclusively for the accommodation of guests.

2 a convenient arrangement; a settlement or compromise: management was seeking an accommodation with labor.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the process of adapting or adjusting to someone or something: accommodation to a separate political entity was not possible.

- the automatic adjustment of the focus of the eye by flattening or thickening of the lens.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin accommodatio(n-), from accommodare 'fit one thing to another' (see ACCOMMODATE).

Linked entries:

ACCOMMODATE ■

ac·com·mo·da·tion·ist n. a person who seeks compromise with an opposing point of view, typically a political one.

ac·com·mo·da·tion lad·der n. a ladder or stairway up the side of a ship allowing access, esp. to and from a small boat, or from a dock.

ac·com·pa·ni·ment n. 1 a musical part that supports or partners a solo instrument, voice, or group: she sang to a guitar accompaniment | sonatas for piano with violin accompaniment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> music played to complement or as background to an activity: lush string accompaniments to romantic scenes in movies.

2 something that is supplementary to or complements something else, typically food: sugar snap peas make a delicious accompaniment for salmon.

<PHRASES> to the accompaniment of
1 with accompanying or background music or sound from: we filed out to the accompaniment of the organ.

2 with another event happening at the same time as: the dam was completed to the accompaniment of numerous scandals.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French accompagnement, from accompagner 'accompany'.

ac·com·pa·nist n. a person who provides a musical accompaniment to another musician or to a singer.

ac·com·pa·ny v. (-nies, -nied) [trans.] 1 go somewhere with (someone) as a companion or escort: the two sisters were to accompany us to New York; he was at the banquet accompanied by his daughter.

2 (usu. be accompanied) be present or occur at the same time as (something else): the illness is often accompanied by nausea.
<SPECIAL USAGE> provide (something) as a complement or addition to something else: home-cooked ham accompanied by brown bread.

3 play a musical accompaniment for.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French accompagner, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + compagne, from Old French compaignon 'companion'. The spelling change was due to association with COMPANY.

Linked entries:

COMPANY ■

ac·com·plice n. a person who helps another commit a crime.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: alteration (probably by association with ACCOMPANY) of Middle English complice 'an associate', via Old French from late Latin complex, complic- 'allied', from com- 'together' + the root of plicare 'to fold'.

Linked entries:

ACCOMPANY ■

ac·com·plish v. [trans.] achieve or complete successfully: the planes accomplished their mission.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French acompliss-, lengthened stem of acomplir, based on Latin ad- 'to' + complere 'to complete'.

ac·com·plished adj. highly trained or skilled: an accomplished pianist.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED having a higher level of education than average and good social skills.

ac·com·plish·ment n. something that has been achieved successfully: the reduction of inflation was a remarkable accomplishment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the successful achievement of a task: the accomplishment of planned objectives.

- an activity that a person can do well, typically as a result of study or practice: long-distance running was another of her accomplishments.

- skill or ability in an activity: a poet of considerable accomplishment.

ac·cord v. 1 [trans.] give or grant someone (power, status, or recognition): the powers accorded to the head of state | [with two objs.] the young man had accorded her little notice.

2 [intrans.] (accord with) (of a concept or fact) be harmonious or consistent with.

■ n. an official agreement or treaty.
<SPECIAL USAGE> agreement or harmony: the government and the rebels are in accord on one point; function and form in harmonious accord.

<PHRASES>
□ in accord with according to.

□ of its own accord without outside intervention: the rash may go away of its own accord.

□ of one's own accord voluntarily: he would not seek treatment of his own accord.

□ with one accord in a united way.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Old French acorder 'reconcile, be of one mind', from Latin ad- 'to' + cor, cord- 'heart'; influenced by CONCORD.

Linked entries:

CONCORD ■

ac·cord·ance n. (in phrase in accordance with) in a manner conforming with: the product is disposed of in accordance with federal regulations.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French acordance, from acorder 'bring to an agreement' (see ACCORD).

Linked entries:

ACCORD ■

ac·cord·ant adj. [predic.] ARCHAIC agreeing or compatible: I found the music accordant with the words of the service.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French acordant, from acorder 'bring to an agreement' (see ACCORD).

Linked entries:

ACCORD ■

ac·cord·ing adv. 1 (according to) as stated by or in: the outlook for investors is not bright, according to financial experts.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- in a manner corresponding or conforming to: cook the rice according to the instructions.

- in proportion or relation to: salary will be fixed according to experience.

2 (according as) depending on whether.

ac·cord·ing·ly adv. 1 in a way that is appropriate to the particular circumstances: we have to discover what his plans are and act accordingly.

2 [sentence adverb] consequently; therefore: There was no breach of the rules. Accordingly, there will be no disciplinary inquiry.

ac·cor·di·on n. a portable musical instrument with metal reeds blown by bellows, played by means of keys and buttons: [as adj.] an accordion player.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] folding like the bellows of an accordion: an accordion pleat.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cor·di·on·ist n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from German Akkordion, from Italian accordare 'to tune'.

ac·cor·di·on sched·ul·ing n. the practice of continually adjusting the work schedule of part-time or temporary workers to accommodate a company’s changing labor requirements.

ac·cost v. [trans.] approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively: reporters accosted him in the street.
<SPECIAL USAGE> approach (someone) with hostility or harmful intent: he was accosted by a thief, demanding his money or his life.

<SPECIAL USAGE> approach and address (someone) with sexual intent: a man tried to accost the girl on her way to school.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (originally in the sense 'lie or go alongside'): from French accoster, from Italian accostare, from Latin ad- 'to' + costa 'rib, side'.

ac·couche·ment n. ARCHAIC the action of giving birth to a baby.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, from accoucher 'act as midwife', from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + coucher 'put to bed' (see COUCH).

Linked entries:

COUCH ■

ac·cou·cheur n. a male midwife.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, from accoucher (see ACCOUCHEMENT).

Linked entries:

ACCOUCHEMENT ■

ac·count n. 1 a report or description of an event or experience: a detailed account of what has been achieved.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an interpretation or rendering of a piece of music: a lively account of Offenbach's score.

2 (abbr.: acct.) a record or statement of financial expenditure or receipts relating to a particular period or purpose: the ledger contains all the income and expense accounts; he submitted a quarterly account.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the department of a company that deals with such records.

3 (abbr.: acct.) an arrangement by which a body holds funds on behalf of a client or supplies goods or services to the client on credit: a bank account; charge it to my account; I began buying things on account.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the balance of funds held under such an arrangement: I wanted to get some money from the ATM and check my account.

- a client having such an arrangement with a supplier: selling bibles to established accounts in the North.

- a contract to do work periodically for a client: another agency was awarded the account.

4 importance: money was of no account to her.

■ v. [trans.] consider or regard in a specified way: her visit could not be accounted a success; he accounted himself the unluckiest man alive.

<PHRASES>
□ by (or from) all accounts according to what one has heard or read: by all accounts he is a pretty nice guy.

□ call (or bring) someone to account require someone to explain a mistake or poor performance.

□ give a good (or bad) account of oneself make a favorable (or unfavorable) impression through one's performance.

□ keep an account of keep a record of.

□ leave something out of account fail or decline to consider a factor.

□ on someone's account for a specified person's benefit: don't bother on my account.

□ on account of because of.

□ on no account under no circumstances: on no account let anyone know we're interested.

□ on one's own account with one's own money or assets, rather than for an employer or client: he began trading on his own account.

□ settle (or square) accounts with pay money owed to (someone).
- have revenge on: the dirty business of settling accounts with former Communists.

□ take something into account (or take account of) consider a specified thing along with other factors before reaching a decision or taking action.

□ there's no accounting for tastes (or taste) PROVERB it is impossible to explain why different people like different things, esp. those things that the speaker considers unappealing.

□ turn something to (good) account turn something to one's advantage.

<PHRASAL VERB> account for 1 give a satisfactory record of (something, typically money, that one is responsible for).
- provide or serve as a satisfactory explanation or reason for: he was brought before the Board to account for his behavior.

- (usu. be accounted for) know the fate or whereabouts of (someone or something), esp. after an accident: everyone was accounted for after the floods.

- succeed in killing, destroying, or defeating: a mishit drive accounted for Jones, who had scored 32.

2 supply or make up a specified amount or proportion of: social security accounts for about a third of total public spending.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'counting', 'to count'): from Old French acont (noun), aconter (verb), based on conter 'to count'.

<USAGE>
Use with as ( we accounted him as wise) is considered incorrect.

ac·count·a·ble adj. 1 (of a person, organization, or institution) required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible: government must be accountable to its citizens; parents could be held accountable for their children's actions. See note at RESPONSIBLE.

2 explicable; understandable: the delayed introduction of characters' names is accountable, if we consider that names have a low priority.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·count·a·bil·i·ty n. ac·count·a·bly adv.

ac·count·an·cy n. the profession or duties of an accountant.

ac·count·ant (abbr.: acct.) n. a person whose job is to keep or inspect financial accounts.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from legal French, present participle of Old French aconter (see ACCOUNT). The original use was as an adjective meaning 'liable to give an account', hence denoting a person who must do so.

Linked entries:

ACCOUNT ■

ac·count ex·ec·u·tive n. a business executive who manages the interests of a particular client, typically in advertising.

ac·count·ing n. the action or process of keeping financial accounts.

ac·counts pay·a·ble plural n. money owed by a company to its creditors.

ac·counts re·ceiv·a·ble plural n. money owed to a company by its debtors.

ac·cou·tre (also ac·cou·ter) v. (-tred, -tring; -tered, -ter·ing) [trans.] (usu. be accoutred) clothe or equip, typically in something noticeable or impressive.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French accoutrer, from Old French acoustrer, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + cousture 'sewing' (see COUTURE).

Linked entries:

COUTURE ■

ac·cou·tre·ment (also ac·cou·ter·ment) n. (usu. accoutrements) additional items of dress or equipment, or other items carried or worn by a person or used for a particular activity: the accoutrements of religious ritual.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a soldier's outfit other than weapons and garments.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, from accoutrer 'clothe, equip' (see ACCOUTRE).

Linked entries:

ACCOUTRE ■

Ac·cra the capital of Ghana, a port on the Gulf of Guinea; pop. 867,460.

ac·cred·it v. (-it·ed, -it·ing) [trans.] (usu. be accredited) 1 give credit (to someone) for: he was accredited with being one of the world's fastest sprinters.
<SPECIAL USAGE> attribute (an action, saying, or quality) to: the discovery of distillation is usually accredited to the Arabs.

2 (of an official body) give authority or sanction to (someone or something) when recognized standards have been met: institutions that do not meet the standards will not be accredited for teacher training.

3 give official authorization for (someone, typically a diplomat or journalist) to be in a particular place or to hold a particular post: Arab ambassadors accredited to Baghdad.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cred·i·ta·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (sense 2): from French accréditer, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + crédit 'credit'.

ac·cred·it·ed adj. (of a person, organization, or course of study) officially recognized or authorized: an accredited chiropractic school.

ac·crete v. [intrans.] grow by accumulation or coalescence: ice that had accreted grotesquely into stalactites.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] form (a composite whole or a collection of things) by gradual accumulation: the collection of art he had accreted was to be sold.

- [ASTRONOMY ] (of matter) come together under the influence of gravitation; (of a body) be formed from such matter: the gas will cool and then accrete to the galaxy's core.

- [trans.] [ASTRONOMY] cause (matter) to come together in this way.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin accret- 'grown', from the verb accrescere, from ad- 'to' + crescere 'grow'.

ac·cre·tion n. the process of growth or increase, typically by the gradual accumulation of additional layers or matter: the accretion of sediments in coastal mangroves | FIGURATIVE the growing accretion of central government authority.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a thing formed or added by such growth or increase: about one-third of California was built up by accretions; the city has a historic core surrounded by recent accretions.

- [ASTRONOMY] the coming together and cohesion of matter under the influence of gravitation to form larger bodies.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cre·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin accretion-, from accrescere 'become larger' (see ACCRETE).

Linked entries:

ACCRETE ■

ac·cre·tion·ar·y prism (also accretionary wedge) n. [GEOLOGY] a mass of sedimentary material scraped off a region of oceanic crust during subduction and piled up at the edge of the overriding plate.

ac·cre·tion disk n. [ASTRONOMY] a rotating disk of matter formed by accretion around a massive body (such as a black hole) under the influence of gravitation.

ac·crue v. (-crues, -crued, -cru·ing) [intrans.] (of sums of money or benefits) be received by someone in regular or increasing amounts over time: financial benefits will accrue from restructuring | [as adj.] (accrued) the accrued interest.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] accumulate or receive (such payments or benefits).

- [trans.] make provision for (a charge) at the end of a financial period for work that has been done but not yet invoiced.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cru·al n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French acreue, past participle of acreistre 'increase', from Latin accrescere 'become larger' (see ACCRETE).

Linked entries:

ACCRETE ■

acct. abbr.
- account.

- accountant.

ac·cul·tur·ate v. assimilate or cause to assimilate a different culture, typically the dominant one: [intrans.] those who have acculturated to the U.S.; | [trans.] the next weeks were spent acculturating the field staff | [as adj.] (acculturated) an acculturated Cherokee.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cul·tur·a·tion n. ac·cul·tur·a·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: from AC- + CULTURE + -ATE^1 . The noun acculturation dates from the late 19th cent.

Linked entries:

AC- ■

CULTURE ■

-ATE ■

ac·cum·bent adj. [BOTANY] (of a cotyledon) lying edgewise against the folded radicle in the seed.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin accumbent- 'reclining', from accumbere, from ad- 'to' + a verb related to cubare 'to lie'.

ac·cu·mu·late v. [trans.] gather together or acquire an increasing number or quantity of: investigators have yet to accumulate enough evidence.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- gradually gather or acquire (a resulting whole): her goal was to accumulate a huge fortune.

- [intrans.] gather or build up: the toxin accumulated in their bodies.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin accumulat- 'heaped up', from the verb accumulare, from ad- 'to' + cumulus 'a heap'.

ac·cu·mu·la·tion n. the acquisition or gradual gathering of something: the accumulation of wealth.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a mass or quantity of something that has gradually gathered or been acquired: the accumulation of paperwork on her desk.

- the growth of a sum of money by the regular addition of interest.

ac·cu·mu·la·tive adj. [attrib.] gathering or growing by gradual increases: the accumulative effects of pollution.

ac·cu·mu·la·tor n. a person or thing that accumulates things: accumulator of capital.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [COMPUTING] a register used to contain the results of an arithmetical or logical operation.

ac·cu·ra·cy n. (pl. -cies) the quality or state of being correct or precise: we have confidence in the accuracy of the statistics.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the ability to perform a task with precision: she hit the ball with great accuracy.

- TECHNICAL the degree to which the result of a measurement, calculation, or specification conforms to the correct value or a standard: the accuracy of radiocarbon dating | accuracies of 50-70%. Compare with PRECISION.

Linked entries:

PRECISION ■

ac·cu·rate adj. 1 (of information, measurements, statistics, etc.) correct in all details; exact: accurate information about the illness is essential.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an instrument or method) capable of giving such information: an accurate thermometer.

- (of a piece of work) meticulously careful and free from errors.

- faithfully or fairly representing the truth about someone or something: the portrait is an accurate likeness of Mozart; we were fairly accurate in our predictions.

2 (of a weapon or the person using it) capable of reaching the intended target.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a shot or throw, or the person making it) successful in reaching a target.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cu·rate·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin accuratus 'done with care', past participle of accurare, from ad- 'toward' + cura 'care'.

ac·curs·ed adj. 1 POETIC/LITERARY under a curse: the Angel of Death walks this accursed house.

2 [attrib.] INFORMAL, DATED used to express strong dislike of or anger toward someone or something: those accursed books!

<ORIGIN> Middle English: past participle of obsolete accurse, from a- (expressing intensity) + CURSE.

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CURSE ■

ac·cu·sal n. another term for ACCUSATION.

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ACCUSATION ■

ac·cu·sa·tion n. a charge or claim that someone has done something illegal or wrong: accusations of bribery.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action or process of making such a charge or claim: there was accusation in Brian's voice.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin accusatio(n-), from accusare 'call to account' (see ACCUSE).

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ACCUSE ■

ac·cu·sa·tive [GRAMMAR] adj. relating to or denoting a case of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives that expresses the object of an action or the goal of motion.

■ n. a word in the accusative case.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the accusative) the accusative case.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin (casus) accusativus, literally 'relating to an accusation or (legal) case', translating Greek '(the case) showing cause'.

ac·cu·sa·to·ri·al adj. [attrib.] [LAW] (esp. of a trial or legal procedure) involving accusation by a prosecutor and a verdict reached by an impartial judge or jury. Often contrasted with INQUISITORIAL.

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INQUISITORIAL ■

ac·cu·sa·to·ry adj. indicating or suggesting that one believes a person has done something wrong: he pointed an accusatory finger in her direction.

ac·cuse v. [trans.] (often be accused) charge (someone) with an offense or crime: he was accused of murdering his wife's lover.
<SPECIAL USAGE> claim that (someone) has done something wrong: he was accused of favoritism.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cus·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French acuser, from Latin accusare 'call to account', from ad- 'toward' + causa 'reason, motive, lawsuit'.

ac·cused n. [treated as sing. or pl.] (the accused) a person or group of people who are charged with or on trial for a crime: the accused was ordered to stand trial on a number of charges.

ac·cus·ing adj. (of an expression, gesture, or tone of voice) indicating a belief in someone's guilt or culpability: she stared at him with accusing eyes.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·cus·ing·ly adv.

ac·cus·tom v. [trans.] make (someone or something) accept something as normal or usual: I accustomed my eyes to the lenses | [trans.] tried to accustom him to their lighthearted ways.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (be accustomed to) be used to: my eyes gradually became accustomed to the darkness.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French acostumer, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + costume 'custom'.

ac·cus·tomed adj. [attrib.] customary or usual: his accustomed route.

AC/DC adj. alternating current/direct current.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL bisexual.

ACE abbr. Army Corps of Engineers.

ace n. 1 a playing card with a single spot on it, ranked as the highest card in its suit in most card games: the ace of diamonds | FIGURATIVE life had started dealing him aces again.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [INFORMAL] [GOLF] a hole in one.

2 [often with adj.] INFORMAL a person who excels at a particular sport or other activity: a motorcycle ace.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a pilot who has shot down many enemy aircraft, esp. in World War I or World War II.

3 (in tennis and similar games) a service that an opponent is unable to return and thus wins a point.

■ adj. INFORMAL very good: an ace swimmer.

■ v. [trans.] INFORMAL (in tennis and similar games) serve an ace against (an opponent).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GOLF] score an ace on (a hole) or with (a shot).

- get an A or its equivalent in (a test or exam): I aced my grammar test.

- (ace someone out) outdo someone in a competitive situation: the magazine won an award, acing out its rivals; it wasn't our intention to ace Phil out of a job.

<PHRASES>
□ an ace up one's sleeve (or in the hole) a plan or piece of information kept secret until it becomes necessary to use it.

□ hold all the aces have all the advantages.

□ play one's ace use one's best resource: deciding to play her ace, Emily showed the letter to Vic.

□ within an ace of very close to: they came within an ace of death.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting the “one” on dice): via Old French from Latin as 'unity, a unit'.

-acea suffix [ZOOLOGY] forming the names of zoological groups: Crustacea. Compare with -ACEAN.

<ORIGIN> from Latin, 'of the nature of', neuter plural adjectival ending.

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-ACEAN ■

-aceae suffix [BOTANY] forming the names of families of plants: Liliaceae.

<ORIGIN> from Latin, 'of the nature of', feminine plural adjectival ending.

-acean suffix [ZOOLOGY] forming adjectives and nouns from taxonomic names ending in -acea (such as crustacean from Crustacea).

<ORIGIN> from Latin -aceus, adjectival ending meaning 'of the nature of'.

Ace band·age n. TRADEMARK an elastic bandage, used to wrap sprained or strained ankles, wrists, or other joints.

a·ce·di·a n. spiritual or mental sloth; apathy.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: late Latin, from Greek 'listlessness', from a- 'without' + 'care'.

a·cel·lu·lar adj. [BIOLOGY] not consisting of, divided into, or containing cells.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (esp. of protozoa) consisting of one cell only.

-aceous suffix 1 [BOTANY] forming adjectives from nouns ending in -aceae (such as ericaceous from Ericaceae).

2 [CHIEFLY BIOLOGY & GEOLOGY] forming adjectives describing similarity, esp. in shape, texture, or color: arenaceous; foliaceous; olivaceous.

<ORIGIN> from Latin -aceus, adjectival ending meaning 'of the nature of'.

a·ceph·a·lous adj. 1 no longer having a head: an acephalous skeleton.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ZOOLOGY] not having a head.

- having no leader or chief: an acephalous society.

2 [PROSODY] lacking a syllable or syllables in the first foot.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek akephalos 'headless' (from a- 'without' + 'head') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

a·cerb adj. another term for ACERBIC.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin acerbus 'sour-tasting'.

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ACERBIC ■

a·cer·bic adj. 1 (esp. of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright: his acerbic wit.

2 ARCHAIC or TECHNICAL tasting sour or bitter.

<DERIVATIVES> a·cer·bi·cal·ly adv. a·cer·bi·ty n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin acerbus 'sour-tasting' + -IC.

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-IC ■

acet- prefix variant spelling of ACETO- shortened before a vowel (as in acetaldehyde).

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ACETO- ■

ac·e·tab·u·lum n. (pl. -la ) [ANATOMY] the socket of the hipbone, into which the head of the femur fits.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ZOOLOGY] any cup-shaped structure, esp. a sucker.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a vinegar cup, hence a cup-shaped cavity): from Latin, from acetum 'vinegar' + -abulum, denoting a container.

ac·e·tal n. [CHEMISTRY] an organic compound formed by the condensation of two alcohol molecules with an aldehyde molecule.
<INFO>  Acetals have the general formula R^1CH(OR^2)2, where R^1 and R^2 are alkyl groups.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from ACETIC + -al from alcohol, aldehyde.

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ACETIC ■

ac·et·al·de·hyde n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless volatile liquid aldehyde obtained by oxidizing ethanol.
<INFO>  3

a·cet·am·ide n. [CHEMISTRY] the crystalline amide of acetic acid.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: CH_3CONH_2.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from ACETYL + AMIDE.

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ACETYL ■

AMIDE ■

a·ce·ta·min·o·phen n. an analgesic drug used to treat headaches, arthritis, etc., and also to reduce fever, often as an alternative to aspirin. Proprietary names include Tylenol.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_8H_9NO_2.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a tablet of this drug.

ac·et·an·i·lide n. [CHEMISTRY] a crystalline solid prepared by acetylation of aniline, used in dye manufacture.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_6H_5NHCOCH_3.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from acet(yl) + anil(ine) + -IDE.

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-IDE ■

ac·e·tate n.
1 [CHEMISTRY] a salt or ester of acetic acid, containing the anion CH_3COO or the group OOCCH_3.

2 cellulose acetate, esp. as used to make textile fibers or plastic: [as adj.] acetate silk.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a transparency made of cellulose acetate film.

- a recording disk coated with cellulose acetate.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from ACETIC + -ATE^1 .

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ACETIC ■

-ATE ■

a·ce·tic adj. of or like vinegar or acetic acid.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French acétique, from Latin acetum 'vinegar'.

a·ce·tic ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] the acid that gives vinegar its characteristic taste. The pure acid is a colorless viscous liquid or glassy solid.
<INFO>  3

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: acetic from French acétique, from Latin acetum 'vinegar'.

a·ce·tic an·hy·dride n. [CHEMISTRY] the anhydride of acetic acid. It is a colorless pungent liquid, used in making synthetic fibers.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: (CH_3CO)2O.

aceto- (also acet- before a vowel) comb. form [CHEMISTRY] representing ACETIC or ACETYL.

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ACETIC ■

ACETYL ■

a·ce·to·bac·ter n. bacteria that oxidize organic compounds to acetic acid, as in vinegar formation.
<INFO>  Acetobacter

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (genus name), from ACETO- + BACTERIUM.

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ACETO- ■

BACTERIUM ■

a·ce·to·gen·ic adj. (of bacteria) forming acetate or acetic acid as a product of metabolism.

ac·e·tone n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless volatile liquid ketone made by oxidizing isopropanol, used as an organic solvent and synthetic reagent.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: CH_3COCH_3.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from ACETIC + -ONE.

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ACETIC ■

-ONE ■

a·ce·to·ne·mi·a n. another term for KETONEMIA.

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KETONEMIA ■

ac·e·to·ni·trile n. [CHEMISTRY] a toxic odoriferous liquid, used as a solvent in high-performance liquid chromatography.
<INFO>  3

ac·e·tous adj. producing or resembling vinegar: acetous fermentation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (rare before the late 18th cent.): from late Latin acetosus 'sour', from Latin acetum 'vinegar'.

a·ce·tyl n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] the acyl radical C(O)CH_3, derived from acetic acid: acetyl chloride; an acetyl group.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from ACETIC + -YL.

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ACETIC ■

-YL ■

a·cet·y·late v. [trans.] [CHEMISTRY] introduce an acetyl group into (a molecule or compound): [as adj.] (acetylated) the acetylated forms of chloramphenicol.

<DERIVATIVES> a·cet·y·la·tion n.

a·ce·tyl·cho·line n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a compound that occurs throughout the nervous system, in which it functions as a neurotransmitter.

a·ce·tyl·cho·lin·es·ter·ase n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] an enzyme that causes rapid hydrolysis of acetylcholine. Its action serves to stop excitation of a nerve after transmission of an impulse.

a·ce·tyl-co·en·zyme A n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] the acetyl ester of coenzyme A, involved as an acetylating agent in many biochemical processes.

a·cet·y·lene n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless pungent-smelling hydrocarbon gas, which burns with a bright flame, used in welding and formerly in lighting.
<INFO>  Alternative name: ethyne; chem. formula: C_2H_2.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from ACETIC + -YL + -ENE.

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ACETIC ■

-YL ■

-ENE ■

a·cet·y·lide n. [CHEMISTRY] a saltlike compound formed from acetylene and a metal, containing the anion (CC)2 or HCC. Acetylides are typically unstable or explosive.

a·ce·tyl·sal·i·cyl·ic ac·id n. systematic chemical name for ASPIRIN.

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ASPIRIN ■

ACH abbr. Automated Clearinghouse.

A·chae·a a region of ancient Greece on the north coast of the Peloponnesus.

A·chae·an adj. of or relating to Achaea in ancient Greece.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY (esp. in Homeric contexts) Greek.

■ n. an inhabitant of Achaea.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY (esp. in Homeric contexts) a Greek.

The Achaeans were among the earliest Greek-speaking inhabitants of Greece, being established there well before the 12th century BC. Some scholars identify them with the Mycenaeans of the 14th-13th centuries BC. The Greek protagonists in the Trojan War are regularly called Achaeans in the Iliad, though this may have referred only to the leaders.

A·chae·me·nid (also A·chae·me·ni·an ) adj. of or relating to the dynasty ruling in Persia from Cyrus I to Darius III (553-330 BC).

■ n. a member of this dynasty.

<ORIGIN>  from Greek 'Achaemenes' (the reputed ancestor of the dynasty) + -ID^1 .

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-ID ■

ach·a·la·sia n. [MEDICINE] a condition in which the muscles of the lower part of the esophagus fail to relax, preventing food from passing into the stomach.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from A-1 'without, not' + Greek khalasis 'loosening' (from khalan 'relax') + -IA^1 .

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A- ■

-IA ■

a·cha·ry·a n. (in India) a Hindu or Buddhist spiritual teacher or leader.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an influential mentor.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Sanskrit 'master, teacher'.

A·cha·tes [GREEK] [ROMAN MYTHOLOGY] a companion of Aeneas. His loyalty to his friend was so exemplary as to become proverbial, hence the term fidus Achates (‘faithful Achates’).

ache n. a continuous or prolonged dull pain in a part of one's body: the ache in her head worsened.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] FIGURATIVE an emotion experienced with painful or bittersweet intensity: an ache in her heart.

■ v. [intrans.] 1 (of a person) suffer from a continuous dull pain: I'm aching all over.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a part of one's body) be the source of such a pain: my legs ached from the previous day's exercise | [as adj.] (aching) aching feet.

- FIGURATIVE feel intense sadness or compassion: she sat still and silent, her heart aching she looked so tired that my heart ached for her.

2 feel an intense desire for: she ached for his touch | [with infinitive] he was aching to get his hands on the ball.

<PHRASES> aches and pains minor pains and discomforts, typically in the muscles.

<DERIVATIVES> ach·ing·ly adv. [as submodifier] a sound that was achingly familiar to me.

<ORIGIN> Old English æce (noun), acan (verb). In Middle and early modern English the noun was spelled atche and pronounced so as to rhyme with 'batch', the verb was spelled and pronounced as it is today. The noun began to be pronounced like the verb around 1700. The modern spelling is largely due to Dr. Johnson, who mistakenly assumed its derivation to be from Greek akhos 'pain',

A·che·be Chinua (1930- ), Nigerian novelist, poet, short-story writer, and essayist; born Albert Chinualumgu. Notable works: Things Fall Apart (1958), A Man of the People (1966), and Anthills of the Savannah (1988). Nobel Prize for Literature (1989).

a·chene n. [BOTANY] a small, dry, one-seeded fruit that does not open to release the seed.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin achaenium, derived irregularly from a- 'not' + Greek khainein 'to gape'.

A·cher·nar [ASTRONOMY] the ninth brightest star in the sky, and the brightest in the constellation Eridanus. It marks the southern limit of Eridanus, and is only visible to observers in the southern hemisphere.

<ORIGIN> from Arabic, 'end of the river (i.e., Eridanus)'.

Ach·er·on [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] one of the rivers of Hades.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY hell.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: Latin from Greek .

Ach·e·son Dean Gooderham (1893-1971), U.S. statesman; secretary of state 1949-53. He urged international control of nuclear power, was instrumental in the formation of NATO, and implemented the Marshall Plan and the Truman Doctrine.

A·cheu·le·an (also A·cheu·li·an) adj. [ARCHAEOLOGY] of, relating to, or denoting the main Lower Paleolithic culture in Europe, represented by hand-ax industries, and dated to about 1,500,000-150,000 years ago. See also ABBEVILLIAN.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (the Acheulean) the Acheulean culture or period.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French Acheuléen, from St-Acheul near Amiens in northern France, where objects from this culture were found.

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ABBEVILLIAN ■

a·chieve v. [trans.] reach or attain (a desired objective, level, or result) by effort, skill, or courage: he achieved his ambition to become a journalist | [intrans.] people striving to achieve.
<SPECIAL USAGE> accomplish or bring about: the communist system achieved a basic economic modernization.

<DERIVATIVES> a·chiev·a·ble adj. a·chiev·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'complete successfully'): from Old French achever 'come or bring to a head', from a chief 'to a head'.

a·chieve·ment n. 1 a thing done successfully, typically by effort, courage, or skill: to reach this stage is a great achievement.

2 the process or fact of achieving something: the achievement of professional recognition; | sense of achievement.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a child's or student's progress in a course of learning, typically as measured by standardized tests or objectives: assessing ability in terms of academic achievement | [as adj.] an achievement test.

3 [HERALDRY] a representation of a coat of arms with all the adjuncts to which a bearer of arms is entitled.

ach·il·le·a n. a plant of the daisy family, which typically has heads of small white or yellow flowers and fernlike leaves.
<INFO>  Genus Achillea, family Compositae: numerous species, including the common yarrow.

<ORIGIN> via Latin from Greek Akhilleios, denoting a plant supposed to have been used medicinally by Achilles.

A·chil·les [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a hero of the Trojan War, son of Peleus and Thetis. During his infancy his mother plunged him in the Styx, thus making his body invulnerable except for the heel by which she held him. During the Trojan War, Achilles killed Hector but was later wounded in the heel by an arrow shot by Paris and died.

Achil·les heel n. a weakness or vulnerable point.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: alluding to the vulnerability of ACHILLES.

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ACHILLES ■

Achil·les ten·don n. the tendon connecting calf muscles to the heel.

a·chim·e·nes n. (pl. same) a tropical American plant with tubular or trumpet-shaped flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Achimenes, family Gesneriaceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, either from Greek akhaimenis, denoting a different plant (euphorbia), or from a- 'not' + kheimanein 'expose to the cold'.

a·chi·o·te n. annatto.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Spanish, from Nahuatl achiotl.

a·chlor·hy·dri·a n. [MEDICINE] absence of hydrochloric acid in the gastric secretions.

Acholi n. 1 (pl. same) a member of a farming and pastoral people of northern Uganda and southern Sudan.

2 the Nilotic language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> the name in Acholi.

a·chon·dro·pla·sia n. a hereditary condition in which the growth of long bones by ossification of cartilage is retarded, resulting in very short limbs and sometimes a face that is small in relation to the (normal-sized) skull.

<DERIVATIVES> a·chon·dro·plas·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from A-1 'without' + Greek khondros 'cartilage' + plasis 'molding' + -IA^1 .

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A- ■

-IA ■

ach·ro·mat n. another term for ACHROMATIC LENS.

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ACHROMATIC LENS ■

ach·ro·mat·ic adj. [attrib.] 1 relating to, employing, or denoting lenses that transmit light without separating it into constituent colors.

2 POETIC/LITERARY without color: achromatic gloom.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: via French from Greek a- 'without' + (from 'color').

ach·ro·mat·ic lens n. a lens that transmits light without separating it into constituent colors.

ach·y adj. [predic.] suffering from continuous dull pain: she felt tired and achy.

a·cic·u·lar adj. TECHNICAL (chiefly of crystals) needle-shaped.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from late Latin acicula 'small needle', diminutive of acus.

ac·id n. a chemical substance that neutralizes alkalis, dissolves some metals, and turns litmus red; typically, a corrosive or sour-tasting liquid of this kind: rainwater is a very weak acid | traces of acid. Often contrasted with ALKALI or BASE^1 .
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE bitter or cutting remarks or tone of voice: she was unable to quell the acid in her voice.

- INFORMAL the drug LSD.

- [CHEMISTRY] a molecule or other entity that can donate a proton or accept an electron pair in reactions.

Acids are compounds that release hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water. Any solution with a pH of less than 7 is acidic, strong acids such as sulfuric or hydrochloric acid having a pH as low as 1 or 2. Most organic acids (carboxylic or fatty acids) contain the carboxyl group COOH.

■ adj. 1 containing acid or having the properties of an acid; in particular, having a pH of less than 7: poor, acid soils. Often contrasted with ALKALINE or BASIC.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GEOLOGY] (of rock, esp. lava) containing a relatively high proportion of silica.

- [METALLURGY] relating to or denoting steelmaking processes involving silica-rich refractories and slags.

2 sharp-tasting or sour: acid fruit.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person's remarks or tone) bitter or cutting.

- (of a color) intense or bright: an acid green.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·id·y adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'sour-tasting'): from Latin acidus, from acere 'be sour'.

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ALKALI ■

BASE ■

ALKALINE ■

BASIC ■

ac·id·head n. INFORMAL a habitual user of the drug LSD.

ac·id house n. a kind of popular synthesized dance music with a fast repetitive beat, popular in the 1980s and associated with the taking of drugs such as Ecstasy.

a·cid·ic adj. 1 having the properties of an acid, or containing acid; having a pH below 7. Often contrasted with ALKALINE or BASIC.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GEOLOGY] (of rock, esp. lava) relatively rich in silica.

- [METALLURGY] relating to or denoting steelmaking processes involving silica-rich refractories and slags.

2 sharp-tasting or sour: acidic wine.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person's remarks or tone) bitter or cutting: the occasional acidic comment.

- (of a color) intense or bright: an acidic yellow.

3 of or relating to acid rock or acid house music.

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ALKALINE ■

BASIC ■

a·cid·i·fy v. (-fies, -fied) make or become acid: [trans.] pollutants can acidify surface water | [intrans.] the paper was acidifying.

<DERIVATIVES> a·cid·i·fi·ca·tion n.

ac·i·dim·e·try n. measurement of the strengths of acids.

a·cid·i·ty n. 1 the level of acid in substances such as water, soil, or wine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> such a level in the gastric juices, typically when excessive and causing discomfort.

2 the bitterness or sharpness of a person's remarks or tone: the cutting acidity in his voice.

ac·id jazz n. a kind of popular dance music incorporating elements of jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop.

<ORIGIN> apparently coined from ACID HOUSE and popularized by the Acid Jazz record label founded in 1988.

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ACID HOUSE ■

ac·id·ly adv. with bitterness or sarcasm: “Is it up to you to make that decision?” she asked acidly.

a·cid·o·phil n. [BIOLOGY] an acidophilic white blood cell.

a·cid·o·phil·ic adj. [BIOLOGY] 1 (of a cell or its contents) readily stained with acid dyes.

2 (of a microorganism or plant) growing best in acidic conditions.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from ACID + -philic (see -PHILIA).

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ACID ■

-PHILIA ■

ac·i·doph·i·lus n. a bacterium that is used to make yogurt and to supplement the intestinal flora.
<INFO>  Lactobacillus acidophilus

<ORIGIN> 1920s: modern Latin, literally 'acid-loving'.

ac·i·do·sis n. [MEDICINE] an excessively acid condition of the body fluids or tissues.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·i·dot·ic adj.

ac·id rad·i·cal n. [CHEMISTRY] a radical formed by the removal of hydrogen ions from an acid.

ac·id rain n. rainfall made sufficiently acidic by atmospheric pollution that it causes environmental harm, typically to forests and lakes. The main cause is the industrial burning of coal and other fossil fuels, the waste gases from which contain sulfur and nitrogen oxides, which combine with atmospheric water to form acids.

ac·id re·flux n. a condition in which gastric acid is regurgitated.

ac·id rock n. a type of rock music, mainly of the late 1960s, associated with or inspired by the use of hallucinogenic drugs.

ac·id salt n. [CHEMISTRY] a salt formed by incomplete replacement of the hydrogen of an acid, e.g., potassium hydrogen sulfate (KHSO_4).

ac·id test n. [in sing] a conclusive test of the success or value of something: the pact with the rebels is an acid test of the government's sincerity.

<ORIGIN> figuratively, from the original use denoting a test for gold using nitric acid.

a·cid·u·late v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (acidulated) make slightly acidic: acidulated water.

<DERIVATIVES> a·cid·u·la·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin acidulus (from acidus 'sour') + -ATE^3 .

Linked entries:

-ATE ■

a·cid·u·lous adj. sharp-tasting or sour.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person's remarks or tone) bitter or cutting.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin acidulus (from acidus 'sour') + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

ac·i·nus n. (pl. -ni ) [ANATOMY] 1 a small saclike cavity in a gland, surrounded by secretory cells.

2 a region of the lung supplied with air from one of the terminal bronchioles.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: Latin, literally 'a kernel'.

-acious suffix (forming adjectives) inclined to; having as a capacity: audacious; capacious.

<ORIGIN> from the Latin ending -ax, -acis (especially forming adjectives from verbal stems) + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

-acity suffix forming nouns of quality or state corresponding to adjectives ending in -acious (such as audacity corresponding to audacious).

<ORIGIN> from French -acité or Latin -acitas, noun endings.

ack-ack [INFORMAL ] [MILITARY] n. an antiaircraft gun or regiment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> antiaircraft gunfire: [as adj.] a quick burst of ack-ack fire.

<ORIGIN> World War II: signalers' name for the letters AA.

ac·kee n. variant spelling of AKEE.

Linked entries:

AKEE ■

ac·knowl·edge v. 1 [reporting verb] accept or admit the existence or truth of: [trans.] the plight of the refugees was acknowledged by the authorities | [with clause] the government acknowledged that the tax was unfair | [with direct speech] “That's true,” she acknowledged.

2 [trans.] (of a body of opinion) recognize the fact or importance or quality of: the art world has begun to acknowledge his genius; he's generally acknowledged to be the game's finest coach.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- express or display gratitude for or appreciation of: he received a letter acknowledging his services.

- accept the validity or legitimacy of: Henry acknowledged Richard as his heir.

3 [trans.] show that one has noticed or recognized (someone) by making a gesture or greeting: she refused to acknowledge my presence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> confirm (receipt of something).

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from the obsolete Middle English verb knowledge, influenced by obsolete acknow 'acknowledge, confess'.

ac·knowl·edg·ment (also ac·knowl·edge·ment) n. 1 acceptance of the truth or existence of something: there was no acknowledgment of the family's trauma.

2 the action of expressing or displaying gratitude or appreciation for something: he received an award in acknowledgment of his work.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of showing that one has noticed someone or something: he touched his hat in acknowledgment of the salute.

- a letter confirming receipt of something: I received an acknowledgment of my application.

3 (usu. acknowledgments) an author's or publisher's statement of indebtedness to others, typically one printed at the beginning of a book.

ACL abbr. anterior cruciate ligament.

a·clin·ic line n. another term for MAGNETIC EQUATOR.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: aclinic from Greek , from a- 'not' + klinein 'to bend'.

Linked entries:

MAGNETIC EQUATOR ■

ACLU abbr. American Civil Liberties Union.

ac·me n. [in sing.] the point at which someone or something is best, perfect, or most successful: physics is the acme of scientific knowledge.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Greek 'highest point'. Until the 18th cent. it was often consciously used as a Greek word and often written in Greek letters.

Ac·me·ist adj. denoting or relating to an early 20th century movement in Russian poetry that rejected the values of symbolism in favor of formal technique and clarity of exposition. Notable members were Anna Akhmatova and Osip Mandelstam.

■ n. a member of this movement.

<DERIVATIVES> Ac·me·ism n.

ac·ne n. the occurrence of inflamed or infected sebaceous glands in the skin; in particular, a condition characterized by red pimples on the face, prevalent chiefly among teenagers.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·ned adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: via modern Latin from Greek aknas, a misreading of akmas, accusative plural of 'highest point, peak, or facial eruption'; compare with ACME.

Linked entries:

ACME ■

ac·o·lyte n. a person assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an assistant or follower.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French acolyt or ecclesiastical Latin acolytus, from Greek akolouthos 'follower'.

A·con·ca·gua an extinct volcano in the Andes, on the border between Chile and Argentina, rising to 22,834 feet (6,960 m). It is the highest mountain in the western hemisphere.

ac·o·nite n. a poisonous plant of the buttercup family, which bears hooded pink or purple flowers. It is native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere.
<INFO>  Genus Aconitum, family Ranunculaceae: many species, including monkshood and wolfsbane.

<SPECIAL USAGE> an extract of such a plant, used as a poison or in medicinal preparations.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via French and Latin from Greek akoniton.

a·con·i·tine n. [CHEMISTRY] a poisonous alkaloid obtained from monkshood and related plants.

a·corn n. the fruit of the oak, a smooth oval nut in a rough cuplike base.

<ORIGIN> Old English æcern, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aker, also to ACRE, later associated with OAK and CORN^1 .

Linked entries:

ACRE ■

OAK ■

CORN ■

a·corn bar·na·cle n. a stalkless barnacle that attaches itself to a variety of surfaces including rocks, ships, and marine animals. Large numbers of individuals may form a heavy encrustation that can affect the progress of a ship.
<INFO>  Genus Balanus, family Balanidae.

a·corn squash n. a winter squash, typically of a dark green variety, with a longitudinally ridged rind.

a·corn worm n. a burrowing wormlike marine animal of shallow waters. Its body consists of a proboscis, a collar, and a long trunk with gill slits, and contains a notochordlike structure.
<INFO>  Class Enteropneusta, phylum Hemichordata.

a·cot·y·le·don n. a plant with no distinct seed-leaves, esp. a fern or moss.

<DERIVATIVES> a·cot·y·le·don·ous adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin plural acotyledones (see A-1 , COTYLEDON).

Linked entries:

A- ■

COTYLEDON ■

a·cous·tic adj. [attrib.] 1 relating to sound or the sense of hearing: dogs have a much greater acoustic range than humans.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of building materials) used for soundproofing or modifying sound: acoustic tiles.

- (of an explosive mine or other weapon) able to be set off by sound waves.

2 (of music or musical instruments) not having electrical amplification: acoustic guitar.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person or group) playing such instruments.

■ n. 1 (usu. acoustics) the properties or qualities of a room or building that determine how sound is transmitted in it: Symphony Hall has perfect acoustics.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (acoustic) the acoustic properties or ambience of a sound recording or of a recording studio.

2 (acoustics) [treated as sing.] the branch of physics concerned with the properties of sound.

3 a musical instrument without electrical amplification, typically a guitar.

<DERIVATIVES> a·cous·ti·cal adj. a·cous·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Greek akoustikos, from akouein 'hear'.

a·cous·tic cou·pler n. [ELECTRONICS] see COUPLER.

Linked entries:

COUPLER ■

ac·ous·ti·cian n. an expert in the branch of physics concerned with the properties of sound.

a·cous·tic im·ped·ance n. [PHYSICS] the ratio of the pressure over an imaginary surface in a sound wave to the rate of particle flow across the surface.

a·cous·tic shock n. damaged hearing suffered by the user of a listening device as a result of sudden excessive noise.

ac·quaint v. [trans.] (acquaint someone with) make someone aware of or familiar with: new staff should be acquainted with fire exit routes; you need to acquaint yourself with the house style.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (be acquainted) be an acquaintance: I am not acquainted with any young lady of that name; I'll leave you two to get acquainted.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French acointier 'make known', from late Latin accognitare, from Latin accognoscere, from ad- 'to' + cognoscere 'come to know'.

ac·quaint·ance n. 1 a person's knowledge or experience of something: the students had little acquaintance with the language.
<SPECIAL USAGE> one's slight knowledge of or friendship with someone: I renewed my acquaintance with Herbert; most men of her acquaintance were in uniform now.

2 a person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend: a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
<SPECIAL USAGE> such people considered collectively: his extensive acquaintance included Oscar Wilde and Yeats.

<PHRASES> make the acquaintance of (or make someone's acquaintance) meet someone for the first time and become only slightly familiar: they are anxious to make your acquaintance.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·quaint·ance·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'mutual knowledge, being acquainted'): from Old French acointance, from acointier 'make known' (see ACQUAINT).

Linked entries:

ACQUAINT ■

ac·quaint·ance rape n. rape by a person who is known to the victim.

ac·qui·esce v. [intrans.] accept something reluctantly but without protest: Sara acquiesced in his decision.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·qui·es·cence n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin acquiescere, from ad- 'to, at' + quiescere 'to rest'.

ac·qui·es·cent adj. (of a person) ready to accept something without protest, or to do what someone else wants: the unions were acquiescent and there was no overt conflict.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin acquiescent- 'remaining at rest', from the verb acquiescere (see ACQUIESCE).

Linked entries:

ACQUIESCE ■

ac·quire v. [trans.] buy or obtain (an object or asset) for oneself. See note at GET.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- learn or develop (a skill, habit, or quality): you must acquire the rudiments of Greek; I've never acquired a taste for whiskey.

- achieve (a particular reputation) as a result of one's behavior or activities.

<PHRASES> acquired taste
1 a thing that one has come to like only through experience: pumpkin pie is an acquired taste.

2 a liking of this kind: an acquired taste for tobacco.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·quir·a·ble adj. ac·quir·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English acquere, from Old French aquerre, based on Latin acquirere 'get in addition', from ad- 'to' + quaerere 'seek'. The English spelling was modified (c.1600) by association with the Latin word.

ac·quired char·ac·ter·is·tic (also ac·quired char·ac·ter) n. [BIOLOGY] a modification or change in an organ or tissue during the lifetime of an organism due to use, disuse, or environmental effects, and not inherited.

ac·quired im·mune de·fi·cien·cy syn·drome see AIDS.

Linked entries:

AIDS ■

ac·quire·ment n. the action of acquiring: the acquirement of self control.
<SPECIAL USAGE> something acquired, typically a skill.

ac·qui·si·tion n. 1 an asset or object bought or obtained, typically by a library or museum.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an act of purchase of one company by another: there were many acquisitions among travel agents | expanding by growth or acquisition.

- buying or obtaining an asset or object: Western culture places a high value on material acquisition.

2 the learning or developing of a skill, habit, or quality: the acquisition of management skills.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'act of acquiring something'): from Latin acquisitio(n-), from the verb acquirere (see ACQUIRE).

Linked entries:

ACQUIRE ■

ac·quis·i·tive adj. excessively interested in acquiring money or material things. See note at GREEDY.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·quis·i·tive·ly adv. ac·quis·i·tive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French acquisitif, -tive, from late Latin acquisitivus. from Latin acquisit- 'acquired', from the verb acquirere (see ACQUIRE).

Linked entries:

ACQUIRE ■

ac·quit v. (-quit·ted, -quit·ting) 1 [trans.] (usu. be acquitted) free (someone) from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty: she was acquitted on all counts | the jury acquitted him of murder. See note at ABSOLVE.

2 (acquit oneself) conduct oneself or perform in a specified way: the Israeli windsurfers acquitted themselves well at the 1994 championship.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (acquit oneself of) ARCHAIC discharge (a duty or responsibility): they acquitted themselves of their charge with vigilance.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally in the sense 'pay a debt, discharge a liability'): from Old French acquiter, from medieval Latin acquitare 'pay a debt', from ad- 'to' + quitare 'set free'.

ac·quit·tal n. a judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has been charged: the trial resulted in an acquittal | the women felt their chances of acquittal were poor.

ac·quit·tance n. DATED [LAW] a written receipt attesting the settlement of a fine or debt.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from aquiter 'discharge (a debt)' (see ACQUIT).

Linked entries:

ACQUIT ■

a·cra·sia n. variant spelling of AKRASIA.

A·cre 1  an industrial seaport of Israel; pop. 39,100. Also called AKKO.

2 a state in western Brazil, on the border with Peru; capital, Rio Branco.

Linked entries:

AKKO ■

a·cre n. a unit of land area equal to 4,840 square yards (0.405 hectare): [as adj.] a 15-acre estate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (acres of) INFORMAL a large extent or amount of something: acres of space.

<DERIVATIVES> a·cred adj. [in combination]: a many-acred park.

<ORIGIN> Old English æcer (denoting the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plow in a day), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch akker and German Acker 'field', from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit ajra 'field', Latin ager, and Greek agros.

a·cre·age n. an area of land, typicially when used for agricultural purposes, but not necessarily measured in acres: a 35% increase in net acreage.

a·cre-foot n. (pl. a·cre-feet) a unit of volume equal to the volume of a sheet of water one acre (0.405 hectare) in area and one foot (30.48 cm) in depth; 43,560 cubic feet (1233.5 cu m).

ac·rid adj. having an irritatingly strong and unpleasant taste or smell: acrid fumes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> angry and bitter: an acrid farewell.

<DERIVATIVES> a·crid·i·ty n. ac·rid·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: formed irregularly from Latin acer, acri- 'sharp, pungent' + -ID^1 , probably influenced by acid.

Linked entries:

-ID ■

ac·ri·dine n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless solid compound obtained from coal tar, used in the manufacture of dyes and drugs.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_13H_9N.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: coined in German from ACRID + -INE^4 .

Linked entries:

ACRID ■

-INE ■

ac·ri·fla·vine n. a bright orange-red dye derived from acridine, used as an antiseptic.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: formed irregularly from ACRIDINE and FLAVINE.

Linked entries:

ACRIDINE ■

FLAVINE ■

Ac·ri·lan n. TRADEMARK a synthetic acrylic textile fiber.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from ACRYLIC + Latin lana 'wool'.

Linked entries:

ACRYLIC ■

ac·ri·mo·ni·ous adj. (typically of speech or a debate) angry and bitter: an acrimonious dispute about wages.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·ri·mo·ni·ous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'bitter, pungent'): from ACRIMONY + -OUS.

Linked entries:

ACRIMONY ■

-OUS ■

ac·ri·mo·ny n. bitterness or ill feeling: a quagmire of lawsuits, acrimony, and finger-pointing.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'bitter taste or smell'): from French acrimonie or Latin acrimonia, from acer, acri- 'pungent, acrid'.

ac·ro·bat n. 1 an entertainer who performs gymnastic feats.

2 a person noted for constant change of mind, allegiance, etc.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French acrobate, from Greek , from akrobatos 'walking on tiptoe', from akron 'tip' + bainein 'to walk'.

ac·ro·bat·ic adj. performing, involving, or adept at spectacular gymnastic feats: an acrobatic dive.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·ro·bat·i·cal·ly adv.

ac·ro·bat·ics plural n. [usu. treated as sing.] gymnastic feats: FIGURATIVE goes through all sorts of financial acrobatics to make the monthly payments.

ac·ro·cy·a·no·sis n. [MEDICINE] bluish or purple coloring of the hands and feet caused by slow circulation.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek akron 'tip' + CYANOSIS.

Linked entries:

CYANOSIS ■

ac·ro·lect n. [LINGUISTICS] the most prestigious dialect or variety of a particular language (used esp. in the study of Creoles). Compare with BASILECT, MESOLECT.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·ro·lec·tal adj.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from Greek akron 'summit' + -lect as in dialect.

Linked entries:

BASILECTMESOLECT ■

ac·ro·meg·a·ly n. [MEDICINE] abnormal growth of the hands, feet, and face, caused by overproduction of growth hormone by the pituitary gland.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·ro·me·gal·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: coined in French from Greek akron 'tip, extremity' + megas, megal- 'great'.

ac·ro·nym n. a word formed from the initial letters of other words (e.g., radar, laser).

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Greek akron 'end, tip' + onuma 'name', on the pattern of homonym.

a·crop·e·tal adj. [BOTANY] (of growth or development) upward from the base or point of attachment. The opposite of BASIPETAL.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of the movement of dissolved substances) outward toward the shoot and root apexes.

<DERIVATIVES> a·crop·e·tal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek akron 'tip' + Latin petere 'seek'.

Linked entries:

BASIPETAL ■

ac·ro·pho·bi·a n. extreme or irrational fear of heights.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·ro·pho·bic adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek akron 'summit' + -PHOBIA.

Linked entries:

-PHOBIA ■

a·crop·o·lis n. a citadel or fortified part of an ancient Greek city, typically built on a hill.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Acropolis) the ancient citadel at Athens, containing the Parthenon and other notable buildings, mostly dating from the 5th century BC.

<ORIGIN> Greek, from akron 'summit' + polis 'city'.

a·cross prep. & adv. from one side to the other of (something):
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- expressing movement over a place or region: I ran across the street; traveling across Europe | [as adv.] he had swum across.

- expressing position or orientation: they lived across the street from one another; the bridge across the river | [as adv.] he looked across at me; halfway across, Jenny jumped.

- [as adv.] used with an expression of measurement: can grow to 4 feet across.

- [as adv.] with reference to a crossword puzzle answer that reads horizontally: 19 across.

<PHRASES>
□ across from opposite: she sat across from me.

□ across the board applying to all: the cutbacks might be across the board.
- (in horse racing) denoting a bet in which equal amounts are staked on the same horse to win, place, or show in a race.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as an adverb meaning 'in the form of a cross'): from Old French a croix, en croix 'in or on a cross', later regarded as being from A-2 + CROSS.

Linked entries:

A- ■

CROSS ■

a·cros·tic n. a poem, word puzzle, or other composition in which certain letters in each line form a word or words.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French acrostiche, from Greek akrostikhis, from akron 'end' + stikhos 'row, line of verse'. The spelling change was due to association with -IC.

Linked entries:

-IC ■

A·crux the star Alpha Crucis, the brightest star in the Southern Cross (Crux). It is the twelfth brightest star in the sky.

<ORIGIN> from A for alpha + CRUX.

Linked entries:

CRUX ■

a·cryl·a·mide n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless crystalline solid that readily forms water-soluble polymers.
<INFO>  The amide of acrylic acid; chem. formula: CH_2=CHCONH_2.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from ACRYLIC + AMIDE.

Linked entries:

ACRYLIC ■

AMIDE ■

a·cryl·ic adj. (of synthetic resins and textile fibers) made from polymers of acrylic acid or acrylates: a red acrylic sweater.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of, relating to, or denoting paints based on acrylic resin as a medium: acrylic colors; an acrylic painting.

■ n. 1 an acrylic textile fiber: a sweater in four-ply acrylic.

2 (often acrylics) an acrylic paint: washes of white acrylic.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the liquid aldehyde acrolein (from Latin acer, acri- 'pungent' + ol(eum) 'oil' + -IN^1 ) + -YL + -IC.

Linked entries:

-IN ■

-YL ■

-IC ■

a·cryl·ic ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a pungent liquid organic acid that can be polymerized to make synthetic resins.
<INFO>  2

<DERIVATIVES> ac·ry·late n.

ac·ry·lo·ni·trile n. [CHEMISTRY] a pungent, toxic liquid, used in making artificial fibers and other polymers.
<INFO>  2

ACT abbr.
- American College Test.

- Australian Capital Territory.

act v. [intrans.] 1 take action; do something: they urged Washington to act | [with infinitive] governments must act to reduce pollution.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (act on) take action according to or in the light of: I shall certainly act on his suggestion.

- (act for) take action in order to bring about: one's ability to act for community change.

- (act for/on behalf of) represent (someone) on a contractual, legal, or paid basis: he chose an attorney to act for him.

- (act from/out of) be motivated by: you acted from greed.

2 [with adverbial] behave in the way specified: they followed the man who was seen acting suspiciously; he acts as if he owned the place.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (act as/like) behave in the manner of: try to act like civilized adults.

3 (act as) fulfill the function or serve the purpose of: they need volunteers to act as foster parents.
<SPECIAL USAGE> have the effect of: a five-year sentence will act as a deterrent.

4 take effect; have a particular effect: bacteria act on proteins and sugar.

5 perform a fictional role in a play, movie, or television production: she acted in her first professional role at the age of six.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] perform (a part or role): he acted the role of the dragon; he got the chance to act out other people's jobs.

- [with complement] behave so as to appear to be; pretend to be: I acted dumb at first.

- [trans.] (act something out) perform a narrative as if it were a play: encouraging students to act out the stories.

- [trans.] (act something out) [PSYCHOANALYSIS] express repressed or unconscious feelings in overt behavior: the impulses of hatred and killing which some human beings act out.

■ n. 1 a thing done; a deed: a criminal act; the act of writing down one's thoughts; an act of heroism.

2 [in sing.] a pretense: she was putting on an act and laughing a lot.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] a particular type of behavior or routine: he did his Sir Galahad act.

3 [LAW] a written ordinance of Congress, or another legislative body; a statute: the act to abolish slavery.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a document attesting a legal transaction.

- (often acts) DATED the recorded decisions or proceedings of a committee or an academic body.

4 a main division of a play, ballet, or opera.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a set performance: her one-woman poetry act.

- a performing group: an act called the Apple Blossom Sisters.

<PHRASES>
□ act of God an instance of uncontrollable natural forces in operation (often used in insurance claims).

□ act of grace a privilege or concession that cannot be claimed as a right.

□ catch someone in the act (usu. be caught in the act) surprise someone in the process of doing something wrong: the thieves were caught in the act.

□ clean up one's act behave in a more acceptable manner.

□ get one's act together INFORMAL organize oneself in the manner required in order to achieve something.

□ get (or be) in on the act INFORMAL become or be involved in a particular activity, in order to gain profit or advantage.

□ in the act of in the process of: they photographed him in the act of reading other people's mail.

□ read the Riot Act see RIOT ACT.

□ a tough (or hard) act to follow an achievement or performance that sets a standard regarded as being difficult for others to measure up to.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  act out misbehave, esp. when unhappy or stressed: many children who act out while awaiting placement in a health care facility end up in juvenile detention.

□  act up (of a thing) fail to function properly: the plane's engine was acting up.
- (of a person) misbehave.

<DERIVATIVES> act·a·bil·i·ty n. (in sense 5 of the verb). act·a·ble adj. (in sense 5 of the verb).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin actus 'event, thing done', act- 'done', from the verb agere, reinforced by the French noun acte.

Linked entries:

RIOT ACT ■

Ac·tae·on [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a hunter who, because he accidentally saw Artemis bathing, was changed into a stag and killed by his own hounds.

ac·tant n. (in literary theory) a person, creature, or object playing any of a set of active roles in a narrative: the room has become an actant, a surrogate for the heroine herself.

ACTH [BIOCHEMISTRY] abbr. adrenocorticotropic (or adrenocorticotrophic) hormone.

ac·tin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a protein that forms (together with myosin) the contractile filaments of muscle cells, and is also involved in motion in other types of cells.

<ORIGIN> 1940: from Greek aktis, aktin- 'ray' + -IN^1 .

Linked entries:

-IN ■

act·ing n. the art or occupation of performing in plays, movies, or television productions: she studied acting in New York.

■ adj. [attrib.] temporarily doing the duties of another person: acting director.

ac·tin·i·an n. [ZOOLOGY] a sea anemone.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from the modern Latin genus name Actinia (from Greek aktis, aktin- 'ray') + -AN.

Linked entries:

-AN ■

ac·tin·ic adj. [attrib.] (of light or lighting) able to cause photochemical reactions, as in photography, through having a significant short wavelength or ultraviolet component.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or caused by such light: actinic degradation.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·tin·ism n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek aktis, aktin- 'ray' + -IC.

Linked entries:

-IC ■

ac·ti·nide n. [CHEMISTRY] any of the series of fifteen metallic elements from actinium (atomic number 89) to lawrencium (atomic number 103) in the periodic table. They are all radioactive, the heavier members being extremely unstable and not of natural occurrence.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from ACTINIUM + -IDE, on the pattern of lanthanide.

Linked entries:

ACTINIUM ■

-IDE ■

ac·tin·i·um n. the chemical element of atomic number 89, a radioactive metallic element of the actinide series. It is rare in nature, occurring as an impurity in uranium ores. (Symbol: Ac)

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek aktis, aktin- 'ray' + -IUM.

Linked entries:

-IUM ■

ac·ti·nom·e·ter n. [PHYSICS] an instrument for measuring the intensity of radiation, typically ultraviolet radiation.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek aktis, aktin- 'ray' + -METER.

Linked entries:

-METER ■

ac·tin·o·mor·phic adj. [BIOLOGY] characterized by radial symmetry, such as a starfish or the flower of a daisy. Compare with ZYGOMORPHIC.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·tin·o·mor·phy n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek aktis, aktin- 'ray' + 'form' + -IC.

Linked entries:

ZYGOMORPHIC ■

-IC ■

ac·tin·o·my·cete n. a bacterium of an order of typically nonmotile filamentous form. They include the economically important streptomycetes, and were formerly regarded as fungi.
<INFO>  Actinomycetales

<ORIGIN> 1920s (originally only in the plural): modern Latin, from Greek aktis, aktin- 'ray' + , plural of 'fungus'.

ac·tion n. 1 the fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim: demanding tougher action against terrorism; if there is a breach of regulations, we will take action.
- the way in which something such as a chemical has an effect or influence: the seeds require the catalytic action of water to release hotness.

- armed conflict: servicemen listed as missing in action during the war.

- a military engagement: a rearguard action.

- the events represented in a story or play: the action is set in the country.

- INFORMAL exciting or notable activity: the nonstop action of mountain biking; people in the media want to be where the action is.

- INFORMAL betting.

- [as exclam.] used by a movie director as a command to begin: lights, camera, action!

2 a thing done; an act: she frequently questioned his actions; I would not be responsible for my actions if I saw him.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a legal process; a lawsuit: an action for damages.

- a gesture or movement: his actions emphasized his words.

3 [usu. with adj.] a manner or style of doing something, typically the way in which a mechanism works or a person moves: a high paddle action in canoeing | the weapon has speed and smooth action.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the mechanism that makes a machine or instrument work: a piano with an escapement action.

<PHRASES>
□ go into action start work or activity.

□ in action engaged in a certain activity; in operation.

□ out of action temporarily unable to engage in a certain activity; not working: a heart attack put him out of action the ship was out of action for 16 days.

□ put into action put into effect; carry out.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin actio(n-), from agere 'do, act'.

ac·tion·a·ble adj. [LAW] 1 giving sufficient reason to take legal action: slanderous remarks are actionable.

2 able to be done or acted on; having practical value: insightful and actionable information on the effect advertising is having on your brand.

ac·tion com·mit·tee (also action group) n. a body formed to campaign politically, typically on a particular issue.

ac·tion fig·ure n. a doll representing a person or fictional character known for vigorous action, such as a soldier or superhero. The figure typically is posable, with jointed limbs.

ac·tion paint·ing n. a technique and style of abstract painting in which paint is randomly splashed, thrown, or poured on the canvas. It was made famous by Jackson Pollock, and formed part of the more general movement of abstract expressionism.

ac·tion po·ten·tial n. [PHYSIOLOGY] the change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell.

Ac·ti·um, Bat·tle of a naval battle which took place in 31 BC off the promontory of Actium in western Greece, in the course of which Octavian defeated Mark Antony.

ac·ti·vate v. [trans.] make (something) active or operative: fumes from cooking are enough to activate the alarm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> convert (a substance, molecule, etc.) into a reactive form: [as adj.] (activated) activated chlorine.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·ti·va·tion n. ac·ti·va·tor n.

ac·ti·vat·ed car·bon (also activated charcoal) n. charcoal that has been heated or otherwise treated to increase its adsorptive power.

ac·ti·vat·ed sludge n. aerated sewage containing aerobic microorganisms that help to break it down.

ac·ti·va·tion a·nal·y·sis n. [CHEMISTRY] a technique of analysis in which atoms of a particular element in a sample are made radioactive, typically by irradiation with neutrons, and their concentration is then determined radiologically.

ac·ti·va·tion en·er·gy n. [CHEMISTRY] the minimum quantity of energy that the reacting species must possess in order to undergo a specified reaction.

ac·tive adj. 1 (of a person) engaging or ready to engage in physically energetic pursuits: I needed to change my lifestyle and become more active.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- moving or tending to move about vigorously or frequently: active fish need a larger tank.

- characterized by energetic activity: they enjoyed an active social life.

- (of a person's mind or imagination) alert and lively.

2 doing things for an organization, cause, or campaign, rather than simply giving it one's support: she was an active member of the church; he had never been very active in the affairs of the institute; he enjoyed the active support of the government.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) participating or engaged in a particular sphere or activity: a politically active student body.

- [predic.] (of a person or animal) pursuing their usual occupation or activity, typically at a particular place or time: tigers are active mainly at night.

3 working; operative: the old mill was active until 1960.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a bank account) in continuous use.

- (of an electrical circuit) capable of modifying its state or characteristics automatically in response to input or feedback.

- (of a volcano) currently erupting, or that has erupted within historical times. Often contrasted with DORMANT or EXTINCT.

- (of a disease) in which the symptoms are manifest; not in remission or latent: active colitis.

- having a chemical or biological effect on something: 350 active ingredients have been banned from pesticides.

4 [GRAMMAR] relating to or denoting the voice that attributes the action of a verb to the person or thing from which it logically proceeds (e.g., of the verbs in guns kill and we saw him). The opposite of PASSIVE.

■ n. [GRAMMAR] an active form of a verb.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the active) the active voice.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'preferring action to contemplation'): from Latin activus, from act- 'done', from the verb agere.

Linked entries:

DORMANT ■

EXTINCT ■

PASSIVE ■

ac·tive bar·ri·er n. a barrier that allows passage of defined agents while preventing or impeding others, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a security barrier that responds to attempted entries with sensors or personnel.

- a physical or chemical barrier that intercepts contaminants, debris, or other unwanted substances.

ac·tive du·ty n. full-time service in the police or armed forces.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the playing of a direct role in the operational work of the police or armed forces as opposed to doing administrative work.

ac·tive im·mu·ni·ty n. [PHYSIOLOGY] the immunity that results from the production of antibodies by the immune system in response to the presence of an antigen. Compare with PASSIVE IMMUNITY.

Linked entries:

PASSIVE IMMUNITY ■

ac·tive lay·er n. [GEOGRAPHY] the seasonally thawed surface layer above permafrost.

ac·tive list n. a list of the officers in an armed service who are liable to be called on for duty.

ac·tive ma·trix n. [ELECTRONICS] a display system in which each pixel is individually controlled.

ac·tive serv·ice n. direct participation in warfare as a member of the armed forces.

ac·tive site n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a region on an enzyme that binds to a protein or other substance during a reaction.

ac·tive trans·port n. [BIOLOGY] the movement of ions or molecules across a cell membrane into a region of higher concentration, assisted by enzymes and requiring energy.

ac·tive·wear n. clothing designed to be worn for sports, exercise, and outdoor activities.

ac·tiv·ism n. the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·tiv·ist n.

ac·tiv·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) 1 the condition in which things are happening or being done: there has been a sustained level of activity in the economy; 16 is the general age of consent for sexual activity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> busy or vigorous action or movement: the room was a hive of activity.

2 (usu. activities) a thing that a person or group does or has done: the firm's marketing activities.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a recreational pursuit or pastime: a range of sports activities.

- (activities) actions taken by a group in order to achieve their aims: the police were investigating anarchist activities.

3 the degree to which something displays its characteristic property or behavior: abnormal liver enzyme activities.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHEMISTRY] a thermodynamic quantity representing the effective concentration of a particular component in a solution or other system, equal to its concentration multiplied by an activity coefficient.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French activité or late Latin activitas, from Latin act- 'done', from the verb agere.

act of con·tri·tion n. (in the Roman Catholic Church) a penitential prayer.

ac·to·my·o·sin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a complex of actin and myosin of which the contractile protein filaments of muscle tissue are composed.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from ACTIN + MYOSIN.

Linked entries:

ACTIN ■

MYOSIN ■

ac·tor n. a person whose profession is acting on the stage, in movies, or on television.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who behaves in a way that is not genuine: in war one must be a good actor.

- a participant in an action or process: employers are key actors within industrial relations.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally denoting an agent or administrator): from Latin, 'doer, actor', from agere 'do, act'. The theater sense dates from the 16th cent.

ac·tress n. a female actor.

ac·tress·y adj. characteristic of an actress; stereotypically being self-consciously theatrical or emotionally volatile: her actressy manner was an irritant to the others.

Acts (also Acts of the Apostles) a New Testament book immediately following the Gospels and relating the history of the early Church.

ac·tu·al adj. 1 existing in fact; typically as contrasted with what was intended, expected, or believed: the estimate was much less than the actual cost; those were his actual words. See note at GENUINE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used to emphasize the important aspect of something: the book could be condensed into half the space, but what of the actual content?

2 existing now; current: using actual income to measure expected income.

<PHRASES> in actual fact used to emphasize a comment, typically one that modifies or contradicts a previous statement: people talk as if he were a monsterin actual fact he was a very kind guy.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French actuel 'active, practical', from late Latin actualis, from actus (see ACT).

Linked entries:

ACT ■

ac·tu·al·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) actual existence, typically as contrasted with what was intended, expected, or believed: the building looked as impressive in actuality as it did in magazines; a mission was sent to investigate the actuality of the situation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (actualities) existing conditions or facts: the grim actualities of prison life.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'activeness'): from Old French actualite or medieval Latin actualitas, from actualis 'active, practical', from actus (see ACT).

Linked entries:

ACT ■

ac·tu·al·ize v. [trans.] make a reality of: he had actualized his dream and achieved the world record.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·tu·al·i·za·tion n.

ac·tu·al·ly adv. 1 as the truth or facts of a situation; really: we must pay attention to what young people are actually doing; the time actually worked on a job.

2 [as sentence adverb] used to emphasize that something someone has said or done is surprising: he actually expected me to be pleased about it!
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used when expressing an opinion, typically one that is not expected: “Actually,” she said icily, “I don't care who you go out with.”

- used when expressing a contradictory opinion or correcting someone: “Tom seems to be happy.” “He isn't, actually, not any more.”

- used to introduce a new topic or to add information to a previous statement: he had a thick Brooklyn accenthe sounded like my grandfather actually.

ac·tu·ar·y n. (pl. -ar·ies) a person who compiles and analyzes statistics and uses them to calculate insurance risks and premiums.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·tu·ar·i·al adj. ac·tu·ar·i·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally denoting a clerk or registrar of a court): from Latin actuarius 'bookkeeper', from actus (see ACT). The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

Linked entries:

ACT ■

ac·tu·ate v. 1 [trans.] cause (a machine or device) to operate: the pendulum actuates an electrical switch.

2 (usu. be actuated) cause (someone) to act in a particular way; motivate: the defendants were actuated by malice.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·tu·a·tion n. ac·tu·a·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin actuat- 'carried out, caused to operate', from the verb actuare, from Latin actus (see ACT). The original sense was 'carry out in practice', later 'stir into activity, enliven'; sense 1 dates from the mid 17th cent.

Linked entries:

ACT ■

ac·tus re·us n. [LAW] action or conduct that is a constituent element of a crime, as opposed to the mental state of the accused. Compare with MENS REA.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: Latin, literally 'guilty act'.

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MENS REA ■

a·cu·i·ty n. sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing: intellectual acuity; visual acuity.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French acuite or medieval Latin acuitas, from Latin acuere 'sharpen' (see ACUTE).

Linked entries:

ACUTE ■

a·cu·le·ate adj. 1 [ENTOMOLOGY] (of an insect) having a sting.

2 [BOTANY] sharply pointed; prickly.

■ n. [ENTOMOLOGY] a stinging insect of a group that includes the bees, wasps, and ants.
<INFO>  Section Aculeata, suborder Apocrita, order Hymenoptera.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin aculeatus, from aculeus 'a sting', diminutive of acus 'needle'.

a·cu·men n. the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain: business acumen.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin, 'sharpness, point', from acuere 'sharpen' (see ACUTE).

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ACUTE ■

a·cu·mi·nate adj. [BIOLOGY] (of a plant or animal structure, e.g., a leaf) tapering to a point.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from late Latin acuminatus 'pointed', from acuminare 'sharpen to a point', from acuere 'sharpen' (see ACUTE).

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ACUTE ■

ac·u·pres·sure n. another term for SHIATSU.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: blend of ACUPUNCTURE and PRESSURE.

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SHIATSU ■

ACUPUNCTURE ■

PRESSURE ■

ac·u·punc·ture n. a system of complementary medicine that involves pricking the skin or tissues with needles, used to alleviate pain and to treat various physical, mental, and emotional conditions. Originating in ancient China, acupuncture is now widely practiced in the West.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·u·punc·tur·ist n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin acu 'with a needle' + PUNCTURE.

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PUNCTURE ■

a·cut·ance n. the sharpness of a photographic or printed image.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a measure of this.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from ACUTE + -ANCE.

Linked entries:

ACUTE ■

-ANCE ■

a·cute adj. 1 (of a bad, difficult, or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present or experienced to a severe or intense degree: an acute housing shortage; the problem is acute and getting worse. See note at CRUCIAL.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a disease or its symptoms) of short duration but typically severe: acute appendicitis. Often contrasted with CHRONIC.

- denoting or designed for patients with such conditions: acute hospital services; acute patients.

2 having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight: shrewd: an acute awareness of changing fashions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a physical sense or faculty) highly developed; keen: an acute sense of smell.
See note at KEEN.

3 (of an angle) less than 90°.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- having a sharp end; pointed.

- (of a sound) high; shrill.

■ n. short for ACUTE ACCENT.

<DERIVATIVES> a·cute·ly adv. a·cute·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from Latin acutus, past participle of acuere 'sharpen', from acus 'needle'.

Linked entries:

CHRONIC ■

ACUTE ACCENT ■

a·cute ac·cent n. a mark (´) placed over certain letters in some languages to indicate an alteration of a sound, as of quality, quantity, or pitch, e.g., in risqué).

-acy suffix forming nouns of state or quality: celibacy; lunacy.

<ORIGIN> a branch of the suffix -CY, from Latin -atia (medieval Latin -acia), or from Greek -ateia, noun suffixes.

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-CY ■

a·cy·clic adj. not displaying or forming part of a cycle.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a woman) not having a menstrual cycle.

- [CHEMISTRY] (of a compound or molecule) containing no rings of atoms.

a·cy·clo·vir n. [MEDICINE] an antiviral drug used esp. in the treatment of herpes and AIDS. Also called ZOVIRAX (TRADEMARK).

Linked entries:

ZOVIRAX ■

ac·yl n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] a radical of general formula C(O)R, where R is an alkyl group, derived from a carboxylic acid: acyl groups.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: formed in German, from Latin acidus (see ACID) + -YL.

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ACID ■

-YL ■

ac·yl·ate v. [trans.] [CHEMISTRY] introduce an acyl group into (a molecule or compound): [as adj.] (acylated) an acylated glycine derivative.

<DERIVATIVES> ac·yl·a·tion n.

AD abbr.
- [MILITARY] active duty.

- armored division.

- (usu. AD) Anno Domini (used to indicate that a date comes the specified number of years after the accepted date of Christ's birth).

- athletic director.

<USAGE>
The abbreviation for Anno Domini, AD, typically is written in small capitals and should be placed before the numerals, as in AD 375 (not 375 AD). However, when the date is spelled out, it is normal to write, for example, the third century AD (not AD the third century). The abbreviation BC (before Christ) appears after the date: Plato was born in 427 BC that is to say, in the fifth century BC. In recent years, some writers have begun using the abbreviations CE (of the Common Era) in place of AD, and BCE (before the Common Era) in place of BC, in consideration of a more secular and international readership.

ad 1 n. INFORMAL an advertisement.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: abbreviation.

ad 2 n. INFORMAL [TENNIS] short for ADVANTAGE.

Linked entries:

ADVANTAGE ■

A/D [ELECTRONICS] abbr. analog to digital.

ad- prefix denoting motion or direction to: advance; adduce.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- reduction or change into: adapt; adulterate.

- addition, increase, or intensification: adjunct; | adhere; admixture.

<ORIGIN> from Latin ad 'to'; in the 16th cent. the use of ad- and its variants was extended to replace a- from a different origin such as Latin ab- (e.g., advance, from French avancer, based on late Latin abante 'in front').

<USAGE>
The prefix ad- is also found assimilated in the following forms: a- before sc, sp, st; ac- before c, q; af- before f; ag- before g; al- before l; an- before n; ap- before p; ar- before r; as- before s; at- before t.

-ad 1 suffix forming nouns: 1 in collective numerals: pentad; triad.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in groups, periods, or aggregates: Olympiad.

2 in names of females in classical mythology, such as Dryad and Naiad.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in names of districts such as Troad.

3 in names of poems and similar compositions: Iliad; jeremiad.

4 forming names of members of some taxonomic groupings: bromeliad.

<ORIGIN> from Greek -ad- (from nouns ending in -as).

-ad 2 suffix forming nouns such as ballad, salad. Compare with -ADE^1 .

<ORIGIN> representing the French noun ending -ade.

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-ADE ■

A·da n. a high-level computer programming language used esp. in real-time computerized control systems, e.g., for aircraft navigation.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: from the name of Ada Lovelace (see LOVELACE^1 ).

Linked entries:

LOVELACE ■

ad·age n. a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth: the old adage “out of sight out of mind.” See note at SAYING.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, from Latin adagium 'saying', based on an early form of aio 'I say'.

a·da·gio [MUSIC] adj. & adv. (esp. as a direction) in slow tempo.

■ n. (also A·da·gio) (pl. -gios) a movement or composition marked to be played adagio.

<ORIGIN> Italian, from ad agio 'at ease'.

Ad·am 1 (in the biblical and Koranic traditions) the first man. According to the Book of Genesis, Adam was created by God as the progenitor of the human race and lived with Eve in the Garden of Eden.

<PHRASES> not know someone from Adam not know or be completely unable to recognize the person in question.

<ORIGIN> from Hebrew 'man', later taken to be a name.

Ad·am 2 Robert (1728-92), Scottish architect. and furniture designer. With his brother James (1730-94), he was influential in the change from the prevailing Palladian fashion to a neoclassical style.

ad·a·mant adj. refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind: he is adamant that he is not going to resign.

■ n. ARCHAIC a legendary rock or mineral to which many, often contradictory, properties were attributed, formerly associated with diamond or lodestone.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·a·mance n. ad·a·man·cy n. ad·a·mant·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Old English (as a noun), from Old French adamaunt-, via Latin from Greek adamas, adamant, 'untamable, invincible' (later used to denote the hardest metal or stone, hence diamond), from a- 'not' + daman 'to tame'. The phrase to be adamant dates from the 1930s, although adjectival use had been implied in such collocations as “an adamant heart” since the 16th cent.

ad·a·man·tine adj. POETIC/LITERARY unbreakable: adamantine chains | FIGURATIVE her adamantine will.

Ad·ams 1 Abigail (Smith) (1744-1818), U.S. first lady 1797-1801, the wife of President John Adams and mother of President John Quincy Adams. She is noted for her letters that gave an insider's view of the times.

Ad·ams 2 Alice (1926-99), U.S. writer and editor. She wrote about women's lives in her novels Families and Survivors ( 1975), Superior Women (1984), and Southern Exposure (1995), among others, and in short stories that are collected in such works as To See You Again (1982).

Ad·ams 3 Ansel (Easton) (1902-84), U.S. photographer, noted for his black-and-white photographs of American landscapes. Many of his collections, such as My Camera in the National Parks (1950) and This is the American Earth (1960), reflect his interest in conservation.

Ad·ams 4 John (1735-1826), 2nd president of the U.S. 1797-1801. A Massachusetts Federalist, he was a delegate to the Continental Congress 1774-78 and helped draft the Declaration of Independence in 1776. With John Jay and Benjamin Franklin, he negotiated the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolution in 1783. Adams was minister to Great Britain 1785-88 before becoming the first vice president of the U.S. 1789-97.

Ad·ams 5 John Couch (1819-92), English astronomer. He postulated the existence of an eighth planet in 1843, three years before Le Verrier discovered Neptune.

Ad·ams 6 John Quincy (1767-1848), 6th president of the U.S. 1825-29; eldest son of President John Adams. A Massachusetts Democratic-Republican, he served as minister to the Netherlands 1794-96, Germany 1796-1801, St. Petersburg 1809-11, and Great Britain 1815-17. He held a seat in the U.S. Senate 1803-08 and helped negotiate the Treaty of Ghent 1814, which ended the War of 1812. As President Monroe's secretary of state 1817-24, he was the chief architect of the Monroe doctrine. Two of Adams's most impassioned personal causes were the abolition of slavery and the safeguarding of freedom of speech.

Ad·ams 7 Samuel (1722-1803), U.S. patriot. One of the leaders of the Boston Tea Party in 1773, he was active in the pre-Revolution anti-British activities that took place in that city. He served in the First and Second Continental Congresses 1774-75 and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence 1776.

Ad·am's ale n. DATED, HUMOROUS water.

Ad·am's ap·ple n. the projection at the front of the neck formed by the thyroid cartilage of the larynx, often prominent in men.

Ad·am's Bridge a line of shoals lying between northwestern Sri Lanka and the southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu in India. It separates the Palk Strait from the Gulf of Mannar.

Ad·am's nee·dle (also Ad·am's nee·dle-and-thread) n. a frost-hardy yucca native to the eastern U.S., with long leaves that are edged with white threads.
<INFO>  Yucca filamentosa, family Agavaceae.

Ad·am's Peak a mountain in south central Sri Lanka, rising to 7,360 feet (2,243 m). It is regarded as sacred by Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims.

A·da·na a town in southern Turkey, capital of a province of the same name; pop. 916,150.

a·dapt v. [trans.] make (something) suitable for a new use or purpose; modify: [trans.] hospitals have had to be adapted for modern medical practice; the policies can be adapted to suit individual needs and requirements | [as adj.] (adapted) mink are well adapted to hunting prey.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] become adjusted to new conditions: a large organization can be slow to adapt to change

- alter (a text) to make it suitable for filming, broadcasting, or the stage: the miniseries was adapted from Wouk's novel.

<DERIVATIVES> a·dap·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French adapter, from Latin adaptare, from ad- 'to' + aptare (from aptus 'fit').

<USAGE>
Avoid confusing adapt with adopt. Trouble sometimes arises because in adapting to new conditions, an animal or plant can be said to adopt something, e.g., a new color or behavior pattern.

a·dapt·a·ble adj. able to adjust to new conditions: rats are highly adaptable to change.
<SPECIAL USAGE> able to be modified for a new use or purpose: a workforce with adaptable skills.

<DERIVATIVES> a·dapt·a·bil·i·ty n. a·dapt·a·bly adv.

ad·ap·ta·tion n. the action or process of adapting or being adapted: the adaptation of teaching strategy to meet students' needs | adaptations to the school curriculum.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a movie, television drama, or stage play that has been adapted from a written work, typically a novel: filming her adaptation of a beloved children's book.

- [BIOLOGY] a change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment: living in groups is an adaptation that increases the efficiency of hunting.

- the process of making such changes: biochemical adaptation in parasites.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French, from late Latin adaptatio(n-), from Latin adaptare (see ADAPT).

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ADAPT ■

ad·ap·ta·tion·ism n. [BIOLOGY] the belief or assumption, now generally held, that each feature of an organism is the result of evolutionary adaptation for a particular function.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·ap·ta·tion·ist n. & adj.

a·dapt·er (also a·dap·tor) n. 1 a device for connecting pieces of equipment that cannot be connected directly.

2 a person who adapts a text to make it suitable for filming, broadcasting, or the stage.

a·dap·tion n. another term for ADAPTATION.

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ADAPTATION ■

a·dap·tive ex·pec·ta·tions hy·poth·e·sis [ECONOMICS] a hypothesis that supposes that expectations of future values of a variable can be based primarily on its values in the recent past. Compare with RATIONAL EXPECTATIONS HYPOTHESIS.

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RATIONAL EXPECTATIONS HYPOTHESIS ■

a·dap·tive ra·di·a·tion n. [BIOLOGY] the diversification of a group of organisms into forms filling different ecological niches.

a·dapt·o·gen n. (in herbal medicine) a natural substance considered to help the body adapt to stress and to exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes. A well-known example is ginseng.

<DERIVATIVES> a·dapt·o·gen·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: a term used by N. V. Lazarev, Russian scientist, from ADAPT + -GEN.

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ADAPT ■

-GEN ■

A·dar n. (in the Jewish calendar) the sixth month of the civil and twelfth of the religious year, usually coinciding with parts of February and March. It is known in leap years as SECOND ADAR.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an intercalary month preceding this in leap years. Also called FIRST ADAR.

<ORIGIN> from Hebrew .

ad·ax·i·al adj. [BOTANY] facing toward the stem of a plant (esp. denoting the upper surface of a leaf). The opposite of ABAXIAL.

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ABAXIAL ■

ad·bot n. a computer program that caches advertising on personal computers from an Internet-connected server and then displays the advertising when certain linked programs are being used.

<ORIGIN> blend of ad(vertising) and (ro)bot.

ADC abbr.
- aide-de-camp.

- Aid to Dependent Children.

- Air Defense Command.

- analog-to-digital converter.

ADD abbr.
- analog digital digital, indicating that a music recording was made in analog format before being mastered and stored digitally.

- attention deficit disorder.

add v. [trans.] 1 join (something) to something else so as to increase the size, number, or amount: a new wing was added to the building; some box offices now add on a handling charge | [as adj.] (added) one vitamin tablet daily will give added protection | [intrans.] this development added to the problems facing the staff.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (add up) increase in amount, number, or degree: watch those air miles add up!

- put or mix (an ingredient) together with another as one of the stages in the preparation of a dish: add the flour to the eggs, stirring continuously.

- put (something) in or on something else so as to improve or alter its quality or nature: chlorine is added to the water to kill bacteria | [as adj.] (added) the fruit juice contains no added sugar.

- contribute (an enhancing quality) to something: the canopy will add a touch of class to your bedroom.

2 put together (two or more numbers or amounts) to calculate their total value: they added all the figures up; add the two numbers together | [intrans.] children learned to add and subtract quickly and accurately.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (add up to) amount to: this adds up to a total of 400 calories | FIGURATIVE these isolated incidents don't add up to a true picture of the situation.

- [intrans.] [usu. with negative] (add up) INFORMAL seem reasonable or consistent; make sense: many things in her story didn't add up.

3 [reporting verb] say as a further remark: [with direct speech] “I hope we haven't been too much trouble,” she added politely | [trans.] we would like to add our congratulations | [with clause] he added that few of America's allies would support military action.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin addere, from ad- 'to' + the base of dare 'put'.

Ad·dams 1 Charles (Samuel) (1912-88), U.S. cartoonist, noted for his macabre characters, which were brought to life in the television series "The Addams Family" (1964-66) and later in the movies in the 1970s and 1990s. His cartoons appeared in the New Yorker magazine from 1935.

Ad·dams 2 Jane (1860-1935), U.S. social reformer, feminist, and pacifist. In 1889 she founded Hull House, a center for the care and education of Chicago’s poor and a national model for combating urban poverty and treating youthful offenders. She was a leader of the suffrage movement and an active pacifist. Nobel Peace Prize (1931).

ad·dax n. a large antelope with a mainly grayish and white coat, native to the deserts of North Africa.
<INFO>  Addax nasomaculatus, family Bovidae.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin, from an African word recorded by Pliny.

ad·den·dum n. (pl. -da , -dums) 1 an item of additional material, typically omissions, added at the end of a book or other publication.

2 [ENGINEERING] the radial distance from the pitch circle of a cogwheel, worm wheel, etc., to the crests of the teeth or ridges. Compare with DEDENDUM.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: Latin, 'that which is to be added', gerundive of addere (see ADD).

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DEDENDUM ■

ADD ■

ad·der n. a small venomous Eurasian snake that has a dark zigzag pattern on its back and bears live young. Also called VIPER.
<INFO>  Vipera berus, family Viperidae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> used in names of similar or related snakes, e.g., death adder, puff adder.

<ORIGIN> Old English nædre 'serpent, adder', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch adder and German Natter. The initial n was lost in Middle English by wrong division of a naddre; compare with APRON, AUGER, and UMPIRE.

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VIPER ■

APRON ■

AUGER ■

UMPIRE ■

ad·der's tongue (also ad·der's-tongue) n. 1 a widely distributed atypical fern that has a single pointed oval leaf and a straight unbranched spore-bearing stem.
<INFO>  Genus Ophioglossum, family Ophioglossaceae, in particular O. vulgatum.

2 another term for DOGTOOTH VIOLET, esp. a trout lily.

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DOGTOOTH VIOLET ■

ad·dict n. a person who is addicted to a particular substance, typically an illegal drug: a former heroin addict.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] INFORMAL an enthusiastic devotee of a specified thing or activity: a must book for the crossword-puzzle addict; | a self-confessed chocolate addict.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from the obsolete verb addict, which was a back-formation from ADDICTED.

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ADDICTED ■

ad·dict·ed adj. physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance, and unable to stop taking it without incurring adverse effects: she became addicted to alcohol and diet pills.
<SPECIAL USAGE> enthusiastically devoted to a particular thing or activity: he's addicted to computers.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from the obsolete adjective addict 'bound or devoted (to someone)', from Latin addict- 'assigned', from the verb addicere, from ad- 'to' + dicere 'say'.

ad·dic·tion n. the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity: he committed the theft to finance his drug addiction | an addiction to gambling.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a person's inclination or proclivity): from Latin addictio(n-), from addicere 'assign' (see ADDICT).

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ADDICT ■

ad·dic·tive adj. (of a substance, thing, or activity) causing or likely to cause someone to become addicted to it: a highly addictive drug; gambling can become addictive.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of, relating to, or susceptible to the fact of being or becoming addicted to something: addictive behavior; I have a very addictive personality.

add-in n. a printed circuit board capable of being fitted internally to a computer or accommodated in an externally accessible slot.

Ad·dis A·ba·ba (also A·dis A·be·ba) the capital of Ethiopia, in the central part of the country, at an altitude of about 8,000 feet (2,440 m); pop. 2,113,000.

Ad·di·son 1 a village in northeastern Illinois, northwest of Chicago; pop. 32,058.

Ad·di·son 2 Joseph (1672-1719), English essayist, poet, dramatist, and Whig politician. He is noted for his simple unornamented prose style. In 1711 he founded the Spectator with Sir Richard Steele.

Ad·di·so·ni·an adj. 1 of, relating to, or characteristic of the works or style of Joseph Addison.

2 [MEDICINE] of, relating to, or characterized by Addison's disease.

Ad·di·son's dis·ease n. a disease characterized by progressive anemia, low blood pressure, great weakness, and bronze discoloration of the skin. It is caused by inadequate secretion of hormones by the adrenal cortex.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Thomas Addison (1793-1860), the English physician who described the disease.

ad·di·tion (abbr.: addn.) n. 1 the action or process of adding something to something else: the hotel has been extended with the addition of more rooms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person or thing added or joined, typically in order to improve something: you will find the coat a useful addition to your wardrobe.

2 (abbr.: addn.) the process or skill of calculating the total of two or more numbers or amounts: she began with simple arithmetic, addition and then subtraction.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MATHEMATICS] the process of combining matrices, vectors, or other quantities under specific rules to obtain their sum.

<PHRASES> in addition as an extra person, thing, or circumstance: members of the board were paid a small allowance in addition to their normal salary.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin additio(n-), from the verb addere (see ADD).

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ADD ■

ad·di·tion·al adj. added, extra, or supplementary to what is already present or available: we require additional information.

ad·di·tion·al·ly adv. as an extra factor or circumstance: brokers finance themselves additionally by short-term borrowing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as sentence adverb] used to introduce a new fact or argument: Additionally, the regulations require escape hatches.

ad·di·tion re·ac·tion n. [CHEMISTRY] a reaction in which one molecule combines with another to form a larger molecule with no other products.

ad·di·tive n. a substance added to something in small quantities, typically to improve or preserve it: many foods contain chemical additives.

■ adj. characterized by, relating to, or produced by addition: an additive process; the combination of these factors has an additive effect.
<SPECIAL USAGE> TECHNICAL of or relating to the reproduction of colors by the superimposition of primary colors: the video monitor uses the additive colors red, green, and blue.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (as an adjective): from late Latin additivus, from Latin addit- 'added', from the verb addere (see ADD). The noun dates from the 1940s.

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ADD ■

ad·dle v. [trans.] CHIEFLY HUMOROUS make unable to think clearly; confuse: being in love must have addled your brain.

■ adj. ARCHAIC (of an egg) rotten.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·dled adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old English adela 'liquid filth', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aal and German Adel 'mire, puddle'.

ad·dle·brained (also ad·dle·head·ed , ad·dle·pat·ed ) adj. lacking in common sense; having a muddled mind: made the addlebrained decision to install an uncertain rookie at point guard.

addn. abbr. addition.

add-on n. something that has been or can be added to an existing object or arrangement: we offer skiing lessons as add-ons to our chalet vacations | [as adj.] cars with add-on extras.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an accessory device designed to increase the capability of a computer or hi-fi system.

- a unit of construction added to an existing construction: the new kitchen replaces an add-on that was torn down in 1980.

ad·dress n. 1 the particulars of the place where someone lives or an organization is situated: they exchanged addresses and agreed to keep in touch.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the place itself: our officers went to the address.

- [COMPUTING] a binary number that identifies a particular location in a data storage system or computer memory.

2 a formal speech delivered to an audience: delivered an address to the National Council of Teachers.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ARCHAIC a person's manner of speaking to someone else: his address was abrupt and unceremonious.

- (addresses) ARCHAIC courteous or amorous approaches to someone: he persecuted her with his addresses.

3 DATED skill, dexterity, or readiness: he rescued me with the most consummate address.

■ v. [trans.] 1 write the name and address of the intended recipient on (an envelope, letter, or package): I addressed my letter to him personally | [as adj.] (addressed) an addressed envelope.

2 speak to (a person or an assembly), typically in a formal way: she addressed an audience of the most important Shawnee chiefs; they addressed themselves to my father.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (address someone as) name someone in a specified way when talking or writing: she addressed my father as “Mr. Stevens.”

- (address something to) say or write remarks or a protest to (someone): address your complaints to the Board of Review.

3 think about and begin to deal with (an issue or problem): a fundamental problem has still to be addressed.

4 [GOLF] take up one's stance and prepare to hit (the ball).

<PHRASES> form of address a name or title used in speaking or writing to a person of a specified rank or function: “Venerable” was the usual form of address for a priest at that time.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·dress·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a verb in the senses 'set upright' and 'guide, direct', hence 'write directions for delivery on' and 'direct spoken words to'): from Old French, based on Latin ad- 'toward' + directus (see DIRECT). The noun is of mid 16th-cent. origin in the sense 'act of approaching or speaking to someone'.

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DIRECT ■

ad·dress·a·ble adj. [COMPUTING] relating to or denoting a memory unit in which all locations can be separately accessed by a particular program.

ad·dress·ee n. the person to whom something, typically a letter, is addressed.

Ad·dres·so·graph n. TRADEMARK a machine for printing addresses on envelopes.

ad·duce v. [trans.] cite as evidence: a number of factors are adduced to explain the situation.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·duc·i·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin adducere, from ad- 'toward' + ducere 'to lead'.

ad·duct 1 v. [trans.] (of a muscle) move (a limb or other part of the body) toward the midline of the body or toward another part. The opposite of ABDUCT.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·duc·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: back-formation from late Middle English adduction, from late Latin adductio(n-) 'bringing forward', from the verb adducere 'bring in' (see ADDUCE).

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ABDUCT ■

ADDUCE ■

ad·duct 2 n. [CHEMISTRY] the product of an addition reaction between two compounds.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from German Addukt (blend of Addition and Produkt).

ad·duc·tor (also adductor muscle) n. [ANATOMY] a muscle whose contraction moves a limb or other part of the body toward the midline of the body or toward another part. Compare with ABDUCTOR.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any of a number of specific muscles in the hand, foot, or thigh: [followed by Latin genitive] adductor hallucis.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin adduct- 'brought in', from the verb adducere (see ADDUCE).

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ABDUCTOR ■

ADDUCE ■

ad·dy n. (pl. -dies) INFORMAL an address, especially an e-mail address: I just sent you a note from my other addy.

<ORIGIN> by shortening and alteration.

-ade 1 suffix forming nouns: 1 denoting an action that is completed: barricade; blockade.

2 denoting the body concerned in an action or process: brigade; cavalcade.

3 denoting the product or result of an action or process: arcade; lemonade; marmalade.

<ORIGIN> from French via Portuguese, Provençal, and Spanish -ada or via Italian -ata, from Latin -atus (past participial suffix of verbs ending in -are).

-ade 2 suffix forming nouns such as decade. Compare with -AD^1 .

<ORIGIN> representing the French noun ending -ade, from Greek.

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-AD ■

-ade 3 suffix forming nouns: 1 equivalent to -ADE^1 : brocade.

2 denoting a person : renegade.

<ORIGIN> from Spanish or Portuguese -ado, masculine form of -ada (see -ADE^1 ).

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-ADE ■

-ADE ■

Ad·e·laide a city in southern Australia, the capital and chief port of the state of South Australia; pop. 1,050,000.

A·dé·lie Land (also Adélie Coast) a section of the Antarctic continent south of the 60th parallel, between Wilkes Land and King George V Land.

A·dé·lie pen·guin n. a gregarious and territorial penguin of Antarctica, perhaps the most familiar of all the penguins. The adults have a distinctive white ring around the eye.
<INFO>  Pygoscelis adeliae, family Spheniscidae.

A·den a port in Yemen at the mouth of the Red Sea; pop. 417,370. Formerly under British rule, first as part of British India from 1839 and then from 1935 as a Crown Colony, it was capital of former South Yemen 1967-90.

A·den, Gulf of a part of the eastern Arabian Sea that lies between the southern coast of Yemen and the Horn of Africa.

A·de·nau·er Konrad (1876-1967), German statesman, first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany 1949-63.

ad·e·nine n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a compound that is one of the four constituent bases of nucleic acids. A purine derivative, it is paired with thymine in double-stranded DNA.
<INFO>  Alternative name: 6-aminopurine; chem. formula: C_5H_5N_5.

<ORIGIN>  late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek 'gland' + -INE^4 .

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-INE ■

adeno- comb. form relating to a gland or glands: adenocarcinoma.

<ORIGIN> from Greek 'gland'.

ad·e·no·car·ci·no·ma n. (pl. -mas or -ma·ta ) [MEDICINE] a malignant tumor formed from glandular structures in epithelial tissue.

ad·e·noids plural n. a mass of enlarged lymphatic tissue between the back of the nose and the throat, often hindering speaking and breathing in young children.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·e·noi·dal adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'gland' + -OID.

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-OID ■

ad·e·no·ma n. (pl. -mas or -ma·ta ) [MEDICINE] a benign tumor formed from glandular structures in epithelial tissue.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin, from Greek 'gland' + -OMA.

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-OMA ■

a·den·o·sine n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a compound consisting of adenine combined with ribose, one of four nucleoside units in RNA.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: blend of ADENINE and RIBOSE.

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ADENINE ■

RIBOSE ■

a·den·o·sine de·am·i·nase n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] an enzyme that catalyzes the deamination of adenosine to inosine.

a·den·o·sine mon·o·phos·phate (abbr.: AMP) n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a compound consisting of an adenosine molecule bonded to one acidic phosphate group, present in most DNA and RNA. It often exists in a cyclic form with the phosphate bonded to the nucleoside at two points.

a·den·o·sine tri·phos·phate (abbr.: ATP) n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a compound consisting of an adenosine molecule bonded to three phosphate groups, present in all living tissue. The breakage of one phosphate linkage (to form adenosine diphosphate, ADP) provides energy for physiological processes such as muscular contraction.

ad·e·no·vi·rus n. [MEDICINE] any of a group of DNA viruses first discovered in adenoid tissue, most of which cause respiratory diseases.

a·den·yl·ate cy·clase (also ad·en·yl cy·clase ) n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of cyclic adenylic acid from adenosine triphosphate.

ad·e·nyl·ic ac·id n. another term for ADENOSINE MONOPHOSPHATE.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: adenylic from ADENINE + -YL + -IC.

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ADENOSINE MONOPHOSPHATE ■

ADENINE ■

-YL ■

-IC ■

a·dept adj. very skilled or proficient at something: he is adept at cutting through red tape; an adept negotiator.

■ n. (ad·ept) a person who is skilled or proficient at something: they are adepts at kung fu and karate.

<DERIVATIVES> a·dept·ly adv. a·dept·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin adeptus 'achieved', past participle of adipisci 'obtain, attain'.

ad·e·quate adj. satisfactory or acceptable in quality or quantity: this office is perfectly adequate for my needs; the law is adequate to deal with the problem; adequate resources and funding.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·e·qua·cy n. ad·e·quate·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin adaequatus 'made equal to', past participle of the verb adaequare, from ad- 'to' + aequus 'equal'.

à deux adv. for or involving two people: dinner à deux.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French.

ADF abbr. automatic direction finder, a device used by pilots to aid navigation.

ad fin. adv. at or near the end of a piece of writing.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin ad finem 'at the end'.

ADH [BIOCHEMISTRY] abbr. antidiuretic hormone.

ADHD abbr. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

ad·here v. [intrans.] (adhere to) stick fast to (a surface or substance): paint won't adhere well to a greasy surface.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- believe in and follow the practices of: the people adhere to the Muslim religion.

- represent truthfully and in detail: the account adhered firmly to fact.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin adhaerere, from ad- 'to' + haerere 'to stick'.

ad·her·ent n. someone who supports a particular party, person, or set of ideas: he was a strong adherent of monetarism.

■ adj. sticking fast to an object or surface: the eggs have thick sticky shells to which debris is often adherent.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·her·ence n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French adherent, from Latin adhaerent- 'sticking to', from the verb adhaerere (see ADHERE).

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ADHERE ■

ad·he·sion n. 1 the action or process of adhering to a surface or object: the adhesion of the Scotch tape to the paper.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the frictional grip of wheels, shoes, etc., on a road, track, or other surface: the front tires were struggling for adhesion

- [PHYSICS] the sticking together of particles of different substances.

- allegiance or faithfulness to a particular person, party, or set of ideas: he was harshly criticized for his adhesion to the old bureaucracy.

2 [MEDICINE] an abnormal union of membranous surfaces due to inflammation or injury: endoscopic surgery for pelvic adhesions.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French adhésion, from Latin adhaesio(n-), from the verb adhaerere (see ADHERE).

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ADHERE ■

ad·he·sive adj. able to stick fast to a surface or object; sticky: an adhesive label.

■ n. a substance used for sticking objects or materials together; glue.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·he·sive·ly adv. ad·he·sive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (in the sense 'tending to adhere or cling to'): from French adhésif, -ive, from the verb adhérer, from Latin adhaerere 'stick to' (see ADHERE).

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ADHERE ■

ad·he·sive cap·sul·i·tis n. extreme stiffness or immobility in the shoulder joint, usu. following injury and caused by the adhesions in the joint and inflammation of the capsule of the humerus. Also called FROZEN SHOULDER.

ad·hib·it v. (-it·ed, -it·ing) [trans.] FORMAL apply or affix (something) to something else: signed by a partner who would either adhibit the firm's signature or his own.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·hi·bi·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (in the sense 'take in, include'): from Latin adhibit- 'brought in', from the verb adhibere, from ad- 'to' + habere 'hold, have'.

ad hoc adj. & adv. formed, arranged, or done for a particular purpose only: [as adj.] an ad hoc committee; the discussions were on an ad hoc basis | [as adv.] the group was constituted ad hoc.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: Latin, literally 'for this'.

ad·hoc·ra·cy n. a flexible, adaptable, and informal organizational structure without bureaucratic policies or procedures.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: blend of AD HOC and -CRACY.

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AD HOC ■

-CRACY ■

ad ho·mi·nem adv. & adj. 1 (of an argument or reaction) arising from or appealing to the emotions and not reason or logic.
<SPECIAL USAGE> attacking an opponent’s motives or character rather than the policy or position they maintain: vicious ad hominem attacks.

2 relating to or associated with a particular person: [as adv.] the office was created ad hominem for Fenton. | [as adj.] an ad hominem response.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: Latin, literally 'to the person'.

ad·i·a·bat·ic [PHYSICS] adj. relating to or denoting a process or condition in which heat does not enter or leave the system concerned.
<SPECIAL USAGE> impassable to heat.

■ n. a curve or formula representing adiabatic phenomena.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·i·a·bat·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek adiabatos 'impassable', from a- 'not' + dia 'through' + batos 'passable' (from bainein 'go'), + -IC.

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ad·i·a·bat·ic lapse rate n. [METEOROLOGY] the rate at which atmospheric temperature decreases with increasing altitude in conditions of thermal equilibrium.

ad·i·an·tum n. technical term for MAIDENHAIR.

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MAIDENHAIR ■

a·dieu CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY exclam. another term for GOODBYE.

■ n. (pl. a·dieus or a·dieux) a goodbye: he whispered a fond adieu; they bade us all adieu.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from à 'to' + Dieu 'God'; compare with ADIOS.

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GOODBYE ■

ADIOS ■

A·di Granth the principal sacred scripture of Sikhism. Original compiled under the direction of Arjan Dev (1563-1606), the fifth Sikh guru, it contains hymns and religious poetry as well as the teachings of the first five gurus. Also called GRANTH, GRANTH SAHIB (‘Revered Book’).

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit , literally 'first book', based on grantha 'literary composition', from granth 'to tie'.

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GRANTH SAHIB ■

ad in·fi·ni·tum adv. again and again in the same way; forever: registration is for seven years and may be renewed ad infinitum.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: Latin, literally 'to infinity'.

ad·i·os exclam. & n. Spanish term for GOODBYE.

<ORIGIN> Spanish adiós, from a 'to' + Dios 'God'; compare with ADIEU.

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GOODBYE ■

ADIEU ■

a·dip·ic ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a crystalline fatty acid obtained from natural fats and used esp. in the manufacture of nylon.
<INFO>  Alternative name: hexanedioic acid; chem. formula: HOOC(CH_2)4COOH.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·i·pate n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin adeps, adip- 'fat' (because the acid was first prepared by oxidizing fats) + -IC.

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-IC ■

ad·i·po·cere n. a grayish waxy substance formed by the decomposition of soft tissue in dead bodies subjected to moisture.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French adipocire, from Latin adeps, adip- 'fat' + French cire 'wax' (from Latin cera).

ad·i·po·cyte n. [BIOLOGY] a cell specialized for the storage of fat, found in connective tissue.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from ADIPOSE + -CYTE.

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ADIPOSE ■

-CYTE ■

ad·i·pose adj. TECHNICAL (esp. of body tissue) used for the storage of fat.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·i·pos·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin adiposus, from adeps, adip- 'fat'.

ad·i·pose fin n. [ZOOLOGY] a small, rayless, fleshy, dorsal fin present in certain fishes, notably in the salmon family.

Ad·i·ron·dack chair n. an outdoor wooden armchair constructed of wide slats. The seat typically slants downward toward the sloping back.

Ad·i·ron·dack Moun·tains (also the Ad·i·ron·dacks) a range of mountains in New York, source of the Hudson and Mohawk rivers.

Adi·ron·dack Park a state preserve in north central New York, the largest park in the contiguous U.S.

A·dis A·be·ba variant spelling of ADDIS ABABA.

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ADDIS ABABA ■

ad·it n. a horizontal passage leading into a mine for the purposes of access or drainage.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin aditus 'approach, entrance', from adit- 'approached', from the verb adire, from ad- 'toward' + ire 'go'.

adj. abbr.
- adjective.

- adjustment.

- adjunct.

- (Adj.) adjutant.

ad·ja·cent adj. 1 next to or adjoining something else: adjacent rooms; the area adjacent to the fire station.

2 [GEOMETRY] (of angles) having a common vertex and a common side.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·ja·cen·cy n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin adjacent- 'lying near to', from adjacere, from ad- 'to' + jacere 'lie down'.

ad·jec·tive n. [GRAMMAR] a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·jec·ti·val adj. ad·jec·ti·val·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French adjectif, -ive, from Latin adject- 'added', from the verb adjicere, from ad- 'toward' + jacere 'throw'. The term was originally used in the phrase noun adjective, translating Latin nomen adjectivum, the latter being a translation of Greek onoma epitheton 'attributive name'.

ad·join v. [trans.] be next to and joined with (a building, room, or piece of land): the dining room adjoins a small library | [as adj.] (adjoining) adjoining room.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French ajoindre, from Latin adjungere, from ad- 'to' + jungere 'to join'.

ad·joint [MATHEMATICS] adj. relating to or denoting a function or quantity related to a given function or quantity by a particular process of transposition.
<SPECIAL USAGE> denoting a matrix that is the transpose of the cofactors of a given square matrix.

■ n. an adjoint matrix, function, or quantity.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, literally 'joined to', from adjoindre (see ADJOIN).

Linked entries:

ADJOIN ■

ad·journ v. [trans.] (usu. be adjourned) break off (a meeting, legal case, or game) with the intention of resuming it later: the meeting was adjourned until December 4; [intrans.] let's adjourn and reconvene at 2 o'clock. See note at POSTPONE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of people who are together) go somewhere else, typically for refreshment: they adjourned to a local bar.

- put off or postpone (a resolution or sentence): the sentence was adjourned.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·journ·ment n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'summon someone to appear on a particular day'): from Old French ajorner, from the phrase a jorn (nome) 'to an (appointed) day'.

ad·judge v. [trans.] (usu. be adjudged) consider or declare to be true or the case: she was adjudged guilty | [trans.] he was adjudged to be offensive.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (adjudge something to) (in legal use) award something judicially to (someone): the court adjudged legal damages to her.

- [trans.] (in legal use) condemn (someone) to pay a penalty: the defaulter was adjudged to pay the whole amount.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·judg·ment (also ad·judge·ment) n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French ajuger, from Latin adjudicare, from ad- 'to' + judicare, from judex, judic- 'a judge'.

ad·ju·di·cate v. [intrans.] make a formal judgment or decision about a problem or disputed matter: the committee adjudicates on all betting disputes | [trans.] the case was adjudicated in the Supreme Court.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- act as a judge in a competition: we asked him to adjudicate at the local flower show.

- [trans.] pronounce or declare judicially: he was adjudicated bankrupt.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·ju·di·ca·tion n. ad·ju·di·ca·tive adj. ad·ju·di·ca·tor n.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (in the sense 'award judicially'): from Latin adjudicat- 'awarded judicially', from the verb adjudicare (see ADJUDGE). The noun adjudication dates from the early 17th cent.

Linked entries:

ADJUDGE ■

ad·junct n. 1 a thing added to something else as a supplementary rather than an essential part: computer technology is an adjunct to learning.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who is another's assistant or subordinate.

2 [GRAMMAR] a word or phrase used to amplify or modify the meaning of another word or words in a sentence.

■ adj. [attrib.] connected or added to something, typically in an auxiliary way: other alternative or adjunct therapies include immunotherapy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an academic post) attached to the staff of a college in a temporary or assistant capacity: an adjunct professor of entomology.; [as n.] both adjuncts and tenured professors tend to inflate grades.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·junc·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (as an adjective meaning 'joined on, subordinate'): from Latin adjunctus, past participle of adjungere (see ADJOIN).

Linked entries:

ADJOIN ■

ad·junc·tion n. 1 [MATHEMATICS] the joining of two sets that without overlapping jointly constitute a larger set, or the relation between two such sets.

2 [LOGIC] the asserting in a single formula of two previously asserted formulae.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin adjunctio(n-), from the verb adjungere (see ADJOIN).

Linked entries:

ADJOIN ■

ad·jure v. [trans.] FORMAL urge or request (someone) solemnly or earnestly to do something: I adjure you to tell me the truth.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·ju·ra·tion n. ad·jur·a·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'put a person on oath'): from Latin adjurare, from ad- 'to' + jurare 'swear' (from jus, jur- 'oath').

ad·just v. 1 [trans.] alter or move (something) slightly in order to achieve the desired fit, appearance, or result: he smoothed his hair and adjusted his tie; | the interest rate should be adjusted for inflation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] permit small alterations or movements so as to allow a desired fit, appearance, or result to be achieved: a harness that adjusts to the correct fit.

- [intrans.] adapt or become used to a new situation: she must be allowed to grieve and to adjust in her own way; his eyes had adjusted to semidarkness.

2 [trans.] assess (loss or damages) when settling an insurance claim.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·just·a·bil·i·ty n. ad·just·a·ble adj. ad·just·er n. ad·just·ment n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the senses 'harmonize discrepancies' and 'assess (loss or damages)'): from obsolete French adjuster, from Old French ajoster 'to approximate', based on Latin ad- 'to' + juxta 'near'.

adjustable rate mortgage (abbr.: ARM) n. a mortgage whose rate of interest is adjusted periodically to reflect market conditions. Also called VARIABLE RATE MORTGAGE.

ad·ju·tant n. 1 a military officer who acts as an administrative assistant to a senior officer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person's assistant or deputy.

2 (also adjutant stork or adjutant bird) a large black-and-white stork with a massive bill and a bare head and neck, found in India and Southeast Asia.
<INFO>  Genus Leptoptilos, family Ciconiidae: two species.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·ju·tan·cy n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'assistant, helper'): from Latin adjutant- 'being of service to', from adjutare, frequentative of adjuvare 'assist' (see ADJUVANT).

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ADJUVANT ■

ad·ju·tant gen·er·al n. (pl. ad·ju·tants gen·er·al) the adjutant of a unit having a general staff.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the Adjutant General) (in the U.S. Army) the chief administrative officer.

- the senior officer in the National Guard of a U.S. state.

ad·ju·vant adj. [MEDICINE] (of therapy) applied after initial treatment for cancer, esp. to suppress secondary tumor formation.

■ n. [MEDICINE] a substance that enhances the body's immune response to an antigen.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin adjuvant- 'helping toward', from the verb adjuvare, from ad- 'toward' + juvare 'to help'.

Ad·ler Alfred (1870-1937), Austrian psychologist and psychiatrist. Adler disagreed with Freud's idea that mental illness was caused by sexual conflicts in infancy, arguing that society and culture were significant factors. He introduced the concept of the inferiority complex.

<DERIVATIVES> Ad·le·ri·an adj. & n.

ad lib v. (ad libbed, ad lib·bing) [intrans.] speak or perform in public without previously preparing one's words: Charles had to ad lib because he'd forgotten his script | [trans.] she ad libbed half the speech.

■ n. something spoken or performed in such a way: he came up with an apt ad lib.

■ adv. & adj. 1 spoken or performed without previous preparation: an ad lib commentary | [as adv.] speaking ad lib.

2 as much and as often as desired: [as adv.] the price includes meals and drinks ad lib | [as adj.] the pigs are fed on an ad lib system.

3 [MUSIC] (in directions) in an improvised manner with freedom to vary tempo and instrumentation.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (as an adverb): abbreviation of AD LIBITUM.

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AD LIBITUM ■

ad lib·i·tum adv. & adj. more formal term for AD LIB (sense 2).

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: Latin, literally 'according to pleasure'.

Linked entries:

AD LIB ■

ad li·tem adj. [LAW] (esp. of a guardian) appointed to act in a lawsuit on behalf of a child or other person who is not considered capable of representing themselves.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: Latin, literally 'for the lawsuit'.

ad loc. abbr. to or at that place.

Adm. abbr. Admiral.

ad·man n. (pl. -men) INFORMAL a person who works in advertising.

ad·min n. INFORMAL the administration of a business, organization, etc.: [as adj.] admin staff.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: abbreviation.

ad·min·is·ter v. [trans.] 1 manage and be responsible for the running of (a business, organization, etc.): each school was administered separately.
<SPECIAL USAGE> be responsible for the implementation or use of (law or resources): a federal agency would administer new regulations.

2 dispense or apply (a remedy or drug): paramedic crews are capable of administering drugs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- deal out or inflict (punishment): retribution was administered to those found guilty.

- (of a priest) perform the rites of (a sacrament, typically the Eucharist).

- ARCHAIC or [LAW] direct the taking of (an oath): the chief justice will administer the oath of office.

3 [intrans.] give help or service: we must selflessly administer to his needs.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·min·is·tra·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin administrare, from ad- 'to' + ministrare (see MINISTER).

Linked entries:

MINISTER ■

ad·min·is·trate v. [trans.] less common term for ADMINISTER (sense 1).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin administrat- 'managed', from the verb administrare (see ADMINISTER).

Linked entries:

ADMINISTER ■

ADMINISTER ■

ad·min·is·tra·tion (abbr.: admin.) n. 1 the process or activity of running a business, organization, etc.: the day-to-day administration of the company; a career in arts administration | [as adj.] administration costs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the administration) the people responsible for this, regarded collectively: the university administration took their demands seriously.

- the management of public affairs; government: the inhabitants of the island voted to remain under French administration.

- [LAW] the management and disposal of the property of an intestate, deceased person, debtor, or other individual, or of an insolvent company, by a legally appointed administrator: the company went into administration | [as adj.] an administration order.

2 the officials in the executive branch of government under a particular chief executive: the Bush Administration's demand that the missiles be removed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the term of office of a political leader or government: the early years of the Reagan Administration.

- a government agency: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

3 the action of dispensing, giving, or applying something: the oral administration of the antibiotic; the administration of justice.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin administratio(n-), from the verb administrare (see ADMINISTER).

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ADMINISTER ■

ad·min·is·tra·tive adj. of or relating to the running of a business, organization, etc.: administrative problems; administrative staff.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·min·is·tra·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin administrativus, from administrat- 'managed', from the verb administrare (see ADMINISTRATE).

Linked entries:

ADMINISTRATE ■

ad·min·is·tra·tive law n. [LAW] legislative requirements, typically for businesses, issued by government agencies in published regulations.

ad·min·is·tra·tor n. a person responsible for running a business, organization, etc.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [LAW] a person legally appointed to manage and dispose of the estate of an intestate, deceased person, debtor, or other individual, or of an insolvent company.

- a person who performs official duties in some sphere, esp. dealing out punishment or giving a religious sacrament: administrators of justice.

ad·min·is·tra·trix n. [LAW] a female administrator of an estate.

ad·mi·ra·ble adj. arousing or deserving respect and approval: he has one admirable qualityhe is totally honest; what is admirable in one sex is disdained in the other.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·mi·ra·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin admirabilis 'to be wondered at', from admirari (see ADMIRE).

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ADMIRE ■

ad·mi·ral n. 1 a commander of a fleet or naval squadron, or a naval officer of very high rank.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a commissioned officer of very high rank in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard, ranking above a vice admiral.

- short for VICE ADMIRAL or REAR ADMIRAL.

2 [with adj.] a butterfly that has dark wings with bold colorful markings.
<INFO>  Several species in the subfamilies Limenitidinae and Nymphalinae, family Nymphalidae. See RED ADMIRAL, WHITE ADMIRAL.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·mi·ral·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting an emir or Saracen commander): from Old French amiral, admirail, via medieval Latin from Arabic 'commander' (from 'to command'). The ending -al was from Arabic -al- in the sense 'of the' used in forming titles (e.g., 'ruler of rulers'), later assimilated to the familiar Latinate suffix -AL.

Linked entries:

VICE ADMIRALREAR ADMIRAL ■

RED ADMIRAL ■

WHITE ADMIRAL ■

-AL ■

Ad·mi·ral of the Fleet n. the highest rank of admiral in the Royal Navy. Compare with FLEET ADMIRAL.

ad·mi·ral·ty n. (pl. -ties) 1 the rank or office of an admiral.

2 [LAW] the jurisdiction of courts of law over cases concerning ships or the sea and other navigable waters (maritime law).

3 (Admiralty) the department of the British government that once administered the Royal Navy.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French admiralte, from admirail 'emir, leader' (see ADMIRAL).

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ADMIRAL ■

Ad·mi·ral·ty Is·lands a group of about 40 islands in the western Pacific, part of Papua New Guinea. In 1884 the islands became a German protectorate, but after 1920 they were administered as an Australian mandate.

ad·mi·ra·tion n. respect and warm approval: their admiration for each other was genuine.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the admiration of) the object of such feelings: her house was the admiration of everyone.

- pleasurable contemplation: they were lost in admiration of the scenery.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'marveling, wonder'): from Latin admiratio(n-), from the verb admirari (see ADMIRE).

Linked entries:

ADMIRE ■

ad·mire v. [trans.] regard (an object, quality, or person) with respect or warm approval: I admire your courage | [as adj.] (admiring) she couldn't help but notice his admiring glance. See notes at ESTEEM, REVERE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> look at with pleasure: we were just admiring your garden.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·mir·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin admirari, from ad- 'at' + mirari 'wonder'.

ad·mir·er n. someone who has a particular regard for someone or something: he was a great admirer of Mark Twain.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a man who is attracted to a particular woman or a woman who is attracted to a particular man: she's got a secret admirer.

ad·mis·si·ble adj. 1 acceptable or valid, esp. as evidence in a court of law: the Court unanimously held that the hearsay was admissible; legally admissible evidence.

2 having the right to be admitted to a place: foreigners were admissible only as temporary workers.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·mis·si·bil·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin admissibilis, from Latin admittere (see ADMIT).

Linked entries:

ADMIT ■

ad·mis·sion n. 1 a statement acknowledging the truth of something: an admission of guilt; a tacit admission that things had gone wrong; a man who, by his own admission, fell in love easily.

2 the process or fact of entering or being allowed to enter a place, organization, or institution: I had some difficulty securing admission to the embassy; the country's admission to the UN | her condition required frequent hospital admissions | [as adj.] (admissions) the university admissions office.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the money charged for allowing someone to enter a public place: admission is $1 for adults and 50 cents for children.

- (admissions) the number of people entering a place: hospital admissions decreased nearly 65 percent.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin admission-, from the verb admittere (see ADMIT).

<USAGE>
Admission traditionally referred to the price paid for entry or the right to enter: admission was $5. Admittance more often referred to physical entry: we were denied admittance by a large man with a forbidding scowl. In the sense of 'permission or right to enter,' these words have become almost interchangeable, although admittance is more formal and technical.

Linked entries:

ADMIT ■

ad·mit v. (-mit·ted, -mit·ting ) 1 [reporting verb] confess to be true or to be the case, typically with reluctance: [with clause] the office finally admitted that several prisoners had been injured; I have to admit I was relieved when he left | [with direct speech] “I am feeling pretty tired,” Jan admitted | [trans.] she admitted her terror of physical contact.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] confess to (a crime or fault, or one's responsibility for it): he was sentenced to prison after admitting 47 charges of burglary | [intrans.] he had admitted to a long history of sexual misconduct.

- acknowledge (a failure or fault): after searching for an hour, she finally had to admit defeat | [intrans.] he admits to having lied.

2 [trans.] allow (someone) to enter a place: senior citizens are admitted free to the museum.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a ticket) give (someone) the right to enter a place: the voucher admits up to four people to the theme park.

- carry out the procedures necessary for (someone) to be received into a hospital for treatment: she was admitted to the hospital suffering from a chest infection.

- allow (a person, country, or organization) to join an organization or group: Canada was admitted to the League of Nations.

- allow (someone) to share in a privilege: the doctrine held that only a chosen few were admitted to the covenant.

- [trans.] accept as valid: the courts can refuse to admit police evidence which has been illegally obtained.

3 [intrans.] (admit of) allow the possibility of: the need to inform him was too urgent to admit of further delay.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin admittere, from ad- 'to' + mittere 'send'.

ad·mit·tance n. 1 the process or fact of entering or being allowed to enter a place or institution: people were unable to gain admittance to the hall.

2 [PHYSICS] a measure of electrical conduction, numerically equal to the reciprocal of the impedance.

<USAGE>
See usage at ADMISSION.

Linked entries:

ADMISSION ■

ad·mit·ted·ly adv. [sentence adverb] used to introduce a concession or recognition that something is true or is the case: admittedly, the salary was not wonderful, but the duties were light; this is admittedly an extreme case.

ad·mix v. [trans.] CHIEFLY TECHNICAL mix (something) with something else.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: back-formation from the obsolete adjective admixt, from Latin admixtus 'mixed together', past participle of admiscere, from ad- 'to' + miscere 'to mix'.

ad·mix·ture n. a mixture: he felt that his work was an admixture of aggression and creativity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- something mixed with something else, typically as a minor ingredient: green with an admixture of black.

- the action of adding such an ingredient.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'act of admixing'): from AD- (expressing addition) + MIXTURE.

Linked entries:

AD- ■

MIXTURE ■

ad·mon·ish v. [trans.] warn or reprimand someone firmly: she admonished me for appearing at breakfast unshaven | [trans.] “You mustn't say that, Shiona,” Ruth admonished her. See note at REBUKE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] advise or urge (someone) earnestly: she admonished him to drink no more than one glass of wine.

- ARCHAIC warn (someone) of something to be avoided: he admonished the people against the evil of such practices.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·mon·ish·ment n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English amonest 'urge, exhort', from Old French amonester, based on Latin admonere 'urge by warning'. In late Middle English, the final t of amonest was taken to indicate the past tense, and its present tense admonesse changed on the pattern of verbs such as abolish; the prefix a- became ad- in the 16th cent. by association with the Latin form.

ad·mo·ni·tion n. an act or action of admonishing; authoritative counsel or warning: the old judge's admonition to the jury on this point was particularly weighty.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French amonition, from Latin admonitio(n-) '(cautionary) reminder' (see ADMONISH).

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ADMONISH ■

ad·mon·i·to·ry adj. giving or conveying a warning or reprimand: the sergeant lifted an admonitory finger.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin admonitorius, from admonit- 'urged', from Latin admonere (see ADMONISH).

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ADMONISH ■

ad·nate adj. [BOTANY] joined by having grown together.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin adnatus, variant of agnatus (see AGNATE), by association with AD-.

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AGNATE ■

AD- ■

ad nau·se·am adv. referring to something that has been done or repeated so often that it has become annoying or tiresome: the inherent risks of nuclear power have been debated ad nauseam.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: Latin, literally 'to sickness'.

ad·nex·a plural n. [ANATOMY] the parts adjoining an organ.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·nex·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Latin, neuter plural of adnexus 'joined', from adnectere 'fasten to'.

ad·nom·i·nal adj. [GRAMMAR] attached to or modifying a noun.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin adnomen 'added name' + -AL.

Linked entries:

-AL ■

a·do n. trouble or difficulty: she had much ado to keep up with him.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fuss, esp. about something that is unimportant: on the face of it, this is much ado about almost nothing.

<PHRASES> without further (or more) ado without any fuss or delay; immediately.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally in the sense 'action, business'): from northern Middle English at do 'to do', from Old Norse at (used to mark an infinitive) and DO^1 .

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DO ■

-ado suffix forming nouns such as bravado, desperado Compare with -ADE^3 .

<ORIGIN> representing Spanish and Portuguese noun ending -ado or refashioning of Italian -ata, Spanish -ada, based on Latin -atus (past participial suffix of verbs ending in -are).

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-ADE ■

a·do·be n. a kind of clay used as a building material, typically in the form of sun-dried bricks: [as adj.] adobe houses.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a brick of such a type.

- a building constructed from such material.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Spanish, from adobar 'to plaster', from Arabic , from al 'the' + 'bricks'.

a·do·bo n. (pl. -bos) a spicy dish or sauce, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a Filipino dish of chicken or pork stewed in vinegar, garlic, soy sauce, bay leaves, and peppercorns.

- a paste or marinade made from chili peppers, vinegar, herbs, and spices, used in Mexican cooking.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, literally 'marinade'.

ad·o·les·cence n. the period following the onset of puberty during which a young person develops from a child into an adult.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French, from Latin adolescentia, from adolescere 'grow to maturity' (see ADOLESCENT).

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ADOLESCENT ■

ad·o·les·cent adj. (of a young person) in the process of developing from a child into an adult. See note at YOUTHFUL.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or characteristic of this process: his adolescent years; adolescent problems.

■ n. an adolescent boy or girl.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a noun): via French from Latin adolescent- 'coming to maturity', from adolescere, from ad- 'to' + alescere 'grow, grow up', from alere 'nourish'. The adjective dates from the late 18th cent.

A·do·nai n. a Hebrew name for God.

<ORIGIN> from Hebrew ; see also JEHOVAH.

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JEHOVAH ■

A·don·is [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a beautiful youth loved by both Aphrodite and Persephone. He was killed by a boar, but Zeus decreed that he should spend the winter of each year in the underworld with Persephone and the summer months with Aphrodite.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (an Adonis) an extremely handsome young man.

A·don·is blue n. a small Eurasian butterfly, the male of which has vivid sky-blue wings.
<INFO>  Lysandra bellargus, family Lycaenidae.

a·dopt v. [trans.] legally take another's child and bring it up as one's own: there are many people eager to adopt a baby.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- take up or start to use or follow (an idea, method, or course of action): this approach has been adopted by many big banks.

- take on or assume (an attitude or position): he adopted a patronizing tone; adopt a slightly knees-bent position.

- (adopt someone as) choose someone to receive special recognition: at least 23 people adopted as “prisoners of conscience” remain in jail.

- formally approve or accept (a report or suggestion): the committee voted 5-1 to adopt the proposal.

- choose (a textbook) as standard or required for a course of study.

- choose (an animal) to become a house pet: the best way to know a dog's traits is to adopt a mature dog.

- (of a local authority) accept responsibility for the maintenance of (a road).

<DERIVATIVES> a·dopt·a·ble adj. a·dopt·ee n. a·dopt·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: via French from Latin adoptare, from ad- 'to' + optare 'choose'.

<USAGE>
See usage at ADAPT.

Linked entries:

ADAPT ■

a·dop·tion n. the action or fact of adopting or being adopted: she gave up her children for adoption; the widespread adoption of agricultural technology | [as adj.] an adoption agency

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin adoptio(n-), from ad- 'to' + optio(n-) 'choosing' (see OPTION).

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OPTION ■

A·dop·tion·ist n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL [CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY] a person holding the view that Jesus is the Son of God by adoption only.

<DERIVATIVES> A·dop·tion·ism n.

a·dop·tive adj. [attrib.] as a result of the adoption of another's child: adoptive parents.
<SPECIAL USAGE> denoting a country or city to which a person has moved and in which they have chosen to make their permanent place of residence.

<DERIVATIVES> a·dop·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin adoptivus, from adoptare 'select for oneself' (see ADOPT).

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ADOPT ■

a·dor·a·ble adj. inspiring great affection; delightful; charming: she looked just adorable; I have four adorable Siamese cats.

<DERIVATIVES> a·dor·a·bil·i·ty n. a·dor·a·ble·ness n. a·dor·a·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'worthy of divine worship'): from French, from Latin adorabilis, from the verb adorare (see ADORE).

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ADORE ■

ad·o·ral adj. [ZOOLOGY] relating to or denoting the side or end where the mouth is situated, esp. in animals, such as echinoderms, that lack clear upper and lower sides.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·o·ral·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from AD- 'at' + ORAL.

Linked entries:

AD- ■

ORAL ■

a·dore v. [trans.] love and respect (someone) deeply: he adored his mother. See note at REVERE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- worship; venerate: he adored the Sacred Host.

- INFORMAL like (something or someone) very much: she adores Mexican cuisine | [as adj.] (adoring) blowing a farewell kiss to an adoring crowd.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·o·ra·tion n. a·dor·er n. a·dor·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin adorare 'to worship', from ad- 'to' + orare 'speak, pray'.

a·dorn v. [trans.] make more beautiful or attractive: pictures and prints adorned his walls.

<DERIVATIVES> a·dorn·er n. a·dorn·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin adornare, from ad- 'to' + ornare 'deck, add luster'.

A·dor·no Theodor Wiesengrund (1903-69), German philosopher, sociologist, and musicologist; born Theodor Wiesengrund.

ADP abbr.
- [BIOCHEMISTRY] adenosine diphosphate.

- automatic data processing.

ad·pressed adj. [BOTANY] lying closely against the adjacent part, or against the ground.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin adpress- 'pressed near', from adprimere, from ad 'to, at' + premere 'to press', + -ED^2 .

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-ED ■

ADR abbr.
- alternative dispute resolution.

- American depositary receipt.

Adrar des Ifo·ras a massif region in the central Sahara, on the border between Mali and Algeria.

ad rem adv. & adj. FORMAL relevant to what is being done or discussed at the time.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: Latin, literally 'to the matter'.

ad·re·nal adj. of, relating to, or denoting a pair of ductless glands situated above the kidneys. Each consists of a core region (adrenal medulla) secreting epinephrine and norepinephrine, and an outer region (adrenal cortex) secreting corticosteroids.

■ n. (usu. adrenals) an adrenal gland.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from AD- + RENAL.

Linked entries:

AD- ■

RENAL ■

a·dren·al·ine (also a·dren·al·in) n. another term for EPINEPHRINE: performing live really gets your adrenaline going.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Adrenalin) TRADEMARK the hormone epinephrine extracted from animals or prepared synthetically for medicinal purposes.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from ADRENAL + -IN^1 .

Linked entries:

EPINEPHRINE ■

ADRENAL ■

-IN ■

a·dre·nal·ized adj. affected with adrenaline.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL excited, charged, or tense: they possess an adrenalized vigor that distinguishes them from other bands.

ad·ren·er·gic adj. [PHYSIOLOGY] relating to or denoting nerve cells in which epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline), or a similar substance acts as a neurotransmitter. Contrasted with CHOLINERGIC.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from ADRENALINE + Greek ergon 'work' + -IC.

Linked entries:

CHOLINERGIC ■

ADRENALINE ■

-IC ■

a·dre·no·cor·ti·co·trop·ic hor·mone (also a·dre·no·cor·ti·co·troph·ic hor·mone ) (abbr.: ACTH) n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland and stimulating the adrenal cortex.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from adreno- and cortico- (combining forms of ADRENAL and CORTEX) + -TROPHIC or -TROPIC.

Linked entries:

ADRENAL ■

CORTEX ■

-TROPHIC ■

-TROPIC ■

a·dre·no·cor·ti·co·tro·pin (also a·dre·no·cor·ti·co·tro·phin ) n. another term for ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE.

Linked entries:

ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE ■

A·dri·an a city in southeastern Michigan; pop. 22,097.

A·dri·an IV (c.1100-59), pope 1154-59; born Nicholas Breakspear. He is the only person from England to have held the office of pope.

A·dri·at·ic adj. of or relating to the region comprising the Adriatic Sea and its coasts and islands.

■ n. (the Adriatic) the Adriatic Sea or its coasts and islands.

A·dri·at·ic Sea an arm of the Mediterranean Sea between the Balkans and the Italian peninsula.

a·drift adj. [predic.] & adv. (of a boat or its passengers) floating without being either moored or steered: [as adv.] a cargo ship went adrift | [as adj.] the seamen are adrift in lifeboats.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE (of a person) without purpose or guidance; lost and confused: [as predic. adj.] he was adrift in a strange country | [as adv.] they were cast adrift in a sea of events.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from A-2 'on, in' + DRIFT.

Linked entries:

A- ■

DRIFT ■

a·droit adj. clever or skillful in using the hands or mind: he was adroit at tax avoidance.

<DERIVATIVES> a·droit·ly adv. a·droit·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from à droit 'according to right, properly'.

ad·sci·ti·tious adj. RARE forming an addition or supplement; not integral or intrinsic.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin adscit- 'admitted, adopted', from adsciscere, + -ITIOUS^1 , on the pattern of adventitious.

Linked entries:

-ITIOUS ■

ADSL abbr. [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] asynchronous (or asymmetric) digital subscriber line, a method of routing digital data on copper telephone wires, allowing high-speed Internet access and simultaneous use of the line for voice transmission.

ad·sorb v. [trans.] (of a solid) hold (molecules of a gas or liquid or solute) as a thin film on the outside surface or on internal surfaces within the material: charcoal will not adsorb nitrates; the dye is adsorbed onto the fiber.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·sorb·a·ble adj. ad·sorp·tion n. ad·sorp·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: blend of AD- (expressing adherence) + ABSORB.

Linked entries:

AD- ■

ABSORB ■

ad·sorb·ate n. a substance adsorbed.

ad·sorb·ent n. a substance that adsorbs another.

■ adj. able to adsorb substances.

ad·stra·tum n. (pl. -stra·ta ) [LINGUISTICS] a language or group of elements within it that is responsible for changes in a neighboring language.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·strate adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: modern Latin, from Latin ad 'to' + stratum 'something laid down'.

ad·su·ki n. variant spelling of ADZUKI.

Linked entries:

ADZUKI ■

ad·u·late v. [trans.] praise (someone) excessively or obsequiously.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·u·la·tor n. ad·u·la·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin adulat- 'fawned on', from the verb adulari.

ad·u·la·tion n. obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise: he found it difficult to cope with the adulation of the fans.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin adulatio(n-), from adulari 'fawn on'.

a·dult n. a person who is fully grown or developed: children should be accompanied by an adult.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a fully developed animal.

- [LAW] a person who has reached the age of majority. See MAJORITY (sense 2).

■ adj. (of a person or animal) fully grown or developed: the adult inhabitants of the U.S.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of or for adult people: adult education; the responsibilities of adult life.

- emotionally and mentally mature: an effort to be adult and civilized.

- sexually explicit or pornographic (used euphemistically to refer to a movie, book, or magazine).

<DERIVATIVES> a·dult·hood n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin adultus, past participle of adolescere 'grow to maturity' (see ADOLESCENT).

Linked entries:

MAJORITY ■

ADOLESCENT ■

a·dult chil·dren n. [pl.] adults considered in relation to childhood trauma associated with parents: adult children of divorce.

a·dult ed·u·ca·tion n. educational programs or courses for adults who are out of school or college.

a·dul·ter·ant n. a substance used to adulterate another.

■ adj. used in adulterating something.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin adulterant- 'corrupting', from the verb adulterare (see ADULTERATE).

Linked entries:

ADULTERATE ■

a·dul·ter·ate v. [trans.] render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance, typically an inferior one: the meat was ground fine and adulterated with potato flour. See note at POLLUTE.

<DERIVATIVES> a·dul·ter·a·tion n. a·dul·ter·a·tor n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (as an adjective meaning 'spurious'): from Latin adulterat- 'corrupted', from the verb adulterare.

a·dul·ter·er n. a person who commits adultery.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from the obsolete verb adulter 'commit adultery', from Latin adulterare 'debauch, corrupt', replacing an earlier Middle English noun avouterer, from Old French avoutrer 'commit adultery', likewise from Latin adulterare.

a·dul·ter·ess n. a female adulterer.

a·dul·ter·ine adj. (of a child) born as the result of an adulterous relationship.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC & HISTORICAL illegal, unlicensed, or spurious: an adulterine castle.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (in the sense 'due to adulteration'): from Latin adulterinus, from adulterare 'debauch, corrupt'.

a·dul·ter·ous adj. of or involving adultery: an adulterous affair.

<DERIVATIVES> a·dul·ter·ous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from the obsolete noun adulter 'adulterer' (see ADULTERY) + -OUS.

Linked entries:

ADULTERY ■

-OUS ■

a·dul·ter·y n. voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse: she was committing adultery with a much younger man.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from the obsolete noun adulter, from Latin adulter 'adulterer', replacing an earlier form avoutrie, from Old French avouterie, likewise based on Latin adulter.

ad·ult·es·cent n. INFORMAL a middle-aged person whose clothes, interests, and activities are typically associated with youth culture.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: blend of adult and adolescent.

ad·um·brate v. [trans.] FORMAL report or represent in outline: James Madison adumbrated the necessity that the Senate be somewhat insulated from public passions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- indicate faintly: the walls were not more than adumbrated by the meager light.

- foreshadow or symbolize: what qualities in Christ are adumbrated by the vine?

- overshadow: her happy reminiscences were adumbrated by consciousness of something else.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·um·bra·tion n. ad·um·bra·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin adumbrat- 'shaded', from the verb adumbrare, from ad- 'to' (as an intensifier) + umbrare 'cast a shadow' (from umbra 'shade').

Ad·vai·ta n. [HINDUISM] a Vedantic doctrine that identifies the individual self (atman) with the ground of reality (brahman). It is associated esp. with the Indian philosopher Shankara (c 788-820).

<ORIGIN> Sanskrit, literally 'nonduality'.

ad va·lo·rem adv. & adj. (of the levying of tax or customs duties) in proportion to the estimated value of the goods or transaction concerned.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: Latin, literally 'according to the value'.

ad·vance v. 1 [intrans.] move forward, typically in a purposeful way: the troops advanced on the capital; she stood up and advanced toward him.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make progress: our knowledge is advancing all the time.

- [trans.] cause (an event) to occur at an earlier date than planned: I advanced the date of the meeting by several weeks.

- [trans.] promote or help the progress of (a person, cause, or plan): it was a chance to advance his own interests.

- [trans.] put forward (a theory or suggestion): the hypothesis I wish to advance in this article.

- (esp. of shares of stock) increase in price: two stocks advanced for every one that fell.

2 [ with two objs.] lend (money) to (someone): the bank advanced them a loan.
<SPECIAL USAGE> pay (money) to (someone) before it is due: he advanced me a month's salary.

■ n. 1 a forward movement: the rebels' advance on Madrid was well under way | FIGURATIVE the advance of civilization.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a development or improvement: genuine advances in engineering techniques | decades of great scientific advance.

- an increase or rise in amount, value, or price: bond prices posted vigorous advances.

2 an amount of money paid before it is due or for work only partly completed: the author was paid a $250,000 advance; I asked for an advance on next month's salary.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a loan: an advance from the bank.

3 (usu. advances) an approach made to someone, typically with the aim of initiating a sexual encounter: women accused him of making improper advances.

■ adj. done, sent, or supplied beforehand: advance notice; advance payment.

<PHRASES>
□ in advance ahead in time: you need to book weeks in advance.

□ in advance of ahead of in time or space; before: we went on ahead in advance of the main group.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·vanc·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French avance (noun), avancer (verb), from late Latin abante 'in front', from ab 'from' + ante 'before'. The initial a- was erroneously assimilated to AD- in the 16th cent.

Linked entries:

AD- ■

ad·vanced adj. far on or ahead in development or progress: negotiations are at an advanced stage; the cancer is hopelessly advanced; people of advanced years.
<SPECIAL USAGE> new and not yet generally accepted: his advanced views made him unpopular.

ad·vanced de·gree n. a postgraduate degree, esp. a master's degree or a doctorate.

ad·vanced gas-cooled re·ac·tor (abbr.: AGR) n. a nuclear reactor in which the coolant is carbon dioxide, with uranium oxide fuel clad in steel and using graphite as a moderator.

ad·vance di·rec·tive n. a written statement of a person's wishes regarding medical treatment, often including a living will, made to ensure those wishes are carried out should the person be unable to communicate them to a doctor.

ad·vanced place·ment (abbr.: AP) n. the placement of a student in a high school course that offers college credit if successfully completed: [as adj.] advanced placement English and chemistry courses.

ad·vance guard n. a body of soldiers preceding and making preparations for the main body of an army.

ad·vance man n. a person who visits a location before the arrival of an important visitor to make the appropriate arrangements.

ad·vance·ment n. the process of promoting a cause or plan: their lives were devoted to the advancement of science.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the promotion of a person in rank or status: opportunities for career advancement.

- development or improvement: technological advancements.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French avancement, from avancer 'to advance'.

ad·van·tage n. a condition or circumstance that puts one in a favorable or superior position: companies with a computerized database are at an advantage; she had an advantage over her mother's generation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the opportunity to gain something; benefit or profit: you could learn something to your advantage; he saw some advantage in the proposal.

- a favorable or desirable circumstance or feature; a benefit: the village's proximity to the town is an advantage.

- [TENNIS] a player’s score in a game when they have won the first point after deuce (and will win the game if they win the next point).

■ v. [trans.] put in a favorable or more favorable position.

<PHRASES>
□ have the advantage of DATED be in a stronger position than.

□ take advantage of
1 make unfair demands on (someone) who cannot or will not resist; exploit or make unfair use of for one's own benefit: people tend to take advantage of a placid nature.
- DATED (used euphemistically) seduce.

2 make good use of the opportunities offered by (something): take full advantage of the facilities available.

□ to advantage in a way which displays or makes good use of the best aspects of something: her shoes showed off her legs to advantage plan your space to its best advantage.

□ turn something to advantage (or to one's advantage) handle or respond to something in such a way as to benefit from it.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·van·ta·geous adj. ad·van·ta·geous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French avantage, from avant 'in front', from late Latin abante (see ADVANCE).

Linked entries:

ADVANCE ■

ad·van·taged adj. having a comparatively favorable position, typically in terms of economic or social circumstances: children from less advantaged homes.

ad·vec·tion n. the transfer of heat or matter by the flow of a fluid, esp. horizontally in the atmosphere or the sea.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·vect v. ad·vec·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Latin advectio(n-), from advehere 'bring', from ad- 'to' + vehere 'carry'.

ad·vent n. [in sing.] the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event: the advent of television.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (Advent) the first season of the church year, leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays.

- (Advent) [CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY] the coming or second coming of Christ.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Latin adventus 'arrival', from advenire, from ad- 'to' + venire 'come'.

Ad·vent cal·en·dar n. a calendar containing small numbered flaps, one of which is opened on each day of Advent to reveal a picture appropriate to the season.

Ad·vent·ist n. a member of any of various Christian sects emphasizing belief in the imminent second coming of Christ. See also SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST.

<DERIVATIVES> Ad·vent·ism n.

Linked entries:

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST ■

ad·ven·ti·tia n. the outermost layer of the wall of a blood vessel.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·ven·ti·tial adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin (tunica) adventitia 'additional (sheath)'.

ad·ven·ti·tious adj. happening or carried on according to chance rather than design or inherent nature: my adventures were always adventitious, always thrust on me. See note at ACCIDENTAL.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- coming from outside; not native: the adventitious population.

- [BIOLOGY] formed accidentally or in an unusual anatomical position: propagation of sour cherries by adventitious shoots.

- [BOTANY] (of a root) growing directly from the stem or other upper part of a plant.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·ven·ti·tious·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin adventicius 'coming to us from abroad' (from advenire 'arrive') + -OUS (see also -ITIOUS^2 ).

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

-ITIOUS ■

Ad·vent Sun·day n. the first Sunday in Advent, falling on or near November 30.

ad·ven·ture n. an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity: her recent adventures in Italy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- daring and exciting activity calling for enterprise and enthusiasm: she traveled the world in search of adventure; a sense of adventure.

- ARCHAIC a commercial speculation.

■ v. [intrans.] DATED engage in hazardous and exciting activity, esp. the exploration of unknown territory: they had adventured into the forest.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] DATED put (something, esp. money or one's life) at risk: he adventured $3,000 in the purchase of land.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French aventure (noun), aventurer (verb), based on Latin adventurus 'about to happen', from advenire 'arrive'.

ad·ven·ture game n. a type of computer game in which the participant plays a fantasy role in an episodic adventure story.

ad·ven·tur·er n. a person who enjoys or seeks adventure.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person willing to take risks or use dishonest methods for personal gain: a political adventurer.

- ARCHAIC a financial speculator.

- ARCHAIC a mercenary soldier.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (denoting a gambler): from French aventurier, from aventurer 'venture upon' (see ADVENTURE).

Linked entries:

ADVENTURE ■

ad·ven·ture·some adj. given to adventures or to running risks; adventurous: three adventuresome, energetic boys.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·ven·ture·some·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.

ad·ven·tur·ess n. a woman who enjoys or seeks adventure.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a woman who seeks social or financial advancement by dishonest or unscrupulous methods: a sexual adventuress scheming to make a profitable marriage.

ad·ven·tur·ism n. the willingness to take risks in business or politics (esp. in the context of foreign policy); actions, tactics, or attitudes regarded as daring or reckless.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·ven·tur·ist n. & adj.

ad·ven·tur·ous adj. willing to take risks or to try out new methods, ideas, or experiences: let's be adventurous; an adventurous traveler.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- involving new ideas or methods: they wanted more adventurous meals.

- full of excitement: my life couldn't be more adventurous.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·ven·tur·ous·ly adv. ad·ven·tur·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French aventureus, from aventure (see ADVENTURE).

Linked entries:

ADVENTURE ■

Ad·vent wreath n. a wreath of evergreen foliage in which four candles are set, one to be lit on each Sunday of Advent.

ad·verb n. [GRAMMAR] a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word-group, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc. (e.g., gently, quite, then, there).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin adverbium, from ad- 'to' (expressing addition) + verbum 'word, verb'.

ad·ver·bi·al [GRAMMAR] adj. like or relating to an adverb.

■ n. a word or phrase functioning like an adverb.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·ver·bi·al·ly adv.

ad·ver·game n. a downloadable or Internet-based computer game that advertises a brand-name product by featuring it as part of the game.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·ver·gam·ing n.

<ORIGIN> blend of advertisement and game.

ad·ver·sar·i·al adj. involving or characterized by conflict or opposition: industry and government had an adversarial relationship.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- opposed; hostile: Williams had an uncertain relationship to Marxism, sometimes adversarial, sometimes allied.

- [LAW] (of a trial or legal procedure) in which the parties in a dispute have the responsibility for finding and presenting evidence: equality between prosecution and defense is essential in an adversarial system of justice. Compare with INQUISITORIAL.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·ver·sar·i·al·ly adv.

Linked entries:

INQUISITORIAL ■

ad·ver·sar·y n. (pl. -sar·ies) one's opponent in a contest, conflict, or dispute: Davis beat his old adversary in the quarterfinals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Adversary) the Devil.

■ adj. another term for ADVERSARIAL: the confrontations of adversary politics.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French adversarie, from Latin adversarius 'opposed, opponent', from adversus (see ADVERSE).

Linked entries:

ADVERSARIAL ■

ADVERSE ■

ad·ver·sa·tive adj. [GRAMMAR] (of a word or phrase) expressing opposition or antithesis.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French adversatif, -ive or late Latin adversativus, from Latin adversari 'oppose', from adversus (see ADVERSE).

Linked entries:

ADVERSE ■

ad·verse adj. preventing success or development; harmful; unfavorable: taxes are having an adverse effect on production; adverse weather conditions. See note at HOSTILE.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·verse·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French advers, from Latin adversus 'against, opposite', past participle of advertere, from ad- 'to' + vertere 'to turn'. Compare with AVERSE.

<USAGE>
Adverse means 'hostile, unfavorable, opposed,' and is usually applied to situations, conditions, or eventsnot to people: the dry weather has had an adverse effect on the garden. Averse is related in origin and also has the sense of 'opposed,' but is usually employed to describe a person’s attitude: I would not be averse to making the repairs myself.

See also usage at AVERSE.

Linked entries:

AVERSE ■

AVERSE ■

ad·ver·si·ty n. (pl. -ties) difficulties; misfortune: resilience in the face of adversity she overcame many adversities.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French adversite, from Latin adversitas, from advertere 'turn toward'.

ad·vert 1 n. BRIT., INFORMAL an advertisement.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: abbreviation.

ad·vert 2 v. [intrans.] (advert to) FORMAL refer to in speaking or writing: he had failed to advert to the consequences that his conduct was having.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French avertire, from Latin advertere 'turn toward' (see ADVERSE). The original sense was 'turn one's attention to', later 'bring to someone's attention'.

Linked entries:

ADVERSE ■

ad·ver·tise v. [trans.] describe or draw attention to (a product, service, or event) in a public medium in order to promote sales or attendance: a billboard advertising beer; many rugs are advertised as machine washable | [intrans.] we had a chance to advertise on television.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- seek to fill (a vacancy) by putting a notice in a newspaper or other medium: for every job we advertise we get a hundred applicants | [intrans.] he advertised for dancers in the trade papers.

- make (a quality or fact) known: Meryl coughed briefly to advertise her presence.

- ARCHAIC notify (someone) of something: some prisoners advertised the French of this terrible danger.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·ver·tis·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French advertiss-, lengthened stem of advertir, from Latin advertere 'turn toward' (see ADVERT^2 ).

Linked entries:

ADVERT ■

ad·ver·tise·ment n. a notice or announcement in a public medium promoting a product, service, or event or publicizing a job vacancy: advertisements for alcoholic drinks; we received only two replies to our advertisement.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (advertisement for) INFORMAL a person or thing regarded as a means of recommending something: unhappy clients are not a good advertisement for the company.

- ARCHAIC a notice to readers in a book.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a statement calling attention to something): from Old French advertissement, from the verb advertir (see ADVERTISE).

Linked entries:

ADVERTISE ■

ad·ver·tis·ing n. the activity or profession of producing advertisements for commercial products or services: movie audiences are receptive to advertising | [as adj.] an advertising agency.

ad·ver·to·ri·al n. a newspaper or magazine advertisement giving information about a product in the style of an editorial or objective journalistic article.

<ORIGIN> 1960s (originally U.S.): blend of ADVERTISEMENT and EDITORIAL.

Linked entries:

ADVERTISEMENT ■

EDITORIAL ■

ad·vice n. guidance or recommendations concerning prudent future action, typically given by someone regarded as knowledgeable or authoritative: she visited the island on her doctor's advice; even successful businessmen asked his advice.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a formal notice of a financial transaction: remittance advices.

- ARCHAIC information; news: fresh advices from Europe

<PHRASES> take advice obtain information and guidance, typically from an expert: he should take advice from his accountant.
- (usu. take someone's advice) act according to recommendations given: he took my advice and put his house up for sale.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French avis, based on Latin ad 'to' + visum, past participle of videre 'to see'. The original sense was 'way of looking at something, judgment', hence later 'an opinion given'.

ad·vis·a·ble adj. [often with infinitive] (of a course of action) to be recommended; sensible: it is advisable to carry one of the major credit cards; early booking is advisable.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·vis·a·bil·i·ty n. ad·vis·a·bly adv.

ad·vise v. [reporting verb] offer suggestions about the best course of action to someone: [trans.] I advised him to go home | [trans.] he advised caution | [intrans.] we advise against sending cash by mail | [with direct speech] “Go to Paris,” he advised.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] recommend (something): sleeping pills are not advised.

- [trans.] inform (someone) about a fact or situation, typically in a formal or official way: you will be advised of the requirements | [trans.] the lawyer advised the court that his client wished to give evidence.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French aviser, based on Latin ad- 'to' + visere, frequentative of videre 'to see'. The original senses included 'look at' and 'consider', hence 'consider jointly, consult with others'.

ad·vised adj. behaving as someone, esp. the speaker, would recommend; sensible; wise: the department would be advised to do some research.

ad·vis·ed·ly adv. deliberately and after consideration (used esp. of what might appear a mistake or oversight): I've used the term “old” advisedly.

ad·vi·see n. a person who meets with an adviser.

ad·vise·ment n. careful consideration.
<SPECIAL USAGE> advice or counsel.

<PHRASES> take something under advisement reserve judgment while considering something.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French avisement, from aviser 'look at' (see ADVISE).

Linked entries:

ADVISE ■

ad·vis·er (also ad·vi·sor) n. a person who gives advice, typically someone who is expert in a particular field: the military adviser to the President.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in a school, college, or university, a teacher or staff counselor who helps a student plan a course of study: my adviser might switch me back into Wasserman's class.

<USAGE>
The spellings adviser and advisor are both correct. Adviser is the more common spelling in North America; advisor is more common in Britain. In both places, however, the adjectival form is advisory. In the U.S., adviser may be seen as less formal, while advisor often suggests an official position.

ad·vi·so·ry adj. having or consisting in the power to make recommendations but not to take action enforcing them: an independent advisory committee; | the Commission acts in an advisory capacity to the government.
<SPECIAL USAGE> recommended but not compulsory: universities may treat the recommendations as advisory.

■ n. (pl. -ries) an official announcement, typically a warning about bad weather conditions: a frost advisory.

ad·vo·ca·cy n. public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy: their advocacy of traditional family values.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the profession or work of a legal advocate.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin advocatia, from advocare 'summon, call to one's aid' (see ADVOCATE).

Linked entries:

ADVOCATE ■

ad·vo·cate n. a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy: he was an untiring advocate of economic reform.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who pleads on someone else's behalf: care managers can become advocates for their clients.

- a pleader in a court of law; a lawyer: Marshall was a skilled advocate but a mediocre judge.

■ v. [trans.] publicly recommend or support: they advocated strict adherence to Islam.

<DERIVATIVES> ad·vo·ca·tion n. ad·vo·ca·tor n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French avocat, from Latin advocatus, past participle (used as a noun) of advocare 'call (to one's aid)', from ad- 'to' + vocare 'to call'.

ad·vow·son n. (in English ecclesiastical law) the right to recommend a member of the Anglican clergy for a vacant benefice, or to make such an appointment.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'guardianship or patronage of a religious house or benefice', with the obligation to defend it and speak for it): from Old French avoeson, from Latin advocatio(n-), from advocare 'summon' (see ADVOCATE).

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ADVOCATE ■

advt. abbr. advertisement.

ad·ware n. adjunct software that displays advertising while the program it is attached to is running.

A·dy·gea an autonomous republic in the northwestern Caucasus in southwestern Russia; pop. 432,000; capital, Maikop. Its population is largely Muslim. Full name ADYGEI AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC.

ad·y·tum n. (pl. -ta ) the innermost sanctuary of an ancient Greek temple.

<ORIGIN> Latin, from Greek aduton, neuter singular of adutos 'impenetrable', from a- 'not' + duein 'enter'.

adze (adz) n. a tool similar to an ax with an arched blade at right angles to the handle, used for cutting or shaping large pieces of wood.

<ORIGIN> Old English adesa, of unknown origin.

ad·zu·ki (also adzuki bean) n. 1 a small, round, dark-red edible bean.

2 the bushy leguminous Asian plant that produces this bean.
<INFO>  Vigna angularis, family Leguminosae.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Japanese azuki.

AE abbr. autoexposure.

Æ (also æ) n. a ligatured letter used in Old English to represent either a long sound like that in modern American English hair or the short vowel of hat; currently used in some phonetic alphabets to represent the vowel of hat, which is symbolized in this dictionary by (see ASH^2 ).

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ASH ■

-ae suffix forming plural nouns: 1 used in names of animal and plant families and other groups: Felidae; Gymnospermae.

2 used instead of -as in the plural of many nonnaturalized or unfamiliar nouns ending in -a derived from Latin or Greek: alumnae; larvae.

<ORIGIN> representing Latin plural, or the Greek plural ending -ai of some nouns.

AEC HISTORICAL abbr. Atomic Energy Commission.

ae·dile n. [ROMAN HISTORY] either of two (later four) Roman magistrates responsible for public buildings and originally also for the public games and the supply of grain to the city.

<DERIVATIVES> ae·dile·ship n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin aedilis 'concerned with buildings', from aedes 'building'.

AEF abbr. American Expeditionary Force.

Ae·ge·an adj. of or relating to the region comprising the Aegean Sea and its coasts and islands.

■ n. (the Aegean) the Aegean Sea or its region.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek Aigaios + -EAN.

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-EAN ■

Ae·ge·an Is·lands a group of islands in the Aegean Sea that form a region of Greece. The principal islands in the group are Chios, Samos, Lesbos, the Cyclades, and the Dodecanese.

Ae·ge·an Sea a part of the Mediterranean Sea that lies between Greece and Turkey, bounded on the south by Crete and Rhodes and linked to the Black Sea by the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosporus.

ae·gis n. [in sing.] the protection, backing, or support of a particular person or organization: negotiations were conducted under the aegis of the UN.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in classical art and mythology) an attribute of Zeus and Athena (or their Roman counterparts Jupiter and Minerva) usually represented as a goatskin shield.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting armor or a shield, esp. that of a god): via Latin from Greek aigis 'shield of Zeus'.

Ae·gis·thus [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the son of Thyestes and lover of Agamemnon's wife Clytemnestra.

Ael·fric (c.955-c.1020) Anglo-Saxon monk, writer, and grammarian; called Grammaticus. He wrote Lives of the Saints (993-996).

-aemia comb. form British spelling of -EMIA.

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-EMIA ■

Ae·ne·as [GREEK] [ROMAN MYTHOLOGY] a Trojan leader, son of Anchises and Aphrodite, and legendary ancestor of the Romans. When Troy fell to the Greeks he escaped and after wandering for many years eventually reached Italy. The story of his voyage is recounted in Virgil's Aeneid.

Ae·ne·id a Latin epic poem in twelve books by Virgil, that relates the travels and experiences of Aeneas after the fall of Troy.

ae·o·li·an (also e·o·li·an) adj. 1 [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] of or relating to Aeolus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY characterized by a sighing or moaning sound as if produced by the wind: there is a pure aeolian quality, a music as of storms telling their secret.

2 [CHIEFLY GEOLOGY] see EOLIAN .

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from the name AEOLUS + -IAN.

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EOLIAN ■

AEOLUS ■

-IAN ■

ae·o·li·an harp n. a stringed instrument that produces musical sounds when a current of air passes through it.

Ae·o·li·an Is·lands ancient name for LIPARI ISLANDS.

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LIPARI ISLANDS ■

Ae·o·li·an mode n. [MUSIC] the mode represented by the natural diatonic scale A-A (containing a minor 3rd, 6th, and 7th).

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin Aeolius 'from Aeolis' (an ancient coastal district of Asia Minor) + -AN.

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-AN ■

Ae·o·lus [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the god of the winds.

<ORIGIN> from Greek Aiolos, from aiolos 'swift, changeable'.

ae·on n. BRIT. variant spelling of EON.

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EON ■

ae·py·or·nis n. another term for ELEPHANT BIRD.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek aipus 'high' + ornis 'bird'.

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ELEPHANT BIRD ■

aer·ate v. [trans.] introduce air into (a material): she would aerate the lawn with high heels.

<DERIVATIVES> aer·a·tion n. aer·a·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin aer 'air' + -ATE^3 , influenced by French aérer.

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-ATE ■

aer·en·chy·ma n. [BOTANY] a soft plant tissue containing air spaces, found esp. in many aquatic plants.

<DERIVATIVES> aer·en·chy·ma·tous adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'air' + enkhuma 'infusion'.

aer·i·al adj. [attrib.] existing, happening, or operating in the air: an aerial battle; an intrepid aerial adventurer.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- coming or carried out from the air, esp. using aircraft: aerial bombardment of civilian targets; aerial photography.

- (of part of a plant) growing above ground: knobby sections of aerial roots.

- (of a bird) spending much of its time in flight.

- of or in the atmosphere; atmospheric.

- insubstantial and hard to grasp or define: the church may draw fine and aerial distinctions.

■ n. 1 another term for ANTENNA (sense 2): jiggle the aerial on the radio.

2 (aerials) a type of maneuver in gymnastics, skiing, or surfing involving freestyle jumps or somersaults.

<DERIVATIVES> aer·i·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'thin as air, imaginary'): via Latin aerius from Greek aerios (from 'air') + -AL.

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ANTENNA ■

-AL ■

aer·i·al·ist n. a person who performs acrobatics high above the ground on a tightrope or trapezes.

aer·i·al lad·der n. a long extension ladder, esp. on a fire engine, used to reach high places.

aer·i·al per·spec·tive n. [ART] the technique of representing more distant objects as fainter and more blue.

aer·ie (also eyr·ie) n. a large nest of a bird of prey, esp. an eagle, typically built high in a tree or on a cliff.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from medieval Latin aeria, aerea, eyria, probably from Old French aire, from Latin area 'level piece of ground', in late Latin 'nest of a bird of prey'.

aer·o adj. 1 short for AERODYNAMIC: the cars have a lower, more aero front end.

2 ARCHAIC short for AERONAUTICAL (see AERONAUTICS): an aero club; an aero engine.

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AERODYNAMIC ■

aero- comb. form 1 of or relating to air: aerobe; aerobics.

2 of or relating to aviation: aerodynamics; aeronautics.

<ORIGIN> from Greek 'air'.

aer·o·bat·ics plural n. [usu. treated as sing.] feats of spectacular flying performed in one or more aircraft to entertain an audience on the ground.

<DERIVATIVES> aer·o·bat·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> World War I: from AERO- + a shortened form of ACROBATICS.

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AERO- ■

ACROBATICS ■

aer·obe n. a microorganism that grows in the presence of air or requires oxygen for growth.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: coined in French from Greek 'air' + bios 'life'.

aer·o·bic adj. [BIOLOGY] relating to, involving, or requiring free oxygen: simple aerobic bacteria.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or denoting exercise that improves or is intended to improve the efficiency of the body's cardiovascular system in absorbing and transporting oxygen.

<DERIVATIVES> aer·o·bi·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from AERO- + Greek bios 'life' + -IC.

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AERO- ■

-IC ■

aer·o·bics plural n. [often treated as sing.] vigorous exercises, such as swimming or walking, designed to strengthen the heart and lungs.

aer·o·bi·ol·o·gy n. the study of airborne microorganisms, pollen, spores, and seeds, esp. as agents of infection.

aer·o·brake v. [intrans.] TECHNICAL cause a spacecraft to slow down by flying through a planet's rarefied atmosphere to produce aerodynamic drag.

■ n. a mechanism for aerobraking.

aer·o·drome n. British term for AIRDROME.

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AIRDROME. ■

aer·o·dy·nam·ic adj. of or relating to aerodynamics: aerodynamic forces.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or having a shape that reduces the drag from air moving past: the plane has a more aerodynamic shape.

<DERIVATIVES> aer·o·dy·nam·i·cal·ly adv.

aer·o·dy·nam·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the study of the properties of moving air, and esp. of the interaction between the air and solid bodies moving through it.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the properties of a solid object regarding the manner in which air flows around it.

- [treated as pl.] these properties insofar as they result in maximum efficiency of motion.

<DERIVATIVES> aer·o·dy·nam·i·cist n.

aer·o·dyne n. any heavier-than-air aircraft that derives its lift principally from aerodynamic forces.

aer·o·e·las·tic·i·ty n. the science of the interaction between aerodynamic forces and nonrigid structures.

<DERIVATIVES> aer·o·e·las·tic adj.

aer·o·foil n. British term for AIRFOIL.

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AIRFOIL ■

aer·o·gel n. a solid material of extremely low density, produced by removing the liquid component from a conventional gel. Also called FROZEN SMOKE.

aer·o·gramme (also aer·o·gram) n. a sheet of light paper folded and sealed to form a letter for sending by airmail.

aer·o·lite n. a stony meteorite, composed mainly of silicates.

aer·ol·o·gy n. DATED the study of the atmosphere, esp. away from ground level.

<DERIVATIVES> aer·o·log·i·cal adj.

aer·o·mag·net·ic adj. relating to or denoting the measurement of the earth's magnetic field using airborne instruments.

aer·o·med·i·cal adj. 1 of or relating to the use of aircraft for medical purposes such as transporting patients to a hospital.

2 relating to medical issues associated with air travel.

aer·o·med·i·cine n. a branch of medicine relating to conditions specific to flight.

aer·o·naut n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a traveler in a hot-air balloon, airship, or other flying craft.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French aéronaute, from Greek 'air' + 'sailor'.

aer·o·nau·tics plural n. [treated as sing.] the science or practice of travel through the air.

<DERIVATIVES> aer·o·nau·tic adj. (RARE) aer·o·nau·ti·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from modern Latin aeronautica 'matters relating to aeronautics' (see AERONAUT).

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AERONAUT ■

ae·ron·o·my n. the science of the upper atmosphere, esp. those regions where there is significant ionization of gases.

aer·o·pha·gia n. [MEDICINE] the swallowing of air, whether deliberately to stimulate belching, accidentally, or as an involuntary habit.

aer·o·phone n. TECHNICAL [MUSIC] a wind instrument.

aer·o·plane n. British term for AIRPLANE.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French aéroplane, from aéro- 'air' + Greek -planos 'wandering'.

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AIRPLANE ■

aer·o·shell n. a casing that protects a spacecraft during reentry.

aer·o·sol n. a substance enclosed under pressure and able to be released as a fine spray, typically by means of a propellant gas.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a container holding such a substance.

- [CHEMISTRY] a colloidal suspension of particles dispersed in air or gas.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from AERO- + SOL^2 .

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AERO- ■

SOL ■

aer·o·sol·ize v. [trans.] TECHNICAL convert into a fine spray or colloidal suspension in air: [as adj.] (aerosolized) the drug is being tested in an aerosolized form.

aer·o·space n. the branch of technology and industry concerned with both aviation and space flight.

aer·o·stat n. an airship or hot-air balloon, esp. one that is tethered.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French aérostat, from Greek 'air' + statos 'standing'.

Aes·chi·nes (c.390-c.314 BC), Athenian orator and statesman. He opposed Demosthenes' efforts to unite the Greek city-states against Macedon.

Aes·chy·lus (c.525-c.456 BC), Greek dramatist. He is best known for his trilogy, the Oresteia (458 BC), consisting of the tragedies Agamemnon, Choephoroe, and Eumenides.

Aes·cu·la·pi·an adj. ARCHAIC of or relating to medicine or physicians.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin Aesculapius, the name of the Roman god of medicine, + -IAN.

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-IAN ■

Aes·cu·la·pi·an snake n. a long, slender olive-brown to grayish snake found in Europe and southwestern Asia. In ancient times it was protected because of its mythical link with the god of healing, Aesculapius.
<INFO>  Elaphe longissima, family Colubridae.

Ae·sir [SCANDINAVIAN MYTHOLOGY] the Norse gods and goddesses collectively, including Odin, Thor, and Balder.

Ae·sop (6th century BC), Greek storyteller. The moral animal fables associated with Aesop were probably collected from many sources and initially communicated orally.

aes·thete (also es·thete) n. a person who has or affects to have a special appreciation of art and beauty.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'a person who perceives', or from AESTHETIC, on the pattern of the pair athlete, athletic.

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AESTHETIC ■

aes·thet·ic (also es·thet·ic) adj. concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty: the pictures give great aesthetic pleasure.
<SPECIAL USAGE> giving or designed to give pleasure through beauty; of pleasing appearance.

■ n. [in sing.] a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of a particular artist or artistic movement: the Cubist aesthetic.

<DERIVATIVES> aes·thet·i·cal·ly adv. [as submodifier] an aesthetically pleasing color combination.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (in the sense 'relating to perception by the senses'): from Greek , from 'perceptible things', from aisthesthai 'perceive'. The sense 'concerned with beauty' was coined in German in the mid 18th cent. and adopted into English in the early 19th cent., but its use was controversial until late in the century.

aes·the·ti·cian (also es·the·ti·cian) n. 1 a person who is knowledgeable about the nature and appreciation of beauty, esp. in art.

2 a beautician.

aes·thet·i·cism n. the approach to art exemplified by (but not restricted to) the Aesthetic Movement.

aes·thet·i·cize v. [trans.] represent (something) as being beautiful or artistically pleasing.

Aes·thet·ic Move·ment a literary and artistic movement that flourished in England in the 1880s, devoted to “art for art's sake” and rejecting the notion that art should have a social or moral purpose. Its chief exponents included Oscar Wilde, Max Beerbohm, and Aubrey Beardsley.

aes·thet·ics (also es·thet·ics) plural n. [usu. treated as sing.] a set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, esp. in art.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the branch of philosophy that deals with the principles of beauty and artistic taste.

aes·ti·val adj. variant spelling of ESTIVAL.

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ESTIVAL ■

aes·ti·vate v. variant spelling of ESTIVATE.

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ESTIVATE ■

aes·ti·va·tion n. variant spelling of ESTIVATION.

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ESTIVATION ■

aet. (also aetat.) abbr. aetatis.

ae·ta·tis adj. of or at the age of: his son, aetatis 13, learned in nothing.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: Latin.

ae·ther n. variant spelling of ETHER (senses 2 and 3).

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ETHER ■

AF abbr.
- air force.

- audio frequency.

- autofocus.

af- prefix 1 variant spelling of AD-

2 assimilated before f (as in affiliate, affirm).

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AD- ■

A·far n. 1 (pl. same or A·fars) a member of a people living in Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia.

2 the Cushitic language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> from Afar qafar.

a·far adv. CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY at or to a distance: our hero traveled afar; for months he had loved her from afar.

<ORIGIN> Middle English of feor 'from far'.

A·fars and Is·sas, French Territory of the former name (1946-77) of DJIBOUTI.

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DJIBOUTI ■

AFB abbr. Air Force Base.

AFC abbr.
- American Football Conference.

- automatic frequency control, a system in radios and television that keeps them tuned to an incoming signal.

AFDC abbr. Aid to Families with Dependent Children, a welfare benefit program of the federal government.

a·feard (also a·feared) adj. ARCHAIC or DIALECT afraid.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from 'frighten', from (expressing intensity) + (see FEAR); used commonly by Shakespeare, but rarely after 1700 in written form.

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FEAR ■

a·fe·brile adj. [MEDICINE] not feverish.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from A-1 'not' + FEBRILE.

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A- ■

FEBRILE ■

af·fa·ble adj. friendly, good-natured, or easy to talk to: an affable and agreeable companion.

<DERIVATIVES> af·fa·bil·i·ty n. af·fa·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin affabilis, from the verb affari, from ad- 'to' + fari 'speak'.

af·fair n. 1 an event or sequence of events of a specified kind or that has previously been referred to: the board admitted responsibility for the affair; I wanted the funeral to be a family affair.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a matter that is a particular person's concern or responsibility: what you do in your spare time is your affair.

- (affairs) matters of public interest and importance: commissions were created to advise on foreign affairs.

- (affairs) business and financial dealings: his time was spent in winding up his affairs.

- [with adj.] INFORMAL an object of a particular type: her dress was a black low-cut affair.

2 a love affair: his wife is having an affair.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French afaire, from à faire 'to do'; compare with ADO.

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ADO ■

af·faire (also af·faire de or du cœur ) n. a love affair.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, literally 'affair (of the heart)'.

af·fect 1 v. [trans.] have an effect on; make a difference to: the dampness began to affect my health | [with clause] your attitude will affect how successful you are.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- touch the feelings of (someone); move emotionally: [as adj.] (affecting) a highly affecting account of her experiences in prison. See note at MOVING.

- (of an illness) attack or infect: people who are affected by AIDS.

<DERIVATIVES> af·fect·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'attack as a disease'): from French affecter or Latin affect- 'influenced, affected', from the verb afficere (see AFFECT^2 ).

<USAGE>
Affect and effect are both verbs and nouns, but only effect is common as a noun, usually meaning 'a result, consequence, impression, etc.': my father’s warnings had no effect on my adventurousness. The noun affect is restricted almost entirely to psychology (see AFFECT^2 ). As verbs, they are used differently. Affect most commonly means 'produce an effect on, influence': smoking during pregnancy can affect the baby's development. Affect also means 'pretend to have or feel (something)' (see AFFECT^3 ): she affected a concern for those who had lost their jobs. Effect means 'bring about': the negotiators effected an agreement despite many difficulties.

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AFFECT ■

af·fect 2 v. [trans.] pretend to have or feel (something): as usual I affected a supreme unconcern; | [with infinitive] a book that affects to loathe the modern world.
<SPECIAL USAGE> use, wear, or assume (something) pretentiously or so as to make an impression on others: an American who had affected a British accent.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French affecter or Latin affectare 'aim at', frequentative of afficere 'work on, influence', from ad- 'at, to' + facere 'do'. The original sense was 'like, love', hence '(like to) use, assume, etc'.

<USAGE>
See usage at AFFECT^1 .

af·fect 3 n. [PSYCHOLOGY] emotion or desire, esp. as influencing behavior or action. See note at EMOTION.

<DERIVATIVES> af·fect·less adj. af·fect·less·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: coined in German from Latin affectus 'disposition', from afficere 'to influence' (see AFFECT^2 ).

<USAGE>
See usage at AFFECT^1 .

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AFFECT ■

af·fec·ta·tion n. behavior, speech, or writing that is artificial and designed to impress: the affectation of a man who measures every word for effect | she called the room her boudoir, which he thought an affectation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a studied display of real or pretended feeling: an affectation of calm.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin affectatio(n-), from the verb affectare (see AFFECT^2 ).

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AFFECT ■

af·fect·ed adj. 1 influenced or touched by an external factor: apply moist heat to the affected area.

2 artificial, pretentious, and designed to impress: the gesture appeared both affected and stagy.

3 [predic.] ARCHAIC disposed or inclined in a specified way: you might become differently affected toward him.

<DERIVATIVES> af·fect·ed·ly adv. (in sense 2).

af·fect·ed class n. a group adversely affected from a common cause, as defined by legislation, litigation, or prevailing practice: any employee in an affected class may volunteer to be laid off.

af·fec·tion n. 1 a gentle feeling of fondness or liking: she felt affection for the wise old lady | he won a place in her affections.
- physical expressions of these feelings: the prisoners crave affection and hence participate in sexual relationships.

2 ARCHAIC the act or process of affecting or being affected.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a condition of disease: an affection of the skin.

- a mental state; an emotion.

<DERIVATIVES> af·fec·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin affectio(n-), from afficere 'to influence' (see AFFECT^2 ).

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AFFECT ■

af·fec·tion·ate adj. readily feeling or showing fondness or tenderness: a happy and affectionate family.
<SPECIAL USAGE> expressing fondness: an affectionate kiss.

<DERIVATIVES> af·fec·tion·ate·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the sense 'disposed, inclined toward'): from French affectionné 'beloved' or medieval Latin affectionatus 'devoted', from affectio(n-), from afficere 'to influence' (see AFFECT^2 ).

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AFFECT ■

af·fec·tive adj. [CHIEFLY PSYCHOLOGY] relating to moods, feelings, and attitudes: affective disorders.

<DERIVATIVES> af·fec·tive·ly adv. af·fec·tiv·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via French from late Latin affectivus, from afficere (see AFFECT^2 ).

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AFFECT ■

af·fen·pin·scher n. a dog of a small breed resembling a griffin.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from German, from Affe 'monkey' + Pinscher 'terrier'.

af·fer·ent adj. [PHYSIOLOGY] conducting or conducted inward or toward something (for nerves, the central nervous system; for blood vessels, the organ supplied). The opposite of EFFERENT.

■ n. an afferent nerve fiber or vessel.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin afferent- 'bringing toward', from the verb afferre, from ad- 'to' + ferre 'bring'.

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EFFERENT ■

af·fi·ance v. (be affianced) POETIC/LITERARY be engaged to marry: Ann Elliott was affianced to Col. Lewis Morris.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French afiancer, from afier 'promise, entrust', from medieval Latin affidare 'declare on oath', from ad- 'toward' + fides 'trust'.

af·fi·ant n. [LAW] a person who swears to an affidavit.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, present participle of afier, from medieval Latin affidare 'declare on oath' (see AFFIANCE).

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AFFIANCE ■

af·fi·da·vit n. [LAW] a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, for use as evidence in court.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin, literally 'he has stated on oath', from affidare.

af·fil·i·ate v. [trans.] (usu. be affiliated with) officially attach or connect (a subsidiary group or a person) to an organization: the college is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin | [as adj.] (affiliated) affiliated union members.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] officially join or become attached to an organization: the membership of the National Writers Union voted to affiliate with the United Auto Workers.

■ n. a person or organization officially attached to a larger body: the company established links with British affiliates.

<DERIVATIVES> af·fil·i·a·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from medieval Latin affiliat- 'adopted as a son', from the verb affiliare, from ad- 'toward' + filius 'son'.

af·fil·i·a·tion n. the state or process of affiliating or being affiliated: he had no particular affiliation, no close associates | his political affiliations.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, from medieval Latin affiliatio(n-), from the verb affiliare (see AFFILIATE).

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AFFILIATE ■

af·fine adj. [MATHEMATICS] allowing for or preserving parallel relationships.

■ n. [ANTHROPOLOGY] a relative by marriage.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (as a noun): from Old French afin or Latin affinis 'related' (see AFFINITY). The mathematical sense dates from the early 20th cent.

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AFFINITY ■

af·fined adj. ARCHAIC related or connected.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin affinis 'related' (see AFFINITY) + -ED^1 .

Linked entries:

AFFINITY ■

-ED ■

af·fin·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) (often affinity between/for/with) a spontaneous or natural liking or sympathy for someone or something: he has an affinity for the music of Berlioz.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a similarity of characteristics suggesting a relationship, esp. a resemblance in structure between animals, plants, or languages: a building with no affinity to contemporary architectural styles. See note at LIKENESS.

- relationship, esp. by marriage as opposed to blood ties.

- [CHIEFLY BIOCHEMISTRY] the degree to which a substance tends to combine with another: the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'relationship by marriage'): via Old French from Latin affinitas, from affinis 'related' (literally 'bordering on'), from ad- 'to' + finis 'border'.

af·fin·i·ty card n. a credit card carrying the name of an organization to which a portion of the money spent using the card is paid.

af·fin·i·ty group n. a group of people linked by a common interest or purpose.

af·firm v. [reporting verb] state as a fact; assert strongly and publicly: [trans.] he affirmed the country's commitment to peace | [with clause] we affirm that God's grace is available to all. | [with direct speech] “Pessimism,” she affirmed, “is the most rational view.”
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] declare one's support for; uphold or defend: the referendum affirmed the republic's right to secede.

- [trans.] [LAW] accept or confirm the validity of (a judgment or agreement); ratify.

- [intrans.] [LAW] make a formal declaration rather than taking an oath (e.g., to testify truthfully).

- [LAW] [trans.] (of a court) uphold (a decision) on appeal.

<DERIVATIVES> af·firm·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'make firm'): via Old French from Latin affirmare, from ad- 'to' + firmus 'strong'.

af·firm·a·tion n. the action or process of affirming or being affirmed: an affirmation of basic human values | he nodded in affirmation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] a formal declaration by a person who declines to take an oath for reasons of conscience.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin affirmation-, from the verb affirmare (see AFFIRM).

Linked entries:

AFFIRM ■

af·firm·a·tive adj. agreeing with a statement or to a request: an affirmative answer.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a vote) expressing approval or agreement.

- supportive, hopeful, or encouraging: the music's natural buoyancy and affirmative character.

- active or obligatory: they have an affirmative duty to stop crime in their buildings; using affirmative measures to influence human rights policies.

- [GRAMMAR] & [LOGIC] stating that a fact is so; making an assertion. Contrasted with INTERROGATIVE and NEGATIVE.

■ n. a statement of agreement with an assertion or request: he accepted her reply as an affirmative.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the affirmative) a position of agreement or confirmation: his answer veered toward the affirmative.

- [GRAMMAR] a word or particle used in making assertions.

- [LOGIC] a statement asserting that something is true of the subject of a proposition.

■ exclam. expressing agreement with a statement or request; yes.

<PHRASES> in the affirmative so as to accept or agree to a statement or request: he answered the question in the affirmative.

<DERIVATIVES> af·firm·a·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'assertive, positive'): via Old French from late Latin affirmativus, from affirmare 'assert' (see AFFIRM).

Linked entries:

INTERROGATIVE ■

NEGATIVE ■

AFFIRM ■

af·firm·a·tive ac·tion n. an action or policy favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination, esp. in relation to employment or education; positive discrimination.

af·fix v. [trans.] stick, attach, or fasten (something) to something else: he licked the stamp and affixed it to the envelope.

■ n. [GRAMMAR] an additional element placed at the beginning or end of a root, stem, or word, or in the body of a word, to modify its meaning. See also INFIX, PREFIX, SUFFIX.

<DERIVATIVES> af·fix·a·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French affixer or medieval Latin affixare, frequentative of Latin affigere, from ad- 'to' + figere 'to fix'.

Linked entries:

INFIX ■

PREFIX ■

SUFFIX ■

af·fla·tus n. FORMAL a divine creative impulse or inspiration.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin, from the verb afflare, from ad- 'to' + flare 'to blow'.

af·flict v. [trans.] (of a problem or illness) cause pain or suffering to; affect or trouble: serious ills afflict the industry; his younger child was afflicted with a skin disease | [as plural n.] (the afflicted) he comforted the afflicted.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ASTROLOGY] (of a celestial body) be in a stressful aspect with (another celestial body or a point on the ecliptic): Jupiter is afflicted by Mars in opposition.

<DERIVATIVES> af·flic·tive adj. (ARCHAIC).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'deject, humiliate'): from Latin afflictare 'injure, harass', or from afflict- 'knocked down, weakened': both from the verb affligere, from ad- 'to' + fligere 'to strike, dash'.

af·flic·tion n. something that causes pain or suffering: a crippling affliction of the nervous system.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- pain or suffering: poor people in great affliction.

- [ASTROLOGY] an instance of one celestial body afflicting another.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally in the sense 'infliction of pain or humiliation', specifically 'religious self-mortification'): via Old French from Latin afflictio(n-), from the verb affligere (see AFFLICT).

Linked entries:

AFFLICT ■

af·flu·ent adj. 1 (esp. of a group or area) having a great deal of money; wealthy: the affluent societies of the western world | [as plural n.] (the affluent) only the affluent could afford to travel abroad. See note at WEALTHY.

2 ARCHAIC (of water) flowing freely or in great quantity.

■ n. ARCHAIC a tributary stream.

<DERIVATIVES> af·flu·ence n. af·flu·ent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): via Old French from Latin affluent- 'flowing toward, flowing freely', from the verb affluere, from ad- 'to' + fluere 'to flow'.

af·flu·en·tial INFORMAL adj. rich and socially influential: the daughter of an affluential businessman.

■ n. a rich and socially influential person: the local affluentials have driven up property values.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: blend of affluent and influential.

af·flu·en·za n. a psychological malaise supposedly affecting wealthy young people, symptoms of which include a lack of motivation, feelings of guilt, and a sense of isolation.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: blend of affluent and influenza.

af·flux n. ARCHAIC a flow of something, esp. water or air.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin affluxus, from affluere 'flow freely' (see AFFLUENT).

Linked entries:

AFFLUENT ■

af·ford v. [trans.] 1 (can/could afford) have enough money to pay for: the best that I could afford was a first-floor room | [with infinitive] we could never have afforded to heat the place.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- have (a certain amount of something, esp. money or time) available or to spare: it was taking up more time than he could afford.

- [with infinitive] be able to do something without risk of adverse consequences: kings could afford to be wrathful.

2 provide or supply (an opportunity or facility): the rooftop terrace affords beautiful views | [with two objs.] they were afforded the luxury of bed and breakfast. See note at GIVE.

<ORIGIN> late Old English geforthian, from ge- + forthian 'to further', from FORTH. The original sense was 'promote, perform, accomplish', later 'manage, be in a position to do'.

Linked entries:

FORTH ■

af·ford·a·ble adj. inexpensive; reasonably priced: affordable housing.

<DERIVATIVES> af·ford·a·bil·i·ty n.

af·for·est·a·tion v. [trans.] the conversion (of land) into forest, esp. for commercial use.

<DERIVATIVES> af·for·est v.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from medieval Latin afforestare, from ad- 'to' (expressing change) + foresta 'forest'.

af·fran·chise v. [trans.] ARCHAIC release from servitude.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French afranchiss-, lengthened stem of afranchir, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + franc 'free'.

af·fray n. [LAW], DATED an instance of group fighting in a public place that disturbs the peace: Lowe was charged with causing an affray | a person guilty of affray.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the general sense 'disturbance, fray'): from Anglo-Norman French afrayer 'disturb, startle', based on an element of Germanic origin related to Old English frithu 'peace, safety' (compare with German Friede 'peace').

af·fri·cate n. [PHONETICS] a phoneme that combines a plosive with an immediately following fricative or spirant sharing the same place of articulation, e.g., ch as in chair and j as in jar.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin affricatus, past participle of affricare, from ad- 'to' + fricare 'to rub'.

af·fright ARCHAIC v. [trans.] frighten (someone): ghosts could never affright her.

■ n. fright: the deer gazed at us in affright.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: in early use from 'frightened' in Old English; later by vague form association with FRIGHT.

Linked entries:

FRIGHT ■

Af·fri·la·chi·an n. an African American who is native to or resides in Appalachia: [as modifier] Affrilachian poets.

<ORIGIN> blend of African (American) and Appalachian.

af·front n. an action or remark that causes outrage or offense: he took his son's desertion as a personal affront; privilege publicly worn is an affront to democracy.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be affronted) offend the modesty or values of: she was affronted by his familiarity.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a verb): from Old French afronter 'to slap in the face, insult', based on Latin ad frontem 'to the face'.

af·fron·té (also af·fron·ty ) adj. [predic. or postpositive] [HERALDRY] (esp. of an animal's head) facing the observer.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as affronty): French, past participle of affronter 'to face'.

Af·ghan n. 1 a native or national of Afghanistan, or a person of Afghan descent.

2 another term for PASHTO.

3 (afghan) a woolen blanket or shawl, typically one knitted or crocheted in strips or squares.

4 short for AFGHAN HOUND.

■ adj. of or relating to Afghanistan, its people, or their language.

<ORIGIN> from Pashto .

Linked entries:

PASHTO ■

AFGHAN HOUND ■

Af·ghan hound n. a tall hunting dog of a breed with long silky hair.

af·ghan·i n. (pl. -ghan·is) the basic monetary unit of Afghanistan, equal to 100 puls.

<ORIGIN> from Pashto .

Af·ghan·i·stan a mountainous landlocked republic in central Asia; pop. 16,600,000; capital, Kabul; official languages, Pashto and Dari (the local form of Persian).

Part of the Indian Mogul empire, Afghanistan became independent in the mid 18th century. It was occupied by Soviet forces 1979-89; after they withdrew, the country was thrown into turmoil with various Islamic groups struggling for power. The Taliban seized power in 1996; following the attacks of September 11, 2001, U.S.-led forces invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban. A new government was formed, and a constitution was signed January 16, 2004, but instability continued in many areas of the country.

a·fi·ci·o·na·do n. (pl. -dos) a person who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about an activity, subject, or pastime: aficionados of the finest wines.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (denoting a devotee of bullfighting): from Spanish, 'amateur', past participle of aficioner 'become fond of' used as a noun, based on Latin affectio(n-) '(favorable) disposition toward' (see AFFECTION).

Linked entries:

AFFECTION ■

a·field adv. 1 to or at a distance: competitors from as far afield as Hong Kong.

2 in the field (usually in reference to hunting): the satisfaction of a day afield.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (sense 2): from A-2 'on, in' + FIELD.

Linked entries:

A- ■

FIELD ■

a·fire adv. & adj. CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY on fire; burning: [as predic. adj.] the whole mill was afire.

a·flame adv. & adj. in flames; burning: [as adv.] pour brandy over the steaks and then set aflame.

af·la·tox·in n. [CHEMISTRY] any of a class of toxic compounds that are produced by certain molds found in food, and can cause liver damage and cancer.
<INFO>  These are produced by fungi of the Aspergillus flavus group, subdivision Deuteromycotina.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from elements of the modern Latin taxonomic name (see above) + TOXIN.

Linked entries:

TOXIN ■

AFL-CIO abbr. American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.

a·float adj. & adv. floating in water; not sinking: [as adv.] they trod water to keep afloat | [as predic. adj.] the canoes were still afloat.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- on board a ship or boat: [as adv.] flotilla sailing is a sociable way to explore while living afloat.

- FIGURATIVE out of debt or difficulty: [as adv.] I contrived to stay afloat in honest self-employment.

- in general circulation; current: [as predic. adj.] the rumor has been afloat that I am far advanced in years.

<ORIGIN> Old English on flote (see A-2 , FLOAT), influenced in Middle English by Old Norse á flot(i) and Old French en flot.

Linked entries:

A- ■

FLOAT ■

a·foot adv. 1 in preparation or progress; happening or beginning to happen: [as predic. adj.] plans are afoot for a festival.

2 on foot: [as adv.] they were forced to go afoot.

a·fore prep. ARCHAIC or DIALECT before.

<ORIGIN> Old English onforan (see A-2 , FORE).

Linked entries:

A- ■

FORE ■

afore- prefix before; previously.

a·fore·men·tioned adj. denoting a thing or person previously mentioned: songs from the aforementioned album.

a·fore·said adj. another term for AFOREMENTIONED.

Linked entries:

AFOREMENTIONED ■

a·fore·thought adj. see MALICE AFORETHOUGHT.

Linked entries:

MALICE AFORETHOUGHT ■

a for·ti·o·ri adv. & adj. used to express a conclusion for which there is stronger evidence than for a previously accepted one: [as adv.] they reject all absolute ideas of justice, and a fortiori the natural-law position.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: Latin, from a fortiori argumento 'from stronger argument'.

a·foul adv. into conflict or difficulty with.

<PHRASES>
□ fall afoul of see FALL.

□ run afoul of see RUN.

Linked entries:

FALL ■

RUN ■

a·fraid adj. [predic.] feeling fear or anxiety; frightened: I'm afraid of dogs; she tried to think about the future without feeling afraid.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- worried that something undesirable will occur or be done: he was afraid that the farmer would send the dog after them; she was afraid of antagonizing him.

- [with infinitive] unwilling or reluctant to do something for fear of the consequences: I'm often afraid to go out on the streets.

- (afraid for) anxious about the well-being or safety of someone or something: William was suddenly afraid for her.

<PHRASES> I'm afraid [with clause] used to express polite or formal apology or regret: I'm afraid I don't understand.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: past participle of the obsolete verb affray, from Anglo-Norman French afrayer (see AFFRAY).

Linked entries:

AFFRAY ■

A-frame n. a frame shaped like a capital letter A.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a house built around such a timber frame.

af·reet (also af·rit) n. (in Arabian and Muslim mythology) a powerful jinn or demon.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Arabic .

a·fresh adv. in a new or different way: she left the job to start afresh.

Af·ri·ca the second largest continent (11.62 million square miles; 30.1 million sq km), a southward projection of the Old World landmass divided roughly in half by the equator and surrounded by sea except where the Isthmus of Suez joins it to Asia.

Af·ri·can n. a person from Africa, esp. a black person.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person of black African descent.

■ adj. of or relating to Africa or people of African descent.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Africanus, from Africa (terra) '(land) of the Afri,' an ancient people of North Africa.

Af·ri·ca·na plural n. books, artifacts, and other collectors' items connected with Africa, in particular southern Africa.

Af·ri·can A·mer·i·can n. a black American.

■ adj. (African-American) of or relating to black Americans.

<USAGE>
See usage at BLACK.

Linked entries:

BLACK ■

Af·ri·can buf·fa·lo n. a buffalo with large horns, native to Africa south of the Sahara.
<INFO>  Syncerus caffer, family Bovidae; sometimes considered to be two species, the Cape buffalo and the forest (or dwarf) buffalo.

Af·ri·can dai·sy n. a plant of the daisy family, sometimes cultivated for its bright flowers.
<INFO>  Family Compositae: several genera, in particular Dimorphotheca, Arctotis, and Gerbera.

Af·ri·can·der n. variant spelling of AFRIKANDER.

Linked entries:

AFRIKANDER ■

Af·ri·can el·e·phant n. the elephant native to Africa, which is larger than the Indian elephant and has larger ears and a two-lipped trunk.
<INFO>  Loxodonta africana, family Elephantidae.

Af·ri·can Eve hy·poth·e·sis n. another term for EVE HYPOTHESIS.

Linked entries:

EVE HYPOTHESIS. ■

Af·ri·can horse sick·ness n. a notifiable viral disease of horses, which is usually fatal. It is transmitted by biting insects and occurs chiefly in Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean.

Af·ri·can·ism n. 1 a feature of language or culture regarded as characteristically African.

2 the belief that black Africans and their culture should predominate in Africa.

<DERIVATIVES> Af·ri·can·ist n. & adj.

Af·ri·can·ist n. 1 someone who studies the culture, history, and languages of Africa.

2 someone who espouses a belief in Africanism.

Af·ri·can·ize v. [trans.] 1 make African in character: [as adj.] (Africanized) an Africanized form of Cajun music.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in Africa) restructure (an organization) by replacing white employees with black Africans.

2 [usu. as adj.] (Africanized) hybridize (honeybees of European stock) with bees of African stock, producing an aggressive strain. In recent years hybrids have spread from Brazil to the U.S., where they have become known colloquially as “killer bees.”

<DERIVATIVES> Af·ri·can·i·za·tion n.

Af·ri·can lynx n. another term for CARACAL.

Linked entries:

CARACAL ■

Af·ri·can Na·tion·al Con·gress (abbr.: ANC) a South African political party and black nationalist organization. Having been banned by the South African government 1960-90, the ANC was victorious in the country's first democratic elections in 1994 and its leader, Nelson Mandela, became the country's president.

Af·ri·can vi·o·let n. a small East African plant with heart-shaped velvety leaves and violet, pink, or white flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Saintpaulia, family Gesneriaceae: several species, in particular S. ionantha, a popular houseplant.

Af·ri·kaans n. a language of southern Africa, derived from the form of Dutch brought to the Cape by Protestant settlers in the 17th century, and an official language of South Africa.

■ adj. relating to the Afrikaner people, their way of life, or their language.

<ORIGIN> the name in Afrikaans, from Dutch, literally 'African'.

Af·ri·ka Korps a German army force sent to North Africa in 1941 under General Rommel.

Af·ri·kan·der n. an animal of a South African breed of sheep or longhorn cattle.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (an early form of AFRIKANER, having the same senses): via Afrikaans from South African Dutch.

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AFRIKANER ■

Af·ri·ka·ner n. an Afrikaans-speaking person in South Africa, esp. one descended from the Dutch and Huguenot settlers of the 17th century.

<DERIVATIVES> Af·ri·ka·ner·dom n.

<ORIGIN> Afrikaans, from South African Dutch Africander, from Dutch Afrikaan 'an African' + the personal suffix -der, on the pattern of Hollander 'Dutchman'.

af·rit n. variant spelling of AFREET.

Linked entries:

AFREET ■

Af·ro n. a thick hairstyle with very tight curls that sticks out all around the head, like the natural hair of some black people.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: independent usage of AFRO-, or an abbreviation of AFRICAN.

Linked entries:

AFRO- ■

AFRICAN ■

Afro- comb. form African; African and : Afro-Asiatic; Afro-Belizean.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to Africa: Afrocentric.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Afer, Afr- 'African'.

Af·ro-A·mer·i·can adj. & n. another term for AFRICAN AMERICAN.

<USAGE>
See usage at BLACK.

Linked entries:

AFRICAN AMERICAN ■

BLACK ■

Af·ro-A·si·at·ic adj. relating to or denoting a family of languages spoken in the Middle East and North Africa. The family is commonly divided into five groups: Semitic, Omotic, Berber, Cushitic, and Chadic. Ancient Egyptian was also a member of this family. Also called HAMITO-SEMITIC.

Linked entries:

HAMITO-SEMITIC ■

Af·ro-Car·ib·be·an n. a person of African descent living in or coming from the Caribbean.

■ adj. of or relating to Afro-Caribbeans.

Af·ro·cen·tric adj. regarding African or black culture as preeminent.

<DERIVATIVES> Af·ro·cen·trism n. Af·ro·cen·trist n.

Af·ro·trop·i·cal another term for ETHIOPIAN (adj. sense 2).

aft adv. & adj. at, near, or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft: [as adv.] Travis made his way aft | [as adj.] the aft cargo compartment.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: probably from obsolete baft (see ABAFT), influenced by Low German and Dutch achter 'abaft, after'.

Linked entries:

ABAFT ■

af·ter prep. 1 during the period of time following (an event): shortly after Christmas; | there's only one thing to do after an experience like that | [as conj.] bathtime ended in a flood after the faucets were left running | [as adv.] Duke Frederick died soon after.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- with a period of time rather than an event: after a while he returned.

- in phrases indicating something happening continuously or repeatedly: day after day we kept studying.

- (used in specifying a time) past: I strolled in about ten minutes after two.

- during the time following the departure of (someone): she cooks for him and cleans up after him.

2 behind: she went out, shutting the door after her.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (with reference to looking or speaking) in the direction of someone who is moving further away: she stared after him.

3 in pursuit or quest of: chasing after something you can't have; most of them are after money; Jenny still yearned after him.

4 next to and following in order or importance: in their order of priorities health comes after housing; x comes after y in the series.

5 in allusion to (someone or something with the same or a related name): they named her Pauline, after Barbara's mother.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in imitation of: a drawing after Millet's The Reapers.

6 concerning or about: she has asked after Iris's mother.

■ adj. [attrib.] 1 ARCHAIC later: he was sorry in after years.

2 [NAUTICAL] nearer the stern: the after cabin.

<PHRASES>
□ after all in spite of any indications or expectations to the contrary: I called and told her I couldn't come after all you are my counselor, after all.

□ after hours after normal working or opening hours, typically those of licensed premises: [as adv.] she was going in to work after hours | [as adj.] an after-hours jazz club.

□ after you a polite formula used to suggest that someone goes in front of or takes a turn before oneself: after you, Mr. Pritchard.

<ORIGIN> Old English æfter, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch achter.

af·ter·birth n. the placenta and fetal membranes discharged from the uterus after the birth of offspring.

af·ter·burn·er n. an auxiliary burner fitted to the exhaust system of a turbojet engine to increase thrust.

af·ter·care n. 1 subsequent care or maintenance, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE> care of a patient after a stay in the hospital or of a person on release from prison.

2 childcare for the period between the end of the school day and the end of a parent's working day: [as modifier] an aftercare facility at the local YMCA.

af·ter·damp n. choking gas, rich in carbon monoxide, left after an explosion of firedamp in a mine.

af·ter·deck n. an open deck toward the stern of a ship.

af·ter·ef·fect n. an effect that follows after the primary action of something: he was suffering the aftereffects of the drug.

af·ter·glow n. [in sing.] light or radiance remaining in the sky after the sun has set.
<SPECIAL USAGE> good feelings remaining after a pleasurable or successful experience: basking in the afterglow of victory.

af·ter·im·age n. an impression of a vivid sensation (esp. a visual image) retained after the stimulus has ceased.

af·ter·life n. [usu. in sing.] 1 (in some religions) life after death: most Christians believe in an afterlife.

2 later life: they spent much of their afterlife trying to forget the fire.

af·ter·mar·ket n. the market for spare parts, accessories, and components, esp. for motor vehicles.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [STOCK MARKET] the market for shares and bonds after their original issue.

af·ter·math n. 1 the consequences or aftereffects of an event, esp. when unpleasant: food prices soared in the aftermath of the drought.

2 [FARMING] new grass growing after mowing or harvest.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (sense 2): from AFTER (as an adjective) + dialect math 'mowing', of Germanic origin; related to German Mahd.

Linked entries:

AFTER ■

af·ter·most adj. [attrib.] nearest the stern of a ship or tail of an aircraft.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from AFTER (as an adjective) + -MOST.

Linked entries:

AFTER ■

-MOST ■

af·ter·noon n. the time from noon or lunchtime to evening: I telephoned this afternoon; I'll be back at three in the afternoon; she worked on Tuesday afternoons | [as adj.] the afternoon sunshine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> this time on a particular day, characterized by a specified type of activity or particular weather conditions: it was an afternoon of drama and tension.

■ adv. (afternoons) INFORMAL in the afternoon; every afternoon.

■ exclam. INFORMAL short for GOOD AFTERNOON.

Linked entries:

GOOD AFTERNOON ■

af·ter·pains plural n. pains after childbirth caused by contraction of the uterus.

af·ters plural n. BRIT., INFORMAL dessert: there was apple pie for afters.

af·ter·shave n. an astringent, typically scented lotion for applying to the skin after shaving.

af·ter·shock n. a smaller earthquake following the main shock of a large earthquake.

af·ter·sun adj. denoting a product intended for application to the skin after exposure to the sun: aftersun lotion.

af·ter·taste n. a taste, typically an unpleasant one, remaining in the mouth after eating or drinking something.

af·ter-tax adj. relating to income that remains after the deduction of taxes due.

af·ter·thought n. an item or thing that is thought of or added later: as an afterthought she said “Thank you.”

af·ter·touch n. a facility on an electronic music keyboard by which an effect is produced by the player depressing a key after striking it.

af·ter·ward (also af·ter·wards ) adv. at a later or future time; subsequently: the offender was arrested shortly afterward.

<ORIGIN> Old English æftewearde, from æftan (see AFT) + -WARD, influenced by AFTER. Afterwards from afterward + adverbial genitive -es, -s.

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AFT ■

-WARD ■

AFTER ■

af·ter·word n. a concluding section in a book, typically by a person other than the author.

af·ter·world n. a world entered after death.

AG abbr.
- adjutant general.

- Aktiengesellschaft, used in the names of German joint-stock companies.

- attorney general.

Ag 1 symbol the chemical element silver.

<ORIGIN> from Latin argentum.

Ag 2 [BIOCHEMISTRY] abbr. antigen.

ag INFORMAL adj. short for AGRICULTURAL.

■ n. short for AGRICULTURE.

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AGRICULTURAL ■

AGRICULTURE ■

ag- prefix variant spelling of AD- assimilated before g (as in aggravate, aggress).

Linked entries:

AD- ■

a·ga n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL (in Muslim countries, esp. under the Ottoman Empire) a military commander or official.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Turkish 'master, lord', from Mongolian aqa.

A·ga·dir a seaport and resort on the Atlantic coast of Morocco; pop. 110,500.

a·gain adv. another time; once more: it was great to meet old friends again; they were disappointed yet again.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- returning to a previous position or condition: he rose, tidied the bed, and sat down again.

- in addition to what has already been mentioned: the wages were low, but they made half as much again in tips.

- [sentence adverb] used to introduce a further point for consideration, supporting or contrasting with what has just been said: I never saw any signs, but then again, maybe I wasn't looking.

- used to ask someone to repeat something: what was your name again?

<PHRASES> again and again repeatedly: I read this author again and again.

<ORIGIN> Old English , ongægn, etc., of Germanic origin; related to German entgegen 'opposite'.

a·gainst prep. 1 in opposition to: the fight against crime; he decided against immediate publication; swimming against the tide.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- in opposition to, with reference to legal action: allegations against police officers; the first victim gave evidence against him.

- in opposition to, with reference to an athletic contest: the championship game against Virginia.

- (in betting) in anticipation of the failure of: the odds were 5-1 against Pittsburgh.

2 in anticipation of and preparation for (a problem or difficulty): insurance against sickness and unemployment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- in resistance to; as protection from: he turned up his collar against the wind.

- in relation to (an amount of money owed or due) so as to reduce or cancel it: money was advanced against the value of the property.

3 in conceptual contrast to: the benefits must be weighed against the costs; the instilling of habits as against the development of understanding.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in visual contrast to: he was silhouetted against the light of the window.

4 in or into physical contact with (something), typically so as to be supported by or collide with it: she stood with her back against the door; his lips brushed against her hair.

<PHRASES> have something against someone dislike or bear a grudge against someone: I have nothing against you personally.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from AGAIN + -s (adverbial genitive) + -t probably by association with superlatives (as in amongst).

Linked entries:

AGAIN ■

A·ga Khan n. the title of the spiritual leader of the Nizari sect of Ismaili Muslims. The first Aga Khan was given his title in 1818 by the shah of Persia. The present (fourth) Aga Khan (Karim Al-Hussain Shah, b.1937) inherited the title in 1957.

a·gal n. a headband worn by Bedouin Arab men to keep the keffiyeh in place.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: representing a Bedouin pronunciation of Arabic 'bond, hobble'.

ag·a·ma n. an Old World lizard with a large head and a long tail, typically showing a marked difference in color and form between the sexes.
<INFO>  Genus Agama, family Agamidae: many species.

<SPECIAL USAGE> any lizard of the agama family.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: perhaps from Carib.

Ag·a·mem·non [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] king of Mycenae and brother of Menelaus, commander in chief of the Greek expedition against Troy. On his return home from Troy, he was murdered by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus; his murder was avenged by his son Orestes and daughter Electra.

a·gam·ic adj. [BIOLOGY] asexual; reproducing asexually: winged agamic females.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek agamos 'unmarried' + -IC.

Linked entries:

-IC ■

ag·a·mid n. [ZOOLOGY] a lizard of the agama family (Agamidae).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Agamidae, from AGAMA.

Linked entries:

AGAMA ■

a·gam·ma·glob·u·li·ne·mi·a n. [MEDICINE] lack of gamma globulin in the blood plasma, causing immune deficiency.

ag·a·mo·sper·my n. [BOTANY] asexual reproduction in which seeds are produced from unfertilized ovules.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·a·mo·sper·mous adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from Greek agamos 'unmarried' + sperma 'seed'.

ag·a·pan·thus n. a South African plant of the lily family, with funnel-shaped bluish flowers that grow in rounded clusters. Also called LILY-OF-THE-NILE.
<INFO>  Genus Agapanthus, family Liliaceae (or Alliaceae).

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek 'love' + anthos 'flower'.

Linked entries:

LILY-OF-THE-NILE ■

a·gape 1 adj. [predic.] (of the mouth) wide open, esp. with surprise or wonder: Downes listened, mouth agape with incredulity.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from A-2 'on' + GAPE.

Linked entries:

A- ■

GAPE ■

a·ga·pe 2 n. [CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY] Christian love, esp. as distinct from erotic love or emotional affection.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a communal meal in token of Christian fellowship, as held by early Christians in commemoration of the Last Supper.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Greek 'selfless love'.

a·gar (also a·gar-a·gar ) n. a gelatinous substance obtained from various kinds of red seaweed and used in biological culture media and as a thickener in foods.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Malay.

ag·a·ric n. a fungus with a fruiting body that resembles the ordinary mushroom, having a convex or flattened cap with gills on the underside.
<INFO>  Order Agaricales, class Basidiomycetes, in particular the mushroom family Agaricaceae.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally denoting various bracket fungi with medicinal or other uses): from Latin agaricum, from Greek agarikon 'tree fungus'.

a·gar·ose n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a substance that is the main constituent of agar and is used esp. in gels for electrophoresis. It is a polysaccharide mainly containing galactose residues.

A·gar·ta·la a city in northeastern India, capital of the state of Tripura, situated near the border with Bangladesh; pop. 157,640.

Ag·as·si André (1970- ), U.S. tennis player. Ranked third in the world by the age of 18, he won the men's singles title at Wimbledon in 1992, at the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1999, at the Australian Open in 1995, 2000, 2001, and 2002, and at the French Open in 1999.

Ag·as·siz Jean Louis Rodolphe (1807-73), U.S. zoologist, geologist, and paleontologist; born in Switzerland. In 1837, he was the first to propose that much of Europe had once been in the grip of an ice age.

Ag·as·siz, Lake a prehistoric glacial lake of the Pleistocene epoch that covered parts of present-day Minnesota and North Dakota in the U.S. and Manitoba and Ontario in Canada.

ag·ate n. an ornamental stone consisting of a hard variety of chalcedony, typically banded in appearance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a colored toy marble resembling a banded gemstone.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French, via Latin from Greek .

a·ga·ve n. a succulent plant with rosettes of narrow spiny leaves and tall flower spikes, native to the southern U.S. and tropical America.
<INFO>  Genus Agave, family Agavaceae: numerous species, including the century plant.

<ORIGIN> Latin, from Greek , the name of one of the daughters of Cadmus in Greek mythology, from agauos 'illustrious'.

AGC [ELECTRONICS] abbr. automatic gain control.

age n. 1 the length of time that a person has lived or a thing has existed: he died from a heart attack at the age of 51; his wife is the same age as Carla; he must be nearly 40 years of age; young people between the ages of 11 and 18.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a particular stage in someone's life: children of primary school age.

- the latter part of life or existence; old age: with age this gland can become sluggish.

2 a distinct period of history: an age of technological growth; a child of the television age.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GEOLOGY] a division of time that is a subdivision of an epoch, corresponding to a stage in chronostratigraphy.

- ARCHAIC a lifetime taken as a measure of time; a generation: Nestor is said to have lived three ages when he was ninety years old.

- (ages/an age) INFORMAL a very long time: I haven't seen her for ages; it would take an age to tell her everything.

■ v. (ag·ing) [intrans.] grow old or older, esp. visibly and obviously so: you haven't aged a lot; the tiredness we feel as we age. See note at MATURE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause to grow, feel, or appear older: he even tried aging the painting with a spoonful of coffee.

- (esp. with reference to an alcoholic drink) mature or allow to mature: [intrans.] the wine ages in open vats or casks.

- [trans.] determine how old (something) is: we didn't have a clue how to age these animals.

<PHRASES>
□ act (or be) one's age [usu. in imperative] behave in a manner appropriate to someone of one's age and not to someone much younger: “Act your age” is not advice to behave like an adolescent.

□ come of age (of a person) reach adult status.
- (of a movement or activity) become fully established: space travel will then finally come of age.

□ of an age
1 old enough to be able or expected to do something: the sons are of an age to marry.

2 (of two or more people or things) of a similar age: the children all seemed of an age.

□ through the ages throughout history.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin aetas, aetat-, from aevum 'age, era'.

-age suffix forming nouns: 1 denoting an action: leverage; voyage.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the product of an action: spillage; wreckage.

- a function; a sphere of action: homage; peerage.

2 denoting an aggregate or number of: mileage; percentage; signage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fees payable for; the cost of using: postage; tonnage.

3 denoting a place or abode: vicarage; village.

<ORIGIN> from Old French, based on Latin -aticum, neuter form of the adjectival ending -aticus.

aged adj. 1  [predic. or postpositive] having lived for a specified length of time; of a specified age: young people aged 14 to 18; he died aged 60.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a horse or farm animal) over a certain defined age of maturity, typically 6 to 12 years for horses, 3 or 4 years for cattle.

2 having lived or existed for a long time; old: aged men with white hair | [as plural n.] (the aged) Methodist homes for the aged. See note at OLD.

3 that has been subjected to aging: jeans in hardrock wash give a unique aged appearance.

A·gee James (Rufus) (1909-55), U.S. writer. He wrote Let Us Now Praise Famous Men (1941) after touring the South with photographer Walker Evans and A Death in the Family (1955), for which he was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize. He also wrote the screenplays for The African Queen (1951) and The Night of the Hunter (1955).

age gap n. a difference in age between people, esp. as a potential source of misunderstanding.

age group n. a number of people or things classed together as being of similar age.

age hard·en·ing n. spontaneous hardening of a metal that occurs if it is quenched and then stored at ambient temperature or treated with mild heat.

<DERIVATIVES> age-hard·ened adj.

age·ing adj. & n. variant spelling of AGING.

Linked entries:

AGING ■

age·ism (also ag·ism) n. prejudice or discrimination on the basis of a person's age.

<DERIVATIVES> age·ist (also ag·ist) adj. & n.

age·less adj. never growing or appearing to grow old: the town retains an ageless charm.

<DERIVATIVES> age·less·ness n.

age-long adj. [attrib.] having existed for a very long time: the will to change age-long habits.

age-mate n. a person or animal that is the same age as another.

a·gen·cy n. 1 [often with adj.] a business or organization established to provide a particular service, typically one that involves organizing transactions between two other parties: an advertising agency; aid agencies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a department or body providing a specific service for a government or similar organization: the Environmental Protection Agency.

2 action or intervention, esp. such as to produce a particular effect: canals carved by the agency of running water; a belief in various forms of supernatural agency.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thing or person that acts to produce a particular result: the movies could be an agency molding the values of the public.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin agentia, from agent- 'doing' (see AGENT).

Linked entries:

AGENT ■

a·gen·da n. a list of items of business to be considered and discussed at a meeting: the question of nuclear weapons had been removed from the agenda.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a list or program of things to be done or problems to be addressed: he vowed to put jobs at the top of his agenda; the government had its own agenda.

<PHRASES>
□ on the agenda scheduled for discussion at a meeting: the rights of minorities would be high on the agenda at the conference.
- likely or needing to be dealt with or done: his release was not on the agenda; national problems loomed large on the domestic agenda.

□ set the agenda draw up a list of items to be discussed at a meeting.
- influence or determine a program of action: the activists set the agenda, and timorous administrators usually go along.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'things to be done'): from Latin, neuter plural of agendum, gerund of agere 'do'.

<USAGE>
Although agenda (‘things to be done’) is the plural of agendum in Latin, in standard modern English it is a normal singular noun with a normal plural form (agendas).

See also usage at DATA and MEDIA^1 .

Linked entries:

DATA ■

MEDIA ■

a·gent n. 1 a person who acts on behalf of another, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who manages business, financial, or contractual matters for an actor, performer, or writer.

- a person or company that provides a particular service, typically one that involves organizing transactions between two other parties: a travel agent; shipping agents; a real-estate agent.

- a person who obtains information for a government or other official body, typically in secret: a trained intelligence agent; KGB agents; an FBI agent.

2 a person or thing that takes an active role or produces a specified effect: agents of change; bleaching agents.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GRAMMAR] the doer of an action, typically expressed as the subject of an active verb or in a by phrase with a passive verb.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'someone or something that produces an effect'): from Latin agent- 'doing', from agere.

a·gent-gen·er·al n. (pl. a·gents-gen·er·al) the representative of an Australian state or Canadian province in a major foreign city.

a·gent noun n. a noun denoting someone or something that performs the action of a verb, typically ending in -er or -or, e.g., worker, accelerator.

A·gent Or·ange n. a defoliant chemical used by the U.S. in the Vietnam War.

a·gent pro·vo·ca·teur n. (pl. a·gents pro·vo·ca·teurs pronunc. same or ) a person who induces others to break the law so that they can be convicted.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, literally 'provocative agent'.

age of con·sent n. the age at which a person's, typically a girl's, consent to sexual intercourse is valid in law.

age of dis·cre·tion n. the age at which someone is considered able to manage their own affairs or take responsibility for their actions.

age-old adj. having existed for a very long time: the haunting, age-old love call of the prairie chicken.

ag·glom·er·ate v. collect or form into a mass or group: [trans.] companies agglomerate multiple sites such as chains of stores; | [intrans.] these small particles soon agglomerate together.

■ n. a mass or collection of things: a multimedia agglomerate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GEOLOGY] a volcanic rock consisting of large fragments bonded together.

■ adj. collected or formed into a mass.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·glom·er·a·tion n. ag·glom·er·a·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin agglomerat- 'added to', from the verb agglomerare, from ad- 'to' + glomerare (from glomus 'ball').

ag·glu·ti·nate v. firmly stick or be stuck together to form a mass: [as adj.] (agglutinated) rhinoceros horns are agglutinated masses of hair.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BIOLOGY] (with reference to bacteria or red blood cells) clump together: [trans.] these strains agglutinate human red cells;| [intrans.] cell fragments agglutinate and form intricate meshes.

- [trans.] [LINGUISTICS] combine (simple words or parts of words) without change of form to express compound ideas.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·glu·ti·na·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin agglutinat- 'caused to adhere', from the verb agglutinare, from ad- 'to' + glutinare (from gluten 'glue').

ag·glu·ti·na·tive adj. [LINGUISTICS] (of a language) forming words predominantly by agglutination, rather than by inflection or by using isolated elements. Examples include Hungarian, Turkish, Korean, and Swahili.

ag·glu·ti·nin n. [BIOLOGY] an antibody, lectin, or other substance that causes agglutination.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from AGGLUTINATE + -IN^1 .

Linked entries:

AGGLUTINATE ■

-IN ■

ag·glu·tin·o·gen n. [BIOLOGY] an antigen that stimulates the production of an agglutinin.

ag·gra·da·tion n. the deposition of material by a river, stream, or current.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from AG- (expressing increase) + (de)gradation.

Linked entries:

AG- ■

ag·gran·dize v. [trans.] increase the power, status, or wealth of: an action intended to aggrandize the Frankish dynasty.
<SPECIAL USAGE> enhance the reputation of (someone) beyond what is justified by the facts: he hoped to aggrandize himself by dying a hero's death.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·gran·dize·ment n. ag·gran·diz·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the general sense 'increase, magnify'): from French agrandiss-, lengthened stem of agrandir, probably from Italian aggrandire, from Latin grandis 'large'. The ending was changed by association with verbs ending in -IZE.

Linked entries:

-IZE ■

ag·gra·vate v. [trans.] 1 make (a problem, injury, or offense) worse or more serious: military action would only aggravate the situation.

2 INFORMAL annoy or exasperate (someone), esp. persistently: [as adj.] (aggravating) she found him thoroughly aggravating and unprofessional.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·gra·vat·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin aggravat- 'made heavy', from the verb aggravare, from ad- (expressing increase) + gravis 'heavy'.

<USAGE>
Aggravate in the sense 'annoy or exasperate' dates back to the 17th century and has been so used by respected writers ever since. This use is still regarded as incorrect by some traditionalists on the grounds that it is too radical a departure from the etymological meaning of ‘make heavy.’ It is, however, comparable to meaning changes in hundreds of other words that have long been accepted without comment.

See also usage at EXASPERATE.

Linked entries:

EXASPERATE ■

ag·gra·vat·ed adj. [attrib.] (of an offense) made more serious by attendant circumstances (such as frame of mind): aggravated burglary.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a penalty) made more severe in recognition of the seriousness of an offense: aggravated damages.

ag·gra·va·tion n. 1 an intensification of a negative quality or aspect: Negotiators were optimistic despite the aggravation of the standoff caused by the press release.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in homeopathy) the temporary appearance or worsening of symptoms that a remedy is intended to eliminated, taken to be caused by too strong a dose.

2 the state of being aggravated: Internet users' aggravation with the deluge of pop-up ads.

3 a cause of annoyance or irritation: the aggravations of living with a self-confessed sports junkie.

ag·gre·gate n. 1 a whole formed by combining several (typically disparate) elements: the council was an aggregate of three regional assemblies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the total number of points scored by a player or team in a series of sporting contests: the result put the sides even on aggregate.

2 a material or structure formed from a loosely compacted mass of fragments or particles.
<SPECIAL USAGE> pieces of broken or crushed stone or gravel used to make concrete, or more generally in building and construction work.

■ adj. [attrib.] formed or calculated by the combination of many separate units or items; total: the aggregate amount of grants made.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BOTANY] (of a group of species) comprising several very similar species formerly regarded as a single species.

- [ECONOMICS] denoting the total supply or demand for goods and services in an economy at a particular time: aggregate demand; aggregate supply.

■ v. form or group into a class or cluster: [intrans.] the butterflies aggregate in dense groups.

<PHRASES> in (the) aggregate in total; as a whole.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·gre·ga·tion n. ag·gre·ga·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin aggregat- 'herded together', from the verb aggregare, from ad- 'toward' + grex, greg- 'a flock'.

ag·gre·gate fruit n. [BOTANY] a fruit formed from several carpels derived from the same flower, e.g., a raspberry.

ag·gre·ga·tor n. 1 [COMPUTING] an Internet company that collects information about competing products and services and distributes it through a single Web site: a travel insurance aggregator.

2 a wholesale buyer or broker of a utility service, such as electricity or long-distance telephone service, who packages it and sells it to consumers.

ag·gres·sion n. hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward another; readiness to attack or confront: his chin was jutting with aggression; territorial aggression between individuals of the same species.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of attacking without provocation, esp. in beginning a quarrel or war: the dictator resorted to armed aggression; he called for an end to foreign aggression against his country.

- forceful and sometimes overly assertive pursuit of one's aims and interests.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'an attack'): from Latin aggressio(n-), from aggredi 'to attack', from ad- 'toward'+ gradi 'proceed, walk'.

ag·gres·sive adj. ready or likely to attack or confront; characterized by or resulting from aggression: he's very uncooperative and aggressive; aggressive behavior.
<SPECIAL USAGE> pursuing one's aims and interests forcefully, sometimes unduly so: an aggressive businessman.
See note at BOLD.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·gres·sive·ly adv. ag·gres·sive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin aggress- 'attacked' (from the verb aggredi) + -IVE; compare with French agressif, -ive.

Linked entries:

-IVE ■

ag·gres·sor n. a person or country that attacks another first.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from late Latin, from aggredi 'to attack' (see AGGRESSION).

Linked entries:

AGGRESSION ■

ag·grieved adj. feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated: they were aggrieved at the outcome; she did not see herself as the aggrieved party.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·griev·ed·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'distressed'): past participle of aggrieve, from Old French agrever 'make heavier', based on Latin aggravare (see AGGRAVATE).

Linked entries:

AGGRAVATE ■

ag·gro n. BRIT., INFORMAL aggressive, violent behavior.
<SPECIAL USAGE> problems and difficulties.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: abbreviation of aggravation (see AGGRAVATE), or of AGGRESSION.

Linked entries:

AGGRAVATE ■

AGGRESSION ■

a·ghast adj. [predic.] filled with horror or shock: when the news came out they were aghast.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: past participle of the obsolete verb agast, gast 'frighten', from Old English . The spelling with gh (originally Scots) became general by about 1700, probably influenced by GHOST; compare with GHASTLY.

Linked entries:

GHOST ■

GHASTLY ■

ag·ile adj. able to move quickly and easily: Ruth was as agile as a monkey | FIGURATIVE his vague manner concealed an agile mind.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·ile·ly adv. a·gil·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via French from Latin agilis, from agere 'do'.

ag·ile gib·bon n. a gibbon with color varying from light buff to black, found in Southeast Asia.
<INFO>  Hylobates agilis, family Hylobatidae.

a·gin prep. dialect form of AGAINST.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: variant of the obsolete preposition again, with the same meaning.

Linked entries:

AGAINST ■

Ag·in·court, Bat·tle of a battle in northern France in 1415 during the Hundred Years War, in which the English under Henry V defeated a large French army. The victory, achieved largely by use of the longbow, allowed Henry to occupy Normandy.

ag·ing (also age·ing) n. the process of growing old: the external signs of aging | [as adj.] the aging process.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the process of change in the properties of a material occurring over a period, either spontaneously or through deliberate action.

■ adj. (of a person) growing old; elderly: looking after aging relatives; an aging population.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a thing) reaching the end of useful life; obsolescent: the world's aging fleet of oil tankers.

ag·ism n. variant spelling of AGEISM.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·ist adj. & n.

ag·i·tate v. [trans.] make (someone) troubled or nervous: the thought of questioning Toby agitated him extremely | [as adj.] (agitated) she was red and agitated with the effort of arguing.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] campaign to arouse public concern about an issue in the hope of prompting action: they agitated for a reversal of the decision.

- stir or disturb (something, esp. a liquid) briskly: agitate the water to disperse the oil.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·i·tat·ed·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'drive away'): from Latin agitat- 'agitated, driven', from agitare, frequentative of agere 'do, drive'.

ag·i·ta·tion n. 1 a state of anxiety or nervous excitement: she was wringing her hands in agitation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of arousing public concern about an issue and pressing for action on it: widespread agitation for social reform.

2 the action of briskly stirring or disturbing something, esp. a liquid.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'action, being active'): from Latin agitatio(n-), from the verb agitare (see AGITATE).

Linked entries:

AGITATE ■

a·gi·ta·to adv. & adj. [MUSIC] (esp. as a direction after a tempo marking) in an agitated manner: allegro agitato.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'agitated'.

ag·i·ta·tor n. 1 a person who urges others to protest or rebel: a communist agitator.

2 an apparatus for stirring liquid, as in a washing machine or a photographic developing tank.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (denoting a delegate of private soldiers in the Parliamentary Army during the English Civil War (1642-49)) from Latin, from agitare (see AGITATE). Sense 1 dates from the mid 18th cent.

Linked entries:

AGITATE ■

ag·it·prop n. political (originally communist) propaganda, esp. in art or literature: [as adj.] agitprop painters.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: Russian, blend of agitatsiya 'agitation' and propaganda 'propaganda'.

a·gleam adj. [predic.] gleaming: yellow fur agleam in the sun.

ag·let n. a metal or plastic tube fixed tightly around each end of a shoelace.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French aiguillette 'small needle', diminutive of aiguille (see AIGUILLE).

Linked entries:

AIGUILLE ■

a·gley adv. SCOTTISH askew; awry.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from A-2 'on' + Scots gley 'squint', of unknown origin.

Linked entries:

A- ■

a·glow adj. [predic.] glowing: his bald head aglow under the lights.

ag·ma n. the speech sound represented by ng as in thing, a velar nasal consonant.
<SPECIAL USAGE> represented by in the International Phonetic Alphabet.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from late Greek, from Greek, literally 'fragment'.

ag·nail n. another term for HANGNAIL.

Linked entries:

HANGNAIL ■

ag·nate [CHIEFLY LAW] n. a person descended from the same male ancestor as another specified or implied person, esp. through the male line.

■ adj. descended from the same male ancestor as a specified or implied subject, esp. through the male line. Compare with COGNATE (sense 2).
<SPECIAL USAGE> of the same clan or nation.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·nat·ic adj. ag·na·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (as a noun): from Latin agnatus, from ad- 'to' + gnatus, natus 'born'.

Linked entries:

COGNATE ■

Ag·na·tha [ZOOLOGY] a group of primitive jawless vertebrates that includes the lampreys, hagfishes, and many fossil fishlike forms. Compare with CYCLOSTOME.
<INFO>  Superclass Agnatha: the living forms are in the classes Myxini (hagfishes) and Cephalaspidomorphi (lampreys).

<DERIVATIVES> ag·na·than n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> from modern Latin Agnatha (superclass name), from A-1 'without' + Greek gnathos 'jaw'.

Linked entries:

CYCLOSTOME ■

A- ■

Ag·nes, St. 1 (died c.304), Roman martyr. The patron saint of virgins, her emblem is a lamb (Latin agnus). Feast day, January 21.

Ag·nes, St. 2 (c.1211-82), patron saint of Bohemia. She was canonized in 1989. Feast day, March 2.

Agne·si Maria Gaetana (1718-99), Italian mathematician and philosopher. She wrote a mathematics textbook and was the first woman appointed to a university chair in mathematics.

Ag·new Spiro T(heodore) (1918-96), U.S. politician. He served as Richard Nixon's vice president 1969-73 but was forced to resign because of corruption charges against him that stemmed from his time as governor of Maryland 1967-69.

Ag·ni the Vedic god of fire, the priest of the gods and the god of the priests.

a·gno·lot·ti n. pasta squares stuffed with a variety of fillings, like small ravioli.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

ag·no·sia n. [MEDICINE] inability to interpret sensations and hence to recognize things, typically as a result of brain damage.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: coined in German from Greek 'ignorance'.

ag·nos·tic n. a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena; a person who claims neither faith nor disbelief in God.

■ adj. of or relating to agnostics or agnosticism.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·nos·ti·cism n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from A-1 'not' + GNOSTIC.

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A- ■

GNOSTIC ■

Ag·nus De·i n. 1 a figure of a lamb bearing a cross or flag, as an emblem of Christ.

2 [CHRISTIAN CHURCH] an invocation beginning with the words “Lamb of God” forming a set part of the liturgy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a musical setting of this.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, literally 'Lamb of God'.

a·go adv. (used after a measurement of time) before the present; earlier: he went five minutes ago; as long ago as 1942; not long ago.

<ORIGIN> Middle English ago, agone, past participle of the obsolete verb ago 'pass', used to express passage of time.

<USAGE>
When ago is followed by a clause, the clause is normally introduced by that rather than since: it was sixty years ago that I left this place (not it was sixty years ago since I left this place). The use of since is redundant and is not correct in standard English.

a·gog adj. [predic.] very eager or curious to hear or see something: I'm all agog to see London; New York is agog at the gossip.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Old French en gogues, from en 'in' + the plural of gogue 'fun'.

a·gog·ic [MUSIC] adj. relating to or denoting an accent produced by lengthening the time value of a note.

■ plural n. (agogics) [usu. treated as sing.] the use of agogic accents.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek 'leading', from agein 'to lead', + -IC.

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-IC ■

a·go·go n. a small bell made of two metal cones, used as a percussion instrument in African and Latin music.

<ORIGIN> from Yoruba.

a go·go adj. [postpositive] INFORMAL in abundance; galore: Gershwin a gogoall the hits.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from French à gogo, from Old French gogue 'fun'.

a·gon·ic line n. an imaginary line around the earth passing through both the north pole and the north magnetic pole, at any point on which a compass needle points to true north.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek , (from a- 'without' + gonia 'angle') + -IC.

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-IC ■

ag·o·nist n. 1 [BIOCHEMISTRY] a substance that initiates a physiological response when combined with a receptor. Compare with ANTAGONIST.

2 [ANATOMY] a muscle whose contraction moves a part of the body directly. Often contrasted with ANTAGONIST.

3 another term for PROTAGONIST.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·o·nism n.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek 'contestant' (a sense reflected in English in the early 17th cent.), from 'contest'.

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ANTAGONIST ■

ANTAGONIST ■

PROTAGONIST ■

ag·o·nis·tic adj. combative; polemical.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ZOOLOGY] (of animal behavior) associated with conflict.

- [BIOCHEMISTRY] of, relating to, or acting as an agonist.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·o·nis·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek , from 'contestant', from 'contest'.

ag·o·nize v. [intrans.] undergo great mental anguish through worrying about something: I didn't agonize over the problem.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] cause mental anguish to (someone).

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French agoniser or late Latin agonizare, from Greek 'contend', from 'contest'.

ag·o·nized adj. manifesting, suffering, or characterized by great physical or mental pain: she gave an agonized cry; months of agonized discussion.

ag·o·niz·ing (also ag·o·nis·ing) adj. causing great physical or mental pain: there is an agonizing choice to make; an agonizing death.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·o·niz·ing·ly adv. [as submodifier] agonizingly slow steps.

ag·o·ny n. (pl. -nies) extreme physical or mental suffering: he crashed to the ground in agony.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] the final stages of a difficult or painful death: his last agony; the death agony.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally denoting mental anguish alone): via Old French and late Latin from Greek , from 'contest'. The sense of physical suffering dates from the early 17th cent.

ag·o·ny col·umn n. BRIT., INFORMAL a column in a newspaper or magazine offering advice on personal problems to readers who write in.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED a personal column.

ag·o·ra 1 n. (pl. -rae or -ras) (in ancient Greece) a public open space used for assemblies and markets.

<ORIGIN> from Greek.

a·go·ra 2 n. (pl. a·go·rot or a·go·roth ) a monetary unit of Israel, equal to one hundredth of a shekel.

<ORIGIN> from Hebrew 'small coin'.

ag·o·ra·pho·bi·a n. extreme or irrational fear of crowded spaces or enclosed public places.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·o·ra·pho·bic adj. & n. ag·o·ra·phobe n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek agora 'place of assembly, marketplace' + -PHOBIA.

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-PHOBIA ■

Agou·ra Hills a city in southwestern California, northwest of Los Angeles; pop. 20,390.

a·gou·ti n. (pl. same or -tis) a large, long-legged burrowing rodent related to the guinea pig, native to Central and South America.
<INFO>  Genera Agouti and Dasyprocta, family Dasyproctidae: several species.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- fur in which each hair has alternate dark and light bands, producing a grizzled appearance.

- a rodent, esp. a mouse, having fur of this type.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via French or from Spanish aguti, from Tupi akutí.

A·gra a city on the Jumna River in Uttar Pradesh state, northern India; pop. 899,000. Once the capital of the Mogul empire 1566-1658, it is the site of the Taj Mahal.

a·gran·u·lo·cy·to·sis n. [MEDICINE] a deficiency of granulocytes in the blood, causing increased vulnerability to infection.

a·grar·i·an adj. of or relating to cultivated land or the cultivation of land.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to landed property.

■ n. a person who advocates a redistribution of landed property.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (originally designating a Roman law for the division of conquered lands): from Latin agrarius, from ager, agr- 'field'.

A·grar·i·an Rev·o·lu·tion the transformation of British agriculture during the 18th century, characterized by the enclosure of common land and the introduction of technological innovations such as the seed drill and the rotation of crops.

a·gree v. (a·grees, a·greed, a·gree·ing) [intrans.] 1 have the same opinion about something; concur: I completely agree with your recent editorial; we both agreed on issues such as tougher penalties for criminals | [with clause] the authors agree that Jerusalem must remain united | [with direct speech] “Yes, it's dreadful, isn't it,” she agreed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (agree with) approve of (something) with regard to its moral correctness: I'm not sure I agree with abortion.

2 (agree to or to do something) consent to do something that has been suggested by another person: she had agreed to go and see a movie with him.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] reach agreement about (something), typically after a period of negotiation: the commission agreed on a proposal to limit imports | [trans.] CHIEFLY BRIT. if they had agreed a price, the deal would have gone through.

3 (agree with) be consistent with: your body language does not agree with what you are saying.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GRAMMAR] have the same number, gender, case, or person as: the writer made the verb agree with the subject.

- [usu. with negative] be healthy or appropriate for someone: she's eaten something that did not agree with her.

<PHRASES> agree to differ see DIFFER.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French agreer, based on Latin ad- 'to' + gratus 'pleasing'.

<USAGE>
Note the distinction between agreeing to something like a plan, scheme, or project and agreeing with somebody: I agree to the repayment schedule suggested; Danielle agrees with Eric that we should all go hiking on Saturday; humid weather does not agree with me. The construction agree with is also used regarding two things that go together: that story does not agree with the facts; the verb must agree with the noun in person and number.

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DIFFER ■

a·gree·a·ble adj. 1 enjoyable and pleasurable; pleasant: a cheerful and agreeable companion. See note at PLEASANT.

2 [predic.] willing to agree to something: they were agreeable to its publication.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a course of action) acceptable: a compromise that might be agreeable to both management and unions.

<DERIVATIVES> a·gree·a·ble·ness n. a·gree·a·bly adv. [as submodifier] an agreeably warm day.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French agreable, from agreer 'make agreeable to' (see AGREE).

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AGREE ■

a·greed adj. [ attrib.] discussed or negotiated and then accepted by all parties: the agreed time; the agreed upon percentage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [predic.] (of two or more parties) holding the same view or opinion on something: all the republics are agreed on the necessity of a common defense policy | [with clause] we are agreed that what is needed is a catchy title.

a·gree·ment n. harmony or accordance in opinion or feeling; a position or result of agreeing: the governments failed to reach agreement; the two officers nodded in agreement; there is wide agreement that investment is necessary.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a negotiated and typically legally binding arrangement between parties as to a course of action: a trade agreement; a verbal agreement to sell.

- the absence of incompatibility between two things; consistency: agreement between experimental observations and theory.

- [GRAMMAR] the condition of having the same number, gender, case, or person.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from agreer 'make agreeable to' (see AGREE).

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AGREE ■

a·gres·tal adj. [BOTANY] growing wild in cultivated fields.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin agrestis 'relating to the country' (see AGRESTIC) + -AL.

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AGRESTIC ■

-AL ■

a·gres·tic adj. CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY of or relating to the country; rural; rustic.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin agrestis, from ager, agr- 'field' + -IC .

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-IC ■

agri- comb. form variant spelling of AGRO-: agriculture; agribusiness.

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AGRO- ■

ag·ri·busi·ness n. 1 agriculture conducted on commercial principles, esp. using advanced technology.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an organization engaged in this.

2 the group of industries dealing with agricultural produce and services required in farming.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·ri·busi·ness·man n. (pl. -men).

<ORIGIN> 1950s (originally U.S.): blend of AGRICULTURE and BUSINESS.

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AGRICULTURE ■

BUSINESS ■

A·gric·o·la Gnaeus Julius (AD 40-93), Roman general and governor of Britain 78-84. As governor he completed the subjugation of Wales and defeated the Scottish Highland tribes.

ag·ri·cul·tur·al adj. of or relating to agriculture: agricultural land; an agricultural worker.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·ri·cul·tur·al·ist n. ag·ri·cul·tur·al·ly adv. agriculturally fertile plains.

ag·ri·cul·tur·al fair n. see FAIR^2 .

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FAIR ■

ag·ri·cul·ture n. the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·ri·cul·tur·ist n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin agricultura, from ager, agr- 'field' + cultura 'growing, cultivation'.

ag·ri·mo·ny n. (pl. -nies) a plant of the rose family bearing slender flower spikes and spiny fruits. Native to north temperate regions, it has been used traditionally in herbal medicine and dyeing.
<INFO>  Genus Agrimonia, family Rosaceae: several species, in particular A. eupatoria, which has small yellow flowers.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: directly or (in early use) via Old French from Latin agrimonia, alteration of argemonia, from Greek 'poppy'.

A·grip·pa Marcus Vipsanius (63-12 BC), Roman general. Augustus's adviser and son-in-law, he played an important part in the naval victories over Mark Antony.

ag·ri·sci·ence n. the application of science to agriculture.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·ri·sci·en·tist n.

ag·ri·tain·ment n. farm-based entertainment, typically developed as a revenue source for small-scale farmers and including a wide range of activities, such as hayrides, pony rides, wine tasting, cornfield-maze contests, and harvest festivals.

agro- (also agri-) comb. form agricultural: agro-industry; agrobiology; agribusiness.
<SPECIAL USAGE> agriculture and : agroforestry.

<ORIGIN> from Greek agros 'field'.

ag·ro·bi·ol·o·gy n. the branch of biology that deals with soil science and plant nutrition and its application to crop production.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·ro·bi·o·log·i·cal adj. ag·ro·bi·ol·o·gist n.

ag·ro·chem·i·cal n. a chemical used in agriculture, such as a pesticide or a fertilizer.

ag·ro·for·est·ry n. agriculture incorporating the cultivation and conservation of trees.

ag·ro-in·dus·try n. industry connected with agriculture.
<SPECIAL USAGE> agriculture developed along industrial lines.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·ro-in·dus·tri·al adj.

a·grol·o·gy n. CANADIAN the application of science to agriculture.

<DERIVATIVES> a·grol·o·gist n.

a·gron·o·my n. the science of soil management and crop production.

<DERIVATIVES> ag·ro·nom·ic adj. ag·ro·nom·i·cal adj. ag·ro·nom·i·cal·ly adv. a·gron·o·mist n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French agronomie, from agronome 'agriculturist', from Greek agros 'field' + -nomos 'arranging' (from nemein 'arrange').

Agro Pontino Italian name for PONTINE MARSHES.

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PONTINE MARSHES ■

ag·ros·tol·o·gy n. the branch of botany concerned with grasses.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek (denoting a kind of grass) + -LOGY.

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-LOGY ■

a·ground adj. & adv. (with reference to a ship) on or onto the bottom in shallow water: [as adv.] the ships must slow to avoid running aground | [as predic. adj.] a cargo ship aground in the Mediterranean.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'on the ground'): from A-2 'on' + GROUND^1 .

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A- ■

GROUND ■

Ag·ua Pri·e·ta a city in Sonora, in northwestern Mexico, near the Arizona border; pop. 38,000.

a·guar·dien·te n. (in Spanish-speaking regions) a distilled liquor resembling brandy, esp. as made in South America from sugar cane.

<ORIGIN> from Spanish, from agua 'water' + ardiente 'fiery'.

A·guas·ca·lien·tes a state in central Mexico.
<SPECIAL USAGE> its capital, a health resort noted for its hot springs; pop. 506,000.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, literally 'hot waters'.

a·gue n. ARCHAIC malaria or some other illness involving fever and shivering.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a fever or shivering fit.

<DERIVATIVES> a·gued adj. a·gu·ish adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin acuta (febris) 'acute (fever)'.

A·gul·has, Cape the most southern point of the continent of Africa, in Western Cape province, South Africa.

A·gul·has Cur·rent an ocean current in the Indian Ocean that flows southward along the east coast of Africa.

AH abbr. in the year of the Hegira (used in the Muslim calendar for reckoning years from Muhammad's departure from Mecca in AD 622); of the Muslim era: a Koran dated 556 AH.

<ORIGIN> from Latin anno Hegirae.

ah exclam. used to express a range of emotions including surprise, pleasure, sympathy, and realization: ah, there you are!; ah, this is the life.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French.

AHA abbr.
- alpha-hydroxy acid.

- American Heart Association.

a·ha exclam. used to express satisfaction, triumph, or surprise: aha! So that's your secret plan!

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from AH + HA^1 .

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AH ■

HA ■

A·hag·gar Moun·tains another name for HOGGAR MOUNTAINS.

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HOGGAR MOUNTAINS ■

a·head adv. further forward in space; in the line of one's forward motion: he had to give his attention to the road ahead; he was striding ahead toward the stream.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- further forward in time; in advance; in the near future: he contemplated the day ahead; we have to plan ahead.

- onward so as to make progress.

- in the lead: the Bucks were ahead by four; he was slightly ahead on points.

- higher in number, amount, or value than previously: profits were slightly ahead.

<PHRASES>
□ ahead of in front of or before: she walked ahead of him along the corridor
- in store for; awaiting: we have a long drive ahead of us.

- earlier than planned or expected: elimination of trade barriers came five years ahead of schedule.

□ ahead of one's (or its) time innovative and radical by the standards of the time; more characteristic of a later age.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally in nautical use): from A-2 'in, at' + HEAD.

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A- ■

HEAD ■

a·hem exclam. used to represent the noise made when clearing the throat, typically to attract attention or express disapproval or embarrassment.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: lengthened form of HEM^2 .

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HEM ■

a·hi noun Japanese name for YELLOWFIN.

a·him·sa n. (in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain tradition) the principle of nonviolence toward all living things.

<ORIGIN> Sanskrit, from a 'non-, without' + 'violence'.

a·his·tor·i·cal adj. lacking historical perspective or context: ahistorical nostalgia that misunderstands cultural history.

Ah·mad·a·bad (also Ah·med·a·bad) an industrial city in the state of Gujarat in western India; pop. 2,873,000.

a·ho·le·ho·le n. a small silvery fish occurring only in the shallow waters around the Hawaiian islands, where it is a food fish.
<INFO>  Kuhlia sandvicensis, family Kuhliidae.

<ORIGIN> from Hawaiian.

-aholic (also -oholic) suffix denoting a person addicted to something: shopaholic; workaholic.

<ORIGIN> on the pattern of (alc)oholic.

a·hoy exclam. [NAUTICAL] a call used in hailing: ahoy there!; | ship ahoy!

<PHRASES> land ahoy! an exclamation announcing the sighting of land from a ship.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from AH + HOY^1 .

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AH ■

HOY ■

Ah·ri·man the evil spirit in the doctrine of Zoroastrianism, the opponent of Ahura Mazda.

A·hu·ra Maz·da the creator god of Zoroastrianism, the force for good and the opponent of Ahriman. Also called ORMAZD.

<ORIGIN> Avestan, literally 'wise deity'.

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ORMAZD ■

Ah·vaz (also Ah·waz ) a town in western Iran; pop. 725,000.

Ah·ve·nan·maa Finnish name for ÅLAND ISLANDS.

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ÅLAND ISLANDS ■

AI abbr.
- Amnesty International.

- artificial insemination.

- artificial intelligence.

AID abbr.
- Agency for International Development.

- artificial insemination by donor.

aid n. help, typically of a practical nature: he saw the pilot slumped in his cockpit and went to his aid; within six weeks he was walking with the aid of a walker.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- financial or material help given to a country or area in need: 700,000 tons of food aid | [as adj.] aid convoys.

- a person or thing that is a source of help or assistance: exercise is an important aid to recovery after heart attacks; a teaching aid.

- HISTORICAL a grant of subsidy or tax to a king.

■ v. [trans.] help, assist, or support (someone or something) in the achievement of something: women were aided in childbirth by midwives | [intrans.] the heel was slanted to aid in climbing hilly terrain.
- promote or encourage (something): diet and exercise aid healthy skin.

<PHRASES>
□ aid and abet see ABET.

□ in aid of CHIEFLY BRIT. in support of; for the purpose of raising money for: a concert in aid of Armenia.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French aïde (noun), aïdier (verb), based on Latin adjuvare, from ad- 'toward' + juvare 'to help'.

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ABET ■

Ai·dan, St. (d. AD 651), Irish missionary. While a monk in the monastery at Iona he set out to Christianize Northumbria, founding a church and monastery on the island of Lindisfarne in 635 and becoming its first bishop.

aid climb·ing n. rock climbing using the assistance of objects such as pitons placed in the rock. Compare with FREE CLIMBING.

<DERIVATIVES> aid climb n. aid-climb v.

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FREE CLIMBING ■

aide n. an assistant to an important person, esp. to a political leader: a presidential aide.
<SPECIAL USAGE> short for AIDE-DE-CAMP.

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AIDE-DE-CAMP ■

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

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, 'camp adjutant'.

aide-me·moire n. (pl. aides-me·moires or aides-me·moire pronunc. same) an aid to the memory, esp. a book or document.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an informal diplomatic message.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French aide-mémoire, from aider 'to help' and mémoire 'memory'.

AIDS n. acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a disease in which there is a severe loss of the body's cellular immunity, greatly lowering the resistance to infection and malignancy.

The cause is a virus (called the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV) transmitted in blood and in sexual fluids, and though the incubation period may be long, the fully developed disease is invariably fatal. AIDS was first identified in the early 1980s and now affects millions of people. In the developed world the disease first spread among homosexuals, intravenous drug users, and recipients of infected blood transfusions, before reaching the wider population. This has tended to overshadow a greater epidemic in parts of Africa, where transmission is mainly through heterosexual contact.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: acronym.

AIDS-re·lat·ed com·plex n. the symptoms of a person who is infected with HIV but does not necessarily develop the disease.

ai·grette n. a headdress consisting of a white egret's feather or other decoration such as a spray of gems.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, literally 'egret'.

ai·guille n. a sharp pinnacle of rock in a mountain range.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, literally 'needle'.

ai·guil·lette n. an ornament on some military and naval uniforms, consisting of braided loops hanging from the shoulder and on dress uniforms ending in points.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, literally 'small needle', diminutive of aiguille.

Ai·ken a resort city in west central South Carolina; pop. 25,337.

ai·ki·do n. a Japanese form of self-defense and martial art that uses locks, holds, throws, and the opponent's own movements.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Japanese , literally 'way of adapting the spirit', from ai 'together, unify' + ki 'spirit' + 'way'.

ail v. [trans.] trouble or afflict (someone) in mind or body: exercise is good for whatever ails you.

<ORIGIN> Old English eglian, eglan, from egle 'troublesome', of Germanic origin; related to Gothic agls 'disgraceful'.

ai·lan·thus n. a tall large-leaved deciduous tree that is widely grown as an ornamental or shade tree. Native to Asia and Australasia, it has been naturalized in North America and central and southern Europe.
<INFO>  Genus Ailanthus, family Simaroubaceae: several species, in particular the tree of heaven.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from French ailante, from Amboinese ailanto, literally 'tree of heaven' (the ending being influenced by names ending with -anthus, from Greek anthos 'flower').

ai·ler·on n. a hinged surface in the trailing edge of an airplane wing, used to control lateral balance.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally 'small wing'

Ai·ley Alvin (1931-89), U.S. dancer and choreographer. He founded the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in 1958 and helped to establish modern dance as an American art form; he incorporated ballet, jazz, and Afro-Caribbean idioms in his choreography.

ail·ing adj. in poor health: I went to see my ailing mother | FIGURATIVE the ailing economy.

ail·ment n. an illness, typically a minor one.

ai·lur·o·phile n. a cat lover.

ai·lu·ro·pho·bi·a n. extreme or irrational fear of cats.

<DERIVATIVES> ai·lu·ro·phobe n.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek ailuros 'cat' + -PHOBIA.

Linked entries:

-PHOBIA ■

AIM abbr. American Indian Movement.

aim v. 1 [trans.] point or direct (a weapon or camera) at a target: aim the camcorder at some suitable object | [intrans.] aim for the middle of the target.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- direct (an object or blow) at someone or something: she had aimed the bottle at his head.

- (aim something at) direct information or an action toward (a particular group): the TV campaign is aimed at the 16-24 age group.

2 [intrans.] have the intention of achieving: new French cooking aims at producing clear, fresh flavors and light textures | [with infinitive] we aim to give you the best possible service. See note at INTEND.

■ n. 1 a purpose or intention; a desired outcome: our primary aim is to achieve financial discipline.

2 [in sing.] the directing of a weapon or object at a target: his aim was perfect, and the guard's body collapsed backward.

<PHRASES>
□ aim high be ambitious.

□ take aim point a weapon or camera at a target.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French amer, variant of esmer (from Latin aestimare 'assess, estimate'), reinforced by aemer, aesmer (from late Latin adaestimare, intensified form of aestimare).

aim·less adj. without purpose or direction: an aimless, ungratifying life.

<DERIVATIVES> aim·less·ly adv. aim·less·ness n.

ai·nhum n. [MEDICINE] a condition in which a band of fibrous tissue grows around the base of a toe, esp. the fifth, eventually resulting in loss of the digit. It occurs mainly in the tropics and is associated with going barefoot, though its cause is unknown.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Portuguese, based on Yoruba eyun 'saw'.

ain't INFORMAL contraction of
- am not; are not; is not: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. <ORIGIN> originally representing London dialect.

- has not; have not: they ain't got nothing to say. <ORIGIN> from dialect hain't.

<USAGE>
The use of ain't was widespread in the 18th century and is still perfectly normal in many dialects and informal contexts in both North America and Britain. Today, however, it does not form part of standard English and should not be used in formal contexts.

Ain·tab former name (until 1921) of GAZIANTEP.

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GAZIANTEP ■

Ai·nu n. 1 (pl. same or -nus) a member of an aboriginal people of Japan, physically distinct (with light skin color and round eyes) from the majority population.

2 the language of this people, of unknown affinity.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: the name in Ainu, literally 'man, person'.

ai·o·li (also aï·o·li) n. mayonnaise seasoned with garlic.

<ORIGIN> French, from Provençal ai 'garlic' + oli 'oil'.

air n. 1 the invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth, a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- this substance regarded as necessary for breathing: the air was stale; the doctor told me to get some fresh air.

- the free or unconfined space above the surface of the earth: he celebrated by tossing his hat high in the air.

- [as adj.] used to indicate that something involves the use of aircraft: air travel.

- the earth's atmosphere as a medium for transmitting radio waves: radio stations have successfully sold products over the air.

- air considered as one of the four elements in ancient philosophy and in astrology (associated with the signs of Gemini, Aquarius, and Libra).

- a breeze or light wind. See also LIGHT AIR.

- air conditioning.

- a jump off the ground on a snowboard.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French air, from Latin aer, from Greek , denoting the gas.

2 (air of) an impression of a quality or manner given by someone or something: she answered with a faint air of boredom.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (airs) an annoyingly affected and condescending manner: he began to put on airs and think he could boss us around. <ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French air, probably from Old French aire 'site, disposition', from Latin ager, agr- 'field' (influenced by sense 1).

3 [MUSIC] a tune or short melodious composition, typically a song. <ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Italian aria (see ARIA).

■ v. 1 [trans.] (often be aired) express (an opinion or grievance) publicly: a meeting in which long-standing grievances were aired.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- broadcast (a program) on radio or television: the programs were aired on India's state TV network.

- ARCHAIC parade or show (something) ostentatiously: airing a snowy hand and signet ring.

2 [trans.] expose (a room) to the open air in order to ventilate it: the window sashes were lifted regularly to air the room.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (air oneself) ARCHAIC go out in the fresh air.

<PHRASES>
□ airs and graces DEROGATORY an affectation of superiority.

□ by air in an aircraft: all goods must come in by air.

□ in the air noticeable all around; becoming prevalent: I smell violence in the air.

□ on (or off) the air being (or not being) broadcast on radio or television.

□ take the air go out of doors.

□ up in the air (of a plan or issue) still to be settled; unresolved: the fate of the power station is up in the air.

□ walk on air feel elated.

Linked entries:

LIGHT AIR ■

ARIA ■

air bag n. a safety device fitted inside a road vehicle, consisting of a cushion designed to inflate rapidly in the event of a collision and positioned so as to protect passengers from being flung against the vehicle's structure.

air ball n. INFORMAL [BASKETBALL] a shot that misses the backboard, rim, and net entirely.

air·base n. a base for the operation of military aircraft.

air bear·ing n. a bearing in which moving surfaces are kept apart by a layer of air provided by jets.

air bed n. an inflatable mattress.

air blad·der n. an air-filled bladder or sac found in certain animals and plants.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for SWIM BLADDER.

Linked entries:

SWIM BLADDER ■

air·boat n. a shallow-draft boat powered by an aircraft engine, for use in swamps.

air·borne adj. transported by air: airborne pollutants.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an aircraft) in the air after taking off.

air brake n. a brake worked by air pressure.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a movable flap or other device on an aircraft to reduce its speed.

air bridge n. British term for JETWAY.

Linked entries:

JETWAY ■

air·brush n. an artist's device for spraying paint by means of compressed air.

■ v. [trans.] paint with an airbrush: a cab airbrushed with a mural of a sunset.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- alter or conceal (a photograph or a detail in one) using an airbrush: a picture of a man with wings airbrushed onto his shoulders.

- [usu. as adj.] (airbrushed) FIGURATIVE represent or describe (someone or something) as better or more beautiful than they in fact are: an airbrushed vision of the decade.

air·burst n. an explosion in the air, typically of a nuclear bomb or large meteor.

■ v. [intrans.] explode in the air.

air·bus n. TRADEMARK an aircraft designed to carry a large number of passengers economically, esp. over relatively short routes.

air clean·er another term for AIR FILTER.

Linked entries:

AIR FILTER ■

air com·mand n. a high-level organizational unit in the U.S. Air Force.

air con·di·tion·ing n. a system for controlling the humidity, ventilation, and temperature in a building or vehicle, typically to maintain a cool atmosphere in warm conditions.

<DERIVATIVES> air con·di·tioned adj. air con·di·tion·er n.

air-cooled adj. cooled by means of a flow of air.

air cor·ri·dor n. a route to which aircraft are restricted, esp. over a foreign country.

air cov·er n. protection from aircraft for land-based or naval operations in war situations.

air·craft n. (pl. same) an airplane, helicopter, or other machine capable of flight.

air·craft car·ri·er n. a large warship equipped to serve as a base for aircraft that can take off from and land on its deck.

air·crew n. (pl. -crews) [treated as sing. or pl.] the crew manning an aircraft.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (pl. same) a member of such a crew: each aircraft carried three aircrew.

air cush·ion n. 1 an inflatable cushion.

2 the layer of air supporting a hovercraft or similar vehicle.

air dam n. a streamlining device below the front bumper of a vehicle; a front spoiler.

air date n. the date on which a recorded program is to be broadcast.

air·drome n. an airport.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a military air base.

air·drop n. an act of dropping supplies, troops, or equipment by parachute from an aircraft.

■ v. (-dropped, -drop·ping) [trans.] drop (such things) by parachute.

air-dry v. make or become dry through contact with unheated air.

■ adj. not giving off any moisture on exposure to air.

Aire·dale n. a large terrier of a rough-coated black and tan breed.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Airedale, a district in Yorkshire, England, where the dog was bred.

air·fare n. the price of a passenger ticket for travel by aircraft: save a bundle in airfare by flying standby.

air·field n. an area of land set aside for the takeoff, landing, and maintenance of aircraft.

air fil·ter n. a device for filtering particles of dust, soot, etc., from the air passing through it, esp. one protecting the air inlet of an internal combustion engine.

air·flow n. the flow of air, esp. that encountered by a moving aircraft or vehicle.

air·foil n. a structure with curved surfaces designed to give the most favorable ratio of lift to drag in flight, used as the basic form of the wings, fins, and horizontal stabilizer of most aircraft.

air force n. (often the air force or the Air Force) the branch of a nation's armed services that conducts military operations in the air.

Air Force One the designation (when the president of the U.S. is aboard) of any of several specially equipped jetliners maintained by the U.S. Air Force.

air·frame n. the body of an aircraft as distinct from its engine.

air·freight n. the transportation of goods by aircraft.
<SPECIAL USAGE> goods in transit, or to be carried, by aircraft.

■ v. [trans.] carry or send (goods) by aircraft.

■ adv. by airfreight: the exhibit was flown airfreight.

air fresh·en·er n. a substance or device for making the air in a room smell fresh or clean.

air·glow n. a glow in the night sky caused by radiation from the upper atmosphere.

air gui·tar n. INFORMAL used to describe the actions of someone playing an imaginary guitar: we like our audiences to sing along and play air guitar.

air gun n. a gun that fires pellets using compressed air.

air·head 1 n. [MILITARY] a base secured in enemy territory where supplies and troops can be received and evacuated by air.

<ORIGIN> World War II: on the pattern of bridgehead.

air·head 2 n. INFORMAL a silly or foolish person.

air·ing n. [in sing.] 1 an exposure to warm or fresh air, for the purpose of ventilating or removing dampness from something: somebody had given the place a thorough airing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a walk or outing to take air or exercise: taking the baby out for an airing.

2 a public expression of an opinion or subject: these are ideas I feel might be worth an airing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a transmission of a television or radio program.

air-kiss v. [trans.] purse the lips as if kissing (someone), without making contact: the media crowd who lunch, gossip, and air-kiss one another.

■ n. (air kiss) a simulated kiss, without physical contact.

air lane n. a path or course regularly used by aircraft.

air lay·er·ing n. [HORTICULTURE] a form of layering in which the branch is potted or wrapped in a moist growing medium to promote root growth.

air·less adj. stuffy; not ventilated: a dusty, airless basement.
<SPECIAL USAGE> without wind or breeze; still: a hot, airless night.

<DERIVATIVES> air·less·ness n.

air let·ter n. another term for AEROGRAMME.

Linked entries:

AEROGRAMME ■

air·lift n. an act of transporting supplies by aircraft, typically in a blockade or other emergency: a massive airlift of food, blankets, and medical supplies.

■ v. [trans.] transport (troops or supplies) by aircraft, typically when transportation by land is difficult: helicopters were employed to airlift the troops out of danger.

air·line n. 1 an organization providing a regular public service of air transportation on one or more routes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (usu. air line) a route that forms part of a system regularly used by aircraft.

2 (usu. air line) a pipe supplying air: use an air line to inflate those tires.

air·lin·er n. a large passenger aircraft.

air·lock (also air lock) n. 1 a blockage of the flow in a pump or pipe, caused by an air bubble.

2 a compartment with controlled pressure and parallel sets of doors, to permit movement between areas at different pressures.

air·mail n. a system of transporting mail by aircraft, typically overseas.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a letter carried by aircraft.

■ v. [trans.] send (mail) by aircraft: a recent letter that I airmailed to Miss Sifton.

air·man n. (pl. -men) a pilot or member of the crew of an aircraft, esp. in an air force.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a member of the U.S. Air Force of the lowest rank, below sergeant.

- a member of the U.S. Navy whose general duties are concerned with aircraft.

air·man·ship n. skill in flying an aircraft.

air mass n. [METEOROLOGY] a body of air with horizontally uniform temperature, humidity, and pressure.

air mat·tress n. an inflatable mattress.

air mile n. a nautical mile used as a measure of distance flown by aircraft.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Air Miles) TRADEMARK points (equivalent to miles of free air travel) accumulated by buyers of airline tickets and other products and redeemable against the cost of air travel with a particular airline.

air·mo·bile adj. (of troops) moved about by helicopters.

air pis·tol n. a pistol that fires pellets using compressed air.

air·plane n. a powered flying vehicle with fixed wings and a weight greater than that of the air it displaces.

air plant n. a typically epiphytic, sometimes rootless, tropical American plant with grasslike or fingerlike leaves through which water and airborne or waterborne nutrients are absorbed.
<INFO>  Genus Tillandsia, family Bromeliaceae: several species, including Spanish moss.

air·play n. broadcasting time devoted to a particular record, performer, or musical genre.

air pock·et n. a cavity containing air.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a region of low pressure causing an aircraft to lose height suddenly.

air·port n. a complex of runways and buildings for the takeoff, landing, and maintenance of civil aircraft, with facilities for passengers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as modifier] relating to or denoting light popular fiction such as is offered for sale to travelers in airports: another airport thriller.

air·pot n. a container for storing and dispensing coffee or other beverages that maintains a constant temperature by use of glass insulation.

air pow·er n. airborne military forces.

air pump n. a device for pumping air into or out of an enclosed space.

air qual·i·ty n. the degree to which the ambient air is pollution-free, assessed by measuring a number of indicators of pollution.

air rage n. violent anger directed mainly at inflight airline personnel and arising from the frustrations and stresses of air travel.

air raid n. an attack in which bombs are dropped from aircraft onto a ground target.

air ri·fle n. a rifle that fires pellets using compressed air.

air sac n. a lung compartment containing air; an alveolus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an extension of a bird's lung cavity into a bone or other part of the body.

air·screw n. BRIT. an aircraft propeller.

air-sea res·cue n. a rescue from the sea using aircraft.

air shaft n. a straight, typically vertical passage admitting air into a mine, tunnel, or building.

air·ship n. a power-driven aircraft that is kept buoyant by a body of gas (typically helium, formerly hydrogen) that is lighter than air.

air show n. a show at which aircraft perform aerial displays.

air·sick adj. affected with nausea due to travel in an aircraft.

<DERIVATIVES> air·sick·ness n.

air·sick·ness bag n. a paper bag provided in an aircraft or ship as a receptacle for vomit.

air·side n. the side of an airport terminal from which aircraft can be observed; the area beyond security checks and passport and customs control.

■ adv. on or to this side of an airport terminal: a new executive lounge has opened airside.

air·space n. space available in the atmosphere immediately above the earth: temples and mosques fight for airspace with skyscrapers.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the air available to aircraft to fly in, esp. the part subject to the jurisdiction of a particular country: the airliner was refused permission to enter Maltese airspace.

- [LAW] the right of a private landowner to the space above his land and any structures on it, which he can use for ordinary purposes such as the erection of signposts or fences.

- space left to be occupied by air for purposes of insulation.

air·speed n. the speed of an aircraft relative to the air through which it is moving. Compare with GROUNDSPEED.

Linked entries:

GROUNDSPEED ■

air sta·tion n. an airfield operated by a navy or marine corps.

air·stream n. a current of air.

air strike n. an attack made by aircraft.

air·strip n. a strip of ground set aside for the takeoff and landing of aircraft.

air sup·port n. assistance given to ground or naval forces in an operation by their own or allied aircraft.

air·tight adj. not allowing air to escape or pass through.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having no weaknesses; unassailable: Scamp had an airtight alibi.

air·time n. time during which a broadcast is being transmitted.
<SPECIAL USAGE> time during which a cellular phone is in use, including calls made and received.

air-to-air adj. [attrib.] directed or operating from one aircraft to another in flight.

air-to-ground adj. directed or operating from an aircraft in flight to the land surface.

air-to-sur·face adj. directed or operating from an aircraft in flight to the surface of the sea or other body of water.

air traf·fic con·trol n. the ground-based personnel and equipment concerned with monitoring and controlling air traffic within a particular area.

<DERIVATIVES> air traf·fic con·troll·er n.

air·waves plural n. the radio frequencies used for broadcasting: football pervades the airwaves.

air·way n. 1 the passage by which air reaches a person's lungs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a tube for supplying air to a person's lungs in an emergency.

- a ventilating passage in a mine.

2 a recognized route followed by aircraft.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Airways) in names of airlines: British Airways.

air·wor·thy adj. (of an aircraft) safe to fly.

<DERIVATIVES> air·wor·thi·ness n.

air·y adj. (air·i·er, air·i·est) 1 (of a room or building) spacious, well lit, and well ventilated.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- delicate, as though filled with or made of air: airy clouds.

- FIGURATIVE giving an impression of light gracefulness and elegance: her airy presence filled the house.

2 giving an impression of being unconcerned or not serious, typically about something taken seriously by others: her airy unconcern for economy.

<DERIVATIVES> air·i·ly adv. (in sense 2) air·i·ness n.

air·y-fair·y adj. INFORMAL, DEROGATORY, CHIEFLY BRIT. impractical and foolishly idealistic: love might seem an airy-fairy, romantic concept.

aisle n. a passage between rows of seats in a building such as a church or theater, an airplane, or a train: the musical had the audience dancing in the aisles.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a passage between shelves of goods in a supermarket or other building.

- [ARCHITECTURE] (in a church) a lower part parallel to and at the side of a nave, choir, or transept, from which it is divided by pillars.

<PHRASES> lead someone up the aisle get married to someone.

<DERIVATIVES> aisled adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English ele, ile, from Old French ele, from Latin ala 'wing'. The spelling change in the 17th cent. was due to confusion with isle and influenced by French aile 'wing'.

aitch n. the name of the letter H.

<PHRASES> drop one's aitches fail to pronounce the letter h at the beginning of words, a common feature of dialect speech.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Old French ache.

aitch·bone n. the buttock or rump bone of cattle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a cut of beef lying over this.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from dialect nache 'rump', from Old French, based on Latin natis 'buttock(s)', + BONE. The initial n in a nache-bone was lost by wrong division; compare with ADDER.

Linked entries:

BONE ■

ADDER ■

Aix-en-Pro·vence a city in Provence in southern France; pop. 126,850.

Aix-la-Cha·pelle French name for AACHEN.

Linked entries:

AACHEN ■

Ai·zawl a city in northeastern India, capital of the state of Mizoram; pop. 154,000.

A·jac·cio a port on the west coast of Corsica; pop. 59,320.

A·jan·ta Caves a series of caves in the state of Maharashtra, south central India, that contain Buddhist frescos and sculptures dating from the 1st century BC to the 7th century AD.

a·jar 1 adv. & adj. (of a door or other opening) slightly open: [as adv.] she had left the window ajar that morning | [as predic. adj.] the door to the sitting room was ajar.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from A-2 'on' + obsolete char (Old English cerr) 'a turn, return'.

Linked entries:

A- ■

a·jar 2 adv. ARCHAIC out of harmony.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from A-2 'in, at' + JAR^2 .

Linked entries:

A- ■

JAR ■

A·jax [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] 1 a Greek hero of the Trojan War, son of Telamon, king of Salamis. He was proverbial for his size and strength.

2 a Greek hero, son of Oileus, king of Locris.

a·ji·no·mo·to n. the Japanese name for MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE.

Linked entries:

MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE ■

Aj·man the smallest of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates; pop. 64,320.
<SPECIAL USAGE> its capital city.

Aj·mer a city in northwestern India, in the state of Rajasthan; pop. 402,000.

aj·o·wan n. an annual plant (Trachyspermum ammi) of the parsley family, with feathery leaves and white flowers, native to India.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the aromatic seeds of the ajowan plant, used as a culinary spice.

- the essential oil of the ajowan plant.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi .

a·ju·ga n. a plant of a genus that includes bugle.
<INFO>  Genus Ajuga, family Labiatae: numerous species.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from medieval Latin ajuga.

AK abbr. Alaska (in official postal use).

AK-47 n. a type of assault rifle, originally manufactured in the Soviet Union.

<ORIGIN> acronym for Russian Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947, the designation of the original model, designed in 1947 by Mikhail T. Kalashnikov (b. 1919).

aka abbr. also known as: John Merrick, aka the Elephant Man.

A·kan n. 1 (pl. same) a member of a people inhabiting southern Ghana and adjacent parts of Ivory Coast.

2 the Kwa language spoken by this people. There are two main dialects, Ashanti and Fante. Also called TWI.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> the name in Akan.

Linked entries:

TWI ■

a·ka·sha n. [CHIEFLY HINDUISM] a supposed universal etheric field in which a record of past events is imprinted.

<DERIVATIVES> a·ka·shic adj.

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit .

A·ka·shi an industrial port city in west central Japan, on southwestern Honshu Island; pop. 271,000. Standard time for Japan is set here.

ak·a·this·ia n. a state of agitation, distress, and restlessness that is an occasional side-effect of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs.

Ak·bar Jalaludin Muhammad (1542-1605), Mogul emperor of India 1556-1605; known as Akbar the Great. Akbar expanded the Mogul empire to incorporate northern India.

AKC abbr. American Kennel Club.

a·ke·bi·a n. a climbing shrub with purplish flowers, deeply divided leaves, and purple berries. Native to eastern Asia, it is grown as an ornamental in North America.
<INFO>  Akebia quinata, family Lardizabalaceae.

<ORIGIN> 1837: modern Latin, coined by J. Decaisne, French botanist, from Japanese akebi.

a·kee (also ac·kee) n. a tropical tree that is cultivated for its fruit. Native to West Africa, it has been introduced into the West Indies and elsewhere.
<INFO>  Blighia sapida, family Sapindaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the fruit of this tree, widely eaten as a vegetable, but which can be poisonous unless cooked.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Kru .

A·khe·na·ten (also A·khe·na·ton or Ikh·na·ton ) (14th century BC), Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty; reigned 1379-1362 BC; came to the throne as Amenhotep IV. He renounced polytheism, introducing a monotheistic cult based on worship of the sun-disk, Aten, in whose honor he changed his name. The husband of Nefertiti, he moved the capital from Thebes to the newly built city of Akhetaten. The empire began to disintegrate during his reign.

Akh·ma·to·va Anna (1889-1966), Russian poet; pseudonym of Anna Andreevna Gorenko. Akhmatova was a member of the Acmeist group of poets.

A·ki·hi·to (1933-), emperor of Japan 1989- ; full name Tsugu Akihito. He is the son of Emperor Hirohito.

a·kim·bo adv. with hands on the hips and elbows turned outward: she stood with arms akimbo, frowning at the small boy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of other limbs) flung out widely or haphazardly.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from in kenebowe in Middle English, probably from Old Norse.

a·kin adj. of similar character: something akin to gratitude overwhelmed her; genius and madness are akin.
<SPECIAL USAGE> related by blood.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: contracted form of of kin.

a·ki·ne·sia n. [MEDICINE] loss or impairment of the power of voluntary movement.

<DERIVATIVES> a·ki·net·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek 'quiescence', from a- 'without' + 'motion'.

A·ki·ta 1 an industrial port city in northeastern Japan, on northern Honshu Island; pop. 302,000.

A·ki·ta 2 n. a spitz (dog) of a Japanese breed.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Akita, the name of a district in northern Japan.

Ak·kad the capital city that gave its name to an ancient kingdom, traditionally founded by Sargon in north central Mesopotamia. Its location is unknown.

Ak·ka·di·an adj. of or relating to Akkad in ancient Babylonia or its people or their language.

■ n. 1 an inhabitant of Akkad.

2 the Semitic language of Akkad.

Akkadian, known from cuneiform inscriptions, is the oldest Semitic language for which records exist. It was used in Mesopotamia from about 3500 BC; two dialects, Assyrian and Babylonian, were widely spoken in the Middle East for the next 2,000 years, and the Babylonian form functioned as a lingua franca until replaced by Aramaic around the 6th century BC.

Ak·ko another name for ACRE 1.

Linked entries:

ACRE ■

Ak-Me·chet former name for SIMFEROPOL.

Linked entries:

SIMFEROPOL ■

a·kra·sia (also a·cra·sia) n. [CHIEFLY PHILOSOPHY] the state of mind in which someone acts against their better judgment through weakness of will.

<DERIVATIVES> a·krat·ic (also a·crat·ic) adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek, from a- 'without' + kratos 'power, strength'. The term is used esp. with reference to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics.

Ak·ron a city in northeastern Ohio; pop. 217,074. Noted as a center for the rubber industry, the first rubber factory was established in 1870 by B. F. Goodrich.

Ak·sai Chin a region of the Himalayas occupied by China since 1950, but claimed by India as part of Kashmir.

Ak·sum (also Ax·um) a town in the province of Tigray in northern Ethiopia. A religious center, it was the capital of the powerful Axumite kingdom between the 1st and 6th centuries AD.

<DERIVATIVES> Ak·sum·ite adj. & n.

ak·va·vit n. variant spelling of AQUAVIT.

Linked entries:

AQUAVIT ■

AL abbr.
- Alabama (in official postal use).

- [BASEBALL] American League.

- American Legion.

Al symbol the chemical element aluminum.

al- prefix variant spelling of AD- assimilated before -l (as in alleviate, allocate).

Linked entries:

AD- ■

-al suffix 1 (forming adjectives) relating to; of the kind of:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- from Latin words: annual; infernal

- from Greek words: historical; comical.

- from English nouns: tidal.

2 forming nouns chiefly denoting verbal action: arrival; transmittal.

<ORIGIN> sense 1 from French -el or Latin -alis; sense 2 from French -aille or from Latin -alis functioning as a noun ending.

Ala. abbr. Alabama.

à la prep. (of a dish) cooked or prepared in a specified style or manner: fish cooked à la meunière.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL in the style or manner of: afternoon talk shows à la Oprah.

<ORIGIN> French, from À LA MODE.

Linked entries:

À LA MODE ■

Al·a·bam·a a state in the southeastern U.S., on the Gulf of Mexico; pop. 4,447,100; capital, Montgomery; statehood, Dec. 14, 1819 (22). Visited by Spanish explorers in the mid 16th century and later settled by the French, it passed to Britain in 1763 and to the U.S. in 1783.

<DERIVATIVES> Al·a·bam·an adj. & n.

Al·a·bam·a Riv·er a river in southern Alabama that flows for 315 miles (507 km) to meet the Mobile River.

al·a·bas·ter n. a fine-grained, translucent form of gypsum, typically white, often carved into ornaments.

■ adj. made of alabaster.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY like alabaster in whiteness and smoothness: her alabaster cheeks flushed with warmth.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin alabaster, alabastrum, from Greek alabastos, alabastros.

à la carte adj. (of a menu or restaurant) listing or serving food that can be ordered as separate items, rather than part of a set meal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of food) available on such a menu.

■ adv. as separately priced items from a menu, not as part of a set meal: wine and good food served à la carte.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, literally 'according to the (menu) card'.

a·lack (also a·lack-a-day) exclam. ARCHAIC an expression of regret or dismay.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: probably from AH + LACK.

Linked entries:

AH ■

LACK ■

a·lac·ri·ty n. brisk and cheerful readiness: she accepted the invitation with alacrity.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin alacritas, from alacer 'brisk'.

A·lad·din the hero of a story in the Arabian Nights, who finds an old lamp that, when rubbed, summons a genie who obeys the will of the owner.

<ORIGIN> from Arabic .

A·lad·din's lamp n. a talisman enabling its holder to gratify any wish.

<ORIGIN> from ALADDIN.

Linked entries:

ALADDIN ■

Alain-Four·nier (1886-1914), French novelist; pseudonym of Henri-Alban Fournier.

à la king adj. (of a dish) with diced meat in a cream sauce, usually with green peppers and pimientos.

Al·a·me·da a port city in north central California, on San Francisco Bay, just southwest of Oakland; pop. 76,459.

al·a·me·da n. (in Spain and Spanish-speaking regions) a public walkway or promenade shaded with trees.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: Spanish, from álamo 'cottonwood' + -eda 'grove' from Latin -etum (see -ETUM.).

A·la·mein see EL ALAMEIN, BATTLE OF.

Linked entries:

EL ALAMEIN, BATTLE OF ■

Al·a·mo (the Alamo) a mission in San Antonio, Texas, site of a siege in 1836 by Mexican forces, in which all 180 defenders were killed.

à la mode adv. & adj. 1 in fashion; up to date.

2 served with ice cream.

3 (of beef) braised in wine, typically with vegetables.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: French, literally 'in the fashion'.

Al·a·mo·gor·do a city in southern New Mexico; pop. 35,582. White Sands and other military and aerospace facilities are nearby.

Å·land Is·lands a group of islands in the Gulf of Bothnia that forms an autonomous region in Finland; capital, Mariehamn (known in Finnish as Maarianhamina). Finnish name AHVENANMAA.

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AHVENANMAA ■

al·a·nine n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] an amino acid that is a constituent of most proteins.
<INFO>  Alternative name: 2-aminopropanoic acid; chem. formula: CH_3CH(NH_2)COOH. -alanine, an isomer of this, is 3-aminopropanoic acid, (NH_2)CH_2CH_2COOH.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: coined in German as Alanin, from ALDEHYDE + -an (for ease of pronunciation) + -INE^4 .

Linked entries:

ALDEHYDE ■

-INE ■

Al-A·non a mutual support organization for the families and friends of alcoholics, esp. those of members of Alcoholics Anonymous.

a·lap n. (in Indian music) the improvised section of a raga, forming a prologue to the formal expression.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi .

a la plan·cha adv. adj. (of meat or fish) pan-fried or cooked on a griddle.

<ORIGIN> Spanish.

A·lar n. trademark for DAMINOZIDE.

Linked entries:

DAMINOZIDE ■

a·lar adj. [CHIEFLY ZOOLOGY] of or relating to a wing or wings.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ANATOMY] winglike or wing-shaped.

- [BOTANY] another term for AXILLARY.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin alaris, from ala 'wing'.

Linked entries:

AXILLARY ■

A·lar·cón Pedro Antonio de (1833-91), Spanish novelist and short-story writer. His notable works include The Three-Cornered Hat (1874).

A·lar·cón y Men·do·za see RUIZ DE ALARCÓN Y MENDOZA.

Linked entries:

RUIZ DE ALARCÓN Y MENDOZA ■

Al·a·ric (c.370-410), king of the Visigoths 395-410. He captured Rome in 410.

a·larm n. an anxious awareness of danger: the boat tilted and the boatmen cried out in alarm; he views the right-wing upsurge in Europe with alarm.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in sing.] a warning of danger: I hammered on several doors to raise the alarm; | Oliver smelled smoke and gave the alarm.

- a warning sound or device: a burglar alarm.

- an alarm clock.

■ v. 1 [trans.] cause (someone) to feel frightened, disturbed, or in danger: the government was alarmed by an outbreak of unrest | [as adj.] (alarming) children were dying at an alarming rate.

2 (be alarmed) be fitted or protected with an alarm: this door is locked and alarmed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

<DERIVATIVES> a·larm·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an exclamation meaning 'to arms!'): from Old French alarme, from Italian allarme, from all' arme! 'to arms!'

a·larm bell n. a bell rung as a warning of danger.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a thing that alerts people to possible problems or danger and causes anxiety: Scientology’s expansion has set alarm bells ringing.

a·larm call n. a warning cry made by a bird or other animal when startled.

a·larm clock n. a clock with a device that can be made to sound at the time set in advance, used to wake someone up.

a·larm·ist n. someone who is considered to be exaggerating a danger and so causing needless worry or panic.

■ adj. creating needless worry or panic: alarmist rumors.

<DERIVATIVES> a·larm·ism n.

a·lar·um n. archaic term for ALARM.

<PHRASES> alarums and excursions HUMOROUS confused activity and uproar.

Linked entries:

ALARM ■

a·las exclam. CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY or HUMOROUS an expression of grief, pity, or concern: alas, my funds have some limitations.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French a las, a lasse, from a 'ah' + las(se) (from Latin lassus 'weary').

Alas. abbr. Alaska.

A·las·ka the largest state in the U.S., in northwestern North America, with coasts on the Arctic and North Pacific oceans and on the Bering Sea, separated from the contiguous 48 U.S. states by Canada; pop. 626,932; capital, Juneau; statehood: Jan. 3, 1959 (49). The territory was purchased from Russia in 1867. After oil was discovered in 1968, a pipeline was completed in 1977 to carry the oil from the North Slope to Valdez.

<DERIVATIVES> A·las·kan adj. & n.

A·las·ka, Gulf of a part of the northeastern Pacific Ocean between the Alaska Peninsula and the Alexander Archipelago.

A·las·ka ce·dar n. another term for NOOTKA CYPRESS.

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NOOTKA CYPRESS ■

A·las·ka High·way see ALCAN HIGHWAY.

Linked entries:

ALCAN HIGHWAY ■

A·las·kan mal·a·mute (also A·las·kan mal·e·mute) n. a powerful dog of a breed with a thick, gray coat, bred by the Inuit and typically used to pull sleds.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Inuit malimiut, the name of a people of Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, who developed the breed.

A·las·ka Pen·in·su·la a peninsula on the south coast of Alaska. It extends south-westward into the northeastern Pacific Ocean and is continued in the Aleutian Islands.

A·las·ka Range a mountain chain that lies across southern Alaska. Mt. McKinley, rising to 20,320 feet (6,194 m), is its high point.

a·late adj. [BOTANY] & [ENTOMOLOGY] (chiefly of insects or seeds) having wings or winglike appendages.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin alatus, from ala 'wing'.

alb n. a white vestment worn by clergy and servers in some Christian Churches.

<ORIGIN> Old English albe, from ecclesiastical Latin tunica (or vestis) alba 'white garment', from Latin albus 'white'.

al·ba n. a shrub rose of a variety with gray-green leaves and pinkish-white, sweet-scented flowers.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin alba, feminine of albus 'white', from the name rosa alba, an old white garden rose.

Al·ba·ce·te a city in Albacete Province in southeastern Spain; pop. 134,600.

al·ba·core (also albacore tuna) n. a tuna that travels in large schools and is of commercial importance as a food fish.
<INFO>  Two species in the family Scombridae: Thunnus alalunga and the false albacore (Euthynus alletteratus).

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Portuguese albacora, from Arabic , perhaps from al 'the' + 'premature, precocious'.

Al·ba Iu·lia a city in west central Romania, north of the Transylvanian Alps; pop. 72,330. Founded by the Romans in the 2nd century AD, it was the capital of Transylvania.

Al·ban, St. (3rd century), the first English Christian martyr, a native of Verulamium (now St. Albans). He was put to death for sheltering a fugitive priest. Feast day, June 22.

Al·ba·ni·a a republic in southeastern Europe that borders on the Adriatic Sea; pop. 3,500,000; capital, Tirana; official language, Albanian.

Previously part of the Byzantine and later the Ottoman empires, Albania gained independence in 1912. It became a Stalinist regime under Enver Hoxha after World War II and remained extremely isolationist in policy and outlook until the Communists lost power in 1992.

Al·ba·ni·an adj. of or relating to Albania or its people or their language.

■ n. 1 a native or national of Albania, or a person of Albanian descent.

2 the language of Albania.

Albanian constitutes a separate branch of the Indo-European language group, spoken in Albania, Serbia (Kosovo), and elsewhere.

Al·ba·ny 1 a city in southwestern Georgia; pop. 76,939.

2 the capital of New York, in the eastern part of the state, on the western bank of the Hudson River; pop. 95,658.

3 a city in northwestern Oregon; pop. 40,852.

al·ba·tross n. (pl. -tross·es) a very large oceanic bird related to the shearwaters, with long narrow wings. Albatrosses, some species of which have wingspans greater than 10 feet (3.3 m), are found mainly in the southern oceans, with three kinds in the North Pacific.
<INFO>  Genera Diomedea and Phoebetria, family Diomedeidae: several species, including the sooty albatross (P. fusca), Laysan albatross (D. immutablis), and wandering albatross (D. exulans),.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a source of frustration or guilt; an encumbrance (in allusion to Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner): an albatross of a marriage.

- [GOLF] another term for DOUBLE EAGLE.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: alteration (influenced by Latin albus 'white') of 16th-cent. alcatras, applied to various seabirds including the frigate bird and pelican, from Spanish and Portuguese alcatraz, from Arabic 'the diver'.

Linked entries:

DOUBLE EAGLE ■

al·be·do n. (pl. -dos) [CHIEFLY ASTRONOMY] the proportion of the incident light or radiation that is reflected by a surface, typically that of a planet or moon.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: ecclesiastical Latin, 'whiteness', from Latin albus 'white'.

Al·bee Edward Franklin (1928- ), U.S. playwright. Notable works: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1962), A Delicate Balance (1966), Seascape (1975), and the prize-winning The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (2001).

al·be·it conj. although: he was making progress, albeit rather slowly.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from the phrase all be it 'although it be (that)'.

Al·be·marle Sound an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northeastern North Carolina, inside the Outer Banks.

Al·bers Josef (1888-1976), U.S. artist, designer, and teacher; born in Germany. He is associated with the Bauhaus and constructivism and is best known for his series of abstract canvases Homage to the Square, which he began in 1950.

Al·bert Carl (1908-2000), U.S. politician. A Democrat from Oklahoma, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives 1947-76 and became Speaker of the House in 1971.

Al·bert, Lake a lake in the Rift Valley of eastern central Africa, on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) and Uganda. It is linked to Lake Edward by the Semliki River and to the White Nile by the Albert Nile. Also called LAKE MOBUTU SESE SEKO.

Al·bert, Prince (1819-61), consort to Queen Victoria and prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha; full name Albert Francis Charles Augustus Emmanuel.

al·bert (also albert chain) n. BRIT. a watch-chain with a bar at one end for attaching to a buttonhole.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Prince Albert (see ALBERT, PRINCE).

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ALBERT, PRINCE ■

Al·ber·ta a prairie province in western Canada, bounded on the south by the U.S. and on the west by the Rocky Mountains; capital, Edmonton; pop. 2,545,553.

Al·ber·ta Clip·per [METEOROLOGY] n. a fast-moving winter weather system originating in the lee of the Canadian Rockies that typically brings snow, high winds, and cold temperatures across the northern U.S.

Al·ber·ti Leon Battista (1404-72), Italian architect, humanist, painter, and art critic. He wrote On Painting (1435), which was the first account of the theory of perspective in the Renaissance.

Al·bert Nile the upper part of the Nile River that flows through northwestern Uganda between Lake Albert and the Ugandan-Sudanese border.

Al·ber·tus Mag·nus, St. (c.1200-80), Dominican theologian, philosopher, and scientist; known as Doctor Universalis. A teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas, he was a pioneer in the study of Aristotle. Feast day, November 15.

al·bes·cent adj. CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY growing or shading into white: the albescent waves on the horizon.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Latin albescere 'become white', from albus 'white'.

Al·bi·gen·ses plural n. the members of a heretical sect in southern France in the 12th-13th centuries, identified with the Cathars. Their teaching was a form of Manichaean dualism, with an extremely strict moral and social code.

<DERIVATIVES> Al·bi·gen·si·an adj.

<ORIGIN> medieval Latin, from Albiga, the Latin name of Albi in southern France.

al·bi·no n. (pl. -nos) a person or animal having a congenital absence of pigment in the skin and hair (which are white) and the eyes (which are typically pink).
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL an abnormally white animal or plant: [as modifier] an albino tiger.

<DERIVATIVES> al·bi·nism n.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Portuguese (originally denoting albinos among African blacks) and Spanish, from albo (from Latin albus 'white') + the suffix -ino (see -INE^1 ).

Linked entries:

-INE ■

Al·bi·nus see ALCUIN.

Linked entries:

ALCUIN ■

Al·bi·on n. a poetic or literary term for Britain or England (often used in referring to ancient or historical times).

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Latin, probably of Celtic origin and related to Latin albus 'white' (in allusion to the white cliffs of Dover). The phrase perfidious Albion (mid 19th cent.) translates the French la perfide Albion, alluding to alleged treachery to other nations.

al·bite n. a sodium-rich mineral of the plagioclase feldspar group, typically white, occurring widely in igneous rocks.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin albus 'white' + -ITE^1 .

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-ITE ■

al·biz·zi·a (also al·biz·i·a) n. a leguminous tree or shrub with feathery leaves and densely clustered plumelike flowers. Native to warm climates, it is sometimes grown as a shade tree or ornamental.
<INFO>  Genus Albizia, family Leguminosae: several species.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, named after Filippo degli Albizzi, a Tuscan nobleman who introduced the silk tree A. julibrizzen into Italy in the mid 18th cent.

al·bon·di·gas plural n. small meatballs, prepared in the Mexican, Spanish, or South American way.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, from Arabic al-bunduq, 'hazel nut'

Ål·borg variant spelling of AALBORG.

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AALBORG ■

Al·bright Madeleine Korbel (1937-), U.S. secretary of state 1997-2001; born in Czechoslovakia. After serving as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations 1993-1997, she became the first woman to head the U.S. Department of State. She emigrated to the U.S. with her family in 1948 during the Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia and earned a Ph.D. in government from Columbia University in 1976.

al·bum n. 1 a blank book for the insertion of photographs, stamps, or pictures: the wedding pictures had pride of place in the family album.

2 a collection of recordings, on long-playing record, cassette, or compact disc, that are issued as a single item.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin, neuter of albus 'white' used as a noun meaning 'a blank tablet'. Taken into English from the German use of the Latin phrase album amicorum 'album of friends', it was originally used consciously as a Latin word with Latin inflections.

al·bu·men n. egg white, or the protein contained in it.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin, 'egg white', from albus 'white'.

<USAGE>
The words albumen and albumin have the same origin but are not identical in meaning. Albumen refers specifically to egg white or the protein found in egg white. Albumin, on the other hand, refers to the more general category of protein that is soluble in water and that is coagulated on heating, of which albumen is just one type.

al·bu·min n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a simple form of protein that is soluble in water and coagulable by heat, such as that found in egg white, milk, and (in particular) blood serum.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French albumine, based on Latin albumen, albumin- (see ALBUMEN).

<USAGE>
See usage at ALBUMEN.

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ALBUMEN ■

ALBUMEN ■

al·bu·mi·noid n. another term for SCLEROPROTEIN.

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SCLEROPROTEIN ■

al·bu·mi·nous adj. consisting of, resembling, or containing albumen.

al·bu·mi·nu·ri·a n. [MEDICINE] the presence of albumin in the urine, typically as a symptom of kidney disease.

Al·bu·quer·que 1 city in central New Mexico, on the Rio Grande; pop. 448,607. It is the largest city in the state.

Al·bu·quer·que 2 Alfonso de (1453-1515), Portuguese colonial statesman. He conquered Goa (1510) and made it the capital of the Portuguese empire in the east.

Al·cae·us (c.620-c.580 BC), Greek lyric poet. He invented a new form of lyric meter called the alcaic. His works were a model for the Roman poet Horace and the verse of the Renaissance.

al·ca·hest n. variant spelling of ALKAHEST.

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ALKAHEST ■

al·ca·ic [PROSODY] adj. a four-line verse stanza in the meter invented by the Greek poet Alcaeus, and later used in a slightly altered form by the Roman poet Horace.

■ n. (usu. alcaics) alcaic verse.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek alkaikos, from Alkaios (see ALCAEUS).

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ALCAEUS ■

Al·ca·lá de He·na·res a city in central Spain, on the Henares River, 15 miles (25 km) northeast of Madrid; pop. 162,780.

al·cal·de n. a magistrate or mayor in a Spanish, Portuguese, or Latin American town.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: Spanish, from Arabic 'the judge' (see CADI).

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CADI ■

Al·can High·way (also Alaska Highway) a military road, built during World War II to link Dawson Creek in the Yukon Territory with Fairbanks in Alaska, as part of a supply route to the Soviet Union and the Pacific Ocean.

Al·ca·traz a rocky island in San Francisco Bay, California. It was the site of a top-security federal prison between 1934 and 1963 and since 1972 has been administered by the National Park Service.

al·ca·zar (often Al·ca·zar) n. a Spanish palace or fortress of Moorish origin.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Spanish alcázar, from Arabic 'the castle'.

Al·ces·tis [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] wife of Admetus, king of Pherae in Thessaly, whose life she saved by consenting to die on his behalf.

al·che·my n. the medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter. It was concerned particularly with attempts to convert base metals into gold or to find a universal elixir.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a process by which paradoxical results are achieved or incompatible elements combined with no obvious rational explanation: his conducting managed by some alchemy to give a sense of fire and ice.

<DERIVATIVES> al·chem·ic adj. al·chem·i·cal adj. al·che·mist n. al·che·mize v.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French and medieval Latin from Arabic ', from al 'the' + ' (from Greek , 'art of transmuting metals').

Al·ci·an blue n. TRADEMARK a water-soluble copper-containing blue dye used as a histological stain for glycosaminoglycans.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: Alcian perhaps from (phth)al(o)cyan(ine) with a phonetic respelling.

Al·ci·bi·a·des (c.450-404 BC), Athenian general and statesman who held commands during the Peloponnesian Wars against Sparta (431-404).

al·cid n. [ORNITHOLOGY] a bird of the auk family (Alcidae); an auk or puffin.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin Alcidae, from Alca (genus name), based on Old Norse álka 'razorbill'; compare with AUK.

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AUK ■

Al·cin·dor Lewis Ferdinand, see ABDUL-JABBAR.

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ABDUL-JABBAR ■

Al·clad n. TRADEMARK a composite material consisting of sheets of aluminum alloy coated with pure aluminum or a different alloy to increase corrosion resistance.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from al(uminium) + CLAD^1 .

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CLAD ■

Al·cock Sir John William (1892-1919), English aviator. With Sir Arthur Whitten Brown, he made the first nonstop transatlantic flight in June 1919.

al·co·hol n. a colorless volatile flammable liquid that is the intoxicating constituent of wine, beer, spirits, and other drinks, and is also used as an industrial solvent and as fuel.
<INFO>  Alternative names: ethanol, ethyl alcohol; chem. formula: C_2H_5OH.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- drink containing this: he has not taken alcohol in twenty-five years.

- [CHEMISTRY] any organic compound whose molecule contains one or more hydroxyl groups attached to a carbon atom.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: French (earlier form of alcool), or from medieval Latin, from Arabic 'the kohl'. In early use the term denoted powders, specifically kohl, and esp. those obtained by sublimation; later 'a distilled or rectified spirit' (mid 17th cent.).

al·co·hol-free adj. 1 (of a drink) not containing alcohol (denoting varieties of normally alcoholic drinks from which the alcohol has been removed): alcohol-free wines.

2 where, or during which, alcoholic drinks are not consumed: the hotel has an alcohol-free bar.

al·co·hol·ic adj. containing or relating to alcoholic liquor: beer is the favorite alcoholic drink.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- caused by the excessive consumption of alcohol: alcoholic liver disease.

- suffering from alcoholism: his alcoholic daughter was the cause of his anxiety.

■ n. a person suffering from alcoholism.

Al·co·hol·ics A·non·y·mous (abbr.: AA) a self-help organization for people fighting alcoholism, founded in the U.S. in 1935 and now having branches worldwide.

al·co·hol·ism n. an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or the mental illness and compulsive behavior resulting from alcohol dependency: he had a long history of depression, drug abuse and alcoholism.

al·co·hol·om·e·ter n. an instrument for measuring the concentration of alcohol in a liquid.

<DERIVATIVES> al·co·hol·om·e·try n.

Al·cott 1 (Amos) Bronson (1799-1888), U.S. educator; father of Louisa May Alcott. He advocated radical reforms in education, including racial integration in the classroom. Appointed superintendent of schools in Concord, Massachusetts, in 1859, he created the first parent-teacher association.

Al·cott 2 Louisa May (1832-88), U.S. novelist. Her novel Little Women (1868-69) was based on her New England childhood and was written for adolescent girls. She wrote a number of sequels to this, as well as novels for adults. Alcott was involved in the women's suffrage movement and served as a nurse during the Civil War.

al·cove n. a recess, typically in the wall of a room or of a garden.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French alcôve, from Spanish alcoba, from Arabic 'the vault'.

Al·cuin (c.735-804) English scholar, theologian, and adviser to Charlemagne; also known as Albinus. He is credited with the transformation of Charlemagne's court into a cultural center during the Carolingian Renaissance.

Al·da Alan (1936- ), U.S. actor, director, and writer; born Alphonso D'Abruzzo. He won five Emmys for his role as Hawkeye Pierce on the television series “M*A*S*H” 1972-83. His movies include Same Time, Next Year (1978), California Suite (1978), The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979), and Everyone Says I Love You (1996).

Al·dab·ra a coral island group in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar. Formerly part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, it became an outlying dependency of the Seychelles in 1976.

Al·dan Riv·er a river in the eastern Siberian area of Russia that rises in the Stanovoy Khrebet Mountains and flows for 1,400 miles (2,240 km) into the Lena River east of Yakutsk.

Al·deb·a·ran the brightest star in the constellation Taurus. It is a binary system of which the main star is a red giant.

<ORIGIN> Arabic, 'the follower (of the Pleiades)'.

al·de·hyde n. [CHEMISTRY] an organic compound containing the group CHO, formed by the oxidation of alcohols. Typical aldehydes include methanal (formaldehyde) and ethanal (acetaldehyde).

<DERIVATIVES> al·de·hy·dic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: shortened from Latin alcohol dehydrogenatum 'alcohol deprived of hydrogen'.

al den·te adj. & adv. (of food, typically pasta) cooked so as to be still firm when bitten.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'to the tooth'.

al·der (also alder tree) n. a widely distributed tree of the birch family that has toothed leaves and bears male catkins and woody female cones.
<INFO>  Genus Alnus, family Betulaceae: many species, including the European (or black) alder (A. glutinosa), common in damp ground and on riverbanks.

<ORIGIN> Old English alor, aler, of Germanic origin; related to German Erle; forms spelled with d are recorded from the 14th cent.

al·der·fly (also al·der fly) n. (pl. -flies) a brownish flylike insect that lives near water and has predatory aquatic larvae.
<INFO>  Family Sialidae, order Neuroptera: several genera.

al·der·man n. (pl. -men) an elected member of a municipal council.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in England before 1974) a member of a county or borough council, next in status to the Mayor.

- (in Anglo-Saxon England) a noble serving the king as a chief officer in a district or shire.

<DERIVATIVES> al·der·man·ic adj. al·der·man·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Old English aldormann (originally in the general sense 'a man of high rank'), from aldor, ealdor 'chief, patriarch', from ald 'old' + MAN. Later the sense 'warden of a guild' arose; then, as the guilds became identified with the ruling municipal body, 'local magistrate, municipal officer', the status and method of appointment varying in different times and places.

Linked entries:

MAN ■

Al·der·ney an island in the English Channel, to the northeast of Guernsey; pop. 2,130. It is the third largest of the Channel Islands.

al·der·per·son n. an alderman or alderwoman (used as a neutral alternative).

al·der·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en) an elected female member of a municipal council.

al·di·carb n. a systemic agricultural pesticide used particularly against some mites, insects, and nematode worms.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: blend of ALDEHYDE and carbamide (from CARBO- + AMIDE).

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ALDEHYDE ■

CARBO- ■

AMIDE ■

Al·dine adj. of or relating to the Venetian printer Aldus Manutius, or to the books printed by him, or to certain styles of display types.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin Aldinus, from Aldus, the printer's given name.

Al·dis lamp n. TRADEMARK a hand-held lamp for signaling in Morse code.

<ORIGIN> World War I: named after A. C. W. Aldis (1878-1953), its British inventor.

Al·diss Brian (Wilson) (1925- ), English novelist and critic, best known for his science fiction. He wrote Frankenstein Unbound (1973).

al·dol n. [CHEMISTRY] a viscous liquid obtained when acetaldehyde dimerizes in dilute alkali or acid.
<INFO>  Alternative name: 3-hydroxybutanal; chem. formula: CH_3CH(OH)CH_2CHO.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from ald(ehyde) + -OL.

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-OL ■

al·dos·te·rone n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a corticosteroid hormone that stimulates absorption of sodium by the kidneys and so regulates water and salt balance.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: blend of ALDEHYDE and STEROID, + -ONE.

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ALDEHYDE ■

STEROID ■

-ONE ■

al·do·ster·on·ism n. [MEDICINE] a condition in which there is excessive secretion of aldosterone. This disturbs the balance of sodium, potassium, and water in the blood and so leads to high blood pressure.

Al·drin Buzz (1930- ), U.S. astronaut; full name Edwin Eugene Aldrin. He became an astronaut in 1963, and walked in space for 5 hours and 37 minutes during the 1966 Gemini 12 mission. In 1969 he took part in the first moon landing, the Apollo 11 mission, becoming the second person, after Neil Armstrong, to set foot on the moon.

al·drin n. a toxic synthetic insecticide, now generally banned.
<INFO>  A chlorinated polycyclic hydrocarbon; chem. formula: C_12H_8Cl_6.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from the name of K. Alder (see DIELS-ALDER REACTION) + -IN^1 .

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DIELS-ALDER REACTION ■

-IN ■

Al·dus Ma·nu·ti·us (1450-1515), Italian scholar, printer, and publisher; Latinized name of Teobaldo Manucci; also known as Aldo Manuzio.

ale n. a type of beer with a bitter flavor and higher alcoholic content: amber-colored beers, ales, and stouts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY BRIT. beer.

<ORIGIN> Old English alu, ealu, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse . Formerly the word referred esp. to unhopped or paler-colored varieties of beer.

a·le·a·tor·ic adj. another term for ALEATORY.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from Latin aleatorius, from aleator 'dice player', from alea 'die', + -IC.

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ALEATORY ■

-IC ■

a·le·a·to·ry adj. depending on the throw of a die or on chance; random.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or denoting music or other forms of art involving elements of random choice (sometimes using statistical or computer techniques) during their composition, production, or performance.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin aleatorius (see ALEATORIC).

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ALEATORIC ■

al·ec (also al·eck or al·ick) n. AUSTRAL., INFORMAL a stupid person: what sort of alec do you take me for?

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: shortening of SMART ALECK.

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SMART ALECK ■

ale·cost n. 1 a wild plant with small daisylike flowers that has culinary and folk-medicinal uses.
<INFO>  Chrysanthemum balsamita, family Compositae.

2 another name for COSTMARY.

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COSTMARY ■

A·lec·to (also Al·lec·to) [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] one of the Furies.

a·lee adv. & adj. [predic.] on the side of a ship that is sheltered from the wind.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of the helm) moved around to leeward in order to tack a vessel or to bring its bows up into the wind.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from A-2 'on' + LEE.

Linked entries:

A- ■

LEE ■

ale·house n. DATED a tavern.

A·lei·chem see SHOLOM ALEICHEM.

Linked entries:

SHOLOM ALEICHEM ■

Ale·khine Alexander (1892-1946), French chess player; born in Russia; world champion 1927-35 and 1937-46.

A·lek·san·dro·pol (also A·lex·an·dro·pol) former name (1840-1924) for GYUMRI.

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GYUMRI ■

A·lek·san·drovsk former name (until 1921) of ZAPORIZHZHYA.

Linked entries:

ZAPORIZHZHYA ■

a·lem·bic n. a distilling apparatus, now obsolete, consisting of a rounded, necked flask and a cap with a long beak for condensing and conveying the products to a receiver.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin alembicus, from Arabic , from al- 'the' + 'still' (from Greek ambix, ambik- 'cup, cap of a still').

a·leph n. the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Hebrew , literally 'ox' (the character in Phoenician and ancient Hebrew possibly being derived from a hieroglyph of an ox's head).

A·lep·po a city in northern Syria; pop. 1,355,000.

A·lep·po gall n. a hard nutlike gall that forms on the Valonia oak (formerly known as the Aleppo oak) in response to the developing larva of a gall wasp. It is used as a source of gallic acid and tannin.
<INFO>  The wasp is Cynips tinctoria, family Cynipidae.

a·ler·ce n. a cypress tree that is valued for its timber.
<INFO>  Several species in the family Cupressaceae, in particular the sandarac tree (Tetraclinis articulata) of southern Spain and northwestern Africa, from which the resin sandarac is obtained.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the wood of such a tree, esp. the sandarac tree.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, 'larch'.

a·lert adj. quick to notice any unusual and potentially dangerous or difficult circumstances; vigilant: an alert police officer discovered a truck full of explosives; schools need to be constantly alert to this problem. See note at VIGILANT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> able to think clearly; intellectually active: she remained active and alert until well into her eighties.

■ n. the state of being watchful for possible danger: security forces were placed on alert.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an announcement or signal warning of danger: a bomb alert; an alert sounded and all the fighters took off.

- a period of vigilance in response to such a warning: traffic was halted during the alert.

■ v. [trans.] warn (someone) of a danger, threat, or problem, typically with the intention of having it avoided or dealt with: he alerted people to the dangers of smoking; police were alerted after three men drove away without paying.

<PHRASES> on the alert vigilant and prepared: the security forces must be on the alert for an upsurge in violence.

<DERIVATIVES> a·lert·ly adv. a·lert·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (originally in military use): from French alerte, from Italian all' erta 'to the watchtower'.

-ales suffix [BOTANY] forming the names of orders of plants: Rosales.

<ORIGIN> from the plural of the Latin adjectival suffix -alis (see -AL).

Linked entries:

-AL ■

a·leth·ic adj. [PHILOSOPHY] denoting modalities of truth, such as necessity, contingency, or impossibility.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Greek 'truth' + -IC.

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-IC ■

A·letsch·horn a mountain in Switzerland, in the Bernese Alps, that rises to 13,763 feet (4,195 m). Its glaciers are among the largest in Europe.

al·eu·rone n. [BOTANY] protein stored as granules in the cells of plant seeds.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek aleuron 'flour'.

Al·eut n. 1 a member of a people inhabiting the Aleutian Islands, other islands in the Bering Sea, and parts of western Alaska.

2 the language of this people, related to Eskimo.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> from Russian, from an unknown source.

A·leu·tian Is·lands (also the A·leu·tians) a chain of U.S. volcanic islands that extend southwest from the Alaska Peninsula.

A·leu·tian Range an extension of the Coast Ranges in southwestern Alaska. It contains many volcanoes.

A lev·el n. (in the UK except Scotland) the higher of the two main levels of standardized examinations in secondary schools. Compare with O LEVEL.

<ORIGIN> short for advanced level.

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O LEVEL ■

al·e·vin n. a newly spawned salmon or trout still carrying the yolk.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Old French, based on Latin allevare 'raise up'.

ale·wife n. (pl. -wives ) a northwestern Atlantic fish of the herring family that swims up rivers to spawn and is found also in the Great Lakes.
<INFO>  Alosa pseudoharengus, family Clupeidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: possibly from earlier alewife 'woman who keeps an alehouse', with reference to the fish's large belly.

Al·ex·an·der 1 (356-323 BC), king of Macedon 336-323; son of Philip II; known as Alexander the Great. He conquered Persia, Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, Bactria, and the Punjab; he founded the city of Alexandria in Egypt.

Al·ex·an·der 2 three kings of Scotland:
<SPECIAL USAGE> Alexander I (c.1077-1124), son of Malcolm III; reigned 1107-24.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Alexander II (1198-1249), son of William I of Scotland; reigned 1214-49.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Alexander III (1241-86), son of Alexander II; reigned 1249-86. He annexed the Hebrides and the Isle of Man in 1266.

Al·ex·an·der 3 three tsars of Russia:
<SPECIAL USAGE> Alexander I (1777-1825), reigned 1801-25. During his reign, Napoleon unsuccessfully invaded Russia 1812.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Alexander II (1818-81), son of Nicholas I; reigned 1855-81; known as Alexander the Liberator. His reforms included limited emancipation of the serfs.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Alexander III (1845-94), son of Alexander II; reigned 1881-94.

Al·ex·an·der 4 Grover Cleveland (1887-1950), U.S. baseball player; known as Pete. A 20-season pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies 1911-17, the Chicago Cubs 1917-26, and the St. Louis Cardinals 1926-30, he retired with 373 career wins and 90 shutouts. Baseball Hall of Fame (1938).

Al·ex·an·der 5 Harold (Rupert Leofric George), 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis (1891-1969), British field marshal and statesman.

Al·ex·an·der Ar·chi·pel·a·go a group of more than 1,000 U.S. islands off the coast of southeastern Alaska.

Al·ex·an·der Nev·sky, St. (also Nev·ski) (c.1220-63), prince of Novgorod 1236-63; born Aleksandr Yaroslavich. He defeated the Swedes on the banks of the Neva River in 1240. Feast day, August 30 or November 23.

Al·ex·an·der tech·nique a system of body awareness designed to promote well-being by ensuring minimum effort in maintaining postures and carrying out movements.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: named after Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955), Australian-born actor and physical therapist who developed it.

Al·ex·an·dret·ta former name for ISKENDERUN.

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ISKENDERUN ■

Al·ex·an·dri·a 1 the chief port of Egypt; pop. 2,893,000. Founded in 332 BC by Alexander the Great, it was a major center of Hellenistic culture, renowned for its library and for the Pharos lighthouse.

2 an industrial city in central Louisiana, on the Red River; pop. 46,342.

3 a city in northern Virginia, on the Potomac River, across from Washington, DC; pop. 128,283.

Al·ex·an·dri·an adj. of or relating to Alexandria in Egypt.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- belonging to or akin to the schools of literature and philosophy of ancient Alexandria.

- (of a writer) derivative or imitative rather than creative; fond of recondite learning.

al·ex·an·drine [PROSODY] adj. (of a line of verse) having six iambic feet.

■ n. (usu. alexandrines) an alexandrine line.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French alexandrin, from Alexandre (see ALEXANDER^1 ), the subject of an Old French poem in this meter.

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ALEXANDER ■

al·ex·an·drite n. a gem variety of chrysoberyl that appears green in daylight and red in artificial light.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the name of Tsar Alexander II of Russia (see ALEXANDER^3 ) + -ITE^1 .

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ALEXANDER ■

-ITE ■

Al·ex·an·dro·pol variant spelling of ALEKSANDROPOL.

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ALEKSANDROPOL ■

a·lex·i·a n. the inability to see words or to read, caused by a defect of the brain. Also called WORD BLINDNESS. Compare with DYSLEXIA.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from A-1 'without' + Greek lexis 'speech', from legein 'speak', which was confused with Latin legere 'read'.

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WORD BLINDNESS ■

DYSLEXIA ■

A- ■

al·fal·fa n. a leguminous plant with cloverlike leaves and bluish flowers. Native to southwestern Asia, it is widely grown for fodder. Also called LUCERNE.
<INFO>  Medicago sativa, family Leguminosae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, from Arabic , a green fodder.

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LUCERNE ■

Al Fa·tah see FATAH, AL.

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FATAH, AL ■

al·fi·sol n. [SOIL SCIENCE] a soil of an order comprising leached basic or slightly acid soils with a clay-enriched B horizon (subsoil).

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from the arbitrary element Alfi- + -SOL.

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-SOL ■

Al·fon·so XIII (1886-1941), king of Spain 1886-1931. He was forced into exile after elections indicating a preference for a republic.

Al·fred (849-99), king of Wessex 871-899; known as Alfred the Great. His military resistance saved southwestern England from Viking occupation.

Al·fre·do n. a sauce for pasta incorporating butter, cream, garlic, and Parmesan cheese.

<ORIGIN> named after Alfredo di Lelio, the Italian chef and restaurateur who invented the sauce.

al·fres·co adv. & adj. in the open air: [as adj.] an alfresco luncheon.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Italian al fresco 'in the fresh (air)'.

Al Fu·jay·rah another name for FUJAIRAH.

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FUJAIRAH ■

Alf·vén Hannes Olof Gösta (1908-95), Swedish theoretical physicist. His work was important for controlled thermonuclear fusion. Nobel Prize for Physics (1970, shared with Louis Néel 1904-2000 ).

Alf·vén wave n. [PHYSICS] a hydromagnetic shear wave in a plasma that moves along magnetic field lines. The velocity of such waves (the Alfvén velocity or speed) is characteristic for a plasma of given properties.

al·ga n. (usu. in pl. -gae ) a simple nonflowering plant of a large group that includes the seaweeds and many single-celled forms. Algae contain chlorophyll but lack true stems, roots, leaves, and vascular tissue.
<INFO>  Divisions Chlorophyta (green algae), Heterokontophyta (brown algae), and Rhodophyta (red algae); some (or all) are frequently placed in the kingdom Protista.
See also BLUE-GREEN ALGAE.

<DERIVATIVES> al·gal adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin, 'seaweed'.

al·ge·bra n. the part of mathematics in which letters and other general symbols are used to represent numbers and quantities in formulae and equations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a system of this based on given axioms.

<DERIVATIVES> al·ge·bra·ist n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Italian, Spanish, and medieval Latin, from Arabic al-jabr 'the reunion of broken parts', 'bone setting', from jabara 'reunite, restore'. The original sense, 'the surgical treatment of fractures', probably came via Spanish, in which it survives; the mathematical sense comes from the title of a book, 'the science of restoring what is missing and equating like with like', by the mathematician al-Kwrizm (see ALGORITHM).

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ALGORITHM ■

al·ge·bra·ic adj. relating to or involving algebra.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a mathematical expression or equation) in which a finite number of symbols is combined using only the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and exponentiation with constant rational exponents. Compare with TRANSCENDENTAL.

<DERIVATIVES> al·ge·bra·i·cal adv. al·ge·bra·i·cal·ly adv.

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TRANSCENDENTAL ■

Al·ge·ci·ras a ferry port and resort in southern Spain, on the Strait of Gibraltar; pop. 101,365.

Al·ger Horatio, Jr. (1832-99), U.S. author. His novels, most notably Ragged Dick (1867), were infused with the message that honest hard work can overcome poverty.

Al·ge·ri·a a republic in northwestern Africa, on the Mediterranean coast; pop. 32,100,000; capital, Algiers; official language, Arabic.

Algeria was colonized by France in the mid 19th century and was for a time closely integrated with metropolitan France. Following civil war in the 1950s, it achieved independence in 1962. A brief period of multiparty democracy was ended by a military takeover in 1992 after the fundamentalist Islamic Salvation Front had won the first round of the national elections. This prompted a low-level civil war until 2000 when the Islamic Salvation Army, the armed segment of the Islamic Salvation Front, was dissolved in an effort to achieve national reconciliation.

<DERIVATIVES> Al·ge·ri·an adj. & n.

-algia comb. form denoting pain in a specified part of the body: neuralgia; myalgia.

<ORIGIN> from Greek algos 'pain'.

-algic comb. form in adjectives corresponding to nouns ending in -algia (such as neuralgic corresponding to neuralgia).

al·gi·cide n. a substance that is poisonous to algae.

Al·giers the capital of Algeria and one of the leading Mediterranean ports of North Africa; pop. 1,722,000.

al·gin·ic ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] an insoluble gelatinous carbohydrate found (chiefly as salts) in many brown seaweeds. The sodium salt is used as a thickener in foods and many other materials.

<DERIVATIVES> al·gi·nate n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: alginic from ALGA + -IN^1 + -IC.

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ALGA ■

-IN ■

-IC ■

algo- comb. form pain: algolagnia.

Al·gol 1 [ASTRONOMY] a variable star or star system in the constellation Perseus, regarded as the prototype of eclipsing binary stars.

<ORIGIN> from Arabic 'the ghoul'.

Al·gol 2 n. one of the early high-level computer programming languages that was devised to carry out scientific calculations.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from algo(rithmic) + the initial letter of LANGUAGE.

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LANGUAGE ■

al·go·lag·ni·a n. [PSYCHIATRY] desire for sexual gratification through inflicting pain on oneself or others; sadomasochism.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: coined in German from Greek algos 'pain' + lagneia 'lust'.

al·gol·o·gy n. the study of algae.

<DERIVATIVES> al·go·log·i·cal adj. al·gol·o·gist n.

Al·gon·qui·an (also Al·gon·ki·an ) adj. denoting, belonging to, or relating to a family of North American Indian languages formerly spoken across a vast area from the Atlantic seaboard to the Great Lakes and the Great Plains.

■ n. 1 this family of languages.

2 a speaker of any of these languages.

Algonquian is one of the largest groups of American Indian languages, including Ojibwa, Cree, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Fox, Menomini, and Delaware, which are or were spoken mainly in the northern Midwest , Montana, and southern Canada. Many English words have been adopted from these languages, e.g., moccasin, moose, and toboggan.

<ORIGIN> from ALGONQUIN + -IAN.

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ALGONQUIN ■

-IAN ■

Al·gon·quin (also Al·gon·kin ) n. 1 a member of a North American Indian people living in Canada along the Ottawa River and its tributaries and westward to the north of Lake Superior.

2 the dialect of Ojibwa spoken by this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> French, contraction of obsolete Algoumequin, probably from Malecite elægómogwik meaning 'they are our relatives or allies'.

<USAGE>
The use of Algonquin to refer generically to the Algonquian peoples or their languages is incorrect.

al·go·rithm n. a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, esp. by a computer: a basic algorithm for division.

<DERIVATIVES> al·go·rith·mic adj. al·go·rith·mi·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: variant (influenced by Greek arithmos 'number') of Middle English algorism, via Old French from medieval Latin algorismus. The Arabic source, 'the man of Kwrizm' (now Khiva), was the cognomen of the 9th-cent. mathematician Ab Jafar Muhammad ibn Msa.

Al·gren Nelson (Abraham) (1909-81), U.S. novelist. He drew on his childhood experiences in the slums of Chicago for his vivid, realistic novels of social protest, such as Somebody in Boots (1935). Other notable works: The Man with the Golden Arm (1949) and Walk on the Wild Side (1956).

al·ha·ji n. (pl. -ha·jis) (fem. -ha·ja) (in West Africa) a Muslim who has been to Mecca as a pilgrim (often used as a title).

<ORIGIN> Hausa, from Turkish, from al 'the' + 'pilgrim'.

Al·ham·bra a city in southwestern California, northeast of Los Angeles; pop. 82,106.

Al·ham·bra (the Alhambra) a fortified Moorish palace, the last stronghold of the Muslim kings of Granada, built between 1248 and 1354 near Granada in Spain.

Al-Hu·day·da Arabic name for HODEIDA.

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HODEIDA ■

A·li 1 , Muhammad, see MUHAMMAD ALI^1 .

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MUHAMMAD ALI ■

A·li 2 Muhammad (1942- ), U.S. boxer; born Cassius Marcellus Clay. He won the world heavyweight title in 1964, 1974, and 1978, becoming the only boxer to be world heavyweight champion three times. After converting to Islam and changing his name, he was stripped of his title for refusing army service on conscientious objector grounds. This decision was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1976, and his title was reinstated.

a·li·as adv. used to indicate that a named person is also known or more familiar under another specified name: Eric Blair, alias George Orwell.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL indicating another term or synonym: the catfishalias bullheadis a mighty tasty fry-up.

■ n. a false or assumed identity: a spy operating under the alias Barsad.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [COMPUTING] an alternative name or label that refers to a file, command, address, or other item, and can be used to locate or access it.

- [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] each of a set of signal frequencies that, when sampled at a given uniform rate, would give the same set of sampled values, and thus might be incorrectly substituted for one another when reconstructing the original signal.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be aliased) [PHYSICS] & [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] misidentify (a signal frequency), introducing distortion or error.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, 'at another time, otherwise'.

a·li·as·ing n. 1 [PHYSICS] & [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] the misidentification of a signal frequency, introducing distortion or error.

2 [COMPUTING] in computer graphics, the jagged, or saw-toothed appearance of curved or diagonal lines on a low-resolution monitor.

A·li Ba·ba the hero of a story supposed to be from the Arabian Nights, who discovered the magic formula (“Open Sesame!”) that opened a cave where forty robbers kept their treasure.

al·i·bi n. (pl. -bis) a claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an act, typically a criminal one, is alleged to have taken place: she has an alibi for the whole of yesterday evening | a defense of alibi.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL an excuse or pretext: a catch-all alibi for failure and inadequacy.

■ v. (-bis, -bied, -bi·ing) [trans.] INFORMAL offer an excuse or defense for (someone), esp. by providing an account of their whereabouts at the time of an alleged act: her friend agreed to alibi her.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] make excuses: not once do I recall him whining or alibiing.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (as an adverb in the sense 'elsewhere'): from Latin, 'in another place; elsewhere'. The noun use dates from the late 18th cent.

<USAGE>
The weakened nonlegal use of alibi to mean simply ‘an excuse’ is a fairly common and natural extension of the core meaning. It is acceptable in standard English, although regarded as incorrect by some traditionalists.

Al·i·can·te a seaport on the Mediterranean coast of southeastern Spain, the capital of Alicante Province; pop. 270,950.

Al·ice-in-Won·der·land adj. [attrib.] not logically explicable or predictable: this Alice-in-Wonderland economic system.

Al·ice Springs a railroad terminus and supply center serving the outback of Northern Territory, Australia; pop. 20,450.

al·i·cy·clic [CHEMISTRY] adj. relating to or denoting organic compounds that combine cyclic structure with aliphatic properties, e.g., cyclohexane and other saturated cyclic hydrocarbons. Compare with AROMATIC.

■ n. (usu. alicyclics) an alicyclic compound.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: blend of ALIPHATIC and CYCLIC.

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AROMATIC ■

ALIPHATIC ■

CYCLIC ■

al·i·dade n. a sighting device or pointer for determining directions or measuring angles, used in surveying and (formerly) astronomy.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: directly or (in modern use) via French and Spanish from Arabic al- 'the revolving radius', probably based on 'upper arm'.

a·li·en adj. belonging to a foreign country or nation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- unfamiliar and disturbing or distasteful: bossing anyone around was alien to him; they found the world of adult education a little alien.

- [attrib.] relating to or denoting beings supposedly from other worlds; extraterrestrial: an alien spacecraft.

- (of a plant or animal species) introduced from another country and later naturalized.

■ n. a foreigner, esp. one who is not a naturalized citizen of the country where they are living: an illegal alien.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a hypothetical or fictional being from another world.

- a plant or animal species originally introduced from another country and later naturalized.

<DERIVATIVES> al·ien·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin alienus 'belonging to another', from alius 'other'.

al·ien·a·ble adj. [LAW] able to be transferred to new ownership.

<DERIVATIVES> a·lien·a·bil·i·ty n.

al·ien·age n. the state or condition of being an alien.

al·ien·ate v. [trans.] 1 cause (someone) to feel isolated or estranged: an urban environment that would alienate its inhabitants | [as adj.] (alienated) an alienated angst-ridden 22-year-old.
<SPECIAL USAGE> cause (someone) to become unsympathetic or hostile: the association does not wish to alienate its members.

2 [LAW] transfer ownership of (property rights) to another person or group.

<PHRASES> alienate someone's affections [LAW] induce someone to transfer their affection from a person (such as a spouse) with legal rights or claims on them.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Latin alienat- 'estranged', from the verb alienare, from alienus 'of another' (see ALIEN).

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ALIEN ■

al·ien·a·tion n. the state or experience of being isolated from a group or an activity to which one should belong or in which one should be involved: unemployment may generate a sense of political alienation. See note at SOLITUDE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- loss or lack of sympathy; estrangement: public alienation from bureaucracy.

- (in Marxist theory) a condition of workers in a capitalist economy, resulting from a lack of identity with the products of their labor and a sense of being controlled or exploited.

- [PSYCHIATRY] a state of depersonalization or loss of identity in which the self seems unreal, thought to be caused by difficulties in relating to society and the resulting prolonged inhibition of emotion.

- a type of faulty recognition in which familiar situations or persons appear unfamiliar. Compare with DÉJÀ VU.

- (also alienation effect) [THEATER] an effect, sought by some dramatists, whereby the audience remains objective and does not identify with the actors.

- [LAW] the transfer of the ownership of property rights.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin alienatio(n-), from the verb alienare 'estrange', from alienus (see ALIEN). The term alienation effect (1940s) is a translation of German Verfremdungseffekt.

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DÉJÀ VU ■

ALIEN ■

al·ien·ee n. [LAW] dated term for GRANTEE.

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GRANTEE ■

al·ien·ist n. former term for PSYCHIATRIST.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a psychiatrist who assesses the competence of a defendant in a court of law.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French aliéniste, based on Latin alienus 'of another' (see ALIEN).

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PSYCHIATRIST ■

ALIEN ■

al·ien·or n. [LAW] dated term for GRANTOR.

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GRANTOR ■

a-life n. short for ARTIFICIAL LIFE.

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ARTIFICIAL LIFE ■

al·i·form adj. wing-shaped.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from modern Latin aliformis, from Latin ala 'wing' + -formis (see -FORM).

Linked entries:

-FORM ■

A·li·ghie·ri , Dante, see DANTE.

Linked entries:

DANTE ■

a·light 1 v. [intrans.] (of a bird) descend from the air and settle: a lovely blue swallow alighted on a branch.
<SPECIAL USAGE> descend from a train, bus, or other form of transportation: the conductor alights to push the cable car completely around.

<PHRASAL VERB> alight on find by chance; notice: her eyes alighted on the item in question.

<ORIGIN>  Old English , from (as an intensifier) + 'descend' (see LIGHT^3 ).

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LIGHT ■

a·light 2 adv. & adj. on fire; burning: [as adj.] the house was well alight when the firemen arrived | [as adv.] flammable liquid was set alight.
<SPECIAL USAGE> shining brightly: [as adj.] a single lamp was alight | FIGURATIVE the boy's face was alight with excitement.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: probably from the phrase on a light (= lighted) fire.

a·lign v. 1 [trans.] place or arrange (things) in a straight line: gently brush the surface to align the fibers.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- put (things) into correct or appropriate relative positions: the fan blades are carefully aligned | FIGURATIVE aligning domestic prices with prices in world markets.

- [intrans.] lie in a straight line, or in correct relative positions: the pattern of the border at the seam should align perfectly.

2 (align oneself with) give support to (a person, organization, or cause): newspapers usually align themselves with certain political parties.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] come together in agreement or alliance: all of them must now align against the foe | [as adj.] (aligned) forces aligned with Russia.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French aligner, from à ligne 'into line'.

a·lign·ment n. 1 arrangement in a straight line, or in correct or appropriate relative positions: the tiles had slipped out of alignment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the act of aligning parts of a machine: oil changes, lube jobs, and wheel alignments.

- the route or course of a road or railroad: four railroads, all on different alignments.

2 a position of agreement or alliance: a firm famous for its liberal alignment.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French alignement, from aligner (see ALIGN).

Linked entries:

ALIGN ■

a·like adj. [predic.] (of two or more subjects) similar to each other: the brothers were very much alike; the houses all looked alike.

■ adv. in the same or a similar way: the girls dressed alike in black pants and jackets.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used to show that something applies equally to a number of specified subjects: he talked in a friendly manner to staff and patients alike.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gelijk and German gleich, reinforced in Middle English by Old Norse álíkr (adjective) and álíka (adverb).

al·i·ment n. ARCHAIC food; nourishment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> support; sustenance.

■ v. provide with nourishment or sustenance.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin alimentum, from alere 'nourish'.

al·i·men·ta·ry adj. of or relating to nourishment or sustenance.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin alimentarius, from alimentum 'nourishment' (see ALIMENT).

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ALIMENT ■

al·i·men·ta·ry ca·nal n. the whole passage along which food passes through the body from mouth to anus. It includes the esophagus, stomach, and intestines.

al·i·men·ta·tion n. FORMAL the provision of nourishment or other necessities of life.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'maintenance, support'): from medieval Latin alimentatio(n-), from late Latin alimentare 'to feed', from alimentum 'nourishment' (see ALIMENT).

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ALIMENT ■

al·i·mo·ny n. a husband's or wife's court-ordered provision for a spouse after separation or divorce.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'nourishment, means of subsistence'): from Latin alimonia 'nutriment', from alere 'nourish'.

A-line adj. (of a garment) slightly flared from a narrow waist or shoulders: A-line skirts.

al·i·phat·ic [CHEMISTRY] adj. relating to or denoting organic compounds in which carbon atoms form open chains (as in the alkanes), not aromatic rings. Compare with ALICYCLIC.

■ n. (usu. aliphatics) an aliphatic compound.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (originally used of the fatty acids): from Greek aleiphar, aleiphat- 'fat' + -IC.

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ALICYCLIC ■

-IC ■

al·i·quot n. a portion of a larger whole, esp. a sample taken for chemical analysis or other treatment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also aliquot part or portion) [MATHEMATICS] a quantity that can be divided into another an integral number of times.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be aliquoted) divide (a whole) into aliquots; take aliquots from (a whole).

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French aliquote, from Latin aliquot 'some, so many', from alius 'one of two' + quot 'how many'.

al·i·sphe·noid n. (also alisphenoid bone) [ANATOMY] & [ZOOLOGY] a winglike cartilaginous bone within the mammalian skull, forming part of the socket of the eye.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin ala 'wing' + SPHENOID.

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SPHENOID ■

A-list (or B-list ) n. a real or imaginary list of the most (or, for B-list, second-most) celebrated or sought-after individuals, especially in show business: [as modifier] an A-list celebrity.

a·lit·er·ate adj. unwilling to read, although able to do so.

■ n. an aliterate person.

<DERIVATIVES> a·lit·er·a·cy n.

a·live adj. [predic.] 1 (of a person, animal, or plant) living, not dead: hopes of finding anyone still alive were fading; he was kept alive by a feeding-tube.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a feeling or quality) continuing in existence: keeping hope alive.

- continuing to be supported or in use: militarism was kept alive by pure superstition.

2 (of a person or animal) alert and active; animated: Ken comes alive when he hears his music played.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE having interest and meaning: we hope we will make history come alive for the children.

3 (alive to) aware of and interested in; responsive to: always alive to new ideas.

4 (alive with) swarming or teeming with: in spring those cliffs are alive with auks and gulls.

<PHRASES>
□ alive and kicking INFORMAL prevalent and very active: bigotry is still alive and kicking.

□ alive and well still existing or active (often used to deny rumors or beliefs that something has disappeared or declined): Jefferson's ideas are alive and well today in Washington.

□ look alive another term for LOOK LIVELY (see LIVELY).

<DERIVATIVES> a·live·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English , literally 'in life'.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
alive, animate, animated, living, vital

Dead is dead, but one can be alive to varying degrees. The broadest of these terms describing what has life or shows signs of having it, alive can refer to what barely exists (he was unconscious but still alive when they found him) as well as to what is bursting with (literal or figurative) life (her face was alive with excitement and anticipation).

Living, on the other hand, is more limited in scope and implies the condition of not being dead (at 92, she was the oldest living member of the family) or a state of continued existence or activity (America's greatest living historian).

Animate has fewer connotations than living or alive; though rare, it is used to distinguish living organisms as opposed to dead ones (one of the few animate creatures after the devastating explosion).

Animated, on the other hand, is used to describe inanimate things to which life or the appearance of life has been given (an animated cartoon), or things that are vigorous and lively (an animated debate on the death penalty).

Anything that is essential to life is vital (vital functions; vital organs), but vital can also be used to describe the energy, activity, and alertness of living things (an aging but vital member of the historical society).

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LIVELY ■

a·li·yah n. (pl. a·li·yoth ) [JUDAISM] 1 immigration to Israel: students making aliyah.

2 the honor of being called upon to read from the Torah: I was called up for an aliyah.

<ORIGIN> from Hebrew 'ascent'.

a·liz·a·rin n. [CHEMISTRY] a red pigment present in madder root, used in dyeing.
<INFO>  Alternative name: 1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone; chem. formula: C_14H_8O_4.

<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] denoting dyes derived from or similar to this pigment: alizarin crimson.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French alizarine, from alizari 'madder', from Arabic 'pressed juice', from 'to press fruit'.

Al Ji·zah variant form of GIZA.

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GIZA ■

al·ka·hest (also al·ca·hest) n. HISTORICAL the hypothetical universal solvent sought by alchemists.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: sham Arabic, probably invented by Paracelsus.

al·ka·li n. (pl. -lis) a chemical compound that neutralizes or effervesces with acids and turns litmus blue; typically, a caustic or corrosive substance of this kind such as lime or soda. Often contrasted with ACID; compare with BASE^1 .

Alkalis release hydroxide ions (OH) when dissolved in water. An alkaline solution has a pH greater than 7.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a saline substance derived from the ashes of various plants, including glasswort): from medieval Latin, from Arabic 'calcined ashes (of the glasswort, etc.)', from 'fry, roast'.

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ACID ■

BASE ■

al·kal·ic adj. [GEOLOGY] (of a rock or mineral) richer in sodium and/or potassium than is usual for its type.

al·ka·li feld·spar n. [GEOLOGY] any of the group of feldspars rich in sodium and/or potassium.

al·ka·li met·al n. [CHEMISTRY] any of the elements lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium, occupying Group IA (1) of the periodic table. They are very reactive, electropositive, monovalent metals forming strongly alkaline hydroxides.

al·ka·line adj. having the properties of an alkali, or containing alkali; having a pH greater than 7. Often contrasted with ACID or ACIDIC; compare with BASIC.

<DERIVATIVES> al·ka·lin·i·ty n.

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ACIDACIDIC ■

BASIC ■

al·ka·line bat·ter·y n. a long-lived dry cell with an alkaline electrolyte of potassium hydroxide, which deters corrosion.

al·ka·line earth (also alkaline earth metal) n. any of the elements beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium, occupying Group IIA (2) of the periodic table. They are reactive, electropositive, divalent metals, and form basic oxides that react with water to form comparatively insoluble hydroxides.

al·ka·lize (also al·ka·lin·ize ) v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (alkalized or alkalizing) treat with alkali.

<DERIVATIVES> al·ka·li·za·tion n. al·ka·liz·er n.

al·ka·loid n. [CHEMISTRY] any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds of plant origin that have pronounced physiological actions on humans. They include many drugs (morphine, quinine) and poisons (atropine, strychnine).

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: coined in German from ALKALI.

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ALKALI ■

al·ka·lo·sis n. [MEDICINE] an excessively alkaline condition of the body fluids or tissues that may cause weakness or cramps.

al·kane n. [CHEMISTRY] any of the series of saturated hydrocarbons including methane, ethane, propane, and higher members.
<INFO>  Alkanes have the general formula: CnH2n+2.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from ALKYL + -ANE^2 .

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ALKYL ■

-ANE ■

al·kene n. [CHEMISTRY] any of the series of unsaturated hydrocarbons containing a double bond, including ethylene and propylene.
<INFO>  Alkenes have the general formula: CnH_2n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from ALKYL + -ENE.

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ALKYL ■

-ENE ■

al·ky (also al·kie) n. (pl. -kies) INFORMAL an alcoholic.

al·kyd n. [CHEMISTRY] any of a group of synthetic polyester resins derived from various alcohols and acids, used in varnishes, paints, and adhesives.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: blend of ALKYL and ACID.

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ALKYL ■

ACID ■

al·kyl n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] of or denoting a hydrocarbon radical derived from an alkane by removal of a hydrogen atom.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: German, from Alkohol 'alcohol' + -YL.

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-YL ■

al·kyl·ate v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (alkylating or alkylated) [CHEMISTRY] introduce an alkyl radical into (a compound): alkylating agents.

<DERIVATIVES> al·kyl·a·tion n.

al·kyne n. [CHEMISTRY] any of the series of unsaturated hydrocarbons containing a triple bond, including acetylene.
<INFO>  Alkynes have the general formula: CnH2n-2.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from ALKYL + -YNE.

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ALKYL ■

-YNE ■

all predeterminer, adj., & pron. used to refer to the whole quantity or extent of a particular group or thing: [as predeterminer] all the people I met; she left all her money to him | [as adj.] 10% of all cars sold; he slept all day | [as pron.] four bedrooms, all with balconies; carry all of the blame; the men are all bearded.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [adj.] any whatever: assured beyond all doubt; he denied all knowledge.

- [adj.] used to emphasize the greatest possible amount of a quality: they were in all probability completely unaware; with all due respect.

- INFORMAL dominated by a particular feature or characteristic: an eleven-year-old string bean, all elbows and knees.

- [pron.] [with clause] the only thing (used for emphasis): all I want is to be left alone.

- [pron.] (used to refer to surroundings or a situation in general) everything: all was well; it was all very strange.

- INFORMAL used to indicate more than one person or thing: a team of specialists who all know the patient.

- DIALECT consumed; finished; gone: the cake is all.

■ adv. 1 used for emphasis:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- completely: dressed all in black; she's been all around the world; all by himself.

- consisting entirely of: all leather varsity jacket.

2 (in games) used after a number to indicate an equal score: after extra time it was still two all.

■ n. the whole of one's possessions, energy, or interest: giving their all for what they believed.

<PHRASES>
□ all along all the time; from the beginning: she'd known all along.

□ all and sundry everyone: insolent drivers crying to all and sundry to get out of the way.

□ all around (BRIT. also all round)
1 in all respects: it was a bad day all around.

2 for or by each person: drinks all around; good acting all around.

□ all but
1 very nearly: the subject was all but forgotten.

2 all except: we have support from all but one of the networks.

□ all comers CHIEFLY INFORMAL anyone who chooses to take part in an activity, typically a competition: the champion took on all comers.

□ all for INFORMAL strongly in favor of: I was all for tolerance.

□ all in INFORMAL exhausted: he was all in by halftime.

□ all in all everything considered; on the whole: all in all it's been a good year.

□ all kinds (or sorts) of many different kinds of: how to install paneling on all kinds of walls.

□ all manner of see MANNER.

□ all of as much as (typically used ironically of a quantity considered small by the speaker): the show lasted all of six weeks.

□ all of a sudden see SUDDEN.

□ all one to someone making no difference to someone: simple cases or hard cases, it's all one to me.

□ all out using all one's strength or resources: going all out to win | [as adj.] an all-out effort.

□ all over
1 completely finished: it's all over between us.

2 INFORMAL everywhere: there were bodies all over.
- with reference to all parts of the body: I was shaking all over.

3 INFORMAL typical of the person mentioned: that's our management all over!

4 INFORMAL effusively attentive to (someone): James was all over her.

□ all over the place (or map) INFORMAL everywhere: we've been all over the place looking for you.
- in a state of disorder: my hair was all over the place.

□ all sorts of see ALL KINDS OF above.

□ all's well that ends well PROVERB if the outcome of a situation is happy, this compensates for any previous difficulty or unpleasantness.

□ all that see THAT.

□ all the same see SAME.

□ all the see THE (sense 6).

□ all there [usu. with negative] INFORMAL in full possession of one's mental faculties: he's not quite all there.

□ all the time see TIME.

□ all together all in one place or in a group; all at once: 5,000 people all together they arrived all together. Compare with ALTOGETHER.

□ all told in total: they tried a dozen times all told.

□ all very well INFORMAL used to express criticism or rejection of a favorable or consoling remark: your proposal is all very well in theory, but in practice it will not pay.

□ all the way INFORMAL without limit or reservation: I'm with you all the way. See also GO ALL THE WAY at WAY.

□ and all used to emphasize something additional that is being referred to: she threw her coffee over him, mug and all.
- INFORMAL as well: it must hit him hard, being so young and all.

□ at all [with negative or in questions] (used for emphasis) in any way; to any extent: I don't like him at all did he suffer at all?

□ be all up with see UP.

□ for all in spite of : for all its clarity and style, the book is not easy reading.

□ in all in total number; altogether: there were about 5,000 people in all.

□ of all see OF.

□ on all fours see FOUR.

□ one and all see ONE.

<ORIGIN> Old English all, eall, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch al and German all.

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MANNER ■

SUDDEN ■

THAT ■

SAME ■

THE ■

TIME ■

ALTOGETHER ■

WAY ■

UP ■

OF ■

FOUR ■

ONE ■

al·la bre·ve n. [MUSIC] a time signature indicating 2 or 4 half-note beats in a bar.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'according to the breve'.

Al·la·gash Riv·er a river in northern Maine, noted as a canoeing route.

Al·lah the name of God among Muslims (and Arab Christians).

<ORIGIN> from Arabic , contraction of 'the god'.

Al·lah·a·bad a city in Uttar Pradesh state, in north central India; pop. 806,000. Situated at the confluence of the sacred Jumna and Ganges rivers, it is a place of Hindu pilgrimage.

al·la·man·da n. any of a number of tropical shrubs or climbers that bear showy flowers, typically of yellow or purple.
<INFO>  Species in several families, in particular members of the genus Allamanda, family Apocynaceae, including the South American yellow allamanda (A. cathartica), which is cultivated as an ornamental.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from the name of Jean-Nicholas-Sébastien Allamand (1713-87), Swiss naturalist.

all-A·mer·i·can adj. 1 possessing qualities characteristic of American ideals, such as honesty, industriousness, and health: his all-American wholesomeness.

2 having members or contents drawn only from America or the U.S.: an all-American anthology.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- involving or representing the whole of America or the U.S.: an all-American final.

- (also all-America) (of a sports player) honored as one of the best amateur competitors in the U.S.: an all-American wrestler.

■ n. (also all-America) a sports player honored as one of the best amateurs in the U.S.

al·lan·to·in n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a crystalline compound formed in the nitrogen metabolism of many mammals (excluding primates).
<INFO>  A cyclic compound related to hydantoin; chem. formula: C_4H_6N_4O_3.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from ALLANTOIS (because it was discovered in the allantoic fluid of cows) + -IN^1 .

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ALLANTOIS ■

-IN ■

al·lan·to·is n. (pl. al·lan·to·i·des ) the fetal membrane lying below the chorion in many vertebrates, formed as an outgrowth of the embryo's gut. In birds and reptiles it grows to surround the embryo; in eutherian mammals it forms part of the placenta.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lan·to·ic adj. al·lan·toid adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: modern Latin, based on Greek 'sausage-shaped'.

al·lar·gan·do adv. & adj. [MUSIC] (esp. as a direction) getting slower and slower, and often also fuller in tone.

<ORIGIN> Italian, 'broadening'.

all-a·round (BRIT. all-round) adj. having many uses or abilities; versatile: an all-around artist.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- in many or all respects: his all-around excellence.

- comprehensive; extensive: the need of college students for an all-around education.

■ n. [GYMNASTICS] an event in which the scores of each individual exercise are totaled to determine the winner.

al·lay v. [trans.] diminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry): the report attempted to educate the public and allay fears.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relieve or alleviate (pain or hunger): some stale figs partly allayed our hunger.
See note at ALLEVIATE.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'lay down or aside'.

all clear n. a signal that danger or difficulty is over: she was given the all-clear to travel home.

all-day adj. lasting or available throughout the day: an all-day barn-raising event.

al·lée n. an alley in a formal garden or park, bordered by trees or bushes.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French.

al·le·ga·tion n. a claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof: he made allegations of corruption against the administration; allegations that the army was operating a shoot-to-kill policy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin allegatio(n-), from allegare 'allege'.

al·lege v. [reporting verb] claim or assert that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically without proof that this is the case: [with clause] he alleged that he had been assaulted | [trans.] the offenses are alleged to have been committed outside the woman's home; | he is alleged to have assaulted five men.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (usu. be alleged) suppose or affirm to be the case: the first artifact ever alleged to be from Earhart's aircraft.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'declare on oath'): from Old French esligier, based on Latin lis, lit- 'lawsuit'; confused in sense with Latin allegare 'allege'.

al·leged adj. [attrib.] (of an incident or a person) said, without proof, to have taken place or to have a specified illegal or undesirable quality: the alleged conspirators.

<DERIVATIVES> al·leg·ed·ly adv. [sentence adverb] he was allegedly a leading participant in the coup attempt.

Al·le·ghe·ny Moun·tains (also the Al·le·ghe·nies) a mountain range, part of the Appalachian system in the eastern U.S., that extends from West Virginia through Pennsylvania.

Al·le·ghe·ny Riv·er a river that flows for 325 miles (523 km) through New York and Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh where it joins the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River.

al·le·giance n. loyalty or commitment of a subordinate to a superior or of an individual to a group or cause: those wishing to receive citizenship must swear allegiance to the republic | a complex pattern of cross-party allegiances.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, variant of Old French ligeance, from lige, liege (see LIEGE), perhaps by association with Anglo-Latin alligantia 'alliance'.

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LIEGE ■

al·le·gor·i·cal adj. constituting or containing allegory: an allegorical painting.

<DERIVATIVES> al·le·gor·ic adj. al·le·gor·i·cal·ly adv.

al·le·go·rize v. [trans.] interpret or represent symbolically: the picture is interpreted as allegorizing an alienated society.

<DERIVATIVES> al·le·go·ri·za·tion n.

al·le·go·ry n. (pl. -ries) a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one: Pilgrim's Progress is an allegory of the spiritual journey.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the genre to which such works belong.

- a symbol.

<DERIVATIVES> al·le·go·rist n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French allegorie, via Latin from Greek , from allos 'other' + -agoria 'speaking'.

al·le·gret·to [MUSIC] adj. & adv. (esp. as a direction) at a fairly brisk tempo.

■ n. (pl. -tos) a movement or piece to be played fairly briskly.

<ORIGIN> Italian, diminutive of ALLEGRO.

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ALLEGRO ■

al·le·gro [MUSIC] adj. & adv. (esp. as a direction) at a brisk tempo.

■ n. (pl. -gros) a passage or movement in an allegro tempo.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'lively, gay'.

al·lele n. [GENETICS] one of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome. Also called ALLELOMORPH.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lel·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from German Allel, abbreviation of ALLELOMORPH.

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ALLELOMORPH ■

ALLELOMORPH ■

al·le·lo·chem·i·cal n. a chemical produced by a living organism, exerting a detrimental physiological effect on the individuals of another species when released into the environment.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from Greek 'one another' + CHEMICAL.

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CHEMICAL ■

al·le·lo·morph n. another term for ALLELE.

<DERIVATIVES> al·le·lo·mor·phic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek 'one another' + 'form'.

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ALLELE ■

al·le·lop·a·thy n. the chemical inhibition of one plant (or other organism) by another, due to the release into the environment of substances acting as germination or growth inhibitors.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Greek 'one another' + -PATHY.

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-PATHY ■

al·le·lu·ia exclam. variant spelling of HALLELUJAH.

<ORIGIN> Old English, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek (in the Septuagint), from Hebrew 'praise ye the Lord'.

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HALLELUJAH ■

al·le·mande n. any of a number of German dances.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the music for any of these, esp. as a movement of a suite.

- a figure in country dancing in which adjacent dancers link arms or join or touch hands and make a full or partial turn.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, 'German (dance)'.

all-em·brac·ing adj. including or covering everything or everyone; comprehensive: the goal is not one all-embracing religion.

Al·len 1 Ethan (1738-89), American soldier. He fought the British in the American Revolution and led the Green Mountain Boys in their campaign to gain independence for the state of Vermont. He died two years before Vermont achieved statehood.

Al·len 2 Gracie (c.1902-64), U.S. comedian and television actress. She was the wife and comedy partner of George Burns.

Al·len 3 Steve (1921-2000), U.S. television pioneer, humorist, and songwriter; full name Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen.. He was host and creator of “The Tonight Show” (1954-57) and host of “The Steve Allen Show” (1956-64). He also appeared in the movie The Benny Goodman Story (1963).

Al·len 4 Woody (1935- ), U.S. movie director, writer, and actor; born Allen Stewart Konigsberg. Allen stars in most of his movies, many of which have won Academy Awards and which humorously explore themes of neuroses and sexual inadequacy. Notable works: Bananas (1971), Play it Again, Sam (1972), Sleeper (1973), Annie Hall (1977), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989), and Small Time Crooks (2000).

Al·len·by Edmund Henry Hynman, 1st Viscount (1861-1936), British soldier. Commander of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force against the Turks, he captured Jerusalem in 1917 and defeated the Turkish forces at Megiddo in 1918.

Al·len·de Salvador (1908-73), Chilean statesman; president 1970-73. The first avowed Marxist to win a presidency in a free election, he was overthrown and killed in a military coup.

Al·len·stein German name for OLSZTYN.

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OLSZTYN ■

Al·len·town a commercial and industrial city in eastern Pennsylvania, on the Lehigh River; pop. 106,632.

Al·len wrench (also al·len wrench) n. an L-shaped metal bar with a hexagonal head at each end, used to turn bolts and screws having hexagonal sockets.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from the name of the manufacturer, the Allen Manufacturing Company, of Hartford, Connecticut.

al·ler·gen n. a substance that causes an allergic reaction.

<DERIVATIVES> al·ler·gen·ic adj. al·ler·ge·nic·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: blend of ALLERGY and -GEN.

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ALLERGY ■

-GEN ■

al·ler·gic adj. caused by or relating to an allergy: an allergic reaction to penicillin.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- having an allergy to (a substance): Heather was allergic to the sting of bees.

- (allergic to) INFORMAL having a strong dislike for: it's just that I'm allergic to the hype.

al·ler·gist n. a medical practitioner specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies.

al·ler·gy n. (pl. -gies) a damaging immune response by the body to a substance, esp. pollen, fur, a particular food, or dust, to which it has become hypersensitive.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL an antipathy: their allergy to free enterprise.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from German Allergie, from Greek allos 'other', on the pattern of Energie 'energy'.

Al·le·rød n. (the Allerød) [GEOLOGY] the second climatic stage of the late-glacial period in northern Europe, between the two Dryas stages (about 12,000 to 10,800 years ago). It was an interlude of warmer weather marked by the spread of birch, pine, and willow.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: place name near Copenhagen in Denmark.

al·le·vi·ate v. [trans.] make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe: he couldn't prevent her pain, only alleviate it; measures to alleviate unemployment.

<DERIVATIVES> al·le·vi·a·tion n. al·le·vi·a·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin alleviat- 'lightened', from the verb alleviare, from Latin allevare, from ad- 'to' + levare 'raise', influenced by levis 'light'.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
abate, allay, alleviate, assuage, mitigate, relieve, temper

To alleviate is to make something easier to endure (alleviate the pain following surgery); allay is often used interchangeably, but it also means to put to rest, to quiet or calm (to allay their suspicions).

Assuage and allay both suggest the calming or satisfying of a desire or appetite, but assuage implies a more complete or permanent satisfaction (we allay our hunger by nibbling hors d'oeuvres, but a huge dinner assuages our appetite).

To relieve implies reducing the misery or discomfort to the point where something is bearable (relieve the monotony of the cross-country bus trip), and mitigate, which comes from a Latin word meaning to soften, usually means to lessen in force or intensity (mitigate the storm's impact).

Abate suggests a progressive lessening in degree or intensity (her fever was abating).

To temper is to soften or moderate (to temper justice with mercy), but it can also mean the exact opposite: to harden or toughen something (tempering steel; a body tempered by lifting weights).

al·ley 1 n. (pl. -leys) a narrow passageway between or behind buildings.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a path lined with trees, bushes, or stones. Compare with ALLÉE.

- [with modifier] a long, narrow area in which games such as bowling are played.

- [TENNIS] either of the two areas of the court between the doubles sideline and the singles or service sideline.

- [BASEBALL] the area between the outfielders in left center or right center field.

<PHRASES> up one's alley (or right up one's alley) INFORMAL well suited to one's tastes, interests, or abilities: this job would be right up your alley.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French alee 'walking or passage', from aler 'go', from Latin ambulare 'to walk'.

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ALLÉE ■

al·ley 2 (also al·ly) n. (pl. -leys) a toy marble made of marble, alabaster, or glass.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: perhaps a diminutive of ALABASTER.

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ALABASTER ■

al·ley cat n. a cat that lives wild in a town.

al·ley-oop exclam. used to encourage or draw attention to the performance of some physical, esp. acrobatic, feat.

■ n. (also alley-oop pass) [BASKETBALL] a high pass caught by a leaping teammate who tries to dunk the ball before landing.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: perhaps from French allez! 'go on!' (expressing encouragement) + a supposedly French pronunciation of UP.

Linked entries:

UP ■

al·ley·way n. another term for ALLEY^1 .

Linked entries:

ALLEY ■

all-fired INFORMAL adv. INFORMAL extremely: if I was so all-fired bright . . . why did I have to keep learning this same thing over and over?

■ adj. extreme.

All Fools' Day n. another term for APRIL FOOL'S DAY.

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APRIL FOOL'S DAY ■

all fours n. a card game, now rarely played, in which points are scored for being dealt the highest or lowest trump, capturing the jack of trump, and taking the highest value of cards in tricks.

<PHRASES> on all fours on hands and knees or (of an animal) on all four legs rather than just the hind ones: Frankie scuttled away on all fours.

all hail excl. DATED a cry of greeting.

All Hal·lows n. another term for ALL SAINTS' DAY.

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ALL SAINTS' DAY ■

all·heal n. any of a number of plants, in particular valerian, used in herbal medicine and traditionally considered to be effective in treating a variety of conditions.

al·li·a·ceous adj. [BOTANY] of, relating to, or denoting plants of a group that comprises the onions and other alliums.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin allium 'garlic' + -ACEOUS; compare with the modern Latin taxonomic family name Alliaceae.

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-ACEOUS ■

al·li·ance n. a union or association formed for mutual benefit, esp. between countries or organizations: a defensive alliance between Australia and New Zealand; divisions within the alliance.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a relationship based on an affinity in interests, nature, or qualities: an alliance between medicine and morality.

- a state of being joined or associated: his party is in alliance with the Greens.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French aliance, from aliere 'to ally' (see ALLY^1 ).

Linked entries:

ALLY ■

al·li·cin n. [CHEMISTRY] a pungent oily liquid with antibacterial properties, present in garlic.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: (C_3H_5S)2O.

<ORIGIN> from Latin allium 'garlic' + -IN^1 .

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-IN ■

al·lied adj. joined by or relating to members of an alliance: allied territories; the allied fleet.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. Allied) of or relating to the U.S. and its allies in World War I and World War II and after: the liberation of Paris by Allied troops.

- (allied to/with) in combination or working together with: skilled craftsmanship allied to advanced technology.

- connected or related: members of the medical and allied professions.

Al·lier a river in central France that rises in the Cévennes Mountains and flows northwest for 258 miles (410 km) to meet the Loire River.

al·li·ga·tor n. a large semiaquatic reptile similar to a crocodile but with a broader and shorter head, native to the Americas and China.
<INFO>  Genus Alligator, family Alligatoridae, order Crocodylia: the American alligator (A. mississippiensis) and the Chinese alligator (A. sinensis).

<SPECIAL USAGE> the skin of the alligator or material resembling it.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Spanish el lagarto 'the lizard', probably based on Latin lacerta.

al·li·ga·tor clip n. a sprung metal clip with long, serrated jaws, used attached to an electric cable for making a temporary connection to a battery or other component.

al·li·ga·tor fish n. a slender bottom-dwelling fish of the northwestern Atlantic, with an armor of bony plates and two curved spines on the snout.
<INFO>  Aspidophoroides monopterygius, family Agonidae.

al·li·ga·tor liz·ard n. a short-limbed, long-tailed, slim lizard native to North America and Mexico.
<INFO>  Genus Gerrhonotus, family Anguidae: several species, including the northern alligator lizard (G. coerulus) and the panamint alligator lizard (G. panamintinus).

al·li·ga·tor pear n. another term for AVOCADO.

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AVOCADO ■

al·li·ga·tor snap·ping tur·tle (also al·li·ga·tor snap·per) n. a large-headed, long-tailed snapping turtle of the southeastern U.S., found esp. in the Gulf States. Weighing up to 150 pounds (67.5 kg), it is the largest freshwater turtle in North America.
<INFO>  Macroclemys temminckii, family Chelydridae.

all-im·por·tant adj. vitally important; crucial: the town's all-important tourist industry.

all-in·clu·sive adj. including everything or everyone: the tab for the all-inclusive dinner is $38.

all-in-one adj. [attrib.] combining two or more items or functions in a single unit: an all-in-one shampoo/conditioner.

al·lit·er·ate v. [intrans.] (of a phrase or line of verse) contain words that begin with the same sound or letter: his first and last names alliterated.
<SPECIAL USAGE> use words that begin with the same sound or letter.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: back-formation from ALLITERATION.

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ALLITERATION ■

al·lit·er·a·tion n. the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin alliteratio(n-), from Latin ad- (expressing addition) + littera 'letter'.

al·lit·er·a·tive adj. relating to or marked by alliteration.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lit·er·a·tive·ly adv.

al·li·um n. (pl. -ums) a bulbous plant of a genus that includes the onion and its relatives (e.g., garlic, leek, and chives).
<INFO>  Genus Allium, family Liliaceae (or Alliaceae).

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: Latin, literally 'garlic'.

all-night adj. [attrib.] lasting, open, or operating throughout the night: an all-night party.

all-night·er n. INFORMAL an event or task that continues throughout the night, esp. a study session before an examination: he would do an all-nighter, the way he used to in school.

allo- comb. form other; different: allopatric; allotrope.

<ORIGIN> from Greek allos 'other'.

al·lo·cate v. [trans.] distribute (resources or duties) for a particular purpose: the authorities allocated 50,000 places to refugees | [with two objs.] he has been allocated a generous slice of the annual budget.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lo·ca·ble adj. al·lo·ca·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin allocat- 'allotted', from the verb allocare, from ad- 'to' + locare (see LOCATE).

Linked entries:

LOCATE ■

al·lo·ca·tion n. the action or process of allocating or distributing something: more efficient allocation of resources; ticket allocation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an amount or portion of a resource assigned to a particular recipient.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lo·ca·tive adj. [CHIEFLY ECONOMICS].

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin allocatio(n-), from the verb allocare (see ALLOCATE).

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ALLOCATE ■

al·loch·tho·nous adj. [GEOLOGY] denoting sediment or rock that originated at a distance from its present position. Often contrasted with AUTOCHTHONOUS.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from ALLO- 'other' + Greek 'earth' + -OUS.

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AUTOCHTHONOUS ■

ALLO- ■

-OUS ■

al·lo·cu·tion n. a formal speech giving advice or a warning.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin allocutio(n-), from alloqui 'speak to', from ad- 'to' + loqui 'speak'.

al·log·a·my n. [BOTANY] the fertilization of a flower by pollen from another flower, esp. one on a different plant. Compare with AUTOGAMY.

<DERIVATIVES> al·log·a·mous adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from ALLO- 'other, different' + Greek -gamia (from gamos 'marriage').

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AUTOGAMY ■

ALLO- ■

al·lo·ge·ne·ic adj. [IMMUNOLOGY] denoting, relating to, or involving tissues or cells that are genetically dissimilar and hence immunologically incompatible, although from individuals of the same species. Compare with XENOGENEIC.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from ALLO- 'different' + Greek genea 'race, stock' + -IC.

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XENOGENEIC ■

ALLO- ■

-IC ■

al·lo·gen·ic adj. 1 [GEOLOGY] (of a mineral or sediment) transported to its present position from elsewhere. Often contrasted with AUTHIGENIC.

2 [ECOLOGY] (of a successional change) caused by nonliving factors in the environment.

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AUTHIGENIC ■

al·lo·graft n. a tissue graft from a donor of the same species as the recipient but not genetically identical. Compare with HOMOGRAFT.

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HOMOGRAFT ■

al·lo·graph n. [LINGUISTICS] each of two or more alternative forms of a letter of an alphabet or other grapheme. The capital, lowercase, italic, and various handwritten forms of the letter A are allographs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHONETICS] each of two or more letters or letter-combinations representing a single phoneme in different words. Allographs of the phoneme include the (f) of “fake” and the (ph) of “phase.”

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from ALLO- 'other, different' + GRAPHEME.

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ALLO- ■

GRAPHEME ■

al·lom·e·try n. [BIOLOGY] the growth of body parts at different rates, resulting in a change of body proportions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the study of such growth.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lo·met·ric adj.

al·lo·morph n. [LINGUISTICS] any of the versions of a morpheme, such as the plural endings (as in bats), (as in bugs), and (as in buses) for the plural morpheme.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lo·mor·phic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from ALLO- 'other, different' + MORPHEME.

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ALLO- ■

MORPHEME ■

al·lo·path n. a person who practices allopathy.

al·lop·a·thy n. the treatment of disease by conventional means, i.e., with drugs having opposite effects to the symptoms. Often contrasted with HOMEOPATHY.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lo·path·ic adj. al·lop·a·thist n.

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HOMEOPATHY ■

al·lo·pat·ric adj. [BIOLOGY] (of animals or plants, esp. of related species or populations) occurring in separate nonoverlapping geographical areas. Compare with SYMPATRIC.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of speciation) taking place as a result of such separation.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lop·a·try n.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from ALLO- 'other' + Greek patra 'fatherland' + -IC.

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SYMPATRIC ■

ALLO- ■

-IC ■

al·lo·phone n. [LINGUISTICS] any of the speech sounds that represent a single phoneme, such as the aspirated k in kit and the unaspirated k in skit, which are allophones of the phoneme k.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lo·phon·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from ALLO- 'other, different' + PHONEME.

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ALLO- ■

PHONEME ■

al·lo·pu·ri·nol n. [MEDICINE] a synthetic drug that inhibits uric acid formation in the body and is used to treat gout and related conditions.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from ALLO- 'other' + PURINE + -OL.

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ALLO- ■

PURINE ■

-OL ■

all-or-none adj. another way of saying ALL-OR-NOTHING.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHYSIOLOGY] (of a response) having a strength independent of the strength of the stimulus that caused it.

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ALL-OR-NOTHING ■

all-or-noth·ing adj. having no middle position or compromise available: an all-or-nothing decision.

al·lo·saur (also al·lo·sau·rus ) n. a large bipedal carnivorous dinosaur of the late Jurassic period.
<INFO>  Genus Allosaurus, suborder Theropoda, order Saurischia.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lo·sau·ri·an adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek allos 'other' + sauros 'lizard'.

al·lo·sta·sis n. the process by which the body responds to stressors in order to regain homeostasis.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lo·sta·tic adj.

al·lo·ster·ic adj. [BIOCHEMISTRY] relating to or denoting the alteration of the activity of a protein through the binding of an effector molecule at a specific site.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lo·ster·i·cal·ly adv.

al·lot v. (-lot·ted, -lot·ting) [trans.] give or apportion (something) to someone as a share or task: equal time was allotted to each | [with two objs.] I was allotted a little room in the servants' block.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French aloter, from a- (from Latin ad 'to') + loter 'divide into lots'.

al·lot·ment n. the amount of something allocated to a particular person: the gadget shuts off the television set when a kid has used up his allotment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a piece of land deeded by the government to an American Indian.

- the action of allotting: the allotment of equity securities.

al·lo·trope n. [CHEMISTRY] each of two or more different physical forms in which an element can exist. Graphite, charcoal, and diamond are all allotropes of carbon.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: back-formation from ALLOTROPY.

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ALLOTROPY ■

al·lot·ro·py n. [CHEMISTRY] the existence of two or more different physical forms of a chemical element.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lo·trop·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek allotropos 'of another form', from allo- 'other' + tropos 'manner' (from trepein 'to turn').

al·lot·tee n. a person to whom something is allotted, esp. land or shares.

all-ov·er adj. [attrib.] covering the whole of something: a carpet with an all-over pattern.

al·low v. [trans.] 1 admit (an event or activity) as legal or acceptable: a plan to allow Sunday shopping; a reservoir with no hunting or overnight camping allowed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] give (someone) permission to do something: the dissident was allowed to leave the country.

- [trans., with two objs.] permit (someone) to have (something): he was allowed his first sip of Scotch and soda.

- [trans.] permit (someone) to enter a place or go in a particular direction: the river was patrolled and few people were allowed across.

- [trans.] fail to prevent (something) from happening: I could not believe that we would allow the opportunity to slip away.

2 give the necessary time or opportunity for: they agreed to a cease-fire to allow talks with the government | [trans.] he stopped for a moment to allow his eyes to adjust | [intrans.] DATED my household duties were too many to allow of a visit to the hospital.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (allow for) make provision or provide scope for (something): the house was demolished to allow for road widening.

- [intrans.] (allow for) take (something) into consideration when making plans or calculations: income rose by 11 percent allowing for inflation.

- [trans.] provide or set aside (a specified amount of something) for a specific purpose: allow an hour or so for driving.

3 [reporting verb] admit the truth of; concede: [with clause] he allowed that the penalty appeared too harsh for the crime | [with direct speech] “Could happen,” she allowed indifferently.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with clause] INFORMAL OR DIALECT assert; be of the opinion: Lincoln allowed that he himself could never support the man.

<DERIVATIVES> al·low·a·ble adj. al·low·a·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally in the senses 'commend, sanction' and 'assign as a right'): from Old French alouer, from Latin allaudare 'to praise', reinforced by medieval Latin allocare 'to place' (see ALLOCATE).

Linked entries:

ALLOCATE ■

al·low·ance n. the amount of something that is permitted, esp. within a set of regulations or for a specified purpose: a seventy-five-pound baggage allowance.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a sum of money paid regularly to a person, typically to meet specified needs or expenses.

- a small amount of money that a parent regularly gives a child.

- an amount of money that can be earned or received free of tax: a personal allowance.

- a reduction in price, typically for the exchange of used goods: he made the down payment with the trade-in allowance.

- [HORSE RACING] a deduction in the weight that a horse is required to carry in a race.

- ARCHAIC tolerance; sufferance: the allowance of slavery in the South.

■ v. [trans.] ARCHAIC give (someone) a sum of money regularly as an allowance.

<PHRASES> make allowance(s) for
1 take into consideration when planning or making calculations: a special circuit makes allowances for changes in the ambient temperature.

2 regard or treat leniently on account of mitigating circumstances: she liked them and made allowances for their faults.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French alouance, from alouer (see ALLOW).

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ALLOW ■

al·low·ed·ly adv. [sentence adverb] as is generally admitted to be true.

al·lox·an n. [CHEMISTRY] an acidic compound obtained by the oxidation of uric acid and isolated as an efflorescent crystalline hydrate.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_4H_2N_2O_4.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from all(antoin) + ox(alic) + -AN.

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-AN ■

al·loy n. a metal made by combining two or more metallic elements, esp. to give greater strength or resistance to corrosion: an alloy of nickel, bronze, and zinc | flat pieces of alloy | [as adj.] alloy wheels.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an inferior metal mixed with a precious one.

■ v. [trans.] mix (metals) to make an alloy: alloying tin with copper to make bronze.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE debase (something) by adding something inferior.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Old French aloi (noun) and French aloyer (verb), both from Old French aloier, aleier 'combine', from Latin alligare 'bind'.

all-par·ty adj. [attrib.] involving all political parties: the measure received all-party support.

all-per·vad·ing (also all-per·va·sive) adj. having an effect on everything or throughout something: the all-pervading excitement.

all-points bul·le·tin (abbr.: APB) n. a radio message sent to every officer in a police force giving details of a suspected criminal or stolen vehicle.

all-pow·er·ful adj. having complete power; almighty: an all-powerful dictator.

all-pur·pose adj. having many uses, esp. all that might be expected from something of its type: an all-purpose kitchen knife.

all right adj. satisfactory but not especially good; acceptable: the tea was all right.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) in a satisfactory mental or physical state: “Are you all right? You were screaming.”

- permissible; allowable: it's all right for you to go now.

■ adv. 1 in a satisfactory manner or to a satisfactory extent; fairly well: everything will turn out all right.

2 used to emphasize how certain one is about something: “Are you sure it's him?” “It's him all right.”

■ exclam. expressing or asking for assent, agreement, or acceptance: all right, I'll tell you.

<USAGE>
See usage at ALRIGHT.

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ALRIGHT ■

all right·y exclam. INFORMAL ALL RIGHT, used especially to express agreement or acceptance.

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ALL RIGHT ■

all-round adj. British term for ALL-AROUND.

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ALL-AROUND ■

All Saints' Day n. a Christian festival in honor of all the saints, held (in the Western Church) on November 1.

all·seed n. any of a number of plants producing a great deal of seed for their size, such as knotgrass and goosefoot.

All Souls' Day n. a festival in some Christian churches with prayers for the souls of the dead, held on November 2.

all·spice n. 1 the dried aromatic fruit of a West Indian tree, used whole or ground as a culinary spice.

2 a tree of the myrtle family from which this spice is obtained. Also called PIMENTO.
<INFO>  Pimenta dioica, family Myrtaceae.

3 an aromatic North American tree or shrub.
<INFO>  Genus Calycanthus, family Calycanthaceae: several species, in particular Carolina allspice (C. floridus) and smooth allspice (C. fertilis).

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PIMENTO ■

all-star adj. [attrib.] composed wholly of outstanding performers or players: an all-star cast.

■ n. a member of such a group or team.

All·ston Washington (1779-1843), U.S. landscape painter. The first major artist of the American romantic movement, his paintings exhibit a taste for the monumental, apocalyptic, and melodramatic. Notable works: The Deluge (1804), Belshazzar's Feast (1817-43), and Moonlit Landscape (1819).

all-ter·rain ve·hi·cle (abbr.: ATV) n. a small open motor vehicle with one or two seats and three or more wheels fitted with large tires, designed for use on rough ground.

all-time adj. [attrib.] unsurpassed: all-time favorite; interest rates hit an all-time high.

al·lude v. [intrans.] (allude to) suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at: she had a way of alluding to Jean but never saying her name.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- mention without discussing at length: we will allude briefly to the main points.

- (of an artist or a work of art) recall (an earlier work or style) in such a way as to suggest a relationship with it: the photographs allude to Italian Baroque painting.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the sense 'hint at, suggest'): from Latin alludere, from ad- 'toward' + ludere 'to play'.

al·lure n. the quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating: people for whom gold holds no allure.

■ v. [trans.] powerfully attract or charm; tempt: [as adj.] (alluring) the town offers alluring shops and restaurants. See note at TEMPT.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lure·ment n. al·lur·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'tempt, entice'): from Old French aleurier 'attract', from a- (from Latin ad 'to') + luere 'a lure' (originally a falconry term).

al·lu·sion n. an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference: an allusion to Shakespeare; a classical allusion.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the practice of making such references, esp. as an artistic device.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting a pun, metaphor, or parable): from French, or from late Latin allusio(n-), from the verb alludere (see ALLUDE).

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ALLUDE ■

al·lu·sive adj. (of a remark or reference) working by suggestion rather than explicit mention: allusive references to the body.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lu·sive·ly adv. al·lu·sive·ness n.

al·lu·vi·al adj. of, relating to or derived from alluvium: rich alluvial soils.

al·lu·vi·al fan n. a fan-shaped mass of alluvium deposited as the flow of a river decreases in velocity.

al·lu·vi·on n. [LAW] the action of the sea or a river in forming new land by deposition. Compare with AVULSION.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally denoting a flood, esp. one in which the water carries suspended material that is then deposited): from French, from Latin alluvion-, from ad- 'toward' + luere 'to wash'.

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AVULSION ■

al·lu·vi·um n. a deposit of clay, silt, sand, and gravel left by flowing streams in a river valley or delta, typically producing fertile soil.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: Latin, neuter of alluvius 'washed against', from ad- 'toward' + luere 'to wash'.

all-weath·er adj. including or suitable for all types of weather: all-weather tennis courts.

all-wheel drive n. a transmission system that always operates in four-wheel drive and does not alternate with two-wheel drive.

al·ly 1 n. (pl. -lies) a state formally cooperating with another for a military or other purpose, typically by treaty.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person or organization that cooperates with or helps another in a particular activity: he was forced to dismiss his closest political ally.

- (the Allies) a group of nations taking military action together, in particular the countries that fought with the U.S. in World War I and World War II.

■ v. (-lies, -lied) [trans.] (ally something to/with) combine or unite a resource or commodity with (another) for mutual benefit: he allied his racing experience with his father's business acumen.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (ally oneself with) side with or support (someone or something): he allied himself with the forces of change.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a verb): from Old French alier, from Latin alligare 'bind together', from ad- 'to' + ligare 'to bind'; the noun is partly via Old French alie 'allied'. Compare with ALLOY.

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ALLOY ■

al·ly 2 n. (pl. -lies) variant spelling of ALLEY^2 .

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ALLEY ■

-ally suffix forming adverbs from adjectives ending in -al (such as radically from radical). Compare with -AL, -LY^2 , -ICALLY.

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-AL ■

-LY ■

-ICALLY ■

al·lyl n. [as modifier] [CHEMISTRY] the unsaturated hydrocarbon radical CH=CHCH_2: allyl alcohol.

<DERIVATIVES> al·lyl·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin allium 'garlic' + -YL.

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-YL ■

Al·ma-A·ta variant spelling of ALMATY.

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ALMATY ■

Al Ma·di·nah Arabic name for MEDINA.

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MEDINA ■

Al·ma·gest n. (the Almagest) an Arabic version of Ptolemy's astronomical treatise.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also almagest) (in the Middle Ages) any celebrated textbook on astrology and alchemy.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French almageste, based on Arabic, from al 'the' + Greek 'greatest (composition)'.

al·ma ma·ter n. (one's Alma Mater) the school, college, or university that one once attended.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the anthem of a school, college, or university.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the general sense 'someone or something providing nourishment'): Latin, literally 'bounteous mother'.

al·ma·nac (also, esp. in titles, al·ma·nack) n. an annual calendar containing important dates and statistical information such as astronomical data and tide tables.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a handbook, typically published annually, containing information of general interest or on a sport or pastime.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via medieval Latin from Greek almenikhiaka, of unknown origin.

al·man·dine n. a kind of garnet with a violet tint.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from obsolete French, alteration of alabandine, from medieval Latin alabandina (gemma) 'jewel from Alabanda,' an ancient city in Asia Minor where these stones were cut.

Al·ma·ty (also Al·ma-A·ta ) the capital of Kazakhstan, in the southeastern part of the republic; pop. 1,515,300. Former name (until 1921) VERNY.

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VERNY ■

Al·me·ría a town in Almeria Province in southern Spain; pop. 157,760.

al·might·y adj. having complete power; omnipotent: God almighty.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the Almighty) a name or title for God: I wanted to beg the Almighty for mercy.

- INFORMAL very great; enormous: the silence was broken by an almighty roar.

<ORIGIN> Old English ælmihtig (see ALL, MIGHTY).

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ALL ■

MIGHTY ■

Al·mo·had (also Al·mo·hade ) n. (pl. -hads) a member of a Berber Muslim movement and dynasty that conquered the Spanish and North African empire of the Almoravids in the 12th century.

al·mond n. 1 the oval nutlike seed (kernel) of the almond tree, used as food.

2 (also almond tree) the tree that produces this nut, belonging to the rose family and related to the peach and plum. Native to western Asia, it is widely cultivated in warm climates.
<INFO>  Genus Prunus, family Rosaceae: one species, P. dulcis (sweet almond), and a variety, P. dulcis amara (bitter almond).

■ adj. made of or flavored with almonds: almond cookies.
- of an oval shape, pointed at one or both ends: her almond eyes.

- a pale tan color, as of an almond shell: the kitchen was done in almond.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French alemande, from medieval Latin amandula, from Greek .

al·mond oil n. oil expressed from bitter almonds, used for cosmetic preparations, flavoring, and medicinal purposes.

al·mond paste n. another term for MARZIPAN.

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MARZIPAN ■

al·mon·er n. HISTORICAL an official distributor of alms.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French aumonier, based on medieval Latin eleemosynarius, from eleemosyna 'alms' (see ALMS).

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ALMS ■

al·mon·ry n. (pl. -ries) a building or place where alms were formerly distributed.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French au(l)mosnerie, from medieval Latin eleemosynarius (see ALMONER).

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ALMONER ■

Al·mo·ra·vid (also Al·mo·ra·vide ) n. (pl. -vids) a member of a federation of Muslim Berber peoples that established an empire in Morocco, Algeria, and Spain in the 11th century. They were in turn driven out by the Almohads.

al·most adv. not quite; very nearly: he almost knocked Georgina over; Rachel laughed, almost apologetically; the place was almost empty; it will eat almost anything; the storm was almost upon them.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'for the most part' (see ALL, MOST).

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ALL ■

MOST ■

alms plural n. (in historical contexts) money or food given to poor people.

<ORIGIN> Old English ælmysse, ælmesse, from Christian Latin eleemosyna, from Greek 'compassion', from 'compassionate', from eleos 'mercy'.

alms·house n. a house built originally by a charitable person or organization for poor people to live in.

al-Nak·ba n. the Arabic term for the events of 1948, when many Palestinians were displaced from their homeland by the creation of the new state of Israel.

<ORIGIN> from Arabic, literally 'the disaster'.

al·oe n. 1 a succulent plant, typically having a rosette of toothed fleshy leaves and bell-shaped or tubular flowers on long stems. Native to the Old World tropics, several species are cultivated commercially or as ornamentals.
<INFO>  Genus Aloe, family Liliaceae (or Aloaceae).

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (aloes or bitter aloes) a strong laxative obtained from the bitter juice of various kinds of aloe.

- (also American aloe) another term for CENTURY PLANT.

2 (aloes) (also aloeswood) the fragrant heartwood of a tropical Asian tree.
<INFO>  The wood is obtained from two trees of the genus Aquilaria, family Thymelaeaceae, esp. A. agallocha.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the resin obtained from this wood, used in perfume, incense, and medicine.

<ORIGIN> Old English alewe, alwe (denoting the fragrant resin or heartwood of certain Oriental trees), via Latin from Greek ; reinforced in late Middle English by Old French aloes 'aloe', hence frequently used in the plural.

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CENTURY PLANT ■

al·oe ver·a n. 1 a gelatinous substance obtained from a kind of aloe, used esp. in cosmetics as an emollient and for the treatment of burns.

2 the plant that yields this substance, grown chiefly in the Caribbean area and the southern U.S.
<INFO>  Aloe vera, family Liliaceae (or Aloaceae).

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: modern Latin, literally 'true aloe', probably in contrast to the American agave, which closely resembles aloe vera: both plants were formerly classified together in the lily family.

a·loft adj. [predic.] & adv. up in or into the air; overhead: the congregation sways, hands aloft | [as adv.] she held her glass aloft.
<SPECIAL USAGE> up the mast or into the rigging of a sailing vessel.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse á lopt, á lopti, from á 'in, on, to' + lopt 'air'.

a·log·i·cal adj. opposed to or lacking in logic.

A·lo·ha a community in northwestern Oregon, west of Portland; pop. 34,284.

a·lo·ha exclam. & n. Hawaiian word used when greeting or parting from someone.

a·lo·ha shirt n. a loose, brightly patterned Hawaiian shirt.

A·lo·ha State a nickname for the state of HAWAII.

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HAWAII ■

a·lone adj. & adv. 1 having no one else present; on one's own: [as predic. adj.] she was alone that evening | [as adv.] he lives alone.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- without others' help or participation; single-handed: team members are more effective than individuals working alone.

- [as adj.] isolated and lonely: she was terribly alone and exposed.

- having no companions in a particular position or course of action: they were not alone in dissenting from the advice.

2 [as adv.] indicating that something is confined to the specified subject or recipient: we agreed to set up such a test for him alone; it is Congress alone that can declare war.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used to emphasize that only one factor out of several is being considered and that the whole is greater or more extreme: there were fifteen churches in the town center alone.

<PHRASES>
□ go it alone INFORMAL act by oneself without assistance.

□ leave (or let) someone/something alone
1 abandon or desert someone or something.

2 stop disturbing or interfering with someone or something.

□ let alone see LET^1 .

<DERIVATIVES> a·lone·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from ALL + ONE.

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LET ■

ALL ■

ONE ■

a·long prep. 1 moving in a constant direction on (a path or any more or less horizontal surface): soon we were driving along a narrow road; he saw Gary run along the top of the wall | [as adv.] she sailed along; we continued to plod along.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used metaphorically to refer to the passage of time or the making of progress: they can be helped along the road to modernity; we passed along snatches of information; you'll pick up some valuable tips along the way; | [as adv.] they asked how the construction was coming along.

2 extending in a more or less horizontal line on: cars were parked along the grass border; the path along the cliff; hotels are springing up all along the coast.

■ adv. in or into company with others: he had brought along a friend of his; I went along to see Ray.
<SPECIAL USAGE> at hand; with one: take along a camcorder when you visit.

<PHRASES>
□ along about INFORMAL or DIALECT around about (a specified time or date): he generally leaves there along about daylight.

□ along of ARCHAIC or DIALECT
1 on account of: the trouble I've had along of that lady's crankiness.

2 with: you'll have to make a break for it along of me.

□ along the lines (of) in conformity with: a highway patrol organized along the lines of the New Jersey State Police.

□ along with in company with or at the same time as: I was chosen, along with twelve other artists.

□ be (or come) along arrive: she'll be along soon a chance like this doesn't come along every day.

<ORIGIN> Old English andlang; related to LONG^1 .

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LONG ■

a·long·shore adv. along or by the shore: currents flowing alongshore.

a·long·side prep. (also alongside of) close to the side of; next to: she was sitting alongside him; the road passes alongside the viaduct | [as adv.] the boat came alongside.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- together and in cooperation with: a care assistant was working alongside him.

- at the same time as or in coexistence with: alongside the development of full-time courses there had to be provision for the part-time student.

a·loof adj. not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant: they were courteous but faintly aloof; an aloof and somewhat austere figure.
<SPECIAL USAGE> conspicuously uninvolved and uninterested, typically through distaste: he stayed aloof from the bickering.

<DERIVATIVES> a·loof·ly adv. a·loof·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from A-2 (expressing direction) + LUFF. The term was originally an adverb in nautical use, meaning 'away and to windward!', i.e., with the ship's head kept close to the wind away from a lee shore, etc., toward which it might otherwise drift. From this arose the sense 'at a distance' literally or figuratively.

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A- ■

LUFF ■

al·o·pe·ci·a n. [MEDICINE] the partial or complete absence of hair from areas of the body where it normally grows; baldness.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek , literally 'fox mange', from 'fox'.

A·lor Se·tar a city near the west coast of the central Malay Peninsula in Malaysia; pop. 71,682.

a·loud adv. 1 audibly; not silently or in a whisper: he read the letter aloud.

2 ARCHAIC loudly: he wept aloud.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from A-2 (expressing manner) + LOUD.

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A- ■

LOUD ■

a·low adv. ARCHAIC or DIALECT below; downward.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [NAUTICAL] in or into the lower part of a ship, e.g., down from the rigging, or below deck.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in nautical use since the early 16th cent.): from A-2 'on' + LOW^1 .

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A- ■

LOW ■

alp n. a high mountain, esp. a snowcapped one.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in Switzerland) an area of green pasture on a mountainside.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: singular of ALPS.

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ALPS ■

al·pac·a n. (pl. same or -pac·as) a long-haired domesticated South American mammal related to the llama, valued for its wool.
<INFO>  Lama pacos, family Camelidae, probably descended from the wild guanaco.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the wool of the alpaca.

- fabric made from this wool, with or without other fibers: [as adj.] an alpaca jersey.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Spanish, from Aymara allpaca.

al·par·ga·ta n. a light canvas shoe with a plaited fiber sole; an espadrille.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Spanish.

al·pen·glow n. the rosy light of the setting or rising sun seen on high mountains.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: a partial translation of German Alpenglühen, literally 'Alp glow'.

al·pen·horn (also alp·horn ) n. a valveless wooden horn up to 12 feet (4 m) long, used for signaling in the Alps.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from German, literally 'Alp horn'.

al·pen·stock n. a long iron-tipped staff used by hikers and mountain climbers.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from German, literally 'Alp stick'.

Al·pert Herb (1935-), U.S. musician and producer. A jazz trumpeter, he co-founded A & M Records with Jerry Moss in 1962 and went on to record many successful albums with the Tijuana Brass.

al·pha n. 1 the first letter of the Greek alphabet (, ), transliterated as “a.”
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [as adj.] denoting the first of a series of items or categories, e.g., forms of a chemical compound: alpha interferon; the and chains of hemoglobin.

- short for ALPHA TEST.

- (Alpha) [followed by Latin genitive] the first (typically the brightest) star in a constellation: Alpha Centauri.

- [as adj.] relating to alpha decay or alpha particles: an alpha emitter.

- (of animals in a group) the socially dominant individual: he rose to be alpha male of his troop at the very early age of 16.

2 a code word representing the letter A, used in radio communication.

■ symbol
- () a plane angle.

- () angular acceleration.

- () [ASTRONOMY] right ascension.

<PHRASES> alpha and omega the beginning and the end (esp. used by Christians as a title for Jesus).
- the essence or most important features: collective bargaining is seen as the alpha and omega of trade unionism.

<ORIGIN> from Semitic; cf. Phoenician , lit. 'ox', and Hebrew 'aleph'.

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ALPHA TEST ■

al·pha·bet n. a set of letters or symbols in a fixed order, used to represent the basic sounds of a language; in particular, the set of letters from A to Z.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the basic elements in a system which combine to form complex entities: DNA's 4-letter alphabet.

The alphabet has its roots in Phoenician writing of the 2nd millennium BC, from which the modern Hebrew and Arabic systems are ultimately derived. The Greek alphabet, which emerged in 1000-900 BC, developed two branches, Cyrillic (which became the script of Russian) and Etruscan (from which derives the Roman alphabet used in the West).

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from late Latin alphabetum, from Greek alpha, , the first two letters of the Greek alphabet.

al·pha·bet·i·cal adj. of or relating to an alphabet: alphabetical characters.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in the order of the letters of the alphabet: an alphabetical index; in alphabetical order.

<DERIVATIVES> al·pha·bet·ic adj. al·pha·bet·i·cal·ly adv.

al·pha·bet·ize v. [trans.] arrange (words or phrases) in alphabetical order: the listings are arranged by state and alphabetized by city.

<DERIVATIVES> al·pha·bet·i·za·tion n.

al·pha·bet soup n. INFORMAL incomprehensible or confusing language, typically containing many abbreviations or symbols.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: alluding to a kind of clear soup containing pasta in the shapes of letters.

al·pha block·er n. [MEDICINE] any of a class of drugs that prevent the stimulation of the adrenergic receptors responsible for increased blood pressure.

Al·pha Cen·tau·ri [ASTRONOMY] the third brightest star in the sky, in the constellation Centaurus, visible only to observers in the southern hemisphere. It is the nearest bright star to the solar system (distance 4.34 light years), and is a visual binary. Also called RIGIL KENTAURUS.

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RIGIL KENTAURUS ■

al·pha-fe·to·pro·tein n. [MEDICINE] a protein produced by a fetus that is present in amniotic fluid and the bloodstream of the mother. Levels of the protein can be measured to detect certain congenital defects such as spina bifida and Down syndrome.

alpha globulin n. see GLOBULIN.

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GLOBULIN ■

al·pha-hy·drox·y ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] an organic acid containing a hydroxyl group bonded to the carbon atom adjacent to the carboxylic acid group. A number of such compounds are used in skin-care preparations for their exfoliating properties. Also called FRUIT ACID.

al·pha·nu·mer·ic adj. consisting of or using both letters and numerals: alphanumeric data; an alphanumeric keyboard.

■ n. a character that is either a letter or a number.

<DERIVATIVES> al·pha·nu·mer·i·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: blend of ALPHABETICAL and NUMERICAL.

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ALPHABETICAL ■

NUMERICAL ■

al·pha par·ti·cle n. [PHYSICS] a helium nucleus emitted by some radioactive substances, originally regarded as a ray.

al·pha ra·di·a·tion n. ionizing radiation consisting of alpha particles, emitted by some substances undergoing radioactive decay.

Al·pha·ret·ta a city in northwestern Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta; pop. 34,854.

al·pha rhythm n. [PHYSIOLOGY] the normal electrical activity of the brain when conscious and relaxed, consisting of oscillations (alpha waves) with a frequency of 8 to 13 hertz.

al·pha test n. a trial of machinery, software, or other products carried out by a developer before a product is made available for beta testing.

■ v. (al·pha-test) [trans.] subject (a product) to a test of this kind.

alp·horn n. another term for ALPENHORN.

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ALPENHORN ■

al·pine adj. [usu. attrib] of or relating to high mountains: alpine and subalpine habitats.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in the names of plants and animals) growing or found on high mountains: the alpine forget-me-not.

- (Alpine) of or relating to the Alps: the major Alpine ski venues.

- (also Alpine) (of skiing) involving downhill racing: an alpine ski team.

■ n. 1 a plant native to mountain districts, often suitable for growing in rock gardens.

2 a North American butterfly that typically has brownish-black wings with orange-red markings.
<INFO>  Genus Erebia, subfamily Satyrinae, family Nymphalidae: several species.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin Alpinus, from Alpes 'Alps' (see ALPS).

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ALPS ■

al·pine house n. an unheated greenhouse used to grow alpine plants.

al·pin·ist n. a climber of high mountains, esp. in the Alps.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French alpiniste, from alpin (see ALPINE).

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ALPINE ■

al·pra·zo·lam n. [MEDICINE] a drug of the benzodiazepine group, used in the treatment of anxiety.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from al- of unknown origin + p(henyl) + (t)r(i)azol(e) + (-azep)am.

Alps a mountain system in Europe that extends in a curve from the coast of southeastern France through northwestern Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and southern Germany into Austria. The highest peak, Mont Blanc, rises to a height of 15,771 feet (4,807 m).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via French from Latin Alpes, from Greek Alpeis, of unknown origin.

al Qae·da , (also al-Qa'i·dah, al-Qae·da) a militant Islamic fundamentalist group. Founded in the late 1980s to combat the Soviets in Afghanistan, its goal is to establish a pan-Islamic caliphate by collaborating with Islamic extremists to overthrow non-Islamic regimes and to expel Westerners and non-Muslims from Muslim countries.

<ORIGIN> Arabic, literally 'the base'.

Al Qa·hi·ra Arabic name for CAIRO.

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CAIRO ■

al-Qods the Arabic name for Jerusalem.

al·read·y adv. 1 before or by now or the time in question: Anna has suffered a great deal already.
<SPECIAL USAGE> as surprisingly soon or early as this: at 31, he already suffers from arthritis; already it was past four o' clock.

2 INFORMAL used as an intensive after a word or phrase to express impatience: enough already with these crazy kids and their wacky dances!

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from ALL (as an adverb) + READY; sense 2 is influenced by Yiddish use.

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ALL ■

READY ■

al·right variant spelling of ALL RIGHT.

<USAGE>
The merging of all and right to form the one-word spelling alright is first recorded toward the end of the 19th century (unlike other similar merged spellings such as altogether and already, which date from much earlier). There is no logical reason for insisting that all right be two words when other single-word forms such as altogether have long been accepted. Nevertheless, although found widely, alright remains nonstandard.

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ALL RIGHT ■

ALS abbr. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Al·sace a region of northeastern France, on the borders with Germany and Switzerland. It was annexed by Prussia, along with part of Lorraine, to form Alsace-Lorraine after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. It was restored to France after World War I.

Al·sa·tian n. 1 CHIEFLY BRIT. another term for GERMAN SHEPHERD.

2 a native or inhabitant of Alsace.

■ adj. of or relating to Alsace or its inhabitants.

<ORIGIN> from medieval Latin Alsatia 'Alsace' + -AN.

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GERMAN SHEPHERD ■

-AN ■

al·sike (also alsike clover) n. a tall clover that is widely grown for fodder. Native to Europe, it has become naturalized in North America.
<INFO>  Trifolium hybridum, family Leguminosae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Alsike in Sweden; Linnaeus mentions the plant growing there.

al·so adv. in addition; too: a brilliant linguist, he was also interested in botany; dyslexia, also known as word-blindness | [sentence adverb] also, a car is very expensive to run.

<ORIGIN>  Old English 'quite so, in that manner, similarly' (see ALL, SO^1 ).

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ALL ■

SO ■

al·so-ran n. a loser in a race or contest, esp. by a large margin.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an undistinguished or unsuccessful person or thing.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: originally applied to horses in a race that do not get a "place.”

al·stroe·me·ri·a n. a South American plant with showy lilylike flowers, often cultivated as an ornamental.
<INFO>  Genus Alstroemeria, family Liliaceae: several species, in particular the Peruvian lily.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: modern Latin, named after Klas von Alstroemer (1736-96), Swedish naturalist.

Alt n. short for ALT KEY.

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ALT KEY ■

alt. abbr.
- alternate.

- altimeter.

- altitude.

alt. (also alt-) combining form denoting a version of something that is intended as a challenge to the traditional version: an alt.classical quartet.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: abbr. of alternative, influenced by the alt. prefix of some Usenet newsgroups.

Alta. abbr. Alberta.

Al·ta·de·na a residential suburb in southwestern California, just north of Pasadena; pop. 42,658.

Al·tai (also Al·tay) a krai (administrative territory) of Russia in southwestern Siberia, on the border with Kazakhstan; capital, Barnaul.

Al·ta·ic adj. 1 of or relating to the Altai Mountains.

2 denoting or belonging to a phylum of languages that includes the Turkic, Mongolian, Tungusic, and Manchu languages. They are characterized by agglutination and vowel harmony.

■ n. the Altaic family of languages.

Al·tai Moun·tains a mountain system in central Asia that extends east for about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from Kazakhstan into western Mongolia and northern China.

Al·tair [ASTRONOMY] the brightest star in the constellation Aquila.

<ORIGIN> Arabic, literally 'flying eagle'.

Al·ta·mi·ra the site of a cave with Paleolithic rock paintings, south of Santander in northern Spain, discovered in 1879.

al·tar n. the table in a Christian church at which the bread and wine are consecrated in communion services.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a table or flat-topped block used as the focus for a religious ritual, esp. for making sacrifices or offerings to a deity.

<PHRASES>
□ lead someone to the altar marry.

□ sacrifice someone/something on/at the altar of someone/something cause someone or something to suffer in the interests of someone or something else: no businessman is going to sacrifice his company on the altar of such altruism.

<ORIGIN> Old English altar, alter, based on late Latin altar, altarium, from Latin altus 'high'.

al·tar boy n. a boy who acts as a priest's assistant, esp. in the Roman Catholic Church.

al·tar call n. a summons to the altar at a Christian worship service to those wishing to show their commitment: I never responded to an altar call, or if my pastor gave an altar call, I didn't think it applied to me.

al·tar girl n. a girl who acts as a priest's assistant during a service, esp. in the Roman Catholic Church.

al·tar·piece n. a work of art, esp. a painting on wood, set above and behind an altar.

al·tar rail n. a railing in front of the altar, separating the chancel from the nave.

Al·tay variant spelling of ALTAI.

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ALTAI ■

alt·az·i·muth n. 1 (also altazimuth mount or mounting) [ASTRONOMY] a telescope mounting that moves in azimuth (about a vertical axis) and in altitude (about a horizontal axis). Compare with EQUATORIAL MOUNT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also altazimuth telescope) a telescope on such a mounting.

2 a surveying instrument for measuring vertical and horizontal angles, resembling a theodolite but larger and more precise.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: blend of ALTITUDE and AZIMUTH.

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EQUATORIAL MOUNT ■

ALTITUDE ■

AZIMUTH ■

alt.coun·try (also alt-coun·try) n. a style of country music that is influenced by alternative rock.

Alt·dor·fer Albrecht (c.1485-1538), German painter and engraver. He was the principal artist of the Danube School.

al·ter v. change or cause to change in character or composition, typically in a comparatively small but significant way: [trans.] Eliot was persuaded to alter the passage; nothing alters the fact that children are our responsibility | [intrans.] our outward appearance alters as we get older | [as adj.] (altered) an altered state.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] make structural changes to (a building): plans to alter the dining hall.

- [trans.] tailor (clothing) for a better fit or to conform to fashion: skirts with the hemlines altered a dozen different times.

- [trans.] castrate or spay (a domestic animal).

<DERIVATIVES> al·ter·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French alterer, from late Latin alterare, from Latin alter 'other'.

al·ter·a·tion n. the action or process of altering or being altered: timetables are subject to alteration without notice | alterations had to be made.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin alteratio(n-), from the verb alterare (see ALTER).

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ALTER ■

al·ter·cate v. [intrans.] ARCHAIC dispute or argue noisily and publicly.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin altercat- 'wrangled', from altercari.

al·ter·ca·tion n. a noisy argument or disagreement, esp. in public: I had an altercation with the conductor. See note at QUARREL.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin altercatio(n-), from the verb altercari (see ALTERCATE).

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ALTERCATE ■

al·ter e·go n. a person's secondary or alternative personality.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an intimate and trusted friend.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: Latin, 'other self'.

al·ter·i·ty n. FORMAL the state of being other or different; otherness.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from late Latin alteritas, from alter 'other'.

al·ter·nant n. an alternative form of a word or other linguistic unit; a variant.

■ adj. alternating; changing from one to the other.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin alternant- 'doing things by turns', from the verb alternare (see ALTERNATE).

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ALTERNATE ■

al·ter·nate v. [intrans.] occur in turn repeatedly: the governorship alternated between the Republican and Democratic parties; bouts of depression alternate with periods of elation | [as adj.] (alternating) a season of alternating hot days and cool nights.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] do or perform in turn repeatedly: some adults who wish to alternate work with education.

■ adj. (abbr.: alt.) [attrib.] 1 every other; every second: she was asked to attend on alternate days.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of two things) each following and succeeded by the other in a regular pattern: alternate bouts of intense labor and of idleness.

- (of a sequence) consisting of alternate items.

- [BOTANY] (of leaves or shoots) placed alternately on the two sides of the stem.

2 taking the place of; alternative: the rerouted traffic takes a variety of alternate routes.

■ n. (abbr.: alt.) a person who acts as a deputy or substitute.

<DERIVATIVES> al·ter·nate·ly adv. al·ter·na·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Latin alternat- 'done by turns', from alternare, from alternus 'every other', from alter 'other, the other'.

<USAGE>
See usage at ALTERNATIVE.

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ALTERNATIVE ■

al·ter·nate an·gles plural n. two angles, not adjoining one another, that are formed on opposite sides of a line that intersects two other lines. If the original two lines are parallel, the alternate angles are equal.

al·ter·nat·ing cur·rent (abbr.: AC or ac) n. an electric current that reverses its direction many times a second at regular intervals, typically used in power supplies. Compare with DIRECT CURRENT.

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DIRECT CURRENT ■

al·ter·na·tion of gen·er·a·tions n. [BIOLOGY] a pattern of reproduction occurring in the life cycles of many lower plants and some invertebrates, involving a regular alternation between two distinct forms. The generations are alternately sexual and asexual (as in ferns) or dioecious and parthenogenetic (as in some jellyfish).

al·ter·na·tive adj. [attrib.] (of one or more things) available as another possibility: the various alternative methods for resolving disputes; the alternative definition of democracy as popular power.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of two things) mutually exclusive: the facts fit two alternative scenarios.

- of or relating to behavior that is considered unconventional and is often seen as a challenge to traditional norms: an alternative lifestyle; they have one foot in alternative music and the other in rock.

■ n. one of two or more available possibilities: audiocassettes are an interesting alternative to reading; she had no alternative but to break the law.

<DERIVATIVES> al·ter·na·tive·ly adv. [sentence adverb] alternatively, you may telephone us direct.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'alternating, alternate'): from French alternatif, -ive or medieval Latin alternativus, from Latin alternare 'interchange' (see ALTERNATE).

<USAGE>
1 Alternate can be a verb, noun, or adjective, while alternative can be a noun or adjective. In both American and British English, the adjective alternate means 'every other' ( there will be a dance on alternate Saturdays) and the adjective alternative means 'available as another choice' ( an alternative route; alternative medicine; alternative energy sources). In American usage, however, alternate can also be used to mean 'available as another choice': an alternate plan called for construction to begin immediately rather than waiting for spring. Likewise, a book club may offer an 'alternate selection' as an alternative to the main selection.

2 Some traditionalists maintain, from an etymological standpoint, that you can have only two alternatives (from the Latin alter ‘other (of two); the other’) and that uses of more than two alternatives are erroneous. Such uses are, however, normal in modern standard English.

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ALTERNATE ■

al·ter·na·tive dis·pute res·o·lu·tion (abbr.: ADR) n. the use of methods such as mediation and arbitration to resolve a dispute instead of litigation.

al·ter·na·tive en·er·gy n. energy generated in ways that do not deplete natural resources or harm the environment, esp. by avoiding the use of fossil fuels and nuclear power.

al·ter·na·tive fu·el n. a fuel other than gasoline for powering motor vehicles, such as natural gas, methanol, or electricity.

al·ter·na·tive med·i·cine n. any of a range of medical therapies that are not regarded as orthodox by the medical profession, such as herbalism, homeopathy, and acupuncture. See also COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE.

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COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE ■

al·ter·na·tor n. a generator that produces an alternating current.

Al·thing the bicameral legislative assembly of Iceland.

<ORIGIN> Icelandic, from Old Norse.

alt·horn n. a musical instrument of the saxhorn family, esp. the alto or tenor saxhorn in E flat.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from German, from alt 'high' (from Latin altus) + Horn 'horn'.

al·though conj. in spite of the fact that; even though: although the sun was shining it wasn't that warm; although small, the room has a spacious feel.
<SPECIAL USAGE> however; but: he says he has the team jersey, although I've never seen him wear it.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from ALL (as an adverb) + THOUGH.

<USAGE>
Although and though are interchangeable in the senses listed above, the only difference being that use of though tends to be less formal than that of although. In formal writing, although tends to sound better than though as the opening word of a sentence. Some uses of though, however, are not interchangeable with althoughe.g., adverbial uses ( it was nice of him to phone, though) and uses in conjunction with ‘as’ or ‘even’ ( she doesn't look as though she's listening).

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ALL ■

THOUGH ■

Alt·hus·ser Louis (1918-90), French philosopher. He reinterpreted traditional Marxism in the light of structuralist theories. Notable works: For Marx (1965) and Reading Capital (1970).

al·tim·e·ter (abbr.: alt.) n. an instrument for determining altitude attained, esp. a barometric or radar device used in an aircraft.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Latin altus 'high' + -METER.

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-METER ■

al·tim·e·try n. the measurement of height or altitude.

<DERIVATIVES> al·ti·met·ric adj. al·ti·met·ri·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin altimetria.

al·ti·pla·no n. (pl. -nos) the high tableland of central South America.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Spanish.

al·tis·si·mo adj. [MUSIC] very high in pitch: the extreme altissimo range of his horn.

<ORIGIN> Italian, superlative of alto 'high'.

al·ti·tude (abbr.: alt.) n. the height of an object or point in relation to sea level or ground level: flight data including airspeed and altitude | flying at altitudes over 15,000 feet.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- great height: the mechanism can freeze at altitude.

- [ASTRONOMY] the apparent height of a celestial object above the horizon, measured as an angle.

- [GEOMETRY] the length of the perpendicular line from a vertex to the opposite side of a figure.

<DERIVATIVES> al·ti·tu·di·nal adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin altitudo, from altus 'high'.

al·ti·tude sick·ness n. illness caused by ascent to a high altitude and the resulting shortage of oxygen, characterized chiefly by hyperventilation, nausea, exhaustion, and cerebral edema.

Alt key n. [COMPUTING] a key on a keyboard that when pressed at the same time as another key gives the second key an alternative function.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: abbreviation of alt(ernative) key.

Alt·man Robert (1925- ), U.S. movie director. He made his name with M*A*S*H (1970), a black comedy about an army surgical hospital at the front in the Korean War. Other notable movies: Nashville (1975), The Player (1992), and Gosford Park (2001).

al·to n. (pl. -tos) [MUSIC] a voice, instrument, or part below the highest range and above tenor, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the highest adult male singing voice; countertenor.

- the lowest female singing voice; contralto.

- [as adj.] denoting the member of a family of instruments pitched second or third highest: alto flute.

- an alto instrument, esp. an alto saxophone.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Italian alto (canto) 'high (song)'.

al·to clef n. a clef placing middle C on the middle line of the staff, now used chiefly for viola music.

al·to·cu·mu·lus n. (pl. -li ) cloud forming a layer of rounded masses with a level base, occurring at medium altitude, usually 6,500-23,000 feet (2-7 km).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin alto- (from Latin altus 'high') + CUMULUS.

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CUMULUS ■

al·to·geth·er adv. completely; totally: I stopped seeing her altogether | [as submodifier] I'm not altogether sure that I'd trust him.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- including everything or everyone; in total: he had married several times and had forty-six children altogether.

- [sentence adverb] taking everything into consideration; on the whole: altogether it was a great evening.

<PHRASES> in the altogether INFORMAL without any clothes on; naked: she's agreed to pose in the altogether.

<ORIGIN> Old English (see ALL, TOGETHER).

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

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ALL ■

TOGETHER ■

Al·ton an industrial city in southwestern Illinois, on the Mississippi River, north of St. Louis in Missouri; pop. 32,905.

Al·too·na a city in south central Pennsylvania, in the Allegheny Mountains; pop. 49,523. A noted railroad center, it is near Horseshoe Curve, where rails first crossed the Alleghenies.

al·to-re·lie·vo n. (pl. -vos) [SCULPTURE] another term for HIGH RELIEF at RELIEF (sense 4).
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sculpture or carving in high relief.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Italian alto-rilievo.

al·to·stra·tus n. cloud forming a continuous uniform layer that resembles stratus but occurs at medium altitude, usually 6,500-23,000 feet (2-7 km).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin alto- (from Latin altus 'high') + STRATUS.

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STRATUS ■

al·tri·cial [ZOOLOGY] adj. (of a young bird or other animal) hatched or born in an undeveloped state and requiring care and feeding by the parents. Also called NIDICOLOUS. Often contrasted with PRECOCIAL.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a particular species) having such young.

■ n. an altricial bird.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin altrix, altric-, feminine of altor 'nourisher', from alere 'nourish'.

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NIDICOLOUS ■

PRECOCIAL ■

al·tru·ism n. the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others: some may choose to work with vulnerable elderly people out of altruism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ZOOLOGY] behavior of an animal that benefits another at its own expense.

<DERIVATIVES> al·tru·ist n. al·tru·is·tic adj. al·tru·is·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French altruisme, from Italian altrui 'somebody else', from Latin alteri huic 'to this other'.

Al·tus a city in southwestern Oklahoma; pop. 21,910.

ALU [COMPUTING] abbr. arithmetic logic unit.

al·u·del n. a pear-shaped earthenware or glass pot, open at both ends to enable a series to be fitted one above another, formerly used in sublimation and other chemical processes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French alutel, via Spanish from Arabic 'the sublimation vessel'.

al·u·la n. (pl. -u·lae ) technical term for BASTARD WING.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: modern Latin, literally 'small wing', diminutive of ala.

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BASTARD WING ■

a·lum n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless astringent compound that is a hydrated double sulfate of aluminum and potassium, used in solution medicinally and in dyeing and tanning. Also called POTASH ALUM.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: AlK(SO_4)2.12H_2O.

<SPECIAL USAGE> any of a number of analogous crystalline double sulfates of a monovalent metal (or group) and a trivalent metal.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin alumen, alumin-; related to aluta 'tawed leather'.

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POTASH ALUM ■

a·lu·mi·na n. a white solid, aluminum oxide, that occurs in bauxite and is found in crystalline form as the main constituent of corundum, sapphire, and other minerals.
<INFO>  Aluminum oxide; chem. formula: Al_2O_3.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin alumen (see ALUM), on the pattern of words such as magnesia.

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ALUM ■

a·lu·mi·nize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (aluminized) coat with aluminum: an aluminized reflector.

a·lu·mi·no·sil·i·cate n. [CHEMISTRY] a silicate in which aluminum replaces some of the silicon, esp. a rock-forming mineral such as a feldspar or a clay mineral.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from alumino- (combining form of ALUMINUM) + SILICATE.

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ALUMINUM ■

SILICATE ■

a·lu·mi·nous adj. (chiefly of minerals and rocks) containing alumina or aluminum.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin aluminosus, from alumen, alumin- (see ALUM).

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ALUM ■

a·lu·mi·num (BRIT. al·u·min·i·um ) n. the chemical element of atomic number 13, a light silvery-gray metal. (Symbol: Al)

Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust and is obtained mainly from bauxite. Its lightness, resistance to corrosion, and strength (esp. in alloys) have led to widespread use in domestic utensils, engineering parts, and aircraft construction.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from alumin(a) + (i)um.

a·lu·mi·num bronze n. an alloy of copper and aluminum.

a·lum·na n. (pl. -nae ) a female graduate or former student of a particular school, college, or university.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin, feminine of alumnus (see ALUMNUS).

<USAGE>
See usage at ALUMNUS.

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ALUMNUS ■

ALUMNUS ■

a·lum·nus n. (pl. -ni ) a graduate or former student, esp. male, of a particular school, college, or university: a Harvard alumnus.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin, 'nursling, pupil', from alere 'nourish'.

<USAGE>
In the singular, alumnus nearly always means a male, but the plural alumni usually refers to graduates or former students of either sex.

See also ALUMNA.

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ALUMNA ■

al·um·root (also al·um root) n. a heuchera, esp. the green-flowered H. americana and the white-flowered H. parvifolia.

Al Uq·sur Arabic name for LUXOR.

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LUXOR ■

Al·va·rez Luis Walter (1911-88), U.S. physicist. In particle physics, he made the first measurement of the neutron's magnetic moment. He also developed the bubble chamber. In 1980 Alvarez and his son identified iridium in sediment from the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary and proposed that this resulted from a catastrophic meteorite impact. Nobel Prize for Physics (1968).

al·ve·o·lar adj. of or relating to an alveolus, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ANATOMY] relating to or denoting the bony ridge that contains the sockets of the upper teeth.

- [PHONETICS] (of a consonant) pronounced with the tip of the tongue on or near this ridge (e.g., n, s, t).

- [ANATOMY] of or relating to an alveolus or the alveoli of the lung.

■ n. [PHONETICS] an alveolar consonant.

al·ve·o·lus n. (pl. -li ) [CHIEFLY ANATOMY] a small cavity, pit, or hollow, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- any of the many tiny air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.

- the bony socket for the root of a tooth.

- an acinus in a gland.

<DERIVATIVES> al·ve·o·late adj.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin, 'small cavity', diminutive of alveus.

al·ways (ARCHAIC al·way) adv. 1 at all times; on all occasions: the sun always rises in the east.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- throughout a long period of the past: she had always been an obstinate sort.

- for all future time; forever: she will always be missed.

- repeatedly and annoyingly: she is always making derogatory remarks.

2 as a last resort; failing all else: if the marriage doesn't work out, we can always get divorced.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: genitive case of all way, the inflection probably giving the sense 'at every time' as opposed to 'at one uninterrupted time'; the difference between the two is no longer distinct.

a·lys·sum n. (pl. -sums) a herbaceous Eurasian plant that bears small flowers in a range of colors, typically white or yellow. Several kinds are widely cultivated in gardens.
<INFO>  Genera Alyssum and Lobularia, family Brassicaceae: many species, including sweet alyssum (L. maritima), with fragrant white flowers.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (used loosely to denote various medicinal herbs): modern Latin, from Latin alysson, from Greek alusson, from a- 'without' + lussa 'rabies' (referring to early herbalist use).

Alz·hei·mer's dis·ease n. progressive mental deterioration that can occur in middle or old age, due to generalized degeneration of the brain. It is the most common cause of premature senility.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915), German neurologist who first identified it.

AM abbr.
- amplitude modulation.

- Master of Arts. <ORIGIN> Latin artium magister.

Am symbol the chemical element americium.

am 1st person singular present of BE.

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BE ■

a.m. abbr. before noon, used with times of day between midnight and noon: we can deliver your most time-sensitive shipments by 10:30 a.m.

<ORIGIN> from Latin ante meridiem.

AMA abbr.
- American Management Association.

- American Medical Association.

- American Motorcycle Association.

a·mah n. a nursemaid or maid in the Far East or India.

<ORIGIN> from Portuguese ama 'nurse'.

A·mal a Lebanese Shiite Muslim organization founded in 1975 and having political and paramilitary wings.

<ORIGIN> from Arabic 'amal 'hope'.

a·mal·gam n. a mixture or blend: a curious amalgam of the traditional and the modern.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHEMISTRY] an alloy of mercury with another metal, esp. one used for dental fillings.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French amalgame or medieval Latin amalgama, from Greek malagma 'an emollient'.

a·mal·ga·mate v. combine or unite to form one organization or structure: [trans.] he amalgamated his company with another. | [intrans.] numerous small railroad companies amalgamated | [as adj.] (amalgamated) his true genius lies in synthesis, in an amalgamated vision.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHEMISTRY] [trans.] alloy (a metal) with mercury: [as adj.] (amalgamated) amalgamated zinc.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin amalgamat- 'formed into a soft mass', from the verb amalgamare, from amalgama (see AMALGAM).

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AMALGAM ■

a·mal·ga·ma·tion n. the action, process, or result of combining or uniting: the threat of amalgamation with a competitor | an amalgamation of two separate companies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHEMISTRY] the action or process of alloying a metal with mercury.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin amalgamare (see AMALGAMATE).

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AMALGAMATE ■

Am·al·the·a [ASTRONOMY] satellite V of Jupiter, the third closest to the planet. It is reddish in color and heavily cratered, with a diameter of 106 miles (170 km).

<ORIGIN> from the name of a goat in Greek Mythology, which suckled the infant Zeus.

A·man·a Col·o·nies a group of seven villages in east central Iowa. Settled by a German religious group, they are famous for manufacturing appliances.

a·man·dine adj. (of a dish) prepared or garnished with sliced almonds.

a·man·u·en·sis n. (pl. -ses ) a literary or artistic assistant, in particular one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: Latin, from (servus) a manu '(slave) at hand(writing), secretary' + -ensis 'belonging to'.

am·a·ranth n. 1 any plant of the genus Amaranthus, typically having small green, red, or purple tinted flowers. Certain varieties are grown for food.
<INFO>  Family Amaranthaceae: several genera, esp. Amaranthus.

2 an imaginary flower that never fades.

3 a purple color.

<DERIVATIVES> am·a·ran·thine adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French amarante or modern Latin amaranthus, alteration (on the pattern of plant names ending in -anthus, from Greek anthos 'flower') of Latin amarantus, from Greek amarantos 'everlasting', from a- 'not' + marainein 'wither'.

am·a·ret·ti plural n. Italian almond-flavored cookies.

<ORIGIN> Italian, based on amaro 'bitter'; compare with AMARETTO.

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AMARETTO ■

am·a·ret·to n. a sweet, almond-flavored liqueur.

<ORIGIN> Italian, diminutive of amaro 'bitter' (with reference to bitter almonds).

Ama·ril·lo an industrial and commercial city in northwestern Texas, in the Panhandle; pop. 173,627.

am·a·ryl·lis n. a bulbous plant with white, pink, or red flowers and straplike leaves, of the type genus of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae.
<INFO>  A South African plant (Amaryllis belladonna, also called BELLADONNA LILY), and (popularly) a tropical South American plant that is frequently grown as a houseplant (hybrids of the genus Hippeastrum, formerly Amaryllis).

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Latin Amaryllis (from Greek Amarullis), a name for a country girl in pastoral poetry.

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BELLADONNA LILY ■

a·mass v. [trans.] gather together or accumulate (a large amount or number of valuable material or things) over a period of time: starting from nothing he had amassed a huge fortune.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] ARCHAIC (of people) gather together in a crowd or group: the soldiers were amassing from all parts of Spain.

<DERIVATIVES> a·mass·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French amasser or medieval Latin amassare, based on Latin massa 'lump' (see MASS).

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MASS ■

A·ma·te·ra·su the principal deity of the Japanese Shinto religion, the sun goddess and ancestor of Jimmu, founder of the imperial dynasty.

am·a·teur n. a person who engages in a pursuit, esp. a sport, on an unpaid basis.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person considered contemptibly inept at a particular activity: that bunch of stumbling amateurs.

■ adj. engaging or engaged in without payment; nonprofessional: an amateur archaeologist; amateur athletics.
<SPECIAL USAGE> inept or unskillful: it’s all so amateur!

<DERIVATIVES> am·a·teur·ism n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, from Italian amatore, from Latin amator 'lover', from amare 'to love'.

am·a·teur·ish adj. unskillful; inept: the editing is choppy and amateurish; amateurish actors.

<DERIVATIVES> am·a·teur·ish·ly adv. am·a·teur·ish·ness n.

A·ma·ti a family of Italian violin-makers from Cremona. In the 16th and 17th centuries three generations, including Andrea (c.1520-80), his sons Antonio (1550-1638) and Girolamo (1551-1635), and the latter's son Nicolò (1596-1684), developed the basic proportions of the violin, viola, and cello.

am·a·tol n. a high explosive consisting of a mixture of TNT and ammonium nitrate.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: formed irregularly from am(monium) + tol(uene).

am·a·to·ry adj. [attrib.] relating to or induced by sexual love or desire: his amatory exploits.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin amatorius, from amator (see AMATEUR).

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AMATEUR ■

am·au·ro·sis n. [MEDICINE] partial or total blindness without visible change in the eye, typically due to disease of the optic nerve, spinal cord, or brain.

<DERIVATIVES> am·au·rot·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Greek , from amauroun 'darken', from amauros 'dim'.

a·maze v. [trans.] (often be amazed) surprise (someone) greatly; fill with astonishment: he was amazed at how modern everything was | [trans.] she was amazed that Paul should notice her | [as adj.] (amazed) she shook her head in amazed disbelief.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of unknown origin.

a·maze·ment n. a feeling of great surprise or wonder: she shook her head in amazement; he found to his amazement that it was a passageway.

a·maz·ing adj. causing great surprise or wonder; astonishing: an amazing number of people registered; it is amazing how short your memory is.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL startlingly impressive: she makes the most amazing cakes.

<DERIVATIVES> a·maz·ing·ly adv. [sentence adverb] amazingly, Alan escaped with a few cuts and bruises | [as submodifier] an amazingly good idea.

Am·a·zon 1 a river in South America that flows more than 4,150 miles (6,683 km) through Peru, Colombia, and Brazil into the Atlantic Ocean. It drains two-fifths of the continent and, in terms of water-flow, is the largest river in the world.

<DERIVATIVES> Am·a·zo·ni·an adj.

<ORIGIN> the river bore various names after its discovery in 1500 and was finally called Amazon after a legendary tribe of female warriors believed to live on its banks.

Am·a·zon 2 n. 1 a member of a legendary race of female warriors believed by the ancient Greeks to exist in Scythia (near the Black Sea in modern Russia) or elsewhere on the edge of the known world.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also amazon) a tall and strong or athletic woman.

2 (amazon) a parrot, typically green and with a broad rounded tail, found in Central and South America.
<INFO>  Genus Amazona, family Psittacidae: numerous species.

<DERIVATIVES> Am·a·zo·ni·an adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek , explained by the Greeks as 'breastless' (as if from a- 'without' + mazos 'breast'), referring to the fable that the Amazons cut off the right breast so as not to interfere with the use of a bow, but probably a popular etymology of an unknown foreign word.

am·a·zon ant n. a small reddish ant that captures the pupae of other ant colonies to raise as slaves.
<INFO>  Genus Polyergus, family Formicidae.

Am·a·zo·ni·a the area around the Amazon River in South America, principally in Brazil, but also extending into Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia. This region comprises approximately one-third of the world's remaining tropical rain forest.

am·bas·sa·dor n. an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country: the French ambassador to Portugal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specified activity: he is a good ambassador for the industry.

<DERIVATIVES> am·bas·sa·do·ri·al adj. am·bas·sa·dor·ship n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French ambassadeur, from Italian ambasciator, based on Latin ambactus 'servant'.

am·bas·sa·dor-at-large n. an ambassador with special duties, not appointed to a particular country.

am·bas·sa·dress n. a female ambassador.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC an ambassador's wife.

Am·ba·to a market town in the Andes of central Ecuador; pop. 229,190.

am·ber n. hard translucent fossilized resin produced by extinct coniferous trees of the Tertiary period, typically yellowish in color.

Amber has been used in jewelry since antiquity. It is found chiefly along the southern shores of the Baltic Sea; pieces often contain the bodies of trapped insects. When rubbed, amber becomes charged with static electricity: the word electric is derived from the Greek word for amber.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a honey-yellow color typical of this substance.

- a yellow light used as a cautionary signal between green for “go” and red for “stop”: the lights were at amber.

■ adj. made of amber: amber beads.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having the yellow color of amber: her amber eyes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also in the sense 'ambergris'): from Old French ambre, from Arabic anbar 'ambergris', later 'amber'.

AMBER A·lert (also Am·ber A·lert) n. an emergency response system that disseminates information about a missing person (usually a child), by media broadcasting or electronic roadway signs: our state's AMBER Alert became operational last September.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a public announcement or alert that uses this system: the AMBER alert gave a description of the suspected abductor.

<ORIGIN> acronym from America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, named after Amber Hagerman, a child kidnapped in Texas in 1996.

am·ber·gris n. a waxlike substance that originates as a secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale, found floating in tropical seas and used in perfume manufacture.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French ambre gris 'gray amber', as distinct from amber jaune 'yellow amber' (the resin).

am·ber·jack n. a large marine game fish found in inshore tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic and South Pacific.
<INFO>  Genus Seriola, family Carangidae: several species.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from AMBER (because of its yellowish tail) + JACK^1 .

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AMBER ■

JACK ■

am·bi·ance n. variant spelling of AMBIENCE.

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AMBIENCE ■

am·bi·dex·trous adj. (of a person) able to use the right and left hands equally well: few of us are naturally ambidextrous.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an implement) designed to be used by left-handed and right-handed people with equal ease.

<DERIVATIVES> am·bi·dex·ter·i·ty n. am·bi·dex·trous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from late Latin ambidexter (from Latin ambi- 'on both sides' + dexter 'right-handed') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

am·bi·ence (also am·bi·ance) n. [usu. in sing.] the character and atmosphere of a place: the relaxed ambience of the cocktail lounge is popular with guests.
<SPECIAL USAGE> background noise added to a musical recording to give the impression that it was recorded live.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from AMBIENT + -ENCE, or from French ambiance, from ambiant 'surrounding'.

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AMBIENT ■

-ENCE ■

am·bi·ent adj. [attrib.] of or relating to the immediate surroundings of something: the liquid is stored at below ambient temperature.

■ n. (also ambient music) a style of instrumental music with electronic textures and no persistent beat, used to create or enhance a mood or atmosphere.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French ambiant or Latin ambient- 'going around', from ambire.

am·bi·gu·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) uncertainty or inexactness of meaning in language: we can detect no ambiguity in this section of the Act | ambiguities in such questions are potentially very dangerous.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a lack of decisiveness or commitment resulting from a failure to make a choice between alternatives: the film is fraught with moral ambiguity.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French ambiguite or Latin ambiguitas, from ambiguus 'doubtful' (see AMBIGUOUS).

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AMBIGUOUS ■

am·big·u·ous adj. (of language) open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning: the question is rather ambiguous; ambiguous phrases. See note at DOUBTFUL.
<SPECIAL USAGE> unclear or inexact because a choice between alternatives has not been made: this whole society is morally ambiguous; the election result was ambiguous.

<DERIVATIVES> am·big·u·ous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (in the sense 'indistinct, obscure'): from Latin ambiguus 'doubtful' (from ambigere 'waver, go around', from ambi- 'both ways' + agere 'to drive') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

am·bi·sex·u·al adj. bisexual or androgynous.

■ n. an ambisexual person: ambisexuals, who get equal sexual pleasure from women and men.

<DERIVATIVES> am·bi·sex·u·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from Latin ambi- 'on both sides' + SEXUAL.

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SEXUAL ■

am·bi·son·ic adj. denoting or relating to a high-fidelity audio system that reproduces the directional and acoustic properties of recorded sound using two or more channels.

■ n. (ambisonics) [treated as sing.] ambisonic reproduction or systems.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from Latin ambi- 'on both sides' + SONIC.

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SONIC ■

am·bit n. [in sing.] the scope, extent, or bounds of something: within the ambit of federal law.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'precincts, environs'): from Latin ambitus 'circuit', from ambire 'go around'.

am·bi·tion n. a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work: her ambition was to become a model; he achieved his ambition of making a fortune.
<SPECIAL USAGE> desire and determination to achieve success: life offered few opportunities for young people with ambition.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin ambitio(n-), from ambire 'go around (canvassing for votes)'.

am·bi·tious adj. having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed: his mother was hard-working and ambitious for her four children.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a plan or piece of work) intended to satisfy high aspirations and therefore difficult to achieve: the scope of the book is very ambitious; an ambitious enterprise.

<DERIVATIVES> am·bi·tious·ly adv. am·bi·tious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French ambitieux or Latin ambitiosus, from ambitio (see AMBITION).

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AMBITION ■

am·biv·a·lent adj. having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone: some loved her, some hated her, few were ambivalent about her; an ambivalent attitude to terrorism.

<DERIVATIVES> am·biv·a·lence n. am·biv·a·lent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from ambivalence (from German Ambivalenz), on the pattern of equivalent.

am·bi·vert n. [PSYCHOLOGY] a person whose personality has a balance of extrovert and introvert features.

<DERIVATIVES> am·bi·ver·sion n.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Latin ambi- 'on both sides', on the pattern of extrovert and introvert.

am·ble v. [intrans.] walk or move at a slow, relaxed pace: they ambled along the riverbank; he ambled into the foyer.

■ n. a walk at a slow, relaxed pace, esp. for pleasure: a peaceful riverside amble.

<DERIVATIVES> am·bler n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally denoting a horse's gait): from Old French ambler, from Latin ambulare 'to walk'.

am·bly·o·pi·a n. [MEDICINE] impaired or dim vision without obvious defect or change in the eye.

<DERIVATIVES> am·bly·op·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Greek 'dim-sightedness', from (adjective), from amblus 'dull' + , 'eye'.

am·bo n. (pl. am·bos or am·bo·nes ) (in an early Christian church) an oblong pulpit with steps at each end.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek 'rim' (in medieval Greek 'pulpit').

Am·boi·na wood (also Am·boy·na wood) n. the decorative wood of a rapidly growing Southeast Asian tree, often used for furniture making.
<INFO>  The tree is Pterocarpus indicus, family Leguminosae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Amboina Island (see AMBON).

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AMBON ■

Am·boi·nese adj. of or relating to the island of Ambon, its people, or their language.

■ n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Ambon.

2 the Indonesian language of this people.

<ORIGIN> from Amboina (see AMBON) + -ESE.

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AMBON ■

-ESE ■

Am·bon (also Am·boi·na ) a mountainous island in eastern Indonesia, one of the Molucca Islands.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a port on this island, the capital of the Molucca Islands; pop. 80,000.

Am·brose, St. (c.339-397), doctor of the Church. As bishop of Milan from 374, he introduced much Eastern theology and liturgical practice into the West. Feast day, December 7.

am·bro·sia n. [GREEK & ROMAN MYTHOLOGY] the food of the gods.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- something very pleasing to taste or smell: the tea was ambrosia after the slop I'd been drinking.

- a fungal product used as food by ambrosia beetles.

- another term for BEEBREAD.

- a dessert made with oranges and shredded coconut.

<DERIVATIVES> am·bro·sial adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek, 'elixir of life', from ambrotos 'immortal'.

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BEEBREAD ■

am·bro·sia bee·tle n. a small dark wood-boring beetle, the adults and larvae of which feed on a fungus that they cultivate, called ambrosia.
<INFO>  Genus Platypus (family Platypodidae), and Xyleborus and other genera (family Scolytidae).

am·bry (also aum·bry) n. (pl. -bries) a small recess or cupboard in the wall of a church.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French armarie, from Latin armarium 'closet, chest', from arma 'utensils'.

am·bu·lac·rum n. (pl. -lac·ra ) [ZOOLOGY] (in a starfish or other echinoderm) each of the radially arranged bands, together with their underlying structures, through which the double rows of tube feet protrude.

<DERIVATIVES> am·bu·lac·ral adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: Latin, 'avenue', from ambulare 'to walk'.

am·bu·lance n. a vehicle specially equipped for taking sick or injured people to and from the hospital, esp. in emergencies.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, from hôpital ambulant 'mobile (horse-drawn) field hospital', from Latin ambulant- 'walking' (see AMBULANT).

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AMBULANT ■

am·bu·lance chas·er n. DEROGATORY a lawyer who specializes in bringing cases seeking damages for personal injury.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from the reputation gained by certain lawyers for attending accidents and encouraging victims to sue.

am·bu·lant adj. [MEDICINE] (of a patient) able to walk around; not confined to bed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of treatment) not confining a patient to bed.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin ambulant- 'walking', from ambulare.

am·bu·late v. [intrans.] FORMAL or TECHNICAL walk; move about: making use of crutches to ambulate; tortoises are diurnally active, ambulating mainly over the course of the day.

<DERIVATIVES> am·bu·la·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin ambulat- 'walked', from the verb ambulare.

am·bu·la·to·ry adj. relating to or adapted for walking.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MEDICINE] able to walk; not bedridden: ambulatory patients.

- [MEDICINE] relating to patients who are able to walk: an ambulatory care facility.

- movable; mobile: an ambulatory ophthalmic service.

■ n. (pl. -ries) a place for walking, esp. an aisle around the apse or a cloister in a church or monastery.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as a noun): from Latin ambulatorius, from ambulare 'to walk'.

am·bu·lo·ce·tus n. a large carnivorous amphibian (Ambulocetus natans, order Cetacea) of the Eocene epoch, an early ancestor of today's whales.

<ORIGIN> 1990s (following the discovery of bones in Pakistan): modern Latin, from Latin ambulare 'to walk' + cetus 'whale'.

am·bus·cade n. DATED an ambush.

■ v. [trans.] ARCHAIC attack from an ambush.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] ARCHAIC lie in ambush: [as adj.] (ambuscaded) ambuscaded thousands might swarm up over the embankment.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French embuscade, from Italian imboscata, Spanish emboscada, or Portuguese embuscada, based on a late Latin word meaning 'to place in a wood'; related to BUSH^1 .

am·bush n. a surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position: seven members of a patrol were killed in an ambush | terrorists waiting in ambush.

■ v. [trans.] (often be ambushed) make a surprise attack on (someone) from a concealed position: they were ambushed and taken prisoner by the enemy | FIGURATIVE representatives were ambushed by camera crews.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'place troops in hiding in order to surprise an enemy'): from Old French embusche (noun), embuschier (verb), based on a late Latin word meaning 'to place in a wood'; related to BUSH^1 . The noun use dates from the late 15th cent.

am-dram n. CHIEFLY BRIT. INFORMAL [treated as sing. or pl.] amateur dramatics: a performance poised somewhere between slapstick and below-average am-dram.

<ORIGIN> blend.

AME abbr. African Methodist Episcopal.

a·me·ba (also a·moe·ba) n. (pl. -bas or -bae ) a single-celled animal that catches food and moves about by extending fingerlike projections of protoplasm. Amebas are either free-living in damp environments or parasitic.
<INFO>  Many families and genera in the phylum Rhizopoda, kingdom Protista, including the aquatic Amoeba proteus.

<DERIVATIVES> a·me·bic adj. a·me·boid adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek 'change, alternation'.

am·e·bi·a·sis (also am·oe·bi·a·sis) n. [MEDICINE] infection with amebas, esp. as causing dysentery.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from AMEBA + -ASIS.

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AMEBA ■

-ASIS ■

a·me·bic dys·en·ter·y n. dysentery caused by infection of the intestines by the protozoan Entamoeba histolytica, mostly in warm climates, and spread by contaminated food and water.

A·me·che Don (1908-93), U.S. actor; born Dominic Felix Amici. A leading man in movies of the 1930s and 1940s, he made a comeback in the 1980s in such movies as Trading Places (1983), Cocoon (Academy Award; 1985), and Cocoon: The Return (1989).

am·e·lan·chi·er n. a shrub of a genus that includes the juneberries.
<INFO>  Genus Amelanchier, family Rosaceae.

<ORIGIN> from French dialect amelancier 'medlar'.

a·me·lio·rate v. [trans.] make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better: the reform did much to ameliorate living standards.

<DERIVATIVES> a·me·lio·ra·tion n. a·me·lio·ra·tive adj. a·me·lio·ra·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: alteration of MELIORATE, influenced by French améliorer, from meilleur 'better'.

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MELIORATE ■

a·men exclam. uttered at the end of a prayer or hymn, meaning ‘so be it.’
<SPECIAL USAGE> used to express agreement or assent: amen to that!

■ n. an utterance of “amen.”

<ORIGIN> Old English, from ecclesiastical Latin, from Greek , from Hebrew ' 'truth, certainty', used adverbially as expression of agreement or consent, and adopted in the Septuagint as a solemn expression of belief or affirmation.

a·me·na·ble adj. (of a person) open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled: parents who have had easy babies and amenable children.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [predic.] (amenable to) (of a thing) capable of being acted upon in a particular way; susceptible to: the patients had cardiac failure not amenable to medical treatment.

<DERIVATIVES> a·me·na·bil·i·ty n. a·me·na·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'liable to answer (to a law or tribunal)'): an Anglo-Norman French legal term, from Old French amener 'bring to', from a- (from Latin ad) 'to' + mener 'bring' (from late Latin minare 'drive (animals)', from Latin minari 'threaten').

a·men cor·ner n. (in some Protestant churches) seats, usually near the preacher, occupied by those who lead responses from the congregation.

a·mend v. [trans.] make minor changes in (a text) in order to make it fairer, more accurate, or more up-to-date: the rule was amended to apply only to nonmembers.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- modify formally, as a legal document or legislative bill: did she amend her original will later on?; pressuring Panama to amend its banking laws.

- make better; improve: if you can amend or alter people's mind-set.

- ARCHAIC put right: a few things had gone wrong, but these had been amended.

<DERIVATIVES> a·mend·a·ble adj. a·mend·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French amender, based on Latin emendare (see EMEND).

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EMEND ■

a·mend·ment n. a minor change in a document.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a change or addition to a legal or statutory document: an amendment to existing bail laws.

- (Amendment) an article added to the U.S. Constitution: the First Amendment.

- something that is added to soil in order to improve its texture or fertility.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'improvement, correction'): from Old French amendement, from amender (see AMEND).

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AMEND ■

a·mends plural n. [treated as sing.] reparation or compensation.

<PHRASES>
□ make amends do something in order to make up for a wrong inflicted on someone: try to make amends for the rude way you spoke to Lucy.

□ an offer of amends [LAW] an offer to publish a correction and an apology for an act of libel.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French amendes 'penalties, fine', plural of amende 'reparation', from amender (see AMEND).

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AMEND ■

a·men·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) (usu. amenities) a desirable or useful feature or facility of a building or place: heating is regarded as a basic amenity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the pleasantness of a place or a person: the exertion of amenity toward the boss.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French amenite or Latin amoenitas, from amoenus 'pleasant'.

a·men·or·rhe·a (BRIT. a·men·or·rhoe·a) n. an abnormal absence of menstruation.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from A-1 'without' + MENO- + -RRHEA.

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A- ■

MENO- ■

-RRHEA ■

am·ent n. [BOTANY] a catkin.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin amentum 'thong'.

a·men·tia n. severe congenital mental handicap.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, literally 'madness', from amens, ament- 'mad', from a- 'without' + mens 'the mind'.

Am·er·a·sian adj. having one American and one Asian parent.

■ n. a person with one American and one Asian parent.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: blend of AMERICAN and ASIAN.

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AMERICAN ■

ASIAN ■

a·merce·ment n. HISTORICAL [ENGLISH LAW] a fine.

<DERIVATIVES> a·merce v.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French amerciment, based on estre amercie 'be at the mercy of another' (with respect to the amount of a fine), from a merci 'at (the) mercy'.

A·mer·i·ca (also the A·mer·i·cas) a landmass in the western hemisphere that consists of the continents of North and South America joined by the Isthmus of Panama. The continent was originally inhabited by American Indians and Inuits. The northeast coastline of North America was visited by Norse seamen in the 8th or 9th century, but for the modern world the continent was first reached by Christopher Columbus in 1492.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used as a name for the United States.

<ORIGIN> the name America dates from the early 16th cent. and is believed to derive from the Latin form (Americus) of the name of Amerigo Vespucci, who sailed along the west coast of South America in 1501.

A·mer·i·can adj. of, relating to, or characteristic of the United States or its inhabitants: the election of a new American president.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or denoting the continents of America: the American continent south of the tropic of Cancer.

■ n. 1 a native or citizen of the United States.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. with adj.] a native or inhabitant of any of the countries of North, South, or Central America.

2 the English language as it is used in the United States; American English.

<DERIVATIVES> A·mer·i·can·ness n.

<ORIGIN> from modern Latin Americanus, from AMERICA.

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AMERICA ■

A·mer·i·ca·na plural n. things associated with the culture and history of America, esp. the United States.

A·mer·i·can al·oe another term for CENTURY PLANT.

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CENTURY PLANT ■

A·mer·i·can bald ea·gle n. another term for BALD EAGLE.

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BALD EAGLE ■

A·mer·i·can cheese n. a type of mild-flavored semisoft processed cheese.

A·mer·i·can Civ·il War the war between the northern U.S. states (usually known as the Union) and the Confederate states of the South, 1861-65.

The war was fought over the issues of slavery and states' rights. The pro-slavery southern states seceded from the Federal Union following the election of Abraham Lincoln on an anti-slavery platform, but were defeated by the North.

A·mer·i·can croc·o·dile n. a crocodile with a long tapering head, occurring from southernmost Florida to Ecuador.
<INFO>  Crocodylus acutus, family Crocodylidae.

A·mer·i·can de·pos·i·tar·y re·ceipt (abbr.: ADR) (also American depositary share) n. (in the U.S.) a negotiable certificate of title to a number of shares in a non-U.S. company that are deposited in an overseas bank.

A·mer·i·can dream n. the traditional social ideals of the U.S., such as equality, democracy, and material prosperity.

A·mer·i·can ea·gle n. another term for BALD EAGLE.

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BALD EAGLE ■

A·mer·i·can e·gret n. another term for GREAT EGRET.

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GREAT EGRET ■

A·mer·i·can Eng·lish n. the English language as spoken and written in the U.S.

A·mer·i·can Falls see NIAGARA FALLS.

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NIAGARA FALLS ■

A·mer·i·can Fed·er·a·tion of La·bor a federation of North American trade unions, merged in 1955 with the Congress of Industrial Organizations to form the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

A·mer·i·can foot·ball n. British term for FOOTBALL.

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FOOTBALL ■

A·mer·i·can Goth·ic n. a noted 1930 painting by Grant Wood (1891-1942), depicting a dour-faced farmer and his daughter in front of their house, with a Gothic-style window in the background. It is representative of traditional American rural values, and is widely copied and parodied.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] conservative in moral and social views.

A·mer·i·can In·de·pend·ence, War of British term for AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

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AMERICAN REVOLUTION ■

A·mer·i·can In·di·an n. a member of any of the indigenous peoples of North, Central, and South America, esp. those of North America.

■ adj. of or relating to any of these groups.

<USAGE>
The term American Indian has been steadily replaced, esp. in official contexts, by the more recent term Native American (first recorded in the 1950s and becoming prominent in the 1970s). The latter is preferred by some as being a more accurate description (the word Indian recalling Columbus's assumption that, on reaching America, he had reached the east coast of India). American Indian is still widespread in general use, however, partly because it is not normally regarded as offensive by American Indians themselves.

See also NATIVE AMERICAN, AMERINDIAN, and INDIAN.

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NATIVE AMERICAN ■

AMERINDIAN ■

INDIAN ■

A·mer·i·can·ism n. a word or phrase peculiar to or originating from the U.S.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the qualities regarded as definitive of America or Americans: the same Americanism that Whitman sees in the farmer.

A·mer·i·can·ize v. [trans.] make American in character or nationality: trying to Americanize the immigrant children | [as adj.] (Americanized) an Americanized accent.

<DERIVATIVES> A·mer·i·can·i·za·tion n.

A·mer·i·can League n. one of the two major leagues in American professional baseball.

A·mer·i·can Le·gion an association of former U.S. servicemen formed in 1919.

A·mer·i·can lin·den another name for BASSWOOD.

A·mer·i·can lo·tus n. see LOTUS.

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LOTUS ■

A·mer·i·can or·gan n. a type of reed organ resembling the harmonium but in which air is sucked (not blown) through reeds.

A·mer·i·can plan n. (in hotels) a system of paying a single daily rate that covers the room and all meals. Often contrasted with EUROPEAN PLAN.

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EUROPEAN PLAN ■

A·mer·i·can Rev·o·lu·tion the war of 1775-83 in which the American colonists won independence from British rule. Called in Britain the WAR OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE.

The war was triggered by resentment at the economic policies of Britain, particularly the right of Parliament to tax the colonies, and by the exclusion of the colonists from participation in political decisions affecting their interests. Following disturbances such as the Boston Tea Party of 1773, fighting broke out in 1775; a year later the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Americans gained the support of France and Spain, and French sea power eventually played a crucial role in the decisive surrender of a British army at Yorktown in 1781.

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WAR OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE ■

Amer·i·can Riv·er a river in north central California that joins the Sacramento River at Sacramento. Gold was discovered here in 1848, setting off the California gold rush.

A·mer·i·can sad·dle horse n. a light, strong horse of a breed developed in Kentucky to be comfortable to ride over long distances.

A·mer·i·can Sa·mo·a an unincorporated overseas territory of the U.S. that is composed of a group of islands in the southern Pacific Ocean, east of Western Samoa and south of Kiribati; pop. 57,900; capital, Fagatogo. The U.S. acquired rights to the islands by agreement with Germany and Britain in 1899, and the two main islands were ceded to the U.S. by their chiefs in April 1900.

A·mer·i·can Sign Lan·guage (abbr.: ASL) n. a form of sign language developed in the U.S. for the use of the deaf, consisting of over 4,000 signs.

A·mer·i·can Stand·ard Ver·sion (abbr.: ASV) n. an English translation of the Bible published in the U.S. in 1901, based on the Revised Version of 1881-95 with the incorporation of material produced by American scholars.

A·mer·i·cas (the Americas) another name for AMERICA.

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AMERICA ■

A·mer·i·ca's Cup an international yachting race held every three to four years.

A·mer·i·ca’s Dair·y·land a nickname for the state of WISCONSIN^1 .

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WISCONSIN ■

am·er·i·ci·um n. the chemical element of atomic number 95, a radioactive metal of the actinide series. (Symbol: Am)

Americium does not occur naturally and was first made by bombarding plutonium with neutrons. It has been used in industrial measuring equipment as a source of gamma rays.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from AMERICA (where it was first made) + -IUM.

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AMERICA ■

-IUM ■

Am·er·in·di·an (also Am·er·ind ) adj. & n. another term for AMERICAN INDIAN, used chiefly in anthropological and linguistic contexts.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: blend of AMERICAN and INDIAN.

<USAGE>
See usage at INDIAN.

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AMERICAN INDIAN ■

AMERICAN ■

INDIAN ■

Ames a city in central Iowa, home to Iowa State University; pop. 50,731.

Am·e·slan another term for AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: acronym.

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AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE ■

Ames test n. [MEDICINE] a test to determine the mutagenic activity of chemicals by observing whether they cause mutations in sample bacteria.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: named after Bruce N. Ames (born 1928), the American biochemist who devised it.

am·e·thyst n. a precious stone consisting of a violet or purple variety of quartz.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a violet or purple color.

<DERIVATIVES> am·e·thys·tine adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin amethystus, from Greek amethustos 'not drunken' (because the stone was believed to prevent intoxication).

Amex abbr.
- TRADEMARK American Express.

- American Stock Exchange.

Am·ha·ra n. (pl. same or -ras) a member of an Amharic-speaking Semitic people of central Ethiopia.

Am·har·ic n. the Semitic language descended from Ge’ez that is the official language of Ethiopia.

■ adj. of or relating to this language.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from AMHARA + -IC.

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AMHARA ■

-IC ■

Am·herst 1 1 a town in west central Massachusetts, home to several colleges and universities; pop. 35,228.

2 a town in western New York, northeast of Buffalo; pop. 111,711.

Am·herst 2 Lord Jeffrey (1717-97), English soldier and military commander in North America. He was appointed governor general of British North America 1760-63 and served as commander in chief of the British army 1772-95.

a·mi·a·ble adj. having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner: an amiable, unassuming fellow.

<DERIVATIVES> a·mi·a·bil·i·ty n. a·mi·a·bly adv. a·mi·a·ble·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally in the senses 'kind' and 'lovely, lovable'): via Old French from late Latin amicabilis 'amicable'. The current sense, influenced by modern French aimable 'trying to please', dates from the mid 18th cent.

am·i·ca·ble adj. (of relations between people) having a spirit of friendliness; without serious disagreement or rancor: there will be an amicable settlement of the dispute.

<DERIVATIVES> am·i·ca·bil·i·ty n. am·i·ca·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'pleasant, benign', applied to things): from late Latin amicabilis, from Latin amicus 'friend'.

am·ice 1 n. a white linen cloth worn on the neck and shoulders, under the alb, by a priest celebrating the Eucharist.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin amicia, amisia, of unknown origin.

am·ice 2 n. a cap, hood, or cape worn by members of certain religious orders.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French aumusse, from medieval Latin almucia, of unknown origin.

A·mi·ci Dominic Felix, see AMECHE.

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AMECHE ■

a·mi·cus (in full a·mi·cus cu·ri·ae ) n. (pl. a·mi·ci , a·mi·ci cu·ri·ae ) an impartial adviser, often voluntary, to a court of law in a particular case: [as adj.] he was planning to advance this position in an amicus brief.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from modern Latin amicus curiae, literally 'friend of the court'.

a·mid prep. surrounded by; in the middle of: our dream home, set amid magnificent rolling countryside.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in an atmosphere or against a background of: talks broke down amid accusations of a hostile takeover bid.

<ORIGIN> Middle English amidde(s).

A·mi·dah n. [JUDAISM] a prayer, part of the Jewish liturgy, consisting of a varying number of blessings recited while the worshipers stand.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Hebrew, literally 'standing'.

am·ide n. [CHEMISTRY] an organic compound containing the group C(O)NH_2, related to ammonia by replacing a hydrogen atom by an acyl group.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a compound derived from ammonia by replacement of a hydrogen atom by a metal, containing the anion NH_2.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from AMMONIA + -IDE.

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AMMONIA ■

-IDE ■

a·mid·ships (also a·mid·ship) adv. & adj. in the middle of a ship: [as adv.] the destroyer rammed her amidships | [as adj.] an amidships engine.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from A-2 (expressing position or direction) + MIDSHIPS (as a noun meaning 'midship', influenced by AMID.

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A- ■

MIDSHIPS ■

AMID ■

a·midst prep. variant of AMID.

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AMID ■

Am·i·ens a town in northern France; pop. 136,230.

a·mi·go n. (pl. -gos) INFORMAL used to address or refer to a friend, chiefly in Spanish-speaking areas: I will think about it, amigo.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Spanish.

A·min Idi (1925-2003), Ugandan soldier and head of state 1971-79; full name Idi Amin Dada. He was deposed after a rule that was characterized by the murder of political opponents.

A·min·di·vi Is·lands the northernmost group of islands in Lakshadweep, India’s Union Territory in the Indian Ocean.

a·mine n. [CHEMISTRY] an organic compound derived from ammonia by replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms by organic radicals.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from AMMONIA + -INE^4 .

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AMMONIA ■

-INE ■

a·mi·no n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] the group NH_2, present in amino acids, amides, and many amines.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from AMINE.

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AMINE ■

amino- comb. form designating or containing the group NH_2: aminobutyric.

a·mi·no ac·id n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a simple organic compound containing both a carboxyl (COOH) and an amino (NH_2) group.

Amino acids occur naturally in plant and animal tissues and are the basic constituents of proteins.

a·mir n. an Arab ruler.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Persian and Urdu, from Arabic 'commander', from 'amara 'to command'; compare with ADMIRAL, EMIR.

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ADMIRAL ■

Am·i·rante Is·lands a group of coral islands in the Indian Ocean that form part of the Seychelles.

A·mis 1 Sir Kingsley (1922-95), English novelist and poet, who achieved popular success with his first novel, Lucky Jim (1954). Other notable works: The Old Devils (1986), The Folks that Live on the Hill (1990), and You Can’t Do Both (1994).

A·mis 2 Martin (Louis) (1949- ), English novelist, son of Kingsley Amis. Notable works: The Rachel Papers (1973), Money (1984), and Night Train (1997).

A·mish plural n. the members of a strict Mennonite sect that established major settlements in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and elsewhere in North America from 1720 onward.

■ adj. of or relating to this sect.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: apparently from German amisch.

Am·ish Coun·try name for areas, chiefly in southeastern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio, that are inhabited by the Amish, an agricultural religious sect.

a·miss adj. [predic.] not quite right; inappropriate or out of place: there was something amiss about his calculations.

■ adv. DATED wrongly or inappropriately: how terrible was the danger of her loving amiss.

<PHRASES> take something amiss be offended by something that is said, typically through misinterpreting the intentions behind it: don't take this amiss, it's all good-humored teasing.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably from Old Norse á mis 'so as to miss', from á 'on' + mis (related to MISS^1 ).

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MISS ■

am·i·tot·ic adj. [BIOLOGY] relating to or denoting the division of a cell nucleus into two parts by constriction without the involvement of a mitotic apparatus.

<DERIVATIVES> am·i·to·sis n. am·i·tot·i·cal·ly adv.

am·i·trip·ty·line n. [MEDICINE] an antidepressant drug of the tricyclic group, with a mild tranquilizing action.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from ami(ne) + TRI- + (he)ptyl + -INE^4 .

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-INE ■

am·i·ty n. a friendly relationship: international amity and goodwill.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French amitie, based on Latin amicus 'friend'.

Am·man the capital of Jordan, located in the northwestern part of the country; pop. 1,160,000.

am·me·ter n. an instrument for measuring electric current in amperes.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from AMPERE + -METER.

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-METER ■

am·mo n. informal term for AMMUNITION.

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AMMUNITION ■

Am·mon Greek and Roman form of AMUN.

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AMUN ■

am·mo·nia n. a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent smell. It dissolves in water to give a strongly alkaline solution.
<INFO>  3

<SPECIAL USAGE> a solution of this gas, used as a cleaning fluid.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: modern Latin, from sal ammoniacus (see SAL AMMONIAC).

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am·mo·ni·a·cal adj. of or containing ammonia.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Middle English ammoniac, via Old French from Latin ammoniacus. This represented the Greek word 'of Ammon', used as a name for the salt and gum obtained near the temple of Jupiter Ammon (the Greek name for the Egyptian deity Amen) at Siwa in Egypt. Compare with SAL AMMONIAC.

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SAL AMMONIAC ■

am·mo·ni·at·ed adj. combined or treated with ammonia.

<DERIVATIVES> am·mo·ni·a·tion n.

am·mo·nite n. an ammonoid that belongs to the order Ammonitida, typically having elaborately frilled suture lines.
<INFO>  Ammonitida

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin ammonites, from medieval Latin cornu Ammonis 'horn of Ammon', from the fossil's resemblance to the ram's horn associated with Jupiter Ammon (see AMMONIACAL).

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AMMONIACAL ■

am·mo·ni·um n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] the cation NH_4+, present in solutions of ammonia and in salts derived from ammonia.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from AMMONIA + -IUM.

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AMMONIA ■

-IUM ■

am·mo·ni·um car·bon·ate n. [CHEMISTRY] a white crystalline solid that slowly decomposes giving off ammonia and is an ingredient of sal volatile.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: (NH_4)2CO_3. Commercial forms often contain other, related, salts.

am·mo·ni·um chlo·ride n. [CHEMISTRY] a white crystalline salt used chiefly in dry cells, as a mordant, and as soldering flux. Also called SAL AMMONIAC.
<INFO>  4

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SAL AMMONIAC ■

am·mo·ni·um ni·trate n. [CHEMISTRY] a white crystalline solid used as a fertilizer and as a component of some explosives.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: NH_4NO_3.

am·mo·noid [PALEONTOLOGY] n. an extinct cephalopod mollusk with a flat-coiled spiral shell, found commonly as a fossil in marine deposits from the Devonian to the Cretaceous periods.
<INFO>  Subclass Ammonoidea, class Cephalopoda: numerous families. See AMMONITE, CERATITE, and GONIATITE.

■ adj. of or relating to the ammonoids.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Ammonoidea, based on AMMON (see AMMONITE).

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CERATITE ■

GONIATITE ■

AMMON ■

AMMONITE ■

am·mu·ni·tion n. a supply or quantity of bullets and shells.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE considerations that can be used to support one's case in debate: these figures provide ammunition to the argument for more resources.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from obsolete French amunition, alteration (by wrong division) of la munition 'the munition' (see MUNITION).

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MUNITION ■

am·ne·sia n. a partial or total loss of memory.

<DERIVATIVES> am·ne·si·ac n. & adj. am·ne·sic adj. & n. am·nes·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Greek ' forgetfulness'.

am·nes·ty n. (pl. -ties) an official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offenses: an amnesty for political prisoners | the new law granted amnesty to those who illegally left the country.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an undertaking by the authorities to take no action against specified offenses or offenders during a fixed period: a month-long weapons amnesty.

■ v. (-ties, -tied) [trans.] grant an official pardon to: the guerrillas would be amnestied and allowed to return to civilian life.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek 'forgetfulness'.

Am·nes·ty In·ter·na·tion·al an independent international organization in support of human rights, esp. for prisoners of conscience. It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.

am·ni·o n. (pl. -os) informal term for AMNIOCENTESIS.

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AMNIOCENTESIS ■

am·ni·o·cen·te·sis n. (pl. -ses ) [MEDICINE] the sampling of amniotic fluid using a hollow needle inserted into the uterus, to screen for developmental abnormalities in a fetus.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from AMNION + Greek 'pricking' (from kentein 'to prick').

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AMNION ■

am·ni·on n. (pl. - or -ni·a ) the innermost membrane that encloses the embryo of a mammal, bird, or reptile.

<DERIVATIVES> am·ni·ot·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Greek, 'caul', diminutive of amnos 'lamb'.

am·ni·ote n. [ZOOLOGY] an animal whose embryo develops in an amnion and chorion and has an allantois; a mammal, bird, or reptile.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Amniota, back-formation from amniotic (see AMNION).

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am·ni·ot·ic flu·id n. the fluid surrounding a fetus within the amnion.

amn't CHIEFLY SCOTTISH IRISH contraction of am not.

a·moe·ba n. (pl. -bas or -bae ) variant spelling of AMEBA.

<DERIVATIVES> a·moe·bic adj. a·moe·boid adj.

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AMEBA ■

a·mok (also a·muck) adv. (in phrase run amok) behave uncontrollably and disruptively: stone-throwing anarchists running amok | FIGURATIVE her feelings seemed to be running amok.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: via Portuguese amouco, from Malay amok 'rushing in a frenzy'. Early use was as a noun denoting a Malay in a homicidal frenzy; the adverb use dates from the late 17th cent.

a·mo·le n. a plant of a group native to Mexico and the southern U.S. whose roots are used as detergent, esp. the soap plant or the lechuguilla.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Mexican Spanish.

A·mon variant spelling of AMUN.

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AMUN ■

a·mong (CHIEFLY BRIT. also a·mongst ) prep. 1 surrounded by; in the company of: wild strawberries hidden among the roots of the trees; you're among friends.

2 being a member or members of (a larger set): he was among the first 29 students enrolled; snakes are among the animals most feared by humans.

3 occurring in or practiced by (some members of a community): a drop in tooth decay among children; this pronunciation is not popular among the general public; rooting out abuses among the clergy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> involving most or all members of a group reciprocally: members of the government bickered among themselves.

4 indicating a division, choice, or differentiation involving three or more participants: the king called the three princesses to divide his kingdom among them; choosing a privatization scheme from among five models.

<ORIGIN> Old English ongemang (from on 'in' + gemang 'assemblage, mingling'). The -st of amongst represents -s (adverbial genitive) + -t probably by association with superlatives (as in against).

<USAGE>
See usage at BETWEEN.

a·mon·til·la·do n. (pl. -dos) a medium dry sherry.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, from Montilla, the name of a town in southern Spain where the original wine was produced.

a·mor·al adj. lacking a moral sense; unconcerned with the rightness or wrongness of something: an amoral attitude to sex.

<DERIVATIVES> a·mo·ral·i·ty n. a·mor·al·ism n. a·mor·al·ist n.

<USAGE>
See usage at IMMORAL.

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IMMORAL ■

am·o·ret·to n. (pl. -ret·ti ) a representation of Cupid in a work of art.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (denoting a lover or a love song): Italian, diminutive of amore 'love', from Latin amor.

am·o·rist n. a person who is in love or who writes about love.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin amor or French amour 'love' + -IST.

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Am·o·rite n. a member of seminomadic people living in Mesopotamia, Palestine, and Syria in the 3rd millennium BC, founders of Mari on the Euphrates and the first dynasty of Babylon.

■ adj. of or relating to this people.

<ORIGIN>  from Hebrew , from Akkadian + -ITE^1 .

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a·mo·ro·so 1 adv. & adj. [MUSIC] (esp. as a direction) in a loving or tender manner.

<ORIGIN> Italian, from medieval Latin amorosus (see AMOROUS).

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AMOROUS ■

a·mo·ro·so 2 n. a sweetened oloroso sherry.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Spanish, literally 'amorous', from medieval Latin amorosus (see AMOROUS).

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AMOROUS ■

am·o·rous adj. showing, feeling, or relating to sexual desire: she rejected his amorous advances.

<DERIVATIVES> am·o·rous·ly adv. am·o·rous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin amorosus, from Latin amor 'love'.

a·mor·phous adj. without a clearly defined shape or form: amorphous blue forms and straight black lines.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- vague; ill-organized; unclassifiable: make explicit the amorphous statements.

- (of a group of people or an organization) lacking a clear structure or focus: an amorphous and leaderless legislature.

- [MINERALOGY] & [CHEMISTRY] (of a solid) noncrystalline; having neither definite form nor apparent structure.

<DERIVATIVES> a·mor·phous·ly adv. a·mor·phous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin amorphus, from Greek amorphos 'shapeless' (from a- 'without' + 'form') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

am·or·tize v. [trans.] reduce or extinguish (a debt) by money regularly put aside: loan fees can be amortized over the life of the mortgage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> gradually write off the initial cost of (an asset): they want to amortize the tooling costs quickly.

<DERIVATIVES> am·or·ti·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the senses 'deaden' and 'transfer (land) to a corporation in mortmain'): from Old French amortiss-, lengthened stem of amortir, based on Latin ad 'to, at' + mors, mort- 'death'.

A·mos a Hebrew minor prophet (c.760 BC), a shepherd of Tekoa, near Jerusalem.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a book of the Bible containing his prophecies.

am·o·site n. an iron-rich amphibole asbestos, mined in South Africa.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from the initial letters of Asbestos Mines of South Africa + -ITE^1 .

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-ITE ■

a·mount n. a quantity of something, typically the total of a thing or things in number, size, value, or extent: the sport gives an enormous amount of pleasure to many people; the substance is harmless if taken in small amounts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sum of money: they have spent a colossal amount rebuilding the stadium.

■ v. [intrans.] (amount to) come to be (the total) when added together: losses amounted to over 10 million dollars.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- be the equivalent of: their actions amounted to a conspiracy.

- develop into; become: you'll never amount to anything.

<PHRASES>
□ any amount of a great deal or number of: a good marriage can withstand any amount of external pressure.

□ no amount of not even the greatest possible amount of: no amount of talk is going to change anything.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a verb): from Old French amunter, from amont 'upward', literally 'uphill', from Latin ad montem. The noun use dates from the early 18th cent.

a·mour n. a secret or illicit love affair or lover.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally in the sense 'love, affection'): via Old French from Latin amor 'love'. The current sense dates from the late 16th cent.

a·mour fou n. uncontrollable or obsessive passion.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: French, literally 'insane love'.

a·mour pro·pre n. a sense of one's own worth; self-respect: few indications in him of ordinary amour propre or common vanity.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, literally 'self-esteem, vanity'.

a·mox·i·cil·lin (also a·mox·y·cil·lin) n. a broad-spectrum semisynthetic penicillin, closely related to ampicillin but better absorbed when taken orally, used esp. for ear and upper respiratory infections.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: blend of AMINO + contractions of HYDROXY + PENICILLIN.

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AMINO ■

PENICILLIN ■

A·moy another name for XIAMEN.

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XIAMEN ■

AMP [BIOCHEMISTRY] abbr. adenosine monophosphate.

amp 1 n. short for AMPERE.

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AMPERE ■

amp 2 n. INFORMAL short for AMPLIFIER.

■ v. (often amp something up) 1 play (music) through electric amplification: their willingness to amp up traditional songs virtually began the folk-rock genre.

2 [as adj.] (amped or amped up) INFORMAL full of nervous energy: third-ranked Ohio State (5-0) visits an amped-up Madison for a date with 4-1 Wisconsin.

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AMPLIFIER ■

Am·pa·kine n. TRADEMARK any of a class of synthetic compounds that facilitate transmission of nerve impulses in the brain and appear to improve memory and learning capacity.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: from AMPA (an acronym denoting certain receptors in the brain) + Greek kinein 'to move'.

am·pe·lop·sis n. (pl. same) any of several woody vines of the grape family.
<INFO>  Genus Ampelopsis, family Vitaceae: several species, including American ampelopsis (A. cordata), the PEPPER VINE (ampelopsis arborea) and the PORCELAINBERRY (A. brevipedunculata).

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek ampelos 'vine' + opsis 'appearance'.

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PORCELAINBERRY ■

am·per·age n. the strength of an electric current in amperes.

Am·père André-Marie (1775-1836), French physicist, mathematician, and philosopher, who analyzed the relationship between magnetic force and electric current.

am·pere (abbr.: A) n. a unit of electric current equal to a flow of one coulomb per second.
<INFO>  7

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after A. M. AMPÈRE.

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am·per·sand n. the sign & (standing for and, as in Smith & Co., or the Latin et, as in &c.).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: alteration of and per se and ‘& by itself is and,’ chanted as an aid to learning the sign.

am·phet·a·mine n. a synthetic, addictive, mood-altering drug, used illegally as a stimulant and legally as a prescription drug to treat children with ADD and adults with narcolepsy.
<INFO>  Alternative name: 1-phenyl-2-aminopropane (or one of its salts, esp. amphetamine sulfate); chem. formula: C_6H_5CH_2CH(CH_3)NH_2.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: abbreviation of its chemical name, a(lpha-)m(ethyl) phe(ne)t(hyl)amine.

amphi- comb. form 1 both: amphibian.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of both kinds: amphipod.

- on both sides: amphiprostyle.

2 around: amphitheater.

<ORIGIN> from Greek.

am·phib·i·an n. [ZOOLOGY] a cold-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that comprises the frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. They are distinguished by having an aquatic gill-breathing larval stage followed (typically) by a terrestrial lung-breathing adult stage.
<INFO>  Class Amphibia: orders Urodela (newts and salamanders), Anura (frogs and toads), and Gymnophiona (caecilians).

<SPECIAL USAGE> a seaplane, tank, or other vehicle that can operate on land and on water.

■ adj. [ZOOLOGY] of or relating to this class of animals: reptile and amphibian biology.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'having two modes of existence or of doubtful nature'): from modern Latin amphibium 'an amphibian', from Greek amphibion (noun use of amphibios 'living both in water and on land', from amphi 'both' + bios 'life').

am·phib·i·ous adj. relating to, living in, or suited for both land and water: amphibious habitats; an amphibious vehicle.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a military operation) involving forces landed from the sea: an amphibious assault.

- (of forces) trained for such operations.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin amphibium, from Greek amphibion (see AMPHIBIAN) + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

am·phi·bole n. any of a class of rock-forming silicate or aluminosilicate minerals typically occurring as fibrous or columnar crystals.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, from Latin amphibolus 'ambiguous' (so called because of the varied structure of these minerals), from Greek amphibolos, from amphi- 'both, on both sides' + ballein 'to throw'.

am·phib·o·lite n. [GEOLOGY] a granular metamorphic rock consisting mainly of hornblende and plagioclase.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from AMPHIBOLE + -ITE^1 .

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-ITE ■

am·phi·bol·o·gy n. (pl. -gies) a phrase or sentence that is grammatically ambiguous, such as she sees more of her children than her husband.

<DERIVATIVES> am·phib·o·lous adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French amphibologie, from late Latin amphibologia, from Latin amphibolia, from Greek amphibolos 'ambiguous' (see AMPHIBOLE).

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AMPHIBOLE ■

am·phib·o·ly n. (pl. -lies) another term for AMPHIBOLOGY.

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AMPHIBOLOGY ■

am·phi·brach n. [PROSODY] a metrical foot consisting of a stressed syllable between two unstressed syllables or (in Greek and Latin) a long syllable between two short syllables.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (originally in the Latin forms amphibrachus, amphibrachys): via Latin from Greek amphibrakhus 'short at both ends'.

am·phi·mix·is n. [BOTANY] sexual reproduction involving the fusion of two different gametes to form a zygote. Often contrasted with APOMIXIS.

<DERIVATIVES> am·phi·mic·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from AMPHI- + Greek mixis 'mingling'.

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AMPHI- ■

am·phi·ox·us n. a lancelet that is caught for food in parts of Asia.
<INFO>  Genus Branchiostoma (formerly Amphioxus), family Branchiostomidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from AMPHI- + Greek oxus 'sharp'.

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am·phi·path·ic adj. [BIOCHEMISTRY] (of a molecule, esp. a protein) having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from AMPHI- + Greek pathikos (from pathos 'experience').

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am·phi·phil·ic adj. [BIOCHEMISTRY] another term for AMPHIPATHIC.

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AMPHIPATHIC ■

Am·phip·o·da [ZOOLOGY] an order of crustaceans with a laterally compressed body and a large number of leglike appendages.

<DERIVATIVES> am·phi·pod n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from AMPHI- 'of both kinds' (because some legs are specialized for swimming and some for feeding) + Greek pous, pod- 'foot'.

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am·phip·ro·style adj. (of a classical building) having a portico at each end and no columns along the sides.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: via Latin from Greek amphiprostulos, from amphi- 'both, on both sides'+ prostulos 'having pillars in front' (see PROSTYLE).

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PROSTYLE ■

am·phis·bae·na n. [MYTHOLOGY] & POETIC/LITERARY a legendary serpent with a head at each end.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek amphisbaina, from amphis 'both ways' + bainein 'go'.

Am·phis·bae·ni·a [ZOOLOGY] a group of reptiles that comprises the worm lizards.
<INFO>  Suborder Amphisbaenia, order Squamata.

<DERIVATIVES> am·phis·bae·ni·an n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek amphisbaina, from amphis 'both' + bainein 'go, walk'.

am·phi·the·a·ter n. (esp. in Greek and Roman architecture) a round building, typically unroofed, with a central space for the presentation of dramatic or sporting events. Tiers of seats for spectators surround the central space.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a sloping, semicircular seating gallery: I was permitted to attend a lecture in the amphitheater of the hospital.

- a large circular hollow in rocks or hills: that vast amphitheater chiseled out of the mountain.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek amphitheatron, from amphi 'on both sides' + theatron (see THEATER).

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THEATER ■

Am·phi·tri·te [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a sea goddess, wife of Poseidon and mother of Triton.

am·phi·u·ma n. a fully aquatic eellike amphibian with very small limbs, found in stagnant water and swamps in the southeastern U.S.
<INFO>  Family Amphiumidae and genus Amphiuma: three species (identified by the number of toes on each limb), the one-toed A. pholeter, the two-toed A. means, and the three-toed A. tridactylum.

am·pho·ra n. (pl. -rae or -ras) a tall ancient Greek or Roman jar with two handles and a narrow neck.

<ORIGIN> Latin, from Greek amphoreus, or from French amphore.

am·pho·ter·ic adj. [CHEMISTRY] (of a compound, esp. a metal oxide or hydroxide) able to react both as a base and as an acid.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek amphoteros, comparative of 'both', + -IC.

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-IC ■

am·pi·cil·lin n. [MEDICINE] a semisynthetic form of penicillin used chiefly to treat infections of the urinary and respiratory tracts.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: blend of AMINO and a contraction of PENICILLIN.

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AMINO ■

PENICILLIN ■

am·ple adj. (-pler, -plest) enough or more than enough; plentiful: there is ample time for discussion; an ample supply of consumer goods.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- large and accommodating: he leaned back in his ample chair.

- used euphemistically to convey that someone is fat: she stood with her hands on her ample hips.

<DERIVATIVES> am·ple·ness n. am·ply adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via French from Latin amplus 'large, capacious, abundant'.

am·plex·i·caul adj. [BOTANY] (of a leaf) embracing and surrounding the stem.

am·plex·us n. [ZOOLOGY] the mating position of frogs and toads, in which the male clasps the female about the back.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from Latin, literally 'an embrace'.

am·pli·fi·er n. an electronic device for increasing the amplitude of electrical signals, used chiefly in sound reproduction.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a device of this kind combined with a loudspeaker, used to amplify electric guitars and other musical instruments.

am·pli·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] (often be amplified) increase the volume of (sound), esp. using an amplifier: the accompanying chords have been amplified in our arrangement.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- increase the amplitude of (an electrical signal or other oscillation).

- cause to become more marked or intense: urban policy initiatives amplified social polarization.

- [GENETICS] make multiple copies of (a gene or DNA sequence).

- enlarge upon or add detail to (a story or statement): the notes amplify information contained in the statement.

<DERIVATIVES> am·pli·fi·ca·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'increase, augment'): from Old French amplifier, from Latin amplificare, from amplus 'large, abundant'.

am·pli·tude n. 1 [PHYSICS] the maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation, measured from the position of equilibrium.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the maximum difference of an alternating electrical current or potential from the average value.

2 [ASTRONOMY] the angular distance of a celestial object from the true east or west point of the horizon at rising or setting.

3 breadth, range, or magnitude: the amplitude of the crime of manslaughter lies beneath murder.

4 [MATHEMATICS] the angle between the real axis of an Argand diagram and a vector representing a complex number.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the senses 'physical extent' and 'grandeur'): from Latin amplitudo, from amplus 'large, abundant'.

am·pli·tude mod·u·la·tion (abbr.: AM) n. the modulation of a wave by varying its amplitude, used chiefly as a means of radio broadcasting, in which an audio signal is combined with a carrier wave. Often contrasted with FREQUENCY MODULATION.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the system of radio transmission using such modulation.

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FREQUENCY MODULATION ■

am·poule (also am·pul or am·pule ) n. a sealed glass capsule containing a liquid, esp. a measured quantity ready for injecting: an ampoule of epinephrine.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French, from Latin ampulla (see AMPULLA).

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AMPULLA ■

am·pul·la n. (pl. -lae ) a roughly spherical flask with two handles, used in ancient Rome.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a flask for sacred uses such as holding holy oil.

- [ANATOMY] & [ZOOLOGY] a cavity, or the dilated end of a duct, shaped like a Roman ampulla.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, diminutive of ampora, variant of amphora (see AMPHORA).

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AMPHORA ■

am·pu·tate v. [trans.] cut off (a limb), typically by surgical operation: surgeons had to amputate her left hand; the wounded had to have legs or arms amputated.

<DERIVATIVES> am·pu·ta·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin amputat- 'lopped off', from amputare, from am- (for amb- 'around') + putare 'to prune'.

am·pu·tee n. a person who has had a limb amputated.

AMRAAM abbr. advanced medium range air-to-air missile.

am·rit (also am·ri·ta ) n. a syrup considered divine by Sikhs and taken by them in religious observances.

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit 'immortal'.

Am·rit·sar a city in the state of Punjab in northwestern India; pop. 709,000. The center of the Sikh faith, it is the site of its Golden Temple.

am·scray v. [intrans.] leave quickly; scram: just amscray and be done with it.

<ORIGIN> Pig Latin.

Am·ster·dam the capital and largest city of the Netherlands; pop. 702,440 . It is an important port and financial center, esp. known for its diamond industry.

AMT abbr. alternative minimum tax, introduced to prevent companies and individuals using deductions and credits to pay no tax.

am·trac (also am·track, am·trak) n. an amphibious tracked vehicle used for landing assault troops on a shore.

<ORIGIN> World War II: blend of AMPHIBIOUS and TRACTOR.

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AMPHIBIOUS ■

TRACTOR ■

amu abbr. atomic mass unit.

a·muck adv. variant spelling of AMOK.

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AMOK ■

A·mu Dar·ya a river in central Asia that rises in the Pamirs and flows 1,500 miles (2,400 km) into the Aral Sea. In classical times, it was known as the Oxus.

am·u·let n. an ornament or small piece of jewelry thought to give protection against evil, danger, or disease.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin amuletum, of unknown origin.

A·mun (also A·mon) [EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY] a supreme god of the ancient Egyptians, identified with the sun god Ra and in Greek and Roman times with Zeus and Jupiter (under the name Ammon).

A·mund·sen Roald (1872-1928), Norwegian explorer. Amundsen was the first to navigate the Northwest Passage (1903-06), during which expedition he located the site of the magnetic North Pole. In 1911, he became the first person to reach the South Pole.

A·mur a river of northeastern Asia that forms, for much of its length, the boundary between Russia and China. Its length is about 2,737 miles (4,350 km). Chinese name HEILONG.

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HEILONG ■

a·muse v. [trans.] 1 cause (someone) to find something funny; entertain: he made faces to amuse her | [as adj.] (amused) people looked on with amused curiosity.

2 provide interesting and enjoyable occupation for (someone): the hotel has planned many activities to amuse its guests; they amused themselves digging through an old encyclopedia | [as adj.] (amused) elegant shops that will keep any browser amused for hours.

<DERIVATIVES> a·mus·ed·ly adv. (in sense 1).

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the sense 'delude, deceive'): from Old French amuser 'entertain, deceive', from a- (expressing causal effect) + muser 'stare stupidly'. The current senses date from the mid 17th cent.

a·muse-gueule n. (pl. a·muse-gueules pronunc. same) a small, savory item of food served as an appetizer before a meal.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: French, literally 'amuse mouth'.

a·muse·ment n. the state or experience of finding something funny: we looked with amusement at our horoscopes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the provision or enjoyment of entertainment: an evening's amusement.

- something that causes laughter or provides entertainment: his daughter was an amusement to him.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'musing, diversion of the attention'): from French, from the verb amuser (see AMUSE).

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AMUSE ■

a·muse·ment park n. a large outdoor area with fairground rides, shows, refreshments, games of chance or skill, and other entertainments.

a·mus·ing adj. causing laughter or providing entertainment: such a likable, amusing man!

<DERIVATIVES> a·mus·ing·ly adv.

a·myg·da·la n. (pl. -lae ) [ANATOMY] a roughly almond-shaped mass of gray matter deep inside each cerebral hemisphere, associated with the sense of smell.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek 'almond'.

a·myg·da·lin n. [CHEMISTRY] a bitter crystalline compound, found in bitter almonds and the stones of peaches, apricots, and other fruit.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin amygdala 'almond' + -IN^1 .

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-IN ■

a·myg·da·loid adj. TECHNICAL shaped like an almond.

■ n. 1 (also amygdaloid nucleus) [ANATOMY] another term for AMYGDALA.

2 [GEOLOGY] volcanic rock with amygdules.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin amygdala 'almond' + -OID.

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AMYGDALA ■

-OID ■

a·myg·da·loi·dal adj. [GEOLOGY] relating to or containing amygdules.

a·myg·dule (also a·myg·dale ) n. [GEOLOGY] a vesicle in an igneous rock, containing secondary minerals.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, from Latin amygdala (see AMYGDALA).

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AMYGDALA ■

am·yl n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] the straight-chain pentyl radical C_5H_11.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL short for AMYL NITRITE.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin amylum 'starch' + -YL.

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AMYL NITRITE ■

-YL ■

am·yl·ase n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] an enzyme, found chiefly in saliva and pancreatic fluid, that converts starch and glycogen into simple sugars.

am·yl ni·trate n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless synthetic liquid used as an additive in diesel fuel to improve its ignition properties.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_5H_11NO_3.

<USAGE>
Amyl nitrate and amyl nitrite are quite distinct substances, but amyl nitrate is often mistakenly used to refer to the street drug (inhaled and used as a stimulant and vasodilator), which is correctly called amyl nitrite.

am·yl ni·trite n. a yellowish volatile synthetic liquid used medicinally as a vasodilator. It is rapidly absorbed by the body on inhalation, and is sometimes used for its stimulatory effects.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_5H_11NO_2.

<USAGE>
See usage at AMYL NITRATE.

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AMYL NITRATE ■

am·y·loid [MEDICINE] n. a starchlike protein that is deposited in the liver, kidneys, spleen, or other tissues in certain diseases.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for AMYLOIDOSIS.

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AMYLOIDOSIS ■

am·y·loi·do·sis n. [MEDICINE] a disorder marked by deposition of amyloid in the body.

am·y·lo·pec·tin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] the noncrystallizable form of starch, consisting of branched polysaccharide chains.

am·yl·ose n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] the crystallizable form of starch, consisting of long unbranched polysaccharide chains.

a·my·o·troph·ic lat·er·al scle·ro·sis (abbr.: ALS) n. a progressive degeneration of the motor neurons of the central nervous system, leading to wasting of the muscles and paralysis. Also called LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE.

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LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE ■

am·y·ot·ro·phy n. [MEDICINE] muscular atrophy.

<DERIVATIVES> a·my·o·troph·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from A-1 'not' + Greek mus, muo- 'muscle' + -TROPHY (see -TROPHIC).

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A- ■

-TROPHIC ■

Am·y·tal n. TRADEMARK a barbiturate drug used as a sedative and a hypnotic.
<INFO>  Alternative name: 5-ethyl-5-isopropylbarbituric acid, or its sodium salt (sodium amytal); chem. formula: C_11H_18N_2O_3.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from AMYL + -t- (for ease of pronunciation) + -AL.

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AMYL ■

-AL ■

an adj. the form of the indefinite article (see A) used before words beginning with a vowel sound.

<USAGE>
The traditional rule about whether to use a or an before a word beginning with h is that if the h is sounded, a is the correct form ( a hospital; a hotel). But if the accent is on the second syllable ( historic; habitual), there is greater likelihood that, at least in speaking, 'an habitual' will sound more natural. One form is not more correct than the other, although some constructions may strike readers as pretentious or old-fashioned ( an heroic act; an humanitarian).

See also usage at A.

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A ■

A ■

an- 1 prefix variant spelling of A-1 before a vowel (as in anemia, anechoic).

<ORIGIN> from Greek.

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A- ■

an- 2 prefix variant spelling of AD- assimilated before n (as in annihilate, annotate).

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AD- ■

an- 3 prefix variant spelling of ANA- shortened before a vowel (as in aneurysm).

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ANA- ■

-an (also -ean or -ian) suffix 1 forming adjectives and nouns esp. from:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- names of places: Ohioan; Russian.

- names of systems: Anglican; Presbyterian.

- names of zoological classes or orders: crustacean.

- names of founders or leaders when referring to them as sources: Chomskyan; Lutheran.

2 [CHEMISTRY] forming names of organic compounds, chiefly polysaccharides: dextran.

<ORIGIN> based on Latin -(i)anus, -aeus, adjectival endings.

ana- (usu. an- before a vowel) prefix 1 up: anabasis.

2 back: anamnesis.

3 again: anabiosis.

<ORIGIN> from Greek ana 'up'.

-ana suffix (forming plural nouns) denoting things associated with a person, place, or field of interest: Americana; Victoriana.

<ORIGIN> from the neuter plural of the Latin adjectival ending -anus.

An·a·bap·tism n. the doctrine that baptism should only be administered to believing adults, held by a radical Protestant sect that emerged during the 1520s and 1530s.

<DERIVATIVES> An·a·bap·tist n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek anabaptismos, from ana- 'over again' + baptismos 'baptism'.

an·a·bas n. any of the freshwater fish of the climbing perch family native to Asia and Africa, esp. the genus Anabas, able to breathe air and move on land.

a·nab·a·sis n. (pl. -ses ) RARE a march from a coast into the interior, as that of the younger Cyrus into Asia in 401 BC, as narrated by Xenophon in his work Anabasis.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a military advance.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: Greek, literally 'ascent'.

an·a·bat·ic adj. [METEOROLOGY] (of a wind) caused by local upward motion of warm air; compare withKATABATIC..

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek anabatikos, from 'a person who ascends', from anabainein 'walk up'.

an·a·bi·o·sis n. [ZOOLOGY] a temporary state of suspended animation or greatly reduced metabolism.

<DERIVATIVES> an·a·bi·ot·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek , from anabioein 'return to life'.

an·a·bol·ic adj. [BIOCHEMISTRY] relating to or promoting anabolism.

an·a·bol·ic ste·roid n. a synthetic steroid hormone that resembles testosterone in promoting the growth of muscle. Such hormones are used medicinally to treat some forms of weight loss and (illegally) by some athletes and others to enhance physical performance.

a·nab·o·lism n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] the synthesis of complex molecules in living organisms from simpler ones together with the storage of energy; constructive metabolism.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'ascent', from ana- 'up' + ballein 'to throw'.

a·nach·ro·nism n. a thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, esp. a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned: everything was as it would have appeared in centuries past apart from one anachronism, a bright yellow construction crane.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an act of attributing a custom, event, or object to a period to which it does not belong.

<DERIVATIVES> a·nach·ro·nis·tic adj. a·nach·ro·nis·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Greek anakhronismos, from ana- 'backward' + khronos 'time'.

an·a·clit·ic adj. [PSYCHOANALYSIS] relating to or characterized by a strong emotional dependence on another or others: anaclitic depression.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Greek anaklitos 'for reclining', from anaklinein 'recline'.

an·a·co·lu·thon n. (pl. -tha ) a sentence or construction that lacks grammatical sequence, such as while in the garden, the door banged shut.

<DERIVATIVES> an·a·co·lu·thic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: via late Latin from Greek anakolouthon, from an- 'not' + akolouthos 'following'.

an·a·con·da n. a semiaquatic snake of the boa family that may grow to a great size, native to tropical South America.
<INFO>  Genus Eunectes, family Boidae: several species, in particular the green anaconda (E. murinus).

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (originally denoting a kind of Sri Lankan snake): unexplained alteration of Latin anacandaia 'python', from Sinhalese 'whipsnake', from hena 'lightning' + 'stem'.

A·nac·re·on (c.570-478 BC), Greek lyric poet, best known for his celebrations of love and wine.

a·nac·re·on·tic (also A·nac·re·on·tic) [PROSODY] adj. (of a poem) composed in the manner of the Greek poet Anacreon, known for his lyrics praising wine, women, and song.

■ n. (usu. anacreontics) an anacreontic poem.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as an adjective): from late Latin anacreonticus, from Greek (see ANACREON).

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ANACREON ■

an·a·cru·sis n. (pl. -ses ) 1 [PROSODY] one or more unstressed syllables at the beginning of a verse.

2 [MUSIC] one or more unstressed notes before the first bar line of a piece or passage.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek anakrousis 'prelude', from ana- 'up' + krousis, from krouein 'to strike'.

an·a·dam·a bread n. a type of yeast bread typically made with cornmeal and dark molasses.

a·nad·ro·mous adj. [ZOOLOGY] (of a fish, such as the salmon) migrating up rivers from the sea to spawn. The opposite of CATADROMOUS.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Greek anadromos (from ana- 'up' + dromos 'running') + -OUS.

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CATADROMOUS ■

-OUS ■

a·nae·mi·a n. British spelling of ANEMIA.

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ANEMIA ■

a·nae·mic adj. British spelling of ANEMIC.

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ANEMIC ■

an·aer·obe n. [BIOLOGY] an organism that grows without air, or requires oxygen-free conditions to live.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from AN-1 + AEROBE.

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AN- ■

AEROBE ■

an·aer·o·bic adj. [BIOLOGY] relating to, involving, or requiring an absence of free oxygen: anerobic bacteria.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or denoting exercise that does not improve or is not intended to improve the efficiency of the body's cardiovascular system in absorbing and transporting oxygen.

<DERIVATIVES> an·aer·o·bi·cal·ly adv.

an·aes·the·sia, etc. n. British spelling of ANESTHESIA, etc.

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ANESTHESIA ■

an·a·gen·e·sis n. [BIOLOGY] species formation without branching of the evolutionary line of descent. Compare with CLADOGENESIS.

<DERIVATIVES> an·a·ge·net·ic adj.

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CLADOGENESIS ■

an·a·glyph n. 1 [PHOTOGRAPHY] a stereoscopic photograph with the two images superimposed and printed in different colors, producing a stereo effect when the photograph is viewed through correspondingly colored filters.

2 an object, such as a cameo, embossed or carved in low relief.

<DERIVATIVES> an·a·glyph·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (sense 2): from Greek , from ana- 'up' + (from gluphein 'carve'). Sense 1 dates from the late 19th cent.

an·a·gram n. a word, phrase, or name formed by rearranging the letters of another, such as cinema, formed from iceman.

■ v. (-grammed, -gram·ming) another term for ANAGRAMMATIZE.

<DERIVATIVES> an·a·gram·mat·ic adj. an·a·gram·mat·i·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French anagramme or modern Latin anagramma, from Greek ana- 'back, anew' + gramma 'letter'.

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ANAGRAMMATIZE ■

an·a·gram·ma·tize v. [trans.] make an anagram of (a word, phrase, or name).

<DERIVATIVES> an·a·gram·ma·ti·za·tion n.

An·a·heim a city in California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 328,014. It is home to Disneyland.

a·nal adj. involving, relating to, or situated near the anus.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in Freudian psychoanalysis) relating to or denoting a stage of infantile psychosexual development supposedly preoccupied with the anus and defecation.

- INFORMAL anal-retentive: he's anal about things like that.

<DERIVATIVES> a·nal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin analis, from Latin anus (see ANUS).

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ANUS ■

an·a·lects (also an·a·lec·ta ) plural n. a collection of short literary or philosophical extracts.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek analekta 'things gathered up', from analegein 'pick up', from ana- 'up' + legein 'gather'.

an·a·lep·tic [MEDICINE] adj. (chiefly of a drug) tending to restore a person's health or strength; restorative.

■ n. a restorative drug.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a drug that stimulates the central nervous system.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek 'restorative'.

a·nal fin n. [ZOOLOGY] an unpaired fin located on the underside of a fish posterior to the anus.

an·al·ge·si·a n. [MEDICINE] the inability to feel pain.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Greek 'painlessness', from an- 'not' + algeein 'feel pain'.

an·al·ge·sic [MEDICINE] adj. (chiefly of a drug) acting to relieve pain.

■ n. an analgesic drug.

an·a·log (also an·a·logue) n. a person or thing seen as comparable to another: the idea that the fertilized egg contains a miniature analog of every adult structure.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHEMISTRY] a compound with a molecular structure closely similar to that of another.

■ adj. relating to or using signals or information represented by a continuously variable physical quantity such as spatial position or voltage. Often contrasted with DIGITAL (sense 1).
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a clock or watch) showing the time by means of hands rather than displayed digits.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, from Greek analogon, neuter of analogos 'proportionate'.

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DIGITAL ■

a·nal·o·gize v. [trans.] make a comparison of (something) with something else to assist understanding: he could analogize birth to the coming into being of a poem.

a·nal·o·gous adj. (often analogous to) comparable in certain respects, typically in a way that makes clearer the nature of the things compared: they saw the relationship between a ruler and his subjects as analogous to that of father and children.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BIOLOGY] (of structures) performing a similar function but having a different evolutionary origin, such as the wings of insects and birds. Often contrasted with HOMOLOGOUS.

<DERIVATIVES> a·nal·o·gous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek analogos 'proportionate' + -OUS.

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HOMOLOGOUS ■

-OUS ■

an·a·log-to-dig·it·al con·vert·er (abbr.: ADC) n. a device for converting analog signals to digital form.

an·a·logue n. & adj. variant spelling of ANALOG.

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ANALOG ■

a·nal·o·gy n. (pl. -gies) a comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification: an analogy between the workings of nature and those of human societies | he interprets logical functions by analogy with machines.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a correspondence or partial similarity: the syndrome is called deep dysgraphia because of its analogy to deep dyslexia.
See note at LIKENESS.
- a thing that is comparable to something else in significant respects: works of art were seen as an analogy for works of nature.

- [LOGIC] a process of arguing from similarity in known respects to similarity in other respects.

- [LINGUISTICS] a process by which new words and inflections are created on the basis of regularities in the form of existing ones.

- [BIOLOGY] the resemblance of function between organs that have a different evolutionary origin.

<DERIVATIVES> an·a·log·i·cal adj. an·a·log·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'appropriateness, correspondence'): from French analogie, Latin analogia 'proportion', from Greek, from analogos 'proportionate'.

an·al·pha·bet·ic adj. 1 representing sounds by composite signs rather than by single letters or symbols: Chinese has an analphabetic writing system.

2 completely illiterate.

a·nal-re·ten·tive [PSYCHOANALYSIS] adj. (of a person) excessively orderly and fussy (supposedly owing to conflict over toilet-training in infancy).

■ n. (also anal retentive) a person who is excessively orderly and fussy.

<DERIVATIVES> a·nal re·ten·tion n. a·nal re·ten·tive·ness n.

a·nal·y·sand n. a person undergoing psychoanalysis.

an·a·lyse v. British spelling of ANALYZE.

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ANALYZE ■

a·nal·y·sis n. (pl. -ses ) detailed examination of the elements or structure of something, typically as a basis for discussion or interpretation: statistical analysis;an analysis of popular culture.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the process of separating something into its constituent elements. Often contrasted with SYNTHESIS.

- the identification and measurement of the chemical constituents of a substance or specimen.

- short for PSYCHOANALYSIS.

- [LINGUISTICS] the use of separate, short words and word order rather than inflection or agglutination to express grammatical structure.

- [MATHEMATICS] the part of mathematics concerned with the theory of functions and the use of limits, continuity, and the operations of calculus.

<PHRASES> in the final (or last) analysis when everything has been considered (used to suggest that a statement expresses the basic truth about a complex situation): in the final analysis it is a question of political history.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek analusis, from analuein 'unloose', from ana- 'up' + luein 'loosen'.

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SYNTHESIS ■

PSYCHOANALYSIS ■

an·a·lyst n. a person who conducts analysis, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an investment expert, typically in a specified field: rising consumer confidence and falling oil prices are the keys to any upturn, many analysts believe.

- short for PSYCHOANALYST.

- a chemist who analyzes substances.

- short for SYSTEMS ANALYST.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French analyste, from the verb analyser (see ANALYZE).

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PSYCHOANALYST ■

SYSTEMS ANALYST ■

ANALYZE ■

an·a·lyt·ic adj. another term for ANALYTICAL.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [LOGIC] true by virtue of the meaning of the words or concepts used to express it, so that its denial would be a self-contradiction. Compare with SYNTHETIC.

- [LINGUISTICS] (of a language) tending not to alter the form of its words and to use word order rather than inflection or agglutination to express grammatical structure. Often contrasted with SYNTHETIC.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek analutikos, from analuein 'unloose'. The term was adopted in the late 16th cent. as a noun denoting the branch of logic dealing with analysis, with specific reference to Aristotle's treatises on logic, the Analytics (Greek analutika).

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ANALYTICAL ■

SYNTHETIC ■

SYNTHETIC ■

an·a·lyt·i·cal adj. relating to or using analysis or logical reasoning: analytical methods; a suave, analytical type who missed his calling as a lawyer.

<DERIVATIVES> an·a·lyt·i·cal·ly adv.

an·a·lyt·i·cal ge·om·e·try n. geometry using coordinates.

an·a·lyt·i·cal phi·los·o·phy (also an·a·lyt·ic phi·los·o·phy) n. a method of approaching philosophical problems through analysis of the terms in which they are expressed, associated with Anglo-American philosophy of the early 20th century.

an·a·lyt·i·cal psy·chol·o·gy n. the psychoanalytic system of psychology developed and practiced by Carl Jung.

an·a·lyze (BRIT. an·a·lyse) v. [trans.] examine methodically and in detail the constitution or structure of (something, esp. information), typically for purposes of explanation and interpretation: we need to analyze our results more clearly.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- discover or reveal (something) through such examination: I intend to analyze the sexism in such texts | [with clause] he tried to analyze exactly what was going on.

- psychoanalyze (someone).

- identify and measure the chemical constituents of (a substance or specimen).

- [GRAMMAR] resolve (a sentence) into its grammatical elements; parse.

<DERIVATIVES> an·a·lyz·a·ble adj. an·a·lyz·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: influenced by French analyser, from medieval Latin analysis (see ANALYSIS).

Linked entries:

ANALYSIS ■

an·am·ne·sis n. (pl. -ses ) recollection, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the remembering of things from a supposed previous existence (often used with reference to Platonic philosophy).

- [MEDICINE] a patient's account of a medical history.

- [CHRISTIAN CHURCH] the part of the Eucharist in which the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ are recalled.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Greek 'remembrance'.

an·am·nes·tic adj. [MEDICINE] denoting an enhanced reaction of the body's immune system to an antigen that is related to an antigen previously encountered.

an·a·mor·pho·sis n. 1 a distorted projection or drawing that appears normal when viewed from a particular point or with a suitable mirror or lens.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the process by which such images are produced.

2 [BIOLOGY] a gradual, ascending progression or change of form to a higher type.
<SPECIAL USAGE> development of the adult form through a series of small changes, esp. in some arthropods, the acquisition of additional body segments after hatching.

<DERIVATIVES> an·a·mor·phic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Greek 'transformation', from ana- 'back, again' + morphosis 'a shaping' (from morphoun 'to shape', from 'shape, form').

a·nan·da n. (in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism) extreme happiness, one of the highest states of being.

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit 'blessedness, bliss'.

an·an·da·mide n. a naturally occurring arachidonic acid derivative, present in some foods and in mammalian brains, where it acts as a messenger molecule and plays a role in pain, depression, appetite, memory, and fertility.

An·a·ni·as two figures in the New Testament:
<SPECIAL USAGE> the husband of Sapphira, struck dead because he lied.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the Jewish high priest before whom St. Paul was brought.

an·a·pest (BRIT. an·a·paest) n. [PROSODY] a metrical foot consisting of two short or unstressed syllables followed by one long or stressed syllable.

<DERIVATIVES> an·a·pes·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek anapaistos 'reversed', from ana- 'back' + paiein 'strike' (so called because it is the reverse of a dactyl).

an·a·phase n. [GENETICS] the stage of meiotic or mitotic cell division in which the chromosomes move away from one another to opposite poles of the spindle.

an·a·phor n. a word or phrase that refers to an earlier word or phrase (e.g., in my cousin said she was coming, she is used as an anaphor for my cousin).

<ORIGIN> 1970s: back-formation from ANAPHORA.

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ANAPHORA ■

a·naph·o·ra n. 1 [GRAMMAR] the use of a word referring to or replacing a word used earlier in a sentence, to avoid repetition, such as do in I like it and so do they.

2 [RHETORIC] the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

<DERIVATIVES> an·a·phor·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: senses 1 and 2 via Latin from Greek, 'repetition', from ana- 'back' + pherein 'to bear'.

an·aph·ro·dis·i·ac [MEDICINE] adj. (chiefly of a drug) tending to reduce sexual desire.

■ n. an anaphrodisiac drug.

an·a·phy·lax·is n. (also an·a·phy·lac·tic shock ) [MEDICINE] an extreme, often life-threatening, allergic reaction to an antigen (e.g., a bee sting) to which the body has become hypersensitive following an earlier exposure.

<DERIVATIVES> an·a·phy·lac·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek ana- 'again' + phulaxis 'guarding'.

a·nap·sid n. [ZOOLOGY] a reptile of a group characterized by the lack of temporal openings in the skull, including the turtles and their relatives.
<INFO>  Anapsida

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from modern Latin Anapsida, from Greek an- 'without' + apsis, apsid- 'arch'.

an·ap·tyx·is n. [PHONETICS] the insertion of a vowel between two consonants in pronunciation, as in filim for film.

<DERIVATIVES> anaptyctic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek anaptuxis 'unfolding', from ana- 'back, again' + ptuxis 'folding'.

an·arch n. POETIC/LITERARY an anarchist.

■ adj. anarchic.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Greek anarkhos 'without a chief' (see ANARCHY).

Linked entries:

ANARCHY ■

an·ar·chic adj. with no controlling rules or principles to give order: an anarchic and bitter civil war.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of comedy or a person's sense of humor) uncontrolled by convention: his anarchic wit.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ar·chi·cal adj. an·ar·chi·cal·ly adv.

an·ar·chism n. belief in the abolition of all government and the organization of society on a voluntary, cooperative basis without recourse to force or compulsion.
<SPECIAL USAGE> anarchists as a political force or movement: socialism and anarchism emerged to offer organized protest against the injustices of Spanish society.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Greek anarkhos 'without a chief' (see ANARCHY) + -ISM; later influenced by French anarchisme.

Linked entries:

ANARCHY ■

-ISM ■

an·ar·chist n. a person who believes in or tries to bring about anarchy.

■ adj. relating to or supporting anarchy or anarchists: an anarchist newspaper.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ar·chis·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Greek anarkhos 'without a chief' (see ANARCHY) + -IST; later influenced by French anarchiste.

Linked entries:

ANARCHY ■

-IST ■

an·ar·chy n. a state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority: he must ensure public order in a country threatened with anarchy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> absence of government and absolute freedom of the individual, regarded as a political ideal.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek anarkhia, from anarkhos, from an- 'without' + arkhos 'chief, ruler'.

A·na·sa·zi n. (pl. same or -zis) a member of an ancient American Indian people of the southwestern U.S., who flourished between c.200 BC and AD 1500. The earliest phase of their culture, typified by pit dwellings, is known as the Basket Maker period; the present day Pueblo culture developed from a later stage.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from Navajo, literally 'ancestors of our enemies (the Pueblo peoples)'.

an·as·tig·mat n. an anastigmatic lens system.

an·as·tig·mat·ic adj. (of a lens system) constructed so that the astigmatism of each element is canceled out.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from AN-1 'not' + astigmatic (see ASTIGMATISM).

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AN- ■

ASTIGMATISM ■

a·nas·to·mose v. [intrans.] [MEDICINE] be linked by anastomosis: adjacent veins may anastomose.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] (usu. be anastomosed) link by anastomosis: the graft is anastomosed to the vein of the recipient.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: coined in French from Greek (see ANASTOMOSIS).

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ANASTOMOSIS ■

a·nas·to·mo·sis n. (pl. -ses ) TECHNICAL a cross-connection between adjacent channels, tubes, fibers, or other parts of a network.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MEDICINE] a connection made surgically between adjacent blood vessels, parts of the intestine, or other channels of the body, or the operation in which this is constructed.

<DERIVATIVES> a·nas·to·mot·ic adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek , from anastomoun 'provide with a mouth'.

a·nas·tro·phe n. [RHETORIC] the inversion of the usual order of words or clauses.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Greek 'turning back', from ana- 'back' + strephein 'to turn'.

an·as·tro·zole n. a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor used in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. It has been observed to have fewer adverse side effects than tamoxifen.

anat. abbr.
- anatomical.

- anatomy.

an·a·tase n. one of the tetragonal forms of titanium dioxide, usually found as brown crystals, used as a pigment in paints and inks.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, from Greek anatasis 'extension', with allusion to the length of the crystals.

a·nath·e·ma n. 1 something or someone that one vehemently dislikes: racial hatred was anathema to her.

2 a formal curse by a pope or a council of the Church, excommunicating a person or denouncing a doctrine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY a strong curse: the sergeant clutched the ruined communicator, muttering anathemas.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin, 'excommunicated person, excommunication', from Greek anathema 'thing dedicated', (later) 'thing devoted to evil, accursed thing', from anatithenai 'to set up'.

a·nath·e·ma·tize v. [trans.] curse; condemn: she anathematized Tom as the despoiler of a helpless widow.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French anathématiser, from Latin anathematizare, from Greek anathematizein, from anathema (see ANATHEMA).

Linked entries:

ANATHEMA ■

An·a·to·li·a the western peninsula of Asia, bounded by the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean seas, that forms the greater part of Turkey.

An·a·to·li·an adj. of or relating to Anatolia, its inhabitants, or their ancient languages.

■ n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Anatolia.

2 an extinct group of ancient languages constituting a branch of the Indo-European language family and including Hittite, Luwian, Lydian, and Lycian.

an·a·tom·i·cal (abbr.: anat.) adj. of or relating to bodily structure: anatomical abnormalities.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to anatomy: anatomical lectures.

<DERIVATIVES> an·a·tom·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from late Latin anatomicus, from anatomia (see ANATOMY), + -AL.

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ANATOMY ■

-AL ■

an·a·tom·i·cal·ly cor·rect adj. (of a doll) having the sexual organs plainly represented.

a·nat·o·mist n. an expert in anatomy; a dissector.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French anatomiste, from a medieval Latin derivative of anatomizare (see ANATOMIZE).

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ANATOMIZE ■

a·nat·o·mize v. [trans.] dissect (a body).
<SPECIAL USAGE> examine and analyze in detail: successful comedy is notoriously difficult to anatomize.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin anatomizare, from anatomia (see ANATOMY).

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ANATOMY ■

a·nat·o·my (abbr.: anat.) n. (pl. -mies) the branch of science concerned with the bodily structure of humans, animals, and other living organisms, esp. as revealed by dissection and the separation of parts.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the bodily structure of an organism: descriptions of the cat's anatomy and behavior.

- INFORMAL, HUMOROUS a person's body: he left dusty handprints on his lady customers' anatomies.

- FIGURATIVE a study of the structure or internal workings of something: Machiavelli's anatomy of the art of war.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French anatomie or late Latin anatomia, from Greek, from ana- 'up' + tomia 'cutting' (from temnein 'to cut').

a·nat·to n. (-tos) variant spelling of ANNATTO.

An·ax·ag·o·ras (c.500-c.428 BC), Greek philosopher. He believed that all matter was infinitely divisible and motionless until animated by mind (nous).

A·nax·i·man·der (c.610-c.545 BC), Greek scientist from Miletus. He believed the earth to be cylindrical and poised in space and is reputed to have taught that life began in water and that humans originated from fish.

An·ax·im·e·nes (c.546 BC), Greek philosopher and scientist from Miletus. He believed the earth to be flat and shallow, a view of astronomy that was a retrograde step from that of Anaximander.

ANC abbr. African National Congress.

-ance suffix forming nouns: 1 denoting a quality or state or an instance of one: allegiance; extravagance; perseverance.

2 denoting an action: appearance; utterance.

<ORIGIN> representing French suffix -ance, from Latin nouns ending in -antia, -entia (from present participial stems -ant-, -ent-).

an·ces·tor n. a person, typically one more remote than a grandparent, from whom one is descended: my ancestor Admiral Anson circumnavigated the globe 250 years ago.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an early type of animal or plant from which others have evolved.

- an early version of a machine, artifact, system, etc., that later became more developed.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French ancestre, from Latin antecessor, from antecedere, from ante 'before' + cedere 'go'.

an·ces·tral adj. [attrib.] of, belonging to, inherited from, or denoting an ancestor or ancestors: the family's ancestral home; the only records of the ancestral forms are their fossils.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French ancestrel, from ancestre (see ANCESTOR).

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ANCESTOR ■

an·ces·tress n. a female ancestor.

an·ces·try n. (pl. -tries) [usu. in sing.] one's family or ethnic descent: his dark eyes came from his Jewish ancestry.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the evolutionary or genetic line of descent of an animal or plant: the ancestry of the rose is extremely complicated.

- FIGURATIVE the origin or background of something: the book traces the ancestry of women's poetry.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: alteration of Old French ancesserie, from ancestre (see ANCESTOR).

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ANCESTOR ■

An·chi·ses [GREEK] [ROMAN MYTHOLOGY] the father of the Trojan hero Aeneas.

an·cho (also ancho chili) n. a large aromatic variety of chili, used (usually dried) in dishes of Mexican origin or style.

<ORIGIN> from Mexican Spanish (chile) ancho 'wide (chili)'.

an·choï·ade (also an·choi·ade) n. a purée of anchovies, crushed garlic, and olive oil that is served with vegetables as a dip or spread on bread.

<ORIGIN> Provençal, from French anchois 'anchovy'.

an·chor n. 1 a heavy object attached to a rope or chain and used to moor a vessel to the sea bottom, typically one having a metal shank with a ring at one end for the rope and a pair of curved and/or barbed flukes at the other.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE a person or thing that provides stability or confidence in an otherwise uncertain situation: the European Community is the economic anchor of the New Europe.

- (in full anchor store) a store, e.g., a department store, that is the principal tenant of a mall or a shopping center.

2 an anchorman or anchorwoman, esp. in broadcasting or athletics: he signed off after nineteen years as CBS news anchor.

■ v. [trans.] 1 moor (a ship) to the sea bottom with an anchor: the ship was anchored in the lee of the island | [intrans.] we anchored in the harbor.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- secure firmly in position: with cords and pitons they anchored him to the rock; the tail is used as a hook with which the fish anchors itself to coral | FIGURATIVE the first baseman is anchored to the bag.

- provide with a firm basis or foundation: it is important that policy be anchored to some acceptable theoretical basis.

2 to act or serve as an anchor for (a news program or sporting event): she anchored a television documentary series in the early 1980s.

<PHRASES>
□ at anchor (of a ship) moored by means of an anchor.

□ drop anchor (of a ship) let down the anchor and moor.

□ weigh (or raise or heave) anchor (of a ship) take up the anchor when ready to depart.

<ORIGIN> Old English ancor, ancra, via Latin from Greek ankura; reinforced in Middle English by Old French ancre. The current form is from anchora, an erroneous Latin spelling. The verb (from Old French ancrer) dates from Middle English.

An·chor·age a seaport in southern Alaska, on an inlet of the Pacific Ocean, the state’s largest city; pop. 260,283 .

an·chor·age n. 1 an area that is suitable for a ship to anchor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of securing something to a base or the state of being secured: the plant needs firm anchorage | FIGURATIVE the mother provides emotional anchorage.

2 HISTORICAL an anchorite's dwelling place.

an·cho·ress n. HISTORICAL a female anchorite.

an·cho·rite n. HISTORICAL a religious recluse.

<DERIVATIVES> an·cho·rit·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin anchorita (ecclesiastical Latin anchoreta), from ecclesiastical Greek , from 'retire', from ana- 'back' + , 'a place'.

an·chor·man n. (pl. -men) a man who presents and coordinates a live television or radio program involving other contributors.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a man who plays the most crucial part or is the most dependable contributor.

- the member of a relay team who runs the last leg.

an·chor·per·son n. (pl. -per·sons or -peo·ple) an anchorman or anchorwoman (used as a neutral alternative).

an·chor text n. the text that appears highlighted in a hypertext link and that can be clicked to open the target Web page.

an·chor·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en) a woman who presents and coordinates a live television or radio program involving other contributors.

an·cho·vy n. (pl. -ies) a small shoaling fish of commercial importance as a food fish and as bait. It is strongly flavored and is usually preserved in salt and oil.
<INFO>  Genus Engraulis, family Engraulidae: several species, including E. encrasicolus of European waters.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Spanish and Portuguese anchova, of unknown origin.

an·chu·sa n. an Old World plant of the borage family, often cultivated for its bright, typically blue, flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Anchusa, family Boraginaceae.

<ORIGIN> via Latin from Greek ankhousa.

an·cien ré·gime n. (pl. an·ciens ré·gimes pronunc. same) a political or social system that has been displaced, typically by one more modern.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Ancien Régime) the political and social system in France before the Revolution of 1789.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, literally 'old rule'.

an·cient 1 adj. belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence: the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean. See note at OLD.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- having been in existence for a very long time: an ancient gateway; ancient forests.

- CHIEFLY HUMOROUS showing or feeling signs of age or wear: an ancient pair of jeans; you make me feel ancient.

■ n. ARCHAIC or HUMOROUS an old person: a solitary ancient in a tweed jacket.

<PHRASES>
□ the Ancient of Days a biblical title for God.

□ the ancients the people of ancient times, esp. the Greeks and Romans of classical antiquity.
- the classical Greek and Roman authors: a thorough knowledge of the ancients is a prerequisite of criticism.

<DERIVATIVES> an·cient·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French ancien, based on Latin ante 'before'.

an·cient 2 n. ARCHAIC a standard, flag, or ensign.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: alteration of ENSIGN by association with ancien, an early form of ANCIENT^1 .

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ENSIGN ■

ANCIENT ■

an·cient his·to·ry n. the history of the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean area and the Near East up to the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL something that is already long familiar and no longer new, interesting, or relevant: the New Wave is ancient history now.

<DERIVATIVES> an·cient his·to·ri·an n.

an·cient·ly adv. long ago: the area was anciently called Dalriada.

an·cient world n. the region around the Mediterranean and the Near East before the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476.

an·cil·lar·y adj. providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, institution, industry, or system: the development of ancillary services to support its products.
<SPECIAL USAGE> additional; subsidiary: paragraph 19 was merely ancillary to paragraph 16.

■ n. (pl. -laries) a person whose work provides necessary support to the primary activities of an organization, institution, or industry: the employment of specialist teachers and ancillaries.
<SPECIAL USAGE> something that functions in a supplementary or supporting role: undergraduate courses of three main subjects with related ancillaries.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin ancillaris, from ancilla 'maidservant'.

an·con n. (pl. an·co·nes ) [ARCHITECTURE] 1 a console or bracket, typically with two volutes, that supports or appears to support a cornice.

2 each of a pair of projections on either side of a block of stone or other material, used for lifting it.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (denoting the corner or quoin of a wall or rafter): via Latin from Greek 'bend, elbow'.

An·co·na 1 a port on the Adriatic coast of central Italy, capital of Marche region; pop. 103,270.

An·co·na 2 n. a chicken of a breed with mottled black and white plumage.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the place name Ancona (see ANCONA^1 ).

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ANCONA ■

-ancy suffix (forming nouns) denoting a quality or state: buoyancy; expectancy. Compare with -ANCE.

<ORIGIN> representing Latin suffix -antia (see also -ENCY).

Linked entries:

-ANCE ■

-ENCY ■

an·cy·lo·sto·mi·a·sis (also an·ky·lo·sto·mi·a·sis ) n. [MEDICINE] hookworm infection of the small intestine, often leading to anemia.
<INFO>  The infecting organism is typically Ancylostoma duodenale, class Phasmida (or Secernentea).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Ancylostoma (from Greek ankulos 'crooked' + stoma 'mouth') + -IASIS.

Linked entries:

-IASIS ■

An·cy·ra ancient Roman name for ANKARA.

Linked entries:

ANKARA ■

and conj. 1 used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences that are to be taken jointly: bread and butter; red and black tiles; they can read and write; a hundred and fifty.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used to connect two clauses when the second happens after the first: he turned around and walked out; she washed and dried her hair.

- used to connect two clauses, the second of which results from the first: do that once more, and I'll skin you alive.

- connecting two identical comparatives, to emphasize a progressive change: getting better and better; he felt more and more like an outsider.

- connecting two identical words, implying great duration or great extent: I cried and cried; it takes hours and hours.

- used to connect two identical words to indicate that things of the same name or class have different qualities: all human conduct is determined or causedbut there are causes and causes.

- used to connect two numbers to indicate that they are being added together: six and four make ten.

- ARCHAIC used to connect two numbers, implying succession: a line of men marching two and two.

2 used to introduce an additional comment or interjection: if it came to a choiceand this was the worst thingshe would turn her back on her parents; they believe they are descended from him, and quite right, too.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used to introduce a question in connection with what someone else has just said: “I found the letter in her bag.” “And did you steam it open?”

- (esp. in broadcasting) used to introduce a statement about a new topic: and now to the dessert.

3 INFORMAL used after some verbs and before another verb to indicate intention, instead of “to”: I would try and do what he said; come and see me. See usage below.

■ n. (usu. AND) [LOGIC] [ELECTRONICS] a Boolean operator that gives the value one if and only if all the operands are one and otherwise has a value of zero.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also AND gate) a circuit that produces an output signal only when signals are received simultaneously through all input connections.

<PHRASES> and/or either or both of two stated possibilities: audio and/or video components.

<ORIGIN> Old English and, ond, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch en and German und.

<USAGE>
1 It is still widely taught and believed that conjunctions such as and (and also but and because) should not be used to start a sentence, the argument being that a sentence starting with and expresses an incomplete thought and is therefore incorrect. Writers down the centuries have readily ignored this advice, however, using and to start a sentence, typically for rhetorical effect: What are the government's chances of winning in court? And what are the consequences?

2 A small number of verbsnotably try, come, and gocan be followed by ‘and’ with another verb, as in sentences like we're going to try and explain it to them or why don't you come and see the film? Such structures in these verbs correspond to the use of the infinitive ‘to,’ as in we're going to try to explain it to them or why don't you come to see the film? Since these structures are grammatically odd and, though extremely common, are mainly restricted to informal English, they are regarded as wrong by some and should be avoided in formal standard English. Notice that the use is normally only possible with the infinitive of the verbthat is, it is not possible to say I tried and explained it to them.

3 On whether it is more correct to say both the boys and the girls or both the boys and girls, see usage at BOTH.

4 Where a number of items are separated by and, the following verb needs to be in the plural: see usage at OR^1 .

Linked entries:

BOTH ■

OR ■

-and suffix (forming nouns) denoting a person or thing to be treated in a specified way: analysand.

<ORIGIN> from Latin gerundive ending -andus.

An·da·lu·sia the southernmost region of Spain, bordering on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea; capital, Seville. The region was under Moorish rule from 711 to 1492.

An·da·lu·sian adj. of or relating to Andalusia or its people or their dialect.

■ n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Andalusia.

2 the dialect of Spanish spoken in Andalusia.

3 a light horse of a strong breed from Andalusia.

an·da·lu·site n. a gray, green, brown, or pink aluminosilicate mineral occurring mainly in metamorphic rocks as elongated rhombic prisms, sometimes of gem quality.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from the name of the Spanish region of ANDALUSIA + -ITE^1 .

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ANDALUSIA ■

-ITE ■

An·da·man and Nic·o·bar Is·lands two groups of islands in the Bay of Bengal that constitute a Union Territory in India; pop. 279,110; capital, Port Blair.

an·dan·te [MUSIC] adj. & adv. (esp. as a direction) in a moderately slow tempo.

■ n. a movement or composition marked to be played andante.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'going', present participle of andare.

an·dan·ti·no [MUSIC] adj. & adv. (esp. as a direction) more lighthearted than andante, and in most cases quicker.

■ n. (pl. -nos) a movement or composition marked to be played andantino.

<ORIGIN> Italian, diminutive of ANDANTE.

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ANDANTE ■

An·de·an adj. of or relating to the Andes.

■ n. a native or inhabitant of the Andes.

An·de·an con·dor see CONDOR.

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CONDOR ■

An·der·sen Hans Christian (1805-75), Danish author. He is noted for his fairy tales, published from 1835, such as “The Snow Queen,” “The Ugly Duckling,” and “The Little Match Girl.”

An·der·son 1 1 an industrial city in east central Indiana; pop. 59,734.

2 a city in northwestern South Carolina; pop. 25,514.

3 a city in north central California; pop. 62,195.

An·der·son 2 Carl David (1905-91), U.S. physicist. In 1932 he discovered the positronthe first antiparticle known. Nobel Prize for Physics (1936, shared with Victor F. Hess).

An·der·son 3 Elizabeth Garrett (1836-1917), English physician. In 1866 she established a dispensary for women and children in London.

An·der·son 4 Marian (1902-93), U.S. opera singer. Initially barred from giving concerts in the U.S. because of racial discrimination, she gained international success during several European tours 1925-35. Her U.S. career flourished from 1936; in 1955, she became the first black singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York.

An·der·son 5 Maxwell (1888-1959), U.S. playwright. His plays, many of which are written in verse, deal with social and moral problems. He also wrote many historical dramas. Notable works: Elizabeth the Queen (1930), Key Largo (1939), Anne of the Thousand Days (1948), and The Bad Seed (1954).

An·der·son 6 Philip Warren (1923-), American physicist. He made significant contributions to the study of solid-state physics, investigating magnetism and superconductivity. Nobel Prize for Physics (1977).

An·der·son 7 Sherwood (1876-1941), U.S. author. He is noted for Winesburg, Ohio (1919), a collection of interrelated short stories that explore the loneliness and frustration of small-town life.

An·der·son·ville a village in southwestern Georgia, near Americus, that was the site of a large and infamous Confederate prison camp during the Civil War.

An·des a major mountain system that runs the length of the Pacific coast of South America. It extends more than 5,000 miles (8,000 km), with a continuous height of more than 10,000 feet (3,000 m). Its highest peak is Aconcagua.

an·des·ite n. [GEOLOGY] a dark, fine-grained, brown or grayish volcanic rock that is intermediate in composition between rhyolite and basalt.

<DERIVATIVES> an·de·sit·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after the ANDES mountains, where it is found + -ITE^1 .

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-ITE ■

An·dhra Pra·desh a state in southeastern India, on the Bay of Bengal; capital, Hyderabad.

and·i·ron n. a metal support, typically one of a pair, that holds wood burning in a fireplace.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French andier, of unknown origin. The ending was altered by association with IRON.

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An·dor·ra a small autonomous principality in southwestern Europe, in the southern Pyrenees, between France and Spain; pop. 69,800; capital, Andorra la Vella; Catalan (official) and French.

Andorra’s independence dates from the late 8th century, when Charlemagne is said to have granted the Andorrans self-government for their help in defeating the Moors. Since World War II, tourism has driven the economy.

<DERIVATIVES> An·dor·ran adj. & n.

an·dou·ille n. a spicy pork sausage seasoned with garlic, used esp. in Cajun cooking.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: French.

an·douil·lette n. a very small French sausage similar to andouille.

<ORIGIN> French.

An·do·ver a town in northeastern Massachusetts, home to Phillips Academy, a noted prep school; pop. 29,151.

andr- comb. form variant spelling of ANDRO- shortened before a vowel (as in androecium).

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ANDRO- ■

an·dra·dite n. a mineral of the garnet group, containing calcium and iron. It occurs as yellow, green, brown, or black crystals, sometimes of gem quality.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after J. B. de Andrada e Silva (c.1763-1838), Brazilian geologist, + -ITE^1 .

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An·dre Carl (1935- ), U.S. sculptor. Many of his works are ready-made units, such as bricks, stacked according to a mathematical system and without adhesives or joints.

An·dré John (1750-80), British soldier. He successfully negotiated with Benedict Arnold for the betrayal of West Point to the British 1779-80. Captured while returning from West Point, he was tried and hanged as a spy.

An·dre·an·of Is·lands an island group in southwestern Alaska, part of the Aleutian Islands.

An·dret·ti Mario (Gabriele) (1940- ), U.S. race car driver, born in Italy. He won the Daytona 500 in 1967, the Indianapolis 500 in 1969, and the Grand Prix world driving championship in 1978.

An·drew, Prince (1960- ), British prince; second son of Elizabeth II; full name Andrew Albert Christian Edward, Duke of York. He married Sarah Ferguson in 1986, but the couple divorced in 1996 ; they have two children, Princess Beatrice (1988- ) and Princess Eugenie (1990- ).

An·drew, St. an Apostle; the brother of St. Peter. The X-shaped cross is associated with him because he is said to have been crucified on such a cross. He is the patron saint of Scotland and Russia. Feast day, November 30.

An·drews 1 Julie (1935- ), English actress and singer; born Julia Elizabeth Wells. She is best known for the movies Mary Poppins (1964), for which she won an Academy Award, and The Sound of Music (1965).

An·drews 2 Thomas (1813-85), Irish physical chemist. He discovered the critical temperature of carbon dioxide and showed that ozone is an allotrope of oxygen.

An·drew·sar·chus n. a very large carnivorous mammal (Andrewsarchus mongoliensis, order Creodonta) of the Eocene epoch.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin: from the name of U.S. paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews (1884-1960), who led the expedition on which the animal's fossils were found, + Greek arkhos 'ruler'.

an·dro another term for ANDROSTENEDIONE.

andro- (usu. andr- before a vowel) comb. form man (as opposed to woman): androcentric; androgenize.

an·dro·cen·tric adj. focused or centered on men: in the radical feminist view science is sexist and androcentric.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek , andr- 'man' + -CENTRIC.

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An·dro·cles a runaway slave in a story by Aulus Gellius (2nd century AD) who extracted a thorn from the paw of a lion, which later recognized him and refrained from attacking him when he faced it in the arena.

an·droc·ra·cy n. (pl. -cies) a social system ruled or dominated by men.

<DERIVATIVES> an·dro·crat·ic adj..

an·droe·ci·um n. (pl. -ci·a ) [BOTANY] the stamens of a flower collectively.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek , andr- 'man' + oikion 'house'.

an·dro·gen n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a male sex hormone, such as testosterone.

<DERIVATIVES> an·dro·gen·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from Greek , andr- 'man' + -GEN.

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an·dro·gen·ize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (androgenized) treat with or expose to male hormones, typically resulting in the production of male sexual characteristics.

<DERIVATIVES> an·drog·e·ni·za·tion n.

an·dro·gyne n. an androgynous individual.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a hermaphrodite.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as a noun): via Latin from Greek androgunos, from , andr- 'man' + 'woman'.

an·drog·y·nous adj. partly male and partly female in appearance; of indeterminate sex.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having the physical characteristics of both sexes; hermaphrodite.

<DERIVATIVES> an·drog·y·ny n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin androgynus (see ANDROGYNE) + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

an·droid n. (in science fiction) a robot with a human appearance.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (in the modern Latin form): from modern Latin androides, from Greek , andr- 'man' + -OID.

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An·drom·a·che [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the wife of Hector. She became the slave of Neoptolemus (son of Achilles) after the fall of Troy.

An·drom·e·da 1 [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] an Ethiopian princess whose mother Cassiopeia boasted that she herself (or, in some stories, her daughter) was more beautiful than the Nereids. In revenge, Poseidon sent a sea monster to ravage the country; to placate him, Andromeda was fastened to a rock and exposed to the monster, from which she was rescued by Perseus.

2 [ASTRONOMY] a large northern constellation between Perseus and Pegasus, with few bright stars. It is chiefly notable for the Andromeda Galaxy (or Great Nebula of Andromeda), a conspicuous spiral galaxy probably twice as massive as our own and located 2 million light years away.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (An·drom·e·dae ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars in this constellation: the star Gamma Andromedae.

an·drom·e·da n. an evergreen shrub of the heath family, typically with clusters of small bell-like flowers.
<INFO>  Two genera in the family Ericaceae: several species, including the bog rosemary (Andromeda glaucophylla and A. polifolia) of north temperate regions, and the widely cultivated Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica).

an·dro·pause n. a collection of symptoms, including fatigue and a decrease in libido, experienced by some middle-aged men and attributed to a gradual decline in testosterone levels.

<DERIVATIVES> an·dro·pau·sal adj.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from ANDRO-, on the pattern of menopause.

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ANDRO- ■

An·dro·pov 1 former name (1984-89) for RYBINSK.

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An·dro·pov 2 Yuri (Vladimirovich) (1914-84), Soviet statesman; general secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR 1982-84 and president 1983-84. As president he initiated the reform process that was carried out by Mikhail Gorbachev, his successor.

An·dro·scog·gin Riv·er a river that flows for 175 miles (280 km) from northern New Hampshire through southwestern Maine to the Atlantic Ocean.

an·dro·stene·di·one n. a naturally occurring steroid hormone, also available as a dietary supplement, believed to increase levels of serum testosterone. Also called ANDRO.

an·dros·ter·one n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a relatively inactive male sex hormone produced by metabolism of testosterone.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from Greek , andr- 'man' + STEROL + -ONE.

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-ONE ■

-androus comb. form [BOTANY] &[ZOOLOGY] having male organs or stamens of a specified number: monandrous protandrous.

<ORIGIN> based on modern Latin -andrus, from Greek -andros, from andros, genitive of 'man'.

-ane 1 suffix variant spelling of -AN, usually with a distinction of sense (such as humane compared with human) but sometimes with no corresponding form in -an (such as mundane).

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-AN ■

-ane 2 suffix [CHEMISTRY] forming names of saturated hydrocarbons: methane; propane.

<ORIGIN> on the pattern of words such as -ene, -ine.

an·ec·dot·age n. 1 anecdotes collectively: a number of reports cannot be dismissed as anecdotage. <ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from ANECDOTE + -AGE.

2 HUMOROUS old age, esp. in someone who is inclined to be garrulous. <ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from a blend of ANECDOTE and DOTAGE.

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-AGE ■

ANECDOTE ■

DOTAGE ■

an·ec·do·tal adj. (of an account) not necessarily true or reliable, because based on personal accounts rather than facts or research: while there was much anecdotal evidence there was little hard fact; these claims were purely anecdotal.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- characterized by or fond of telling anecdotes: her book is anecdotal and chatty.

- [attrib.] (of a painting) depicting small narrative incidents: nineteenth-century French anecdotal paintings.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ec·do·tal·ist n. an·ec·do·tal·ly adv.

an·ec·dote n. a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person: told anecdotes about his job | he had a rich store of anecdotes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an account regarded as unreliable or hearsay: his wife's death has long been the subject of rumor and anecdote.

- the depiction of a minor narrative incident in a painting.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, or via modern Latin from Greek anekdota 'things unpublished', from an- 'not' + ekdotos, from 'publish'.

an·e·cho·ic adj. TECHNICAL free from echo: an anechoic chamber.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a coating or material) tending to deaden sound.

a·nele v. [trans.] ARCHAIC anoint (someone), esp. as part of the Christian rite of giving extreme unction to the dying.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from an- 'on' + archaic elien 'to oil' (from Old English ele, from Latin oleum 'oil').

a·ne·mi·a (BRIT. a·nae·mi·a) n. a condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: via modern Latin from Greek anaimia, from an- 'without' + haima 'blood'.

a·ne·mic (BRIT. a·nae·mic) adj. suffering from anemia.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE lacking in color, spirit, or vitality.

anemo- comb. form wind: anemometer.

a·nem·o·graph n. an anemometer that records on paper the speed, duration, and sometimes also the direction of the wind.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek anemos 'wind' + -GRAPH.

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an·e·mom·e·ter n. an instrument for measuring the speed of the wind, or of any current of gas.

<DERIVATIVES> an·e·mom·e·try n. an·e·mo·met·ric adj.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Greek anemos 'wind' + -METER.

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a·nem·o·ne n. 1 a plant of the buttercup family, typically bearing brightly colored flowers. Anemones are widely distributed in the wild, and several kinds are popular garden plants.
<INFO>  Genus Anemone, family Ranunculaceae: numerous species, including the North American wood anemone (A. quinquefolia).

2 short for SEA ANEMONE.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin, said to be from Greek 'windflower', literally 'daughter of the wind', from anemos 'wind', thought to be so named because the flowers open only when the wind blows.

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SEA ANEMONE ■

a·nem·o·ne fish n. another term for CLOWNFISH.

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an·e·moph·i·lous adj. [BOTANY] (of a plant) wind-pollinated.

<DERIVATIVES> an·e·moph·i·ly n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek anemos 'wind' + -philous (see -PHILIA).

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an·en·ce·phal·ic [MEDICINE] adj. having part or all of the cerebral hemispheres and the rear of the skull congenitally absent.

■ n. an anencephalic fetus or infant.

<DERIVATIVES> an·en·ceph·a·ly n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek anenkephalos 'without brain' + -IC.

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a·nent prep. CHIEFLY ARCHAIC concerning; about: I'll say a few words anent the letter.

<ORIGIN> Old English on efen 'in line with, in company with'.

-aneous suffix forming adjectives from Latin words: cutaneous; spontaneous.

<ORIGIN> from the Latin suffix -aneus + -OUS.

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an·er·gi·a n. [PSYCHIATRY] abnormal lack of energy.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek an- 'without' + ergon 'work'.

an·er·gy n. 1 [MEDICINE] absence of the normal immune response to a particular antigen or allergen.

2 another term for ANERGIA.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from German Anergie, from Greek an- 'not', on the pattern of Allergie 'allergy'.

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ANERGIA ■

an·er·oid adj. relating to or denoting a barometer that measures air pressure by the action of the air in deforming the elastic lid of an evacuated box or chamber.

■ n. a barometer of this type.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: coined in French from Greek a- 'without' + 'water'.

an·es·the·sia (BRIT. an·aes·the·sia) n. insensitivity to pain, esp. as artificially induced by the administration of gases or the injection of drugs before surgical operations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the induction of this state, or the branch of medicine concerned with it.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from modern Latin anaesthesia, from Greek , from an- 'without' + 'sensation'.

an·es·the·si·ol·o·gy (BRIT. an·aes·the·si·ol·o·gy) n. the branch of medicine concerned with anesthesia and anesthetics.

<DERIVATIVES> an·es·the·si·ol·o·gist n.

an·es·thet·ic (BRIT. an·aes·thet·ic) n. 1 a substance that induces insensitivity to pain.

2 (anesthetics) [treated as sing.] the study or practice of anesthesia.

■ adj. inducing or relating to insensitivity to pain.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek 'insensible', related to (see ANESTHESIA), + -IC.

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ANESTHESIA ■

-IC ■

an·es·the·tist (BRIT. an·aes·the·tist) n. a medical specialist who administers anesthetics.

an·es·the·tize (BRIT. an·aes·the·tize) v. [trans.] administer an anesthetic to: in fetal surgery, doctors anesthetize both the mother and the fetus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE deprive of feeling or awareness: tragedy of a magnitude that anesthetizes the mind.

<DERIVATIVES> an·es·the·ti·za·tion n.

an·eu·ploid adj. [GENETICS] having particular genes or chromosomal regions present in extra or fewer copies than in the normal type: aneuploid colon cancer cells missegregate their chromosomes.

<DERIVATIVES> an·eu·ploi·dy n.

an·eu·rysm (also an·eu·rism) n. [MEDICINE] an excessive localized enlargement of an artery caused by a weakening of the artery wall.

<DERIVATIVES> an·eu·rys·mal adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Greek aneurusma 'dilatation', from aneurunein 'widen out'.

a·new adv. CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY in a new or different, typically more positive, way: her career had begun anew, with a lucrative Japanese modeling contract.
<SPECIAL USAGE> once more; again: tears filled her eyes anew.

an·frac·tu·ous adj. RARE sinuous or circuitous.

<DERIVATIVES> an·frac·tu·os·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from late Latin anfractuosus, from Latin anfractus 'a bending'.

An·ga·ra Riv·er a river in the southeastern part of Siberia in Russia that flows northwest and west for 1,039 miles (1,779 km) from Lake Baikal to meet the Yenisei River south of Yeniseysk.

an·gel n. 1 a spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God, conventionally represented in human form with wings and a long robe: God sent an angel to talk to Gideon; the Angel of Death | FIGURATIVE Ella, ever the angel of mercy, organized the girls into baking cookies.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an attendant spirit, esp. a benevolent one: there was an angel watching over me. See also GUARDIAN ANGEL.

- INFORMAL a financial backer of an enterprise, typically in the theater.

- in traditional Christian angelology, a being of the lowest order of the celestial hierarchy.

- INFORMAL [AVIATION] an unexplained radar echo.

2 a person of exemplary conduct or virtue: women were then seen as angels or whores; I know I'm no angel.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used in similes or comparisons to refer to a person's outstanding beauty, qualities, or abilities: you sang like an angel.

- used in approval when a person has been or is expected to be kind or willing to oblige: be an angel and let us come in.

- used as a term of endearment: I miss you too, angel.

3 HISTORICAL an English coin minted between 1470 and 1634 and bearing the figure of the archangel Michael killing a dragon.

4 (angels) INFORMAL, [AVIATION] an aircraft's altitude (often used with a numeral indicating thousands of feet): we rendezvous at angels nine.

<PHRASES>
□ the angel in the house CHIEFLY IRONIC a woman who is completely devoted to her husband and family. <ORIGIN> phrase from a poem by Coventry Patmore.

□ on the side of the angels on the side of what is right and just.

<ORIGIN> Old English engel, ultimately via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek angelos 'messenger'; superseded in Middle English by forms from Old French angele.

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GUARDIAN ANGEL ■

an·gel dust n. INFORMAL 1 the hallucinogenic drug phencyclidine hydrochloride.

2 another term for CLENBUTEROL.

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CLENBUTEROL ■

An·ge·le·no (also Los An·ge·le·no, An·ge·li·no) n. (pl. -nos) a native or inhabitant of Los Angeles: [as adj.] Angeleno sports fans.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from American Spanish.

An·gel Falls a waterfall in the Guiana Highlands of southeastern Venezuela. The highest waterfall in the world, it has an uninterrupted descent of 3,210 feet (978 m). The falls were discovered in 1935 by U.S. aviator and prospector James Angel (c.1899-1956).

an·gel·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) any of a number of laterally compressed deep-bodied fish with extended dorsal and anal fins, typically brightly colored or boldly striped, including:
<INFO>
- a freshwater fish native to the Amazon basin (genus Pterophyllum, family Cichlidae), in particular P. scalare, popular in tropical aquariums.

- a coastal marine fish (several genera in the family Pomacanthidae), including the blue and yellow queen angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris) and the more drably colored gray angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus).

- another term for BATFISH (sense 2).

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an·gel food cake (BRIT. angel cake) n. a light, pale sponge cake made of flour, egg whites, and no fat, typically baked in a ring shape and covered with soft icing.

an·gel hair (also an·gel's hair) n. a type of pasta consisting of very fine long strands.

an·gel·ic adj. of or relating to angels: the angelic hosts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) exceptionally beautiful, innocent, or kind: she looks remarkably young and angelic.

<DERIVATIVES> an·gel·i·cal adj. an·gel·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French angélique, via late Latin from Greek angelikos, from angelos (see ANGEL).

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ANGEL ■

an·gel·i·ca n. a tall aromatic plant of the parsley family, with large leaves and yellowish-green flowers. Native to both Eurasia and North America, it is used in cooking and herbal medicine.
<INFO>  Genus Angelica, family Umbelliferae: many species, esp. the cultivated A. archangelica.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the candied stalk of this plant.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from medieval Latin (herba) angelica 'angelic (herb)', so named because it was believed to be efficacious against poisoning and disease.

an·gel·i·ca tree n. another term for DEVIL’S WALKING STICK (see HERCULES-CLUB).

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HERCULES-CLUB ■

An·gel·ic Doc·tor the nickname of St. Thomas Aquinas.

An·ge·li·co Fra (c.1400-55), Italian painter and Dominican friar; born Guido di Pietro; monastic name Fra Giovanni da Fiesole. Notable works: the frescos in the convent of San Marco, Florence (c.1438-47).

An·ge·li·no n. variant spelling of ANGELENO.

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ANGELENO ■

An·gel Is·land an island in San Francisco Bay, in north central California, that was the chief immigration station on the U.S. western coast. It is now a state park.

An·gel·man syn·drome (also An·gel·man's syn·drome) n. a rare congenital disorder characterized by mental retardation and a tendency toward jerky movement, caused by the absence of certain genes normally present on the copy of chromosome 15 inherited from the mother.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: named after Harold Angelman, British doctor who described the condition.

an·gel·ol·o·gy n. theological dogma or speculation concerning angels: Gnostic angelology influenced Pseudo-Dionysius.

<DERIVATIVES> an·gel·ol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.

An·ge·lou Maya (1928- ), U.S. novelist and poet; born Marguerite Johnson. The first volume of her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1970), which recounts her harrowing experiences as a black child in the U.S. South, was followed by four more: Gather Together in My Name (1974), Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas (1976), The Heart of a Woman (1981), and All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986).

an·gel shark n. an active bottom-dwelling cartilaginous fish with broad winglike pectoral fins.
<INFO>  Family Squatinidae and genus Squatina: several species, in particular the Atlantic angel shark (S. dumerili).

an·gel's trum·pet n. a South American shrub or small tree of the nightshade family, with distinctive trumpet-shaped flowers, cultivated as an ornamental and in some regions consumed for its narcotic properties.
<INFO>  Genus Brugmansia, family Solanaceae.

An·ge·lus (also an·ge·lus) n. [in sing.] a Roman Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation of Jesus and including the Hail Mary, said at morning, noon, and sunset.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a ringing of church bells announcing this.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from the Latin phrase Angelus domini 'the angel of the Lord', the opening words of the devotion.

an·gel wings plural n. [treated as sing.] a white edible piddock found on the east coast of North America and in the West Indies.
<INFO>  Barnea costata, family Pholadidae.

an·ger n. a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility: the colonel's anger at his daughter's disobedience.

■ v. [trans.] (often be angered) fill (someone) with such a feeling; provoke anger in: she was angered by his terse answer | [trans.] I was angered to receive a further letter from them | [trans.] he was angered that he had not been told.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse angr 'grief', angra 'vex'. The original use was in the Old Norse senses; current senses date from late Middle English.

An·gers a town in western France, capital of the former province of Anjou; pop. 146,160 .

An·ge·vin n. a native, inhabitant, or ruler of Anjou.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any of the Plantagenet kings of England, esp. those who were also counts of Anjou (Henry II, Richard I, and John).

■ adj. of or relating to Anjou.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of, relating to, or denoting the Plantaganets.

<ORIGIN> from French, from medieval Latin Andegavinus, from Andegavum 'Angers' (see ANGERS).

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ANGERS ■

an·gi·na n. 1 (also an·gi·na pec·to·ris ) a condition marked by severe pain in the chest, often also spreading to the shoulders, arms, and neck, caused by an inadequate blood supply to the heart.

2 [with adj.] any of a number of disorders in which there is an intense localized pain: Ludwig's angina.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the Latin sense): from Latin, 'quinsy', from Greek 'strangling'; pectoris (sense 1): Latin, 'of the chest'.

angio- comb. form relating to blood vessels: angiography.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to seed vessels: angiosperm.

<ORIGIN> from Greek angeion 'vessel'.

an·gi·o·gen·e·sis n. [MEDICINE] the development of new blood vessels.

<DERIVATIVES> an·gi·o·gen·ic adj.

an·gi·o·gram n. an X-ray photograph of blood or lymph vessels, made by angiography.

an·gi·og·ra·phy n. examination by X-ray of blood or lymph vessels, carried out after introduction of a radiopaque substance.

<DERIVATIVES> an·gi·o·graph·ic adj. an·gi·o·graph·i·cal·ly adv.

an·gi·o·ma n. (pl. -mas or -ma·ta ) [MEDICINE] an abnormal growth produced by the dilatation or new formation of blood vessels.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek angeion 'vessel' + -OMA.

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-OMA ■

an·gi·o·plas·ty n. (pl. -ties) surgical repair or unblocking of a blood vessel, esp. a coronary artery. See also BALLOON ANGIOPLASTY.

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BALLOON ANGIOPLASTY ■

an·gi·o·sperm n. [BOTANY] a plant that has flowers and produces seeds enclosed within a carpel. The angiosperms are a large group and include herbaceous plants, shrubs, grasses, and most trees. Compare with GYMNOSPERM.
<INFO>  Subdivision Angiospermae, division Spermatophyta.

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GYMNOSPERM ■

an·gi·o·sta·tin n. [MEDICINE] a drug used to inhibit the growth of new blood vessels in malignant tumors.

an·gi·o·ten·sin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a protein whose presence in the blood promotes aldosterone secretion and tends to raise blood pressure.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from ANGIO- + (hyper)tens(ion) + -IN^1 .

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ANGIO- ■

-IN ■

Ang·kor the capital of the ancient kingdom of Khmer in northwestern Cambodia; noted for its temples, esp. the Angkor Wat (mid 12th century), the site was rediscovered in 1860.

An·gle n. a member of a Germanic people, originally inhabitants of what is now Schleswig-Holstein, who migrated to England in the 5th century AD. The Angles founded kingdoms in Mercia, Northumbria, and East Anglia and gave their name to England and the English.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Anglus, (plural) Angli 'the people of Angul,' a district of Schleswig (now in northern Germany), so called because of its shape; of Germanic origin, related to Old English angul (see ANGLE^2 ). Compare with ENGLISH.

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ANGLE ■

ENGLISH ■

an·gle 1 n. 1 the space (usually measured in degrees) between two intersecting lines or surfaces at or close to the point where they meet.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a corner, esp. an external projection or an internal recess of a part of a building or other structure: a skylight in the angle of the roof.

- slope; a measure of the inclination of two lines or surfaces with respect to each other, equal to the amount that one would have to be turned in order to point in the same direction as the other: sloping at an angle of 33° to the horizontal; he trudged back, the angle of his shoulders spelling dejection.

- a position from which something is viewed or along which it travels or acts, often as measured by its inclination from an implicit horizontal or vertical baseline: from this angle, Maggie could not see Naomi's face; camera angles.

2 a particular way of approaching or considering an issue or problem: discussing the problems from every conceivable angle; he always had a fresh angle on life.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- one part of a larger subject, event, or problem: a black prosecutor who downplayed the racial angle; his chosen angle was the language of the Old Testament.

- a bias or point of view: Zimmer saw the world from an angle that few could understand.

3 [often with adj.] [ASTROLOGY] each of the four mundane houses (the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth of the twelve divisions of the heavens) that extend counterclockwise from the cardinal points of the compass.

4 angle iron or a similar construction material made of another metal.

■ v. [trans.] direct or incline at an angle: Anna angled her camera toward the tree; he angled his chair so that he could watch her.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] move or be inclined at an angle: the cab angled across two lanes and skidded to a stop; | the sun angled into the dining room.

- [trans.] present (information) to reflect a particular view or have a particular focus.

<PHRASES>
□ at an angle in a direction or at an inclination markedly different from parallel, vertical, or horizontal with respect to an implicit baseline: she wore her beret at an angle an armchair was drawn up at an angle to his desk.

□ from all angles from every direction or point of view: they come shooting at us from all angles looking at the problem from all angles.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin angulus 'corner'.

an·gle 2 v. [intrans.] fish with rod and line: there are no big fish left to angle for.
<SPECIAL USAGE> seek something desired by indirectly prompting someone to offer it: Ralph had begun to angle for an invitation | [with infinitive] her husband was angling to get into the Cabinet.

■ n. ARCHAIC a fishhook.

<ORIGIN> Old English angul (noun); the verb dates from late Middle English.

an·gle brack·et n. 1 either of a pair of marks in the form < >, used to enclose words or figures so as to separate them from their context.

2 another term for BRACKET (sense 3).

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BRACKET ■

an·gled adj. 1 placed or inclined at an angle to something else: he sent an angled shot into the net; a sharply angled flight of stairs.

2 [in combination] (of an object or shape) having an angle or angles of a specified type or number: a right-angled bend; an obtuse-angled triangle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of information) presented so as to reflect a particular view or to have a particular focus.

an·gle i·ron n. a construction material consisting of pieces of steel with an L-shaped cross-section, able to be bolted together.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a piece of metal of this kind.

an·gle of at·tack n. the angle between the chord of an airfoil and the direction of the surrounding undisturbed flow of gas or liquid.

an·gle of in·ci·dence n. [PHYSICS] the angle that an incident line or ray makes with a perpendicular to the surface at the point of incidence.

an·gle of re·flec·tion n. [PHYSICS] the angle made by a reflected ray with a perpendicular to the reflecting surface.

an·gle of re·frac·tion n. [PHYSICS] the angle made by a refracted ray with a perpendicular to the refracting surface.

an·gle of re·pose n. the steepest angle at which a sloping surface formed of a particular loose material is stable.

an·gler n. a person who fishes with a rod and line: [with adj.] a carp angler.
<SPECIAL USAGE> short for ANGLERFISH.

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ANGLERFISH ■

an·gler·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a fish that lures prey with a fleshy lobe attached to a filament that arises from the snout and hangs in front of the mouth. Most anglerfishes have a very large head and wide mouth, with a small body and tail.
<INFO>  Order Lophiiformes: several families. Some rest motionless on the seabed, in particular those of the family Lophiidae); many others are deep-sea fish.

An·gle·sey an island in northwestern Wales, separated from the mainland by the Menai Strait.

an·gle shades plural n. [treated as sing.] a moth with wings patterned in muted green, red, and pink.
<INFO>  Phlogophora meticulosa, family Noctuidae and other species.

An·gli·an adj. of or relating to the ancient Angles.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from Latin Angli (see ANGLE) + -IAN.

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ANGLE ■

-IAN ■

An·gli·can adj. of, relating to, or denoting the Church of England or any Church in communion with it.

■ n. a member of any of these Churches.

<DERIVATIVES> An·gli·can·ism n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin Anglicanus (its adoption suggested by Anglicana ecclesia 'the English church' in the Magna Carta), from Anglicus, from Angli (see ANGLE).

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ANGLE ■

An·gli·can chant n. a method of singing unmetrical psalms and canticles to short harmonized melodies, the first note being extended to accommodate as many syllables as necessary.

An·gli·can com·mun·ion the group of Christian Churches derived from or related to the Church of England, including the Episcopal Church in the U.S. and other national, provincial, and independent Churches. The body's primate is the Archbishop of Canterbury.

An·gli·cism n. 1 a word or phrase that is peculiar to British English: this new autobiography is studded with Anglicisms like lorries, plimsolls, and doing a bunk.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the quality of being typically English or of favoring English things.

2 a word or phrase borrowed from English into a foreign language: "purists" condemn the use of "fin de semaine" because it is an anglicism.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin Anglicus, from Angli (see ANGLE) + -ISM.

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ANGLE ■

-ISM ■

an·gli·cize v. [trans.] make English in form or character: he anglicized his name to Goodman | [as adj.] (anglicized) an anglicized form of a Navajo word.

<DERIVATIVES> an·gli·ci·za·tion n.

an·gling n. the sport or pastime of fishing with a rod and line: [as adj.] an angling club; an angling license.

An·glo n. (pl. -glos) a white, English-speaking American as distinct from a Hispanic American: [as adj.] Anglo neighborhoods.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: independent usage of ANGLO-.

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ANGLO- ■

Anglo- comb. form English: anglophone.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of English origin: Anglo-Saxon.

- English and : Anglo-Latin.

- British and : Anglo-Indian.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Latin Anglus 'English'.

An·glo-A·mer·i·can adj. of or relating to both Britain and the U.S.: the older Anglo-American conception of the American as an offshoot of the Anglo-Saxons.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of English descent, but born or living in the U.S.

■ n. an American born in England or of English ancestry.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an American whose native tongue is English.

An·glo-Cath·o·lic adj. of or relating to Anglo-Catholicism.

■ n. a member of an Anglo-Catholic Church.

An·glo-Ca·thol·i·cism n. a tradition within the Anglican Church that is close to Catholicism in its doctrine and worship and is broadly identified with High Church Anglicanism. Anglo-Catholicism grew out of the Oxford Movement of the 1830s and 1840s.

An·glo-Celt n. a person of British or Irish descent (typically used outside Britain and Ireland).

<DERIVATIVES> An·glo-Celt·ic adj.

An·glo·cen·tric adj. centered on or considered in terms of England or Britain: an Anglocentric, white view of Australian history.

An·glo-In·di·an adj. of, relating to, or involving both Britain and India: Anglo-Indian business cooperation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (esp. of a person living in the Indian subcontinent) of mixed British and Indian parentage.

- CHIEFLY HISTORICAL of British descent or birth but living or having lived long in India.

- (of a word) adopted into English from an Indian language.

■ n. an Anglo-Indian person.

An·glo-I·rish adj. of or relating to both Britain and Ireland (or specifically the Republic of Ireland).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of English descent but born or resident in Ireland.

- [as plural n.] (the Anglo-Irish) people of English descent but born or resident in Ireland.

- of mixed English and Irish parentage.

■ n. the English language as used in Ireland.

An·glo-I·rish Trea·ty an agreement signed in 1921 by representatives of the British government and the provisional Irish Republican government, by which Ireland was partitioned and the Irish Free State created.

An·glo-Lat·in adj. of, in, or relating to Latin as used in medieval England.

■ n. this form of Latin.

An·glo·ma·ni·a n. excessive admiration of English customs.

An·glo-Nor·man French (also An·glo-Nor·man) n. the variety of Norman French used in England after the Norman Conquest. It remained the language of the English nobility for several centuries and has had a strong influence on legal phraseology in English.

■ adj. of or relating to this language.

An·glo·phile n. a person who is fond of or greatly admires England or Britain.

■ adj. fond or admiring of England or Britain.

<DERIVATIVES> An·glo·phil·ia n.

An·glo·phobe n. a person who greatly hates or fears England or Britain.

■ adj. greatly hating or fearing England or Britain.

<DERIVATIVES> An·glo·pho·bi·a n.

an·glo·phone adj. English-speaking: anglophone students; the population is largely anglophone.

■ n. an English-speaking person.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent. (as a noun; rare before the 1960s): from ANGLO- + -PHONE, on the pattern of francophone.

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ANGLO- ■

-PHONE ■

An·glo-Sax·on adj. relating to or denoting the Germanic inhabitants of England from their arrival in the 5th century up to the Norman Conquest.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of English descent.

- of, in, or relating to the Old English language.

- INFORMAL (of an English word or expression) plain, in particular vulgar: using a lot of good old Anglo-Saxon expletives.

■ n. 1 a Germanic inhabitant of England between the 5th century and the Norman Conquest.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person of English descent.

- any white, English-speaking person.

2 another term for OLD ENGLISH.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL plain English, in particular vulgar slang.

<ORIGIN> from modern Latin Anglo-Saxones (plural), medieval Latin Angli Saxones.

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OLD ENGLISH ■

An·go·la a republic on the western coast of southern Africa; pop. 10,978,000; capital, Luanda; languages, Portuguese (official), Bantu languages.

Angola was a Portuguese possession from the end of the 16th century until it achieved independence in 1975. Independence was followed by years of civil war, chiefly between the ruling Marxist MPLA and the UNITA movement.

<DERIVATIVES> An·go·lan adj. & n.

An·go·ra former name (until 1930) of ANKARA.

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ANKARA ■

an·go·ra n. [often as adj.] a cat, goat, or rabbit of a long-haired breed: angora rabbits.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a fabric made from the hair of the angora goat or rabbit: [as adj.] an angora cardigan.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (denoting a long-haired breed): from the place name ANGORA.

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ANGORA ■

an·go·ra wool n. a mixture of sheep's wool and angora rabbit hair.

An·gos·tu·ra former name (until 1846) for CIUDAD BOLÍVAR.

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CIUDAD BOLÍVAR ■

an·gos·tu·ra (also angostura bark) n. an aromatic bitter bark from some South American trees, used as a flavoring, and formerly as a tonic and to reduce fever.
<INFO>  This bark is taken from the trees Angostura febrifuga and Galipea officinalis, family Rutaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> short for ANGOSTURA BITTERS.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from the place name ANGOSTURA.

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ANGOSTURA BITTERS ■

ANGOSTURA ■

An·gos·tu·ra bit·ters n. TRADEMARK a kind of tonic first made in Angostura.

an·gry adj. (-gri·er, -gri·est) having a strong feeling of or showing annoyance, displeasure, or hostility; full of anger: why are you angry with me?; an angry customer; Christine had made him angry; I'm angry that she didn't call me.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE (of the sea or sky) stormy, turbulent, or threatening: the wild, angry sea.

- (of a wound or sore) red and inflamed: her skin was splotched with angry red burns.

<DERIVATIVES> an·gri·ly adv.

an·gry white male n. DEROGATORY a politically conservative or anti-liberal white man.

an·gry young man n. a young man dissatisfied with and outspoken against existing social and political structures.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Angry Young Men) a number of British playwrights and novelists of the early 1950s whose work was marked by irreverence toward the Establishment and disgust at the survival of class distinctions and privilege. Notable members of the group were John Osborne and Kingsley Amis.

angst n. a feeling of deep anxiety or dread, typically an unfocused one about the human condition or the state of the world in general: adolescent angst.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a feeling of persistent worry about something trivial: my hair causes me angst.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from German, 'fear, anxiety'.

Ång·ström Anders Jonas (1814-1874), Swedish physicist. He proposed a relationship between the emission and absorption spectra of chemical elements and measured optical wavelengths in the unit later named in his honor.

ang·strom (also ång·ström, angstrom unit) (abbr.: Å) n. a unit of length equal to one hundred-millionth of a centimeter, 10^10 meter, used mainly to express wavelengths and interatomic distances.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after A. J. ÅNGSTRÖM.

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ÅNGSTRÖM ■

An·guil·la the northernmost island of the Leeward Islands in the West Indies; pop. 7,020 ; capital, The Valley. Formerly a British colony and briefly united with St. Kitts and Nevis in 1967, it is now a self-governing dependency of the UK.

<DERIVATIVES> An·guil·lan adj. & n.

an·guish n. severe mental or physical pain or suffering: she shut her eyes in anguish; Philip gave a cry of anguish.

■ v. suffer or cause someone to suffer anguish: he anguished over how to reply.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin angustia 'tightness', (plural) 'straits, distress', from angustus 'narrow'.

an·guished adj. experiencing or expressing severe mental or physical pain or suffering: he gave an anguished cry; when she turned, her face was anguished.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: past participle of the rare verb anguish, from Old French anguissier, from ecclesiastical Latin angustiare 'to distress', from Latin angustia (see ANGUISH).

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ANGUISH ■

an·gu·lar adj. 1 (of an object, outline, or shape) having angles or sharp corners: angular chairs; Adam's angular black handwriting.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person or part of their body) lean and having a prominent bone structure: her angular face.

- (of a person's way of moving) not flowing smoothly; awkward or jerky: his movements were stiff and angular | FIGURATIVE the music is angular and sardonic.

- placed or directed at an angle: the large angular writing was typical of the officers and the noncoms.

2 [CHIEFLY PHYSICS] denoting physical properties or quantities measured with reference to or by means of an angle, esp. those associated with rotation: angular acceleration.

3 [ASTROLOGY] located in or relating to one of the houses that begin at the four cardinal points.

<DERIVATIVES> an·gu·lar·i·ty n. an·gu·lar·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an astrological term): from Latin angularis, from angulus (see ANGLE^1 ).

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ANGLE ■

an·gu·lar di·am·e·ter n. [ASTRONOMY] the apparent diameter of a planet or other celestial object measured by the angle that it subtends at the point of observation.

an·gu·lar mo·men·tum n. [PHYSICS] the quantity of rotation of a body, which is the product of its moment of inertia and its angular velocity.

an·gu·lar ve·loc·i·ty n. [PHYSICS] the rate of change of angular position of a rotating body.

an·gu·late v. [trans.] (often be angulated) TECHNICAL hold, bend, or distort (a part of the body, esp. of an animal) so as to form an angle or angles: [as adj.] (angulated) the hindquarters are more strongly angulated than the forequarters.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [SKIING] incline (the upper body) sideways and outward during a turn: [intrans.] angulate slightly with the knees.

<DERIVATIVES> an·gu·la·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (as angulated, used chiefly as a botanical or zoological term): from Latin angulatus, past participle of angulare, from angulus 'angle'.

ang·wan·ti·bo n. (pl. -bos) a small rare nocturnal primate of west central Africa, related to the potto.
<INFO>  Arctocebus calabarensis, family Lorisidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Efik.

an·har·mon·ic adj. [PHYSICS] relating to or denoting motion that is not simple harmonic.

<DERIVATIVES> an·har·mo·nic·i·ty n.

an·he·do·ni·a n. [PSYCHIATRY] inability to feel pleasure.

<DERIVATIVES> an·he·don·ic adj..

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French anhédonie, from Greek an- 'without' + 'pleasure'.

an·he·dral adj. [CRYSTALLOGRAPHY] (of a crystal) having no plane faces.

■ n. [AERONAUTICS] downward inclination of an aircraft's wing, or the angle of this. Compare with DIHEDRAL.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (as an adjective): from AN-1 'not' + -hedral (see -HEDRON).

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DIHEDRAL ■

AN- ■

-HEDRON ■

an·hin·ga n. a long-necked fish-eating bird related to the cormorants, typically found in fresh water. Anhingas spear fish with their long pointed bills and frequently swim submerged to the neck. Also called DARTER, SNAKEBIRD.
<INFO>  Family Anhingidae and genus Anhinga: four species.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Portuguese, from Tupi áyinga.

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DARTER ■

SNAKEBIRD ■

An·hui (also An·hwei) a province in eastern China; capital, Hefei.

an·hy·dride n. [CHEMISTRY] the compound obtained by removing the elements of water from a particular acid.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. with adj.] an organic compound containing the group C(O)OC(O), derived from a carboxylic acid.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek anudros (see ANHYDROUS) + -IDE.

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ANHYDROUS ■

-IDE ■

an·hy·drite n. a white mineral consisting of anhydrous calcium sulfate. It typically occurs in evaporite deposits.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek anudros (see ANHYDROUS) + -ITE^1 .

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ANHYDROUS ■

-ITE ■

an·hy·drous adj. [CHEMISTRY] (of a substance, esp. a crystalline compound) containing no water.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek anudros (from an- 'without' + 'water') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

a·ni n. (pl. a·nis) a glossy black long-tailed bird of the cuckoo family, with a large deep bill, found in Central and South America.
<INFO>  Genus Crotophaga, family Cuculidae: three species.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Spanish ani, Portuguese anum, from Tupi .

an·i·line n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless oily liquid present in coal tar. It is used in the manufacture of dyes, drugs, and plastics, and was the basis of the earliest synthetic dyes.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_6H_5NH_2.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from anil 'indigo' (from which it was originally obtained), via French and Portuguese from Arabic (from Sanskrit , from 'dark blue').

an·i·line dye n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a synthetic dye, esp. one made from aniline.

a·ni·lin·gus n. sexual stimulation of the anus by the tongue or mouth.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from Latin anus 'anus' on the pattern of cunnilingus.

an·i·ma n. [PSYCHOLOGY] Jung's term for the feminine part of a man's personality: Often contrasted with ANIMUS (sense 3).
<SPECIAL USAGE> the part of the psyche that is directed inward, and is in touch with the subconscious. Often contrasted with PERSONA.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Latin, literally 'mind, soul'.

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ANIMUS ■

PERSONA ■

an·i·mad·ver·sion n. FORMAL criticism or censure: her animadversion against science.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a comment or remark, esp. a critical one: animadversions that the poet receives quite humbly.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, or from Latin animadversio(n-), from the verb animadvertere (see ANIMADVERT).

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ANIMADVERT ■

an·i·mad·vert v. [intrans.] (animadvert on/upon/against) FORMAL pass criticism or censure on; speak out against: we shall be obliged to animadvert most severely upon you in our report; many travelers animadvert against their own towns and cities.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'pay attention to'): from Latin animadvertere, from animus 'mind' + advertere (from ad- 'toward' + vertere 'to turn').

an·i·mal n. a living organism that feeds on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous system and able to respond rapidly to stimuli: animals such as spiders; wild animals adapt badly to a caged life; humans are the only animals who weep.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- any such living organism other than a human being: are humans superior to animals, or just different?

- a mammal, as opposed to a bird, reptile, fish, or insect: the snowfall seemed to have chased all birds, animals, and men indoors.

- a person whose behavior is regarded as devoid of human attributes or civilizing influences, esp. someone who is very cruel, violent, or repulsive: those men have to be animalswhat they did to that boy was savage.

- [with adj.] a particular type of person or thing: a regular party animal; | the government that followed the election was a very different animal.

Animals are generally distinguished from plants by being unable to synthesize organic molecules from inorganic ones, so that they have to feed on plants or on other animals. They are typically able to move about, although this ability is sometimes restricted to a particular stage in the life cycle. The great majority of animals are invertebrates, of which there are some thirty phyla; the vertebrates constitute but a single subphylum. See also HIGHER ANIMALS, LOWER ANIMALS.

■ adj. [attrib.] of, relating to, or characteristic of animals: the evolution of animal life; animal welfare.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of animals as distinct from plants: tissues of animal and vegetable protein.

- characteristic of the physical and instinctive needs of animals; of the flesh rather than the spirit or intellect: a crude surrender to animal lust.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: as a noun from Latin animal, based on Latin animalis 'having breath', from anima 'breath'; as an adjective via Old French, from Latin animalis.

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HIGHER ANIMALS ■

LOWER ANIMALS ■

an·i·mal crack·er n. a type of sweet cracker made in various animal shapes.

an·i·mal·cule n. ARCHAIC a microscopic animal.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from modern Latin animalculum, from animal 'an animal' + -CULE.

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-CULE ■

an·i·mal hus·band·ry n. the science of breeding and caring for farm animals.

an·i·mal·ism n. behavior that is characteristic of or appropriate to animals, particularly in being physical and instinctive.
<SPECIAL USAGE> religious worship of or concerning animals.

<DERIVATIVES> an·i·mal·is·tic adj.

an·i·mal·i·ty n. animal nature or character: a prehuman condition of animality.
<SPECIAL USAGE> physical, instinctive behavior or qualities: what attracted me to her was her animality.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French animalité, from animal (adjective), from Latin animalis 'animate, living' (see ANIMAL).

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ANIMAL ■

an·i·mal·ize v. [trans.] make into or like an animal.

<DERIVATIVES> an·i·mal·i·za·tion n.

an·i·mal mag·net·ism n. 1 a quality of sexual attractiveness: he had an animal magnetism that women found irresistible.

2 HISTORICAL a supposed emanation to which the action of hypnotism was ascribed.

an·i·mal pole n. [BIOLOGY] the portion of an egg that contains the nucleus and less yolk, opposite the vegetal pole.

an·i·mal rights plural n. rights believed to belong to animals to live free from use in medical research, hunting, and other services to humans.

an·i·mal spir·its plural n. natural exuberance.

an·i·mate v. [trans.] 1 CHIEFLY FIGURATIVE bring to life: the desert is like a line drawing waiting to be animated with color.
<SPECIAL USAGE> give inspiration, encouragement, or renewed vigor to: she has animated the nation with a sense of political direction.
See note at QUICKEN.

2 (usu. be animated) give (a movie or character) the appearance of movement using animation techniques.

■ adj. alive or having life (often as a contrast with INANIMATE): all of creation, animate and inanimate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> lively and active: party photos of animate socialites.
See note at ALIVE.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin animat- 'instilled with life', from the verb animare, from anima 'life, soul'.

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INANIMATE ■

an·i·mat·ed adj. 1 full of life or excitement; lively: an animated conversation. See note at ALIVE.

2 (of a movie) made using animation techniques: an animated version of the classic fairytale.
<SPECIAL USAGE> moving or appearing to move as if alive: animated life-size figures.

<DERIVATIVES> an·i·mat·ed·ly adv.

an·i·mat·ic n. a preliminary version of a movie, produced by shooting successive sections of a storyboard and adding a soundtrack.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from animat(ed) + -IC, or a blend of ANIMATED and SCHEMATIC.

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-IC ■

ANIMATED ■

SCHEMATIC ■

an·i·ma·tion n. 1 the state of being full of life or vigor; liveliness: they started talking with animation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY ARCHAIC the state of being alive.

2 the technique of filming successive drawings or positions of puppets or models to create an illusion of movement when the movie is shown as a sequence: [as adj.] animation techniques | animations as backdrops for live action.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also computer animation) the manipulation of electronic images by means of a computer in order to create moving images.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'encouragement'): from Latin animatio(n-), from animare 'instill with life' (see ANIMATE). Sense 1 dates from the early 19th cent.

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ANIMATE ■

a·ni·ma·to [MUSIC] adj. & adv. (esp. as a direction) in an animated manner.

■ n. (pl. -ma·tos or -ma·ti ) a passage marked animato.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

an·i·ma·tor n. a person who animates something, esp. a person who prepares animated movies: some animators in Europe are looking at much cheaper ways of making computer graphics.

an·i·ma·tron·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the technique of making and operating lifelike robots, typically for use in film or other entertainment.

<DERIVATIVES> an·i·ma·tron·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: blend of ANIMATED and ELECTRONICS.

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ANIMATED ■

ELECTRONICS ■

an·i·me n. Japanese movie and television animation, often having a science fiction theme and sometimes including violent or explicitly sexual material. Compare with MANGA.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: Japanese.

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MANGA ■

an·i·mism n. 1 the attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena.

2 the belief in a supernatural power that organizes and animates the material universe.

<DERIVATIVES> an·i·mist n. an·i·mis·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin anima 'life, soul' + -ISM.

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-ISM ■

an·i·mos·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) strong hostility: he no longer felt any animosity toward her; the animosity between the King and his brother | the five decided to put aside their animosities.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally in the sense 'spirit, courage'): from Old French animosité or late Latin animositas, from animosus 'spirited', from Latin animus 'spirit, mind'. The current sense dates from the early 17th cent.

an·i·mus n. 1 hostility or ill feeling: the author's animus toward her.

2 motivation to do something: the reformist animus came from within the Party.

3 [PSYCHOLOGY] Jung's term for the masculine part of a woman's personality. Often contrasted with ANIMA.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin, 'spirit, mind'.

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ANIMA ■

an·i·on n. [CHEMISTRY] a negatively charged ion, i.e., one that would be attracted to the anode in electrolysis. The opposite of CATION.

<DERIVATIVES> an·i·on·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from ANODE or ANA-, + ION.

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CATION ■

ANODE ■

ANA- ■

ION ■

an·ise n. 1 a Mediterranean plant of the parsley family, cultivated for its aromatic seeds, which are used in cooking and herbal medicine.
<INFO>  Pimpinella anisum, family Umbelliferae. See also ANISEED.

2 an Asian or American tree or shrub that bears fruit with an aniseedlike odor.
<INFO>  Genus Illicium, family Illiciaceae: many species, esp. star anise (I. verum), used in Chinese cooking.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin anisum, from Greek anison 'anise, dill'.

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ANISEED ■

an·i·seed n. the seed of the anise, used in cooking and herbal medicine.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from ANISE + SEED.

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ANISE ■

SEED ■

an·i·sette n. a liqueur flavored with aniseed.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, diminutive of anis (see ANISE).

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ANISE ■

an·i·sog·a·my n. [BIOLOGY] sexual reproduction by the fusion of dissimilar gametes. Often contrasted with ISOGAMY.

<DERIVATIVES> an·i·sog·a·mous adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek anisos 'unequal' + -gamy (from gamos 'marriage').

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ISOGAMY ■

an·i·so·trop·ic adj. [PHYSICS] (of an object or substance) having a physical property that has a different value when measured in different directions. A simple example is wood, which is stronger along the grain than across it.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a property or phenomenon) varying in magnitude according to the direction of measurement.

<DERIVATIVES> an·i·sot·ro·py n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek anisos 'unequal' + tropos 'turn' + -IC.

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-IC ■

An·jou a former province of western France, on the Loire River. It was an English possession 1154-1204.

An·ka·ra the capital of Turkey since 1923; pop. 2,559,470. Prominent in Roman times as Ancyra, it later declined in importance until chosen by Kemal Atatürk in 1923 as his seat of government. Former name (until 1930) ANGORA.

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ANGORA ■

ankh n. an object or design resembling a cross but having a loop instead of the top arm, used in ancient Egypt as a symbol of life.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Egyptian, literally 'life, soul'.

an·kle n. the joint connecting the foot with the leg: [as adj.] an ankle injury.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the narrow part of the leg between the foot and the calf: her slim ankles; I stood up to my ankles in snow; the men are ankle-deep in mud | [as adj.] ankle socks.

■ v. 1 INFORMAL [trans.] leave: he ankled the series to do a movie.
- [intrans.] walk.

2 [intrans.] [usu. as n.] (ankling) flex the ankles while cycling in order to increase pedaling efficiency.

<ORIGIN> Old English ancleow, of Germanic origin; superseded in Middle English by forms from Old Norse; related to Dutch enkel and German Enkel, from an Indo-European root shared by ANGLE^1 .

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ANGLE ■

an·kle-bit·er n. HUMOROUS a child: traveling overseas with an ankle-biter has its advantages.

an·kle bone n. the chief bone of the ankle joint; the talus.

an·klet n. 1 a sock that reaches just above the ankle.

2 an ornament worn around an ankle.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from ANKLE + -LET, on the pattern of bracelet.

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ANKLE ■

-LET ■

an·ky·lo·saur (also an·ky·lo·sau·rus ) n. a heavily built quadrupedal herbivorous dinosaur primarily of the Cretaceous period, armored with bony plates.
<INFO>  Infraorder Ankylosauria, order Ornithischia: several genera, in particular Ankylosaurus.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ky·lo·sau·ri·an adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from modern Latin Ankylosaurus, from Greek ankulos (see ANKYLOSIS) + sauros 'lizard'.

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ANKYLOSIS ■

an·ky·lose v. [MEDICINE] (be/become ankylosed) (of bones or a joint) be or become stiffened or united by ankylosis.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: back-formation from ANKYLOSIS, on the pattern of words such as anastomose.

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ANKYLOSIS ■

an·ky·los·ing spon·dy·li·tis n. [MEDICINE] a form of spinal arthritis, chiefly affecting young males, that eventually causes ankylosis of vertebral and sacro-iliac joints.

an·ky·lo·sis n. [MEDICINE] abnormal stiffening and immobility of a joint due to fusion of the bones.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ky·lot·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Greek , from ankuloun 'to crook', from ankulos 'crooked'.

an·la·ge n. (pl. -lag·en ) [BIOLOGY] the rudimentary basis of a particular organ or other part, esp. in an embryo.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from German, 'foundation, basis'.

Ann, Cape a peninsula in northeastern Massachusetts, noted for its resorts and scenery.

An·na·ba a port of northeastern Algeria; pop. 348,000. The modern town is adjacent to the site of Hippo Regius, a prominent city in Roman Africa and the home and bishopric of St. Augustine of Hippo from 396 to 430. Former name BÔNE.

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BÔNE ■

An Na·jaf another name for NAJAF.

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NAJAF ■

an·nal·ist n. a person who writes annals.

<DERIVATIVES> an·nal·is·tic adj.

an·nals plural n. a record of events year by year: eighth-century Northumberland annals.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- historical records: the annals of the famous European discoverers | FIGURATIVE the deed will live forever in the annals of infamy.

- (Annals) used in the titles of learned journals: Annals of Internal Medicine.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin annales (libri) 'yearly (books)', from annus 'year'.

An·nan Kofi (Atta) (1938-), Ghanaian diplomat; secretary general of the UN 1997-.

An·nan·dale a residential suburb in northern Virginia, southwest of Washington, DC; pop. 50,975.

An·nap·o·lis the state capital of Maryland, on the western coast of Chesapeake Bay; pop. 35,838. It is the home of the U.S. Naval Academy.

An·na·pur·na a ridge of the Himalayas, in north central Nepal. Its highest peak rises to 26,503 ft. (8,078 m.).

Ann Ar·bor a city in southeastern Michigan, home to the University of Michigan; pop. 114,024.

An·na's hum·ming·bird n. a North American hummingbird that lives chiefly in California. The male has an iridescent rose-red head and throat.
<INFO>  Calypte anna, family Trochilidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Anna, the wife of Prince François Massena (c.1795-1863), Duc de Ravoli, who obtained the original specimen.

an·nat·to (also a·nat·to) n. (pl. -tos) 1 an orange-red dye obtained from the pulp of a tropical fruit, used for coloring foods and fabric.

2 the tropical American tree from which this fruit is obtained.
<INFO>  Bixa orellana, family Bixaceae.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Carib.

Anne (1665-1714), queen of England and Scotland (known as Great Britain from 1707) and Ireland 1702-14. The last of the Stuart monarchs and daughter of the Catholic James II (but herself a Protestant), she succeeded her brother-in-law William III to the throne.

Anne, Princess (1950- ), daughter of Queen Elizabeth II; full name Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise, the Princess Royal. Her two children are Peter (1977- ) and Zara (1981- ), by her former husband, Captain Mark Philips.

Anne, St. traditionally the mother of the Virgin Mary; first mentioned by name in the apocryphal gospel of James (2nd century). Feast day, July 26.

an·neal v. [trans.] heat (metal or glass) and allow it to cool slowly, in order to remove internal stresses and toughen it.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BIOCHEMISTRY] recombine (DNA) in the double-stranded form following separation by heat.

- [intrans.] [BIOCHEMISTRY] (of DNA) undergo this process.

<DERIVATIVES> an·neal·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English , from on + 'burn, bake', from 'fire, burning'. The original sense was 'set on fire', hence (in late Middle English) 'subject to fire, alter by heating'; sense 1 dates from the mid 17th cent.

Anne Bol·eyn see BOLEYN.

Linked entries:

BOLEYN ■

An·nel·i·da [ZOOLOGY] a large phylum that comprises the segmented worms, which include earthworms, lugworms, and leeches.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ne·lid n. & adj. an·nel·i·dan n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from French (animaux) annelés 'ringed (animals)', from Old French anel 'a ring', from Latin anellus, diminutive of anulus 'a ring'.

Anne of Cleves (1515-57), fourth wife of Henry VIII. The politically arranged marriage was dissolved after only six months.

an·nex v. [trans.] (often be annexed) append or add as an extra or subordinate part, esp. to a document: the first ten amendments were annexed to the Constitution in 1791 | [as adj.] (annexed) the annexed diagram.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- add (territory) to one's own territory by appropriation: Moldova was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940.

- INFORMAL take for oneself; appropriate: it was bad enough that Richard should have annexed his girlfriend.

- ARCHAIC add or attach as a condition or consequence.

■ n. (CHIEFLY BRIT. also an·nexe) (pl. -nex·es) 1 a building joined to or associated with a main building, providing additional space or accommodations.

2 an addition to a document: an annex to the report.

<DERIVATIVES> an·nex·a·tion n. an·nex·a·tion·ist n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French annexer, from Latin annectere 'connect', from ad- 'to' + nectere 'tie, fasten'.

An·ni·go·ni Pietro (1910-88), Italian painter. One of the few 20th-century artists to practice the techniques of the Old Masters, he is noted for his portraits of Queen Elizabeth II (1955, 1970) and of President John F. Kennedy (1961).

an·ni·hi·late v. [trans.] destroy utterly; obliterate: a simple bomb of this type could annihilate them all; a crusade to annihilate evil. See note at DESTROY.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- defeat utterly: the stronger force annihilated its opponent virtually without loss.

- [PHYSICS] convert (a subatomic particle) into radiant energy.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ni·hi·la·tor n. an·ni·hi·la·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally as an adjective meaning 'destroyed, annulled'): from late Latin annihilatus 'reduced to nothing', from the verb annihilare, from ad- 'to' + nihil 'nothing'. The verb sense 'destroy utterly' dates from the mid 16th cent.

An·nis·ton an industrial and military city in northeastern Alabama; pop. 26,623.

an·ni·ver·sa·ry n. (pl. -ries) the date on which an event took place in a previous year: the 50th anniversary of the start of World War II | [as adj.] anniversary celebrations.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the date on which a country or other institution was founded in a previous year: Canada's 125th anniversary.

- the date on which a couple was married in a previous year: he even forgot our tenth anniversary!

- INFORMAL the date on which a romance began in a previous month or week.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin anniversarius 'returning yearly', from annus 'year' + versus 'turning'.

An·no Dom·i·ni adv. full form of AD.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: Latin, literally 'in the year of the Lord'.

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AD ■

an·no·tate v. [trans.] add notes to (a text or diagram) giving explanation or comment: documentation should be annotated with explanatory notes | [as adj.] (annotated) an annotated bibliography.

<DERIVATIVES> an·no·tat·a·ble adj. an·no·ta·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin annotat- 'marked', from the verb annotare, from ad- 'to' + nota 'a mark'.

an·no·ta·tion n. a note of explanation or comment added to a text or diagram: marginal annotations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of annotating a text or diagram: annotation of prescribed texts.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French, or from Latin annotatio(n-), from the verb annotare (see ANNOTATE).

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ANNOTATE ■

an·nounce v. [reporting verb] make a public and typically formal declaration about a fact, occurrence, or intention: [with clause] the president's office announced that the state of siege would be lifted | [trans.] he announced his retirement from football | [with direct speech] “I have a confession to make,” she announced.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] make known: we announce our failures by warring against ourselves and others; these glossy and expensive volumes announce anxiety.

- [trans.] give information about (transportation) in a station or airport via a public address system: they were announcing her train.

- [trans.] (of a notice, letter, sound, etc.) give information to (someone) via the senses of sight or hearing: storms came announced by long wisps that lashed out from a snow cloud's body; she heard the traditional strains of music announcing her arrival in the church.

- [trans.] make known the arrival or imminence of (a guest or a meal) at a formal social occasion: dinner was announced.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French annoncer, from Latin annuntiare, from ad- 'to' + nuntiare 'declare, announce' (from nuntius 'messenger').

<THE RIGHT WORD>
announce, blazon, declare, proclaim, promulgate, publish

When you announce something, you communicate it in a formal and public manner, often for the first time (to announce the arrival of the guest of honor). But just how you go about announcing something depends on what you're trying to convey.

If you want to make sure no one misses your message, use blazon (signs along the highway blazoned the local farmers' complaints).

If you plan to make your views known to the general public through the medium of writing, use publish (to publish a story on drunk driving in the local newspaper).

Use proclaim if you have something of great importance that you want to announce formally and officially (proclaim a national day of mourning).

Although declare also implies a very formal announcement (declare war), it can refer to any clear and explicit statement (declare one's love).

Promulgate is usually associated with the communication of a creed, doctrine, or law (promulgate the views of the Democratic Party).

an·nounce·ment n. a public and typically formal statement about a fact, occurrence, or intention: the spokesperson was about to make an announcement; | a policy announcement; | he was shaken by her announcement.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of making such a statement: the announcement of the decision of the president.

- a notice appearing in a newspaper or public place and announcing something such as a birth, death, or marriage: an announcement is appearing in the Morning Post tomorrow.

- a statement of information given over a public address system: a loudspeaker announcement echoed across the field.

an·nounc·er n. a person who announces something, in particular someone who introduces or gives information about programs on radio or television.

an·noy v. [trans.] (often be annoyed) irritate (someone); make (someone) a little angry: he was annoyed at being woken up so early; Kelly was annoyed with herself for feeling a pang of jealousy; your damned cheerfulness has always annoyed me | [intrans.] rock music loud enough to annoy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC harm or attack repeatedly: a gallant Saxon, who annoyed this Coast.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'be hateful to'): from Old French anoier (verb), anoi (noun), based on Latin in odio in the phrase mihi in odio est 'it is hateful to me'.

an·noy·ance n. the feeling or state of being annoyed; irritation: a look of annoyance on his face; | annoyance at government interference; | he turned his charm on Tara, much to Herbert's annoyance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thing that annoys someone; a nuisance: the Council found him an annoyance.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French anoiance, from anoier (see ANNOY).

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ANNOY ■

an·noy·ing adj. causing irritation or annoyance: annoying habits; unsolicited calls are annoying.

<DERIVATIVES> an·noy·ing·ly adv.

an·nu·al adj. occurring once every year: the union's annual conference; the sponsored walk became an annual event; an annual report.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- calculated over or covering a period of a year: annual accounts; an annual rate of increase; his basic annual income.

- (of a plant) living for a year or less, perpetuating itself by seed: annual flowers.

■ n. a book or magazine that is published once a year under the same title but with different contents: a Christmas annual; trade journals, annuals, and directories.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an annual plant: sow annuals in spring.

<DERIVATIVES> an·nu·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French annuel, from late Latin annualis, based on Latin annus 'year'.

an·nu·al·ized adj. (of a rate of interest, inflation, or return on an investment) recalculated as an annual rate: an annualized yield of about 11.5%.

an·nual ring n. another term for TREE RING.

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TREE RING ■

an·nu·i·tant n. FORMAL a person who receives an annuity.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from ANNUITY, on the pattern of accountant.

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ANNUITY ■

an·nu·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) a fixed sum of money paid to someone each year, typically for the rest of their life: he left her an annuity of $1,000 in his will.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a form of insurance or investment entitling the investor to a series of annual sums: [as adj.] an annuity plan.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French annuité, from medieval Latin annuitas, from Latin annuus 'yearly', from annus 'year'.

an·nul v. (-nulled, -nul·ling) [trans.] (usu. be annulled) declare invalid (an official agreement, decision, or result): the elections were annulled by the general amid renewed protests. See note at VOID.
<SPECIAL USAGE> declare (a marriage) to have had no legal existence: her first marriage was finally annulled by His Holiness.

<DERIVATIVES> an·nul·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French anuller, from late Latin annullare, from ad- 'to' + nullum 'nothing'.

an·nu·lar adj. TECHNICAL ring-shaped.

<DERIVATIVES> an·nu·lar·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French annulaire or Latin annularis, from anulus, annulus 'a ring'.

an·nu·lar e·clipse n. an eclipse of the sun in which the edge of the sun remains visible as a bright ring around the moon.

an·nu·late adj. [CHIEFLY ZOOLOGY] having rings; marked with or formed of rings: an annulate worm.

<DERIVATIVES> an·nu·lat·ed adj. an·nu·la·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin annulatus, from anulus, annulus 'a ring'.

an·nu·let n. 1 [ARCHITECTURE] a small fillet or band encircling a column.

2 [HERALDRY] a charge in the form of a small ring.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from Old French anelet, from Latin anulus, annulus 'ring' + -ET^1 . The spelling change in the 16th cent. was due to association with the Latin.

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-ET ■

an·nu·lus n. (pl. -li ) TECHNICAL a ring-shaped object, structure, or region.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin anulus, annulus.

an·nun·ci·ate v. [trans.] ARCHAIC announce (something).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally as a past participle): from medieval Latin annunciat-, variant spelling of Latin annuntiat- 'announced', from the verb annuntiare.

an·nun·ci·a·tion n. (usu. the Annunciation) the announcement of the Incarnation by the angel Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26-38).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the church festival commemorating this, held on March 25 (Lady Day).

- a painting or sculpture depicting this.

- FORMAL or ARCHAIC the announcement of something: the annunciation of a set of rules applying to the relationships between states.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French annonciation, from late Latin annuntiatio(n-), from the verb annuntiare (see ANNUNCIATE).

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ANNUNCIATE ■

an·nun·ci·a·tor n. a bell, light, or other device that provides information on the state or condition of something by indicating which of several electrical circuits has been activated: [as adj.] the annunciator panel and warning lights.

an·nus hor·ri·bi·lis n. a year of disaster or misfortune.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: modern Latin on the pattern of ANNUS MIRABILIS.

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ANNUS MIRABILIS ■

an·nus mi·ra·bi·lis n. a remarkable or auspicious year.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: modern Latin, literally 'wonderful year'.

a·no·a n. (pl. same or -as) a small deerlike water buffalo, native to Sulawesi.
<INFO>  Genus Bubalus, family Bovidae: two species.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: a local name.

an·ode n. the positively charged electrode by which the electrons leave a device. The opposite of CATHODE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the negatively charged electrode of a device supplying current such as a primary cell.

<DERIVATIVES> an·od·al adj. an·od·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek anodos 'way up', from ana 'up' + hodos 'way'.

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CATHODE ■

an·o·dize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (anodized) coat (a metal, esp. aluminum) with a protective oxide layer by an electrolytic process in which the metal forms the anode.

<DERIVATIVES> an·o·diz·er n.

an·o·dyne adj. not likely to provoke dissent or offense; uncontentious or inoffensive, often deliberately so: anodyne new age music; I attempted to keep the conversation as anodyne as possible.

■ n. a pain-killing drug or medicine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE something that alleviates a person's mental distress: an anodyne to the misery she had put him through.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek 'painless', from an- 'without' + 'pain'.

a·no·gen·i·tal adj. [MEDICINE] & [ANATOMY] of or relating to the anus and genitals.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Latin ano- (combining form of ANUS) + GENITAL.

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ANUS ■

GENITAL ■

a·noint v. [trans.] smear or rub with oil, typically as part of a religious ceremony: bodies were anointed after death for burial.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (anoint something with) smear or rub something with (any other substance): Cuna Indians anoint the tips of their arrows with poison.

- ceremonially confer divine or holy office upon (a priest or monarch) by smearing or rubbing with oil: [trans.] the Lord has anointed me to preach to the poor | [trans.] Samuel anointed him king.

- FIGURATIVE nominate or choose (someone) as successor to or leading candidate for a position: he was anointed as the organizational candidate of the party | [as adj.] (anointed) his officially anointed heir.

<PHRASES>
□ Anointing of the Sick (in the Roman Catholic Church) the sacramental anointing of the ill or infirm with blessed oil; unction.

□ God's (or the Lord's) anointed a monarch ruling by divine right.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French enoint 'anointed', past participle of enoindre, from Latin inungere, from in- 'upon' + ungere 'anoint, smear with oil'.

a·no·le n. a small, mainly arboreal American lizard with a throat fan that (in the male) is typically brightly colored. Anoles have some ability to change color. Also called CHAMELEON.
<INFO>  Genus Anolis, family Iguanidae: numerous species, in particular the green anole (A. carolinensis), which is popular as a pet.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Carib.

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CHAMELEON ■

a·nom·a·lis·tic month n. a month measured between successive perigees of the moon (approximately 27^1/2/ days).

a·nom·a·lis·tic year n. a year measured between successive perihelia of the earth (approximately 365 1/4/ days).

a·nom·a·lous adj. deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected: an anomalous situation; sentences that are grammatically anomalous.

<DERIVATIVES> a·nom·a·lous·ly adv. a·nom·a·lous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek (from an- 'not' + homalos 'even') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

a·nom·a·ly n. (pl. -lies) 1 something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected: there are a number of anomalies in the present system; | a legal anomaly | [with clause] the apparent anomaly that those who produced the wealth were the poorest | the position abounds in anomaly.

2 [ASTRONOMY] the angular distance of a planet or satellite from its last perihelion or perigee.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek , from (see ANOMALOUS).

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ANOMALOUS ■

a·no·mi·a n. [MEDICINE] a form of aphasia in which the patient is unable to recall the names of everyday objects.

<DERIVATIVES> a·nom·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: formed irregularly from A-1 'without, not' + Latin nomen 'name' + -IA^1 .

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A- ■

-IA ■

an·o·mie (also anomy) n. lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group: the theory that high-rise architecture leads to anomie in the residents.

<DERIVATIVES> a·nom·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from French, from Greek anomia, from anomos 'lawless'.

a·non adv. ARCHAIC soon; shortly: I'll see you anon.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'into one', 'in one'. The original sense was 'in or into one state, course, etc.', which developed into the temporal sense 'at once'.

anon. abbr. anonymous.

a·non·y·mize v. [trans.] make anonymous: manuscripts will be anonymized by the editorial assistant.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. as adj.] (anonymized) [MEDICINE] remove identifying particulars from (test results) for statistical or other purposes: anonymized testing of routine blood samples.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from ANONYMOUS + -IZE.

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ANONYMOUS ■

-IZE ■

a·non·y·mous adj. (of a person) not identified by name; of unknown name: the anonymous author of Beowulf; the donor's wish to remain anonymous; an anonymous phone call.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- having no outstanding, individual, or unusual features; unremarkable or impersonal: the anonymous black car waiting to take him to the airport; a faceless, anonymous group.

- [postpositive] used in names of support groups for addicts of a substance or behavior to indicate the confidentiality maintained among members of the group: Alcoholics Anonymous; Debtors Anonymous.

<DERIVATIVES> an·o·nym·i·ty n. a·non·y·mous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek 'nameless' (from an- 'without' + onoma 'name') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

a·non·y·mous FTP n. [COMPUTING] part of the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) on the Internet that lets anyone log on to an FTP server, using a general username and without a password.

a·noph·e·les (also anopheles mosquito) n. a mosquito of a genus that is particularly common in warmer countries and includes the mosquitoes that transmit the malarial parasite to humans. Compare with CULEX.
<INFO>  Genus Anopheles, subfamily Anophelinae, family Culicidae.

<DERIVATIVES> a·noph·e·line adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek 'unprofitable, useless'.

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CULEX ■

An·o·plu·ra [ENTOMOLOGY] an order of insects that comprises the sucking lice. Also called SIPHUNCULATA. See also PHTHIRAPTERA.

<DERIVATIVES> an·o·plu·ran n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from anoplos 'unarmed' + oura 'tail'.

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SIPHUNCULATA ■

PHTHIRAPTERA ■

an·o·rak n. a waterproof jacket, typically with a hood, of a kind originally used in polar regions.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Greenland Eskimo anoraq.

an·o·rec·tal adj. [MEDICINE] & [ANATOMY] of or relating to the anus and rectum.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French ano-rectal, from Latin ano- (combining form of ANUS) + rectal (see RECTAL).

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ANUS ■

RECTAL ■

an·o·rex·i·a n. a lack or loss of appetite for food (as a medical condition).
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also an·o·rex·i·a ner·vo·sa ) an emotional disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat; compare with BULIMIA.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek, from an- 'without' + orexis 'appetite'.

an·o·rex·ic (also an·o·rec·tic ) adj. relating to, characterized by, or suffering from anorexia.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL extremely thin.

■ n. 1 a person suffering from anorexia.

2 (anorectic) a medicine that produces a loss of appetite.

an·or·gas·mi·a n. [MEDICINE] persistent inability to achieve orgasm despite responding to sexual stimulation.

<DERIVATIVES> an·or·gas·mic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from AN-1 + ORGASM + -IA^1 .

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AN- ■

ORGASM ■

-IA ■

an·or·thite n. a calcium-rich mineral of the plagioclase feldspar group, typically white, occurring esp. in limestones metamorphosed by contact with an igneous intrusion.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from AN-1 + Greek orthos 'straight' + -ITE^1 .

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AN- ■

-ITE ■

an·or·tho·site n. [GEOLOGY] a plutonic rock composed largely of calcic plagioclase.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French anorthose 'plagioclase' + -ITE^1 .

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-ITE ■

an·os·mi·a n. [MEDICINE] the loss of the sense of smell, either total or partial. It may be caused by head injury, infection, or blockage of the nose.

<DERIVATIVES> an·os·mic adj.

<ORIGIN>  early 19th cent.: from AN-2 + Greek 'smell'.

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AN- ■

an·oth·er adj. & pron. 1 used to refer to an additional person or thing of the same type as one already mentioned or known about; one more; a further: [as adj.] have another drink; I didn't say another word | [as pron.] they have two practices, one in the morning and another in the afternoon; she was to become another of his stars.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. as adj.] used with a proper name to indicate someone or something's similarity to the person or event specified: they said I was another Ryan Giggs!; this will not be another Vietnam.

2 used to refer to a different person or thing from one already mentioned or known about: [as adj.] come back another day; his wife left him for another man | [as pron.] moving from one place to another; it is one thing to formulate policies and quite another to implement them.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [adj.] used to refer to someone sharing an attribute in common with the person already mentioned: his kiss with another man caused a tabloid rumpus.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: as an other until the 16th cent.

A·nouilh Jean (1910-87), French playwright. Notable works: Ring Around the Moon (1947), Thieves' Carnival (1932), and Antigone (1944).

ANOVA n. analysis of variance, a statistical method in which the variation in a set of observations is divided into distinct components.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: acronym.

an·ov·u·lant [MEDICINE] adj. (chiefly of a drug) preventing ovulation.

■ n. an anovulant drug.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from AN-1 + ovul(ation) + -ANT.

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AN- ■

-ANT ■

an·ov·u·la·to·ry adj. [MEDICINE] (of a menstrual cycle) in which ovulation does not occur.

an·ox·i·a n. TECHNICAL an absence of oxygen.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MEDICINE] an absence or deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues; severe hypoxia.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ox·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from AN-1 + ox(ygen) + -IA^1 .

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AN- ■

-IA ■

ANS abbr. autonomic nervous system.

An·schluss the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938. Hitler had forced the resignation of the Austrian chancellor by demanding that he admit Nazis into his Cabinet. The new chancellor, a pro-Nazi, invited German troops to enter the country on the pretext of restoring law and order.

<ORIGIN> German, from anschliessen 'to join'.

An·selm, St. (c.1033-1109), English philosopher and theologian; born in Italy; archbishop of Canterbury 1093-1109. Feast day, April 21.

An·shan a city in Liaoning, China; pop. 1,370,000. It is situated close to major iron-ore deposits, and China's largest iron and steel complex is nearby.

ANSI abbr. American National Standards Institute.

an·swer n. a thing said, written, or done to deal with or as a reaction to a question, statement, or situation: he knocked and entered without waiting for an answer.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a thing written or said in reaction to a question in a test or quiz: write your answers on a postcard.

- the correct solution to such a question: the answer is 280°.

- a solution to a problem or dilemma: the answer to poverty and unemployment is a properly funded range of services.

- [in sing.] (answer to) a thing or person that imitates or fulfills the same role as something or someone else: the press called her Britain's answer to Marilyn Monroe.

- [LAW] the defendant's reply to the plaintiff's charges.

■ v. 1 [reporting verb] say or write something to deal with or as a reaction to someone or something: [with direct speech] “Of course I can,” she answered | [with clause] she answered that she would take nothing but the ring | [trans.] she tried to answer his questions truthfully; I didn't answer him | [intrans.] Steve was about to answer, but Hazel spoke first.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] provide the required responses to (a test or quiz): answer the questions below for a chance to win a vacation.

- [intrans.] (answer back) respond impudently or disrespectfully to someone, esp. when being criticized or told to do something: one couldn't argue with a parent; one couldn't answer back | [trans.] Mary resisted the temptation to answer her mother back.

- [trans.] act in reaction to (a sound such as a telephone ringing or a knock or ring on a door): David answered the door | [intrans.] she called Edward's house, hoping he would answer.

- [trans.] act in response to (a stimulus): answering the call of nature.

- [trans.] discharge (a responsibility or claim): they answered the call of duty in World War II.

- [trans.] defend oneself against (a charge, accusation, or criticism): he said he would return to Spain to answer all charges.

- [intrans.] (answer for) be responsible or to blame for: the dust mite has a lot to answer for, especially if you are asthmatic.

- [intrans.] (answer to) be responsible or report to (someone): I answer to the assistant commissioner.

- [intrans.] (answer to) be required to explain or justify oneself to (someone): you will have the police to answer to.

2 be suitable for fulfilling (a need); satisfy: [trans.] entrepreneurship is necessary to answer the needs of national and international markets; | [intrans.] nothing short of that would answer.

<PHRASES>
□ answer the description of correspond to a description, esp. one of a suspect issued by the police: he answers the description of being slightly taller than his two supposed companions.

□ answer to (the name of) OFTEN HUMOROUS be called: an attractive woman answering to the name of Suzanne.

□ have (or know) all the answers INFORMAL be confident in one's knowledge of something, typically unjustifiably so: it was his air of knowing all the answers that riled Mrs. Farrar.

□ in answer to as a response to or as a result of: in answer to the stresses on modern woman, we have developed a range of beauty treatments.

<DERIVATIVES> an·swer·er n. an·swer·less adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English andswaru (noun), andswarian (verb), of Germanic origin; from a base shared by SWEAR.

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SWEAR ■

an·swer·a·ble adj. 1 [predic.] (answerable to) required to explain or justify one's actions to; responsible or having to report to: I'm not answerable to you for my every movement. See note at RESPONSIBLE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (answerable for) responsible for: an employer is answerable for the negligence of his employees.

2 (of a question) able to be answered: straightforward and answerable questions.

an·swer·ing ma·chine n. a tape recorder or digital device that supplies a recorded answer to a telephone call and can record a message from the caller.

an·swer·ing serv·ice n. a business that receives and answers telephone calls for its clients.

ant n. a small insect, often with a sting, that usually lives in a complex social colony with one or more breeding queens. It is wingless except for fertile adults, which often form large mating swarms, and is proverbial for industriousness.
<INFO>  Family Formicidae, order Hymenoptera: several subfamilies.

<PHRASES> have ants in one's pants INFORMAL be fidgety or restless.

<ORIGIN> Old English ; related to German Ameise. Compare with EMMET.

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EMMET ■

ant- prefix variant spelling of ANTI- before a vowel or h (as in Antarctic).

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ANTI- ■

-ant suffix 1 (forming adjectives) denoting attribution of an action or state: arrogant; expectant.

2 (forming nouns) denoting an agent: deodorant; propellant.

<ORIGIN> from Latin or French present participial verb stems (see also -ENT).

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-ENT ■

Ant·a·buse n. trademark for DISULFIRAM.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from ANTI- + ABUSE.

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DISULFIRAM ■

ANTI- ■

ABUSE ■

ant·ac·id adj. (chiefly of a medicine) preventing or correcting acidity, esp. in the stomach.

■ n. an antacid medicine.

An·tae·us [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a giant, the son of Poseidon and Earth, who compelled all comers to wrestle with him, overcoming and killing them all them until he was defeated by Hercules.

an·tag·o·nism n. active hostility or opposition: the antagonism between them; his antagonism toward the local people | petty antagonisms and jealousies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BIOCHEMISTRY] inhibition of or interference with the action of one substance or organism by another.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French antagonisme, from Greek 'struggle against' (see ANTAGONIST).

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ANTAGONIST ■

an·tag·o·nist n. a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary: he turned to confront his antagonist.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BIOCHEMISTRY] a substance that interferes with or inhibits the physiological action of another. Compare with AGONIST.

- [ANATOMY] a muscle whose action counteracts that of another specified muscle. Compare with AGONIST.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French antagoniste or late Latin antagonista, from Greek , from 'struggle against' (see ANTAGONIZE).

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AGONIST ■

AGONIST ■

ANTAGONIZE ■

an·tag·o·nis·tic adj. showing or feeling active opposition or hostility toward someone or something: he was antagonistic to the government's reforms; an antagonistic group of bystanders.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BIOCHEMISTRY] & [PHYSIOLOGY] of or relating to an antagonist or its action.

<DERIVATIVES> an·tag·o·nis·ti·cal·ly adv.

an·tag·o·nize v. [trans.] cause (someone) to become hostile: he antagonized many colleagues during the budget wars.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BIOCHEMISTRY] (of a substance) act as an antagonist of (a substance or its action): two other drugs antagonized the antidepressantlike effect.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (in the sense 'struggle against'): from Greek , from ant- 'against' + 'struggle' (from 'contest').

An·ta·kya Turkish name for ANTIOCH.

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ANTIOCH ■

An·tal·ya a port in southern Turkey; pop. 378,200.

An·ta·na·na·ri·vo the capital of Madagascar, located in the central plateau; pop. 802,390. Former name (until 1975) TANANARIVE.

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TANANARIVE ■

Ant·arc·tic adj. of or relating to the south polar region or Antarctica.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BOTANY] of, relating to, or denoting a phytogeographical kingdom comprising New Zealand, southern parts of Chile and Argentina, and islands in the South Atlantic and southern Indian Ocean.

■ n. (the Antarctic) the Antarctic region.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French antartique or Latin antarcticus, from Greek antarktikos 'opposite to the north', from ant- 'against' + arktikos (see ARCTIC).

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ARCTIC ■

Ant·arc·ti·ca a continent around the South Pole, situated mainly within the Antarctic Circle and almost entirely covered by ice sheets. Its exploitation is governed by an international treaty of 1959, which was renewed in 1991.

Ant·arc·tic Cir·cle the parallel of latitude 66° 33 south of the equator. It marks the southernmost point at which the sun is visible on the southern winter solstice and the northernmost point at which the midnight sun can be seen on the southern summer solstice.

Ant·arc·tic Con·ver·gence the zone of the Antarctic Ocean where the cold, nutrient-laden Antarctic surface water sinks beneath the warmer waters to the north.

Ant·arc·tic O·cean another name (esp. formerly) for SOUTHERN OCEAN.

Ant·arc·tic Pen·in·su·la a mountainous peninsula of Antarctica between the Bellingshausen and Weddell seas that extends northward toward Cape Horn and the Falkland Islands.

An·tar·es the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius. It is a binary star of which the main component is a red supergiant.

<ORIGIN> Greek, literally 'simulating Mars (in color)'.

ant bear n. 1 another term for AARDVARK.

2 another term for GIANT ANTEATER (see ANTEATER).

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AARDVARK ■

ant·bird n. an insectivorous, long-legged, short-tailed bird that typically has dark gray plumage in the male and brown in the female. Antbirds, found mainly in the tropical forests of South America, often feed on insects that have been disturbed by swarms of army ants.
<INFO>  Family Formicariidae: several genera, in particular Myrmeciza, Cercomacra, and Drymophila.

an·te n. a stake put up by a player in poker and similar games before receiving cards.

■ v. (-tes, -ted, -te·ing) [trans.] (ante something up) put up an amount as an ante in poker and similar games.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL pay an amount of money in advance: he anted up $925,000 of his own money.

- [intrans.] (ante up) INFORMAL put up one's money; pay up: the owners have to ante up if they want to attract the best talent.

<PHRASES> up (or raise) the ante increase what is at stake or under discussion, esp. in a conflict or dispute: he decided to up the ante in the trade war.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin, literally 'before'.

ante- prefix before; preceding: antechapel; antecedent.

<ORIGIN> from Latin ante 'before'.

ant·eat·er n. a mammal that feeds on ants and termites. It has a long snout and sticky tongue.
<INFO>  Most anteaters are edentates of the Central and South American family Myrmecophagidae, which includes the giant anteater and the tamanduas. The echidna, numbat, and pangolin are also known as spiny anteater, banded anteater, and scaly anteater, respectively.

an·te·bel·lum adj. [attrib.] occurring or existing before a particular war, esp. the American Civil War: the conventions of the antebellum South.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin, from ante 'before' and bellum 'war'.

an·te·ced·ent n. a thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another: some antecedents to the African novel might exist in Africa's oral traditions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (antecedents) a person's ancestors or family and social background: her early life and antecedents have been traced.

- [GRAMMAR] a word, phrase, clause, or sentence to which another word (esp. a following relative pronoun) refers.

- [LOGIC] the statement contained in the “if” clause of a conditional proposition.

- [MATHEMATICS] the first term in a ratio.

■ adj. preceding in time or order; previous or preexisting: the antecedent events that prompt you to break a diet.
<SPECIAL USAGE> denoting a grammatical antecedent.

<DERIVATIVES> an·te·ced·ence n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French or from Latin antecedent- 'going before', from antecedere, from ante 'before' + cedere 'go'.

an·te·cham·ber n. a small room leading to a main one.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (as antichamber): from French antichambre, from Italian anticamera, from anti- 'preceding' + camera (see CHAMBER).

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CHAMBER ■

an·te·chap·el n. a vestibule for a college chapel, lying beyond the west end of the nave.

ant·e·chi·nus n. a marsupial mouse of shrewlike habits and appearance, found in Australia, New Guinea, and Tasmania.
<INFO>  Genera Antechinus and Parantechinus, family Dasyuridae: several species.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek anti- 'simulating' + ekhinos 'sea urchin, hedgehog' (from its bristly fur).

an·te·date v. [trans.] precede in time; come before (something) in date: a civilization that antedated the Roman Empire.
<SPECIAL USAGE> indicate that (a document or event) should be assigned to an earlier date: there are no references to him that would antedate his birth.

an·te·dat·ing n. an example or instance of (a sense of) a word, phrase, etc., at a date earlier than previously known or recorded; a citation of this: antedatings of some prize-fighting terms.

an·te·di·lu·vi·an adj. [attrib.] of or belonging to the time before the biblical Flood: gigantic bones of antediluvian animals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY HUMOROUS ridiculously old-fashioned: they maintain antediluvian sex-role stereotypes.
See note at OLD.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from ANTE- + Latin diluvium 'deluge' + -AN.

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ANTE- ■

-AN ■

an·te·lope n. (pl. same or -lopes) a swift-running deerlike ruminant with smooth hair and upward-pointing horns, native to Africa and Asia.
<INFO>  Bovidae

<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for PRONGHORN.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally the name of a fierce mythical creature with long serrated horns, said to live on the banks of the Euphrates): via Old French and medieval Latin from late Greek antholops, of unknown origin and meaning.

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PRONGHORN ■

an·te·mor·tem adj. & adv. before death: [as adj.] the antemortem instructions of the dead leader | [as adv.] abnormalities of the sinus are difficult to demonstrate antemortem.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Latin, literally 'before death'.

an·te·na·tal adj. [attrib.] before birth; during or relating to pregnancy; prenatal: antenatal care.

■ n. INFORMAL a medical examination during pregnancy.

<DERIVATIVES> an·te·na·tal·ly adv.

an·ten·na n. 1 [ZOOLOGY] (pl. -ten·nae ) either of a pair of long, thin sensory appendages on the heads of insects, crustaceans, and some other arthropods.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (antennae) FIGURATIVE the faculty of instinctively detecting and interpreting subtle signs: he has the political antennae of a party whip.

2 (pl. -ten·nas) a rod, wire, or other device used to transmit or receive radio or television signals.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ten·nal adj. (in sense 1). an·ten·na·ry adj. (in sense 1).

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin, alteration of antemna 'yard' (of a ship), used in the plural to translate Greek keraioi 'horns (of insects)', used by Aristotle.

an·ten·nule n. [ZOOLOGY] a small antenna, esp. either of the first pair of antennae in a crustacean.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: diminutive of ANTENNA.

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ANTENNA ■

an·te·par·tum adj. [attrib.] [MEDICINE] occurring not long before childbirth.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin, 'before birth'.

an·te·pe·nul·ti·mate adj. [attrib.] last but two in a series; third last: the antepenultimate item on the agenda.; the antepenultimate syllable.

an·te·ri·or adj. 1 TECHNICAL, [CHIEFLY ANATOMY] & [BIOLOGY] nearer the front, esp. situated in the front of the body, or nearer to the head or forepart: the veins anterior to the heart. The opposite of POSTERIOR.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BOTANY] (of a part of a flower or leaf) situated further away from the main stem.

2 FORMAL coming before in time; earlier: there are few examples of gold and silver work anterior to the dynasty of the Romanoffs.

<DERIVATIVES> an·te·ri·or·i·ty n. an·te·ri·or·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French antérieur or Latin anterior, comparative of ante 'before'.

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POSTERIOR ■

antero- comb. form [CHIEFLY ANATOMY] representing ANTERIOR: anteroposterior.

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ANTERIOR ■

an·ter·o·grade adj. directed forward in time. The opposite of RETROGRADE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or denoting a type of amnesia involving inability to remember any new information.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from ANTERIOR, on the pattern of retrograde.

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RETROGRADE ■

ANTERIOR ■

an·ter·o·lat·er·al adj. [CHIEFLY ANATOMY] both anterior and lateral.

an·te·room n. an antechamber, typically serving as a waiting room.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MILITARY] a sitting room in an officers' mess.

an·ter·o·pos·te·ri·or adj. [CHIEFLY ANATOMY] relating to or directed toward both front and back: an anteroposterior axis.

an·te·vert·ed adj. [ANATOMY] & [MEDICINE] (of an organ of the body, typically the uterus) inclined forward.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin antevertere, from ante 'before' + vertere 'to turn' + -ED^2 .

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-ED ■

ant·he·li·on n. (pl. -li·a ) a luminous halo around a shadow projected by the sun on to a cloud or fog bank.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a parhelion seen opposite the sun in the sky.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Greek , neuter of 'opposite to the sun', from anth- (variant of anti- 'against') + 'sun'.

ant·hel·min·tic [MEDICINE] adj. [attrib.] (chiefly of medicines) used to destroy parasitic worms.

■ n. an anthelmintic medicine.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (as an adjective): from anth- (variant of anti 'against') + Greek helmins, helminth- 'worm' + -IC.

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-IC ■

an·them n. 1 a rousing or uplifting song identified with a particular group, body, or cause: the song became the anthem for hippie activists.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also national anthem) a solemn patriotic song officially adopted by a country as an expression of national identity.

2 a choral composition based on a biblical passage, for singing by a choir in a church service.

<ORIGIN> Old English antefn, antifne (denoting a composition sung antiphonally), from late Latin antiphona (see ANTIPHON). The spelling with th, which began in the 16th cent., was on the pattern of similar words, such as Antony, Anthony or amarant, amaranth.

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ANTIPHON ■

an·the·mic adj. (of a song) like an anthem in being rousing or uplifting.

an·the·mi·on n. (pl. -mi·a ) a flowerlike ornament used in the decorative arts.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek, literally 'flower'.

an·ther n. [BOTANY] the part of a stamen that contains the pollen.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French anthère or modern Latin anthera, from Greek 'flowery', from anthos 'flower'.

an·ther·id·i·um n. (pl. -ther·id·i·a ) [BOTANY] the male sex organ of algae, mosses, ferns, fungi, and other nonflowering plants.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ther·id·i·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from anthera (see ANTHER) + -idium (from the Greek diminutive suffix -idion).

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ANTHER ■

an·ther·o·zo·id n. [BOTANY] another term for SPERMATOZOID.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from ANTHER + ZOOID.

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SPERMATOZOID ■

ANTHER ■

ZOOID ■

an·the·sis n. [BOTANY] the flowering period of a plant, from the opening of the flower bud.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek 'flowering', from anthein 'to blossom'.

ant·hill n. a moundlike nest built by ants or termites.

antho- comb. form of or relating to flowers: anthophilous.

<ORIGIN> from Greek anthos 'flower'.

an·tho·cy·a·nin n. [CHEMISTRY] a blue, violet, or red flavonoid pigment found in plants.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from German Anthocyan, from Greek anthos 'flower' + kuanos 'blue' + -IN^1 .

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-IN ■

an·thol·o·gize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (anthologized) include (an author or work) in an anthology: the most anthologized of today's poets.

an·thol·o·gy n. (pl. -gies) a published collection of poems or other pieces of writing: an anthology of European poetry.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar collection of songs or musical compositions issued in one album.

<DERIVATIVES> an·thol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: via French or medieval Latin from Greek anthologia, from anthos 'flower' + -logia 'collection' (from legein 'gather'). In Greek, the word originally denoted a collection of the “flowers” of verse, i.e., small choice poems or epigrams, by various authors.

An·tho·ny Susan B(rownell) (1820-1906), U.S. social reformer and leader of the woman suffrage movement. She traveled, lectured, and campaigned throughout her life for women's rights. With Elizabeth Cady Stanton, she organized the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1869. With Stanton and Matilda Joslyn Gage, she compiled the History of Woman Suffrage (1881-1902).

An·tho·ny, St. (also An·to·ny ) (c.251-356), Egyptian hermit; the founder of monasticism. Feast day, January 17.

An·tho·ny of Pad·u·a, St. (also An·to·ny ) (1195-1231), Portuguese Franciscan friar. His devotion to the poor is commemorated by alms known as St. Anthony's bread; he is invoked to find lost articles. Feast day, June 13.

an·thoph·i·lous adj. [ZOOLOGY] (of insects or other animals) frequenting flowers.

An·tho·zo·a [ZOOLOGY] a large class of sedentary marine coelenterates that includes the sea anemones and corals. They are either solitary or colonial, and have a central mouth surrounded by tentacles.

<DERIVATIVES> an·tho·zo·an n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek anthos 'flower' + 'animals'.

an·thra·cene n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless crystalline aromatic hydrocarbon obtained by the distillation of crude oils and used in chemical manufacture.
<INFO>  A tricyclic compound; chem. formula: C_14H_10.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek anthrax, anthrak- 'coal' + -ENE.

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-ENE ■

an·thra·cite n. coal of a hard variety that contains relatively pure carbon and burns with little flame and smoke. Also called HARD COAL.

<DERIVATIVES> an·thra·cit·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a gem described by Pliny and said to resemble coals, supposedly hydrophane): from Greek , from anthrax, anthrak- 'coal'.

an·thrac·nose n. a mainly fungal disease of plants, causing dark lesions.
<INFO>  Deuteromycotina

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: coined in French from Greek anthrax, anthrak- 'coal' + nosos 'disease'.

an·thra·qui·none n. [CHEMISTRY] a yellow crystalline compound obtained by oxidation of anthracene. It is the basis of many natural and synthetic dyes.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_14H_8O_2.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from anthra(cene) + QUINONE.

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an·thrax n. a notifiable bacterial disease of sheep and cattle, typically affecting the skin and lungs. It can be transmitted to humans, causing severe skin ulceration or a form of pneumonia (also called WOOL-SORTERS' DISEASE).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: Latin, 'carbuncle' (the earliest sense in English), from Greek anthrax, anthrak- 'coal, carbuncle', with reference to the skin ulceration in humans.

an·throp·ic prin·ci·ple n. the cosmological principle that theories of the universe are constrained by the necessity to allow human existence.

In its ‘weak’ form the principle affirms that a universe in which living observers cannot exist is inherently unobservable. ‘Strong’ forms take this line of reasoning further, seeking to explain features of the universe as being so because they are necessary for human existence.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: anthropic from Greek , from 'human being'.

anthropo- comb. form human; of a human being: anthropometry.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to humankind: anthropology.

<ORIGIN> from Greek 'human being'.

An·thro·po·cene n. the current geological age, viewed as having begun about 200 years ago with the significant impact of human activity on the ecosphere.

<ORIGIN> 2000: based on Greek 'human being' + kainos 'recent'; reportedly coined by chemist Paul Crutzen (1933- ).

an·thro·po·cen·tric adj. regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence, esp. as opposed to God or animals.

<DERIVATIVES> an·thro·po·cen·tri·cal·ly adv. an·thro·po·cen·trism n.

an·thro·po·gen·ic adj. (chiefly of environmental pollution and pollutants) originating in human activity: anthropogenic emissions of sulfur dioxide.

<DERIVATIVES> an·thro·po·gen·i·cal·ly adv..

an·thro·pog·e·ny n. the study of the origin of humankind.

an·thro·poid adj. resembling a human being in form: cartoons of anthropoid frogs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ZOOLOGY] of or relating to the group of higher primates, which includes monkeys, apes, and humans.

- [ZOOLOGY] (of an ape) belonging to one of the families of great apes.

- INFORMAL, DEROGATORY (of a person) apelike in appearance or behavior: his crewcut sloped down from the back of his head to a low-cut, anthropoid forehead.

■ n. [ZOOLOGY] a higher primate, esp. an ape or apeman.
<INFO>  Suborder Anthropoidea, order Primates.

<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL, DEROGATORY a person that resembles an ape in appearance or behavior: anthropoids ruled the streets.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek , from 'human being' + -OID.

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an·thro·pol·o·gy n. the study of humankind, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also cultural or social anthropology) the comparative study of human societies and cultures and their development.

- (also physical anthropology) the science of human zoology, evolution, and ecology.

<DERIVATIVES> an·thro·po·log·i·cal adj. an·thro·pol·o·gist n.

an·thro·pom·e·try n. the scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body.

<DERIVATIVES> an·thro·po·met·ric adj.

an·thro·po·mor·phic adj. relating to or characterized by anthropomorphism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having human characteristics: anthropomorphic bears and monkeys.

<DERIVATIVES> an·thro·po·mor·phi·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek (see ANTHROPOMORPHOUS) + -IC.

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ANTHROPOMORPHOUS ■

-IC ■

an·thro·po·mor·phism n. the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object.

<DERIVATIVES> an·thro·po·mor·phize v.

an·thro·po·mor·phous adj. (of a god, animal, or object) human in form or nature.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Greek (from 'human being' + 'form') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

an·thro·poph·a·gi plural n. cannibals, esp. in legends or fables.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin, plural of anthropophagus, from Greek 'man-eating', from 'human being' + -phagos (see -PHAGOUS).

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-PHAGOUS ■

an·thro·poph·a·gy n. the eating of human flesh by human beings.

<DERIVATIVES> an·thro·poph·a·gous adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Greek , from (see ANTHROPOPHAGI).

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ANTHROPOPHAGI ■

an·thro·pos·o·phy n. a formal educational, therapeutic, and creative system established by Rudolf Steiner, seeking to use mainly natural means to optimize physical and mental health and well-being.

<DERIVATIVES> an·thro·po·soph·i·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from ANTHROPO- + Greek sophia 'wisdom'.

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ANTHROPO- ■

an·thu·ri·um n. (pl. -ums) a tropical American plant often grown elsewhere for its ornamental foliage or brightly colored flowering spathes.
<INFO>  Genus Anthurium, family Araceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek anthos 'flower' + oura 'tail'.

an·ti prep. opposed to; against: I'm anti the abuse of drink and the hassle that it causes.

■ adj. [predic.] INFORMAL opposed: one big soul fight in the GOP concerns immigrationillegal and legal, anti or pro.

■ n. (pl. an·tis) INFORMAL a person opposed to a particular policy, activity, or idea: a shadow army of antis who endanger your sport.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (as a noun): independent usage of ANTI-.

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ANTI- ■

anti- (also ant-) prefix opposed to; against: antiaircraft.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- preventing: antibacterial.

- reversing or undoing: anticoagulant; | antigravity; | antipruritic.

- the opposite of: anticlimax.

- [PHYSICS] the opposite state of matter or of a specified particle: antimatter; | antiproton.

- acting as a rival: antipope.

- unlike the conventional form: anti-hero.

<ORIGIN> representing Greek anti 'against'.

an·ti·a·bor·tion adj. [attrib.] opposing or legislating against medically induced abortion.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·a·bor·tion·ist n.

an·ti·air·craft (also an·ti-air·craft) (abbr.:AA) adj. [attrib.] (esp. of a gun or missile) used to attack enemy aircraft.

an·ti·a·li·as·ing n. (in computer graphics) a technique used to add greater realism to a digital image by smoothing jagged edges on curved lines and diagonals.

an·ti-A·mer·i·can adj. hostile to the interests of the United States; opposed to Americans.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti-A·mer·i·can·ism n.

an·ti·bac·te·ri·al adj. [attrib.] active against bacteria.

an·ti·bal·lis·tic mis·sile (abbr.: ABM) n. a missile designed for intercepting and destroying a ballistic missile while in flight.

An·tibes a fishing port and resort in southeastern France; pop. 70,690.

an·ti·bi·o·sis n. [BIOLOGY] an antagonistic association between two organisms (esp. microorganisms), in which one is adversely affected. See also SYMBIOSIS.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from ANTI- + a shortened form of SYMBIOSIS.

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ANTI- ■

SYMBIOSIS ■

an·ti·bi·ot·ic n. a medicine (such as penicillin or its derivatives) that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms.

■ adj. relating to, involving, or denoting antibiotics.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (in the sense 'doubting the possibility of life in a particular environment'): from ANTI- + Greek 'fit for life' (from bios 'life').

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an·ti·bod·y n. (pl. -bod·ies) a blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen. Antibodies combine chemically with substances that the body recognizes as alien, such as bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances in the blood.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from ANTI- + BODY, translating German Antikörper, from anti- 'against' + Körper 'body'.

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BODY ■

an·ti·bub·ble n. a membrane of air, submerged in liquid and surrounding a sphere of liquid.

an·tic adj. POETIC/LITERARY grotesque or bizarre.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Italian antico 'antique', used to mean 'grotesque'.

an·ti·cath·ode n. [PHYSICS] the target (or anode) of an X-ray tube that is struck by electrons from the cathode and from which X-rays are emitted.

an·ti·choice adj. opposed to a pregnant woman's choice of a medically induced abortion. Compare withPRO-LIFE.

an·ti·cho·lin·er·gic [MEDICINE] adj. (chiefly of a drug) inhibiting the physiological action of acetylcholine, esp. as a neurotransmitter.

■ n. an anticholinergic drug.

An·ti·christ n. (the An·ti·christ) a great personal opponent of Christ who will spread evil throughout the world before being conquered at Christ's second coming.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person or force seen as opposing Christ or the Christian Church.

<ORIGIN> Old English, via Old French or ecclesiastical Latin from Greek antikhristos, from anti 'against' + Khristos (see CHRIST).

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CHRIST ■

an·ti-Chris·tian adj. opposed to Christianity or Christian values.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to the Antichrist.

■ n. a person who opposes Christianity.

an·tic·i·pate v. [trans.] 1 regard as probable; expect or predict: she anticipated scorn on her return to the theater | [with clause] it was anticipated that the rains would slow the military campaign.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- guess or be aware of (what will happen) and take action in order to be prepared: they failed to anticipate a full scale invasion.

- look forward to: Stephen was eagerly anticipating the break from the routine of business.

- use or spend in advance.

2 act as a forerunner or precursor of: he anticipated Bates's theories on mimicry and protective coloration.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- come or take place before (an event or process expected or scheduled for a later time).

- react or respond to (someone) too quickly, without giving them a chance to do or say something.

- pay (a debt) before it is due.

<DERIVATIVES> an·tic·i·pa·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the senses 'to take something into consideration', 'mention something before the proper time'): from Latin anticipat- 'acted in advance', from anticipare, based on ante- 'before' + capere 'take'.

<USAGE>
Anticipate in the sense 'expect, foresee' (as in sense 1 above) is well established in informal use ( he anticipated a restless night), but is regarded as a weakening of the meaning by many traditionalists. The formal sense is more specific in its meaning, 'be aware of and deal with beforehand' ( the doctor anticipated the possibility of a relapse by prescribing new medications).

an·tic·i·pa·tion n. the action of anticipating something; expectation or prediction: her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MUSIC] the introduction in a composition of part of a chord that is about to follow in full.

<PHRASES> in anticipation with the probability or expectation of something happening: they manned the telephones in anticipation of a flood of calls.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin anticipatio(n-), from the verb anticipare (see ANTICIPATE).

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ANTICIPATE ■

an·tic·i·pa·to·ry adj. happening, performed, or felt in anticipation of something: an anticipatory flash of excitement.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] (of a breach of contract) taking the form of an announcement or indication that a contract will not be honored.

an·ti·cler·i·cal CHIEFLY HISTORICAL adj. opposed to the power or influence of the clergy, esp. in politics.

■ n. a person holding such views.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·cler·i·cal·ism n.

an·ti·cli·max n. a disappointing end to an exciting or impressive series of events: the rest of the journey was an anticlimax by comparison | a sense of anticlimax and incipient boredom.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·cli·mac·tic adj. an·ti·cli·mac·ti·cal·ly adv.

an·ti·cline n. [GEOLOGY] a ridge-shaped fold of stratified rock in which the strata slope downward from the crest. Compare with SYNCLINE.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·cli·nal adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from ANTI- + Greek klinein 'lean', on the pattern of incline.

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ANTI- ■

an·ti·clock·wise adv. & adj. British term for COUNTERCLOCKWISE.

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COUNTERCLOCKWISE ■

an·ti·co·ag·u·lant adj. having the effect of retarding or inhibiting the coagulation of the blood.

■ n. an anticoagulant substance.

an·ti·co·don n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule, corresponding to a complementary codon in messenger RNA.

an·ti·com·pet·i·tive adj. tending to stifle or suppress competition, esp. when this violates antitrust laws: an anticompetitive advantage in the software industry.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·com·pet·i·tive·ly adv. an·ti·com·pet·i·tive·ness n.

an·ti·con·vul·sant adj. (chiefly of a drug) used to prevent or reduce the severity of epileptic fits or other convulsions.

■ n. an anticonvulsant drug.

an·tics plural n. foolish, outrageous, or amusing behavior: the antics of our political parties.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from ANTIC.

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an·ti·cy·clone n. a weather system with high atmospheric pressure at its center, around which air slowly circulates in a clockwise (northern hemisphere) or counterclockwise (southern hemisphere) direction. Anticyclones are associated with calm, fine weather.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·cy·clon·ic adj.

an·ti·de·pres·sant adj. (chiefly of a drug) used to alleviate depression.

■ n. an antidepressant drug.

an·ti·di·ar·rhe·al adj. (of a drug) used to alleviate diarrhea.

■ n. an antidiarrheal drug.

an·ti·di·u·ret·ic hor·mone (abbr.: ADH) n. another term for VASOPRESSIN.

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VASOPRESSIN ■

an·ti·dote n. a medicine taken or given to counteract a particular poison.
<SPECIAL USAGE> something that counteracts or neutralizes an unpleasant feeling or situation: laughter is a good antidote to stress.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (in homeopathy) a substance that cancels or opposes the effect of a remedy.

■ v. [trans.] (-dotes, -dot·ed, -dot·ing) counteract or cancel with an antidote: What remedy will antidote Bryonia?

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·dot·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin, from Greek antidoton, neuter of antidotos 'given against', from anti- 'against' + didonai 'give'.

an·ti·drom·ic adj. [PHYSIOLOGY] (of an impulse) traveling in the opposite direction to that normal in a nerve fiber. The opposite of ORTHODROMIC.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from ANTI- + Greek dromos 'running' + -IC.

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ANTI- ■

-IC ■

an·ti·e·met·ic adj. (chiefly of a drug) preventing vomiting.

■ n. an antiemetic drug.

an·ti·es·tab·lish·ment adj. against the establishment or established authority.

An·tie·tam historic site in northwestern Maryland, on Antietam Creek, southeast of Sharpsburg, scene of a major Civil War battle in September 1862.

an·ti·feed·ant n. a naturally occurring substance in certain plants that adversely affects insects or other animals that eat them.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from ANTI- + FEED + -ANT.

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FEED ■

-ANT ■

an·ti·fer·ro·mag·net·ic adj. [PHYSICS] designating or exhibiting a form of magnetism characterized by an antiparallel alignment of adjacent electron spins in a crystal lattice. Compare with FERRIMAGNETIC.

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FERRIMAGNETIC ■

an·ti·foul·ing n. treatment of a boat's hull with a paint or similar substance designed to prevent fouling.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an antifouling substance.

an·ti·freeze n. a liquid, typically one based on ethylene glycol, which can be added to water to lower the freezing point, chiefly used in the radiator of a motor vehicle.

an·ti-g adj. short for ANTIGRAVITY.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from ANTI- + g, the symbol for acceleration due to gravity.

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ANTI- ■

an·ti·gen n. a toxin or other foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body, esp. the production of antibodies.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·gen·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: via German from French antigène (see ANTI-, -GEN).

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-GEN ■

an·ti·gen·ic de·ter·mi·nant n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] another term for EPITOPE.

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EPITOPE ■

an·ti·glob·al·i·za·tion n. opposition to the agendas and actions of groups perceived to favor globalization, such as the IMF, the World Trade Organization, and the G8 countries: [as modifier] antiglobalization protesters.

An·tig·o·ne [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, the subject of a tragedy by Sophocles. She was sentenced to death for defying her uncle Creon, king of Thebes, but she took her own life before the sentence could be carried out, and Creon's son Haemon, who was engaged to her, killed himself over her body.

an·tig·o·rite n. a mineral of the serpentine group, occurring typically as thin green plates.

an·ti·gov·ern·ment adj. against a government or the administration in office.

an·ti·grav·i·ty n. [PHYSICS] a hypothetical force opposing gravity.

■ adj. [attrib.] (chiefly of clothing for a pilot or astronaut) designed to counteract the effects of high acceleration.

An·ti·gua (also An·ti·gua Gua·te·ma·la ) a town in the central highlands of Guatemala; pop. 26,630.

An·ti·gua and Bar·bu·da a country in the western West Indies, in the Leeward Islands, that consists of two main islands (Antigua and Barbuda) and Redonda, a smaller island to the southwest of Antigua; pop. 68,320; capital, St. John's (on Antigua); languages, English (official), Creole.

Discovered in 1493 by Columbus and settled by the English in 1632, Antigua became a British colony with Barbuda as its dependency; the islands gained independence within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.

<DERIVATIVES> An·ti·guan adj. & n.

an·ti·he·ro n. a central character in a story, movie, or drama who lacks conventional heroic attributes.

an·ti·her·o·ine n. a female antihero.

an·ti·his·ta·mine n. [usu. as adj.] a drug or other compound that inhibits the physiological effects of histamine, used esp. in the treatment of allergies: an antihistamine injection.

an·ti-in·fec·tive adj. (of a drug) used to prevent infection.

■ n. an anti-infective drug.

an·ti-in·flam·ma·to·ry adj. (chiefly of a drug) used to reduce inflammation.

■ n. (pl. -ries) an anti-inflammatory drug.

an·ti-in·tel·lec·tu·al n. a person who scorns intellectuals and their views and methods.

■ adj. characteristic of a such a person.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti-in·tel·lec·tu·al·ism n.

an·ti·knock n. a substance (such as tetraethyl lead) added to gasoline to inhibit preignition.

An·ti-Leb·a·non Moun·tains a range of mountains that run north to south along the border between Lebanon and Syria, east of the Lebanon range.

an·ti·life adj. opposed to or restricting the full development of life: the new industrial age was anti-life.
<SPECIAL USAGE> opposing the development of life by advocating abortion.

An·til·les a group of islands that form the greater part of the West Indies. The Greater Antilles extend roughly east to west and are comprised of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and Puerto Rico; the Lesser Antilles, to the southeast, include the Virgin, Leeward, and Windward islands, as well as various small islands to the north of Venezuela. See also NETHERLANDS ANTILLES.

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an·ti·lock (also an·ti-lock) adj. [attrib.] (of brakes) designed so as to prevent the wheels from locking and the vehicle from skidding if applied suddenly.

an·ti·log n. short for ANTILOGARITHM.

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ANTILOGARITHM ■

an·ti·log·a·rithm n. the number to which a logarithm belongs.

an·ti·ma·cas·sar n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a piece of cloth put over the back of a chair to protect it from grease and dirt or as an ornament.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from ANTI- + MACASSAR.

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MACASSAR ■

an·ti·mag·net·ic adj. (esp. of watches) resistant to magnetization.

an·ti·mat·ter n. [PHYSICS] molecules formed by atoms consisting of antiprotons, antineutrons, and positrons. Stable antimatter does not appear to exist in our universe.

an·ti·me·tab·o·lite n. [PHYSIOLOGY] a substance that interferes with the normal metabolic processes within cells, typically by combining with enzymes.

an·ti·mon·ar·chist n. an opponent of monarchy.

an·ti·mo·ny n. the chemical element of atomic number 51, a brittle silvery-white metalloid. (Symbol: Sb)

Antimony was known from ancient times; the naturally occurring black sulfide was used as the cosmetic kohl. The element is used in alloys, usually with lead, such as pewter, type-metal, and Britannia metal.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·mo·ni·al adj. an·ti·mo·nic adj. an·ti·mo·ni·ous adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting stibnite, the most common ore of the metal): from medieval Latin antimonium, of unknown origin. The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.

an·ti·na·tion·al adj. opposed to national interests or nationalism: the Communists were seen as an antinational party.

an·ti·neu·tron n. [PHYSICS] the antiparticle of a neutron.

an·ti·node n. [PHYSICS] the position of maximum displacement in a standing wave system.

an·ti·noise adj. [attrib.] promoting the suppression or reduction of noise: stringent antinoise regulations.

■ n. sound generated for the purpose of reducing noise by interference.

an·ti·no·mi·an adj. of or relating to the view that Christians are released by grace from the obligation of observing the moral law.

■ n. a person holding this view.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·no·mi·an·ism n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin Antinomi, the name of a 16th-cent. sect in Germany alleged to hold this view, from Greek anti- 'opposite, against' + nomos 'law'.

an·tin·o·my n. (pl. -mies) a contradiction between two beliefs or conclusions that are in themselves reasonable; a paradox.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'a conflict between two laws'): from Latin antinomia, from Greek, from anti 'against' + nomos 'law'.

an·ti·nu·cle·ar adj. [attrib.] opposed to the development of nuclear weapons or nuclear power.

An·ti·och 1 a city in southern Turkey, near the Syrian border; pop. 123,871. Antioch was the ancient capital of Syria under the Seleucid kings, who founded it c.300 BC. Turkish name ANTAKYA.

2 a city in ancient Phrygia.

3 a city in north central California; pop. 62,195.

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An·ti·o·chus the name of eight Seleucid kings, notably:
<SPECIAL USAGE> Antiochus III (c.242-187 BC), reigned 223-187 BC; known as Antiochus the Great. He restored and expanded the Seleucid empire.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Antiochus IV (c.215-163 BC), son of Antiochus III; reigned 175-163 BC; known as Antiochus Epiphanes. His attempt to Hellenize the Jews resulted in the revival of Jewish nationalism and the Maccabean revolt.

an·ti·ox·i·dant n. a substance that inhibits oxidation, esp. one used to counteract the deterioration of stored food products.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a substance such as vitamin C or E that removes potentially damaging oxidizing agents in a living organism.

an·ti·par·al·lel adj. [PHYSICS] parallel but moving or oriented in opposite directions.

an·ti·par·ti·cle n. [PHYSICS] a subatomic particle having the same mass as a given particle but opposite electric or magnetic properties. Every kind of subatomic particle has a corresponding antiparticle, e.g., the positron has the same mass as the electron but an equal and opposite charge.

an·ti·pas·to n. (pl. -pas·ti ) (in Italian cooking) an appetizer typically consisting of olives, anchovies, cheeses, and meats.

<ORIGIN> Italian, from anti- 'before' + pasto (from Latin pastus 'food').

an·ti·pa·thet·ic adj. showing or feeling a strong aversion: it is human nature to be antipathetic to change.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from ANTIPATHY, on the pattern of pathetic.

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an·tip·a·thy n. (pl. -thies) a deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion: his fundamental antipathy to capitalism | a thinly disguised mutual antipathy.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'opposition of feeling, nature, or disposition'): from French antipathie or Latin antipathia, from Greek antipatheia, from 'opposed in feeling', from anti 'against' + pathos 'feeling'.

an·ti·per·son·nel adj. [attrib.] (of weapons, esp. bombs) designed to kill or injure people rather than to damage buildings or equipment.

an·ti·per·spi·rant n. a substance that is applied to the skin, esp. under the arms, to prevent or reduce perspiration.

an·ti·phon n. (in traditional western Christian liturgy) a short sentence sung or recited before or after a psalm or canticle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a musical setting of such a sentence or sentences.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek 'harmonies', neuter plural of 'responsive', from anti 'in return' + 'sound'.

an·tiph·o·nal adj. (in traditional western Christian liturgy) (of a short sentence or its musical setting) sung, recited, or played alternately by two groups.

■ n. another term for ANTIPHONARY.

<DERIVATIVES> an·tiph·o·nal·ly adv.

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ANTIPHONARY ■

an·tiph·o·nar·y n. (pl. -nar·ies) a collection of antiphons.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin antiphonarium, from antiphona (see ANTIPHON).

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ANTIPHON ■

an·tiph·o·ny n. antiphonal singing, playing, or chanting.

an·tip·o·dal adj. relating to or situated on the opposite side of the earth.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (antipodal to) diametrically opposed to something.

- [BOTANY] relating to or denoting cells formed at the chalazal end of the embryo sac.

an·ti·pode n. the direct opposite of something else: the pole and its antipode.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting an inhabitant of the opposite side of the earth): back-formation from ANTIPODES.

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ANTIPODES ■

an·tip·o·des plural n. (the An·tip·o·des) Australia and New Zealand (used by inhabitants of the northern hemisphere).
<SPECIAL USAGE> the direct opposite of something: we are the very antipodes of labor unions.

<DERIVATIVES> an·tip·o·de·an adj., n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via French or late Latin from Greek antipodes 'having the feet opposite', from anti 'against, opposite' + pous, pod- 'foot'. The term originally denoted the inhabitants of opposite sides of the earth, or of the side opposite to oneself, and was later transferred to the places where they live (mid 16th cent.).

an·ti·pope n. a person established as pope in opposition to one held by others to be canonically chosen.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English antipape, via French from medieval Latin antipapa (on the pattern of Antichrist). The spelling change in the 17th cent. was due to association with POPE^1 .

Linked entries:

POPE ■

an·ti·pro·ton n. [PHYSICS] the negatively charged antiparticle of a proton.

an·ti·pru·rit·ic adj. [attrib.] (chiefly of a drug) used to relieve itching.

■ n. an antipruritic drug.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from ANTI- + pruritic (see PRURITUS).

Linked entries:

ANTI- ■

PRURITUS ■

an·ti·psy·chot·ic adj. [attrib.] (chiefly of a drug) used to treat psychotic disorders.

■ n. an antipsychotic drug.

an·ti·py·ret·ic adj. (chiefly of a drug) used to prevent or reduce fever.

■ n. an antipyretic drug.

an·ti·quar·i·an adj. relating to or dealing in antiques or rare books.
<SPECIAL USAGE> valuable because rare or old: out-of-print and antiquarian books.

■ n. a person who studies or collects antiques or antiquities.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·quar·i·an·ism n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin antiquarius (see ANTIQUARY).

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ANTIQUARY ■

an·ti·quark n. [PHYSICS] the antiparticle of a quark.

an·ti·quar·y n. (pl. -quar·ies) another term for ANTIQUARIAN.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin antiquarius, from antiquus (see ANTIQUE).

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ANTIQUARIAN ■

ANTIQUE ■

an·ti·quat·ed adj. old-fashioned or outdated: this antiquated central heating system. See note at OLD.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'old, of long standing'): from ecclesiastical Latin antiquare 'make old', from antiquus (see ANTIQUE).

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ANTIQUE ■

an·tique n. a collectible object such as a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its considerable age: Pauline loves collecting antiques | [as adj.] an antique dealer.

■ adj. 1 (of a collectible object) having a high value because of considerable age: an antique clock.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a method of finishing a wooden surface) intended to resemble the appearance of antique furniture: bookshelves with an antique finish.

2 belonging to ancient times: statues of antique gods.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- old-fashioned or outdated: trade unions defending antique work practices.

- OFTEN HUMOROUS showing signs of great age or wear: an antique divorcee in reduced circumstances.

■ v. 1 (-tiques, -tiqued, -ti·quing) [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (antiqued) make (something) resemble an antique by artificial means: an antiqued door.

2 (go antiquing) shop in stores where antiques are sold: we would often go antiquing in search of furnishings.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin antiquus, anticus 'former, ancient', from ante 'before'.

an·tiq·ui·ty n. (pl. -ties) 1 the ancient past, esp. the period before the Middle Ages: the great civilizations of antiquity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with adj.] a specified historical period during the ancient past: cameos dating from classical antiquity.

- (usu. antiquities) an object, building, or work of art from the ancient past: a collection of Islamic antiquities.

2 great age: a church of great antiquity.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French antiquite, from Latin antiquitas, from antiquus 'old, former' (see ANTIQUE).

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ANTIQUE ■

an·ti·rac·ism n. the policy or practice of opposing racism and promoting racial tolerance.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·rac·ist n. & adj.

an·ti·re·tro·vi·ral adj. working against or targeted against retroviruses, especially HIV: antiretroviral therapy.

■ n. an antiretroviral drug.

an·ti·roll bar n. a rubber-mounted bar fitted in the suspension of a vehicle to increase its stability, esp. when cornering.

an·tir·rhi·num n. (pl. -nums) a plant of the figwort family, with showy two-lipped flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Antirrhinum, family Scrophulariaceae: several species, in particular the snapdragon.

<ORIGIN> from Latin, from Greek antirrhinon, from anti- 'counterfeiting' + rhis, rhin- 'nose', from the resemblance of the flower to an animal's snout.

an·ti·scor·bu·tic [MEDICINE] adj. (chiefly of a drug) having the effect of preventing or curing scurvy.

■ n. an antiscorbutic food or drug.

an·ti-Sem·i·tism n. hostility to or prejudice against Jews.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti-Sem·ite n. an·ti-Se·mit·ic adj.

an·ti·sense adj. [GENETICS] having a sequence of nucleotides complementary to (and hence capable of binding to) a coding sequence, which may be either that of the strand of a DNA double helix that undergoes transcription, or that of a messenger RNA molecule.

an·ti·sep·sis n. the practice of using antiseptics to eliminate the microorganisms that cause disease. Compare with ASEPSIS.

Linked entries:

ASEPSIS ■

an·ti·sep·tic adj. of, relating to, or denoting substances that prevent the growth of disease-causing microorganisms.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of medical techniques) based on the use of such substances.
See note at SANITARY.
- FIGURATIVE scrupulously clean or pure, esp. so as to be bland or characterless: the antiseptic modernity of a conference center.

■ n. an antiseptic compound or preparation.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·sep·ti·cal·ly adv.

an·ti·se·rum n. (pl. -se·ra ) a blood serum containing antibodies against specific antigens, injected to treat or protect against specific diseases.

an·ti·so·cial adj. 1 contrary to the laws and customs of society; devoid of or antagonistic to sociable instincts or practices: a dangerous, unprincipled, antisocial type of man.

2 not sociable; not wanting the company of others.

<USAGE>
See usage at UNSOCIABLE.

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UNSOCIABLE ■

an·ti·spas·mod·ic adj. (chiefly of a drug) used to relieve spasm of involuntary muscle.

■ n. an antispasmodic drug.

an·ti-stat·ic adj. [attrib] preventing the buildup of static electricity or reducing its effects.

an·tis·tro·phe n. the second section of an ancient Greek choral ode or of one division of it. Compare with STROPHE and EPODE (sense 2).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as a term in rhetoric denoting the repetition of words in reverse order): via late Latin from Greek , from antistrephein 'turn against', from anti 'against' + strephein 'to turn'.

Linked entries:

STROPHE ■

EPODE ■

an·ti·sym·met·ric adj. [MATHEMATICS] & [PHYSICS] unaltered in magnitude but changed in sign by exchange of two variables or by a particular symmetry operation.

an·ti·tank adj. [attrib.] for use against enemy tanks: new antitank missiles.

an·ti·ter·ror·ism n. the prevention or abatement of terrorism: a meeting of experts on antiterrorism; | [as modifier] antiterrorism measures.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·ter·ror·ist n. & adj.

an·ti·tet·a·nus adj. [MEDICINE] preventing or effective against tetanus: an antitetanus injection.

an·tith·e·sis n. (pl. -ses ) a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else: love is the antithesis of selfishness.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a contrast or opposition between two things: the antithesis between occult and rational mentalities.

- a figure of speech in which an opposition or contrast of ideas is expressed by parallelism of words that are the opposites of, or strongly contrasted with, each other, such as “hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins”: his sermons were full of startling antitheses.

- (in Hegelian philosophy) the negation of the thesis as the second stage in the process of dialectical reasoning. Compare with SYNTHESIS.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally denoting the substitution of one grammatical case for another): from late Latin, from Greek antitithenai 'set against', from anti 'against' + tithenai 'to place'. The earliest current sense, denoting a rhetorical or literary device, dates from the early 16th cent.

Linked entries:

SYNTHESIS ■

an·ti·thet·i·cal adj. 1 directly opposed or contrasted; mutually incompatible: people whose religious beliefs are antithetical to mine; two antithetical emotions pulled at her. See note at OPPOSITE.

2 [attrib.] connected with, containing, or using the rhetorical device of antithesis.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·thet·ic adj. an·ti·thet·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (sense 2): from Greek antithetikos, from antithetos 'placed in opposition', from antitithenai 'set against'.

an·ti·tox·in n. [PHYSIOLOGY] an antibody that counteracts a toxin.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·tox·ic adj.

an·ti·trades (also an·ti·trade winds) plural n. steady winds that blow in the opposite direction to and overlie the trade winds.

an·ti·trust adj. [attrib.] of or relating to legislation preventing or controlling trusts or other monopolies, with the intention of promoting competition in business.

an·ti·type n. 1 a person or thing that represents the opposite of someone or something else.

2 something that is represented by a symbol: the ship in danger is easily understood to be its old antitype, the Commonwealth.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·typ·i·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from late Latin antitypus, from Greek antitupos 'corresponding as an impression to the die', from anti 'against, opposite' + tupos 'type, a stamp'.

an·ti·ven·in n. an antiserum containing antibodies against specific poisons, esp. those in the venom of snakes, spiders, and scorpions. Also called ANTIVENOM.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from ANTI- + ven(om) + -IN^1 .

Linked entries:

ANTI- ■

-IN ■

an·ti·ven·om another term for ANTIVENIN.

an·ti·vi·ral adj. [MEDICINE] (chiefly of a drug or treatment) effective against viruses.

an·ti·vi·rus adj. [attrib.] [COMPUTING] (of software) designed to detect and destroy computer viruses.

an·ti·viv·i·sec·tion adj. [attrib.] opposed to operations on live animals for scientific research.

<DERIVATIVES> an·ti·viv·i·sec·tion·ism n. an·ti·viv·i·sec·tion·ist n. & adj.

ant·ler n. one of the branched horns on the head of an adult (usually male) deer, which are made of bone and are grown and cast off annually.
<SPECIAL USAGE> one of the branches on such a horn.

<DERIVATIVES> ant·lered adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally denoting the lowest (forward-directed) branch of the antler): from Anglo-Norman French, variant of Old French antoillier, of unknown origin. The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.

Ant·li·a [ASTRONOMY] a small and faint southern constellation (the Air Pump), between Hydra and Vela.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Ant·li·ae ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars in the constellation: the star Alpha Antliae.

<ORIGIN> Latin, from Greek.

ant li·on n. an insect that resembles a dragonfly, with predatory larvae that construct conical pits into which insect prey, esp. ants, fall.
<INFO>  Family Myrmeleontidae, order Neuroptera.

An·to·fa·gas·ta a port in northern Chile, capital of Antofagasta region; pop. 218,750.

An·to·nine adj. [attrib] of or relating to the Roman emperors Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius or their rules (AD 137-80).

■ plural n. (the Antonines) the Antonine emperors.

An·to·ni·nus Pi·us (86-161), Roman emperor 138-161. The adopted son and successor of Hadrian, his reign was generally peaceful.

An·to·nio·ni Michelangelo (1912- ), Italian movie director. Notable movies: L'avventura (1960), Blow-Up (1966), Zabriskie Point (1970), and Beyond the Clouds (1995).

an·to·no·ma·sia n. [RHETORIC] the substitution of an epithet or title for a proper name (e.g., the Bard for Shakespeare).
<SPECIAL USAGE> the use of a proper name to express a general idea (e.g., a Scrooge for a miser).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek, from antonomazein 'name instead', from anti- 'against, instead' + onoma 'a name'.

An·to·ny Mark (c.83-30 BC), Roman general and triumvir; Latin name Marcus Antonius. Following Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC, he took charge of the Eastern Empire, where he established his association with Cleopatra. Quarrels with Octavian led finally to his defeat at the battle of Actium and to his suicide.

An·to·ny, St. see ANTHONY, ST.

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ANTHONY, ST. ■

an·to·nym n. [LINGUISTICS] a word opposite in meaning to another (e.g., bad and good).

<DERIVATIVES> an·ton·y·mous adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French antonyme, from ant- (from Greek anti- 'against') + Greek onuma 'a name'.

An·to·ny of Pad·u·a, St. see ANTHONY OF PADUA, ST.

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ANTHONY OF PADUA, ST. ■

an·trec·to·my n. surgical removal of an antrum, esp. the antrum of the stomach.

An·trim one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, formerly an administrative area.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a town in this county, on the northeastern shore of Lough Neagh; pop. 21,000.

An·tron n. TRADEMARK a type of strong, light nylon fiber used chiefly in making carpets and upholstery.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: invented name.

an·trum n. (pl. -tra ) [ANATOMY] a natural chamber or cavity in a bone or other anatomical structure.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the part of the stomach just inside the pylorus.

<DERIVATIVES> an·tral adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin, from Greek antron 'cave'.

ant·sy adj. agitated, impatient, or restless: he was too antsy to stay in one place for long.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: probably from the phrase have ants in one's pants (see ANT).

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ANT ■

ant-thrush n. any of a number of thrush-sized ant-eating birds:
<INFO>
- a large antbird (three genera in the family Formicariidae).

- an African thrush (genus Neocossyphus, subfamily Turdinae, family Muscicapidae: four species).

- another term for PITTA^2 .

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PITTA ■

An·tung former name for DANDONG.

Linked entries:

DANDONG ■

Ant·werp a port in northern Belgium, on the Scheldt River; pop. 467,520. By the 16th century, it was a leading European commercial and financial center. French name ANVERS, Flemish name ANTWERPEN.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a province of Belgium of which Antwerp is the capital.

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ANVERS ■

A·nu·bis [EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY] the god of mummification, protector of tombs, typically represented as having the head of a jackal.

An·u·ra [ZOOLOGY] an order of tailless amphibians that comprises the frogs and toads. Also called SALIENTIA or BATRACHIA.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as plural n.] (anura) amphibians of this order; frogs and toads.

<DERIVATIVES> an·u·ran n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from AN-1 + Greek oura 'tail'.

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SALIENTIA ■

BATRACHIA ■

AN- ■

A·nu·ra·dha·pu·ra a city in north central Sri Lanka; pop. 36,000. The ancient capital of Sri Lanka, it is a center of Buddhist pilgrimage.

an·u·ri·a n. [MEDICINE] failure of the kidneys to produce urine.

<DERIVATIVES> an·u·ric adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from AN-1 + -URIA.

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AN- ■

-URIA ■

a·nus n. [ANATOMY] & [ZOOLOGY] the opening at the end of the alimentary canal through which solid waste matter leaves the body.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, originally 'a ring'.

An·vers French name of ANTWERP.

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ANTWERP ■

an·vil n. a heavy steel or iron block with a flat top, concave sides, and typically a pointed end, on which metal can be hammered and shaped.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the horizontally extended upper part of a cumulonimbus cloud: [as adj.] anvil clouds.

- [ANATOMY] another term for INCUS.

<ORIGIN> Old English anfilte, from the Germanic base of ON + a verbal stem meaning 'beat'.

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INCUS ■

ON ■

ANWR n. the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a wilderness area in Alaska.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a Congressional bill that would open up this area to oil exploration and drilling:
[as modifier] to date, ANWR language has not gained enough bipartisan backing.

anx·i·e·ty n. (pl. -ties) a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome: he felt a surge of anxiety | anxieties about the moral decline of today's youth.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with infinitive] desire to do something, typically accompanied by unease: the housekeeper's eager anxiety to please.

- [PSYCHIATRY] a nervous disorder characterized by a state of excessive uneasiness and apprehension, typically with compulsive behavior or panic attacks.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from French anxiété or Latin anxietas, from anxius (see ANXIOUS).

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ANXIOUS ■

anx·i·o·lyt·ic [MEDICINE] adj. (chiefly of a drug) used to reduce anxiety.

■ n. an anxiolytic drug.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from ANXIETY + -LYTIC.

Linked entries:

ANXIETY ■

-LYTIC ■

anx·ious adj. 1 experiencing worry, unease, or nervousness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome: she was extremely anxious about her exams.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [attrib.] (of a period of time or situation) causing or characterized by worry or nervousness: there were some anxious moments.

2 [usu with infinitive] wanting something very much, typically with a feeling of unease: the company was anxious to avoid any trouble | [with clause] my parents were anxious that I get an education.

<DERIVATIVES> anx·ious·ly adv. anx·ious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin anxius (from angere 'to choke') + -OUS.

<USAGE>
Anxious and eager both mean 'looking forward to something,' but they have different connotations. Eager suggests enthusiasm about something, a positive outlook: I'm eager to get started on my vacation. Anxious implies worry about something: I'm anxious to get started before it rains.

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-OUS ■

an·y adj. & pron. 1 [usu. with negative or in questions] used to refer to one or some of a thing or number of things, no matter how much or many: [as adj.] I don't have any choice; do you have any tips to pass on? | [as pron.] someone asked him for a match, but Joe didn't have any; you don't know any of my friends; if there is any left, throw it away.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as pron.] anyone: it ceased payments to any but the elderly or disabled.

2 whichever of a specified class might be chosen: [as adj.] these constellations are visible at any hour of the night; any fool knows that | [as pron.] the illness may be due to any of several causes.

■ adv. [usu. with negative or in questions] [as submodifier] (used for emphasis) at all; in some degree: he wasn't any good at basketball; no one would be any the wiser.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL used alone, not qualifying another word: I didn't hurt you any.

<PHRASES>
□ any amount of see AMOUNT.

□ any old see OLD.

□ any time (also anytime)
1 at whatever time: she can come any time.

2 without exception or doubt: I can handle a shrimp like him anytime.

□ any time (or day or minute, etc.) now INFORMAL very soon: we'll get them back any day now.

□ be not having any (of it) INFORMAL be unwilling to cooperate: I tried to make polite conversation, but he wasn't having any.

□ hardly any see HARDLY.

□ not just any — a particular or special thing of its type rather than an ordinary one of that type: he had an acting job at last, and not just any part, but the lead in a new film.

<ORIGIN>  Old English (see ONE, -Y^1 ), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch eenig and German einig.

<USAGE>
When used as a pronoun, any can be used with either a singular or a plural verb, depending on the context: we needed more sugar but there wasn't any left (singular verb) or are any of the new videos available? (plural verb).

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AMOUNT ■

OLD ■

HARDLY ■

ONE ■

-Y ■

an·y·bod·y pron. 1 anyone: there wasn't anybody around.

2 a person of any importance: everybody who was anybody in state government turned out to be involved.

<PHRASES> anybody's guess see GUESS.

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GUESS ■

an·y·how adv. 1 another term for ANYWAY.

2 in a careless or haphazard way: two suitcases flung anyhow.

Linked entries:

ANYWAY ■

an·y·more (also any more) adv. [usu. with negative or in questions] to any further extent; any longer: she refused to listen anymore; you don't get men like him anymore.

an·y·one pron. 1 [usu. with negative or in questions] any person or people: there wasn't anyone there; does anyone remember him?; I was afraid to tell anyone.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [without negative] used for emphasis: anyone could do it.

2 a person of importance or authority: they are read by anyone who's anyone.

<PHRASES>
□ be anyone's INFORMAL (of a person) be open to sexual advances from anyone: three drinks and he's anyone's.

□ anyone's game an evenly balanced contest: it was still anyone's game at halftime.

□ anyone's guess see GUESS.

<USAGE>
Any one is not the same as anyone, and the two forms should not be used interchangeably. Any one, meaning 'any single (person or thing),' is written as two words to emphasize singularity: any one of us could do the job; not more than ten new members are chosen in any one year. Otherwise it is written as one word: anyone who wants to come is welcome.

(Note that this distinction is structurally similar to, although not identical with, the difference between every day and everyday. See usage at EVERYDAY.)

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GUESS ■

EVERYDAY ■

an·y·place adv. informal term for ANYWHERE: Miami is hotter than anyplace else.

Linked entries:

ANYWHERE ■

an·y·thing pron. [usu. with negative or in questions] used to refer to a thing, no matter what: nobody was saying anything; | have you found anything?; | he inquired whether there was anything he could do.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [without negative] used for emphasis: I was ready for anything.

- used to indicate a range: he trains anything from seven to eight hours a day.

<PHRASES>
□ anything but not at all (used for emphasis): he is anything but racist.

□ anything like — [with negative] at all like (used for emphasis): it doesn't taste anything like wine.

□ (as) — as anything INFORMAL extremely: she said it out loud, clear as anything.

□ if anything see IF.

□ like anything see LIKE^1 .

□ or anything [usu. with negative or in questions] INFORMAL added as a general reference to other things similar to the thing mentioned: no strings attached, you don't have to join up or anything.

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IF ■

LIKE ■

an·y·time adv. variant of ANY TIME at ANY.

Linked entries:

ANY ■

An·y·town n. (also Anytown U.S.A.) any real or fictional place regarded as being typical of American small-town appearance or values: the party was looking for that elusive candidate from Anytown.

an·y·way adv. 1 used to confirm or support a point or idea just mentioned: I told you, it's all right, and anyway, it was my fault; it's too late now anyway.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used in questions to emphasize the speaker's wish to obtain the truth: “What are you doing here, anyway?”

2 used in conversations:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- to change the subject or to resume a subject after interruption: How she lives with him is beyond me. Anyway, I really like her.

- to indicate that the speaker wants to end the conversation: “Anyway, Dot, I must go.”

- to indicate that the speaker is passing over less significant aspects of an account in order to focus on the most important points: “Poor John always enjoyed a drink. Anyway, he died last year.”

3 used to indicate that something happened or will happen in spite of something else: nobody invited Miss Honey to sit down so she sat down anyway.

an·y·ways adv. informal or dialect form of ANYWAY: you wouldn't understand all them long words anyways.

Linked entries:

ANYWAY ■

an·y·where adv. [usu. with negative or in questions] in or to any place: he couldn't be found anywhere.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [without negative] used for emphasis: I could go anywhere in the world.

- used to indicate a range: this iron garden seat dates anywhere from 1890 to 1920; she could have been anywhere between twenty-five and forty.

■ pron. any place: he doesn't have anywhere to live.

<PHRASES> anywhere near [with negative or in questions] (used for emphasis) at all near: I wouldn't dream of letting a surgeon anywhere near my eyes.
- remotely close to in extent, level, or scope: imitations rarely look anywhere near as good as the real thing.

an·y·wheres adv. & pron. informal or dialect form of ANYWHERE: [as adv.] I'll see if I can find your clothes anywheres.

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ANYWHERE ■

an·y·wise adv. ARCHAIC in any manner or way.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'in any wise'.

An·zac n. a soldier in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (1914-18).
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED a person, esp. a member of the armed services, from Australia or New Zealand.

<ORIGIN> acronym.

An·zio a seaport in western Italy, south of Rome; pop. 36,000. It was a popular resort for citizens of ancient Rome. Allied troops landed here in January 1944, amid fierce fighting, to begin their drive to capture Rome.

AOC abbr. appellation d'origine contrôlée (see APPELLATION CONTRÔLÉE).

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APPELLATION CONTRÔLÉE ■

ao dai n. (pl. ao dais) a Vietnamese woman's long-sleeved tunic with ankle-length panels at front and back, worn over trousers.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: Vietnamese.

A-OK (also A-o·kay) INFORMAL adj. in good order or condition; all right: everything will be A-OK.

■ adv. in a good manner or way; all right: we hit it off A-OK.

<ORIGIN> 1960s (originally an astronauts' term): from all systems OK.

AOR n. [usu. as adj.] a type of popular music in which a hard rock background is combined with softer or more melodic elements.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from album-oriented rock or adult-oriented rock.

Ao·ra·ki/Mount Cook n. official name (since 1999) for Mount Cook, the highest peak in New Zealand: 12,349 feet (3,764 m).

A·o·ran·gi Maori name for COOK, MOUNT.

Linked entries:

COOK, MOUNT ■

a·o·rist [GRAMMAR] n. (esp. in Greek) an unqualified past tense of a verb without reference to duration or completion of the action.

■ adj. relating to or denoting this tense.

<DERIVATIVES> a·o·ris·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Greek aoristos 'indefinite', from a- 'not' + horizein 'define, limit'.

a·or·ta n. the main artery of the body, supplying oxygenated blood to the circulatory system. In humans it passes over the heart from the left ventricle and runs down in front of the backbone.

<DERIVATIVES> a·or·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Greek (used in the plural by Hippocrates for the branches of the windpipe, and by Aristotle for the great artery), from aeirein 'raise'.

Ao·te·a·ro·a the Maori name for NEW ZEALAND.

<ORIGIN> Maori, literally "land of the long white cloud.”

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NEW ZEALAND ■

a·ou·dad n. another term for BARBARY SHEEP.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, from Berber .

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BARBARY SHEEP ■

à ou·trance adv. POETIC/LITERARY to the death or the very end: a duel à outrance.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: French, literally 'to the utmost'.

Aou·zou Strip a narrow corridor of disputed desert land in northern Chad. It forms the border between Chad and Libya. In 1994, Libya agreed to withdraw its troops from the area.

AP abbr.
- advanced placement.

- American plan.

- Associated Press.

ap- 1 prefix variant spelling of AD- assimilated before p (as in apposite, apprehend).

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AD- ■

ap- 2 prefix variant spelling of APO- before h (as in aphelion).

Linked entries:

APO- ■

a·pace adv. POETIC/LITERARY swiftly; quickly: work continues apace.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French a pas 'at (a considerable) pace'.

A·pach·e n. 1 (pl. same or A·pach·es) a member of a North American Indian people living chiefly in New Mexico and Arizona. The Apache put up fierce resistance to the European settlers and were, under the leadership of Geronimo, the last American Indian people to be conquered.

2 the Athabaskan language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to the Apache or their language.

<ORIGIN> from Mexican Spanish, probably from Zuni Apachu, literally 'enemy'.

a·pache n. (pl. a·paches pronunc. same) a violent street ruffian, originally in Paris.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, from APACHE, by association with the reputed ferocity of the American Indian people.

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APACHE ■

Apa·la·chi·co·la Riv·er see CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER.

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CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER ■

a·part adv. 1 (of two or more people or things) separated by a distance; at a specified distance from each other in time or space: his parents are now living apart; two stone gateposts some thirty feet apart; countries as far apart as New Zealand and the U.S. | FIGURATIVE the two sides remained far apart on the issue.

2 to or on one side; at a distance from the main body: Isabel stepped away from Joanna and stood apart; | FIGURATIVE their religious commitment sets them apart.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used after a noun to indicate that someone or something has distinctive qualities that mark them out from other people or things: wrestlers were a breed apart.

- used after a noun to indicate that someone or something has been dealt with sufficiently or is being excluded from what follows: Alaska apart, much of America's energy business concentrates on producing gas.

3 so as to be shattered; into pieces: he leapt out of the car just before it was blown apart.

<PHRASES>
□ apart from
1 except for: the whole world seemed to be sleeping, apart from Barbara.

2 in addition to; as well as: quite apart from all the work, he had such financial problems.

□ tell apart distinguish or separate one from another: the twins were so identical that it was impossible to tell them apart.

<DERIVATIVES> a·part·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin a parte 'at the side'.

a·part·heid n. HISTORICAL (in South Africa) a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.
<SPECIAL USAGE> segregation in other contexts: sexual apartheid.

Adopted by the successful Afrikaner National Party as a slogan in the 1948 election, apartheid extended and institutionalized existing racial segregation. Despite rioting and terrorism at home and isolation abroad from the 1960s onward, the white regime maintained the apartheid system with only minor relaxation until February 1991.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: Afrikaans, literally 'separateness', from Dutch apart 'separate' + -heid (equivalent of -HOOD).

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-HOOD ■

a·part·ment (abbr.: apt.) n. a suite of rooms forming one residence, typically in a building containing a number of these.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a large building containing such suites; an apartment building.

- (apartments) a suite of rooms in a very large or grand house set aside for the private use of a monarch or noble: the Imperial apartments.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (denoting a suite of rooms for the use of a particular person or group): from French appartement, from Italian appartamento, from appartare 'to separate', from a parte 'apart'.

a·part·ment build·ing (also apartment block or apartment house) n. a large building divided into separate apartments.

ap·a·thet·ic adj. showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern: apathetic slackers who don't vote.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·a·thet·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from APATHY, on the pattern of pathetic.

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APATHY ■

ap·a·thy n. lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern: widespread apathy among students.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French apathie, via Latin from Greek apatheia, from 'without feeling', from a- 'without' + pathos 'suffering'.

ap·a·tite n. a widely occurring pale green to purple mineral, consisting of calcium phosphate with some fluorine, chlorine, and other elements. It is used in the manufacture of fertilizers.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek 'deceit' (from the mineral's diverse forms and colors).

a·pa·to·saur (also ap·a·to·sau·rus ) n. a huge herbivorous dinosaur of the late Jurassic period, with a long neck and tail. Also called BRONTOSAURUS.
<INFO>  Genus Apatosaurus (popularly Brontosaurus), infraorder Sauropoda, order Saurischia.

<DERIVATIVES> a·pa·to·sau·ri·an adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek 'deceit' + sauros 'lizard'.

APB abbr. all-points bulletin.

APC abbr.
- armored personnel carrier.

- aspirin, phenacetin, and caffeine, a compound used in some analgesics.

ape n. a large primate that lacks a tail, including the gorilla, chimpanzees, orangutan, and gibbons. See also GREAT APE, GIBBON.
<INFO>  Families Pongidae and Hylobatidae.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used in names of macaque monkeys with short tails, e.g., Barbary ape.

- (in general use) any monkey.

- an unintelligent or clumsy person.

- ARCHAIC an inferior imitator or mimic: cunning is but the ape of wisdom.

■ v. [trans.] imitate the behavior or manner of (someone or something), esp. in an absurd or unthinking way: new architecture can respect the old without aping its style. See note at IMITATE.

<PHRASES> go ape INFORMAL express wild excitement or anger: your kids will go ape over these Popsicles! a washerwoman gone ape with a butcher knife.

<ORIGIN> Old English apa, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aap and German Affe.

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GREAT APE ■

GIBBON ■

APEC abbr. Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, a regional economic forum established in 1989, including the U.S., Japan, China, Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Thailand.

A·pel·doorn a town in the east central Netherlands; pop. 148,200. It is the site of the summer residence of the Dutch royal family.

ape·man n. (pl. -men) an extinct apelike primate believed to be related or ancestral to present-day humans.

Ap·en·nines a mountain range in Italy that extends for 880 miles (1,400 km) from the northwest to the southern tip of the country.

a·per·çu n. (pl. -çus pronunc. same) a comment or brief reference that makes an illuminating or entertaining point.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, past participle of apercevoir 'perceive'.

a·per·i·ent [MEDICINE] adj. (chiefly of a drug) used to relieve constipation.

■ n. an aperient drug.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin aperient- 'opening', from aperire.

a·pe·ri·od·ic adj. TECHNICAL not periodic; irregular: aperiodic fluctuations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHYSICS] denoting a potentially oscillating or vibrating system (such as an instrument with a pointer) that is damped to prevent oscillation or vibration.

<DERIVATIVES> a·pe·ri·o·dic·i·ty n.

a·pe·ri·tif n. an alcoholic drink taken before a meal to stimulate the appetite.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French apéritif, from medieval Latin aperitivus, based on Latin aperire 'to open'.

ap·er·ture n. CHIEFLY TECHNICAL an opening, hole, or gap: the bell ropes passed through apertures in the ceiling.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a space through which light passes in an optical or photographic instrument, esp. the variable opening by which light enters a camera.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin apertura, from apert- 'opened', from aperire 'to open'.

ap·er·ture pri·or·i·ty n. [PHOTOGRAPHY] an exposure system used in some automatic cameras in which the aperture is selected by the user and the appropriate shutter speed is controlled automatically. Compare with SHUTTER PRIORITY.

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SHUTTER PRIORITY ■

ap·er·y n. ARCHAIC the act of imitating the behavior or manner of someone, esp. in an absurd or unthinking way.

ape·shit n.

<PHRASES> go apeshit VULGAR SLANG another way of saying GO APE (see APE).

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APE ■

a·pet·al·ous adj. [BOTANY] (of a flower) having no petals.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from modern Latin apetalus, from Greek apetalos 'leafless' (from a- 'without' + petalon 'leaf') + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

A·pex n. [usu. as adj.] a system of reduced fares for scheduled airline flights and railroad journeys that must be booked and paid for before a certain period in advance of departure: Apex fares.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from Advance Purchase Excursion.

a·pex n. (pl. a·pex·es or a·pi·ces ) the top or highest part of something, esp. one forming a point: the living-room extends right up into the apex of the roof | FIGURATIVE the apex of his career was when he hoisted aloft the World Cup.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GEOMETRY] the highest point in a plane or solid figure, relative to a base line or plane.

- [BOTANY] the growing point of a shoot.

- the highest level of a hierarchy, organization, or other power structure regarded as a triangle or pyramid: the central bank is at the apex of the financial system.

■ v. [intrans.] reach a high point or climax: melodic lines build up to the chorus and it apexes at the solo.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin, 'peak, tip'.

Ap·gar score n. [MEDICINE] a measure of the physical condition of a newborn infant. It is obtained by adding points (2, 1, or 0) for heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, response to stimulation, and skin coloration; a score of ten represents the best possible condition.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: named after Virginia Apgar (1909-74), American anesthesiologist who devised this method of assessment in 1953.

a·phaer·e·sis n. [LINGUISTICS] the loss of a sound or sounds at the beginning of a word, e.g., in the derivation of adder from nadder.

■ (usu. a·pher·e·sis) [MEDICINE] the removal of blood plasma from the body by the withdrawal of blood, its separation into plasma and cells, and the reintroduction of the cells, used esp. to remove antibodies in treating autoimmune diseases.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek aphairesis, from aphairein 'take away', from apo 'from' + hairein 'take'.

a·pha·sia n. [MEDICINE] loss of ability to understand or express speech, caused by brain damage. Compare with APHONIA.

<DERIVATIVES> a·pha·sic adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek, from aphatos 'speechless', from a- 'not' + phanai 'speak'.

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APHONIA ■

a·phe·li·on n. (pl. a·phe·li·a or a·phe·li·ons) [ASTRONOMY] the point in the orbit of a planet, asteroid, or comet at which it is furthest from the sun: Mars is at aphelion. The opposite of PERIHELION.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: alteration of modern Latin aphelium (by substitution of the Greek inflection -on), from Greek 'from the sun'.

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PERIHELION ■

aph·e·sis n. [LINGUISTICS] the loss of an unstressed vowel at the beginning of a word (e.g., of a from around to form round).

<DERIVATIVES> a·phet·ic adj. a·phet·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek, literally 'letting go', from apo 'from' + hienai 'let go, send'.

a·phi·cide n. an insecticide used against aphids.

a·phid n. a minute bug that feeds by sucking sap from plants. It reproduces rapidly, often producing live young without mating, and may live in large colonies that cause extensive damage to crops.
<INFO>  Superfamily Aphidoidea, suborder Homoptera.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: back-formation from aphides, plural of APHIS.

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APHIS ■

a·phis n. (pl. a·phi·des ) an aphid, esp. one of the genus Aphis.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek, perhaps a misreading of koris 'bug' (misinterpreting the Greek characters 'kor' as 'aph').

a·pho·ni·a (also aph·o·ny ) n. [MEDICINE] loss of ability to speak through disease of or damage to the larynx or mouth. Compare with APHASIA.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek , from 'voiceless', from a- 'without' + 'voice'.

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APHASIA ■

aph·o·rism n. a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain't broke, don't fix it.” See note at SAYING.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a concise statement of a scientific principle, typically by an ancient classical author.

<DERIVATIVES> aph·o·rist n. aph·o·ris·tic adj. aph·o·ris·ti·cal·ly adv. aph·o·rize v.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from French aphorisme or late Latin aphorismus, from Greek aphorismos 'definition', from aphorizein 'define'.

aph·ro·dis·i·ac n. a food, drink, or drug that stimulates sexual desire: the Romans worshiped the apple as an aphrodisiac | [as adj.] aphrodisiac powers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thing that causes excitement: for a few seconds she'd fallen for the powerful aphrodisiac of music; power is an aphrodisiac.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Greek aphrodisiakos, from aphrodisios, from (see APHRODITE.

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APHRODITE ■

Aph·ro·di·te [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the goddess of beauty, fertility, and sexual love. She is variously described as the daughter of Zeus and Dione, or as being born from the sea. Roman equivalent VENUS.

<ORIGIN> Greek, literally 'foam-born', from aphros 'foam'.

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VENUS ■

aph·tha n. (pl. -thae ) [MEDICINE] a small ulcer occurring in groups in the mouth or on the tongue.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a condition in which such ulcers occur.

<DERIVATIVES> aph·thous adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek, connected with haptein 'set on fire'.

API abbr.
- American Petroleum Institute.

- [COMPUTING] application programming interface.

A·pi·a the capital of Samoa; pop. 32,200.

a·pi·an adj. [attrib.] of or relating to bees.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin apianus, from apis 'bee'.

a·pi·ar·y n. (pl. -ar·ies) a place where bees are kept; a collection of beehives.

<DERIVATIVES> a·pi·ar·i·an adj. a·pi·a·rist n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin apiarium, from apis 'bee'.

a·pi·cal adj. TECHNICAL of, relating to, or denoting an apex.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHONETICS] (of a consonant) formed with the tip of the tongue.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin apex, apic- (see APEX) + -AL.

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APEX ■

-AL ■

a·pi·ces plural form of APEX.

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APEX ■

A·pi·com·plex·a another term for SPOROZOA.

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SPOROZOA ■

a·pi·cul·ture n. technical term for BEEKEEPING.

<DERIVATIVES> a·pi·cul·tur·al adj. a·pi·cul·tur·ist n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin apis 'bee' + CULTURE, on the pattern of words such as agriculture.

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BEEKEEPING ■

CULTURE ■

a·piece adv. (used after a noun or an amount) to, for, or by each one of a group: we sold 385 prints at $10 apiece.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from A + PIECE.

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A ■

PIECE ■

A·pis [EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY] a god depicted as a bull, symbolizing fertility and strength in war.

ap·ish adj. of or resembling an ape in appearance: Australopithecus had an apish cranium and a humanlike jaw.
<SPECIAL USAGE> resembling or likened to an ape in being foolish or silly.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·ish·ly adv. ap·ish·ness n.

a·pi·ther·a·py n. the use of products derived from bees as medicine, including venom, honey, pollen, and royal jelly.

ap·la·nat n. [PHYSICS] a reflecting or refracting surface that is free from spherical aberration.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·la·nat·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek 'free from error', from a- 'not' + planan 'wander'.

a·pla·sia n. [MEDICINE] the failure of an organ or tissue to develop or to function normally.

<DERIVATIVES> a·plas·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from A-1 'without' + Greek plasis 'formation'.

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A- ■

a·plas·tic a·ne·mi·a n. [MEDICINE] deficiency of all types of blood cells caused by failure of bone marrow development.

a·plen·ty adj. [postpositive] in abundance: there are going to be disasters aplenty in the garden.

a·plomb n. self-confidence or assurance, esp. when in a demanding situation: Diana passed the test with aplomb.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (in the sense 'perpendicularity, steadiness'): from French, from à plomb 'according to a plummet'.

ap·ne·a (BRIT. ap·noe·a) n. [MEDICINE] temporary cessation of breathing, esp. during sleep: thousands suffer from sleep apnea.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek apnoia, from apnous 'breathless'.

APO abbr.
- (U.S.) Air Force Post Office.

- (U.S.) Army Post Office.

apo- prefix 1 away from: apocrypha; | apostrophe.
<SPECIAL USAGE> separate: apocarpous.

2 [ASTRONOMY ] denoting the furthest point in the orbit of a body in relation to the primary: apolune. Compare with PERI-.

<ORIGIN> from Greek apo 'from, away, quite, un-'.

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PERI- ■

Apoc. abbr.
- Apocalypse.

- Apocrypha.

- Apocryphal.

a·poc·a·lypse n. (often the Apocalypse) the complete final destruction of the world, esp. as described in the biblical book of Revelation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an event involving destruction or damage on an awesome or catastrophic scale: a stock market apocalypse | an era of ecological apocalypse.

- (the Apocalypse) (esp. in the Vulgate Bible) the book of Revelation.

<ORIGIN> Old English, via Old French and ecclesiastical Latin from Greek apokalupsis, from apokaluptein 'uncover, reveal', from apo- 'un-' + kaluptein 'to cover'.

a·poc·a·lyp·tic adj. describing or prophesying the complete destruction of the world: the apocalyptic visions of ecologists.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- resembling the end of the world; momentous or catastrophic: the struggle between the two countries is assuming apocalyptic proportions.

- of or resembling the biblical Apocalypse: apocalyptic imagery.

<DERIVATIVES> a·poc·a·lyp·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as a noun denoting the writer of the Apocalypse, St. John): from Greek apokaluptikos, from apokaluptein 'uncover' (see APOCALYPSE).

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APOCALYPSE ■

ap·o·car·pous adj. [BOTANY] (of a flower, fruit, or ovary) having distinct carpels that are not joined together. The opposite of SYNCARPOUS.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from APO- + Greek karpos 'fruit' + -OUS.

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SYNCARPOUS ■

APO- ■

-OUS ■

ap·o·chro·mat n. [PHYSICS] a lens or lens system that reduces spherical and chromatic aberration.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·o·chro·mat·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from APO- + CHROMATIC.

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APO- ■

CHROMATIC ■

a·poc·o·pe n. [LINGUISTICS] the loss of a sound or sounds at the end of a word, e.g., in the derivation of curio from curiosity.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from late Latin, from Greek apokoptein 'cut off', from apo- 'from' + koptein 'to cut'.

Apocr. abbr. Apocrypha.

ap·o·crine adj. [PHYSIOLOGY] relating to or denoting multicellular glands that release some of their cytoplasm in their secretions, esp. the sweat glands associated with hair follicles in the armpits and pubic regions. Compare with ECCRINE.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from APO- + Greek krinein 'to separate'.

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ECCRINE ■

APO- ■

A·poc·ry·pha plural n. [treated as sing. or pl.] biblical or related writings not forming part of the accepted canon of Scripture.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (apocrypha) writings or reports not considered genuine.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin apocrypha (scripta) 'hidden (writings)', from Greek apokruphos, from apokruptein 'hide away'.

a·poc·ry·phal adj. (of a story or statement) of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true: an apocryphal story about a former president. See note at SPURIOUS.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also Apocryphal) of or belonging to the Apocrypha: the Apocryphal Gospel of Thomas.

ap·o·dal adj. [ZOOLOGY] without feet or having undeveloped feet.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of fish) without ventral fins.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek apous, apod- 'footless' (from a- 'without' + pous, pod- 'foot') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

ap·o·dic·tic (also ap·o·deic·tic ) adj. FORMAL clearly established or beyond dispute.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek apodeiktikos, from apodeiknunai 'show off, demonstrate'.

a·pod·o·sis n. (pl. -ses ) [GRAMMAR] the main (consequent) clause of a conditional sentence (e.g., I would agree in if you asked me I would agree). Often contrasted with PROTASIS.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek, from apodidonai 'give back'.

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PROTASIS ■

ap·o·dous adj. [ZOOLOGY] without feet or having only rudimentary feet.

ap·o·gee n. [ASTRONOMY] the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is furthest from the earth. The opposite of PERIGEE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE the highest point in the development of something; the climax or culmination of something: the White House is considered the apogee of American achievement.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French apogée or modern Latin apogaeum, from Greek '(distance) away from earth', from apo 'from' + gaia, 'earth'.

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PERIGEE ■

a·po·lar adj. [CHIEFLY BIOCHEMISTRY] having no electrical polarity.

a·po·lit·i·cal adj. not interested or involved in politics: a former apolitical housewife.

A·pol·li·naire Guillaume (1880-1918), French poet; pseudonym of Wilhelm Apollinaris de Kostrowitzki. He coined the term surrealist and was acknowledged by the surrealist poets as their precursor. Notable works: Les Alcools (1913) and Calligrammes (1918).

A·pol·li·nar·is
- (c.310-c.390), bishop of Laodicea in Asia Minor. He upheld the heretical doctrine that Jesus Christ had a human body and soul but no human spirit, this being replaced by the divine Logos.

<DERIVATIVES> A·pol·li·nar·i·an adj. & n..
-

A·pol·lo 1 [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a god, son of Zeus and Leto and brother of Artemis. He is associated with music, poetic inspiration, archery, prophecy, medicine, pastoral life, and in later poetry with the sun; the sanctuary at Delphi was dedicated to him.

2 the American space program for landing astronauts on the moon. Apollo 8 was the first mission to orbit the moon (1968), Apollo 11 was the first to land astronauts (July 20, 1969), and five further landings took place up to 1972.

Ap·ol·lo·ni·an adj. 1 [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] of or relating to the god Apollo.

2 of or relating to the rational, ordered, and self-disciplined aspects of human nature: the struggle between cold Apollonian categorization and Dionysiac lust and chaos. Compare with DIONYSIAN.

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DIONYSIAN ■

Ap·ol·lo·ni·us 1 (c.260-190 BC), Greek mathematician; known as Apollonius of Perga. He examined and redefined the various conic sections and was the first to use the terms ellipse, parabola, and hyperbola for these classes of curve.

Ap·ol·lo·ni·us 2 (3rd century BC), Greek poet and grammarian; known as Apollonius of Rhodes. He wrote Argonautica, an epic poem in Homeric style.

A·pol·lyon a name for the Devil (Rev. 9:11).

<ORIGIN> from late Latin (Vulgate), from Greek 'destroyer' (translating ABADDON), from apollunai, from apo- 'quite' + ollunai 'destroy'.

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ABADDON ■

a·pol·o·get·ic adj. regretfully acknowledging or excusing an offense or failure: she was very apologetic about the whole incident.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of the nature of a formal defense or justification of something such as a theory or religious doctrine: the apologetic proposition that production for profit is the same thing as production for need.

■ n. a reasoned argument or writing in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine: the unconvincing apologetic of modern Muslim writers.

<DERIVATIVES> a·pol·o·get·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a noun denoting a formal defense or justification): from French apologétique or late Latin apologeticus, from Greek , from apologeisthei 'speak in one's own defense', from apologia (see APOLOGY). The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

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APOLOGY ■

a·pol·o·get·ics plural n. [treated as sing. or pl.] reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from APOLOGETIC.

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APOLOGETIC ■

ap·o·lo·gi·a n. a formal written defense of one's opinions or conduct: an apologia for book banning.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin (see APOLOGY).

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APOLOGY ■

a·pol·o·gist n. a person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial: an enthusiastic apologist for fascism in the 1920s.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French apologiste, from Greek apologizesthai 'give an account' (see APOLOGIZE).

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APOLOGIZE ■

a·pol·o·gize v. [intrans.] express regret for something that one has done wrong: I must apologize for disturbing you like this; we apologize to him for our error.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'make a defensive argument, offer a justification'): from Greek apologizesthai 'give an account', from apologos (see APOLOGUE). In English the verb has always been used as if it were a direct derivative of apology.

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APOLOGUE ■

ap·o·logue n. a moral fable, esp. one with animals as characters.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, via Latin from Greek apologos 'story'.

a·pol·o·gy n. (pl. -gies) 1 a regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure: we owe you an apology; my apologies for the delay; I make no apologies for supporting that policy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a formal, public statement of regret, such as one issued by a newspaper, government, or other organization: the Prime Minister demanded an apology from the ambassador.

- (apologies) used to express formally one's regret at being unable to attend a meeting or social function: apologies for absence were received from Miss Brown.

2 (an apology for) a very poor or inadequate example of: we were shown into an apology for a bedroom.

3 a reasoned argument or writing in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine: a specious apology for capitalism.

<PHRASES> with apologies to used before the name of an author or artist to indicate that something is a parody or adaptation of their work: here, with apologies to Rudyard Kipling, is a more apt version of “If.”

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting a formal defense against an accusation): from French apologie, or via late Latin from Greek apologia 'a speech in one's own defense', from apo 'away'+ -logia (see -LOGY).

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-LOGY ■

ap·o·lune n. the point at which a spacecraft in lunar orbit is furthest from the moon. The opposite of PERILUNE.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from APO- + Latin luna 'moon', on the pattern of apogee.

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PERILUNE ■

APO- ■

ap·o·mict n. [BOTANY] a plant that reproduces by apomixis.

ap·o·mix·is n. [BOTANY] asexual reproduction in plants, in particular agamospermy. Often contrasted with AMPHIMIXIS.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·o·mic·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from APO- + Greek mixis 'mingling'.

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AMPHIMIXIS ■

APO- ■

ap·o·mor·phine n. [MEDICINE] a white crystalline compound used as an emetic and in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
<INFO>  A morphine derivative; chem. formula: C_17H_17NO_2.

ap·o·neu·ro·sis n. (pl. -ses ) [ANATOMY] a sheet of pearly-white fibrous tissue that takes the place of a tendon in sheetlike muscles having a wide area of attachment.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·o·neu·rot·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek , from apo 'off, away' + neuron 'sinew' + -OSIS.

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-OSIS ■

ap·o·pha·tic adj. [THEOLOGY] (of knowledge of God) obtained through negation. The opposite of CATAPHATIC.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·o·pha·ti·cal·ly adv. ap·o·pha·ti·cism n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek apophatikos 'negative', from apophasis 'denial', from apo- 'other than' + phanai 'speak'.

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CATAPHATIC ■

ap·o·phthegm n. British spelling of APOTHEGM.

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APOTHEGM ■

a·poph·yl·lite n. a mineral occurring typically as white glassy prisms, usually as a secondary mineral in volcanic rocks. It is a hydrated silicate and fluoride of calcium and potassium.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from APO- + Greek phullon 'leaf' + -ITE^1 .

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APO- ■

-ITE ■

a·poph·y·sis n. (pl. -ses ) [ZOOLOGY] & [ANATOMY] a natural protuberance from a bone, or inside the shell or exoskeleton of a sea urchin or insect, for the attachment of muscles.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BOTANY] a swelling at the base of the sporangium in some mosses.

- [GEOLOGY] a small offshoot extending from an igneous intrusion into the surrounding rock.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·o·phys·e·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek apophusis 'offshoot', from apo- 'from, away' + phusis 'growth'.

ap·o·plec·tic adj. INFORMAL overcome with anger; extremely indignant: Mark was apoplectic with rage at the decision.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED relating to or denoting apoplexy (stroke): an apoplectic attack.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·o·plec·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French apoplectique or late Latin apoplecticus, from Greek , from 'disable by a stroke' (see APOPLEXY).

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APOPLEXY ■

ap·o·plex·y n. (pl. -plex·ies) DATED unconsciousness or incapacity resulting from a cerebral hemorrhage or stroke.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL incapacity or speechlessness caused by extreme anger: this drives the social engineers of government into apoplexy.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French apoplexie, from late Latin apoplexia, from Greek , from 'disable by a stroke'.

ap·o·pro·tein n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a protein that together with a prosthetic group forms a particular biochemical molecule such as a hormone or enzyme.

ap·op·to·sis n. [PHYSIOLOGY] the death of cells that occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism's growth or development. Also called PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·op·tot·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from Greek 'falling off', from apo 'from' + 'falling, a fall'.

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PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH ■

a·po·ri·a n. an irresolvable internal contradiction or logical disjunction in a text, argument, or theory: the celebrated aporia whereby a Cretan declares all Cretans to be liars.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [RHETORIC] the expression of doubt.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek, from aporos 'impassable', from a- 'without' + poros 'passage'.

ap·o·se·mat·ic adj. [ZOOLOGY] (of coloration or markings) serving to warn or repel predators.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an animal) having such coloration or markings.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·o·se·ma·tism n.

ap·o·si·o·pe·sis n. (pl. -ses ) [RHETORIC] the device of suddenly breaking off in speech.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·o·si·o·pet·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek , from 'be silent'.

a·pos·ta·sy n. the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin apostasia, from a late Greek alteration of Greek apostasis 'defection'.

a·pos·tate n. a person who renounces a religious or political belief or principle.

■ adj. abandoning a religious or political belief or principle.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·o·stat·i·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin apostata, from Greek 'apostate, runaway slave'.

a·pos·ta·tize v. [intrans.] renounce a religious or political belief or principle.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin apostatizare, from apostata (see APOSTATE).

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APOSTATE ■

a pos·te·ri·o·ri adj. relating to or denoting reasoning or knowledge that proceeds from observations or experiences to the deduction of probable causes. Compare with A PRIORI.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [sentence adverb] (loosely) of the nature of an afterthought or subsequent rationalization.

■ adv. in a way based on reasoning from known facts or past events rather than by making assumptions or predictions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (loosely) with hindsight; as an afterthought.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: Latin, 'from what comes after'.

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A PRIORI ■

a·pos·tle n. (often Apostle) each of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus Christ.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- any important early Christian teacher, esp. St. Paul.

- (Apostle of) the first successful Christian missionary in a country or to a people: Kiril and Metodije, the Apostles of the Slavs.

- a vigorous and pioneering advocate or supporter of a particular policy, idea, or cause: Leo Buscaglia, leading apostle of love and okayness.

- a messenger or representative: apostles of doom and defeat.

- one of the twelve administrative officers of the Mormon church.

The twelve Apostles were Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (the Less), Judas (or Thaddaeus), Simon, and Judas Iscariot. After the suicide of Judas Iscariot his place was taken by Matthias.

<DERIVATIVES> a·pos·tle·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Old English apostol, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek apostolos 'messenger', from apostellein 'send forth'.

A·pos·tle Is·lands an island group in northern Wisconsin, in Lake Superior.

A·pos·tles' Creed a statement of Christian belief used in the Western Church, dating from the 4th century and traditionally ascribed to the twelve Apostles.

A·pos·tle spoon (also Apostle teaspoon) n. a teaspoon with the figure of an Apostle or saint on the handle.

a·pos·to·late n. (chiefly in Roman Catholic contexts) the position or authority of an Apostle or a religious leader.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a group of Apostles or religious leaders.

- religious or evangelistic activity or works: our apostolate of hospitality to the elderly.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin apostolatus, from apostulus (see APOSTLE).

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APOSTLE ■

ap·os·tol·ic adj. [CHRISTIAN CHURCH] of or relating to the Apostles: apostolic writings; a simple apostolic life.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to the pope, esp. when he is regarded as the successor to St. Peter: an apostolic nuncio.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from French apostolique or ecclesiastical Latin apostolicus, from Greek apostolikos, from apostolos (see APOSTLE).

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APOSTLE ■

Ap·os·tol·ic Fa·thers plural n. the Christian leaders immediately succeeding the Apostles.

ap·os·tol·ic suc·ces·sion n. (in Christian thought) the uninterrupted transmission of spiritual authority from the Apostles through successive popes and bishops, taught by the Roman Catholic Church but denied by most Protestants.

a·pos·tro·phe 1 n. a punctuation mark (’) used to indicate either possession e.g., ; ) or the omission of letters or numbers (e.g., ; ; ).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting the omission of one or more letters): via late Latin, from Greek apostrophos 'accent of elision', from apostrephein 'turn away', from apo 'from' + strephein 'to turn'.

<USAGE>
The apostrophe is used to indicate missing letters or numbers ( bo’sun; the summer of ’63), to form some possessives (see usage at POSSESSIVE), and to form some plurals (see usage at PLURAL.)

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POSSESSIVE ■

PLURAL ■

a·pos·tro·phe 2 n. [RHETORIC] an exclamatory passage in a speech or poem addressed to a person (typically one who is dead or absent) or thing (typically one that is personified).

<ORIGIN>  mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek 'turning away', from apostrephein 'turn away' (see APOSTROPHE^1 ).

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APOSTROPHE ■

a·pos·tro·phize v. [trans.] 1 [RHETORIC] address an exclamatory passage in a speech or poem to (someone or something).

2 punctuate (a word) with an apostrophe.

a·poth·e·car·ies' meas·ure (also apothecaries' weight) n. HISTORICAL systems of units formerly used in pharmacy for liquid volume (or weight). They were based respectively on the fluid ounce (= 8 drachms or 480 minims) and the ounce troy (= 8 drams or 24 scruples or 480 grains).

a·poth·e·car·y n. (pl. -car·ies) ARCHAIC a person who prepared and sold medicines and drugs.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin apothecarius, from Latin apotheca, from Greek 'storehouse'.

ap·o·thegm (BRIT. ap·oph·thegm ) n. a concise saying or maxim; an aphorism.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·o·theg·mat·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French apophthegme or modern Latin apothegma, from Greek, from apophthengesthai 'speak out'.

ap·o·them n. [GEOMETRY] a line from the center of a regular polygon at right angles to any of its sides.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek apotithenai 'put aside, deposit', from apo 'away' + tithenai 'to place'.

a·poth·e·o·sis n. (pl. -ses ) [usu. in sing.] the highest point in the development of something; culmination or climax: his appearance as Hamlet was the apotheosis of his career.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the elevation of someone to divine status; deification.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek , from apotheoun 'make a god of', from apo 'from' + theos 'god'.

a·poth·e·o·size v. [trans.] elevate to, or as if to, the rank of a god; idolize.

ap·o·tro·pa·ic adj. supposedly having the power to avert evil influences or bad luck: apotropaic statues.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·o·tro·pa·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek apotropaios 'averting evil', from apotrepein 'turn away or from' + -IC.

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-IC ■

app n. [COMPUTING] short for APPLICATION (sense 5).

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APPLICATION ■

Ap·pa·la·chi·a a term for areas in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern U.S. that exhibit longterm poverty and distinctive folkways.

<DERIVATIVES> Ap·pa·la·chi·an adj.

Ap·pa·la·chi·an dul·ci·mer n. see DULCIMER.

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DULCIMER ■

Ap·pa·la·chi·an Moun·tains (also the Ap·pa·la·chi·ans) a mountain system in eastern North America that stretches from Quebec and Maine in the north to Georgia and Alabama in the south. Its highest peak, Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, rises to 6,684 feet (2,037 m).

Ap·pa·la·chi·an Trail an approximately 2,000-mi. (3,200-km.) footpath through the Appalachian Mountains from Mount Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia.

ap·pall v. (-palled, -pall·ing) [trans.] (usu. be appalled) greatly dismay or horrify: bankers are appalled at the economic incompetence of some officials | [as adj.] (appalled) Alison looked at me, appalled.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French apalir 'grow pale', from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + palir 'to pale'. The original sense was 'grow pale', later 'make pale', hence 'dismay, horrify' (late Middle English).

ap·pall·ing adj. INFORMAL awful; terrible: his conduct was appalling.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·pall·ing·ly adv.

Ap·pa·loo·sa n. a horse of a North American breed having dark spots on a light background.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Opelousas in Louisiana, or Palouse, a river in Idaho.

ap·pa·nage (also ap·a·nage) n. ARCHAIC a gift of land, an official position, or money given to the younger children of kings and princes to provide for their maintenance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a necessary accompaniment: there is a tendency to make microbiology an apanage of organic chemistry.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French, based on medieval Latin appanare 'provide with the means of subsistence', from ad- 'to' + panis 'bread'.

ap·pa·rat n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL the administrative system of a communist party, typically in a communist country.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: Russian, from German, literally 'apparatus'.

ap·pa·rat·chik n. (pl. -chiks or -chi·ki ) DEROGATORY or HUMOROUS an official in a large organization, typically a political one: Tory apparatchiks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a member of a communist party apparat.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Russian, from apparat (see APPARAT).

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APPARAT ■

ap·pa·rat·us n. (pl. -us·es) 1 the equipment needed for a particular activity or purpose: laboratory apparatus. See note at TOOL.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the organs used to perform a particular bodily function: the specialized male and female sexual apparatus.

2 a complex structure within an organization or system: the apparatus of government.

3 (also critical apparatus or apparatus criticus) a collection of notes, variant readings, and other matter accompanying a printed text.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin, from apparare 'make ready for', from ad- 'toward' + parare 'make ready'.

ap·par·el n. FORMAL clothing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (apparels) embroidered ornamentation on ecclesiastical vestments.

■ v. (-eled, -el·ing; BRIT. -elled, -el·ling) [trans.] ARCHAIC clothe (someone): all the vestments in which they used to apparel their Deities.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a verb in the sense 'make ready or fit'; as a noun 'furnishings, equipment'): from Old French apareillier, based on Latin ad- 'to' (expressing change) + par 'equal'.

ap·par·ent adj. clearly visible or understood; obvious: [with clause] it became apparent that he was talented; for no apparent reason she laughed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> seeming real or true, but not necessarily so: his apparent lack of concern.
See note at OSTENSIBLE.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French aparant, from Latin apparent- 'appearing', from the verb apparere (see APPEAR).

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APPEAR ■

ap·par·ent ho·ri·zon n. see HORIZON (sense 1).

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HORIZON ■

ap·par·ent·ly adv. [sentence adverb] as far as one knows or can see: the child nodded, apparently content with the promise.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used by speakers or writers to avoid committing themselves to the truth of what they are saying: foreign ministers met but apparently failed to make progress.

ap·par·ent mag·ni·tude n. [ASTRONOMY] the magnitude of a celestial object as it is actually measured from the earth. Compare with ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE.

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ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE ■

ap·par·ent so·lar time n. [ASTRONOMY] time as calculated by the motion of the apparent (true) sun. The time indicated by a sundial corresponds to apparent solar time. Compare with MEAN SOLAR TIME.

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MEAN SOLAR TIME ■

ap·par·ent time n. another term for MEAN SOLAR TIME.

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MEAN SOLAR TIME ■

ap·pa·ri·tion n. a ghost or ghostlike image of a person.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the appearance of something remarkable or unexpected, typically an image of this type: twentieth-century apparitions of the Virgin.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·pa·ri·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'the action of appearing'): from Latin apparitio(n-) 'attendance', from the verb apparere (see APPEAR).

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APPEAR ■

ap·peal v. [intrans.] 1 make a serious or urgent request, typically to the public: police are appealing for information about the incident; she appealed to Germany for political asylum.

2 [LAW] apply to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court: he said he would appeal against the conviction | [trans.] they have 48 hours to appeal the decision.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BASEBALL] (of the defensive team) call on the umpire to rule a strike or out on a completed play.

- (appeal to) address oneself to (a principle or quality in someone) in anticipation of a favorable response: I appealed to his sense of justice.

3 be attractive or interesting: the range of topics will appeal to youngsters.

■ n. 1 a serious or urgent request, typically one made to the public: his mother made an appeal for for the return of the ring.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an attempt to obtain financial support: a public appeal to raise $120,000.

- entreaty: a look of appeal on his face.

2 [LAW] an application to a higher court for a decision to be reversed: he has 28 days in which to lodge an appeal | the right of appeal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an address to a principle or quality in anticipation of a favorable response: an appeal to black pride.

3 the quality of being attractive or interesting: the popular appeal of football.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·peal·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in legal contexts): from Old French apel (noun), apeler (verb), from Latin appellare 'to address', based on ad- 'to' + pellere 'to drive'.

ap·peal·ing adj. 1 attractive or interesting: the rural life is somehow more appealing; an appealing young woman.

2 (of an expression or tone of voice) showing that one wants help or sympathy: an appealing look.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·peal·ing·ly adv.

ap·peals court n. a court that hears appeals from a lower court.

ap·pear v. [intrans.] 1 come into sight; become visible or noticeable, typically without visible agent or apparent cause: smoke appeared on the horizon.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- come into existence or use: the major life forms appeared on earth.

- (of a book) be published: the paperback edition didn't appear for another two years.

- feature or be shown: the symbol appears in many paintings of the period.

- perform publicly in a movie, play, etc.: he appeared on Broadway.

- (of an accused person, witness, or lawyer) make an official appearance in a court of law: he appeared on six charges of theft.

- INFORMAL arrive at a place: by ten o'clock Bill still hadn't appeared.

2 seem; give the impression of being: [with infinitive] she appeared not to know what was happening | [with clause] it appears unlikely that interest rates will fall | [with complement] he appeared unaware of the rebuke.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French apareir, from Latin apparere, from ad- 'toward' + parere 'come into view'.

ap·pear·ance n. 1 the way that someone or something looks: I like the appearance of stripped antique pine; they are similar in appearance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an impression given by someone or something, although this may be misleading: she read it with every appearance of interest.

2 an act of performing or participating in a public event: he is well-known for his television appearances.

3 [usu. in sing.] an act of becoming visible or noticeable; an arrival: the sudden appearance of her daughter startled her.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a process of coming into existence or use: the appearance of the railroad.

<PHRASES>
□ keep up appearances maintain an impression of wealth or well-being, typically to hide the true situation.

□ make (or put in) an appearance attend an event briefly, typically out of courtesy.

□ to (or by) all appearances as far as can be seen: to all appearances, it had been a normal day.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French aparance, aparence, from late Latin apparentia, from Latin apparere (see APPEAR).

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APPEAR ■

ap·pear·ance mon·ey n. money paid to secure the appearance of a celebrity, typically a sports figure, at a particular event.

ap·pease v. [trans.] 1 pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands: amendments have been added to appease local pressure groups. See note at PACIFY.

2 relieve or satisfy (a demand or a feeling): we give to charity because it appeases our guilt.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·pease·ment n. ap·peas·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French apaisier, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + pais 'peace'.

Ap·pel Karel (1921- ), Dutch painter, sculptor, and graphic artist.

ap·pel·lant n. [LAW] a person who applies to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French apelant, literally 'appealing', from the verb apeler (see APPEAL).

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APPEAL ■

ap·pel·late adj. [attrib.] [LAW] (typically of a court) concerned with or dealing with applications for decisions to be reversed.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally in the sense 'appealed against, accused'): from Latin appellatus 'appealed against', from the verb appellare (see APPEAL). The current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.

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APPEAL ■

ap·pel·la·tion 1 n. FORMAL a name or title: the city fully justifies its appellation “the Pearl of the Orient.”
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of giving a name to a person or thing.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin appellatio(n-), from the verb appellare (see APPEAL).

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APPEAL ■

ap·pel·la·tion 2 n. an appellation contrôlée.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a wine bearing such a guarantee.

- the district in which such wine is produced.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: abbreviation of appellation (d'origine) contrôlée.

ap·pel·la·tion con·trô·lée (also ap·pel·la·tion d'ori·gi·ne con·trô·lée ) n. a description awarded to French wine guaranteeing that it was produced in the region specified, using vines and production methods that satisfy the regulating body.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: French, literally 'controlled appellation'.

ap·pel·la·tive adj. FORMAL relating to or denoting the giving of a name.

■ n. [GRAMMAR] a common noun, such as “doctor,” “mother,” or “sir,” used as a vocative.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin appellativus, from appellat- 'addressed', from the verb appellare (see APPEAL).

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APPEAL ■

ap·pel·lee n. [LAW] the respondent in a case appealed to a higher court.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French appelé, past participle of appeler 'call', from Latin appellare 'to address' (see APPEAL).

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APPEAL ■

ap·pend v. [trans.] add (something) as an attachment or supplement: the results of the survey are appended to this chapter.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin appendere 'hang on', from ad- 'to' + pendere 'hang'.

ap·pend·age n. (often with negative or pejorative connations) a thing that is added or attached to something larger or more important: they treat Scotland as a mere appendage of England.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BIOLOGY] a projecting part of an invertebrate or other living organism, with a distinct appearance or function: many species have specialized clutching appendages.

ap·pend·ant FORMAL ARCHAIC adj. attached or added, typically in a subordinate capacity.

■ n. a subordinate person or thing.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in legal contexts): from Old French apendant, from apendre 'depend on, belong to', from Latin appendere (see APPEND).

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APPEND ■

ap·pen·dec·to·my (BRIT. also ap·pen·di·cec·to·my ) n. (pl. -mies) a surgical operation to remove the appendix.

ap·pen·di·ci·tis n. a serious medical condition in which the appendix becomes inflamed and painful.

ap·pen·dic·u·lar adj. TECHNICAL relating to or denoting an appendage or appendages.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ANATOMY] of or relating to a limb or limbs: the appendicular skeleton.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin appendicula 'small appendage', diminutive of appendix, + -AR^1 .

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-AR ■

ap·pen·dix n. (pl. -di·ces ; -dix·es) 1 [ANATOMY] a tube-shaped sac attached to and opening into the lower end of the large intestine in humans and some other mammals. Also called VERMIFORM APPENDIX.

In humans the appendix is small and has no known function, but in rabbits, hares, and some other herbivores it is involved in the digestion of cellulose.

2 a section or table of additional matter at the end of a book or document.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (sense 2): from Latin, from appendere 'hang upon' (see APPEND). Sense 1 dates from the early 17th cent.

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VERMIFORM APPENDIX ■

APPEND ■

ap·per·cep·tion n. DATED [PSYCHOLOGY] the mental process by which a person makes sense of an idea by assimilating it to the body of ideas he or she already possesses.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fully conscious perception: an immediate apperception of a unity lying beyond.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·per·cep·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French aperception or modern Latin aperceptio(n-), from Latin ad- 'to' + percipere 'perceive'.

ap·per·tain v. [intrans.] 1 (appertain to) relate to; concern: the answers generally appertain to improvements in standards of service.

2 be appropriate or applicable: the institutional arrangements that appertain under the system.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French apertenir, from late Latin appertinere, from ad- 'to' + Latin pertinere 'to pertain'.

ap·pe·stat n. [PHYSIOLOGY] the region of the hypothalamus of the brain that is believed to control a person's appetite for food.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from APPETITE, probably on the pattern of thermostat.

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APPETITE ■

ap·pe·ten·cy n. (pl. -cies) ARCHAIC a longing or desire.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a natural tendency or affinity.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin appetentia, from appetere 'seek after' (see APPETITE).

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APPETITE ■

ap·pe·tite n. [usu. in sing.] a natural desire to satisfy a bodily need, esp. for food: he has a healthy appetite | they suffered from loss of appetite.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a strong desire or liking for something: an unquenchable appetite for life.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French apetit (modern appétit), from Latin appetitus 'desire for', from appetere 'seek after', from ad- 'to' + petere 'seek'.

ap·pe·ti·tive adj. characterized by a natural desire to satisfy bodily needs: the appetitive behavior of animals.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·pe·ti·tive·ness n. ap·pe·ti·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French appétitif or medieval Latin appetitivus, from appetire 'seek after' (see APPETITE).

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APPETITE ■

ap·pe·tiz·er n. a small dish of food or a drink taken before a meal or the main course of a meal to stimulate one's appetite.

ap·pe·tiz·ing (also ap·pe·tis·ing) adj. stimulating one's appetite: the appetizing aroma of sizzling bacon.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·pe·tiz·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French appétissant, irregular formation from appétit (see APPETITE).

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APPETITE ■

Ap·pi·an Way in classical times, the principal road south from Rome, named after the censor Appius Claudius Caecus, who built the section to Capua in 312 BC; it was later extended to Brindisi. Latin name VIA APPIA.

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VIA APPIA ■

ap·plaud v. [intrans.] show approval or praise by clapping: the crowd whistled and applauded | [trans.] his speech was loudly applauded.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] show strong approval of (a person or action); praise: Jill applauded the decision.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin applaudere, from ad- 'to' + plaudere 'to clap', reinforced by French applaudir.

ap·plause n. approval or praise expressed by clapping: they gave him a round of applause.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin applausus, from the verb applaudere (see APPLAUD).

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APPLAUD ■

ap·ple n. 1 the round fruit of a tree of the rose family, which typically has thin red or green skin and crisp flesh. Many varieties have been developed as dessert or cooking fruit or for making cider.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] an unrelated fruit that resembles this in some way. See also CUSTARD APPLE, THORN APPLE.

2 (also apple tree) the tree bearing such fruit.
<INFO>  Genus Malus, family Rosaceae: numerous hybrids and cultivars.

3 (the Apple) short for the BIG APPLE.

<PHRASES>
□ the apple never falls far from the tree PROVERB family characteristics are usually inherited.

□ the apple of one's eye a person of whom one is extremely fond and proud. <ORIGIN> originally denoting the pupil of the eye, considered to be a globular solid body, extended as a symbol of something cherished.

□ apples and oranges (of two people or things) irreconcilably or fundamentally different.

□ a rotten (or bad) apple INFORMAL a bad or corrupt person in a group, typically one whose behavior is likely to have a detrimental influence on his or her associates. <ORIGIN> with reference to the effect that a rotten apple has on fruit with which it is in contact.

□ upset the applecart spoil a plan or disturb the status quo.

<ORIGIN> Old English æppel, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch appel and German Apfel.

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CUSTARD APPLE ■

THORN APPLE ■

BIG APPLE ■

ap·ple but·ter n. a paste of spiced stewed apple used as a spread or condiment, typically made with cider.

ap·ple-cheeked adj. (of a person) having round rosy cheeks.

ap·ple green n. a bright yellowish green.

Ap·ple Isle (also Ap·ple Is·land) AUSTRAL. a nickname for Tasmania.

ap·ple·jack n. an alcoholic drink distilled from fermented cider.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from APPLE + JACK^1 .

Linked entries:

APPLE ■

JACK ■

ap·ple pie n. [in sing.] used to represent a cherished ideal of comfort and familiarity: to say I'm fed up with the Olympics is like being against motherhood and apple pie.

<PHRASES> as American as apple pie typically American in character.

ap·ple-pie or·der n. perfect order or neatness: everything was in apple-pie order.

ap·ple pol·ish·er n. INFORMAL a person who behaves obsequiously to someone important.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·ple-pol·ish·ing n.

ap·ple·sauce n. 1 a purée of stewed apples, typically sweetened.

2 INFORMAL nonsense: Equal Opportunity for AllElmer says that's all applesauce.

Ap·ple·seed Johnny (1774-1845), U.S. folk hero; born John Chapman. A missionary, he traveled throughout Ohio and Indiana planting and caring for apple orchards.

ap·plet n. [COMPUTING] a very small application, esp. a utility program performing one or a few simple functions.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: blend of APPLICATION and -LET.

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APPLICATION ■

-LET ■

Ap·ple·ton 1 an industrial and academic city in east central Wisconsin; pop. 70,087.

Ap·ple·ton 2 Sir Edward Victor (1892-1965), English physicist. He discovered a region of ionized gases (the Appleton layer) in the atmosphere above the Heaviside or E layer. Nobel Prize for Physics (1947).

Ap·ple Val·ley 1 a town in southwestern California, northeast of Los Angeles; pop. 46,079.

2 a city in southeastern Minnesota, south of Minneapolis; pop. 34,598.

ap·ple·wood n. the timber of the apple tree, used in carpentry and to smoke food.

ap·pli·ance n. 1 a device or piece of equipment designed to perform a specific task, typically a domestic one. See note at TOOL.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an apparatus fitted by a surgeon or a dentist for corrective or therapeutic purpose:
electrical and gas appliances.

2 BRIT. the action or process of bringing something into operation: the appliance of science could increase crop yields.

ap·pli·anced adj. (of a kitchen) having or fitted with appliances.

ap·pli·ca·ble adj. relevant or appropriate: the same considerations are equally applicable to accident claims.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·pli·ca·bil·i·ty n. ap·pli·ca·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'compliant'): from Old French, or from medieval Latin applicabilis, from the verb applicare (see APPLY).

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APPLY ■

ap·pli·cant n. a person who makes a formal application for something, typically a job.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from APPLICATION + -ANT.

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APPLICATION ■

-ANT ■

ap·pli·ca·tion n. 1 a formal request to an authority for something: an application for leave | [with infinitive] an application to join the forum | [as adj.] application form.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action or process of making such a request: licenses are available on application.

2 the action of putting something into operation: the application of general rules to particular cases | massage has far-reaching medical applications.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [often with negative] practical use or relevance: this principle has no application to the present case.

3 the action of putting something on a surface: a fresh application of makeup | paints suitable for application on fabric.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a medicinal substance put on the skin.

4 sustained effort; hard work: the job takes a great deal of patience and application.

5 [COMPUTING] a program or piece of software designed and written to fulfill a particular purpose of the user: a database application.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·pli·ca·tion·al adj..

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin applicatio(n-), from the verb applicare (see APPLY).

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APPLY ■

ap·pli·ca·tion pro·gram n. another term for APPLICATION (sense 5).

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APPLICATION ■

ap·pli·ca·tion pro·gram·ming in·ter·face (abbr.: API) n. [COMPUTING] a system of tools and resources in an operating system, enabling developers to create software applications.

ap·pli·ca·tive adj. relating to or involving the application of a subject or idea; practical or applied: applicative algebra.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin applicat- 'set close or in contact, fastened to', from the verb applicare (see APPLY).

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APPLY ■

ap·pli·ca·tor n. a device used for inserting something or for applying a substance to a surface.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who applies a substance or installs something, such as house siding.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin applicat- 'fastened to' (from the verb applicare) + -OR^1 .

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-OR ■

ap·plied adj. [attrib.] (of a subject or type of study) put to practical use as opposed to being theoretical: applied chemistry. Compare with PURE.

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PURE ■

ap·plied math·e·mat·ics see MATHEMATICS.

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MATHEMATICS ■

ap·pli·qué n. ornamental needlework in which pieces of fabric are sewn or stuck onto a large piece of fabric to form pictures or patterns.

■ v. (-qués, -quéd, -qué·ing) [trans.] (usu. be appliquéd) decorate (a piece of fabric) in such a way: the coat is appliquéd with exotic-looking cloth | [as adj.] (appliquéd) 19th-century appliquéd silks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> sew or stick (pieces of fabric) onto a large piece of fabric to form pictures or patterns: the floral motifs are appliquéd to christening robes.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French, past participle of appliquer 'apply', from Latin applicare (see APPLY).

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APPLY ■

ap·ply v. (-plies, -plied) 1 [intrans.] make a formal application or request: you need to apply to the local authorities for a grant | [with infinitive] a number of people have applied to vote by proxy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> put oneself forward formally as a candidate for a job: she had applied for a number of positions.

2 [intrans.] be applicable or relevant: the offer does not apply to unionized workers; normal rules apply.

3 [trans.] put or spread (something) on a surface: the sealer can be applied to new wood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> administer: smooth over with a cloth, applying even pressure.

4 (apply oneself) give one's full attention to a task; work hard.

5 [trans.] bring or put into operation or practical use: the oil industry has failed to apply appropriate standards of care.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French aplier, from Latin applicare 'fold, fasten to', from ad- 'to' + plicare 'to fold'.

ap·pog·gia·tu·ra n. (pl. -tu·ras or -tu·re ) [MUSIC] a grace note performed before a note of the melody and falling on the beat.

<ORIGIN> Italian, from appoggiare 'lean upon, rest'.

ap·point v. [trans.] 1 assign a job or role to (someone): she has been appointed to the board; | [trans.] a delegated engineer will be appointed to oversee each graduate they appointed her as personnel manager.

2 determine or decide on (a time or a place): they appointed a day in May for the meeting.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC decree: such laws are appointed by God.

3 [LAW] decide the disposal of (property of which one is not the owner) under powers granted by the owner: trustees appoint the capital to the beneficiaries.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·point·ee n. ap·point·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French apointer, from a point 'to a point'.

ap·point·ed adj. 1 (of a time or place) decided on beforehand; designated: she arrived at the appointed time.

2 (of a building or room) equipped or furnished in a specified way or to a specified standard: a luxuriously appointed lobby.

ap·poin·tive adj. (of a job) relating to or filled by appointment rather than election.

ap·point·ment n. 1 an arrangement to meet someone at a particular time and place: she made an appointment with my receptionist.

2 an act of appointing; assigning a job or position to someone: his appointment as president.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a job or position: she took up an appointment as head of communications.

- a person appointed to a job or position.

3 (appointments) furniture or fittings: the room was spartan in its appointments.

<PHRASES>
□ by appointment having previously made an arrangement to do something: visits are by appointment only.

□ power of appointment
1 power to select the holder of a particular job or position.

2 [LAW] power to decide the disposal of property, in exercise of a right conferred by the owner.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French apointement, from apointer (see APPOINT).

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APPOINT ■

Ap·po·mat·tox a historic site in central Virginia, at the head of the Appomattox River, where Robert E. Lee's surrender of his Confederate forces in April 1865 ended the Civil War.

ap·por·tion v. [trans.] divide and allocate: voting power will be apportioned according to contribution.
<SPECIAL USAGE> assign: they did not apportion blame or liability to any one individual.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Old French apportionner or medieval Latin apportionare, from ad- 'to' + portionare 'divide into portions'.

ap·por·tion·ment n. the action or result of apportioning something: an exercise in apportionment of blame.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the determination of the proportional number of members each U.S. state sends to the House of Representatives, based on population figures.

ap·pose v. [trans.] TECHNICAL place (something) in proximity to or juxtaposition with something else: the specimen was apposed to X-ray film.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin apponere, on the pattern of words such as compose, expose.

ap·po·site adj. apt in the circumstances or in relation to something: an apposite quotation; the observations are apposite to the discussion.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·po·site·ly adv. ap·po·site·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin appositus, past participle of apponere 'apply', from ad- 'toward' + ponere 'put'.

ap·po·si·tion n. 1 CHIEFLY TECHNICAL the positioning of things or the condition of being side by side or close together.

2 [GRAMMAR] a relationship between two or more words or phrases in which the two units are grammatically parallel and have the same referent (e.g., my friend Sue; the first U.S. President, George Washington).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin appositio(n-), from apponere 'to apply' (see APPOSITE).

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APPOSITE ■

ap·po·si·tion·al [GRAMMAR] adj. of or relating to apposition.

■ n. a term standing in apposition.

ap·pos·i·tive adj. & n. [GRAMMAR] another term for APPOSITIONAL.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from late Latin appositivus 'subsidiary'.

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APPOSITIONAL ■

ap·prais·al n. an act of assessing something or someone: treatment begins with a thorough appraisal of the patient's condition | the report has been subject to appraisal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an expert estimate of the value of something: the final figure is just a little more than triple the appraisal.

ap·prais·al drill·ing n. drilling undertaken to establish the quality, quantity, and other characteristics of oil or gas in a newly discovered field.

ap·praise v. [trans.] assess the value or quality of: she stealthily appraised him in a pocket mirror | [intrans.] the interviewer's job is to appraise and evaluate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an official or expert) set a price on; value: they appraised the painting at $200,000.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·prais·er n. ap·prais·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'set a price on'): alteration of APPRIZE, by association with PRAISE. The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

<USAGE>
Appraise, meaning 'evaluate,' should not be confused with apprise, which means 'inform': the painting was appraised at $3,000,000; they gasped when apprised of this valuation.

Linked entries:

APPRIZE ■

PRAISE ■

ap·pre·ci·a·ble adj. large or important enough to be noticed: tea and coffee both contain appreciable amounts of caffeine. See note at TANGIBLE.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·pre·ci·a·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French appréciable, from apprécier (see APPRECIATE).

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APPRECIATE ■

ap·pre·ci·ate v. [trans.] 1 recognize the full worth of: she feels that he does not appreciate her. See note at ESTEEM.
<SPECIAL USAGE> be grateful for (something): I'd appreciate any information you could give me.

2 understand (a situation) fully; recognize the full implications of: they failed to appreciate the pressure he was under | [with clause] I appreciate that you cannot be held totally responsible.

3 [intrans.] rise in value or price: they expected the house to appreciate in value.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·pre·cia·tive adj. (in sense 1). ap·pre·cia·tive·ly adv. (in sense 1). ap·pre·ci·a·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from late Latin appretiat- 'set at a price, appraised', from the verb appretiare, from ad- 'to' + pretium 'price'.

ap·pre·ci·a·tion n. 1 the recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something: I smiled in appreciation | she shows a fine appreciation of obscure thinkers.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- gratitude for something: they would be the first to show their appreciation.

- a piece of writing in which the qualities of a person or the person's work are discussed and assessed.

- sensitive understanding of the aesthetic value of something: courses in music appreciation.

2 a full understanding of a situation: they have an appreciation of the needs of users | the bank's lack of appreciation of their problems.

3 increase in monetary value: the appreciation of the franc against the dollar.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French appréciation, from late Latin appretiatio(n-), from the verb appretiare 'set at a price, appraise' (see APPRECIATE).

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APPRECIATE ■

ap·pre·hend v. [trans.] 1 arrest (someone) for a crime: a warrant was issued but he has not been apprehended.

2 understand or perceive: great art invites us to apprehend beauty.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC anticipate (something) with uneasiness or fear.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally in the sense 'grasp, get hold of (physically or mentally)'): from French appréhender or Latin apprehendere, from ad- 'toward' + prehendere 'lay hold of'.

ap·pre·hen·si·ble adj. ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY capable of being understood or perceived: a bat whirred, apprehensible only from the displacement of air.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from late Latin apprehensibilis, from Latin apprehendere (see APPREHEND).

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APPREHEND ■

ap·pre·hen·sion n. 1 anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen: he felt sick with apprehension | she had some apprehensions about the filming.

2 understanding; grasp: the pure apprehension of the work of art.

3 the action of arresting someone: they acted with intent to prevent lawful apprehension.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'learning, acquisition of knowledge'): from late Latin apprehensio(n-), from apprehendere 'seize, grasp' (see APPREHEND).

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APPREHEND ■

ap·pre·hen·sive adj. 1 anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen: he felt apprehensive about going home | [with clause] they were apprehensive that something might go wrong.

2 ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY of or relating to perception or understanding.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·pre·hen·sive·ly adv. ap·pre·hen·sive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from French appréhensif or medieval Latin apprehensivus, from Latin apprehendere 'seize, grasp' (see APPREHENSION).

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APPREHENSION ■

ap·pren·tice n. a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer, having agreed to work for a fixed period at low wages: [as adj.] an apprentice electrician.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. as adj.] a beginner at something: an apprentice confidence trickster.
See note at NOVICE.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be apprenticed) employ (someone) as an apprentice: Edward was apprenticed to a printer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] serve as an apprentice: she apprenticed with midwives in San Francisco.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·pren·tice·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French aprentis (from apprendre 'learn', from Latin apprehendere 'apprehend'), on the pattern of words ending in -tis, -tif, from Latin -tivus (see -IVE).

Linked entries:

-IVE ■

ap·press v. [trans.] (usu. be appressed) TECHNICAL press (something) close to something else: the two cords can be closely appressed to one another.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin appress- 'pressed close', from the verb apprimere, from ad- 'to' + premere 'to press'.

ap·prise v. [trans.] inform or tell (someone): I thought it right to apprise Chris of what had happened.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French appris, apprise, past participle of apprendre 'learn, teach', from Latin apprehendere (see APPREHEND).

<USAGE>
See usage at APPRAISE.

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APPREHEND ■

APPRAISE ■

ap·prize v. [trans.] ARCHAIC put a price upon; appraise: the sheriff was to apprize the value of the lands.
<SPECIAL USAGE> value highly; esteem: how highly your Highness apprizeth peace.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French aprisier, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + prisier 'to price, prize', from pris (see PRICE). The spelling change in the 17th cent. was due to association with PRIZE^1 .

Linked entries:

PRICE ■

PRIZE ■

ap·proach v. [trans.] 1 come near or nearer to (someone or something) in distance: the train approached the main line | [intrans.] she hadn't heard him approach | [as adj.] (approaching) an approaching car.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- come near or nearer to (a future time or event): he was approaching retirement.

- [intrans.] (of a future time) come nearer: the time is approaching when you will be destroyed.

- come close to (a number, level, or standard) in quality or quantity: the population will approach 12 million by the end of the decade.

- (of an aircraft) descend toward and prepare to land on (an airfield, runway, etc.): the single-seater plane hit a post as it was approaching the runway.

- ARCHAIC bring nearer: all those changes shall serve to approach him the faster to the blest mansion.

2 speak to (someone) for the first time about something, typically with a proposal or request: the department had been approached about funding.

3 start to deal with (something) in a certain way: one must approach the matter with caution.

■ n. 1 a way of dealing with something: we need a whole new approach to the job.

2 an act of speaking to someone for the first time about something, typically a proposal or request: the landowner made an approach to the developer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (approaches) DATED behavior intended to propose personal or sexual relations with someone: feminine resistance to his approaches.

3 [in sing.] the action of coming near or nearer to someone or something in distance or time: the approach of winter.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (approach to) an approximation to something: the past is impossible to recall with any approach to accuracy.

- the part of an aircraft's flight in which it descends gradually toward an airfield or runway for landing.

4 (usu. approaches) a road, sea passage, or other way leading to a place: the eastern approach to the town.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French aprochier, aprocher, from ecclesiastical Latin appropiare 'draw near', from ad- 'to' + propius (comparative of prope 'near').

ap·proach·a·ble adj. 1 friendly and easy to talk to: managers should be approachable.

2 (of a place) able to be reached from a particular direction or by a particular means: at night parrotfish are approachable as they sleep in nooks and crannies on the reef.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·proach·a·bil·i·ty n.

ap·proach shot n. [GOLF] a stroke that sends the ball from the fairway onto or nearer the green.

ap·pro·bate v. [trans.] RARE approve formally; sanction: a letter approbating the affair.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin approbat- 'approved', from the verb approbare, from ad- 'to' + probare 'try, test' (from probus 'good').

ap·pro·ba·tion n. FORMAL approval or praise: the opera met with high approbation.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·pro·ba·tive adj. ap·pro·ba·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin approbatio(n-), from the verb approbare (see APPROBATE).

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APPROBATE ■

ap·pro·pri·ate adj. suitable or proper in the circumstances: a measure appropriate to a wartime economy.

■ v. [trans.] 1 take (something) for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission: his images have been appropriated by advertisers.

2 devote (money or assets) to a special purpose: there can be problems in appropriating funds for legal expenses.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·pro·pri·ate·ly adv. [sentence adverb] appropriately, the first recital will be given at the festival. ap·pro·pri·ate·ness n. ap·pro·pri·a·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin appropriatus, past participle of appropriare 'make one's own', from ad- 'to' + proprius 'own, proper'.

ap·pro·pri·a·tion n. 1 the action of taking something for one's own use, typically without the owner's permission: the appropriation of parish funds.
<SPECIAL USAGE> OFTEN DEROGATORY the artistic practice or technique of reworking images from well-known paintings, photographs, etc., in one's own work.

2 a sum of money or total of assets devoted to a special purpose.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin appropriatio(n-), from appropriare 'make one's own' (see APPROPRIATE).

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APPROPRIATE ■

ap·pro·pri·a·tion·ist n. OFTEN DEROGATORY an artist whose work contains reworkings of well-known images by other artists: [as adj.] appropriationist art.

ap·prov·al n. 1 the action of officially agreeing to something or accepting something as satisfactory: the road plans have been given approval | they have delayed the launch to await project approvals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the belief that someone or something is good or acceptable: step-parents need to win a child's approval.

2 (usu. approvals) [PHILATELY] stamps sent by request to a collector or potential customer.

<PHRASES>
□ on approval (of goods) supplied on condition that they may be returned if not satisfactory.

□ seal (or stamp) of approval an official statement or indication that something is accepted or regarded favorably.

ap·prove v. [trans.] 1 officially agree to or accept as satisfactory: the budget was approved by Congress | [as adj.] (approved) an approved profit-sharing plan.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] believe that someone or something is good or acceptable: I don't approve of the way she pampers my father and brothers.

2 ARCHAIC prove; show: he approved himself ripe for military command.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·prov·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French aprover, from Latin approbare (see APPROBATE). The original sense was 'prove, demonstrate', later 'corroborate, confirm', hence 'pronounce to be satisfactory' (late Middle English).

<THE RIGHT WORD>
approve, certify, commend, endorse, ratify, sanction

There are a number of ways to show your support for something. The most general way is to approve it, a term that covers everything from simple, technical agreement (to approve the plan) to enthusiastic support (she was quick to approve her son's decision to marry).

Endorse implies a more public and official expression of support and is used primarily in reference to things that require promotion or publicity (endorse a political candidate), while commend is to make a formal and usually public statement of approval or congratulation (he was commended for his heroism).

Sanction, certify, and ratify imply that approval is not only official but that it makes something legal. To sanction is not only to approve but to authorize (school authorities would not sanction the wearing of hats in class), while certify implies conformity with certain standards (certified to teach in the State of New York).

Ratify is usually confined to only the most official and authoritative settings. For example, an employer might sanction the idea of hiring a woman to perform a job that only men have performed in the past, and the woman in question might have to certify that she possesses the necessary training and qualifications. But to ratify a constitutional amendment granting equal rights to women requires a lengthy set of legislative procedures.

Linked entries:

APPROBATE ■

approx. abbr. approximate(ly).

ap·prox·i·mate adj. close to the actual, but not completely accurate or exact: the calculations are very approximate.

■ v. [intrans.] come close or be similar to something in quality, nature, or quantity: a leasing agreement approximating to ownership | [trans.] reality can be approximated by computational techniques.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] estimate or calculate (a quantity) fairly accurately: I had to approximate the weight of my horse.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·prox·i·mate·ly adv. ap·prox·i·ma·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the adjectival sense 'close, similar'): from late Latin approximatus, past participle of approximare, from ad- 'to' + proximus 'very near'. The verb (originally meaning 'bring close') arose in the mid 17th cent.; the current adjectival sense dates from the early 19th cent.

ap·prox·i·ma·tive adj. (of a method, description, etc.) giving only an approximation to something: a crudely approximative outline.

ap·pur·te·nance n. (usu. appurtenances) an accessory or other item associated with a particular activity or style of living: all the appurtenances of luxurious travel.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French apertenance, based on late Latin appertinere 'belong to' (see APPERTAIN).

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APPERTAIN ■

ap·pur·te·nant adj. belonging; pertinent: secondary buildings that are appurtenant to the main building.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French apartenant 'appertaining', from the verb apartenir (see APPERTAIN).

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APPERTAIN ■

APR abbr. annual or annualized percentage rate, typically of interest on loans or credit.

Apr. abbr. April.

a·prax·i·a n. [MEDICINE] inability to perform particular purposive actions, as a result of brain damage.

<DERIVATIVES> a·prax·ic adj..

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from German Apraxie, from Greek apraxia 'inaction'.

après- prefix INFORMAL, HUMOROUS coming after in time, typically specifying a period following an activity: a low-fat, après-workout snack.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: French, literally 'after', used in combinations on the pattern of après-ski.

a·près-ski n. the social activities and entertainment following a day's skiing: [as adj.] the après-ski disco.

<DERIVATIVES> a·près-ski·ing n.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: French, literally 'after skiing'.

ap·ri·cot n. 1 a juicy, soft fruit, resembling a small peach, of an orange-yellow color.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an orange-yellow color like the skin of a ripe apricot.

2 (also apricot tree) the tree bearing this fruit.
<INFO>  Prunus armeniaca, family Rosaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Portuguese albricoque or Spanish albaricoque, from Spanish Arabic al 'the' + (from late Greek praikokion, from Latin praecoquum, variant of praecox 'early ripe'); influenced by Latin apricus 'ripe' and by French abricot.

A·pril n. the fourth month of the year, in the northern hemisphere usually considered the second month of spring: the prison was to close in April | [as adj.] April showers.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Latin Aprilis.

A·pril fool n. a person who is the victim of a trick or hoax on April 1: [as exclam.] Lucy was waiting right outside. “April fool!” she said.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a trick or hoax on April 1: [as adj.] an April fool joke.

A·pril Fool's Day (also A·pril Fools' Day) n. April 1, in many Western countries traditionally an occasion for playing tricks. This custom has been observed for hundreds of years, but its origin is unknown. Also called ALL FOOLS' DAY.

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ALL FOOLS' DAY ■

a pri·o·ri adj. relating to or denoting reasoning or knowledge that proceeds from theoretical deduction rather than from observation or experience: a priori assumptions about human nature.

■ adv. in a way based on theoretical deduction rather than empirical observation: sexuality may be a factor, but it cannot be assumed a priori. | [sentence adverb] a priori, it would seem that his government was an extension of Soviet power.

<DERIVATIVES> a·pri·o·rism n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: Latin, 'from what is before'.

a·pron n. 1 a protective or decorative garment worn over the front of one's clothes, either from chest or waist level, and tied at the back.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a similar garment worn as part of official dress, as by an Anglican bishop or a Freemason.

- a sheet of lead worn to shield the body during an X-ray examination.

2 a small area adjacent to another larger area or structure: a tiny apron of garden.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a hard-surfaced area on an airfield used for maneuvering or parking aircraft.

- (also apron stage) a projecting strip of stage for playing scenes in front of the curtain.

- a broadened area of pavement at the end of a driveway.

- the narrow strip of the floor of a boxing ring lying outside the ropes.

- the outer edge or border of a golf green.

- [GEOLOGY] an extensive outspread deposit of sediment, typically at the foot of a glacier or mountain.

3 an object resembling an apron in shape or function, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a covering protecting an area or structure, for example, from water erosion.

- [often as adj.] an endless conveyor made of overlapping plates: apron feeders bring coarse ore to a grinding mill.

- [MEDICINE] a pendulous fold of abdominal fat that obscures the genital region.

<PHRASES> (tied to) someone's apron strings (too much under) the influence and control of someone: we have all met sturdy adults who are tied to mother's apron strings.

<ORIGIN> Middle English naperon, from Old French, diminutive of nape, nappe 'tablecloth', from Latin mappa 'napkin'. The n was lost by wrong division of a napron; compare with ADDER.

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ADDER ■

ap·ro·pos prep. with reference to; concerning: she remarked apropos of the initiative, “It's not going to stop the abuse.”

■ adv. [sentence adverb] (apropos of nothing) used to state a speaker's belief that someone's comments or acts are unrelated to any previous discussion or situation: Isabel kept smiling apropos of nothing.

■ adj. [predic.] very appropriate to a particular situation: the composer's reference to child's play is apropos.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French à propos '(with regard) to (this) purpose'.

ap·sa·ra (also ap·sa·ras ) n. (pl. -ras or -ra·ses ) [HINDU MYTHOLOGY] a celestial nymph, typically the consort of a gandharva or heavenly musician.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi , from Sanskrit .

apse n. 1 a large semicircular or polygonal recess in a church, arched or with a domed roof, typically at the eastern end, and usually containing the altar.

2 another term for APSIS.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·si·dal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (sense 2): from Latin apsis (see APSIS).

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APSIS ■

APSIS ■

ap·sis n. (pl. -si·des ) either of two points on the orbit of a planet or satellite that are nearest to or furthest from the body around which it moves.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·si·dal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting the orbit of a planet): via Latin from Greek apsis, hapsis 'arch, vault', perhaps from haptein 'fasten, join'.

apt adj. 1 appropriate or suitable in the circumstances: an apt description of her nature.

2 [predic.] (apt to do something) having a tendency to do something: she was apt to confuse the past with the present.

3 quick to learn: he proved an apt scholar.

<DERIVATIVES> apt·ly adv. apt·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'suited, appropriate'): from Latin aptus 'fitted', past participle of apere 'fasten'.

apt. abbr.
- apartment.

- aptitude.

ap·ter·ous adj. [ENTOMOLOGY] (of an insects) having no wings.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Greek apteros (from a- 'without' + pteron 'wing') + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

Ap·ter·y·go·ta [ENTOMOLOGY] a group of insects that includes the bristletails and springtails. They have a primitive body form that lacks wings and typically have no distinct larval stage. Compare with PTERYGOTA.
<INFO>  Subclass Apterygota, class Insecta (or Hexapoda): several orders, some of which are sometimes not included with the Insecta.

<DERIVATIVES> ap·ter·y·gote n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin Apterygota, from Greek a- 'not' + 'winged'.

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PTERYGOTA ■

ap·ti·tude 1 n. (abbr.: apt.) (often aptitude for) a natural ability to do something: he had a remarkable aptitude for learning words.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a natural tendency: his natural aptitude for failure.

2 ARCHAIC suitability or fitness: aptitude of expression.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin aptitudo, from aptus (see APT).

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APT ■

ap·ti·tude test n. a test designed to determine a person's ability in a particular skill or field of knowledge.

APU abbr. auxiliary power unit, a device used on aircraft to provide power while on the ground and to start the main engines.

Ap·u·le·ius (born c.AD 123), Roman writer; born in Africa. He wrote Metamorphoses (The Golden Ass).

A·pus [ASTRONOMY] a faint southern constellation, the Bird of Paradise, close to the south celestial pole.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Ap·o·dis ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars: the star Beta Apodis.

<ORIGIN> Latin, denoting a kind of bird, from Greek apous.

A·qa·ba Jordan's only port, at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba; pop. 40,000.

A·qa·ba, Gulf of part of the Red Sea that extends northward between the Sinai and Arabian peninsulas.

aq·ua n. a light bluish-green color; aquamarine: houses of yellow and aqua | [as adj.] aqua blue.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: abbreviation of AQUAMARINE.

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AQUAMARINE ■

aqua- comb. form relating to water: aquaculture.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to water sports or aquatic entertainment: aquacade.

<ORIGIN> from Latin aqua 'water'.

aq·ua·cade n. a spectacle involving swimming and diving, usually with musical accompaniment.

aq·ua·cul·ture n. [BOTANY] the rearing of aquatic animals or the cultivation of aquatic plants for food.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin aqua 'water' + CULTURE, on the pattern of words such as agriculture.

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CULTURE ■

aq·ua for·tis n. archaic term for NITRIC ACID.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin, literally 'strong water'.

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NITRIC ACID ■

aq·ua·lung n. a portable breathing apparatus for divers, consisting of cylinders of compressed air strapped on the diver's back, feeding air automatically through a mask or mouthpiece.

■ v. [intrans.] DATED swim underwater using such an apparatus.

<ORIGIN> 1950s (originally a proprietary name in the U.S.): from Latin aqua 'water' + LUNG.

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LUNG ■

aq·ua·ma·rine n. a precious stone consisting of a light bluish-green variety of beryl.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a light bluish-green color: the aquamarine of the Atlantic Ocean | [as adj.] the aquamarine water.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Latin aqua marina 'seawater'.

aq·ua·naut n. a person who swims underwater using an aqualung.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin aqua 'water' + Greek 'sailor'.

aq·ua·plane n. a board for riding on water, pulled by a speedboat.

■ v. [intrans.] [often as n.] (aquaplaning) ride standing on an aquaplane.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a vehicle) slide uncontrollably on a wet surface: the plane is believed to have aquaplaned on the runway.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent. (originally U.S.): from Latin aqua 'water' + PLANE^1 .

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PLANE ■

aq·ua re·gi·a n. [CHEMISTRY] a mixture of concentrated nitric and hydrochloric acids. It is a highly corrosive liquid that will dissolve gold and other resistant substances.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: Latin, literally 'royal water'.

aq·ua·relle n. a style of painting using thin, typically transparent, watercolors.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a painting in such a style.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from Italian acquarella 'watercolor', diminutive of acqua, from Latin aqua 'water'.

A·quar·i·an [ASTROLOGY] n. a person born under the sign of Aquarius.

■ adj. of or relating to people born under the sign of Aquarius.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to the Age of Aquarius or the New Age.

a·quar·ist n. a person who keeps an aquarium.

a·quar·i·um n. (pl. -i·ums or -i·a ) a transparent tank of water in which fish and other water creatures and plants are kept.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a building containing such tanks, esp. one that is open to the public.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin, neuter of aquarius 'of water', on the pattern of vivarium.

A·quar·i·us 1 [ASTRONOMY] a large constellation, the Water-carrier or Water-bearer, said to represent a man pouring water from a jar. It contains no bright stars but has several planetary nebulae.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (A·quar·i·i ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars: the star Alpha Aquarii.

2 [ASTROLOGY] the eleventh sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about January 21.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (an Aquarius) a person born when the sun is in this sign.

<PHRASES> Age of Aquarius an age that the world has just entered or is about to enter, believed by some to signal a period of peace and harmony.

<ORIGIN> Latin aquarius 'of water', used as a noun to mean 'water carrier'.

a·quat·ic adj. of or relating to water.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a plant or animal) growing or living in or near water: the bay could support aquatic life.

- (of a sport) played in or on water.

- (of a shop or dealer) specializing in products for ponds or aquariums.

■ n. 1 an aquatic plant or animal, typically one suitable for a pond or aquarium.

2 (aquatics) sports played in or on water.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the sense 'watery, rainy'): from Old French aquatique or Latin aquaticus, from aqua 'water'.

aq·ua·tint n. a print resembling a watercolor, produced from a copper plate etched with nitric acid.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the technique or process of making pictures in such a way.

■ v. [trans.] create (a scene or picture) in such a way.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French aquatinte, from Italian acqua tinta 'colored water'.

aq·ua·vit (also ak·va·vit ) n. an alcoholic spirit made from potatoes or other starchy plants.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish akvavit (see AQUA VITAE).

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AQUA VITAE ■

aq·ua vi·tae n. strong alcoholic spirit, esp. brandy.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, literally 'water of life'; compare with AQUAVIT, EAU-DE-VIE, USQUEBAUGH, and WHISKEY.

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AQUAVIT ■

EAU-DE-VIE ■

USQUEBAUGH ■

WHISKEY ■

aq·ue·duct n. an artificial channel for conveying water, typically in the form of a bridge supported by tall columns across a valley.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ANATOMY] a small canal containing fluid.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from obsolete French (now aqueduc), from Latin aquae ductus 'conduit', from aqua 'water' + ducere 'to lead'.

a·que·ous adj. of or containing water, typically as a solvent or medium: an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE like water; watery: a great hall of aqueous marble.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin aqueus, from Latin aqua 'water'.

a·que·ous hu·mor n. the clear fluid filling the space in the front of the eyeball between the lens and the cornea. Compare with VITREOUS HUMOR.

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VITREOUS HUMOR ■

A·quid·neck the former name of Rhode Island, the largest island in Narragansett Bay, part of the state of Rhode Island.

aq·ui·fer n. a body of permeable rock that can contain or transmit groundwater.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Latin aqui- (from aqua 'water') + -fer 'bearing' (from ferre 'to bear').

A·quil·a [ASTRONOMY] a small northern constellation, the Eagle, said to represent the eagle that carried Ganymede to Olympus. It contains the bright star Altair, and some rich star fields of the Milky Way.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (A·quil·ae ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars: the star Beta Aquilae.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

aq·ui·le·gi·a n. a plant of the buttercup family, bearing showy flowers with backward-pointing spurs. Native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, it is widely grown in gardens.
<INFO>  Genus Aquilegia, family Ranunculaceae. See also COLUMBINE.

<ORIGIN> from medieval Latin, probably from Latin aquilegus 'water collecting'.

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COLUMBINE ■

aq·ui·line adj. like an eagle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person's nose) hooked or curved like an eagle's beak.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin aquilinus, from aquila 'eagle'.

A·qui·nas, St. Thom·as (1225-74), Italian philosopher, theologian, and Dominican friar; known as the Angelic Doctor. He is regarded as the greatest figure of scholasticism. One of his most important achievements was the introduction of the work of Aristotle to Christian western Europe. His works include commentaries on Aristotle as well as the Summa Contra Gentiles and Summa Theologiae. Feast day, January 28.

A·qui·no (Maria) Corazón (1933-), Filipino stateswoman and president 1986-92.

Aq·ui·taine 1 a region and former province in southwestern France, on the Bay of Biscay. It became an English possession as a result of the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry II in 1152 and remained so until 1453.

Aq·ui·taine 2 , Eleanor of, see ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE.

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ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE ■

a·quiv·er adj. [predic.] quivering; trembling: her face aquiver with pleasure.

AR abbr.
- (also A/R) accounts receivable.

- Arkansas (in official postal use).

- Army Regulation.

- Autonomous Republic.

Ar symbol the chemical element argon.

ar- prefix variant spelling of AD- assimilated before r (as in arrive, arrogate).

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AD- ■

-ar 1 suffix 1 (forming adjectives) of the kind specified; relating to: lunar; molecular.

2 forming nouns such as scholar.

<ORIGIN> from Old French -aire, -ier, or from Latin -aris.

-ar 2 suffix forming nouns such as pillar.

<ORIGIN> from French -er or representing Latin -ar, -are (neuter of -aris).

-ar 3 suffix forming nouns such as bursar, vicar.

<ORIGIN> from Old French -aire, -ier, or from Latin -arius, -arium.

-ar 4 suffix alteration of -ER^1 , -OR^1 (as in beggar, liar).

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-ER ■

-OR ■

A·ra [ASTRONOMY] a small and faint southern constellation, the Altar, in the Milky Way near Scorpius.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (A·rae ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars: the star Delta Arae.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

Ar·ab n. 1 a member of a Semitic people, originally from the Arabian peninsula and neighboring territories, inhabiting much of the Middle East and North Africa.

2 an Arabian horse.

■ adj. of or relating to Arabia and the people of Arabia: Arab countries.

<ORIGIN> from French Arabe, via Latin and Greek from Arabic .

<USAGE>
See usage at ARABIAN.

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ARABIAN ■

ar·a·besque n. 1 an ornamental design consisting of intertwined flowing lines, originally found in Arabic or Moorish decoration: [as adj.] arabesque scrolls.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MUSIC] a passage or composition with fanciful ornamentation of the melody.

2 [BALLET] a posture in which the body is supported on one leg, with the other leg extended horizontally backward.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian arabesco 'in the Arabic style', from arabo 'Arab'.

A·ra·bi·a (also Arabian peninsula) a peninsula in southwestern Asia, largely desert, that lies between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf and is bounded on the north by Jordan and Iraq. The original homeland of the Arabs and the historic center of Islam, it comprises the states of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

A·ra·bi·an adj. HISTORICAL of or relating to Arabia or Arabs.

■ n. HISTORICAL 1 a native or inhabitant of Arabia.

2 (also Arabian horse) a horse of a breed originating in Arabia, with a distinctive dished face and high-set tail.

<USAGE>
Arab is now generally used in reference to people; the use of Arabian in this sense is historical.

A·ra·bi·an cam·el n. the domesticated one-humped camel, probably native to the deserts of North Africa and southwestern Asia. See also DROMEDARY.
<INFO>  Camelus dromedarius, family Camelidae.

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DROMEDARY ■

A·ra·bi·an Des·ert a desert in eastern Egypt, between the Nile River and the Red Sea. Also called EASTERN DESERT.

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EASTERN DESERT ■

A·ra·bi·an Gulf another name for PERSIAN GULF.

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PERSIAN GULF ■

A·ra·bi·an Nights a collection of stories and romances written in Arabic. The stories include the tales of Aladdin and Sinbad the Sailor. Also called the THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS.

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THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS ■

A·ra·bi·an pen·in·su·la another name for ARABIA.

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ARABIA ■

A·ra·bi·an Sea the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean, between Arabia and India.

Ar·a·bic n. the Semitic language of the Arabs, spoken by some 150 million people throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

■ adj. of or relating to the literature or language of Arab people.

Arabic is written from right to left in a characteristic cursive script of twenty-eight consonants, the vowels being indicated by additional signs. The script has been adapted for various languages, including Persian, Urdu, Malay, and (formerly) Turkish.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Latin from Greek arabikos, from Araps, Arab- 'Arab'.

a·rab·i·ca n. 1 coffee from the most widely grown kind of coffee plant.

2 the bush of the bedstraw family that produces these beans, native to the Old World tropics.
<INFO>  Coffea arabica, family Rubiaceae.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Latin, feminine of arabicus (see ARABIC).

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ARABIC ■

Ar·a·bic nu·mer·al n. any of the numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Arabic numerals reached western Europe through Arabia, replacing Roman numerals, by about AD 1200, but probably originated in India.

a·rab·i·nose n. [CHEMISTRY] a sugar of the pentose class that is a constituent of many plant gums.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from arabin, a carbohydrate derived from gum arabic, ( based on GUM ARABIC + -IN^1 ) + -OSE^2 .

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GUM ARABIC ■

-IN ■

-OSE ■

ar·a·bis n. a low-growing herbaceous plant that typically bears white or pink flowers and is frequently grown in rock gardens. Also called ROCK CRESS.
<INFO>  Genus Arabis, family Brassicaceae.

<ORIGIN> via medieval Latin from Greek, feminine of Araps, Arab- (see ARAB).

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ROCK CRESS ■

ARAB ■

Ar·ab·ism n. 1 Arab culture or identity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> support for Arab nationalism or political interests.

2 an Arabic linguistic usage, word, or phrase.

Ar·ab·ist n. a person who studies Arabic civilization or language.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who supports Arab nationalism or political interests.

Ar·ab·ize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (Arabized) give (someone or something) an Arab or Arabic character: an Arabized script.

<DERIVATIVES> Ar·ab·i·za·tion n.

ar·a·ble adj. (of land) used or suitable for growing crops.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of crops) able to be grown on such land.

- concerned with growing such crops: arable farming.

■ n. land or crops of this type.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin arabilis, from arare 'to plow'.

A·ra·ca·jú a port in eastern Brazil, on the Atlantic coast; pop. 404,828.

a·ra·ca·ri n. (pl. -ris) a small toucan with a serrated bill, and typically with a green back and wings, yellow underside, and red rump.
<INFO>  Genus Pteroglossus, family Ramphastidae: several species.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: via Portuguese from Tupi arasa'ri.

ar·a·chi·don·ic ac·id n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a polyunsaturated fatty acid present in animal fats. It is important in metabolism, esp. in the synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, and is an essential constituent of the diet.
<INFO>  Alternative name: eicosa-5,8,11,14-enoic acid; chem. formula: C_19H_31COOH.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: arachidonic formed irregularly from arachidic (a saturated fatty acid) + -ONE + -IC.

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-ONE ■

-IC ■

A·rach·ne [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a woman of Colophon in Lydia, a skillful weaver who challenged Athena to a contest. Athena destroyed Arachne's work and Arachne tried to hang herself, but Athena changed her into a spider.

<ORIGIN> from Greek 'spider'.

A·rach·ni·da [ZOOLOGY] a class of chelicerate arthropods that includes spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks. They have become adapted for a terrestrial life and possess book lungs and tracheae, and many have silk or poison glands.

<DERIVATIVES> a·rach·nid n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek 'spider'.

a·rach·noid adj. like a spider or arachnid.

■ n. (also arachnoid membrane or arachnoid mater) [ANATOMY] a fine, delicate membrane, the middle one of the three membranes or meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord, situated between the dura mater and the pia mater.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin arachnoides, from Greek 'like a cobweb', from 'spider'.

a·rach·no·pho·bi·a n. extreme or irrational fear of spiders.

<DERIVATIVES> a·rach·no·phobe n. a·rach·no·pho·bic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: modern Latin, from Greek 'spider' + -PHOBIA.

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-PHOBIA ■

Ar·a·fat Yasser (1929-2004 ), Palestinian statesman, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization from 1968 and Palestinian president 1996-2004. Nobel Peace Prize (1994, shared with Israel’s Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres).

A·ra·fu·ra Sea a sea that lies between northern Australia and eastern Indonesia and New Guinea.

A·ra·gon 1 an autonomous region in northeastern Spain, bounded on the north by the Pyrenees and on the east by Catalonia and Valencia; capital, Saragossa. Formerly an independent kingdom, it was united with Catalonia in 1137 and with Castile in 1479.

A·ra·gon 2 , Catherine of, see CATHERINE OF ARAGON.

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CATHERINE OF ARAGON ■

a·rag·o·nite n. a mineral consisting of calcium carbonate, typically occurring in white seashells and as colorless prisms in deposits in hot springs.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from the place name ARAGON^1 + -ITE^1 .

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ARAGON ■

-ITE ■

ar·ak n. variant spelling of ARRACK.

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ARRACK ■

a·ra·li·a n. a plant of a diverse group of trees and shrubs of the ginseng family, native to America and Asia. Several kinds are cultivated for their foliage and profusion of tiny flowers, and some are used in herbal medicine.
<INFO>  Genus Aralia, family Araliaceae: several species, including the bristly sarsaparilla (A. hispida).

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, of unknown origin.

Ar·al Sea an inland sea in central Asia, on the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Its area was reduced by one-third and serious environmental consequences resulted between 1960 and 1990 after water was diverted for irrigation.

Ar·a·mae·an n. a member of an ancient Aramaic-speaking people inhabiting Aram (modern Syria) and part of Babylonia in the 11th-8th centuries BC.

■ adj. of or relating to Aram or the Aramaeans.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Aramaeus (from Greek Aramaios: see ARAMAIC) + -AN.

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ARAMAIC ■

-AN ■

Ar·a·ma·ic n. a Semitic language, a Syrian dialect of which was used as a lingua franca in the Near East from the 6th century BC. It gradually replaced Hebrew as the language of the Jews in those areas and was itself supplanted by Arabic in the 7th century AD.

■ adj. of or in this language.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek Aramaios 'of Aram' (the biblical name of Syria) + -IC.

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-IC ■

ar·a·me n. an edible Pacific seaweed with broad brown leaves, used in Japanese cooking.
<INFO>  Ecklonia bicyclis, class Phaeophyceae.

ar·a·mid n. any of a class of synthetic polymers, related to nylon, that yield fibers of exceptional strength and thermal stability.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from ar(omatic) + (poly)amid(e).

Ar·an adj. denoting a type of knitwear with traditional patterns, typically involving a raised cable stitch and large diamond designs.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from the ARAN ISLANDS.

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ARAN ISLANDS ■

a·ra·ne·id n. [ZOOLOGY] an invertebrate of an order that comprises the spiders.
<INFO>  Order Araneae, in particular the family Araneidae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Araneida (former order name), from aranea 'spider'.

Ar·an Is·lands three islands, Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer, located off the west coast of the Republic of Ireland.

A·ran·ya·ka n. each of a set of Hindu sacred treatises based on the Brahmanas, composed in Sanskrit c.700 BC. Intended only for initiates, the Aranyakas contain mystical and philosophical material and explications of esoteric rites.

A·rap·a·ho n. 1 (pl. same or -hos) a member of a North American Indian people living chiefly on the Great Plains, esp. in Wyoming.

2 the Algonquian language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> from Crow aaraxpéahu, probably literally 'those having many tattoo marks'.

ar·a·pai·ma n. a large, long edible freshwater fish native to tropical South America.
<INFO>  Arapaima gigas, family Osteoglossidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Tupi.

Ar·a·rat, Mount two volcanic peaks in eastern Turkey, near the borders with Armenia and Iran. The higher peak, which rises to 16,946 feet (5,165 m), is the traditional site of the resting place of Noah's ark after the Flood (Gen. 8:4).

a·ra·tion·al adj. not based on or governed by reason.

Ar·au·ca·ni·an n. 1 a member of a group of South American Indian peoples of Chile and adjacent parts of Argentina, of which the only people that has a surviving cultural identity is the Mapuche.

2 the family of languages spoken by this people.

■ adj. relating to or denoting this people or their language. See also MAPUCHE.

<ORIGIN> from Spanish Araucania, a region in Chile, + -AN.

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MAPUCHE ■

-AN ■

ar·au·car·i·a n. an evergreen conifer of a genus that includes the monkey puzzle and the Norfolk Island pine, having stiff sharp leaves.
<INFO>  Genus Araucaria, family Araucariaceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Spanish Arauco, the name of a province of Araucania, Chile.

Ar·a·wak n. (pl. same or -waks) 1 a member of a native people originally of the Greater Antilles and adjacent South America, now living mainly in Guiana. They were forced out of the Antilles by the more warlike Caribs shortly before Spanish expansion in the Caribbean.

2 any of the Arawakan languages of these peoples.

■ adj. designating or relating to this people or their languages.

Ar·a·wak·an adj. 1 of or relating to the Arawak people.

2 denoting or belonging to a widely scattered family of South American Indian languages, most of which are now extinct or nearly so.

■ n. this family of languages.

arb n. INFORMAL short for ARBITRAGEUR.

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ARBITRAGEUR ■

ar·ba·lest n. HISTORICAL a crossbow with a special mechanism for drawing back and releasing the string.

<ORIGIN> Old English arblast, from Old French arbaleste, from late Latin arcubalista, from Latin arcus 'bow' + ballista (see BALLISTA).

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BALLISTA ■

ar·bi·ter n. a person who settles a dispute or has ultimate authority in a matter: the military acted as arbiter of conflicts between political groups.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (usu. arbiter of) a person whose views or actions have great influence over trends in social behavior: an arbiter of taste.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, 'judge, supreme ruler'.

ar·bi·ter e·le·gan·ti·a·rum (also ar·bi·ter e·le·gan·ti·ae ) n. a judge of artistic taste and etiquette.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: Latin, 'judge of elegance', used by Tacitus to describe PETRONIUS, arbiter of taste at Nero's court.

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PETRONIUS ■

ar·bi·trage n. the simultaneous buying and selling of securities, currency, or commodities in different markets or in derivative forms in order to take advantage of differing prices for the same asset.

■ v. [intrans.] buy and sell assets in such a way.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally denoting the exercise of individual judgment): from French, from arbitrer 'give judgment', from Latin arbitrari (see ARBITRATE). The current sense dates from the late 19th cent.

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ARBITRATE ■

ar·bi·tra·geur (also ar·bi·tra·ger ) n. a person who engages in arbitrage.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, from arbitrer 'give judgment', from Latin arbitrari (see ARBITRATE).

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ARBITRATE ■

ar·bi·tral adj. [attrib.] relating to or resulting from the use of an arbitrator to settle a dispute.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from late Latin arbitralis, from arbiter 'judge, supreme ruler'.

ar·bit·ra·ment n. the settling of a dispute by an arbitrator.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an authoritative decision made by an arbitrator.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French arbitrement, from medieval Latin arbitramentum, from arbitrari (see ARBITRATE).

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ARBITRATE ■

ar·bi·trar·y adj. based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system: his mealtimes were entirely arbitrary.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of power or a ruling body) unrestrained and autocratic in the use of authority: arbitrary rule by King and bishops has been made impossible.

- [MATHEMATICS] (of a constant or other quantity) of unspecified value.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·bi·trar·i·ly adv. ar·bi·trar·i·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'dependent on one's will or pleasure, discretionary'): from Latin arbitrarius, from arbiter 'judge, supreme ruler', perhaps influenced by French arbitraire.

ar·bi·trate v. [intrans.] (of an independent person or body) reach an authoritative judgment or settlement: the board has the power to arbitrate in disputes | [trans.] it set up a commission to arbitrate border tensions.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin arbitrat- 'judged', from arbitrari, from arbiter 'judge, supreme ruler'.

ar·bi·tra·tion n. the use of an arbitrator to settle a dispute.

<PHRASES> go to arbitration submit a dispute to an arbitrator.

ar·bi·tra·tor n. an independent person or body officially appointed to settle a dispute.

ar·bor 1 n. an axle or spindle on which something revolves.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a device holding a tool in a lathe.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French arbre 'tree, axis'. The spelling change was due to association with Latin arbor 'tree'.

ar·bor 2 (BRIT. ar·bour) n. a shady garden alcove with sides and a roof formed by trees or climbing plants trained over a wooden framework.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (also denoting a lawn or flower bed): from Old French erbier, from erbe 'grass, herb', from Latin herba. The phonetic change to ar- (common in words having er- before a consonant) was assisted by association with Latin arbor 'tree'.

Ar·bor Day n. a day dedicated annually to public tree-planting in the U.S., Australia, and other countries. It is usually observed in late April or early May.

<ORIGIN> from Latin arbor 'tree'.

ar·bo·re·al adj. (chiefly of animals) living in trees: arboreal rodents.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to trees.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·bo·re·al·i·ty n..

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin arboreus, from arbor 'tree', + -AL.

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-AL ■

ar·bo·res·cent adj. [CHIEFLY BOTANY] treelike in growth or appearance: arborescent ferns.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·bo·res·cence n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin arborescent- 'growing into a tree', from arborescere, from arbor 'tree'.

ar·bo·re·tum n. (pl. -re·tums or -re·ta ) a botanical garden devoted to trees.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin, 'a place with trees', from arbor 'tree' + -ETUM.

ar·bor·i·cul·ture n. the cultivation of trees and shrubs.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·bor·i·cul·tur·al adj. ar·bor·i·cul·tur·ist n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin arbor 'tree' + CULTURE, on the pattern of words such as agriculture.

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CULTURE ■

Ar·bo·ri·o (also ar·bo·ri·o) n. a variety of round-grained rice produced in Italy and used in making risotto.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

ar·bor·i·za·tion n. [ANATOMY] a fine branching structure at the end of a nerve fiber.

ar·bor vi·tae (also ar·bor·vi·tae) n. 1 a North American and eastern Asian evergreen coniferous tree of the cypress family.
<INFO>  Genus Thuja, family Cupressaceae: several species, in particular the northern white cedar (see WHITE CEDAR).

2 the arborescent appearance of the white matter in a vertical section of the cerebellum.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin, literally 'tree of life', probably with reference to its medicinal use.

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WHITE CEDAR ■

ar·bour n. British spelling of ARBOR^2 .

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ARBOR ■

ar·bo·vi·rus n. [MEDICINE] any of a group of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, or other arthropods. They include encephalitis, dengue, and yellow fever.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from ar(thropod)-bo(rne) + VIRUS.

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VIRUS ■

Ar·bus Diane (1923-71), U.S. photographer. She is best known for her disturbing images of people, esp. the poor or unusual, on city streets.

Ar·buth·not John (1667-1735), Scottish physician and writer. His satirical History of John Bull (1712) was the origin of John Bull as the personification of the typical Englishman.

ar·bu·tus n. either of two evergreen plants of the family Ericaceae (heath family):
<INFO>
- a tree or shrub of the genus Arbutus, which includes the strawberry tree.

- (in full trailing arbutus) a North American trailing plant that bears pink or white flowers (Epigaea repens). Also called MAYFLOWER.

<ORIGIN> from Latin.

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MAYFLOWER ■

ARC abbr.
- [MEDICINE] AIDS-related complex.

- American Red Cross.

arc n. 1 a part of the circumference of a circle or other curve.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a curved shape, or something shaped like a curve: the huge arc of the sky.

- a curving trajectory: he swung his flashlight in a wide arc.

- [as adj.] [MATHEMATICS] indicating the inverse of a trigonometrical function. <ORIGIN> from the former method of defining trigonometrical functions by arcs.

2 (also electric arc) a luminous electrical discharge between two electrodes or other points.

■ v. (arced; arc·ing) [intrans.] 1 [with adverbial of direction] move with a curving trajectory: the ball arced across the room.

2 [usu. as n.] (arcing) form an electric arc: check that switches operate properly with no sign of arcing.

<PHRASES>
□ minute of arc see MINUTE^1 (sense 2).

□ second of arc see SECOND^2 (sense 2).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the path of a celestial object, esp. the sun, from horizon to horizon): via Old French from Latin arcus 'bow, curve'.

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MINUTE ■

SECOND ■

ar·cade n. 1 a covered passageway with arches along one or both sides.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a covered walk with stores along one or both sides.

- [ARCHITECTURE] a series of arches supporting a wall, or set along it.

2 short for VIDEO ARCADE.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·cad·ed adj. ar·cad·ing n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, from Provençal arcada or Italian arcata, based on Latin arcus 'bow' (see ARC).

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VIDEO ARCADE ■

ARC ■

Ar·ca·di·a 1 a mountainous district in the Peloponnese of southern Greece. In poetic fantasy it represents a pastoral paradise, and in Greek mythology it is the home of Pan.

2 a city in southwestern California, northeast of Los Angeles; pop. 48,290. The Santa Anita racetrack is here.

Ar·ca·di·an n. a native of Arcadia.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY an idealized country dweller.

■ adj. of or relating to Arcadia.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY of or relating to an ideal rustic paradise.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin Arcadius, from Greek Arkadia (see ARCADIA).

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ARCADIA ■

Ar·ca·dy n. POETIC/LITERARY an ideal rustic paradise.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Greek Arkadia (see ARCADIA).

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ARCADIA ■

ar·ca·na plural n. [treated as sing. or pl.] (sing. -num ) secrets or mysteries: his knowledge of federal budget arcana is legendary.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [treated as sing.] either of the two groups of cards in a tarot pack: the twenty-two trump cards (the major arcana) and the fifty-six suit cards (the minor arcana).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin, neuter plural of arcanus (see ARCANE).

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ARCANE ■

ar·cane adj. understood by few; mysterious or secret: modern math and its arcane notation.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·cane·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin arcanus, from arcere 'to shut up', from arca 'chest'.

Ar·ca·ro Eddie (1916-), U.S. jockey; full name George Edward Arcaro. He was the first two-time Triple Crown winner, riding Whirlaway in 1941 and Citation in 1948.

Arc de Tri·omphe a ceremonial arch standing at the top of the Champs Élysées in Paris, commissioned by Napoleon to commemorate his victories in 1805-06. Inspired by the Arch of Constantine in Rome, it was completed in 1836.

arc fur·nace n. a furnace that uses an electric arc as a heat source, esp. for steelmaking.

arch 1 n. a curved symmetrical structure spanning an opening and typically supporting the weight of a bridge, roof, or wall above it.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a structure of this type forming a passageway or a ceremonial monument: a triumphal arch.

- a shape resembling such a structure or a thing with such a shape: the delicate arch of his eyebrows.

- the inner side of the foot.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] have the curved shape of an arch: a beautiful bridge that arched over a canal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> form or cause to form the curved shape of an arch: [intrans.] her eyebrows arched in surprise | [trans.] she arched her back.

2 [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (arched) provide (a bridge, building, or part of a building) with an arch: high arched windows.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY span (something) by or as if by an arch: the vine arched his evening seat.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French arche, based on Latin arcus 'bow' (see ARC).

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ARC ■

arch 2 adj. deliberately or affectedly playful and teasing: arch observations about even the most mundane matters.

<DERIVATIVES> arch·ly adv. arch·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'chief, principal'): from ARCH-, because of its association with words such as rogue.

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ARCH- ■

arch- comb. form chief; principal: archbishop.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- preeminent of its kind: archenemy.

- (in unfavorable senses) out-and-out: arch-scoundrel.

<ORIGIN> via Latin from Greek arkhi-, from arkhos 'chief'.

ar·chae·a plural n. another term for ARCHAEBACTERIA.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·chae·an adj. & n.

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ARCHAEBACTERIA ■

Ar·chae·an adj. British spelling of ARCHEAN.

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ARCHEAN ■

ar·chae·bac·te·ri·a plural n. (sing. -te·ri·um ) [BIOLOGY] microorganisms that are similar to bacteria in size and simplicity of structure but radically different in molecular organization. They are now believed to constitute an ancient intermediate group between the bacteria and eukaryotes. Also called ARCHAEA.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·chae·bac·te·ri·al adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek arkhaios 'primitive'.

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ARCHAEA ■

archaeo- (also archeo-) comb. form relating to archaeology or prehistoric times: archaeoastronony; archaeomagnetism.

<ORIGIN> from Greek arkhaios 'ancient', from 'beginning'.

ar·chae·o·as·tron·o·my n. the investigation of the astronomical knowledge of prehistoric cultures. Also called ASTROARCHAEOLOGY.

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ASTROARCHAEOLOGY ■

ar·chae·ol·o·gy (also ar·che·ol·o·gy) n. the study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·chae·o·log·ic adj. ar·chae·o·log·i·cal adj. ar·chae·o·log·i·cal·ly adv. ar·chae·ol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'ancient history'): from modern Latin archaeologia, from Greek arkhaiologia 'ancient history', from arkhaios 'ancient' (see ARCHAEO-). The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

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ARCHAEO- ■

ar·chae·op·ter·yx n. the oldest known fossil bird, of the late Jurassic period. It had feathers, wings, and hollow bones like a bird, but teeth, a bony tail, and legs like a small coelurosaur dinosaur.
<INFO>  Archaeopteryx lithographica, subclass Archaeornithes.

<ORIGIN> from Greek arkhaios 'ancient' (see ARCHAEO-) + pterux 'wing'.

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ARCHAEO- ■

ar·cha·ic adj. very old or old-fashioned: prisons are run on archaic methods. See note at OLD.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a word or a style of language) no longer in everyday use but sometimes used to impart an old-fashioned flavor.

- of an early period of art or culture, esp. the 7th-6th centuries BC in Greece: the archaic temple at Corinth.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·cha·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French archaïque, from Greek arkhaikos, from arkhaios, from 'beginning'.

ar·cha·ism n. a thing that is very old or old-fashioned.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an archaic word or style of language or art.

- the use or conscious imitation of very old or old-fashioned styles or features in language or art.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·cha·is·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin archaismus, from Greek arkhaismos, from arkhaizein 'imitate archaic styles', from arkhaios 'ancient', from 'beginning'.

ar·cha·iz·ing adj. consciously imitating a word or a style of language or art that is very old or old-fashioned: some archaizing poetry.

Arch·an·gel a port in northwestern Russia, on the White Sea; pop. 419,000. It is named after the monastery of the Archangel Michael that is situated here. Russian name ARKHANGELSK.

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ARKHANGELSK ■

arch·an·gel n. an angel of high rank.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in traditional Christian angelology, a being of the eighth order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.

<DERIVATIVES> arch·an·gel·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English, from Anglo-Norman French archangele, via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek arkhangelos, from arkhi- 'chief' + angelos 'messenger, angel'.

arch·bish·op n. the chief bishop responsible for an archdiocese.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from ARCH- 'chief' + biscop (see BISHOP), replacing earlier heah-biscop 'high bishop'.

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ARCH- ■

BISHOP ■

arch·bish·op·ric n. the office of an archbishop.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an archdiocese.

<ORIGIN> Old English arcebiscoprice (see ARCH-, BISHOPRIC).

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ARCH- ■

BISHOPRIC ■

arch·dea·con n. a senior Christian cleric (in the early Church a deacon, in the modern Anglican church a priest) to whom a bishop delegates certain responsibilities.

<ORIGIN> Old English arce-, ercediacon, from ecclesiastical Latin archidiaconus, from ecclesiastical Greek arkhidiakonos, from arkhi- 'chief' + diakonos (see DEACON).

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DEACON ■

arch·dea·con·ry n. (pl. -ries) the office of an archdeacon.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the district for which an archdeacon is responsible.

- the residence of an archdeacon.

arch·di·o·cese n. the district for which an archbishop is responsible.

<DERIVATIVES> arch·di·oc·e·san adj.

arch·duch·ess n. HISTORICAL the wife or widow of an archduke.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a daughter of the emperor of Austria.

arch·duke n. HISTORICAL a son of the emperor of Austria.

<DERIVATIVES> arch·du·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Old French archeduc, from Merovingian Latin archidux, archiduc-, from archi- 'chief' + dux, duc- (see DUKE).

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DUKE ■

Ar·che·an (BRIT. Ar·chae·an) adj. [GEOLOGY] of, relating to, or denoting the eon that constitutes the earlier (or middle) part of the Precambrian, in which there was no life on earth. It precedes the Proterozoic eon. Also called AZOIC.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (the Archean) the Archean eon or the system of rocks deposited during it.

The Archean extended from the origin of the earth (see PRECAMBRIAN) to about 2,500 million years ago. In models that include the Priscoan eon, the Archean began about 4,000 million years ago.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek arkhaios 'ancient' + -AN.

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AZOIC ■

PRECAMBRIAN ■

-AN ■

ar·che·go·ni·um n. (pl. -ni·a ) [BOTANY] the female sex organ in mosses, liverworts, ferns, and most conifers.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek arkhegonos, from arkhe- 'first' + gonos 'race'.

arch·en·e·my n. a person who is extremely hostile or opposed to someone or something: the twins were archenemies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Archenemy) the Devil.

arch·en·ter·on n. [EMBRYOLOGY] the rudimentary alimentary cavity of an embryo at the gastrula stage.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'beginning' + enteron 'intestine'.

archeo- comb. form variant spelling of ARCHAEO-.

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ARCHAEO- ■

ar·che·ol·o·gy n. variant of ARCHAEOLOGY.

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ARCHAEOLOGY ■

arch·er n. a person who shoots with a bow and arrows, esp. at a target for sport.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Archer) the zodiacal sign or constellation Sagittarius.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French archier, based on Latin arcus 'bow'.

ar·cher·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a freshwater fish that knocks insect prey off overhanging vegetation by spitting water at it. It is native to Asia, Australia, and the Philippines.
<INFO>  Genus Toxotes, family Toxotidae: several species, in particular T. jaculator.

ar·cher·y n. the sport or skill of shooting with a bow and arrows, esp. at a target.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French archerie, from archier (see ARCHER).

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ARCHER ■

arch·es plural n. [treated as sing.] used in names of moths with curving archlike patterns on the wings, such as dark arches.
<INFO>  Several genera in the families Noctuidae and Notodontidae.

ar·che·typ·al adj. very typical of a certain kind of person or thing: the archetypal country doctor.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- recurrent as a symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology: an archetypal journey representing the quest for identity.

- of, relating to, or denoting an original that has been imitated: the archetypal believer, Abraham.

- relating to or denoting Jungian archetypes.

ar·che·type n. a very typical example of a certain person or thing: the book is a perfect archetype of the genre. See note at MODEL.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an original that has been imitated: the archetype of faith is Abraham.

- a recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology: mythological archetypes of good and evil.

- [PSYCHOANALYSIS] (in Jungian psychology) a primitive mental image inherited from the earliest human ancestors, and supposed to be present in the collective unconscious.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·che·typ·i·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek arkhetupon 'something molded first as a model', from arkhe- 'primitive' + tupos 'a model'.

arch·fiend n. POETIC/LITERARY a chief fiend, esp. the Devil.

ar·chi·di·ac·o·nal adj. of or relating to an archdeacon.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·chi·di·ac·o·nate n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin archidiaconalis, from archi- 'chief' + diaconalis (see DIACONAL).

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DIACONAL ■

ar·chi·e·pis·co·pal adj. of or relating to an archbishop.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·chi·e·pis·co·pa·cy n. (pl. -cies) ar·chi·e·pis·co·pate n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek arkhiepiskopos 'archbishop' (from arkhi- 'chief' + episkopos 'bishop') + -AL.

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-AL ■

ar·chil n. archaic spelling of ORCHIL.

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ORCHIL ■

Ar·chil·o·chus (8th or 7th century BC), Greek poet. He is credited with the invention of iambic meter.

ar·chi·man·drite n. the head of a large monastery or group of monasteries in the Orthodox Church.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an honorary title given to a monastic priest.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin, from ecclesiastical Greek , from arkhi- 'chief' + mandra 'monastery'.

Ar·chi·me·de·an screw n. a device invented by Archimedes for raising water by means of a spiral within a tube.

Ar·chi·me·des (c.287-212 BC), Greek mathematician and inventor from Syracuse. He is noted for his discovery of Archimedes' principle (legend has it that he made this discovery while taking a bath and ran through the streets shouting “Eureka!”). Among his mathematical discoveries are the ratio of the radius of a circle to its circumference and formulas for the surface area and volume of a sphere and of a cylinder.

<DERIVATIVES> Ar·chi·me·de·an adj.

Ar·chi·me·des' prin·ci·ple [PHYSICS] a result stating that a body totally or partially immersed in a fluid is subject to an upward force equal in magnitude to the weight of fluid it displaces.

ar·chi·pel·a·go n. (pl. -gos or -goes) a group of islands.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sea or stretch of water containing many islands.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Italian arcipelago, from Greek arkhi- 'chief' + pelagos 'sea'. The word was originally used as a proper name (the Archipelago 'the Aegean Sea'): the generalization of meaning occurred because the Aegean Sea is remarkable for its large numbers of islands.

Ar·chi·pen·ko Aleksandr (Porfirevich) (1887-1964), U.S. sculptor; born in Russia. He adapted cubist techniques to sculpture.

Ar·chi·pié·la·go de Co·lón official Spanish name for GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.

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GALAPAGOS ISLANDS ■

ar·chi·tect n. a person who designs buildings and in many cases also supervises their construction.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who is responsible for inventing or realizing a particular idea or project: a chief architect of the plan to slash income taxes.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be architected) [COMPUTING] design and make: few software packages were architected with Ethernet access in mind.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French architecte, from Italian architetto, via Latin from Greek , from arkhi- 'chief' + 'builder'.

ar·chi·tec·ton·ic adj. of or relating to architecture or architects.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an artistic composition or physical appearance) having a clearly defined structure, esp. one that is artistically pleasing: the painting's architectonic harmony.

■ n. (architectonics) [usu. treated as sing.] the scientific study of architecture.
<SPECIAL USAGE> musical, literary, or artistic structure: the architectonics of Latin prose.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·chi·tec·ton·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek arkhitektonikos, from (see ARCHITECT).

Linked entries:

ARCHITECT ■

ar·chi·tec·ture n. 1 the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the style in which a building is designed or constructed, esp. with regard to a specific period, place, or culture: Victorian architecture.

2 the complex or carefully designed structure of something: the chemical architecture of the human brain.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the conceptual structure and logical organization of a computer or computer-based system: a client/server architecture.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·chi·tec·tur·al adj. ar·chi·tec·tur·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin architectura, from architectus (see ARCHITECT).

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ARCHITECT ■

ar·chi·trave n. 1 (in classical architecture) a main beam resting across the tops of columns, specifically the lower third entablature.

2 the molded frame around a doorway or window.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a molding around the exterior of an arch.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian, from archi- 'chief' + -trave from Latin trabs, trab- 'a beam'.

ar·chive (usu. archives) n. a collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people: source materials in local archives | [as adj.] a section of archive film.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the place where such documents or records are kept: to get into the archives I had to fill in a request form.

■ v. [trans.] place or store (something) in such a collection or place.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [COMPUTING] transfer (data) to a less frequently used storage medium such as magnetic tape, typically external to the computer system and having a greater storage capacity.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·chi·val adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'place where records are kept'): from French archives (plural), from Latin archiva, archia, from Greek arkheia 'public records', from 'government'. The verb dates from the late 19th cent.

ar·chi·vist n. a person who maintains and is in charge of archives.

ar·chi·volt n. a band of molding, resembling an architrave, around the lower curve of an arch.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the lower curve itself from impost to impost of the columns.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French archivolte or Italian archivolto, based on Latin arcus 'bow, arch' + volvere 'to roll'.

arch·lute n. a bass lute with an extended neck and unstopped bass strings.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French archiluth, from archi- 'chief' + luth (see LUTE^1 ).

Linked entries:

LUTE ■

ar·chon n. each of the nine chief magistrates in ancient Athens.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any ruler: rock's archons are disc jockeys and concert promoters.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·chon·ship n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Greek 'ruler', noun use of the present participle of arkhein 'to rule'.

ar·cho·saur (also ar·cho·sau·rus ) n. [ZOOLOGY] & [PALEONTOLOGY] a reptile of a large group that includes the dinosaurs and pterosaurs, represented today only by the crocodilians.
<INFO>  Subdivision Archosauria, subclass Diapsida.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·cho·sau·ri·an adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from modern Latin Archosauria, from Greek arkhos 'chief' or 'ruler' + -SAUR.

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-SAUR ■

arch·priest n. a chief priest.

arch·way n. a curved structure forming a passage or entrance.

arc light (also arc lamp) n. a light source using an electric arc.

arc min·ute n. see MINUTE^1 (sense 2).

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MINUTE ■

arc sec·ond (also second of arc) n. see SECOND^2 (sense 2).

Linked entries:

SECOND ■

arc sine (abbr.: arc·sin) n. a mathematical function that is the inverse of the sine function.

arc tan·gent (abbr.: arctan) n. a mathematical function that is the inverse of the tangent function.

Arc·tic adj. 1 of or relating to the regions around the North Pole: an Arctic explorer.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of animals or plants) living or growing in such regions.

- designed for use in such regions: Arctic clothing.

2 (arctic) INFORMAL (of weather conditions) very cold.

■ n. 1 (the Arctic) the regions around the North Pole.

2 (arc·tics) thick waterproof overshoes extending to the ankle or above.

3 (arctic) a drab-colored hairy butterfly of the arctic and subarctic regions of the New World.
<INFO>  Genus Oenis, subfamily Satyrinae, family Nymphalidae.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin arcticus, articus, from Greek arktikos, from arktos 'bear, Ursa Major, North Star'.

Arc·tic Ar·chi·pel·a·go the name for all of the islands that lie north of mainland Canada and the Arctic Circle. Sparsely populated, they have varied mineral resources and wildlife. Baffin Island is the largest of the group.

Arc·tic char n. see CHAR^4 .

Linked entries:

CHAR ■

Arc·tic Cir·cle the parallel of latitude 66° 33 north of the equator. It marks the northernmost point at which the sun is visible on the northern winter solstice and the southernmost point at which the midnight sun can be seen on the northern summer solstice.

Arc·tic fox n. a fox with a thick coat that turns white in winter, found on the tundra of North America and Eurasia.
<INFO>  Alopex lagopus, family Canidae.

Arc·tic hare n. a hare whose coat turns white in winter, found in the arctic areas of North America.
<INFO>  Lepus arcticus, family Leporidae.

Arc·tic O·cean a sea that surrounds the North Pole and lies within the Arctic Circle. Much of the sea is covered with pack ice throughout the year.

Arc·tic tern n. a red-billed tern that breeds in the Arctic and adjacent areas, migrating to Antarctic regions for the winter.
<INFO>  Sterna paradisaea, family Sternidae.

Arc·tic wil·low (also arc·tic wil·low) n. a shrub, Salix arctica, found in the Canadian tundra.

Arc·to·gae·a (also Arc·to·ge·a) [ZOOLOGY] a major zoogeographical area comprising the Palaearctic, Nearctic, Ethiopian, and Oriental regions.

<DERIVATIVES> Arc·to·gae·an adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek arktos 'northern' + gaia 'earth'.

arc·to·phile n. a person who collects or is very fond of teddy bears.

<DERIVATIVES> arc·to·phil·i·a n. arc·toph·il·ist n. arc·toph·il·y n.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from Greek arktos 'bear' + philos 'loving'.

Arc·tu·rus [ASTRONOMY] the fourth brightest star in the sky, and the brightest in the constellation Boötes. It is an orange giant.

<ORIGIN> from Greek arktos 'bear' + ouros 'guardian' (because of its position in line with the tail of Ursa Major).

ar·cu·ate adj. TECHNICAL shaped like a bow; curved: the arcuate sweep of the chain of islands.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin arcuatus, past participle of arcuare 'to curve', from arcus 'bow, curve'.

ar·cus se·ni·lis n. [MEDICINE] a narrow opaque band encircling the cornea, common in old age.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: Latin, literally 'senile bow'.

arc weld·ing n. a technique in which metals are welded using heat generated by an electric arc.

-ard suffix forming nouns such as bollard, wizard.
<SPECIAL USAGE> forming nouns having a depreciatory sense: drunkard; dullard.

<ORIGIN> Middle English and Old French, from German -hard 'hard, hardy'.

Ar·den Elizabeth (c.1880-1966), U.S. executive in the cosmetics industry; born in Canada; born Florence Nightingale Graham.

Ar·dennes a forested upland region extending over parts of southeastern Belgium, northeastern France, and Luxembourg. It was the scene of fierce fighting in both world wars.

ar·dent adj. enthusiastic or passionate: an ardent baseball fan; an ardent suitor. See note at EAGER.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY burning; glowing: the ardent flames.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·dent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French ardant, from Latin ardens, ardent-, from ardere 'to burn'.

Ard·more a city in southern Oklahoma, in an oil-producing and agricultural area; pop. 23,711.

ar·dor (BRIT. ar·dour) n. enthusiasm or passion: they felt the stirrings of revolutionary ardor.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin ardor, from ardere 'to burn'.

ar·du·ous adj. involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring: an arduous journey. See note at HARD.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·du·ous·ly adv. ar·du·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin arduus 'steep, difficult' + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

are 1 2nd person singular present and 1st, 2nd, 3rd person plural present of BE.

Linked entries:

BE ■

are 2 n. HISTORICAL a metric unit of measure, equal to 100 square meters (about 119.6 square yards).

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, from Latin area (see AREA).

Linked entries:

AREA ■

ar·e·a n. 1 a region or part of a town, a country, or the world: rural areas of New Jersey; people living in the area are at risk.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with adj.] a space allocated for a specific purpose: the dining area.

- a part of an object or surface: areas of the body.

- a subject or range of activity or interest: the key areas of science.

- [usu. as adj.] BRIT. a sunken enclosure giving access to the basement of a building: a bicycle padlocked to the area railing.

2 the extent or measurement of a surface or piece of land: the area of a triangle | the room is twelve square feet in area.
<SPECIAL USAGE>

<DERIVATIVES> ar·e·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'space allocated for a specific purpose'): from Latin, literally 'vacant piece of level ground'.

ar·e·a code n. a three-digit number that identifies one of the telephone service regions into which the U.S., Canada, and certain other countries are divided and that is dialed when calling from one area to another.

ar·e·a rug n. a rug that covers only a part of a floor in a room.

ar·e·a·way n. a sunken enclosure giving access to the basement of a building.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a passageway between buildings.

a·re·ca (also areca palm) n. a tropical Asian palm.
<INFO>  Genus Areca, family Palmae: several species, in particular A. catechu.

<ORIGIN> via Portuguese from Malayalam .

a·re·ca nut n. the astringent seed of an areca palm (Areca catechu), which is often chewed with betel leaves. Also called BETEL NUT.

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BETEL NUT ■

A·re·ci·bo a community in northwestern Puerto Rico, west of San Juan; pop. 49,545. It is an academic center noted for its huge radio telescope facility.

a·re·li·gious adj. not influenced by or practicing religion: the sexual mores of today's secular and areligious culture.

a·re·na n. a level area surrounded by seats for spectators, in which sports, entertainments, and other public events are held.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a place or scene of activity, debate, or conflict: he has reentered the political arena.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin harena, arena 'sand, sand-strewn place of combat'.

ar·e·na·ceous adj. [GEOLOGY] consisting of sand or sandlike particles.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BIOLOGY] (of animals or plants) living or growing in sand.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin arenaceus, from arena, harena 'sand'.

Ar·endt Hannah (1906-75), U.S. philosopher and political theorist; born in Germany. A student of Martin Heidegger, she established her reputation as a political thinker with one of the first works to propose that Nazism and Stalinism had common roots. Notable works: The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951), Eichmann in Jerusalem (1963), and On Violence (1970).

a·re·no·sol n. a soil type consisting mainly of sand with very little organic matter and supporting limited amounts of specialized vegetation.

aren't contraction of
- are not: they aren't here.

- am not (only used in questions): I'm right, aren't I?; why aren't I being given a pay raise?

a·re·o·la n. (pl. -lae ) [ANATOMY] a small circular area, in particular the ring of pigmented skin surrounding a nipple.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BIOLOGY] any of the small spaces between the veins on a leaf or the nervures on an insect's wing.

- [MEDICINE] a reddened patch around a spot or papule.

<DERIVATIVES> a·re·o·lar adj. a·re·o·late adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'small space or interstice'): from Latin, literally 'small open space', diminutive of area (see AREA).

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AREA ■

ar·e·ole n. [BIOLOGY] an areola, esp. a small area bearing spines or hairs on a cactus.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French aréole, from Latin (see AREOLA).

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AREOLA ■

ar·e·ol·o·gy n. the study of the planet Mars.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·e·o·log·i·cal adj. ar·e·ol·o·gist n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Ares (Greek equivalent of the Roman war god Mars) + -ology.

Ar·e·op·a·gus (in ancient Athens) a hill on which met the highest governmental council and later a judicial court.

<ORIGIN> from Greek Areios pagos 'hill of Ares'; the name for the site came to denote the court itself.

a·re·pa n. a corn pancake, sweetened or unsweetened, eaten in Venezuela and Colombia.

<ORIGIN> Cariban.

A·re·qui·pa a city in southern Peru, in the Andes; pop. 634,500.

Ar·es [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the Greek war god, son of Zeus and Hera. Roman equivalent MARS.

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MARS ■

a·rête n. a sharp mountain ridge.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, from Latin arista 'ear of wheat, fish bone, spine'.

ar·e·thu·sa n. a pinkish-red North American wild orchid that grows in boggy ground. Also called DRAGON’S MOUTH.
<INFO>  Arethusa bulbosa, family Orchidaceae.

arf exclam. (usu. arf arf) used to imitate or represent a dog's bark.

ar·ga·li n. (pl. same) the largest wild sheep, which has massive horns and is found in mountainous areas of Asia.
<INFO>  Ovis ammon, family Bovidae.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Mongolian.

Ar·gand di·a·gram n. [MATHEMATICS] a diagram on which complex numbers are represented geometrically using Cartesian axes, the horizontal coordinate representing the real part of the number and the vertical coordinate the complex part.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after J. R. Argand (1768-1822), French mathematician.

Ar·gand lamp n. HISTORICAL an oil or gas lamp equipped with a tubular wick that allowed air to pass both inner and outer surfaces of the flame, securing more perfect combustion and brighter light.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: named after A. Argand (1755-1803), French physicist.

ar·gan oil n. an aromatic culinary oil expressed from the seeds of the argan tree, native to an area of southwestern Morocco.
<INFO>  Argania spinosa, family Sapotaceae.

ar·gent adj. POETIC/LITERARY & [HERALDRY] silver; silvery white: the argent moon.

■ n. [HERALDRY] silver as a heraldic tincture.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting silver coins): via Old French from Latin argentum 'silver'.

ar·gen·tif·er·ous adj. (of rocks or minerals) containing silver.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin argentum 'silver' + -FEROUS.

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-FEROUS ■

Ar·gen·ti·na a republic that occupies much of the southern part of South America; pop. 39,144,000; capital, Buenos Aires; official language, Spanish.

Colonized by the Spanish in the 16th century, Argentina declared its independence in 1816. It emerged as a democratic republic in the mid 19th century, but has periodically fallen under military rule. In 1982, Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands led to an unsuccessful war with Britain.

<DERIVATIVES> Ar·gen·tine adj. & n. Ar·gen·tin·i·an adj. & n.

ar·gen·tine adj. ARCHAIC of or resembling silver.

■ n. a small marine fish with a silvery sheen.
<INFO>  Family Argentinidae: two genera and several species, in particular Argentina silus of the North Atlantic.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French argentin, argentine, from argent 'silver', from Latin argentum.

Ar·gen·tine ant n. a small South American ant that has become established in parts of the U.S.
<INFO>  Iridomyrmex humilis, family Formicidae.

ar·gil·la·ceous adj. [GEOLOGY] (of rocks or sediment) consisting of or containing clay.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin argillaceus (from argilla 'clay') + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

ar·gil·lite n. [GEOLOGY] a sedimentary rock that does not split easily, formed from consolidated clay.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin argilla 'clay' + -ITE^1 .

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-ITE ■

ar·gi·nine n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a basic amino acid that is a constituent of most proteins. It is an essential nutrient in the diet of vertebrates.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: HN=C(NH_2)NH(CH_2)3CH(NH_2)COOH.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from German Arginin, perhaps from Greek arginoeis 'bright-shining, white'.

Ar·give adj. of or relating to the ancient city of Argos.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (esp. in Homer) Greek.

■ n. a citizen of Argos.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (esp. in Homer) a Greek person.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Argivus, from Greek Argeios 'relating to Argos'.

ar·gle-bar·gle n. 1 copious but meaningless talk or writing; nonsense: bureaucratic argle-bargle.

2 another term for ARGY-BARGY.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: reduplication of dialect argle, a late 16th-cent. alteration of ARGUE.

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ARGY-BARGY ■

ARGUE ■

Ar·go (in full Argo Navis) HISTORICAL [ASTRONOMY] a large southern constellation (the ship Argo), which is now divided into the constellations Carina, Puppis, and Vela.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

ar·gol n. tartar obtained from wine fermentation.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French argoile, of unknown origin.

ar·gon n. the chemical element of atomic number 18, an inert gaseous element of the noble gas group. Argon is the most common noble gas, making up nearly one percent of the earth's atmosphere. (Symbol: Ar)

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek, neuter of argos 'idle', from a- 'without' + ergon 'work'.

ar·go·naut n. a small floating octopus, the female of which has webbed arms like sails and secretes a thin, coiled, papery shell in which the eggs are laid. Also called PAPER NAUTILUS.
<INFO>  Genus Argonauta, order Octopoda.

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PAPER NAUTILUS ■

Ar·go·nauts [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a group of heroes who accompanied Jason on board the ship Argo in the quest for the Golden Fleece.

<ORIGIN> argonaut from Greek 'sailor in the ship Argo.'

Ar·gonne a wooded plateau in northeastern France, near the Belgian border. The region is thinly populated. A major Allied offensive was staged here during World War I; during World War II the region was occupied by Germany from 1940 until 1944.

Ar·gos a city in southern Greece, in the northeastern Peloponnese; pop. 20,702. One of the oldest cities of ancient Greece, it dominated the Peloponnese and the western Aegean in the 7th century BC.

ar·go·sy n. (pl. -sies) POETIC/LITERARY a large merchant ship, originally one from Ragusa (now Dubrovnik) or Venice.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: apparently from Italian Ragusea (nave) '(vessel) of Ragusa' (see RAGUSA).

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RAGUSA ■

ar·got n. the jargon or slang of a particular group or class: teenage argot. See note at DIALECT.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (originally denoting the jargon or slang of criminals): from French, of unknown origin.

ar·gu·a·ble adj. able to be argued or asserted: an arguable case for judicial review | [with clause] it is arguable that egg donation raises a series of moral and practical problems.
<SPECIAL USAGE> open to disagreement; not obviously correct: a highly arguable assumption.

ar·gu·a·bly adv. [sentence adverb] it may be argued (used to qualify the statement of an opinion or belief): she is arguably the greatest woman tennis player of all time.

ar·gue v. (-gues, -gued, -gu·ing) 1 [reporting verb] give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory, typically with the aim of persuading others to share one's view: [with clause] defense attorneys argue that the police lacked “probable cause” to arrest the driver | [with direct speech] “It stands to reason,” she argued.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] (argue someone into/out of) persuade someone to do or not to do (something) by giving reasons: I tried to argue him out of it.

2 [intrans.] exchange or express diverging or opposite views, typically in a heated or angry way: don't argue with me | FIGURATIVE I wasn't going to argue with a gun | [trans.] she was too tired to argue the point.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·gu·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French arguer, from Latin argutari 'prattle', frequentative of arguere 'make clear, prove, accuse'.

ar·gu·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [intrans.] HUMOROUS or DIALECT argue or quarrel, typically about something trivial: it won't do to argufy, I tell you.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: fanciful formation from ARGUE; compare with speechify.

Linked entries:

ARGUE ■

ar·gu·ment n. 1 an exchange of diverging or opposite views, typically a heated or angry one: I've had an argument with my father; heated arguments over public spending | there was some argument about the decision.

2 a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong: there is a strong argument for submitting a formal appeal | [with clause] he rejected the argument that keeping the facility would be costly.

3 [MATHEMATICS] an independent variable associated with a function and determining the value of the function. For example, in the expression y = F(x_1, x_2), the arguments of the function F are x_1 and x_2, and the value is y.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- another term for AMPLITUDE (sense 4).

- [COMPUTING] a value or address passed to a procedure or function at the time of call.

- [LINGUISTICS] any of the noun phrases in a clause that are related directly to the verb, typically the subject, direct object, and indirect object.

- [LOGIC] the middle term in a syllogism.

4 ARCHAIC a summary of the subject matter of a book.

<PHRASES> for the sake of argument as a basis for discussion or reasoning.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'process of reasoning'): via Old French from Latin argumentum, from arguere 'make clear, prove, accuse'.

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AMPLITUDE ■

ar·gu·men·ta·tion n. the action or process of reasoning systematically in support of an idea, action, or theory: lines of argumentation used to support his thesis.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin argumentatio(n-), from argumentat- 'conducted as an argument', from argumentari.

ar·gu·men·ta·tive adj. 1 given to expressing divergent or opposite views: an argumentative child.

2 using or characterized by systematic reasoning: the highest standards of argumentative rigor.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·gu·men·ta·tive·ly adv. ar·gu·men·ta·tive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French argumentatif, -ive or late Latin argumentativus, from argumentari 'conduct an argument'.

ar·gu·ment from de·sign n. [CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY] the argument that God's existence is demonstrable from the evidence of design in the universe.

ar·gus n. 1 (Argus) [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a monster with a hundred eyes, used by Hera to watch over Io. He was killed by Hermes, and Hera then used his eyes to deck the peacock's tail.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an alert, watchful guardian.

2 (also argus pheasant) a long-tailed pheasant with generally brown plumage, found in Southeast Asia and Indonesia.
<INFO>  Two species in the family Phasianidae: the male great argus (Argusianus argus) has lengthened secondary wing feathers bearing eyespots, spread during display; the crested argus (Rheinartia ocellata) has the longest tail feathers of any bird.

3 a small brown or bluish Eurasian butterfly that typically has eyelike markings near the wing margins.
<INFO>  Aricia and other genera, family Lycaenidae.

4 (also argus fish) a silvery deep-bodied fish with round spots, widely distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region in both fresh and salt water.
<INFO>  Scatophagus argus, family Scatophagidae.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, from Greek Argos, the name of a mythical watchman with a hundred eyes.

Ar·gus-eyed adj. POETIC/LITERARY vigilant.

ar·gy-bar·gy n. (pl. -gies) INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. noisy quarreling or wrangling.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (originally Scots): rhyming jingle based on ARGUE.

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ARGUE ■

ar·gyle n. [usu. as adj.] a pattern composed of diamonds of various colors on a plain background, used in knitted garments such as sweaters and socks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sock with such a pattern.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Argyll, a family name and a former county of Scotland. The pattern is based on the tartan of the Argyll branch of the Campbell clan.

ar·hat n. (in Buddhism and Jainism) someone who has attained the goal of the religious life.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Sanskrit, literally 'meritorious'.

År·hus variant spelling of AARHUS.

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AARHUS ■

a·rhyth·mic adj. variant spelling of ARRHYTHMIC.

Linked entries:

ARRHYTHMIC ■

a·ri·a n. [MUSIC] a long, accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Italian, from Latin aer 'air'.

Ar·i·ad·ne [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the daughter of King Minos of Crete and Pasiphaë. She helped Theseus to escape from the Minotaur's labyrinth by giving him a ball of thread, which he unraveled as he went in and used to trace his way out again after killing the Minotaur.

Ar·i·an n. 1 an adherent of the doctrine of Arianism.

2 a person born under the sign of Aries.

■ adj. 1 of or concerning Arianism.

2 of or relating to a person born under the sign of Aries.

-arian suffix (forming adjectives and corresponding nouns) having a concern or belief in a specified thing: antiquarian; humanitarian; vegetarian.

<ORIGIN> from the Latin suffix -arius.

Ar·i·an·ism n. [CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY] an influential heresy denying the divinity of Christ, originating with the Alexandrian priest Arius (c.250-c.336). Arianism maintained that the Son of God was created by the Father and was therefore neither coeternal with the Father, nor consubstantial.

A·ri·as San·chez Oscar (1941-), Costa Rican president 1986-90. He worked to achieve peace in Central America, particularly in Nicaragua. Nobel Peace Prize (1987).

ar·id adj. (of land or a climate) having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation: hot and arid conditions. See note at DRY.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE lacking in interest, excitement, or meaning: his arid years in suburbia.

<DERIVATIVES> a·rid·i·ty n. ar·id·ly adv. ar·id·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French aride or Latin aridus, from arere 'be dry or parched'.

a·rid·i·sol n. [SOIL SCIENCE] a soil of an order comprising typically saline or alkaline soils with very little organic matter, characteristic of arid regions.

Ar·i·el 1 [ASTRONOMY] a satellite of Uranus discovered in 1851, the twelfth closest to the planet and the fourth largest, with a diameter of 721 miles (1,160 km).

2 a series of six American and British satellites devoted to studies of the ionosphere and X-ray astronomy (1962-79).

<ORIGIN> named after a fairy or spirit in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

ar·i·el n. a gazelle found in the Middle East and North Africa.
<INFO>  Genus Gazella, family Bovidae: the mountain gazelle (G. gazella) or the dorcas gazelle (G. dorcas).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Arabic aryal.

Ar·ies 1 [ASTRONOMY] a small constellation (the Ram), said to represent the ram whose Golden Fleece was sought by Jason and the Argonauts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (A·ri·e·tis ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars: the star Beta Arietis.

2 [ASTROLOGY] the first sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters at the vernal equinox (about March 20).
<SPECIAL USAGE> (an Aries) (pl. same) a person born when the sun is in this sign.

<PHRASES> First Point of Aries [ASTRONOMY] the point on the celestial sphere where the path of the sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north in March, marking the zero point of right ascension. Owing to precession of the equinoxes, it has moved from Aries into Pisces, and is now approaching Aquarius. Also called VERNAL EQUINOX.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

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VERNAL EQUINOX ■

a·right adv. DIALECT correctly; properly: I wondered if I'd heard aright.

<ORIGIN> Old English on riht, ariht (see A-2 'in', RIGHT).

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A- ■

RIGHT ■

ar·il n. [BOTANY] an extra seed-covering, typically colored and hairy or fleshy, e.g., the red fleshy cup around a yew seed.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·il·late adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin arillus, of unknown origin; perhaps related to medieval Latin arilli 'dried grapestones'.

a·rio·so [MUSIC] adj. & adv. in a melodious, expressive, songlike style.

■ n. (pl. -sos) a piece of music to be performed in this way.

<ORIGIN> Italian, from ARIA.

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ARIA ■

A·ri·os·to Ludovico (1474-1533), Italian poet; noted for his romantic epic Orlando Furioso (final version 1532).

-arious suffix forming adjectives such as gregarious, vicarious.

<ORIGIN> from the Latin suffix -arius + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

a·rise v. (past a·rose ; past part. a·ris·en ) [intrans.] 1 (of a problem, opportunity, or situation) emerge; become apparent: new difficulties had arisen.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- come into being; originate: the practice arose in the nineteenth century.

- (arise from/out of) occur as a result of: most conflicts arise from ignorance or uncertainty.

2 FORMAL or POETIC/LITERARY get or stand up: he arose at 9:30 and went out for a walk.

<ORIGIN> Old English , from 'away' (as an intensifier) + the verb RISE.

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RISE ■

Ar·is·tar·chus 1 (3rd century BC), Greek astronomer; known as Aristarchus of Samos. Founder of an important school of Hellenic astronomy, he was aware of the rotation of the earth around the sun and so was able to account for the seasons.

Ar·is·tar·chus 2 (c.217-145 BC), Greek scholar; known as Aristarchus of Samothrace. He is noted for his editions of the writings of Homer and other Greek authors.

A·ri·stide Jean-Bertrand (1953-), Haitian president 1990-96 and ex-Roman Catholic priest. He led a movement against the dictatorship of Duvalier in the 1980s and was elected president of Haiti in 1990, but was forced into exile 1991-94 by a military coup. U.S. troops faciliated his return, and he served as president 1994-96 and 2001-04, when he was again forced into exile.

Ar·is·ti·des (5th century BC), Athenian statesman and general; known as Aristides the Just. He commanded the Athenian army at the battle of Plataea (479 BC).

Ar·is·tip·pus (late 5th century BC), Greek philosopher; known as Aristippus the Elder (of Cyrene). He is considered the founder of the Cyrenaic school.

a·ris·to informal term for ARISTOCRAT.

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ARISTOCRAT ■

ar·is·toc·ra·cy n. (pl. -cies) [treated as sing. or pl.] (usu. the aristocracy) the highest class in certain societies, esp. those holding hereditary titles or offices: the ancient Polish aristocracy had hereditary right to elect the king.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a form of government in which power is held by the nobility.

- a state governed in this way.

- FIGURATIVE a group regarded as privileged or superior in a particular sphere: high-level technocrats make up a large part of this “technical aristocracy.”

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French aristocratie, from Greek aristokratia, from aristos 'best' + -kratia 'power'. The term originally denoted the government of a state by its best citizens, later by the rich and well-born, hence the sense 'nobility', regardless of the form of government (mid 17th cent.).

<USAGE>
Aristocracy, oligarchy, and plutocracy are sometimes confused. All mean some form of rule by a small elite. Aristocracy is rule by a traditional elite, held to be made up of 'the best' people, and is usually hereditary. Oligarchy is literally rule by a few. Plutocracy is rule by the (necessarily few) very rich.

a·ris·to·crat n. a member of the aristocracy: an aristocrat by birth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> something believed to be the best of its kind: the trout is the aristocrat of freshwater fish.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French aristocrate (a word of the French Revolution), from aristocratie (see ARISTOCRACY).

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ARISTOCRACY ■

a·ris·to·crat·ic adj. of or relating to the aristocracy: an aristocratic family.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- distinguished in manners or bearing: a stately, aristocratic manner.

- grand; stylish: aristocratic-sounding names; a snob with aristocratic aspirations.

<DERIVATIVES> a·ris·to·crat·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French aristocratique, from Greek aristokratikos, from aristokratia (see ARISTOCRACY).

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ARISTOCRACY ■

Ar·is·toph·a·nes (c.450-c.385 BC), Greek comic playwright. Notable works: Lysistrata, The Birds, and The Frogs.

Ar·is·to·te·lian adj. of or relating to Aristotle or his philosophy.

■ n. a student of Aristotle or an adherent of his philosophy.

Ar·is·to·te·lian log·ic n. the traditional system of logic expounded by Aristotle and developed in the Middle Ages, concerned chiefly with deductive reasoning as expressed in syllogisms. Compare with SYMBOLIC LOGIC.

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Ar·is·tot·le (384-322 BC), Greek philosopher and scientist. A student of Plato and tutor to Alexander the Great, he founded a school (the Lyceum) outside Athens. He is one of the most influential thinkers in the history of Western thought. His surviving works cover a vast range of subjects, including logic, ethics, metaphysics, politics, natural science, and physics.

Ar·is·tot·le's lan·tern n. [ZOOLOGY] a conical structure of calcareous plates and muscles supporting the rasping teeth of a sea urchin.

A·ri·ta n. a type of Japanese porcelain characterized by asymmetric decoration.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after Arita, a town in Japan, where it is made.

a·rith·me·tic n. the branch of mathematics dealing with the properties and manipulation of numbers: the laws of arithmetic.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the use of numbers in counting and calculation: he could do arithmetic in his head.

- FIGURATIVE those aspects of a particular situation that can be expressed in numerical terms: some unsettling parliamentary arithmetic.

■ adj. (ar·ith·met·ic) (also ar·ith·met·i·cal) of or relating to arithmetic: perform arithmetic functions.

<DERIVATIVES> a·rith·me·ti·cian n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French arismetique, based on Latin arithmetica, from Greek '(art) of counting', from arithmos 'number'.

ar·ith·met·ic log·ic u·nit n. a unit in a computer that carries out arithmetic and logical operations.

ar·ith·met·ic mean n. the average of a set of numerical values, calculated by adding them together and dividing by the number of terms in the set.

ar·ith·met·ic pro·gres·sion (also arithmetic series) n. a sequence of numbers in which each differs from the preceding by a constant quantity (e.g., 3, 6, 9, 12, etc.; 9, 7, 5, 3, etc.).
<SPECIAL USAGE> the relationship between numbers in such a sequence: the numbers are in arithmetic progression.

ar·ith·met·ic u·nit n. another term for ARITHMETIC LOGIC UNIT.

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ARITHMETIC LOGIC UNIT ■

a·rith·me·tize v. [trans.] express arithmetically; reduce to arithmetic form.

-arium suffix forming nouns usually denoting a place: planetarium; vivarium.

<ORIGIN> from Latin, neuter ending of adjectives in -arius.

Ariz. abbr. Arizona.

Ar·i·zo·na a state in the southwestern U.S., on the border with Mexico; pop. 5,130,632; capital, Phoenix; statehood, Feb. 14, 1912 (48). Part of New Spain until 1821, it was organized as a U.S. territory in 1863 from lands ceded by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 and the Gadsden Purchase in 1853.

<DERIVATIVES> Ar·i·zo·nan n. & adj.

Ar·ju·na [HINDUISM] a hero prince in the Mahabharata, one of the two main characters in the Bhagavadgita.

ark n. 1 (the ark) (in the Bible) the ship built by Noah to save his family and two of every kind of animal from the Flood; Noah's ark.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE a vessel or sanctuary that serves as protection against extinction: a starship ark built by their android protectors.

- ARCHAIC a chest or box: the ark was of Italian walnut.

- a large, flat-bottomed boat.

2 short for ARK OF THE COVENANT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also Holy Ark) a chest or cupboard housing the Torah scrolls in a synagogue.

3 (also ark shell) a widely distributed bivalve mollusk that typically attaches itself to rocks with byssus threads.
<INFO>  Order Arcoidea: Arca and other genera.

<ORIGIN> Old English ærc, from Latin arca 'chest'.

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ARK OF THE COVENANT ■

Ark. abbr. Arkansas.

Ar·kan·sas a state in the southern central U.S., on the western banks of the Mississippi River; pop. 2,673,400; capital, Little Rock; statehood, June 15, 1836 (25). Arkansas seceded from the Union in 1861 to fight for the Confederacy during the Civil War and rejoined the Union in 1868. In 1957, federal troops were needed to enforce school desegregation in Little Rock.

Ar·kan·sas Riv·er a river in the southwestern U.S., that flows for 1,450 miles (2,320 km) from the Rockies in Colorado to join the Mississippi River in Arkansas. It has been made navigable for oceangoing vessels as far west as Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Ar·khan·gelsk Russian name for ARCHANGEL.

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ARCHANGEL ■

Ark of the Cov·e·nant (also Ark of the Testimony) the wooden chest that contained the tablets of the laws of the ancient Israelites. Carried by the Israelites on their wanderings in the wilderness, it was later placed by Solomon in the Temple at Jerusalem.

ar·kose n. [GEOLOGY] a coarse-grained sandstone that is at least 25 percent feldspar.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·ko·sic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, probably from Greek arkhaios 'ancient'.

Ark·wright Sir Richard (1732-92), English inventor and industrialist. In 1767 he patented a water-powered spinning machine known as the spinning jenny.

Arles a city in southeastern France; pop. 52,590. It was the capital of the medieval kingdom of Arles, formed in the 10th century by the union of the kingdoms of Provence and Burgundy.

Ar·ling·ton 1 a county in northern Virginia, forming a suburb of Washington. It is the site of the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery.

2 a town in eastern Massachusetts, northwest of Boston; pop. 44,630.

3 an industrial city in northern Texas, between Dallas and Fort Worth; pop. 332,969.

Ar·ling·ton Heights a village in northeastern Illinois, northwest of Chicago; pop. 76,031.

ARM abbr. ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE.

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ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE ■

arm 1 n. 1 each of the two upper limbs of the human body from the shoulder to the hand: she held the baby in her arms.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in technical use) each of these upper limbs from the shoulder to the elbow.

- each of the forelimbs of an animal.

- a flexible limb of an invertebrate animal, e.g., an octopus.

- a sleeve of a garment.

- an ability to throw a ball skillfully: he has a good arm.

- an athlete with such an ability: he wasn't the best arm in the outfield, but his performance at the plate more than compensated.

- used to refer to the holding of a person's arm in support or companionship: as they walked he offered her his arm; he arrived with a pretty girl on his arm.

- used to refer to something perceived as powerful or protective: the comforting arms of the church.

2 a thing resembling an arm in form or function, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a side part of a chair or other seat on which a sitter's arm can rest.

- a narrow strip of water or land projecting from a larger body.

- a large branch of a tree.

- FIGURATIVE a long, narrow shape or object: a long arm of sunshine.

3 a branch or division of a company or organization: the political arm of the separatist group.
<SPECIAL USAGE> one of the types of troops of which an army is composed, such as infantry or artillery. <ORIGIN> also understood as a figurative use of ARM^2 .

4 [MATHEMATICS] each of the lines enclosing an angle.

<PHRASES>
□ arm in arm (of two or more people) with arms linked.

□ the long arm of the law used to refer to the criminal justice system as far-reaching: act now before the long arm of the law catches up with you.

□ as long as one's (or someone's) arm INFORMAL very long: I have a list of vices as long as your arm.

□ at arm's length away from the body, with the arm fully extended: I held the telephone at arm's length.

□ cost an arm and a leg INFORMAL be extremely expensive.

□ give one's right arm INFORMAL used to convey a strong desire to have or do something: I'd give my right arm to go with them.

□ in arms (of a baby) too young to walk: a babe in arms.

□ into the arms of into the possession or control of: the violin passed into the arms of a wealthy dilettante.

□ keep someone/something at arm's length avoid intimacy or close contact with someone or something.

□ put the arm on INFORMAL attempt to force or coerce (someone) to do something: she started putting the arm on them for donations.

□ under one's arm between one's arm and one's body: Barbara tucked the papers under her arm.

□ with open arms with great affection or enthusiasm: schools have welcomed such arrangements with open arms.

□ within arm's reach near enough to reach by extending one's arm.

<DERIVATIVES> arm·ful n. (pl. -fuls) arm·less adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English arm, earm, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch arm and German Arm.

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ARM ■

arm 2 v. [trans.] supply or provide with weapons: both sides armed themselves with grenades and machine guns.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- supply or provide with equipment, tools, or other items in preparation or readiness for something: she armed them with brushes and mops.

- activate the fuse of (a bomb or other device) so that it is ready to explode.

■ n. see ARMS.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French armer (verb), from Latin armare, from arma 'armor, arms'.

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ar·ma·da n. a fleet of warships: an armada of destroyers, minesweepers, and gunboats.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Spanish Armada) a Spanish naval invasion force sent against England by Philip II of Spain. It was defeated by the English fleet and almost completely destroyed by storms off the Hebrides.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Spanish, from armata, feminine past participle of Latin armare 'to arm'. Compare with ARMY.

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ARMY ■

ar·ma·dil·lo n. (pl. -los) a nocturnal omnivorous mammal that has large claws for digging and a body covered in bony plates. Armadillos are native to the south central U.S. and Central and South America.
<INFO>  Family Dasypodidae, order Xenarthra (or Edentata): several genera and species, including the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), which has spread into the southern U.S.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Spanish, diminutive of armado 'armed man', from Latin armatus, past participle of armare 'to arm'.

Ar·ma·ged·don n. (in the New Testament) the last battle between good and evil before the Day of Judgment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a biblical hill of Megiddo, an archaeological site on the plain of Esdraelon, south of present-day Haifa in Israel. See also MEGIDDO.

- the place where the last battle between good and evil will be fought.

- a dramatic and catastrophic conflict, typically seen as likely to destroy the world or the human race: nuclear Armageddon.

<ORIGIN> Greek, from Hebrew 'hill of Megiddo' (Rev. 16:16.)

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MEGIDDO ■

Ar·magh one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, formerly an administrative area.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the chief town of this county; pop. 12,700.

Ar·mag·nac n. a type of brandy, traditionally made in Aquitaine in southwestern France.

Ar·ma·lite n. TRADEMARK a type of light automatic rifle.

ar·ma·ment n. (also armaments) military weapons and equipment: chemical weapons and other unconventional armaments.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the process of equipping military forces for war.

- ARCHAIC a military force equipped for war.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (in the sense 'force equipped for war'): from Latin armamentum, from armare 'to arm' (see ARM^2 ).

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ARM ■

ar·ma·men·tar·i·um n. (pl. -tar·i·a ) the medicines, equipment, and techniques available to a medical practitioner.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a collection of resources available for a certain purpose: the entire armamentarium of electronic surveillance.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin, 'arsenal, armory'.

Ar·ma·ni Giorgio (1935- ), Italian fashion designer.

ar·ma·ture n. 1 the rotating coil or coils of a dynamo or electric motor.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- any moving part of an electrical machine in which a voltage is induced by a magnetic field.

- a piece of iron or other object acting as a keeper for a magnet.

2 a metal framework on which a sculpture is molded with clay or similar material.

3 [BIOLOGY] the protective covering of an animal or plant.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC armor.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French, from Latin armatura 'armor', from armare 'to arm' (see ARM^2 ). The original sense was 'armor', hence 'protective covering' (sense 3, early 18th cent.), later 'keeper of a magnet', source of sense 1 (mid 19th cent.).

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ARM ■

arm·band n. a band worn around a person's upper arm to hold up a shirtsleeve or as a symbol.

arm can·dy n. INFORMAL a sexually attractive companion accompanying a person, esp. a celebrity, at social events: the athletes and their arm candy clustered around the bar.

arm·chair n. a comfortable chair, typically upholstered, with side supports for a person's arms.

■ adj. [attrib.] lacking or not involving practical or direct experience of a particular subject or activity: armchair adventurers.

Arm·co n. TRADEMARK a very pure soft iron, used in particular for roadside guardrails.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: acronym from American Rolling Mill Company.

armed adj. 1 equipped with or carrying a weapon or weapons: the security forces are armed with automatic rifles; heavily armed troops.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- involving the use of firearms: armed robbery.

- (of a bomb, alarm, or other device) prepared to activate or explode.

- FIGURATIVE supplied with equipment, tools, or other items in preparation or readiness for something: he is armed with a list of questions.

2 [HERALDRY] having claws, a beak, etc., of a specified tincture.

<PHRASES> armed to the teeth see TEETH.

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TEETH ■

armed camp n. a town, territory, or group of people fully armed for war.

armed forc·es (also armed services) plural n. a country's military forces, esp. its army, navy, and air force.

Ar·me·ni·a a landlocked country in southwestern Asia, in the Caucasus; pop. 2,991,000; capital, Yerevan; official languages, Armenian and Russian.

The Armenian homeland fell under Turkish rule from the 16th century and with the decline of the Ottomans was divided among Turkey, Iran, and Russia. In 1915 the Turks forcibly deported 1,750,000 Armenians to the deserts of Syria and Mesopotamia; more than 600,000 were killed or died on forced marches. Russian Armenia was absorbed into the Soviet Union in 1922 and gained independence as a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States in 1991. Since 1988 there has been conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan over the ethnically Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh and the predominantly Azerbaijani territory of Naxçivan.

Ar·me·ni·an adj. of or relating to Armenia, its language, or the Christian Church established there.

■ n. 1 a native of Armenia or a person of Armenian descent.

2 the Indo-European language of Armenia, spoken by around 4 million people and written in a distinctive alphabet of thirty-eight letters.

Ar·me·ni·an Church (also Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church) an independent Christian Church established in Armenia since c.300 and influenced by Roman and Byzantine as well as Syrian traditions. A small Armenian Catholic Church also exists (see UNIATE).

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Arm·gard Beatrix Wilhelmina, see BEATRIX.

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arm·guard n. another term for BRACER^2 .

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BRACER ■

arm·hole n. each of two openings in a garment through which the wearer puts their arms.

ar·mi·ger n. a person entitled to heraldic arms.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·mig·er·ous adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: Latin, literally 'bearing arms', from arma 'arms' + gerere 'to bear'.

ar·mil·lar·y sphere n. a model of the celestial globe constructed from rings and hoops representing the equator, the tropics, and other celestial circles, and able to revolve on its axis.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin armillaris 'relating to an armilla,' an astronomical instrument consisting of a hoop fixed in the plane of the equator (sometimes crossed by one in the plane of the meridian), used by the ancient astronomers to show the recurrence of equinoxes and solstices; from Latin armilla 'bracelet'.

Ar·min·i·an adj. relating to the doctrines of Jacobus Arminius (Latinized name of Jakob Hermandszoon, 1560-1609), a Dutch Protestant theologian, who rejected the Calvinist doctrine of predestination. His teachings had a considerable influence on Methodism.

■ n. an adherent of these doctrines.

<DERIVATIVES> Ar·min·i·an·ism n.

ar·mi·stice n. an agreement made by opposing sides in a war to stop fighting for a certain time; a truce.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, or from modern Latin armistitium, from arma 'arms' (see ARM^2 ) + -stitium 'stoppage'.

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Ar·mi·stice Day n. the anniversary of the armistice of November 11, 1918, now replaced by Veterans Day in the U.S.

arm·let n. 1 a band or bracelet worn around the upper part of a person's arm.

2 a small inlet of a sea or branch of a river.

arm·load n. the amount that can be carried with one arm or in both arms.

arm·lock n. a method of restraining someone by holding an arm tightly behind their back.

ar·moire n. a wardrobe or movable cabinet, typically one that is ornate or antique.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, from Old French armarie (see AUMBRY).

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ar·mor (BRIT. ar·mour) n. the metal coverings formerly worn by soldiers or warriors to protect the body in battle: knights in armor; a suit of armor.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also armor plate) the tough metal layer covering a military vehicle or ship to defend it from attack.

- military vehicles collectively: the contingent includes infantry, armor, and logistic units.

- the protective layer or shell of some animals and plants.

- a person's emotional, social, or other defenses: his armor of self-confidence.

■ v. [trans.] provide (someone) with emotional, social, or other defenses: the knowledge armored him against her.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·mor-plat·ed adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French armure, from Latin armatura, from armare 'to arm' (see ARM^2 ).

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ar·mored (BRIT. ar·moured) adj. (of a military vehicle or ship) covered with a tough metal layer as a defense against attack: armored vehicles.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of troops) equipped with such vehicles: the 2nd Armored Division.

- (of some animals and plants) having a protective layer or shell: armored fish.

- HISTORICAL (of a soldier) wearing armor: armored and mounted knights.

ar·mored per·son·nel car·ri·er n. an armored military vehicle used to transport troops.

ar·mor·er (BRIT. ar·mour·er) n. 1 a maker, supplier, or repairer of weapons or armor.

2 an official in charge of the arms of a military unit.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French armurier, from armure (see ARMOR).

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ar·mo·ri·al adj. of or relating to heraldry or heraldic devices: armorial shields.

■ n. a book of heraldic devices.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French armoierie (see ARMORY^1 ).

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ar·mor·y 1 (BRIT. ar·mour·y) n. (pl. -mor·ies) 1 a place where arms are kept.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a supply of arms: the most powerful weapon in our armory.

- a place where arms are manufactured.

- [in sing.] FIGURATIVE an array of resources available for a particular purpose: his armory of comic routines.

2 a place where military reservists are trained or headquartered.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'armor'): from Old French armoirie, armoierie, from armoier 'to blazon', from arme 'weapon' (see ARMS). The spelling change in the 17th cent. was due to association with ARMOR.

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ARMOR ■

ar·mor·y 2 n. [mass noun] heraldry.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French armoierie (see ARMOURY).

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Ar·mour Philip Danforth (1832-1901), U.S. industrialist. He reorganized his brother Herman's grain commission house into the Armour & Co. meat-packing plant in 1870.

ar·mour n. British spelling of ARMOR.

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ar·mour·er n. British spelling of ARMORER.

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ar·mour·y n. British spelling of ARMORY^1 .

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arm·pit n. a hollow under the arm at the shoulder. Also called AXILLA.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a place regarded as extremely unpleasant: they call the region the armpit of America.

<PHRASES> up to one's armpits deeply involved in a particular unpleasant situation or enterprise: the country is up to its armpits in drug trafficking.

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AXILLA ■

arm·rest n. a padded or upholstered arm of a chair or other seat on which a sitter's arm can comfortably rest.

arms plural n. 1 weapons and ammunition; armaments: they were subjugated by force of arms | [as adj.] arms exports.

2 distinctive emblems or devices, originally borne on shields in battle and now forming the heraldic insignia of families, corporations, or countries. See also COAT OF ARMS.

<PHRASES>
□ a call to arms a call to prepare for confrontation: a call to arms to defend against a takeover.

□ lay down (one's) arms cease fighting.

□ take up arms begin fighting.

□ under arms equipped and ready for war or battle: Iraq had up to one million men under arms.

□ up in arms (about/over) protesting vigorously about something: teachers are up in arms about new school tests.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French armes, from Latin arma.

Linked entries:

COAT OF ARMS ■

arms con·trol n. international disarmament or arms limitation, esp. by mutual consent.

arm's-length adj. [attrib.] avoiding intimacy or close contact: an arm's-length relationship.

arms race n. a competition between nations for superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons, esp. between the U.S. and the former USSR during the Cold War.

Arm·strong 1 Edwin Howard (1890-1954), U.S. electrical engineer, inventor of the superheterodyne radio receiver and the frequency modulation (FM) system.

Arm·strong 2 Lance (1971-) U.S. cyclist. He won the Tour de France in 1999 after successfully battling advanced testicular cancer. He repeated the win in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004.

Arm·strong 3 (Daniel) Louis (1900-71), U.S. jazz musician; known as Satchmo. A major influence on Dixieland jazz, he was a trumpet and cornet player, as well as a bandleader and a distinctive singer. He also appeared in many movies, including The Birth of the Blues (1941).

Arm·strong 4 Neil (Alden) (1930- ), U.S. astronaut. He commanded the Apollo 11 mission, during which he became the first man to set foot on the Moon (July 20, 1969).

arm-twist·ing n. INFORMAL persuasion by the use of physical force or moral pressure: eight years of arguing and diplomatic arm-twisting.

<DERIVATIVES> arm-twist v.

arm-wres·tling n. a trial of strength in which two people sit opposite each other with one elbow resting on a table, clasp each other's hands, and try to force each other's arm down onto the table.

<DERIVATIVES> arm-wres·tle v.

ar·my n. (pl. -mies) an organized military force equipped for fighting on land: the two armies were in position.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the army or the Army) the branch of a nation's armed services that conducts military operations on land: an enlisted man in the army | [as adj.] army officers.

- (an army of or armies of) a large number of people or things, typically formed or organized for a particular purpose: an army of photographers; armies of cockroaches.

<PHRASES>
□ an army marches on its stomach see STOMACH.

□ you and whose army? INFORMAL used as an expression of disbelief in someone's ability to carry out a threat: “One word to him and I'll nail you.” “You and whose army?”

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French armee, from armata, feminine past participle of Latin armare 'to arm'.

Linked entries:

STOMACH ■

ar·my ant n. a blind nomadic tropical ant that forages in large columns, preying chiefly on insects and spiders. Also called DRIVER ANT.
<INFO>  Subfamily Dorylinae, family Formicidae.

Linked entries:

DRIVER ANT ■

ar·my brat n. INFORMAL a child of a career soldier, esp. one who has lived in various places as a result of military transfers.

ar·my is·sue n. [usu. as adj.] equipment or clothing supplied by the army.

ar·my-na·vy adj. denoting the type of store that specializes in military surplus equipment, or the goods sold there.

ar·my sur·plus n. goods and equipment that are in excess of the army's requirements: [as adj.] an army surplus store.

ar·my worm n. any of a number of insect larvae that occur in large numbers, in particular:
<INFO>
- the caterpillars of some moths, which feed on cereals and other crops, moving en masse when the food is exhausted (Spodoptera and other genera, family Noctuidae).

- the small maggots of certain fungus gnats, which move in very large numbers within secreted slime (genus Sciara, family Mycetophilidae).

Arne Thomas (1710-78), English composer of the music for “Rule, Brittania.”

Ar·nel n. TRADEMARK a synthetic fiber made from cellulose triacetate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fabric made from fibers of this type.

Arn·hem a town in the eastern Netherlands, situated on the Rhine River; pop. 131,700.

Arn·hem Land a peninsula in Northern Territory, Australia.

ar·ni·ca n. a plant of the daisy family that bears yellow daisylike flowers. Native to cooler regions of the northern hemisphere, it is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental.
<INFO>  Genus Arnica, family Compositae: many species, esp. mountain tobacco (A. montana) of central Europe.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a preparation of this plant used medicinally, esp. for the treatment of bruises.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: modern Latin, of unknown origin.

Ar·no a river that rises in the Apennines in northern Italy and flows west for 150 miles (240 km) through Florence and Pisa to the Ligurian Sea.

Ar·nold 1 Benedict (1741-1801), American general and traitor. During the American Revolution, with Ethan Allan, he was instrumental in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga but later planned to betray West Point to the British. He fled behind British lines and lived the rest of his life in Britain. His name became synonymous with “traitor.”

Ar·nold 2 Matthew (1822-88), English poet, essayist, and social critic. He is known for such poems as "The Scholar-Gipsy" and "Dover Beach" and was professor of poetry at Oxford 1857-67.

ar·oid (also aroid lily) n. [BOTANY] a plant of the arum family (Araceae).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from ARUM + -OID.

Linked entries:

ARUM ■

-OID ■

a·rol·la (also arolla pine) n. a tall pine tree native to the Alps and Carpathian mountains, often planted in dense clumps as an avalanche break.
<INFO>  Pinus cembra, family Pinaceae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Swiss French arol(l)e.

a·ro·ma n. a distinctive, typically pleasant smell: the tantalizing aroma of fresh coffee. See note at SMELL.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a subtle, pervasive quality or atmosphere of a particular type: the aroma of officialdom.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (usually in the plural denoting fragrant plants or spices): via Latin from Greek 'spice'.

a·ro·ma·tase n. an adrenal enzyme that converts androstenedione and estrone to estrogen. Inhibiting its action is one approach to breast cancer prevention and treatment.

a·ro·ma·ther·a·py n. the use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils in massage or baths.

<DERIVATIVES> a·ro·ma·ther·a·peu·tic adj. a·ro·ma·ther·a·pist n.

ar·o·mat·ic adj. 1 having a pleasant and distinctive smell: a massage with aromatic oils.

2 [CHEMISTRY] (of an organic compound) containing a planar unsaturated ring of atoms that is stabilized by an interaction of the bonds forming the ring. Such compounds are typified by benzene and its derivatives. Compare with ALICYCLIC.

■ n. 1 a substance or plant emitting a pleasant and distinctive smell.

2 (usu. aromatics) [CHEMISTRY] an aromatic compound.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·o·mat·i·cal·ly adv. ar·o·ma·tic·i·ty n. ([CHEMISTRY]).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin aromaticus, from Greek , from (see AROMA).

Linked entries:

ALICYCLIC ■

AROMA ■

a·ro·ma·tize v. [trans.] 1 [CHEMISTRY] convert (a compound) into an aromatic structure.

2 cause to have a pleasant and distinctive smell: vinegar aromatized with plant juices and honey.

<DERIVATIVES> a·ro·ma·ti·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French aromatiser, from late Latin aromatizare, from Greek 'to spice'.

a·rose past of ARISE.

Linked entries:

ARISE ■

a·round adv. 1 (BRIT. also round) located or situated on every side: the mountains towering all around; a building visible for miles around.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- so as to surround someone or something: everyone crowded around; a pool with banks all the way around.

- FIGURATIVE so as to give support and companionship: if one girl is distraught, the others will rally around.

- with circular motion: the boats were spun around by waterspouts.

- so as to cover or take in the whole area surrounding a particular center: she paused to glance around admiringly at the décor.

- so as to reach everyone in a particular group or area: he passed a newspaper clipping around.

2 (BRIT. also round) so as to rotate and face in the opposite direction: Jack seized her by the shoulders and turned her around | FIGURATIVE having him in my corner has turned my career around.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- so as to lead in another direction: it was the last house before the road curved around.

- used in describing the position of something, typically with regard to the direction in which it is facing or its relation to other items: the picture shows the pieces the wrong way around.

- used to describe a situation in terms of the relation between people, actions, or events: it was he who was attacking her, not the other way around.

3 (BRIT. also round) so as to reach a new place or position, typically by moving from one side of something to the other: he made his way around to the back of the building; they went the long way around by the main road.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- in or to many places throughout a locality: his only ambition is to drive around in a sports car; word got around that he was on the verge of retirement.

- used to convey an ability to navigate or orient oneself: I like pupils to find their own way around.

- INFORMAL used to convey the idea of visiting someone else: why don't you come around to my office?

- randomly or unsystematically; here and there: John tried to focus on her but she kept moving around; one of them was glancing nervously around.

4 (BRIT. also round) in existence, in the vicinity, or in active use: there was no one around; by being around I threaten her happiness; barley has been around for a long time.
<SPECIAL USAGE> near at hand: he would want to have her around as much as possible.

5 approximately; about: software costs would be around $1,500 | [as prep.] I returned to my hotel around 3 a.m.

■ prep. (BRIT. also round) 1 on every side of: the palazzo is built around a courtyard; the hills around the city.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of something abstract) having (the thing mentioned) as a focal point: our entire culture is built around those loyalties; you can organize your essay around an existing critical controversy.

2 in or to many places throughout (a community or locality): cycling around the village; a number of large depots around the country.
- on the other side of (a corner or obstacle): Steven parked the car around the corner.

- so as to hit (something) in passing: if he didn't shut up, he might get a slap around the ear.

3 so as to encircle or embrace (someone or something): he put his arm around her warming her hands around a cup of coffee the polar vortex around Antarctica.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person's arm or arms) partially encircling (another person) as part of a gesture of affection: Mike put an arm around Mary and kissed her.

- following an approximately circular route: he walked around the airfield; it can drill around corners; the contour followed around a curve to the north.

- so as to cover or take in the whole area of (a place): she went around the house and saw that all the windows were barred.

<PHRASES>
□ around the bend see BEND^1 .

□ have been around INFORMAL have a lot of varied experience and understanding of the world.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from A-2 'in, on' + ROUND.

<USAGE>
Are around and round (as preposition and adverbial particle) interchangeable? In U.S. English, the normal form in most contexts is around; round is generally regarded as informal or nonstandard and is standard only in certain fixed expressions, as in the park is open year round and they went round and round in circles.

Linked entries:

BEND ■

A- ■

ROUND ■

a·rouse v. [trans.] 1 evoke or awaken (a feeling, emotion, or response): something about the man aroused the guard's suspicions; the letter aroused in him a sense of urgency.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- excite or provoke (someone) to anger or strong emotions: an ability to influence the audience and to arouse the masses.
See note at INCITE.
- excite (someone) sexually.

2 awaken (someone) from sleep: she had been aroused by the telephone.

<DERIVATIVES> a·rous·al n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from ROUSE, on the pattern of the pair of rise, arise.

Linked entries:

ROUSE ■

ARP abbr. adjustable-rate preferred.

Arp Jean (1887-1966), French painter, sculptor, and poet; also known as Hans Arp. He was a cofounder of the Dada movement.

ar·peg·gi·ate v. [trans.] [MUSIC] play (a chord) as a series of ascending or descending notes.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·peg·gi·a·tion n. ar·peg·gi·a·tor n.

ar·peg·gi·o n. (pl. -os) [MUSIC] the notes of a chord played in succession, either ascending or descending.

<ORIGIN> Italian, from arpeggiare 'play the harp', from arpa 'harp'.

ar·peg·gio·ne n. an early 19th-century stringed instrument resembling a guitar in shape and having six strings and frets, but played with a bow like a cello.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from German, from ARPEGGIO.

Linked entries:

ARPEGGIO ■

ar·que·bus n. variant spelling of HARQUEBUS.

Linked entries:

HARQUEBUS ■

arr. abbr.
- (of a piece of music) arranged by: Variations on a theme of Corelli (arr. Wild).

- (with reference to the arrival time of a bus, train, or airplane) arrives.

ar·rack (also ar·ak) n. an alcoholic liquor typically distilled from the sap of the coconut palm or from rice.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Arabic 'sweat', from the phrase arak al-tamr, denoting an alcoholic spirit made from dates.

ar·raign v. (often be arraigned) [trans.] call or bring (someone) before a court to answer a criminal charge: her sister was arraigned on attempted murder charges.
<SPECIAL USAGE> find fault with (someone or something); censure: the soldiers bitterly arraigned the government for failing to keep its word.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·raign·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French araisnier, based on Latin ad- 'to' + ration- 'reason, account'.

Ar·ran an island in the Firth of Clyde, in the west of Scotland.

ar·range v. [trans.] 1 put (things) in a neat, attractive, or required order: she had just finished arranging the flowers; the columns are arranged in 12 rows.

2 organize or make plans for (a future event): they hoped to arrange a meeting; we've arranged the funeral for Saturday | [intrans.] my aunt arranged for the furniture to be stored.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] reach agreement about an action or event in advance: I arranged with my boss to have the time off | [with infinitive] they arranged to meet at eleven o'clock.

- ensure that (something) is done or provided by organizing it in advance: accommodations can be arranged if required.

3 [MUSIC] adapt (a composition) for performance with instruments or voices other than those originally specified: songs arranged for viola and piano.

4 ARCHAIC settle (a dispute or claim): the quarrel, partly by the interference of the Crown Prince, was arranged.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·range·a·ble adj. ar·rang·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French arangier, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + rangier 'to range' (see RANGE).

Linked entries:

RANGE ■

ar·ranged mar·riage n. a marriage planned and agreed to by the families or guardians of the bride and groom, who have little or no say in the matter themselves.

ar·range·ment n. 1 the action, process, or result of arranging or being arranged: the arrangement of the furniture in the room.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thing that has been arranged in a neat or attractive way: flower arrangements; an intricate arrangement of gravel paths.

2 (usu. arrangements) plans or preparations for a future event: all the arrangements for the wedding were made.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an agreement with someone: the travel agents have an arrangement with the hotel | by special arrangement, students can take a course in other degree programs.

3 [MUSIC] a composition adapted for performance with different instruments or voices than those originally specified: Mozart's symphonies in arrangements for cello and piano.

4 ARCHAIC a settlement of a dispute or claim.

ar·rant adj. [attrib.] DATED complete, utter: what arrant nonsense!

<ORIGIN> Middle English: variant of ERRANT, originally in phrases such as arrant thief ('outlawed, roving thief').

Linked entries:

ERRANT ■

Ar·ras a town in northeastern France; pop. 42,700. In medieval times, it was a center for the manufacture of tapestries.

ar·ras n. a rich tapestry, typically hung on the walls of a room or used to conceal an alcove.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally denoting the fabric itself): named after the French town of ARRAS.

Linked entries:

ARRAS ■

ar·ray n. 1 an impressive display or range of a particular type of thing: there is a vast array of literature on the topic; a bewildering array of choices.

2 an ordered arrangement, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an arrangement of troops.

- [MATHEMATICS] an arrangement of quantities or symbols in rows and columns; a matrix.

- [COMPUTING] an ordered set of related elements.

- [LAW] a list of jurors empaneled.

3 POETIC/LITERARY elaborate or beautiful clothing: he was clothed in fine array.

■ v. 1 [trans.] (usu. be arrayed) display or arrange (things) in a particular way: arrayed across the table was a buffet; the forces arrayed against him.

2 [trans.] (usu. be arrayed in) dress someone in (the clothes specified): they were arrayed in Hungarian national dress.

3 [trans.] [LAW] empanel (a jury).

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the senses 'preparedness' and 'place in readiness'): from Old French arei (noun), areer (verb), based on Latin ad- 'toward' + a Germanic base meaning 'prepare'.

ar·rears plural n. money that is owed and should have been paid earlier: he was suing the lessee for the arrears of rent.

<PHRASES> in arrears (also [CHIEFLY LAW] in arrear) behind in paying money that is owed: two out of three tenants are in arrears.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of payments made or due for wages, rent, etc.) at the end of each period of work or occupancy: you will be paid monthly in arrears.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·rear·age n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (first used in the phrase in arrear): from arrear (adverb) 'behind, overdue', from Old French arere, from medieval Latin adretro, from ad- 'toward' + retro 'backward'.

ar·rest v. [trans.] 1 seize (someone) by legal authority and take into custody: the police arrested him for possession of marijuana; two youths aged 16 were arrested.

2 stop or check (progress or a process): the spread of the disease can be arrested | [as adj.] (arrested) arrested development may occur.

3 attract the attention of (someone): his attention was arrested by a strange sound.

■ n. 1 the action of seizing someone to take into custody: I have a warrant for your arrest; they placed her under arrest | at least 69 arrests were made.

2 a stoppage or sudden cessation of motion: [with adj.] a cardiac arrest.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French arester, based on Latin ad- 'at, to' + restare 'remain, stop'.

ar·rest·ee n. a person who has been arrested.

ar·rest·er (also ar·res·tor) n. [usu. with adj.] a device that prevents or stops a specified thing: a spark arrester; a lightning arrester.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a device on an aircraft carrier that slows aircraft after landing by means of a hook and cable.

ar·rest·ing adj. 1 striking; eye-catching: at 6 feet 6 inches he was an arresting figure.

2 a person or agency that seizes and detains (someone or something) by legal authority: the arresting officer.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·rest·ing·ly adv.

Ar·re·tine adj. denoting fine red pottery made at Arretium, an ancient city in central Italy, and elsewhere from c.100 BC until the late 1st century AD.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from the name of the city Arretium (modern Arezzo) + -INE^1 .

Linked entries:

-INE ■

Ar·rhe·ni·us Svante August (1859-1927), Swedish chemist, noted for his work on electrolytes. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1903).

ar·rhyth·mi·a n. [MEDICINE] a condition in which the heart beats with an irregular or abnormal rhythm.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek arruthmia 'lack of rhythm', from a- 'without' + rhuthmos (see RHYTHM).

Linked entries:

RHYTHM ■

ar·rhyth·mic (also a·rhyth·mic) adj. not rhythmic; without rhythm or regularity: the arrhythmic clip-clop of pony steps.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MEDICINE] of, relating to, or suffering from cardiac arrhythmia.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·rhyth·mi·cal adj. ar·rhyth·mi·cal·ly adv.

ar·rière-pen·sée n. a concealed thought or intention; an ulterior motive.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, literally 'behind thought'.

ar·ris n. [ARCHITECTURE] a sharp edge formed by the meeting of two flat or curved surfaces.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: alteration of early modern French areste 'sharp ridge', earlier form of ARÊTE.

Linked entries:

ARÊTE ■

ar·ri·val n. the action or process of arriving: Ruth's arrival in New York; he was dead on arrival at the hospital.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who has arrived somewhere: hotel staff greeted the late arrivals.

- the emergence or appearance of a new development, phenomenon, or product: the arrival of democracy.

- such a new development, phenomenon, or product: sociology is a relatively new arrival on the academic scene.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French arrivaille, from Old French arriver (see ARRIVE).

Linked entries:

ARRIVE ■

ar·rive v. [intrans.] reach a place at the end of a journey or a stage in a journey: we arrived at his house and knocked at the door; the team arrived in New Delhi on July 30; they had recently arrived from Turkey.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a thing) be brought or delivered: the invitation arrived a few days later.

- (arrive at) reach (a conclusion or decision): they arrived at the same conclusion.

- (of an event or a particular moment) happen or come: we will be in touch with them when the time arrives.

- (of a new development or product) come into existence or use: microcomputers arrived at the start of the 1970s.

- (of a baby) be born: he will feel jealous when a new baby arrives.

- INFORMAL achieve success or recognition.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'reach the shore after a voyage'): from Old French ariver, based on Latin ad- 'to' + ripa 'shore'.

ar·ri·viste n. an ambitious or ruthlessly self-seeking person, esp. one who has recently acquired wealth or social status.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French, from arriver (see ARRIVE).

Linked entries:

ARRIVE ■

ar·ro·gant adj. having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities: he's arrogant and opinionated; a typically arrogant assumption.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·ro·gance n. ar·ro·gant·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin arrogant- 'claiming for oneself', from the verb arrogare (see ARROGATE).

Linked entries:

ARROGATE ■

ar·ro·gate v. [trans.] take or claim (something) for oneself without justification: they arrogate to themselves the ability to divine the nation's true interests.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·ro·ga·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin arrogat- 'claimed for oneself', from the verb arrogare, from ad- 'to' + rogare 'ask'.

<USAGE>
See usage at ABROGATE.

Linked entries:

ABROGATE ■

ar·ron·disse·ment n. a subdivision of a department in France, for purposes of local government administration.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an administrative district of certain large French cities, in particular Paris.

<ORIGIN> French, from arrondir 'make round'.

Ar·row Kenneth Joseph (1921- ), U.S. economist, noted chiefly for his work on general economic equilibrium and social choice. His Social Choices and Individual Values (1951) argued the impossibility of aggregating the preferences of individuals into a single combined order of priorities for society as a whole. Nobel Prize for Economics (1972).

ar·row n. a shaft sharpened at the front and with feathers or vanes at the back, shot from a bow as a weapon or for sport: his ability to launch an arrow accurately.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a mark or sign resembling an arrow, used to show direction or position; a pointer: we drove in the main gate and followed a series of arrows | [as adj.] you can use the up and down arrow keys.

<PHRASES>
□ arrow of time (or time's arrow) the direction of travel from past to future in time considered as a physical dimension.

□ straight as an arrow perfectly straight, with no deviation.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·row·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English arewe, arwe, from Old Norse.

ar·row·head n. 1 the pointed end of an arrow, typically wedge-shaped.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a decorative device resembling an arrowhead.

2 an aquatic or semiaquatic plant with arrow-shaped leaves and three-petaled white flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Sagittaria, family Alismataceae: several species, in particular the common broad-leaved arrowhead S. latifolia.

ar·row·root n. a West Indian herbaceous plant from which a starch is prepared.
<INFO>  Maranta arundinacea, family Marantaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the fine-grained starch obtained from this plant, used in cooking and medicine.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: alteration of Arawak aru-aru (literally 'meal of meals') by association with ARROW and ROOT^1 , the tubers being used to absorb poison from arrow wounds.

Linked entries:

ARROW ■

ROOT ■

ar·row-slit n. (esp. in a medieval fortified building) a narrow vertical slit in a wall for shooting or looking through, or to admit light and air.

ar·row-straight adj. & adv. completely straight: [as adj.] the roads are empty and arrow-straight | [as adv.] an index leads the reader arrow-straight to documents of interest.

ar·row worm n. a slender transparent wormlike animal with fins, having spines on the head for grasping prey. It is common in marine plankton. Also called CHAETOGNATH (see CHAETOGNATHA).
<INFO>  Chaetognatha

ar·roy·o n. (pl. -os) a steep-sided gully cut by running water in an arid or semiarid region.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish.

ar·roz n. Spanish word for RICE, used in the names of various dishes.

Linked entries:

RICE ■

ar·roz con pol·lo n. a Spanish and Latin American dish of chicken and rice simmered with tomatoes, stock, and herbs.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, 'chicken with rice'.

arse British spelling of ASS^2 .

<ORIGIN> Old English ærs, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aars and German Arsch.

Linked entries:

ASS ■

ar·se·nal n. a collection of weapons and military equipment stored by a country, person, or group: Britain’s nuclear arsenal.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a place where weapons and military equipment are stored or made.

- [in sing.] FIGURATIVE an array of resources available for a certain purpose: an arsenal of computers at our disposal.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (denoting a dock for the construction and repair of ships): from French, or from obsolete Italian arzanale, based on Arabic , from 'house' + al- '(of) the' + 'art, industry' (from 'make, fabricate').

ar·se·nate n. [CHEMISTRY] a salt or ester of arsenic acid.

ar·se·nic n. the chemical element of atomic number 33, a brittle steel-gray metalloid. (Symbol: As)

Arsenic compounds (and their poisonous properties) have been known since ancient times, and the metallic form was isolated in the Middle Ages. Arsenic occurs naturally in orpiment, realgar, and other minerals, and rarely as the free element. Arsenic is used in semiconductors and some specialized alloys; its toxic compounds are widely used in wood preservation.

■ adj. (ar·sen·ic) of or relating to arsenic.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHEMISTRY] of arsenic with a valence of five; of arsenic(V).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting yellow orpiment, arsenic sulfide): via Old French from Latin arsenicum, from Greek arsenikon 'yellow orpiment', identified with arsenikos 'male', but in fact from Arabic 'the orpiment', based on Persian zar 'gold'.

ar·sen·ic ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a weakly acidic crystalline solid with oxidizing properties, formed when arsenic reacts with nitric acid.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: H_3AsO_4.

ar·sen·i·cal adj. of or containing arsenic.

■ n. (usu. arsenicals) an arsenical drug or other compound.

ar·se·nide n. [CHEMISTRY] a binary compound of arsenic with a metallic element.

ar·se·no·py·rite n. a silvery-gray mineral consisting of an arsenide and sulfide of iron.
<INFO>  Chem. formula FeAsS.

ar·sine n. [CHEMISTRY] a poisonous gas smelling slightly of garlic, made by the reaction of some arsenides with acids.
<INFO>  3

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from ARSENIC, on the pattern of amine.

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ARSENIC ■

ar·sis n. (pl. -ses ) [PROSODY] the unstressed syllable of a metrical foot. The opposite of THESIS (sense 3). To the Greeks, the two terms designated the raising and lowering of the foot in walking, but their meanings became reversed in the Latin tradition, where grammarians identified them with the lowering and raising of the voice.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek, literally 'lifting', from airein 'raise'.

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THESIS ■

ar·son n. the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property: police are treating the fire as arson | [as adj.] an arson attack.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·son·ist n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: an Anglo-Norman French legal term, from medieval Latin arsio(n-), from Latin ardere 'to burn'.

ars·phen·a·mine n. [MEDICINE] a synthetic organic arsenic compound formerly used to treat syphilis and other diseases.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: blend of ARSENIC, PHENYL, and AMINE.

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ARSENIC ■

PHENYL ■

AMINE ■

ar·sy-ver·sy INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. adj. in a confused, disordered, or perversely contrary state or condition: the whole place was arsy-versy; they got things all arsy-versy.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from ARSE + Latin versus 'turned', the addition of -Y^1 to both elements forming a jingle.

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ARSE ■

-Y ■

art 1 n. 1 the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power: the art of the Renaissance; great art is concerned with moral imperfections; she studied art in Paris.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- works produced by such skill and imagination: his collection of modern art; an exhibition of Tibetan art | [as adj.] an art critic.

- creative activity resulting in the production of paintings, drawings, or sculpture: she's good at art.

2 (the arts) the various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature, and dance: the visual arts | [in sing.] the art of photography.

3 (arts) subjects of study primarily concerned with the processes and products of human creativity and social life, such as languages, literature, and history (as contrasted with scientific or technical subjects): the belief that the arts and sciences were incompatible; the Faculty of Arts.

4 a skill at doing a specified thing, typically one acquired through practice: the art of conversation.

<PHRASES>
□ art for art's sake used to convey the idea that the chief or only aim of a work of art is the self-expression of the individual artist who creates it.

□ art is long, life is short PROVERB there is so much knowledge to acquire that a lifetime is not sufficient.

□ art of war the strategy, tactics, and techniques of combat.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin ars, art-.

art 2 archaic or dialect 2nd person singular present of BE.

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BE ■

art. abbr.
- article.

- artificial.

- artillery.

Ar·taud Antonin (1896-1948), French actor, director, and poet. He developed the concept of the nonverbal Theater of Cruelty.

art car n. a car or other four-wheel motor vehicle decorated as a work of art.

art dec·o n. the predominant decorative art style of the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by precise and boldly delineated geometric shapes and strong colors, and used most notably in household objects and in architecture.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: shortened from French art décoratif 'decorative art', from the 1925 Exposition des Arts décoratifs in Paris.

ar·te·fact n. British spelling of ARTIFACT.

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ARTIFACT ■

ar·tel n. HISTORICAL (in prerevolutionary Russia) a cooperative association of craftsmen living and working together.

<ORIGIN> from Russian .

Ar·te·mis [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a goddess, daughter of Zeus and sister of Apollo. She was a huntress and is typically depicted with a bow and arrows. Roman equivalent DIANA.

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DIANA ■

ar·te·mis·i·a n. an aromatic or bitter-tasting plant of a genus that includes wormwood, mugwort, and sagebrush. Several kinds of artemisia are used in herbal medicine and many are cultivated for their feathery gray foliage.
<INFO>  Genus Artemisia, family Compositae.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Latin from Greek, 'wormwood', named after the goddess ARTEMIS, to whom it was sacred.

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ARTEMIS ■

ar·te·mis·in·in n. another term for QINGHAOSU.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: blend of ARTEMISIA and QUININE.

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QINGHAOSU ■

ARTEMISIA ■

QUININE ■

Ar·te Po·ver·a n. a style and movement in art originating in Italy in the 1960s combining aspects of conceptual, minimalist, and performance art, and making use of worthless or common materials such as stones or newspapers, in the hope of subverting the commercialization of art.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: Italian, literally 'impoverished art', from arte 'art' + povera (feminine of povero 'needy').

ar·te·ri·al n. a through road: sabotaged arterials needed for evacuation of civilians.

■ adj. [attrib.] of or relating to an artery or arteries.
<SPECIAL USAGE> denoting an important route in a system of roads, railroad lines, or rivers: one of the main arterial routes from New York.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin arterialis, from Latin arteria (see ARTERY).

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ARTERY ■

ar·te·ri·al·ize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (arterialized) convert venous into arterial (blood) by reoxygenation, esp. in the lungs.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·te·ri·al·i·za·tion n.

arterio- comb. form of or relating to the arteries: arteriosclerosis.

<ORIGIN> from Greek (see ARTERY).

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ARTERY ■

ar·te·ri·og·ra·phy n. [MEDICINE] radiography of an artery, carried out after injection of a radio-opaque substance.

ar·te·ri·ole n. [ANATOMY] a small branch of an artery leading into capillaries.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·te·ri·o·lar adj..

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French artériole, diminutive of artère (see ARTERY).

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ARTERY ■

ar·te·ri·o·scle·ro·sis n. [MEDICINE] the thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries, occurring typically in old age.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·te·ri·o·scle·rot·ic adj.

ar·te·ri·o·ve·nous adj. [ANATOMY] of, relating to, or affecting an artery and a vein.

ar·te·ri·tis n. [MEDICINE] inflammation of the walls of an artery.

ar·ter·y n. (pl. -ter·ies) any of the muscular-walled tubes forming part of the circulation system by which blood (mainly that which has been oxygenated) is conveyed from the heart to all parts of the body. Compare with VEIN (sense 1).
<SPECIAL USAGE> an important route in a system of roads, rivers, or railroad lines: the east-west artery between San Francisco and Sacramento.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin arteria, from Greek , probably from airein 'raise'.

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VEIN ■

ar·te·sian adj. relating to or denoting a well bored perpendicularly into water-bearing strata lying at an angle, so that natural pressure produces a constant supply of water with little or no pumping: the water from artesian wells makes agriculture possible.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French artésien 'from Artois' (see ARTOIS), where such wells were first made.

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ARTOIS ■

art film n. a film that is artistic or experimental in its primary intent.

art form n. a conventionally established form of artistic composition, such as the novel, sonata, or sonnet.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any activity regarded as a medium of imaginative or creative self-expression: he elevates stage managing to an art form.

art·ful adj. 1 (of a person or action) clever or skillful, typically in a crafty or cunning way: her artful wiles.

2 showing creative skill or taste: an artful photograph of a striking woman.

<DERIVATIVES> art·ful·ly adv. art·ful·ness n.

art his·to·ry n. the academic study of the history and development of painting, sculpture, and the other visual arts.

<DERIVATIVES> art his·to·ri·an n. art his·tor·i·cal adj.

art house n. a movie theater that specializes in films that are artistic or experimental rather than merely entertaining.

ar·thral·gia n. [MEDICINE] pain in a joint.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek arthron 'joint' + -ALGIA.

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-ALGIA ■

ar·thri·tis n. painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·thrit·ic adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek, from arthron 'joint'. Arthritic was already used in late Middle English.

arthro- comb. form of a joint; relating to joints: arthroscope.

<ORIGIN> from Greek arthron 'joint'.

ar·throd·e·sis n. surgical immobilization of a joint by fusion of the adjacent bones.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from ARTHRO- + Greek desis 'binding together'.

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ARTHRO- ■

Ar·throp·o·da [ZOOLOGY] a large phylum of invertebrate animals that includes insects, spiders, crustaceans, and their relatives. They have a segmented body, an external skeleton, and jointed limbs, and are sometimes divided among several phyla.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·thro·pod n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin (plural), from Greek arthron 'joint' + pous, pod- 'foot'.

ar·thro·scope n. [MEDICINE] an instrument through which the interior of a joint may be inspected or operated on.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·thro·scop·ic adj. ar·thros·co·py n.

Ar·thur 1 a legendary king of Britain, historically perhaps a 5th- or 6th-century Romano-British chieftain or general. Stories of his life, the exploits of his knights, and the Round Table of the court at Camelot were developed by Malory, Chrétien de Troyes, and other medieval writers and became the subject of many legends.

<DERIVATIVES> Ar·thu·ri·an adj.

Ar·thur 2 Chester Alan (1830-86), 21st president of the U.S. 1881-85. A New York Republican, he became James Garfield’s vice president in March 1881, succeeding to the presidency upon the assassination of Garfield six months later. During his term of office, he was responsible for the enactment of Civil Service reforms and for improving the strength of the U.S. Navy.

ar·ti·choke n. 1 (also globe artichoke) a European plant cultivated for its large thistlelike flowerheads.
<INFO>  Cynara scolymus, family Compositae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the unopened flowerhead of this, of which the heart and the fleshy bases of the bracts are edible.

2 see JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from northern Italian articiocco, from Spanish alcarchofa, from Arabic .

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JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE ■

ar·ti·choke gall n. a hard egg-shaped gall which forms inside an artichoke bud in response to the developing larva of a gall wasp.
<INFO>  The wasp is Andricus fecundator, family Cynipidae.

ar·ti·cle n. 1 a particular item or object, typically one of a specified type: small household articles; articles of clothing.

2 a piece of writing included with others in a newspaper, magazine, or other publication: an article about middle-aged executives.

3 a separate clause or paragraph of a legal document or agreement, typically one outlining a single rule or regulation: [as adj.] it is an offense under Article 7 of the treaty.

4 [GRAMMAR] see DEFINITE ARTICLE, INDEFINITE ARTICLE.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be articled) bind by the terms of a contract, as one of apprenticeship.

<PHRASES>
□ an article of faith a firmly held belief: it was an article of faith with this circle that women must free themselves.

□ the genuine article a person or thing considered to be an authentic and excellent example of their kind.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a separate clause of the Apostles' Creed): from Old French, from Latin articulus 'small connecting part', diminutive of artus 'joint'.

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DEFINITE ARTICLE ■

INDEFINITE ARTICLE ■

Ar·ti·cle 15 n. a section of the Uniform Code of Military Justice allowing commanders to carry out discretionary punishments without judicial proceedings
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a judgment or punishment issued under this provision:
if I agree to accept the Article 15, am I admitting guilt?

Ar·ti·cles of Con·fed·er·a·tion n. the original constitution of the U.S., ratified in 1781, which was replaced by the U.S. Constitution in 1789.

ar·tic·u·lar adj. [attrib.] of or relating to a joint or the joints: articular cartilage.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin articularis, from articulus 'small connecting part' (see ARTICLE).

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ARTICLE ■

ar·tic·u·late adj. 1 (of a person or a person's words) having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently: an articulate account of their experiences.

2 having joints or jointed segments.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ZOOLOGY] denoting a brachiopod that has projections and sockets that form a hinge joining the two halves of the shell.

■ v. 1 [trans.] express (an idea or feeling) fluently and coherently: they were unable to articulate their emotions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> pronounce (something) clearly and distinctly: he articulated each word with precision | [intrans.] people who do not articulate well are more difficult to lip-read.

2 [intrans.] form a joint: the mandible is a solid piece articulating with the head.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (be articulated) be connected by joints: the wing is articulated to the thorax.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·tic·u·la·ble adj. ar·tic·u·la·cy n. ar·tic·u·late·ly adv. ar·tic·u·late·ness n. ar·tic·u·la·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin articulatus, past participle of articulare 'divide into joints, utter distinctly', from articulus 'small connecting part' (see ARTICLE).

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ARTICLE ■

ar·tic·u·lat·ed adj. 1 having two or more sections connected by a flexible joint: eight articulated trailer coaches; the trilobite's thorax has a variable number of articulated segments.

2 (of an idea or feeling) expressed; put into words: the lack of a clearly articulated policy.

ar·tic·u·la·tion n. 1 the action of putting into words an idea or feeling of a specified type: it would involve the articulation of a theory of the just war.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the formation of clear and distinct sounds in speech: the articulation of vowels and consonants.

- [MUSIC] clarity in the production of successive notes: beautifully polished articulation from the violins.

- [PHONETICS] the act or manner of uttering a speech sound, esp. a consonant.

2 the state of being jointed: the area of articulation of the lower jaw.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] a specified joint: the leg articulation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the senses 'joint', 'joining'): from Latin articulatio(n-), from the verb articulare (see ARTICULATE).

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ARTICULATE ■

ar·tic·u·la·to·ry adj. [attrib.] of or relating to the formation of speech sounds.

ar·ti·fact (BRIT. ar·te·fact) n. 1 an object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest: gold and silver artifacts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ARCHAEOLOGY] such an object as distinguished from a similar object naturally produced.

2 something observed in a scientific investigation or experiment that is not naturally present but occurs as a result of the preparative or investigative procedure: widespread tissue infection may be a technical artifact.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·ti·fac·tu·al adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin arte 'by or using art' + factum 'something made' (neuter past participle of facere 'make').

ar·ti·fice n. clever or cunning devices or expedients, esp. as used to trick or deceive others: artifice and outright fakery | the style is not free from the artifices of the period.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'workmanship'): from Old French, from Latin artificium, based on ars, art- 'art' + facere 'make'.

ar·tif·i·cer n. ARCHAIC a skilled craftsman or inventor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT., [MILITARY] a skilled mechanic in the armed forces.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, probably an alteration of Old French artificien, from artifice (see ARTIFICE).

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ARTIFICE ■

ar·ti·fi·cial adj. 1 made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally, typically as a copy of something natural: her skin glowed in the artificial light; an artificial limb; artificial flowers.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a situation or concept) not existing naturally; contrived or false: the artificial division of people into age groups.
See note at SPURIOUS.
- [BRIDGE] (of a bid) conventional as opposed to natural.

2 (of a person or a person's behavior) insincere or affected: an artificial smile.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·ti·fi·ci·al·i·ty n. ar·ti·fi·cial·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French artificiel or Latin artificialis, from artificium 'handicraft' (see ARTIFICE).

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ARTIFICE ■

ar·ti·fi·cial climb·ing n. the sport of climbing on an indoor or outdoor wall whose surface simulates a mountain.

ar·ti·fi·cial ho·ri·zon n. a gyroscopic instrument or a fluid surface, typically one of mercury, used to provide a horizontal reference plane for navigational measurement.

ar·ti·fi·cial in·sem·i·na·tion (abbr.: AI) n. the injection of semen into the vagina or uterus other than by sexual intercourse.

ar·ti·fi·cial in·tel·li·gence (abbr.: AI) n. the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.

ar·ti·fi·cial life n. the production or action of computer programs or computerized systems that simulate the behavior, population dynamics, or other characteristics of living organisms.

ar·ti·fi·cial res·pi·ra·tion n. the restoration or substitution of someone's breathing by manual, mechanical, or mouth-to-mouth methods.

ar·ti·fi·cial sat·el·lite n. another term for SATELLITE (sense 1).

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SATELLITE ■

ar·ti·fi·cial sur·face n. [SPORTS] (also artificial turf) a carpetlike playing surface used in stadiums instead of natural grass.

ar·til·ler·y n. (pl. -ler·ies) large-caliber guns used in warfare on land: tanks and heavy artillery.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a military detachment or branch of the armed forces that uses such guns.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·til·ler·ist n. ar·til·ler·y·man n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French artillerie, from artiller, alteration of atillier 'equip, arm', probably a variant of atirier, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + tire 'rank, order'.

Ar·ti·o·dac·ty·la [ZOOLOGY] an order of mammals that comprises the even-toed ungulates. Compare with PERISSODACTYLA.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·ti·o·dac·tyl n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek artios 'even' + daktulos 'finger, toe'.

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PERISSODACTYLA ■

ar·ti·san n. a worker in a skilled trade, esp. one that involves making things by hand.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·ti·san·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian artigiano, based on Latin artitus, past participle of artire 'instruct in the arts', from ars, art- 'art'.

art·ist n. a person who produces paintings or drawings as a profession or hobby.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who practices any of the various creative arts, such as a sculptor, novelist, poet, or filmmaker.

- a person skilled at a particular task or occupation: a surgeon who is an artist with the scalpel.

- a performer, such as a singer, actor, or dancer.

- INFORMAL [with adj.] a habitual practitioner of a specified reprehensible activity: a con artist; rip-off artists.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (denoting a master of the liberal arts): from French artiste, from Italian artista, from arte art, from Latin ars, art-.

ar·tiste n. a professional entertainer, esp. a singer or dancer: cabaret artistes.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French (see ARTIST).

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ARTIST ■

ar·tis·tic adj. having or revealing natural creative skill: my lack of artistic ability.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of, relating to, or characteristic of art or artistry: a denial of artistic freedom; her artistic temperament.

- aesthetically pleasing: computer programs that produce artistic designs.

<DERIVATIVES> ar·tis·ti·cal·ly adv.

ar·tis·tic di·rec·tor n. the person with overall responsibility for the selection and interpretation of the works performed by a theater, ballet, or opera company.

art·ist·ry n. creative skill or ability: the artistry of the pianist.

art·ist's fun·gus n. a bracket fungus that has the shape of an artist's palette, with a reddish-brown upper surface, found in both Eurasia and North America.
<INFO>  Ganoderma applanatum, family Ganodermataceae, class Hymenomycetes.

art·less adj. without guile or deception: an artless, naive girl; artless sincerity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- without effort or pretentiousness; natural and simple: an artless literary masterpiece.

- without skill or finesse: her awkward, artless prose.

<DERIVATIVES> art·less·ly adv.

art nou·veau n. a style of decorative art, architecture, and design prominent in western Europe and the U.S. from about 1890 until World War I and characterized by intricate linear designs and flowing curves based on natural forms.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French, literally 'new art'.

Ar·tois a region and former province of northwestern France.

art pa·per n. [mass noun] high-quality paper coated with china clay or a similar substance to give it a smooth surface.

arts and crafts plural n. decorative design and handicraft.

Arts and Crafts Move·ment an English decorative arts movement of the second half of the 19th century that sought to revive the ideal of craftsmanship in an age of increasing mechanization and mass production. William Morris was its most prominent member.

art song n. [MUSIC] a song written to be sung in recital, typically with piano accompaniment and often set to a poem.

art·sy (also art·y ) adj. (-si·er, -si·est) INFORMAL making a strong, affected, or pretentious display of being artistic or interested in the arts: the artsy town of Taos; artsy French flicks.

<DERIVATIVES> art·si·ness n.

art·sy-craft·sy INFORMAL adj. interested or involved in making decorative, artistic objects, typically ones perceived as quaint or homespun: artsy-craftsy gift shops.

art·sy-fart·sy adj. INFORMAL, DEROGATORY associated with or showing a pretentious interest in the arts: you can wear a turtleneck to join your artsy-fartsy friends.

art ther·a·py n. a form of psychotherapy involving the encouragement of free self-expression through painting, drawing, or modeling, used as a remedial activity or an aid to diagnosis.

art·work n. illustrations, photographs, or other nontextual material prepared for inclusion in a publication.
<SPECIAL USAGE> paintings, drawings, or other artistic works: a collection of artwork from tribal cultures | each artwork is reproduced in color on a full page.

A·ru·ba an island in the Caribbean Sea, close to the Venezuelan coast; pop. 60,000; capital, Oranjestad. Formerly part of the Netherlands Antilles, it separated in 1986 to become a self-governing territory of the Netherlands.

a·ru·gu·la (also ru·co·la, ru·go·la) n. the rocket plant, used in cooking.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from Italian dialect, ultimately a diminutive of Latin eruca, 'downy-stemmed plant'.

ar·um n. a North American and European plant that has arrow-shaped leaves and a broad leafy spathe enclosing a club-shaped spadix, and that bears bright red berries in late summer.
<INFO>  Arum, Arisaema, and other genera, family Araceae (the arum family): several species, including jack-in-the-pulpit, cuckoopint, and skunk cabbage. The arum family also contains a number of popular houseplants, such as philodendrons and calla lilies.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, from Greek aron.

ar·um lil·y n. chiefly British term for CALLA LILY (see CALLA).

Linked entries:

CALLA ■

Aru·na·chal Pra·desh a mountainous state in far northeastern India that lies on the border of Tibet to the north and Myanmar (Burma) to the east; capital, Itanagar. It became a state of India in 1986.

Ar·va·da a city in north central Colorado, northwest of Denver; pop. 102,153.

-ary 1 suffix 1 forming adjectives such as budgetary, primary.

2 forming nouns such as dictionary, granary.

<ORIGIN> from French -aire or Latin -arius 'connected with'.

-ary 2 suffix forming adjectives such as capillary, military.

<ORIGIN> from French -aire or Latin -aris 'belonging to'.

Ar·ya·bha·ta I (476-c.550), Indian astronomer and mathematician. His surviving work, Aryabhatiya (499), deals with mathematics, the measurement of time, planetary models, the sphere, and eclipses.

Ar·y·an n. a member of a people speaking an Indo-European language who invaded northern India in the 2nd millennium BC, displacing the Dravidian and other aboriginal peoples.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- dated term for PROTO-INDO-EUROPEAN or for INDO-IRANIAN.

- (in Nazi ideology) a person of Caucasian race not of Jewish descent.

The idea that there was an “Aryan” race corresponding to the parent Indo-European language was proposed by certain 19th century writers and was taken up by Hitler and other proponents of racist ideology, but it has been generally rejected by scholars.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit 'noble' + -AN.

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PROTO-INDO-EUROPEAN ■

INDO-IRANIAN ■

-AN ■

ar·yl n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] of or denoting a radical derived from an aromatic hydrocarbon by removal of a hydrogen atom: aryl groups.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from AROMATIC + -YL.

Linked entries:

AROMATIC ■

-YL ■

ar·y·te·noid [ANATOMY] adj. [attrib.] of, relating to, or denoting a pair of cartilages at the back of the larynx.

■ n. either of these cartilages.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from modern Latin arytaenoides, from Greek , from arutaina 'funnel'.

AS abbr.
- American Samoa.

- Anglo-Saxon.

- Asperger's syndrome.

- Associate in Science.

As symbol the chemical element arsenic.

as 1 adv. (usu. as as) used in comparisons to refer to the extent or degree of something: hailstones as big as tennis balls; go as fast as you can; it tasted like grape juice but not as sweet.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used to emphasize an amount: as many as twenty-two rare species may be at risk.

■ conj. 1 used to indicate that something happens during the time when something is taking place: Frank watched him as he ambled through the crowd; as she grew older, she kept more to herself.

2 used to indicate by comparison the way that something happens or is done: dress as you would if you were having guests; they can do as they wish | [as adv.] she kissed him goodbye, as usual; as in the past, a collection is to be taken.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used to add or interject a comment relating to the statement of a fact: as you can see, I didn't go after all; he has, as you know, called for a referendum.

3 because; since: I must stop now as I have to go out.

4 even though: sweet as he is, he doesn't pay his bills; try as he might, he failed to pull it off.

■ prep. 1 used to refer to the function or character that someone or something has: he got a job as a cook; they were treated as foreigners; it came as a shock; as a U.S. adviser, he is a target for terrorism.

2 during the time of being (the thing specified): he had often been sick as a child; as a student, my nickname was Space.

<PHRASES>
□ as and when at the time when (used to refer to an uncertain future event): they deal with an issue as and when it rears its head.

□ as for with regard to: as for you, you'd better be quick.

□ as if (or as though) as would be the case if: she behaved as if he weren't there.

□ as if! INFORMAL I very much doubt it: You know how lottery winners always say it won't change their lives? Yeah, as if!

□ as (it) is in the existing circumstances: I've got enough on my plate as it is.

□ as it were in a way (used to be less precise): areas that have been, as it were, pushed aside.

□ as long as see LONG^1 .

□ as much see MUCH.

□ as of used to indicate the time or date from which something starts: as of January 1, a free market will be created I'm on unemployment as of today.

□ as per see PER.

□ as such see SUCH.

□ as though see AS IF above.

□ as to with respect to; concerning: decisions as to which patients receive treatment.

□ as well see WELL^1 .

□ as yet [usu. with negative] until now or a particular time in the past: the damage is as yet undetermined.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: reduced form of Old English 'similarly' (see ALSO).

<USAGE>
1 A small, seemingly innocent word, as is so frequently misused (or not used where needed) that interested writers are advised to consult a full-length usage guide for counsel on its proper use. As is often used in causal senses in place of because or since ( As Julie wasn’t hungry, she ordered only a cup of coffee); in such constructions, where as may cause confusion, it is generally advisable to use the unambiguous because, or since.

2 On whether it is more correct to say he's not as shy as I rather than he's not as shy as me or I live in the same street as she rather than I live in the same street as her, see usage at PERSONAL PRONOUN.

3 For a discussion of when to use as rather than like, see usage at LIKE.

Linked entries:

LONG ■

MUCH ■

PER ■

SUCH ■

WELL ■

ALSO ■

PERSONAL PRONOUN ■

as 2 n. (pl.as·ses) an ancient Roman copper coin.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: Latin, literally 'a unit'.

as- prefix variant spelling of AD- assimilated before s (as in assemble, assess).

Linked entries:

AD- ■

ASA abbr. American Standards Association (esp. in film-speed specification): color film from 50 to 400 ASA.

a·sa·fet·i·da (BRIT. a·sa·foet·i·da) n. 1 a fetid resinous gum obtained from the roots of a herbaceous plant, used in herbal medicine and Indian cooking.

2 a Eurasian plant of the parsley family, from which this gum is obtained.
<INFO>  Ferula, family Apiaceae.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin asafoetida, from asa (from Persian 'mastic') + foetida (see FETID).

Linked entries:

FETID ■

a·sa·na n. a posture adopted in performing hatha yoga.

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit .

A·san·sol an industrial city in northeastern India, in West Bengal, northwest of Calcutta; pop. 262,000 .

A·san·te variant spelling of ASHANTI^1 .

Linked entries:

ASHANTI ■

ASAP (also asap) abbr. as soon as possible.

as·bes·tos n. a heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics, and is used in fire-resistant and insulating materials such as brake linings: asbestos was used for pipe insulation | [as adj.] asbestos shingles.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fabric containing such a mineral.

The asbestos minerals include chrysotile (white asbestos) and several kinds of amphibole, notably amosite (brown asbestos) and crocidolite (blue asbestos). The danger to health caused by breathing in highly carcinogenic asbestos particles has led to stringent control of its use.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek asbestos 'unquenchable' (applied by Dioscurides to quicklime), from a- 'not' + sbestos (from sbennumi 'quench').

as·bes·to·sis n. a lung disease resulting from the inhalation of asbestos particles, marked by severe fibrosis and a high risk of mesothelioma (cancer of the pleura).

As·bury Park a city in east central New Jersey, on the Atlantic Ocean, long a noted resort; pop. 16,799.

ASCAP abbr. American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.

as·ca·ri·a·sis n. [MEDICINE] infection of the intestine with ascarids.

as·ca·rid (also as·ca·ris ) n. [ZOOLOGY] a parasitic nematode worm of a family (Ascaridae) whose members typically live in the intestines of vertebrates.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: back-formation from Greek askarides, plural of askaris 'intestinal worm'.

as·cend v. 1 [trans.] go up or climb: she ascended the stairs | [intrans.] new magmas were created and ascended to the surface.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- climb to the summit of (a mountain or hill): the first traveler to ascend the mountain.

- (of a fish or boat) move upstream along (a river).

2 [intrans.] rise through the air: we had ascended 3,000 ft.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a road or flight of steps) slope or lead up: the road ascends to the lake.

- move up the social or professional scale: he took exams to ascend through the ranks.

- (ascend to) rise to (an important position or a higher level): some executives ascend to top-level positions.

- (of a spiritual being or soul) rise into heaven: the Prophet ascended to heaven | [as adj.] (ascended) the risen and ascended Christ.

- (of a voice or sound) rise in pitch: Carolyn's voice had ascended into high-pitched giggles.

<PHRASES> ascend the throne become king or queen.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin ascendere, from ad- 'to' + scandere 'to climb'.

as·cend·an·cy (also as·cend·en·cy) n. occupation of a position of dominant power or influence: the ascendancy of good over evil | they have a moral ascendancy over the rich.

as·cend·ant (also as·cend·ent) adj. 1 rising in power or influence: ascendant moderate factions in the party.

2 [ASTROLOGY] (of a planet, zodiacal degree, or sign) just above the eastern horizon.

■ n. [ASTROLOGY] the point on the ecliptic at which it intersects the eastern horizon at a particular time, typically that of a person's birth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the point on an astrological chart representing this.

<PHRASES> in the ascendant rising in power or influence: the reformers are in the ascendant.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin ascendent- 'climbing up', from the verb ascendere (see ASCEND).

Linked entries:

ASCEND ■

as·cend·er n. a person or thing that ascends, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a part of a letter that extends above the main part (as in b and h).

- a letter having such a part.

- a device used in climbing that can be clipped to a rope to act as a foothold or handhold, or to keep something in position.

as·cend·ing adj. [attrib.] 1 increasing in size or importance: incomes ranked in ascending order of size.

2 sloping or leading upward: a gently ascending forest path; blood pressure in the ascending aorta.

as·cend·ing co·lon n. [ANATOMY] the first main part of the large intestine, which passes upward from the cecum on the right side of the abdomen.

as·cen·sion n. [in sing.] the act of rising to an important position or a higher level: his ascension to the ranks of pop star.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Ascension) the ascent of Christ into heaven on the fortieth day after the Resurrection.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (referring to the ascent of Christ): via Old French from Latin ascensio(n-), from the verb ascendere (see ASCEND).

Linked entries:

ASCEND ■

As·cen·sion Day the fortieth day after Easter, on which Christ's Ascension is celebrated in the Christian Church. Also called HOLY THURSDAY.

As·cen·sion Is·land a small island in the South Atlantic Ocean, with St. Helena it is a dependency of the UK; pop. 1,007.

as·cent n. 1 a climb or walk to the summit of a mountain or hill: the first ascent of the Matterhorn | the routes of ascent can be retraced.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an upward slope or path: the ascent grew steeper.

2 [in sing.] an instance of rising through the air: the first balloon ascent was in 1783.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] a rise to an important position or a higher level: his ascent to power.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from ASCEND, on the pattern of the pair of descend, descent.

Linked entries:

ASCEND ■

as·cer·tain v. [trans.] find (something) out for certain; make sure of: an attempt to ascertain the cause of the accident | [with clause] management should ascertain whether adequate funding can be provided.

<DERIVATIVES> as·cer·tain·a·ble adj. as·cer·tain·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'assure, convince'): from Old French acertener, based on Latin certus 'settled, sure'.

as·cet·ic adj. characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons: an ascetic life of prayer, fasting, and manual labor; a narrow, humorless, ascetic face. See note at SEVERE.

■ n. a person who practices such self-discipline and abstention.

<DERIVATIVES> as·cet·i·cal·ly adv. as·cet·i·cism n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin asceticus or Greek , from 'monk', from askein 'to exercise'.

As·cham Roger (c.1515-68), English humanist scholar and writer. He was noted for his treatise on archery, Toxophilus (1545), and for The Scholemaster (1570), a practical and influential tract on education.

asc·hel·minth n. (pl. asc·hel·minths or asc·hel·min·thes ) [ZOOLOGY] an invertebrate animal belonging to a group of phyla that are distinguished by the lack of a well-developed coelom and blood vessels. Most aschelminths are minute wormlike animals, including the nematode worms, rotifers, and water bears.
<INFO>  Phylum Nematoda and about seven minor phyla, formerly placed in a phylum Aschelminthes.

<ORIGIN> from modern Latin Aschelminthes (former phylum name), from Greek askos 'sac' + helminth 'worm' (from the former belief that animals of this group had a fluid-filled internal sac).

as·ci plural form of ASCUS.

Linked entries:

ASCUS ■

as·cid·i·an n. [ZOOLOGY] a sea squirt.
<INFO>  Phylum Chordata, Subphylum Urochordata, class Ascidiacea.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin plural Ascidia (genus name), from Greek askidion, diminutive of askos 'wineskin'.

ASCII [COMPUTING] abbr. American Standard Code for Information Interchange, a set of digital codes representing letters, numerals, and other symbols, widely used as a standard format in the transfer of text between computers.

as·ci·tes n. [MEDICINE] the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, causing abdominal swelling.

<DERIVATIVES> as·cit·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek , from askos 'wineskin'.

As·cle·pi·us [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a hero and god of healing, son of Apollo.

as·co·my·cete n. [BOTANY] a fungus whose spores develop within asci. The ascomycetes include most molds, mildews, and yeasts, the fungal component of most lichens, and a few large forms such as morels and truffles. Compare with BASIDIOMYCETE.
<INFO>  Phylum Ascomycota (formerly subdivision Ascomycotina), class Ascomycetes.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Ascomycetes (former class name), from Greek askos 'sac' + 'fungi'.

Linked entries:

BASIDIOMYCETE ■

as·con n. [ZOOLOGY] a sponge of the simplest structure, with a tubelike or baglike form lined with choanocytes. Compare with LEUCON and SYCON.
<INFO>  Porifera

<DERIVATIVES> as·co·noid adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin (genus name), from Greek askos 'bag'.

Linked entries:

LEUCON ■

SYCON ■

a·scor·bic ac·id n. a vitamin found particularly in citrus fruits and green vegetables. It is essential in maintaining healthy connective tissue, and is also thought to act as an antioxidant. Severe deficiency causes scurvy. Also called VITAMIN C.
<INFO>  A lactone; chem. formula: C_6H_8O_6.

<DERIVATIVES> a·scor·bate n.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from A-1 'without' + medieval Latin scorbutus 'scurvy' + -IC.

Linked entries:

VITAMIN C ■

A- ■

-IC ■

As·cot a town in southern England, southwest of London. It is the site of an annual horse race.

as·cot n. (also ascot tie) a man's broad silk necktie.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from the place name ASCOT, by association with formal dress at race meetings held there.

Linked entries:

ASCOT ■

as·cribe v. [trans.] (ascribe something to) attribute something to (a cause): he ascribed Jane's short temper to her upset stomach.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. be ascribed to) attribute (a text, quotation, or work of art) to a particular person or period: a quotation ascribed to Thomas Cooper.

- (usu. be ascribed to) regard (a quality) as belonging to: tough-mindedness is a quality commonly ascribed to top bosses.

<DERIVATIVES> a·scrib·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin ascribere, from ad- 'to' + scribere 'write'.

as·crip·tion n. the attribution of something to a cause: an ascription of effect to cause.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the attribution of a text, quotation, or work of art to a particular person or period: her ascription of the text to Boccaccio | questions of authorial ascription.

- the action of regarding a quality as belonging to someone or something: the author's ascription of human attributes to his hero or villain.

- a preacher's words ascribing praise to God at the end of a sermon.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin ascriptio(n-), from the verb ascribere (see ASCRIBE).

Linked entries:

ASCRIBE ■

as·cus n. (pl. as·ci ) [BOTANY] a sac, typically cylindrical in shape, in which the spores of ascomycete fungi develop.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek askos 'bag'.

asdic (also ASDIC) n. CHIEFLY BRIT. an early form of sonar used to detect submarines.

<ORIGIN> World War II: acronym from Allied Submarine Detection Investigation Committee.

-ase suffix [BIOCHEMISTRY] forming names of enzymes: amylase.

<ORIGIN> from (diast)ase.

ASEAN abbr. Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

a·seis·mic adj. [GEOLOGY] not characterized by earthquake activity.

a·sep·sis n. the absence of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the exclusion of bacteria and other microorganisms, typically during surgery. Compare with ANTISEPSIS.

Linked entries:

ANTISEPSIS ■

a·sep·tic adj. free from contamination caused by harmful bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [attrib.] (of surgical practice) aiming at the complete exclusion of harmful microorganisms.

- [attrib.] (of a wound, instrument, or dressing) surgically sterile or sterilized.

a·sex·u·al adj. without sex or sexuality, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BIOLOGY] (of reproduction) not involving the fusion of gametes.

- [BIOLOGY] without sex or sexual organs: asexual parasites.

- without sexual feelings or associations: she rested her hand on the back of his head, in a maternal, wholly asexual, gesture.

<DERIVATIVES> a·sex·u·al·i·ty n. a·sex·u·al·ly adv.

As·gard [SCANDINAVIAN MYTHOLOGY] a region in the center of the universe, inhabited by the gods.

ash 1 n. the powdery residue left after the burning of a substance: cigarette ash | a day's worth of paper burned to ashes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (ashes) the remains of something destroyed; ruins: democracies taking root in the ashes of the Soviet empire.

- (ashes) the remains of the human body after cremation or burning: his ashes were scattered on a Welsh mountainside.

- powdery material thrown out by a volcano: the plains have been showered by volcanic ash.

- the mineral component of an organic substance, as assessed from the residue left after burning: coal contains higher levels of ash than premium fuels.

<PHRASES>
□ (turn to) ashes in one's mouth (become) something that is bitterly disappointing or worthless: they found words such as “heroic” turn to ashes in their mouths during the scandal.

□ rise (or emerge) from the ashes be renewed after destruction: Atlanta has risen from the ashes. <ORIGIN> compare with rise like a phoenix from the ashes (see PHOENIX).

<ORIGIN> Old English æsce, aexe, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch as and German Asche.

Linked entries:

PHOENIX ■

ash 2 n. 1 (also ash tree) a tree with silver-gray bark and compound leaves. The ash is widely distributed throughout north temperate regions where it can form forests.
<INFO>  Genus Fraxinus, family Oleaceae: many species, including the North American white ash (F. americana) and the European ash (F. excelsior).

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the hard pale wood of this tree.

- [with adj.] any of a number of unrelated trees with similar leaves. See also MOUNTAIN ASH.

2 an Old English runic letter (so named from the word of which it was the first letter).
<SPECIAL USAGE> the symbol æ or Æ, used in the Roman alphabet in place of the runic letter, and as a phonetic symbol. See also Æ.

<ORIGIN> Old English æsc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch es and German Esche.

Linked entries:

MOUNTAIN ASH ■

Æ ■

a·shamed adj. [predic.] embarrassed or feeling guilt because of something one has done or a characteristic one has: you should be ashamed of yourself | [with clause] she felt ashamed that she had hit him.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (ashamed to do something) reluctant to do something through fear of embarrassment or humiliation: I'm ashamed to say I followed him home; I am not ashamed to be seen with them.

- embarrassed or humiliated to be associated with a person: his clothes and manners made me ashamed of him.

<DERIVATIVES> a·sham·ed·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Old English , past participle of 'feel shame', from (as an intensifier) + the verb SHAME.

Linked entries:

SHAME ■

A·shan·ti 1 (also A·san·te ) a region of central Ghana. Annexed by Britain in 1902, it became part of the former British colony of the Gold Coast.

A·shan·ti 2 (also A·san·te) n. (pl. same) 1 a member of a people of south central Ghana.

2 the dialect of Akan spoken by this people.

■ adj. relating to or denoting this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> the name in Akan.

ash blond (also ash blonde) adj. (of a person or their hair) very pale blond.

■ n. a very pale blond color.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person with hair of such a color.

ash·can n. a metal receptacle for trash or ashes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> MILITARY SLANG a depth charge.

Ash·can School a group of American realist painters active from c.1908 until World War I, who painted scenes from the slums of New York. The school grew out of the group called “the Eight.”

Ash·croft 1 John (1942- ), U.S. attorney general 2001-05. Under him, the Justice Department was reorganized to focus on antiterrorism, a national concern that had heightened following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Ash·croft 2 Dame Peggy (1907-91), English actress; born Edith Margaret Emily Ashcroft. She won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in the movie A Passage to India (1984).

Ashe Arthur (Robert) (1943-93), U.S. tennis player. He won the U.S. Open championship in 1968 and Wimbledon in 1975, becoming the first black male player to achieve world rankings. He died of AIDS, having contracted HIV from a blood transfusion.

ash·en 1 adj. of the pale gray color of ash: the ashen morning sky. See note at PALE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person's face) very pale with shock, fear, or illness.

- of or resembling ashes: the volcano's ashen breath.

ash·en 2 adj. ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY made of timber from the ash tree.

Ash·er (in the Bible) a Hebrew patriarch, son of Jacob and Zilpah.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the tribe of Israel traditionally descended from him.

Ashe·ville a city in western North Carolina, a resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains; pop. 68,889. The Biltmore estate is here.

Ash·ga·bat (also Ash·kha·bad ) the capital of the central Asian republic of Turkmenistan; pop. 407,200. Former name (1919-27) POLTORATSK.

Linked entries:

POLTORATSK ■

a·shine adj. [predic.] POETIC/LITERARY shining: eyes ashine in the darkness.

A-shirt n. a sleeveless undershirt, with straps over the shoulders.

Ash·ke·naz·i n. (pl. -naz·im ) a Jew of central or eastern European descent. More than 80 percent of Jews today are Ashkenazim; they preserve Palestinian rather than Babylonian Jewish traditions, and some still use Yiddish. Compare with SEPHARDI.

<DERIVATIVES> Ash·ke·naz·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> from modern Hebrew, from Ashkenaz, son of Japheth, one of the sons of Noah (Gen. 10:3).

Linked entries:

SEPHARDI ■

Ash·ke·na·zy Vladimir (Davidovich) (1937- ), Russian pianist. A child prodigy, he left the Soviet Union in 1963, finally settling in Iceland in 1973.

Ash·kha·bad variant spelling of ASHGABAT.

Linked entries:

ASHGABAT ■

Ash·land 1 a city in northeastern Kentucky, on the Ohio River; pop. 21,981. It is a center of the area's coal industry.

2 a city in north central Ohio; pop. 20,079.

ash·lar n. masonry made of large square-cut stones, typically used as a facing on walls of brick or stone.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a stone used in such masonry.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French aisselier, from Latin axilla, diminutive of axis 'plank'.

ash·lar·ing n. 1 ashlar masonry.

2 upright boarding fixed from the joists to the rafters of an attic to cut off the acute angle between the roof and the floor.

Ash·ley Laura (1925-85), Welsh fashion and textile designer; known for her use of floral patterns and romantic Victorian and Edwardian styles.

Ash·mo·le·an Mu·se·um a museum of art and antiquities in Oxford, England. It opened in 1683 and was the first public institution of its kind in England.

Ash·more and Car·ti·er Is·lands uninhabited islands in the Indian Ocean, an external territory of Australia.

A·sho·ka variant spelling of ASOKA.

Linked entries:

ASOKA ■

a·shore adv. to or on the shore from the direction of the sea: the seals come ashore to breed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> on land as opposed to at sea: we spent the day ashore.

ash pan n. a tray fitted beneath a grate in which ashes can be collected and removed.

ash·ram n. (in the Indian subcontinent) a hermitage, monastic community, or other place of religious retreat for Hindus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a place of religious retreat or community life modeled on the Indian ashram.

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit 'hermitage'.

Ash Sha·ri·qah variant form of SHARJAH.

Linked entries:

SHARJAH ■

Ash·ta·bu·la a port city in northeastern Ohio, on Lake Erie; pop. 21,633.

ash·tang·a (also asth·tang·a; as·tang·a ) n. a type of yoga based on eight principles and consisting of a series of poses executed in swift succession, combined with deep, controlled breathing.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi or its source, Sanskrit 'having eight parts', from ashtán 'eight'.

Ash·ton Sir Frederick (William Mallandaine) (1904-88), British ballet dancer, choreographer, and director.

ash·tray n. a receptacle for tobacco ash and cigarette butts.

A·shur·ba·ni·pal king of Assyria c.668-627 BC; grandson of Sennacherib. A patron of the arts, he established a library of more than 20,000 clay tablets at Nineveh.

Ash Wednes·day n. the first day of Lent in the Western Christian Church, marked by services of penitence.

<ORIGIN> from the custom of marking the foreheads of penitents with ashes on that day.

ash·y adj. 1 of a pale grayish color; ashen: the ashy shadows of the mountains.

2 covered with, consisting of, or resembling ashes: an ashy sediment.

ASI abbr. airspeed indicator.

A·sia the largest of the world's continents, constituting nearly one-third of the landmass, lying entirely north of the equator except for some Southeast Asian islands. It is connected to Africa by the Isthmus of Suez and borders Europe (part of the same landmass) along the Ural Mountains and across the Caspian Sea.

as·i·a·go n. a strong-flavored cow's milk cheese originally made in northern Italy.

<ORIGIN> named after Asiago, the plateau and town in northern Italy where the cheese was first made.

A·sia Mi·nor western peninsula of Asia that now constitutes most of modern Turkey.

A·sian adj. of or relating to Asia or its people, customs, or languages.

■ n. a native of Asia or a person of Asian descent.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin Asianus, from Greek Asianos, from Asia (see ASIA).

<USAGE>
See usage at ORIENTAL.

Linked entries:

ASIA ■

ORIENTAL ■

A·sian A·mer·i·can n. an American who is of Asian (chiefly Far Eastern) descent.

■ adj. of or relating to such people.

A·sian co·bra n. another term for SPECTACLED COBRA.

Linked entries:

SPECTACLED COBRA ■

A·sian De·vel·op·ment Bank a bank with forty-seven member countries (thirty-two are from the Asia-Pacific region) located in Manila. Its aim is to promote the economic and social progress of its developing member countries.

A·sian el·e·phant n. another term for INDIAN ELEPHANT.

Linked entries:

INDIAN ELEPHANT ■

A·sian long-horned bee·tle n. a large black beetle with white spots whose larvae feed on hardwoods. Infestations in the U.S. have led to large-scale destruction of trees in order to eradicate the pest.
<INFO>  Anoplophora glabripennis, family Cerambycidae.

A·sian pear n. the crisp apple-shaped fruit of a tree that is native to Japan and China and cultivated in Australia and New Zealand. Also called NASHI.
<INFO>  This fruit is obtained from varieties of Pyrus pyrifolia, family Rosaceae.

Linked entries:

NASHI ■

A·sian swamp eel n. a freshwater eel that can breathe air and traverse land. Its introduction in the southeastern U.S. threatens some native aquatic fauna.
<INFO>  Monopterus albus, family Synbranchidae.

A·sia-Pa·cif·ic n. (also Asia-Pacific region) a business region consisting of the whole of Asia as well as the countries of the Pacific Rim.

A·si·at·ic adj. relating to or deriving from Asia: Asiatic cholera; Asiatic coastal regions.

■ n. OFTEN OFFENSIVE an Asian person.

<ORIGIN> via Latin Asiaticus from Greek Asiatikos, from Asia (see ASIA).

<USAGE>
The standard and accepted term when referring to individual people is Asian rather than Asiatic, which can be offensive. However, Asiatic is standard in scientific and technical use, for example in biological and anthropological classifications.

See also usage at ORIENTAL.

Linked entries:

ASIA ■

ORIENTAL ■

ASIC [ELECTRONICS] abbr. application specific integrated circuit.

a·side adv. to one side; out of the way: he pushed his plate aside; they stood aside to let a car pass; she must put aside all her antagonistic feelings.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- in reserve; for future use: she set aside some money for rent.

- used to indicate that one is dismissing something from consideration, or that one is shifting from one topic or tone of discussion to another: joking aside, I've certainly had my fill.

■ n. 1 a remark or passage by a character in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but unheard by the other characters in the play.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a remark not intended to be heard by everyone present: “Does that make him a murderer?” whispered Alice in an aside to Fred.

2 a remark that is not directly related to the main topic of discussion: the recipe book has little asides about the importance of home and family.

<PHRASES>
□ aside from apart from.

□ set something aside
1 remove land from agricultural production for fallow or other use: with 15% of land set aside, cereal production will fall | [as adj.] using his set-aside acreage to work clover into his rotation.

2 annul a legal decision or process.

3 put in reserve: he was setting aside a few dollars a week.

□ take (or draw) someone aside move someone away from a group of people in order to talk privately.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally on side): see A-2 , SIDE.

Linked entries:

A- ■

SIDE ■

A-side n. the side of a pop single or album regarded as the main release.

As·i·mov Isaac (1920-92), U.S. writer and scientist; born in Russia; particularly known for his works of science fiction, his books on science for nonscientists, and his essays on a wide variety of subjects. Building on Karel apek's concept of the robot, in 1941, Asimov coined the term robotics. Notable science-fiction works: I, Robot (1950) and Foundation (trilogy, 1951-53).

as·i·nine adj. extremely stupid or foolish: Lydia ignored his asinine remark. See note at STUPID.

<DERIVATIVES> as·i·nin·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin asininus, from asinus 'ass'.

A·sir Moun·tains a range of mountains in southwestern Saudi Arabia that run parallel to the Red Sea.

-asis (often -iasis) suffix forming the names of diseases: onchocerciasis; psoriasis.

<ORIGIN> via Latin from Greek in nouns denoting a state or condition.

as·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) a stocky perching bird related to the pittas, found only in Madagascar.
<INFO>  Family Philepittidae: two genera, in particular Philepitta (two species). See also FALSE SUNBIRD.

<ORIGIN> probably a local name.

Linked entries:

FALSE SUNBIRD ■

ask v. 1 [reporting verb] say something in order to obtain an answer or some information: [with clause] he asked if she wanted coffee | he asked whether his electric wheelchair would fit through their doors | [trans.] people are always asking questions | [with direct speech] “How much further?” I asked | [intrans.] the old man asked about her job.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (ask around) talk to various people in order to find something out: there are fine meals to be had if you ask around.

- [intrans.] (ask after) inquire about the health or well-being of: Mrs. Savage asked after Iris's mother.

2 [trans.] request (someone) to do or give something: Mary asked her father for money | [trans.] I asked him to call the manager | [intrans.] don't be afraid to ask for advice.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with clause] request permission to do something: she asked if she could move in | [with infinitive] he asked to see the officer involved.

- [intrans.] (ask for) request to speak to: when I arrived, I asked for Catherine.

- request (a specified amount) as a price for selling something: he was asking $250 for the guitar.

- expect or demand (something) of someone: it's asking a lot, but could you look through Billy's things?

3 [trans.] invite (someone) to one's home or a function: it's about time we asked Pam to dinner.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (ask someone along) invite someone to join one on an outing: do you want to ask him along?

- (ask someone out) invite someone out socially, typically on a date.

■ n. [in sing.] 1 a request, especially for a donation: an ask for more funding.

2 the price at which an item, esp. a financial security, is offered for sale: [as adj.] ask prices for bonds.

<PHRASES>
□ be asking for it (or trouble) INFORMAL behave in a way that is likely to result in difficulty for oneself: they accused me of asking for it you're asking for trouble.

□ don't ask me! INFORMAL used to indicate that one does not know the answer to a question and that one is surprised or irritated to be questioned: “Is he her boyfriend then?” “Don't ask me!”

□ for the asking used to indicate that something can be easily obtained: the job was his for the asking.

□ I ask you! INFORMAL an exclamation of shock or disapproval intended to elicit agreement from one's listener: a soap opera based on Congress, I ask you.

□ if you ask me INFORMAL used to emphasize that a statement is one's personal opinion: if you ask me, it's just an excuse for laziness.

<DERIVATIVES> ask·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English , , .

<USAGE>
See usage at REQUEST.

Linked entries:

REQUEST ■

a·skance (also a·skant ) adv. with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval: the reformers looked askance at the mystical tradition; | a waiter looked askance at Charlie's jeans.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: of unknown origin.

as·ka·ri n. (pl. same or -ris) (in East Africa) a soldier or police officer.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Arabic 'soldier'.

as·ke·sis (also as·ce·sis ) n. the practice of severe self-discipline, typically for religious reasons.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'training', from askein 'to exercise'.

a·skew adv. & adj. not in a straight or level position: [as adv.] the door was hanging askew on one twisted hinge | [as predic. adj.] her hat was slightly askew.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE wrong; awry: [as adv.] the plan went sadly askew | [as adj.] outrageous humor with a decidedly askew point of view.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from A-2 'on' + SKEW.

Linked entries:

A- ■

SKEW ■

ask·ing price n. the price at which something is offered for sale.

ASL abbr. American Sign Language.

a·slant adv. at an angle or in a sloping direction: some of the paintings hung aslant.

■ prep. across at an angle or in a sloping direction: rays of light fell aslant a door.

a·sleep adj. & adv. in or into a state of sleep: [as adj.] she had been asleep for over three hours | [as adv.] Bob regularly fell asleep in his recliner.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- not attentive or alert; inactive: [as adj.] the competition was not asleep.

- (of a limb) having no feeling; numb: [as adj.] his legs were asleep.

- POETIC/LITERARY used euphemistically to say that someone is dead.

<PHRASES> asleep at the switch (or wheel) INFORMAL not attentive or alert; inactive: someone must have been asleep at the switch to allow this.

a·slope adv. & adj. ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY in a sloping position: [as adj.] the steps are aslope and broken | [as adv.] against the mast he leans aslope.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: origin uncertain; this form appears earlier than SLOPE.

Linked entries:

SLOPE ■

ASM abbr.
- air-to-surface missile.

- assistant stage manager.

As·ma·ra (also As·me·ra ) the capital of Eritrea; pop. 358,000.

a·so·cial adj. avoiding social interaction; inconsiderate of or hostile to others: the cat's independence has encouraged a view that it is asocial.

A·so·ka (also A·sho·ka ) (died c.232 BC), emperor of India c.269-232 BC. He converted to Buddhism and established it as the state religion.

A·so·ka pil·lar (also A·sho·ka pil·lar) the pillar of the Emperor Asoka with four lions on the capital, built at Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh to mark the spot where the Buddha publicly preached his doctrine, and adopted as a symbol by the government of India.

<ORIGIN> Asoka from Sanskrit .

asp n. (also asp viper) a small southern European viper with an upturned snout.
<INFO>  Vipera aspis, family Viperidae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for EGYPTIAN COBRA.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin aspis, from Greek.

Linked entries:

EGYPTIAN COBRA ■

ASP abbr. application service provider, a company providing Internet access to software applications that would otherwise have to be installed on individual computers.

as·par·a·gine n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a hydrophilic amino acid that is a constituent of most proteins.
<INFO>  An amide of aspartic acid; chem. formula: CONH_2CH_2CH(NH_2)COOH.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from ASPARAGUS (which contains it) + -INE^4 .

Linked entries:

ASPARAGUS ■

-INE ■

as·par·a·gus n. a tall plant of the lily family with fine feathery foliage, cultivated for its edible shoots.
<INFO>  Asparagus officinalis, family Liliaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the tender young shoots of this plant, eaten as a vegetable and considered a delicacy.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek asparagos.

as·par·a·gus bee·tle n. a small, boldly marked leaf beetle whose adults and larvae feed on the leaves of asparagus.
<INFO>  Crioceris asparagi, family Chrysomelidae.

as·par·a·gus fern n. a decorative indoor or greenhouse plant with feathery foliage, related to the edible asparagus.
<INFO>  Genus Asparagus, family Liliaceae: several species, in particular A. plumosus.

as·par·tame n. a very sweet substance used as an artificial sweetener, chiefly in low-calorie products. It is a derivative of aspartic acid and phenylalanine.

as·par·tic ac·id n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] an acidic amino acid that is a constituent of most proteins and also occurs in sugar cane. It is important in the metabolism of nitrogen in animals and also acts as a neurotransmitter.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: COOHCH_2CH(NH_2)COOH.

<DERIVATIVES> as·par·tate n..

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: aspartic from French aspartique, formed arbitrarily from Latin asparagus (see ASPARAGUS).

Linked entries:

ASPARAGUS ■

ASPCA abbr. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

as·pect n. 1 a particular part or feature of something: the financial aspect can be overstressed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a specific way in which something can be considered: from every aspect, theirs was a changing world.

- [in sing. with adj.] a particular appearance or quality: the air of desertion lent the place a sinister aspect | a man of decidedly foreign aspect.

2 [usu. in sing.] the positioning of a building or thing in a specified direction: a greenhouse with a southern aspect.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the side of a building facing a particular direction: the front aspect of the hotel was unremarkable.

- [ASTROLOGY] a particular position of a planet or other celestial body relative to another, as measured by angular distance: the sun in Aries formed an adverse aspect with Uranus in Capricorn.

3 [GRAMMAR] a grammatical category or form that expresses the way in which time is denoted by the verb: the semantics of tense and aspect | four verbal aspects.

There are two aspects in English, the progressive or continuing aspect (expressing duration, typically using the auxiliary verb be with a form in -ing, as in I was reading a book) and the perfect or perfective (expressing completed action, typically using the auxiliary verb have with a past participle, as in I have read the book).

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be aspected) [ASTROLOGY] (of a planet) form an aspect with (another celestial body): the sun is superbly aspected by your ruler Mars on the 19th.

<DERIVATIVES> as·pec·tu·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the action or a way of looking at something): from Latin aspectus, from aspicere 'look at', from ad- 'to, at' + specere 'to look'.

as·pect ra·tio n. the ratio of two dimensions of something as considered from a specific direction, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the ratio of the width to the height of the image on a television screen.

- [AERONAUTICS] the ratio of the span to the mean chord of an airfoil.

As·pen a resort in south central Colorado; pop. 6,850. A thriving recreational center, it is noted particularly for its skiing facilities.

as·pen n. a poplar tree with rounded, long-stalked, and typically coarsely-toothed leaves that tremble in even a slight breeze.
<INFO>  Genus Populus, family Salicaceae: several species, in particular the North American quaking aspen (P. tremuloides) and bigtooth aspen (P. grandidentata) and the European P. tremula.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from dialect asp (in the same sense) + -EN^2 , forming an adjective later used as a noun (late 16th cent.).

Linked entries:

-EN ■

As·per·ger's syn·drome n. a developmental disorder related to autism and characterized by higher than average intellectual ability coupled with impaired social skills and restrictive, repetitive patterns of interest and activities.

as·per·ges n. [CHRISTIAN CHURCH] the rite of sprinkling holy water at the beginning of the Mass, still used occasionally in Catholic churches.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for ASPERGILLUM.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: the first word of the Latin text of Psalms 50(51):9 (literally 'thou shalt purge'), recited before Mass during the sprinkling of holy water.

Linked entries:

ASPERGILLUM ■

as·per·gil·lo·sis n. a condition in which certain fungi infect the tissues. It most commonly affects the lungs, owing to inhalation of spores from moldy hay, and is then informally called farmer's lung.
<INFO>  The fungi that cause this condition are blackish molds of the genus Aspergillus, phylum Ascomycota.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Aspergillus, from ASPERGILLUM, + -OSIS.

Linked entries:

ASPERGILLUM ■

-OSIS ■

as·per·gil·lum n. (pl. -gil·la or -gil·lums) an implement for sprinkling holy water.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin.

as·per·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) harshness of tone or manner: he pointed this out with some asperity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (asperities) harsh qualities or conditions: the asperities of a harsh and divided society.

- (usu. asperities) a rough edge on a surface: the asperities of the metal surfaces.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'hardship, rigor'): from Old French asperite, or Latin asperitas, from asper 'rough'.

a·sper·mi·a n. [MEDICINE] failure to produce semen, or absence of sperm in the semen.

as·perse v. [trans.] RARE attack or criticize the reputation or integrity of: he aspersed the place and its inhabitants.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the sense 'sprinkle or spatter with liquid'): from Latin aspers- 'sprinkled', from the verb aspergere, from ad- 'to' + spargere 'sprinkle'.

as·per·sion n. (usu. aspersions) an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something: I don't think anyone is casting aspersions on you.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the sprinkling of water, esp. at baptism): from Latin aspersio(n-), from aspergere (see ASPERSE).

Linked entries:

ASPERSE ■

as·phalt n. a mixture of dark bituminous pitch with sand or gravel, used for surfacing roads, flooring, roofing, etc.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the pitch used in this mixture, sometimes found in natural deposits but usually made by the distillation of crude oil.

■ v. [trans.] cover with asphalt.

<DERIVATIVES> as·phal·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French asphalte, based on late Latin asphalton, asphaltum, from Greek asphalton.

as·phalt jun·gle n. the modern city, esp. when considered as a place of poverty and crime.

a·spher·i·cal adj. (esp. of the surface of an optical lens) not spherical.

<DERIVATIVES> a·spher·ic adj.

as·pho·del n. 1 a Eurasian plant of the lily family, typically having long slender leaves and flowers borne on a spike.
<INFO>  Genera Asphodelus and Asphodeline, family Liliaceae. See also BOG ASPHODEL.

2 POETIC/LITERARY an immortal flower said to grow in the Elysian fields.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek asphodelos; compare with DAFFODIL.

Linked entries:

BOG ASPHODEL ■

DAFFODIL ■

as·phyx·i·a n. a condition arising when the body is deprived of oxygen, causing unconsciousness or death; suffocation.

<DERIVATIVES> as·phyx·i·al adj. as·phyx·i·ant adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (in the sense 'stopping of the pulse'): modern Latin, from Greek asphuxia, from a- 'without' + sphuxis 'pulse'.

as·phyx·i·ate v. [trans.] (usu. be asphyxiated) kill (someone) by depriving them of air: they were asphyxiated by the carbon monoxide fumes | [as adj.] (asphyxiating) FIGURATIVE avoiding asphyxiating government control.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] die in this way: they slowly asphyxiated.

<DERIVATIVES> as·phyx·i·a·tion n.

as·pic n. a savory jelly, often made with meat stock, used as a garnish, or to contain pieces of food such as meat, seafood, or eggs, set in a mold.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, literally 'asp', from the colors of the jelly as compared with those of the snake.

as·pi·dis·tra n. a bulbous plant with broad tapering leaves, native to eastern Asia and often grown as a houseplant.
<INFO>  Genus Aspidistra, family Liliaceae.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek aspis, aspid- 'shield' (because of the shape of the stigma), on the pattern of Tupistra, a related genus.

As·pie (also as·pie) n. INFORMAL a person with Asperger's syndrome.

as·pir·ant adj. [attrib.] (of a person) having ambitions to achieve something, typically to follow a particular career: an aspirant politician.

■ n. a person who has ambitions to achieve something: an aspirant to the throne.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (as a noun): from Latin aspirant- 'aspiring', from the verb aspirare (see ASPIRE).

Linked entries:

ASPIRE ■

as·pi·rate v. [trans.] 1 [PHONETICS] pronounce (a sound) with an exhalation of breath: [as adj.] (aspirated) the aspirated allophone of p occurs in “pie.”
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] pronounce the sound h at the beginning of a word.

2 (usu. be aspirated) [MEDICINE] draw (fluid) by suction from a vessel or cavity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- draw fluid in such a way from (a vessel or cavity).

- breathe (something) in; inhale: some drowning victims don't aspirate any water.

3 [usu. as adj.] (aspirated) provide (an internal combustion engine) with air: the superchargers produce twice the power of standard aspirated engines. See also NORMALLY ASPIRATED.

■ n. 1 [PHONETICS] an aspirated consonant.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the sound h or a character used to represent this sound.

2 [MEDICINE] matter that has been drawn from the body by aspiration: gastric aspirate | esophageal aspirates.

■ adj. RARE [PHONETICS] (of a sound) pronounced with an exhalation of breath; aspirated.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin aspiratus 'breathed', past participle of aspirare (see ASPIRE).

Linked entries:

NORMALLY ASPIRATED ■

ASPIRE ■

as·pi·ra·tion n. 1 ( usu. aspirations) a hope or ambition of achieving something: he had nothing tangible to back up his literary aspirations | the yawning gulf between aspiration and reality.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the object of such an ambition; a goal: fabrics and oriental rugs were my aspirations.

2 the action of pronouncing a sound with an exhalation of breath.

3 [MEDICINE] the action of drawing fluid by suction from a vessel or cavity.

<DERIVATIVES> as·pi·ra·tion·al adj. (in sense 1).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from Latin aspiratio(n-), from the verb aspirare (see ASPIRE).

Linked entries:

ASPIRE ■

as·pi·ra·tor n. [MEDICINE] an instrument or apparatus for aspirating fluid from a vessel or cavity.

as·pire v. [intrans.] direct one's hopes or ambitions toward achieving something: we never thought that we might aspire to those heights | [with infinitive] other people will aspire to be like you | [as adj.] (aspiring) an aspiring artist.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY rise high; tower: above the domes of loftiest mosques, these pinnacles of death aspire.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French aspirer or Latin aspirare, from ad- 'to' + spirare 'breathe'.

as·pi·rin n. a synthetic compound used medicinally to relieve mild or chronic pain and to reduce fever and inflammation.
<INFO>  Alternative name: acetylsalicylic acid; chem. formula: C_6H_4(OCOCH_3)COOH.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (pl. same or -rins) a tablet containing this.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from German, from acetylierte Spirsäure 'acetylated salicylic acid' (the element Spir- being from the plant genus name Spiraea).

as·por·ta·tion n. [LAW], RARE the detachment, movement, or carrying away of property, considered an essential component of the crime of larceny.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin asportation-, from asportare 'carry away'.

a·sprawl adv. & adj. sprawling: [as adv.] he slipped on the greasy tiles and fell asprawl | [as predic. adj.] she lay, legs and arms asprawl.

a·squint adv. & adj. with a glance to one side or from the corner of the eyes: [as adv.] a woman looked asquint at me.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: perhaps from A-2 'on' + a Low German or Dutch word related to modern Dutch schuinte 'slant'.

Linked entries:

A- ■

As·quith Herbert Henry, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith (1852-1928), British statesman; prime minister 1908-16.

ass 1 n. 1 a hoofed mammal of the horse family with a braying call, typically smaller than a horse and with longer ears.
<INFO>  Genus Equus, family Equidae: E. africanus of Africa, which is the ancestor of the domestic ass or donkey, and E. hemionus of Asia.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (in general use) a donkey.

2 INFORMAL a foolish or stupid person: that ass of a young man.

<PHRASES> make an ass of oneself INFORMAL behave in a way that makes one look foolish or stupid: he is stewed and about to make an ass of himself.

<ORIGIN> Old English assa, from a Celtic word related to Welsh asyn, Breton azen, based on Latin asinus.

ass 2 (BRIT. arse) n. VULGAR SLANG a person’s buttocks or anus.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a stupid, irritating, or contemptible person.

- women regarded as a source of sexual gratification.

- oneself (used in phrases for emphasis): get your ass in here fast; the bureaucrat who wants everything in writing so as to cover his ass.

<PHRASES>
□ bust one's ass try very hard to do something.

□ bust someone's ass use physical force to injure someone in a fight.

□ chew (someone's) ass reprimand severely.

□ get your ass in (or into) gear [in imperative] hurry: if you get your ass in gear, you can make it out of here tonight.

□ get off one's ass stop being lazy.

□ haul (or drag or tear) ass hurry or move fast: I just turn around and haul ass right out of there.

□ kick (some) ass (or kick someone's ass) see KICK^1 .

□ kiss ass see KISS.

□ my ass used to convey that one does not believe something that has just been said: sold out, my ass!

□ not give a rat's ass not care at all about something.

□ not know one's ass from a hole in the ground (or from one's elbow) be totally ignorant or incompetent.

□ a pain in the ass see PAIN.

□ a piece of ass see PIECE.

□ put (or have) someone's ass in a sling get someone in trouble: you managed to put his ass in a sling along with your own.

□ up your ass used to express contempt for someone or something.

□ you bet your ass you can be very sure: [with clause] you can bet your ass I'll go for it every time.

<DERIVATIVES> assed adj. [in combination] fat-assed guys.

Linked entries:

KICK ■

KISS ■

PAIN ■

PIECE ■

-ass comb. form used in slang terms as an intensifier, often with depreciatory reference: smart-ass; lame-ass.

<ORIGIN> see ASS^2 .

Linked entries:

ASS ■

As·sad Hafiz al- (1928-2000), Syrian statesman; president 1971-2000. While in office, he ensured the strengthening of Syria's oil-based economy and suppressed political opposition such as the uprising of Muslim extremists (1979-82). He supported the coalition forces during the 1991 Gulf War. His son Bashar Assad (1965- ) succeeded him in 2000.

as·sa·gai n. & v. variant spelling of ASSEGAI.

Linked entries:

ASSEGAI ■

as·sa·i adv. [MUSIC] (esp. as a direction after a tempo marking) very: allegro assai.

<ORIGIN> Italian, 'very much'.

as·sail v. [trans.] make a concerted or violent attack on: the Scots army assailed Edward's army from the rear. See note at ATTACK.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. be assailed) (of an unpleasant feeling or physical sensation) come upon (someone) suddenly and strongly: she was assailed by doubts and regrets.

- criticize (someone) strongly.

<DERIVATIVES> as·sail·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French asaill-, stressed stem of asalir, from medieval Latin assalire, from Latin assilire, from ad- 'to' + salire 'to leap'; compare with ASSAULT.

Linked entries:

ASSAULT ■

as·sail·ant n. a person who physically attacks another.

As·sam a state in northeastern India, much of which lies in the valley of the Brahmaputra River, noted for its production of tea; capital, Dispur.

As·sa·mese n. (pl. same) 1 a native or inhabitant of Assam.

2 the Indic language, related to Bengali, that is the offical language of Assam.

■ adj. of or relating to Assam, its people, or its language.

as·sas·sin n. a murderer of an important person in a surprise attack for political or religious reasons.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Assassin) HISTORICAL a member of the Nizari branch of Ismaili Muslims at the time of the Crusades, when the newly established sect ruled part of northern Persia (1094-1256). They were renowned as militant fanatics, and were popularly reputed to use hashish before going on murder missions.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, or from medieval Latin assassinus, from Arabic 'hashish eater'.

as·sas·si·nate v. (often be assassinated) murder (an important person) in a surprise attack for political or religious reasons. See note at KILL.

<DERIVATIVES> as·sas·si·na·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin assassinat- 'killed', from the verb assassinare, from assassinus (see ASSASSIN).

Linked entries:

ASSASSIN ■

as·sas·sin bug n. a long-legged predatory or bloodsucking bug that occurs chiefly in the tropics and feeds mainly on other arthropods. Some of those that bite humans can transmit microorganisms such as the one causing Chagas’ disease.
<INFO>  Family Reduviidae, suborder Heteroptera: numerous species.

As·sa·teague Is·land a barrier island in southeastern Maryland and northeastern Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean, noted for its wild ponies.

as·sault v. [trans.] make a physical attack on: he pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer; she was sexually assaulted as a child. See note at ATTACK.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE attack or bombard (someone or the senses) with something undesirable or unpleasant: her right ear was assaulted with a tide of music.

- carry out a military attack or raid on (an enemy position): they left their strong position to assault the hill.

- rape.

■ n. 1 a physical attack: his imprisonment for an assault on the film director; sexual assaults.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [LAW] an act, criminal or tortious, that threatens physical harm to a person, whether or not actual harm is done: he appeared in court charged with assault.

- a military attack or raid on an enemy position: troops began an assault on the city | [as adj.] an assault boat.

- a strong verbal attack: the assault on the party's tax policies.

2 a concerted attempt to do something demanding: a winter assault on Mt. Everest.

<DERIVATIVES> as·sault·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French asaut (noun), assauter (verb), based on Latin ad- 'to' + saltare, frequentative of salire 'to leap'. Compare with ASSAIL.

Linked entries:

ASSAIL ■

as·sault and bat·ter·y n. [LAW] the crime of threatening a person together with the act of making physical contact with them.

as·saul·tive adj. tending or likely to commit an assault: they found that assaultive men had abusive parents.
<SPECIAL USAGE> extremely aggressive or forcefully assertive: his loud, assaultive playing style can leave you cowering.

as·sault ri·fle n. a rapid-fire, magazine-fed automatic rifle designed for infantry use.

as·say n. the testing of a metal or ore to determine its ingredients and quality: submission of plate for assay.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a procedure for measuring the biochemical or immunological activity of a sample: each assay was performed in duplicate;| the results of sequential assay of serum were analyzed immunofluorescence assay.

■ v. [trans.] 1 determine the content or quality of (a metal or ore).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- determine the biochemical or immunological activity of (a sample): cell contents were assayed for enzyme activity.

- examine (something) in order to assess its nature: stepping inside, I quickly assayed the clientele.

2 ARCHAIC attempt: I assayed a little joke of mine on him.

<DERIVATIVES> as·say·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the general sense 'testing, or a test of, the merit of someone or something'): from Old French assai (noun), assaier (verb), variant of essai 'trial', essayer 'to try' (see ESSAY).

Linked entries:

ESSAY ■

ass-back·wards INFORMAL adv. &adj. (used disparagingly) backwards or in a contrary way.

ass ban·dit n. VULGAR SLANG (also ass burglar) 1 a male homosexual sodomite or pederast.

2 an eager seducer of young women.

as·se·gai (also as·sa·gai) n. (pl. -gais) 1 a slender, iron-tipped, hardwood spear used chiefly by southern African peoples.

2 (also assegai wood) a South African tree of the dogwood family that yields hard timber.
<INFO>  Curtisia dentata, family Cornaceae.

■ v. (-gaied, -gai·ing) [trans.] (often be assegaied) wound or kill with an assegai.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from obsolete French azagaie or Portuguese azagaia, from Arabic , from az, al 'the' + Berber 'spear'.

as·sem·blage n. a collection or gathering of things or people: a wondrous assemblage of noble knights, cruel temptresses, and impossible loves.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a machine or object made of pieces fitted together: some vast assemblage of gears and cogs.

- a work of art made by grouping found or unrelated objects.

- the action of gathering or fitting things together.

as·sem·ble v. 1 [intrans.] (of people) gather together in one place for a common purpose: a crowd had assembled outside the gates. See note at GATHER.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] bring (people or things) together for a common purpose: he assembled the surviving members of the group for a tour.

- [usu. as n.] (assembling) [ENTOMOLOGY] (of male moths) gather for mating in response to a pheromone released by a female.

2 [trans.] fit together the separate component parts of (a machine or other object): a factory that assembled parts for trucks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [COMPUTING] translate (a program) from assembly language into machine code.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French asembler, based on Latin ad- 'to' + simul 'together'.

as·sem·bler n. 1 a person who assembles a machine or its parts.

2 [COMPUTING] a program for converting instructions written in low-level symbolic code into machine code.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE.

Linked entries:

ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE ■

as·sem·bly n. (pl. -blies) 1 a group of people gathered together in one place for a common purpose: an assembly of scholars and poets.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a group of people elected to make laws or decisions for a particular country or region, esp. the lower legislative house in some U.S. states: the Connecticut General Assembly.

2 the action of gathering together as a group for a common purpose: a decree guaranteeing freedom of assembly.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a regular gathering of the teachers and students of a school: catcalling occurred during the assembly.

- (usu. the assembly) CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a signal for troops to assemble, given by drum or bugle.

3 [often as adj.] the action of fitting together the component parts of a machine or other object: a car assembly plant.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a unit consisting of components that have been fitted together: the tail assembly of the aircraft.

- [usu. as adj.] [COMPUTING] the conversion of instructions in low-level code to machine code by an assembler.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French asemblé, feminine past participle of asembler (see ASSEMBLE).

Linked entries:

ASSEMBLE ■

as·sem·bly lan·guage n. [COMPUTING] a low-level symbolic code converted by an assembler.

as·sem·bly line n. a series of workers and machines in a factory by which a succession of identical items is progressively assembled: their latest economy car rolled off the assembly line last August; | FIGURATIVE new teenage idols were pouring off the assembly line. Compare with PRODUCTION LINE.

Linked entries:

PRODUCTION LINE ■

as·sem·bly·man n. a person who is a member of a legislative assembly.

as·sem·bly·wo·man n. a woman who is a member of a legislative assembly.

as·sent n. the expression of approval or agreement: a loud murmur of assent; he nodded assent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> official agreement or sanction: the governor has power to withhold his assent from a bill.

■ v. [intrans.] express approval or agreement, typically officially: Roosevelt assented to the agreement | [with direct speech] “Guest house, then,” Frank assented cheerfully.

<DERIVATIVES> as·sent·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French as(s)enter (verb), as(s)ente (noun), based on Latin assentiri, from ad- 'toward' + sentire 'feel, think'.

as·sert v. [reporting verb] state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully: [with clause] the company asserts that the cuts will not affect development | [trans.] he asserted his innocence | [with direct speech] “I don't know why she came,” he asserted.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause others to recognize (one's authority or a right) by confident and forceful behavior: the good librarian is able to assert authority when required.

- (assert oneself) behave or speak in a confident and forceful manner: it was time to assert himself.

<DERIVATIVES> as·sert·er n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin asserere 'claim, affirm', from ad- 'to' + serere 'to join'.

as·ser·tion n. a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief: [with clause] his assertion that his father had deserted the family.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of stating something or exercising authority confidently and forcefully: the assertion of his legal rights.

as·ser·tive adj. having or showing a confident and forceful personality: patients should be more assertive with their doctors.

<DERIVATIVES> as·ser·tive·ly adv. as·ser·tive·ness n.

as·ses plural form of AS^2 , ASS^1 , ASS^2 .

Linked entries:

AS ■

ASS ■

ASS ■

as·sess v. [trans.] evaluate or estimate the nature, ability, or quality of: the committee must assess the relative importance of the issues | [with clause] it is difficult to assess whether this is a new trend.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. be assessed) calculate or estimate the price or value of: the damage was assessed at $5 billion.

- (often be assessed) set the value of a tax, fine, etc., for (a person or property) at a specified level: all empty properties will be assessed at 50 percent.

<DERIVATIVES> as·sess·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French assesser, based on Latin assidere 'sit by' (in medieval Latin 'levy tax'), from ad- 'to, at' + sedere 'sit'. Compare with ASSIZE.

Linked entries:

ASSIZE ■

as·sess·ment n. the evaluation or estimation of the nature, quality, or ability of someone or something: the assessment of educational needs; | he made a rapid assessment of the situation assessments of market value.

as·ses·sor n. a person who assesses someone or something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who calculates or estimates the value of something or an amount to be paid, chiefly for tax or insurance purposes.

- a person who is knowledgeable in a particular field and is called upon for advice, typically by a judge or committee of inquiry.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French assessour, from Latin assessor 'assistant judge' (in medieval Latin 'assessor of taxes'), from Latin assidere (see ASSESS).

Linked entries:

ASSESS ■

as·set n. a useful or valuable thing, person, or quality: quick reflexes were his chief asset; the school is an asset to the community.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. assets) property owned by a person or company, regarded as having value and available to meet debts, commitments, or legacies: growth in net assets | [as adj.] debiting the asset account.

- (assets) military equipment, such as planes, ships, communications and radar installations, employed or targeted in military operations.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the plural in the sense 'sufficient estate to allow discharge of a will'): from an Anglo-Norman French legal term, from Old French asez 'enough', based on Latin ad 'to' + satis 'enough'.

as·set-backed adj. [attrib.] denoting securities having as collateral the return on a series of mortgages, credit agreements, or other forms of lending.

as·set-strip·ping n. the practice of taking over a company in financial difficulties and selling each of its assets separately at a profit without regard for the company's future.

<DERIVATIVES> as·set-strip·per n.

as·sev·er·a·tion n. the solemn or emphatic declaration or statement of something: I fear that you offer only unsupported asseveration | the dogmatic outlook marks many of his asseverations.

<DERIVATIVES> as·sev·er·ate v.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin asseveratio(n-), from the verb asseverare, from ad- 'to' + severus 'serious'.

ass·hole n. VULGAR SLANG the anus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an irritating or contemptible person.

as·sib·i·late v. [trans.] [PHONETICS] pronounce (a sound) as a sibilant or affricate ending in a sibilant (e.g., sound t as ts).

<DERIVATIVES> as·sib·i·la·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin assibilat- 'hissed at', from the verb assibilare, from ad- 'to' + sibilare 'to hiss'.

as·si·du·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) constant or close attention to what one is doing: the assiduity with which he could wear down his opponents.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (assiduities) ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY constant attentions to someone.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin assiduitas, from assiduus 'occupied with' (see ASSIDUOUS).

Linked entries:

ASSIDUOUS ■

as·sid·u·ous adj. showing great care and perseverance: she was assiduous in pointing out every feature. See note at BUSY.

<DERIVATIVES> as·sid·u·ous·ly adv. as·sid·u·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin assiduus, from assidere 'be engaged in doing' (see ASSESS), + -OUS.

Linked entries:

ASSESS ■

-OUS ■

as·sign v. [trans.] 1 allocate (a job or duty): Congress assigned the task to the agency | [trans., with two objs.] his leader assigned him this mission.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (often be assigned) appoint (someone) to a particular job, task, or organization: she has been assigned to a new job | [trans.] he was assigned to prosecute the case.

2 designate or set (something) aside for a specific purpose: managers happily assign large sums of money to travel budgets.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (assign something to) attribute something as belonging to: it is difficult to decide whether to assign the victory to Goodwin.

3 transfer (legal rights or liabilities): they will ask you to assign your rights against the airline.

■ n. [LAW] another term for ASSIGNEE (sense 1).

<DERIVATIVES> as·sign·a·ble adj. (in sense 3 of the verb). as·sign·er n. as·sign·or n. (in sense 3 of the verb).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French asigner, assiner, from Latin assignare, from ad- 'to' + signare 'to sign'.

Linked entries:

ASSIGNEE ■

as·sig·na·tion n. 1 an appointment to meet someone in secret, typically one made by lovers: his assignation with an older woman.

2 the allocation or attribution of someone or something as belonging to something.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the senses 'command, appointment to office, or allotment of revenue'): via Old French from Latin assignatio(n-), from the verb assignare (see ASSIGN).

Linked entries:

ASSIGN ■

as·sign·ee n. [CHIEFLY LAW] 1 a person to whom a right or liability is legally transferred.

2 a person appointed to act for another.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French assigne, past participle of assigner 'allot' (see ASSIGN).

Linked entries:

ASSIGN ■

as·sign·ment n. 1 a task or piece of work assigned to someone as part of a job or course of study: a homework assignment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the allocation of a job or task to someone: the effective assignment of tasks.

- the task or post to which one has been appointed: his assignment was to the County Court; I was on assignment for a German magazine.

2 the attribution of someone or something as belonging: the assignment of individuals to particular social positions.

3 an act of making a legal transfer of a right, property, or liability: an assignment of leasehold property.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a document effecting such a transfer.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French assignement, from medieval Latin assignamentum, from Latin assignare 'allot' (see ASSIGN).

Linked entries:

ASSIGN ■

as·sim·i·late v. [trans.] 1 take in (information, ideas, or culture) and understand fully: Marie tried to assimilate the week's events.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. be assimilated) absorb and integrate (people, ideas, or culture) into a wider society or culture: pop trends are assimilated into the mainstream with alarming speed | [intrans.] the converts were assimilated into the society of their conquerors.

- absorb or integrate and use for one's own benefit: the music business assimilated whatever aspects of punk it could turn into profit.

- (usu. be assimilated) (of the body or any biological system) absorb and digest (food or nutrients): the sugars in the fruit are readily assimilated by the body.

2 cause (something) to resemble; liken: philosophers had assimilated thought to perception.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] come to resemble: the churches assimilated to a certain cultural norm.

- [PHONETICS] make (a sound) more like another in the same or next word.

<DERIVATIVES> as·sim·i·la·ble adj. as·sim·i·la·tion n. as·sim·i·la·tive adj. as·sim·i·la·tor n. as·sim·i·la·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin assimilat- 'absorbed, incorporated', from the verb assimilare, from ad- 'to' + similis 'like'.

as·sim·i·la·tion·ist n. a person who advocates or participates in racial or cultural integration: [as adj.] the assimilationist policies of the right.

As·sin·i·boin (also As·sin·i·boine) n. (pl. same or -boins) 1 a member of an American Indian people formerly living in southern Manitoba, but now living in Montana, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

2 the Siouan language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to the Assiniboin or their language.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Canadian French, from Ojibwa assini:pwa:n 'stone Sioux', from assin 'stone' + pwa:n 'Sioux'.

As·si·ni·boine Riv·er a river in south central Canada that flows for 590 miles (950 km) from eastern Saskatchewan into Manitoba to join the Red River at Winnipeg.

As·si·si 1 a town in the province of Umbria in central Italy; pop. 24,790. It is the birthplace of St. Francis, whose tomb is located there.

As·si·si 2 see CLARE OF ASSISI, ST.

Linked entries:

CLARE OF ASSISI, ST. ■

As·si·si 3 see FRANCIS OF ASSISI, ST.

Linked entries:

FRANCIS OF ASSISI, ST. ■

as·sist v. [trans.] help (someone), typically by doing a share of the work: a senior academic would assist him in his work | [trans.] he assisted her to find employment | [intrans.] their presence would assist in keeping the peace.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- help by providing money or information: they were assisting police with their inquiries | [intrans.] funds to assist with capital investment.

- [intrans.] be present as a helper or spectator: two midwives who assisted at a water birth.

■ n. an act of help, typically by providing money: the budget must have an assist from tax policies.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (chiefly in ice hockey, basketball, or baseball) the act of touching the puck or ball in a play in which a teammate scores or an opposing batter is put out: he led the league with 14 outfield assists.

- [in combination] a mechanical device that provides help: the implant is a ventricular-assist device.

<DERIVATIVES> as·sist·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French assister, from Latin assistere 'take one's stand by', from ad- 'to, at' + sistere 'take one's stand'.

as·sis·tance n. the provision of money, resources, or information to help someone: plans offering financial assistance to employers; she will be glad to give advice and assistance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of helping someone with a job or task: the work was completed with the assistance of carpenters.

<PHRASES>
□ be of assistance be of practical use or help: the guide will be of assistance to development groups.

□ come to someone's assistance act to help someone.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, or from medieval Latin assistentia, from Latin assistere (see ASSIST).

Linked entries:

ASSIST ■

as·sis·tant n. a person who ranks below a senior person: the managing director and his assistant | [as adj.] an assistant manager.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj. or modifier] a person who helps in particular work: a laboratory assistant.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, or from medieval Latin assistent- 'taking one's stand beside', from the verb assistere (see ASSIST).

Linked entries:

ASSIST ■

as·sis·tant pro·fes·sor n. a college teacher ranking immediately below an associate professor.

as·sis·tant·ship n. a paid academic appointment made to a graduate student that involves part-time teaching or research.

as·sist·ed liv·ing n. housing for the elderly or disabled that provides nursing care, housekeeping, and prepared meals as needed.

as·sist·ed su·i·cide n. the suicide of a patient suffering from an incurable disease, effected by the taking of lethal drugs provided by a doctor for this purpose.

as·size n. (usu. assizes) HISTORICAL a court that formerly sat at intervals in each county of England and Wales to administer the civil and criminal law. In 1972 the civil jurisdiction of assizes was transferred to the High Court, and the criminal jurisdiction to the Crown Court.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French assise, feminine past participle of asseeir 'sit, settle, assess', from Latin assidere (see ASSESS).

Linked entries:

ASSESS ■

ass-kiss·ing n. VULGAR SLANG the use of compliments, flattery, or other obsequious behavior in order to gain favor.

<DERIVATIVES> ass-kiss·er n.

ass-lick·ing VULGAR SLANG another term for ASS-KISSING.

Linked entries:

ASS-KISSING ■

assn. abbr. association.

Assoc. abbr.
- Associate.

- (as part of a title) Association.

as·so·ci·ate v. [trans.] connect (someone or something) with something else in one's mind: I associated wealth with freedom.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. be associated) connect (something) with something else because they occur together or one produces another: the environmental problems associated with nuclear waste.

- (associate oneself with) allow oneself to be connected with or seen to be supportive of: I cannot associate myself with some of the language used.

- (be associated with) be involved with: she has been associated with the project from the first.

- [intrans.] meet or have dealings with someone commonly regarded with disapproval: she began associating with socialists.

■ n. 1 a partner or colleague in business or at work: he arranged for a close associate to take control of the institute.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a companion or friend: his old friend and hearty associate.

2 a person with limited or subordinate membership in an organization.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who holds an academic degree conferred by a junior college (only in titles or set expressions): an associate's degree in science; | an Associate of Arts.

3 [CHIEFLY PSYCHOLOGY] a concept connected with another.

■ adj. [attrib.] joined or connected with an organization or business: an associate company.
<SPECIAL USAGE> denoting shared function or membership but with a lesser status: the associate director of the academy.

<DERIVATIVES> as·so·ci·a·bil·i·ty n. as·so·ci·a·ble adj. as·so·ci·ate·ship n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a verb in the sense 'join with in a common purpose'; as an adjective in the sense 'allied'): from Latin associat- 'joined', from the verb associare, from ad- 'to' + socius 'sharing, allied'.

as·so·ci·at·ed adj. (of a person or thing) connected with something else: two associated events.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a company) connected or amalgated with another company or companies.

- [CHEMISTRY] (of liquids) in which the molecules are held together by hydrogen bonding or other weak interaction.

As·so·ci·at·ed Press (abbr.: AP) an international news agency based in New York City.

As·so·ci·ate of Arts (abbr.: AA) (also Associate's degree) n. a degree granted after a two-year course of study, esp. by a community or junior college.

as·so·ci·ate pro·fes·sor n. an academic ranking immediately below full professor.

as·so·ci·a·tion n. 1 (abbr.: assn.) (often in names) a group of people organized for a joint purpose: the National Association of Broadcasters.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ECOLOGY] a plant community defined by a characteristic group of dominant plant species.

2 a connection or cooperative link between people or organizations: he developed a close association with the university | the program was promoted in association with the Department of Music.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action or state of becoming a member of an organization with subordinate status: [as adj.] Slovenia signed association agreements with the European Union.

- [CHEMISTRY] the linking of molecules through hydrogen bonding or other interaction short of full bond formation.

3 (usu. associations) a mental connection between ideas or things: the word bureaucracy has unpleasant associations.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of making such a connection: the association of alchemy with “hieroglyphics” and “cabala.”

- the fact of occurring with something else; co-occurrence: cases of cancer found in association with colitis.

<DERIVATIVES> as·so·ci·a·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'uniting in a common purpose'): from medieval Latin associatio(n-), from Latin associare 'to unite, ally' (see ASSOCIATE).

Linked entries:

ASSOCIATE ■

as·so·ci·a·tion ar·e·a n. [ANATOMY] a region of the cortex of the brain that connects sensory and motor areas, and that is thought to be concerned with higher mental activities.

As·so·ci·a·tion Foot·ball n. more formal term for SOCCER.

<ORIGIN> so called because it is played according the rules of the Football Association.

Linked entries:

SOCCER ■

as·so·ci·a·tion·ism n. a theory in philosophy or psychology that regards the simple association or co-occurrence of ideas or sensations as the primary basis of meaning, thought, or learning.

<DERIVATIVES> as·so·ci·a·tion·ist n. & adj.

As·so·ci·a·tion of South·east A·sian Na·tions (abbr.: ASEAN) a regional organization intended to promote economic cooperation and now comprising the countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

as·so·ci·a·tive adj. 1 of or involving the action of associating ideas or things: an associative, nonlinear mode of thought.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [attrib.] [COMPUTING] of or denoting computer storage in which items are identified by content rather than by address.

2 [MATHEMATICS] involving the condition that a group of quantities connected by operators gives the same result whatever their grouping, as long as their order remains the same, e.g., (a × b) × c = a × (b × c).

as·so·ci·a·tive mem·o·ry n. [COMPUTING] a memory capable of determining whether a given datum (the search word) is contained in one of its addresses or locations.

as·so·nance n. in poetry, the repetition of the sound of a vowel or diphthong in nonrhyming stressed syllables near enough to each other for the echo to be discernible (e.g., penitence, reticence). Compare with ALLITERATION.

<DERIVATIVES> as·so·nant adj. as·so·nate v.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, from Latin assonare 'respond to', from ad- 'to' + sonare (from sonus 'sound').

Linked entries:

ALLITERATION ■

as·sort v. 1 [intrans.] [GENETICS] (of genes or characters) become distributed among cells or progeny.

2 [trans.] ARCHAIC place in a group; classify: he would assort it with the fabulous dogs as a monstrous invention.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French assorter, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + sorte 'sort, kind'.

as·sort·a·tive adj. [attrib.] denoting or involving the preferential mating of animals or marrying of people with similar characteristics.

as·sort·ed adj. [attrib.] of various sorts put together; miscellaneous: bowls in assorted colors.

as·sort·ment n. a miscellaneous collection of things or people: the room was filled with an assortment of clothes.

ASSR HISTORICAL abbr. Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

Asst. abbr. Assistant.

as·suage v. [trans.] make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense: the letter assuaged the fears of most members. See note at ALLEVIATE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> satisfy (an appetite or desire): an opportunity occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge.

<DERIVATIVES> as·suage·ment n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French assouagier, asouagier, based on Latin ad- 'to' (expressing change) + suavis 'sweet'.

As Su·lay·ma·ni·yah variant form of SULAYMANIYAH.

Linked entries:

SULAYMANIYAH ■

as·sume v. [trans.] 1 suppose to be the case, without proof: you're afraid of what people are going to assume about me | [with clause] it is reasonable to assume that such changes have significant social effects | [trans.] they were assumed to be foreign.

2 take or begin to have (power or responsibility): he assumed full responsibility for all organizational work.
<SPECIAL USAGE> seize (power or control): the rebels assumed control of the capital.

3 take on (a specified quality, appearance, or extent): militant activity had assumed epidemic proportions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> adopt falsely: Oliver assumed an expression of penitence | [as adj.] (assumed) a man living under an assumed name.

<DERIVATIVES> as·sum·ed·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin assumere, from ad- 'toward' + sumere 'take'.

as·sum·ing conj. used for the purpose of argument to indicate a premise on which a statement can be based: assuming that the treaty is ratified, what is its relevance?

■ adj. ARCHAIC arrogant or presumptuous.

as·sump·tion n. 1 a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof: they made certain assumptions about the market | [with clause] we're working on the assumption that the time of death was after midnight.

2 the action of taking or beginning to take power or responsibility: the assumption of an active role in regional settlements.

3 (Assumption) the reception of the Virgin Mary bodily into heaven. This was formally declared a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church in 1950. See also DORMITION.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the feast in honor of this, celebrated on August 15.

4 ARCHAIC arrogance or presumption.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (sense 3): from Old French asompsion or Latin assumptio(n-), from the verb assumere (see ASSUME).

Linked entries:

DORMITION ■

ASSUME ■

as·sump·tive adj. 1 RARE of the nature of an assumption.

2 ARCHAIC apt to seize something for oneself.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'taken, adopted'): from Latin assumptivus, from the verb assumere (see ASSUME).

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ASSUME ■

as·sur·ance n. 1 a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a promise: [with clause] he gave an assurance that work would not recommence until Wednesday.

2 confidence or certainty in one's own abilities: she drove with assurance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> certainty about something: assurance of faith depends on our trust in God.

3 CHIEFLY BRIT. insurance, specifically life insurance.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from Old French, from assurer 'assure'.

as·sure v. 1 [reporting verb] tell someone something positively or confidently to dispel any doubts they may have: [trans.] Tony assured me that there was a supermarket in the village | [trans.] “I quite understand,” Mrs. Lewis assured her | [trans.] they assured him of their full confidence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make (someone) sure of something: you would be assured of a fine welcome; she assured herself that he was asleep.

2 [trans.] (often be assured) make (something) certain to happen: victory was now assured | [with clause] their influence assured that the report would be tough.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- CHIEFLY BRIT. cover (a person) with life insurance.

- secure the future payment of (an amount) with insurance.

<DERIVATIVES> as·sur·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French assurer, based on Latin ad- 'to' (expressing change) + securus (see SECURE).

Linked entries:

SECURE ■

as·sured adj. 1 confident: “Certainly not,” was her assured reply.

2 [attrib.] protected against discontinuance or change: an assured tenancy.

<DERIVATIVES> as·sur·ed·ly adv. [sentence adverb] if they lose their hold, they will assuredly drown.

As·syr·i·a an ancient country in what is now northern Iraq. From the early part of the 2nd millennium BC, Assyria was the center of a succession of empires .

As·syr·i·an n. 1 an inhabitant of ancient Assyria.

2 the language of ancient Assyria, a dialect of Akkadian.

3 a dialect of Aramaic still spoken by a group of people of mainly Christian faith living in the mountains of Syria, northern Iraq, and surrounding regions.

■ adj. 1 of or relating to ancient Assyria or its language.

2 relating to or denoting modern Assyrian or its speakers.

As·syr·i·ol·o·gy n. the study of the language, history, and antiquities of ancient Assyria.

<DERIVATIVES> As·syr·i·o·log·i·cal adj. As·syr·i·ol·o·gist n.

AST abbr. Atlantic Standard Time (see ATLANTIC TIME).

Linked entries:

ATLANTIC TIME ■

a·sta·ble adj. [CHIEFLY ELECTRONICS] of or relating to a system or electric circuit that oscillates spontaneously between unstable states.

A·staire Fred (1899-1987), U.S. dancer, singer, and actor; born Frederick Austerlitz. He starred in a number of movie musicals, including Top Hat (1935) and Shall We Dance? (1937), with Ginger Rogers and in Easter Parade (1948) with Judy Garland.

As·ta·na the capital of Kazakhstan (since 1998); pop. 287,000. Formerly called Aqmola and, earlier, Tselinograd.

as·tang·a n. variant spelling of ASHTANGA.

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ASHTANGA ■

As·tar·te [MYTHOLOGY] a Phoenician goddess of fertility and sexual love who corresponds to the Babylonian and Assyrian goddess Ishtar and who became identified with the Egyptian Isis, the Greek Aphrodite, and others.

a·stat·ic adj. not keeping a steady position or direction, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHYSICS] (of a system or instrument) consisting of or employing a combination of magnets suspended in a uniform magnetic field on a single wire or thread in such a way that no torque is present (e.g., to minimize the effect of the earth's magnetic field).

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek astatos 'unstable' + -IC.

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-IC ■

as·ta·tine n. the chemical element of atomic number 85, a radioactive member of the halogen group. Astatine was first produced by bombarding bismuth with alpha particles, and it occurs in traces in nature as a decay product. (Symbol: At)

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Greek astatos 'unstable' + -INE^4 .

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-INE ■

as·ter n. 1 a plant of the daisy family that has bright rayed flowers, typically of purple or pink.
<INFO>  Genus Aster, family Compositae: numerous species, many of which bloom in autumn, including the wild purple New England aster (A. novae-angliae). See also CHINA ASTER.

2 [BIOLOGY] a star-shaped structure formed during division of the nucleus of an animal cell.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the Greek sense): via Latin from Greek 'star'.

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CHINA ASTER ■

-aster suffix forming nouns: 1 denoting poor quality: criticaster; poetaster.

2 [BOTANY] denoting incomplete resemblance: oleaster.

<ORIGIN> from Latin.

as·ter·isk n. a symbol (*) used to mark printed or written text, typically as a reference to an annotation or to stand for omitted matter.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thing resembling a star in shape: soft asterisks of pollen.

■ v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (asterisked) mark (printed or written text) with an asterisk: asterisked entries.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek asteriskos 'small star', diminutive of .

<USAGE>
Avoid pronouncing this word or , as many regard such pronunciations as uneducated.

as·ter·ism n. 1 [ASTRONOMY] a prominent pattern or group of stars, typically having a popular name but smaller than a constellation.

2 a group of three asterisks () drawing attention to following text.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Greek asterismos, from 'star'.

a·stern adv. 1 behind or toward the rear of a ship or aircraft: the engine rooms lay astern.

2 (of a ship) backward: the lifeboat was carried astern by the tide.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from A-2 (expressing position or direction) + STERN^2 .

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A- ■

STERN ■

as·ter·oid n. a small rocky body orbiting the sun. Large numbers of these, ranging in size from nearly 600 miles (1,000 km) across (Ceres) to dust particles, are found (as the asteroid belt) esp. between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, though some have more eccentric orbits, and a few pass close to the earth or enter the atmosphere as meteors.

<DERIVATIVES> as·ter·oi·dal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek 'starlike', from 'star'.

As·ter·oi·de·a [ZOOLOGY] a class of echinoderms that comprises the starfishes.

<DERIVATIVES> as·ter·oid n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek 'starlike', from 'star'.

as·the·ni·a n. [MEDICINE] abnormal physical weakness or lack of energy.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek astheneia, from 'weak'.

as·then·ic adj. [MEDICINE] relating to, involving, or suffering from asthenia.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Greek asthenikos, from 'weak'.

as·then·o·sphere n. [GEOLOGY] the upper layer of the earth's mantle, below the lithosphere, in which there is relatively low resistance to plastic flow and convection is thought to occur.

<DERIVATIVES> as·then·o·spher·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek 'weak' + SPHERE.

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SPHERE ■

asth·ma n. a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing. It usually results from an allergic reaction or other forms of hypersensitivity.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin asma, from Greek asthma, from azein 'breathe hard'.

asth·mat·ic adj. relating to or suffering from asthma.

■ n. a person who suffers from asthma.

<DERIVATIVES> asth·mat·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek asthmatikos, from asthma (see ASTHMA).

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ASTHMA ■

asth·tang·a n. variant spelling of ASHTANGA.

Linked entries:

ASHTANGA ■

As·ti n. 1 a white wine from the province of Asti and neighboring parts of Piedmont.

2 a light sparkling wine from this region.

a·stig·ma·tism n. a defect in the eye or in a lens caused by a deviation from spherical curvature, which results in distorted images, as light rays are prevented from meeting at a common focus.

<DERIVATIVES> as·tig·mat·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from A-1 'without' + Greek stigma 'point' + -ISM.

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A- ■

-ISM ■

a·stil·be n. an Old World plant of the saxifrage family, with plumes of tiny white, pink, or red flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Astilbe, family Saxifragaceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek a- 'not' + , feminine of stilbos 'glittering' (because the individual flowers are small and inconspicuous).

a·stir adj. [predic.] in a state of excited movement: the streets are all astir.
<SPECIAL USAGE> awake and out of bed: he woke before anyone else was astir.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from A-2 'on' + the noun STIR^1 .

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A- ■

STIR ■

As·ti Spu·man·te former term for ASTI (sense 2).

Linked entries:

ASTI ■

As·ton Francis William (1877-1945), English physicist. He invented the mass spectrograph (with J. J. Thomson) and eventually discovered many of the 287 naturally occurring isotopes of nonradioactive elements. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1922).

as·ton·ish v. [trans.] surprise or impress (someone) greatly: you never fail to astonish me | [trans.] it astonished her that Mrs. Browing could seem so anxious | [as adj.] (astonishing) an astonishing achievement.

<DERIVATIVES> as·ton·ish·ing·ly adv. [as submodifier] an astonishingly successful program.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (as astonished, in the sense 'stunned, bewildered, dismayed'): from obsolete astone 'stun, stupefy', from Old French estoner, based on Latin ex- 'out' + tonare 'to thunder'.

as·ton·ish·ment n. great surprise: she looked at him in astonishment.

As·tor 1 John Jacob (1763-1848), U.S. merchant; born in Germany. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1784 and made a fortune in the fur trade.

As·tor 2 Nancy Witcher Langhorne, Viscountess (1879-1964), British politician; born in the U.S. She became the first woman to sit in the House of Commons when she succeeded her husband as a member of Parliament.

As·to·ri·a 1 a city in northwestern Oregon, near the mouth of the Columbia River on the Pacific coast; pop. 10,069. In the 19th century it was a noted fur-trading center.

2 a section of northwestern Queens in New York City, noted for its large Greek-American population.

as·tound v. [trans.] shock or greatly surprise: her bluntness astounded him.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as an adjective in the sense 'stunned'): from astoned, past participle of obsolete astone (see ASTONISH).

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ASTONISH ■

as·tound·ing adj. surprisingly impressive or notable: the summit offers astounding views.

<DERIVATIVES> as·tound·ing·ly adv. [as submodifier] an astoundingly good performance.

a·strad·dle prep. with the legs stretched widely on each side of: policemen sitting astraddle motorcycles.

■ adj. & adv. with the legs stretched widely on each side.

As·trae·a [ASTRONOMY] asteroid 5, discovered in 1845 (diameter 125 km).

<ORIGIN> from the name of a Roman goddess associated with justice.

as·tra·gal n. a convex molding or wooden strip across a surface or separating panels, typically semicircular in cross-section.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ARCHITECTURE] a small semicircular molding around the top or bottom of a column.

- a wooden molding that covers the gap between a pair of doors or casement windows.

- a glazing bar, typically one used in cabinet-making.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from ASTRAGALUS, partly via French astragale.

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ASTRAGALUS ■

as·trag·a·lus n. (pl. -li ) [CHIEFLY ZOOLOGY] another term for TALUS^1 (ankle bone).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek astragalos 'ankle bone, molding', also the name of a vetch.

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TALUS ■

As·tra·khan a city in southern Russia, on the delta of the Volga River; pop. 509,000.

as·tra·khan n. the dark curly fleece of young karakul lambs from central Asia: [as adj.] an astrakhan collar.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a cloth imitating this.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: named after the city of ASTRAKHAN in Russia, from which the fleeces were exported.

Linked entries:

ASTRAKHAN ■

as·tral adj. [attrib.] of, connected with, or resembling the stars: astral navigation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to a supposed nonphysical realm of existence to which various psychic and paranormal phenomena are ascribed, and in which the physical human body is said to have a counterpart.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from late Latin astralis, from astrum 'star'.

a·stray adv. 1 away from the correct path or direction: we went astray but a man redirected us.

2 into error or morally questionable behavior: he was led astray by boozy colleagues.

<PHRASES> go astray (of an object) become lost or mislaid: the money had gone astray.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'distant from the correct path'): from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French estraie, past participle of estraier, based on Latin extra 'out of bounds' + vagari 'wander'.

a·stride prep. with a leg on each side of: he was sitting astride the bike; a figure astride a horse | [as adv.] he sat on the chair astride.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- extending across: the port stands astride an international route; why do people build their dream homes astride some seismic fault?

- [as adv.] with legs apart: he stood, legs astride.

as·trin·gent adj. 1 causing the contraction of body tissues, typically of the skin: an astringent skin lotion.

2 sharp or severe in manner or style: her astringent words had their effect.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of taste or smell) sharp or bitter: an astringent smell of rotting apples.

■ n. a substance that causes the contraction of body tissues, typically used to protect the skin and to reduce bleeding from minor abrasions.

<DERIVATIVES> as·trin·gen·cy n. as·trin·gent·ly adv. (in sense 2 of the adjective).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, from Latin astringent- 'pulling tight', from the verb astringere, from ad- 'toward' + stringere 'bind, pull tight'.

astro- comb. form relating to the stars, celestial objects, or outer space: astrocompass astrophysics astrochemistry astrophotography.

<ORIGIN> from Greek astron 'star'.

as·tro·ar·chae·ol·o·gy (also as·tro-ar·chae·ol·o·gy) n. another term for ARCHAEOASTRONOMY.

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ARCHAEOASTRONOMY ■

as·tro·bi·o·lo·gy n. the science concerned with life in space.

as·tro·bleme n. [GEOLOGY] an eroded remnant of a large crater made by the impact of a meteorite or comet.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: from Greek astron 'star' + 'wound'.

as·tro·chem·is·try n. the study of the chemical substances and species occurring in stars and interstellar space.

<DERIVATIVES> as·tro·chem·i·cal adj. as·tro·chem·ist n.

as·tro·com·pass n. an instrument designed to indicate direction with respect to the stars.

as·tro·cyte n. [ANATOMY] a star-shaped glial cell of the central nervous system.

<DERIVATIVES> as·tro·cyt·ic adj.

as·tro·dome n. 1 a domed window in an aircraft for astronomical observations.

2 (the Astrodome) an enclosed stadium in Houston with a domed roof.

as·tro·ga·tion n. (in science fiction) navigation in outer space.

<DERIVATIVES> as·tro·ga·tor n.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: blend of ASTRO- and NAVIGATION.

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ASTRO- ■

NAVIGATION ■

as·troid n. [MATHEMATICS] a hypocycloid with four cusps (like a square with concave sides).

as·tro·labe n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL an instrument formerly used to make astronomical measurements, typically of the altitudes of celestial bodies, and in navigation for calculating latitude, before the development of the sextant. In its basic form (known from classical times), it consists of a disk with the edge marked in degrees and a pivoted pointer.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French astrelabe, from medieval Latin astrolabium, from Greek astrolabon, neuter of astrolabos 'star-taking'.

as·trol·o·gy n. the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world.

Ancient observers of the heavens developed elaborate systems of explanation based on the movements of the sun, moon, and planets through the constellations of the zodiac, for predicting events and for casting horoscopes. By 1700 astrology had lost intellectual credibility in the West, but continued to have popular appeal. Modern astrology is based on that of the Greeks, but other systems are extant, notably those of China and India.

<DERIVATIVES> as·trol·o·ger n. as·tro·log·i·cal adj. as·trol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French astrologie, from Latin astrologia, from Greek, from astron 'star'. The term (in full natural astrology) originally denoted the practical uses of astronomy, applied in the measurement of time and the prediction of natural phenomena. The current sense (in full judicial astrology, relating to human affairs) dates from the mid 16th cent.

as·tro·met·ric bi·na·ry n. [ASTRONOMY] a binary star system in which one companion is invisible, but is known to be present from its effect on measurements relating to the other.

as·trom·e·try n. the measurement of the positions, motions, and magnitudes of stars.

<DERIVATIVES> as·tro·met·ric adj.

as·tro·naut n. a person who is trained to travel in a spacecraft.

<DERIVATIVES> as·tro·nau·ti·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from ASTRO-, on the pattern of aeronaut and aquanaut.

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ASTRO- ■

as·tro·nau·tics n. the science and technology of human space travel and exploration.

as·tro·nav·i·ga·tion n. determination of the position and course of an aircraft or a spacecraft by means of observation of the stars.

<DERIVATIVES> as·tro·nav·i·ga·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: from ASTRO- + NAVIGATION.

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ASTRO- ■

NAVIGATION ■

as·tron·o·mer n. an expert in or student of astronomy.

as·tro·nom·i·cal adj. 1 of or relating to astronomy.

2 INFORMAL (of an amount) extremely large: he wanted an astronomical fee.

<DERIVATIVES> as·tro·nom·ic adj. (in sense 2). as·tro·nom·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek astronomikos, from astronomia (see ASTRONOMY).

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ASTRONOMY ■

as·tro·nom·i·cal u·nit (abbr.: AU) n. [ASTRONOMY] a unit of measurement equal to 149.6 million kilometers, the mean distance from the center of the earth to the center of the sun.

as·tro·nom·i·cal year See YEAR (sense 1).

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YEAR ■

as·tron·o·my n. the branch of science that deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole.

In ancient times, observation of the sun, moon, stars, and planets formed the basis of timekeeping and navigation. Astronomy was greatly furthered by the invention of the optical telescope, but modern observations are made in all parts of the spectrum, including X-ray and radio frequencies, using terrestrial and orbiting instruments and space probes.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (also denoting astrology): from Old French astronomie, from Latin astronomia, from Greek, from astronomos (adjective) 'star-arranging'.

as·tro·pho·tog·ra·phy n. the use of photography in astronomy; the photographing of celestial objects and phenomena.

<DERIVATIVES> as·tro·pho·tog·ra·pher n. as·tro·pho·to·graph·ic adj.

as·tro·phys·ics n. the branch of astronomy concerned with the physical nature of stars and other celestial bodies, and the application of the laws and theories of physics to the interpretation of astronomical observations.

<DERIVATIVES> as·tro·phys·i·cal adj. as·tro·phys·i·cist n.

As·tro·Turf n. TRADEMARK an artificial grass surface, used for athletic fields.

<DERIVATIVES> As·tro·Turfed adj.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from ASTRODOME (sense 1), where it was first used, + TURF.

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ASTRODOME ■

TURF ■

As·tu·ri·as 1 an autonomous region and former principality in northwestern Spain; capital, Oviedo.

As·tu·ri·as 2 Miguel Ángel (1899-1974), Guatemalan novelist and poet, best known for his experimental novel The President (1946). Nobel Prize for Literature (1967).

as·tute adj. having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage: an astute businessman. See note at KEEN.

<DERIVATIVES> as·tute·ly adv. as·tute·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from obsolete French astut or Latin astutus, from astus 'craft'.

a·sty·lar adj. [ARCHITECTURE] (of a classical building) lacking columns or pilasters.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from A-1 'without' + Greek stulos 'column' + -AR^1 .

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A- ■

-AR ■

A·sun·ción the capital and chief port of Paraguay, on the Paraguay River; pop. 729,300.

a·sun·der adv. ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY apart; divided: those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.
<SPECIAL USAGE> into pieces: the desk burst asunder.

<ORIGIN> Old English on sundran 'in or into a separate place'; compare with SUNDER.

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SUNDER ■

a·su·ra n. a member of a class of divine beings in the Vedic period, which in Indian mythology tend to be evil and in Zoroastrianism are benevolent. Compare with DEVA, AHURA MAZDA.

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DEVAAHURA MAZDA ■

As·wan a city on the Nile River in southern Egypt, 10 miles (16 km), north of Lake Nasser; pop. 195,700. Two dams across the Nile have been built nearby. The controlled release of water from Lake Nasser behind the High Dam produces the greater part of Egypt's electricity.

a·swarm adj. [predic.] crowded; full of moving beings or objects: the streets were aswarm with vendors.

as well as conj. and also; and in addition: genuine sentiment as well as a fair degree of realism.

a·swim adj. [predic.] swimming: sardines aswim in oil.

a·swirl adj. & adv. swirling; covered or surrounded with something swirling: [predic. adj.] flowers aswirl with bees | [adv.] she shook her head, sending the streamers aswirl.

a·sy·lum n. 1 (also political asylum) the protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee: granting asylum to foreigners persecuted for political reasons.
<SPECIAL USAGE> shelter or protection from danger: asylum for those too ill to care for themselves.

2 DATED an institution offering shelter and support to the mentally ill: he'd been committed to an asylum.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'place of refuge', esp. for criminals): via Latin from Greek asulon 'refuge', from asulos 'inviolable', from a- 'without' + sulon 'right of seizure'. The current senses date from the 18th cent.

a·sym·met·ri·cal adj. having parts that fail to correspond to one another in shape, size, or arrangement; lacking symmetry: the church has an asymmetrical plan with an aisle only on one side.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having parts or aspects that are not equal or equivalent; unequal in some respect: the asymmetrical relationship between a landlord and a tenant.

<DERIVATIVES> a·sym·met·ric adj. a·sym·met·ri·cal·ly adv.

a·sym·met·ri·cal war·fare n. warfare involving surprise attacks by small, simply armed groups on a nation armed with modern high-tech weaponry.

a·sym·met·ric bars plural n. British term for UNEVEN BARS.

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UNEVEN BARS ■

a·sym·me·try n. (pl. -tries) lack of equality or equivalence between parts or aspects of something; lack of symmetry.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Greek asummetria, from a- 'without' + summetria (see SYMMETRY).

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SYMMETRY ■

a·symp·to·mat·ic adj. [MEDICINE] (of a condition or a person) producing or showing no symptoms.

as·ymp·tote n. a line that continually approaches a given curve but does not meet it at any finite distance.

<DERIVATIVES> as·ymp·tot·ic adj. as·ymp·tot·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin asymptota (linea) '(line) not meeting', from Greek 'not falling together', from a- 'not' + sun 'together' + 'apt to fall' (from piptein 'to fall').

a·syn·chro·nous adj. 1 [COMPUTING] & [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] of or requiring a form of computer control timing protocol in which a specific operation begins upon receipt of an indication (signal) that the preceding operation has been completed.

2 not going at the same rate and exactly together with something else, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a machine or motor) not working in time with the alternations of current.

- [ASTRONOMY] (of a satellite) revolving around the parent planet at a different rate from that at which the planet rotates.

- [ASTRONOMY] (of an orbit) such that a satellite in it is asynchronous.

3 (of two or more objects or events) not existing or happening at the same time.

<DERIVATIVES> a·syn·chro·nous·ly adv.

a·syn·de·ton n. (pl. -de·ta ) the omission or absence of a conjunction between parts of a sentence.

<DERIVATIVES> as·yn·det·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek asundeton, neuter of asundetos 'unconnected', from a- 'not' + sundetos 'bound together'.

At symbol the chemical element astatine.

at 1 prep. 1 expressing location or arrival in a particular place or position: they live at Conway House; she was constantly at the telex machine; they stopped at a small trattoria.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used in speech to indicate the sign @ in electronic mail addresses, separating the address-holder's name from their location.

2 expressing the time when an event takes place: the children go to bed at nine o'clock; his death came at a time when the movement was split.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [without adj.] denoting a particular period of time: the sea is cooler at night.

- [without adj.] denoting the time spent by someone attending an educational institution, a workplace, or their home: we all need to get involved in fighting crime whether it's at work, at home, or at school.

3 denoting a particular point or segment on a scale: prices start at $18,500; driving at 50 mph.
<SPECIAL USAGE> referring to someone's age: at fourteen he began to work as a mailman.

4 expressing a particular state or condition: placed them at a serious disadvantage; the coroner accepted that the machines were at fault.
<SPECIAL USAGE> expressing a relationship between an individual and a skill: boxing was the only sport I was any good at; he is poor at giving instructions.

5 expressing the object of a look, gesture, thought, action, or plan: I looked at my watch; Leslie pointed at him.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- expressing the target of a shot from a weapon: they tore down the main street, firing at anyone in sight.

- emphasizing the directing of an action toward a specified object: she clutched at the thin gown; | he hit at her face with the gun.

6 expressing the means by which something is done: holding a corrections officer at knifepoint | FIGURATIVE her pride had taken a beating at his hands.

<PHRASES>
□ at all see ALL.

□ at first see FIRST.

□ at it engaged in some activity, typically a reprehensible one: the guy who faked the Hitler diaries is at it again.

□ at last see LAST^1 .

□ at least see LEAST.

□ at most see MOST.

□ at once see ONCE.

□ at that in addition; furthermore: it was not fog but smoke, and very thick at that.

□ not at all see NOT.

□ where it's at INFORMAL the fashionable place, possession, or activity: New York is where it's at, stylewise.

<ORIGIN> Old English æt, of Germanic origin; related to Old Frisian et and Old Norse at, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin ad 'to'.

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ALL ■

FIRST ■

LAST ■

LEAST ■

MOST ■

ONCE ■

NOT ■

at 2 n. a monetary unit of Laos, equal to one hundredth of a kip.

at- prefix variant spelling of AD- assimilated before t (as in attend, attenuate).

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AD- ■

At·a·brine trade name for QUINACRINE.

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QUINACRINE ■

A·ta·ca·ma Des·ert an arid region in western Chile that extends roughly 600 miles (965 km) south from the Peruvian border.

a·tac·tic adj. [CHEMISTRY] (of a polymer or polymer structure) in which the repeating units have no regular stereochemical configuration.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek ataktos, from a- 'not' + taktos 'arranged' + -IC.

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-IC ■

At·a·lan·ta [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a huntress who would marry only someone who could beat her in a foot race. She was beaten when a suitor threw down three golden apples which she stopped to pick up.

at·a·man n. (pl. -mans) a Cossack leader. See also HETMAN.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Russian.

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HETMAN ■

at·a·rax·y (also at·a·rax·i·a ) n. a state of serene calmness.

<DERIVATIVES> at·a·rac·tic adj. at·a·rax·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French ataraxie, from Greek ataraxia 'impassiveness', from a- 'not' + tarassein 'disturb'.

A·tas·ca·de·ro a city in southwestern California; pop. 23,138.

A·ta·türk Kemal (1881-1938), Turkish general and statesman; president 1923-38; born Mustafa Kemal; also called Kemal Pasha. As the first president of the Turkish republic, he abolished the caliphate and introduced other policies designed to make Turkey a modern secular state.

at·a·vis·tic adj. relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral: atavistic fears and instincts.

<DERIVATIVES> at·a·vism n. at·a·vis·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: based on Latin atavus 'forefather', via French atavisme, + -IC.

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-IC ■

a·tax·i·a (also a·tax·y ) n. [MEDICINE] the loss of full control of bodily movements.

<DERIVATIVES> a·tax·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek, from a- 'without' + taxis 'order'. The original sense was 'irregularity, disorder', later (in medical use) denoting irregularity of function or symptoms.

ATB abbr. all-terrain bike.

at bat [BASEBALL] n. a player's turn at batting, as officially recorded: O'Neill had three singles in four at bats. Compare with PLATE APPEARANCE.

■ adv. batting.

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PLATE APPEARANCE ■

ATC abbr.
- air traffic control.

- air traffic controller.

A·tchaf·a·lay·a Riv·er a river in south central Louisiana that flows south for 170 miles (275 km) to the Gulf of Mexico. It is used to control flooding on the Red and Mississippi rivers.

ATE abbr. automated test equipment.

ate past of EAT.

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EAT ■

-ate 1 suffix forming nouns: 1 denoting status or office: doctorate; episcopate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a state or function: curate; mandate.

2 denoting a group: electorate.

3 [CHEMISTRY] denoting a salt or ester, esp. of an acid with a corresponding name ending in -ic: chlorate; nitrate.

4 denoting a product (of a chemical process): condensate; filtrate.

<ORIGIN> representing Old French -at or -é(e), or from Latin -atus (as a noun or past participial form).

-ate 2 suffix 1 forming adjectives and nouns such as associate, duplicate, separate.

2 forming adjectives from Latin: caudate.

<ORIGIN> representing French -é or its Latin source -atus (past participial suffix).

-ate 3 suffix forming verbs such as fascinate, hyphenate.

<ORIGIN> representing French -er or its Latin source -are. Originally forms were based on existing past participial adjectives ending in -atus, later extended to any verb ending in -are.

A-team n. a group of elite soldiers or the top advisers or workers in an organization.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from sports terminology in which an organization's A-team is its best team.

at·e·lec·ta·sis n. [MEDICINE] partial or complete collapse of the lung.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek 'imperfect' + ektasis 'extension'.

at·el·ier n. a workshop or studio, esp. one used by an artist or designer.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, from Old French astelle 'splinter of wood', from Latin astula.

a tem·po adv. [MUSIC] (esp. as a direction) in the previous or original tempo.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'in time'.

a·tem·po·ral adj. existing or considered without relation to time.

<DERIVATIVES> a·tem·po·ral·i·ty n.

A·ten (also A·ton) [EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY] the sun or solar disk, the deity of a strong monotheistic cult, particularly during the reign of Akhenaten.

a·ten·o·lol n. [MEDICINE] a beta blocker used mainly to treat angina and high blood pressure.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: perhaps from a(ngina) + ten(sion) + (propran)olol, a related compound.

ATF abbr. (Federal Bureau of) Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

Ath·a·bas·ca Riv·er a river in Canada that flows northeast for 765 miles (1,230 km) from the Rocky Mountains across Alberta to Lake Athabasca, Canada's fourth-largest lake. The river valley has large oil tar deposits.

Ath·a·bas·kan (also Ath·a·pas·kan ) adj. denoting, belonging to, or relating to a family of North American Indian languages including esp. Navajo and various Apache languages of the southwest U.S., several languages of coastal California and Oregon, and many languages of Alaska and northwestern Canada, including Chipewyan.

■ n. 1 this family of languages.

2 a speaker of any of these languages.

<ORIGIN> from Athabasca, the name of a lake in western Canada, from Cree athapaskaw 'grass and reeds here and there', + -AN.

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-AN ■

Ath·a·na·sian Creed a summary of Christian doctrine formerly attributed to St. Athanasius, but probably dating from the 5th century.

Ath·a·na·sius, St. (c.296-373), Greek theologian and upholder of Christian orthodoxy against the Arian heresy. Feast day, May 2.

ath·a·nor n. a type of furnace used by alchemists, able to maintain a steady heat for long periods.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Arabic , from al- 'the' + 'baker's oven'. Compare with TANDOOR.

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TANDOOR ■

A·thar·va Ve·da [HINDUISM] a collection of hymns and ritual utterances, written in early Sanskrit and added at a later stage to the existing Vedic material.

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit Atharvan (the name of Brahma's eldest son, said to be the author of the collection) + '(sacred) knowledge'.

a·the·ism n. the theory or belief that God does not exist.

<DERIVATIVES> a·the·ist n. a·the·is·tic adj. a·the·is·ti·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French athéisme, from Greek atheos, from a- 'without' + theos 'god'.

ath·el·ing n. HISTORICAL a prince or lord in Anglo-Saxon England.

<ORIGIN> Old English ætheling, from a base meaning 'race, family'.

Ath·el·stan (895-939), king of England 925-939.

a·the·mat·ic adj. 1 [MUSIC] (of a composition) not based on the use of themes.

2 [GRAMMAR] (of a verb form) having a suffix attached to the stem without a connecting (thematic) vowel.

A·the·na (also A·the·ne ) [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the patron goddess of Athens, worshiped as the goddess of wisdom, handicrafts, and warfare. She is often allegorized into a personification of wisdom. Also called PALLAS. Identified with the Roman goddess MINERVA.

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PALLAS ■

MINERVA ■

ath·e·nae·um (also ath·e·ne·um) n. used in the names of libraries or institutions for literary or scientific study: the Boston Athenaeum.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used in the titles of periodicals concerned with literature, science, and art.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: via Latin from Greek , denoting the temple of Athena.

A·the·ni·an em·pire see DELIAN LEAGUE.

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DELIAN LEAGUE ■

Ath·ens 1 the capital of Greece, in the southern part of the country; pop. 3,096,775. A flourishing city-state in ancient Greece, it was an important cultural center in the 5th century BC. It came under Roman rule in 146 BC and fell to the Goths in AD 267. After its capture by the Turks in 1456, Athens declined to the status of a village until chosen as the capital of a newly independent Greece in 1834. Greek name ATHÍNAI.

2 a city in northeastern Georgia, the seat of the University of Georgia; pop. 45,734.

3 a city in southeastern Ohio, the seat of Ohio University; pop. 21,265.

<DERIVATIVES> A·the·ni·an adj. & n.

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ATHÍNAI ■

ath·er·o·gen·ic adj. [PHYSIOLOGY] tending to promote the formation of fatty plaques in the arteries.

<DERIVATIVES> ath·er·o·gen·e·sis n.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from ATHEROMA + -GENIC.

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ATHEROMA ■

-GENIC ■

ath·er·o·ma n. [MEDICINE] degeneration of the walls of the arteries caused by accumulated fatty deposits and scar tissue, and leading to restriction of the circulation and a risk of thrombosis. See also ATHEROSCLEROSIS.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the fatty material that forms plaques in the arteries.

<DERIVATIVES> ath·er·om·a·tous adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek , from , 'groats'.

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ATHEROSCLEROSIS ■

ath·er·o·scle·ro·sis n. [MEDICINE] a disease of the arteries characterized by the deposition of plaques of fatty material on their inner walls. See also ATHEROMA and ARTERIOSCLEROSIS.

<DERIVATIVES> ath·er·o·scle·rot·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: coined in German from Greek 'groats' + 'hardening' (see SCLEROSIS).

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ATHEROMAARTERIOSCLEROSIS ■

SCLEROSIS ■

ath·e·tize v. [trans.] RARE reject (a passage in a text) as spurious.

<DERIVATIVES> ath·e·te·sis n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek athetos 'without position' + -IZE, rendering the Greek verb athetein.

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-IZE ■

ath·e·to·sis n. [MEDICINE] a condition in which abnormal muscle contractions cause involuntary writhing movements. It affects some people with cerebral palsy, impairing speech and use of the hands.

<DERIVATIVES> ath·e·toid adj. ath·e·tot·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek athetos 'without position' + -OSIS.

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-OSIS ■

A·thí·nai variant spelling of ATHENS.

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ATHENS ■

a·thirst adj. [predic.] ARCHAIC thirsty.
<SPECIAL USAGE> very eager to get something: she was athirst for news.

<ORIGIN> Old English ofthyrst, shortened from ofthyrsted, past participle of ofthyrstan 'be thirsty'.

ath·lete n. a person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical exercise.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY BRIT. a person who is skilled in competitive track and field events (athletics).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin athleta, from Greek , from athlein 'compete for a prize', from athlon 'prize'.

ath·lete's foot n. a fungal infection affecting the skin between the toes. It is a form of ringworm.

ath·let·ic adj. 1 [attrib.] of or relating to athletes or athletics: athletic events; an athletic club.

2 physically strong, fit, and active: big, muscular, athletic boys.

<DERIVATIVES> ath·let·i·cal·ly adv. ath·let·i·cism n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French athlétique or Latin athleticus, from Greek , from (see ATHLETE).

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ATHLETE ■

ath·let·ics plural n. [usu. treated as sing.] physical sports and games of any kind.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY BRIT. the sport of competing in track and field events, including running races and various competitions in jumping and throwing: [as adj.] athletics championships.

ath·let·ic sup·port·er n. another term for JOCKSTRAP.

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JOCKSTRAP ■

at-home n. an informal party in a person's home.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED a period when a person has announced that they will receive visitors in their home.

■ adj. occurring in or suited to one's home: at-home athletic equipment.

Ath·os, Mount a narrow, mountainous peninsula in northeastern Greece that projects into the Aegean Sea. It is inhabited by Greek Orthodox monks, who forbid women and even female animals to set foot on the peninsula.

<DERIVATIVES> Ath·o·nite adj. & n.

a·thwart prep. 1 from side to side of; across: a long counter thrown athwart the entranceway.

2 in opposition to; counter to: these statistics run sharply athwart conventional presumptions.

■ adv. 1 across from side to side; transversely: one table running athwart was all the room would hold.

2 so as to be perverse or contradictory: our words ran athwart and we ended up at cross purposes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from A-2 'on' + THWART.

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A- ■

THWART ■

-atic suffix forming adjectives and nouns such as aquatic, idiomatic.

<ORIGIN> from French -atique or Latin -aticus, often based on Greek -atikos.

-ation suffix (forming nouns) denoting an action or an instance of it: exploration; hesitation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> denoting a result or product of action: plantation.

<ORIGIN> representing French -ation or Latin -ation-.

At·i·van n. trademark for LORAZEPAM.

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LORAZEPAM ■

-ative suffix (forming adjectives) denoting a characteristic or propensity: pejorative; talkative.

<ORIGIN> representing French -atif, -ative, or from Latin -ativus.

At·kins di·et n. a diet high in protein and fat and low in carbohydrates, prescribed for weight loss.

<ORIGIN> 1972: after its originator, cardiologist Dr. Robert C. Atkins (1930-2003) and his book Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution (1972).

At·kin·son Sir Harry (Albert) (1831-92), New Zealand statesman; born in Britain; prime minister 1876-77, 1883-84, and 1887-91.

At·lan·ta the capital of the state of Georgia in the U.S., in northwest central Georgia; pop. 416,474. It was burned by Union forces under Gen. William T. Sherman in 1864 during the Civil War.

at·lan·tes plural form of ATLAS (sense 3).

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ATLAS ■

At·lan·tic adj. [attrib.] of or adjoining the Atlantic Ocean: an Atlantic storm; the Atlantic coast of Europe.

■ n. short for ATLANTIC OCEAN.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek Atlantikos, from Atlas, Atlant- (see ATLAS). The term originally referred to the Atlas Mountains in Libya, hence to the sea near the west African coast, later being extended to the whole ocean.

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ATLANTIC OCEAN ■

ATLAS ■

At·lan·tic, Battle of the a succession of sea operations during World War II in which Axis naval and air forces attempted to destroy shipping carrying supplies from North America to the UK.

At·lan·tic Char·ter a declaration of eight common principles in international relations drawn up by Churchill and Roosevelt in August 1941, which provided the ideological basis for the United Nations organization.

At·lan·tic Cit·y a resort city in southeastern New Jersey, on the Atlantic Ocean; pop. 37,986. It is noted for its gambling casinos and its boardwalk.

At·lan·tic In·tra·coast·al Wa·ter·way a water route in the U.S. that allows sheltered boat passage for 1,900 miles (3,100 km) along the Atlantic coast between Boston and Key West.

At·lan·ti·cism n. belief in or support for a close relationship between western Europe and the U.S., or particularly for NATO.

<DERIVATIVES> At·lan·ti·cist n. & adj.

At·lan·tic O·cean the ocean that lies between Europe and Africa on the east and North and South America on the west. It is divided by the equator into the North Atlantic and the South Atlantic oceans.

At·lan·tic Prov·in·ces another name for MARITIME PROVINCES.

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MARITIME PROVINCES ■

At·lan·tic seal n. another term for GRAY SEAL.

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GRAY SEAL ■

At·lan·tic time the standard time in a zone including the easternmost parts of mainland Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, specifically:
<INFO>
- (Atlantic Standard Time, abbrev.: AST) standard time based on the mean solar time at the longitude 60° W, four hours behind GMT.

- (Atlantic Daylight Time, abbrev.: ADT) Atlantic time during daylight savings, three hours behind GMT.

At·lan·tis a legendary island, beautiful and prosperous, which sank into the sea.

<DERIVATIVES> At·lan·te·an adj.

At·las [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] one of the Titans, who was punished for his part in their revolt against Zeus by being made to support the heavens. He became identified with the Atlas Mountains.

<DERIVATIVES> At·lan·te·an adj.

at·las n. 1 (pl. at·las·es ) a book of maps or charts: I looked in the atlas to find a map of Italy; a road atlas.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a book of illustrations or diagrams on any subject: Atlas of Surgical Operations.

2 (pl. at·las·es ) (also atlas vertebra) [ANATOMY] the topmost vertebra of the backbone, articulating with the occipital bone of the skull.

3 (pl. at·lan·tes ) [ARCHITECTURE] a stone carving of a male figure, used as a column to support the entablature of a Greek or Greek-style building.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (originally denoting a person who supported a great burden): via Latin from Greek Atlas (see ATLAS).

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ATLAS ■

at·las moth n. a very large, boldly marked silkworm moth that occurs in both the Old and New World tropics.
<INFO>  Genus Attacus, family Saturniidae: several species, in particular A. atlas of Asia, which is the largest moth in the world.

At·las Moun·tains a range of mountains in North Africa that extends from Morocco to Tunisia in a series of chains, including the Anti-Atlas, High Atlas, Middle Atlas, Rif Mountains, Tell Atlas, and Sahara Atlas.

ATM abbr.
- [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] asynchronous transfer mode.

- automated (or automatic) teller machine.

atm [PHYSICS] abbr. atmosphere(s), as a unit of pressure.

at·man (also At·man) n. [HINDUISM] the spiritual life principle of the universe, esp. when regarded as inherent in the real self of the individual.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person's soul.

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit , literally 'essence, breath'.

at·mos·phere n. [usu. in sing.] 1 the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet: part of the sun's energy is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the air in any particular place: we couldn't breathe in the dusty atmosphere of his apartment.

- (abbr.: atm) [PHYSICS] a unit of pressure equal to mean atmospheric pressure at sea level, 101,325 pascals.

2 the pervading tone or mood of a place, situation, or work of art: the hotel is famous for its friendly, welcoming atmosphere; this crisis further compounded the prevailing atmosphere of gloom.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a pleasurable and interesting or exciting mood: a superb restaurant, full of atmosphere.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin atmosphaera, from Greek atmos 'vapor' + sphaira 'ball, globe'.

at·mos·pher·ic adj. 1 of or relating to the atmosphere of the earth or (occasionally) another planet: atmospheric conditions such as fog, snow, rain.

2 creating a distinctive mood, typically of romance, mystery, or nostalgia: atmospheric lighting.

<DERIVATIVES> at·mos·pher·i·cal adj. (ARCHAIC) at·mos·pher·i·cal·ly adv.

at·mos·pher·ic pres·sure n. the pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere, which at sea level has a mean value of 101,325 pascals (roughly 14.6959 pounds per square inch). Also called BAROMETRIC PRESSURE.

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BAROMETRIC PRESSURE ■

at·mos·pher·ics plural n. 1 electrical disturbances in the atmosphere due to lightning and other phenomena, esp. as they interfere with telecommunications.

2 effects intended to create a particular atmosphere or mood, esp. in music: a jazz sound with spooky atmospherics.

at·oll n. a ring-shaped reef, island, or chain of islands formed of coral.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Maldivian .

at·om n. the basic unit of a chemical element.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- such particles as a source of nuclear energy: the power of the atom.

- [usu. with negative] an extremely small amount of a thing or quality: I shall not have one atom of strength left.

An atom, roughly 10^8 cm in diameter, consists of a tiny, dense, positively charged nucleus made of neutrons and protons, surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. Each chemical element consists of atoms that possess a characteristic number of protons. Atoms are held together in molecules by sharing electrons.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French atome, via Latin from Greek atomos 'indivisible', based on a- 'not' + temnein 'to cut'.

at·om bomb (also a·tom·ic bomb) n. a bomb that derives its destructive power from the rapid release of nuclear energy by fission of heavy atomic nuclei, causing damage through heat, blast, and radioactivity. Compare with HYDROGEN BOMB.

In such a bomb two pieces of a fissile material are brought together by a conventional explosion to form a super critical mass. Neutrons then cause an uncontrolled fission chain reaction that quickly releases large amounts of energy.

a·tom·ic adj. of or relating to an atom or atoms: the atomic nucleus.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [CHEMISTRY] (of a substance) consisting of uncombined atoms rather than molecules: atomic hydrogen.

- of or forming a single irreducible unit or component in a larger system: a society made up of atomic individuals pursuing private interests.

- relating to, denoting, or using the energy released in nuclear fission or fusion: the atomic age required a new way of political thinking; atomic weapons.

<DERIVATIVES> a·tom·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from modern Latin atomicus, from atomus 'indivisible' (see ATOM).

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ATOM ■

a·tom·ic age n. another term for NUCLEAR AGE.

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NUCLEAR AGE ■

a·tom·ic clock n. an extremely accurate type of clock that is regulated by the vibrations of an atomic or molecular system such as cesium or ammonia.

at·o·mic·i·ty n. 1 [CHEMISTRY] the number of atoms in the molecules of an element.

2 the state or fact of being composed of indivisible units.

a·tom·ic mass n. the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.

a·tom·ic mass u·nit (abbr.: amu) n. a unit of mass used to express atomic and molecular weights, equal to one-twelfth of the mass of an atom of carbon-12. It is equal to approximately 1.66 x 10-27 kg.

a·tom·ic num·ber n. [CHEMISTRY] & [PHYSICS] the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the chemical properties of an element and its place in the periodic table. (Symbol: Z)

a·tom·ic phys·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the branch of physics concerned with the structure of the atom, its energy states, and its interactions with particles and fields.

a·tom·ic pile n. dated term for NUCLEAR REACTOR.

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NUCLEAR REACTOR ■

a·tom·ic pow·er n. another term for NUCLEAR POWER.

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NUCLEAR POWER ■

a·tom·ic spec·trum n. the spectrum of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed during transitions of electrons between energy levels within an atom. Each element has a characteristic spectrum by which it can be recognized.

a·tom·ic the·o·ry n. the theory that all matter is made up of tiny indivisible particles (atoms). According to the modern version, the atoms of each element are effectively identical, but differ from those of other elements, and unite to form compounds in fixed proportions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in any field, a theory that proposes the existence of distinct, separable, independent components: an atomic theory of heredity.

a·tom·ic vol·ume n. [CHEMISTRY] the volume occupied by one gram-atom of an element under standard conditions.

a·tom·ic weight n. [CHEMISTRY] another term for ATOMIC MASS.

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ATOMIC MASS ■

at·om·ism n. [CHIEFLY PHILOSOPHY] a theoretical approach that regards something as interpretable through analysis into distinct, separable, and independent elementary components. The opposite of HOLISM.

<DERIVATIVES> at·om·ist n. at·om·is·tic adj.

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HOLISM ■

at·om·ize v. [trans.] convert (a substance) into very fine particles or droplets: the CO_2 depressurized, atomizing the paint into a mist of even-size particles.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reduce (something) to atoms or other small distinct units: by disrupting our ties with our neighbors, crime atomizes society.

<DERIVATIVES> at·om·i·za·tion n.

at·om·iz·er (BRIT. also at·om·is·er) n. a device for emitting water, perfume, or other liquids as a fine spray.

at·om smash·er n. informal term for PARTICLE ACCELERATOR.

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PARTICLE ACCELERATOR ■

at·o·my n. (pl. -mies) ARCHAIC a skeleton or emaciated body.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from ANATOMY, taken as an atomy.

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ANATOMY ■

A·ton variant spelling of ATEN.

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ATEN ■

a·ton·al adj. [MUSIC] not written in any key or mode.

<DERIVATIVES> a·ton·al·ism n. a·ton·al·ist n. a·to·nal·i·ty n.

a·tone v. [intrans.] make amends or reparation: he was being helpful, to atone for his past mistakes.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally in the sense 'make or become united or reconciled', rare before the 16th cent.): from at one in early use; later by back-formation from ATONEMENT.

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a·tone·ment n. reparation for a wrong or injury: she wanted to make atonement for her husband's behavior.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [RELIGION] reparation or expiation for sin: the High Priest offered the sacrifice as atonement for all the sins of Israel.

- (the Atonement) [CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY] the reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (denoting unity or reconciliation, esp. between God and man): from at one + -MENT, influenced by medieval Latin adunamentum 'unity', and earlier onement from an obsolete verb one 'to unite'.

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a·ton·ic adj. 1 [LINGUISTICS] (of a syllable) without accent or stress.

2 [PHYSIOLOGY] lacking muscular tone.

<DERIVATIVES> at·o·ny n.

a·top prep. on the top of: the weathervane is perched atop the barn.

■ adv. on the top: the air raid siren atop of the courthouse.

a·top·ic n. denoting a form of allergy in which a hypersensitivity reaction such as dermatitis or asthma may occur in a part of the body not in contact with the allergen.

<DERIVATIVES> at·o·py adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek atopia 'a being out of place', from atopos 'out of place', from a- 'without' + topos 'place'.

-ator suffix forming agent nouns such as agitator.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used in names of implements, machines, etc.: escalator.

<ORIGIN> from Latin, or sometimes representing French -ateur.

-atory suffix (forming adjectives) relating to or involving an action: explanatory; predatory.

<ORIGIN> from Latin -atorius.

ATP abbr. [BIOCHEMISTRY] adenosine triphosphate.

at·ra·bil·ious adj. POETIC/LITERARY melancholy or ill-tempered.

<DERIVATIVES> at·ra·bil·ious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'affected by black bile', one of the four supposed cardinal humors of the body, believed to cause melancholy): from Latin atra bilis 'black bile', translation of Greek melankholia 'melancholy', + -IOUS.

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-IOUS ■

a·trau·mat·ic adj. (of a medical or surgical procedure) causing minimal tissue injury.

at·ra·zine n. a synthetic compound used as an agricultural herbicide.
<INFO>  A triazine derivative; chem. formula: C_8H_14N_5Cl.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: blend of AMINO and TRIAZINE

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AMINO ■

TRIAZINE ■

a·trem·ble adj. [predic.] POETIC/LITERARY trembling: the breeze failed to set a single leaf atremble.

a·tre·sia n. 1 [MEDICINE] absence or abnormal narrowing of an opening or passage in the body.

2 [PHYSIOLOGY] the degeneration of those ovarian follicles that do not ovulate during the menstrual cycle.

<ORIGIN>  early 19th cent.: from A-1 'without' + Greek 'perforation' + -IA^1 .

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-IA ■

A·tre·us [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the son of Pelops and father of Agamemnon and Menelaus. He quarreled with his brother Thyestes and invited him to a banquet at which he served up the flesh of Thyestes' own children.

a·tri·o·ven·tric·u·lar adj. [ANATOMY] & [PHYSIOLOGY] relating to the atrial and ventricular chambers of the heart, or the connection or coordination between them.

at-risk adj. vulnerable, especially to abuse or deliquency: a church-run school for the most at-risk children.

a·tri·um n. (pl. a·tri·a or a·tri·ums) 1 [ARCHITECTURE] an open-roofed entrance hall or central court in an ancient Roman house.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a central hall or court in a modern building, with rooms or galleries opening off it, often glass-covered.

2 [ANATOMY] each of the two upper cavities of the heart from which blood is passed to the ventricles. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the veins of the body; the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary vein. Also called AURICLE.

<DERIVATIVES> a·tri·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin.

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AURICLE ■

a·tro·cious adj. horrifyingly wicked: atrocious cruelties.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of a very poor quality; extremely bad or unpleasant: he attempted an atrocious imitation of my English accent; atrocious weather.

<DERIVATIVES> a·tro·cious·ly adv. a·tro·cious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin atrox, atroc- 'cruel' + -IOUS.

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-IOUS ■

a·troc·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) an extremely wicked or cruel act, typically one involving physical violence or injury: war atrocities | scenes of hardship and atrocity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HUMOROUS a highly unpleasant or distasteful object: the house was a split-level atrocity.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'cruelty'): from French atrocité or Latin atrocitas, from atrox, atroc- 'cruel'.

at·ro·phy v. (-phies, -phied) [intrans.] (of body tissue or an organ) waste away, typically due to the degeneration of cells, or become vestigial during evolution: without exercise, the muscles will atrophy | [as adj.] (atrophied) in some beetles, the hind wings are atrophied.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE gradually decline in effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect: her artistic skills atrophied from lack of use.

■ n. the condition or process of atrophying: gastric atrophy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE the gradual decline of effectiveness or vigor due to underuse or neglect: extensive TV viewing may lead to atrophy of children's imaginations.

<DERIVATIVES> a·troph·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French atrophier (verb), atrophie (noun), from late Latin atrophia, from Greek, 'lack of food', from a- 'without' + 'food'.

at·ro·pine n. [CHEMISTRY] a poisonous compound found in deadly nightshade and related plants. It is used in medicine as a muscle relaxant, e.g., in dilating the pupil of the eye.
<INFO>  An alkaloid; chem. formula: C_17N_23NO_3.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin Atropa belladonna 'deadly nightshade', from ATROPOS + -INE^4 .

Linked entries:

ATROPOS ■

-INE ■

At·ro·pos [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] one of the three Fates.

<ORIGIN> Greek, literally 'inflexible'.

at sign n. the symbol @.

At·si·na n. (pl. same or -nas) a member of a North American Indian people living chiefly in the north central plains region. They speak an Algonquian language. Also called GROS VENTRE.

■ adj. of or relating to the Atsina.

at·ta·boy exclam. an informal expression of encouragement or admiration, typically to a man or boy.

■ n. a piece of encouragement or congratulations, esp. a letter: our boss will write you guys an attaboy.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: probably representing a casual pronunciation of that's the boy.

at·tach v. [trans.] fasten; join: he made certain that the trailer was securely attached to the van.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- fasten (a related document) to another: I attach a copy of the memo for your information.

- include (a condition) as part of an agreement: the Commission can attach appropriate conditions to the operation of the agreement.

- used to indicate that someone regards something as important or valuable: he doesn't attach too much importance to radical ideas.

- [intrans.] (attach to) used to indicate someone regards something as important or valuable: in South Korea enormous importance is attached to respect for the dead.

- (attach oneself to) join (someone or something) without being invited: they were all too ready to attach themselves to you for the whole day.

- (usu. be attached) appoint (someone) for special or temporary duties: I was attached to another department.

- [LAW] seize (a person's property) by legal authority: the court attached his wages for child support.

<DERIVATIVES> at·tach·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'seize by legal authority'): from Old French atachier or estachier 'fasten, fix', based on an element of Germanic origin related to STAKE^1 ; compare with ATTACK.

Linked entries:

STAKE ■

ATTACK ■

at·ta·ché n. 1 a person on the staff of an ambassador, typically with a specialized area of responsibility: military attachés.

2 short for ATTACHÉ CASE.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, literally 'attached', past participle of attacher.

Linked entries:

ATTACHÉ CASE ■

at·ta·ché case n. a small, flat, rectangular case used for carrying documents.

at·tached adj. 1 joined or fastened to something: please complete the attached form.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a building or room) adjacent to and typically connected with another building or room: a ground-floor bedroom with a bathroom attached.

2 full of affection or fondness: during his visit, Mark became increasingly attached to Tara.

3 (attached to) (of a person) appointed to an organization or group for special or temporary duties: he was attached to military intelligence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an organization or body) affiliated to another larger organization or body: a public relations agency attached to the university.

at·tach·ment n. 1 an extra part or extension that is or can be attached to something to perform a particular function: the food processor comes with a blender attachment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a computer file appended to an e-mail.

2 the condition of being attached to something or someone, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- affection, fondness, or sympathy for someone or something: she felt a sentimental attachment to the place.

- an affectionate relationship between two people: he formed an attachment with a young widow.

3 the action of attaching something: the case has a loop for attachment to your belt.
<SPECIAL USAGE> legal seizure of property.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'arrest for contempt of court'): from Old French attachement, from atachier 'fasten, fix' (see ATTACH).

Linked entries:

ATTACH ■

at·tack v. [trans.] take aggressive action against (a place or enemy forces) with weapons or armed force, typically in a battle or war: in December, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor | [intrans.] the terrorists did not attack again until March.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person or animal) act against (someone or something) aggressively in an attempt to injure or kill: a doctor was attacked by two youths.

- (of a disease, chemical substance, or insect) act harmfully on: HIV is thought to attack certain cells in the brain.

- criticize or oppose fiercely and publicly: he attacked the government's defense policy.

- begin to deal with (a problem or task) in a determined and vigorous way: a plan of action to attack unemployment.

- [intrans.] make an aggressive or forceful attempt to score a goal or point, or gain or exploit an advantage in a game against an opposing team or player: [as adj.] (attacking) the home team showed some good attacking play.

- [CHESS] move into or be in a position to capture (an opponent's piece).

■ n. an agressive and violent action against a person or place: he was killed in an attack on a checkpoint; three classrooms were gutted in the arson attack.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- destructive action by a disease, chemical, or insect: the tissue is open to attack by fungus.

- a sudden short bout of an illness or stress: an attack of nausea; an asthma attack.

- an instance of fierce public criticism or opposition: he launched a stinging attack on the White House.

- a determined attempt to tackle a problem or task: an attack on inflation.

- [MUSIC] the manner of beginning to play or sing a passage.

- forceful and decisive style in performing music or another art: the sheer attack of Hendrix's playing.

- an aggressive attempt to score a goal, win points, or gain or exploit an advantage in a game.

- [CHESS] a threat to capture an opponent's piece.

<PHRASES> under attack subject to aggressive, violent, or harmful action: his paintings have come under attack for their satanic content.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French attaque (noun), attaquer (verb), from Italian attacco 'an attack', attaccare 'join battle', based on an element of Germanic origin (see ATTACH).

<THE RIGHT WORD>
assail, assault, attack, beset, besiege, bombard, charge, molest, storm

There is no shortage of “fighting words.” Attack is the most general verb, meaning to set upon someone or something in a violent, forceful, or aggressive way (the rebels attacked at dawn); but it can also be used figuratively (attack the government's policy).

Assault implies a greater degree of violence or viciousness and the infliction of more damage. As part of the legal term “assault and battery,” it suggests an attempt or threat to injure someone physically.

Molest is another word meaning to attack and is used today almost exclusively of sexual molestation (she had been molested as a child).

Charge and storm are primarily military words, both suggesting a forceful assault on a fixed position. To charge is to make a violent onslaught (the infantry charged the enemy camp) and is often used as a command (“Charge!” the general cried). To storm means to take by force, with all the momentum and fury of a storm (after days of planning, the soldiers stormed the castle), but there is often the suggestion of a last-ditch, all-out effort to end a long siege or avoid defeat.

To assail is to attack with repeated thrusts or blows, implying that victory depends not so much on force as on persistence.

To bombard is to assail continuously with bombs or shells (they bombarded the city without mercy for days).

Besiege means to surround with an armed force (to besiege the capital city). When used figuratively, its meaning comes close to that of assail, but with an emphasis on being hemmed in and enclosed rather than punished repeatedly (besieged with fears).

Beset also means to attack on all sides (beset by enemies), but it is also used frequently in other contexts to mean set or placed upon (a bracelet beset with diamonds).

Linked entries:

ATTACH ■

at·tack·er n. a person or animal that attacks someone or something.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in soccer and other games) a player that makes an assertive or aggressive attempt to score; a forward.

at·ta·girl exclam. an informal expression of encouragement or admiration to a woman or girl.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: on the pattern of attaboy.

at·tain v. [trans.] succeed in achieving (something that one desires and has worked for): clarify your objectives and ways of attaining them; he attained the rank of admiral; human beings can attain happiness. See note at GET.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reach (a specified age, size, or amount): dolphins can attain remarkable speeds in water.

<DERIVATIVES> at·tain·a·bil·i·ty n. at·tain·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the senses 'bring to justice' and 'reach (a state)'): from Old French ateindre, from Latin attingere, from ad- 'at, to' + tangere 'to touch'.

at·tain·der n. HISTORICAL the forfeiture of land and civil rights suffered as a consequence of a sentence of death for treason or felony.

<PHRASES> bill of attainder an item of legislation inflicting attainder without judicial process.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, variant (used as a noun) of Old French ateindre in the sense 'convict, bring to justice' (see ATTAIN).

Linked entries:

ATTAIN ■

at·tain·ment n. the action or fact of achieving a goal toward which one has worked: the attainment of a mystical state of communion with God.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (often attainments) a thing achieved, esp. a skill or educational achievement: scholarly attainments.

at·taint v. [trans.] 1 (usu. be attainted) HISTORICAL subject to attainder.

2 ARCHAIC affect or infect with disease or corruption.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'touch, reach, attain'): from obsolete attaint (adjective), from Old French ataint, ateint, past participle of ateindre 'bring to justice' (see ATTAIN); influenced in meaning by TAINT.

Linked entries:

ATTAIN ■

TAINT ■

At·ta·lid n. a member of a Hellenistic dynasty centered on the city of Pergamum in Asia Minor and named after Attalus I (reigned 241-197 BC), which flourished in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC.

■ adj. of or relating to this dynasty.

at·tar (also ot·to ) n. a fragrant essential oil, typically made from rose petals.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: via Persian from Arabic 'fragrant'.

at·tempt v. [trans.] make an effort to achieve or complete (something, typically a difficult task or action): she attempted a comeback in 1989 | [with infinitive] those who attempted to flee were captured at the border.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- try to climb to the top of (a mountain): the group's next plan was to attempt Everest.

- ARCHAIC try to take (a life): he would not have attempted the life of a friend.

■ n. an act of trying to achieve something, typically one that is unsuccessful or not certain to succeed: [with infinitive] an attempt to halt the bombings any attempt at talking politics ended in a fit of laughter; an abortive coup attempt.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an effort to surpass a record or conquer a mountain: we made an attempt on the southwest buttress.

- a bid to kill someone: Karakozov made an attempt on the tsar’s life.

- a thing produced as a result of trying to make or achieve something: her first attempt at a letter ended up in the wastebasket.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French attempter, from Latin attemptare, from ad- 'to' + temptare 'to tempt'.

At·ten·bor·ough Sir Richard (Samuel), Baron Attenborough of Richmond-upon-Thames (1923- ), English movie actor, producer, and director; brother of David Attenborough (1926- ). He directed Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Gandhi (Academy Award, 1982), and Shadowlands (1993).

at·tend v. 1 [trans.] be present at (an event, meeting, or function): the entire sales force attended the conference; she was unable to attend the wedding.
<SPECIAL USAGE> go regularly to (an educational, religious, social, or clinical institution): all children are required to attend school.

2 [intrans.] (attend to) deal with: he muttered that he had business to attend to.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- give practical help and care to; look after: the severely wounded had two medics to attend to their wounds | [trans.] each of the beds in the intensive care unit is attended by a nurse.

- pay attention to: Alice hadn't attended to a word of his sermon.

3 [trans.] (usu. be attended) occur with or as a result of: people feared that the switch to a peacetime economy would be attended by a severe slump.
<SPECIAL USAGE> escort or accompany (a member of royalty or other important personage) so as to assist them; wait on: Her Royal Highness was attended by two capable women.

<DERIVATIVES> at·tend·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'apply one's mind, one's energies to'): from Old French atendre, from Latin attendere, from ad- 'to' + tendere 'stretch'.

at·tend·ance n. the action or state of going regularly to or being present at a place or event: my attendance at church was very irregular.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the number of people present at a particular event, function, or meeting: reports placed the attendance at 500,000.

<PHRASES> in attendance present at a function or a place.
- accompanying a member of royalty or the aristocracy in the capacity of an assistant or servant.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from atendre 'give one's attention to' (see ATTEND).

Linked entries:

ATTEND ■

at·tend·ant n. 1 a person employed to provide a service to the public in a particular place: a flight attendant; a gas station attendant.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an assistant to an important person; a servant or courtier.

2 a person who is present at an event, meeting, or function: he had become a regular attendant at chapel.

■ adj. occurring with or as a result of; accompanying: the sea and its attendant attractions; | he warns against the dangers attendant on solitary life.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person or animal) accompanying another as a companion or assistant: a pair of blind tourists with their attendant dogs.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an adjective): from Old French, from atendre 'give one's attention to' (see ATTEND).

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ATTEND ■

at·tend·ee n. a person who attends a conference or other gathering.

at·ten·tion n. 1 notice taken of someone or something; the regarding of someone or something as interesting or important: he drew attention to three spelling mistakes; you've never paid that much attention to her opinions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the mental faculty of considering or taking notice of someone or something: he turned his attention to the educational system.

2 the action of dealing with or taking special care of someone or something: the business needed her attention; he failed to give the patient adequate medical attention.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (attentions) a person's interest in someone, esp. when unwelcome or regarded as excessive: his primary aim was to avoid the attentions of the newspapers.

- (attentions) a person's actions intended to express interest of a sexual or romantic nature in someone, sometimes when unwelcome: she felt flattered by his attentions.

3 [MILITARY] a position assumed by a soldier, standing very straight with the heels together and the arms straight down the sides of the body: the squadron stood to attention when we arrived; midshipmen standing at attention.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as exclam.] an order to assume such a position.

<DERIVATIVES> at·ten·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin attentio(n-), from the verb attendere (see ATTEND).

Linked entries:

ATTEND ■

at·ten·tion def·i·cit dis·or·der (also attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) (abbr.: ADD or ADHD) n. any of a range of behavioral disorders occurring primarily in children, including such symptoms as poor concentration, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

at·ten·tion span n. the length of time for which a person is able to concentrate mentally on a particular activity.

at·ten·tive adj. paying close attention to something: never before had she had such an attentive audience; Congress should be more attentive to the interests of taxpayers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> assiduously attending to the comfort or wishes of others; very polite or courteous: the hotel has a pleasant atmosphere and attentive service.

<DERIVATIVES> at·ten·tive·ly adv. at·ten·tive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French attentif, -ive, from atendre 'give one's attention to' (see ATTEND).

Linked entries:

ATTEND ■

at·ten·u·ate v. [trans.] (often be attenuated) reduce the force, effect, or value of: her intolerance was attenuated by a rather unexpected liberalism.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- reduce the amplitude of (a signal, electric current, or other oscillation).

- [intrans.] (of a signal, electric current, or other oscillation) be reduced in amplitude.

- [usu. as adj.] (attenuated) reduce the virulence of (a pathogenic organism or vaccine): attenuated strains of rabies virus.

- reduce in thickness; make thin: the trees are attenuated from being grown too close together.

■ adj. RARE reduced in force, effect, or physical thickness.

<DERIVATIVES> at·ten·u·a·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin attenuat- 'made slender', from the verb attenuare, from ad- 'to' + tenuare 'make thin' (from tenuis 'thin').

at·ten·u·at·ed adj. unnaturally thin: she was a drooping, attenuated figure.
<SPECIAL USAGE> weakened in force or effect: Roman influence became attenuated.

at·ten·u·a·tor n. a device consisting of an arrangement of resistors that reduces the strength of a radio or audio signal.

at·test v. [trans.] provide or serve as clear evidence of: his status is attested by his recent promotion | [intrans.] his numerous drawings of ships attest to his fascination with them.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] declare that something exists or is the case: I can attest to his tremendous energy | [with clause] the deceased's attorney attested that he had been about to institute divorce proceedings.

- be a witness to; certify formally: the witnesses must attest and sign the will in the testator's presence.

<DERIVATIVES> at·tes·ta·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from French attester, from Latin attestari, from ad- 'to' + testari 'to witness' (from testis 'a witness').

At·tic adj. of or relating to Athens or Attica, or the dialect of Greek spoken there in ancient times.

■ n. the dialect of Greek used by the ancient Athenians, the chief literary form of classical Greek.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek Attikos.

at·tic n. a space or room just below the roof of a building.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (as an architectural term designating a small order (column and entablature) above a taller one): from French attique, from Latin Atticus 'relating to Athens or Attica'.

At·ti·ca 1 a triangular promontory in eastern Greece. With the islands in the Saronic Gulf, it forms a department of Greece, of which Athens is the capital.

2 a town in western New York, the scene of a bloody 1971 prison uprising; pop. 7,383.

at·ti·cism (often At·ti·cism) n. a word or form characteristic of Attic Greek.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Greek Attikismos, from Attikos (see ATTIC). From the original sense of 'the Greek language as used by the Athenians', arose the meaning 'refined, elegant Greek', later extended to language in general.

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ATTIC ■

At·ti·la (406-453), king of the Huns 434-453. He ravaged vast areas between the Rhine and the Caspian Sea before being defeated by the joint forces of the Roman army and the Visigoths at Châlons in 451.

at·tire n. clothes, esp. fine or formal ones: holiday attire.

■ v. (be attired) be dressed in clothes of a specified kind: Donna was attired in an elaborate evening gown | [as adj., with submodifier] (attired) the outrageously attired rock star.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French atirier, atirer 'equip', from a tire 'in order', of unknown origin.

At·tis [ANATOLIAN MYTHOLOGY] the youthful consort of Cybele. His death and resurrection were associated with the spring festival.

at·ti·tude n. a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person's behavior: she took a tough attitude toward other people's indulgences; being competitive is an attitude of mind | differences in attitude were apparent between ethnic groups.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a position of the body proper to or implying an action or mental state: the boy was standing in an attitude of despair, his chin sunk on his chest.

- INFORMAL truculent or uncooperative behavior; a resentful or antagonistic manner: I asked the waiter for a clean fork, and all I got was attitude.

- INFORMAL individuality and self-confidence as manifested by behavior or appearance; style: she snapped her fingers with attitude.

- the orientation of an aircraft or spacecraft, relative to the direction of travel.

- [BALLET] a position in which one leg is lifted behind with the knee bent at right angles and turned out, and the corresponding arm is raised above the head, the other extended to the side.

<DERIVATIVES> at·ti·tu·di·nal adj.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (denoting the placing or posture of a figure in art): from French, from Italian attitudine 'fitness, posture', from late Latin aptitudo, from aptus 'fit'.

at·ti·tu·di·nize v. [intrans.] adopt or express a particular attitude or attitudes, typically just for effect.

<DERIVATIVES> at·ti·tu·di·niz·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Italian attitudine (see ATTITUDE) + -IZE.

Linked entries:

ATTITUDE ■

-IZE ■

At·tle·boro an industrial city in southeastern Massachusetts, northeast of Providence in Rhode Island; pop. 38,383.

Att·lee Clement Richard, 1st Earl Attlee (1883-1967), British statesman; Labour prime minister 1945-51. His term saw the creation of the modern welfare state and the nationalization of major industries.

attn. abbr. (on an envelope, packet, package, or cover letter) attention (i.e., for the attention of): attn.: Harold Carter.

atto- comb. form [MATHEMATICS] (used in units of measurement) denoting a factor of 10^18 : attowatt.

<ORIGIN> from Danish or Norwegian atten 'eighteen'.

at·torn v. [intrans.] [LAW] formally make or acknowledge a transfer of something.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] ARCHAIC transfer (something) to someone else.

<PHRASES> attorn tenant [LAW] formally make or acknowledge a transfer of tenancy.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the senses 'turn, change, transform'): from Old French atorner 'appoint, assign', from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + torner 'to turn'.

at·tor·ney n. (pl. -neys) 1 a person appointed to act for another in business or legal matters.

2 a lawyer.

<DERIVATIVES> at·tor·ney·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French atorne, past participle of atorner 'assign', from a 'toward' + torner 'turn'.

at·tor·ney-at-law n. a lawyer who is qualified to represent a client in court.

at·tor·ney gen·er·al (abbr.: AG or Atty. Gen.) n. (pl. at·tor·neys gen·er·al) the principal legal officer who represents a country or a state in legal proceedings and gives legal advice to the government.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the head of the U.S. Department of Justice.

at·tract v. [trans.] cause to come to a place or participate in a venture by offering something of interest, favorable conditions, or opportunities: a campaign to attract more visitors to West Virginia; he hoped this strategy would attract foreign investment by multinationals.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- evoke (a specified reaction): I did not want to attract attention; his criticism of the government attracted widespread support.

- cause (someone) to have a liking for or interest in something: I was attracted to the idea of working for a ballet company.

- cause (someone) to have a sexual or romantic interest in someone: it was her beauty that attracted him.

- exert a force on (an object) that is directed toward the source of the force: the negatively charged ions attract particles of dust.

<DERIVATIVES> at·trac·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin attract- 'drawn near', from the verb attrahere, from ad- 'to' + trahere 'draw'.

at·tract·ant n. a substance that attracts something (esp. animals): a sex attractant given off by female moths to attract a mate.

■ adj. attracting.

at·trac·tion n. the action or power of evoking interest, pleasure, or liking for someone or something: she has romantic ideas about sexual attraction; the timeless attraction of a good tune.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a quality or feature of something or someone that evokes interest, liking, or desire: this reform has many attractions for those on the left; the main attraction of Peking duck is the crackling texture of its skin.

- a thing or place that draws visitors by providing something of interest or pleasure: the church is the town's main tourist attraction.

- [PHYSICS] a force under the influence of which objects tend to move toward each other: gravitational attraction.

- [GRAMMAR] the influence exerted by one word on another that causes it to change to an incorrect form, e.g., the wages of sin is (for are) death.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the action of a poultice in drawing matter from the tissues): from Latin attractio(n-), from the verb attrahere (see ATTRACT).

Linked entries:

ATTRACT ■

at·trac·tive adj. (of a thing) pleasing or appealing to the senses: an attractive home; foliage can be as attractive as flowers. See note at PLEASANT.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) appealing to look at; sexually alluring: an attractive, charismatic man.

- (of a thing) having beneficial qualities or features that induce someone to accept what is being offered: the site is close to the high-rent district, which should make it attractive to developers.

- of or relating to attraction between physical objects.

<DERIVATIVES> at·trac·tive·ly adv. at·trac·tive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'absorbent'): from French attractif, -ive, from late Latin attractivus, from the verb attrahere (see ATTRACT).

Linked entries:

ATTRACT ■

at·trib·ute v. [trans.] (attribute something to) regard something as being caused by (someone or something): he attributed the firm's success to the efforts of the managing director; the bombing was attributed to the IRA.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ascribe a work or remark to (a particular author, artist, or speaker): the building was attributed to Frank Lloyd Wright.

- regard a quality or feature as characteristic of or possessed by (someone or something): ancient peoples attributed magic properties to certain stones.

■ n. (at·tri·bute) a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something: flexibility and mobility are the key attributes of our army.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a material object recognized as symbolic of a person, esp. a conventional object used in art to identify a saint or mythical figure.
See note at EMBLEM.
- [GRAMMAR] an attributive adjective or noun.

- [STATISTICS] a real property that a statistical analysis is attempting to describe.

<DERIVATIVES> at·trib·ut·a·ble adj. at·tri·bu·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: as a noun from Old French attribut, and as a verb from Latin attribut- 'allotted', both from the verb attribuere, from ad- 'to' + tribuere 'assign'.

at·tri·bu·tion the·o·ry n. [PSYCHOLOGY] a theory that supposes that one attempts to understand the behavior of others by attributing feelings, beliefs, and intentions to them.

at·trib·u·tive adj. [GRAMMAR] (of an adjective or noun) preceding the word it qualifies or modifies and expressing an attribute, as old in the old dog (but not in the dog is old) and expiration in expiration date (but not in date of expiration). Often contrasted with PREDICATIVE.

<DERIVATIVES> at·trib·u·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (as a noun in the sense 'a word expressing an attribute'): from French attributif, -ive, from attribut 'an attribute', from Latin attribuere 'add to' (see ATTRIBUTE).

Linked entries:

PREDICATIVE ■

ATTRIBUTE ■

at·trit v. (-trit·ted, -trit·ting) [trans.] INFORMAL wear down (an opponent or enemy) by sustained action: his defense was designed to attrit us.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: back-formation from ATTRITION.

Linked entries:

ATTRITION ■

at·tri·tion n. 1 the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure: the council is trying to wear down the opposition by attrition; the squadron suffered severe attrition of its bombers.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the gradual reduction of a workforce by employees' leaving and not being replaced rather than by their being laid off: with so few retirements since March, the year's attrition was insignificant.

- wearing away by friction; abrasion: the skull shows attrition of the edges of the teeth.

2 (in scholastic theology) sorrow, but not contrition, for sin.

<DERIVATIVES> at·tri·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from late Latin attritio(n-), from atterere 'to rub'.

At·tu an island in southwestern Alaska, the westernmost of the Aleutian Islands. During World War II, it was occupied by Japanese forces.

At·tucks Crispus (c.1723-70), American revolutionary. Believed to have been either an escaped or freed slave, he was one of five colonists killed by British soldiers in the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770.

at·tune v. [trans.] (usu. be attuned) make receptive or aware: a society more attuned to consumerism than ideology | [as adj.] (attuned) the department is very attuned politically.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- accustom or acclimatize: students are not attuned to making decisions.

- [intrans.] become receptive to or aware of: a conscious attempt to attune to the wider audience.

- make harmonious: the interests of East and West are now closely attuned.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from AT- + TUNE.

Linked entries:

AT- ■

TUNE ■

Atty. abbr. Attorney.

Atty. Gen. abbr. Attorney General.

ATV abbr. all-terrain vehicle.

At·wa·ter a city in central California; pop. 22,282.

At·wood Margaret (Eleanor) (1939- ), Canadian novelist, poet, critic, and short-story writer. Notable works: The Edible Woman (1969), The Handmaid's Tale (1985), Cat's Eye (1989), and Alias Grace (1996).

a·typ·i·cal adj. not representative of a type, group, or class: a sample of people who are rather atypical of the target audience; there were somewhat atypical results in May and November.

<DERIVATIVES> a·typ·i·cal·ly adv.

AU abbr.
- ångström unit(s).

- (also a.u.) astronomical unit(s).

Au symbol the chemical element gold.

<ORIGIN> from Latin aurum.

au·bade n. a poem or piece of music appropriate to the dawn or early morning.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, from Spanish albada, from alba 'dawn'.

au·berge n. an inn in French-speaking countries.

<ORIGIN> French, from Provençal alberga 'lodging'.

au·ber·gine n. CHIEFLY BRIT. another term for EGGPLANT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a dark purple color like that of eggplant.

Linked entries:

EGGPLANT ■

Au·brey John (1626-97), English antiquarian and author. He is noted for Brief Lives, a collection of biographies of eminent people.

au·brie·tia (also au·bre·ti·a) n. a dwarf evergreen Eurasian trailing plant with dense masses of foliage and purple, pink, or white flowers. It is widely cultivated in rock gardens and on banks.
<INFO>  Aubrieta deltoidea, family Brassicaceae.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: modern Latin, named after Claude Aubriet (1668-1743), French botanist. The name of the genus was originally, and remains, Aubrieta, but in ordinary speech the form ending in -tia has become normal.

Au·burn 1 an academic city in eastern Alabama, home to Auburn University; pop. 42,987.

2 an industrial city in southwestern Maine, on the Androscoggin River, across from Lewiston; pop. 23,203.

3 an industrial and commercial city in west central New York, on Owasco Lake; pop. 31,258.

4 an industrial city in west central Washington; pop. 33,102.

au·burn adj. (chiefly of a person's hair) of a reddish-brown color.

■ n. a reddish-brown color.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French auborne, alborne, from Latin alburnus 'whitish', from albus 'white'. The original sense was 'yellowish white', but the word became associated with brown because in the 16th and 17th centuries it was often written abrune or abroun.

Au·bus·son n. a kind of French tapestry or carpet, principally from the 18th century.

<ORIGIN> from Aubusson, the name of a town in central France where the tapestries were made.

AUC abbr. used to indicate a date reckoned from 753 BC, the year of the foundation of Rome: 765 AUC.

<ORIGIN> from Latin ab urbe condita 'from the foundation of the city', also anno urbis conditae 'in the year of the founding of the city'.

Au·chin·closs Louis Stanton (1917-), U.S. lawyer and author; early pseudonym Andrew Lee. His novels often depict life among the elite of New York City.

Auck·land the largest city and chief seaport of New Zealand, on North Island; pop. 309,400 . It was the capital of New Zealand until 1865.

au cou·rant adj. aware of what is going on; well informed: they were au courant with the literary scene.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fashionable: light, low-fat, au courant recipes.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French, literally 'in the (regular) course'.

auc·tion n. a public sale in which goods or property are sold to the highest bidder: the books are expected to fetch a six-figure sum at tomorrow's auction | [as adj.] an auction sale.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action or process of selling something in this way: the Ferrari sold at auction for $10 million.

- [BRIDGE] the part of the play in which players bid to decide the contract in which the hand shall be played.

■ v. [trans.] (often be auctioned) sell or offer for sale at an auction: his collection of vintage cars is to be auctioned off tomorrow.

<PHRASES> on the auction block see ON THE BLOCK at BLOCK.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin auction- 'increase, auction', from the verb augere 'to increase'.

Linked entries:

BLOCK ■

auc·tion bridge n. an obsolete form of the card game bridge, in which all tricks won count toward the game whether bid or not.

auc·tion·eer n. a person who conducts auctions by accepting bids and declaring goods sold.

<DERIVATIVES> auc·tion·eer·ing n.

auc·tion house n. a company that runs auctions.

au·da·cious adj. 1 showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks: a series of audacious takeovers. See note at BOLD.

2 showing an impudent lack of respect: an audacious remark.

<DERIVATIVES> au·da·cious·ly adv. au·da·cious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin audax, audac- 'bold' (from audere 'dare') + -IOUS.

Linked entries:

-IOUS ■

au·dac·i·ty n. 1 the willingness to take bold risks: her audacity came in handy during our most recent emergency. See note at TEMERITY.

2 rude or disrespectful behavior; impudence: she had the audacity to pick up the receiver and ask me to hang up.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin audacitas, from audax, audac- 'bold' (see AUDACIOUS).

Linked entries:

AUDACIOUS ■

Au·den W. H. (1907-73), British poet; full name Wystan Hugh Auden. He was a leading left-wing poet and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for The Age of Anxiety (1947).

Audh variant spelling of OUDH.

Linked entries:

OUDH ■

au·di·al adj. relating to or perceived through the sense of hearing.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: formed irregularly from Latin audire 'hear' (compare with AUDILE), on the pattern of visual.

Linked entries:

AUDILE ■

au·di·ble adj. able to be heard: ultrasound is audible to dogs.

■ n. [FOOTBALL] a change in the offensive play called by the quarterback at the line of scrimmage.

<DERIVATIVES> au·di·bil·i·ty n. au·di·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from late Latin audibilis, from audire 'hear'.

au·di·ence n. 1 the assembled spectators or listeners at a public event, such as a play, movie, concert, or meeting: the orchestra was given an enthusiastic ovation from the audience.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the people who watch or listen to a television or radio program: the program attracted an audience of almost twenty million.

- the readership of a book, magazine, or newspaper: the newspaper has a sophisticated audience.

- the people giving or likely to give attention to something: there will always be an audience for romantic literature.

2 a formal interview with a person in authority: he demanded an audience with the pope.

3 ARCHAIC formal hearing.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin audientia, from audire 'hear'.

au·dile adj. another term for AUDITORY.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: formed from Latin audire 'hear', on the pattern of tactile.

Linked entries:

AUDITORY ■

au·di·o n. [usu. as adj.] sound, esp. when recorded, transmitted, or reproduced: audio equipment; the machine can retrieve and play audio from a CD-ROM.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: independent usage of AUDIO-.

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AUDIO- ■

audio- comb. form relating to hearing or sound: audiometer; audio-visual.

<ORIGIN> from Latin audire 'hear'.

Au·di·o-An·i·ma·tron·ics plural n. trademark for ANIMATRONICS.

<DERIVATIVES> Au·di·o-An·i·ma·tron·ic adj.

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ANIMATRONICS ■

au·di·o·book (also au·di·o book) n. an audiocassette recording of a reading of a book, typically a novel.

au·di·o·cas·sette n. a cassette of audiotape.

au·di·o fre·quen·cy n. a frequency of oscillation capable of being perceived by the human ear, generally between 20 and 20,000 Hz.

au·di·o·gram n. a graphic record produced by audiometry.

au·di·ol·o·gy n. the branch of science and medicine concerned with the sense of hearing.

<DERIVATIVES> au·di·o·log·i·cal adj. au·di·ol·o·gist n.

au·di·om·e·try n. measurement of the range and sensitivity of a person's sense of hearing.

<DERIVATIVES> au·di·om·e·ter n. au·di·o·met·ric adj.

au·di·o·phile n. a hi-fi enthusiast.

au·di·o·tape n. magnetic tape on which sound can be recorded.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a length of this, typically in the form of a cassette.

■ v. [trans.] record (sound) on tape: each interview was audiotaped and transcribed.

au·di·o·vis·u·al adj. using both sight and sound, typically in the form of slides or video and recorded speech or music: audiovisual presentations.

au·dit n. an official inspection of an individual's or organization's accounts, typically by an independent body.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a systematic review or assessment of something: a complete audit of flora and fauna at the site.

■ v. (-dit·ed, -dit·ing) [trans.] 1 conduct an official financial examination of (an individual's or organization's accounts): companies must have their accounts audited.
<SPECIAL USAGE> conduct a systematic review of: auditing obstetrical and neonatal care.

2 attend (a class) informally, not for academic credit.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin auditus 'hearing', from audire 'hear', in medieval Latin auditus (compoti) 'audit (of an account)', an audit originally being presented orally.

au·di·tion n. an interview for a particular role or job as a singer, actor, dancer, or musician, consisting of a practical demonstration of the candidate's suitability and skill.

■ v. [intrans.] perform an audition: he was auditioning for the lead role in the play.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] assess the suitability of (someone) for a role by means of an audition: she was auditioning people for her new series.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'power of hearing or listening'): from Latin auditio(n-), from audire 'hear'. The current sense of the noun dates from the late 19th cent.

au·di·tive adj. another term for AUDITORY.

Linked entries:

AUDITORY ■

au·di·tor n. 1 a person who conducts an audit.

2 a listener: so low was Jim’s voice that his auditors had to give it close attention.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who attends a class informally without working for academic credit.

<DERIVATIVES> au·di·to·ri·al adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French auditeur, from Latin auditor, from audire 'to hear'.

au·di·to·ri·um n. (pl. -to·ri·ums or -to·ri·a ) 1 the part of a theater, concert hall, or other public building in which the audience sits.

2 a large building or hall used for public gatherings, typically concerts or sports events.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a large room for such gatherings, esp. in a school.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (originally in the general sense 'a place for hearing'): from Latin, neuter of auditorius 'relating to hearing' (see AUDITORY).

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AUDITORY ■

au·di·to·ry adj. of or relating to the sense of hearing: the auditory nerves; teaching methods use both visual and auditory stimulation.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin auditorius, from audire 'hear'.

Au·du·bon John James (1785-1851), U.S. naturalist and artist. His most notable work is The Birds of America (1827-38), in which he portrayed even the largest birds life-size and painted them in action.

Au·er·bach 1 Frank (1931- ), British painter, born in Germany.

Au·er·bach 2 Red (1917-2006), U.S. basketball coach; full name Arnold Jacob Auerbach. As coach of the Boston Celtics 1950-66, he led the team to nine National Basketball Association (NBA) championships 1957, 1959-66. Basketball Hall of Fame (1968).

au fait adj. (au fait with) having a good or detailed knowledge of something: you should be reasonably au fait with the company and its products.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French, literally 'to the fact, to the point'.

au fond adv. in essence: she might be, au fond, quite a pleasant woman.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, literally 'at bottom'.

Aug. abbr. August.

Au·ge·an adj. of or relating to Augeas: the Augean stables.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a task or problem) requiring so much effort to complete or solve as to seem impossible: Augean amounts of debris to clear.

Au·ge·as [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a legendary king whose vast stables had never been cleaned. Hercules cleaned them in a day by diverting the Alpheus River to flow through them.

au·ger n. a tool with a helical bit for boring holes in wood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar larger tool for boring holes in the ground.

<ORIGIN>  Old English , from nafu (see NAVE^2 ) + 'piercer'. The n was lost by wrong division of a nauger; compare with ADDER and APRON.

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NAVE ■

ADDER ■

APRON ■

Au·ger ef·fect n. [PHYSICS] a process in which an electron in an outer shell of an atom makes a transition to a vacancy in an inner shell. The energy gained is transferred to an electron that escapes from the atom.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: named after Pierre V. Auger (1899-1944), French physicist.

aught 1 (also ought) ARCHAIC pron. anything at all: know you aught of this fellow, young sir?

<ORIGIN>  Old English (see AYE^2 , WIGHT).

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AYE ■

WIGHT ■

aught 2 n. the digit 0; zero.

au·gite n. a dark green or black aluminosilicate mineral of the pyroxene group. It occurs in many igneous rocks, including basalt, gabbro, and diabase.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin augites, denoting a precious stone (probably turquoise), from Greek , from 'luster'.

aug·ment v. [trans.] make (something) greater by adding to it; increase: he augmented his summer income by painting houses.

■ n. [LINGUISTICS] a vowel prefixed to past tenses of verbs in Greek and other Indo-European languages.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French augmenter (verb), augment (noun), or late Latin augmentare, from Latin augere 'to increase'.

aug·men·ta·tion n. the action or process of making or becoming greater in size or amount: the augmentation of the curriculum with new subjects.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MUSIC] the lengthening of the time values of notes in a melodic part.

- [HERALDRY] an addition to a coat of arms granted as a mark of special honor.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin augmentatio(n-), from the verb augmentare (see AUGMENT).

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AUGMENT ■

aug·ment·a·tive adj. [GRAMMAR] (of an affix or derived word) reinforcing the idea of the original word, esp. by meaning ‘a large —,’ as with the Italian suffix -one in borrone ‘ravine,’ compared with borro ‘ditch.’

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'having a tendency to increase'): from Old French augmentatif, -ive or medieval Latin augmentativus, from the verb augmentare (see AUGMENT).

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AUGMENT ■

aug·ment·ed adj. 1 having been made greater in size or value: augmented pensions for those retiring at 65.

2 [MUSIC] denoting or containing an interval that is one semitone greater than the corresponding major or perfect interval: augmented fourths.

au grat·in adj. [predic.] sprinkled with breadcrumbs or grated cheese, or both, and browned: lentils and mushrooms au gratin.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, literally 'by grating'.

Augs·burg a city in southern Germany, in Bavaria; pop. 259,880.

Augs·burg Con·fes·sion a statement of the Lutheran position, drawn up mainly by Melanchthon and approved by Luther before being presented to the Emperor Charles V at Augsburg on June 25, 1530.

au·gur v. [intrans.] (augur well/badly/ill) (of an event or circumstance) portend a good or bad outcome: the end of the Cold War seemed to augur well; the return to the gold standard augured badly for industry. See note at PREDICT.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] portend or bode (a specified outcome): they feared that these happenings augured a neo-Nazi revival.

- [trans.] (ARCHAIC) foresee or predict.

■ n. HISTORICAL (in ancient Rome) a religious official who observed natural signs, esp. the behavior of birds, interpreting these as an indication of divine approval or disapproval of a proposed action.

<DERIVATIVES> au·gu·ral adj. (ARCHAIC).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a noun): from Latin, 'diviner'.

au·gu·ry n. (pl. -ries) a sign of what will happen in the future; an omen: they heard the sound as an augury of death. See note at SIGN.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the work of an augur; the interpretation of omens.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'divination'): from Old French augurie or Latin augurium 'interpretation of omens', from augur (see AUGUR).

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AUGUR ■

Au·gust n. the eighth month of the year, in the northern hemisphere usually considered the last month of summer: the sultry haze of late August | [as adj.] an August cold snap.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Latin augustus 'consecrated, venerable'; named after AUGUSTUS Caesar, the first Roman emperor.

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AUGUSTUS ■

au·gust adj. respected and impressive: she was in august company.

<DERIVATIVES> au·gust·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French auguste or Latin augustus 'consecrated, venerable'.

Au·gus·ta 1 a resort in eastern Georgia; pop. 44,640.

2 the capital of Maine, in the southwestern part of the state, on the Kennebec River; pop. 18,560.

Au·gus·tan adj. connected with or occurring during the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- relating to or denoting Latin literature of the reign of Augustus, including the works of Virgil, Horace, Ovid, and Livy.

- relating to or denoting 17th- and 18th-century English literature of a style considered refined and classical, including the works of Pope, Addison, and Swift.

■ n. a writer of the (Latin or English) Augustan age.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Augustanus 'relating to Augustus' (see AUGUSTUS).

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AUGUSTUS ■

Au·gus·tine n. an Augustinian friar.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French augustin, from Latin Augustinus 'Augustine' (see AUGUSTINIAN).

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AUGUSTINIAN ■

Au·gus·tine, St. 1 (died c.604), Italian churchman; known as St. Augustine of Canterbury. Sent from Rome by Pope Gregory the Great, he founded a monastery at Canterbury and became its first archbishop. Feast day, May 26.

Au·gus·tine, St. 2 (354-430), doctor of the Church; known as St. Augustine of Hippo. He became bishop of Hippo in North Africa in 396. His writings, such as Confessions (400) and City of God (412-427), dominated subsequent Western theology. Feast day, August 28.

Au·gus·tin·i·an adj. 1 of or relating to St. Augustine of Hippo or his theological doctrines.

2 of or relating to a religious order observing a rule derived from St. Augustine's writings.

■ n. 1 a member of an Augustinian order.

2 an adherent of the doctrines of St. Augustine.

Au·gus·tus (63 BC-AD 14), the first Roman emperor; born Gaius Octavianus; also called Octavian. He was adopted in the will of his great-uncle Julius Caesar and gained supreme power by his defeat of Antony in 31 BC. In 27 BC he was given the title Augustus ("venerable”) and became in effect emperor.

au jus adj. (of meat) with its own natural juices from cooking.

<ORIGIN> French 'with the juice.'

auk n. a short-winged diving seabird found in northern oceans, typically with a black head and back and white underparts.
<INFO>  Family Alcidae (the auk family), which comprises the guillemots, murres, razorbills, puffins, and their relatives. See also GREAT AUK, DOVEKIE.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Old Norse álka 'razorbill'.

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GREAT AUK ■

DOVEKIE ■

auk·let n. a small stubby auk found in the North Pacific, typically with gray underparts.
<INFO>  Aethia and three other genera, family Alcidae: several species.

auld adj. Scottish form of OLD.

<ORIGIN> Old English ald, Anglian form of OLD.

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OLD ■

OLD ■

auld lang syne n. times long past.

<PHRASES> for auld lang syne for old times' sake.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: Scots (see AULD, LANG SYNE). The phrase was popularized as the title and refrain of a song by Robert Burns (1788).

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AULD ■

LANG SYNE ■

aum·bry n. variant spelling of AMBRY.

Linked entries:

AMBRY ■

au na·tu·rel adj. & adv. with no elaborate treatment, dressing, or preparation: [as adv.] I wear my hair au naturel these days | [as adj.] the cheese is delicious whether au naturel or seasoned.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (humorous) naked.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, literally 'in the natural (state)'.

Aung San (1914-47), Burmese nationalist leader. As leader of the Council of Ministers, he negotiated a promise of self-government from the British shortly before his assassination.

Aung San Suu Kyi (1945- ), Burmese political leader, daughter of Aung San and leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) 1988- . She was kept under house arrest 1989-95, and the military government refused to recognize her party's victory in the 1990 elections. Nobel Peace Prize (1991). She was again placed under house arrest in 2003.

aunt n. the sister of one's father or mother or the wife of one's uncle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL an unrelated older woman friend, esp. of a child.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French ante, from Latin amita.

aunt·ie (also aunt·y) n. (pl. -ies) informal term for AUNT.

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AUNT ■

Aunt Sal·ly n. (pl. Aunt Sal·lies) a game played in some parts of Britain in which players throw sticks or balls at a wooden dummy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a dummy used in this game.

- FIGURATIVE a person or thing that is subjected to much criticism, esp. one set up as an easy target for it.

au pair n. a young foreign person, typically a woman, who helps with housework or child care in exchange for room and board.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, literally 'on equal terms'. The phrase was originally adjectival, describing an arrangement between two parties paid for by the exchange of mutual services; the noun usage dates from the 1960s.

au·ra n. (pl. au·ras) [usu. in sing.] the distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person, thing, or place: the ceremony retains an aura of mystery.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a supposed emanation surrounding the body of a living creature, viewed by mystics, spiritualists, and some practitioners of complementary medicine as the essence of the individual, and allegedly discernible by people with special sensibilities.

- any invisible emanation, esp. a scent or odor: there was a faint aura of disinfectant.

- [MEDICINE] (pl. also au·rae ) a warning sensation experienced before an attack of epilepsy or migraine.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally denoting a gentle breeze): via Latin from Greek, 'breeze, breath'. Current senses date from the 18th cent.

au·ral adj. of or relating to the ear or the sense of hearing: aural anatomy; information held in written, aural, or database form.

<DERIVATIVES> au·ral·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin auris 'ear' + -AL.

<USAGE>
The words aural and oral have the same pronunciation in standard English, which is sometimes a source of confusion. However, alternative pronunciations for aural, such as (the first syllable rhyming with cow), have not yet become standard.

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-AL ■

Au·rang·zeb (1618-1707), Mogul emperor of Hindustan 1658-1707, who increased the Mogul empire to its greatest extent.

au·rar n. plural form of EYRIR.

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EYRIR ■

au·re·ate adj. denoting, made of, or having the color of gold.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of language) highly ornamented or elaborate.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin aureatus, from Latin aureus 'golden', from aurum 'gold'.

Au·re·li·an (c.215-275), Roman emperor 270-275; Latin name Lucius Domitius Aurelianus.

Au·re·li·us Marcus (121-80), Roman emperor 161-180; full name Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus. He was occupied for much of his reign with wars against invading Germanic tribes. His Meditations are evidence of his philosophical interest.

au·re·ole (also au·re·o·la ) n. a circle of light or brightness surrounding something, esp. as depicted in art around the head or body of a person represented as holy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- another term for CORONA^1 (sense 1, of the sun or moon).

- another term for AREOLA.

- [GEOLOGY] the zone of metamorphosed rock surrounding an igneous intrusion.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French aureole, from Latin aureola (corona) 'golden (crown)', feminine of aureolus (diminutive of aureus, from aurum 'gold').

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CORONA ■

AREOLA ■

au·re·us n. (pl. au·re·i ) a gold coin of ancient Rome, worth 25 silver denarii.

<ORIGIN> Latin, noun use of aureus 'golden', from aurum 'gold'.

au re·voir exclam. good-bye until we meet again.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, literally 'to the seeing again'.

Au·ric Georges (1899-1983), French composer. He is best known for his scores for movies such as The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) and Moulin Rouge (1952).

au·ric 1 adj. of or relating to the aura supposedly surrounding a living creature.

au·ric 2 adj. [CHEMISTRY] of gold with a valence of three.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin aurum 'gold' + -IC.

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-IC ■

au·ri·cle n. [ANATOMY] & [BIOLOGY] a structure resembling an ear or earlobe.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- another term for ATRIUM (of the heart).

- strictly, a small muscular appendage of each atrium.

- the external part or pinna of the ear.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin auricula 'external part of the ear', diminutive of auris 'ear'.

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ATRIUM ■

au·ric·u·lar adj. 1 of or relating to the ear or hearing.

2 of, relating to, or shaped like an auricle.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin auricularis, from auricula, diminutive of auris 'ear'.

au·ric·u·late adj. [BOTANY] & [ZOOLOGY] having one or more structures shaped like an ear or earlobe.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Latin auricula 'external part of the ear' (diminutive of auris 'ear') + -ATE^2 .

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-ATE ■

au·ric·u·lo·ther·apy n. a form of acupuncture applied to points on the ear in order to treat other parts of the body.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from Latin auricula 'external part of the ear' + therapy.

au·rif·er·ous adj. (of rocks or minerals) containing gold.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin aurifer 'gold-bearing' (from aurum 'gold') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

Au·ri·ga [ASTRONOMY] a large northern constellation (the Charioteer), said to represent a man holding a whip.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Au·ri·gae ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars: the star Theta Aurigae.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

Au·ri·gna·cian adj. [ARCHAEOLOGY] of, relating to, or denoting the early stages of the Upper Paleolithic culture in Europe and the Near East. It is dated in most places to about 34,000-29,000 years ago and is associated with Cro-Magnon Man.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (the Aurignacian) the Aurignacian culture or period.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French Aurignacien, from Aurignac in southwestern France, where remains of this culture were found.

au·ri·scope (also au·ro·scope ) n. another term for OTOSCOPE.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin auris 'ear' + -SCOPE.

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OTOSCOPE ■

-SCOPE ■

au·rochs n. (pl. same) a large wild Eurasian ox that was the ancestor of domestic cattle. It was probably exterminated in Britain in the Bronze Age, and the last one was killed in Poland in 1627. Also called URUS.
<INFO>  Bos taurus (formerly primigenius), family Bovidae.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from German, early variant of Auerochs, from Old High German , from (form also found in Old English, of unknown origin) + ohso 'ox'.

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URUS ■

Au·ro·ra 1 1 a city in north central Colorado, east of Denver; pop. 276,393.

2 an industrial city in northeastern Illinois; pop. 142,990.

Au·ro·ra 2 [ROMAN MYTHOLOGY] goddess of the dawn. Greek equivalent EOS.

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EOS ■

au·ro·ra n. (pl. au·ro·ras or au·ro·rae ) 1 a natural electrical phenomenon characterized by the appearance of streamers of reddish or greenish light in the sky, usually near the northern or southern magnetic pole.

The effect is caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with atoms in the upper atmosphere. In northern and southern regions it is respectively called aurora borealis or northern lights and aurora australis or southern lights. <ORIGIN> borealis from Latin, 'northern', based on Greek Boreas, the god of the north wind; australis from Latin, 'southern', from Auster 'the south, the south wind'.

2 [in sing.] POETIC/LITERARY the dawn.

<DERIVATIVES> au·ro·ral adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally in sense 2): from Latin, 'dawn, goddess of the dawn'. Sense 1 dates from the early 18th cent.

A.U.S. abbr. Army of the United States.

Ausch·witz a Nazi concentration camp in World War II, near the town of Owicim (Auschwitz) in Poland.

Ausch·witz Lie (also Ausch·witz lie) n. the assertion that the Holocaust did not take place or that the number of deaths is exaggerated.

<ORIGIN> from Auschwitz, a concentration camp in Poland.

aus·cul·ta·tion n. the action of listening to sounds from the heart, lungs, or other organs, typically with a stethoscope, as a part of medical diagnosis.

<DERIVATIVES> aus·cul·tate v. aus·cul·ta·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin auscultatio(n-), from auscultare 'listen to'.

Aus·le·se n. a white wine of German origin or style made from selected bunches of grapes picked later than the general harvest.

<ORIGIN> from German, from aus 'out' + Lese 'picking, vintage'.

aus·pice n. ARCHAIC a divine or prophetic token.

<PHRASES> under the auspices of with the help, support, or protection of: the delegation's visit was arranged under UN auspices.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally denoting the observation of bird flight in divination): from French, or from Latin auspicium, from auspex 'observer of birds', from avis 'bird' + specere 'to look'.

aus·pi·cious adj. conducive to success; favorable: it was not the most auspicious moment to hold an election.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- giving or being a sign of future success: they said it was an auspicious moonit was rising.

- ARCHAIC characterized by success; prosperous: he was respectful to his auspicious customers.

<DERIVATIVES> aus·pi·cious·ly adv. aus·pi·cious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from AUSPICE + -OUS.

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AUSPICE ■

-OUS ■

Aus·sie n. (pl. -sies) & adj. informal term for AUSTRALIA or AUSTRALIAN.

Linked entries:

AUSTRALIA ■

AUSTRALIAN ■

Aus·ten Jane (1775-1817), English novelist. Her major novels are Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), Emma (1815), Northanger Abbey (1818), and Persuasion (1818).

aus·ten·ite n. [METALLURGY] a solid solution of carbon in a nonmagnetic form of iron, stable at high temperatures. It is a constituent of some forms of steel.

<DERIVATIVES> aus·ten·it·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from the name of Sir William Roberts-Austen (1843-1902), English metallurgist, + -ITE^1 .

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-ITE ■

aus·tere adj. (-ter·er, -ter·est) severe or strict in manner, attitude, or appearance: an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook; an austere expression. See note at SEVERE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of living conditions or a way of life) having no comforts or luxuries; harsh or ascetic: conditions in the prison could hardly be more austere.

- having an extremely plain and simple style or appearance; unadorned: the cathedral is impressive in its austere simplicity.

- (of an economic policy or measure) designed to reduce a budget deficit, esp. by cutting public expenditure.

<DERIVATIVES> aus·tere·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin austerus, from Greek 'severe'.

aus·ter·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) sternness or severity of manner or attitude: he was noted for his austerity and his authoritarianism.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance: the room was decorated with a restraint bordering on austerity.

- (austerities) conditions characterized by severity, sternness, or asceticism: a simple life of prayer and personal austerity.

- difficult economic conditions created by government measures to reduce a budget deficit, esp. by reducing public expenditure: a period of austerity | [as adj.] austerity measures.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French austérité, from Latin austeritas, from austerus 'severe' (see AUSTERE).

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AUSTERE ■

Aus·ter·litz, Battle of a battle in 1805 near the town of Austerlitz (now in the Czech Republic), in which Napoleon defeated the Austrians and Russians.

Aus·tin 1 1 the capital of Texas; pop. 656,562. First settled by Anglo-Americans in 1835 (a year before Texas gained independence from Mexico), it was named Waterloo until 1839, when it was renamed to honor Stephen F. Austin.

2 a city in southeastern Minnesota, noted for its meatpacking industry; pop. 21,907.

Aus·tin 2 J. L. (1911-60), English philosopher; full name John Langshaw Austin. Notable works: Sense and Sensibilia and How to Do Things with Words (both 1962).

Aus·tin 3 John (1790-1859), English jurist. His work is significant for its strict delimitation of the sphere of law and its distinction from that of morality.

Aus·tin 4 Stephen Fuller (1793-1836), colonizer of Texas. He founded the first recognized Anglo-American settlement in Texas 1823 and served briefly as secretary of state of the Republic of Texas 1836. His colonization of Texas was a continuation of the effort begun by his father, Moses Austin (1761-1821), who in 1821 became the first man allowed to bring Anglo-American settlers into Spanish Texas.

Aus·tin 5 adj. & n. another name for AUGUSTINIAN.

aus·tral adj. of or relating to the south, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- TECHNICAL of the southern hemisphere: the austral spring.

- (Austral) of Australia or Australasia.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin australis, from Auster 'the south, the south wind'.

Aus·tral·a·sia the region that consists of Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and the neighboring islands of the Pacific Ocean.

<DERIVATIVES> Aus·tral·a·sian adj. & n.

Aus·tral·ia an island country and continent in the southern hemisphere, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations; pop. 19,900,000 ; capital, Canberra; official language, English.

Inhabited by Aboriginal peoples since prehistoric times, Australia was explored by the Dutch from 1606; British colonization began in 1788, as did the transportation of convicts from Britain, a practice that was discontinued in 1868. Australia was declared a commonwealth in 1901 when the six colonies (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania) federated as sovereign states. The two mainland federal territories, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, became self-governing in 1978 and 1988, respectively. Although an independent nation, Australia is a constitutional monarchy whose formal head of state is Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Aus·tral·ian n. a native or national of Australia, or a person of Australian descent.

■ adj. of or relating to Australia.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ZOOLOGY] of, relating to, or denoting a zoogeographical region comprising Australasia together with Indonesia east of Wallace's line, in which monotremes and marsupials dominate the fauna. Compare with NOTOGAEA, ORIENTAL.

- [BOTANY] of, relating to, or denoting a phytogeographical kingdom comprising only Australia and Tasmania.

<DERIVATIVES> Aus·tral·ian·ism n.

<ORIGIN> from French australien, from Latin australis in the phrase Terra Australis 'the southern land', the name of the supposed southern continent.

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NOTOGAEA ■

Aus·tral·ian Ant·arc·tic Ter·ri·to·ry an area of Antarctica that lies between longitudes 142° east and 136° east. It is administered by Australia.

Aus·tral·ian Cap·i·tal Ter·ri·to·ry a federal territory in New South Wales, Australia, that consists of two enclaves ceded by New South Walesone in 1911 to contain Canberra, the other in 1915 containing Jervis Bay.

Aus·tral·ian crawl n. CHIEFLY AUSTRAL. another term for CRAWL (sense 2).

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CRAWL ■

Aus·tral·ian La·bor Par·ty (abbr.: ALP) Australia's oldest political party, founded in 1891. The party is moderately liberal; it has provided three recent Australian Prime Ministers, Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke, and Paul Keating.

Aus·tral·ian pine n. another name for the BEEFWOOD tree, especially in its role as an invasive pest in subtropical areas of the U.S.

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BEEFWOOD ■

Aus·tral·ian Rules (also Australian Rules football) n. a form of football played on an oval ground with an oval ball by teams of eighteen players. Official name AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL FOOTBALL.

The game dates from 1858. Players may run with the ball if they touch it to the ground every fifteen meters, and may pass it in any direction by punching. There are both inner and outer goalposts: a behind (between the outer posts) scores one point and a goal (between the inner posts) scores six.

Aus·tral·ian salm·on n. see SALMON (sense 2).

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SALMON ■

Aus·tral·ian ter·ri·er n. a wire-haired terrier of a breed originating in Australia.

Aus·tral·ian wil·low n. another term for WILGA.

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WILGA ■

Aus·tral Is·lands another name for TUBUAI ISLANDS.

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TUBUAI ISLANDS ■

aus·tra·lite n. [GEOLOGY] a tektite from the strewn field in Australia.

Aus·tra·loid adj. OFTEN OFFENSIVE of or belonging to the division of humankind represented by Australian Aboriginal peoples.

■ n. OFTEN OFFENSIVE a person belonging to this division of humankind.

<USAGE>
The term Australoid, together with other terms such as Caucasoid, Negroid, and Mongoloid, belong to the systems of human classification developed by 19th-century anthropologists and physiologists and relate to outdated notions of race that have largely been abandoned. Such terms are potentially offensive today and, when referring to native peoples of a particular region, it is preferable, e.g., to refer to ‘Australian Aboriginals’ or ‘Aboriginals.’

See also usage at CAUCASIAN and MONGOLOID.

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CAUCASIAN ■

MONGOLOID ■

Aus·tra·lo·pith·e·cus n. a fossil bipedal primate with both apelike and human characteristics, found in Pliocene and lower Pleistocene deposits (c.4 million to 1 million years old) in Africa.
<INFO>  Genus Australopithecus, family Hominidae: several species, including the lightly built A. africanus, which is thought to be the immediate ancestor of the human genus Homo. The more heavily built forms (often placed in the genus Paranthropus), such as A. robustus and A. boisei, were probably evolutionary dead ends.

<DERIVATIVES> aus·tra·lo·pith·e·cine n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Latin australis 'southern' (see AUSTRAL) + Greek 'ape'.

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AUSTRAL ■

Aus·tral·orp n. a black Orpington chicken of an Australian breed.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: blend of AUSTRALIAN and ORPINGTON.

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AUSTRALIAN ■

ORPINGTON ■

Aus·tri·a a republic in central Europe; pop. 8,100,000; capital, Vienna; official language, German.

Austria was dominated from the early Middle Ages by the Habsburg family and became the center of a massive central European empire that lasted until 1918. The country was incorporated within the Nazi Reich in 1938 and after World War II was occupied by the Allies before regaining its sovereignty in 1955. A referendum in 1994 approved Austria's entry into the European Union.

<DERIVATIVES> Aus·tri·an adj. & n.

Aus·tri·a-Hun·ga·ry (also Aus·tro-Hun·gar·i·an em·pire ) the dual monarchy established in 1867 by the Austrian emperor Franz Josef, according to which Austria and Hungary became autonomous states under a common sovereign.

Aus·tri·an shade n. a window shade made from fabric shirred in puffy frills or pleats, extending about a third of the way down a window.

Aus·tri·an Suc·ces·sion, War of the a group of several related conflicts (1740-48), involving most of the states of Europe, that were triggered by the death of the Emperor Charles VI and the accession of his daughter Maria Theresa in 1740 to the Austrian throne. See also PRAGMATIC SANCTION.

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PRAGMATIC SANCTION ■

Austro- 1 comb. form Austrian; Austrian and : Austro-Hungarian.

Austro- 2 comb. form Australian; Australian and : Austro-Malayan.
<SPECIAL USAGE> southern: Austro-Asiatic.

<ORIGIN> from Latin australis 'southern'.

Aus·tro-A·si·at·ic adj. of, relating to, or denoting a phylum of languages spoken in Southeast Asia, consisting of the Mon-Khmer family, the Munda family, and one or two other isolated languages.

■ n. this phylum of languages.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from AUSTRO-2 'southern' + ASIATIC.

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AUSTRO- ■

ASIATIC ■

Aus·tro·ne·sian adj. of, relating to, or denoting a family of languages spoken in an area extending from Madagascar in the west to the Pacific islands in the east. Also called MALAYO-POLYNESIAN.

■ n. this family of languages.

<ORIGIN> from German austronesisch, based on Latin australis 'southern' (see AUSTRAL) + Greek 'island'.

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MALAYO-POLYNESIAN ■

AUSTRAL ■

aut- prefix variant spelling of AUTO- shortened before a vowel (as in autarky).

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AUTO- ■

au·tarch n. a ruler who has absolute power.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek autarkhos, from autos 'self' + arkhos 'leader'.

au·tar·chy n. (pl. -chies) 1 another term for AUTOCRACY.

2 variant spelling of AUTARKY.

<DERIVATIVES> au·tar·chic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin autarchia, from Greek autos 'self' + -arkhia (from arkhein 'take the lead'), on the pattern of monarckhia 'monarchy'.

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AUTOCRACY ■

AUTARKY ■

au·tar·ky n. economic independence or self-sufficiency.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a country, state, or society that is economically independent.

<DERIVATIVES> au·tar·kic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Greek autarkeia, from 'self-sufficiency', from autos 'self' + arkein 'suffice'.

aut·e·col·o·gy (also au·to·e·col·o·gy) n. [BIOLOGY] the ecological study of an individual organism, or sometimes a particular species. Contrasted with SYNECOLOGY.

<DERIVATIVES> aut·ec·o·log·i·cal adj.

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SYNECOLOGY ■

au·teur n. a filmmaker whose movies are characterized by a filmmaker's creative influence.

<DERIVATIVES> au·teur·ism n. au·teur·ist adj.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: French, literally 'author'.

auth. abbr.
- authentic.

- author.

- authority.

- authorized.

au·then·tic (abbr.: auth.) adj. 1 of undisputed origin; genuine: the letter is now accepted as an authentic document; authentic 14th-century furniture. See note at GENUINE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- made or done in the traditional or original way, or in a way that faithfully resembles an original: the restaurant serves authentic Italian meals; every detail of the movie was totally authentic.

- based on facts; accurate or reliable: an authentic depiction of the situation.

- (in existentialist philosophy) relating to or denoting an emotionally appropriate, significant, purposive, and responsible mode of human life.

2 [MUSIC] (of a church mode) comprising the notes lying between the principal note or final and the note an octave higher. Compare with PLAGAL.

<DERIVATIVES> au·then·ti·cal·ly adv. [as submodifier] the food is authentically Cajun. au·then·tic·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin authenticus, from Greek authentikos 'principal, genuine'.

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PLAGAL ■

au·then·ti·cate v. [trans.] prove or show (something, esp. a claim or an artistic work) to be true or genuine: they were invited to authenticate artifacts from the Italian Renaissance.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- validate: the nationalist statements authenticated their leadership among the local community.

- [intrans.] [COMPUTING] (of a user or process) have one's identity verified.

<DERIVATIVES> au·then·ti·ca·tion n. au·then·ti·ca·tor n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin authenticat- 'established as valid', from the verb authenticare, from late Latin authenticus 'genuine' (see AUTHENTIC).

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AUTHENTIC ■

au·thi·gen·ic adj. [GEOLOGY] (of minerals and other materials) formed in their present position. Often contrasted with ALLOGENIC.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'born on the spot' + -IC.

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ALLOGENIC ■

-IC ■

au·thor (abbr.: auth.) n. a writer of a book, article, or report: he is the author of several books on the subject.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- someone who writes books as a profession: my favorite authors are Kurt Vonnegut and Aldous Huxley.

- the writings of such a person: I had to read authors I disliked.

- FIGURATIVE an originator or creator of something, esp. a plan or idea: the authors of the peace plan.

■ v. [trans.] be the author of (a book or piece of writing): she has authored several articles on wildlife.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE be the originator of; create: the concept has been authored largely by insurance companies.

<DERIVATIVES> au·tho·ri·al adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'a person who invents or causes something'): from Old French autor, from Latin auctor, from augere 'increase, originate, promote'. The spelling with th arose in the 15th cent., and perhaps became established under the influence of authentic.

<USAGE>
In the sense ‘be the author of,’ the verb author is objected to by some traditionalists who regard it as an awkward or pretentious substitute for write or compose. It is widespread and well established though, especially in North America, and has been in use since the end of the 16th century. The verb coauthor, for which there is no common synonym, is useful and unobjectionable.

au·thor·ess n. a female author.

<USAGE>
See usage at -ESS.

au·thor·ing n. [COMPUTING] the creation of programs and databases for computer applications such as computer-assisted learning or multimedia products: [as adj.] an authoring system.

au·thor·i·tar·i·an adj. favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority, esp. that of the government, at the expense of personal freedom: the transition from an authoritarian to a democratic regime.
<SPECIAL USAGE> showing a lack of concern for the wishes or opinions of others; domineering; dictatorial: he had an authoritarian and at times belligerent manner.

■ n. an authoritarian person.

<DERIVATIVES> au·thor·i·tar·i·an·ism n.

au·thor·i·ta·tive adj. 1 able to be trusted as being accurate or true; reliable: clear, authoritative information and advice; an authoritative source.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a text) considered to be the best of its kind and unlikely to be improved upon: the authoritative study of mollusks.

2 commanding and self-confident; likely to be respected and obeyed: she had an authoritative air; his voice was calm and authoritative.
<SPECIAL USAGE> proceeding from an official source and requiring compliance or obedience: authoritative directives.

<DERIVATIVES> au·thor·i·ta·tive·ly adv. au·thor·i·ta·tive·ness n.

au·thor·i·ty (abbr.: auth.) n. (pl. -ties) 1 the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience: he had absolute authority over his subordinates; positions of authority; they acted under the authority of the UN Security Council; a rebellion against those in authority. See note at JURISDICTION.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [often with infinitive] the right to act in a specified way, delegated from one person or organization to another: military forces have the legal authority to arrest drug traffickers.

- official permission; sanction: the money was spent without congressional authority.

2 (often authorities) a person or organization having power or control in a particular, typically political or administrative, sphere: the health authorities; the Chicago Transit Authority; the authorities ordered all foreign embassies to close | she wasn't used to dealing with authority.

3 the power to influence others, esp. because of one's commanding manner or one's recognized knowledge about something: he has the natural authority of one who is used to being obeyed; he spoke with authority on the subject.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the confidence resulting from personal expertise: he hit the ball with authority.

- a person with extensive or specialized knowledge about a subject; an expert: she was an authority on the stockmarket.

- a book or other source able to supply reliable information or evidence, typically to settle a dispute: the court cited a series of authorities supporting their decision.

<PHRASES> have something on good authority have ascertained something from a reliable source: I have it on good authority that there is a waiting list of up to five weeks.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French autorite, from Latin auctoritas, from auctor 'originator, promoter' (see AUTHOR).

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AUTHOR ■

au·thor·i·za·tion n. the action or fact of authorizing or being authorized: the raising of revenue and the authorization of spending | power stations will have to obtain authorizations to continue their operations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a document giving permission or authority.

au·thor·ize v. [trans.] give official permission for or approval to (an undertaking or agent): the government authorized further aircraft production | [as adj.] (authorized) an authorized dealer | [trans.] the troops were authorized to use force.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French autoriser, from medieval Latin auctorizare, from auctor 'originator, promoter' (see AUTHOR).

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AUTHOR ■

Au·thor·ized Ver·sion n. CHIEFLY BRIT. another name for KING JAMES BIBLE.

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KING JAMES BIBLE ■

au·thor·ship n. the fact or position of someone's having written a book or other written work: an investigation into the authorship of the Gospels; joint authorship.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the occupation of writing: he took to authorship.

au·tism n. [PSYCHIATRY] a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by great difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a mental condition in which fantasy dominates over reality, as a symptom of schizophrenia and other disorders.

<DERIVATIVES> au·tis·tic adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek autos 'self' + -ISM.

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-ISM ■

au·to n. (pl. -tos) [usu. as modifier] INFORMAL an automobile: the auto industry.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: abbreviation of AUTOMOBILE.

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AUTOMOBILE ■

auto- (usu. aut- before a vowel) comb. form 1 self: autoanalysis.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- one's own: autograph.

- by oneself or spontaneous: autoxidation.

- by itself or automatic: autofocusing.

2 relating to cars: autocross.

<ORIGIN> from Greek autos 'self'. Sense 2 is a backformation from automobile.

au·to·an·ti·bod·y n. (pl. -bod·ies) [PHYSIOLOGY] an antibody produced by an organism in response to a constituent of its own tissues.

au·to·bahn n. a German, Austrian, or Swiss expressway.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from German, from Auto 'automobile' + Bahn 'path, road'.

au·to·bi·o·graph·i·cal adj. (of a written work) dealing with the writer's own life: an autobiographical account; the book is partly autobiographical.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·bi·o·graph·ic adj.

au·to·bi·og·ra·phy n. (pl. -phies) an account of a person's life written by that person: he gives a vivid description of his childhood in his autobiography.
<SPECIAL USAGE> such writing as a literary genre.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·bi·og·ra·pher n.

au·to·ca·tal·y·sis n. [CHEMISTRY] catalysis of a reaction by one of its products.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·cat·a·lyst n. au·to·cat·a·lyt·ic adj.

au·to·ceph·a·lous adj. (of an Eastern Christian Church) appointing its own head, not subject to the authority of an external patriarch or archbishop.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek autokephalos (from autos 'self' + 'head') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

au·to·chrome n. [usu. as adj.] an early form of color photography using plates coated with dyed starch grains, patented by the Lumière brothers in 1904: the autochrome process.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a color photograph made by this process.

au·toch·thon n. (pl. -thons or -tho·nes ) an original or indigenous inhabitant of a place; an aborigine.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Greek, literally 'sprung from the earth', from autos 'self' + 'earth, soil'.

au·toch·tho·nous adj. (of an inhabitant of a place) indigenous rather than descended from migrants or colonists.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GEOLOGY] (of a deposit or formation) formed in its present position. Often contrasted with ALLOCHTHONOUS.

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ALLOCHTHONOUS ■

au·to·clave n. a strong, heated container used for chemical reactions and other processes using high pressures and temperatures, e.g., steam sterilization.

■ v. [trans.] heat (something) in an autoclave.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, from auto- 'self' + Latin clavus 'nail' or clavis 'key' (so called because it is self-fastening).

au·to·com·plete [COMPUTING] n. a software function that gives users the option of completing words or forms by a shorthand method on the basis of what has been typed before: features like autocomplete, spell-checking, and other niceties could be added.

■ v. [trans.] complete (a word or form) in this way.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·com·ple·tion n.

au·to·cor·re·la·tion n. [STATISTICS] correlation between the elements of a series and others from the same series separated from them by a given interval.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a calculation of such correlation.

au·toc·ra·cy n. (pl. -cies) a system of government by one person with absolute power.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a regime based on such a principle of government.

- a country, state, or society governed in such a way.

- domineering rule or control: a boss who shifts between autocracy, persuasion, and consultation.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'autonomy'): from Greek autokrateia, from (see AUTOCRAT).

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AUTOCRAT ■

au·to·crat n. a ruler who has absolute power.
<SPECIAL USAGE> someone who insists on complete obedience from others; an imperious or domineering person.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French autocrate, from Greek , from autos 'self' + kratos 'power'.

au·to·crat·ic adj. of or relating to a ruler who has absolute power: the constitutional reforms threatened his autocratic power.
<SPECIAL USAGE> taking no account of other people's wishes or opinions; domineering: an autocratic management style.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·crat·i·cal·ly adv.

au·to·cross n. a form of competition in which cars are driven around an obstacle course, typically marked out by cones.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: blend of AUTOMOBILE and CROSS-COUNTRY.

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AUTOMOBILE ■

CROSS-COUNTRY ■

au·to-da-fé n. (pl. au·tos-da-fé) the burning of a heretic by the Spanish Inquisition.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sentence of such a kind.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Portuguese, literally 'act of the faith'.

au·to·di·al n. a function of telephonic equipment that allows for automatic dialing of preprogrammed or of randomly selected numbers: have a telephone with autodial by your bed.

■ v. (-di·aled, -di·al·ing; BRIT. -di·alled, -di·al·ling) automatically dial a telephone number, with or without human prompting: [intrans.] it had autodialed and been online for over 2 hours [trans.] if the first number is busy the modem autodials the backup number.

au·to·dial·er n. an electronic device that dials telephone numbers randomly or from a list and may also leave messages and request information.

au·to·di·dact n. a self-taught person.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·di·dac·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Greek autodidaktos 'self-taught', from autos 'self' + didaskein 'teach'.

au·to·e·col·o·gy n. variant spelling of AUTECOLOGY.

Linked entries:

AUTECOLOGY ■

au·to·e·rot·ic adj. of or relating to sexual excitement generated by stimulating or fantasizing about one's own body.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·e·rot·i·ci·sm n.

au·to·e·rot·ic as·phyx·i·a n. asphyxia that results from intentionally strangling oneself while masturbating, in an attempt to heighten sexual pleasure by limiting the oxygen supply to the brain.

au·to·ex·po·sure n. a device that sets the exposure automatically on a camera or other piece of equipment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the facility to set exposure automatically.

au·to·fo·cus n. a device that focuses a camera or other piece of equipment automatically.
<SPECIAL USAGE> automatic focusing.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·fo·cus·ing n.

au·tog·a·my n. [BIOLOGY] self-fertilization, esp. the self-pollination of a flower.

<DERIVATIVES> au·tog·a·mous adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from AUTO- 'self' + Greek -gamia (from gamos 'marriage').

Linked entries:

AUTO- ■

au·to·ge·net·ic adj. TECHNICAL self-generated: autogenetic succession.

au·to·gen·ic train·ing n. a form of relaxation therapy involving autosuggestion.

au·tog·e·nous adj. arising from within or from a thing itself.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of welding) done either without solder or with a filler of the same metal as the pieces being welded.

au·to·gi·ro (also au·to·gy·ro) n. (pl. -ros) a form of aircraft with freely rotating horizontal vanes and a propeller. It differs from a helicopter in that the vanes are not powered but rotate in the slipstream, propulsion being by a conventional mounted engine.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Spanish, from auto- 'self' + giro 'gyration'.

au·to·graft n. a graft of tissue from one point to another of the same individual's body.

au·to·graph n. 1 a signature, esp. that of a celebrity written as a memento for an admirer: fans surged around the car asking for autographs.

2 a manuscript or musical score in the author's or musician's own handwriting.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person's handwriting: a songbook in Purcell's autograph.

■ v. [trans.] (of a celebrity) write one's signature on (something); sign: the whole team autographed a shirt for him | [as adj.] (autographed) an autographed photo.

■ adj. written in the author's own handwriting: an autograph manuscript.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a painting or sculpture) done by the artist, not by a copier.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French autographe or late Latin autographum, from Greek autographon, neuter of autographos 'written with one's own hand', from autos 'self' + graphos 'written'.

au·tog·ra·phy n. (pl. -phies) an autobiography: Arthur Miller's splendid autography, Timebends.

Au·to·harp n. TRADEMARK a kind of zither with a mechanical device that allows the playing of a chord by damping all the other strings.

au·to·hyp·no·sis n. induction of a hypnotic state in oneself; self-hypnosis.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·hyp·not·ic adj.

au·to·im·mune adj. [MEDICINE] of or relating to disease caused by antibodies or lymphocytes produced against substances naturally present in the body: the infection triggers an autoimmune response.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·im·mu·ni·ty n.

au·to·in·tox·i·ca·tion n. [MEDICINE] poisoning by a toxin formed within the body itself.

au·to·load adj. self-loading; semiautomatic: 24mm film in autoload cartridges.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·load·er n. au·to·load·ing n.

au·tol·o·gous adj. (of cells or tissues) obtained from the same individual: autologous bone marrow transplants.

au·tol·y·sis n. [BIOLOGY] the destruction of cells or tissues by their own enzymes, esp. those released by lysosomes.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·lyt·ic adj.

au·to·mat n. HISTORICAL a cafeteria in which food and drink were obtained from vending machines.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (denoting an automaton): from German, from French automate, from Latin automaton (see AUTOMATON). The current sense dates from the early 20th cent.

Linked entries:

AUTOMATON ■

au·to·mate v. [trans.] convert (a process or facility) to largely automatic operation: industry is investing in automating production | [as adj.] (automated) a fully automated process.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: back-formation from AUTOMATION.

Linked entries:

AUTOMATION ■

Au·to·mat·ed Clear·ing·house n. the clearing and settlement system used by U.S. commercial banks and other institutions.

au·to·mat·ed tell·er ma·chine (also au·to·mat·ic tell·er ma·chine) (abbr.: ATM) n. a machine that automatically provides cash and performs other banking services on insertion of a special card by the account holder.

au·to·mat·ic adj. 1 (of a device or process) working by itself with little or no direct human control: an automatic kettle that switches itself off when it boils; calibration is fully automatic.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a firearm) self-loading and able to fire continuously until the ammunition is exhausted or the pressure on the trigger is released: automatic weapons.

- (of a motor vehicle or its transmission) using gears that shift by themselves according to speed and acceleration: a four-speed automatic gearbox.

2 done or occurring spontaneously, without conscious thought or intention: automatic physical functions such as breathing; “Nice to meet you,” he said, with automatic politeness.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- occurring as a matter of course and without debate: he is the automatic choice for the senior team.

- (esp. of a legal sanction) given or imposed as a necessary and inevitable result of a fixed rule or particular set of circumstances: for missing the team workout, he received an automatic one-game suspension.

■ n. 1 an automatic machine or device, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a gun that continues firing until the ammunition is exhausted or the pressure on the trigger is released.

- a vehicle with automatic transmission.

2 [FOOTBALL] another term for AUDIBLE.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·mat·i·cal·ly adv. au·to·ma·tic·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Greek automatos 'acting of itself' (see AUTOMATON) + -IC.

Linked entries:

AUDIBLE ■

AUTOMATON ■

-IC ■

au·to·mat·ic gain con·trol (abbr.: AGC) n. [ELECTRONICS] a feature of certain amplifier circuits that gives a constant output over a wide range of input levels.

au·to·mat·ic pi·lot n. a device for keeping an aircraft on a set course without the intervention of the pilot: FIGURATIVE cruising through life on automatic pilot.

au·to·mat·ic writ·ing n. writing said to be produced by a spiritual, occult, or subconscious agency rather than by the conscious intention of the writer.

au·to·ma·tion n. the use of largely automatic equipment in a system of manufacturing or other production process: unemployment due to the spread of automation; the automation of office tasks.

<ORIGIN> 1940s (originally U.S.): irregular formation from AUTOMATIC + -ATION.

Linked entries:

AUTOMATIC ■

-ATION ■

au·tom·a·tism n. the performance of actions without conscious thought or intention.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ART] the avoidance of conscious intention in producing works of art, esp. by using mechanical techniques or subconscious associations.

- an action performed unconsciously or involuntarily.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French automatisme, from automate 'automaton', from Greek automatos 'acting of itself' (see AUTOMATON).

Linked entries:

AUTOMATON ■

au·tom·a·tize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (automatized) make automatic or habitual: the need to refresh automatized forms of literature.

<DERIVATIVES> au·tom·a·ti·za·tion n.

au·tom·a·ton n. (pl. -ta or -tons) a moving mechanical device made in imitation of a human being.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a machine that performs a function according to a predetermined set of coded instructions, esp. one capable of a range of programmed responses to different circumstances.

- used in similes and comparisons to refer to a person who seems to act in a mechanical or unemotional way: she went about her preparations like an automaton.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek, neuter of automatos 'acting of itself', from autos 'self'.

au·to·mim·ic·ry n. the mimicking or accentuation of some characteristic of one's own species as an adaptive response.

au·to·mize v. 1 another term for AUTOMATE.

2 another term for AUTOMATIZE.

Linked entries:

AUTOMATE ■

AUTOMATIZE ■

au·to·mo·bile n. a road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine or electric motor and able to carry a small number of people.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, from auto- 'self' + mobile 'mobile'.

au·to·mo·tive adj. [attrib.] of, relating to, or concerned with motor vehicles.

au·to·nom·ic adj. [attrib.] [CHIEFLY PHYSIOLOGY] involuntary or unconscious; relating to the autonomic nervous system.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (in the sense 'self-governing'): from AUTONOMY + -IC.

Linked entries:

AUTONOMY ■

-IC ■

au·to·nom·ic nerv·ous sys·tem n. the part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.

au·ton·o·mous adj. (of a country or region) having self-government, at least to a significant degree: the federation included sixteen autonomous republics.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- acting independently or having the freedom to do so: an autonomous committee of the school board; autonomous underwater vehicles.

- (in Kantian moral philosophy) acting in accordance with one's moral duty rather than one's desires.

<DERIVATIVES> au·ton·o·mous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek autonomos 'having its own laws' + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

au·ton·o·my n. (pl. -mies) (of a country or region) the right or condition of self-government, esp. in a particular sphere: Tatarstan demanded greater autonomy within the Russian Federation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a self-governing country or region.

- freedom from external control or influence; independence: economic autonomy is still a long way off for many women.

- (in Kantian moral philosophy) the capacity of an agent to act in accordance with objective morality rather than under the influence of desires.

<DERIVATIVES> au·ton·o·mist n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Greek autonomia, from autonomos 'having its own laws', from autos 'self' + nomos 'law'.

au·to·pa·thog·ra·phy n. (pl. -phies) an autobiography dealing primarily with the influence of a disease, disability, or psychological disorder on the author’s life.

<ORIGIN> blend of autobiography and pathography.

au·to·pi·lot n. short for AUTOMATIC PILOT.

Linked entries:

AUTOMATIC PILOT ■

au·top·sy n. (pl. -sies) a postmortem examination to discover the cause of death or the extent of disease: [as adj.] an autopsy report.

■ v. (-sies, -sied) [trans.] perform a postmortem examination on (a body or organ): [as adj.] (autopsied) an autopsied brain.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'personal observation'): from French autopsie or modern Latin autopsia, from Greek, from 'eyewitness', from autos 'self' + optos 'seen'.

au·to·ra·di·o·gram n. another term for AUTORADIOGRAPH.

Linked entries:

AUTORADIOGRAPH ■

au·to·ra·di·o·graph n. a photograph of an object produced by radiation from radioactive material in the object and revealing the distribution or location of labeled material in the object.

■ v. [trans.] make an autoradiograph of.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·ra·di·o·graph·ic adj. au·to·ra·di·og·ra·phy n.

au·to·ro·ta·tion n. rotation of an object caused by the flow of moving air or water around the shape of the object (e.g., a winged seed).
<SPECIAL USAGE> such rotation in the rotor blades of a helicopter that is descending without engine power.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·ro·tate v.

au·to·route n. a highway in a French-speaking country.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from French, from auto(mobile) 'car' + route 'route'.

au·to·shap·ing n. [PSYCHOLOGY] a method of conditioning in which the conditioned response has not been reinforced by reward or punishment, but is a modified instinctive response to certain stimuli.

au·to·some n. [BIOLOGY] any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·so·mal adj.

au·to·stra·da n. (pl. -stra·das or -stra·de ) an Italian highway.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Italian, from auto 'automobile' + strada 'road'.

au·to·sug·ges·tion n. the hypnotic or subconscious adoption of an idea that one has originated oneself, e.g. through repetition of verbal statements to oneself in order to change behavior.

au·to·tel·ic adj. FORMAL (of an activity or a creative work) having an end or purpose in itself.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from AUTO- 'self' + Greek telos 'end' + -IC.

Linked entries:

AUTO- ■

-IC ■

au·tot·o·my n. [ZOOLOGY] the casting off of a part of the body (e.g., the tail of a lizard) by an animal under threat.

au·to·tox·in n. a substance produced by an organism that is toxic to the organism itself.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·tox·ic adj.

au·to·trans·form·er n. an electrical transformer that has a single coil winding, part of which is common to both primary and secondary circuits.

au·to·trans·plan·ta·tion n. transplantation of tissue from one site to another in the same individual.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·trans·plant n. au·to·trans·plant·ed adj.

au·to·troph n. [BIOLOGY] an organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide. Compare with HETEROTROPH.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·troph·ic adj. au·tot·ro·phy n.

Linked entries:

HETEROTROPH ■

au·to·wind·er n. a device that automatically advances the film in a camera after a picture has been taken.

<DERIVATIVES> au·to·wind n. & v.

au·to·work·er n. a worker in the automobile industry.

au·tox·i·da·tion n. [CHEMISTRY] spontaneous oxidation of a substance at ambient temperatures in the presence of oxygen.

<DERIVATIVES> au·tox·i·dize v.

Au·try (Orvon) Gene (1907-98), U.S. singer and actor; known as the Singing Cowboy. His credits include the first cowboy song recording (1929) and many musical western movies.

au·tumn n. the third season of the year, when crops and fruits are gathered and leaves fall, in the northern hemisphere from September to November and in the southern hemisphere from March to May: the countryside is ablaze with color in autumn | [as adj.] autumn leaves | FIGURATIVE he was in the autumn of his life.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ASTRONOMY] the period from the autumnal equinox to the winter solstice.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French autompne, or later directly from Latin autumnus.

au·tum·nal adj. of, characteristic of, or occurring in autumn: chilly autumnal weather

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin autumnalis, from autumnus 'autumn'.

au·tum·nal e·qui·nox n. the equinox in autumn, on about September 22 in the northern hemisphere and March 20 in the southern hemisphere.

au·tumn cro·cus n. a crocuslike Eurasian plant of the lily family, cultivated for its autumn-blooming flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Colchicum, family Liliaceae: several species, in particular meadow saffron.

au·tun·ite n. a yellow or pale green mineral occurring as square crystals that fluoresce in ultraviolet light. It is a hydrated phosphate of calcium and uranium.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Autun, the name of a town in eastern France, + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ITE ■

Au·vergne a region in south central France that was a province of the Roman Empire. The region is mountainous and contains extinct volcanic cones known as the Puys.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Arverni, the name of a Celtic tribe that lived there in Roman times.

aux·il·ia·ry adj. providing supplementary or additional help and support: an auxiliary nurse; auxiliary airport staff.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of equipment) held in reserve: the ship has an auxiliary power source.

- (of troops) engaged in the service of a nation at war but not part of the regular army, and often of foreign origin.

- (of a sailing vessel) equipped with a supplementary engine.

■ n. (pl. -ries) a person or thing providing supplementary or additional help and support: a nursing auxiliary; there are two main fuel tanks and two auxiliaries.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a group of volunteers giving supplementary support to an organization or institution: members of the Volunteer Fire Department's women's auxiliary.

- (auxiliaries) troops engaged in the service of a nation at war but not part of the regular army, and often of foreign origin.

- [GRAMMAR] an auxiliary verb.

- a naval vessel with a supporting role, not armed for combat.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin auxiliarius, from auxilium 'help'.

aux·il·ia·ry verb n. [GRAMMAR] a verb used in forming the tenses, moods, and voices of other verbs. See also MODAL VERB.

The primary auxiliary verbs in English are be, do, and have; the modal auxiliaries are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would.

Linked entries:

MODAL VERB ■

aux·in n. a plant hormone that causes the elongation of cells in shoots and is involved in regulating plant growth.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: coined in German from Greek auxein 'to increase' + -IN^1 .

Linked entries:

-IN ■

aux·o·troph n. [BIOLOGY] a mutant organism (typically a bacterium or fungus) that requires a particular additional nutrient that the normal strain does not.

<DERIVATIVES> aux·o·troph·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Latin auxilium 'help' + Greek trophos 'feeder'.

AV abbr.
- audiovisual (teaching aids).

- Authorized Version.

Av n. variant spelling of AB^1 .

Linked entries:

AB ■

av·a·da·vat (also am·a·da·vat ) n. a small South Asian waxbill that is often kept as a caged bird. The male has red or green plumage and a red bill.
<INFO>  Genus Amandava, family Estrildidae: the red avadavat (A. amandava) and the green avadavat (A. formosa).

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: named after the city of AHMADABAD in India, where the birds were sold.

Linked entries:

AHMADABAD ■

a·vail v. 1 (avail oneself of) use or take advantage of (an opportunity or available resource): my daughter did not avail herself of my advice.

2 help or benefit: [trans.] no amount of struggle availed Charles | [intrans.] the dark and narrow hiding place did not avail to save the fugitives.

<PHRASES>
□ avail someone nothing ARCHAIC (of an action) be of no help at all to someone: this protest availed her nothing.

□ of little (or no) avail not very (or not at all) effective or successful: Latin was of little avail in the practical affairs of life.

□ to little (or no) avail with little (or no) success or benefit: he tried to get his work recognized, but to little avail.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from obsolete vail 'be of use or value' (apparently on the pattern of pairs such as amount, mount), from Old French valoir, from Latin valere 'be strong, be of value'.

a·vail·a·ble adj. able to be used or obtained; at someone's disposal: refreshments will be available all afternoon; a slush fund available to universities.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) not otherwise occupied; free to do something: the nurse is only available at certain times; the minister was not available for comment.

- not currently involved in a sexual or romantic relationship: there's a dearth of available women here.

<DERIVATIVES> a·vail·a·bil·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the senses 'effectual, serviceable' and 'legally valid'): from AVAIL + -ABLE. Sense 1 dates from the early 19th cent.

Linked entries:

AVAIL ■

-ABLE ■

av·a·lanche n. a mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling rapidly down a mountainside.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a large mass of any material moving rapidly downhill: an avalanche of mud.

- FIGURATIVE a sudden arrival or occurrence of something in overwhelming quantities: we have had an avalanche of applications.

- [PHYSICS] a cumulative process in which a fast-moving ion or electron generates further ions and electrons by collision.

■ v. [intrans.] (of a mass of snow, ice, and rocks) descend rapidly down a mountainside.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] (usu. be avalanched) engulf or carry off by such a mass of material: the climbers were avalanched down the south face of the mountain.

- [intrans.] [PHYSICS] undergo a rapid increase in conductivity due to an avalanche process.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, alteration of the Alpine dialect word lavanche (of unknown origin), influenced by avaler 'descend'; compare with Italian valanga.

Av·a·lon (in Arthurian legend) the place to which Arthur was conveyed after death.

a·vant-garde n. (usu. the avant-garde) new and unusual or experimental ideas, esp. in the arts, or the people introducing them: works by artists of the Russian avant-garde.

■ adj. favoring or introducing such new ideas: a controversial avant-garde composer.

<DERIVATIVES> a·vant-gard·ism n. a·vant-gard·ist n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the vanguard of an army): from French, literally 'vanguard'. Current senses date from the early 20th cent.

av·a·rice n. extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from Latin avaritia, from avarus 'greedy'.

av·a·ri·cious adj. having or showing an extreme greed for wealth or material gain: a corrupt and avaricious government. See note at GREEDY.

<DERIVATIVES> av·a·ri·cious·ly adv. av·a·ri·cious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French avaricieux, based on Latin avarus 'greedy' (see AVARICE).

Linked entries:

AVARICE ■

a·vas·cu·lar adj. [MEDICINE] characterized by or associated with a lack of blood vessels.

a·vast exclam. [NAUTICAL] stop; cease: you, young man, avast there!

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Dutch hou'vast, houd vast 'hold fast!'

av·a·tar n. [CHIEFLY HINDUISM] a manifestation of a deity or released soul in bodily form on earth; an incarnate divine teacher.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an incarnation, embodiment, or manifestation of a person or idea: he set himself up as a new avatar of Arab radicalism.

- [COMPUTING] a movable icon representing a person in cyberspace or virtual reality graphics.

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit 'descent', from ava 'down' + tar- 'to cross'.

a·vaunt exclam. ARCHAIC go away: avaunt, you worm-faced fellows of the night!

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French avant, from Latin ab 'from' + ante 'before'.

a·ve exclam. POETIC/LITERARY used to express good wishes on meeting or parting.

■ n. 1 (Ave) short for AVE MARIA.

2 POETIC/LITERARY a shout of welcome or farewell.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin, 'fare well!', singular imperative of avere.

Linked entries:

AVE MARIA ■

Ave. abbr. Avenue.

Ave·bur·y a village in Wiltshire, site of one of Britain's major henge monuments of the late Neolithic period.

A·ve Ma·ri·a n. a prayer to the Virgin Mary used in Catholic worship. The first line is adapted from Luke 1:28. Also called HAIL MARY.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: the opening words in Latin, literally 'Hail, Mary!'

Linked entries:

HAIL MARY ■

a·venge v. [trans.] inflict harm in return for (an injury or wrong done to oneself or another): his determination to avenge the murder of his brother; they are eager to avenge last year's Super Bowl defeat.
<SPECIAL USAGE> inflict such harm on behalf of (oneself or someone else previously wronged or harmed): we must avenge our dead; she avenged herself after he broke off their engagement; the warrior swore he would be avenged on their prince.

<DERIVATIVES> a·veng·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French avengier, from a- (from Latin ad 'to') + vengier, from Latin vindicare 'vindicate'.

av·ens n. a plant of the rose family, typically having serrated, divided leaves and seeds bearing small hooks. Several kinds are grown in gardens.
<INFO>  Genus Geum, family Rosaceae: several species, including the widespread water avens (G. rivale), with drooping pinkish flowers, and the mat-forming alpine avens (G. montanum).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French avence (medieval Latin avencia), of unknown origin.

a·ven·tu·rine n. brownish glass containing sparkling particles of copper or gold: [as adj.] aventurine glass.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a translucent mineral containing small reflective particles, typically quartz containing mica or iron compounds, or feldspar containing hematite.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, from Italian avventurino, from avventura 'chance' (because of its accidental discovery).

av·e·nue n. 1 a broad road in a town or city, typically having trees at regular intervals along its sides: tree-lined avenues surround the hotel | [in proper names] Euclid Avenue.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in proper names] a thoroughfare running at right angles to the streets in a city laid out on a grid pattern: 7th Avenue.

- a tree-lined road or path, esp. one that leads to a country house or similar building: an avenue of limes.

2 a way of approaching a problem or making progress toward something: three possible avenues of research suggested themselves.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (sense 2): from French, feminine past participle of avenir 'arrive, approach', from Latin advenire, from ad- 'toward' + venire 'come'.

a·ver v. (a·verred, a·ver·ring) [reporting verb] FORMAL state or assert to be the case: [with clause] he averred that he was innocent of the allegations | [with direct speech] “You're the most beautiful girl in the world,” he averred.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] [LAW] allege as a fact in support of a plea.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'declare or confirm to be true'): from Old French averer, based on Latin ad 'to' (implying 'cause to be') + verus 'true'.

av·er·age (abbr.: avg.) n. 1 the result obtained by adding several quantities together and then dividing this total by the number of quantities; the mean: the housing prices there are twice the national average. Compare with MEAN^3 (sense 1).
<SPECIAL USAGE> an amount, standard, level, or rate regarded as usual or ordinary: the month's snowfall is below average; they take about thirty minutes on average.
See note at NORMAL.

2 the apportionment of financial liability resulting from loss of or damage to a ship or its cargo.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reduction in the amount payable under an insurance policy, e.g., in respect of partial loss.

■ adj. constituting the result obtained by adding together several quantities and then dividing this total by the number of quantities: the average temperature in May was 64°F.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of the usual or ordinary standard, level, or quantity: a woman of average height.

- having qualities that are seen as typical of a particular person or thing: the average teenager prefers comfort to high fashion.

- mediocre; not very good: a very average director who made very average movies.

■ v. [trans.] achieve or amount to as an average rate or amount over a period of time: annual inflation averaged 2.4 percent.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- calculate or estimate the average of (figures or measurements): their earnings, averaged out over the month, were only $62 a week.

- [intrans.] (average out) result in an even distribution; even out: it is reasonable to hope that the results will average out.

- [intrans.] (average out at/to) result in an average figure of: the cost should average out to about $6 per page.

<DERIVATIVES> av·er·age·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French avarie 'damage to ship or cargo', earlier 'customs duty', from Italian avaria, from Arabic 'damage to goods'; the suffix -age is on the pattern of damage. Originally denoting a charge or customs duty payable by the owner of goods to be shipped, the term later denoted the financial liability from goods lost or damaged at sea, and specifically the equitable apportionment of this between the owners of the vessel and the cargo (late 16th cent.); this gave rise to the general sense of the equalizing out of gains and losses by calculating the mean (mid 18th cent.).

Linked entries:

MEAN ■

a·ver·ment n. FORMAL an affirmation or allegation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] a formal statement by a party in a case of a fact or circumstance that the party offers to prove or substantiate.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French averrement, averement, from averer 'declare true' (see AVER).

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AVER ■

A·ver·ro·ës (c.1126-98), Islamic philosopher, judge, and physician, born in Spain; Arabic name ibn-Rushd. His highly influential commentaries on Aristotle sought to reconcile the Greek philosophical tradition with the Arabic.

a·verse adj. [predic.] [usu. with negative] (averse to) having a strong dislike of or opposition to something: as a former CIA director, he is not averse to secrecy | [in combination] the bank's approach has been risk-averse.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin aversus 'turned away from', past participle of avertere (see AVERT).

<USAGE>
The widespread phrase for expressing dislike, opposition, or hostility (to things, usually not people) is averse to. Similarly, one may be said to have an aversion to (usually not aversion from) certain things or activities (but usually not people): Katherine was known for her aversion to flying, but she was brave and boarded the plane anyway. Averse from is found more often in British than U.S. English, following the prescription of Samuel Johnson and other traditionalists, who have condemned averse to as nonsensical (the Latin origin of averse has the meaning 'turn from'). In the U.S., however, averse to is by far the more common occurrence.

See also usage at ADVERSE.

Linked entries:

AVERT ■

ADVERSE ■

a·ver·sion n. a strong dislike or disinclination: he had a deep-seated aversion to most forms of exercise.
<SPECIAL USAGE> someone or something that arouses such feelings.

<DERIVATIVES> a·ver·sive adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (originally denoting the action of turning away or averting one's eyes): from Latin aversio(n-), from avertere 'turn away from' (see AVERT).

Linked entries:

AVERT ■

a·ver·sion ther·a·py n. a type of behavior therapy designed to make a patient give up an undesirable habit by causing them to associate it with an unpleasant effect.

a·vert v. [trans.] 1 turn away (one's eyes or thoughts): she averted her eyes during the more violent scenes.

2 prevent or ward off (an undesirable occurrence): talks failed to avert a rail strike.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'divert or deter someone from a place or a course of action'): from Latin avertere, from ab- 'from' + vertere 'to turn'; reinforced by Old French avertir.

A·ves [ZOOLOGY] a class of vertebrates that comprises the birds.

<ORIGIN> Latin, plural of avis 'bird'.

A·ves·ta n. the sacred writings of Zoroastrianism, compiled in the 4th century AD.

<ORIGIN> Persian.

A·ves·tan adj. of or relating to the Avesta or to the ancient Indo-Iranian language in which it is written, closely related to Vedic Sanskrit.

■ n. the Avestan language.

avg. abbr. average.

av·gas n. aircraft fuel.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: from av(iation) + GAS.

Linked entries:

GAS ■

a·vi·an adj. of or relating to birds: avian tuberculosis.

■ n. a bird.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin avis 'bird' + -AN.

Linked entries:

-AN ■

a·vi·an in·flu·en·za the technical name for BIRD FLU.

Linked entries:

BIRD FLU ■

a·vi·ar·y n. (pl. -ar·ies) a large cage, building, or enclosure for keeping birds in.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin aviarium, from avis 'bird'.

a·vi·ate v. pilot or fly in an airplane: [trans.] an aircraft that can be aviated without effort | [intrans.] there are fewer opportunities to aviate in winter.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: back-formation from AVIATION.

Linked entries:

AVIATION ■

a·vi·a·tion n. the flying or operating of aircraft: [as adj.] the aviation industry; aviation engineering.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, formed irregularly from Latin avis 'bird'.

a·vi·a·tor n. DATED a pilot.

a·vi·a·tor glass·es n. a style of sunglasses with thin wire frames and large lenses.

a·vi·a·trix n. (pl. -tri·ces ) DATED a female pilot.

Av·i·cen·na (980-1037), Islamic philosopher and physician, born in Persia; Arabic name ibn-Sina. His philosophical system was the major influence on the development of scholasticism.

a·vic·u·lar·i·um n. (pl. -lar·i·a ) [ZOOLOGY] (in some bryozoans) any of a number of modified zooids that take the form of a pair of snapping jaws resembling a bird's head, serving to prevent other organisms from settling on the colony. Compare with VIBRACULUM.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from avicula, diminutive of avis 'bird'.

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VIBRACULUM ■

a·vi·cul·ture n. the breeding and rearing of birds.

<DERIVATIVES> a·vi·cul·tur·al adj. a·vi·cul·tur·al·ist n. a·vi·cul·tur·ist n.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Latin avis 'bird' + CULTURE.

Linked entries:

CULTURE ■

av·id adj. having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something: an avid reader of science fiction; she took an avid interest in the project. See note at EAGER.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (avid for) having an eager desire for something: she was avid for information about the murder inquiry.

<DERIVATIVES> av·id·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French avide or Latin avidus, from avere 'crave'.

av·i·din n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a protein found in raw egg white, which combines with biotin and hinders its absorption.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from AVID + -IN^1 .

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AVID ■

-IN ■

a·vid·i·ty n. extreme eagerness or enthusiasm: he read detective stories with avidity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BIOCHEMISTRY] the overall strength of binding between an antibody and an antigen.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French avidité or Latin aviditas, from avidus 'eager, greedy'.

a·vi·fau·na n. the birds of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.

<DERIVATIVES> a·vi·fau·nal adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin avis 'bird' + FAUNA.

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FAUNA ■

A·vi·gnon a city on the Rhône River in southeastern France; pop. 89,440. From 1309 until 1377, it was the residence of the popes during their exile from Rome and was papal property until the French Revolution.

Á·vi·la, Te·re·sa of see TERESA OF ÁVILA, ST.

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TERESA OF ÁVILA, ST. ■

a·vi·on·ics plural n. [usu. treated as sing.] electronics as applied to aviation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> electronic equipment fitted in an aircraft.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: blend of AVIATION and ELECTRONICS.

Linked entries:

AVIATION ■

ELECTRONICS ■

a·vir·u·lent adj. (of a microorganism) not virulent.

a·vi·ta·min·o·sis n. (pl. -ses ) [MEDICINE] a condition resulting from a deficiency of one or more particular vitamins.

av·o·ca·do n. (pl. -dos) 1 a pear-shaped fruit with a rough leathery skin, smooth oily edible flesh, and a large stone: serve with slices of avocado. Also called ALLIGATOR PEAR.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a light green color like that of the flesh of avocados.

2 the tropical evergreen tree that bears this fruit. It is native to Central America and widely cultivated elsewhere.
<INFO>  Persea americana, family Lauraceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Spanish, alteration (influenced by avocado 'advocate') of aguacate, from Nahuatl ahuacatl.

Linked entries:

ALLIGATOR PEAR ■

av·o·ca·tion n. a hobby or minor occupation.

<DERIVATIVES> av·o·ca·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin avocatio(n-), from avocare 'call away', from ab- 'from' + vocare 'to call'.

av·o·cet n. a long-legged wading bird with a slender upturned bill and strikingly patterned plumage.
<INFO>  Genus Recurvirostra, family Recurvirostridae: four species, including the American avocet (R. americana), which has black and white plumage.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French avocette, from Italian avosetta.

A·vo·ga·dro Amedeo (1776-1856), Italian chemist and physicist. His law, formulated in 1811, was used to derive both molecular weights and a system of atomic weights.

A·vo·ga·dro's law [CHEMISTRY] a law stating that equal volumes of gases at the same temperature and pressure contain equal numbers of molecules.

A·vo·ga·dro's num·ber (also Avogadro's constant) [CHEMISTRY] the number of atoms or molecules in one mole of a substance, equal to 6.023 × 10^23.

a·void v. [trans.] 1 keep away from or stop oneself from doing (something): avoid excessive exposure to the sun; the kind of place that Robyn would normally have avoided like the plague.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- contrive not to meet (someone): boys lined up to meet Gloria, but avoided her bossy sister.

- (of a person or a route) not go to or through (a place): this route avoids downtown Boston.

- prevent from happening: make the necessary adjustments to avoid an accident.

2 [LAW] repudiate, nullify, or render void (a decree or contract).

<DERIVATIVES> a·void·a·ble adj. a·void·a·bly adv. a·void·ance n. a·void·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French evuider 'clear out, get rid of', from vuide 'empty' (see VOID).

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VOID ■

a·void·ance re·la·tion·ship n. a familial relationship that is forbidden according to rules operating in some traditional societies. In Australian Aboriginal society, for example, mothers-in-law and sons-in-law may not meet face to face or speak directly with one another.

av·oir·du·pois n. a system of weights based on a pound of 16 ounces or 7,000 grains, widely used in English-speaking countries: [as adj.] avoirdupois weights | [postpositive] a pound avoirdupois. Compare with TROY.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HUMOROUS weight; heaviness: she was putting on the avoirdupois like nobody's business.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting merchandise sold by weight): from Old French aveir de peis 'goods of weight', from aveir 'to have' (infinitive used as a noun, from Latin habere) + peis 'weight' (see POISE^1 ).

Linked entries:

TROY ■

POISE ■

A·von 1 a river in central England that rises near the border between the counties of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire and flows 96 miles (154 km) southwest through Stratford to the Severn River.

2 a river in southwestern England that rises near the Gloucestershire-Wiltshire border and flows 75 miles (121 km) through Bath and Bristol to the Severn River.

3 a county in southwestern England; county town, Bristol.

Av·on·dale a city in south central Arizona, a western suburb of Phoenix; pop. 35,883.

a·vouch v. [trans.] ARCHAIC affirm or assert.

<DERIVATIVES> a·vouch·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French avochier, from Latin advocare 'summon in defense', from ad- 'to' + vocare 'to call'.

a·vow v. [reporting verb] assert or confess openly: [with clause] he avowed that he had voted Republican in every election | [trans.] he avowed his change of faith | [as adj.] (avowed) an avowed Marxist.

<DERIVATIVES> a·vow·al n. a·vow·ed·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the senses 'acknowledge, approve' and 'vouch for'): from Old French avouer 'acknowledge', from Latin advocare 'summon in defense' (see AVOUCH).

Linked entries:

AVOUCH ■

a·vul·sion n. [CHIEFLY MEDICINE] the action of pulling or tearing away.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] the sudden separation of land from one property and its attachment to another, esp. by flooding or a change in the course of a river. Compare with ALLUVION.

<DERIVATIVES> a·vulse v.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin avulsion-, from the verb avellere, from ab- 'from' + vallere 'pluck'.

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ALLUVION ■

a·vun·cu·lar adj. 1 of or relating to an uncle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> kind and friendly toward a younger or less experienced person: an avuncular manner.

2 [ANTHROPOLOGY] of or relating to the relationship between men and their siblings' children.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin avunculus 'maternal uncle', diminutive of avus 'grandfather'.

a·vun·cu·late n. (the avunculate) [ANTHROPOLOGY] the special relationship in some societies between a man and his sister's son.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Latin avunculus 'maternal uncle' + -ATE^2 .

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-ATE ■

aw exclam. used to express mild protest, entreaty, commiseration, or disapproval: aw, Dad, that's not fair.

<ORIGIN> natural exclamation: first recorded in American English in the mid 19th cent.

AWACS n. a long-range airborne radar system for detecting enemy aircraft and missiles and directing attacks on them.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an aircraft equipped with this radar system.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: acronym from airborne warning and control system.

Awadh variant spelling of OUDH.

Linked entries:

OUDH ■

a·wait v. [trans.] (of a person) wait for (an event): we await the proposals with impatience; prisoners awaiting trial | [as adj., with submodifier] (awaited) an eagerly awaited debut.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an event or circumstance) be in store for (someone): many dangers await them.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French awaitier, from a- (from Latin ad 'to, at') + waitier 'to wait'.

a·wake v. (past a·woke ; past part. a·wok·en ) [intrans.] stop sleeping; wake from sleep: she awoke to find the streets covered in snow.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause (someone) to wake from sleep: my screams awoke my parents.

- regain consciousness: I awoke six hours after the operation.

- (awake to) FIGURATIVE become aware of; come to a realization of: the authorities finally awoke to the extent of the problem.

- make or become active again: there were echoes and scents that awoke some memory in me.

■ adj. [predic.] not asleep: the noise might keep you awake at night.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (awake to) aware of: too few are awake to the dangers.

<ORIGIN>  Old English , , both used in the sense 'come out of sleep' (see A-2 , WAKE^1 ).

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A- ■

WAKE ■

a·wak·en v. [trans.] rouse from sleep; cause to stop sleeping: Anna was awakened by the telephone.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] stop sleeping: he sighed but did not awaken.

- rouse (a feeling): different images can awaken new emotions within us.

- (awaken someone to) make someone aware of (something) for the first time: the movie helped to awaken the public to the horrors of apartheid.

<ORIGIN> Old English onwæcnan, from on 'on' + WAKEN.

Linked entries:

WAKEN ■

a·wak·en·ing n. [in sing.] an act or moment of becoming suddenly aware of something: the war came as a rude awakening to the hardships of life.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FORMAL an act of waking from sleep.

- the beginning or rousing of something: the awakening of democracy in Eastern Europe.

■ adj. [attrib.] coming into existence or awareness: his awakening desire; an awakening conscience.

a·ward v. [with two objs.] give or order the giving of (something) as an official payment, compensation, or prize to (someone): he was awarded the Purple Heart; the 3.5 percent pay raise was awarded to the staff. See note at GIVE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> grant or assign (a contract or commission) to (a person or organization).

■ n. a prize or other mark of recognition given in honor of an achievement: the company's annual award for high-quality service | [as adj.] an award ceremony.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an amount of money paid to someone as an official payment, compensation, or grant: a generous award given to promising young dancers.

- the action of giving a payment, compensation, or prize: the award of an honorary doctorate | an award of damages.

<DERIVATIVES> a·ward·ee n. a·ward·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'issue a judicial decision', also denoting the decision itself): from Anglo-Norman French awarder, variant of Old French esguarder 'consider, ordain', from es- (from Latin ex 'thoroughly') + guarder 'watch (over)', based on a word of Germanic origin related to WARD; compare with GUARD.

Linked entries:

WARD ■

GUARD ■

a·ware adj. [predic.] having knowledge or perception of a situation or fact: most people are aware of the dangers of sunbathing; I am well aware of the problem; | [with clause] he was aware that a problem existed as far as I'm aware, no one has complained.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adverbial] concerned and well-informed about a particular situation or development: unless everyone becomes more environmentally aware, catastrophe is inevitable; a politically aware electorate.

<DERIVATIVES> a·ware·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English gewær; related to German gewahr, also to WARE^2 .

Linked entries:

WARE ■

a·wash adj. [predic.] covered or flooded with water, esp. seawater or rain: the boat rolled violently, its decks awash | FIGURATIVE the city was awash with journalists.
<SPECIAL USAGE> level with the surface of water, esp. the sea, so that it just washes over: a rock awash outside the reef entrance.

a·way adv. 1 to or at a distance from a particular place, person, or thing: she landed badly, and crawled away; | they walked away from the church in silence; | Bernice pushed him away; | we'll be away for four nights; | there's a river not far away.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- at a specified distance: when he was ten or twelve feet away, he stopped; | a loud explosion a short distance away; | we have had patients from as far away as Toronto.

- at a specified future distance in time: the wedding is only weeks away.

- toward a lower level; downward: in front of them the land fell away to the river.

- conceptually to one side, so as no longer to be the focus of attention: the museum has shifted its emphasis away from research toward exhibitions.

2 into an appropriate place for storage or safekeeping: he put away the lawn furniture; | Philip locked away all the cash every night.
<SPECIAL USAGE> toward or into nonexistence: the sound of hoofbeats died away; | Marie felt her distress ebbing away.

3 constantly, persistently, or continuously: there was little Edgar crooning away; | have your camera ready and click away when you spot something.

■ adj. (of a sports competition) played at the opponents' grounds: tomorrow night's away game at Yankee Stadium.

<PHRASES> away with said as an exhortation to overcome or be rid of something; let us be rid of: away with poverty!

<ORIGIN> Old English onweg, aweg 'on one's way' (see A-2 , WAY).

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A- ■

WAY ■

a·way mes·sage n. a voice or text message directed to callers of a cell phone whose owner cannot answer.

AWB an extreme right-wing white political party in South Africa violently opposed to majority rule.

<ORIGIN> abbreviation from Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging 'Afrikaner Resistance Movement'.

awe n. a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder: they gazed in awe at the small mountain of diamonds; the sight filled me with awe; his staff members are in awe of him.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC capacity to inspire awe: is it any wonder that Christmas Eve has lost its awe?

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be awed) inspire with awe: they were both awed by the vastness of the forest | [as adj.] (awed) he spoke in a hushed, awed whisper.

<ORIGIN> Old English ege 'terror, dread, awe', replaced in Middle English by forms related to Old Norse agi.

a·weigh adj. [NAUTICAL] (of an anchor) raised just clear of the sea or riverbed.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from A-2 'on'+ WEIGH^1 .

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A- ■

WEIGH ■

awe-in·spir·ing adj. arousing awe through being impressive, formidable, or magnificent: Michelangelo's awe-inspiring masterpiece.

awe·some adj. extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring great admiration, apprehension, or fear: the awesome power of the atomic bomb.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL extremely good; excellent: the band is truly awesome!

<DERIVATIVES> awe·some·ly adv. awe·some·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'filled with awe'): from AWE + -SOME^1 .

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AWE ■

-SOME ■

awe·struck (also awe·strick·en ) adj. filled with or revealing awe: people were awestruck by the pictures sent back to earth.

aw·ful adj. 1 very bad or unpleasant: the place smelled awful; I look awful in a swimsuit; an awful speech.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- extremely shocking; horrific: awful, bloody images.

- [attrib.] used to emphasize the extent of something, esp. something unpleasant or negative: I've made an awful fool of myself.

- (of a person) very unwell, troubled, or unhappy: I felt awful for being so angry with him; you look awfulyou should go and lie down.

2 ARCHAIC inspiring reverential wonder or fear.

■ adv. [as submodifier] INFORMAL awfully; very: we're an awful long way from the main road.

<PHRASES> an awful lot a very large amount; a great deal: we've had an awful lot of letters you've still got an awful lot to learn.

<DERIVATIVES> aw·ful·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English (see AWE, -FUL).

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AWE ■

-FUL ■

aw·ful·ize v. to imagine (something) to be as bad as it can possibly be: [trans.] one way to make yourself miserable is awfulizing a situation, or imposing impossible standards upon yourself and others [as gerund] (awfulizing) I bravely boarded, managed to find a seat, stash my overnight bag, and engage in some steady awfulizing.

aw·ful·ly adv. 1 [as submodifier] (used esp. in spoken English) very: I'm awfully sorry to bother you so late; an awfully nice man.

2 very badly or unpleasantly: we played awfully.

a·while adv. for a short time: stand here awhile.

<ORIGIN> Old English '(for) a while'.

<USAGE>
The adverb awhile ( we paused awhile) should be written as one word. The noun phrase, meaning 'a period of time,' esp. when preceded by a preposition, should be written as two words ( Margaret rested for a while; we’ll be there in a while).

See also usage at WORTHWHILE.

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WORTHWHILE ■

a·whirl adj. [predic.] in a whirl; whirling: her mind was awhirl with images.

awk·ward adj. 1 causing difficulty; hard to do or deal with: one of the most awkward jobs is painting a ceiling; some awkward questions; the wheelbarrow can be awkward to maneuver.
<SPECIAL USAGE> deliberately unreasonable or uncooperative: you're being damned awkward!; please excuse my daughtershe's at an awkward age.

2 causing or feeling embarrassment or inconvenience: he had put her in a very awkward situation.

3 not smooth or graceful; ungainly: Luther's awkward movements impeded his progress; she was long-legged and rather awkward.
<SPECIAL USAGE> uncomfortable or abnormal: make sure the baby isn't sleeping in an awkward position.

<DERIVATIVES> awk·ward·ly adv. awk·ward·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'the wrong way around, upside down'): from dialect awk 'backward, perverse, clumsy' (from Old Norse afugr 'turned the wrong way') + -WARD.

Linked entries:

-WARD ■

awk·ward age n. the period of adolescence marked by self-consciousness and moody behavior.

awl n. a small pointed tool used for piercing holes, esp. in leather.

<ORIGIN> Old English æl, of Germanic origin; related to German Ahle.

awn n. [BOTANY] a stiff bristle, esp. one of those growing from the ear or flower of barley, rye, and many grasses.

<DERIVATIVES> awned adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Old Norse ; related to Swedish agn, Danish avn.

awn·ing n. a sheet of canvas or other material stretched on a frame and used to keep the sun or rain off a storefront, window, doorway, or deck.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (originally in nautical use): of unknown origin.

a·woke past of AWAKE.

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AWAKE ■

a·wo·ken past participle of AWAKE.

Linked entries:

AWAKE ■

AWOL adj. [predic.] [MILITARY] absent from one's post but without intent to desert: the men have gone AWOL | HUMOROUS now the parrot has gone AWOL.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: acronym from absent without (official) leave.

a·wry adv. & adj. away from the appropriate, planned, or expected course; amiss: [as adv.] many youthful romances go awry | [as predic. adj.] I got the impression that something was awry.
<SPECIAL USAGE> out of the normal or correct position; askew: [as predic. adj.] he was hatless, his silver hair awry.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from A-2 'on' + WRY.

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A- ■

WRY ■

aw-shucks adj. [attrib.] INFORMAL (of a personal quality or manner) self-deprecating and shy: his aw-shucks niceness disguised his conniving nature.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: from AW + shucks (see SHUCK).

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AW ■

SHUCK ■

ax (also axe) n. 1 a tool typically used for chopping wood, usually a steel blade attached at a right angle to a wooden handle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a measure intended to reduce costs drastically, esp. one that involves elimination of staff: thirty workers are facing the ax in the assembly department.

2 INFORMAL a musical instrument, esp. a jazz musician's saxophone or a bass guitar.

■ v. [trans.] 1 end, cancel, or dismiss suddenly and ruthlessly: the company is axing 125 jobs; 2,500 staff were axed as part of the realignment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reduce (costs or services) drastically: the candidates all promised to ax government spending.

2 cut or strike with an ax, esp. violently or destructively: the door had been axed by the firefighters.

<PHRASES> have an ax to grind have a self-serving reason for doing or being involved in something: she joined the board because she had an ax to grind with the school system.

<ORIGIN> Old English æx, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aaks and German Axt.

ax·el (also Ax·el) n. [FIGURE SKATING ] a jump with a forward takeoff from the forward outside edge of one skate to the backward outside edge of the other, with one and a half turns in the air.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: named after Axel R. Paulsen (1885-1938), Norwegian skater.

a·xen·ic adj. [CHIEFLY BOTANY] of, relating to, or denoting a culture that is free from living organisms other than the species required.

<DERIVATIVES> a·xen·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from a- 'not' + Greek xenikos 'alien, strange' + -IC.

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-IC ■

ax·es plural form of AXIS.

Linked entries:

AXIS ■

ax·i·al adj. of, forming, or relating to an axis: the main axial road.
<SPECIAL USAGE> around an axis: the axial rotation rate of the earth.

<DERIVATIVES> ax·i·al·ly adv.

ax·il n. [BOTANY] the upper angle between a leaf stalk or branch and the stem or trunk from which it is growing.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin axilla 'armpit' (see AXILLA).

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AXILLA ■

ax·il·la n. (pl. ax·il·lae ) [ANATOMY] the space below the shoulder through which vessels and nerves enter and leave the upper arm; a person's armpit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BOTANY] an axil.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin, diminutive of ala 'wing'.

ax·il·lar·y adj. [ANATOMY] of or relating to the armpit: enlargement of the axillary lymph nodes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BOTANY] in or growing from an axil: axillary shoots. Often contrasted with TERMINAL.

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TERMINAL ■

ax·il·lar·y bud n. a bud that grows from the axil of a leaf and may develop into a branch or flower cluster. Also called LATERAL BUD.

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LATERAL BUD ■

ax·i·om n. a statement or proposition that is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true: the axiom that supply equals demand.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHIEFLY MATHEMATICS] a statement or proposition on which an abstractly defined structure is based.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French axiome or Latin axioma, from Greek 'what is thought fitting', from axios 'worthy'.

ax·i·o·mat·ic adj. self-evident or unquestionable: it is axiomatic that dividends have to be financed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [attrib.] [CHIEFLY MATHEMATICS] relating to or containing axioms.

<DERIVATIVES> ax·i·o·mat·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Greek , from 'what is thought fitting' (see AXIOM).

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AXIOM ■

ax·i·on n. [PHYSICS] a hypothetical subatomic particle postulated to account for the rarity of processes that break charge-parity symmetry. It is very light, electrically neutral, and pseudoscalar.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from AXIAL + -ON.

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AXIAL ■

-ON ■

ax·is n. (pl. ax·es ) 1 an imaginary line about which a body rotates: the earth revolves on its axis once every 24 hours.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GEOMETRY] an imaginary straight line passing through the center of a symmetrical solid, and about which a plane figure can be conceived as rotating to generate the solid.

- an imaginary line that divides something into equal or roughly equal halves, esp. in the direction of its greatest length.

2 [MATHEMATICS] a fixed reference line for the measurement of coordinates: the variable that is thought of as a cause is placed on the horizontal axis, and the variable that is thought of as an effect on the vertical axis.

3 a straight central part in a structure to which other parts are connected.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BOTANY] the central column of an inflorescence or other growth.

- [ZOOLOGY] the skull and backbone of a vertebrate animal.

4 [ANATOMY] the second cervical vertebra, below the atlas at the top of the backbone.

5 an agreement or alliance between two or more countries that forms a center for an eventual larger grouping of nations: the Anglo-American axis.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Axis) the alliance of Germany and Italy formed before and during World War II, later extended to include Japan and other countries: [as adj.] the Axis Powers.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, 'axle, pivot'.

ax·is deer (also ax·is) n. a deer that has lyre-shaped antlers and a yellowish-brown coat with white spots, native to India and Sri Lanka.
<INFO>  Cervus axis, family Cervidae.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: axis from Latin, the name of an Indian animal mentioned by Pliny.

ax·i·sym·met·ric adj. [GEOMETRY] symmetrical about an axis.

ax·le n. a rod or spindle (either fixed or rotating) passing through the center of a wheel or group of wheels: [as adj.] axle grease axle loads.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally axle-tree): from Old Norse .

ax·man (also axe·man) n. (pl. -men) 1 a person who works with an ax: he was like an axman at work in a tangled thicket.

2 INFORMAL a rock or jazz guitarist.

Ax·min·ster (also Axminster carpet) n. a kind of machine-woven patterned carpet with a cut pile.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after the town of Axminster in southern England, noted since the 18th cent. for the production of carpets.

ax·o·lotl n. a Mexican salamander which in natural conditions retains its aquatic newtlike larval form throughout life but is able to breed.
<INFO>  Ambystoma mexicanum, family Ambystomatidae.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Nahuatl, from atl 'water' + xolotl 'servant'.

ax·on n. the long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells.

<DERIVATIVES> ax·on·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (denoting the body axis): from Greek 'axis'.

ax·o·neme n. [BIOLOGY] the central strand of a cilium or flagellum. It is composed of an array of microtubules, typically in nine pairs around two single central ones.

<DERIVATIVES> ax·o·ne·mal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek 'axis' + 'thread'.

ax·o·no·met·ric adj. using or designating an orthographic projection of an object, such as a building, on a plane inclined to each of the three principal axes of the object; three-dimensional but without perspective.

ax·o·plasm n. [BIOLOGY] the cytoplasm of a nerve axon.

<DERIVATIVES> ax·o·plas·mic adj.

Ax·um variant spelling of AKSUM.

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AKSUM ■

ay exclam. & n. variant spelling of AYE.

A·ya·cu·cho a city in the Andes in south central Peru; pop. 101,600.

a·yah n. a native maid or nursemaid employed by Europeans in India.

<ORIGIN> Anglo-Indian, from Portuguese aia 'nurse', feminine of aio 'tutor'.

a·ya·huas·ca n. a tropical vine native to the Amazon region, noted for its hallucinogenic properties.
<INFO>  Genus Banisteriopsis, family Malpighiaceae: several species, in particular B. caapi.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a hallucinogenic drink prepared from the bark of this.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from South American Spanish, from Quechua ayawáskha, from aya 'corpse' + waskha 'rope'.

a·ya·tol·lah n. a Shiite religious leader in Iran.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Persian, from Arabic , literally 'token of God'.

A·ya·tol·lah Kho·mei·ni see KHOMEINI.

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KHOMEINI ■

Ayck·bourn Sir Alan (1939- ), English playwright. Notable plays: Relatively Speaking (1967), Absurd Person Singular (1973), and A Chorus of Disapproval (1985).

aye 1 (also ay) exclam. ARCHAIC or DIALECT said to express assent; yes: aye, you're right about that.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (aye, aye) [NAUTICAL] a response acknowledging an order: aye, aye, captain.

- (in voting) I assent: all in favor say, “aye.”

■ n. an affirmative answer or assent, esp. in voting: the House was divided: Ayes 211, Noes 271.

<PHRASES> the ayes have it the affirmative votes are in the majority.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: probably from I, first person personal pronoun, expressing assent.

aye 2 adv. ARCHAIC or SCOTTISH always or still.

<PHRASES> for aye forever: I shall treasure the memory for aye.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse ei, ey; related to Latin aevum 'age' and Greek aie(i) 'ever', 'aeon'.

aye-aye n. a rare nocturnal Madagascan primate allied to the lemurs. It has rodentlike incisor teeth and an elongated twiglike finger on each hand with which it pries insects from bark.
<INFO>  Daubentonia madagascariensis, the only member of the family Daubentoniidae.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, from Malagasy aiay.

Ayer Sir A. J. (1910-89), English philosopher; full name Alfred Jules Ayer. He was an important proponent of logical positivism. Notable works: Language, Truth, and Logic (1936) and The Problem of Knowledge (1956).

Ayers Rock a red rock mass in Northern Territory, Australia, southwest of Alice Springs. The largest monolith in the world, it is 1,143 feet (348 m) high and about 6 miles (9 km) in circumference. Aboriginal name ULURU.

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ULURU ■

A·ye·sha the wife of Muhammad.

Ay·ma·ra n. (pl. same or -ras) 1 a member of a South American Indian people inhabiting the high plateau region of Bolivia and Peru near Lake Titicaca.

2 the language of this people, related to Quechua.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> Spanish.

Ayr·shire n. an animal of a mainly white breed of dairy cattle.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Ayrshire, a former Scottish county where the cattle were bred.

AYT abbr. INFORMAL [COMPUTING] (in e-mail) are you there?

A·yub Khan Muhammad (1907-74), Pakistani soldier and statesman; president 1958-69.

A·yur·ve·da n. the traditional Hindu system of medicine, which is based on the idea of balance in bodily systems and uses diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing.

<DERIVATIVES> A·yur·ve·dic adj.

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit 'life' + veda 'science'.

AZ abbr. Arizona (in official postal use).

A·zad Kash·mir an autonomous state in northeastern Pakistan, formerly part of Kashmir; administrative center, Muzzafarabad. It was established in 1949 after Kashmir was split as a result of the partition of India.

<ORIGIN> from Urdu, literally 'Free Kashmir'.

a·zal·ea n. a deciduous flowering shrub of the heath family with clusters of brightly colored, sometimes fragrant flowers. Technically classified as rhododenrons, azaleas are characteristically smaller than most other rhododendrons.
<INFO>  Genus Rhododendron, family Ericaceae: many cultivars.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek, feminine of azaleos 'dry', because the shrub flourishes in dry soil.

a·zan n. the Muslim call to ritual prayer, typically made by a muezzin from the minaret of a mosque.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Arabic 'announcement'. Compare with MUEZZIN.

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MUEZZIN ■

a·za·role n. a small tree related to the hawthorn, cultivated in southern Europe for its small yellow or reddish fruit.
<INFO>  Crataegus azarolus, family Rosaceae
.

a·ze·o·trope n. [CHEMISTRY] a mixture of two liquids that has a constant boiling point and composition throughout distillation.

<DERIVATIVES> a·ze·o·trop·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from A-1 'without' + Greek zein 'to boil' + tropos 'turning'.

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A- ■

Az·er·bai·jan a country in southwestern Asia, in the Caucasus, on the western shore of the Caspian Sea; pop. 7,868,000; capital, Baku; languages, Azerbaijani (official), Russian.

Historically, the name Azerbaijan refers to a larger region that formed part of Persia. The northern part of this was ceded to Russia in the early 19th century; the southern part remained a region in northwestern Iran. Russian Azerbaijan was absorbed into the Soviet Union in 1922 and gained independence on the breakup of the USSR in 1991. Azerbaijan contains the predominantly Armenian region of Nagorno-Karabakh, over which open conflict with Armenia broke out in 1988. The Azeri autonomous republic of Naxçivan forms an enclave within the Republic of Armenia and similarly continues to be the subject of armed conflict.

A·zer·bai·ja·ni adj. of or relating to Azerbaijan or its people or their language.

■ n. (pl. -nis) 1 a native or national of Azerbaijan or a person of Azerbaijani descent.

2 the Turkic language of Azerbaijan.

A·ze·ri n. (pl. -ris) 1 a member of a Turkic people forming the majority population of Azerbaijan, and also living in Armenia and northern Iran.

2 the Azerbaijani language.

■ adj. of, relating to, or denoting this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> from Turkish azerî.

az·ide n. [CHEMISTRY] a compound containing the univalent group N_3.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from AZO- + -IDE.

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AZO- ■

-IDE ■

a·zi·do·thy·mi·dine n. trademark for the drug ZIDOVUDINE.

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ZIDOVUDINE ■

A·zi·ki·we (Benjamin) Nnamdi (1904-96), Nigerian statesman; the first governor-general of independent Nigeria 1960-63 and its first president 1963-66.

az·i·muth n. the direction of a celestial object from the observer, expressed as the angular distance from the north or south point of the horizon to the point at which a vertical circle passing through the object intersects the horizon.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the horizontal angle or direction of a compass bearing.

<DERIVATIVES> az·i·muth·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the arc of a celestial circle from the zenith to the horizon): from Old French azimut, from Arabic as-samt, from al 'the' + samt 'way, direction'.

az·i·muth·al pro·jec·tion n. a map projection in which a region of the earth is projected onto a plane tangential to the surface, typically at a pole or the equator.

az·ine n. [CHEMISTRY] a cyclic organic compound having a ring including one or (typically) more nitrogen atoms.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from AZO- + -INE^4 .

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AZO- ■

-INE ■

azo- prefix [CHEMISTRY] containing two adjacent nitrogen atoms between carbon atoms: azobenzene.

<ORIGIN> from obsolete azote 'nitrogen', from French, from Greek 'without life'.

az·o·ben·zene n. [CHEMISTRY] a synthetic crystalline organic compound used chiefly in dye manufacture.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: (C_6H_5)N=N(C_6H_5).

az·o dye n. [CHEMISTRY] any of a large class of synthetic dyes whose molecules contain two adjacent nitrogen atoms between carbon atoms.

a·zo·ic adj. having no trace of life or organic remains.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Azoic) [GEOLOGY] another term for ARCHEAN.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek 'without life' + -IC.

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ARCHEAN ■

-IC ■

a·zon·al adj. (esp. of soils) having no zonal organization or structure.

a·zo·o·sper·mi·a n. [MEDICINE] absence of motile (and hence viable) sperm in the semen.

<DERIVATIVES> a·zo·o·sper·mic adj.

A·zores a group of volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean, west of Portugal, a possession of Portugal but partially autonomous; pop. 241,590 ; capital, Ponta Delgada.

A·zores High [METEOROLOGY] n. a semipermanent area of high pressure located over the Azores in winter and early spring. Compare with BERMUDA HIGH.

az·o·tu·ri·a n. [MEDICINE] abnormal excess of nitrogen compounds in the urine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [VETERINARY MEDICINE] a condition of horses that causes stiffness and pain in the muscles of the hindquarters and back, and the production of dark-colored urine containing myoglobin.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from obsolete azote 'nitrogen' + -URIA.

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-URIA ■

A·zov, Sea of an inland sea in southern Russia and Ukraine, separated from the Black Sea by the Crimea and linked to it by a narrow strait.

Az·ra·el [JEWISH & ISLAMIC MYTHOLOGY] the angel who severs the soul from the body at death.

AZT abbr. TRADEMARK azidothymidine.

Az·tec n. 1 a member of the American Indian people dominant in Mexico before the Spanish conquest of the 16th century.

2 the extinct language of this people, a Uto-Aztecan language from which modern Nahuatl is descended.

■ adj. of, relating to, or denoting this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> from French Aztèque or Spanish Azteca, from Nahuatl aztecatl 'person of Aztlan', their legendary place of origin.

a·zu·le·jo n. (pl. -jos) a kind of glazed colored tile traditionally used in Spanish and Portuguese buildings.

<ORIGIN> from Spanish, from azul 'blue'.

az·ure adj. bright blue in color, like a cloudless sky: white beaches surrounded by azure seas.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [HERALDRY] blue: [postpositive] a saltire azure.

■ n. 1 a bright blue color.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY the clear sky.

2 a small butterfly that is typically blue or purplish, with color differences between the sexes.
<INFO>  Celastrina and other genera, family Lycaenidae.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a blue dye): from Old French asur, azur, from medieval Latin azzurum, azolum, from Arabic al 'the' + (from Persian 'lapis lazuli').

az·ur·ite n. a blue mineral consisting of copper hydroxyl carbonate. It occurs as blue prisms or crystal masses, often with malachite.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from AZURE + -ITE^1 .

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AZURE ■

-ITE ■

Azu·sa a city in southwestern California, northeast of Los Angeles; pop. 41,333.

az·y·gos vein n. [ANATOMY] a large vein on the right side at the back of the thorax, draining into the superior vena cava.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: azygos from Greek azugos, from a- 'without' + zugon 'yoke', the vein not being one of a pair.

az·y·gous adj. [ANATOMY] & [BIOLOGY] (of an organic structure) single; not existing in pairs.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek azugos 'unyoked' (from a- 'without' + zugon 'yoke') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

Az Zar·qa variant form of ZARQA.

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ZARQA ■

B 1 (also b) n. (pl. Bs or B's) 1 the second letter of the alphabet.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the second highest class of academic mark.

- denoting the second-highest-earning socioeconomic category for marketing purposes, including intermediate management and professional personnel.

- (b) [CHESS] denoting the second file from the left, as viewed from White's side of the board.

- (usu. b) the second constant to appear in an algebraic equation.

- [GEOLOGY] denoting a soil horizon of intermediate depth, typically the subsoil.

- the human blood type (in the ABO system) containing the B antigen and lacking the A.

2 (usu. B) [MUSIC] the seventh note of the diatonic scale of C major.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a key based on a scale with B as its keynote.

<PHRASES> plan B an alternative strategy: it's time I put plan B into action.

B 2 abbr.
- (used in recording moves in chess) bishop: Be5.

- black (used in describing grades of pencil lead): 2HB pencils.

- (in personal ads) Black.

- bomber (in designations of U.S. aircraft types): a B52.

- a dry cell battery size.

■ symbol
- the chemical element boron.

- [PHYSICS] magnetic flux density.

b abbr.
- [PHYSICS] barn(s).

- (b.) born (used to indicate a date of birth): George Lloyd (b. 1913).

- billion.

- bass.

- basso.

BA abbr.
- Bachelor of Arts: David Brown, BA.

- [BASEBALL] batting average.

- Buenos Aires.

Ba symbol the chemical element barium.

baa v. (baas, baaed , baa·ing) [intrans.] (of a sheep or lamb) bleat.

■ n. the cry of a sheep or lamb.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: imitative.

Baa·de (Wilhelm Heinrich) Walter (1893-1960), U.S. astronomer, born in Germany. He proved that the Andromeda galaxy was much farther away than had been thought, which implied that the universe was much older and more extensive than had been supposed. He also contributed to the understanding of the life cycles of stars.

Baa·der-Mein·hof Group another name for RED ARMY FACTION.

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RED ARMY FACTION ■

Ba·al (also Bel ) (pl. Ba·a·lim or Ba·als) a male fertility god whose cult was widespread in ancient Phoenician and Canaanite lands.

<ORIGIN> from Hebrew 'lord'.

Baal·bek a town in eastern Lebanon, site of the ancient city of Heliopolis.

Ba·ath Par·ty (also Ba'ath) a pan-Arab socialist party founded in Syria in 1943. Different factions of the Baath Party hold power in Syria and formerly held power in Iraq.

<DERIVATIVES> Ba·ath·ism n. Ba·ath·ist adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> Baath, from Arabic 'resurrection, renaissance'.

ba·ba 1 (also ba·ba au rhum ) n. a small rich sponge cake, typically soaked in rum-flavored syrup.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: via French from Polish, literally 'married peasant woman'.

ba·ba 2 n. INDIAN, INFORMAL 1 father (often as a proper name or as a familiar form of address).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a respectful form of address for an older man: “Sit down, baba, you like tea?”

- (often Baba) a holy man (often as a proper name or form of address).

2 a child, esp. a male one (often in names or as an affectionate form of address).

<ORIGIN> from Hindi .

ba·ba gha·nouj (also ba·ba ga·noush ) n. a thick sauce or spread made from ground eggplant and sesame seeds, olive oil, lemon, and garlic, typical of eastern Mediterranean cuisine.

<ORIGIN> from Egyptian Arabic, from Arabic , literally 'father' + gannuug, perhaps a personal name.

ba·bas·su (also ba·ba·çú) n. a Brazilian palm that yields an edible oil sometimes used in cosmetics.
<INFO>  Genus Orbignya, family Palmae.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Brazilian Portuguese babaçú, from Tupi ybá 'fruit' + guasu 'large'.

Bab·bage Charles (1791-1871), English mathematician, inventor, and pioneer of machine computing. With Ada Lovelace, he designed a mechanical computer that would perform calculations and print the results, but he was unable to complete it during his lifetime.

Bab·bitt 1 Bruce Edward (1938-), U.S. politician and lawyer. A noted environmentalist, he served as governor of Arizona 1978-87 and U.S. secretary of the interior 1993-2001.

Bab·bitt 2 Milton (Byron) (1916- ), U.S. composer and mathematician. His compositions developed from the twelve-note system of Arnold Schoenberg and Anton von Webern.

Bab·bitt 3 n. DATED a materialistic, complacent, and conformist businessman.

<DERIVATIVES> Bab·bitt·ry n.

<ORIGIN> 1922: from the name George Babbitt, the protagonist of the novel Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis.

bab·ble v. [intrans.] talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish, excited, or incomprehensible way: he would babble on in his gringo Spanish.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [reporting verb] utter something rapidly and incoherently: [with direct speech] I gasped and stared and babbled, “Look at this!” | [trans.] he began to babble an apology.

- reveal something secret or confidential by talking impulsively or carelessly: he babbled to another convict while he was in jail | [trans.] my father babbled out the truth.

- [usu. as adj.] (babbling) (of a stream) make the continuous murmuring sound of water flowing over stones: a gently babbling brook.

■ n. [in sing.] the sound of people talking quickly and in a way that is difficult or impossible to understand: a babble of protest.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- foolish, excited, or confused talk: her soft voice stopped his babble.

- [usu. in combination or with adj.] pretentious jargon from a specified field: to shed light on such transatlantic psycho-babble.

- the continuous murmuring sound of water flowing over stones in a stream: the babble of a brook.

- background disturbance caused by interference from conversations on other telephone lines.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Middle Low German babbelen, or an independent English formation, as a frequentative based on the repeated syllable ba, typical of a child's early speech.

bab·bler n. 1 a person who babbles.

2 a thrushlike Old World songbird with a long tail, short rounded wings, and typically a loud discordant or musical voice.
<INFO>  Family Timaliidae (the babbler family): numerous genera.

babe n. 1 CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY a baby: a babe in arms, less than twelve months old.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE an innocent or helpless person: cable TV is no longer a babe in swaddling clothes.

2 INFORMAL an affectionate form of address, typically for someone with whom one has a sexual or romantic relationship: I'm the golden boy, babe.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a form of address for a young woman or girl (often considered sexist): oh, babe, waltz with me.

- a sexually attractive young woman or girl: he's been pumping up his pecs to impress the babes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: probably imitative of an infant's first attempts at speech. Compare with BABY.

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BABY ■

Ba·bel, Tower of see TOWER OF BABEL.

Linked entries:

TOWER OF BABEL ■

ba·bel n. [in sing.] a confused noise, typically that made by a number of voices: the babel of voices on the road.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a scene of noisy confusion.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Babel (see TOWER OF BABEL), where, according to the biblical story in Gen. 11:4-9, God confused the languages of the builders.

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TOWER OF BABEL ■

ba·be·li·cious adj. INFORMAL (of a woman) sexually very attractive.

<ORIGIN> 1992: coined in the film Wayne's World.

ba·be·si·o·sis (also ba·be·si·a·sis ) n. a disease of cattle and other livestock, transmitted by the bite of ticks. It affects the red blood cells and causes the passing of red or blackish urine. Also called PIROPLASMOSIS.
<INFO>  This is caused by protozoans of the genus Babesia, phylum Sporozoa.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from modern Latin Babesia, from the name Victor Babès (1854-1926), Romanian bacteriologist.

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PIROPLASMOSIS ■

Ba·bi n. an adherent of Babism.

ba·biche n. rawhide, typically formed into strips, as used by North American Indians for making fastenings, animal snares, snowshoes, etc.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Canadian French, from Micmac .

Ba·bin·ski re·flex n. a reflex action in which the big toe remains extended or extends itself when the sole of the foot is stimulated.

<ORIGIN> named for Joseph François Felix Babinski (1857-1932), French neurologist.

bab·i·ru·sa n. a forest-dwelling wild pig with several upturned hornlike tusks, native to Malaysia.
<INFO>  Babyrousa babyrussa, family Suidae.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Malay, from babi 'hog' + rusa 'deer'.

Bab·ism n. a religion founded in 1844 by the Persian Mirza Ali Muhammad of Shiraz (1819-50) (popularly known as “the Bab”), who taught that a new prophet would follow Muhammad. See also BAHA'I.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: via Persian from Arabic 'intermediary', literally 'gate' (taken as a name by the founder) + -ISM.

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BAHA'I ■

-ISM ■

bab·ka n. a loaf-shaped coffee cake made with sweet yeast dough to which raisins, chocolate, or nuts may be added.

<ORIGIN> from Polish, diminutive of baba (see BABA).

ba·boon n. a large Old World ground-dwelling monkey with a long doglike snout, large teeth, and naked callosities on the buttocks. Baboons are social animals and live in troops.
<INFO>  Genera Papio and Mandrillus, family Cercopithecidae: several species, including the drill and mandrill.

<SPECIAL USAGE> an ugly or uncouth person.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a grotesque figure used in architecture): from Old French babuin or medieval Latin babewynus, perhaps from Old French baboue 'muzzle, grimace'.

Ba·bo·qui·va·ri Moun·tains a range in southern Arizona that rises to 7,734 feet (2,357 m) at Baboquivari Peak.

ba·bouche n. a heelless slipper, typically in oriental style.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, from Arabic , Persian , literally 'foot covering'.

Ba·bruisk (also Ba·bruysk, Bo·bruisk, or Bo·bruysk) a river port in central Belarus, on the Berezina River, southeast of Minsk; pop. 222,900.

ba·bu n. (pl. ba·bus) INDIAN a respectful title or form of address for a man, esp. an educated one: I could see Kana-babu's shop.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an office worker; a clerk.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi , literally 'father'.

ba·bul n. (in the Indian subcontinent) a tropical acacia introduced from Africa, used as a source of fuel, gum arabic, and (formerly) tannin.
<INFO>  Acacia nilotica, family Leguminosae.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Hindi .

Ba·bur (1483-1530), first Mogul emperor of India c.1525-30; descendant of Tamerlane; born Zahir ad-Din Muhammad. He invaded India c.1525 and conquered the territory that extended from the Oxus to Patna.

ba·bush·ka n. (in Poland and Russia) an old woman or grandmother.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a headscarf tied under the chin, typical of those worn by Polish and Russian women.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: Polish, Russian, 'grandmother'.

Ba·bu·yan Is·lands a group of 24 volcanic islands lying to the north of the island of Luzon in the northern Philippines.

ba·by n. (pl. -bies) 1 a very young child, esp. one newly or recently born: his wife's just had a baby | [as adj.] a baby girl.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a young or newly born animal.

- the youngest member of a family or group: Clara was the baby of the family.

- a timid or childish person: “Don't be such a baby!” she said witheringly.

- (one's baby) FIGURATIVE one's particular responsibility, achievement, or concern: “This is your baby, Gerry,” she said, handing him the brief.

2 INFORMAL a young woman or a person with whom one is having a romantic relationship (often as a form of address): my baby left me for another guy; baby, don't cry!
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thing regarded with affection or familiarity: this baby can reach speeds of 140 mph.

■ adj. [attrib.] comparatively small or immature of its kind: a baby grand piano.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of vegetables) picked before reaching their usual size: baby carrots.

■ v. (-bies, -bied) [trans.] treat (someone) as a baby; pamper or be overprotective toward: her aunt babied her and fussed over her clothes.

<PHRASES> throw the baby out with the bathwater discard something valuable along with other things that are inessential or undesirable.

<DERIVATIVES> ba·by·hood n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: probably imitative of an infant's first attempts at speech.

Ba·by Bell n. INFORMAL a nickname for any of the telephone companies created in 1984 from the breakup of American Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, which was nicknamed “Ma Bell.”

ba·by blue n. a pale shade of blue.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (baby blues) INFORMAL blue eyes.

- (baby blues) depression affecting a woman after giving birth; postnatal depression.

ba·by-blue-eyes n. a plant of western North America with blue bowl-shaped flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Nemophila, family Hydrophyllaceae: several species, in particular N. menziesii of California and southern Oregon.

ba·by boom n. INFORMAL a temporary marked increase in the birth rate, esp. the one following World War II.

ba·by bug·gy n. a baby carriage.

ba·by bust n. INFORMAL a temporary marked decrease in the birth rate.

<DERIVATIVES> ba·by bust·er n.

ba·by car·riage n. a four-wheeled carriage for a baby, typically with a retractable hood, pushed by a person on foot.

Baby Doc see DUVALIER.

ba·by doll n. a doll designed to look like a baby.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a girl or woman with pretty, ingenuous, childlike looks.

■ adj. [attrib.] denoting a style of women's clothing or sleepwear resembling that traditionally worn by a doll or young child, esp. short, high-waisted, short-sleeved dresses.

ba·by face n. a smooth round face like a baby's.

ba·by-faced adj. having a youthful or innocent face: baby-faced tough guys.

ba·by grand n. the smallest size of grand piano, about 4.5 feet (1.5 m) long.

ba·by·ish adj. DEROGATORY (of appearance or behavior) characteristic of a baby: he pursed his mouth into a babyish pout.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of clothes or toys) suitable for a baby: he declared that dolls were silly, babyish things.

<DERIVATIVES> ba·by·ish·ly adv. ba·by·ish·ness n.

Bab·y·lon 1 1 an ancient city in Mesopotamia, the capital of Babylonia in the 2nd millennium BC. The city was on the banks of the Euphrates River and was noted for its luxury, its fortifications, and, particularly, for the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

2 a town on the southern shore of Long Island in New York that includes the villages of Babylon and Amityville; pop. 202,889.

<ORIGIN> Greek (from Hebrew ), also the name of the mystical city of the Apocalypse. Compare with BABEL.

Linked entries:

BABEL ■

Bab·y·lon 2 n. BLACK ENGLISH (chiefly among Rastafarians) a contemptuous or dismissive term for aspects of a society seen as degenerate or oppressive, esp. the police: praise them for bringing a new rectitude to Babylon.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: by association with BABYLON^1 .

Linked entries:

BABYLON ■

Bab·y·lo·ni·a an ancient region of Mesopotamia, formed when the kingdoms of Akkad in the north and Sumer in the south combined in the first half of the 2nd millennium BC.

Bab·y·lo·ni·an n. 1 an inhabitant of Babylon or Babylonia.

2 the dialect of Akkadian spoken in ancient Babylon.

■ adj. of or relating to Babylon or Babylonia.

Bab·y·lo·ni·an Cap·tiv·i·ty the captivity of the Israelites in Babylon, lasting from their deportation by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC until their release by Cyrus the Great in 539 BC.

ba·by·moth·er (or ba·by·fa·ther ) n. BLACK ENGLISH the mother (or father) of one or more of one's children: I knew his babymother, Miss Richards, as we went to school and grew up together.

ba·by oil n. a mineral oil used to soften the skin.

ba·by's breath n. a herbaceous plant of delicate appearance that bears tiny scented pink or white flowers.
<INFO>  Gypsophila paniculata, family Caryophyllaceae.

ba·by·sit v. (-sit·ting; past and past part. -sat) [intrans.] look after a child or children while the parents are out: I babysit for my neighbor sometimes | [trans.] she was babysitting Sophie | [as n.] (babysitting) part-time jobs such as babysitting.

<DERIVATIVES> ba·by·sit·ter n.

ba·by talk n. childish talk used by or to young children.

ba·by tooth n. another term for MILK TOOTH.

Linked entries:

MILK TOOTH ■

ba·ca·lao n. codfish, often dried or salted, as used in Spanish and Latin American cooking.

<ORIGIN> Spanish.

Ba·call Lauren (1924- ), U.S. actress; born Betty Joan Perske. She co-starred with husband Humphrey Bogart in a number of successful movies, including The Big Sleep (1946) and Key Largo (1948).

Ba·car·di n. (pl. -dis ) TRADEMARK a West Indian rum produced originally in Cuba.

<ORIGIN> named after the Companía Ron Bacardi of Cuba (now Bacardi & Co. Ltd., Nassau).

bac·ca·la n. Italian term for BACALAO.

Linked entries:

BACALAO ■

bac·ca·lau·re·ate n. 1 a college bachelor's degree.

2 BRIT. an examination intended to qualify successful candidates for higher education.

3 BRIT. a religious service held at some educational institutions before commencement, containing a farewell sermon to the graduating class.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (sense 1): from French baccalauréat or medieval Latin baccalaureatus, from baccalaureus 'bachelor'. The earlier form baccalarius was altered by wordplay to conform with bacca lauri 'laurel berry', because of the laurels awarded to scholars. Sense 2 dates from 1970.

bac·ca·rat n. a gambling card game in which players hold two- or three-card hands, the winning hand being that giving the highest remainder when its face value is divided by ten.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French baccara, of unknown origin.

bac·cate adj. bearing berries; berried.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of the nature of a berry; berrylike.

Bac·chae the priestesses or female devotees of the Greek god Bacchus.

bac·cha·nal CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY n. 1 an occasion of wild and drunken revelry.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a drunken reveler.

2 a priest, worshiper, or follower of Bacchus.

■ adj. another term for BACCHANALIAN.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin bacchanalis, from the name of the god BACCHUS.

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BACCHANALIAN ■

BACCHUS ■

Bac·cha·na·li·a plural n. [also treated as sing.] the Roman festival of Bacchus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (bacchanalia) drunken revelry.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin bacchanalia, neuter plural of the adjective bacchanalis (see BACCHANAL).

Linked entries:

BACCHANAL ■

bac·cha·na·li·an adj. characterized by or given to drunken revelry; riotously drunken: a bacchanalian orgy.

bac·chant n. (pl. -chants or -chan·tes ; fem. -chan·te ) a priest, priestess, or follower of Bacchus.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French bacchante, from Latin bacchari 'celebrate the feast of Bacchus'.

Bac·chus [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] another name for DIONYSUS.

<DERIVATIVES> Bac·chic adj.

<ORIGIN> Latin, from Greek Bakkhos.

Linked entries:

DIONYSUS ■

bac·cy n. CHIEFLY BRIT. informal term for TOBACCO.

Linked entries:

TOBACCO ■

Bach Johann Sebastian (1685-1750), German composer. An exceptional and prolific baroque composer, his compositions range from violin concertos, suites, and the six Brandenburg Concertos (1720-21) to clavier works and sacred cantatas. Large-scale choral works include The Passion according to St. John (1723), The Passion according to St. Matthew (1729), and the Mass in B minor (1733-38). Three of his sons were also well-known composers: J(ohann) C(hristian) Bach, (1735-82), known as the London Bach, J(ohann) C(hristoph) F(riedrich) Bach, (1732-95), known as the Bückeburg Bach, and W(ilhelm) F(riedemann) Bach, (1710-84), known as the Halle Bach.

Bach·a·rach Burt (1929- ), U.S. writer of popular songs. His songs, many of which were written with lyricist Hal David (1921- ), include “Walk On By” (1961), “Alfie” (1966), and “Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head” (1969).

ba·cha·ta n. a style of romantic music originating in the Dominican Republic.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a song in this style.

<ORIGIN> Caribbean Spanish, literally 'a party, good time'.

bach·e·lor n. 1 a man who is not and has never been married: Mark is a confirmed bachelor; one of the country's most eligible bachelors.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ZOOLOGY] a male bird or mammal without a mate, esp. one prevented from breeding by a dominant male.

2 a person who holds an undergraduate degree from a university or college (only in titles or set expressions): he graduated with a bachelor's degree in philosophy; | a Bachelor of Arts.

3 HISTORICAL a young knight serving under another's banner. See also KNIGHT BACHELOR. <ORIGIN> said to be from French bas chevalier, literally 'low knight' (i.e., knight of a low order).

<DERIVATIVES> bach·e·lor·hood n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bacheler; of uncertain origin.

Linked entries:

KNIGHT BACHELOR ■

bach·e·lor a·part·ment n. an apartment occupied by a bachelor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an apartment consisting of a single large room serving as bedroom and living room, with a separate bathroom.

bach·e·lor·ette n. 1 a young unmarried woman.

2 a small bachelor apartment: a bachelorette in a high-rise complex.

bach·e·lor·ette par·ty n. a party given for a woman who is about to get married, typically one attended by women only.

bach·e·lor girl n. an independent, unmarried young woman.

bach·e·lor par·ty n. a party given for a man who is about to get married, typically attended by men only.

bach·e·lor's but·tons plural n. [treated as sing. or pl.] any of a number of ornamental plants that bear small, buttonlike, double flowers, in particular the vivid blue cornflower Centaurea cyanus.

Bach·man Richard see KING^4 .

Linked entries:

KING ■

ba·cil·li·form adj. [CHIEFLY BIOLOGY] rod-shaped.

ba·cil·lus n. (pl. -cil·li ) a disease-causing bacterium.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a rod-shaped bacterium.

<DERIVATIVES> bac·il·lar·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from late Latin, diminutive of Latin baculus 'stick'.

<USAGE>
All bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus are called bacilli, but not all bacteria called bacilli belong to the genus Bacillus.

bac·i·tra·cin n. an antibiotic typically used topically for skin and eye infections.
<INFO>  Bacillus subtilis

back n. 1 the rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips: he lay on his back; Forbes slapped me on the back | [as adj.] back pain.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the corresponding upper surface of an animal's body.

- the spine of a person or animal.

- the part of a chair against which the sitter's back rests.

- the part of a garment that covers a person's back.

- a person's torso or body regarded in terms of wearing clothes: all he owned were the clothes on his back.

- a person's back regarded as carrying a load or bearing an imposition: they wanted the government off their backs.

2 the side or part of something that is away from the spectator or from the direction in which it moves or faces; the rear: at the back of the hotel is a secluded garden; an empty spot in the back of the plane.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in sing.] the position directly behind someone or something: she unbuttoned her dress from the back.

- the side or part of an object opposed to the one that is normally seen or used; the less active, visible, or important part of something: write on the back of a postcard; he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

- the part of a book where the pages are held together by a binding.

3 a player in a field game whose initial position is behind the front line: their backs showed some impressive running and passing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the position taken by such a player.

■ adv. 1 toward the rear; in the opposite direction from the one that one is facing or traveling: she moved back a pace; she walked away without looking back.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- expressing movement of the body into a reclining position: he leaned back in his chair; sit back and relax.

- at a distance away: I thought you were miles back; the officer pushed the crowd back.

- (back of) behind: he knew that other people were back of him.

2 expressing a return to an earlier or normal condition: she put the book back on the shelf; drive to Montreal and back; I went back to sleep; he was given his job back.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fashionable again: sideburns are back.

3 in or into the past: he made his fortune back in 1955.
<SPECIAL USAGE> at a place previously left or mentioned: the folks back home are counting on him.

4 in return: they wrote back to me.

■ v. 1 [trans.] give financial, material, or moral support to: he had a newspaper empire backing him; go up there and tell themI'll back you up. |
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- bet money on (a person or animal) winning a race or contest: he backed the horse at 33-1.

- be in favor of: over 97 percent backed the changes.

- supplement in order to reinforce or strengthen: U.S. troops were backed up by forces from European countries.

2 [trans.] (often be backed) cover the back of (an object) in order to support, protect, or decorate it: a mirror backed with tortoiseshell.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (esp. in popular music) provide musical accompaniment to (a singer or musician): brisk guitar work backed by drums, bass, fiddle, and accordion.

- put a song or piece of music on the less important side of (a recording): the new single is backed with a track from the LP.

3 [intrans.] walk or drive backward: she tried to back away; backing down the stairs | FIGURATIVE the administration backed away from the plan | [trans.] he backed the Mercedes into the yard.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of the wind) change direction counterclockwise around the points of the compass: the wind had backed to the northwest. The opposite of VEER^1 .

- [trans.] [SAILING] put (a sail) aback in order to slow the vessel down.

4 [intrans.] (of a property) have its back adjacent to (a piece of land or body of water): a row of cottages backed on the water; his garage wall backs onto the neighboring property.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] (usu. be backed) lie behind or at the back of: the promenade is backed by lots of cafes.

■ adj. [attrib.] 1 of or at the back of something: the back garden; the back pocket of his jeans.
<SPECIAL USAGE> situated in a remote or subsidiary position: back roads.

2 (esp. of wages or something published or released) from or relating to the past: she was owed back pay.

3 directed toward the rear or in a reversed course: back currents.

4 [PHONETICS] (of a sound) articulated at the back of the mouth.

<PHRASES>
□ at someone's back in pursuit or support of someone.

□ back and fill trim the sails of a vessel so that the wind alternately fills and spills out of them, in order to maneuver in a limited space.
- zigzag or vacillate.

□ back and forth to and fro.

□ someone's back is turned someone's attention is elsewhere: he kissed her quickly, when the landlady's back was turned.

□ the back of (the) beyond a remote or inaccessible place.

□ the back of one's mind used to express that something is in one's mind but is not consciously thought of or remembered: she had a little nagging worry at the back of her mind.

□ back to front BRIT. reversed; backward: the exhausts had been fitted back to front a back-to-front baseball cap.

□ back through the box see BOX^1 .

□ back water reverse the action of the oars while rowing, causing a boat to slow down or stop.

□ back the wrong horse make a wrong or inappropriate choice.

□ behind someone's back without a person's knowledge and in an unfair or dishonorable way: Carla made fun of him behind his back.

□ get (or put) someone's back up make someone annoyed or angry.

□ in back at the back of something, esp. a building: my dad demolished an old shed in back of his barn.

□ know something like the back of one's hand be entirely familiar with a place or route.

□ on one's back in bed recovering from an injury or illness.
- full-length on the ground: he slipped off the heap and landed flat on his back.

□ put one's back into approach (a task) with vigor.

□ turn one's back on ignore (someone) by turning away.
- reject or abandon: she turned her back on her career to devote her life to animals.

□ with one's back to (or up against) the wall in a desperate situation; hard-pressed.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  back down withdraw a claim or assertion in the face of opposition: the contenders backed down from their original pledge.

□  back off draw back from action or confrontation: they backed off from fundamental reform of the system.
- another way of saying BACK DOWN.

□  back out withdraw from a commitment: if he backs out of the deal they'll sue him.

□  back up 1 (of vehicles) form a line due to congestion: the traffic began to back up.

2 (of running water) accumulate behind an obstruction.

□  back something up [COMPUTING] make a spare copy of data or a disk. (usu. be backed up) cause vehicles to form into a queue due to congestion: the traffic was backed up a couple of miles in each direction.

<ORIGIN> Old English bæc, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch and Old Norse bak. The adverb use dates from late Middle English and is a shortening of ABACK.

Linked entries:

VEER ■

BOX ■

ABACK ■

back·ache n. a prolonged pain in one's back.

back al·ley n. a narrow passage behind or between buildings.

■ adj. [attrib.] secret or illegal, as might be found in a back alley: a back-alley drug deal.

back·bar n. a structure behind a bar counter, with shelves for holding bottles and other supplies.

Back Bay a historic residential and commercial district in western Boston, Massachusetts, on land along the Charles River that was reclaimed in the 19th century.

back·beat n. [MUSIC] a strong accent on one of the normally unaccented beats of the bar, used esp. in jazz and popular music.

back·bench n. (in the UK) the benches behind the front benches on either side of the House of Commons, occupied by members of parliament who do not hold office in the government or opposition: [as adj.] backbench MPs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the backbenches) these members of parliament: the support of the Tory backbenches.

<DERIVATIVES> back·bench·er n.

back·bit·ing n. malicious talk about someone who is not present.

<DERIVATIVES> back·bite v. back·bit·er n.

back·board n. a board placed at or forming the back of something, such as a collage or piece of electronic equipment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BASKETBALL] an upright board behind the basket, off which the ball may rebound.

- a board used to support or straighten a person's back, esp. after an accident.

back·bone n. the series of vertebrae extending from the skull to the pelvis; the spine.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE the chief support of a system or organization; the mainstay: these firms are the backbone of our industrial sector.

- FIGURATIVE strength of character; firmness: he has the backbone to see us through this difficulty.

- the spine of a book.

- [BIOCHEMISTRY] the main chain of a polymeric molecule.

back-break·ing (also back·break·ing) adj. [attrib.] (esp. of manual labor) physically demanding: a day's back-breaking work.

back burn·er n. a state of inaction or suspension; a position of relatively little importance: priorities that have been placed on the back burner year after year.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be back-burnered) postpone consideration of or action on: a planned test of the new ale has been back-burnered.

back·cast [FISHING] n. a backward swing of a fishing line preparatory to casting.

■ v. (past and past part. -cast) [intrans.] make such a backward swing.

back cat·a·log (also back cat·a·logue) n. all the works previously produced by a recording artist or record company.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar archived collection of movies or television programs.

back·chan·nel (also back chan·nel) n. 1 a secondary or covert route for the passage of information: the agency offered a reliable backchannel to Washington | [as adj.] backchannel briefings.

2 [PSYCHOLOGY] a sound or gesture made to give continuity to a conversation by a person who is listening to another.

back·chat n. another term for BACK TALK.

Linked entries:

BACK TALK ■

back·coun·try n. (the backcountry) sparsely inhabited rural areas; wilderness: exploring the backcountry on horseback | [as adj.] backcountry skiing.

back·court n. (in tennis, basketball, and similar games) the part of each side of the court nearest the back wall or back boundary line.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the defensive players in a basketball team.

back·cross [GENETICS] v. [trans.] cross (a hybrid) with one of its parents or an organism with the same genetic characteristics as one of the parents: [as adj.] (backcrossed) after five generations the backcrossed dogs were indistinguishable from purebred dalmatians | [intrans.] they backcrossed with red-flowered parents to reinforce the effect.

■ n. an instance of backcrossing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the product of such a cross.

back·date v. [trans.] put an earlier date to (a document or agreement) than the actual one: they backdated the sale documents to evade a court order.

back door n. the door or entrance at the back of a building.

■ adj. (also back·door) [attrib.] (of an activity) clandestine; underhanded: backdoor private deals.

back·door sell·ing n. the selling by wholesalers directly to the public, seen as detrimental to retailers.

back·down n. an act of backing down.

back·draft (BRIT. back·draught) n. 1 a current of air or water that flows backward down a chimney, pipe, etc.

2 a phenomenon in which a fire that has consumed all available oxygen suddenly explodes when more oxygen is made available, typically because a door or window has been opened.

<DERIVATIVES> back·draft·ing n.

back·drop n. a painted cloth hung at the back of a theater stage as part of the scenery.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE the setting or background for a scene, event, or situation: the conference took place against a backdrop of increasing diplomatic activity.

■ v. (-dropped, -drop·ping ) provide a background or setting for: an ornate fountain, and at its center, backdropped with golden spray, a statue of a young girl.

back end n. the end of something that is farthest from the front or the working end: the back end of the car swung around.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY BRIT. the latter part of a period of time or process: the book takes us up to the back end of last year.

■ adj. [attrib.] 1 relating to the end or outcome of a project, process, or investment: many annuities have back-end surrender charges.

2 [COMPUTING] denoting a subordinate processor or program, not directly accessed by the user, which performs a specialized function on behalf of a main processor or software system: a back-end database server.

back·er n. a person, institution, or country that supports something, esp. financially: $3.3 million was provided by the project's backers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who bets on a horse.

back-fanged adj. [ZOOLOGY] (of a snake such as a boomslang) having the rear one or two pairs of teeth modified as fangs, with grooves to conduct the venom. Compare with FRONT-FANGED.

Linked entries:

FRONT-FANGED ■

back fat n. fat on the back of a meat-producing animal.

back·field n. [FOOTBALL] the area of play behind either the offensive or defensive line.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the players positioned in this area.

back·fill v. [trans.] refill (an excavated hole) with the material dug out of it: they backfill the hole to street level.

■ n. material used for backfilling.

back·fire v. [intrans.] 1 (of an engine) undergo a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust: a car backfired in the road.

2 (of a plan or action) rebound adversely on the originator; have the opposite effect to what was intended: overzealous publicity backfired on her.

■ n. 1 a mistimed explosion in the cylinder or exhaust of a vehicle or engine.

2 a fire set intentionally to arrest the progress of an approaching fire by creating a burned area in its path, thus depriving the fire of fuel.

back·flip n. a backward somersault done in the air with the arms and legs stretched out straight.

back fo·cus n. [PHOTOGRAPHY] the distance between the back of a lens and the image of an object at infinity.

back-for·ma·tion n. a word that is formed from an already existing word from which it appears to be a derivative, often by removal of a suffix (e.g., laze from lazy and edit from editor).
<SPECIAL USAGE> the process by which such words are formed.

back·gam·mon n. a board game in which two players move their pieces around twenty-four triangular points according to the throw of dice, the winner being the first to remove all their pieces from the board.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the most complete form of win in this game.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from BACK + GAMMON^2 .

Linked entries:

BACK ■

GAMMON ■

back·ground n. 1 [in sing.] the area or scenery behind the main object of contemplation, esp. when perceived as a framework for it: the house stands against a background of sheltering trees.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the part of a picture or design that serves as a setting to the main figures or objects, or that appears furthest from the viewer: the background shows a landscape of domes and minarets; the word is written in white on a red background.

- a position or function that is not prominent or conspicuous: after that evening, Athens remained in the background.

2 the general scene, surroundings, or circumstances: the black cab blends beautifully into the city background; | the events occurred against a background of continuing civil war.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the circumstances, facts, or events that influence, cause, or explain something: the political and economic background | [as adj.] background information.

- a person's education, experience, and social circumstances: she has a background in nursing; a mix of students from many different backgrounds.

3 a persistent level of some phenomenon or process, against which particular events or measurements are distinguished, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [PHYSICS] low-intensity radiation from radioisotopes present in the natural environment.

- unwanted signals, such as noise in the reception or recording of sound.

4 [COMPUTING] used to describe tasks or processes running on a computer that do not need input from the user: programs can be left running in the background | [as adj.] background processing.

back·ground·er n. an official briefing or handout giving background information: their departure had to explained by aides in a backgrounder the next day.

back·ground mu·sic n. music intended as an unobtrusive accompaniment to some activity, such as dining in a restaurant, or to provide atmosphere in a movie.

back·ground ra·di·a·tion n. [ASTRONOMY] the uniform microwave radiation remaining from the big bang. See also BIG BANG.

Linked entries:

BIG BANG ■

back·hand n. 1 (in tennis and other racket sports) a stroke played with the back of the hand facing in the direction of the stroke, typically starting with the arm crossing the body: he drove a backhand into the net | [as adj.] a backhand volley.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a blow or stroke of any kind made in this way, or in a direction opposite to the usual: ground balls hit to my backhand | [as adj.] he made a backhand stop of the ball.

2 handwriting that slopes to the left.

■ v. [trans.] strike with a backhanded blow or stroke: in a flash, he backhanded Ace across the jaw.

back·hand·ed adj. made with the back of the hand facing in the direction of movement: a backhanded pass.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE indirect; ambiguous or insincere: coming from me, teasing is a backhanded compliment.

■ adv. with the back of the hand or with the hand turned backward: Frank hit him backhanded.

back·hand·er n. 1 a backhand stroke or shot in a game.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a blow made with the back of the hand.

2 BRIT., INFORMAL a secret payment, typically one made illegally; a bribe.

back·haul n. 1 a cargo carried on a return journey.

2 an unedited video transmission via satellite or other means to a network or station.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a frequency on which such transmissions occur.

■ v. carry (freight) on a return journey.

back·hoe (BRIT. also backhoe loader) n. a mechanical excavator that draws toward itself a bucket attached to a hinged boom.

back·ing n. 1 support or help: he accepted the backing of the police group; they had financial backing from local firms.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a layer of material that forms, protects, or strengthens the back of something: the fabric has a special backing for durability.

- (esp. in popular music) the music or singing that accompanies the main singer or soloist: the trio provided backing to some of the most popular vocalists of the day | [as adj.] backing vocals.

2 [PHONETICS] the movement of the place of formation of a sound toward the back of the mouth.

back·ing track n. a recorded musical accompaniment, esp. for a soloist to play or sing along with.

back is·sue n. a past issue of a journal or magazine.

back·land n. 1 (also back·lands) another term for BACKCOUNTRY.

2 land behind or beyond an area that is built on or otherwise developed.

Linked entries:

BACKCOUNTRY ■

back·lash n. 1 [in sing.] a strong and adverse reaction by a large number of people, esp. to a social or political development: a public backlash against racism.

2 recoil arising between parts of a mechanism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> degree of play between parts of a mechanism.

back·less adj. (of a woman's garment) cut low at the back: a backless lycra dress.

back·light n. illumination from behind.

<DERIVATIVES> back·light·ing n..

back·list n. a publisher's list of older books still in print.

back·lit adj. (esp. in photography or of a graphic display) illuminated from behind: she was backlit by the morning sun; a backlit LCD screen.

back·load v. [trans.] (usu. be backloaded) place more charges at the later stages of (a financial agreement) than at the earlier stages.

back·log n. an accumulation of something, esp. uncompleted work or matters that need to be dealt with: the company took on extra staff to clear the backlog of work.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a reserve; reserves: backlogs of experience.

back·lot n. an outdoor area in a movie studio where large exterior sets are made and some outside scenes are filmed.

back num·ber n. an issue of a periodical earlier than the current one.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a person or thing seen as old-fashioned.

back·pack n. a bag, often supported by a metal frame, with shoulder straps that allow it to be carried on someone's back. A backpack is typically made of a strong, waterproof material and carried by hikers.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a knapsack used by students as a bookbag, or any small bag carried on the back.

- a load or piece of equipment carried on a person's back: a two-tank scuba backpack.

■ v. [intrans.] [usu. as n.] (backpacking) travel or hike carrying one's belongings in a backpack: a week's backpacking in the Pyrenees; he has backpacked around the world.

<DERIVATIVES> back·pack·er n.

back·pay n. payment for work done in the past that was withheld at the time, usually because of a dispute: Hickman should be provided backpay plus any expenses.

<USAGE>
Though still somewhat more frequent as an open compound that most dictionaries have not defined, backpay is now gaining considerable ground as a closed compound, with an attendant shift in stress to the first syllable.

back·ped·al v. (-ped·aled, -ped·al·ing; BRIT. -ped·alled, -ped·al·ling) [intrans.] move the pedals of a bicycle backward in order to brake.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- move hastily backward: backpedaling furiously, he flipped a perfect pass.

- reverse one's previous action or opinion: you've criticized him for backpedaling on budget reform.

back·plane n. a board to which the main circuit boards of a computer may be connected and that provides connections between them.

back·plate n. a plate placed at or forming the back of something.

back-pro·jec·tion n. another term for REAR PROJECTION.

Linked entries:

REAR PROJECTION ■

back·rest n. a support for a person's back when the person is seated.

back·ro·nym n. a fanciful expansion of an existing acronym or word, such as "port out, starboard home" for posh.

<ORIGIN> blend of back and acronym.

back room n. a place where secret, administrative, or supporting work is done: this would lead to weak government and deals in back rooms | [as adj.] back-room strategists.

back·saw n. a type of saw with a reinforced back edge that keeps the thin blade from being distorted.

back·scat·ter n. [PHYSICS] deflection of radiation or particles through an angle of 180°.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- radiation or particles that have been deflected in this way.

- [PHOTOGRAPHY] light from a flashgun or other light source that is deflected directly into a lens: backscatter causes an underexposed picture with a blizzard effect.

■ v. [trans.] [PHYSICS] deflect (radiation or particles) through an angle of 180°: [as adj.] (backscattered) backscattered sound reaches the sonar receiver.

back·scratch·er n. a rod terminating in a clawed hand for scratching one's own back.

back·scratch·ing n. the mutual providing of favors or services, esp. when the legitimacy of such dealings is doubtful: the friendship thrives on little more than mutual backscratching.

back seat (also back·seat) n. a seat at the back of a vehicle.

<PHRASES> take a back seat take or be given a less important position or role: printed words will take a back seat to TV and video screens.

back·seat driv·er n. a passenger in a car who gives the driver unwanted advice.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who is eager to advise without responsibility.

<DERIVATIVES> back·seat driv·ing n.

back·shift n. [GRAMMAR] the changing of a present tense in direct speech to a past tense in reported speech (or a past tense to pluperfect).

back·side n. INFORMAL a person's buttocks or rump.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the rear side or view of a thing: the backside of the hill.

■ adj. (of a maneuver in surfing and other board sports) done clockwise for a regular rider and counterclockwise for a goofy rider.

back slang n. slang in which words are spoken as though they were spelled backward (e.g., redraw for warder).

back·slap·ping n. the action of effusively congratulating or encouraging someone, typically by slapping a person's back: effusive displays of backslapping and arm-punching.

■ adj. vigorously hearty: those cheerful, backslapping journalists.

<DERIVATIVES> back·slap v. & n. back·slap·per n.

back·slash n. [COMPUTING] a backward-sloping diagonal line (\), used to separate file and folder names in a path statement.

back·slide v. (past -slid; past part. -slid or -slid·den ) [intrans.] relapse into bad ways or error: converted vegetarians backslide to T-bones | [as n.] (backsliding) there would be no backsliding from the administration's sound policies.

<DERIVATIVES> back·slid·er n.

back·space n. 1 a key on a typewriter or computer keyboard that causes the carriage or cursor to move backward.

2 a device on a video recorder or camcorder that produces a slight backward run between shots to eliminate disturbance caused by the interruption of the scanning process.

■ v. [intrans.] move a typewriter carriage or computer cursor back one or more spaces.

back·spin n. a backward spin given to a moving ball, causing it to stop more quickly or rebound at a steeper angle on hitting a surface.

back·splash n. a panel behind a sink or stove that protects the wall from splashes.

back·stab·bing n. the action or practice of criticizing someone in a treacherous manner while feigning friendship.

■ adj. (of a person) behaving in such a way.

<DERIVATIVES> back·stab v. back·stab·ber n.

back·stage n. the area in a theater out of view of the audience, esp. in the wings or dressing rooms: backstage was the scene of pleasant pandemonium.

■ adj. of, relating to, or situated in the area behind the stage in a theater: a backstage tour of the opera house.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE kept from public scrutiny; secret: backstage deals.

■ adv. in or to the backstage area in a theater: I went backstage after the show.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE not known to the public; in secret: we planned our strategies backstage.

back·stairs plural n. stairs at the back or side of a building.

■ adj. [attrib.] underhanded or clandestine: I won't make backstairs deals with politicians.

back·stay n. a stay on a sailing ship leading downward and aft from the top or upper part of a mast.

back·stitch n. sewing with overlapping stitches.

■ v. sew using backstitches: [trans.] you can simply backstitch the edges | [intrans.] this method avoids having to backstitch through open loops.

back·stop n. a person or thing placed at the rear of or behind something as a barrier, support, or reinforcement: bullets volleyed into the backstop of a flood-control canal.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BASEBALL] a high fence or similar structure behind the home plate area.

- INFORMAL [BASEBALL] a catcher: he tore the chest protector completely off the big Yankee backstop.

- FIGURATIVE an emergency precaution or last resort: the human operator has to act as the ultimate backstop when things go badly wrong.

■ v. [trans.] support or reinforce: the founding banks were backstopping the loans.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [HOCKEY] act as goaltender for: the man who backstopped the Edmonton Oilers.

back·sto·ry n. (pl. -ries) a history or background created for a fictional character in a motion picture or television program.
<SPECIAL USAGE> similar background information about a real person or thing that promotes fuller understanding of it:
the little-known backstory about the theory of evolution.

back·street n. a minor street remote from a main road: the fetid backstreets of the shanty town | [as adj.] a backstreet garage.

■ adj. [attrib.] operating or performed secretly, and typically illegally: a loophole that allowed backstreet chemists to make methamphetamine.

back·stretch n. the part of a racecourse that is farthest from the grandstand and parallel to the homestretch.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the area adjacent to a racetrack where the horses are stabled and stable employees have temporary living accommodations.

back·stroke n. [in sing.] a swimming stroke performed on the back with the arms lifted alternately out of the water in a backward circular motion and the legs extended and kicking: I concentrated on the backstroke most of the time | [as adj.] I won the backstroke and breaststroke events | [as adv.] they would swim freestyle and then backstroke.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the backstroke) a race, typically of a specified length or kind, in which such a style of swimming is used: he was fifth in the 200-meter backstroke.

<DERIVATIVES> back·strok·er n.

back·swept adj. swept, slanted, or sloped backward: his backswept hair.

back·swim·mer n. a predatory aquatic bug that swims on its back using its long back legs as oars. It is able to capture large prey such as tadpoles and fish. See also WATER BOATMAN.
<INFO>  Family Notonectidae, suborder Heteroptera: Notonecta and other genera.

Linked entries:

WATER BOATMAN ■

back·swing n. a backward swing, esp. of an arm or of a golf club when about to hit a ball.

back·sword n. a sword with only one cutting edge.

back talk (also back·talk) n. INFORMAL rude or impertinent remarks made in reply to someone in authority: no back talk, I'm warning you.

back-to-back adj. consecutive: back-to-back homers in a major league baseball game.

■ adv. (back to back) 1 (of two people) facing in opposite directions with backs touching: they sat on the ground, leaning back to back.

2 consecutively; in succession: the games were played back to back.

back-to-na·ture adj. [attrib.] advocating or relating to reversion to a simpler way of life: a back-to-nature lifestyle.

back·track v. 1 [intrans.] retrace one's steps: she had to bypass two closer farms and backtrack to them later | FIGURATIVE to backtrack a little, the case is a complex one.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE reverse one's previous action or opinion: the unions have had to backtrack on their demands.

2 [trans.] pursue, trace, or monitor: he was able to backtrack the buck to a ridge nearby.

back·up n. 1 help or support: no police backup could be expected.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person or thing that can be called on if necessary; a reserve: I've got a security force as backup | the filter is an excellent backup to other systems | [as adj.] a backup generator.

2 [COMPUTING] the procedure for making extra copies of data in case the original is lost or damaged: automatic online backup | [as adj.] a backup system.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a copy of this type.

3 an overflow caused by a stoppage, as in water or automobile traffic: there are long backups on all routes.

back·up light n. a light at the rear of a vehicle that comes on when the vehicle is in reverse gear.

back·ward adj. 1 [attrib.] directed behind or to the rear: she left the room without a backward glance; a gradual backward movement.
<SPECIAL USAGE> looking toward the past, rather than being progressive; retrograde: he said the decision was a backward step.

2 (of a person) having learning difficulties: a lively child but a bit backward.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having made less than normal progress: economically backward countries.

■ adv. (also back·wards) 1 (of a movement) away from one's front; in the direction of one's back: he took a step backward; Harry suddenly fell backward into a somersault.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- in reverse of the usual direction or order: counting backward; baseball caps turned backward.

- with the rear facing forward: the canoe turned around backward.

2 toward or into the past: a loving look backward at his early life.
<SPECIAL USAGE> toward or into a worse state: a giant step backward for child-centered education.

<PHRASES>
□ backward and forward in both directions alternately; to and fro.

□ bend (or lean) over backward to do something INFORMAL make every effort, esp. to be fair or helpful: Jensen bent over backward to be fair.

□ know something backward (and forward) be entirely familiar with something.

<DERIVATIVES> back·ward·ly adv. back·ward·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from earlier abackward, from ABACK.

<USAGE>
In U.S. English, the adverb form is sometimes spelled backwards ( the ladder fell backwards), but the adjective is almost always backward ( a backward glance). Directional words using the suffix -ward tend to have no s ending in U.S. English, although backwards is more common than afterwards, towards, or forwards. The s ending often (but not always) appears in the phrases backwards and forwards and bending over backwards. In British English, the spelling backwards is more common than backward.

Linked entries:

ABACK ■

back·ward com·pat·i·ble (also back·wards com·pat·i·ble) adj. (of computer hardware or software) able to be used with an older piece of hardware or software without special adaptation or modification.

<DERIVATIVES> back·ward com·pat·i·bil·i·ty n.

back·wash n. the motion of receding waves.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a backward current of water or air created by the motion of an object through it: the backwash of a truck on the highway.

- FIGURATIVE repercussions: the backwash of the Cuban missile crisis.

■ v. [trans.] clean (a filter) by reversing the flow of fluid through it.

back·wa·ter n. a part of a river not reached by the current, where the water is stagnant: the eels inhabit backwaters.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an isolated or peaceful place: a sleepy Midwest backwater.

- a place or condition in which no development or progress is taking place: the country remained an economic backwater.

back·wind [SAILING] v. [trans.] (of a sail or vessel) deflect a flow of air into the back of (another sail or vessel).

■ n. a flow of air deflected into the back of a sail.

back·woods plural n. [often as adj.] remote uncleared forest land: backwoods homesteads.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a remote or sparsely inhabited region, esp. one considered backward.

<DERIVATIVES> back·woods·man n.

back·yard n. 1 a yard behind a house or other building, typically surrounded by a fence: a tree-shaded succession of backyards | [as adj.] a casual backyard party.

2 the area close to where one lives, or the territory close to a particular country, regarded with proprietorial concern: anything was preferable to a nuclear dump in their own backyard.

Ba·co·lod a city in the central Philippines, a port on the northwestern coast of the island of Negros; pop. 364,180.

Ba·con 1 Francis, Baron Verulam and Viscount St. Albans (1561-1626), English statesman and philosopher. As a scientist he advocated the inductive method. Notable works: The Advancement of Learning (1605) and Novum Organum (1620).

Ba·con 2 Francis (1909-92), Irish painter. His work chiefly depicts human figures in grotesquely distorted postures, their features blurred or erased.

Ba·con 3 Roger (c.1214-94), English philosopher, scientist, and Franciscan monk. Most notable for his work in the field of optics, he emphasized the need for an empirical approach to scientific study.

ba·con n. cured meat from the back or sides of a pig.

<PHRASES>
□ bring home the bacon INFORMAL
1 supply material provision or support; earn a living.

2 achieve success.

□ save someone's bacon see SAVE^1 .

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from a Germanic word meaning 'ham, flitch'; related to BACK.

Linked entries:

SAVE ■

BACK ■

Ba·co·ni·an adj. of or relating to Sir Francis Bacon or his inductive method of reasoning and philosophy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or denoting the theory that Bacon wrote the plays attributed to Shakespeare.

■ n. an adherent of Bacon's philosophical system.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a supporter of the theory that Bacon wrote the plays attributed to Shakespeare.

bac·te·re·mi·a (BRIT. bac·te·rae·m·ia) n. [MEDICINE] the presence of bacteria in the blood.

<DERIVATIVES> bacteremic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from BACTERIUM + -EMIA.

Linked entries:

BACTERIUM ■

-EMIA ■

bac·te·ri·a plural form of BACTERIUM.

<USAGE>
See usage at BACTERIUM.

Linked entries:

BACTERIUM ■

BACTERIUM ■

bac·te·ri·cide n. a substance that kills bacteria.

<DERIVATIVES> bac·te·ri·cid·al adj.

bacterio- (also bacteri-; also bacter- before a vowel) comb. form representing BACTERIUM.

Linked entries:

BACTERIUM ■

bac·te·ri·o·cin n. [BIOLOGY] a protein produced by bacteria of one strain and active against those of a closely related strain.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from French bactériocine, from Greek 'small cane' + a shortened form of COLICIN.

Linked entries:

COLICIN ■

bac·te·ri·o·log·i·cal adj. [attrib.] of or relating to bacteriology or bacteria.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or denoting germ warfare.

<DERIVATIVES> bac·te·ri·o·log·ic adj. bac·te·ri·o·log·i·cal·ly adv.

bac·te·ri·ol·o·gy n. the study of bacteria.

<DERIVATIVES> bac·te·ri·ol·o·gist n.

bac·te·ri·ol·y·sis n. [BIOLOGY] the rupture of bacterial cells, esp. by an antibody.

<DERIVATIVES> bac·te·ri·o·lyt·ic adj.

bac·te·ri·o·phage n. [BIOLOGY] a virus that parasitizes a bacterium by infecting it and reproducing inside it.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from BACTERIUM + Greek phagein 'eat'.

Linked entries:

BACTERIUM ■

bac·te·ri·o·rho·dop·sin n. a protein pigment in the bacterium Halobacterium halobium that when illuminated transports protons across the cytoplasmic membrane in large numbers.

bac·te·ri·o·stat n. a substance that prevents the multiplying of bacteria without destroying them.

<DERIVATIVES> bac·te·ri·o·sta·sis n. bac·te·ri·o·stat·ic adj. bac·te·ri·o·stat·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from BACTERIUM + Greek statos 'standing'.

Linked entries:

BACTERIUM ■

bac·te·ri·um n. (pl. -te·ri·a ) a member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms that have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus, including some that can cause disease.

Bacteria are widely distributed in soil, water, and air, and on or in the tissues of plants and animals. Formerly included in the plant kingdom, they are now classified separately (as prokaryotes). They play a vital role in global ecology, as the chemical changes they bring about include those of organic decay and nitrogen fixation. Much modern biochemical knowledge has been gained from the study of bacteria because they grow easily and reproduce rapidly in laboratory cultures.

<DERIVATIVES> bac·te·ri·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek , diminutive of 'staff, cane' (because the first ones to be discovered were rod-shaped). Compare with BACILLUS.

<USAGE>
Bacteria is the plural form (derived from Latin) of bacterium. Like any other plural, it should be used with the plural form of the verb: the bacteria causing salmonella are killed by thorough cooking, not the bacteria . . . is killed . . . . However, the unfamiliarity of the form means that bacteria is often mistakenly treated as a singular form, as in the example above.

Linked entries:

BACILLUS ■

bac·te·ri·u·ri·a n. [MEDICINE] the presence of bacteria in the urine.

bac·te·rize v. [trans.] (usu. be bacterized) treat with bacteria.

<DERIVATIVES> bac·te·ri·za·tion n.

bac·te·roid adj. of the nature of or resembling a bacterium.

■ n. a bacteroid organism or structure, esp. a modified cell formed by a symbiotic bacterium in a root nodule of a leguminous plant.

Bac·tri·a an ancient country in central Asia, corresponding to the northern part of modern Afghanistan.

<DERIVATIVES> Bac·tri·an adj. & n.

Bac·tri·an cam·el n. the two-humped camel, which has been domesticated but is still found wild in central Asia.
<INFO>  Camelus bactrianus (formerly ferus)), family Camelidae.

bac·u·lo·vi·rus n. [BIOLOGY] a member of a family of DNA viruses infecting only invertebrate animals. Some have a very specific insect host and may be used in biological pest control.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: from Latin baculum 'rod, stick' + VIRUS.

Linked entries:

VIRUS ■

bac·u·lum n. (pl. -la ) another term for OS PENIS.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: modern Latin.

Linked entries:

OS PENIS ■

bad adj. (worse ; worst ) 1 of poor quality; inferior or defective: a bad diet; bad eyesight.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) not able to do something well; incompetent: I'm so bad at names; a bad listener.

2 unpleasant or unwelcome: bad news; bad weather.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- unsatisfactory or unfortunate: bad luck | [as n.] (the bad) taking the good with the bad.

- (of an unwelcome thing) serious; severe: bad headaches; a bad crash; a bad mistake.

- unfavorable; adverse: bad reviews.

- harmful: soap was bad for his face.

- not suitable: morning was a bad time to ask Andy about anything.

3 (of food) decayed; putrid: everything in the fridge would go bad.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of the atmosphere) polluted; unhealthy: bad air.

4 (of parts of the body) injured, diseased, or causing pain: a bad back.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as complement] (of a person) unwell: I feel bad.

5 [as complement] regretful, guilty, or ashamed about something: working mothers who feel bad about leaving their children.

6 morally depraved; wicked: the bad guys; bad language; a bad reputation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> naughty; badly behaved: what a bad girl; bad behavior.

7 worthless; not valid: he ran up 87 bad checks.

8 (bad·der, bad·dest) INFORMAL good; excellent: they want the baddest, best-looking Corvette there is.

■ adv. INFORMAL badly: he beat her up real bad.

<PHRASES>
□ come to a bad end see END.

□ from bad to worse into an even worse state: the country's going from bad to worse.

□ in a bad way ill: Sammy shivered. He was in a bad way.
- in trouble: the fleet was in a bad way, mainly due to a shortage of spares.

□ not (or not so) bad INFORMAL fairly good: she discovered he wasn't so bad after all.

□ to the bad to ruin: I hate to see you going to the bad.
- in deficit: he was $80 to the bad.

□ too bad INFORMAL used to indicate that something is regrettable but now beyond retrieval: too bad, but that's the way it is.

<DERIVATIVES> bad·dish adj. bad·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: perhaps representing Old English 'hermaphrodite, womanish man'.

<USAGE>
Confusion in the use of bad versus badly usually has to do with verbs called copulas, such as feel or seem. Thus, standard usage calls for I feel bad, not I feel badly. As a precise speaker or writer would explain, I feel badly means 'I do not have a good sense of touch.'

See also usage at GOOD.

Linked entries:

END ■

GOOD ■

bad·ass INFORMAL n. a tough, aggressive, or uncooperative person: one of them is a real badass, the other's pretty friendly.

■ adj. 1 tough or aggressive: a strange fellow with a badass temper.
<SPECIAL USAGE> particularly bad or severe: some badass virus I'd caught at sea.

2 formidable; excellent: this was one badass camera.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from the adjective BAD + ASS^2 .

Linked entries:

BAD ■

ASS ■

bad blood n. ill feeling: there has always been bad blood between these families.

bad break n. INFORMAL a piece of bad luck: a weird coincidence and a bad break.

bad breath n. unpleasant-smelling breath; halitosis.

bad debt n. a debt that cannot be recovered.

bad·de·ley·ite n. a mineral consisting largely of zirconium dioxide, ranging from colorless to yellow, brown, or black.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after Joseph Baddeley, English traveler, + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ITE ■

bad·der·locks plural n. CHIEFLY SCOTTISH an edible seaweed with a long greenish frond and prominent midrib, occurring in northern Europe.
<INFO>  Alaria esculenta, class Phaeophyceae.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: perhaps from Balderlocks, based on the name of the god BALDER.

Linked entries:

BALDER ■

bad·dy (also bad·die) INFORMAL n. (pl. -dies) a villain or criminal in a story, movie, etc.

bade past of BID^2 .

Linked entries:

BID ■

bad egg n. see EGG^1 (sense 2).

Linked entries:

EGG ■

Ba·den a spa town in eastern Austria, south of Vienna; pop. 24,000. It is noted for its warm mineral springs .

Ba·den-Ba·den a spa town in the Black Forest in southwestern Germany; pop. 48,700.

Ba·den-Pow·ell Robert (Stephenson Smyth), 1st Baron Baden-Powell of Gilwell (1857-1941), English soldier and founder of the Boy Scout movement.

Ba·den-Würt·tem·berg a state of western Germany; capital, Stuttgart.

bad faith n. intent to deceive: the owners have bargained in bad faith.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in existentialist philosophy) refusal to confront facts or choices.

bad form n. an offense against current social conventions: it was considered bad form to talk about money.

badge n. a distinctive emblem worn as a mark of office, membership, achievement, licensed employment, etc.: name badges; | a Girl Scout badge.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a distinguishing object or emblem: a large gold key hung around his neck as his badge of office.

- FIGURATIVE a feature or sign that reveals a particular condition or quality: my jeans had patches on the knees, like badges of courage marking encounters with barbed wire.

■ v. [trans.] mark with a badge or other distinguishing emblem.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin.

badge en·gi·neer·ing n. the practice of marketing a motor vehicle under two or more brand names.

badg·er n. 1 a heavily built omnivorous nocturnal mammal of the weasel family, typically having a gray and black coat.
<INFO>  Several genera and species in the family Mustelidae, in particular the Eurasian Meles meles, which has a white head with two black stripes, and the North American Taxidea taxus, with a white stripe on the head.

2 (Badger) INFORMAL a native of Wisconsin.

■ v. [trans.] ask (someone) repeatedly and annoyingly for something; pester: journalists badgered him about the deals; Tom had finally badgered her into going | [trans.] his daughter was always badgering him to let her join.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: perhaps from BADGE, with reference to its distinctive head markings. The verb sense (late 18th cent.) originates from the formerly popular sport of badger baiting.

Linked entries:

BADGE ■

Badg·er State a nickname for the state of WISCONSIN^1 .

Linked entries:

WISCONSIN ■

bad hair day n. INFORMAL a day on which everything seems to go wrong, characterized as a day on which one's hair is particularly unmanageable.

bad·i·nage n. humorous or witty conversation: cultured badinage about art and life.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from badiner 'to joke', from badin 'fool', based on Provençal badar 'gape'.

bad·lands plural n. extensive tracts of heavily eroded, uncultivable land with little vegetation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Badlands) a barren plateau region of the western U.S., mainly in southwestern South Dakota and northwestern Nebraska, south of the Black Hills, noted for its harsh terrain.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (originally U.S.): translation of French mauvaises terres.

bad·ly adv. (worse , worst ) 1 in an unsatisfactory, inadequate, or unsuccessful way: a badly managed company; the war was going badly.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- in an unfavorable way: try not to think badly of me.

- in an unacceptable or unpleasant way: she realized she was behaving rather badly.

2 to a great or serious degree; severely: the building was badly damaged by fire; I wanted a baby so badly; things had begun to go badly wrong.

■ adj. INFORMAL [as complement] guilty or regretful: I felt badly about my unfriendliness of the previous evening.

<PHRASES> badly off in an unfavorable situation: her belief that children are worse off when their parents divorce.
- having little money.

<USAGE>
See usage at BAD.

Linked entries:

BAD ■

bad·min·ton n. a game with rackets in which a shuttlecock is played back and forth across a net.

<ORIGIN> named after Badminton, a country home in southwestern England.

bad-mouth v. [trans.] INFORMAL criticize (someone or something); speak disloyally of: no one wants to hire an individual who bad-mouths a prior employer.

bad news n. INFORMAL an unpleasant or undesirable person or thing: dry weather is always bad news for gardeners.

bad-tem·pered adj. easily annoyed or made angry: in a heat wave, many people become increasingly bad-tempered.
<SPECIAL USAGE> characterized by anger or ungraciousness: Mary was feeling very bad-tempered; a bad-tempered exchange.

<DERIVATIVES> bad-tem·pered·ly adv.

Bae·de·ker Karl (1801-59), German publisher of travel guidebooks. He is remembered chiefly for the series of guidebooks to which he gave his name and which are still published.

Bae·ke·land Leo Hendrik (1863-1944), U.S. chemist and inventor; born in Belgium. He invented and developed the synthetic resin Bakelite in 1907.

Baer Karl Ernest von (1792-1876), German biologist. He discovered that ova are particles within the ovarian follicles, and he formulated the principle that general characters appear before special ones do in the developing embryo. His studies were used by Darwin in the theory of evolution.

Bae·yer Adolph Johann Friedrich Wilhelm von (1835-1917), German organic chemist. He prepared the first barbiturates, investigated dyes, and synthesized indigo. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1905).

Ba·ez Joan (1941- ), U.S. folk singer and civil rights activist. She is best known for her performances at civil rights demonstrations in the early 1960s. Notable albums: Any Day Now (1968) and Diamonds and Rust (1975).

Baf·fin William (c.1584-1622), English navigator and explorer, the pilot of several expeditions in search of the Northwest Passage 1612-16. He discovered the largest island of the Canadian Arctic in 1616; this and the strait between it and Greenland are named after him.

Baf·fin Bay an extension of the North Atlantic Ocean between Baffin Island and Greenland, linked to the Arctic Ocean by three passages. It is largely ice-bound in winter.

Baf·fin Is·land a large island in the Canadian Arctic Ocean, situated at the mouth of Hudson Bay. It is separated from Greenland by Baffin Bay.

baf·fle v. [trans.] 1 totally bewilder or perplex: an unexplained occurrence that baffled everyone | [as adj.] (baffling) the baffling murder of her sister. See note at THWART.

2 restrain or regulate (a fluid, a sound, etc.): to baffle the noise further, I pad the gunwales.

■ n. a device used to restrain the flow of a fluid, gas, or loose material or to prevent the spreading of sound or light in a particular direction.

<DERIVATIVES> baf·fle·ment n. (in sense 1 of the verb). baf·fling·ly adv. (in sense 1 of the verb).

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'cheat, deceive'): perhaps related to French bafouer 'ridicule' or obsolete French beffer 'mock, deceive'.

baf·fle·gab n. INFORMAL incomprehensible or pretentious language, esp. bureaucratic jargon: the smooth chairman who had elevated bafflegab to an art form.

bag n. 1 a container of flexible material with an opening at the top, used for carrying things: brown paper bags; a shopping bag.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an amount held by such a container: a bag of apples.

- a thing resembling a bag in shape: this year's sweater is a big bag of natural Shetland.

- a woman's handbag or purse.

- a piece of luggage: she began to unpack her bags.

- [BASEBALL] a base.

- (bags) INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. plenty of something: I had bags of energy.

2 the amount of game shot by a hunter.

3 (usu. bags) a loose fold of skin under a person's eye: the bags under his eyes gave him a sad appearance.

4 a sac in an animal, such as the udder of a cow.

5 INFORMAL, DEROGATORY a woman, esp. an older one, perceived as unpleasant, bad-tempered, or unattractive: an interfering old bag.

6 (one's bag) INFORMAL one's particular interest or taste: if religion and politics are your bag, you'll find something to interest you here.

■ v. (bagged, bag·ging) [trans.] 1 put (something) in a bag: customers bagged their own groceries; we bagged up the apples.

2 (of a hunter) succeed in killing or catching an animal: in 1979, handgun hunters bagged 677 deer.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE succeed in securing (something): we've bagged three awards for excellence.

- INFORMAL take, occupy, or reserve (something) before someone else can do so: get there early to bag a seat in the front row.

3 [intrans.] (of clothes, esp. pants) hang loosely or lose shape: these trousers never bag at the knee.
<SPECIAL USAGE> swell or bulge.

4 quit; give up on: it was a drag to be in the ninth grade at 17, so he bagged it.

<PHRASES>
□ bag and baggage with all one's belongings: he threw her out bag and baggage.

□ a bag of bones an emaciated person or animal: the pony is just a bag of bones.

□ a bag (or whole bag) of tricks INFORMAL a set of ingenious plans, techniques, or resources: hoteliers are using a whole new bag of tricks to keep their guests on the premises.

□ be left holding the bag see HOLD.

□ in the bag INFORMAL
1 (of something desirable) as good as secured: the election is in the bag.

2 drunk: I don't think my parents even suspected that I was half in the bag.

<DERIVATIVES> bag·ful n. (pl. -fuls).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: perhaps from Old Norse baggi.

Ba·gan·da (also Gan·da) plural n. (sing. Mu·gan·da ) a Bantu people of the kingdom of Buganda, now forming part of Uganda. Their language is Luganda.

■ adj. of or relating to the Baganda.

<ORIGIN> a local name; compare with Kiswahili Waganda.

ba·gasse n. the dry pulpy residue left after the extraction of juice from sugar cane, used as fuel for electricity generators, etc.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, from Spanish bagazo 'pulp'.

bag·a·telle n. 1 a thing of little importance; a very easy task: dealing with these boats was a mere bagatelle for the world's oldest yacht club.

2 a game in which small balls are hit and then allowed to roll down a sloping board on which there are holes, each numbered with the score achieved if a ball goes into it, with pins acting as obstructions.

3 a short, light piece of music, esp. one for the piano.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (sense 1): from French, from Italian bagatella, perhaps from baga 'baggage' or from a diminutive of Latin baca 'berry'. Sense 2 dates from the early 19th cent.

ba·gel n. a dense bread roll in the shape of a ring, made by boiling dough and then baking it.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent. (as beigel): from Yiddish beygel.

bag·gage n. 1 personal belongings packed in suitcases for traveling; luggage.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the portable equipment of an army.

- FIGURATIVE past experiences or long-held ideas regarded as burdens and impediments: the emotional baggage I'm hauling around; the party jettisoned its traditional ideological baggage.

2 DATED, DEROGATORY a cheeky or disagreeable girl or woman.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French bagage (from baguer 'tie up'), or bagues 'bundles'; perhaps related to BAG.

Linked entries:

BAG ■

bag·gage claim n. [in sing.] the area in an airport where arriving passengers collect luggage that has been carried in the hold of the aircraft.

Bag·gie n. (pl. -gies) TRADEMARK a plastic bag typically used for storing food.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (baggie) INFORMAL any small plastic bag.

bag·ging n. material out of which bags are made.

bag·gy adj. (-gi·er, -gi·est) (of clothing) loose and hanging in folds: baggy pants.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of eyes) with folds of puffy skin below them: his eyes were baggy with the fatigue of overwork.

■ n. (baggies) INFORMAL loose and wide-legged pants, shorts, or swim trunks.

<DERIVATIVES> bag·gi·ly adv. bag·gi·ness n.

Bagh·dad the capital of Iraq, on the Tigris River; pop. 4,648,600

bag la·dy n. INFORMAL a homeless woman who carries her possessions in shopping bags.

bag lunch n. a cold lunch prepared at home and carried in a bag to work, to school, or on an excursion.

bag·man n. (pl. -men) 1 INFORMAL an agent who collects or distributes the proceeds of illicit activities: one million dollars cash paid to the general's bagman.

2 CANADIAN a political fund-raiser: a Tory bagman.

3 BRIT., DATED, INFORMAL a traveling salesman.

bagn·io n. (pl. -ios) 1 ARCHAIC a brothel.

2 HISTORICAL an oriental prison.

3 HISTORICAL a bathhouse in Turkey or Italy.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (sense 2): from Italian bagno, from Latin balneum 'bath'.

bag of wa·ters n. the fluid-filled sac that contains and protects the fetus in the womb and that releases its fluids when it breaks during birth.

bag·pipe n. (usu. bagpipes) a musical instrument with reed pipes that are sounded by the pressure of wind emitted from a bag squeezed by the player's arm. Bagpipes are associated esp. with Scotland, but are also used in folk music in Ireland, Northumberland, and France.

<DERIVATIVES> bag·pip·er n.

ba gua (also pa kua) n. a Chinese religious motif incorporating the eight trigrams of the I Ching, typically arranged octagonally around a symbol denoting the balance of yin and yang, or around a mirror.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- this motif regarded in feng shui as a pattern determining the significance and auspicious qualities of spatial relationships.

- a Chinese martial art in which movements are focused on a circle and the defense of eight points around it.

<ORIGIN> from Chinese 'eight' + guà 'divinatory symbols'.

ba·guette n. 1 a long, narrow loaf of French bread.

2 a gem, esp. a diamond, cut in a long rectangular shape: [often as modifier] a baguette diamond.

3 [ARCHITECTURE] a small molding, semicircular in section.

4 a slim, rectangular handbag.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (sense 3): from French, from Italian bacchetto, diminutive of bacchio, from Latin baculum 'staff'. Senses 1 and 2 date from the 20th cent.

bag·wig n. a wig fashionable in the 18th century with the back hair enclosed in an ornamental bag.

bag·worm n. a drab moth, the caterpillar and flightless female of which live in a portable protective case constructed out of plant debris.
<INFO>  Psychidae

bah exclam. an expression of contempt or disagreement: You think it was an accident? Bah!

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: probably from French.

Ba·ha·'i (also Ba·ha·i) n. (pl. -ha·'is) a monotheistic religion founded in the 19th century as a development of Babism, emphasizing the essential oneness of humankind and of all religions and seeking world peace. The Baha'i faith was founded by the Persian Baha'ullah (1817-92) and his son Abdul Baha (1844-1921).
<SPECIAL USAGE> an adherent of the Baha'i faith.

<DERIVATIVES> Ba·ha·'ism n.

<ORIGIN> Persian, from Arabic 'splendor'.

Ba·ha·mas a country in the northwestern West Indies, an archipelago off the southeastern coast of Florida; pop. 299,600; capital, Nassau; languages, English (official), Creole.

It was here that Columbus first landed in the New World (Oct. 12, 1492). The islands were a British colony from the 18th century until they gained independence within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1973.

<DERIVATIVES> Ba·ha·mi·an adj. & n.

Ba·ha·sa In·do·ne·sia n. the official language of Indonesia. See INDONESIAN.

<ORIGIN> from Malay bahasa 'language'.

Linked entries:

INDONESIAN ■

Ba·ha·sa Ma·lay·sia n. the official language of Malaysia. See MALAY.

Linked entries:

MALAY ■

Ba·ha·wal·pur a city in east central Pakistan, in Punjab province; pop. 250,000.

Ba·hi·a 1 a state of eastern Brazil, on the Atlantic coast; capital, Salvador.

2 former name for SALVADOR.

Linked entries:

SALVADOR ■

Ba·hí·a Blan·ca a port in Argentina serving the southern part of the country; pop. 271,500.

Bah·rain a country in western Asia that consists of a group of islands in the Persian Gulf; pop. 677,800; capital, Manama; official language, Arabic.

Ruled by the Portuguese in the 16th century and the Persians in the 17th century, Bahrain became a British protectorate in 1861 and gained independence in 1971. Its economy is dependent on the refining and export of oil.

<DERIVATIVES> Bah·rain·i adj. & n.

baht n. (pl. same) the basic monetary unit of Thailand, equal to 100 satangs.

<ORIGIN> from Thai .

Ba·hu·tu plural form of HUTU.

Linked entries:

HUTU ■

Bai·kal, Lake (also Bay·kal) a large lake in southern Siberia, in Russia, the largest freshwater lake in Europe and Asia and, with a depth of 5,714 feet (1,743 m), the deepest lake in the world.

bail 1 n. the temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial, sometimes on condition that a sum of money be lodged to guarantee their appearance in court: he has been released on bail.
<SPECIAL USAGE> money paid by or for such a person as security.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be bailed) release or secure the release of (a prisoner) on payment of bail: his son called home to get bailed out of jail. See also BAIL OUT at BAIL^3 .

<PHRASES>
□ jump bail INFORMAL fail to appear for trial after being released on bail: he jumped bail and was on the run until his arrest.

□ go bail (or stand bail) act as surety for an accused person.

□ post bail pay a sum of money as bail: I posted bail for him.

<DERIVATIVES> bail·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, literally 'custody, jurisdiction', from Old French bailler 'take charge of', from Latin bajulare 'bear a burden'.

Linked entries:

BAIL ■

bail 2 n. 1 a bar that holds something in place, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [FISHING] a bar that guides fishing line on a reel.

- a bar on a typewriter or computer printer that holds the paper steady.

- [MOUNTAINEERING] a bar on a crampon that fits into a groove in the sole of a boot.

- a bar separating horses in an open stable.

2 an arched handle, such as on a bucket or a teapot: [as adj.] drawers fitted with brass bail handles.

3 (usu. bails) [CRICKET] either of the two crosspieces bridging the stumps, which the bowler and fielders try to dislodge with the ball to get the batsman out.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting the outer wall of a castle): from Old French baile 'palisade, enclosure', baillier 'enclose', perhaps from Latin baculum 'rod, stick'. Compare with BAILEY.

bail 3 v. 1 [trans.] scoop water out of (a ship or boat): the first priority is to bail out the boat with buckets.
<SPECIAL USAGE> scoop (water) out of a ship or boat: I started to use my hands to bail out the water.

2 [intrans.] abandon a commitment, obligation, or responsibility: after 12 years of this, including Sunday Mass with the family, I bailed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (bail on) let (someone) down by failing to fulfill a commitment, obligation, or responsibility: he looks a little like the guy who bailed on me.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  bail out (of a member of an aircrew) make an emergency parachute descent from an aircraft; eject.
- FIGURATIVE become free of an obligation or commitment; discontinue an activity: she felt ready to bail out of the corporate rat race.

□  bail someone/something out release someone or something from a difficulty; rescue: the state will not bail out loss-making enterprises.

<DERIVATIVES> bail·er n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from obsolete bail 'bucket', from French baille, based on Latin bajulus 'carrier'.

Bai·le Átha Cli·ath Irish name for DUBLIN.

Linked entries:

DUBLIN ■

bail·ee n. [LAW] a person or party to whom goods are delivered for a purpose, such as custody or repair, without transfer of ownership.

Bai·ley Frederick Augustus Washington, see DOUGLASS.

Linked entries:

DOUGLASS ■

bai·ley n. (pl. -leys) the outer wall of a castle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a court enclosed by this.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably from Old French baile 'palisade, enclosure' (see BAIL^2 ).

Linked entries:

BAIL ■

bail·ie n. (pl. -ies) CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a municipal officer and magistrate in Scotland.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally used interchangeably with BAILIFF): from Old French bailli.

Linked entries:

BAILIFF ■

bail·iff n. a person who performs certain actions under legal authority, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an official in a court of law who keeps order, looks after prisoners, etc.

- CHIEFLY BRIT. a sheriff's officer who executes writs and processes and carries out distraints and arrests.

- BRIT. the agent or steward of a landlord.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French baillif, inflected form of bailli, based on Latin bajulus 'carrier, manager'.

bail·i·wick n. [LAW] the district or jurisdiction of a bailie or bailiff.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (one's bailiwick) INFORMAL one's sphere of operations or particular area of interest: you never give the presentationsthat's my bailiwick.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from BAILIE + WICK^2 .

Linked entries:

BAILIE ■

WICK ■

bail·ment n. [LAW] an act of delivering goods to a bailee for a particular purpose, without transfer of ownership.

bail·or n. [LAW] a person or party that entrusts goods to a bailee.

bail·out n. INFORMAL an act of giving financial assistance to a failing business or economy to save it from collapse.

Bain·bridge Island an island in western Washington, in Puget Sound, west of Seattle.

bain-ma·rie n. (pl. bains-ma·rie pronunc. same) a container holding hot water into which a pan is placed for slow cooking.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY BRIT. a double boiler.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: French, translation of medieval Latin balneum Mariae 'bath of Maria', translating Greek kaminos Marias 'furnace of Maria,' said to be a Jewish alchemist.

Baird John Logie (1888-1946), Scottish inventor. He made the first transatlantic transmission and demonstration of color television in 1928 using a mechanical system that was soon superseded by an electronic system.

Bai·ri·ki the capital of Kiribati, on South Tarawa Island; pop. 2,200.

bairn n. CHIEFLY SCOTTISH & N. ENGL. a child.

<ORIGIN> Old English bearn, of Germanic origin; related to the verb BEAR^1 .

Linked entries:

BEAR ■

Bai·sak·hi n. a Sikh festival held annually to commemorate the founding of the khalsa by Gobind Singh in 1699.

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit , denoting a month of the Hindu lunar year corresponding to April-May, regarded in some areas as the start of the new year.

bait n. 1 food used to entice fish or other animals as prey: herrings make excellent bait for pike | fishing with live baits.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE an allurement; a thing intended to tempt or entice: she used the prospect of freedom as bait to trap him into talking; many potential buyers are reluctant to take the bait.

2 variant spelling of BATE.

■ v. [trans.] 1 deliberately annoy or taunt (someone): the other boys reveled in baiting him about his love of literature.
<SPECIAL USAGE> torment (a trapped or restrained animal), esp. by allowing dogs to attack it.

2 prepare (a hook, trap, net, or fishing area) with bait to entice fish or animals as prey: she baited a trap with carrots and corn.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE lure; entice: workers baited by your carrot powers of hiring.

3 [intrans.] ARCHAIC stop on a journey to take food or a rest: they stopped to bait at an inn.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] give food to (horses) on a journey: while their horses were baited, they entered the public room.

<PHRASES>
□ fish or cut bait INFORMAL stop vacillating and act on something or disengage from it: when it comes to flagging brands, companies are being forced to fish or cut bait.

□ rise to the bait react to a provocation or temptation exactly as intended: Jenny was being provocatively rude, but he never rose to the bait.

□ with baited breath misspelling of WITH BATED BREATH..

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse beit 'pasture, food', beita 'to hunt or chase'.

<USAGE>
See usage at BATED

Linked entries:

BATE ■

BATED ■

bait-and-switch n. the action (generally illegal) of advertising goods that are an apparent bargain, with the intention of substituting inferior or more expensive goods: [as adj.] a bait-and-switch scheme.

bait·fish n. a fish used as bait to catch a larger fish.

bai·za n. (pl. same or bai·zas) a monetary unit of Oman, equal to one thousandth of a rial.

baize n. a coarse, feltlike, woolen material that is typically green, used for covering billiard and card tables and for aprons.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French baies, feminine plural of bai 'chestnut-colored' (see BAY^4 ), treated as a singular noun. The name is presumably from the original color of the cloth, although several colors are recorded.

Linked entries:

BAY ■

Ba·ja Ca·li·for·nia a mountainous peninsula in northwestern Mexico that extends southward from the border with California and separates the Gulf of California from the Pacific Ocean. It consists of two states of Mexico: Baja California (capital, Mexicali) and Baja California Sur (capital, La Paz). Also called LOWER CALIFORNIA.

Linked entries:

LOWER CALIFORNIA ■

ba·ja·da n. a broad slope of alluvial material at the foot of an escarpment or mountain.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, 'descent, slope'.

Ba·jan adj. & n. informal term for BARBADIAN (see BARBADOS).

Ba·ka n. (pl. same) 1 a member of a nomadic Pygmy people inhabiting the rain forests of southeastern Cameroon and northern Gabon.

2 the Bantu language of the Baka.

<ORIGIN> the name in Baka.

bake v. [trans.] 1 cook (food) by dry heat without direct exposure to a flame, typically in an oven or on a hot surface: they bake their own bread and cakes | [with two objs.] I baked him a cake for his birthday | [as adj.] (baked) baked apples.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (of food) be cooked in such a way: the bread was baking on hot stones.

2 (of the sun or other agency) subject (something) to dry heat, esp. so as to harden it: the sun has baked the earth a dusty brown.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] INFORMAL (of a person or place) be or become extremely hot in prolonged sun or hot weather: the city was baking in a heat wave | [as adj.] (baking) the summer's baking heat.

■ n. [with adj.] a social gathering at which baked food is eaten: lobster bakes on deserted islands.

<ORIGIN> Old English bacan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bakken and German backen.

baked A·las·ka n. sponge cake and ice cream in a meringue covering, cooked for a very short time.

<ORIGIN> named after the state of ALASKA.

Linked entries:

ALASKA ■

baked beans plural n. short for BOSTON BAKED BEANS.

Linked entries:

BOSTON BAKED BEANS ■

Baked Bean State a nickname for the state of MASSACHUSETTS.

Linked entries:

MASSACHUSETTS ■

bake·house n. DATED a building or area in which bread is made.

Ba·ke·lite n. TRADEMARK an early form of brittle plastic, typically dark brown, made from formaldehyde and phenol, used chiefly for electrical equipment.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after Leo H. Baekeland (1863-1944), the Belgian-born American chemist who invented it, + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ITE ■

Bak·er Josephine (1906-75), U.S. dancer. She was a star of the Folies-Bergère in Paris in the 1930s, famed for her exotic dancing and risqué clothing.

bak·er n. a person who makes bread and cakes, esp. commercially.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [often with adj.] an oven for a particular purpose: a bread baker.

<ORIGIN> Old English bæcere, from bacan (see BAKE).

Linked entries:

BAKE ■

Ba·ker Is·land an uninhabited island in the central Pacific Ocean, near the equator, claimed by the U.S. in 1857. Once a guano source, it is now a wildlife refuge.

bak·er's doz·en n. a group or set of thirteen: a baker's dozen of love songs.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from the former bakers' custom of adding an extra loaf to a dozen sold, this constituting the retailer's profit.

Ba·kers·field an industrial city in south central California, an oil industry center in the San Joaquin Valley; pop. 247,057.

bak·er's yeast n. a dried preparation of yeast used or suitable for use as leaven.

bak·er·y n. (pl. -er·ies) a place where bread and cakes are made or sold: delicious aromas wafting from the bakery | [as adj.] an assortment of bakery goods.
<SPECIAL USAGE> baked goods such as bread and cakes: a table overflowing with homemade bakery and wine.

bake·shop n. a place where bread and cakes are made or sold.

bake·ware n. tins, trays, and other items placed in the oven during baking.

bak·ing pow·der n. a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and cream of tartar, used instead of yeast in baking.

bak·ing so·da n. sodium bicarbonate used in cooking, for cleaning, or in toothpaste.

Bak·ker Robert T. (1945- ), U.S. paleontologist. He proposed the controversial idea that dinosaurs were both active and warm-blooded.

ba·kla·va n. a dessert originating in the Middle East made of phyllo pastry filled with chopped nuts and soaked in honey.

<ORIGIN> Turkish.

bak·sheesh n. (in parts of Asia) a small sum of money given as alms, a tip, or a bribe.

<ORIGIN> based on Persian , from 'give'.

Bakst Léon (1866-1924), Russian painter and designer; born Lev Samuilovich Rozenberg. He was a member of the Ballets Russes, for which he designed exotic, richly colored sets and costumes.

Ba·ku the capital of Azerbaijan, on the Caspian Sea; pop. 1,780,000. It is an industrial port and a center of the oil industry.

Ba·ku·nin Mikhail (Aleksandrovich) (1814-76), Russian anarchist and writer who participated in the revolutionary movements of 1848-49.

Bal·a·cla·va, Battle of a battle of the Crimean War, fought between Russia and an alliance of British, French, and Turkish forces in and around the port of Balaclava (now Balaklava) in the southern Crimea in 1854. The battle ended inconclusively; and is chiefly remembered as the scene of the Charge of the Light Brigade.

bal·a·cla·va (also balaclava helmet) n. a close-fitting garment covering the whole head and neck except for parts of the face, typically made of wool.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (denoting a garment worn originally by soldiers serving in the Crimean War): named after the village of Balaclava in the Crimea (see BALACLAVA, BATTLE OF).

Linked entries:

BALACLAVA, BATTLE OF ■

bal·a·fon n. a large xylophone having hollow gourds as resonators, used in West African music.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: via French from Manding bala 'xylophone' + fo 'to play'.

bal·a·lai·ka n. a guitarlike musical instrument with a triangular body and two, three, or four strings, popular in Russia and other Slavic countries.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Russian, of Tartar origin.

bal·ance n. 1 an even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady: slipping in the mud but keeping their balance; she lost her balance before falling.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- stability of one's mind or feelings: the way to some kind of peace and personal balance.

- [SAILING] the ability of a boat to stay on course without adjustment of the rudder.

2 a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions: overseas investments can add balance to an investment portfolio | [in sing.] try to keep a balance between work and relaxation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ART] harmony of design and proportion.

- [in sing.] the relative volume of various sources of sound: the balance of the voices is good.

3 an apparatus for weighing, esp. one with a central pivot, beam, and a pair of scales.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Balance) the zodiacal sign or constellation Libra.

4 a counteracting weight or force.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also balance wheel) the regulating device in a mechanical clock or watch.

5 a predominating weight or amount; the majority: the balance of opinion was that work was more important than leisure.

6 a figure representing the difference between credits and debits in an account; the amount of money held in an account: he accumulated a healthy balance with the savings bank.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the difference between an amount due and an amount paid: unpaid credit-card balances.

- [in sing.] an amount left over.

■ v. [trans.] 1 keep or put (something) in a steady position so that it does not fall: a mug that she balanced on her knee.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] remain in a steady position without falling: Richard balanced on the ball of one foot.

2 offset or compare the value of (one thing) with another: the cost of obtaining such information needs to be balanced against its benefits.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- counteract, equal, or neutralize the weight or importance of: he balanced his radical remarks with more familiar declarations.

- establish equal or appropriate proportions of elements in: balancing work and family life.

3 compare debits and credits in (an account), typically to ensure that they are equal: the law requires the council to balance its books each year.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (of an account) have credits and debits equal.

<PHRASES>
□ balance of payments the difference in total value between payments into and out of a country over a period.

□ balance of power
1 a situation in which nations of the world have roughly equal power.

2 the power held by a small group when larger groups are of equal strength.

□ balance of trade the difference in value between a country's imports and exports.

□ in the balance uncertain; at a critical stage: his survival hung in the balance for days.

□ on balance with all things considered: but on balance he was pleased.

□ strike a balance choose a moderate course or compromise: she's decided to strike a balance between fashionable and accessible.

□ throw (or catch) someone off balance cause someone to become unsteady and in danger of falling.
- FIGURATIVE confuse or bewilder someone.

<DERIVATIVES> bal·anc·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (sense 3): from Old French balance (noun), balancer (verb), based on late Latin (libra) bilanx '(balance) having two scalepans', from bi- 'twice, having two' + lanx 'scalepan'.

bal·ance beam n. a narrow horizontal bar raised off the floor, on which a gymnast balances while performing exercises.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] the set of exercises performed on such a piece of equipment.

bal·anced adj. keeping or showing a balance; arranged in good proportions: she assembled a balanced team.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- taking everything into account; fairly judged or presented: accurate and balanced information.

- (esp. of food) having different elements in the correct proportions: a healthy, balanced diet.

- (of a person or state of mind) having no emotion lacking or too strong; stable: a balanced personality.

- (of an account or budget) having debits and credits equal: a balanced budget.

- (of an electrical circuit or signal) being symmetrical with respect to a reference point, typically ground.

bal·ance sheet n. a statement of the assets, liabilities, and capital of a business or other organization at a particular point in time, detailing the balance of income and expenditure over the preceding period.

bal·ance tab n. a tab on a control surface of an aircraft that reduces the amount of force needed to move the control surface by moving in the opposite direction.

bal·ance wheel n. the regulating device in a watch or clock.

Bal·an·chine George (1904-83), U.S. ballet dancer and choreographer; born in Russia; born Georgi Melitonovich Balanchivadze. He was chief choreographer of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes during the 1920s, and in 1934 he cofounded the company that later became the New York City Ballet. Notable ballets: The Firebird (1949) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (1962).

bal·anc·ing act n. an action or activity that requires a delicate balance between different situations or requirements: our balancing act between working more to buy luxuries and having enough leisure to enjoy them.

bal·as ru·by n. a spinel of a delicate rose-red variety.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French balais, from Arabic , from Persian , a district of Afghanistan, where it is found.

ba·la·ta n. a tropical American tree that bears edible fruit and produces latex.
<INFO>  Several species in the family Sapotaceae, in particular, Manilkara bidentata.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the dried sap of this tree used as a substitute for rubber.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Carib balatá.

Ba·la·ton, Lake a large shallow lake in west central Hungary, situated in a wine-producing and resort region south of the Bakony mountains.

Bal·bo·a Vasco Núñez de (1475-1519), Spanish explorer. In 1513 he reached the western coast of the isthmus of Darien (Panama), thereby becoming the first European to see the eastern shores of the Pacific Ocean.

bal·bo·a n. the basic monetary unit of Panama, equal to 100 centésimos.

<ORIGIN> named after Vasco Núñez de BALBOA.

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BALBOA ■

bal·brig·gan n. a fine, unbleached knitted cotton fabric, used for stockings and underwear.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after the town of Balbriggan in Ireland, where it was originally made.

Bal·co·nes Es·carp·ment the scarp marking the geologic fault that separates the plains of eastern Texas from highlands to the west. San Antonio, Austin, and Waco lie near or on it.

bal·co·ny n. (pl. -nies) 1 a platform enclosed by a wall or balustrade on the outside of a building, with access from an upper-floor window or door.

2 (the balcony) the upstairs seats in a theater, concert hall, or auditorium.

<DERIVATIVES> bal·co·nied adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Italian balcone, probably ultimately of Germanic origin.

bald adj. 1 having a scalp wholly or partly lacking hair: he had a shiny bald head; he was starting to go bald. See note at NAKED.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an animal) not covered by the usual fur, hair, or feathers: hedgehogs are born bald.

- (of a plant or an area of land) not covered by the usual leaves, bark, or vegetation: the bald trunks with their empty branches.

- (of a tire) having the tread worn away: my car had two bald tires.

2 [attrib.] without any extra detail or explanation; plain or blunt: the bald statement in the preceding paragraph requires amplification.

<DERIVATIVES> bald·ish adj. bald·ly adv. (in sense 2) “I want to leave,” Stephen said baldly. bald·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably from a base meaning 'white patch', whence the archaic sense 'marked or streaked with white'.

bal·da·chin (also bal·da·quin ) n. a ceremonial canopy of stone, metal, or fabric over an altar, throne, or doorway.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting an embroidered material, woven with silk and gold thread): from Italian baldacchino, from Baldacco 'Baghdad', place of origin of the original brocade.

bald cy·press n. a deciduous North American conifer with exposed buttress roots and ball-shaped cones, typically growing in swamps and on water margins.
<INFO>  Taxodium distichum, family Taxodiaceae.

bald ea·gle n. a white-headed North American eagle that includes fish among its prey. Now most common in Alaska, it is the national emblem of the U.S.
<INFO>  Haliaeetus leucocephalus, family Accipitridae.

Bal·der [SCANDINAVIAN MYTHOLOGY] a son of Odin and god of the summer sun. He was invulnerable to all things except mistletoe, with which the god Loki, by a trick, induced the blind god Hödur to kill him.

bal·der·dash n. senseless talk or writing; nonsense: she dismissed talk of plots as “bunkum and balderdash.”

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a frothy liquid; later, an unappetizing mixture of drinks): of unknown origin.

bald-faced adj. 1 (of an animal) having white markings on the face.

2 shameless and undisguised; bare-faced: a bald-faced lie.

bald·ing adj. going bald: a man in his late twenties, prematurely balding.

bald·pate n. the American wigeon, in allusion to its white-crowned head.

bal·dric n. HISTORICAL a belt for a sword or other piece of equipment, worn over one shoulder and reaching down to the opposite hip.

<ORIGIN> Middle English baudry, from Old French baudre, of unknown ultimate origin.

Bald·win 1 Henry (1780-1844), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1830-44. He also served in Congress as a representative from Pennsylvania 1817-22.

Bald·win 2 James (Arthur) (1924-87), U.S. writer and civil rights activist. Notable works: novels Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953), Giovanni's Room (1956), and Another Country (1962); essay collections Nobody Knows My Name (1961) and The Price of a Ticket (1985).

Bald·win 3 Stanley, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley (1867-1947), British statesman; prime minister 1923-24, 1924-29, and 1935-37.

Bald·win Park a city in southwestern California, east of Los Angeles; pop. 69,330.

bald·y (also bald·ie) n. (pl. bald·ies) INFORMAL, DEROGATORY a baldheaded person.

■ adj. [attrib.] CHIEFLY SCOTTISH & IRISH bald: a baldy head.

Bâle French name for BASLE.

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BASLE ■

bale 1 n. a bundle of paper, hay, cotton, etc., tightly wrapped and bound with cords or hoops: the fire destroyed 500 bales of hay.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the quantity in a bale as a measure, esp. 500 pounds of cotton.

■ v. [trans.] make (something) into bales: they baled a lot of good hay | [as n.] (baling) most baling and field work have been finished.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably from Middle Dutch, from Old French; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to BALL^1 .

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BALL ■

bale 2 n. ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY evil considered as a destructive force.
<SPECIAL USAGE> evil suffered; physical torment or mental suffering.

<ORIGIN> Old English balu, bealu, of Germanic origin.

Bal·e·ar·ic Is·lands (also the Bal·e·ar·ics) a group of four large and seven small islands in the Mediterranean off the eastern coast of Spain that form an autonomous region of Spain; capital, Palma (on the island of Majorca).

ba·leen n. whalebone.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (also denoting a whale): from Old French baleine, from Latin balaena 'whale'.

ba·leen whale n. a whale that has plates of whalebone in the mouth for straining plankton from the water. Baleen whales include the rorquals, humpback, right whales, and gray whale. Also called WHALEBONE WHALE.
<INFO>  Suborder Mysticeti, order Cetacea: three families and ten species.

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WHALEBONE WHALE ■

bale·fire n. a large open-air fire; a bonfire.

<ORIGIN> Old English (recorded in poetry), from obsolete bale 'great fire' + FIRE.

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FIRE ■

bale·ful adj. threatening harm; menacing: Bill shot a baleful glance in her direction; the baleful light cast trembling shadows.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having a harmful or destructive effect: drug money has had a baleful impact on the country.

<DERIVATIVES> bale·ful·ly adv. bale·ful·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English bealufull (see BALE^2 , -FUL).

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BALE ■

-FUL ■

Ba·len·ci·a·ga Cristóbal (1895-1972), Spanish couturier. In the 1950s he contributed to the move away from the tight-waisted New Look originated by Christian Dior to a looser, semifitted style.

bal·er n. a machine for making paper, hay, or cotton into bales.

Bal·four Arthur James, 1st Earl of Balfour (1848-1930), British statesman; prime minister 1902-05. In 1917, as foreign secretary, he issued the Balfour Declaration that favored a Jewish national home in Palestine.

Ba·li a mountainous island in Indonesia, east of Java; chief city, Denpasar; pop. 2,856,000. It is noted for its beauty and the richness of its culture.

Ba·li·nese adj. of or relating to Bali or its people or language.

■ n. (pl. same) 1 a native of Bali.

2 the Indonesian language of Bali.

<ORIGIN> from BALI, on the pattern of Dutch Balinees.

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BALI ■

balk (BRIT. also baulk) v. [intrans.] 1 hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking: any gardener will at first balk at enclosing the garden.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] thwart or hinder (a plan or person): the utmost of his influence will be invoked to balk the law.
See note at THWART.
- [trans.] (balk someone of) prevent a person or animal from having (something): the lions, fearing to be balked of their prey.

- (of a horse) refuse to go on.

- [trans.] ARCHAIC miss or refuse (a chance or invitation).

2 [BASEBALL] (of a pitcher) make an illegal motion, penalized by an advance of the base runners: the rookie balked and permitted Robinson to score.

■ n. 1 [BASEBALL] an illegal motion made by a pitcher that may deceive a base runner.

2 a roughly squared timber beam.

3 any area on a pool or billiard table in which play is restricted in some way.

4 a ridge left unplowed between furrows.

<ORIGIN> late Old English balc, from Old Norse bálkr 'partition'. The original use was 'unplowed ridge', in late Middle English 'land left unplowed by mistake', hence 'blunder, omission' (giving rise to the verb sense 'miss (a chance)'). A late Middle English sense 'obstacle' gave rise to the verb senses 'hesitate' and 'hinder'.

Bal·kan·ize v. [trans.] divide (a region or body) into smaller mutually hostile states or groups.

<DERIVATIVES> Bal·kan·i·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Balkan Peninsula (where this was done in the late 19th and early 20th cent.) + -IZE.

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-IZE ■

Bal·kans 1 (also Bal·kan Moun·tains) a range of mountains stretching east across Bulgaria from the Serbian frontier to the Black Sea. The highest point is Botev Peak (7,793 feet; 2,375 m).

2 the countries occupying the part of southeastern Europe that lies south of the Danube and Sava rivers and forms a peninsula bounded by the Adriatic and Ionian seas in the west, the Aegean and Black seas in the east, and the Mediterranean Sea in the south.

<DERIVATIVES> Bal·kan adj.

Bal·kan Wars two wars of 1912-13 that were fought over the last European territories of the Ottoman Empire.

In 1912 Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro forced Turkey to give up Albania and Macedonia, leaving the area around Constantinople (Istanbul) as the only Ottoman territory in Europe. The following year Bulgaria disputed with Serbia, Greece, and Romania for possession of Macedonia, which was partitioned between Greece and Serbia.

balk·line (also balk line) n. a line on a billiard table marking off an area in which play is restricted.

balk·y (BRIT. also baulk·y) adj. (balk·i·er, balk·i·est) reluctant; uncooperative: he was trying to get his balky horse to move.

Ball 1 John (died 1381), English rebel. He was a priest who preached egalitarianism. Following the Peasants' Revolt, he was hanged as a traitor.

Ball 2 Lucille (Désirée) (1911-89), U.S. comedienne known in particular for the popular television series I Love Lucy (1951-55). Notable movies: Stage Door (1937), Sorrowful Jones (1949), and Yours, Mine, and Ours (1968).

ball 1 n. 1 a solid or hollow sphere or ovoid, esp. one that is kicked, thrown, or hit in a game: a soccer ball.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a ball-shaped object: a ball of wool; he crushed the card into a ball.

- HISTORICAL a solid nonexplosive missile for a firearm.

- a game played with a ball, esp. baseball: young men would graduate from college and enter pro ball.

2 [BASEBALL] a pitch delivered outside the strike zone that the batter does not attempt to hit: the umpire called it a ball.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [SPORTS] a pass of a ball from one player to another: Whelan sent a long ball to Goddard.

3 (in full the ball of the foot) the rounded protuberant part of the foot at the base of the big toe.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in full the ball of the thumb) the rounded protuberant part of the hand at the base of the thumb.

4 (balls) VULGAR SLANG testicles.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (ball) an act of sexual intercourse.

- courage or nerve.

- nonsense; rubbish (often said to express strong disagreement).

■ v. [trans.] 1 (usu. ball up) squeeze or form (something) into a rounded shape: Robert balled up his napkin and threw it on to his plate.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- clench or screw up (one's fist) tightly: she balled her fist so that the nails dug into her palms.

- [intrans.] form a round shape: the fishing nets eventually ball up and sink.

- wrap the rootball of (a tree or shrub) in burlap to protect it during transportation.

2 VULGAR SLANG have sexual intercourse with.

<PHRASES>
□ balled up
1 formed into a ball.

2 entangled; confused: I got slightly balled up in my facts.

3 used as a euphemism for constipated.

□ the ball is in your court it is up to you to make the next move.

□ a ball of fire a person full of energy and enthusiasm.

□ keep the ball rolling maintain the momentum of an activity.

□ keep one's eye on (or take one's eye off) the ball keep (or fail to keep) one's attention focused on the matter in hand.

□ on the ball alert to new ideas, methods, and trends: maintaining contact with customers keeps me on the ball.
- indicating competence, alertness, or intelligence: a woman like that, with so much on the ball.

□ play ball play a ball game such as baseball: we noticed some youngsters playing ball in a vacant lot.
- INFORMAL work willingly with others; cooperate: if his lawyers won't play ball, there's nothing we can do.

- [BASEBALL] the umpire's command to begin or resume play.

□ start (or get or set) the ball rolling set an activity in motion; make a start: to start the ball rolling, the government was asked to contribute a million dollars to the fund.

□ the whole ball of wax INFORMAL everything.

<PHRASAL VERB> ball (BRIT. balls) something up bungle something.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse , of Germanic origin.

ball 2 n. a formal social gathering for dancing: the social season was highlighted by debutante balls | [as adj.] a ball gown.

<PHRASES> have a ball INFORMAL enjoy oneself greatly; have a lot of fun: I had a ball on my fortieth birthday.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French bal 'a dance', from late Latin ballare 'to dance'; related to Greek ballizein 'to dance' (also ballein 'to throw').

bal·lad n. a poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas. Traditional ballads are typically of unknown authorship, having been passed on orally from one generation to the next as part of the folk culture.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a slow sentimental or romantic song.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (denoting a light, simple song): from Old French balade, from Provençal balada 'dance, song to dance to', from balar 'to dance', from late Latin ballare (see BALL^2 ). The sense 'narrative poem' dates from the mid 18th cent.

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BALL ■

bal·lade n. 1 a poem normally composed of three stanzas and an envoi. The last line of the opening stanza is used as a refrain, and the same rhymes, strictly limited in number, recur throughout.

2 a short, lyrical piece of music, esp. one for piano.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: earlier spelling and pronunciation of BALLAD.

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BALLAD ■

bal·lad·eer n. a singer or composer of ballads.

bal·lad op·er·a n. a theatrical entertainment popular in early 18th-century England, taking the form of a satirical play interspersed with traditional or operatic songs. The best-known example is John Gay's The Beggar's Opera (1728).

bal·lad·ry n. ballads collectively.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the art of writing or performing ballads.

bal·lad stan·za n. a four-line stanza in iambic meter in which the first and third unrhymed lines have four metrical feet and the second and fourth rhyming lines have three metrical feet.

ball and chain n. a heavy metal ball secured by a chain to the leg of a prisoner to prevent escape.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a crippling encumbrance: the ball and chain of debt.

ball-and-sock·et joint n. a natural or manufactured joint or coupling, such as the hip joint, in which a partially spherical end lies in a socket, allowing multidirectional movement and rotation.

Bal·lard J. G. (1930- ), British novelist and short-story writer; full name James Graham Ballard. Notable works: The Drowned World (1962), Crash (1973), and Empire of the Sun (1984).

bal·last n. 1 heavy material, such as gravel, sand, iron, or lead, placed low in a vessel to improve its stability.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a substance of this type carried in an airship or on a hot-air balloon to stabilize it, and jettisoned when greater altitude is required.

- FIGURATIVE something that gives stability or substance: the film is an entertaining comedy with some serious ideas thrown in for ballast.

2 gravel or coarse stone used to form the bed of a railroad track or road.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a mixture of coarse and fine aggregate for making concrete.

3 a passive component used in an electric circuit to moderate changes in current.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be ballasted) 1 give stability to (a ship) by putting a heavy substance in its bilge: the vessel has been ballasted to give the necessary floating stability.

2 form (the bed of a railroad line or road) with gravel or coarse stone.

<PHRASES> in ballast (of a ship) laden only with ballast.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: probably of Low German or Scandinavian origin.

ball bear·ing n. a bearing between a wheel and a fixed axle, in which the rotating part and the stationary part are separated by a ring of small solid metal balls that reduce friction.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a ball used in such a bearing.

ball boy n. a boy who retrieves balls that go out of play during a game such as tennis or baseball, and who supplies players or umpires with new balls.

ball-break·er (also ball-bust·er) n. INFORMAL a sexually demanding woman who destroys men's self-confidence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a demanding and punishing task or situation: Vietnam was a ball-breaker.

<DERIVATIVES> ball-break·ing adj.

ball·car·ri·er n. [FOOTBALL] a player in possession of the ball and attempting to advance it.

ball cock n. a valve that automatically fills a tank after liquid has been drawn from it. Used, for example, in a flush toilet, a ball cock has a float on the end of a pivoting arm that opens the valve when the arm drops.

bal·le·ri·na n. a female ballet dancer.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Italian, feminine of ballerino 'dancing master', from ballare 'to dance', from late Latin.

Bal·le·ste·ros Severiano, known as Sevvy, (1957- ), Spanish golfer. In 1979, he became the youngest player in the 20th century to win the British Open, and he won it again in 1984 and 1988. In 1980, he was the youngest-ever and the second European to win the U.S. Masters; he won it again in 1983.

bal·let n. an artistic dance form performed to music using precise and highly formalized set steps and gestures. Classical ballet, which originated in Renaissance Italy and established its present form during the 19th century, is characterized by light, graceful, fluid movements and the use of pointe shoes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a creative work of this form or the music written for it.

- a group of dancers who regularly perform such works: the New York City Ballet.

- [in sing.] FIGURATIVE an elaborate or complicated interaction between people: that delicate and cautious ballet known as the planning process.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian balletto, diminutive of ballo 'a dance', from late Latin ballare 'to dance' (see BALL^2 ).

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BALL ■

bal·let·ic adj. of, relating to, or characteristic of ballet: a graceful, balletic movement.

<DERIVATIVES> bal·let·i·cal·ly adv.

bal·let mas·ter n. a person employed by a ballet company to teach and rehearse dancers.

bal·let·o·mane n. a ballet enthusiast.

<DERIVATIVES> bal·let·o·ma·ni·a n.

Bal·lets Russes a ballet company formed in Paris in 1909 by Sergei Diaghilev.

The company presented a unified whole encompassing music, dance, decor, and costume: music was commissioned from the composers Stravinsky, Satie, and Rimsky-Korsakov, while Picasso and Jean Cocteau designed sets. The company's choreographers and dancers included Michel Fokine, Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, and George Balanchine. It was responsible for reviving ballet as an art form in western Europe.

ball float n. the spherical float attached to the pivoting arm of the ball cock in a toilet tank.

ball game n. 1 a game played with a ball.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a baseball game: I took the afternoon off and went to a ball game.

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

ball girl n. a girl who retrieves balls that go out of play during a game such as tennis or baseball, and who supplies players or umpires with new balls.

ball·hawk n. INFORMAL a skilled ball player, in particular a football or basketball player adept at stealing or intercepting the ball or an outfielder in baseball skilled at catching fly balls.

<DERIVATIVES> ball·hawk·ing n.

bal·lis·ta n. (pl. -tae or -tas) a catapult used in ancient warfare for hurling large stones.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a large crossbow for firing a spear.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Latin, based on Greek ballein 'to throw'.

bal·lis·tic adj. [attrib.] 1 of or relating to projectiles or their flight.

2 moving under the force of gravity only.

<PHRASES> go ballistic INFORMAL fly into a rage.

<DERIVATIVES> bal·lis·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from BALLISTA + -IC.

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BALLISTA ■

-IC ■

bal·lis·tic mis·sile n. a missile with a high, arching trajectory, that is initially powered and guided but falls under gravity onto its target. Compare with GUIDED.

bal·lis·tics plural n. [treated as sing.] the science of projectiles and firearms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the study of the effects of being fired on a bullet, cartridge, or gun.

bal·lis·to·car·di·o·gram n. a record made by a ballistocardiograph.

bal·lis·to·car·di·o·graph n. an instrument for recording the movements of the body caused by ejection of blood from the heart at each beat.

ball light·ning n. a rare and little known kind of lightning having the form of a moving globe of light several centimeters across that persists for periods of up to a minute.

bal·locks n. variant spelling of BOLLOCKS.

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BOLLOCKS ■

bal·lon n. 1 (in dancing) the ability to appear effortlessly suspended while performing movements during a jump.

2 variant spelling of BALLOON (sense 3).

<ORIGIN> French, from Italian ballone, from balla 'ball'.

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BALLOON ■

bal·lo·net (also bal·lon·net) n. the compartment in a balloon or airship into which air or another gas can be forced in order to maintain the craft's shape as buoyant gas is released.

bal·loon n. 1 a brightly colored rubber sac inflated with air and then sealed at the neck, used as a children's toy or a decoration: the room was festooned with balloons and streamers | FIGURATIVE his derision pricked the fragile balloon of her vanity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a round or pear-shaped outline in which the words or thoughts of characters in a comic strip or cartoon are written: a balloon reading “Ka-Pow!”

2 a large bag filled with hot air or gas to make it rise in the air, typically carrying a basket for passengers: a hot-air balloon.

3 (also balloon glass) a large rounded drinking glass, used for brandy and other drinks.

■ v. [intrans.] 1 swell out in a spherical shape; billow: the trousers ballooned out below his waist | [trans.] the wind ballooned her sleeves.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an amount of money) increase rapidly: the company's debt has ballooned in the last five years | [as adj.] (ballooning) ballooning government spending.

- swell dramatically in size or number: the public payroll ballooned from about 27,000 people to about 66,000 people

- (of a person) increase rapidly and dramatically in weight: I had ballooned on the school's starchy diet.

2 travel by hot-air balloon: he is famous for ballooning across oceans.

■ adj. resembling a balloon; puffed: a flouncy balloon curtain.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (originally denoting a game played with a large inflated leather ball): from French ballon or Italian ballone 'large ball'.

bal·loon an·gi·o·plas·ty n. [MEDICINE] surgical widening of a blocked or narrowed blood vessel, esp. a coronary artery, by means of a balloon catheter.

bal·loon cath·e·ter n. [MEDICINE] a type of catheter incorporating a small balloon that may be introduced into a canal, duct, or blood vessel and then inflated in order to clear an obstruction or dilate a narrowed region.

bal·loon·ing n. the sport or pastime of flying in a balloon.

<DERIVATIVES> bal·loon·ist n.

bal·loon mort·gage n. a mortgage in which a large portion of the borrowed principal is repaid in a single payment at the end of the loan period.

bal·loon pay·ment n. a repayment of the outstanding principal sum made at the end of a loan period, interest only having been paid hitherto.

bal·loon tire n. a large tire containing air at low pressure.

<DERIVATIVES> bal·loon-tired adj.

bal·loon vine n. a tropical American vine with inflated balloonlike pods.
<INFO>  Cardiospermum halicacabum, family Sapiondaceae.

bal·lot n. a process of voting, in writing and typically in secret: next year's primary ballot | the commissioners were elected by ballot.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the ballot) the total number of votes cast in such a process: he won 54 percent of the ballot.

- the piece of paper used to record someone's vote in such a process.

- a list of candidates or issues to be voted on: he agreed to have his name placed on California's primary ballot.

- the right to vote: they were a contrivance to deny the ballot to Negro voters.

■ v. (-lot·ed, -lot·ing) [trans.] (of an organization) elicit a secret vote from (members) on a particular issue: the union is preparing to ballot its members on the same issue.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] cast one's vote on a particular issue: ambulance crews balloted unanimously to reject the deal.

- decide the allocation of (something) to applicants by drawing lots.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally denoting a small colored ball placed in a container to register a vote): from Italian ballotta, diminutive of balla (see BALL^1 ).

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BALL ■

bal·lot box n. a sealed box into which voters put completed ballots.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the ballot box) democratic principles and methods: the proper remedy was the ballot box and not the court.

bal·lo·tin n. a decorative cardboard box, slightly larger at the top and with broad flaps, in which chocolates are sold.

<ORIGIN> French, from ballot 'a small package of goods'.

bal·lot·tine n. a dish of meat, poultry, or fish that is stuffed and rolled and usually served hot.

<ORIGIN> French.

ball·park n. a baseball stadium or field.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a particular area or range: we can make a pretty good guess that this figure's in the ballpark.

■ adj. [attrib.] INFORMAL (of prices or costs) approximate; rough: the ballpark figure is $400-500.

ball-peen ham·mer n. a hammer with a rounded end opposite the face.

ball·point (also ballpoint pen) n. a pen with a tiny ball as its writing point. The ball transfers ink from a cartridge to the paper.

ball race n. [MECHANICS] either of the components of a ball bearing that have ring-shaped grooves in which the balls run.

ball·room n. a large room used for dancing.

ball·room danc·ing n. formal social dancing in couples, popular as a recreation and also as a competitive activity. The ballroom dance repertoire includes dances developed from old European folk dances such as the waltz, Latin American dances such as the tango, rumba, and cha-cha, and dances of 20th-century origin such as the foxtrot and quickstep.

<DERIVATIVES> ball·room dance n.

balls-up n. BRIT., VULGAR SLANG a bungled or badly carried out task or action; a mess.

balls·y adj. (balls·i·er, balls·i·est) INFORMAL tough and courageous: a cool, ballsy woman who could not be intimidated.

<DERIVATIVES> balls·i·ness n.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from BALL^1 (sense 4 of noun). + -Y^1 .

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BALL ■

-Y ■

ball valve n. 1 a one-way valve that is opened and closed by pressure on a ball that fits into a cup-shaped opening.

2 BRIT. another term for BALL COCK.

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BALL COCK ■

bal·ly·hoo INFORMAL n. extravagant publicity or fuss: after all the ballyhoo, the film was a flop.

■ v. (-hoos, -hooed) [trans.] praise or publicize extravagantly: [as adj.] (ballyhooed) a much-ballyhooed musical extravaganza.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: American coinage of unknown origin.

balm n. 1 a fragrant ointment or preparation used to heal or soothe the skin.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE something that has a comforting, soothing, or restorative effect: the murmur of the water can provide balm for troubled spirits.

2 a tree that yields a fragrant resinous substance, typically one used in medicine.
<INFO>  Species in several families, in particular those of the genus Commiphora (family Burseraceae).

<SPECIAL USAGE> such a substance.

3 (also lemon balm or sweet balm) a bushy herb of the mint family, with leaves smelling and tasting of lemon.
<INFO>  Melissa officinalis, family Labiatae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> used in names of other aromatic herbs of the mint family, e.g., bee balm.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'preparation for embalming, fragrant resinous substance'): from Old French basme, from Latin balsamum (see BALSAM).

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BALSAM ■

bal·ma·caan n. a loose overcoat with raglan sleeves.

Bal·mer se·ries [PHYSICS] a series of lines in the visible and ultraviolet spectrum of atomic hydrogen, between 656 and 365 nanometers.

balm of Gil·e·ad n. 1 a fragrant medicinal resin obtained from certain kinds of tree.

2 a tree that yields such a resin, in particular:
<INFO>
- an Arabian tree traditionally of importance in medicine and perfumery (Commiphora gileadensis, family Burseraceae).

- either of two poplars with sticky aromatic buds (Populus × gileadensis (or candicans)) and the balsam poplar, family Salicaceae).

- the balsam fir.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: balm from a translation in Coverdale's Bible (Gen. 37:25), rendered 'resin' in the Vulgate; Gilead from the assumption that this resin is the substance mentioned in the Bible as coming from Gilead.

bal·mor·al (also Bal·mor·al) n. 1 a type of brimless round cocked hat with a cockade or ribbons attached, worn by certain Scottish regiments.

2 a heavy laced leather walking boot.

3 HISTORICAL a stiff woolen or horsehair petticoat worn under a skirt.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after BALMORAL CASTLE in Scotland.

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BALMORAL CASTLE ■

Bal·mor·al Cas·tle a vacation residence of the British royal family, on the Dee River in Scotland.

balm·y adj. (balm·i·er, balm·i·est) 1 (of the weather) pleasantly warm: the balmy days of late summer.

2 INFORMAL extremely foolish; eccentric: this is a balmy decision.; I think he’s gone balmy again.

<DERIVATIVES> balm·i·ness n.

bal·ne·ol·o·gy n. the study of therapeutic bathing and medicinal springs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for BALNEOTHERAPY.

<DERIVATIVES> bal·ne·o·log·i·cal adj. bal·ne·ol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin balneum 'bath' + -LOGY.

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BALNEOTHERAPY ■

-LOGY ■

bal·ne·o·ther·a·py n. the treatment of disease by bathing in mineral springs.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin balneum 'bath' + THERAPY.

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THERAPY ■

ba·lo·ney n. INFORMAL 1 foolish or deceptive talk; nonsense: typical salesman’s baloney. <ORIGIN> corruption of BOLOGNA.

2 variant of BOLOGNA.

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BOLOGNA ■

BOLOGNA ■

Bal·qash, Lake (also Bal·khash) a shallow salt lake in Kazakhstan.

bal·sa n. 1 (also balsa wood) a very lightweight wood used in particular for making models and rafts.

2 the fast-growing tropical American tree from which this wood is obtained.
<INFO>  Ochroma lagopus (or pyramidale), family Bombacaceae.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting a kind of South American raft or fishing boat): from Spanish, 'raft'.

bal·sam n. 1 an aromatic resinous substance, such as balm, exuded by various trees and shrubs and used as a base for certain fragrances and medical preparations.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an aromatic ointment or other resinous medicinal or cosmetic preparation.

- a tree or shrub that yields balsam.

2 a herbaceous plant cultivated for its flowers, which are typically pink or purple and carried high on the stem.
<INFO>  Genus Impatiens, family Balsaminaceae: several species, including garden balsam (I. balsamina) and Himalayan balsam (I. glandulifera), which is naturalized in Europe and North America, sometimes to the detriment of the native flora.

<DERIVATIVES> bal·sam·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English, via Latin from Greek balsamon.

bal·sam ap·ple n. another name for BITTER MELON

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BITTER MELON ■

bal·sam fir n. a North American fir tree that yields Canada balsam.
<INFO>  Abies balsamea, family Pinaceae.

bal·sam·ic vin·e·gar n. dark, sweet Italian vinegar that has been matured in wooden barrels.

bal·sam pop·lar n. a North American poplar tree that yields balsam.
<INFO>  Populus balsamifera, family Salicaceae.

Bal·sas, Ri·o a river that flows 450 miles (725 km) through central Mexico, through Puebla, Guerrero, and Michoacán states, into the Pacific Ocean.

bal·sa wood n. see BALSA (sense 1).

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BALSA ■

Balt n. 1 a speaker of a Baltic language; a Lithuanian or Latvian.

2 a native or inhabitant of one of the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a German-speaking inhabitant of any of these states.

■ adj. of or relating to the Balts.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from late Latin Balthae 'dwellers near the Baltic Sea'.

Bal·tha·sar (also Bal·tha·zar) one of the three Magi.

Bal·tha·zar n. a very large wine bottle, with a capacity of 12 liters, equivalent to that of 16 ordinary wine bottles.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from Balthazar, the name of the King of Babylon, who “made a great feastand drank wine before a thousand” (Dan. 5:1).

Bal·tic adj. 1 of or relating to the Baltic Sea or the region surrounding it.

2 denoting, belonging to, or relating to a branch of the Indo-European family of languages consisting of Lithuanian, Latvian, and Old Prussian.

■ n. 1 (the Baltic) the Baltic Sea or the Baltic States.

2 the Baltic languages collectively.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin Balticus, from late Latin Balthae 'dwellers near the Baltic Sea'.

Bal·tic Sea a sea in northern Europe. Almost landlocked, it is linked with the North Sea by Kattegat Strait and the Øresund Channel.

Bal·tic States 1 the independent republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

2 the ten members of the Council of Baltic States established in 1992: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, and Sweden.

Bal·ti·more a seaport in northern Maryland, the largest city in Maryland, on Chesapeake Bay; pop. 651,154 .

<ORIGIN> named after George Calvert, the first Baron Baltimore (c.1580-1632), who in 1632 obtained a grant of land for the colony that later became Maryland.

Bal·ti·more Coun·ty a county in north central Maryland that surrounds but does not include the city of Baltimore; pop. 692,134. Towson is its seat.

Bal·ti·stan a region of the Karakoram range of the Himalayas, to the south of K2 peak. Also called LITTLE TIBET.

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LITTLE TIBET ■

Bal·to-Slav·ic n. a branch of the Indo-European language family that includes the Baltic and Slavic languages.

<DERIVATIVES> Bal·to-Slav·ic adj.

Ba·lu·chi (also Ba·luch ) n. (pl. same or -chis) 1 a native or inhabitant of Baluchistan.

2 the Iranian language of Baluchistan.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> from Persian .

Ba·lu·chi·stan 1 a mountainous region of western Asia that includes part of southeastern Iran, southwestern Afghanistan, and western Pakistan.

2 a province of western Pakistan; capital, Quetta.

Ba·lun·da n. plural form of LUNDA.

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LUNDA ■

bal·us·ter n. a short pillar or column, typically decorative in design, in a series supporting a rail or coping.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] (of a furniture leg or other decorative item) having the form of a baluster.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French balustre, from Italian balaustro, from balaust(r)a 'wild pomegranate flower' (via Latin from Greek balaustion), so named because part of the pillar resembles the curving calyx tube of the flower.

bal·us·trade n. a railing supported by balusters, esp. an ornamental parapet on a balcony, bridge, or terrace.

<DERIVATIVES> bal·us·trad·ed adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from balustre (see BALUSTER).

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BALUSTER ■

Bal·zac Honoré de (1799-1850), French novelist; chiefly remembered for his series of ninety-one interconnected novels and stories known collectively as La Comédie humaine.

<DERIVATIVES> Bal·zac·i·an adj.

bam exclam. used to imitate the sound of a hard blow or to convey the abruptness of an occurrence: he'll have to make a dash for it, and when he does, bam, he's dead.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: imitative.

Ba·ma·ko the capital of Mali, in the south part of the country, on the Niger River; pop. 646,000.

Bam·ba·ra n. (pl. same or -ras) a member of a native people living chiefly in Mali.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the Mande language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

bam·bi·no n. (pl. -ni ) OFTEN HUMOROUS a baby or young child.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an image of the infant Jesus.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: Italian, diminutive of bambo 'silly'.

bam·boo n. a giant woody grass that grows chiefly in the tropics, where it is widely cultivated.
<INFO>  Bambusa and other genera, family Gramineae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the hollow jointed stem of this plant, used as a cane or to make furniture and implements: [as adj.] a bamboo serving tray.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Dutch bamboes, based on Malay mambu.

bam·boo cur·tain n. (often the Bamboo Curtain) a political and economic barrier between China and noncommunist countries.

bam·boo shoot n. a young shoot of bamboo, eaten as a vegetable.

bam·boo·zle v. [trans.] INFORMAL fool or cheat (someone): Tom Sawyer bamboozled the neighborhood boys into doing it for him.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (often be bamboozled) confound or perplex: bamboozled by the number of savings plans being offered.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

bam·my (also bam·mie) n. (pl.-my or -mies) (in the West Indies) a flat roll or pancake made from cassava flour.

<ORIGIN> probably from a West African language.

ban 1 v. (banned, ban·ning) [trans.] (often be banned) officially or legally prohibit: he was banned from driving for a year; a proposal to ban all trade in ivory. See note at PROHIBIT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> officially exclude (someone) from a place: he once was banned from a casino in Reno.

■ n. 1 an official or legal prohibition: a proposed ban on cigarette advertising; a three-year driving ban.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an official exclusion of a person from an organization, country, or activity: a ban on homosexuals in the armed forces.

- ARCHAIC a curse.

2 a tacit prohibition by public opinion: Barenboim proposed to defy an unwritten ban on Wagner's works.

<ORIGIN> Old English bannan 'summon by a public proclamation', of Germanic origin, reinforced by Old Norse banna 'curse, prohibit'; the noun is partly from Old French ban 'proclamation, summons, banishment'.

ban 2 n. (pl. ba·ni ) a monetary unit of Romania, equal to one hundredth of a leu.

<ORIGIN> Romanian.

Ba·na·ba an island in the western Pacific, just south of the equator to the west of the Gilbert Islands. Formerly within the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, it has been part of Kiribati since 1979. Also called OCEAN ISLAND.

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OCEAN ISLAND ■

ba·nal adj. so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring: songs with banal, repeated words.

<DERIVATIVES> ba·nal·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) ba·nal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (originally relating to feudal service in the sense 'compulsory', hence 'common to all'): from French, from ban 'a proclamation or call to arms'; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to BAN^1 .

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BAN ■

ba·nan·a n. 1 a long curved fruit that grows in clusters and has soft pulpy flesh and yellow skin when ripe.

2 (also banana plant or banana tree) the tropical and subtropical treelike plant that bears this fruit. It has very large leaves and resembles a palm, but lacks a woody trunk.
<INFO>  Genus Musa, family Musaceae: several species, in particular M. sapientum.

3 adj. (bananas) INFORMAL insane or extremely silly: he's beginning to think I'm bananas.

<PHRASES>
□ go bananas INFORMAL go insane: Roy's customers think the council has gone bananas.
- rave; cheer wildly: I have never had a product that people went so bananas over.

- become extremely angry or excited: she went bananas when I said I was going to leave the job.

□ second banana INFORMAL the second most important person in an organization or activity.

□ top banana INFORMAL the most important person in an organization or activity.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via Portuguese or Spanish from Mande.

ba·nan·a belt n. INFORMAL a region with a comparatively warm climate.

ba·nan·a oil n. a colorless liquid with a bananalike odor used in flavorings and as a solvent.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: CH_3CO_2C_5H_11.

ba·nan·a plug n. INFORMAL [ELECTRONICS] a single-pole connector with a curved spring along its tip.

ba·nan·a·quit n. a small songbird with a curved bill, typically with a white stripe over the eye, a sooty gray back, and yellow underparts. It is common in the West Indies and Central and South America.
<INFO>  Coereba flaveola, the only member of the family Coerebidae (sometimes placed in the subfamily Parulinae, family Emberizidae).

<ORIGIN> see QUIT^2 .

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QUIT ■

ba·nan·a re·pub·lic n. CHIEFLY DEROGATORY a small nation, esp. in Central America, dependent on one crop or the influx of foreign capital.

ba·nan·a seat n. a narrow, elongated bicycle seat that curves up toward the rear.

ba·nan·a split n. a dessert made with a split banana, ice cream, sauce, whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry.

ba·nau·sic adj. FORMAL not operating on a refined or elevated level; mundane.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to technical work.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek banausikos 'of or for artisans'.

ban·co exclam. used in baccarat, chemin de fer, and similar games to express a player's willingness to meet the banker's whole stake single-handed.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: via French from Italian.

Ban·croft Anne (1931-2005), U.S. actress; born Anna Maria Luisa Italiano. She won a 1959 Tony Award for her performance in the play The Miracle Worker and an Academy Award for her performance in the movie version in 1962.

band 1 n. 1 a flat, thin strip or loop of material put around something, typically to hold it together or to decorate it: wads of banknotes fastened with gummed paper bands.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a strip of material forming part of a garment: hatband; waistband.

- a plain ring for the finger, esp. a gold wedding ring: a narrow band of gold was her only jewelry.

- [ORNITHOLOGY] a ring of metal placed around a bird's leg to identify it.

- (bands) a collar with two hanging strips, worn by certain clerics and academics as part of their formal dress.

- [MECHANICS] a belt connecting wheels or pulleys.

2 a stripe or elongated area of a different color, texture, or composition than its surroundings: a long, narrow band of cloud.

3 a range of frequencies or wavelengths in a spectrum (esp. of radio frequencies): channels in the UHF band.

4 (on a long-playing record) a set of grooves onto which sound has been recorded, separated from other sections of the record by grooves with no sound.

5 ARCHAIC a thing that restrains, binds, or unites.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be banded) 1 surround (an object) with something in the form of a strip or ring, typically for reinforcement or decoration: doors are banded with iron to make them stronger.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ORNITHOLOGY] put a band on (a bird) for identification.

2 mark (something) with a stripe or stripes of a different color: the bird's bill is banded across the middle with black | [as adj.] (banded) banded agate.

<ORIGIN> late Old English (sense 5), from Old Norse, reinforced in late Middle English by Old French bande, of Germanic origin; related to BIND.

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BIND ■

band 2 n. 1 a group of people who have a common interest or purpose: guerrilla bands; a determined band of activists.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ANTHROPOLOGY] a subgroup of a tribe.

2 a group of musicians who play together, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a small group of musicians and vocalists who play pop, jazz, or rock music: the band's last two albums; a rock band.

- a group of musicians who play brass, wind, or percussion instruments: a military band.

- INFORMAL an orchestra.

3 a herd or flock: moving bands of caribou.

■ v. [intrans.] (of people or organizations) form a group for a mutual purpose: local people banded together to fight the company.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French bande, of Germanic origin; related to BANNER.

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BANNER ■

Ban·da Hastings Kamuzu (1906-1997 ), Malawian statesman; prime minister 1964-94; the first president of the Republic of Malawi 1966-94.

band·age n. a strip of material used to bind a wound or to protect an injured part of the body: her leg was swathed in bandages; | a sterile adhesive bandage with nonstick pad.

■ v. [trans.] bind (a wound or a part of the body) with a protective strip of material: bandage the foot so that the ankle is supported; | the doctors bandaged up his wounds.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, from bande (see BAND^2 ).

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BAND ■

band·ag·ing n. the action of binding a strip or strips of material around a wound or an injured part of the body.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the material used for this.

Band-Aid n. TRADEMARK an adhesive bandage with a gauze pad in the center, used to cover minor wounds.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE (also band-aid) a makeshift or temporary solution: [as adj.] a band-aid solution to a much deeper problem.

ban·dan·na (also ban·dan·a) n. a large handkerchief or neckerchief, typically of silk or cotton, often having a colorful pattern.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: probably via Portuguese from Hindi.

Ban·da·ra·nai·ke Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias (1916-2000), Sinhalese stateswoman; prime minister of Sri Lanka 1960-65, 1970-77, and 1994-2000. The world's first woman prime minister, she succeeded her husband, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, after his assassination. Her daughter Chandrika Kumaratunga became president in 1994.

Ban·dar Lam·pung a city at the southern tip of Sumatra, in Indonesia; pop. 284,275. It was created in the 1980s as a result of the amalgamation of the city of Tanjungkarang and the nearby port of Telukbetung.

Ban·dar Se·ri Be·ga·wan the capital of Brunei, in the northern part of the country; pop. 46,000 .

Ban·da Sea a sea in eastern Indonesia, between the central and south Molucca Islands.

b. & b. (also B&B) abbr. bed and breakfast.

band·box n. a cardboard box, typically circular, for carrying hats.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from BAND^2 + BOX^1 , the box being used originally for neckbands.

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BAND ■

BOX ■

B&E abbr. breaking and entering.

ban·deau n. (pl. -deaux ) a narrow band worn around the head to hold the hair in position: their dusty blonde hair smoothly combed in bandeaux.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a woman's strapless top formed from a band of fabric fitting around the bust: white two-piece bathing suit with quilted sateen bandeau top.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, from Old French bandel, diminutive of bande (see BAND^2 ).

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BAND ■

ban·de·ril·la n. a decorated dart thrust into a bull's neck or shoulders during a bullfight.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, diminutive of bandera 'banner'.

ban·de·ril·le·ro n. (pl. -ros) a bullfighter who uses banderillas.

<ORIGIN> Spanish.

ban·de·role (also ban·de·rol) n. a narrow flaglike object, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a long, narrow flag with a cleft end, flown at a masthead.

- an ornamental streamer on a knight's lance.

- a ribbonlike stone scroll bearing an inscription.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian banderuola, diminutive of bandiera 'banner'.

ban·di·coot n. a mainly insectivorous marsupial native to Australia and New Guinea.
<INFO>  Family Peramelidae: several genera and species, some of which are endangered or extinct, including the short-nosed (or southern brown) bandicoot (Isodon obesulus).

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Telugu pandikokku, literally 'pig-rat'.

ban·di·coot rat n. an Asian rat that is often a destructive pest.
<INFO>  Genera Bandicota and Nesokia, family Muridae: four species, in particular the large B. indica.

band·ing n. 1 the presence or formation of visible stripes of contrasting color: the yellow and black banding of bees and wasps.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BIOCHEMISTRY] the pattern of regions on a chromosome made visible by staining.

- [BIOCHEMISTRY] the separation of molecules into bands of concentration in a gel.

2 the marking of individual birds or other animals with bands or rings: banding is a useful tool for the study of migration.

ban·dit n. (pl. ban·dits or ban·dit·ti ) a robber or outlaw belonging to a gang and typically operating in an isolated or lawless area: the bandit produced a weapon and demanded money.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE [with modifier] a person notably proficient at something, esp. in contrast to or at the expense of a rival or opponent: he was no base-running bandit, but he got the job done.

- MILITARY SLANG an enemy aircraft.

<PHRASES> make out like a bandit profit greatly from an activity.

<DERIVATIVES> ban·dit·ry n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Italian bandito, literally 'banned', past participle of bandire.

band·lead·er (also band lead·er) n. a player or conductor at the head of a musical band.

band·mas·ter n. the conductor of a musical band, esp. a brass or military one.

ban·dog n. a fighting dog bred for its strength and ferocity by crossing aggressive breeds.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally denoting a dog kept on a chain or “band”): from BAND^1 + DOG.

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BAND ■

DOG ■

ban·do·lier (also ban·do·leer) n. a shoulder-belt with loops or pockets for cartridges.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French bandoulière; perhaps from Spanish bandolera (from banda 'sash'), or from Catalan bandolera (from bandoler 'bandit').

ban·do·ne·on n. a type of concertina used esp. in South America.

<ORIGIN> via Spanish from German Bandonion, named after Heinrich Band, the 19th-cent. German musician who invented it, + -on- (as in Harmonika 'harmonica') + -ion (as in Akkordion 'accordion').

ban·do·ra n. a bass stringed instrument of the cittern family, having a long neck and a scallop-shaped body.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: origin uncertain; compare with Dutch bandoor, Spanish bandurria, also with BANJO.

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BANJO ■

band·pass adj. [ELECTRONICS] (of a filter) transmitting only a set range of frequencies: a 1-40 Hz bandpass filter.

■ n. the range of frequencies transmitted through such a filter.

band·saw (also band saw) n. an endless saw, consisting of a steel band with a serrated edge running over wheels.

band·shell (also band shell) n. a bandstand in the form of a large concave shell with special acoustic properties.

bands·man n. (pl. -men) a player in a musical band, esp. a military or brass one.

band·stand n. a covered outdoor platform for a band to play on, typically in a park.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a raised platform for performing musicians in a restaurant or dance hall.

Ban·dung a city in Indonesia; pop. 2,056,900. Founded by the Dutch in 1810, it was the capital of the former Dutch East Indies.

band·wag·on n. 1 a wagon used for carrying a band in a parade or procession.

2 [usu. in sing.] a particular activity or cause that has suddenly become fashionable or popular: the local deejays are on the home-team bandwagon.

<PHRASES> jump (or climb) on the bandwagon join others in doing or supporting something fashionable or likely to be successful: scientists and doctors alike have jumped on the bandwagon.

band·width n. [ELECTRONICS] a range of frequencies within a given band, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the range of frequencies used for transmitting a signal.

- the range of frequencies over which a system or a device can operate effectively.

- the transmission capacity of a computer network or other telecommunication system.

- FIGURATIVE the breadth of a person's interests or mental capacity.

ban·dy 1 adj. (-di·er, -di·est) (of a person's legs) curved so as to be wide apart at the knees.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (often bandy-legged) (of a person) having legs that are curved in such a way; bowlegged.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: perhaps from obsolete bandy 'curved stick used in hockey'.

ban·dy 2 v. (-dies, -died) [trans.] (usu. be bandied about/around) pass on or discuss an idea or rumor in a casual way: $40,000 is the figure that has been bandied about.
<SPECIAL USAGE> exchange; pass back and forth: they bandied words and laughs from one to another.

■ n. a game similar to field hockey.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the stick used to play this game.

<PHRASES> bandy words with argue pointlessly or rudely: don't bandy words with me, Sir!

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'pass (a ball) to and fro'): perhaps from French bander 'take sides in a tennis match', from bande 'band, crowd' (see BAND^2 ).

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BAND ■

bane n. [usu. in sing.] a cause of great distress or annoyance: the bane of the decorator is the long, narrow hall; the depressions that were the the bane of her existence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC something, typically poison, that causes death.

<DERIVATIVES> bane·ful adj. ARCHAIC.

<ORIGIN> Old English bana 'thing causing death, poison', of Germanic origin.

bane·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) a plant of the buttercup family that bears fluffy spikes of creamy-white flowers followed by shiny berries. Native to north temperate regions, it was formerly used in medicine.
<INFO>  Genus Actaea, family Ranunculaceae: many species, including the North American white baneberry (A. pachypoda), with clusters of black-eyed white berries on red stalks.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the bitter, typically poisonous berry of this plant.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from BANE in the sense 'poison' + BERRY.

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BANE ■

BERRY ■

bang 1 n. 1 a sudden loud noise: the door slammed with a bang; I heard a series of loud bangs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a sharp blow causing such a loud noise: I went to answer a bang on the front door.

- a sudden painful blow: a nasty bang on the head.

2 (bangs) a fringe of hair cut straight across the forehead: she brushed back her wispy bangs. <ORIGIN> from a use of the adverb bang to mean 'abruptly'.

3 VULGAR SLANG an act of sexual intercourse.

4 [COMPUTING] the character “!”

■ v. 1 [trans.] strike or put down (something) forcefully and noisily, typically in anger or in order to attract attention: he began to bang the table with his fist; Sarah banged the phone down | [intrans.] someone was banging on the door.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] come into contact with (something) suddenly and sharply, typically by accident: I banged my head on the low beams | [intrans.] she banged into some shelves in the darkness.

- [intrans.] make a sudden loud noise, typically repeatedly: the shutter was banging in the wind.

- [trans.] (of a door) open or close violently and noisily: he banged the kitchen door shut behind him | [intrans.] the door banged open and a man staggered out.

- [intrans.] (of a person) move around or do something noisily, esp. as an indication of anger or irritation: she was banging around the kitchen.

- [trans.] (of a sports player) hit (a ball or a shot) forcefully and successfully: in his second start he banged out two hits.

- VULGAR SLANG (of a man) have sexual intercourse with (a woman).

2 cut (hair) in a fringe.

■ adv. INFORMAL CHIEFLY BRIT. exactly: bang in the middle of town.
<SPECIAL USAGE> completely: bring your wardrobe bang up to date.

■ exclam. 1 used to express or imitate the sound of a sudden loud noise: firecrackers went bang; Bang, Bang! You're dead.

2 used to convey the suddenness of an action or process: the minute something becomes obsolete, bang, it's gone.

<PHRASES>
□ bang for one's (or the) buck INFORMAL value for money; performance for cost: this cross between a sports car and a family sedan gave a lot of bang for the buck.

□ bang (or knock or crack) people's heads together reprimand people severely, esp. in the attempt to make them stop arguing.

□ get a bang out of INFORMAL derive excitement or pleasure from: some people get a bang out of reading that stuff.

□ go (off) with a bang go successfully: the occasion went with a bang.

□ with a bang
1 abruptly: the remark brought me down to earth with a bang.

2 impressively or spectacularly: the day starts with a bangthe steep climb to the mountain top.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  bang away at INFORMAL do something in a persistent or dogged way: he was banging away at his novel.

□  bang something out INFORMAL 1 play music noisily, enthusiastically, and typically unskillfully: Dad was annihilating a Beethoven sonata, banging out notes.

2 produce hurriedly or in great quantities: they weren't banging out ads in my day the way they are now.

□  bang someone/something up INFORMAL damage or injure someone or something: he banged up his knee.
- BRIT., INFORMAL imprison someone: they've been banged up for something they didn't do.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: imitative, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare with Old Norse bang 'hammering'.

bang 2 n. variant spelling of BHANG.

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BHANG ■

Ban·ga·lore a city in south central India, capital of the state of Karnataka; pop. 2,651,000.

ban·ga·lore tor·pe·do (also Ban·ga·lore tor·pe·do) n. a tube containing explosives used by infantry for blowing up barriers.

bang·er n. CHIEFLY BRIT. 1 INFORMAL a sausage: bangers and beans.

2 INFORMAL a car in poor condition, esp. a noisy one: they've got an old banger.

3 a loud explosive firework.

Bang·kok the capital and chief port of Thailand, on the Chao Phraya waterway, 25 miles (40 km) upstream from its outlet into the Gulf of Thailand; pop. 5,876,000.

Bang·la·desh a country in southern Asia, in the Ganges River delta, on the Bay of Bengal; pop. 141,340,000; capital, Dhaka; official language, Bengali.

Formerly part of British India, the region, as East Pakistan, became one of the two geographical units of Pakistan. After civil war, the independent republic of Bangladesh was proclaimed in 1971. Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal cause repeated devastation to the country.

<DERIVATIVES> Bang·la·desh·i adj. & n.

ban·gle n. a rigid bracelet or anklet.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Hindi 'glass bracelet'.

Ban·gor an industrial city in east central Maine, on the Penobscot River, formerly a lumbering center; pop. 31,473.

bang·tail n. a horse's tail that has been cut straight across just below the level of the hocks.

Ban·gui the capital of the Central African Republic, in the southwestern part of the country, on the Ugandi River; pop. 596,800.

bang-up adj. INFORMAL excellent: for a novice, he has done a bang-up job.

ba·ni plural form of BAN^2 .

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ban·ian n. variant spelling of BANYAN.

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BANYAN ■

ban·ish v. [trans.] (often be banished) send (someone) away from a country or place as an official punishment: they were banished to Siberia for political crimes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> forbid, abolish, or get rid of (something unwanted): it's perfectly feasible to banish the smoke without banning smoking; all thoughts of romance were banished from her head.

<DERIVATIVES> ban·ish·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French baniss-, lengthened stem of banir; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to BAN^1 .

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BAN ■

ban·is·ter (also ban·nis·ter) n. (also banisters) the structure formed by uprights and a handrail at the side of a staircase.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a single upright at the side of the staircase: I stuck my head between the banisters.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from earlier barrister, alteration of BALUSTER.

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BALUSTER ■

Ban·ja Lu·ka a spa town in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina; pop. 143,000. It served as a base for Bosnian Serbs during their war against Bosnian Muslims in the 1990s.

Ban·jar·ma·sin a deep-water port in Indonesia, on the southern part of the island of Borneo; pop. 480,700.

ban·jo n. (pl. -jos or -joes) a stringed musical instrument with a long neck and a round open-backed body consisting of parchment stretched over a metal hoop like a tambourine, played by plucking or with a plectrum. It is used esp. in American folk music.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an object resembling this in shape: [as adj.] a banjo clock.

<DERIVATIVES> ban·jo·ist n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: originally a black American alteration of earlier bandore; probably based on Greek pandoura 'three-stringed lute'. Compare with BANDORA.

Ban·jul the capital of the Gambia; pop. 44,540. Until 1973 it was known as Bathurst.

bank 1 n. 1 the land alongside or sloping down to a river or lake: willows lined the bank.

2 a slope, mass, or mound of a particular substance: a bank of clouds; a bank of snow.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an elevation in the seabed or a riverbed; a mudbank or sandbank.

- a transverse slope given to a road, railroad, or sports track to enable vehicles or runners to maintain speed around a curve.

- the sideways tilt of an aircraft when turning in flight: flying with small amounts of bank.

3 a set or series of similar things, esp. electrical or electronic devices, grouped together in rows: the DJ had big banks of lights and speakers on either side of his console.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a tier of oars: the early ships had only twenty-five oars in each bank.

4 the cushion of a pool table: [as adj.] a bank shot.

■ v. [trans.] 1 heap (a substance) into a mass or mound: the rain banked the soil up behind the gate; snow was banked in humps at the roadside.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] rise or form into a mass or mound: purple clouds banked up over the hills.

- heap a mass or mound of a substance against (something): people were banking their houses with earth.

- heap (a fire) with tightly packed fuel so that it burns slowly: she could have made a fire and banked it with dirt.

- edge or surround with a ridge or row of something: steps banked with pots of chrysanthemums.

2 (of an aircraft or vehicle) tilt or cause to tilt sideways in making a turn: [intrans.] the plane banked as if to return to the airport | [trans.] I banked the aircraft steeply and turned.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] build (a road, railroad, or sports track) higher at the outer edge of a bend to facilitate fast cornering.

3 (in pool and other games) play (a ball) so that it rebounds off a surface such as a backboard or cushion.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse bakki, of Germanic origin; related to BENCH. The senses 'set of similar things in sloping rows' and 'tier of oars' are from French banc, of the same ultimate origin.

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BENCH ■

bank 2 n. a financial establishment that invests money deposited by customers, pays it out when required, makes loans at interest, and exchanges currency: I paid the money straight into my bank.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a stock of something available for use when required: a blood bank; building a bank of test items is the responsibility of teachers.

- a place where something may be safely kept: the computer's memory bank.

- (the bank) the store of money or tokens held by the banker in some gambling or board games.

- the person holding this store; the banker.

- BRIT. a site or receptacle where something may be deposited for recycling: a paper bank.

■ v. [trans.] deposit (money or valuables) in a bank: I banked the check.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] have an account at a particular bank: he did not bank with the old family banks.

- INFORMAL (esp. of a competitor in a game or race) win or earn (a sum of money): he banked $100,000 for a hole-in-one.

- store (something, esp. blood, tissue, or sperm) for future use: the sperm is banked or held in storage for the following spring.

<PHRASES> break the bank (in gambling) win more money than is held by the bank.
- [usu. with negative] INFORMAL cost more than one can afford: Christmas need not break the bank.

<PHRASAL VERB> bank on base one's hopes or confidence on: they can bank on my winning 25 games next year.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (originally denoting a money dealer's table): from French banque or Italian banca, from medieval Latin banca, bancus, of Germanic origin; related to BANK^1 and BENCH.

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BENCH ■

bank·a·ble adj. (esp. in the entertainment industry) certain to bring profit and success: he needed some bankable names to star in the film.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reliable: a bankable assurance.

<DERIVATIVES> bank·a·bil·i·ty n.

bank ac·count n. a fund established in a bank by a customer who deposits money against which the customer may make withdrawals.

bank bal·ance n. the amount of money held in a bank account at a given moment.

bank bill n. 1 BRIT. a bill of exchange drawn by one bank on another.

2 another term for BANKNOTE.

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BANKNOTE ■

bank·book n. another term for PASSBOOK.

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PASSBOOK ■

bank card n. a card issued by a bank for the purpose of identifying a customer, as at an automated teller machine.
- a credit card issued by a bank.

bank dis·count n. interest computed on the face value of a loan and deducted in advance from the loan by the lending bank.

bank draft n. a check drawn by a bank on its own funds in another bank.

bank·er n. an officer or owner of a bank or group of banks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the person running the table, controlling play, or acting as dealer in some gambling or board games.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French banquier, from banque (see BANK^2 ).

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bank·er's hours plural n. short working hours (in reference to the typical opening hours of a bank in former times).

Bank·head Tallulah (1903-68), U.S. actress noted for her uninhibited public persona, rich laugh, and harsh drawl. Her most successful movie appearance was in Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat (1944).

bank hol·i·day n. BRIT. a day on which banks are officially closed, observed as a public holiday.

bank·ing n. the business conducted or services offered by a bank: with this account, you are entitled to free banking.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the occupation of a banker: [as adj.] to pursue a banking career.

bank ma·chine n. another term for AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE.

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AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE ■

bank·note (also bank note) n. a piece of paper money, constituting a central bank's promissory note to pay a stated sum to the bearer on demand: is the $1 bill the only banknote with George Washington's picture on it?

bank rate n. the rate of discount set by a central bank.

bank·roll n. a roll of paper money.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE financial resources: his bankroll allowed him to run campaigns all over the U.S.

■ v. [trans.] INFORMAL support (a person, organization, or project) financially: the project is bankrolled by wealthy expatriates.

bank·rupt adj. (of a person or organization) declared in law unable to pay outstanding debts: the company was declared bankrupt; he committed suicide after going bankrupt.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- impoverished or depleted: a bankrupt country with no natural resources.

- FIGURATIVE completely lacking in a particular quality or value: their cause is morally bankrupt.

■ n. a person judged by a court to be insolvent, whose property is taken and disposed of for the benefit of creditors.

■ v. [trans.] reduce (a person or organization) to bankruptcy: the strike nearly bankrupted the union.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Italian banca rotta 'broken bench', from banca (see BANK^2 ) and rompere 'to break'. The change in the ending was due to association with Latin rupt- 'broken'.

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bank·rupt·cy n. (pl. -cies) the state of being bankrupt: many companies were facing bankruptcy | a series of bankruptcies and scandals | [as adj.] bankruptcy proceedings.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE the state of being completely lacking in a particular quality or value: the moral bankruptcy of terrorism.

Banks 1 Ernie (1931-), U.S. baseball player; full name Ernest Banks; known as Mr. Cub. He played first base or shortstop for the Chicago Cubs from 1953 until 1971. Baseball Hall of Fame (1977).

Banks 2 Sir Joseph (1743-1820), English botanist. He accompanied Captain James Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific.

bank·si·a n. an evergreen Australian shrub that typically has narrow, leathery leaves and spikes of bottlebrushlike flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Banksia, family Proteaceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, named after Sir Joseph BANKS^2 .

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bank state·ment n. a printed record of the balance in a bank account and the amounts that have been paid into it and withdrawn from it, issued periodically to the holder of the account.

bank swal·low n. another term for SAND MARTIN.

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SAND MARTIN ■

bank vole n. a common reddish-brown Eurasian vole that lives in woodland and scrub.
<INFO>  Clethrionomys glareolus, family Muridae.

Ban·ne·ker Benjamin (1731-1806), U.S. inventor, astronomer, and mathematician. Born to a slave father and freed slave mother, he published an almanac 1791-1802 that featured his astronomical and tide calculations. On the recommendation of Thomas Jefferson, he was hired to assist in the surveying of the District of Columbia 1790.

ban·ner n. 1 a long strip of cloth bearing a slogan or design, hung in a public place or carried in a demonstration or procession: a banner in the front window announced “Grand Reopening”; students waved banners and chanted slogans.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a flag on a pole used as the standard of a monarch, army, or knight.

- FIGURATIVE an idea or principle used to rally public opinion: the administration is flying the free trade banner.

2 (also banner ad) an advertisement appearing across the top of a web page: to get a new banner now, click Step 1.;| [as modifier] advertise and promote your site on thousands of web sites all around the world for free utilizing our award winning banner exchange engine and free web tools!

■ adj. [attrib.] excellent; outstanding: I predict that 1998 will be a banner year.

<PHRASES> under the banner of claiming to support a particular cause or set of ideas: campaigns fought under the banner of multiculturalism.
- as part of a particular group or organization: the party is running under the banner of the Left-Wing Alliance.

<DERIVATIVES> ban·nered adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French baniere, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to BAND^2 .

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ban·ner·et n. HISTORICAL 1 a knight who commanded his own troops in battle under his own banner.

2 a knighthood given on the battlefield for courage.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French baneret, literally 'bannered', from baniere 'banner'.

ban·ner head·line n. a newspaper headline running across a whole page, esp. one on the front page.

Ban·nis·ter Sir Roger (Gilbert) (1929- ), British middle-distance runner and neurologist. In 1954, he became the first man to run a mile in under 4 minutes.

ban·nis·ter n. variant spelling of BANISTER.

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BANISTER ■

ban·nock n. a round, flat loaf, typically unleavened, associated with Scotland and northern England.

<ORIGIN> Old English bannuc, of Celtic origin; related to Welsh ban, Breton bannac'h, banne, and Cornish banna 'a drop'.

Ban·nock·burn, Battle of a battle that took place near Stirling in central Scotland in 1314, in which the English army of Edward II, advancing to break the siege of Stirling Castle, was defeated by the Scots under Robert the Bruce.

banns plural n. a notice read out on three successive Sundays in a parish church, announcing an intended marriage and giving the opportunity for objections.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: plural of BAN^1 .

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ban·quet n. an elaborate and formal evening meal for many people, often followed by speeches: the Austrian emperor's lavish banquets; | [as adj.] a banquet table.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an elaborate and extensive meal; a feast: a ten-course Chinese banquet.

■ v. (-quet·ed, -quet·ing) [trans.] entertain with a banquet: there are halls for banqueting up to 3,000 people | [as adj.] (banqueting) a banqueting hall.

<DERIVATIVES> ban·quet·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French, diminutive of banc 'bench' (see BANK^1 ).

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ban·quette n. 1 an upholstered bench along a wall, esp. in a restaurant or bar.

2 a raised step behind a rampart.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (sense 2): from French, from Italian banchetta, diminutive of banca 'bench' (see BANK^2 ). Sense 1 dates from the mid 19th cent.

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ban·shee n. (in Irish legend) a female spirit whose wailing warns of an impending death in a house: the little girl dropped her ice cream and began to howl like a banshee | [as adj.] a horrible banshee wail.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Irish bean sídhe, from Old Irish ben síde 'woman of the fairies'.

ban·tam n. 1 a chicken of a small breed, of which the cock is noted for its aggressiveness: FIGURATIVE what a wiry bantam he is!

2 short for BANTAMWEIGHT.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: apparently named after the province of Bantam in Java, although the fowl is not native there.

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ban·tam·weight n. a weight in boxing and other sports intermediate between flyweight and featherweight. In boxing it ranges from 112 to 118 pounds (51 to 54 kg).
<SPECIAL USAGE> a boxer or other competitor of this weight.

ban·teng n. a Southeast Asian forest ox that resembles the domestic cow. It has been domesticated in Bali.
<INFO>  Bos javanicus, family Bovidae.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Malay.

ban·ter n. the playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks: there was much singing and good-natured banter.

■ v. [intrans.] talk or exchange remarks in a good-humored teasing way: the men bantered with the waitresses | [as adj.] (bantering) a bantering tone.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

Ban·ting Sir Frederick Grant (1891-1941), Canadian physiologist and surgeon. With the assistance of C. H. Best, Banting discovered insulin 1921-22, using it to treat diabetes. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1923, shared with J. J. R. Macleod).

bant·ling n. ARCHAIC POETIC/LITERARY a young child; a brat.

Ban·tu n. (pl. same or -tus) 1 a member of an extensive group of native peoples of central and southern Africa.

2 the group of languages spoken by these peoples.

Bantu languages belong to the Niger-Congo language family, and there are more than 400 of them (with over 100 million speakers), of which Swahili, Xhosa, and Zulu are the most important.

■ adj. of or relating to these peoples or their languages.

<ORIGIN> plural (in certain Bantu languages) of -ntu 'person'.

ban·yan (also ban·ian) n. (also banyan tree) an Indian fig tree whose branches produce aerial roots that later become accessory trunks. A mature tree may cover several acres in this manner.
<INFO>  Ficus benghalensis, family Moraceae.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Portuguese, from Gujarati 'man of the trading caste', from Sanskrit. Originally denoting a Hindu trader or merchant, the term was applied by Europeans in the mid 17th cent. to a particular tree under which such traders had built a pagoda.

ban·zai exclam. 1 a Japanese battle cry. <ORIGIN> early 20th cent.

2 a form of greeting used to the Japanese emperor. <ORIGIN> late 19th cent.

■ adj. (esp. of Japanese troops) attacking fiercely and recklessly: a banzai charge.

<ORIGIN> Japanese, literally 'ten thousand years (of life to you)'.

ba·o·bab n. a short tree with an enormously thick trunk and large edible fruit. It can live to a great age.
<INFO>  Genus Adansonia, family Bombacaceae: several species, in particular the African A. digitata and the Australian A. gregorii.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: probably from an African language; first recorded in Latin (1592), in a treatise on the plants of Egypt by Prosper Alpinus, Italian botanist.

Bao·tou an industrial city in Inner Mongolia, northern China, on the Yellow River; pop. 1,180,000.

bap·tism n. (in the Christian Church) the religious rite of sprinkling water onto a person's forehead or of immersion in water, symbolizing purification or regeneration and admission to the Christian Church. In many denominations, baptism is performed on young children and is accompanied by name-giving.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a ceremony or occasion at which this takes place.

- a religious experience likened to this: baptism in the Holy Spirit.

- FIGURATIVE a person's initiation into a particular activity or role, typically one perceived as difficult: this event constituted his baptism as a politician.

<PHRASES> baptism of fire a difficult or painful new undertaking or experience. <ORIGIN> from the original sense of 'a soldier's first battle'.

<DERIVATIVES> bap·tis·mal adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French baptesme, via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek baptismos 'ceremonial washing', from baptizein 'immerse, baptize'.

bap·tis·mal name n. a personal name given at baptism.

bap·tist n. 1 (Baptist) a member of a Protestant Christian denomination advocating baptism only of adult believers by total immersion. Baptists form one of the largest Protestant bodies and are found throughout the world and esp. in the U.S.

2 a person who baptizes someone.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (sense 2): from Old French baptiste, via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek , from baptizein 'immerse, baptize'.

bap·tis·tery (also bap·tis·try ) n. (pl. -ter·ies) the part of a church used for baptism.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- HISTORICAL a building next to a church, used for baptism.

- (in a Baptist chapel) a sunken receptacle used for baptism by total immersion.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French baptistere, via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek , from baptizein 'immerse, baptize'.

bap·tize v. [trans.] administer baptism to (someone); christen: he was baptized Joshua.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- admit (someone) into a specified church by baptism: Mark had been baptized a Catholic.

- give a name or nickname to: he baptized the science of narrative “narratology.”

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin baptizare, from Greek baptizein 'immerse, baptize'.

bar 1 n. 1 a long rod or rigid piece of wood, metal, or similar material, typically used as an obstruction, fastening, or weapon.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an amount of food or another substance formed into a regular narrow block: a bar of chocolate; gold bars.

- a band of color or light, esp. on a flat surface: bars of sunlight shafting through the broken windows.

- see CROSSBAR.

- a sandbank or shoal at the mouth of a harbor, bay, or estuary.

- BRIT. a rail marking the end of each chamber in the Houses of Parliament.

- [HERALDRY] a charge in the form of a narrow horizontal stripe across the shield.

2 a counter across which alcoholic drinks or refreshments are served.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a room in a restaurant or hotel in which alcohol is served.

- an establishment where alcohol and sometimes other refreshments are served.

- [usu. with adj.] a small store or booth serving refreshments or providing a service: a dairy bar.

3 a barrier or restriction to an action or advance: political differences are not necessarily a bar to a good relationship.

4 [MUSIC] a measure of music or the time of a piece of music.

5 (the bar) a partition in a courtroom, now usually notional, beyond which most persons may not pass and at which an accused person stands: the prisoner at the bar.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a similar partition in a legislative assembly: he had to appear at the Bar of the House for a reprimand by the Speaker.

- a plea arresting an action or claim in a law case.

- a particular court of law.

- any kind of tribunal: the bar of public opinion.

6 (the Bar) the legal profession.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- lawyers collectively.

- BRIT. barristers collectively.

■ v. (barred, bar·ring) [trans.] 1 fasten (something, esp. a door or window) with a bar or bars: she bolts and bars the door.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. be barred) prevent or forbid the entrance or movement of: boulders barred her passage; she was barred from a men-only dinner.

- prohibit (someone) from doing something: journalists had been barred from covering the elections.

- forbid (an activity) to someone: the job she loved had been barred to her.

- exclude (something) from consideration: nothing is barred in the crime novel.

- [LAW] prevent or delay (an action) by objection.

2 (usu. be barred) mark (something) with bars or stripes: his face was barred with light.

■ prep. CHIEFLY BRIT. except for; apart from: everyone, bar a few ascetics, thinks it desirable.

<PHRASES>
□ bar none with no exceptions: the greatest living American poet bar none.

□ behind bars in prison.

<DERIVATIVES> barred adj. barred windows birds with barred breasts | [in combination] a five-barred gate.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French barre (noun), barrer (verb), of unknown origin.

Linked entries:

CROSSBAR ■

bar 2 n. a unit of pressure equivalent to 100,000 newtons per square meter or approximately one atmosphere.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek baros 'weight'.

Bar. abbr. [BIBLE] Baruch.

Ba·ra·ta·ria Bay an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico in southeastern Louisiana, south of New Orleans, associated with Jean Lafitte and other early 19th-century outlaws.

bar·a·the·a n. a fine woolen cloth, sometimes mixed with silk or cotton, used chiefly for coats and suits.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

barb 1 n. 1 a sharp projection near the end of an arrow, fishhook, or similar item, angled away from the main point so as to make extraction difficult.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a cluster of spikes on barbed wire.

- FIGURATIVE a deliberately hurtful remark: his barb hurt more than she cared to admit.

- a beardlike filament at the mouth of some fish, such as barbel and catfish.

- one of the fine hairlike filaments growing from the shaft of a feather, forming the vane.

2 a freshwater fish that typically has barbels around the mouth, popular in aquariums.
<INFO>  Barbus and other genera, family Cyprinidae: numerous species, including the tiger barb (B. pentazona) and the rosy barb (B. conchonius).

<DERIVATIVES> barb·less adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French barbe, from Latin barba 'beard'.

barb 2 n. a small horse of a hardy breed originally from North Africa.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French barbe, from Italian barbero 'of Barbary'.

Bar·ba·dos a country in the eastern West Indies, one of the Windward Islands; pop. 278,200; capital, Bridgetown; official language, English.

Barbados was a British colony until it gained independence within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1966. Its economy is based on tourism, sugar, and light manufacturing industries.

<DERIVATIVES> Bar·ba·di·an adj. & n.

bar·bar·i·an n. (in ancient times) a member of a community or tribe not belonging to one of the great civilizations (Greek, Roman, Christian).
<SPECIAL USAGE> an uncultured or brutish person.

■ adj. of or relating to ancient barbarians: barbarian invasions; barbarian peoples.
<SPECIAL USAGE> uncultured; brutish.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as an adjective used depreciatively to denote a person with different speech and customs): from Old French barbarien, from barbare, or from Latin barbarus (see BARBAROUS).

Linked entries:

BARBAROUS ■

bar·bar·ic adj. 1 savagely cruel; exceedingly brutal: he had carried out barbaric acts in the name of war.

2 primitive; unsophisticated: the barbaric splendor he found in civilizations since destroyed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> uncivilized and uncultured.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·bar·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a noun in the sense 'a barbarian'): from Old French barbarique, or via Latin from Greek barbarikos, from barbaros 'foreign' (esp. with reference to speech).

bar·ba·rism n. 1 absence of culture and civilization: the collapse of civilization and the return to barbarism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a word or expression that is badly formed according to traditional philological rules, for example a word formed from elements of different languages, such as breathalyzer (English and Greek) or television (Greek and Latin).

2 extreme cruelty or brutality: she called the execution an act of barbarism | barbarisms from the country's past.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French barbarisme, via Latin from Greek barbarismos, from barbarizein 'speak like a foreigner', from barbaros 'foreign'.

bar·bar·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) 1 extreme cruelty or brutality: the barbarity displayed by the terrorists | the Nazi barbarities of the last war.

2 absence of culture and civilization: beyond the Empire lay barbarity.

bar·ba·rize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (barbarizing) cause to become savage or uncultured: the barbarizing effect of four decades of rock 'n' roll.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·ba·ri·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'speak using barbarisms'): from late Latin barbarizare, from Greek barbarizein 'speak like a foreigner'.

Bar·ba·ros·sa 1 see FREDERICK I.

Linked entries:

FREDERICK I ■

Bar·ba·ros·sa 2 (c.1483-1546), Barbary pirate; born Khair ad-Din. He was notorious for his successes against Christian vessels in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

bar·ba·rous adj. 1 savagely cruel; exceedingly brutal: many early child-rearing practices were barbarous by modern standards.

2 primitive; uncivilized: a remote and barbarous country.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (esp. of language) coarse and unrefined.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·ba·rous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): via Latin from Greek barbaros 'foreign' + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

Bar·ba·ry (also Barbary States) a former name for the Saracen countries of north and northwestern Africa, together with Moorish Spain. The area was noted between the 16th and 18th centuries as a haunt of pirates. Compare with MAGHRIB.

<ORIGIN> based on Arabic barbar (see BERBER).

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MAGHRIB ■

BERBER ■

Bar·ba·ry ape n. a tailless macaque monkey that is native to northwestern Africa and also found on the Rock of Gibraltar.
<INFO>  Macaca sylvana, family Cercopithecidae.

Bar·ba·ry Coast a former name for the Mediterranean coast of North Africa from Morocco to Egypt.

Bar·ba·ry sheep n. a short-coated sheep with a long neck ruff, found in the high deserts of northern Africa. Also called AOUDAD.
<INFO>  Ammotragus lervia, family Bovidae.

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AOUDAD ■

bar·be·cue n. a meal or gathering at which meat, fish, or other food is cooked out of doors on a rack over an open fire or on a portable grill.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a portable grill used for the preparation of food at a barbecue, or a brick fireplace containing a grill.

- food cooked in such a way.

■ v. (-cued, -cu·ing) [trans.] cook (meat, fish, or other food) on a barbecue: fish barbecued with herbs | [as adj.] (barbecued) barbecued chicken.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Spanish barbacoa, perhaps from Arawak barbacoa 'wooden frame on posts'. The original sense was 'wooden framework for sleeping on, or for storing meat or fish to be dried'.

bar·be·cue sauce n. a highly seasoned sauce containing vinegar, spices, and usually chilies.

barbed adj. having a barb or barbs: barbed arrows.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE (of a remark or joke) deliberately hurtful: a fair degree of barbed wit.

barbed wire n. wire with clusters of short, sharp spikes set at intervals along it, used to make fences or in warfare as an obstruction.

bar·bel n. 1 a fleshy filament growing from the mouth or snout of a fish.

2 a large European freshwater fish of the minnow family that has such filaments hanging from its mouth. It lives in running water.
<INFO>  Barbus barbus, family Cyprinidae.

3 [with adj.] a marine or freshwater African fish with barbels around the mouth.
<INFO>  Species in several families, including Tachysurus feliceps (family Aniidae), of southern African coasts and estuaries, whose toxin-coated spines can inflict a dangerous wound.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): via Old French from late Latin barbellus, diminutive of barbus 'barbel', from barba 'beard'.

bar·bell n. a long metal bar to which disks of varying weights are attached at each end, used for weightlifting.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from BAR^1 + BELL^1 .

Linked entries:

BAR ■

BELL ■

bar·be·que n. & v. a common misspelling of barbecue.

<USAGE>
This common form arises understandably from a confused conflation of the proper spelling barbecue, the abbreviation Bar-B-Q, and phonetic spelling. Its frequency does not quite justify it: in no other English word does que attain the status of a stand-alone, terminal syllable.

Bar·ber Samuel (1910-81), U.S. composer. He developed a style based on romanticism allied to classical forms. Notable works: Adagio for Strings (1936) and Vanessa (opera, 1958).

bar·ber n. a person who cuts hair, esp. men's, and shaves or trims beards as an occupation.

■ v. [trans.] cut or trim (a man's hair): his hair was neatly barbered.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Anglo-Norman French from Old French barbe (see BARB^1 ).

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BARB ■

bar·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) a thorny shrub that bears yellow flowers and red or blue-black berries.
<INFO>  Genus Berberis, family Berberidaceae: many species, including the American barberry (B. canadensis), with widely toothed leaves, and the European barberry (B. vulgaris), with more closely toothed leaves.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French berberis. The change in the ending was due to association with BERRY.

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BERRY ■

bar·ber·shop n. a shop where a barber works.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [often as adj.] a popular style of close harmony singing, typically for four male voices: a barbershop quartet. <ORIGIN> from the custom in the 16th and 17th centuries of passing time in a barbershop by harmonizing to a lute or guitar provided to entertain customers waiting their turn.

bar·ber's itch n. ringworm of the face or neck communicated by unsterilized shaving apparatus.

bar·ber's pole (also bar·ber pole) n. a pole painted with spiraling red and white stripes and hung outside barbershops as a business sign.

Bar·ber·ton a city in northeastern Ohio, southwest of Akron; pop. 27,623.

bar·bet n. a large-headed, brightly colored, fruit-eating bird that has a stout bill with tufts of bristles at the base. Barbets are found on all continents, esp. in the tropics.
<INFO>  Capitonidae

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a poodle until the early 19th cent.): from French, from barbe 'beard' (see BARB^1 ). The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.

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BARB ■

bar·bette n. a fixed armored housing at the base of a gun turret on a warship or armored vehicle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a platform on which a gun is placed to fire over a parapet.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, diminutive of barbe 'beard' (see BARB^1 ).

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BARB ■

bar·bi·can n. the outer defense of a city or castle, esp. a double tower above a gate or drawbridge.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French barbacane; probably based on Arabic.

bar·bi·cel n. any of the minute hooked filaments that interlock the barbules of a bird's feathers.

bar·bie n. (pl. -bies) INFORMAL, CHIEFLY AUSTRAL. a barbecue.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: abbreviation.

Bar·bie doll n. TRADEMARK a doll representing a conventionally attractive young woman.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a woman who is attractive in a glossily artificial way and is typically considered to be stupid and characterless.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: Barbie, diminutive of the given name Barbara.

bar·bi·tal n. a long-acting sedative and sleep-inducing drug of the barbiturate type.
<INFO>  Alternative name: diethylbarbituric acid; chem. formula: C_6H_12O_3N_2.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from BARBITURIC ACID, on the pattern of veronal (an alternative name).

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BARBITURIC ACID ■

bar·bi·tone n. British term for BARBITAL.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from BARBITURIC ACID + -ONE.

Linked entries:

BARBITAL ■

BARBITURIC ACID ■

-ONE ■

bar·bi·tu·rate n. any of a class of sedative and sleep-inducing drugs derived from barbituric acid.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHEMISTRY] a salt or ester of barbituric acid.

bar·bi·tu·ric ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a synthetic organic acid from which the barbiturates are derived.
<INFO>  A cyclic drivative of urea and malonic acid; chem. formula: C_4H_4O_3N_2.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French barbiturique, from German Barbitursäure, from the given name Barbara + Säure 'acid'.

Bar·bi·zon School a mid-19th-century school of French landscape painters who reacted against classical conventions and based their art on direct study of nature. Led by Théodore Rousseau, the group included Charles Daubigny and Jean-François Millet.

<ORIGIN> named after Barbizon, a small village in the forest of Fontainebleau, near Paris, where Rousseau and others worked.

Bar·bour Philip Pendleton (1783-1841), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1836-41. He also served in Congress as a representative from Virginia 1814-25; 1827-30.

Bar·bu·da see ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA.

<DERIVATIVES> Bar·bu·dan adj. & n.

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ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA ■

bar·bule n. a minute filament projecting from the barb of a feather.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin barbula, diminutive of barba 'beard'.

barb·wire n. barbed wire.

Bar·ca·Loung·er n. TRADEMARK a type of deeply padded reclining chair.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from the name of Edward J. Barcolo, who acquired the original license to manufacture the chairs, and lounger.

bar·ca·role (also bar·ca·rolle ) n. a song traditionally sung by Venetian gondoliers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a musical composition in the style of such a song.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French barcarolle, from Venetian Italian barcarola 'boatman's song', from barca 'boat'.

Bar·ce·lo·na a city on the coast of northeastern Spain, capital of Catalonia; pop. 1,653,175.

Bar·ce·lo·na chair n. TRADEMARK an armless chair with a curved stainless steel frame and padded leather cushions.

bar·chan n. a crescent-shaped shifting sand dune, concave on the leeward side.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Turkic barkhan.

bar chart n. another term for BAR GRAPH.

Linked entries:

BAR GRAPH ■

Bar-Coch·ba Jewish rebel leader; known as Simeon in Jewish sources. He led the rebellion in AD 132 against the Romans and was accepted by some of his Jewish contemporaries as the Messiah.

bar code n. a machine-readable code in the form of numbers and a pattern of parallel lines of varying widths, printed on and identifying a product. Also called UNIVERSAL PRODUCT CODE.

Linked entries:

UNIVERSAL PRODUCT CODE ■

bard 1 n. ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY a poet, traditionally one reciting epics and associated with a particular oral tradition.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Bard or the Bard of Avon) Shakespeare.

<DERIVATIVES> bard·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Scottish Gaelic bàrd, Irish bard, Welsh bardd, of Celtic origin. In Scotland in the 16th cent. it was a derogatory term for an itinerant musician, but was later romanticized by Sir Walter Scott.

bard 2 n. a slice of bacon placed on meat or game before roasting.

■ v. [trans.] cover (meat or game) with slices of bacon.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French barde, a transferred sense of barde 'armor for the breast and flanks of a warhorse', based on Arabic barda'a 'saddlecloth, padded saddle'.

Bar·deen John (1908-91), U.S. physicist. With William Shockley and Walter Brattain he developed a point-contact transistor. He also worked on the theory of superconductivity. Nobel Prize for Physics in 1956, shared with Shockley and Brattain, and in 1972, shared with Leon N. Cooper (1930-) and John R. Schreiffer (1931-).

bar·do n. (in Tibetan Buddhism) a state of existence between death and rebirth, varying in length according to a person's conduct in life and manner of, or age at, death.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an indeterminate, transitional state: wandering adrift in a bardo of intense negativity, blame, disappointment, criticism, and denial.

<ORIGIN> Tibetan bár-do, from bar 'interval' + do 'two'.

bard·ol·a·try n. HUMOROUS excessive admiration of Shakespeare.

<DERIVATIVES> bard·ol·a·ter (or bard·o·la·tor) n.

Bar·do·li·no n. a red wine from the Veneto region of Italy.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

Bar·dot Brigitte (1934- ), French actress; born Camille Javal. The movie And God Created Woman (1956) established her reputation as an international sex symbol.

bare adj. 1 (of a person or part of the body) not clothed or covered: he was bare from the waist up; she padded in bare feet toward the door. See note at NAKED.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- without the appropriate, usual, or natural covering: a clump of bare aspen trees; bare floorboards.

- without the appropriate or usual contents: a bare cell with just a mattress.

- unconcealed; without disguise: an ordeal that would lay bare a troubled family background.

2 without addition; basic and simple: he outlined the bare essentials of the story; a strange, bare production of Twelfth Night.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [attrib.] only just sufficient: a bare majority.

- [attrib.] surprisingly small in number or amount: all you need to get started with this program is a bare 10K bytes of memory.

■ v. [trans.] uncover (a part of the body or other thing) and expose it to view: he bared his chest to show his scar.

<PHRASES>
□ bare all take off all of one's clothes and display oneself to others: Lysette bared all for Playboy in 1988.

□ the bare bones the basic facts about something, without any detail: the bare bones of the plot.

□ bare of without: the interior, bare of plaster, leaked a smell of old timbers.

□ bare one's soul reveal one's innermost secrets and feelings to someone.

□ bare one's teeth show one's teeth, typically when angry.

□ with one's bare hands without using tools or weapons.

<DERIVATIVES> bare·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English bær (noun), barian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch baar.

bare·back adj. & adv. on an unsaddled horse or other animal: [as adj.] a bareback circus rider | [as adv.] riding bareback.

bare·back·ing n. VULGAR SLANG anal intercourse without a condom.

bare·boat adj. [attrib.] relating to or denoting a boat or ship hired without a crew: bareboat charters.

<DERIVATIVES> bare·boat·ing n.

bare·faced adj. 1 [attrib.] shameless; undisguised: a barefaced lie.

2 having an uncovered face, so as to be exposed or vulnerable to something: his years of working barefaced, breathing down dust.

bare·foot (also bare·foot·ed ) adj. & adv. wearing nothing on the feet: [as adv.] I won't walk barefoot.

bare·foot doc·tor n. a paramedical worker with basic medical training working in a rural district in China.

ba·rège (also ba·rege) n. a light, silky dress fabric resembling gauze, typically made from wool.

<ORIGIN> French, named after the village of Barèges in southwestern France, where it was originally made.

bare·hand v. (in baseball) field with one's bare hand.

bare·hand·ed adj. & adv. with nothing in or covering one's hands: his running, barehanded catch in foul territory.
<SPECIAL USAGE> carrying no weapons.

bare·head·ed adj. & adv. without a covering for one's head: [as adv.] he walked bareheaded in the teeming rain.

Ba·reil·ly an industrial city in northern India, in Uttar Pradesh; pop. 583,000.

bare-knuck·le (also bare-knuck·led or bare-knuck·les) adj. [attrib.] (of a boxer or boxing match) without gloves.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL with no scruples or reservations: an apostle of bare-knuckled capitalism.

bare·leg·ged adj. & adv. without a covering on the legs: barelegged models strutted down the runway.

bare·ly adv. 1 only just; almost not: she nodded, barely able to speak | [as submodifier] a barely perceptible pause.
<SPECIAL USAGE> only a short time before: they had barely sat down when forty policemen swarmed in.

2 in a simple and sparse way: their barely furnished house.

3 ARCHAIC openly; explicitly.

Bar·en·boim Daniel (1942- ), Israeli pianist and conductor. He was musical director of the Orchestre de Paris 1975-88 and of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1991.

Bar·ents Willem (died 1597), Dutch explorer. The leader of several expeditions in search of the Northeast Passage to Asia, Barents discovered Spitsbergen and reached Novaya Zemlya.

Bar·ents Sea a part of the Arctic Ocean north of Norway and Russia, bounded on the west by Svalbard, on the north by Franz Josef Land, and on the east by Novaya Zemlya.

barf INFORMAL v. [intrans.] vomit.

■ n. vomited food.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: of unknown origin.

barf bag n. a bag provided for airplane passengers for use in case of vomiting associated with motion sickness.

bar·fly n. (pl. -flies) INFORMAL a person who spends much time drinking in bars.

bar·gain n. 1 an agreement between two or more parties as to what each party will do for the other: the extraconstitutional bargain between the northern elite and the southern planters.

2 a thing bought or offered for sale more cheaply than is usual or expected: the secondhand table was a real bargain | [as adj.] household and electrical goods at bargain prices.

■ v. [intrans.] negotiate the terms and conditions of a transaction: he bargained with the city council to rent the stadium | [as n.] (bargaining) many statutes are passed by political bargaining.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] (bargain something away) part with something after negotiation but get little or nothing in return: his determination not to bargain away any of the province's existing economic powers.

- (bargain for/on) be prepared for; expect: I got more information than I'd bargained for; he didn't bargain on this storm.

<PHRASES>
□ drive a hard bargain be uncompromising in making a deal.

□ into (in) the bargain in addition to what was expected; moreover: an upstate yokel and a raving paranoiac into the bargain.

□ keep one's side of the bargain carry out the promises one has made as part of an agreement.

□ strike a bargain make a bargain; agree to a deal.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·gain·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bargaine (noun), bargaignier (verb); probably of Germanic origin and related to German borgen 'borrow'.

bar·gain base·ment n. a part of a store where goods are sold cheaply, typically because they are old or imperfect: [as adj.] bargain-basement prices | FIGURATIVE a mixture of styles from pop culture's bargain basement.

bar·gain·ing chip n. a potential concession or other factor that can be used to advantage in negotiations.

barge n. a flat-bottomed boat for carrying freight, typically on canals and rivers, either under its own power or towed by another.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a long ornamental boat used for pleasure or ceremony.

- a boat used by the chief officers of a warship.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] move forcefully or roughly: we can't just barge into a private garden.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (barge in) intrude or interrupt rudely or awkwardly: sorry to barge in on your cozy evening.

- (chiefly in a sporting context) collide with: displays of dissent, such as deliberately barging into the umpire.

2 [trans.] convey (freight) by barge.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a small seagoing vessel): from Old French, perhaps ultimately from Greek baris 'Egyptian boat'.

barge·board n. a board, typically ornamental, fixed to the gable end of a roof to hide the ends of the roof timbers.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from mid 16th-cent. barge- (used in architectural terms relating to the gable of a building).

barg·ee n. CHIEFLY BRIT. a bargeman.

Bar·gel·lo (also bar·gel·lo) n. a kind of embroidery, typically worked on upholstery fabrics, in stitch patterns suggestive of flames. Also called FLAME STITCH.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: named after Bargello Palace, in Florence, Italy, which contains upholstered chairs with such embroidery.

barge·man n. (pl. -men) a person who has charge of, or works on, a barge.

bar graph (also bar chart) n. a diagram in which the numerical values of variables are represented by the height or length of lines or rectangles of equal width.

Bar Har·bor a resort town in southern central Maine, on Mount Desert Island; pop. 4,443.

bar·hop v. [intrans.] drink at a number of bars during a single day or evening.

Ba·ri an industrial seaport on the Adriatic coast of southeastern Italy; pop. 353,030.

bar·i·at·rics n. the branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatment of obesity.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·i·at·ric adj.

bar·i·at·ric sur·ger·y n. surgical removal of parts of the stomach and small intestines to induce weight loss.

ba·ril·la n. an impure alkali formerly made from the ashes of burned plants, esp. saltworts.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Spanish barrilla, diminutive of barra 'bar'.

Ba·ri·sal a river port in southern Bangladesh, on the Ganges delta; pop. 180,010.

ba·ri·sta n. a person who serves in a coffee bar.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: Italian, 'barman'.

bar·ite n. a mineral consisting of barium sulfate, typically occurring as colorless prismatic crystals or thin white flakes.

bar·i·tone n. 1 an adult male singing voice between tenor and bass: he sang in a rich baritone.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a singer with such a voice.

- a part written for such a voice.

2 an instrument that is second lowest in pitch in its family.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a large, valved brass instrument in coiled oval form, used esp. in military or street bands.

■ adj. second lowest in musical pitch.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Italian baritono, from Greek barutonos, from barus 'heavy' + tonos (see TONE).

Linked entries:

TONE ■

bar·i·um n. the chemical element of atomic number 56, a soft white reactive metal of the alkaline earth group. (Symbol: Ba)
<SPECIAL USAGE> a mixture of barium sulfate and water, opaque to X-rays, that is swallowed to permit radiological examination of the stomach or intestines: [as adj.] a barium meal.

Barium compounds are used in water purification, the glass industry, and pigments, and as an ingredient of signal flares and fireworks, giving a bright yellowish-green color. Barium oxide is a component of high-temperature superconductors.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from BARYTA + -IUM.

Linked entries:

BARYTA ■

-IUM ■

bar·i·um sul·fate n. an odorless, insoluble white powder used in the making of pigments, paper, textiles, and plastics, and ingested as a contrasting agent in X-raying the digestive tract.
<INFO>  4

bark 1 n. the sharp explosive cry of certain animals, esp. a dog, fox, or seal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sound resembling this cry, typically one made by someone laughing or coughing: a short bark of laughter.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] (of a dog or other animal) emit a bark: a dog barked at her.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) make a sound, such as a cough or a laugh, resembling a bark: she barked with laughter.

2 [trans.] utter (a command or question) abruptly or aggressively: he began barking out his orders | [with direct speech] “Nobody is allowed up here,” he barked | [intrans.] he was barking at me to make myself presentable.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] call out in order to sell or advertise something: doormen bark at passersby, promising hot music and cold beer.

<PHRASES>
□ someone's bark is worse than their bite someone is not as ferocious as they appear or sound.

□ be barking up the wrong tree INFORMAL be pursuing a mistaken or misguided line of thought or course of action.

<ORIGIN> Old English beorc (noun), beorcan (verb), of Germanic origin; possibly related to BREAK.

Linked entries:

BREAK ■

bark 2 n. the tough, protective outer sheath of the trunk, branches, and twigs of a tree or woody shrub.
<SPECIAL USAGE> this material used for tanning leather, making dyestuffs, or as a mulch in gardening.

■ v. [trans.] 1 strip the bark from (a tree or piece of wood).
<SPECIAL USAGE> scrape the skin off (one's shin) by accidentally hitting it against something hard.

2 TECHNICAL tan or dye (leather or other materials) using the tannins found in bark.

<DERIVATIVES> barked adj. [in combination] the red-barked dogwood.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse ; perhaps related to BIRCH.

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BIRCH ■

bark 3 n. (also barque) a sailing ship, typically with three masts, in which the foremast and mainmast are square-rigged and the mizzenmast is rigged fore-and-aft.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY a ship or boat.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: variant of BARQUE.

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BARQUE ■

bark bee·tle n. a small wood-boring beetle that tunnels under the bark of trees, which die if heavily infested.
<INFO>  Family Scolytidae: many genera and species, including the smaller European elm bark beetle (Scolytus multistriatus), which is responsible for the spread of the fungus that causes Dutch elm disease.

bark·cloth n. cloth made from the inner bark of the paper mulberry or similar tree.

bar·keep·er (also bar·keep) n. a person who owns or serves drinks in a bar.

bark·en·tine (BRIT. bar·quen·tine) n. a sailing ship similar to a bark but square-rigged only on the foremast.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from BARK^3 , on the pattern of brigantine.

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BARK ■

bark·er n. INFORMAL a person who stands in front of a theater, sideshow, etc., and calls out to passersby to attract customers.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from BARK^1 + -ER^1 . The original sense was 'a person or animal that barks; noisy protester', hence the current sense (late 17th cent.).

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BARK ■

-ER ■

bark·ing deer n. another term for MUNTJAC.

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MUNTJAC ■

Bark·ley 1 Alben William (1877-1956), U.S. politician. He served as Harry S Truman's vice president 1949-53. He also served in the U.S. Senate 1927-49; 1955-56.

Bark·ley 2 Charles (Wade) (1963-), U.S. basketball player. A five-time All-NBA player, he played for the Philadelphia 76ers 1984-92, the Phoenix Suns 1992-97, and the Houston Rockets 1997-2000. He was also a member of the U.S. Olympic “Dream” Team in 1992.

bar·ley n. a hardy cereal that has coarse bristles extending from the ears. It is widely cultivated, chiefly for use in brewing and stockfeed.
<INFO>  Genus Hordeum, family Gramineae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the grain of this plant. See also PEARL BARLEY.

<ORIGIN> Old English bærlic (adjective), from bære, bere 'barley' + -lic (see -LY^1 ).

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PEARL BARLEY ■

-LY ■

bar·ley·corn n. a grain of barley.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a former unit of measurement (about a third of an inch) based on the length of a grain of barley.

bar·ley sug·ar n. an amber-colored candy made of boiled sugar, traditionally shaped as a twisted stick.

■ adj. (bar·ley-sug·ar) [attrib.] shaped like twisted barley-sugar sticks.

bar·ley wa·ter n. a drink made from water and a boiled barley mixture, typically flavored with orange or lemon.

bar·ley wine n. a strong English ale.

bar line n. [MUSIC] a vertical line used in a musical score to mark a division between bars.

Bar·low knife n. a large single-bladed pocketknife.

<ORIGIN> named for Russell Barlow, 18th-cent. English inventor.

barm n. the froth on fermenting malt liquor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC or DIALECT yeast or leaven.

<ORIGIN> Old English beorma.

bar·maid n. 1 a waitress who serves drinks in a bar.

2 BRIT. a woman bartender.

bar·man n. (pl. -men) CHIEFLY BRIT. a male bartender.

Bar·me·cide (also Bar·me·cid·al ) RARE adj. [attrib.] illusory or imaginary and therefore disappointing.

■ n. a person who offers benefits that are illusory or disappointing.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (as a noun): from Arabic , the name of a prince in the Arabian Nights' Entertainments, who gave a beggar a feast consisting of ornate but empty dishes.

bar mitz·vah n. the religious initiation ceremony of a Jewish boy who has reached the age of 13 and is regarded as ready to observe religious precepts and eligible to take part in public worship.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the boy undergoing this ceremony.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be bar mitzvahed) celebrate the bar mitzvah of (a boy).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Hebrew , literally 'son of the commandment'.

barm·y adj. (barm·i·er, barm·i·est) BRIT. another term for BALMY (sense 2).

<DERIVATIVES> barm·i·ly adv. barm·i·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the sense 'frothy'): from BARM + -Y^1 .

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BALMY ■

BARM ■

-Y ■

barn 1 n. a large farm building used for storing grain, hay, or straw or for housing livestock.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a large shed used for storing vehicles.

- a large and unattractive building: moved into that barn of a house.

<ORIGIN> Old English bern, berern, from bere 'barley' + ern, ærn 'house'.

barn 2 (abbr.: b) n. [PHYSICS] a unit of area, 10^28 square meters, used esp. in particle physics.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: apparently from the phrase as big as a barn door.

Bar·na·bas, St. (died c.61), a Cypriot Levite and apostle. The traditional founder of the Cypriot Church, he is said to have been martyred in Cyprus. Feast day, June 11.

bar·na·cle n. a marine crustacean with an external shell, which attaches itself permanently to a variety of surfaces. Barnacles feed by filtering particles from the water using their modified feathery legs.
<INFO>  Class Cirripedia. See ACORN BARNACLE, GOOSE BARNACLE.

<SPECIAL USAGE> used figuratively to describe a tenacious person or thing: buses careered along with men hanging from their doors like barnacles.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·na·cled adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin bernaca, of unknown origin. In Middle English the term denoted the barnacle goose, whose breeding grounds were long unknown and which was believed to hatch from the shell of the crustacean to which it gave its name.

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ACORN BARNACLE ■

GOOSE BARNACLE ■

bar·na·cle goose n. a goose with a white face and black neck, breeding in the arctic tundra of Greenland and northern Europe.
<INFO>  Branta leucopsis, family Anatidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: see BARNACLE.

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BARNACLE ■

Bar·nard Christiaan Neethling (1922-2001), South African surgeon; a pioneer in human heart transplantation. He performed the first heart transplant in December 1967.

Bar·na·ul the capital of Altai territory in southern Russia, on the Ob River; pop. 603,000.

barn burn·er (also barn·burn·er) n. INFORMAL an event, typically a sports contest, that is very exciting or intense.

barn dance n. an informal social gathering for square dancing, originally held in a barn.

barn door n. the large door of a barn.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a target too large to be missed: on the shooting range he could not hit a barn door.

- a hinged metal flap fitted to a spotlight to control the direction and intensity of its beam.

Bar·ne·gat Bay a tidal body in southeastern New Jersey, shielded from the Atlantic Ocean by barrier islands, the site of numerous resorts.

barn owl n. an owl with a heart-shaped face, dark eyes, and relatively long, slender legs. It typically nests in farm buildings or in holes in trees.
<INFO>  Genus Tyto, family Tytonidae: three species, esp. the white-faced T. alba, which is found throughout the world.

Barns·ley a town in northern England; pop. 217,300.

Barn·sta·ble a town in southeastern Massachusetts, on the southwestern part of Cape Cod; pop. 40,949. It is the commercial center for a resort area.

barn·storm v. [intrans.] tour rural districts giving theatrical performances, originally often in barns.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] make a rapid tour of (an area), typically as part of a political campaign.

- travel around giving exhibitions of flying and performing aeronautical stunts: [as n.] (barnstorming) barnstorming had become a popular occupation among many trained pilots.

<DERIVATIVES> barn·storm·er n.

barn swal·low n. see SWALLOW^2 .

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SWALLOW ■

Bar·num P. T. (1810-91), U.S. showman; full name Phineas Taylor Barnum. He was noted for his extravagant advertising and exhibition of freaks at his museum in New York City. When his circus opened in 1871, he billed it as “The Greatest Show on Earth”; ten years later, he founded the Barnum and Bailey circus with former rival Anthony Bailey (1847-1906).

Bar·num ef·fect n. [PSYCHOLOGY] the tendency to accept certain information as true, such as character assessments or horoscopes, even when the information is so vague as to be worthless.

<ORIGIN> named after P. T. BARNUM; the word Barnum was in use from the mid 19th cent. as a noun in the sense 'nonsense, humbug'.

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BARNUM ■

barn·yard n. the area of open ground around a barn.

■ adj. (esp. of manners or language) typical of a barnyard; earthy: a polite way of avoiding barnyard language.

baro- comb. form relating to pressure: barotrauma; baroreceptor.

<ORIGIN> from Greek baros 'weight'.

bar·o·gram n. a record traced by a barograph.

bar·o·graph n. a barometer that records its readings on a moving chart.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek baros 'weight' + -GRAPH.

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-GRAPH ■

Ba·ro·lo n. a full-bodied red Italian wine from Barolo, a region of Piedmont.

ba·rom·e·ter n. an instrument measuring atmospheric pressure, used esp. in forecasting the weather and determining altitude.
<SPECIAL USAGE> something that reflects changes in circumstances or opinions: furniture is a barometer of changing tastes.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·o·met·ric adj. bar·o·met·ri·cal adj. ba·rom·e·try n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Greek baros 'weight' + -METER.

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-METER ■

bar·o·met·ric pres·sure n. another term for ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE.

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ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE ■

bar·on n. a member of the lowest order of the British nobility. The term “Baron” is not used as a form of address in Britain, barons usually being referred to as “Lord.”
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a similar member of a foreign nobility.

- HISTORICAL a person who held lands or property from the sovereign or a powerful overlord.

- [with adj.] an important or powerful person in a specified business or industry: a press baron.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from medieval Latin baro, baron- 'man, warrior', probably of Germanic origin.

bar·on·age n. 1 [treated as sing. or pl.] barons or nobles collectively.

2 an annotated list of barons or peers.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French barnage (from baron), or from medieval Latin baronagium, from baro (see BARON).

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BARON ■

bar·on·ess n. the wife or widow of a baron. The term “Baroness” is not used as a form of address in Britain, baronesses usually being referred to as “Lady.”
<SPECIAL USAGE> a woman holding the rank of baron either as a life peerage or as a hereditary rank.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French baronesse, from baron (see BARON).

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BARON ■

bar·on·et n. a member of the lowest hereditary titled British order, with the status of a commoner but able to use the prefix “Sir.”

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Latin baronettus, from Latin baro, baron- 'man, warrior'. The term originally denoted a gentleman, not a nobleman, summoned by the king to attend parliament; the current order was instituted in the early 17th cent.

bar·on·et·age n. 1 [treated as sing. or pl.] baronets collectively.

2 an annotated list of baronets.

bar·on·et·cy n. (pl. -cies) the rank of a baronet.

ba·ro·ni·al adj. belonging or relating to a baron or barons.
- suitable for a baron: vast halls of baronial splendor.

bar·on of beef n. a joint of beef consisting of two sirloins joined at the backbone.

bar·o·ny n. (pl. -nies) 1 the rank and estates of a baron.

2 HISTORICAL (in Ireland) a division of a county.

3 HISTORICAL (in Scotland) a large manor or estate.

ba·roque adj. relating to or denoting a style of European architecture, music, and art of the 17th and 18th centuries that followed mannerism and is characterized by ornate detail. In architecture the period is exemplified by the palace of Versailles and by the work of Bernini in Italy. Major composers include Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel; Caravaggio and Rubens are important baroque artists.
<SPECIAL USAGE> highly ornate and extravagant in style: the candles were positively baroque.

■ n. the baroque style.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the baroque period.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French (originally designating a pearl of irregular shape), from Portuguese barroco, Spanish barrueco, or Italian barocco; of unknown ultimate origin.

bar·o·re·cep·tor n. [ZOOLOGY] a receptor sensitive to changes in pressure.

bar·o·trau·ma n. [MEDICINE] injury caused by a change in air pressure, typically affecting the ear or the lung.

ba·rouche n. HISTORICAL a four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with a collapsible hood over the rear half, a seat in front for the driver, and seats facing each other for the passengers, used esp. in the 19th century.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from German dialect Barutsche, from Italian baroccio, based on Latin birotus 'two-wheeled', from bi- 'having two' + rota 'wheel'.

barque n. variant spelling of BARK^3 .

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, probably from Provençal barca, from late Latin barca 'ship's boat'.

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BARK ■

bar·quen·tine n. British spelling of BARKENTINE.

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BARKENTINE ■

Bar·qui·si·me·to a city in northwestern Venezuela; pop. 602,620.

bar·rack 1 v. [trans.] (often be barracked) provide (soldiers) with accommodations in a building or set of buildings: the granary in which the platoons were barracked.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from BARRACKS.

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BARRACKS ■

bar·rack 2 v. [trans.] BRIT. & AUSTRAL./NZ jeer loudly at (someone performing or speaking in public) in order to express disapproval or to create a distraction: opponents barracked him when he addressed the opening parliamentary session | [as n.] (barracking) the disgraceful barracking which came from the mob.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (barrack for) AUSTRAL./NZ give support and encouragement to: I take it you'll be barracking for Labour tonight?

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: probably from Northern Irish dialect.

bar·racks plural n. [often treated as sing.] a building or group of buildings used to house soldiers: the troops were ordered back to barracks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a building or group of buildings used to house large numbers of people.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: barrack from French baraque, from Italian baracca or Spanish barraca 'soldier's tent', of unknown origin.

bar·racks bag n. a large cloth bag for carrying clothing, equipment, and personal items; a duffel bag.

bar·ra·coon n. HISTORICAL an enclosure in which black slaves were confined for a limited period.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish barracón, from barraca 'soldier's tent' (see BARRACKS).

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BARRACKS ■

bar·ra·cu·da n. (pl. same or -das) a large, predatory tropical marine fish with a slender body and large jaws and teeth.
<INFO>  Genus Sphyraena, family Sphyraenidae: several species, in particular the inedible and poisonous great barracuda (S. barracuda) and the edible Pacific barracuda (S. argentea).

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

bar·rage n. a concentrated artillery bombardment over a wide area.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a concentrated outpouring, as of questions or blows: she was not prepared for his barrage of questions; a barrage of 60-second television spots.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be barraged) bombard (someone) with something: his doctor was barraged with unsolicited advice.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from barrer 'to bar', of unknown origin.

bar·rage bal·loon n. a large balloon anchored to the ground by cables and often with netting suspended from it, serving as an obstacle to low-flying enemy aircraft.

bar·ra·mun·di n. (pl. same or -dis) any of a number of large, chiefly freshwater, fishes of Australia and Southeast Asia:
<INFO>
- a fish that migrates between the sea and rivers and is valued as a food fish (Lates calcarifer, family Centropomidae).

- a mouthbrooder (genus Scleropages, family Osteoglossidae), in particular S. leichardti, which is popular with fly fishermen.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: probably from an Aboriginal language of Queensland, Australia.

bar·ran·ca (also bar·ran·co ) n. (pl. -cas also -cos) a narrow, winding river gorge.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Spanish.

Bar·ran·quil·la the chief port of Colombia; pop. 1,018,700. Founded in 1629, it lies at the mouth of the Magdalena River, near the Caribbean Sea.

bar·ra·try n. 1 ARCHAIC fraud or gross negligence of a ship's master or crew at the expense of its owners or users.

2 [LAW] vexatious litigation or incitement to it.

3 HISTORICAL trade in the sale of church or state appointments.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·ra·tor n. (HISTORICAL) (in sense 2). bar·ra·trous adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 3): from Old French baraterie, from barater 'deceive', based on Greek prattein 'do, perform, manage' (sometimes dishonestly); perhaps influenced by Old Norse barátta 'contest'.

Barr bod·y n. [ANATOMY] & [PHYSIOLOGY] a small, densely staining structure in the cell nuclei of female mammals, consisting of a condensed, inactive X chromosome. It is regarded as diagnostic of genetic femaleness.

barre n. a horizontal bar at waist level on which ballet dancers rest a hand for support during exercises.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally 'bar'.

bar·ré n. [MUSIC] a method of playing a chord on the guitar or similar instrument with a finger laid across the strings at a particular fret, raising their pitch.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, literally 'barred', past participle of barrer.

barred owl n. large gray-brown North American owl with brown eyes and a barred pattern across the chest.
<INFO>  Strix varia, family Strigidae.

bar·rel n. 1 a cylindrical container bulging out in the middle, traditionally made of wooden staves with metal hoops around them.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- such a container together with its contents: a barrel of beer.

- a measure of capacity used for oil and beer. It is usually equal to 36 imperial gallons for beer and 35 imperial gallons or 42 U.S. gallons (roughly 192 liters) for oil.

2 a tube forming part of an object such as a gun or a pen.

3 the belly and loins of a four-legged animal such as a horse.

■ v. (-reled, -rel·ing; BRIT. -relled, -rel·ling) 1 [intrans.] INFORMAL drive or move fast, often heedless of surroundings or conditions: we barreled across the Everglades; barreling along the Ventura freeway.

2 [trans.] put into a barrel or barrels.

<PHRASES>
□ a barrel of laughs [often with negative] INFORMAL a source of fun or amusement: life is not exactly a barrel of laughs at the moment.

□ on the barrel (of payment) without delay: I gotta be paid cash on the barrel.

□ over a barrel INFORMAL in a helpless position; at someone's mercy.

□ with both barrels INFORMAL with unrestrained force or emotion.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French baril, from medieval Latin barriclus 'small cask'.

bar·rel cac·tus n. a spiny, ribbed cylindrical cactus.
<INFO>  Ferocactus, Echinocereus, and other genera, family Cactaceae: numerous species, including the Arizona barrel cactus (F. wislizenii), with yellow, orange, or red flower.

bar·rel-chest·ed adj. having a large rounded chest.

bar·rel dis·tor·tion n. a type of defect in optical or electronic images in which vertical or horizontal straight lines appear as convex curves.

bar·rel·head n. the flat top of a barrel.

<PHRASES> on the barrelhead another way of saying ON THE BARREL (see BARREL).

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BARREL ■

bar·rel·house n. 1 a cheap or disreputable bar.

2 [usu. as adj.] an unrestrained and unsophisticated style of jazz music.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: so named because of the rows of barrels along the walls of such a bar.

bar·rel knot n. another term for BLOOD KNOT.

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BLOOD KNOT ■

bar·rel or·gan n. a mechanical musical instrument from which predetermined music is produced by turning a handle, played, esp. in former times, by street musicians.

bar·rel roll n. an aerobatic maneuver in which an aircraft follows a single turn of a spiral while rolling once about its longitudinal axis.

bar·rel vault n. [ARCHITECTURE] a vault forming a half cylinder.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·rel-vault·ed adj.

bar·ren adj. 1 (of land) too poor to produce much or any vegetation. See note at NAKED.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a tree or plant) not producing fruit or seed.

- ARCHAIC (of a woman) unable to have children.

- (of a female animal) not pregnant or unable to become so.

- showing no results or achievements; unproductive: much of philosophy has been barren.

2 (of a place or building) bleak and lifeless: the sports hall turned out to be a rather barren concrete building.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- empty of meaning or value: those young heads were stuffed with barren facts.

- (barren of) devoid of: the room was barren of furniture.

■ n. (usu. barrens) a barren tract or tracts of land: crossing the barrens was no easy feat.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·ren·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French barhaine, of unknown origin.

Bar·rett , Elizabeth, see BROWNING^1 .

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BROWNING ■

bar·rette n. a typically bar-shaped clip or ornament for the hair.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French, diminutive of barre 'bar'.

bar·ri·cade n. an improvised barrier erected across a street or other thoroughfare to prevent or delay the movement of opposing forces.

■ v. [trans.] block or defend with such a barrier: he barricaded the door with a bureau | [as adj.] (barricaded) the heavily barricaded streets.
<SPECIAL USAGE> shut (oneself or someone) into a place by blocking all the entrances: detainees who barricaded themselves into their dormitory.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, from barrique 'cask', from Spanish barrica; related to BARREL (barrels being often used to build barricades).

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BARREL ■

Bar·rie Sir J. M. (1860-1937), Scottish dramatist and novelist; full name James Matthew Barrie. He wrote Peter Pan (1904), a fantasy for children about a boy who would not grow up. Other notable plays include The Admirable Crichton (1902).

bar·ri·er n. a fence or other obstacle that prevents movement or access.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a circumstance or obstacle that prevents communication or that keeps people or things apart: a language barrier.

- something that prevents progress or success: the cultural barriers to economic growth.

- the starting gate of a racecourse.

- (in full barrier island) a long narrow island lying parallel and close to the mainland, protecting the mainland from erosion and storms.

- BRIT. a gate at a parking lot that controls access by being raised or lowered.

<PHRASES> break the barrier pass or exceed a significant level or amount: the Tokyo stock exchange reopened to break the 5000-yen barrier.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a palisade or fortification defending an entrance): from Old French barriere, of unknown origin; related to BARRE.

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BARRE ■

bar·ri·er meth·od n. a method of contraception using a device or preparation that prevents live sperm from reaching an ovum.

bar·ri·er reef n. a coral reef running parallel to the shore but separated from it by a channel of deep water.

bar·ring prep. except for; if not for: barring a miracle, he's crippled for life.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from the verb BAR^1 + -ING^2 .

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BAR ■

-ING ■

bar·ri·o n. (pl. -os) a district of a town in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in the U.S.) the Spanish-speaking quarter of a town or city.

- a poor neighborhood populated by Spanish-speaking people.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, perhaps from Arabic.

bar·rique n. a wine barrel, especially a small one made of new oak, in which Bordeaux and other wines are aged.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French.

bar·ris·ter (also bar·ris·ter-at-law) n. CHIEFLY BRIT. a lawyer entitled to practice as an advocate, particularly in the higher courts. Compare with ATTORNEY, SOLICITOR.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from the noun BAR^1 , perhaps on the pattern of minister.

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ATTORNEY ■

SOLICITOR ■

BAR ■

bar·room n. a room where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter.
- typical of a barroom: a barroom brawl.

Bar·row 1 a city in north central Alaska, a commercial center on the Arctic Ocean. It is the northernmost U.S. city; pop. 4,581. Nearby Point Barrow is the northernmost point in the U.S.

Bar·row 2 Clyde (1909-34), U.S. bank robber and murderer. He and his partner, Bonnie Parker, shot and killed at least thirteen people during a notorious two-year crime spree across the Southwest. They were finally stopped and shot to death at a Louisiana roadblock.

bar·row 1 n. a metal frame with two wheels used for transporting objects such as luggage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a wheelbarrow.

<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT. a two-wheeled handcart used esp. by street vendors.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·row·load n.

<ORIGIN> Old English bearwe 'stretcher, bier', of Germanic origin; related to BEAR^1 .

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BEAR ■

bar·row 2 n. [ARCHAEOLOGY] an ancient burial mound.

<ORIGIN> Old English beorg, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch berg, German Berg 'hill, mountain'.

bar·row 3 n. a male pig castrated before maturity.

bar·row boy n. BRIT. a boy or man who sells wares from a barrow in the street.

Bar·ry Sir Charles (1795-1860), English architect, designer of the Houses of Parliament.

bar·ry adj. [HERALDRY] divided into typically four, six, or eight equal horizontal bars of alternating tinctures.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French barré 'barred, striped', past participle of barrer.

Bar·ry·more a U.S. family of film and stage actors, notably Lionel (1878-1954), his sister Ethel (1879-1959), their brother John (1882-1942), and John’s granddaughter Drew (1975- ).

Bar·sac n. a sweet white wine from the district of Barsac, a department of the Gironde in France.

bar sin·is·ter n. popular and erroneous term for BEND SINISTER.

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BEND SINISTER ■

bar·stool (also bar stool) n. a tall padded stool for customers at a bar to sit on.

Bar·stow a city in south central California, in the Mojave Desert, northeast of Los Angeles; pop. 21,472.

Bart Lionel (1930-99), English composer and lyricist; born Lionel Beglieter. His musicals include Oliver! (1960).

Bart. abbr. Baronet.

bar tack n. a stitch made to strengthen a potential weak spot in a garment or other sewn item.

<DERIVATIVES> bar-tacked adj. bar tack·ing n.

bar·tend·er n. a person who mixes and serves drinks at a bar.

bar·ter v. [trans.] exchange (goods or services) for other goods or services without using money: he often bartered a meal for drawings | [intrans.] the company is prepared to barter for Russian oil.

■ n. the action or system of exchanging goods or services without using money: it will be paid for by a mixture of barter and cash.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the goods or services used for such an exchange: I took a supply of coffee and cigarettes to use as barter.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·ter·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: probably from Old French barater 'deceive' (see BARRATRY).

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BARRATRY ■

Barth 1 John (Simmons) (1930- ), U.S. novelist and short-story writer noted for complex experimental novels. Notable works: The Sot-Weed Factor (1960), Giles Goat-Boy (1966), and Letters (1979).

Barth 2 Karl (1886-1968), Swiss theologian. His seminal work Epistle to the Romans (1919) established a neo-orthodox or theocentric approach to contemporary religious thought that remains influential in Protestant theology.

Barthes Roland (1915-80), French writer and critic. He was a leading exponent of structuralism and semiology in literary criticism. Notable works: On Racine (1963), Mythologies (1957), and Elements of Semiology (1964).

Bar·thol·di (Frédéric) Auguste (1834-1904), French sculptor, known primarily as the designer of the Statue of Liberty .

Bar·tho·lin's gland n. [ANATOMY] one of a pair of glands lying near the entrance of the vagina, which secrete a fluid that lubricates the vulva.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: named by Caspar Bartholin (1655-1738), Danish anatomist, as a tribute to his father.

Bar·thol·o·mew, St. an Apostle; regarded as the patron saint of tanners. Feast day, August 24.

bar·ti·zan n. [ARCHITECTURE] an overhanging corner turret at the top of a castle or church tower.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from 17th-cent. bertisene, Scots variant of bratticing 'temporary breastwork or parapet', from BRATTICE; revived and reinterpreted by Sir Walter Scott.

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BRATTICE ■

Bar·tles·ville a city in northeastern Oklahoma, noted as an oil industry center; pop. 34,748.

Bart·lett 1 a town in southwestern Tennessee, northeast of Memphis; pop. 40,543.

Bart·lett 2 (also Bartlett pear) n. a dessert pear of a juicy, early-ripening variety.

Bar·tók Béla (1881-1945), Hungarian composer, whose work owes much to Hungarian folk music. Notable works: Concerto for Orchestra (1943) and Duke Bluebeard's Castle (opera, 1911).

Bar·to·lom·me·o Fra (c.1472-1517), Italian painter; born Baccio della Porta. A Dominican friar, he worked chiefly in Florence. Notable works: The Vision of St. Bernard (1507) and The Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine (1511).

Bar·ton Clara (1821-1912), U.S. social activist; full name Clarissa Harlowe Barton. She founded the American Red Cross and served as its first president 1882-1904.

bart·si·a n. a herbaceous plant of the figwort family. Some kinds obtain additional nourishment by attachment to the roots of other plants, esp. grasses.
<INFO>  Bartsia and related genera, family Scrophulariaceae: several species, in particular the pink-flowered red bartsia (Odontites serotina).

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from the name of Johann Bartsch (1709-38), Prussian botanist.

Ba·ruch 1 Bernard Mannes (1870-1965), U.S. financier and economic adviser. As a sought-after presidential adviser, his many appointments included chairman of the War Industries Board 1918-19 and U.S. representative on the UN Atomic Energy Commission 1946.

Bar·uch 2 a book of the Apocrypha, attributed in the text to Baruch, the scribe of Jeremiah (Jer. 36).

bar·ware n. glassware of various shapes and sizes used for preparing and serving alcoholic drinks.

bar·y·cen·tric adj. [attrib.] of or relating to the center of gravity.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·y·cen·ter n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek barus 'heavy' + -CENTRIC.

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-CENTRIC ■

bar·y·on n. [PHYSICS] a subatomic particle, such as a nucleon or hyperon, that has a mass equal to or greater than that of a proton.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·y·on·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Greek barus 'heavy' + -ON.

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-ON ■

bar·y·on·ic mat·ter n. matter composed of protons and neutrons; ordinary matter, as distinct from exotic forms.

Ba·rysh·ni·kov Mikhail (Nikolaevich) (1948- ), U.S. ballet dancer, born in Latvia of Russian parents. In 1974 he defected to the West while touring with the Kirov Ballet. He served as the American Ballet Theater’s artistic director 1980-89.

ba·ry·ta n. [CHEMISTRY] barium hydroxide.
<INFO>  2

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from BARYTE, on the pattern of words such as soda.

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BARYTE ■

bar·yte (also ba·ry·tes ) n. BRIT. variant spelling of BARITE.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BARIUM + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

BARITE ■

BARIUM ■

-ITE ■

bar·y·tone 1 n. & adj. variant spelling of BARITONE.

Linked entries:

BARITONE ■

bar·y·tone 2 adj. [GREEK] [GRAMMAR] not having the acute accent on the last syllable.

<DERIVATIVES> bar·y·tone n.

ba·sal adj. [attrib.] CHIEFLY TECHNICAL forming or belonging to a bottom layer or base.

ba·sal bod·y (also ba·sal gran·ule) n. an organelle that forms the base of a flagellum or cilium and that is similar to a centriole in structure and function. Also called KINETOSOME.

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KINETOSOME ■

ba·sal cell n. a type of cell in the innermost layer of the epidermis.

ba·sal cell car·ci·no·ma n. technical term for RODENT ULCER.

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RODENT ULCER ■

ba·sal gan·gli·a plural n. [ANATOMY] a group of structures linked to the thalamus in the base of the brain and involved in coordination of movement.

ba·sal met·a·bol·ic rate n. the rate at which the body uses energy while at rest to keep vital functions going, such as breathing and keeping warm.

<DERIVATIVES> ba·sal me·tab·o·lism n.

ba·salt n. a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that sometimes displays a columnar structure. It is typically composed largely of plagioclase with pyroxene and olivine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a kind of black stoneware resembling such rock.

<DERIVATIVES> ba·sal·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the Latin form): from Latin basaltes (variant of basanites), from Greek , from basanos 'touchstone'.

bas·cule (also bascule bridge) n. a type of bridge with a pivoting section that is raised and lowered using counterweights.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a moveable section of road forming part of such a bridge.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: earlier denoting a lever apparatus of which one end is raised while the other is lowered, from French (earlier bacule), 'seesaw', from battre 'to bump' + cul 'buttocks'.

base 1 n. 1 the lowest part or edge of something, esp. the part on which it rests or is supported: she sat down at the base of a tree.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ARCHITECTURE] the part of a column between the shaft and pedestal or pavement.

- [BOTANY] & [ZOOLOGY] the end at which a part or organ is attached to the trunk or main part: a shoot is produced at the base of the stem.

- [GEOMETRY] a line or surface on which a figure is regarded as standing: the base of the triangle.

- [SURVEYING] a line of known length used in triangulation.

- [HERALDRY] the lowest part of a shield.

- [HERALDRY] the lower third of the field.

2 a conceptual structure or entity on which something draws or depends: the town's economic base collapsed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- something used as a foundation or starting point for further work; a basis: uses existing data as the base for the study.

- [with adj.] a group of people regarded as supporting an organization, for example by buying its products: a client base.

3 the main place where a person works or stays: she makes the studio her base.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [CHIEFLY MILITARY] a place used as a center of operations by the armed forces or others; a headquarters: an airbase; he headed back to base.

- a place from which a particular activity can be carried out: a base for shipping operations.

4 a main or important element or ingredient to which other things are added: soaps with a vegetable oil base.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a substance used as a foundation for makeup.

- a substance such as water or oil into which a pigment is mixed to form paint.

5 [CHEMISTRY] a substance capable of reacting with an acid to form a salt and water, or (more broadly) of accepting or neutralizing hydrogen ions. Compare with ALKALI.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BIOCHEMISTRY] a purine or pyrimidine group in a nucleotide or nucleic acid.

6 [ELECTRONICS] the middle part of a bipolar transistor, separating the emitter from the collector.

7 [LINGUISTICS] the root or stem of a word or a derivative.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the uninflected form of a verb.

8 [MATHEMATICS] a number used as the basis of a numeration scale.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a number in terms of which other numbers are expressed as logarithms.

9 [BASEBALL] one of the four stations that must be reached in turn to score a run.

■ v. [trans.] 1 (often be based) have as the foundation for (something); use as a point from which (something) can develop: the film is based on a novel by Pat Conroy; inaccurate conclusions based on incomplete facts.

2 situate as the center of operations: a research program based at the University of Arizona | [as adj., in combination] (-based) a London-based band.

<PHRASES>
□ get to first base [usu. with negative] INFORMAL achieve the first step toward one's objective.

□ first base , second base, third base INFORMAL used to refer to progressive levels of sexual intimacy.

□ off-base INFORMAL mistaken: the boy is way off-base.

□ touch base(s) INFORMAL briefly make or renew contact with (someone).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from Latin basis 'base, pedestal', from Greek.

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ALKALI ■

base 2 adj. (of a person or a person's actions or feelings) without moral principles; ignoble: the electorate's baser instincts of greed and selfishness; we hope his motives are nothing so base as money.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ARCHAIC denoting or befitting a person of low social class.

- (of coins or other articles) not made of precious metal: the basest coins in the purse were made in the seventh century AD.

<DERIVATIVES> base·ly adv. base·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French bas, from medieval Latin bassus 'short' (found in classical Latin as a cognomen). The senses in late Middle English included 'low, short' and 'of inferior quality'; from the latter arose a sense 'low on the social scale, menial', and hence (mid 16th cent.) 'reprehensibly cowardly, selfish, or mean'.

base·ball n. a ball game played between two teams of nine on a field with a diamond-shaped circuit of four bases. It is played chiefly in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and East Asia.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the hard ball used in this game.

base·ball cap n. a fabric cap of a kind originally worn by baseball players, with a large brim and an adjustable strap at the back.

base·board n. a narrow wooden board running along the base of an interior wall.

base·born adj. [attrib.] ARCHAIC of low birth or origin.
<SPECIAL USAGE> illegitimate.

base bur·ner n. a coal stove or furnace into which coal is fed automatically from a hopper as the lower layers are burned.

base camp n. a camp from which mountaineering expeditions set out.

base dress·ing n. the application of manure or fertilizer to the earth, which is then plowed or dug in. Compare with TOP DRESSING.
<SPECIAL USAGE> manure or fertilizer applied in this way.

base ex·change (abbr.: BX) n. a nonprofit store for the purchase of personal items, clothing, refreshments, etc., at a naval or air force base.

base·head n. INFORMAL a habitual abuser of freebase or crack cocaine.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: from a shortened form of FREEBASE + -HEAD^2 .

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FREEBASE ■

-HEAD ■

base hit n. [BASEBALL] a fair ball hit such that the batter can advance safely to a base without aid of an error committed by the team in the field.

base hos·pi·tal n. a military hospital situated at some distance from the area of active operations during a war.

base jump (also BASE jump) n. a parachute jump from a fixed point, typically a high building or promontory, rather than an aircraft.

■ v. [intrans.] [often as n.] (base jumping) perform such a jump.

<DERIVATIVES> base jump·er n.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: base from building, antenna tower, span, earth (denoting the types of structure used).

Ba·sel German name for BASLE.

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BASLE ■

base·less adj. 1 without foundation in fact: baseless allegations.

2 [ARCHITECTURE] (of a column) not having a base between the shaft and pedestal.

<DERIVATIVES> base·less·ly adv. base·less·ness n.

base·line n. 1 a minimum or starting point used for comparisons.

2 (in tennis, volleyball, etc.) the line marking each end of the court.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BASEBALL] the line between bases, which a runner must stay close to when running.

base·man n. (pl. -men) [BASEBALL] a fielder designated to cover first, second, or third base.

base·ment n. the floor of a building partly or entirely below ground level.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GEOLOGY] the oldest formation of rocks underlying a particular area.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: probably from archaic Dutch basement 'foundation', perhaps from Italian basamento 'column base'.

base·ment mem·brane n. [ANATOMY] a thin, delicate membrane of protein fibers and glycosaminoglycans separating an epithelium from underlying tissue.

base met·al n. a common metal not considered precious, such as copper, tin, or zinc.

ba·sen·ji n. (pl. -jis) a small hunting dog of a central African breed, which growls and yelps but does not bark.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: a local word.

base on balls (abbr.: BB) n. [BASEBALL] another term for WALK n. 3.

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WALK ■

base pair n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a pair of complementary bases in a double-stranded nucleic acid molecule, consisting of a purine in one strand linked by hydrogen bonds to a pyrimidine in the other. Cytosine always pairs with guanine, and adenine with thymine (in DNA) or uracil (in RNA).

<DERIVATIVES> base pair·ing n.

base path n. [BASEBALL] the straight-line path from one base to the next, defined by the position of the base runner while a play is being made.

base pay n. the base rate of pay for a job or activity, not including any additional payments such as overtime or bonuses.

base·plate n. a sheet of metal forming the bottom of an object.

base run·ner (also base·run·ner) n. [BASEBALL] a player on the team at bat who is on a base, or running between bases.

<DERIVATIVES> base-run·ning (or base·run·ning) n.

ba·ses plural form of BASIS.

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BASIS ■

base u·nit n. a fundamental unit that is defined arbitrarily and not by combinations of other units. The base units of the SI system are the meter, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, mole, and candela.

bash v. [trans.] INFORMAL strike hard and violently: bash a mosquito with a newspaper.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (bash something in) damage or break something by striking it violently: the car's rear window had been bashed in.

- [intrans.] (bash into) collide with: the other vehicle bashed into the back of them.

- FIGURATIVE criticize severely: a remark bashing the Belgian brewing industry.

■ n. INFORMAL 1 a heavy blow: a bash on the head.

2 [usu. with adj.] INFORMAL a party or social event: a birthday bash.

<PHRASAL VERB> bash something out produce something rapidly without preparation or attention to detail.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (as a verb): imitative, perhaps a blend of BANG^1 and SMASH, DASH, etc. Sense 2 is a 20th-cent. usage.

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BANG ■

SMASH ■

DASH ■

ba·shaw n. another term for PASHA (sense 1).

Linked entries:

PASHA ■

-bash·er comb. form forming nouns denoting a person who harshly criticizes, debunks, or commits violence against the named party: theory-basher;world-trade basher.

ba·shert n. (in Jewish use) a person's soulmate, especially when considered as an ideal or predestined marriage partner.

<ORIGIN> Yiddish 'fate, destiny'.

bash·ful adj. reluctant to draw attention to oneself; shy: don't be bashful about telling folks how you feel.

<DERIVATIVES> bash·ful·ly adv. bash·ful·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from obsolete bash 'make or become abashed' (from ABASH) + -FUL.

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ABASH ■

-FUL ■

bash·ing n. [usu. with modifier] INFORMAL violent physical assault: nine incidents of gay bashing were reported to the police.
<SPECIAL USAGE> severe criticism: press bashing.

Bash·kir n. 1 a member of a Muslim people living in the southern Urals.

2 the Turkic language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> via Russian from Turkic .

Bash·kir·i·a an autonomous republic in central Russia, west of the Urals; pop. 3,964,000; capital, Ufa. Also called BASHKIR AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC, BASHKORTOSTAN.

BASIC n. a simple high-level computer programming language that uses familiar English words, designed for beginners and formerly widely used on microcomputers.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: acronym from Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.

ba·sic adj. 1 forming an essential foundation or starting point; fundamental: certain basic rules must be obeyed; | the laying down of arms is basic to the agreement.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- offering or consisting in the minimum required without elaboration or luxury; simplest or lowest in level: basic and unsophisticated resorts; the food was good, if a bit basic.

- common to or required by everyone; primary and ineradicable or inalienable: basic human rights.

2 [CHEMISTRY] having the properties of a base, or containing a base; having a pH greater than 7. Often contrasted with ACID or ACIDIC; compare with ALKALINE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GEOLOGY] (of rock, esp. igneous rock) relatively poor in silica.

- [METALLURGY] relating to or denoting steelmaking processes involving lime-rich refractories and slags.

■ n. (basics) the essential facts or principles of a subject or skill: learning the basics of the business;| storytelling has reemerged as people have turned back to basics.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- essential food and other supplies: people are facing a shortage of basics like flour.

- [MILITARY] basic training.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BASE^1 + -IC.

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ACID ■

ACIDIC ■

ALKALINE ■

BASE ■

-IC ■

ba·si·cal·ly adv. [often as submodifier] in the most essential respects; fundamentally: we started from a basically simple idea.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [sentence adverb] used to indicate that a statement summarizes the most important aspects, or gives a roughly accurate account, of a more complex situation: I basically played the same tunes every night.

Ba·sic Eng·lish n. a simplified form of English limited to 850 selected words, intended for international communication.

ba·sic·i·ty n. [CHEMISTRY] the number of hydrogen atoms replaceable by a base in a particular acid.

ba·sic train·ing n. [MILITARY] the initial period of training for new personnel, involving intense physical activity and behavioral discipline.

ba·sid·i·o·my·cete n. [BOTANY] a fungus whose spores develop in basidia. Basidiomycetes include the majority of familiar mushrooms and toadstools. Compare with ASCOMYCETE.
<INFO>  Phylum Basidiomycota: classes Basidiomycetes ( mushrooms, toadstools, puffballs, earthstars, stinkhorns, polypores), Teliomycetes (rusts), and Ustomycetes (smuts).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: anglicized singular of modern Latin Basidiomycetes, from basidium (see BASIDIUM) + Greek 'fungi'.

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ASCOMYCETE ■

BASIDIUM ■

ba·sid·i·o·spore n. a spore produced by a basidium.

ba·sid·i·um n. (pl. -sid·i·a ) a microscopic, club-shaped spore-bearing structure produced by certain fungi.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek basidion, diminutive of basis (see BASIS).

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BASIS ■

Ba·sie Count (1904-84), U.S. jazz pianist, organist, and bandleader; born William Basie. In 1935 he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, which became one of the best-known and most successful bands of the swing era.

ba·si·fy v. [trans.] [CHEMISTRY] change into a base; alkalize.

Bas·il, St. (c.330-379), doctor of the Church; bishop of Caesarea; known as St. Basil the Great. Brother of St. Gregory of Nyssa, he staunchly opposed the Arian heresy and established a monastic rule that is still the basis of monasticism in the Eastern Church. Feast day, June 14.

bas·il n. an aromatic annual herb of the mint family, native to tropical Asia.
<INFO>  Genus Ocimum, family Labiatae: several species, in particular the common sweet basil (O. basilicum) and the low-growing, compact bush basil O. minimum.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the leaves of this plant used as a culinary herb, esp. in Mediterranean dishes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French basile, via medieval Latin from Greek basilikon, neuter of basilikos 'royal' (see BASILICA).

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BASILICA ■

bas·i·lar adj. [attrib.] of or situated at the base of something, esp. of the skull, or of the organ of Corti in the ear.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from modern Latin basilaris, formed irregularly from Latin basis (see BASIS).

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BASIS ■

bas·i·lar mem·brane n. [ANATOMY] a membrane in the cochlea that bears the organ of Corti.

Ba·sil·don a town in southeastern England; pop. 157,500.

ba·si·lect n. [LINGUISTICS] a less prestigious dialect or variety of a particular language (used esp. in the study of Creoles). Compare with ACROLECT, MESOLECT.

<DERIVATIVES> ba·si·lec·tal adj.

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ACROLECTMESOLECT ■

Ba·sil·i·an adj. of or relating to St. Basil the Great, or the order of monks and nuns following his monastic rule.

■ n. a Basilian monk or nun.

ba·sil·i·ca n. a large oblong hall or building with double colonnades and a semicircular apse, used in ancient Rome as a court of law or for public assemblies.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a similar building used as a Christian church.

- the name given to certain churches granted special privileges by the pope.

<DERIVATIVES> ba·sil·i·can adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin, literally 'royal palace', from Greek , feminine of basilikos 'royal', from basileus 'king'.

bas·i·lisk n. 1 a mythical reptile with a lethal gaze or breath, hatched by a serpent from a cock's egg.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [HERALDRY] another term for COCKATRICE.

2 a long, slender, and mainly bright green lizard found in Central America, the male of which has a crest running from the head to the tail. It can swim well and is able to run on its hind legs across the surface of water.
<INFO>  Basiliscus plumifrons, family Iguanidae.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek basiliskos 'little king, serpent', from basileus 'king'.

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COCKATRICE ■

bas·i·lo·sau·rus n. (pl. -sau·rus·es or -sau·ri ) a large marine cetacean (Basilosaurus isis) of the Eocene epoch, having a long, slender body and vestigial fore and hind limbs. Fossils were discovered in the early 1990s.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek basileus 'king' + sauros 'lizard'.

ba·sin n. 1 a bowl for washing, typically attached to a wall and having faucets connected to a water supply; a washbasin.

2 a wide, round open container, esp. one used for holding liquid.

3 a natural depression on the earth's surface, typically containing water: the Indian Ocean basin.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the tract of country that is drained by a river and its tributaries or drains into a lake or sea: the Amazon basin; a drainage basin.

- an enclosed area of water where vessels can be moored: a yacht basin.

- [GEOLOGY] a circumscribed area within which the rock strata dip toward the center.

<DERIVATIVES> ba·sin·ful n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bacin, from medieval Latin bacinus, from bacca 'water container', perhaps of Gaulish origin.

Ba·sin and Range Province a largely arid intermountain region of the southwestern U.S., chiefly in Nevada, Utah, and California. The Great Basin and Death Valley are parts of the region.

bas·i·net (also bas·ci·net) n. a medieval helmet of light steel, fitting close to the wearer's head and typically having a visor.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bacinet 'little basin'.

ba·sip·e·tal adj. [BOTANY] (of growth or development) downward toward the base or point of attachment. The opposite of ACROPETAL.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of the movement of dissolved substances) inward from the shoot and root apexes.

<DERIVATIVES> ba·sip·e·tal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BASIS + Latin petere 'seek' + -AL.

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ACROPETAL ■

BASIS ■

-AL ■

ba·sis n. (pl. -ses ) the underlying support or foundation for an idea, argument, or process: trust is the only basis for a good working relationship.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the system or principles according to which an activity or process is carried on: she needed coaching on a regular basis; flea markets operate on a cash-only basis.

- the justification for or reasoning behind something: on the basis of these statistics, important decisions are made.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a base or pedestal): via Latin from Greek, 'stepping'. Compare with BASE^1 .

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BASE ■

ba·sis point n. [FINANCE] one hundredth of one percent, used chiefly in expressing differences of interest rates.

bask v. [intrans.] lie exposed to warmth and light, typically from the sun, for relaxation and pleasure: sprawled figures basking in the afternoon sun.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (bask in) FIGURATIVE revel in and make the most of (something pleasing): he went on basking in the glory of his first book.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally in the sense 'bathe'): perhaps related to Old Norse batha 'bathe'.

Bas·ker·ville n. a typeface much used in books.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after John Baskerville (1706-75), English printer, designer of the typeface.

bas·ket n. 1 a container used to hold or carry things, typically made from interwoven strips of cane or wire: a laundry basket.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a structure suspended from the envelope of a hot-air balloon for carrying the crew, equipment, and ballast.

- [FINANCE] a group or range of currencies or investments: the European currency unit is made up of a basket of ten currencies.

2 [BASKETBALL] a net fixed on a hoop used as the goal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a goal scored.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French basket, of unknown ultimate origin.

bas·ket·ball n. a game played between two teams of five players in which goals are scored by throwing a ball through a netted hoop fixed above each end of the court.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the inflated ball used in this game.

bas·ket bin·go n. a fund-raising event in which players buy tickets to play bingo for prizes of gift baskets that are made up by donors.

bas·ket case n. INFORMAL a person or thing regarded as useless or unable to cope.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: originally slang denoting a soldier who had lost all four limbs, thus unable to move independently.

bas·ket hilt n. a sword hilt with a guard resembling basketwork.

<DERIVATIVES> bas·ket-hilt·ed adj.

Bas·ket Mak·er n. a member of a culture of the southwestern U.S., forming the early stages of the Anasazi culture, from the 1st century BC until c.AD 700. The name comes from the basketry and other woven fragments found in early cave sites.

bas·ket-of-gold n. a cultivated evergreen alyssum, with gray-green leaves and numerous small yellow flowers.
<INFO>  Alyssum saxatile, family Brassicaceae.

bas·ket·ry n. the craft of basket-making.
<SPECIAL USAGE> baskets collectively.

bas·ket star n. a brittlestar having branched arms.
<INFO>  Genus Gorgonocephalus, family Gorgonocephalidae: several species, including the large G. eucnemis.

bas·ket weave n. a style of weave or a pattern resembling basketwork.

bas·ket-weav·ing n. 1 the art or activity of creating woven baskets.

2 HUMOROUS a college course that is thought to be very easy.

bas·ket·work n. material woven in the style of a basket.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the craft of making such material.

bask·ing shark n. a large shark that feeds exclusively on plankton and often swims slowly close to the surface, found chiefly in the open ocean.
<INFO>  Cetorhinus maximus, the only member of the family Cetorhinidae.

Basle a commercial and industrial city on the Rhine River in northwestern Switzerland; pop. 171,000 . French name BÂLE, German name BASEL.

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BÂLE ■

BASEL ■

bas·ma·ti (also basmati rice) n. a kind of long-grain Indian rice of a high quality.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi , literally 'fragrant'.

bas mitz·vah n. a variant of BAT MITZVAH.

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BAT MITZVAH ■

ba·so·phil n. [PHYSIOLOGY] a basophilic white blood cell.

ba·so·phil·i·a n. 1 a tendency to stain readily with a basic dye.

2 a condition of the blood marked by the formation and accumulation of an excess of basophil cells.

ba·so·phil·ic adj. [PHYSIOLOGY] (of a cell or its contents) readily stained with basic dyes.

Ba·so·tho n. (pl. same or -thos) a member of the Sotho people of southern Africa, esp. Lesotho.

<ORIGIN> from Sesotho, from ba- (prefix denoting a plural) + SOTHO. Compare with BASUTOLAND.

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SOTHO ■

Basque n. 1 a member of a people living in the Basque Country of France and Spain. Culturally one of the most distinct groups in Europe, the Basques were largely independent until the 19th century.

2 the language of this people, which has no known relation to any other language.

■ adj. of or relating to the Basques or their language.

<ORIGIN> from French, from Latin Vasco; compare with GASCON.

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GASCON ■

basque n. a close-fitting bodice extending from the shoulders to the waist and often with a short continuation below waist level.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BASQUE, referring to Basque dress.

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BASQUE ■

Basque Coun·try a region of the western Pyrenees in both France and Spain, the homeland of the Basque people. French name PAYS BASQUE.

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PAYS BASQUE ■

Basque Prov·in·ces an autonomous region consisting of the provinces of Álava, Guipúzcoa, and Vizcaya in northern Spain, on the Bay of Biscay; capital, Vitoria.

Bas·ra an oil port in Iraq, on the Shatt al-Arab waterway; pop. 616,700.

bas-re·lief n. [SCULPTURE] see RELIEF (sense 4).
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sculpture, carving, or molding in bas-relief.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as basse relieve): from Italian basso-rilievo 'low relief', later altered to the French form.

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RELIEF ■

bass 1 n. a voice, instrument, or sound of the lowest range, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the lowest adult male singing voice.

- [as adj.] denoting the member of a family of instruments that is the lowest in pitch: a bass clarinet; a bass drum.

- INFORMAL a bass guitar or double bass.

- the low-frequency output of a radio or audio system, corresponding to the bass in music.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: alteration of BASE^2 , influenced by BASSO.

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BASE ■

BASSO ■

bass 2 n. (pl. same or bass·es) 1 the common European freshwater perch.

2 any of a number of fish similar to or related to this, in particular:
<INFO>
- a mainly marine fish found in temperate waters (family Percichthyidae or Moronidae, including Dicentrarchus labrax of European waters and genus Morone of North America).

- an American freshwater fish of the sunfish family, popular with anglers (genera Ambloplites and Micropterus, family Centrarchidae).

- a sea bass.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: alteration of dialect barse, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch baars and German Barsch.

bass 3 n. another term for BAST.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: alteration.

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BAST ■

bass·ack·wards adv. & adj. HUMOROUS variant of ASS-BACKWARDS.

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ASS-BACKWARDS ■

bass clef n. a clef placing F below middle C on the second-highest line of the staff.

bass drum n. a large, two-headed drum that has a low booming sound.

Bas·sein a port on the Irrawaddy delta in southwestern Myanmar (Burma); pop. 144,100.

Basse-Nor·man·die a region of northwestern France, on the coast of the English Channel, including the Cherbourg peninsula and the city of Caen.

Basse·terre the capital of St. Kitts and Nevis in the Leeward Islands, on the island of St. Kitts; pop. 12,600.

Basse-Terre the main island of Guadeloupe in the West Indies.

bas·set horn n. an alto clarinet in F.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from German, translation of French cor de bassette, from Italian corno di bassetto, from corno 'horn' + di 'of' + bassetto (diminutive of basso 'low', from Latin bassus 'short').

bas·set hound n. a sturdy hunting dog of a breed with a long body, short legs, and big ears.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French, diminutive of bas 'low', from medieval Latin bassus 'short'.

bass fid·dle n. another term for DOUBLE BASS.

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DOUBLE BASS ■

Bas·si Laura (1711-78), Bolognese physicist and professor. After receiving her college degree in 1732, she became a professor at the University of Bologna, teaching philosophy, mathematics, and physics. She was the first woman to pursue a scientific career for which she was paid a salary. She also gave private instruction in physics and performed experiments in her home.

bas·si·net n. a baby's wicker cradle, usually with a hood.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, diminutive of bassin 'basin'; compare with BASINET.

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BASINET ■

bas·si pro·fun·di plural form of BASSO PROFUNDO.

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BASSO PROFUNDO ■

bass·ist n. a person who plays a double bass or bass guitar.

bass·let n. a small, brightly colored fish related to the sea basses.
<INFO>  Genera Gramma and Lipogramma, family Grammidae: several species.

bas·so n. (pl. bas·sos or bas·si ) a singer with a bass voice.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: Italian, 'low', from Latin bassus 'short, low'.

bas·soon n. a bass instrument of the oboe family with a double reed.

<DERIVATIVES> bas·soon·ist n.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French basson, from Italian bassone, from basso 'low', from Latin bassus 'short, low'.

bas·so pro·fun·do n. (pl. bas·so pro·fun·dos or bas·si pro·fun·di ) a bass singer with an exceptionally low range.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Italian, from basso 'low' + profondo 'deep'.

bas·so-re·lie·vo n. (pl. -vos) [SCULPTURE] another term for BAS-RELIEF (see RELIEF sense 4).

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Italian basso-rilievo.

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RELIEF ■

Bass Strait a channel that separates Tasmania from the mainland of Australia.

bass vi·ol n. a viola da gamba.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a double bass.

bass·wood n. a North American linden tree, commonly planted along streets.
<INFO>  Genus Tilia, family Tiliaceae: several species, in particular the large-leaved T. americana (also called AMERICAN LINDEN) of the northern U.S. and Canada.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from BASS^3 + WOOD.

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BASS ■

WOOD ■

bast n. (also bast fiber) fibrous material from the phloem of a plant, used as fiber in matting, cord, etc.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BOTANY] the phloem or vascular tissue of a plant.

<ORIGIN> Old English bæst; related to Dutch bast, German Bast; of unknown origin.

bas·tard n. 1 ARCHAIC or DEROGATORY a person born of parents not married to each other.

2 INFORMAL an unpleasant or despicable person: he lied to me, the bastard!
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with adj.] a person (used to suggest an emotion such as pity or envy): the poor bastard; he was a lucky bastard.

- a difficult or awkward thing, undertaking, or situation: it's been an absolute bastard of a week.

■ adj. [attrib.] 1 ARCHAIC or DEROGATORY born of parents not married to each other; illegitimate: a bastard child.

2 (of a thing) no longer in its pure or original form; debased: a bastard Darwinism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a handwriting script or typeface) showing a mixture of different styles.

<DERIVATIVES> bas·tar·dy n. (in sense 1 of the noun).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin bastardus.

<USAGE>
In the past, the word bastard was the standard term in both legal and nonlegal use for ‘an illegitimate child.’ Today, however, it has little importance as a legal term and is retained today in this older sense only as a term of abuse.

bas·tard·ize v. [trans.] 1 [often as adj.] (bastardized) corrupt or debase (something such as a language or art form), typically by adding new elements: a strange, bastardized form of French.

2 ARCHAIC declare (someone) illegitimate: to annul the marriage and bastardize the child.

<DERIVATIVES> bas·tard·i·za·tion n.

bas·tard wing n. a group of small quill feathers on the first digit of a bird's wing.

baste 1 v. [trans.] pour juices or melted fat over (meat) during cooking in order to keep it moist.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: of unknown origin.

baste 2 v. [trans.] [NEEDLEWORK] tack with long, loose stitches in preparation for sewing.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French bastir 'sew lightly', ultimately of Germanic origin and related to BAST.

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BAST ■

baste 3 v. [trans.] INFORMAL, DATED beat (someone) soundly; thrash: go baste him one!

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: perhaps a figurative use of BASTE^1 .

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BASTE ■

Bas·tet [EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY] a goddess usually shown as a woman with the head of a cat, wearing one gold earring. See also SEKHMET.

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SEKHMET ■

Ba·sti·a the chief port of the French island of Corsica, on the northeastern coast; pop. 38,730.

Bas·tille a fortress in Paris built in the 14th century and used in the 17th-18th centuries as a state prison. Its storming by the mob on July 14, 1789, marked the start of the French Revolution.

<ORIGIN> via Old French from Provençal bastida, from bastir 'build'.

Bas·tille Day n. July 14, the date of the storming of the Bastille in 1789, celebrated as a national holiday in France.

bas·ti·na·do CHIEFLY HISTORICAL n. a form of punishment or torture that involves caning the soles of someone's feet.

■ v. (-does, -doed) [trans.] (usu. be bastinadoed) punish or torture (someone) in such a way.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a blow with a stick): from Spanish bastonada, from bastón 'stick, cudgel', from late Latin bastum 'stick'.

bas·tion n. a projecting part of a fortification built at an angle to the line of a wall, so as to allow defensive fire in several directions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a natural rock formation resembling such a fortification.

- FIGURATIVE an institution, place, or person strongly defending or upholding particular principles, attitudes, or activities: the last bastion of male privilege.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian bastione, from bastire 'build'.

bast·naes·ite n. a yellow to brown mineral consisting of a fluoride and carbonate of cerium and other rare earth metals.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Bastnäs, the name of a district in Västmanland, Sweden, + -ITE^1 .

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-ITE ■

Bas·togne a town in southeastern Belgium; pop. 11,000. It was the scene of heavy fighting during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.

ba·su·co n. impure or low-grade cocaine, esp. when mixed with coca paste and tobacco and marijuana.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: from Colombian Spanish; perhaps related to Spanish bazucar 'shake violently'.

Ba·su·to·land former name (until 1966) of LESOTHO. Compare with BASOTHO.

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LESOTHO ■

bat 1 n. an implement with a handle and a solid surface, usually of wood, used for hitting the ball in games such as baseball, cricket, and table tennis.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the person batting, esp. in cricket: the team's opening bat.

- each of a pair of objects resembling table tennis bats, used by a person on the ground to guide a taxiing aircraft.

■ v. (bat·ted, bat·ting) 1 [intrans.] (of a team or a player in sports such as baseball) take in turns the role of hitting rather than fielding: Ruth came to bat in the fifth inning.

2 [trans.] hit at (someone or something) with the palm of one's hand: he batted the flies away.

<PHRASES> right off the bat at the very beginning.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  bat around (or about) INFORMAL travel widely, frequently, or casually: I'm always batting around between England and America.

□  bat something around (or about) INFORMAL discuss an idea or proposal casually or idly.

□  go to bat for INFORMAL defend the interests of; support: his willingness to go to bat for his employees.

<ORIGIN> late Old English batt 'club, stick, staff', perhaps partly from Old French batte, from battre 'to strike'.

bat 2 n. 1 a mainly nocturnal mammal capable of sustained flight, with membranous wings that extend between the fingers and connecting the forelimbs to the body and the hindlimbs to the tail.
<INFO>  Order Chiroptera: many families and numerous species. The large tropical fruit bats (suborder Megachiroptera) generally have good eyesight and feed mainly on fruit; the numerous smaller bats (suborder Microchiroptera) are mouselike in appearance, mainly insectivorous, and use ultrasonic echolocation.

2 (usu. old bat) a woman regarded as unattractive or unpleasant: some deranged old bat.

<PHRASES>
□ have bats in the (or one's) belfry INFORMAL be eccentric or crazy.

□ like a bat out of hell INFORMAL very fast and wildly.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: alteration, perhaps by association with medieval Latin batta, blacta, of Middle English bakke, of Scandinavian origin.

bat 3 v. (bat·ted, bat·ting) [trans.] flutter one's eyelashes, typically in a flirtatious manner: she batted her long dark eyelashes at him.

<PHRASES> not bat (or without batting) an eyelid (or eye) INFORMAL show (or showing) no reaction: she paid the bill without batting an eyelid.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from dialect bat 'to wink, blink', variant of obsolete bate 'to flutter'.

Ba·taan a peninsula and province in the Philippines, on the western part of the island of Luzon, bounded by Manila Bay on the east and the South China Sea on the west; site of World War II battles and the infamous “Death March.” Pop. 426,000.

Ba·tak n. 1 (pl. same or -taks) a member of a people of northern Sumatra.

2 the Indonesian language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to the Batak or their language.

<ORIGIN> the name in Batak.

Ba·tan Is·lands the northernmost islands in the Philippines.

ba·ta·ta n. (in the southern West Indies) sweet potato.

<ORIGIN> via Spanish from Taino.

Ba·ta·vi·a former name (until 1949) for JAKARTA.

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JAKARTA ■

Ba·ta·vi·an HISTORICAL OR ARCHAIC adj. of or relating to the ancient Germanic people who inhabited the island of Betuwe between the Rhine and the Waal (now part of the Netherlands).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of or relating to the people of the Netherlands.

- of or relating to Djakarta in Indonesia (formerly the Dutch East Indies).

■ n. a Batavian person.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Batavia (from Batavi 'the people of Betuwe') + -AN.

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-AN ■

bat·boy n. a boy who is employed to look after and retrieve bats during a baseball game and as a general assistant at other times.

batch n. a quantity or consignment of goods produced at one time: a batch of cookies; the company undertakes thirty-six separate quality control checks on every batch.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL a number of things or people regarded as a group or set: a batch of hostile letters came.

- [COMPUTING] a group of records processed as a single unit, usually without input from a user.

■ v. [trans.] arrange (things) in sets or groups.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the senses 'process of baking', 'quantity produced at one baking'): based on an Old English word related to bacan (see BAKE). Current senses date from the early 18th cent.

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BAKE ■

batch file n. a computer file containing a list of instructions to be carried out in turn.

batch proc·ess·ing n. the performing of an industrial process on material in batches of a limited quantity or number.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [COMPUTING] the processing of previously collected jobs in a single batch.

bate v. [intrans.] [FALCONRY] (of a hawk) beat the wings in an attempt to escape from the perch: the hawks bated when the breeze got in their feathers.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French batre 'to beat' (see also BATTER^1 ).

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BATTER ■

ba·teau n. (pl. -teaux ) a light flat-bottomed riverboat used in eastern and central North America.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: French, literally 'boat'.

bat·ed adj. (in phrase with bated breath) in great suspense; very anxiously or excitedly: he waited for a reply to his offer with bated breath.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from the past participle of obsolete bate 'restrain', from ABATE.

<USAGE>
The spelling baited breath instead of bated breath is a common mistake that, in addition to perpetuating a cliché, evokes a distasteful image. Before using the expression bated breath, think of the verb abate, as in the winds abated, not fish bait.

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ABATE ■

Bates Alan 1934-2003, English actor. Notable films: The Caretaker (1964), Zorba the Greek (1964), The Fixer (1968), Women in Love (1969), and An Unmarried Woman (1978). He also played a number of roles on stage and won a Tony Award for his performance in Turgenev's Fortune's Fool (2002).

Bates·i·an mim·ic·ry n. [ZOOLOGY] mimicry in which an edible animal is protected by its resemblance to a noxious one that is avoided by predators. Compare with MÜLLERIAN MIMICRY.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after Henry W. Bates (1825-92), the English naturalist who first described it.

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MÜLLERIAN MIMICRY ■

Bate·son William (1861-1926), English geneticist. He coined the term genetics in its current sense and publicized the work of Gregor Mendel.

bat·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) 1 a fish of tropical and temperate seas with a flattened body that is round or almost triangular when viewed from above. It typically has a hard or spiny covering.
<INFO>  Family Ogcocephalidae: several genera and species, including the southern African Halieuta fitzsimonsi.

2 a deep-bodied, laterally compressed marine fish of the Indo-Pacific region that resembles an angelfish.
<INFO>  Genus Platax, family Ephippidae: several species, including the large P. pinnatus (also called ANGELFISH).

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ANGELFISH ■

bat·fowl v. [intrans.] catch birds at night by dazing them with a light and knocking them down or netting them.

bat·girl n. a girl who is employed to look after and retrieve bats during a baseball game and as a general assistant at other times.

Bath a spa town in southwestern England; pop. 79,900.

bath 1 n. (pl. baths ) an act or process of immersing and washing one's body in a large container of water: she took a long, hot bath.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- such a container and its contents; a bathtub: he lay thinking in the bath.

- [with adj.] any act of washing or cleansing oneself: sweat baths; sponge baths.

- (usu. baths) a public establishment offering bathing facilities.

- (baths) a resort with a mineral spring used for medical treatment.

- a bathroom.

- [with adj.] a container holding a liquid or other substance in which something is immersed, typically when undergoing a process such as film developing.

■ v. [trans.] wash (someone) while immersing him or her in a container of water: how to bath a baby.

<PHRASES> take a bath INFORMAL suffer a heavy financial loss.

<ORIGIN> Old English bæth, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bad and German Bad.

bath 2 n. an ancient Hebrew liquid measure equivalent to about 40 liters or 9 gallons.

<ORIGIN> from Hebrew bat.

bath chair n. DATED a kind of wheelchair for invalids, typically with a hood.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after the city of BATH, which attracted many invalids because of the supposed curative powers of its hot springs.

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BATH ■

bathe v. [intrans.] wash by immersing one's body in water.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- spend time in the ocean or a lake, river, or swimming pool for pleasure.

- [trans.] soak or wipe gently with liquid to clean or soothe: she bathed and bandaged my knee.

- [trans.] wash (someone) in a bath: they bathed the baby.

- [trans.] (usu. be bathed) FIGURATIVE suffuse or envelop in something: the park lay bathed in sunshine; mussels bathed in garlic butter.

<DERIVATIVES> bath·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English bathian, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German baden.

bath·house n. 1 a building with baths for communal use.

2 a building where swimmers change clothes.

Bath·i·nette n. TRADEMARK a portable folding bathtub for infants.

<ORIGIN> a play on the word BASSINET.

bath·ing beau·ty n. a contestant in a beauty contest in which bathing suits are worn.

bath·ing cap n. a close-fitting elastic cap worn while swimming to keep the hair dry or to reduce friction.

bath·ing ma·chine n. HISTORICAL a wheeled hut drawn to the edge of the sea, used for changing in and swimming from.

bath·ing suit n. a garment worn for swimming; a swimsuit.

bath mat n. a mat for someone to stand on after getting out of a bathtub.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a rubber mat placed in the bottom of a bathtub to prevent someone from slipping while getting in or out.

bath·o·lith n. [GEOLOGY] a very large igneous intrusion extending deep in the earth's crust.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: coined in German from Greek bathos 'depth' + -LITH.

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-LITH ■

ba·thos n. (esp. in a work of literature) an effect of anticlimax created by an unintentional lapse in mood from the sublime to the trivial or ridiculous.

<DERIVATIVES> ba·thet·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (first recorded in the Greek sense): from Greek, literally 'depth'. The current sense was introduced by Alexander Pope in the early 18th cent.

bath·robe n. a robe, typically made of terrycloth, worn esp. before and after taking a bath.

bath·room n. a room containing a bathtub or a shower and usually also a washbasin and a toilet.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a set of matching units to be fitted in such a room, esp. as sold together.

- a room containing a toilet: I have to go to the bathroom.

<PHRASES> go to (or use) the bathroom urinate or defecate.

bath salts plural n. a crystalline substance that is dissolved in bathwater to soften or perfume the water.

Bath·she·ba (in the Bible) the mother of Solomon, she was originally the wife of Uriah the Hittite, and later one of the wives of David.

bath sponge n. a marine sponge of warm waters, the fibrous skeleton of which is used as a sponge for washing.
<INFO>  Genera Spongia and Hippospongia, family Spongiidae.

bath·tub n. a tub, usually installed in a bathroom, in which to bathe.

Bath·urst former name (until 1973) of BANJUL.

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BANJUL ■

bathy- comb. form relating to depth: bathymetry; bathysphere.

<ORIGIN> from Greek bathus 'deep'.

bath·y·al adj. of or relating to the zone of the sea between the continental shelf and the abyssal zone.

ba·thym·e·ter n. an instrument used to measure the depth of water in oceans, seas, or lakes.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek bathos 'depth' + -METER.

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-METER ■

ba·thym·e·try n. the measurement of depth of water in oceans, seas, or lakes.

<DERIVATIVES> bath·y·met·ric adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek bathus 'deep' + -METRY.

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-METRY ■

bath·y·pe·lag·ic adj. [BIOLOGY] (of fish and other organisms) inhabiting the deep sea where the environment is dark and cold, approximately 3,300-9,800 feet (1,000-3,000 m) below the surface.

bath·y·scaphe n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a manned submersible vessel of a kind used by the French deep-sea explorer Auguste Piccard (1884-1962).

<ORIGIN> 1940s: coined in French by its inventor, Auguste Piccard, from Greek bathus 'deep' + skaphos 'vessel; hull (of a ship)'.

bath·y·sphere n. a manned spherical chamber for deep-sea observation, lowered by cable from a ship.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from Greek bathus 'deep' + SPHERE.

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SPHERE ■

ba·tik n. a method (originally used in Java) of producing colored designs on textiles by dyeing them, having first applied wax to the parts to be left undyed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an item or piece of cloth treated in this way.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Javanese, literally 'painted'.

Ba·tis·ta Fulgencio (1901-73), Cuban soldier and statesman; president 1940-44 and 1952-59; full name Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar. Despite support from the U.S., his second government was overthrown by Fidel Castro.

ba·tiste n. a fine, light linen or cotton fabric resembling cambric.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French (earlier batiche); probably related to battre 'to beat'.

bat·man n. (pl. -men) DATED (in the British armed forces) an officer's personal servant.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (originally denoting an orderly in charge of the bat horse 'packhorse' that carried the officer's baggage): from Old French bat (from medieval Latin bastum 'packsaddle') + MAN.

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MAN ■

bat mitz·vah n. a religious initiation ceremony for a Jewish girl aged twelve years and one day, regarded as the age of religious maturity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the girl undergoing such a ceremony.

<ORIGIN> from Hebrew 'daughter of the commandment', on the pattern of BAR MITZVAH.

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BAR MITZVAH ■

ba·ton n. a short stick or staff or something resembling one, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a thin stick used by a conductor to direct an orchestra or choir.

- [TRACK & FIELD] a short stick or tube passed from runner to runner in a relay race.

- a long stick carried and twirled by a drum major.

- a police officer's club.

- a staff symbolizing office or authority, esp. one carried by a field marshal.

- [HERALDRY] a narrow bend truncated at each end.

- a short bar replacing some figures on the dial of a clock or watch.

- (batons) one of the suits in some tarot packs, corresponding to wands in others.

<PHRASES>
□ pass (on) the baton hand over a particular duty or responsibility.

□ take up (or pick up) the baton accept a duty or responsibility.

□ under the baton of (of an orchestra or choir) conducted by: under the baton of Sir Edward Downes.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (denoting a staff or cudgel): from French bâton, earlier baston, from late Latin bastum 'stick'.

Bat·on Rouge the capital of Louisiana, in the southeastern central part of the state, on the Mississippi River; pop. 227,818.

<ORIGIN> French, literally "red stick,” with reference to a post placed as a boundary marker for the settlement.

Ba·tra·chi·a [ZOOLOGY] another term, esp. formerly, for ANURA.

<DERIVATIVES> ba·tra·chi·an n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek batrakhos 'frog'.

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ANURA ■

bats adj. [predic.] INFORMAL, DATED (of a person) crazy; insane.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from the phrase have bats in the belfry (see BAT^2 ).

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BAT ■

bats·man n. (pl. -men) a player, esp. in baseball and cricket, who is batting or whose chief skill is in batting.

<DERIVATIVES> bats·man·ship n.

Bat·swa·na n. & adj. see TSWANA.

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TSWANA ■

batt n. a piece of felted material used for lining or insulating items such as quilts and sleeping bags.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a piece of fiberglass used to insulate buildings.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'lump, piece'): of unknown origin.

bat·tal·ion n. a large body of troops ready for battle, esp. an infantry unit forming part of a brigade typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a large, organized group of people pursuing a common aim or sharing a major undertaking.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French bataillon, from Italian battaglione, from battaglia 'battle', from Latin (see BATTLE).

Linked entries:

BATTLE ■

Bat·tam·bang (also Bat·dam·bang) the capital of a province of the same name in western Cambodia; pop. 551,860.

batte·ment n. [with adj.] [BALLET] a movement in which one leg is moved outward from the body and in again: performing battements tendus.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, literally 'beating'.

Bat·ten Jean (1909-82), New Zealand aviator. She was the first woman to fly from England to Australia and back 1934-35.

bat·ten 1 n. a long, flat strip of squared wood or metal used to hold something in place or as a fastening against a wall.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a strip of wood used for clamping the boards of a door.

- a strip of wood or metal for securing the edges of a tarpaulin that covers a ship's hatch.

- a strip of wood or plastic used to stiffen and extend the leech of a sail.

■ v. [trans.] strengthen or fasten (something) with battens: Stephen was battening down the shutters.

<PHRASES> batten down the hatches [NAUTICAL] secure a ship's hatch-tarpaulins, esp. when rough weather is expected.
- FIGURATIVE prepare for a difficulty or crisis.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French batant, present participle (used as a noun) of batre 'to beat', from Latin battuere.

bat·ten 2 v. [intrans.] (batten on) thrive or prosper at the expense of (someone): multinational monopolies batten on the working classes.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'improve in condition, grow fat'): from Old Norse batna 'get better', related to BETTER^1 .

Linked entries:

BETTER ■

bat·ten·ing n. the application or addition of battens.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a structure formed with battens.

bat·ter 1 v. [trans.] strike repeatedly with hard blows; pound heavily and insistently: a prisoner was battered to death with a table leg | FIGURATIVE their idealism has been battered.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [often as n.] (battering) subject (one's spouse, partner, or child) to repeated violence and assault.

- [usu. as n.] (battering) FIGURATIVE censure, criticize, or defeat severely: the movie took a battering from critics.

<DERIVATIVES> bat·ter·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French batre 'to beat' (from Latin battuere) + -ER^3 .

Linked entries:

-ER ■

bat·ter 2 n. 1 a semiliquid mixture of flour, egg, and milk or water used in cooking, esp. for making cakes or for coating food before frying.

2 CHIEFLY HISTORICAL [PRINTING] a damaged area of metal type or a printing block.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French bateure 'the action of beating', from batre 'to beat'.

bat·ter 3 n. (in various sports, esp. baseball) a player who is batting.

bat·ter 4 n. a gradual backward slope in a wall or similar structure.

■ v. [intrans.] (of a wall) have a receding slope.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as a verb): of unknown origin.

bat·tered 1 adj. injured by repeated blows or punishment: he finished the day battered and bruised.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- having suffered repeated violence from a spouse, partner, or parent: a battered wife.

- (of a thing) damaged by age and repeated use; shabby: a pair of battered black boots.

bat·tered 2 adj. (of food) coated in batter and deep-fried until crisp.

bat·tered child syn·drome n. the set of symptoms, injuries, and signs of mistreatment seen on a severely or repeatedly abused child.

bat·tered wom·an syn·drome n. the set of symptoms, injuries, and signs of mistreatment seen in a woman who has been repeatedly abused by a husband or other male figure.

bat·te·rie n. [BALLET] the action of beating or crossing the feet or calves together during a leap or jump.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: French, literally 'beating'.

bat·te·rie de cui·sine n. the apparatus or set of utensils for serving or preparing a meal.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, literally 'set of equipment for the kitchen'. The sense of 'set' developed from the original meaning of 'collection of artillery equipment (for “beating” the enemy)'; see also BATTERY.

Linked entries:

BATTERY ■

bat·ter·ing par·ent syn·drome n. the set of symptoms and signs indicating a psychological disorder in a parent or child-care provider resulting in a tendency toward repeated abuse of a child.

bat·ter·ing ram n. a heavy object swung or rammed against a door to break it down: FIGURATIVE a battering ram to crush opposing views.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a heavy beam, originally with an end in the form of a carved ram's head, used in breaching fortifications.

Bat·tery (the Battery) a historic area at the southern end of Manhattan Island in New York City.

bat·ter·y n. (pl. -ter·ies) 1 a container consisting of one or more cells, in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of power: [as adj.] battery power.

2 a fortified emplacement for heavy guns.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an artillery subunit of guns, men, and vehicles.

3 a set of similar units of equipment, typically when connected together: a battery of equipment to monitor blood pressure.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an extensive series, sequence, or range of things: children given a battery of tests.

4 [LAW] the crime or tort of unconsented physical contact with another person, even where the contact is not violent but merely menacing or offensive. See also ASSAULT AND BATTERY.

5 (the battery) [BASEBALL] the pitcher and the catcher in a game, considered as a unit.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from French batterie, from battre 'to strike', from Latin battuere. The original sense was 'metal articles wrought by hammering', later 'a number of pieces of artillery used together'; on this was based a sense 'a number of Leyden jars connected up so as to discharge simultaneously' (mid 18th cent.), from which sense 1 developed. The general meaning 'a set or series of similar units' (sense 3) dates from the late 19th cent.

Linked entries:

ASSAULT AND BATTERY ■

bat·ting n. cotton wadding prepared in sheets for use in quilts.

bat·ting av·er·age n. [BASEBALL] the average performance of a batter, expressed as a ratio of a batter’s safe hits per official times at bat.

bat·ting cage n. [BASEBALL] an area for batting practice that is enclosed by fencing or netting.

bat·ting or·der n. [BASEBALL] the order in which batters take their turn at bat.

bat·tle n. a sustained fight between large, organized armed forces: [in names] the Battle of Shiloh | he died in battle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a lengthy and difficult conflict or struggle: the battle over the future shape of Europe; the battle against aging.

■ v. [intrans.] fight or struggle tenaciously to achieve or resist something: he has been battling against the illness; representatives from eight countries are battling for the title.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] engage in a fight or struggle against: firefighters battled a 9,800-acre brush fire.

<PHRASES>
□ battle it out fight or compete to a definite conclusion.

□ do battle fight; engage in conflict: do battle with the forces of evil.

□ battle royal (pl. battles royal) a fiercely contested fight or dispute: there promises to be a battle royal between the two companies.

□ battle stations the positions taken by military personnel in preparation for battle (often used as a command or signal to prepare for battle).

□ half the battle an important step toward achieving something: he never gives in, and that's half the battle.

<DERIVATIVES> bat·tler n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bataille (noun), bataillier (verb), based on late Latin battualia 'military or gladiatorial exercises', from Latin battuere 'to beat'.

bat·tle-ax (also bat·tle-axe) n. 1 a large broad-bladed ax used in ancient warfare.

2 INFORMAL a formidably aggressive older woman.

Bat·tle·born State nickname for NEVADA.

Linked entries:

NEVADA ■

Bat·tle Creek a city in southern Michigan, noted as a center of the cereal industry; pop. 53,540.

bat·tle·cruis·er n. HISTORICAL a large warship of a type built in the early 20th century, carrying similar armament to a battleship but faster and more lightly armored.

bat·tle cry n. a word or phrase shouted by soldiers going into battle to express solidarity and intimidate the enemy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a slogan expressing the ideals of people promoting a cause.

bat·tle·dore n. HISTORICAL (also battledore and shuttlecock) a game played with a shuttlecock and rackets; a forerunner of badminton.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the small racket used in this.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'a paddle-shaped implement used in washing clothes'): perhaps from Provençal batedor 'beater, paddle', from batre 'to beat'.

bat·tle fa·tigue n. another term for SHELL SHOCK.

Linked entries:

SHELL SHOCK ■

bat·tle·field (also bat·tle·ground ) n. the piece of ground on which a battle is or was fought: death on the battlefield | [as adj.] battlefield conditions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a place or situation of strife or conflict: an ideological battlefield.

bat·tle·front n. the region or line along which opposing armies engage in combat.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the area in which opponents or opposing ideas meet.

bat·tle group n. a military force created to fight together, typically consisting of several different types of troops.

bat·tle jack·et n. a style of waist-length jacket worn by army personnel.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any jacket of a similar cut.

bat·tle·ment n. (usu. battlements) a parapet at the top of a wall, usually of a fort or castle, that has regularly spaced, squared openings for shooting through.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a section of roof enclosed by this.

<DERIVATIVES> bat·tle·ment·ed adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French bataillier 'fortify with movable defense turrets', possibly related to BATTLE.

Linked entries:

BATTLE ■

bat·tler n. a person who refuses to admit defeat in the face of difficulty: a trash talking battler taking swings at opponents and rallying friends.

<USAGE>
Battler is long and firmly established in Antipodean English and summarizes a national character trait for many Australians; it is increasingly common now both in British and American English.

bat·tle·ship n. a heavy warship of a type built chiefly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with extensive armor and large-caliber guns.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: shortening of line-of-battle ship, originally with reference to the largest wooden warships.

bat·tle·ship gray n. a bluish gray color, typically used for warships to reduce their visibility.

bat·tle star n. former term for SERVICE STAR.

Linked entries:

SERVICE STAR ■

bat·tle·wag·on (also bat·tle wag·on) n. INFORMAL a battleship or an armored vehicle.

bat·tue n. the driving of game toward hunters by beaters.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a hunting party arranged in such a way.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, feminine past participle of battre 'to beat', from Latin battuere.

bat·ty adj. (-ti·er, -ti·est) INFORMAL crazy; insane: you'll drive me batty!

<DERIVATIVES> bat·ti·ly adv. bat·ti·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from BAT^2 + -Y^1 . Compare with BATS.

Linked entries:

BAT ■

-Y ■

BATS ■

bat·wing adj. [attrib.] (of a sleeve) having a deep armhole and a tight cuff.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a garment) having such sleeves.

bau·ble n. 1 a small, showy trinket or decoration.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE something of no importance or worth.

2 HISTORICAL a baton formerly used as an emblem by jesters.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French baubel 'child's toy', of unknown origin.

Bau·cis [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the wife of Philemon.

baud n. (pl. same or bauds) [CHIEFLY COMPUTING] a unit used to express the speed of transmission of electronic signals, corresponding to one information unit or event per second.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a unit of data transmission speed for a modem of one bit per second (in fact there is usually more than one bit per event).

<ORIGIN> 1930s: coined in French from the name of J. M. E. Baudot (1845-1903), French engineer who invented a telegraph printing system.

Bau·de·laire Charles (Pierre) (1821-67), French poet and critic. He is noted for Les Fleurs du mal (1857), a series of 101 lyrics that explore his isolation and melancholy and the attraction of evil and the macabre.

Bau·dril·lard Jean (1929- ), French sociologist and cultural critic, associated with postmodernism.

Baugh Sammy (1914- ), U.S. football player; full name Samuel Adrian Baugh; known as Slingin' Sammy. He played for the Washington Redskins 1937-52, where his trademark pinpoint passing revolutionized professional football by making the forward pass a routine play from scrimmage. In 1943, he became the only player to lead the National Football League (NFL) in passing, punting, and interceptions in the same season. Football Hall of Fame (1963).

Bau·haus a school of design established by Walter Gropius in Weimar in 1919, best known for its designs of objects based on functionalism and simplicity.

<ORIGIN> German, 'house of architecture', from Bau 'building' + Haus 'house'.

baulk v. & n. BRIT. variant spelling of BALK.

Linked entries:

BALK ■

baulk·y adj. British spelling of BALKY.

Linked entries:

BALKY ■

Baum L(yman) Frank (1856-1919), U.S. journalist and author. His many children's books include Father Goose: His Book (1899), The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), and other Oz books.

Bau·mé scale n. a scale with arbitrary markings, used with a hydrometer to measure the relative density of liquids.

<ORIGIN> named for Antoine Baumé (1728-1804), French chemist.

Bausch John Jacob (1830-1926), U.S. businessman, born in Germany. He cofounded (with Henry Lomb) the Bausch & Lomb Optical Company in 1853.

baux·ite n. an amorphous clayey rock that is the chief commercial ore of aluminum. It consists largely of hydrated alumina with variable proportions of iron oxides.

<DERIVATIVES> baux·it·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from Les Baux (the name of a village near Arles in southeastern France, near which it was first found) + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ITE ■

ba·var·dage n. idle gossip; chitchat.

<ORIGIN> French, from bavarder 'to chatter', from bavard 'talkative', from bave 'drivel'.

Ba·var·i·a a state in southern Germany, formerly an independent kingdom; capital, Munich. German name BAYERN.

Linked entries:

BAYERN ■

Ba·var·i·an adj. of or relating to Bavaria, its people, or their language.

■ n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Bavaria.

2 the dialect of German used in Bavaria.

ba·va·rois (also ba·va·roise ) n. a dessert containing gelatin and whipped cream, served cold.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, literally 'Bavarian'.

baw·bee n. SCOTTISH & N. IRISH a coin of low value.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a former silver coin worth three (later six) Scottish pennies.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from the name of the laird of Sillebawby, mint master under James V.

bawd n. ARCHAIC a woman in charge of a brothel.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: shortened from obsolete bawdstrot, from Old French baudestroyt 'procuress', from baude 'shameless'.

bawd·ry n. obscenity in speech or writing.

bawd·y adj. (bawd·i·er, bawd·i·est) dealing with sexual matters in a comical way; humorously indecent.

■ n. humorously indecent talk or writing.

<DERIVATIVES> bawd·i·ly adv. bawd·i·ness n.

bawd·y house n. ARCHAIC a brothel.

bawl v. 1 [reporting verb] shout or call out noisily and unrestrainedly: [with direct speech] “Move!” bawled the drill sergeant | [trans.] lustily bawling out the hymns | [intrans.] Joe bawled with laughter.

2 [intrans.] weep or cry noisily: she began to bawl like a child | [as adj.] (bawling) bawling babies.

■ n. a loud, unrestrained shout.

<PHRASAL VERB> bawl someone out reprimand someone angrily: tales of how she bawled out employees.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense '(of an animal) howl, bark'): imitative.

Bax·ter Anne (1923-85), U.S. actress. She won an Academy Award in 1946 for her supporting role in The Razor's Edge.

Bax·ter State Park a preserve in northern Maine that incorporates Mount Katahdin and the northern end of the Appalachian Trail.

bay 1 n. a broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward: [in place names] San Francisco Bay; the Bay of Biscay.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an indentation or recess in a range of hills or mountains.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French baie, from medieval Latin baia.

bay 2 n. 1 (also bay tree, bay laurel, or sweet bay) an evergreen Mediterranean shrub of the laurel family, with deep green leaves and purple berries. Its aromatic leaves are used in cooking and were formerly used to make triumphal crowns for victors.
<INFO>  Laurus nobilis, family Lauraceae.

2 a similarly aromatic tree or shrub of North America, esp. the bayberry used in the preparation of bay rum.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the laurel berry): from Old French baie, from Latin baca 'berry'.

bay 3 n. a recessed or enclosed area, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a space created by a window-line projecting outward from a wall.

- short for BAY WINDOW.

- a section of wall between two buttresses or columns, esp. in the nave of a church.

- [with adj.] a compartment with a particular function in a motor vehicle, aircraft, or ship: an engine bay; a bomb bay.

- an area allocated or marked off for a specified purpose: a loading bay.

- short for SICKBAY.

- [COMPUTING] a cabinet, or a space in the cabinet, into which an electronic device is installed: a drive bay.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French baie, from baer 'to gape', from medieval Latin batare, of unknown origin.

Linked entries:

BAY WINDOW ■

SICKBAY ■

bay 4 adj. (of a horse) brown with black points.

■ n. a bay horse.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bai, from Latin badius.

bay 5 v. [intrans.] (of a dog, esp. a large one) bark or howl loudly: the dogs bayed; a jackal baying at the moon.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a group of people) shout loudly, typically to demand something: as a mob bayed below, the king was dead.

- [trans.] ARCHAIC bay at: a pack of wolves baying at the moon.

■ n. the sound of baying, esp. that of hounds in close pursuit of their quarry.

<PHRASES>
□ at bay forced to confront one's attackers or pursuers; cornered.

□ bring someone/something to bay trap or corner a person or animal being hunted or chased.

□ hold (or keep) someone/something at bay prevent someone or something from approaching or having an effect.

□ stand at bay turn to face one's pursuers.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a noun): from Old French (a)bai (noun), (a)baiier (verb) 'to bark', of imitative origin.

ba·ya·dère n. a Hindu dancing girl, in particular one at a southern Indian temple.

<ORIGIN> from French, from Portuguese bailadeira, from bailar 'to dance' (related to medieval Latin ballare 'to dance').

Bay Ar·e·a the region around San Francisco Bay, in north central California. Oakland is the hub of the East Bay, San Jose of the South Bay.

bay·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) 1 a North American shrub with aromatic leathery leaves and waxy berries. See also WAX MYRTLE.
<INFO>  Genus Myrica, family Myricaceae: several species, in particular northern bayberry (M. pensylvanica) and black bayberry (M. heterophylla).

2 a tropical American shrub with aromatic leaves that are used in the preparation of bay rum. Also called BAY RUM TREE.
<INFO>  Pimenta racemosa, family Myrtaceae.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from BAY^2 + BERRY.

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WAX MYRTLE ■

BAY ■

BERRY ■

Bay Cit·y industrial city in eastern Michigan, on the Saginaw River, near Lake Huron; pop. 38,936.

Bay·ern German name for BAVARIA.

Linked entries:

BAVARIA ■

Bayes' the·o·rem [STATISTICS] a theorem describing how the conditional probability of each of a set of possible causes for a given observed outcome can be computed from knowledge of the probability of each cause and the conditional probability of the outcome of each cause.

<DERIVATIVES> Bayes·i·an adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Thomas Bayes (1702-61), English mathematician.

Ba·yeux Tap·es·try a medieval English embroidery made between 1066 and 1077, telling the story of the Norman Conquest.

Bay·kal, Lake variant spelling of BAIKAL, LAKE.

Linked entries:

BAIKAL, LAKE ■

bay lau·rel n. another term for BAY^2 .

Linked entries:

BAY ■

bay leaf n. the aromatic, usually dried, leaf of the bay tree, used in cooking.

Bay·lis Lilian Mary (1874-1937), English theater manager, noted for her management of the Old Vic and for her initiative in reopening the old Sadler's Wells Theatre in 1931.

Bay·lor Elgin Gay (1934- ), U.S. basketball player. He played for the Minneapolis (from 1960, Los Angeles) Lakers 1958-72. Known for his scoring ability, he reached 71 points in a game against the New York Knicks in December 1960. Basketball Hall of Fame (1976).

Bay of Ben·gal, Bay of Fun·dy, etc. see BENGAL, BAY OF; FUNDY, BAY OF, etc.

Linked entries:

BENGAL, BAY OF ■

FUNDY, BAY OF ■

Bay of Pigs n. an invasion of another nation that results in failure.

The Bay of Pigs is the location of a failed attempt in 1961 by U.S.-trained Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and overthrow the government of Fidel Castro, resulting in considerable embarrassment for the administration of President John F. Kennedy.

bay·o·net n. 1 a swordlike stabbing blade that may be fixed to the muzzle of a rifle for use in hand-to-hand fighting.

2 [as adj.] denoting a fitting for a light bulb, camera lens, or other appliance that is engaged by being pushed into a socket and then twisted to lock it in place.

■ v. (-net·ed, -net·ing) [trans.] stab (someone) with a bayonet.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (denoting a kind of short dagger): from French baïonnette, from Bayonne, the name of a town in southwestern France, where they were first made.

Bay·onne an industrial port city in northeastern New Jersey, on New York Bay; pop. 61,444.

bay·ou n. (pl. -ous) (in the southern U.S.) a marshy outlet of a lake or river.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Louisiana French, from Choctaw bayuk.

Bay·ou State a nickname for the state of LOUISIANA.

Linked entries:

LOUISIANA ■

Bay·ou Teche a water route in south central Louisiana, at the heart of Cajun Country. Also called THE TECHE (see TECHE).

Bay·reuth a town in Bavaria where Wagner is buried and where festivals of his operas are held regularly.

bay rum n. an aromatic liquid, used esp. for the hair or as an aftershave, typically distilled from rum and the leaves of the bayberry.

bay rum tree another name for BAYBERRY (sense 2).

bay·side adj. on or near the shore of a bay.

Bay State a nickname for the state of MASSACHUSETTS.

Linked entries:

MASSACHUSETTS ■

Bay·town a city in southeastern Texas, east of Houston, a center of the oil industry; pop. 63,850.

bay tree n. see BAY^2 .

Linked entries:

BAY ■

bay win·dow n. a window built to project outward from an outside wall.

ba·zaar n. a market in a Middle-Eastern country.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a fund-raising sale of goods, typically for charity.

- DATED a large shop selling miscellaneous goods.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Italian bazarro, from Turkish, from Persian 'market'.

ba·zil·lion cardinal number INFORMAL a very large exaggerated number: you were going a bazillion miles per hour!

<ORIGIN> 1980s: probably a blend of billion and gazillion (also a large exaggerated number).

ba·zoo n. INFORMAL 1 a person's mouth.

2 a person's buttocks or anus.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: of unknown origin; compare with Dutch bazuin 'trombone, trumpet'.

ba·zoo·ka n. 1 a short-range tubular rocket launcher used against tanks.

2 a trombonelike type of kazoo.

<ORIGIN> 1930s (sense 2: apparently from slang BAZOO in the original sense 'kazoo'.

Linked entries:

BAZOO ■

ba·zoom n. (usu. bazooms) INFORMAL a woman's breast.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: probably an alteration of BOSOM.

Linked entries:

BOSOM ■

BB symbol a standard size of lead pellet used in air rifles.

■ abbr. [BASEBALL] base on balls.

b-ball INFORMAL basketball.

BBC abbr. British Broadcasting Corporation.

BB gun n. an air rifle that fires BBs.

BBIN abbr. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal, considered as a group with regard to development, public health, and economic issues.

bbl. abbr. barrels (esp. of oil).

b-boy n. INFORMAL a young man involved with hip-hop culture.

<ORIGIN> 1980s.

BBQ abbr. INFORMAL barbecue.

BBS [COMPUTING] abbr. bulletin board system.

BC abbr.
- before Christ (used to indicate that a date is before the Christian Era).

- British Columbia (in official postal use).

- Batallion Commander.

<USAGE>
In recent years, some writers have begun using the abbreviations CE (of the Common Era) in place of AD, and BCE (before the Common Era) in place of BC.

See also usage at AD.

Linked entries:

AD ■

bcc abbr. blind carbon copy, a copy of an e-mail sent to someone whose name and address isn't visible to other recipients.

BCD abbr.
- [MILITARY] bad conduct discharge.

- binary coded decimal.

BCE abbr.
- Bachelor of Chemical Engineering.

- Bachelor of Civil Engineering.

- before the Common Era (used of dates before the Christian era, esp. by non-Christians).

B cell (also B-cell) n. [PHYSIOLOGY] a lymphocyte not processed by the thymus gland, and responsible for producing antibodies. Also called B LYMPHOCYTE. Compare with T CELL.

<ORIGIN> B for BURSA, referring to the organ in birds where it was first identified.

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B LYMPHOCYTE ■

T CELL ■

BURSA ■

BCF abbr. bromochlorodifluoromethane, a substance formerly used in fire extinguishers.

BCG abbr. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, an antituberculosis vaccine.

B com·plex n. see VITAMIN B.

Linked entries:

VITAMIN B ■

BD abbr. Bachelor of Divinity.

BDD abbr. body dysmorphic disorder.

Bde abbr. Brigade.

bdel·li·um n. a fragrant resin produced by a number of trees related to myrrh, used in perfumes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek bdellion, of Semitic origin.

bdrm. abbr. bedroom.

BDU abbr. battle dress uniform.

BE abbr.
- Bachelor of Education.

- Bachelor of Engineering.

- bill of exchange.

- Black English.

Be symbol the chemical element beryllium.

be v. (sing. present am ; are ; is ; pl. present are; 1st and 3rd sing. past was ; 2nd sing. past and pl. past were ; present subjunctive be; past subjunctive were; present participle be·ing ; past part. been ) 1 (usu. there is/are) exist: there are no easy answers; there once was a man; there must be something wrong; I think, therefore I am.
<SPECIAL USAGE> be present: there is a boy sitting on the step; there were no curtains around the showers; Are there any castles in this area?

2 [with adverbial] occur; take place: the exhibition will be in November; the opening event is on October 16; that was before the war.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- occupy a position in space: the Salvation Army store was on his left; she was not at the window.

- stay in the same place or condition: she was here until about ten-thirty; he's a tough customerlet him be.

- attend: the days when she was in school.

- come; go; visit: he's from Missouri; I have just been to Thailand; the doctor's been here twice today.

3 [as copular verb] having the state, quality, identity, nature, role, etc., specified: Amy was 91; the floor was uneven; I want to be a teacher; father was not well; his hair's brown; it will be Christmas soon; “Be careful,” Mr. Carter said.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- cost: the tickets were $25.

- amount to: one and one is two; two sixes are twelve.

- represent: let A be a square matrix of order n.

- signify: we were everything to each other.

- consist of; constitute: the monastery was several three-story buildings.

■ auxiliary v. 1 used with a present participle to form continuous tenses: they are coming; he had been reading; she will be waiting.

2 used with a past participle to form the passive mood: it was done; it is said; his book will be published.

3 [with infinitive] used to indicate something due to happen: construction is to begin next summer; I was to meet him at 6:30.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used to express obligation or necessity: you are to follow these orders; they said I was to remain on board.

- used to express possibility: these snakes are to be found in North America; she was nowhere to be seen.

- used to hypothesize about something that might happen: if I were to lose; if I was to tell you, you'd think I was crazy; were she to cure me, what could I offer her?

4 ARCHAIC used with the past participle of intransitive verbs to form perfect tenses: I am returned; all humanity is fallen.

<PHRASES>
□ as/that was ARCHAIC as someone or something was previously called: General Dunstaple had married Miss Hughes that was.

□ the be-all and end-all INFORMAL a feature of an activity or a way of life that is of greater importance than any other.

□ be oneself act naturally, according to one's character and instincts.

□ be that as it may see MAY^1 .

□ be there for someone be available to support or comfort someone while they are experiencing difficulties or adversities.

□ been there, done that see THERE.

□ not be oneself not feel well.

□ -to-be [in combination] of the future: my bride-to-be.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  be about see ABOUT.

□  be off go away; leave: he was anxious to be off.

<ORIGIN> Old English ), an irregular and defective verb, whose full conjugation derives from several originally distinct verbs. The forms am and is are from an Indo-European root shared by Latin sum and est. The forms was and were are from an Indo-European root meaning 'remain'. The forms be and been are from an Indo-European root shared by Latin fui 'I was', fio 'I become' and Greek phuein 'bring forth, cause to grow'. The origin of are is uncertain.

<USAGE>
For a discussion of whether it is correct to say that must be he at the door and it is I rather than that must be him at the door and it is me, see usage at PERSONAL PRONOUN.

Linked entries:

MAY ■

THERE ■

ABOUT ■

PERSONAL PRONOUN ■

be- prefix 1 forming verbs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- all over; all around: bespatter.

- thoroughly; excessively: bewilder.

2 (added to intransitive verbs) expressing transitive action: bemoan.

3 (added to adjectives and nouns) expressing transitive action: befool; befriend.

4 (added to nouns) affect with: befog.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (added to adjectives) cause to be: befoul.

5 (forming adjectives ending in -ed) having; covered with: bejeweled.

<ORIGIN> Old English, weak form of 'by'.

beach n. a pebbly or sandy shore, esp. by the ocean between high- and low-water marks.

■ v. [trans.] run or haul up (a boat or ship) onto a beach: at the water's edge a rowboat was beached | [intrans.] crews would not beach for fear of damaging craft.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [often as adj.] (beached) cause (a whale or similar animal) to become stranded out of the water.

- [intrans.] (of a whale or similar animal) become stranded out of the water.

- (of an angler) land (a fish) on a beach.

- FIGURATIVE cause (someone) to suffer a loss: competitive procurement seems to have beached several companies.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting shingle on the seashore): perhaps related to Old English bæce, bece 'brook' (an element that survives in place names such as Wisbech and Sandbach), assuming an intermediate sense 'pebbly river valley'.

beach ball n. a large inflatable ball used for playing games on the beach.

beach bug·gy n. another term for DUNE BUGGY.

Linked entries:

DUNE BUGGY ■

beach bum n. INFORMAL a person who loafs on or around a beach.

beach·comb·er n. 1 a vagrant who makes a living by searching beaches for articles of value and selling them.

2 a person who searches beaches for useful or interesting items.

3 a long wave rolling in from the sea; a comber.

beach flea n. a small crustacean of the seashore that typically lives among seaweed and leaps when disturbed. Also called SAND FLEA, SAND HOPPER.
<INFO>  Orchestia and other genera, order Amphipoda.

Linked entries:

SAND FLEA ■

SAND HOPPER ■

beach·front n. [usu. in sing.] the part of a coastal town next to and directly facing the sea: [as adj.] beachfront property.

beach grass n. marram grass, or any related grass of the genus Ammophila.

beach·head n. a defended position on a beach taken from the enemy by landing forces, from which an attack can be launched.

<ORIGIN> World War II (originally U.S.): formed on the pattern of bridgehead.

Beach-la-mar n. another term for BISLAMA.

Linked entries:

BISLAMA ■

beach plum n. a maritime shrub related to the plum, native to northeastern North America.
<INFO>  Prunus maritima, family Rosaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the edible fruit of this tree.

beach·side adj. [attrib.] next to the beach.

beach·wear n. clothing suitable for wearing on the beach, though not necessarily for swimming in.

bea·con n. a fire or light set up in a high or prominent position as a warning, signal, or celebration: a chain of beacons carried the news | FIGURATIVE the prospect of a new government was a beacon of hope for millions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- BRIT. (often in place names) a hill suitable for such a fire or light: Ivinghoe Beacon; the Brecon Beacons.

- a light or other visible object serving as a signal, warning, or guide, esp. at sea or on an airfield.

- a radio transmitter whose signal helps to fix the position of a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft.

■ v. shine like a beacon: FIGURATIVE the righteous servant of God who beacons to the nations the Good News.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'sign, portent, ensign',; related to BECKON.

Linked entries:

BECKON ■

Bea·con Hill a historic neighborhood in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, on high ground north of the Boston Common.

bead n. 1 a small piece of glass, stone, or similar material, typically rounded and perforated for threading with others as a necklace or rosary or for sewing onto fabric.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (beads) a necklace made of a string of beads.

- (beads) a rosary.

2 something resembling a bead or a string of beads, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a drop of a liquid on a surface: beads of sweat.

- a long, narrow strip of caulking compound, adhesive or similar material applied to a surface.

- a small knob forming the front sight of a gun.

- the reinforced inner edge of a pneumatic tire that grips the rim of the wheel.

- an ornamental molding resembling a string of beads or of a semicircular cross-section.

■ v. [trans.] 1 [often as adj.] (beaded) decorate or cover with beads: a beaded evening bag.
<SPECIAL USAGE> string (beads) together.

2 (often be beaded) cover (a surface) with drops of moisture: his face was beaded with perspiration.

<PHRASES>
□ draw (or get) a bead on take aim at.

□ tell (or say) one's beads use the beads of a rosary in counting prayers.

<ORIGIN> Old English gebed 'prayer', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bede and German Gebet, also to BID^1 . Current senses derive from the use of a rosary, each bead representing a prayer.

Linked entries:

BID ■

bead·ing n. decoration or ornamental molding resembling a string of beads or of a semicircular cross section.

bea·dle n. BRIT. a ceremonial officer of a church, college, or similar institution.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- SCOTTISH a church officer assisting the minister.

- HISTORICAL a minor parish officer dealing with petty offenders.

<ORIGIN> Old English bydel 'a person who makes a proclamation', gradually superseded in Middle English by forms from Old French bedel, ultimately of Germanic origin; related to German Büttel, also to BID^1 .

Linked entries:

BID ■

bead·work n. decorative work made of beads.

bead·y adj. (of a person's eyes) small, round, and gleaming.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a look) bright and penetrating: she fixed him with a beady stare.

<DERIVATIVES> bead·i·ly adv.

bead·y-eyed adj. having small, glinting eyes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL keenly observant, typically in a sinister or hostile way.

bea·gle n. a small sturdy hound of a breed with a coat of medium length, bred esp. for hunting.

<DERIVATIVES> bea·gler n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: perhaps from Old French beegueule 'open-mouthed', from beer 'open wide' + gueule 'throat'.

beak n. a bird's horny projecting jaws; a bill.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the similar horny projecting jaw of other animals, e.g., a turtle or squid.

- INFORMAL a person's nose, esp. a hooked one: she can't wait to stick her beak in.

- a projection at the prow of an ancient warship, typically shaped to resemble the head of a bird or other animal, used to pierce the hulls of enemy ships.

<DERIVATIVES> beaked adj. [in combination] a yellow-beaked alpine chough.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bec, from Latin beccus, of Celtic origin.

beaked whale n. a medium-sized whale with elongated jaws that form a beak, often showing marked differences in size and body form between the sexes.
<INFO>  Ziphiidae

beak·er n. a lipped cylindrical glass container for laboratory use.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY a large drinking container with a wide mouth.

- [ARCHAEOLOGY] a waisted pot characteristic of graves of the Beaker folk.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'large drinking container'): from Old Norse bikarr, perhaps based on Greek bikos 'drinking bowl'.

Beak·er folk plural n. [ARCHAEOLOGY] a late Neolithic and early Bronze Age European people (c.2700-1700 BC), named after distinctive waisted pots ( Beaker ware) that were associated with their burials and appear to have been used for alcoholic drinks.

beak·y adj. INFORMAL (of a person's nose) resembling a bird's beak; hooked.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) having such a nose.

Beale Dorothea (1831-1906), English educator. She campaigned for women's suffrage and for higher education.

Beale Street a historic commercial street in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, that is associated with black music and commerce.

beam n. 1 a long, sturdy piece of squared timber or metal spanning an opening or part of a building, usually to support the roof or floor above.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- another term for BALANCE BEAM.

- a horizontal piece of squared timber or metal supporting the deck and joining the sides of a ship.

- [NAUTICAL] the direction of an object visible from the port or starboard side of a ship when it is perpendicular to the center line of the vessel: there was land in sight on the port beam.

- a ship's breadth at its widest point: a cutter with a beam of 16 feet.

- [in sing.] INFORMAL the width of a person's hips: notice how broad in the beam she's getting?

- the main stem of a stag's antler.

- the crossbar of a balance.

- (esp. in a stationary steam engine) an oscillating shaft through which the vertical piston movement is transmitted to the crank or pump.

- HISTORICAL the main timber of a horse-drawn plow.

2 a ray or shaft of light: a beam of light flashed in front of her; the flashlight beam dimmed perceptibly.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a directional flow of particles or radiation: beams of electrons.

- a series of radio or radar signals emitted to serve as a navigational guide for ships or aircraft.

3 [in sing.] a radiant or good-natured look or smile: a beam of satisfaction.

■ v. 1 [trans.] transmit (a radio signal or broadcast) in a specified direction: beaming a distress signal into space | [intrans.] the TV station begins beaming into homes in the new year.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] (beam someone up/down) (in science fiction) transport someone instantaneously to another place, esp. to or from a spaceship: Scotty, beam me up! <ORIGIN> phrase from the television series Star Trek.

2 [intrans.] (of a light or light source) shine brightly: the sun's rays beamed down.

3 [intrans.] smile radiantly: she beamed with pleasure | [as adj.] (beaming) a beaming smile.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] express (an emotion) with a radiant smile: the teacher beamed her approval | [with direct speech] “Isn't that wonderful, Beatrice?” beamed the nun.

4 (beamed) construct a ceiling with exposed beams: vaulted beamed ceilings in the family room.

<PHRASES>
□ a beam in one's eye a fault that is greater in oneself than in the person one is finding fault with. <ORIGIN> with biblical allusion to Matt. 7:3.

□ off (or way off) beam INFORMAL on the wrong track; mistaken: you're way off beam on this one.

□ on the beam INFORMAL on the right track.

□ on her (or its) beam-ends (of a ship) heeled over on its side; almost capsized.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'tree, beam',; related to Dutch boom and German Baum.

Linked entries:

BALANCE BEAM ■

beam com·pass (also beam com·pass·es) n. a drawing compass consisting of a horizontal rod or beam connected by sliding sockets to two vertical legs, used for drawing large circles.

beam·ish adj. beaming with happiness, optimism, or anticipation.

Bea·mon Bob (1946- ), U.S. long jumper; full name Robert Beamon. He set a world record at the 1968 Olympic Games that stood until 1991.

beam sea n. [NAUTICAL] a sea that is running at approximately right angles to a vessel’s heading.

beam split·ter n. a device for dividing a beam of light or other electromagnetic radiation into two or more separate beams.

beam·y adj. (of a ship) broad-beamed.

Bean Roy (c.1825-1903), U.S. frontiersman; known as Judge. In 1882, he named himself justice of the peace in the Texas settlement of Vinegaroon, which he renamed Langtry for his idol Lillie Langtry. He held court in his saloon, the Jersey Lily.

bean n. 1 an edible seed, typically kidney-shaped, growing in long pods on certain leguminous plants.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the hard seed of coffee, cocoa, and certain other plants.

2 a leguminous plant that bears such seeds in pods.
<INFO>  Phaseolus and other genera, family Leguminosae: numerous species, including the scarlet runner (P. coccineus), kidney bean (P. vulgaris), and broad bean (Vicia faba).

3 [with negative] (also beans) INFORMAL a very small amount or nothing at all of something (used emphatically): there is not a single bean of substance in the report; I didn't know beans about being a step-parent.

4 INFORMAL a person's head, typically when regarded as a source of common sense.

■ v. [trans.] INFORMAL hit (someone) on the head: Boone was nearly beaned by that wild pitch.

<PHRASES>
□ full of beans INFORMAL lively; in high spirits.

□ a hill (or row) of beans [with negative] anything of any importance or value: three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.

□ old bean BRIT., INFORMAL, DATED a friendly form of address, usually to a man: great to see you, old bean!

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boon and German Bohne.

bean·bag n. 1 a small bag filled with dried beans and typically used in children's games.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [FOOTBALL] a square of colored plastic with a weighted section, used as a penalty flag.

2 a large cushion, typically filled with polystyrene beads, used as a seat.

■ v. [trans.] (-bagged, -bag·ging) [FOOTBALL] indicate (a penalty) or charge (a player) with a penalty using a beanbag.

bean·ball n. [BASEBALL] INFORMAL a ball pitched, esp. intentionally, at the batter's head.

bean count·er n. INFORMAL, DEROGATORY a person, typically an accountant or bureaucrat, perceived as placing excessive emphasis on controlling expenditure and budgets.

<DERIVATIVES> bean count·ing n.

bean curd n. another term for TOFU.

Linked entries:

TOFU ■

bean·er·y n. (pl. -er·ies) a cheap restaurant.

bean·ie n. (pl. -ies) a small, close-fitting hat worn on the back of the head.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: perhaps from BEAN (in the sense 'head') + -IE.

Linked entries:

BEAN ■

-IE ■

bean·pole n. a stick for supporting bean plants.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a tall, thin person.

bean sprouts plural n. the sprouting seeds of certain beans, esp. mung beans, used in Asian cooking.

bean·stalk n. the stem of a bean plant, proverbially fast growing and tall.

bear 1 v. (past bore ; past part. borne ) [trans.] 1 (of a person) carry: he was bearing a tray of brimming glasses; the warriors bore lances tipped with iron.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a vehicle or boat) convey (passengers or cargo): steamboats bear the traveler out of Kerrerra Sound.

- have or display as a visible mark or feature: a small boat bearing a white flag; many of the papers bore his flamboyant signature.

- be called by (a name or title): he bore the surname Tiller.

- (bear oneself) [with adverbial] carry or conduct oneself in a particular manner: she bore herself with dignity.

2 support: walls that cannot bear a stone vault.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- take responsibility for: no one likes to bear the responsibility for such decisions; the expert's fee shall be borne by the tenant.

- be able to accept or stand up to: it is doubtful whether either of these distinctions would bear scrutiny.

3 endure (an ordeal or difficulty): she bore the pain stoically.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with modal and negative] manage to tolerate (a situation or experience): she could hardly bear his sarcasm | [with infinitive] I cannot bear to see you hurt

- (cannot bear someone/something) strongly dislike: I can't bear caviar.

4 give birth to (a child): she bore six daughters | [with two objs.] his wife had borne him a son.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a tree or plant) produce (fruit or flowers): a squash that bears fruit shaped like cucumbers.

5 [intrans.] turn and proceed in a specified direction: bear left and follow the old road.

<PHRASES>
□ be borne in upon come to be realized by: the folly of her action was borne in on her with devastating precision.

□ bear arms
1 carry firearms.

2 wear or display a coat of arms.

□ bear the brunt of see BRUNT.

□ bear the burden of suffer the consequences of.

□ bear fruit FIGURATIVE yield positive results: plans for power-sharing may be about to bear fruit.

□ bear someone a grudge nurture a feeling of resentment against someone.

□ bear a hand ARCHAIC help in a task or enterprise.

□ bear someone malice (or ill will) [with negative] wish someone harm.

□ bear a resemblance (or similarity) to resemble.

□ bear a relation (or relationship) to [with negative] be logically consistent with: the map didn't seem to bear any relation to the roads.

□ bear the stamp of be clearly identifiable with: their tactics bear the stamp of Soviet military training.

□ bear witness (or testimony) to testify to: little is left to bear witness to the past greatness of the city.

□ bring pressure to bear on attempt to coerce: they brought pressure to bear on him to resign.

□ bring to bear
1 muster and use to effect: she had reservations about how much influence she could bring to bear.

2 aim (a weapon): bringing his rifle to bear on a distant target.

□ does not bear thinking about is too terrible to contemplate.

□ grin and bear it see GRIN.

□ have one's cross to bear see CROSS.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  bear away another way of saying BEAR OFF.

□  bear down (of a woman in labor) exert downward pressure in order to push the baby out.
- put pressure on someone or something: he bore down and allowed the Bears only one more run.

□  bear down on move quickly toward someone, in a purposeful or an intimidating manner.
- take strict measures to deal with: a commitment to bear down on inflation.

□  bear off [SAILING] change course away from the wind.
- [NAUTICAL] steer away from something, typically the land.

□  bear on be relevant to (something): two kinds of theories that bear on literary studies.
- [with adverbial] be a burden on (someone): a tax that will bear heavily on poorer households.

□  bear something out support or confirm something: this assumption is not borne out by any evidence.

□  bear up remain cheerful in the face of adversity: she's bearing up remarkably well.

□  bear with be patient or tolerant with.

<ORIGIN> Old English beran, of Germanic origin; from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit bharati, Greek pherein, and Latin ferre.

<USAGE>
In the early 17th century, borne and born were simply variant forms of the past participle of bear used interchangeably with no distinction in meaning. By around 1775, however, the present distinction in use had become established. At that time, borne became the standard past participle used in all the senses listed in this dictionary entry, e.g., she has borne you another son, the findings have been borne out, and so on. Born became restricted to just one very common use (which remains the case today), in the passive, without by, as the standard, neutral way to refer to birth: she was born in 1965, he was born lucky, or I was born and bred in Boston.

Linked entries:

BRUNT ■

GRIN ■

CROSS ■

bear 2 n. 1 a large, heavy, mammal that walks on the soles of its feet, with thick fur and a very short tail. Bears are related to the dog family, but most species are omnivorous.
<INFO>  Ursidae

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a teddy bear.

- INFORMAL a rough, unmannerly, or uncouth person.

- a large, heavy, cumbersome man: a lumbering bear of a man.

- (the Bear) INFORMAL a nickname for Russia.

- (the Bear) the constellation Ursa Major or Ursa Minor.

2 [STOCK MARKET] a person who forecasts that prices of stocks or commodities will fall, esp. a person who sells shares hoping to buy them back later at a lower price: [as adj.] bear markets. Often contrasted with BULL^1 (sense 2 of the noun). <ORIGIN> said to be from a proverb warning against ‘selling the bear's skin before one has caught the bear.’

<PHRASES> loaded for bear INFORMAL fully prepared for any eventuality, typically a confrontation or challenge.

<ORIGIN> Old English bera; related to Dutch beer and German Bär.

Linked entries:

BULL ■

bear·a·ble adj. able to be endured: a ceiling fan made the heat bearable.

<DERIVATIVES> bear·a·bly adv.

bear·bait·ing n. HISTORICAL a form of entertainment that involved setting dogs to attack a captive bear.

bear·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) a creeping dwarf shrub of the heath family, with pinkish flowers and bright red berries.
<INFO>  Genus Arctostaphylos, family Ericaceae: several species, in particular A. uva-ursi, found esp. in circumpolar regions.

bear·cat n. 1 a bearlike climbing mammal, esp. the red panda.

2 a binturong.

3 INFORMAL an aggressive or forceful person.

Beard James (1903-85), U.S. chef and cookbook author. He hosted the first televised cooking show and founded a cooking school in New York.

beard n. 1 a growth of hair on the chin and lower cheeks of a man's face: he had a black beard;three days' growth of beard.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a tuft of hair on the chin of certain mammals, for example a lion or goat.

- an animal's growth or marking that is likened to a beard, e.g., the gills of an oyster, or the beak bristles of certain birds.

- a tuft of hairs or bristles on certain plants, esp. the awn of a grass.

2 INFORMAL a person who carries out a transaction, typically a bet, for someone else in order to conceal the other's identity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who pretends to have a romantic or sexual relationship with someone else in order to conceal the other's true sexual orientation.

■ v. [trans.] boldly confront or challenge (someone formidable).

<PHRASES> beard the lion in his den (or lair) confront or challenge someone on their own ground.

<DERIVATIVES> beard·ed adj. [in combination] a gray-bearded man. beard·less adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English; related to Dutch baard and German Bart.

beard·ed col·lie n. a dog of a shaggy breed of collie with long hair on the face.

beard·ed vul·ture n. another term for LAMMERGEIER.

Linked entries:

LAMMERGEIER ■

Beard·more Gla·cier a glacier in Antarctica that flows from the Queen Maud Mountains to the Ross Ice Shelf, at the southern edge of the Ross Sea, 260 miles (418 km) long.

Beards·ley Aubrey (Vincent) (1872-98), English artist and illustrator, associated with art nouveau and the Aesthetic Movement.

beard·tongue n. a North American plant of the figwort family with showy, five-lobed flowers. Each blossom has a tuft of hair on one of its stamens.
<INFO>  Genus Penstemon, family Scrophulariaceae: several species, including hairy beardtongue (P. hirsutus) and the widespread foxglove beardtongue (P. digitalis).

bear·er n. 1 a person or thing that carries or holds something: I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings | [in combination] a flag-bearer.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a carrier of equipment on an expedition.

- a person who carries the coffin at a funeral; pall-bearer.

- a tree or plant that bears fruit or flowers.

2 a person who presents a check or other order to pay money: promissory notes payable to the bearer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] payable to the possessor: bearer bonds.

bear·grass (also bear grass) n. a North American plant with long, coarse, grasslike leaves, in particular:
<INFO>
- a wild yucca (genus Yucca, family Agavaceae).

- a cultivated ornamental plant, the leaves of which were formerly used by American Indians to make watertight baskets (Xerophyllum tenax, family Liliaceae).

Also called ELK GRASS.

bear hug n. a rough, tight embrace.

bear·ing n. 1 [in sing.] a person's way of standing or moving: a man of precise military bearing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the way one behaves or conducts oneself: she has the bearing of a First Lady.

2 relation or relevance: the case has no direct bearing on the issues.

3 the level to which something bad can be tolerated: school was bad enough, but now it's past bearing.

4 a part of a machine that bears friction, esp. between a rotating part and its housing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a ball bearing.

5 [ARCHITECTURE] a structural part that supports weight, such as a wall that supports a beam.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the point at which a structural part rests upon a supporting structure, such as the specific area of a beam that rests upon a wall.

6 the direction or position of something, or the direction of movement, relative to a fixed point. It is typically measured in degrees, usually with magnetic north as zero: the Point is on a bearing of 015°.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (one's bearings) awareness of one's position relative to one's surroundings: he rose unsteadily to his feet and tried to get his bearings.

7 [HERALDRY] a device or charge: armorial bearings.

8 the act, capability, or time of producing fruit or offspring: I gave myself up to the bearing of children.

bear·ing rein n. a fixed rein that causes the horse to raise its head and arch its neck.

bear·ish adj. 1 resembling or likened to a bear, typically in being rough, surly, or clumsy: a bearish figure with muttonchop whiskers.

2 [STOCK MARKET] characterized by falling share prices.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a dealer) inclined to sell because of an anticipated fall in prices.

<DERIVATIVES> bear·ish·ly adv. bear·ish·ness n.

bear mar·ket n. [STOCK MARKET] a market in which prices are falling, encouraging selling.

Bé·ar·naise sauce n. a rich sauce thickened with egg yolks and flavored with tarragon.

<ORIGIN> Béarnaise, feminine of French Béarnais 'of Béarn,' a region of southwestern France.

bear·skin n. the pelt of a bear, esp. when used as a rug or wrap.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a tall cap of black fur worn ceremonially by certain military troops.

Be·as a river in northern India that rises in the Himalayas and flows through Himachal Pradesh to join the Sutlej River in Punjab. It is one of the five rivers that gave Punjab ("five waters”) its name.

beast n. an animal, esp. a large or dangerous four-footed one: a wild beast.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. beasts) a domestic animal, esp. a bovine farm animal.

- ARCHAIC or HUMOROUS an animal as opposed to a human: the gift of reason differentiates humanity from the beasts.

- an inhumanly cruel, violent, or depraved person: he is a filthy drunken beast.

- INFORMAL an objectionable or unpleasant person or thing: a scheming, manipulative little beast.

- (the beast) a person's brutish or untamed characteristics: the beast in you is rearing its ugly head.

- [with adj.] INFORMAL a thing or concept possessing a particular quality: that much-maligned beast, the rave record.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French beste, based on Latin bestia.

beast·ie n. (pl. -ies) SCOTTISH or HUMOROUS an animal, insect, or germ: our immune systems are killing millions of wee beasties.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] a vehicle or device of a particular kind: these little beasties only have three wheels.

beast·ings n. variant spelling of BEESTINGS.

Linked entries:

BEESTINGS ■

beast·ly adj. (-li·er, -li·est ) 1 INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. very unpleasant: this beastly war.
<SPECIAL USAGE> unkind; malicious: don't be beastly to him.

2 ARCHAIC cruel and unrestrained: beastly immorality.

■ adv. [as submodifier] BRIT., INFORMAL, DATED possessing a specified characteristic to an intense and unpleasant degree: a beastly hot summer.

<DERIVATIVES> beast·li·ness n.

beast of bur·den n. an animal such as a mule or donkey that is used for carrying loads.

beast of prey n. an animal, esp. a mammal, that kills and eats other animals.

beat v. (past beat; past part. beat·en ) [trans.] 1 strike (a person or an animal) repeatedly and violently so as to hurt or injure them, usually with an implement such as a club or whip: she beat me with a stick for the slightest misdemeanor.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- strike (an object) repeatedly so as to make a noise: he beat the table with his hand.

- [intrans.] (of an instrument) make a rhythmical sound by being struck: drums were beating in the distance.

- strike (a carpet, blanket, etc.) repeatedly in order to remove dust.

- remove (dust) from something by striking it repeatedly.

- flatten or shape (metal) by striking it repeatedly with a hammer: pure gold can be beaten out to form very thin sheets.

- (beat something against/on) strike something against (something): she beat her fists against the wood.

- [intrans.] (beat on/against) strike repeatedly on: Sidney beat on the door with the flat of his hand.

- [intrans.] (beat at) make striking movements toward: Emmie seized the hearthrug and began to beat at the flames.

- move across (an area of land) repeatedly striking at the ground cover in order to raise game birds for shooting.

2 defeat (someone) in a game, competition, election, or commercial venture: she beat him easily at chess; the Senators beat out the Yankees for the 1933 pennant.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL baffle: it beats me how you manage to work in this heat.

- overcome (a problem, or disease): they are investing their savings in hopes of beating inflation; he beat heroin addiction in 1992.

- do or be better than (a record or score): he beat his own world record.

- INFORMAL be better than: you can't beat the taste of fresh raspberries.

3 succeed in getting somewhere ahead of (someone): I could beat him on my bicycle; the goalie beat him to the ball.
<SPECIAL USAGE> take action to avoid (difficult or inconvenient effects of an event or circumstance): they set off early to beat the traffic.

4 [intrans.] (of the heart) pulsate: her heart beat faster with panic.

5 (of a bird) move (the wings) up and down.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a bird or its wings) make rhythmic movements through (the air): black-tipped wings beat the air.

- [intrans.] (of a bird) fly making rhythmic wing movements: an owl beat low over the salt marsh.

6 stir (cooking ingredients) vigorously with a fork, whisk, or beater to make a smooth or frothy mixture.

7 (beat it) INFORMAL leave: [in imperative] now beat it, will you!

8 [intrans.] [SAILING] sail into the wind, following a zigzag course with repeated tacking: we beat southward all that first day.

■ n. 1 a main accent or rhythmic unit in music or poetry: the glissando begins on the second beat.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a strong rhythm in popular music: the music changed to a funky disco beat.

- [in sing] a regular, rhythmic sound or movement: the beat of the wipers became almost hypnotic.

- the sound made when something, typically a musical instrument, is struck: he heard a regular drumbeat.

- a pulsation of the heart.

- a periodic variation of sound or amplitude due to the combination of two sounds, electrical signals, or other vibrations having similar but not identical frequencies.

- the movement of a bird's wings.

2 an area allocated to a police officer to patrol: a patrolman who strived to make his beat a safe one; public clamor for more police officers on the beat.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a spell of duty allocated to a police officer: her beat ended at 6 a.m.

- an area regularly frequented by someone, typically a prostitute.

- FIGURATIVE a person's area of interest: his beat is construction, property, and hotels.

- an area regularly occupied by a shoal of freshwater fish.

3 a brief pause or moment of hesitation, typically one lasting a specified length: she waited for a beat of three seconds. <ORIGIN> as a stage direction.

4 INFORMAL short for BEATNIK.

■ adj. 1 [predic.] INFORMAL completely exhausted: I'm dead beat.

2 [attrib.] of or relating to the beat generation or its philosophy: beat poet Allen Ginsberg.

<PHRASES>
□ beat all be amazing or impressive: well, that beats all.

□ beat around (or beat about) the bush discuss a matter without coming to the point.

□ beat someone at their own game see GAME^1 .

□ beat someone's brains out see BRAIN.

□ beat one's breast see BREAST.

□ beat the bushes INFORMAL search thoroughly: I was out beating the bushes for investors to split the risk.

□ beat the clock perform a task quickly or within a fixed time limit.

□ beat a dead horse waste energy on a lost cause or unalterable situation.

□ beat the drum for see DRUM^1 .

□ beat the hell out of INFORMAL
1 beat (someone) very severely.

2 surpass or defeat easily.

□ beat the living daylights out of see DAYLIGHT (sense 2).

□ beat the pants off INFORMAL prove to be vastly superior to.

□ beat a path to someone's door (of a large number of people) hasten to make contact with someone regarded as interesting or inspiring, or in association with whom one stands to profit.

□ beat a (hasty) retreat withdraw, typically in order to avoid something unpleasant: as the bombs started to go off, they beat a hasty retreat across the field.

□ beat the shit out of VULGAR SLANG beat (someone) very severely.

□ beat the system succeed in finding a means of getting around rules, regulations, or other means of control.

□ beat time indicate or follow a musical tempo with a baton or other means.

□ beat someone to it succeed in doing something or getting somewhere before someone else, to their annoyance.

□ miss a beat see MISS^1 .

□ to beat all s that is infinitely better than all the things mentioned: a PC screen saver to beat all screen savers.

□ to beat the band INFORMAL in such a way as to surpass all competition: they were talking to beat the band.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  beat someone back (usu. be beaten back) force (someone attempting to do something) to retreat: I tried to get in but was beaten back by the flames.

□  beat down (of the sun) radiate intense heat and brightness.
- (of rain) fall hard and continuously.

□  beat something down quell defense or resistance.

□  beat someone down force someone to reduce the price of something.

□  beat one’s meat VULGAR SLANG (of a man) masturbate.

□  beat off VULGAR SLANG (of a man) masturbate.

□  beat someone/something off succeed in resisting an attacker or an attack.
- win against a challenge or rival.

□  beat something out 1 produce a loud, rhythmic sound by striking something: he beat out a rhythm on the drums.

2 extinguish flames by striking at them with a suitable object.

□  beat someone up 1 assault and severely injure someone by hitting, kicking, or punching them repeatedly.

2 abuse someone verbally.

□  beat up on another way of saying BEAT SOMEONE UP.

<DERIVATIVES> beat·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin.

Linked entries:

BEATNIK ■

GAME ■

BRAIN ■

BREAST ■

DRUM ■

DAYLIGHT ■

MISS ■

beat·box n. INFORMAL a drum machine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a radio or radio cassette player used to play loud music, esp. rap.

beat·en past participle of BEAT.

■ adj. 1 having been defeated: I knew when I was beaten.
<SPECIAL USAGE> exhausted and dejected: he sat feeling old and beaten.

2 having been beaten or struck: he trudged home like a beaten dog.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of food) whipped to a uniform consistency: beaten eggs.

- (of metal) shaped by hammering, typically so as to give the surface a dimpled texture.

- (of precious metal) hammered to form thin foil for ornamental use.

3 (of a path) well trodden; much used.

<PHRASES> off the beaten track (or path) in or into an isolated place.
- unusual: [as adj.] off-the-beaten-track experiences.

Linked entries:

BEAT ■

beat·er n. 1 a person who hits someone or something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person employed to flush out or drive game animals for shooting by striking at the ground cover.

- a person who beats metal in manufacturing.

- [in combination] a person who habitually hits someone: a wife-beater.

2 [often with adj.] an implement or machine used for beating something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in cooking) a device for whisking or blending ingredients.

- an implement used to dislodge dirt from rugs and carpets by hitting them.

- a vacuum-cleaner attachment for rugs and carpets.

- a stick for beating a drum.

3 [in combination] INFORMAL a means of defeating or preventing something: a recession-beater.

4 INFORMAL a dilapidated but serviceable car: If you provide the kids with a car, give them an old beater.

bea·ter bar n. the rotating-brush unit within the powerhead of a vacuum cleaner.

beat fre·quen·cy n. [PHYSICS] the number of beats per second, equal to the difference in the frequencies of two interacting tones or oscillations.

beat gen·er·a·tion a movement of young people in the 1950s who rejected conventional society and favored Zen Buddhism, modern jazz, free sexuality, and recreational drugs. Among writers associated with the movement were Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.

be·a·tif·ic adj. blissfully happy: a beatific smile.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY] imparting holy bliss.

<DERIVATIVES> be·a·tif·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French béatifique or Latin beatificus, from beatus 'blessed'.

be·at·i·fi·ca·tion n. (in the Roman Catholic Church) declaration by the pope that a dead person is in a state of bliss, constituting a step toward canonization and permitting public veneration.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (in the sense 'action of making blessed'): from Old French, or from ecclesiastical Latin beatificatio(n-), from beatificare 'make blessed', from Latin beatus 'blessed'.

be·at·i·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] (in the Roman Catholic Church) announce the beatification of.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make (someone) blissfully happy.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'make blessed or supremely happy'): from Old French beatifier or ecclesiastical Latin beatificare, from Latin beatus 'blessed'.

beat·ing n. 1 a punishment or assault in which the victim is hit repeatedly: if he got dirt on his clothes, he'd get a beating | torture methods included beating.

2 pulsation or throbbing, typically of the heart.

3 a defeat in a competitive situation.

<PHRASES> take a beating INFORMAL suffer damage or hurt.

be·at·i·tude n. supreme blessedness.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the Beatitudes) the blessings listed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3-11).

- (his/your Beatitude) a title given to patriarchs in the Orthodox Church.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French beatitude or Latin beatitudo, from beatus 'blessed'.

beat·nik n. a young person in the 1950s and early 1960s belonging to a subculture associated with the beat generation.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from BEAT + -nik on the pattern of sputnik, perhaps influenced by U.S. use of Yiddish -nik, denoting someone or something who acts in a particular way.

Linked entries:

BEAT ■

Bea·ton Sir Cecil (Walter Hardy) (1904-80), English photographer. He is noted for his fashion features and portraits of celebrities.

Be·a·trix (1938-), queen of the Netherlands (1980- ); full name Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard.

Beat·tie Ann (1947-), U.S. author. Her works include the novels Chilly Scenes of Winter (1976), Picturing Will (1989), and Another You (1995) and the short-story collection Park City (1998).

Beat·ty Warren (1937- ), U.S. actor, director, and screenwriter; born Henry Warren Beaty; the brother of actress Shirley MacLaine. He produced Bonnie and Clyde (1967), wrote and producted Shampoo (1975), codirected Heaven Can Wait (1978), and was producer, cowriter, and Academy Award-winning director of Reds (1981). He starred in them all. Beatty’s later movies include Dick Tracy (1990) and Love Affair (1994).

beat-up adj. [attrib.] INFORMAL (of a thing) worn out by overuse; in a state of disrepair.

Bea·ty 1 Henry Warren, see BEATTY.

Linked entries:

BEATTY ■

Bea·ty 2 Shirley MacLean, see MACLAINE.

Linked entries:

MACLAINE ■

beau n. (pl. beaux or beaus) DATED 1 a boyfriend or male admirer.

2 a rich, fashionable young man; a dandy.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (sense 2): from French, literally 'handsome', from Latin bellus.

beau·coup n. INFORMAL an abundance; a large quantity.

■ adj. many; much: you can spend beaucoup bucks on software.

■ adv. in abundance.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French, literally 'fine stroke'; seeBEAU and COUP.

Beau·fort scale a scale of wind speed based on a visual estimation of the wind's effects, ranging from force 0 (less than 1 knot or 1 kph, “calm”) to force 12 (64 knots or 118 kph and above, “hurricane”).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Sir Francis Beaufort (1774-1857), the English admiral and naval hydrographer who devised it.

Beau·fort Sea a part of the Arctic Ocean that lies to the north of Alaska and Canada.

<ORIGIN> named after Sir Francis Beaufort (see BEAUFORT SCALE).

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BEAUFORT SCALE ■

beau geste n. (pl. beaux gestes pronunc. same) a noble and generous act.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally 'splendid gesture'.

beau i·dé·al n. a person or thing representing the highest possible standard of excellence in a particular respect.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, literally 'ideal beauty'.

Beau·jo·lais n. a light red or (less commonly) white burgundy wine produced in the Beaujolais district of southeastern France.

Beau·jo·lais Nou·veau n. a Beaujolais wine sold in the first year of a vintage.

<ORIGIN> from BEAUJOLAIS + French nouveau 'new'.

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BEAUJOLAIS ■

Beau·mar·chais Pierre Augustin Caron de (1732-99), French playwright. He is chiefly remembered for his comedies The Barber of Seville (1775) and The Marriage of Figaro (1784)

beau monde n. (the beau monde) fashionable society.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: French, literally 'fine world'.

Beau·mont 1 an industrial port in southeastern Texas, on the Neches River, a center of the oil industry; pop. 114,323.

Beau·mont 2 Francis (1584-1616), English playwright. He collaborated with John Fletcher on Philaster (1609), The Maid's Tragedy (1610-11), and many other plays. The Knight of the Burning Pestle (c.1607) is attributed to Beaumont alone.

Beaune n. a red burgundy wine from the region around Beaune in eastern France.

Beau·re·gard Pierre Gustave Toutant (1818-93), U.S. army officer. He served as superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point; as the Civil War was about to begin in 1861, he resigned to join the Confederate army with the rank of brigadier general.

beaut INFORMAL, n. a particularly fine example of something: the idea was a beaut.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a beautiful person.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: abbreviation of BEAUTY or BEAUTIFUL.

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BEAUTY ■

BEAUTIFUL ■

beau·te·ous adj. POETIC/LITERARY beautiful: his beauteous bride.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from BEAUTY, on the pattern of bounteous and plenteous.

Linked entries:

BEAUTY ■

beau·ti·cian n. a person whose job is to do hair styling, manicures, and other beauty treatments.

beau·ti·ful adj. pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically: beautiful poetry; a beautiful young woman; the mountains were calm and beautiful.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of a very high standard; excellent: the house had been left in beautiful order; she spoke in beautiful English.

<PHRASES>
□ the beautiful people
1 fashionable, glamorous, and privileged people.

2 (in the 1960s) hippies.

□ the body beautiful an ideal of physical beauty:

<DERIVATIVES> beau·ti·ful·ly adv. [as adj.] the rules are beautifully simple.

beau·ti·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] improve the appearance of.

<DERIVATIVES> beau·ti·fi·ca·tion n. beau·ti·fi·er n.

beau·ty n. (pl. -ties) 1 a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, esp. the sight: I was struck by her beauty; an area of outstanding natural beauty.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a combination of qualities that pleases the intellect or moral sense.

- [as adj.] denoting something intended to make a woman more attractive: beauty products; beauty treatment.

2 a beautiful or pleasing thing or person, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a beautiful woman.

- an excellent specimen or example of something: the fish was a beauty, around 14 pounds.

- (the beauties of) the pleasing or attractive features of something: the beauties of the Pennsylvania mountains.

- [in sing.] the best feature or advantage of something: the beauty of keeping cats is that they don't tie you down.

<PHRASES>
□ beauty is in the eye of the beholder PROVERB beauty cannot be judged objectively, for what one person finds beautiful or admirable may not appeal to another.

□ beauty is only skin-deep PROVERB a pleasing appearance is not a guide to character.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French beaute, based on Latin bellus 'beautiful, fine'.

beau·ty bush (also beau·ty·bush) n. a deciduous Chinese shrub of the honeysuckle family, with clusters of yellow-throated pink tubular flowers, widely cultivated as an ornamental.
<INFO>  Kolkwitzia amabilis, family Caprifoliaceae.

beau·ty con·test n. a competition for a prize given to the woman judged the most beautiful.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a contest between rival institutions or political candidates that depends heavily on presentation.

beau·ty mark n. another term for BEAUTY SPOT (sense 2).

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BEAUTY SPOT ■

beau·ty pag·eant n. see PAGEANT.

beau·ty par·lor (also beauty salon or beauty shop) n. an establishment in which hairdressing, makeup, and similar cosmetic treatments are carried out professionally.

beau·ty queen n. a woman judged most beautiful in a beauty contest.

beau·ty sleep n. HUMOROUS sleep considered to be sufficient to keep one looking young and beautiful.

beau·ty spot n. 1 a place known for its beautiful scenery.

2 a small natural or artificial mark such as a mole on a woman's face, considered to enhance another feature.

Beau·voir , Simone de, see DE BEAUVOIR.

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DE BEAUVOIR ■

beaux plural form of BEAU.

Linked entries:

BEAU ■

beaux arts plural n. 1 fine arts.

2 (usu. Beaux Arts) [as adj.] relating to the classical decorative style maintained by the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, esp. in the 19th century.

<ORIGIN> from French beaux-arts.

bea·ver 1 n. (pl. same or -vers) a large semiaquatic broad-tailed rodent that is native to North America and northern Eurasia. It is noted for its habit of gnawing through tree trunks to fell the trees in order to feed on the bark and build dams.
<INFO>  Family Castoridae and genus Castor: the North American C. canadensis and the Eurasian C. fiber.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the soft light brown fur of the beaver.

- (also beaver hat) CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a hat made of felted beaver fur.

- (also beaver cloth) a heavy woolen cloth resembling felted beaver fur.

- FIGURATIVE a very hardworking person.

■ v. [intrans.] INFORMAL work hard: Bridget beavered away to keep things running smoothly.

<ORIGIN> Old English beofor, befor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bever and German Biber, from an Indo-European root meaning 'brown'.

bea·ver 2 n. the lower part of the face guard of a helmet in a suit of armor. The term is also used to refer to the upper part or visor, or to a single movable guard.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French baviere 'bib', from baver 'to drool'.

bea·ver 3 n. VULGAR SLANG a woman's genitals or pubic area.
<SPECIAL USAGE> OFFENSIVE a woman.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.

bea·ver·board n. a kind of fiberboard used in building.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from BEAVER^1 + BOARD.

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BEAVER ■

BOARD ■

Bea·ver State a nickname for the state of OREGON.

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OREGON ■

Bea·ver·ton a city in northwestern Oregon, west of Portland, noted for its electronics industry; pop. 76,129.

be·bop n. a type of jazz originating in the 1940s and characterized by complex harmony and rhythms. It is associated particularly with Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Dizzy Gillespie.

<DERIVATIVES> be·bop·per n.

<ORIGIN> 1940s (originally U.S.): imitative of the typical rhythm of this music.

be·calm v. [trans.] (usu. be becalmed) leave (a sailing vessel) unable to move through lack of wind.

be·came past participle of BECOME.

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BECOME ■

be·cause conj. for the reason that; since: we did it because we felt it our duty; just because I'm inexperienced doesn't mean that I lack perception.

<PHRASES> because of on account of; by reason of: they moved here because of the baby.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from the phrase by cause, influenced by Old French par cause de 'by reason of'.

<USAGE>
1 When because follows a negative construction, the meaning can be ambiguous. In the sentence he did not go because he was ill, for example, it is not clear whether it means either ‘the reason he did not go was that he was ill’ or ‘being ill was not the reason for his goingthere was another reason.’ Some usage guides recommend using a comma when the first interpretation is intended ( he did not go, because he was ill) and no comma where the second interpretation is intended, but in general it is probably safest to try to avoid such constructions altogether.

2 As with other conjunctions such as but and and, it is still widely believed and taught that it is incorrect to begin a sentence with because. It has, however, long been used in this way in both written and spoken English (typically for rhetorical effect), and it is quite correcthowever, the sentence-opening because should be used sparingly. See also usage at AND.

3 On the construction the reasonis because, see usage at REASON.

4 On the use of since in the sense of because, see usage at SINCE.

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AND ■

REASON ■

SINCE ■

bec·ca·fi·co n. a European songbird, esp. a warbler, eaten as a delicacy.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

bé·cha·mel (also béchamel sauce) n. a rich white sauce made with milk infused with herbs and other flavorings.

<ORIGIN> named after the Marquis Louis de Béchamel (died 1703), steward to Louis XIV of France, who is said to have invented a similar sauce.

be·chance v. ARCHAIC happen; befall.

bêche-de-mer n. (pl. same or bêches-de-mer pronunc. same) 1 a large sea cucumber that is eaten as a delicacy in China and Japan. Also called TREPANG.

2 variant spelling of BEACH-LA-MAR.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: pseudo-French, alteration of Portuguese bicho do mar, literally 'sea worm'.

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TREPANG ■

BEACH-LA-MAR ■

Bech·stein n. a piano made by the German piano-builder Friedrich Wilhelm Carl Bechstein (1826-1900) or by the firm that he founded in 1856.

beck 1 n. CHIEFLY BRIT. a mountain stream.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse bekkr, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beek and German Bach. Used as the common term for a brook in the northern areas of England, beck often refers, in literature, to a brook with a stony bed or following a rugged course, typical of such areas.

beck 2 n. POETIC/LITERARY a gesture requesting attention, such as a nod or wave.

<PHRASES> at someone's beck and call always having to be ready to obey someone's orders immediately.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from archaic beck, abbreviated form of BECKON.

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BECKON ■

Beck·er Boris (1967- ), German tennis player. He won the men’s singles championship at Wimbledon 1985, 1986, 1989 , at the U.S. Open 1989, and at the Australian Open 1991.

Beck·et, St. Tho·mas à (c.1118-70), English prelate and statesman, archbishop of Canterbury 1162-70. He was assassinated when he opposed Henry II. Feast day, December 29.

beck·et n. a loop of rope or similar device for securing loose items on a ship.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

Beck·ett Samuel (Barclay) (1906-89), Irish playwright, novelist, and poet. He is well known for Waiting for Godot (1952), a seminal work in the Theater of the Absurd. Nobel Prize for Literature (1969).

Beck·mann 1 Ernst Otto (1853-1923), German chemist. He devised a method for determining a compound's molecular weight by measuring the rise in boiling point of a solvent containing the compound.

Beck·mann 2 Max (1884-1950), German painter and graphic artist. His paintings reflect his first-hand experience of human evil during World War I.

beck·on v. [intrans.] make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage someone to come nearer or follow: Miranda beckoned to Adam.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] attract the attention of and summon (someone) in this way: he beckoned Christopher over | [trans.] he beckoned Duncan to follow.

- FIGURATIVE seem to be appealing or inviting: the going is tough, and soft options beckon.

<ORIGIN> Old English , ; related to BEACON.

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BEACON ■

be·cloud v. [trans.] cause to become obscure or muddled: self-interest beclouds the issue.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (usu. be beclouded) cover or surround with clouds.

be·come v. (past -came; past part. -come) 1 [intrans.] begin to be: they became angry; it is becoming clear that we are in a totally new situation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- grow to be; turn into: the child will become an adult.

- (of a person) qualify or be accepted as; acquire the status of: she wanted to become a doctor.

- (become of) (in questions) happen to: what would become of her now?

2 [trans.] (of clothing) look good on or suit (someone): the dress becomes her.
<SPECIAL USAGE> be appropriate or suitable to (someone): minor celebrity status did not become him.

<ORIGIN> Old English becuman 'come to a place, come (to be or do something)' (see BE-, COME), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bekomen and German bekommen 'get, receive'.

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BE- ■

COME ■

be·com·ing adj. (esp. of clothing) flattering a person's appearance: what a becoming dress!; New beret? It's very becoming.
<SPECIAL USAGE> decorous: a becoming modesty.

■ n. [PHILOSOPHY] the process of coming to be something or of passing into a state.

<DERIVATIVES> be·com·ing·ly adj.

Bec·que·rel Antoine-Henri (1852-1908), French physicist. With Marie and Pierre Curie he discovered the natural radioactivity in uranium salts. Nobel Prize for Physics (1903, shared with the Curies).

bec·que·rel (abbr.: Bq) n. [PHYSICS] the SI unit of radioactivity, corresponding to one disintegration per second.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after A. H. BECQUEREL.

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BECQUEREL ■

BEd abbr. Bachelor of Education.

bed n. 1 a piece of furniture for sleep or rest, typically a framework with a mattress and coverings: a large double bed; she was in bed by nine; getting out of bed is a real struggle.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a place or article used by a person or animal for sleep or rest: a bed of straw.

- the time for sleeping: it was time for bed.

- a bed and associated facilities making up a place for a patient in a hospital or for a guest at a hotel: a round of hospital staff layoffs and bed closings; few can afford a bed in a hotel.

- INFORMAL used with reference to a bed as the typical place for sexual activity: some men care very little about pleasing their partners in bed; she'd gone to bed with Tony willingly.

2 an area of ground, typically in a garden, where flowers and plants are grown: a bed of tulips; vegetable beds.

3 a flat base or foundation on which something rests or is supported, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the foundation of a road or railroad.

- the open part of a truck, wagon, or railroad car, where goods are carried.

- the flat surface beneath the baize of a billiard table.

4 a layer or pile of something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a layer of food on which other foods are served: the salad is served on a bed of raw spinach.

- a layer of rock or other geological material: a bed of clay.

- any mass or pile resembling a bed: pots steaming on the fragrant bed of coals; a dog knocked the girl into a bed of ants.

5 the bottom of the sea or a lake or river: a riverbed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with modifer] a place on the seabed where shellfish, esp. oysters or mussels, breed or are bred: mussel beds.

■ v. (bed·ded, bed·ding ) 1 [intrans.] settle down to sleep or rest for the night, typically in an improvised place: he usually bedded down on newspapers in the church porch.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (bed someone/something down) settle a person or animal down to sleep or rest for the night.

- INFORMAL have sexual intercourse with: he should bed a woman his own age.

2 transfer (a plant) from a pot or seed tray to a garden plot: I bedded out these houseplants.

3 (usu. be bedded in/on) fix firmly; embed: the posts should be firmly bedded in concrete.
<SPECIAL USAGE> lay or arrange (something, esp. stone) in a layer.

<PHRASES>
□ bed of nails a board with nails pointing out of it, as lain on by fakirs and ascetics.
- FIGURATIVE a problematic or uncomfortable situation.

□ bed of roses [often with negative] used in reference to a situation or activity that is comfortable or easy: farming is no bed of roses.

□ be brought to bed ARCHAIC (of a woman) give birth to a child: she was brought to bed of a daughter.

□ get up on the wrong side of the bed start the day in a bad temper.

□ in bed with INFORMAL having sexual intercourse with: he found his wife in bed with one of the neighbors.
- FIGURATIVE in undesirably close association with: these meetings with politicians put the gay movement in bed with the dreaded Establishment.

□ make a bed fit a bed with sheets, blankets, and pillows.

□ put someone to bed take or prepare someone, typically a child, for rest in bed: Clare put her to bed and gave her a mug of cocoa.

□ put a newspaper to bed INFORMAL prepare a newspaper for press.

□ take to one's bed stay in bed because of illness.

<ORIGIN> Old English bed, bedd (noun), beddian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bed and German Bett.

be·dab·ble v. [trans.] (usu. be bedabbled) ARCHAIC stain or splash with dirty liquid or blood: idols of gold bedabbled all with blood.

be·dad exclam. IRISH used to express surprise or for emphasis.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: alteration of by God; compare with BEGAD and GAD^2 .

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BEGAD ■

GAD ■

bed and break·fast (also bed-and-break·fast; abbr.:b. & b.) n. sleeping accommodations for a night and a morning meal, provided in guest houses and small hotels.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a guest house or small hotel offering such accommodations.

be·daub v. [trans.] (usu. be bedaubed) POETIC/LITERARY smear or daub with a sticky substance: a dozen maidens, all bedaubed with paint.

be·daz·zle v. [trans.] (often be bedazzled) greatly impress (someone) with brilliance or skill: bedazzled by him, they offered him a job in Paris.
<SPECIAL USAGE> cleverly outwit.

<DERIVATIVES> be·daz·zle·ment n.

bed-block·ing n. BRIT. the long-term occupation of hospital beds, chiefly by the elderly, due to a shortage of suitable care elsewhere.

bed·bug n. a bloodsucking bug that is a parasite of birds and mammals.
<INFO>  Family Cimicidae, suborder Heteroptera: Cimex and other genera, and many species, in particular the chiefly nocturnal C. lectularius, which feeds mainly on humans, hiding in crevices or among clothing during the day.

bed·cham·ber n. ARCHAIC a bedroom.

bed·clothes plural n. coverings for a bed, such as sheets and blankets.

bed·cov·er n. a bedspread.

bed·da·ble adj. INFORMAL sexually attractive or available.

bed·ded adj. [GEOLOGY] (of rock) deposited in layers or strata, esp. in a way specified: thinly bedded carbonate mudstones.

bed·der n. a plant suitable for use as a bedding plant.

bed·ding n. 1 coverings for a bed, such as sheets and blankets.
<SPECIAL USAGE> straw or similar material for animals to sleep on.

2 a base or bottom layer: [as adj.] a bedding course of sand.

3 a display of bedding plants.

4 [GEOLOGY] the stratification or layering of rocks or other geological materials: [as adj.] a bedding plane.

bed·ding plant n. a plant set into a garden bed or container when it is about to bloom, usually an annual used for display and discarded at the end of the season.

bed·dy-bye n. INFORMAL a baby-talk word for bed or bedtime: it was time for beddy-bye [as adj.] we got our beddy-bye kisses and trundled up the stairs.

<PHRASES> go beddy-bye go to bed: for the last ten miles, all I could think about was getting home and going beddy-bye.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from BED + -Y^2 and BYE-BYE.

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BED ■

-Y ■

BYE-BYE ■

Bede, St. (c.673-735), English monk, theologian, and historian; known as the Venerable Bede. He wrote The Ecclesiastical History of the English People (written in Latin and completed in 731), a primary source for early English history. Feast day, May 27.

be·deck v. [trans.] (often be bedecked) decorate: he led us into a room bedecked with tinsel.

bed·e·guar (also bedeguar gall) another term for MOSSY ROSE GALL.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French bédégar, from Persian , literally 'wind-brought'.

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MOSSY ROSE GALL ■

be·dev·il v. (-dev·iled, -dev·il·ing; also CHIEFLY BRIT. -dev·illed, -dev·il·ling) [trans.] (of something bad) cause great and continual trouble to: inconsistencies that bedevil modern English spelling.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) torment or harass: he bedeviled them with petty practical jokes.

<DERIVATIVES> be·dev·il·ment n.

be·dew v. [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY cover or sprinkle with drops of water or other liquid.

bed·fel·low n. a person who shares a bed with another.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a person or thing allied or closely connected with another: the treaty will make strange bedfellows of a number of enemies.

Bed·ford a city in northeastern Texas, northeast of Fort Worth; pop. 43,762.

Bed·ford cord n. a tough woven fabric having prominent ridges, similar to corduroy.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after the town of Bedford, England.

Bed·ford-Stuy·ve·sant a residential and commercial section of northern Brooklyn in New York City, home to one of the largest U.S. black communities.

bed head n. INFORMAL a casual hairstyle resulting from failure to comb or arrange the hair after sleep.

bed-hop v. [intrans.] INFORMAL engage in successive casual sexual affairs: [as n.] (bed-hopping) a life of bed-hopping.

<DERIVATIVES> bed-hop·per n.

be·dight adj. ARCHAIC adorned: a Christmas pudding bedight with holly.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: past participle of archaic bedight 'equip, array' (see BE-, DIGHT).

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BE- ■

DIGHT ■

be·dim v. (-dimmed, -dim·ming) [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY cause to become dim: a slight cloud would bedim the sky.

be·di·zened adj. POETIC/LITERARY dressed up or decorated gaudily: a dress bedizened with resplendent military medals.

<DERIVATIVES> be·di·zen v.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from BE- (as an intensifier) + obsolete dizen 'deck out', probably of Dutch origin.

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BE- ■

bed·lam n. 1 a scene of uproar and confusion: there was bedlam in the courtroom.

2 HISTORICAL (Bedlam) a former insane asylum in London.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC used allusively to refer to any insane asylum.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: early form of BETHLEHEM, referring to the hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem in London, used as an asylum for the insane.

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BETHLEHEM ■

bed lin·en n. sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers.

Bed·ling·ton ter·ri·er n. a terrier of a breed with a narrow head, long legs, and curly hair.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after the village of Bedlington in northern England, where the breed originated.

bed·mate n. a person with whom a bed is shared, esp. a sexual partner.

Bed·ou·in (also Bed·u·in) n. (pl. same) a nomadic Arab of the desert.

■ adj. of or relating to the Bedouin.

<ORIGIN> from Old French beduin, based on Arabic , (plural) 'dwellers in the desert', from badw 'desert'.

bed·pan n. a receptacle used by a bedridden patient as a toilet.

bed·plate n. a metal plate forming the base of a machine.

bed·post n. any of the four upright supports of a bedstead.

<PHRASES> between you and me and the bedpost (or the gatepost or the wall) INFORMAL in strict confidence.

be·drag·gled adj. dirty and disheveled: bedraggled refugees; we got there, tired and bedraggled.

<DERIVATIVES> be·drag·gle v.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from BE- 'thoroughly' + DRAGGLE + -ED^2 .

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BE- ■

DRAGGLE ■

-ED ■

bed·rail n. a rail along the side of a bed connecting the headboard to the footboard.

bed rest n. confinement of an invalid to bed as part of treatment.

bed·rid·den adj. confined to bed by sickness or old age.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: formed irregularly from archaic bedrid 'bedridden person', from the base of the verb RIDE.

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bed·rock n. solid rock underlying loose deposits such as soil or alluvium.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE the fundamental principles on which something is based: honesty is the bedrock of a good relationship.

bed·roll n. a sleeping bag or other bedding rolled into a bundle.

bed·room (abbr.: bdrm.) n. a room for sleeping in: [in combination] a three-bedroom house.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [as adj.] relating to sexual relations: bedroom secrets.

- [as adj.] denoting a small town or suburb whose residents travel to work in a nearby city: a bedroom community.

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

<PHRASES> bedside manner a doctor's approach or attitude toward a patient.

bed·sit (also bed·sit·ter or bed-sit·ting room) n. BRIT., INFORMAL a one-room apartment typically consisting of a combined bedroom and sitting room with cooking facilities.

bed·skirt n. a decorative drapery attached to the frame of a bed; a dust ruffle.

bed·sore n. a sore developed by an invalid because of pressure caused by lying in bed in one position. Also called DECUBITUS ULCER.

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DECUBITUS ULCER ■

bed·spread n. a decorative cloth used to cover a bed.

bed·stead n. the framework of a bed on which the bedsprings and mattress are placed.

bed·straw n. a herbaceous plant with small, lightly perfumed, white or yellow flowers and whorls of slender leaves. It was formerly used for stuffing mattresses.
<INFO>  Genus Galium, family Rubiaceae: several species, including yellow bedstraw (G. verum).

bed·time n. [in sing.] the usual time when someone goes to bed: it was well past her bedtime | [as adj.] a bedtime story.

Bed·u·in n. & adj. variant spelling of BEDOUIN.

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BEDOUIN ■

bed warm·er (also bed·warm·er) n. HISTORICAL a device for warming a bed, typically a metal pan filled with warm coals.

bed-wet·ting n. involuntary urination during sleep.

<DERIVATIVES> bed-wet·ter n.

bee n. 1 a honeybee.

2 an insect of a large group to which the honeybee belongs, including many solitary as well as social kinds.
<INFO>  Superfamily Apoidea, order Hymenoptera: several families, often now placed in the single family Apidae.

3 [with adj.] a meeting for communal work or amusement: a quilting bee.

<PHRASES>
□ have a bee in one's bonnet INFORMAL be preoccupied or obsessed about something, esp. a scheme or plan of action:

□ the bee's knees INFORMAL an outstandingly good person or thing. <ORIGIN> first used to denote something small and insignificant, transferred to the opposite sense in U.S. slang.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bij and German dialect Beie.

bee balm n. another term for BERGAMOT (sense 3).

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BERGAMOT ■

bee·bread (also bee bread) n. honey or pollen used as food by bees.

beech n. (also beech tree) a large tree with smooth gray bark, glossy leaves, and hard, pale, fine-grained timber. Its fruit, the beechnut, is an important food for numerous wild birds and mammals.
<INFO>  Genera Fagus (of the north temperate zone) and Notofagus (the southern beeches, of Australasia and South America), family Fagaceae: many species, esp. the common American beech (F. grandifolia) and the European beech (F. sylvatica).

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to BOOK and to Latin fagus 'beech', Greek phagos 'edible oak'.

Bee·cham Sir Thomas (1879-1961), English conductor and impresario. He founded the London Philharmonic 1932 and the Royal Philharmonic 1947.

beech·drops n. a broomrape that is parasitic on the roots of beech trees. Unlike most broomrapes, it has branching stems.
<INFO>  Epifagus virginiana, family Orobanchaceae.

Bee·cher 1 Catharine Esther (1800-78), U.S. educator. She promoted educational rights for women and founded the American Women's Education Assocation in 1852. She was the sister of Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Bee·cher 2 Henry Ward (1813-87), U.S. clergyman, orator, and writer. Ordained as a Congregationalist in 1837, he became famous as an orator who attacked political corruption and slavery. He was the brother of Catharine Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

beech fern n. a fern with triangular, deeply lobed fronds. Native to eastern North America, it favors moist woodland habitats and streamsides.
<INFO>  Genus Thelypteris, family Polypodiaceae: two species, the broad beech fern (T. hexagonptera) and the long beech fern (also narrow beech fern or northern beech fern) (T. phegopteris).

beech mar·ten n. another term for STONE MARTEN.

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STONE MARTEN ■

beech·mast n. (collectively, esp. when on the ground) beechnuts.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from BEECH + MAST^2 .

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BEECH ■

MAST ■

beech·nut n. the small triangular brown fruit of the beech tree, pairs of which are enclosed in a prickly case; see BEECHMAST.

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BEECHMAST ■

bee dance n. a series of movements performed in the hive by worker honeybees to inform the colony of the direction and distance to a food source.

bee·di n. (pl. bee·dis) variant spelling of BIDI.

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BIDI ■

bee-eat·er n. a brightly colored insectivorous bird with a large head and a long down-curved bill, and typically with long central tail feathers.
<INFO>  Family Meropidae: three genera, in particular Merops, and including the European bee-eater (M. apiaster).

beef n. 1 the flesh of a cow, bull, or ox, used as food.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (pl. beeves ) [FARMING] a cow, bull, or ox fattened for its meat.

- INFORMAL flesh or muscle, typically when well developed: he needs a little more beef on his bones.

- INFORMAL strength or power: he's been brought in to give the team more beef.

2 (pl. beefs) INFORMAL a complaint or grievance: he has a beef with American education: it doesn't teach the basics of investing.

3 INFORMAL a criminal charge: a drunk-driving beef.

■ v. [intrans.] INFORMAL complain: he was beefing about how the recession was killing the business.

<PHRASAL VERB> beef something up INFORMAL give more substance or strength to something: cost-cutting measures are planned to beef up performance.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French boef, from Latin bos, bov- 'ox'.

beef·a·lo n. (pl. same or -loes) a hybrid animal, a cross between cattle and buffalo.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: blend of BEEF and BUFFALO.

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BEEF ■

BUFFALO ■

beef bour·gui·gnon n. variant spelling of BOEUF BOURGIGNON.

beef·cake n. INFORMAL an attractive man with well-developed muscles.

beef·eat·er n. a Yeoman Warder or Yeoman of the Guard in the Tower of London.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (originally a derogatory term for a well-fed servant): the current sense dates from the late 17th cent.

bee fly n. a squat, hairy, beelike fly that hovers to feed from flowers using its long tongue. Its larvae usually parasitize other insects, esp. bees and wasps.
<INFO>  Bombyllidae

beef·steak n. a thick slice of lean beef, typically from the rump and eaten grilled, broiled, or fried.

beef·steak fun·gus (also beefsteak mushroom) n. an edible reddish-brown bracket fungus that resembles raw beef. Native to both Eurasia and North America, it usually grows on oak or sweet chestnut trees.
<INFO>  Fistulina hepatica, family Fistulinaceae, class Hymenomycetes.

beef·steak to·ma·to n. a tomato of an exceptionally large and firm variety.

beef tea n. CHIEFLY BRIT. a drink made from stewed extract of beef used as nourishment for invalids.

beef Wel·ling·ton n. a dish of beef, typically coated in pâté de foie gras, wrapped in puff pastry, and baked.

beef·wood n. a tropical hardwood tree with close-grained red timber.
<INFO>  Species in several families, in particular Casuarina equisetifolia (family Casuarinaceae), native to Australia and Southeast Asia.

beef·y adj. (beef·i·er, beef·i·est) 1 INFORMAL muscular or robust: he shrugged his beefy shoulders.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [attrib.] large and impressively powerful: beefy skis.

2 tasting like beef.

<DERIVATIVES> beef·i·ly adv. beef·i·ness n.

bee·hive n. 1 a structure in which bees are kept, typically in the form of a dome or box.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [usu. as adj.] something having the domed shape of a traditional wicker beehive: beehive huts; beehive ovens.

- a busy, crowded place: the church became a beehive of activity.

- (the Beehive or the Beehive cluster) another term for PRAESEPE.

2 a woman's domed and lacquered hairstyle, esp. popular in the 1960s.

<DERIVATIVES> bee·hived adj. (in sense 2).

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PRAESEPE ■

Bee·hive State a nickname for the state of UTAH.

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UTAH ■

bee·keep·ing n. the occupation of owning and breeding bees for their honey.

<DERIVATIVES> bee·keep·er n.

bee·line n. a straight line between two places.

<PHRASES> make a beeline for hurry directly to.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: with reference to the straight line supposedly taken instinctively by a bee when returning to the hive.

Be·el·ze·bub a name for the Devil.

<ORIGIN> from late Latin Beëlzebub, translating Hebrew 'lord of flies', the name of a Philistine god (2 Kings 1:2), and Greek Beelzeboul 'the Devil' (Matt. 12:24).

Bee·mer (also Bea·mer) n. INFORMAL a car or motorcycle manufactured by the company BMW.

<ORIGIN> 1980s (originally U.S.): representing a pronunciation of the first two letters of BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG) + -er.

been past participle of BE.

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BE ■

Beene Geoffrey (1927-2004), U.S. fashion designer.

beep n. a short, high-pitched sound emitted by electronic equipment or a vehicle horn.

■ v. [intrans.] (of a horn or electronic device) produce such a sound: radio receivers squawked and beeped.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] summon (someone) by means of a pager: they have themselves beeped in restaurants.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: imitative.

beep·er n. another term for PAGER.

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PAGER ■

beer n. an alcoholic drink made from yeast-fermented malt flavored with hops: a pint of beer; I'm dying for a beer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any of several other fermented drinks: [with adj.] ginger beer.

<PHRASES> beer and skittles [often with negative] BRIT. amusement or enjoyment: life isn't all beer and skittles.

<ORIGIN> Old English , based on monastic Latin biber 'a drink', from Latin bibere 'to drink'; related to Dutch bier and German Bier.

beer bel·ly (also INFORMAL beer gut) n. a man's fat stomach, caused by excessive consumption of beer.

<DERIVATIVES> beer-bel·lied adj.

Beer·bohm Max (1872-1956), English caricaturist, essayist, and critic; full name Sir Henry Maximilian Beerbohm.

Beer·en·aus·le·se n. a white wine of German origin or style made from selected individual grapes picked later than the general harvest.

<ORIGIN> German, from Beeren 'berries' + aus 'out' + lese 'picking'.

beer gar·den n. a garden, typically one attached to a bar or tavern, where beer is served.

beer gut n. another term for BEER BELLY.

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BEER BELLY ■

beer hall n. a large room or building where beer is served.

beer mon·ey n. INFORMAL a small amount of money allowed or earned.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: so named because the allowance of money was made instead of beer.

beer par·lour n. CANADIAN a room in a hotel or tavern where beer is served.

Beer·she·ba a town in southern Israel on the northern edge of the Negev Desert; pop. 138,100.

beer-swill·ing adj. drinking a lot of beer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> disreputable, rowdy.

beer·y adj. INFORMAL relating to or characterized by the drinking of beer, typically in large amounts: many beery pledges were made; stale beery breath.

beest·ings (also beast·ings) n. [treated as sing.] the first milk produced by a cow or goat after giving birth.

<ORIGIN> Old English ; related to Dutch biest and German Biest(milch).

bee-stung adj. [attrib.] INFORMAL (of a woman's lips) full, red, and pouting.

bees·wax n. 1 the wax secreted by bees to make honeycombs and used to make wood polishes and candles: turning pollen into beeswax.

2 INFORMAL a person's concern or business: that's none of your beeswax.

beet n. a herbaceous plant widely cultivated as a source of food for humans and livestock, and for processing into sugar. Some varieties are grown for their leaves and some for their large nutritious root.
<INFO>  Beta vulgaris, family Chenopodiaceae: several subspecies.

<ORIGIN> Old English , from Latin beta, perhaps of Celtic origin; related to Dutch beet and German Bete.

Bee·tho·ven Ludwig van (1770-1827), German composer. Despite increasing deafness, Beethoven wrote prodigiously: nine symphonies, thirty-two piano sonatas, sixteen string quartets, the opera Fidelio (1814), and the Mass in D (the Missa Solemnis, 1823).

bee·tle 1 n. an insect of an order distinguished by forewings typically modified into hard wing cases (elytra) that cover and protect the hind wings and abdomen.
<INFO>  Order Coleoptera: see COLEOPTERA.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (loosely) a similar insect, esp. a black one.

■ v. [intrans.] INFORMAL make one's way hurriedly or with short, quick steps: the tourist beetled off.

<ORIGIN> Old English bitula, bitela 'biter', from the base of 'to bite'.

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COLEOPTERA ■

bee·tle 2 n. a tool with a heavy head and a handle, used for tasks such as ramming, crushing, and driving wedges; a maul.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a machine used for heightening the luster of cloth by pressure from rollers.

■ v. [trans.] ram, crush, or drive with a beetle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> finish (cloth) with a beetle.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to BEAT.

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bee·tle 3 v. [intrans.] [usu. as adj.] (beetling) (of a person's eyebrows) project or overhang threateningly: piercing eyes glittered beneath a great beetling brow.

■ adj. [attrib.] (of a person's eyebrows) shaggy and projecting.

<DERIVATIVES> bee·tle-browed adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as an adjective): back-formation from beetle-browed. The verb was apparently used as a nonce word by Shakespeare and was later adopted by other writers.

beet leaf·hop·per n. a North American leafhopper found west of the Mississippi River and considered a serious pest to beets and members of the gourd family. It is a principal carrier of the virus that causes curly top.
<INFO>  Circulifer tenellus, family Cicadellidae.

bee tree n. a hollow tree used by bees for a hive: in the Appalachians, the tupelo is a prime bee tree.

beet·root n. CHIEFLY BRIT. 1 the edible root of a kind of beet that is typically dark red and spherical and eaten as a vegetable.

2 the variety of beet that produces this root.
<INFO>  Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris, family Chenopodiaceae.

beet sug·ar n. sugar obtained from sugar beet.

beeves plural form of BEEF (sense 1).

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BEEF ■

BEF abbr. British Expeditionary Force.

be·fall v. (past -fell; past part. -fall·en) [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY (of something bad) happen to someone: a tragedy befell his daughter | [intrans.] she was to blame for anything that befell. See note at HAPPEN.

<ORIGIN> Old English befeallan 'to fall' (early use being chiefly figurative); related to German befallen.

be·fit v. (fit·ted, -fit·ting) [trans.] be appropriate for; suit: the ballet ends nobly, as befits a tragedy | [as adj.] (befitting) I answered in a befitting manner.

<DERIVATIVES> be·fit·ting·ly adv.

be·fog v. (-fogged, -fog·ging) [trans.] cause to become confused: her brain was befogged with lack of sleep.

be·fool v. [trans.] ARCHAIC make a fool of: novels that befool almost every intelligence.

be·fore prep., conj., & adv. 1 during the period of time preceding (a particular event, date, or time): [as prep.] she had to rest before dinner; the day before yesterday; before the war | [as conj.] they lived rough for four days before they were arrested; it wasn't long before I had my first bite | [as adv.] his playing days had ended six years before; it's never happened to me before.

2 in front of: [as prep.] Matilda stood before her, panting; the patterns swam before her eyes | [as adv.] ARCHAIC trotting through the city with guards running before and behind.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [prep.] in front of and required to answer to (a court of law, tribunal, or other authority): he could be taken before a magistrate for punishment; a fall in the number of cases brought before the courts.

3 in preference to; with a higher priority than: [as prep.] a woman who placed duty before all else | [as conj.] they would die before they would cooperate with each other.

<ORIGIN> Old English beforan (see BY, FORE), of Germanic origin; related to German bevor.

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BY ■

FORE ■

be·fore·hand adv. before an action or event; in advance: rooms must be booked beforehand.

<PHRASES> be beforehand with ARCHAIC anticipate; forestall.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally as two words): from BEFORE + HAND; probably influenced by Old French avant main.

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BEFORE ■

HAND ■

be·fore·time adv. ARCHAIC previously; formerly.

be·foul v. [trans.] make dirty; pollute: they befoul our water with mining.

be·friend v. [trans.] act as a friend to (someone) by offering help or support.

be·fud·dle v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (befuddled) make (someone) unable to think clearly: he has an air of befuddled unworldliness.

<DERIVATIVES> be·fud·dle·ment n.

beg v. (begged, beg·ging) 1 [reporting verb] ask (someone) earnestly or humbly for something: [trans.] a leper begged Jesus for help | [trans.] she begged me to say nothing to her father | [intrans.] I must beg of you not to act impulsively.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ask for (something) earnestly or humbly: he begged their forgiveness | [with direct speech] “Don't leave me,” she begged.

- ask formally for (permission to do something): I will now beg leave to make some observations | [intrans.] we beg to inform you that we are instructed to wait.

2 [intrans.] ask for something, typically food or money, as charity or a gift: they had to beg for food.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] acquire (something) from someone in this way: a piece of bread that I begged from a farmer.

- live by acquiring food or money in this way.

- (of a dog) sit up with the front paws raised expectantly in the hope of a reward.

<PHRASES>
□ beg, borrow, or steal FIGURATIVE do whatever may be necessary to acquire something greatly desired: I'm gonna get the money to buy Casey's ring, even if I have to beg, borrow, or steal.

□ beg off request to be excused from a question or obligation: asked to name her favorites from her films, Hepburn begs off.

□ beg one's bread ARCHAIC live by begging.

□ beg the question
1 (of a fact or action) raise a question or point that has not been dealt with; invite an obvious question.

2 avoid the question; evade the issue.

3 assume the truth of an argument or proposition to be proved, without arguing it.

□ beg to differ see DIFFER.

□ go begging (of an article) be available for use because unwanted by others: half the apartments in New York go begging in the summer.
- (of an opportunity) not be taken: we let so many good chances go begging.

<PHRASAL VERB> beg off withdraw from a promise or undertaking.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably from Old English bedecian, of Germanic origin; related to BID^1 .

<USAGE>
The original meaning of the phrase beg the question belongs to the field of logic. It is a translation of the Latin rhetorical term petitio principii, literally meaning ‘laying claim to a principle,' that is, assuming something that ought to be proved first, as in the following sentence: dogs should be locked up, otherwise attacks by wild dogs on children will continue to increase. This begs the question (among other questions) whether, in fact, such attacks are increasing. Usually such a statement will give the impression that the problem of proving the argument has been sidestepped. From this impression of sidestepping, a new meaning has developed: 'avoid the question, evade the issue,' as in they said he begged the question by criticizing his opponent's program. Also, over the last 100 years or so another, more general use has arisen: ‘invite an obvious question,’ as in some definitions of mental illness beg the question of what constitutes normal behavior. Both of these newer meanings are widely accepted in modern standard English, although they have been criticized as being misunderstandings of the Latin rhetorical term. To some traditionalists, the sense of 'assume the truth of an argument to be proved' is still the only correct meaning of beg the question. Both of the newer meanings of beg are used not only with question, but with other words as well: beg the point, beg the issue, beg the difficulties.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
beg, beseech, entreat, implore, importune, petition, plead, solicit

How badly do you want something? You can beg for it, which implies a humble and earnest approach.

If you entreat, you're trying to get what you want by ingratiating yourself (she entreated her mother to help her prepare for the exam).

To plead involves more urgency (he pleaded with the judge to spare his life) and is usually associated with the legal system (she was advised to plead guilty).

Beseech also suggests urgency, as well as an emotional appeal (he beseeched her to tell the truth).

Implore is still stronger, suggesting desperation or great distress (the look in his mother's eyes implored him to have mercy).

If you really want to get your way, you can importune, which means to beg not only urgently but persistently and to risk making a pest of yourself (he importuned her daily to accept his invitation).

Petition suggests an appeal to authority (to petition the government to repeal an unjust law), while solicit suggests petitioning in a courteous, formal way (soliciting financial support for the school carnival).

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DIFFER ■

BID ■

be·gad exclam. ARCHAIC used to express surprise or for emphasis.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: altered form; compare with BEDAD and GAD^2 .

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BEDAD ■

GAD ■

be·gan past of BEGIN.

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BEGIN ■

be·gat archaic past of BEGET.

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BEGET ■

be·gem v. (-gemmed, -gem·ming) [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (begemmed) set or stud with gems: a begemmed cross.

be·get v. (-get·ting; past -got ; past part. -got·ten) [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY 1 (typically of a man, sometimes of a man and a woman) bring (a child) into existence by the process of reproduction: they hoped that the King might beget an heir by his new queen.

2 give rise to; bring about: success begets further success.

<DERIVATIVES> be·get·ter n.

<ORIGIN> Old English begietan 'get, obtain by effort' (see BE-, GET).

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BE- ■

GET ■

beg·gar n. 1 a person, typically a homeless one, who lives by asking for money or food.

2 [with adj.] INFORMAL a person of a specified type, often one to be envied or pitied: poor little beggars.

■ v. [trans.] reduce (someone) to poverty: by being soft to the unfortunate, we beggared ourselves.

<PHRASES>
□ beggar belief (or description) be too extraordinary to be believed or described.

□ beggars can't be choosers PROVERB people with no other options must be content with what is offered.

□ set a beggar on horseback and he'll ride to the Devil PROVERB someone unaccustomed to power or luxury will abuse or be corrupted by it.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from BEG + -AR^3 .

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BEG ■

-AR ■

beg·gar·ly adj. poverty-stricken.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- pitifully or deplorably bad: the beggarly physical condition to which I had been reduced.

- very small and mean: the stipend was a beggarly $26.

<DERIVATIVES> beg·gar·li·ness n.

beg·gar-my-neigh·bor n. a card game for two players in which the object is to acquire one's opponent's cards. Players alternately turn cards up and if an honor is revealed, the other player must find an honor within a specified number of turns or else forfeit the cards already played.

■ adj. [attrib.] (also beg·gar-thy-neigh·bor) (esp. of national policy) self-aggrandizing at the expense of competitors: failure would create a growing risk of trade wars as countries retreated into beggar-thy-neighbor policies.

beg·gar's purse n. an appetizer consisting of a crêpe stuffed with a savory filling, typically caviar and crème fraiche.

beg·gar ticks (also beg·gar’s ticks) plural n. [often treated as sing.] a plant of the daisy family with inconspicuous yellow flowers and small barbed fruit that cling to passing animals. Several kinds are widespread weeds. Also called BUR MARIGOLD.
<INFO>  Genus Bidens, family Compositae: several species, in particular B. frondosa.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: apparently from the resemblance of the seedpods to ticks.

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BUR MARIGOLD ■

beg·gar·y n. a state of extreme poverty.

Be·gin Menachem (1913-92), Israeli statesman, prime minister 1977-84. His hard line on Arab-Israeli relations softened in a series of meetings with President Anwar al-Sadat of Egypt, which led to a peace treaty between the countries. Nobel Peace Prize (1978, shared with Sadat).

be·gin v. (-gin·ning; past -gan ; past part. -gun ) 1 [trans.] start; perform or undergo the first part of (an action or activity): the Communists have just begun to fight; she began a double life | (begin to do/doing something) it was beginning to snow | [intrans.] she began by rewriting the syllabus.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] come into being or have its starting point at a certain time or place: the ground campaign had begun; the story begins with the death of her senile father; the tour begins at the active Poas Volcano.

- [intrans.] (of a person) hold a specific position or role before holding any other: he began as a drummer.

- [intrans.] (of a thing) originate: Watts Lake began as a marine inlet.

- [intrans.] (begin with) have as a first element: words beginning with a vowel.

- [intrans.] (begin on/upon) set to work at: Picasso began on a great canvas.

- [with direct speech] start speaking by saying: “I've got to go to the hotel,” she began.

- [intrans.] (begin at) (of an article) cost at least (a specified amount): rooms begin at $139.

2 [intrans.] [with negative] INFORMAL not have any chance or likelihood of doing a specified thing: circuitry that Karen could not begin to comprehend.

<PHRASES> to begin with at first.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in the first place: such a fate is unlikely to befall him: to begin with, his is a genuine talent.

<ORIGIN> Old English beginnan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German beginnen.

be·gin·ner n. a person just starting to learn a skill or take part in an activity. See note at NOVICE.

<PHRASES> beginner's luck good luck supposedly experienced by a beginner at a particular activity.

be·gin·ning n. [usu. in sing.] the point in time or space at which something starts: he left at the beginning of February; they had reached the beginning of the forest.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the process of coming, or being brought into being: the beginning of active cooperation; the ending of one relationship and the beginning of another.

- the first part or earliest stage of something: the beginning of a letter; she had the beginnings of a headache.

- (usu. beginnings) the background or origins of anything: the series explores the beginnings of flight; he had risen from humble beginnings to great wealth.

■ adj. new or inexperienced: a beginning gardener.
<SPECIAL USAGE> introductory or elementary: the beginning guitar class.

<PHRASES> the beginning of the end the event to which ending or failure can be traced.

be·gird v. [trans.] CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY gird about or around; encompass.
<SPECIAL USAGE> besiege.

Be·glie·ter , Lionel, see BART.

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BART ■

be·gone exclam. POETIC/LITERARY go away (as an expression of annoyance): begone from my sight!

be·go·nia n. a herbaceous plant of warm climates, the bright flowers of which have brightly colored sepals but no petals. Numerous cultivated varieties of begonia are grown for their flowers or for their striking foliage.
<INFO>  Genus Begonia, family Begoniaceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, named after Michel Bégon (1638-1710), French amateur botanist who discovered the plant on the island of Santo Domingo and introduced it to Europe.

be·got past of BEGET.

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be·got·ten past participle of BEGET.

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BEGET ■

be·grime v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (begrimed) blacken with ingrained dirt: paint flaking from begrimed walls.

be·grudge v. 1 [with two objs.] envy (someone) the possession or enjoyment of (something): she begrudged Martin his affluence.

2 [trans.] give reluctantly or resentfully: nobody begrudges a single penny spent on health.

<DERIVATIVES> be·grudg·ing·ly adv.

be·guile v. [trans.] 1 charm or enchant (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way: every prominent American artist has been beguiled by Maine | [as adj.] (beguiling) a beguiling smile. See note at TEMPT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> trick (someone) into doing something: they were beguiled into signing a peace treaty.

2 DATED help (time) pass pleasantly: to beguile some of the time they went to the movie theater.

<DERIVATIVES> be·guile·ment n. be·guil·er n. be·guil·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'deceive, deprive of by fraud'): from BE- 'thoroughly' + obsolete guile 'to deceive' (see GUILE).

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BE- ■

GUILE ■

Beg·uine n. (in the Roman Catholic Church) a member of a Dutch lay sisterhood, formed in the 12th century, and not bound by vows.

be·guine n. a popular dance of West Indian origin, similar to the foxtrot.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from West Indian French, from French béguin 'infatuation'.

be·gum n. INDIAN a Muslim lady of high rank.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Begum) the title of a married Muslim woman, equivalent to Mrs.

<ORIGIN> from Urdu begam, from eastern Turkish bigim 'princess', feminine of big 'prince'.

be·gun past participle of BEGIN.

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BEGIN ■

be·half n.

<PHRASES> on (also in) behalf of (or on someone's behalf)
1 in the interests of a person, group, or principle: votes cast by labor unions on behalf of their members.

2 as a representative of: he had to attend the funeral on Mama's behalf.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from a mixture of the earlier phrases on his halve and bihalve him, both meaning 'on his side' (see BY, HALF).

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BY ■

HALF ■

be·have v. [intrans.] 1 [with adverbial] act or conduct oneself in a specified way, esp. toward others: he always behaved like a gentleman; you should behave affectionately toward the patient.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a machine or natural phenomenon) work or function in a specified way: each car behaves differently.

2 [often in imperative] conduct oneself in accordance with the accepted norms of a society or group: you can go as long as you behave | (behave oneself) they were expected to behave themselves.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from BE- + HAVE in the sense 'have or bear (oneself) in a particular way' (corresponding to modern German sich behaben).

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HAVE ■

be·haved adj. conducting oneself in a specified way: some of the boys had been badly behaved | [in combination] a well-behaved child.

be·hav·ior (BRIT. be·hav·iour) n. the way in which one acts or conducts oneself, esp. toward others: good behavior; his insulting behavior toward me.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the way in which an animal or person acts in response to a particular situation or stimulus: the feeding behavior of predators.

- the way in which a natural phenomenon or a machine works or functions: the erratic behavior of the old car.

<PHRASES> be on one's best behavior behave well when being observed: warn them to be on their best behavior.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from BEHAVE, on the pattern of demeanour (an earlier spelling of DEMEANOR), and influenced by obsolete haviour from HAVE.

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BEHAVE ■

DEMEANOR ■

HAVE ■

be·hav·ior·al adj. involving, relating to, or emphasizing behavior: closely related species have similar behavioral patterns; a behavioral approach to children's language.

<DERIVATIVES> be·hav·ior·al·ly adv.

be·hav·ior·al·ism n. the methods and principles of the science of animal (and human) behavior.
<SPECIAL USAGE> advocacy of or adherence to a behavioral approach to social phenomena.

<DERIVATIVES> be·hav·ior·al·ist n. & adj.

be·hav·ior·al sci·ence n. the scientific study of human and animal behavior.

be·hav·ior·ism (BRIT. be·hav·iour·ism) n. [PSYCHOLOGY] the theory that human and animal behavior can be explained in terms of conditioning, without appeal to thoughts or feelings, and that psychological disorders are best treated by altering behavior patterns.
<SPECIAL USAGE> such study and treatment in practice.

<DERIVATIVES> be·hav·ior·ist n. & adj. be·hav·ior·is·tic adj.

be·ha·vior mod·i·fi·ca·tion n. 1 the alteration of behavioral patterns through the use of such learning techniques as biofeedback and positive or negative reinforcement.

2 another term for BEHAVIOR THERAPY.

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BEHAVIOR THERAPY ■

be·hav·ior ther·a·py n. the treatment of neurotic symptoms by training the patient's reactions to stimuli.

be·head v. cut off the head of (someone), typically as a form of execution: [as n.] (beheading) Arabs have public beheadings.

<ORIGIN> Old English ; from BE- 'off' (expressing removal) + (see HEAD).

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HEAD ■

be·held past and past participle of BEHOLD.

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BEHOLD ■

be·he·moth n. a huge or monstrous creature.
<SPECIAL USAGE> something enormous, esp. a big and powerful organization: shoppers are now more loyal to their local stores than to faceless behemoths | [as adj.] behemoth telephone companies.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Hebrew , intensive plural of 'beast'.

be·hest n. POETIC/LITERARY a person's orders or command: they had assembled at his behest; the slaughter of the male children at the behest of Herod.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'a vow', from a Germanic base meaning 'bid'; related to HIGHT.

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be·hind prep. 1 at or to the far side of (something), typically so as to be hidden by it:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- expressing location: the recording machinery was kept behind screens; sitting behind a luggage cart.

- FIGURATIVE hidden from the observer: the agony behind his decision to retire.

- expressing movement: Jannie instinctively hid her cigarette behind her back.

- at the back of (someone), after they have passed through a door: she ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

2 in a line or procession, following or further back than (another member of the line or procession): stuck behind a slow-moving tractor.

3 in support of or giving guidance to (someone else): whatever you decide to do, I'll be behind you; the power behind the throne.
<SPECIAL USAGE> guiding, controlling, or responsible for (an event or plan): the chances were that he was behind the death of the girl; the reasoning behind their decisions.

4 after the departure or death of (the person referred to): he left behind him a manuscript that was subsequently published.

5 less advanced than (someone else) in achievement or development: the government admitted it is ten years behind the West in PC technology.

6 having a lower score than (another competitor): Woodnam moved to ten under par, five shots behind Fred Couples.

■ adv. 1 at or to the far side or the back side of something: as I looked behind, my feet crashed into a basket; Campbell grabbed him from behind.

2 in a place or time already past: the adventure lay behind them.

3 remaining after someone or something is gone: blocks of ice left behind by a retreating glacier; don't leave me behind.

4 further back than other members of a group: Bill led the way, with the others a short distance behind.

5 (in a game or contest) having a score lower than that of the opposition: polls showed him as much as 50 points behind.

6 slow or late in accomplishing a task: getting behind with my work; things were falling behind.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in arrears: she was behind with her rent.

7 underlying or motivating: behind his winning facade lurks uncertainty.

■ adj. following; lagging: the team behind could accept a loss.

■ n. 1 INFORMAL the buttocks: sitting on her behind.

2 [AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL] a one-point score made by kicking the ball between the outer set of two sets of goalposts (the behind line), or by touching the ball, causing it to pass between the inner posts (goalposts).

<ORIGIN> Old English behindan, bihindan, from bi 'by' + hindan 'from behind'.

be·hind·hand adj. late or slow in doing something, esp. paying a debt: the Yoruba have not been behindhand in economic activity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC unaware of recent events: you are miserably behindhandMr. Cole gave me a hint of it six weeks ago.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from BEHIND + HAND, on the pattern of beforehand.

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BEHIND ■

HAND ■

be·hold v. (past and past part. -held ) [trans.] [often in imperative] ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY see or observe (a thing or person, esp. a remarkable or impressive one): behold your king!; the botanical gardens were a wonder to behold.

<PHRASES> beauty is in the eye of the beholder see BEAUTY.

<DERIVATIVES> be·hold·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English bihaldan, from bi- 'thoroughly' + haldan 'to hold'.

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be·hold·en adj. [predic.] owing thanks or having a duty to someone in return for help or a service: I don't like to be beholden to anybody.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: former past participle of BEHOLD, in the otherwise unrecorded sense 'bound'.

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be·hoof n. ARCHAIC benefit or advantage: to make laws for the behoof of the colony.

<ORIGIN> Old English ; related to Dutch behoef and German Behuf, also to HEAVE.

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be·hoove (BRIT. be·hove ) v. [trans.] (it behooves someone to do something) FORMAL it is a duty or responsibility for someone to do something; it is incumbent on: it behooves any coach to study his predecessors.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with negative] it is appropriate or suitable; it befits: it ill behooves the opposition constantly to decry the sale of arms to friendly countries.

<ORIGIN> Old English , from (see BEHOOF).

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BEHOOF ■

Beh·ring Emil Adolf von (1854-1917), German bacteriologist; one of the founders of immunology. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1901).

Bei·der·becke Bix (1903-31), U.S. jazz musician and composer; born Leon Bismarck Beiderbecke. A self-taught cornettist and pianist, he profoundly influenced the development of jazz.

beige adj. of a pale sandy yellowish-brown color: the beige tiles of the kitchen floor.

■ n. a pale sandy yellowish-brown: tones of beige, green, and orange | in matching ecrus and beiges.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (denoting a usually undyed and unbleached woolen fabric of this color): from French, of unknown ultimate origin.

Beige Book n. a summary and analysis of economic activity and conditions, prepared with the aid of reports from the district Federal Reserve Banks and issued by the central bank of the Federal Reserve for its policy makers before a Federal Open Market Committee meeting: Wednesday's Beige Book will be scanned for reports of tightness in labor markets.

bei·gnet n. 1 a fritter: a cheese beignet.

2 a square of fried dough eaten hot sprinkled with confectioners' sugar.

<ORIGIN> French, from archaic buyne 'hump, bump'.

Bei·jing the capital of China, in the northeastern part of the country; pop. 6,920,000. It became the country's capital in 1421, at the start of the Ming period, and survived as the capital of the Republic of China after the revolution of 1912. Also called (esp. formerly) PEKING.

be·ing present participle of BE.

■ n. 1 existence: the railway brought many towns into being; | the moment when the universe came into being.
<SPECIAL USAGE> living; being alive: holism promotes a unified way of being.

2 [in sing.] the nature or essence of a person: sometimes one aspect of our being has been developed at the expense of the others.

3 a real or imaginary living creature, esp. an intelligent one: animals regarded as primitive beings; | alien beings.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a human being: she felt anxiety about so small and vulnerable a being; | a rational being.

- a supernatural entity: a being who had made all things.

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BE ■

Bei·ra a port on the coast of Mozambique; pop. 299,300.

Bei·rut the capital and chief port of Lebanon; pop. 1,500,000. It was badly damaged during the Lebanese civil war of 1975-89.

beit din n. a rabbinical court that decides questions on the basis of Talmudic law: would a beit din close Napster down?

<ORIGIN> Hebrew, literally 'house of judgment'.

Be·ja n. (pl. same) 1 a member of a nomadic people living between the Nile and the Red Sea.

2 the Cushitic language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

be·jab·bers (also be·ja·bers ) exclam. another way of saying BEJESUS.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: alteration of by Jesus.

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Bé·jart Maurice (1927- ), French ballet choreographer; born Maurice Jean Berger.

be·je·sus (also be·jee·zus) n. INFORMAL an exclamation traditionally attributed to the Irish, used to express surprise or for emphasis: they were forty minutes late, cocky as bejesus.

<PHRASES>
□ beat the bejesus out of someone hit someone very hard or for a long time.

□ scare the bejesus out of someone frighten someone very much.

be·jew·eled (also be·jew·elled) adj. adorned with jewels: a wave of his bejeweled hand.

Bel another name for BAAL.

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bel n. a unit used in the comparison of power levels in electrical communication or of intensities of sound, corresponding to an intensity ratio of 10 to 1. See also DECIBEL.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from the name of Alexander Graham Bell (see BELL^2 ).

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DECIBEL ■

BELL ■

be·la·bor v. [trans.] 1 argue or elaborate (a subject) in excessive detail: critics thought they belabored the obvious.

2 attack or assault (someone) physically or verbally: Tyndale seized every opportunity to belabor the Roman Church.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from BE- (expressing transitivity) + the verb LABOR.

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LABOR ■

Bel Air an affluent residential section of Los Angeles, California.

Be·la·rus a country in eastern Europe; pop. 10,328,000; capital, Minsk; official language, Belorussian. Also called WHITE RUSSIA.

Belarus became a republic of the Soviet Union in 1921. It gained independence as a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States in 1991 but in 1996 signed a treaty with Russia that established a Community of Sovereign Republics. In 1999, Belarus signed another agreement with Russia for closer political and economic integration.

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be·lat·ed adj. coming or happening later than should have been the case: a belated apology.

<DERIVATIVES> be·lat·ed·ly adv. be·lat·ed·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'overtaken by darkness'): past participle of obsolete belate 'delay' (see BE-, LATE).

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LATE ■

be·lay v. [trans.] 1 fix (a running rope) around a cleat, pin, rock, or other object, to secure it.
<SPECIAL USAGE> secure (a mountaineer) in this way: he belayed his partner across the ice | [intrans.] it is possible to belay here.

2 [usu. in imperative] NAUTICAL SLANG stop; enough!: “Belay that, mister. Man your post.”

■ n. 1 an act of belaying: the leader may require belays to tackle more difficult sections.

2 a spike of rock or other hard material used for belaying.

<DERIVATIVES> be·lay·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally in nautical use): from BE- + LAY^1 , on the pattern of Dutch beleggen.

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LAY ■

Be·la·ya Riv·er a river in the Bashkir Republic, in eastern Russia, that flows northwest for 700 miles (1,210 km) from the Ural Mountains to the Kama River.

be·lay·ing pin n. a pin or rod, typically of metal or wood, used on board ship and in mountaineering to secure a rope fastened around it.

bel can·to n. a lyrical style of operatic singing using a full rich broad tone and smooth phrasing: a superb piece of bel canto | [as adj.] the bel canto arias of Bellini.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Italian, literally 'fine song'.

belch v. 1 [intrans.] emit gas noisily from the stomach through the mouth.

2 [trans.] (often belch out/forth/into) (esp. of a chimney) send (smoke or flames) out or up: a factory chimney belches out smoke.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (often belch from) (of smoke or flames) pour out from a chimney or other opening: flames belch from the wreckage.

■ n. an act of belching: he gave a loud belch.

<ORIGIN> Old English belcettan, probably imitative.

bel·dam (also bel·dame) n. ARCHAIC an old woman.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a malicious and ugly woman, esp. an old one; a witch.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally in the sense 'grandmother'): from Old French bel 'beautiful' + DAM^2 .

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be·lea·guer v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (beleaguered) lay siege to: he is leading a relief force to the aid of the beleaguered city.
<SPECIAL USAGE> beset with difficulties: the board is supporting the beleaguered director amid calls for his resignation.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Dutch belegeren 'camp around', from be- '(all) around' + leger 'a camp'.

Be·lém a city and port in northern Brazil, at the mouth of the Amazon River; pop. 1,244,640. It is Brazil’s chief commercial center.

bel·em·nite n. an extinct cephalopod mollusk with a bullet-shaped internal shell that is often found as a fossil in marine deposits of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
<INFO>  Order Belemnoidea, class Cephalopoda: many genera.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from modern Latin belemnites, based on Greek belemnon 'dart'.

Bel·fast the capital and chief port of Northern Ireland; pop. 280,970. It suffered damage and population decline from the early 1970s because of sectarian violence by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Loyalist paramilitary groups.

Bel·fast sink n. BRIT. a deep rectangular sink with a drain at one end, traditionally made of glazed white porcelain.

bel·fry n. (pl. -fries) a bell tower or steeple housing bells, esp. one that is part of a church.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a space for hanging bells in a church tower.

<PHRASES> bats in the (or one's) belfry see BAT^2 .

<ORIGIN> Middle English berfrey, from Old French berfrei, later belfrei. The change in the first syllable was due to association with BELL^1 .

Linked entries:

BAT ■

BELL ■

Bel·gae plural n. an ancient Celtic people inhabiting Gaul north of the Seine and Marne rivers.

<ORIGIN> from Latin.

Bel·gaum an industrial city in western India, in the state of Karnataka; pop. 326,000.

Bel·gian adj. of or relating to Belgium.

■ n. a native or national of Belgium or a person of Belgian descent.

Bel·gian en·dive n. another term for ENDIVE (sense 2).

Linked entries:

ENDIVE ■

Bel·gian hare n. a rabbit of a dark red long-eared domestic breed.

Bel·gian sheep·dog n. a dog of a medium-sized breed, similar in appearance to a German shepherd.

Bel·gian waf·fle n. a waffle made with a special tool to have large, deep indentations in it.

Bel·gic adj. of or relating to the Belgae.

Bel·gium a low-lying country in western Europe, on the southern shore of the North Sea; pop. 10,340,000; capital, Brussels, official languages, Flemish and French. French name BELGIQUE, Flemish name BELGIË.

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands after a nationalist revolt in 1830. Occupied and devastated during both world wars, Belgium formed the Benelux Customs Union with the Netherlands and Luxembourg in 1948 and became a founding member of the EEC. Flemish is spoken mainly in the north, and French and Walloon are spoken in the south.

<ORIGIN> Latin, from BELGAE.

Linked entries:

BELGAE ■

Bel·go·rod an industrial city in southern Russia, on the Donets River close to the border with Ukraine; pop. 306,000.

Bel·grade the capital of Serbia and Montenegro, on the Danube River; pop. 1,168,450.

Be·li·al a name for the Devil.

<ORIGIN> from Hebrew 'worthlessness'.

be·lie v. (-ly·ing) [trans.] 1 (of an appearance) fail to give a true notion or impression of (something); disguise or contradict: his lively alert manner belied his years.

2 fail to fulfill or justify (a claim or expectation); betray: the notebooks belie Darwin's later recollection.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'deceive by lying', from BE- 'about' + 'to lie'. Current senses date from the 17th cent.

Linked entries:

BE- ■

be·lief n. 1 an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists: his belief in God; a belief that solitude nourishes creativity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- something one accepts as true or real; a firmly held opinion or conviction: c.ontrary to popular belief, Aramaic is a living language we're prepared to fight for our beliefs.
See note at OPINION.
- a religious conviction: Christian beliefs; | I'm afraid to say belief has gone local beliefs and customs.

2 (belief in) trust, faith, or confidence in someone or something: a belief in democratic politics | I've still got belief in myself.

<PHRASES>
□ be of the belief that hold the opinion that; think: I am firmly of the belief that we need to improve our product.

□ beyond belief astonishingly good or bad; incredible: riches beyond belief the driving we have witnessed was beyond belief.

□ in the belief that thinking or believing that: he took the property in the belief that he had consent.

□ to the best of my belief in my genuine opinion; as far as I know: to the best of my belief, Francis never made a will.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: alteration of Old English ; compare with BELIEVE.

Linked entries:

BELIEVE ■

be·liev·a·ble adj. (of an account or the person relating it) able to be believed; credible.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a fictional character or situation) convincing or realistic.

<DERIVATIVES> be·liev·a·bil·i·ty n.; be·liev·a·bly adv.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
believable, cogent, convincing, credible, creditable, plausible, valid

Believable is the most general of these terms, used to describe anything we accept as true, even in the absence of absolute proof (a believable story about why she was late).

Credible also means worthy of belief or confidence and is often used interchangeably with believable, but it goes one step further: a credible excuse is one that is supported by known facts.

Creditable, often confused with credible, at one time meant worthy of belief but nowadays is used to mean respectable or decent, deserving of honor, reputation, or esteem (leading a creditable life).

Something that is convincing is believable because it overcomes doubts or opposition (a convincing performance), while something that is plausible may appear to be convincing or believable on the surface, but may not be so upon closer examination.

Valid means legally sound, just, or authoritative; a valid criticism seldom provokes opposition.

Cogent, on the other hand, means having the power to convince; a cogent argument is believable because of its clear, forceful, or incisive presentation.

be·lieve v. [trans.] 1 accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of: the superintendent believed Lancaster's story | [with clause] Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- accept the statement of (someone) as true: he didn't believe her or didn't want to know.

- [intrans.] have faith, esp. religious faith: there are those on the fringes of the Church who do not really believe.

- (believe something of someone) feel sure that (someone) is capable of a particular action: I wouldn't have believed it of Loiswhat an extraordinary woman!

2 [with clause] hold (something) as an opinion; think or suppose: I believe we've already met; things were not as bad as the experts believed; humu-humu are, I believe, shrimp fritters | (believe someone/something to be) four men were believed to be trapped.

<PHRASES>
□ be unable (or hardly able) to believe something be amazed by something: I couldn't believe what was happening Clarke could hardly believe his luck as he put the ball into the empty net.

□ be unable (or hardly able) to believe one's eyes (or ears) be amazed by what one sees or hears: I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the box.

□ believe it or not used to concede that a proposition or statement is surprising: believe it or not, the speaker was none other than Horace.

□ believe me (or believe you me) used to emphasize the truth of a statement or assertion: believe me, she is a shrewd woman.

□ don't you believe it! used to express disbelief in the truth of a statement: he says he is left of center, but don't you believe it.

□ would you believe it? used to express surprise at something one is relating: they're still arguing, would you believe it?

<PHRASAL VERB> believe in 1 have faith in the truth or existence of: I believe in God.

2 be of the opinion that (something) is right, proper, or desirable: I don't believe in censorship of the arts; he didn't believe in sex before marriage.

3 have confidence in (a person or a course of action): he had finally begun to believe in her.

<ORIGIN> late Old English , , alteration of , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch geloven and German glauben, also to LIEF.

Linked entries:

LIEF ■

be·liev·er n. 1 a person who believes that a specified thing is effective, proper, or desirable: a believer in ghosts; a firm believer that party politics has no place in local government.

2 an adherent of a particular religion; someone with religious faith.

be·like adv. ARCHAIC probably; perhaps.

be·lit·tle v. [trans.] make (someone or something) seem unimportant: this is not to belittle his role; she felt belittled.

<DERIVATIVES> be·lit·tle·ment n. be·lit·tler n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: a coinage of Thomas Jefferson originally meaning 'diminish in size, make small'; the current sense dates from the very end of the 18th century.

Be·li·tung (also Bil·li·ton ) an Indonesian island in the Java Sea, between Borneo and Sumatra.

Be·lize a country in northeastern Central America, on the coast of the Caribbean Sea; pop. 272,000; capital, Belmopan; languages, English (official), Creole, Spanish. Former name (until 1973) British Honduras.

Proclaimed as a British Crown Colony in 1862, Belize became independent within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. Guatemala, on the west and south, has always claimed the territory on the basis of old Spanish treaties, although in 1992 it agreed to recognize the existence of Belize.

<DERIVATIVES> Be·li·zi·an adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> named after a river with a Mayan name meaning 'muddy water'.

Be·lize Cit·y the principal seaport and former capital (until 1970) of Belize; pop. 46,000.

Bell 1 a city in southwestern California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 34,365.

Bell 2 Alexander Graham (1847-1922), U.S. scientist, inventor of the telephone and the gramophone; born in Scotland. He invented a method for transmitting speech electrically and gave the first public demonstration of the telephone in 1876; he founded the Bell Telephone Company the following year.

Bell 3 Currier, Ellis, and Acton, the pseudonyms used by Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë respectively.

Bell 4 Vanessa (1879-1961), English painter and designer; born Vanessa Stephen. Together with her sister, Virginia Woolf, she was a prominent member of the Bloomsbury Group.

bell 1 n. 1 a hollow object, typically made of metal and having the shape of a deep inverted cup widening at the lip, that sounds a clear musical note when struck, typically by means of a clapper inside.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a device that includes or sounds like a bell, used to give a signal or warning: a bicycle bell.

- the sound of a bell: at the bell we are both giggling.

- (the bell) (in boxing and other sports) a bell rung to mark the start or end of a round: they were dragged off each other at the final bell.

2 a bell-shaped object or part of one, such as the end of a trumpet.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the corolla of a bell-shaped flower: a flower with small, pale blue bells.

3 (bells) a musical instrument consisting of a set of cylindrical metal tubes of different lengths, suspended in a frame and played by being struck with a hammer. Also called TUBULAR BELLS.

4 [NAUTICAL] (preceded by a numeral) the time as indicated every half hour of a watch by the striking of the ship's bell one to eight times: at five bells in the forenoon of June 11.

■ v. 1 [trans.] provide with a bell or bells; attach a bell or bells to: the young men were belling and hobbling the horses before releasing them | [as adj.] (belled) animals in gaudy belled harnesses.

2 [intrans.] make a ringing sound likened to that of a bell: the organ belling away.

3 [intrans.] spread or flare outward like the lip of a bell: her shirt belled out behind.

<PHRASES>
□ be saved by the bell (in boxing and other sports) avoid being counted out by the ringing of the bell at the end of a round.
- escape from danger narrowly or by an unexpected intervention.

□ bell the cat take the danger of a shared enterprise upon oneself. <ORIGIN> an allusion to a fable in which the mice (or rats) suggest hanging a bell around the cat's neck to have warning of its approach.

□ bells and whistles INFORMAL attractive additional features or trimmings: an advocate of more bells and whistles on the income tax code. <ORIGIN> an allusion to the various bells and whistles of old fairground organs.

□ (as) clear (or sound) as a bell perfectly clear or sound: Aunt Nora's words came clear as a bell.

□ ring a bell INFORMAL revive a distant recollection; sound familiar: the name Woodall rings a bell.

□ with bells on INFORMAL enthusiastically: everybody's waiting for you with bells on.

<ORIGIN> Old English belle, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bel, and perhaps to BELL^2 .

Linked entries:

TUBULAR BELLS ■

BELL ■

bell 2 n. the cry of a stag or buck at rutting time.

■ v. [intrans.] (of a stag or buck) make this cry.

<ORIGIN> Old English bellan 'to bellow', of Germanic origin; related to German bellen 'to bark, bray', and perhaps also to BELL^1 .

Linked entries:

BELL ■

bel·la·don·na n. deadly nightshade.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a drug prepared from the leaves and root of this, containing atropine.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin, from Italian bella donna 'fair lady', perhaps from the use of its juice to add brilliance to the eyes by dilating the pupils.

bel·la·don·na lil·y n. the South African amaryllis.

bell·bird n. 1 a tropical American bird of the cotinga family, with loud explosive calls. There are wattles on the head of the male.
<INFO>  Genus Procnias, family Cotingidae: four species.

2 any of a number of Australasian songbirds with ringing bell-like calls, including:
<INFO>
- (New Zealand bellbird) a New Zealand honeyeater (Anthornis melanura, family Meliphagidae).

- (crested bellbird) an Australian whistler (Oreoica gutturalis, family Pachycephalidae).

- the bell miner. See MINER (sense 2).

Linked entries:

MINER ■

bell-bot·toms plural n. trousers with a marked flare below the knee: [as adj.] (bell-bottom) bell-bottom trousers.

<DERIVATIVES> bell-bot·tomed adj.

bell·boy n. another term for BELLHOP.

Linked entries:

BELLHOP ■

bell·bu·oy n. a buoy equipped with a bell rung by the motion of the sea, warning nearby vessels of shoal waters.

bell cap·tain n. the supervisor of a group of bellboys.

bell crank (also bell crank lever) n. a lever with two arms that have a common fulcrum at their junction.

bell curve n. [MATHEMATICS] a graph of a normal (Gaussian) distribution, with a large rounded peak tapering away at each end.

belle n. a beautiful girl or woman, esp. the most beautiful at a particular event or in a particular group: the belle of the season.

<PHRASES> belle of the ball the most beautiful and popular girl or woman at a dance.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French, feminine of beau, from Latin bella, feminine of bellus 'beautiful'.

Bel·leau Wood (French name Bois de Belleau) a forest east of Paris, France, and just east of Château-Thierry, the scene of a June 1918 U.S. victory over the Germans during World War I.

belle é·poque n. the period of settled and comfortable life preceding World War I: [as adj.] a romantic, belle-époque replica of a Paris bistro.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: French, literally 'fine period'.

Bel·ler·o·phon [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a hero who slew the monster Chimera with the help of the winged horse Pegasus.

belles-let·tres plural n. [also treated as sing.] 1 essays, particularly of literary and artistic criticism, written and read primarily for their aesthetic effect.

2 literature considered as a fine art.

<DERIVATIVES> bel·let·rism n. bel·let·rist n. bel·let·ris·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, literally 'fine letters'.

Belle·ville 1 an industrial city in southwestern Illinois; pop. 42,785.

2 an industrial township in northeastern New Jersey; pop. 34,213.

Belle·vue 1 a city in eastern Nebraska; pop. 44,382.

2 a city in northwestern Washington, across an inlet of Puget Sound to the east of Seattle; pop. 109,569

Bell·flow·er a city in southwestern California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 61,815.

bell·flow·er n. a plant with bell-shaped flowers that are usually blue, purple, pink, or white. Many kinds are cultivated as ornamentals.
<INFO>  Genus Campanula, family Campanulaceae: many species, including the Eurasian clustered bellflower (C. glomerata) and the harebell.

Bell Gardens an unincorporated suburb east of Los Angeles, California; pop. 42,355.

bell·hop an attendant in a hotel who performs services such as carrying guests' luggage.

bel·li·cose adj. demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight: a group of bellicose patriots. See note at HOSTILE.

<DERIVATIVES> bel·li·cos·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin bellicosus, from bellicus 'warlike', from bellum 'war'.

bel·lig·er·ence (also bel·lig·er·en·cy ) n. aggressive or warlike behavior: the reaction ranged from wild enthusiasm to outright belligerence.

bel·lig·er·ent adj. hostile and aggressive: a bull-necked, belligerent old man. See note at HOSTILE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> engaged in a war or conflict, as recognized by international law.

■ n. a nation or person engaged in war or conflict, as recognized by international law.

<DERIVATIVES> bel·lig·er·ent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin belligerant- 'waging war', from the verb belligerare, from bellum 'war'.

Bel·ling·ham an industrial port city in northwestern Washington, on Bellingham Bay off Puget Sound; pop. 67,171.

Bel·lings·hau·sen Sea a part of the southeastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Antarctica, bounded on the east and the south by the Antarctic Peninsula and Ellsworth Land.

<ORIGIN> named after the Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen (1778-1852), who in 1819-21 became the first to circumnavigate Antarctica.

Bel·li·ni 1 Jacopo (c.1400-70) and his sons Gentile (c.1429-1507) and Giovanni (c.1430-1516), Italian painters in Venice.

Bel·li·ni 2 Vincenzo (1801-35), Italian opera composer. Notable works: La Sonnambula (1831), Norma (1831), and I Puritani (1835).

Bel·li·ni n. (pl. -nis) a cocktail consisting of peach juice mixed with champagne.

<ORIGIN> from the name of Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini (c. 1430-1516): the cocktail is said to have been invented in Venice during a major exhibition of the artist's work in 1948.

bell jar n. a bell-shaped glass cover used for covering delicate objects or used in a laboratory, typically for enclosing samples.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE an environment in which someone is protected or cut off from the outside world: let him stay in his bell jar of perfectionist concentration.

bell·man n. (pl. -men) 1 another term for BELLHOP.

2 HISTORICAL a town crier.

Linked entries:

BELLHOP ■

Bel·loc (Joseph) Hilaire (Pierre René) (1870-1953), British writer, historian, and poet; born in France. He is remembered chiefly for Cautionary Tales (1907).

Bel·low Saul (1915-2005), U.S. novelist; born in Canada. Notable works The Adventures of Augie March (1953), Herzog (1964), More Die of Heartbreak (1987) and Ravelstein (2000). Nobel Prize for Literature (1976).

bel·low v. [intrans.] (of a person or animal) emit a deep loud roar, typically in pain or anger: he bellowed in agony | [as n.] (bellowing) the bellowing of a bull.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [reporting verb] shout something with a deep loud roar: [trans.] the watchers were bellowing encouragement | he bellowed out the order | [with direct speech] “God send the right!” he bellowed | [with infinitive] his desperate parents were bellowing at her to stop.

- [trans.] sing (a song) loudly and tunelessly: he got thrown out of bars for bellowing Portuguese folk songs

■ n. a deep roaring shout or sound: a bellow of rage; | he delivers his lines in a bellow.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: perhaps from late Old English bylgan.

bel·lows plural n. [also treated as sing.] 1 a device with a bag that emits a stream of air when squeezed:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also pair of bellows) a kind with two handles used for blowing air at a fire.

- a kind used in a harmonium or small organ.

2 an object or device with concertinaed sides to allow it to expand and contract, such as a tube joining a lens to a camera body.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably representing Old English belga, plural of belig (see BELLY), used as a shortened form of earlier 'blowing bag'.

Linked entries:

BELLY ■

bell pep·per n. another term for SWEET PEPPER.

Linked entries:

SWEET PEPPER ■

bell pull n. a cord or handle that rings a bell when pulled, typically used to summon someone from another room.

bell-ring·ing n. the activity or pastime of ringing church bells or handbells.

<DERIVATIVES> bell-ring·er n.

Bell's pal·sy n. paralysis of the facial nerve, causing muscular weakness in one side of the face.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Sir Charles Bell (1774-1842), the Scottish anatomist who first described it.

bell·weth·er n. the leading sheep of a flock, with a bell on its neck.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an indicator or predictor of something: college campuses are often the bellwether of change | [as adj.] the market's bellwether stock.

Bell·wood a village in northeastern Illinois, west of Chicago; pop. 20,421.

bell·wort n. a plant of the lily family bearing slender yellow bell-like flowers and found chiefly in eastern North America.
<INFO>  Genus Uvularia, family Liliaceae: several species, including the large-flowered bellwort (U. grandiflora) and the perfoliate bellwort (U. perfoliata).

bel·ly n. (pl. -lies) the human trunk below the ribs, containing the stomach and bowels.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the front of this part of the body: he fell flat on his belly.

- the stomach, esp. as representing the body's need for food: they'll fight all the better on empty bellies.

- the underside of a bird or other animal.

- a cut of pork from the underside between the legs.

- a pig's belly as food, esp. as a traded commodity.

- the rounded underside of a ship or aircraft.

- the top surface of an instrument of the violin family, across which the strings are placed.

■ v. (-lies, -lied) 1 [intrans.] swell; bulge: as she leaned forward her pullover bellied out.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] cause to swell or bulge: the wind bellied the sail out.

2 [intrans.] (belly up to) INFORMAL move or sit close to (a bar or table): regulars who first bellied up to the bar years before.

<PHRASES> go belly up INFORMAL go bankrupt.

<DERIVATIVES> bel·lied adj. [usu. in combination] fat-bellied men.

<ORIGIN> Old English belig 'bag', of Germanic origin, from a base meaning 'swell, be inflated'.

bel·ly·ache INFORMAL n. an abdominal pain.

■ v. [intrans.] complain noisily or persistently: heads of departments bellyaching about lack of resources | [as n.] (bellyaching) there was plenty of bellyaching.

<DERIVATIVES> bel·ly·ach·er n.

bel·ly·band n. 1 a band placed round a horse's belly to harness it to the shafts of a cart.

2 a cloth band placed around the belly of an infant to protect the navel.

3 a band wrapped around a product to prevent it from opening.

4 a strap attached around a dog's trunk to aid in housebreaking.

5 a printed strip wrapped around a book or magazine for promotional purposes.

bel·ly but·ton n. INFORMAL a person's navel.

bel·ly dance n. a dance originating in the Middle East, typically performed by a woman and involving undulating movements of the belly and rapid gyration of the hips.

<DERIVATIVES> bel·ly danc·er n. bel·ly danc·ing n.

bel·ly·flop INFORMAL n. a dive into water, landing flat on one's front.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a commercial failure: the film's bellyflop at the box office is unsurprising.

■ v. (-flopped, -flop·ping) [intrans.] perform such a dive.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an aircraft) perform a belly landing.

bel·ly·ful n. (pl. -fuls) a quantity of food sufficient to fill one's stomach; a sustaining meal.

<PHRASES> have a (or one's) bellyful INFORMAL become intolerant of someone or something after lengthy or repeated contact: he had had his bellyful of hospitals.

bel·ly land·ing n. a crash-landing of an aircraft on the underside of the fuselage, without lowering the undercarriage.

bel·ly laugh n. a loud, unrestrained laugh.

Bel·mont 1 a city in north central California, southeast of San Francisco; pop. 24,127.

2 a town in eastern Massachusetts, northwest of Boston; pop. 24,720.

Bel·mo·pan the capital of Belize since 1970, in the central part of the country. It is one of the smallest capital cities in the world; pop. 3,850.

Be·lo Ho·ri·zon·te a city in eastern Brazil, the first planned city in Brazil; pop. 2,020,160.

Be·loit an industrial and academic city in southeastern Wisconsin; pop. 35,573.

be·long v. [intrans.] 1 [with adverbial of place] (of a thing) be rightly placed in a specified position: learning to place the blame where it belongs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> be rightly classified in or assigned to a specified category: bony fish: the vast majority of living fish belong here.

2 [usu. with adverbial of place] (of a person) fit in a specified place or environment: she is a stranger, and doesn't belong here; you and me, we belong together | [as n.] (belonging) we feel a real sense of belonging.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- have the right personal or social qualities to be a member of a particular group: young people are generally very anxious to belong.

- (belong to) be a member or part of (a particular group, organization, or class): they belong to garden and bridge clubs.

3 (belong to) be the property of: the vehicle did not belong to him.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- be the rightful possession of; be due to: most of the credit belongs to Paul.

- (of a contest or period of time) be dominated by: the race belonged completely to Ferguson.

<DERIVATIVES> be·long·ing·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'be appropriately assigned to'): from BE- (as an intensifier) + the archaic verb long 'belong', based on Old English gelang 'at hand, together with'.

Linked entries:

BE- ■

be·long·ings plural n. one's movable possessions.

Be·lo·rus·sian (also Bye·lo·rus·sian ) adj. of or relating to Belarus, its people, or its language.

■ n. 1 a native or national of Belarus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person of Belorussian descent.

2 the East Slavic language of Belarus.

Be·lo·stok Russian name for BIAYSTOK.

Linked entries:

BIAYSTOK ■

be·lov·ed adj. dearly loved.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (beloved by/of) very popular with or much used by a specified set of people: being so close, the mountain hut is beloved of families on a day's outing.

■ n. a much loved person: he watched his beloved.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: past participle of obsolete belove 'be pleasing', later 'love'.

be·low prep. 1 extending underneath: the tunnel below the crags; cables running below the floorboards; hanging space below a top storage shelf.

2 at a lower level or layer than: just below the pocket was a stain; blistered skin below his collar.
<SPECIAL USAGE> lower in grade or rank than: they rated its financial soundness below its competitor's.

3 lower than (a specified amount, rate, or norm): below average; below freezing; a dive to below 60 feet.

■ adv. at a lower level or layer: he jumped from the window into the moat below.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- under the surface of the water: trout lying more than 20 feet below.

- on earth: deflections of the stars from their proper orbits with fatal results here below.

- in hell: traitors gnash their teeth below.

- lower than zero (esp. zero degrees Fahrenheit) in temperature: there's a north wind blowing, and it's 30 below.

- (in printed text) mentioned later or further down on the same page: our nutritionist is pictured below right; the most common methods are shown below.

- [NAUTICAL] below deck: I'll go below and fix us a drink.

<PHRASES> below (the) ground beneath the surface of the ground: 60 feet below ground.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an adverb): from BE- 'by' + the adjective LOW^1 . Not common until the 16th cent., the word developed a prepositional use and was frequent in Shakespeare.

Linked entries:

BE- ■

LOW ■

be·low decks (also be·low deck) adj. & adv. in or into the space below the main deck of a ship: [as adj.] the sleeping quarters were below decks | [as adv.] nuclear weapons stored below decks.

■ plural n. (belowdecks) the space below the main deck of a ship.

Bel Pa·e·se n. TRADEMARK a rich, white, mild, creamy cheese of a kind originally made in Italy.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'fair country'.

Bel·sen a Nazi concentration camp in World War II, near the village of Belsen in northwestern Germany.

Bel·shaz·zar (6th century BC), last king of Babylon, son of Nebuchadnezzar. According to Daniel 5, he was killed in the sack of the city and his doom was foretold by writing that appeared on the palace walls at a great banquet.

belt n. 1 a strip of leather or other material worn around the waist or across the chest, esp. in order to support clothes or carry weapons: a sword belt | [as adj.] a belt buckle.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- short for SEAT BELT.

- a belt worn as a sign of rank or achievement: he was awarded the victor's belt.

- a belt of a specified color, marking the attainment of a particular level in judo, karate, or similar sports: [as adj.] brown-belt level.

- a person who has reached such a level: I am a karate black belt.

- (the belt) the punishment of being struck with a belt.

2 a strip of material used in various technical applications, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a continuous band of material used in machinery for transferring motion from one wheel to another.

- a conveyor belt.

- a flexible strip carrying machine-gun cartridges.

3 a strip or encircling band of something having a specified nature or composition that is different from its surroundings: the asteroid belt; a belt of trees.

4 a heavy blow: she ran in to administer a good belt with her stick.

5 INFORMAL a gulp or shot of liquor: they could probably use a few belts.

■ v. [trans.] 1 [trans.] fasten with a belt: she paused only to belt a robe about her waist; she belted her raincoat firmly.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] be fastened with a belt: the jacket belts at the waist.

- attach or secure with a belt: he was securely belted into the passenger seat.

2 beat or strike (someone), esp. with a belt, as a punishment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> hit (something) hard: he belted the ball to the left-field fence.

3 gulp a drink quickly: belting down shots of a potent drink called arrack.

4 [intrans.] move quickly in a specified direction: they belted along the empty road.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of rain) fall hard: the rain belted down on the tin roof.

<PHRASES>
□ below the belt unfair or unfairly; disregarding the rules: there has been yet another below-the-belt blow to the workers of Chicago. <ORIGIN> from the notion of an unfair and illegal blow in boxing.

□ tighten one's belt cut one's spending; live more frugally.

□ under one's belt
1 safely or satisfactorily achieved, experienced, or acquired: I want to get more experience under my belt; he now has almost a year as president under his belt.

2 (of food or drink) consumed: Gus already had a large brandy under his belt.

<PHRASAL VERB> belt something out sing or play a song loudly and forcefully.

<DERIVATIVES> belt·ed adj. (usu. in sense 1 of the noun).

<ORIGIN> Old English, of Germanic origin, from Latin balteus 'girdle'.

Linked entries:

SEAT BELT ■

Bel·tane n. an ancient Celtic festival celebrated on May Day.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Scottish Gaelic bealltainn.

belt drive n. a mechanism in which power is transmitted by a continuous flexible belt.

belt·ed gal·lo·way n. an animal belonging to a variety of the galloway breed of cattle (see GALLOWAY).

Linked entries:

GALLOWAY ■

belt·er n. INFORMAL a loud forceful singer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a loud forceful song.

belt·ing n. 1 belts collectively, or material for belts: a small piece of plastic belting.

2 a beating, esp. with a belt, as a punishment.

belt sand·er n. a sander that uses a moving abrasive belt to smooth surfaces.

belt-tight·en·ing n. the introduction of rigorous reductions in spending: [as adj.] belt-tightening measures.

belt·way n. a highway encircling an urban area.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Beltway) [often as adj.] Washington, DC, esp. as representing the perceived insularity of the U.S. government: conventional beltway wisdom. <ORIGIN> transferred use by association with the beltway encircling Washington.

Belt·way ban·dit n. INFORMAL a company that does a large percentage of its business as a federal government contractor. See BELTWAY.

Linked entries:

BELTWAY ■

be·lu·ga n. (pl. same or -gas) 1 a small, white-toothed whale related to the narwhal, living in herds mainly in Arctic coastal waters. Also called WHITE WHALE.
<INFO>  Delphinapterus leucas, family Monodontidae.

2 a very large sturgeon occurring in the inland seas and associated rivers of central Eurasia.
<INFO>  Huso huso, family Acipenseridae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (also beluga caviar) caviar obtained from this fish.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (sense 2): from Russian belukha (sense 1), beluga (sense 2), both from 'white'.

Linked entries:

WHITE WHALE ■

bel·ve·dere n. a summerhouse or open-sided gallery, usually at rooftop level, commanding a fine view.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Italian, literally 'fair view', from bel 'beautiful' + vedere 'to view'.

be·ly·ing present participle of BELIE.

Linked entries:

BELIE ■

BEM abbr. Bachelor of Engineering of Mines.

be·ma n. (pl. -mas or -ma·ta ) the altar part or sanctuary in ancient and Orthodox churches.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (bi·ma, bi·mah) [JUDAISM] the podium or platform in a synagogue from which the Torah and Prophets are read.

- HISTORICAL the platform from which orators spoke in ancient Athens.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Greek 'step, raised place'.

Bem·ba n. (pl. same) 1 a member of a native people of Zambia.

2 the Bantu language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> of Bemba origin.

be·mire v. [trans.] ARCHAIC cover or stain with mud: his shoes were bemired, as if he had been traveling on foot.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (be bemired) be stuck in mud: men and horses and wagons all bemired.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from BE- (expressing transitivity) + MIRE.

Linked entries:

BE- ■

MIRE ■

be·moan v. [trans.] OFTEN HUMOROUS express discontent or sorrow over (something): single women bemoaning the absence of men. See note at MOURN.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'complain, lament'. The change in the second syllable (16th cent.) was due to association with MOAN, to which it is related.

Linked entries:

MOAN ■

be·muse v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (bemused) puzzle, confuse, or bewilder (someone): her bemused expression; she was accepted with bemused resignation by her parents as a hippie.

<DERIVATIVES> be·mus·ed·ly adv. be·muse·ment n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from BE- (as an intensifier) + MUSE.

Linked entries:

BE- ■

MUSE ■

ben 1 n. SCOTTISH a high mountain or mountain peak (esp. in place names): Ben Nevis.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic and Irish beann.

ben 2 n. SCOTTISH & N. IRISH an inner room in a two-roomed cottage.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: dialect variant of Middle English binne 'within' (adverb), from Old English binnan (related to Dutch and German binnen).

Be·na·res former name for VARANASI.

Linked entries:

VARANASI ■

Ben Bel·la (Muhammad) Ahmed (1918- ), Algerian statesman; prime minister 1962-63; president 1963-65. The first president of an independent Algeria, he was overthrown in a military coup.

Bench Johnny Lee (1947- ), U.S. baseball player. He was a catcher for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 until 1983. Baseball Hall of Fame (1989).

bench n. 1 a long seat for several people, typically made of wood or stone.

2 a long, sturdy work table used by a carpenter, mechanic, scientist, or other worker.

3 (the bench) the office of judge or magistrate: his appointment to the civil bench.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a judge's seat in a court.

- judges or magistrates collectively: rulings from the bench.

4 BRIT. a seat in Parliament for politicians of a specified party or position: the Conservative benches; the Opposition benches.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the politicians occupying such a seat: the pledge that was given by the Opposition benches yesterday.

5 (the bench) a seat on which sports coaches and players sit during a game when they are not playing.

6 a flat ledge in masonry or on sloping ground.

■ v. [trans.] 1 exhibit (a dog) at a show: Affenpinschers and Afghans were benched side by side. <ORIGIN> from the practice of exhibiting dogs on benches.

2 withdraw (a sports player) from play; substitute: the coach benched quarterback Randall Cunningham in favor of Jim McMahon.

3 short for BENCH PRESS.

<PHRASES> on the bench
1 appointed as or in the capacity of a judge or magistrate: he retired after twenty-five years on the bench.

2 acting as one of the possible substitutes in a sports contest.

<ORIGIN> Old English benc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bank and German Bank, also to BANK^1 .

Linked entries:

BENCH PRESS ■

BANK ■

bench·er n. [LAW] (in the UK) a senior member of any of the Inns of Court.

Bench·ley a family of U.S. writers, including: Robert Charles Benchley (1889-1945), drama critic, actor, and humorist. He was a theater critic for Life magazine (1920-29) and the New Yorker (1929-40). His son Nathaniel Benchley (1915-81) was the author of humorous novels, including Lassiter's Folly (1971). Peter Benchley (1940- ), the son of Nathaniel, wrote Jaws (1974), The Deep (1976), and White Shark (1994).

bench·mark n. 1 a standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed: [as adj.] a benchmark case.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a problem designed to evaluate the performance of a computer system: Xstones is a graphics benchmark.

2 a surveyor's mark cut in a wall, pillar, or building and used as a reference point in measuring altitudes.

■ v. [trans.] evaluate or check (something) by comparison with a standard: we are benchmarking our performance against external criteria.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] evaluate or check something in this way: we continue to benchmark against the competition.

- [intrans.] show particular results during a benchmark test: the device should benchmark at between 100 and 150 MHz.

bench·mark test n. a test using a benchmark to evaluate a computer system's performance.

bench press n. a bodybuilding and weightlifting exercise in which a lifter lies on a bench with feet on the floor and raises a weight with both arms.

■ v. (bench-press) [trans.] raise (a weight) in a bench press: Josh can bench-press more than 400 pounds | [intrans.] my elbow hurts when I bench-press.

bench run n. & v. another term for BENCH TEST.

Linked entries:

BENCH TEST ■

bench seat n. a seat across the whole width of a car.

bench test [CHIEFLY COMPUTING] n. a test carried out on a machine, a component, or software before it is released for use, to ensure that it works properly.

■ v. (bench-test) [trans.] run a bench test on (something): they are offering you the chance to bench-test their applications.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] give particular results during a bench test: it bench-tests two times faster than the previous version.

bench·warm·er n. INFORMAL a sports player who does not get selected to play; a substitute.

bench war·rant n. a written order issued by a judge authorizing the arrest of a person charged with some contempt, crime, or misdemeanor.

bench·work n. work carried out at a bench in a laboratory or workshop.

Bend a city in central Oregon; pop. 52,029.

bend 1 v. (past bent ) 1 [trans.] shape or force (something straight) into a curve or angle: the rising wind bent the long grass.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of something straight) be shaped or forced into a curve or angle: the oar bent as Lance heaved angrily at it.

- FIGURATIVE force or be forced to submit: [trans.] they want to bend me to their will | [intrans.] a refusal to bend to mob rule.

- [intrans.] (of a road, river, or path) deviate from a straight line in a specified direction; have a sharply curved course: the road bent left and then right; the river slowly bends around Davenport.

2 [intrans.] (of a person) incline the body downward from the vertical: he bent down and picked her up; I bent over my plate | [with infinitive] he bent to tie his shoelaces.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] move (a jointed part of the body) to an angled position: extend your left leg and bend your right; Irene bent her head over her work.

3 [trans.] interpret or modify (a rule) to suit oneself or somebody else: we cannot bend the rules, even for Darren.

4 [trans.] direct or devote (one's attention or energies) to a task: Eric bent all his efforts to persuading them to donate some blankets | [intrans.] she bent once more to the task of diverting the wedding guests.

5 [trans.] [NAUTICAL] attach (a sail or rope) by means of a knot: sailors were bending sails to the spars.

■ n. 1 a curve, esp. a sharp one, in a road, river, racecourse, or path.

2 a curved or angled part or form of something: making a bend in the wire.

3 a kind of knot used to join two ropes, or to tie a rope to another object, e.g. a carrick bend.

4 (the bends) decompression sickness, esp. in divers.

<PHRASES>
□ bend someone's ear INFORMAL talk to someone, esp. with great eagerness or in order to ask a favor: she regularly bent Michael's ear with her problems.

□ bend one's elbow drink alcohol.

□ bend one's (or the) knee FIGURATIVE submit: a country no longer willing to bend its knee to foreign powers.

□ bend over backward see BACKWARD.

□ on bended knee (or knees) kneeling, esp. when pleading or showing great respect.

□ around the bend INFORMAL crazy; insane: I'd tell you if you were going around the bend.

<DERIVATIVES> bend·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English bendan 'put in bonds, tension a bow by means of a string', of Germanic origin; related to BAND^1 .

Linked entries:

BACKWARD ■

BAND ■

bend 2 n. [HERALDRY] an ordinary in the form of a broad diagonal stripe from top left (dexter chief) to bottom right (sinister base) of a shield or part of one.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French bande, Old French bende 'flat strip'.

bend·er INFORMAL n. 1 [usu. in combination] an object or person that bends something else: a fender bender.

2 a wild drinking spree.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (denoting instruments such as pliers, for bending things): from BEND^1 + -ER^1 .

Linked entries:

BEND ■

-ER ■

bend sin·is·ter n. [HERALDRY] a broad diagonal stripe from top right to bottom left of a shield (a supposed sign of bastardy).

bend·y adj. (bend·i·er, bend·i·est) INFORMAL capable of bending; soft and flexible.

<DERIVATIVES> bend·i·ness n.

be·neath prep. 1 extending or directly underneath, typically with close contact: in the labyrinths beneath central Moscow.
<SPECIAL USAGE> underneath so as to be hidden, covered, or protected: unaltered even after years beneath the sea.

2 at a lower level or layer than: beneath this floor there's a cellar; her eyes were dull with dark shadows beneath them.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- lower in grade or rank than: relegated to the rank beneath theirs.

- considered of lower status or worth than: taking jobs beneath my abilities.

- behind (a physical surface): they found another layer beneath the stucco.

- behind or hidden behind (an appearance): beneath the gloss of success.

■ adv. 1 extending or directly underneath something: a house built on stilts to allow air to circulate beneath.

2 at a lower level or layer: the runways had cracked open, exposing the black earth beneath.
<SPECIAL USAGE> behind or hidden behind an appearance: the smile revealed the evil beneath.

<ORIGIN> Old English binithan, bineothan, from bi (see BY) + nithan, neothan 'below', of Germanic origin; related to NETHER.

Linked entries:

BY ■

NETHER ■

Ben·e·det·to Anthony Dominick, see BENNETT.

Linked entries:

BENNETT ■

ben·e·dic·i·te n. a blessing, esp. a grace said at table in religious communities. <ORIGIN> Middle English
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Benedicite) the canticle used in the Anglican service of matins beginning “O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord,” the text being taken from the Apocrypha. <ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.

<ORIGIN> Latin, 'bless ye!', plural imperative from benedicere 'wish well'; the first word of the canticle in Latin.

Ben·e·dict, St. (c.480-c.550), Italian hermit. He established a monastery at Monte Cassino and his Regula Monachorum (known as the Rule of St. Benedict) formed the basis of Western monasticism. Feast day, July 11 (formerly March 21).

Ben·e·dic·tine n. 1 a monk or nun of an order following the rule of St. Benedict.

2 TRADEMARK a liqueur based on brandy, originally made by Benedictine monks in France.

■ adj. of St. Benedict or the Benedictines.

<ORIGIN> from French bénédictine or modern Latin benedictinus, from the name Benedictus (see BENEDICT, ST.).

Linked entries:

BENEDICT, ST. ■

ben·e·dic·tion n. the utterance or bestowing of a blessing, esp. at the end of a religious service.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (Benediction) a service in which the congregation is blessed with the Blessed Sacrament, held mainly in the Roman Catholic Church.

- devout or formal invocation of blessedness: her arms outstretched in benediction.

- the state of being blessed: he eventually wins benediction.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin benedictio(n-), from benedicere 'wish well, bless', from bene 'well' + dicere 'say'.

Ben·e·dict's so·lu·tion (also Benedict's reagent) n. a chemical solution that changes color in the presence of glucose and other reducing sugars, used in clinical urine tests for diabetes. It is a mixture of sodium or potassium citrate, sodium carbonate, and copper sulfate.

<ORIGIN> named after S. R. Benedict (1884-1936), American chemist.

Ben·e·dic·tus n. [CHRISTIAN CHURCH] 1 an invocation beginning Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini (Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord) forming a set part of the Mass.

2 a canticle beginning Benedictus Dominus Deus (Blessed be the Lord God) from Luke 1:68-79.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: Latin, 'blessed', past participle of benedicere 'wish well'.

ben·e·fac·tion n. a donation or gift.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from late Latin benefactio(n-), from bene facere 'do good (to)', from bene 'well' + facere 'do'.

ben·e·fac·tive [GRAMMAR] adj. denoting a semantic case or construction that expresses the person or thing that benefits from the action of the verb, for example for you in I bought this for you.

■ n. the benefactive case, or a word or expression in it.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Latin benefactus 'capable of giving' + -IVE.

Linked entries:

-IVE ■

ben·e·fac·tor n. a person who gives money or other help to a person or cause.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, from bene facere 'do good (to)' (see BENEFACTION).

Linked entries:

BENEFACTION ■

ben·e·fac·tress n. a female benefactor.

be·nef·ic adj. RARE beneficent or kindly.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ASTROLOGY] relating to or denoting the planets Jupiter and Venus, traditionally considered to have a favorable influence.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin beneficus, from bene facere 'do good (to)'.

ben·e·fice n. a permanent Church appointment, typically that of a rector or vicar, for which property and income are provided in respect of pastoral duties.

<DERIVATIVES> ben·e·ficed adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin beneficium 'favor, support', from bene 'well' + facere 'do'.

be·nef·i·cent adj. (of a person) generous or doing good.
<SPECIAL USAGE> resulting in good: a beneficent democracy.

<DERIVATIVES> be·nef·i·cence n. be·nef·i·cent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin beneficent- (stem of beneficentior, comparative of beneficus 'favorable, generous'), from bene facere 'do good (to)'.

ben·e·fi·cial adj. favorable or advantageous; resulting in good: the beneficial effect on the economy; discoveries beneficial to mankind.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] of or relating to rights, other than legal title: the beneficiary will be taxed on the value of his beneficial use of the property.

<DERIVATIVES> ben·e·fi·cial·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin beneficialis, from beneficium (see BENEFICE).

Linked entries:

BENEFICE ■

ben·e·fi·cials plural n. insects that are a boon to gardeners: daisies that are highly attractive to five key kinds of beneficials (ladybugs, lacewings, hover flies, tachinid flies, and miniwasps).

ben·e·fi·ci·ar·y n. (pl. -ar·ies) a person who derives advantage from something, esp. a trust, will, or life insurance policy.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin beneficiarius, from beneficium (see BENEFICE).

Linked entries:

BENEFICE ■

ben·e·fit n. 1 an advantage or profit gained from something: tenants bought their houses with the benefit of a discount; enjoy the benefits of being a member | uninformed criticism is of benefit to no one.

2 a payment or gift made by an employer, the state, or an insurance company: welfare benefits; wages and benefits.

3 a public performance or other entertainment of which the proceeds go to a particular charitable cause.

■ v. (-fit·ed, -fit·ing or -fit·ted, -fit·ting) [intrans.] receive an advantage; profit; gain: areas that would benefit from regeneration.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] bring advantage to: the bill will benefit the nation.

<PHRASES>
□ benefit of clergy
1 HISTORICAL exemption of the English clergy and nuns from the jurisdiction of the ordinary civil courts, granted in the Middle Ages but abolished in 1827.

2 ecclesiastical sanction or approval: they lived together without benefit of clergy.

□ the benefit of the doubt a concession that a person or fact must be regarded as correct or justified, if the contrary has not been proven: I'll give you the benefit of the doubt as to whether it was deliberate or not.

□ for the benefit of
1 in order to help, guide, or be of service to: a man who has spent his life fighting evil for the benefit of the community.

2 in order to interest or impress someone: it was all an act put on for his benefit.

□ give someone the benefit of OFTEN IRONIC explain or recount to someone at length: the whole assembly was given the benefit of his opinions.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally denoting a kind deed or something well done): from Old French bienfet, from Latin benefactum 'good deed', from bene facere 'do good (to)'.

Ben·e·lux a collective name for Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, esp. with reference to their economic union.

<ORIGIN> 1947: acronym from Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

be·nev·o·lent adj. well meaning and kindly: a benevolent smile.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an organization) serving a charitable rather than a profit-making purpose: a benevolent fund.

<DERIVATIVES> be·nev·o·lence n. be·nev·o·lent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French benivolent, from Latin bene volent- 'well wishing', from bene 'well' + velle 'to wish'.

Ben·ford's Law n. [MATHEMATICS] the principle that in any large, randomly produced set of natural numbers, such as tables of logarithms or corporate sales statistics, around 30 percent will begin with the digit 1, 18 percent with 2, and so on, with the smallest percentage beginning with 9. The law is applied in analyzing the validity of statistics and financial records.

<ORIGIN> Named for U.S. physicist Frank Benford, whose 1938 paper demonstrated the statistical validity of the phenomenon.

BEng abbr. Bachelor of Engineering.

beng·a n. a style of African popular music originating in Kenya, characterized by a fusion of traditional Kenyan music and a lively arrangement of guitars, bass, and vocals.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: from Luo (a Kenyan language).

Ben·gal a region in the northeast of the Indian subcontinent that contains the Ganges and Brahmaputra river deltas. In 1947, the province was divided into West Bengal, which has remained a state of India, and East Bengal, which is now Bangladesh.

Ben·gal, Bay of a part of the Indian Ocean that lies between India on the west and Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand on the east.

Ben·ga·li n. (pl. -lis) 1 a native of Bengal.

2 the Indic language of Bangladesh and West Bengal.

■ adj. of or relating to Bengal, its people, or their language.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi .

ben·ga·line n. a strong ribbed fabric made of a mixture of silk and either cotton or wool.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, so named because of a similarity with archaic Bengals denoting fabrics, usually silks, imported from Bengal.

Ben·gal light n. a kind of firework giving off a blue flame and used for lighting or signaling.

Ben·gha·zi a Mediterranean port in northeastern Libya; pop. 485,400. It was the joint capital (with Tripoli) 1951-72.

Ben·guel·a a port and railroad terminal in Angola, on the Atlantic coast; pop. 155,000. Copper is brought here from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

Ben·guel·a Cur·rent a cold ocean current that flows north from Antarctica along the west coast of southern Africa as far as Angola.

Ben-Gu·rion David (1886-1973), Israeli statesman; prime minister 1948-53 and 1955-63. He was Israel’s first prime minister and minister of defense.

Be·ni Riv·er a river that flows for 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from central to northern Bolivia, east of the Andes, into the Madeira River.

Be·ni·cia a city in north central California, north of San Francisco Bay; pop. 24,437.

be·night·ed adj. 1 in a state of pitiful or contemptible intellectual or moral ignorance, typically owing to a lack of opportunity: they saw themselves as bringers of culture to poor benighted peoples.

2 overtaken by darkness: a storm developed and we were forced to wait benighted near the summit.

<DERIVATIVES> be·night·ed·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (sense 2): past participle of archaic benight 'cover in the darkness of night, obscure' (see BE-, NIGHT).

Linked entries:

BE- ■

NIGHT ■

be·nign adj. 1 gentle; kindly: her face was calm and benign; his benign but firm manner.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a climate or environment) mild and favorable:

- not harmful to the environment: [in combination] an ozone-benign refrigerant.

2 [MEDICINE] (of a disease) not harmful in effect: in particular, (of a tumor) not malignant.

<DERIVATIVES> be·nign·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French benigne, from Latin benignus, probably from bene 'well' + -genus '-born'. Compare with GENTLE.

Linked entries:

GENTLE ■

be·nig·nant adj. 1 kindly and benevolent: an old man, with a face noble and benignant.

2 [MEDICINE] less common term for BENIGN (sense 2).
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC having a good effect; beneficial: the benignant touch of love and beauty.

<DERIVATIVES> be·nig·nan·cy n. be·nig·nant·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from BENIGN, or Latin benignus, on the pattern of malignant.

Linked entries:

BENIGN ■

BENIGN ■

be·nig·ni·ty n. (pl. -ties) kindness or tolerance toward others: his air of benignity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC an act of kindness.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French benignite or Latin benignitas, from benignus (see BENIGN).

Linked entries:

BENIGN ■

be·nign ne·glect n. a noninterference that is intended to benefit someone or something more than continual attention would.

Be·nin a country in West Africa, just west of Nigeria; pop. 7,250,000; capital, Porto Novo; languages, French (official), West African languages. Former name (until 1975) DAHOMEY.

The country was conquered by the French in 1893 and became part of French West Africa. In 1960, it achieved independence.

<DERIVATIVES> Be·ni·nese adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> name adopted in 1975, formerly used by an African kingdom, powerful in the 14th-17th cents.

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DAHOMEY ■

Be·nin, Bight of a wide bay on the coast of Africa north of the Gulf of Guinea, bordered by Togo, Benin, and southwestern Nigeria. Lagos is its chief port.

ben·i·son n. POETIC/LITERARY a blessing: the rewards and benisons of marriage.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French beneiçun, from Latin benedictio (see BENEDICTION).

Linked entries:

BENEDICTION ■

Ben·ja·min (in the Bible) a Hebrew patriarch, the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, and Jacob’s favorite (Gen. 35:18, 42, etc.).
<SPECIAL USAGE> the smallest tribe of Israel, traditionally descended from him.

ben·ne n. another term for SESAME.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Malay bene.

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SESAME ■

Ben·nett Tony (1926- ), U.S. singer; born Anthony Dominick Benedetto. A popular jazz singer in the early 1950s with such hits as "Because of You" (1951), he made a successful comeback during the 1990s.

Ben Ne·vis a mountain in western Scotland. Rising to 4,406 feet (1,343 m), it is the highest mountain in the British Isles.

Ben·ning·ton a historic town in southwestern Vermont; pop. 15,737.

Ben·ny Jack (1894-1974), U.S. comedian and actor; born Benjamin Kubelsky. He made his radio debut in 1931 on The Ed Sullivan Show and launched his own series in 1932. The Jack Benny Show was successfully transferred to television in 1950 and ran until 1965. Benny was renowned for his timing, delivery, and mordant, self-effacing humor.

ben·ny 1 n. (pl. -nies) INFORMAL a tablet of Benzedrine.

ben·ny 2 n. (pl. -nies) INFORMAL a benefit attached to employment.

ben·o·myl n. a systemic fungicide used on fruit and vegetable crops, derived from imidazole.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from ben(z)o- + m(eth)yl.

Be·no·ni a city in South Africa, east of Johannesburg; pop. 206,800. It is a gold-mining center.

Ben·sa·lem a township in southeastern Pennsylvania; pop. 58,434.

Ben·son·hurst a residential section in southwestern Brooklyn in New York City.

bent 1 past and past participle of BEND^1 .

■ adj. 1 sharply curved or having an angle: a piece of bent wire; his bent shoulders.

2 INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. dishonest; corrupt: a bent cop.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- stolen.

- homosexual.

3 (bent on) determined to do or have something: a missionary bent on saving souls; a mob bent on violence.

■ n. a natural talent or inclination: a man of religious bent; she had no natural bent for literature.

<PHRASES> bent out of shape INFORMAL angry or agitated: it was just a mistake, nothing to get bent out of shape about.

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BEND ■

bent 2 n. 1 (also bent grass) a stiff grass that is used for lawns and is a component of pasture and hay grasses.
<INFO>  Agrostis and other genera, family Graminae: several species, including common bent (A. capillaris (or tenuis)).

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the stiff flowering stalk of a grass.

- ARCHAIC any stiff-stemmed or rushlike grass or sedge.

2 BRIT., ARCHAIC or DIALECT a heath or unenclosed pasture.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: representing Old English beonet (recorded in place names); related to German Binse.

Ben·tham Jeremy (1748-1832), English philosopher and jurist, the first major proponent of utilitarianism. He wrote Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789).

ben·thos n. [ECOLOGY] the flora and fauna found on the bottom, or in the bottom sediments, of a sea, lake, or other body of water.

<DERIVATIVES> ben·thic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek, 'depth of the sea'.

ben·to n. (pl. -tos) a lacquered or decorated wooden Japanese lunchbox.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a Japanese-style packed lunch, consisting of such items as rice, vegetables, and sashimi (raw fish with condiments).

<ORIGIN> Japanese.

Ben·ton 1 Thomas Hart (1782-1858), U.S. politician. A Democratic member of the U.S. Senate from Missouri (1821-51), he supported frontier explorations and opposed extending slavery to the territories.

Ben·ton 2 Thomas Hart (1889-1975), U.S. painter, a grandnephew of Senator Thomas Hart Benton. His paintings, of the American naturalist school, represent life in the Midwest.

ben·ton·ite n. a kind of absorbent clay formed by the breakdown of volcanic ash, used esp. as a filler.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from the name of Fort Benton in Montana, where it is found, + -ITE^1 .

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Bent·sen Lloyd (Millard, Jr.) (1921- ), U.S. politician. He was a Democratic member of the U.S. Senate from Texas 1971-93, a vice presidential candidate 1988, and secretary of the treasury 1993-94.

Bent's Fort a historic site in east central Colorado, northeast of La Junta, on the Arkansas River and the former Santa Fe Trail.

bent·wood n. wood that is artificially shaped for use in making furniture: [as adj.] bentwood chairs.

Be·nue-Con·go n. a major branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages, spoken mainly in Nigeria and including Efik and Fula.

■ adj. of, relating to, or denoting this group of languages.

<ORIGIN> from the names of rivers.

Be·nue Riv·er a river that flows for 870 miles (1,400 km) from northern Cameroon into Nigeria, where it joins the Niger River.

be·numb v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (benumbed) deprive of physical or emotional feeling: a hoarse shout cut through his benumbed senses.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from obsolete benome, past participle of benim 'deprive', from BE- (expressing removal) + Old English niman 'take'.

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Ben·xi a city in northeastern China, in the province of Liaoning; pop. 920,000.

Benz Karl Friedrich (1844-1929), German engineer and automobile manufacturer. In 1885 he built the first vehicle to be powered by an internal combustion engine. His company merged with the Daimler Motor Company to form Daimler-Benz AG in 1926.

benz·al·de·hyde n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless liquid aldehyde with the odor of bitter almonds, used in the manufacture of dyes and perfumes.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_6H_5CHO.

Ben·ze·drine n. trademark for AMPHETAMINE.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: blend of BENZOIN and EPHEDRINE.

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BENZOIN ■

EPHEDRINE ■

ben·zene n. a colorless volatile liquid hydrocarbon present in coal tar and petroleum, used in chemical synthesis. Its use as a solvent has been reduced because of its carcinogenic properties.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_6H_6.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BENZOIN + -ENE.

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-ENE ■

ben·zene hex·a·chlor·ide (abbr.: BHC) n. 1 a compound of benzene and chlorine used as an insecticide.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_6H_6Cl_6.

2 used as a general term for LINDANE.

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ben·zene ring n. [CHEMISTRY] the hexagonal unsaturated ring of six carbon atoms present in benzene and many other aromatic molecules.

ben·ze·noid adj. [CHEMISTRY] having the six-membered ring structure or aromatic properties of benzene.

ben·zi·dine n. a crystalline base used in making dyes and in detecting blood stains.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: NH_2C_6H_4C_6H_4NH_2.

ben·zine (also ben·zin ) n. a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (denoting benzene): from BENZOIN + -INE^4 .

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-INE ■

ben·zo·caine n. a white, odorless, crystalline powder used in ointments as a local anesthetic and to protect against sunburn.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: NH_2C_6H_4C_6H_4NH_2.

ben·zo·di·az·e·pine n. [MEDICINE] any of a class of heterocyclic organic compounds used as tranquilizers, such as Librium and Valium.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from BENZENE + DI-1 + AZO- + EPI- + -INE^4 .

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DI- ■

AZO- ■

EPI- ■

-INE ■

ben·zo·ic ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a white crystalline substance present in benzoin and other plant resins, and used as a food preservative.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_6H_5COOH.

<DERIVATIVES> ben·zo·ate n.

ben·zo·in n. 1 (also gum benzoin) a fragrant gum resin obtained from a tropical tree of eastern Asia, used in medicines, perfumes, and incense. Also called GUM BENJAMIN.
<INFO>  This is obtained from several species of the genus Styrax, family Styracaceae, in particular S. benzoin.

2 [CHEMISTRY] a white crystalline aromatic ketone present in this resin.
<INFO>  Alternative name: 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone; chem. formula: C_6H_5CHOHCOC_6H_5.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French benjoin, based on Arabic 'incense of Java'.

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GUM BENJAMIN ■

ben·zo·phe·none n. a white, crystalline ketone that is used in perfume, sunscreen, and as a flavoring agent.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_6H_5COC_6H_5.

ben·zo·py·rene n. [CHEMISTRY] a compound that is the major carcinogen present in cigarette smoke. It also occurs in coal tar.
<INFO>  A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; chem. formula: C_20H_12.

ben·zo·qui·none n. [CHEMISTRY] a yellow crystalline compound related to benzene but having two hydrogen atoms replaced by oxygen.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_6H_4O_2; there are two isomers, with the oxygen atoms on opposite ( 1,4-benzoquinone) or adjacent ( 1,2-benzoquinone) carbon atoms.

ben·zo·yl n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] the acyl radical C(O)C_6H_5, derived from benzoic acid: benzoyl peroxide.

ben·zo·yl per·ox·ide n. an antibacterial ingredient used in acne medications.

ben·zyl n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] the radical CH_2C_6H_5, derived from toluene: benzyl benzoate.

Be·o·thuk n. (pl. same or -thuks) 1 a member of an extinct North American Indian people of Newfoundland.

2 the language of this people, of unknown affinity.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> probably the name in Beothuk.

Be·o·wulf an Old English epic poem celebrating the legendary Scandinavian hero Beowulf.

Generally dated to the 8th century, it was the first major poem in a European vernacular language and is the only complete Germanic epic that survives. It describes Beowulf's killing of the water monster Grendel and its mother and his death in combat with a dragon, and includes both pagan and Christian elements.

be·queath v. [trans.] leave (a personal estate or one's body) to a person or other beneficiary by a will: an identical sum was bequeathed by Margaret; he bequeathed his art collection to the town.
<SPECIAL USAGE> pass (something) on or leave (something) to someone else: he is ditching the unpopular policies bequeathed to him.

<DERIVATIVES> be·queath·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English becwethan, from BE- 'about' (expressing transitivity) + cwethan 'say' (see QUOTH).

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be·quest n. a legacy: her $135,000 was the largest bequest the library ever has received.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of bequeathing something: a painting acquired by bequest.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from BE- 'about' + Old English cwis 'speech', influenced by BEQUEATH.

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be·rate v. [trans.] scold or criticize (someone) angrily: my son berated me for not giving him a Jewish upbringing. See note at SCOLD.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from BE- 'thoroughly' + RATE^2 .

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RATE ■

Ber·ber n. 1 a member of an indigenous people of North Africa. The majority of Berbers are settled farmers or (now) migrant workers.

2 the Afro-Asiatic language of these peoples. There are several different dialects; some of them, e.g., Tamashek, are regarded by some scholars as separate languages.

■ adj. of or relating to these peoples or their language.

<ORIGIN> from Arabic barbar, from Greek barbarus 'foreigner' (see BARBARIAN).

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BARBARIAN ■

ber·be·rine n. [CHEMISTRY] a bitter yellow compound of the alkaloid class obtained from barberry and other plants.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from BERBERIS + -INE^4 .

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ber·ceuse n. (pl. -ceuses pronunc. same ) a lullaby.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a piece of instrumental music in the style of a lullaby.

<ORIGIN> French, from bercer 'to rock'.

Berch·tes·ga·den a town in southern Germany, in the Bavarian Alps close to the border with Austria; pop. 8,186. Adolf Hitler had a fortified retreat there.

be·reave v. (be bereaved) be deprived of a loved one through a profound absence, esp. due to the loved one's death: the year after they had been bereaved | [as adj.] (bereaved) bereaved families | [as plural n.] (the bereaved) those who counsel the bereaved.

<DERIVATIVES> be·reave·ment n.

<ORIGIN> Old English (see BE-, REAVE). The original sense was 'deprive of' in general.

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REAVE ■

be·reft archaic past participle of BEREAVE.

■ adj. deprived of or lacking something, esp. a nonmaterial asset: her room was stark and bereft of color.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) lonely and abandoned, esp. through someone's death or departure: his death in 1990 left her bereft.

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BEREAVE ■

Ber·e·ni·ce (3rd century BC), Egyptian queen; wife of Ptolemy III. She offered her hair for the safe return of her husband from an expedition; the hair was stolen and, according to legend, placed in the heavens. The constellation Coma Berenices (Berenice's hair) is named after her.

be·ret n. a round flattish cap of felt or cloth.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French béret 'Basque cap', from Old Provençal berret, based on late Latin birrus 'hooded cape'. Compare with BIRETTA.

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be·ret·ta n. variant spelling of BIRETTA.

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BIRETTA ■

Berg Alban (Maria Johannes) (1885-1935), Austrian composer, a leading exponent of twelve-tone composition.

berg n. short for ICEBERG.

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ICEBERG ■

ber·ga·mot n. 1 an oily substance extracted from the rind of the fruit of a dwarf variety of the Seville orange tree. It is used in cosmetics and as flavoring in tea.

2 (also bergamot orange) the tree that bears this fruit.
<INFO>  Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia, family Rutaceae.

3 an aromatic North American herb of the mint family, grown for its bright flowers and traditionally used in American Indian medicine. Also called BEE BALM, OSWEGO TEA.
<INFO>  Monarda didyma, family Labiatae.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (sense 2): named after the city and province of Bergamo in northern Italy.

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OSWEGO TEA ■

Ber·gen a seaport in southwestern Norway; pop. 213,344. It is a center of the fishing and North Sea oil industries.

Ber·gen·field a suburban borough in northeastern New Jersey; pop. 24,458.

Ber·ger 1 Hans (1873-1941), German psychiatrist. He detected electric currents in the brain’s cortex and developed encephalography.

Ber·ger 2 Thomas (1924- ), U.S. writer. His works include Crazy in Berlin (1958), Little Big Man (1964), The Feud (1983), and Meeting Evil (1992).

Ber·ge·rac see CYRANO DE BERGERAC.

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CYRANO DE BERGERAC ■

ber·gère n. a long-seated upholstered armchair fashionable in the 18th century.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a later example of this, in which the upholstery is replaced with canework seat, back, and sides.

Ber·gi·us Friedrich Karl Rudolf (1884-1949), German industrial chemist. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1931, shared with Carl Bosch 1874-1940).

Berg·man 1 (Ernst) Ingmar (1918- ), Swedish movie and theater director. He used haunting imagery and symbolism. Notable films: Smiles of a Summer Night (1955), The Seventh Seal (1956), and Fanny and Alexander (1982).

Berg·man 2 Ingrid (1915-82), Swedish actress. Notable movies: Casablanca (1942), Gaslight (Academy Award, 1944), Anastasia (Academy Award, 1956), and Murder on the Orient Express (Academy Award, 1974).

Berg·son Henri (Louis) (1859-1941), French philosopher. He wrote Creative Evolution (1907). Nobel Prize for Literature (1927).

Be·ri·a Lavrenti (Pavlovich) (1899-1953), Soviet politician and head of the secret police 1938-53. After Joseph Stalin's death, he was arrested and executed.

be·rib·boned adj. decorated with many ribbons.

ber·i·ber·i n. a disease causing inflammation of the nerves and heart failure, caused by a deficiency of vitamin B_1.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Sinhalese, from beri 'weakness'.

Ber·ing Vitus (Jonassen) (1681-1741), Danish navigator and explorer. He led several Russian expeditions to determine whether Asia and North America were connected by land. The Bering Sea and Bering Strait are named after him.

Be·rin·gi·a the area comprising the Bering Strait and adjacent parts of Siberia and Alaska, esp. in connection with the migration of animals across the former Bering land bridge. See BERING STRAIT.

<DERIVATIVES> Beringian adj.

Ber·ing Sea an arm of the North Pacific Ocean that lies between northeastern Siberia in Russia and Alaska, bounded on the south by the Aleutian Islands. It is linked to the Arctic Ocean by the Bering Strait. Both the sea and the strait are named after Vitus Bering.

Ber·ing Strait a narrow sea passage that separates the eastern tip of Siberia in Russia from Alaska and links the Arctic Ocean with the Bering Sea, about 53 miles (85 km) wide at its narrowest point. During the Ice Age, as a result of a drop in sea levels, the Bering land bridge formed between the two continents, allowing the migration of animals and dispersal of plants in both directions.

Berke·ley 1 a city in western California, on San Francisco Bay, site of a campus of the University of California; pop. 102,724.

Berke·ley 2 Busby (1895-1976), U.S. choreographer and movie director; born William Berkeley Enos. He is remembered for his spectacular movie sequences in which dancers formed kaleidoscopic patterns on the screen. Notable movies: Gold Diggers series (1922-37) and Babes in Arms (1939).

Berke·ley 3 George (1685-1753), Irish philosopher and bishop. He argued that material objects exist only by being perceived.

<DERIVATIVES> Berke·le·ian·ism n.

ber·ke·li·um n. the chemical element of atomic number 97, a radioactive metal of the actinide series. Berkelium does not occur naturally and was first made by bombarding americium with helium ions. (Symbol: Bk)

<ORIGIN> 1949: from BERKELEY^1 , California (where it was first made) + -IUM.

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-IUM ■

Berk·shire (in full Berkshire Pig) n. a pig of a black breed, now rarely kept commercially.

Berk·shire Hills an upland in western Massachusetts, noted as a resort area.

Berle Milton (1908-2002 ), U.S. comedian and actor; real name Milton Berlinger. He began as a vaudeville entertainer and went on to star on radio, stage, movies and, in particular, on television with the "Texaco Star Theater" from 1948 until 1956 (renamed "The Milton Berle Show" in 1953).

Ber·lin 1 the capital of Germany; pop. 3,102,500. At the end of World War II, the city was occupied by the Allies and divided into two parts: West Berlin and East Berlin. Between 1961 and 1989, the Berlin Wall separated the two parts, which were reunited in 1990.

Ber·lin 2 Irving (1888-1989), U.S. composer of popular music; born in Russia; born Israel Baline. He wrote more than 800 songs, many of which are regarded as popular "standards” or classics. Notable works: “Alexander's Ragtime Band” (1911), “God Bless America” (1939), and “White Christmas” (1942), and the musical Annie get Your Gun (1946; film 1950).

Ber·li·ner n. a native or citizen of Berlin.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: German.

Berlinger Milton, see BERLE.

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BERLE ■

Ber·lin Wall a fortified and heavily guarded wall built on the boundary between East and West Berlin in 1961 by the communist authorities, chiefly to curb the flow of East Germans to the West. It was opened in November 1989 after the collapse of the communist regime in East Germany and subsequently was dismantled.

Ber·lin work n. worsted embroidery on canvas.

Ber·li·oz Hector (1803-69), French composer; full name Louis-Hector Berlioz. Notable works: Les Troyens (opera, 1856-59), Symphonie fantastique (1830), and La Damnation de Faust (cantata, 1846).

berm n. a flat strip of land, raised bank, or terrace bordering a river or canal.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a path or grass strip beside a road.

- an artificial ridge or embankment, e.g., as a defense against tanks.

- a narrow space, esp. one between a ditch and the base of a parapet.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (DENOTING A NARROW SPACE): from French berme, from Dutch berm.

Ber·mu·da (also the Ber·mu·das) a British crown colony made up of about 150 small islands about 650 miles (1,046 km) east of the coast of North Carolina; pop. 58,000; capital, Hamilton. Inhabited since 1609, it now has internal self-government.

<DERIVATIVES> Ber·mu·dan adj. & n. Ber·mu·di·an adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> named after a Spanish sailor, Juan Bermúdez, who sighted the islands early in the 16th cent.

Ber·mu·da grass n. a creeping grass common in warmer parts of the world, used for lawns and pasture.
<INFO>  Cynodon dactylon, family Graminae.

Ber·mu·da High [METEOROLOGY] n. a semipermanent area of high pressure located over Bermuda in summer and fall that steers many storm systems westward across the Atlantic. Compare with AZORES HIGH.

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AZORES HIGH ■

Ber·mu·da Hun·dred a locality southeast of Richmond in Virginia, the site of an 1864 Civil War battle.

Ber·mu·da on·ion n. a variety of cultivated onion with a mild flavor and a flattened shape.

Ber·mu·da rig n. a tall yachting rig with a high, tapering fore-and-aft mainsail.

Ber·mu·da shorts (also Ber·mu·das) plural n. casual knee-length shorts.

Ber·mu·da Tri·an·gle an area of the western Atlantic Ocean between Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico where a large number of ships and aircraft are said to have disappeared mysteriously.

Ber·na·dette, St. (1844-79), French peasant girl; born Marie Bernarde Soubirous. Her visions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes in 1858 led to the town's establishment as a center of pilgrimage. Feast day, February 18.

Ber·na·dotte 1 Folke, Count (1895-1948), Swedish statesman. As vice president of the Swedish Red Cross he arranged the exchange of prisoners of war and in 1945 conveyed a German offer of capitulation to the Allies. Appointed as UN mediator in Palestine in 1948, he was assassinated by the Stern Gang.

Ber·na·dotte 2 Jean Baptiste Jules (1763-1844), French soldier who became king of Sweden as Charles XIV 1818-44. One of Napoleon's marshals, he was adopted by Charles XIII of Sweden in 1810 and later became king, thus founding Sweden's present royal house.

Ber·nard Claude (1813-78), French physiologist. He showed the role of the pancreas in digestion, the method of regulation of body temperature, and the function of nerves that supply the internal organs.

Ber·nard, St. (c.996-c.1081), French monk. He founded two hospices for travelers in the Alps. The St. Bernard passes, where the hospices were situated, and St. Bernard dogs, once kept by the monks and trained to aid travelers, are named after him. Feast day, May 28.

Ber·nard of Clair·vaux, St. (1090-1153), French theologian and abbot. The first abbot of Clairvaux, his monastery was one of the chief centers of the Cistercian order. Feast day, August 20.

Berne (also Bern) the capital of Switzerland, in the west central part of the country; pop. 134,620.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a canton of Switzerland.

<DERIVATIVES> Ber·nese adj. & n.

Ber·nese moun·tain dog n. a large muscular dog of a Swiss breed with a silky black coat, having white and russet markings.

Bern·hardt Sarah (1844-1923), French actress; born Henriette Rosine Bernard. She was noted for her portrayal of Marguerite in La Dame aux camélias and of Cordelia in King Lear.

Ber·ni·ni Gian Lorenzo (1598-1680), Italian sculptor, painter, and architect. His work includes the great canopy over the altar and the colonnade around the piazza at St. Peter's in Rome.

Ber·noul·li a Swiss family that produced many eminent mathematicians and scientists:
<SPECIAL USAGE> Jakob (1654-1705), a professor of mathematics; also known as Jacques or James Bernoulli. He made discoveries in calculus and contributed to geometry and the theory of probabilities.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Johann (1667-1748), the brother of Jakob; also known as Jean or John Bernoulli. He contributed to differential and integral calculus.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Daniel (1700-82), son of Johann. His greatest contributions were to hydrodynamics and mathematical physics.

Ber·noul·li's prin·ci·ple n. the principle in hydrodynamics that an increase in the velocity of a stream of fluid results in a decrease in pressure. Also called Bernoulli effect or Bernoulli theorem.

<ORIGIN> Named for Swiss mathematician Daniel Bernoulli (1700-82).

Bern·stein 1 Carl (1944- ), U.S. journalist. He was the Washington Post reporter who, with Bob Woodward, broke the story of the Watergate burglary and traced the financial payoffs to President Nixon. With Woodward, he wrote All The President's Men (1974) and The Final Days (1976).

Bern·stein 2 Leonard (1918-90), U.S. composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a conductor with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra 1945-48 and 1957-69. Notable works: The Age of Anxiety (symphony, 1947-49), West Side Story (musical, 1957), and music for the movie On the Waterfront (1954).

Ber·ra Yogi (1925- ), U.S. baseball player; born Lawrence Peter Berra. He was especially noted as a catcher with the New York Yankees, setting the record for the most home runs (313) by a catcher in the American League. He became known for his pithy sayings, such as “You can't think and hit at the same time.” Baseball Hall of Fame (1972).

ber·ried adj. 1 bearing or covered with berries.

2 like a berry or berries, as in flavor or shape.

3 (of crustaceans or fish) bearing eggs.

Ber·ry Chuck (1931- ), U.S. rock-and-roll singer, guitarist, and songwriter; born Charles Edward Berry. One of the first great rock-and-roll stars, his recording career was interruped by a period of imprisonment 1962-64. Notable songs: Maybelline” (1955), “Johnny B Goode” (1958), and “My Ding A Ling” (1972).

ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) a small roundish juicy fruit without a stone: juniper berries | [as adj.] berry clusters.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BOTANY] any fruit that has its seeds enclosed in a fleshy pulp, for example, a banana or tomato.

- any of various kernels or seeds, such as the coffee bean.

- a fish egg or the roe of a lobster or similar creature.

<ORIGIN> Old English berie, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bes and German Beere.

ber·ry·ing n. the activity of gathering berries: let's go berrying.

Ber·ry·man John (1914-72), U.S. poet and educator. His notable works include the Pulitzer Prize-winning 77 Dream Songs (1964).

ber·seem clo·ver n. a white-flowered clover. Native to Egypt and Syria, it is an established forage plant in the southern U.S. Also called EGYPTIAN CLOVER.
<INFO>  Trifolium alexandrinum, family Leguminosae.

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ber·serk adj. (of a person or animal) out of control with anger or excitement; wild or frenzied: after she left him, he went berserk, throwing things about the apartment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a mechanical device or system) operating in a wild or erratic way; out of control: the climate control went berserk and either roasted or froze us.

- (of a procedure, program, or activity) fluctuating wildly: the stock market's gone berserk, with sugar at 15.27 cents a pound.

<ORIGIN>  early 19th cent. (originally as a noun denoting a wild Norse warrior who fought with frenzy): from Old Norse berserkr (noun), probably from birn-, (see BEAR^2 ) + serkr 'coat', but also possibly from berr 'bare' (i.e., without armor).

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ber·serk·er n. an ancient Norse warrior who fought in a wild frenzy.

berth n. 1 a ship's allotted place at a wharf or dock.

2 a fixed bed or bunk on a ship, train, or other means of transport.

3 INFORMAL (often in a sports context) a situation or position in an organization or event: today's victory clinched a berth for the Orioles in the playoffs.

■ v. [trans.] 1 moor (a ship) in its allotted place: these modern ships can almost berth themselves.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (of a ship) dock: the Dutch freighter berthed at the Brooklyn docks.

2 (of a passenger ship) provide a sleeping place for (someone).

<PHRASES> give a wide berth steer (a ship) well clear of something while passing it: ships are advised to give a wide berth to the Outer Banks.
- FIGURATIVE stay away from someone or something: I'd sworn to give women a wide berth.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'adequate sea room'): probably from a nautical use of BEAR^1 + -TH^2 .

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BEAR ■

-TH ■

ber·tha n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a deep collar, typically made of lace, attached to the top of a dress that has a low neckline.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the given name Bertha.

berth·ing n. 1 the action of mooring a ship: as soon as the berthing was complete, they went ashore.

2 mooring position; accommodation in berths: there were more than 12 miles of berthing.

Ber·til·lon Alphonse (1853-1914), French criminologist. He devised a system of body measurements (the Bertillon system) for the identification of criminals, which was widely used until superseded by the technique of finger printing at the beginning of the 20th century.

Ber·to·luc·ci Bernardo (1940- ), Italian movie director. Notable works: The Spider's Stratagem (1970), Last Tango in Paris (1972), The Last Emperor (Academy Award, 1988), and The Dreamers (2003).

Ber·wyn a city in northeastern Illinois, west of Chicago; pop. 45,426.

ber·yl n. a transparent pale green, blue, or yellow mineral consisting of a silicate of beryllium and aluminum, sometimes used as a gemstone.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French beril, via Latin from Greek .

be·ryl·li·o·sis n. [MEDICINE] poisoning by beryllium or beryllium compounds, esp. by inhalation causing fibrosis of the lungs.

be·ryl·li·um n. the chemical element of atomic number 4, a hard gray metal. (Symbol: Be)

Beryllium is the lightest of the alkaline earth metals, and its chief source is the mineral beryl. It is used in the manufacture of light corrosion-resistant alloys and in windows in X-ray equipment.

Ber·ze·li·us Jöns Jakob (1779-1848), Swedish analytical chemist. He determined the atomic weights of many elements and discovered cerium, selenium, and thorium.

Bes [EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY] a grotesque god depicted as having short legs, an obese body, and an almost bestial face, who dispelled evil spirits.

Be·san·çon a city in northeastern France; pop. 119,200.

Besch·loss Michael (1955-), U.S. historian and writer. Among his books on the twentieth-century presidency are Mayday: Eisenhower, Khrushchev, and the U-2 Affair (1986), The Crisis Years: Kennedy and Khrushchev, 1960-1963 (1991), and The Conquerors: Roosevelt, Truman, and the Destruction of Hitler's Germany, 1941-1945 (2002). He is a commentator on PBS and ABC.

be·seech v. (past -sought or -seeched) [reporting verb] FORMAL or LITERARY ask (someone) urgently and fervently to do something; implore; entreat: [trans.] they beseeched him to stay | [trans.] “You have got to believe me,” Gloria beseeched him | [trans.] they earnestly beseeched his forgiveness | [as adj.] (beseeching) a beseeching gaze. See note at BEG.

<DERIVATIVES> be·seech·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from BE- (as an intensifier) + Old English (see SEEK).

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SEEK ■

be·seem v. [trans.] ARCHAIC seem; befit.

be·set v. (-set·ting; past and past part. -set) [trans.] 1 (of a problem or difficulty) trouble or threaten persistently: the social problems that beset the inner city; she was beset with self-doubt | [as adj.] poverty is a besetting problem.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- surround and harass; assail on all sides: I was beset by clouds of flies.
See note at ATTACK.
- hem in; enclose: the ship was beset by ice.

2 (be beset with) ARCHAIC be covered or studded with: blades of grass beset with glistening drops of dew.

<ORIGIN> Old English besettan, from BE- 'around' + settan (see SET^1 ).

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BE- ■

SET ■

be·shrew v. [trans.] ARCHAIC 1 make wicked; deprave.

2 invoke evil upon; curse; blame for a misfortune.

be·side prep. 1 at the side of; next to: he sat beside me in the front seat; on the table beside the bed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> compared with: beside Beth's idealism, my priorities looked shabby.

2 in addition to; apart from: he commissioned work from other artists beside Rivera.

<PHRASES>
□ beside oneself overcome with worry or anger; distraught: she was beside herself with anguish.

□ beside the point see POINT.

<ORIGIN> Old English (adverb) 'by the side' (see BY, SIDE).

<USAGE>
It is sometimes said that beside should not be used to mean ‘apart from’ and that besides should be used instead (he commissioned work from other artists besides Minton rather than he commissioned work from other artists beside Minton). Although there is little logical basis for such a view, and in standard English both beside and besides are used for this sense, it is worth being aware of the potential ambiguity in the use of beside: beside the cold meat, there are platters of trout and salmon means either ‘the cold meat is next to the trout and salmon’ or ‘apart from the cold meat, there are also trout and salmon’. Beside is the word to use in the phrases beside the point and beside oneself.

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POINT ■

BY ■

SIDE ■

be·sides prep. in addition to; apart from: I have no other family besides my parents; besides being a player, he was my friend.

■ adv. in addition; as well: I'm capable of doing the work, and a lot more besides.
<SPECIAL USAGE> moreover; anyway: I had no time to warn you. Besides, I wasn't sure.

<USAGE>
See usage at BESIDE.

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BESIDE ■

be·siege v. [trans.] surround (a place) with armed forces in order to capture it or force its surrender; lay siege to: the guerrillas continued to besiege other major cities to the north | [as adj.] (besieged) the besieged city. See note at ATTACK.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- crowd around oppressively; surround and harass: she spent the whole day besieged by newsmen.

- (be besieged) be inundated by large numbers of requests or complaints: the television station was besieged with calls.

<DERIVATIVES> be·sieg·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: alteration (by change of prefix) of assiege, from Old French asegier.

be·smear v. [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY smear or cover with a greasy or sticky substance.

<ORIGIN> Old English bismierwan (see BE-, SMEAR).

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BE- ■

SMEAR ■

be·smirch v. [trans.] damage the reputation of (someone or something) in the opinion of others: he had besmirched the good name of his family.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY make (something) dirty or discolored: the ground was besmirched with blood.

<ORIGIN> from BE- + SMIRCH.

be·som n. a broom made of twigs tied around a stick.

<ORIGIN> Old English besema; related to Dutch bezem and German Besen.

be·sot·ted adj. 1 strongly infatuated: he became besotted with his best friend's sister.

2 ARCHAIC intoxicated; drunk.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: past participle of besot 'make foolishly affectionate', from BE- 'cause to be' + SOT.

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BE- ■

SOT ■

be·sought past and past participle of BESEECH.

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BESEECH ■

be·spat·ter v. [trans.] splash small drops of a liquid substance all over (an object or surface): his shoes were bespattered with mud.

be·speak v. (past -spoke; past part. -spok·en) [trans.] 1 (of an appearance or action) suggest; be evidence of: the attractive tree-lined road bespoke money.

2 order or reserve (something) in advance: obtaining the affidavits that it has been necessary to bespeak.

3 ARCHAIC speak to: and in disgrace bespoke him thus.

<ORIGIN> Old English bisprecan 'speak up, speak out' (see BE-, SPEAK), later 'discuss, decide on', hence 'arrange, order' (sense 2, late 16th cent.).

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SPEAK ■

be·spec·ta·cled adj. (of a person) wearing eyeglasses: a bespectacled, studious youth.

be·spoke past of BESPEAK.

■ adj. [attrib.] CHIEFLY BRIT. (of goods, esp. clothing) made to order: a bespoke suit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a trader) making such goods: bespoke tailors.

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BESPEAK ■

be·spo·ken past participle of BESPEAK.

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BESPEAK ■

be·sprent adj. [archaic] sprinkled.

be·sprin·kle v. [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY sprinkle all over with small drops or amounts of a substance: their lips were besprinkled with flakes of pastry.

Bes·sa·ra·bi·a a region in eastern Europe between the Dniester and Prut rivers. It was part of Romania 1918-40, but now lies in Moldova and Ukraine.

<DERIVATIVES> Bes·sa·ra·bi·an adj. & n.

Bes·sel Friedrich Wilhelm (1784-1846), German astronomer and mathematician. He determined the positions of about 75,000 stars, obtained accurate measurements of stellar distances, and, following a study of the orbit of Uranus, predicted the existence of an eighth planet.

Bes·se·mer 1 a city in north central Alabama, a steel and industrial center southwest of Birmingham; pop. 29,672.

Bes·se·mer 2 Sir Henry (1813-98), English engineer and inventor. By 1860 he had developed the Bessemer process, the first successful method of making steel in quantity at low cost.

Bes·se·mer proc·ess n. a steelmaking process, now largely superseded, in which carbon, silicon, and other impurities are removed from molten pig-iron by oxidation in a blast of air in a special tilting retort (a Bessemer converter).

Best Charles Herbert (1899-1978), Canadian physiologist; born in the U.S. He assisted F. G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin in 1922.

best superlative of GOOD. adj. of the most excellent, effective, or desirable type or quality: the best pitcher in the league; how to obtain the best results from your machine; her best black suit.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- most enjoyable: some of the best times of my life.

- most appropriate, advantageous, or well advised: do whatever you think best; it's best if we both go.

■ adv. superlative of WELL^1 .
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- to the highest degree; most: the one we liked best; you knew him best; well-drained soil suits it best.

- most excellently or effectively: the best-dressed man in Hollywood; the things we do best.

- most suitably, appropriately, or usefully: this is best done at home; jokes are best avoided in essays.

■ n. (usu. the best) that which is the most excellent, outstanding, or desirable: buy the best you can afford; Sarah always had to be the best at everything; a theory embodying the best of both socialism and capitalism.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the most meritorious aspect of a thing or person: he brought out the best in people.

- (one's best) the peak of condition; the highest standard or level that a person or thing can reach: this is jazz at its best; try to look your best.

- (one's best) one's finest or most formal clothes: she dressed in her best.

- (in sports) a record of a specified kind, esp. a personal one: achieving a lifetime best of 12.0 seconds; a personal best.

■ v. [trans.] INFORMAL outwit or get the better of (someone): she refused to allow herself to be bested.

<PHRASES>
□ all the best said or written to wish a person well on ending a letter or parting.

□ as best one can (or may) as effectively as possible under the circumstances: I went about my job as best I could.

□ at best taking the most optimistic or favorable view: signs of recovery are patchy at best.

□ at (or in) the best of times even in the most favorable circumstances: his memory is poor at the best of times.

□ be best friends be mutually closest friends: he's best friends with Eddie.

□ be for (or all for) the best be desirable in the end, although not at first seeming so.

□ one's best friend one's closest or favorite friend.

□ the best of friends very good friends.

□ the best of three (or five, etc.) victory achieved by winning the majority of a specified (usually odd) number of games.

□ the best part of most of: it took them the best part of 10 years.

□ best wishes an expression of hope for someone's future happiness or welfare: we sent our best wishes for a speedy recovery.
- written at the end of a letter: Best wishes, Celia.

□ one's best years the most vigorous and productive period of one's life; one's prime: he had spent the best years of his life working at the stables.

□ do (or try) one's best do all one can: Ruth did her best to reassure her.

□ get the best of overcome (someone): his drinking got the best of him and he was fired.

□ had best do something find it most sensible or well advised to do the thing mentioned: I'd best be going.

□ make the best of derive what limited advantage one can from (something unsatisfactory or unwelcome): you'll just have to make the best of the situation.
- use (resources) as well as possible: he tried to make the best of his talents.

□ to the best of one's ability (or knowledge) as far as one can do or know: the text is free of factual errors, to the best of my knowledge.

□ with the best of them as well or as much as anyone: he'll be out there dancing with the best of them.

<ORIGIN> Old English betest (adjective), betost, betst (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German best, also to BETTER^1 .

<USAGE>
On the punctuation of best in compound adjectives, see usage at WELL^1 .

Linked entries:

GOOD ■

WELL ■

BETTER ■

WELL ■

best ball n. [GOLF] the better score at a hole of two or more players competing as a team: [as adj.] a best-ball match.

best boy n. the assistant to the chief electrician of a movie crew.

bes·tial adj. of or like an animal or animals: Darwin's revelations about our bestial beginnings.
<SPECIAL USAGE> savagely cruel and depraved: bestial and barbaric acts.

<DERIVATIVES> bes·tial·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin bestialis, from Latin bestia 'beast'.

bes·ti·al·i·ty n. 1 savagely cruel or depraved behavior: there seems no end to the bestiality of human beings.

2 sexual intercourse between a person and an animal.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French bestialite, from bestial (see BESTIAL).

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BESTIAL ■

bes·ti·ar·y n. (pl. -ar·ies) a descriptive or anecdotal treatise on various real or mythical kinds of animals, esp. a medieval work with a moralizing tone.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from medieval Latin bestiarium, from Latin bestia 'beast'.

be·stir v. (-stirred, -stir·ring) (bestir oneself) make a physical or mental effort; exert or rouse oneself: they rarely bestir themselves except in the most pressing of circumstances.

best man n. [in sing.] a male friend or relative chosen by a bridegroom to assist him at his wedding.

best-of n. a list or collection comprising the best examples of something: foodies have flocked like sheep to this critic's best-ofs.

■ adj. denoting such a collection or list.

be·stow v. [trans.] confer or present (an honor, right, or gift): the office was bestowed on him by the chief of state; thank you for this honor that you have bestowed upon me | FIGURATIVE she bestowed her nicest smile on Jim. See note at GIVE.

<DERIVATIVES> be·stow·al n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English bistowen (in the sense 'use for, devote to'): from BE- (as an intensifier) + stowen 'to place', from Old English 'place'.

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BE- ■

be·strew v. (past part. -strewed or -strewn) [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY cover or partly cover (a surface) with scattered objects: the bride's train was bestrewn with rose petals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of objects) lie scattered over (a surface): sweeping away the sand and rubbish that bestrewed it.

<ORIGIN> Old English (see BE-, STREW).

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STREW ■

be·stride v. (past -strode; past part. -strid·den) [trans.] stand astride over; span or straddle: FIGURATIVE creatures that bestride the dividing line between amphibians and reptiles.
<SPECIAL USAGE> sit astride on: he bestrode his horse with the easy grace of a born horseman.

<ORIGIN> Old English (see BE-, STRIDE).

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BE- ■

STRIDE ■

best sell·er n. a book or other product that sells in very large numbers: her autobiography is an international best seller.

best-sell·ing adj. [attrib.] (of a book or other product) having very large sales; very popular: a best-selling novel.

be·suit·ed adj. (of a person, esp. a man) wearing a suit: the personification of Bloated Washington, heaving his besuited bulk from stump to stump.

bet v. (bet·ting; past bet or bet·ted) 1 [intrans.] risk something, usually a sum of money, against someone else's on the basis of the outcome of a future event, such as the result of a race or game: betting on horses | [with clause] I would be prepared to bet that what he really wanted was to settle down | [trans.] most people would bet their life savings on this prospect.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] risk a sum of money against (someone) on the outcome or happening of a future event: [with two objs.] I'll bet you $15 you won't find a single scratch.

2 [with clause] INFORMAL feel sure: I bet this place is really spooky late at night; he'll be surprised to see me, I'll bet.

■ n. an act of risking a sum of money in this way: every Saturday she had a bet on the horses.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a sum of money staked in this way: the bookies are taking bets on his possible successor.

- [with adj.] INFORMAL a candidate or course of action to choose; an option: your best bet is to call a professional exterminator.

- (one's bet) INFORMAL an opinion, typically one formed quickly or spontaneously: my bet is that the president will veto the bill.

<PHRASES>
□ all bets are off INFORMAL the outcome of a situation is unpredictable.

□ don't (or I wouldn't) bet on it INFORMAL used to express doubt about an assertion or situation: he may be a suitable companionbut don't bet on it.

□ want to (or wanna) bet? INFORMAL used to express vigorous disagreement with a confident assertion: “You can't be with me every moment.” “Want to bet?”

□ you bet INFORMAL you may be sure; certainly: “Would you like this piece of pie?” “You bet!”

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: perhaps a shortening of the obsolete noun abet 'abetment'.

bet. abbr. between.

be·ta n. the second letter of the Greek alphabet (, ), transliterated as ‘b.’
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [as adj.] denoting the second of a series of items, categories, forms of a chemical compound, etc.: beta carotene; beta blocker.

- INFORMAL short for BETA TEST: their database system is currently in beta | [as adj.] a beta version.

- (Beta) [followed by Latin genitive] the second (usually second-brightest) star in a constellation: Beta Virginis.

- [as adj.] relating to beta decay or beta particles: beta emitters.

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BETA TEST ■

be·ta-ad·ren·er·gic adj. of, relating to, or affecting beta receptors: sympathetic nerves that stimulate beta-adrenergic receptors.

be·ta block·er n. any of a class of drugs that prevent the stimulation of the adrenergic receptors responsible for increased cardiac action. Beta blockers are used to control heart rhythm, treat angina, and reduce high blood pressure.

Be·ta·cam n. TRADEMARK a high quality format for video cameras and recorders.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a camera using this format.

be·ta·car·o·tene (also be·ta-car·o·tene) n. see CAROTENE.

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CAROTENE ■

be·ta cell n. any of the insulin-producing cells in the islets of Langerhans.

be·ta de·cay n. radioactive decay in which an electron is emitted.

be·ta en·dor·phin n. an endorphin produced in the pituitary gland that is a powerful pain suppressor.

be·ta glob·u·lin n. see GLOBULIN.

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GLOBULIN ■

be·ta·ine n. [CHEMISTRY] a crystalline compound with basic properties found in many plant juices.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: (CH_3)3N+CH_2CO_2.

<SPECIAL USAGE> any zwitterionic compound of the same type.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: formed irregularly from Latin beta 'beet' (because originally isolated from sugar beet) + -INE^4 .

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-INE ■

be·take v. (past -took; past part. -tak·en) [trans.] (betake oneself to) POETIC/LITERARY go to: I shall betake myself to my room.

Be·ta·max n. TRADEMARK a format for video recorders, now largely obsolete.

be·ta par·ti·cle (also beta ray) n. [PHYSICS] a fast-moving electron emitted by radioactive decay of substances. (The emission of beta particles was originally regarded as a ray.)

be·ta re·cep·tor n. an adrenergic receptor in the sympathetic nervous system, stimulation of which results esp. in increased cardiac activity.

be·ta rhythm n. [PHYSIOLOGY] the normal electrical activity of the brain when conscious and alert, consisting of oscillations ( beta waves) with a frequency of 18 to 25 hertz.

be·ta test n. a trial of machinery, software, or other products, in the final stages of its development, carried out by a party unconnected with its development.

■ v. (be·ta-test) [trans.] subject (a product) to such a test.

be·ta·tron n. [PHYSICS] an apparatus for accelerating electrons in a circular path by magnetic induction.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from BETA + -TRON.

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-TRON ■

bet·cha v. a nonstandard contraction of “bet you,” used in representing informal speech: betcha can't find a better apartment.

be·tel n. 1 the leaf of an Asian evergreen climbing plant that is used in the East as a mild stimulant. Parings of areca nut, lime, and cinnamon are wrapped in the leaf, which is then chewed, causing the saliva to go red and, with prolonged use, the teeth to go black.

2 the plant, related to pepper, from which these leaves are taken.
<INFO>  Piper betle, family Piperaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via Portuguese from Malayalam verrila.

Be·tel·geuse (also Be·tel·geux) [ASTRONOMY] the tenth brightest star in the sky, in the constellation Orion. It is a red supergiant, and variations in its brightness are associated with pulsations in its outer envelope.

<ORIGIN> French, alteration of Arabic 'hand of the giant' (the giant being Orion).

be·tel nut n. another term for ARECA NUT.

<ORIGIN> Portuguese betel.

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ARECA NUT ■

be·tel palm n. another term for ARECA.

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ARECA ■

bête noire n. (pl. bêtes noires pronunc. same or ) a person or thing that one particularly dislikes: great-uncle Edward was my father's bête noire.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, literally 'black beast'.

beth n. the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

Beth·an·y a city in central Oklahoma, west of Oklahoma City; pop. 20,075.

Beth·el a town in the Catskill Mountains, in southeastern New York; pop. 3,693. It is the actual site of the 1969 Woodstock music festival.

beth·el n. 1 a holy place.

2 a chapel for seamen.

3 BRIT. a Nonconformist chapel.

Beth·el Park a borough in southwestern Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh; pop. 33,823.

Be·thes·da an affluent unincorporated suburb in central Maryland, north of Washington, DC. It is home to the National Institutes of Health; pop. 62,936.

be·think v. (past and past part. -thought) (bethink oneself) FORMAL or ARCHAIC think on reflection; come to think: he bethought himself of the verse from the Book of Proverbs | [with clause] the council bethought itself that this plan would leave room for future expansion.

<ORIGIN> Old English bithencan (see BE-, THINK).

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BE- ■

THINK ■

Beth·le·hem 1 a small town 5 miles (8 km) south of Jerusalem, in the West Bank; pop. 14,000. It was the native city of King David and is the reputed birthplace of Jesus.

2 an industrial city in eastern Pennsylvania, on the Lehigh River; pop. 71,329. It is noted for the manufacturing of steel.

Be·thune Mary McLeod (1875-1955), U.S. educator. In 1904, she founded the Daytona Normal and Industrial Institute for Negro Girls, which, with the Cookman Institute, became Bethune-Cookman College in 1923. Bethune was founder and first president 1935-49 of the National Council of Negro Women.

be·tide v. [intrans.] POETIC/LITERARY happen: I waited with beating heart, as yet not knowing what would betide.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] happen to (someone): she was trembling with fear lest worse might betide her.

<PHRASES> woe betide see WOE.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from BE- (as an intensifier) + obsolete tide 'befall', from Old English 'happen', from (see TIDE).

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WOE ■

BE- ■

TIDE ■

be·times adv. POETIC/LITERARY before the usual or expected time; early: next morning I was up betimes.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from obsolete betime (see BY, TIME).

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BY ■

TIME ■

bê·tise n. a foolish or ill-timed remark or action.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, literally 'stupidity'.

be·to·ken v. [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY be a sign of; indicate: she wondered if his cold, level gaze betokened indifference or anger.
<SPECIAL USAGE> be a warning or indication of (a future event): the falling comet betokened the true end of Merlin's powers.

<ORIGIN> Old English , from BE- (as an intensifier) + 'signify', of Germanic origin; related to TOKEN.

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TOKEN ■

bet·o·ny n. (pl. -nies) a Eurasian plant of the mint family that bears spikes of showy purple flowers.
<INFO>  Stachys officinalis, family Labiatae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> used in names of plants that resemble the betony, e.g., wood betony.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French betoine, based on Latin betonica, perhaps from the name of an Iberian tribe.

be·took past of BETAKE.

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BETAKE ■

be·tray v. [trans.] be disloyal to: his friends were shocked when he betrayed them.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- be disloyal to (one's country, organization, or ideology) by acting in the interests of an enemy: he could betray his country for the sake of communism.

- treacherously inform an enemy of the existence or location of (a person or organization): this group was betrayed by an informer.

- treacherously reveal (secrets or information): many of those employed by diplomats betrayed secrets and sold classified documents.

- FIGURATIVE reveal the presence of; be evidence of: she drew a deep breath that betrayed her indignation.

<DERIVATIVES> be·tray·al n. be·tray·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from BE- 'thoroughly' + obsolete tray 'betray', from Old French trair, based on Latin tradere 'hand over'. Compare with TRAITOR.

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BE- ■

be·troth v. [trans.] (usu. be betrothed) DATED enter into a formal agreement to marry: soon I shall be betrothed to Isabel | [as n.] (betrothed) how long have you known your betrothed?

<DERIVATIVES> be·troth·al n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English betreuthe: from BE- (expressing transitivity) + TRUTH. The change in the second syllable was due to association with TROTH.

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BE- ■

TRUTH ■

TROTH ■

Bet·tel·heim Bruno (1903-90), U.S. psychologist; born in Austria. His experiences in Nazi Germany helped him to develop revolutionary theories and therapies for autistic children.

Bet·ten·dorf an industrial city in southeastern Iowa, on the Mississippi River; pop. 31,275. It is one of the Quad Cities.

bet·ter 1 adj. 1 comparative of GOOD and WELL.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of a more excellent or effective type or quality: hoping for better weather; the new facilities were far better; I'm better at algebra than Alice.

- more appropriate, advantageous, or well advised: there couldn't be a better time to start this job; it might be better to borrow the money.

2 [predic.] partly or fully recovered from illness or injury: she's much better today; his leg was getting better.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fitter and healthier; less unwell: we'll feel a lot better after a decent night's sleep.

■ adv. comparative of WELL^1 .
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- more excellently or effectively: Johnny could do better if he tried; instruments are generally better made these days.

- to a greater degree; more: I liked it better when we lived in the country; you may find alternatives that suit you better.

- more suitably, appropriately, or usefully: the money could be better spent on more urgent cases.

■ n. 1 the better one; that which is better: the Natural History Museum book is by far the better of the two; a change for the better.

2 (one's betters) CHIEFLY DATED or HUMOROUS one's superiors in social class or ability: amusing themselves by imitating their betters.

■ v. [trans.] improve on or surpass (an existing or previous level or achievement): bettering his previous time by ten minutes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make (something) better; improve: his ideas for bettering the working conditions.

- (better oneself) achieve a better social position or status: the residents are mostly welfare mothers who have bettered themselves.

- overcome or defeat (someone): she bettered him at archery.

<PHRASES>
□ be better off be in a better position, esp. in financial terms: the promotion would make her about $750 a year better off | [as plural n.] (the better off) a paper read mainly by the better off.

□ the the better used to emphasize the importance or desirability of the quality or thing specified: the sooner we're off, the better the more people there the better.

□ the better part of almost all of; most of: it is the better part of a mile.

□ better safe than sorry PROVERB it's wiser to be cautious than to be hasty or rash and so do something you may later regret.

□ better than more than: he'd lived there for better than twenty years.

□ the better to so as to better: he leaned closer the better to hear her.

□ for better or (for) worse whether the outcome is good or bad: ours, for better or for worse, is the century of youth.

□ get the better of (often of something immaterial) win an advantage over (someone); defeat or outwit: curiosity got the better of her.

□ go one better narrowly surpass a previous effort or achievement: I want to go one better this time and score.
- narrowly outdo (another person): he went one better than Jack by reaching the finals.

□ had better do something would find it wiser to do something; ought to do something: you had better be careful.

□ have the better of be more successful in a contest: she usually had the better of these debates.

□ no (or little) better than just (or almost) the same as; merely: government officials who were often no better than bandits.

<ORIGIN> Old English betera (adjective), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beter and German besser, also to BEST.

<USAGE>
1 In the verb phrase had better do something, the word had acts like an auxiliary verb; in informal spoken contexts, it is often dropped, as in you better not come tonight. In writing, the had may be contracted to ’d ( you’d better call), but it should not be dropped altogether (not you better call).

2 On the punctuation of better in compound adjectives, see usage at WELL^1 .

Linked entries:

GOOD ■

WELL ■

BEST ■

WELL ■

bet·ter 2 n. variant spelling of BETTOR.

Linked entries:

BETTOR ■

bet·ter half n. INFORMAL a person's wife, husband, or partner.

bet·ter·ment n. the act or process of improving something: they believed that what they were doing was vital for the betterment of society | [as adj.] working at betterment projects throughout the city.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the enhanced value of real property arising from local improvements: [as adj.] a betterment charge.

bet·ting n. the act of gambling money on the outcome of a race, game, or other unpredictable event: there was a good deal of betting on the races going on.

bet·tong n. a short-nosed rat kangaroo found in Australia.
<INFO>  Family Potoroidae: two genera, in particular Bettongia, and several species.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Dharuk.

bet·tor (also bet·ter) n. a person who bets, typically regularly or habitually.

be·tween (abbr.: bet.) prep. 1 at, into, or across the space separating (two objects or regions):
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- expressing location: traffic was at a standstill between exits 12 and 14; a rope bridge strung between two cliff ledges; the border between Mexico and the U.S.

- expressing movement to a point: the dog crawled between us and lay down at our feet.

- expressing movement from one side or point to the other and back again: traveling by train between London and Paris.

2 in the period separating (two points in time): they snack between meals; the long, cold nights between autumn and spring.

3 in the interval separating (two points on a scale): a man aged between 18 and 30; between 25 and 40 percent off children's clothes; the difference between income and expenditure.

4 indicating a connection or relationship involving two or more parties: the relationship between Pauline and Chris; negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and Romania; links between science and industry.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- with reference to a collision or conflict: a collision in midair between two light aircraft above Geneva; | the wars between Russia and Poland.

- with reference to a choice or differentiation involving two or more things being considered together: if you have to choose between two or three different options.

5 by combining the resources or actions of (two or more people or other entities): we have created something between us; China and India between them account for a third of the global population.
<SPECIAL USAGE> shared by (two or more people or things): they had drunk between them a bottle of Chianti.

■ adv. 1 in or along the space separating two objects or regions: layers of paper with tar in between; from Leipzig to Dresden, with the gentle Elbe flowing between.

2 in the period separating two points in time: sets of exercises with no rest in between.

<PHRASES>
□ between ourselves (or you and me) in confidence: just between you and me, I don't think it is going to happen.

□ (in) between times in the intervals between other actions: I have seen to the needs of my child, and in between times I have cooked the meals.

<ORIGIN> Old English , from be 'by' + a Germanic word related to TWO.

<USAGE>
1 Between is used in speaking of only two things, people, etc.: we must choose between two equally unattractive alternatives. Among is used for collective and undefined relations of usually three or more: agreement on landscaping was reached among all the neighbors. But where there are more than two parties involved, between may be used to express one-to-one relationships of pairs within the group or the sense 'shared by': there is close friendship between the members of the club; diplomatic relations between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

2 Between you and I, between you and he, etc., are incorrect; between should be followed only by the objective case: between you and me, between you and him, etc.

See also usage at PERSONAL PRONOUN.

Linked entries:

TWO ■

PERSONAL PRONOUN ■

be·twixt prep. & adv. archaic term for BETWEEN.

<PHRASES> betwixt and between INFORMAL neither one thing nor the other.

<ORIGIN> Old English , from be 'by' + a Germanic word related to TWO.

Linked entries:

BETWEEN ■

TWO ■

beurre blanc n. a creamy sauce made with butter, onions or shallots, and vinegar or lemon juice, usually served with seafood dishes.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: French, literally 'white butter'.

beurre noir n. French term for BLACK BUTTER.

Linked entries:

BLACK BUTTER ■

beurre noi·sette n. a sauce of butter cooked until golden or brown, usually flavored with capers, herbs, vinegar, etc.

<ORIGIN> French, literally 'hazelnut butter'.

Beu·then German name for BYTOM.

Linked entries:

BYTOM ■

BEV abbr. [LINGUISTICS] Black English Vernacular.

BeV another term for GEV.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from billion (10^9) electronvolts.

Linked entries:

GEV ■

bev·a·tron n. a synchrotron used to accelerate protons to energies in the billion electron-volt range.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from BEV + -TRON.

Linked entries:

BEV ■

-TRON ■

bev·el n. a slope from the horizontal or vertical in carpentry and stonework; a sloping surface or edge.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in full bev·el square) a tool for marking angles in carpentry and stonework.

■ v. (bev·eled, bev·el·ing or bev·elled, bev·el·ling) [trans.] [often as adj.] (beveled) reduce (a square edge on an object) to a sloping edge: a beveled mirror.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (as an adjective in the sense 'oblique'): from an Old French diminutive of baif 'open-mouthed', from baer 'to gape' (see BAY^5 ).

Linked entries:

BAY ■

bev·el gear n. a gear working another gear at an angle to it by means of bevel wheels.

bev·el wheel n. a toothed wheel whose working face is oblique to the axis.

bev·er·age n. a drink, esp. one other than water.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bevrage, based on Latin bibere 'to drink'.

Bev·er·ly an industrial and resort city in northeastern Massachusetts; pop. 38,195.

Bev·er·ly Hills a largely residential city in California, on the northwestern side of the Los Angeles conurbation; pop. 31,970. It is known as the home of many movie stars.

Bev·in Ernest (1881-1951), British statesman and trade unionist. As foreign secretary 1945-51, he helped to establish NATO 1949.

bev·y n. (pl. bev·ies) a large group of people or things of a particular kind: he was surrounded by a bevy of beautiful girls.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a group of birds, particularly when closely gathered on the ground: a bevy of quail stayed through winter, feeding on our locust beans.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin.

be·wail v. [trans.] express great regret, disappointment, or bitterness over (something) by complaining about it to others: he bewailed the fact that heart trouble had slowed him down.
<SPECIAL USAGE> cry or wail loudly about (something).

be·ware v. [intrans.] [in imperative or infinitive] be cautious and alert to the dangers of: consumers were warned to beware of faulty packaging; Beware! Dangerous submerged rocks ahead | [trans.] we should beware the incompetence of legislators.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from the phrase be ware (see BE-, WARE^2 ).

Linked entries:

BE- ■

WARE ■

be·whisk·ered adj. having hair or whiskers growing on the face.

be·wigged adj. (of a person) wearing a wig.

be·wil·der v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (bewildered) cause (someone) to become perplexed and confused: she seemed frightened and bewildered; his reaction had bewildered her | [as adj.] (bewildering) there is a bewildering array of desserts to choose from.

<DERIVATIVES> be·wil·dered·ly adv. be·wil·der·ing·ly adv. be·wil·der·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from BE- 'thoroughly' + obsolete wilder 'lead or go astray', of unknown origin.

Linked entries:

BE- ■

be·witch v. [trans.] (often be bewitched) cast a spell on and gain control over (someone) by magic: his relatives were firmly convinced that he was bewitched.
<SPECIAL USAGE> enchant and delight (someone): they both were bewitched by the country and its culture | [as adj.] (bewitching) she was certainly a bewitching woman.

<DERIVATIVES> be·witch·ing·ly adv. be·witch·ment n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from BE- 'thoroughly' + WITCH.

Linked entries:

BE- ■

WITCH ■

bey n. (pl. beys) HISTORICAL the governor of a district or province in the Ottoman Empire.
<SPECIAL USAGE> formerly used in Turkey and Egypt as a courtesy title.

<ORIGIN> Turkish, modern form of beg 'prince, governor'.

be·yond prep. & adv. 1 at or to the further side of: [as prep.] he pointed to a spot beyond the trees; passengers traveling to destinations beyond Boston | [as adv.] there was the terminal and, beyond, an endless line of warehouses.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [prep.] outside the physical limits or range of: the land sloped away until far beyond sight it reached the Great Plains.

- FIGURATIVE more extensive or extreme than; further-reaching than: [as prep.] what these children go through is far beyond what most adults endure in a lifetime. | [as adv.] pushing the laws to their limits and beyond.

2 happening or continuing after (a specified time or event): [as prep.] we can manage another two years, but beyond that the system is not viable | [as adv.] music going on into the night and beyond.

3 having progressed or achieved more than (a specified stage or level): [as prep.] we need to get beyond square one.
<SPECIAL USAGE> above or greater than (a specified amount): [as prep.] the absenteeism had gone beyond 15% | [as adv.] he could count up to a billion now, and beyond.

4 [prep.] to a degree or condition where a specified action is impossible: the landscape has changed beyond recognition.
<SPECIAL USAGE> too much for (someone) to achieve or understand: I did something that I thought was beyond me.

5 [prep.] [with negative] apart from; except: beyond telling us that she was well educated, he has nothing to say about her; there was little vegetation beyond scrub and brush.

■ n. (the beyond) the unknown after death: messages from the beyond.

<PHRASES> the back of beyond see BACK.

<ORIGIN> Old English begeondan, from be 'by' + geondan of Germanic origin (related to YON and YONDER).

Linked entries:

BACK ■

YON ■

YONDER ■

bez·ant n. 1 HISTORICAL a gold or silver coin originally minted at Byzantium.

2 [HERALDRY] a roundel or (i.e., a solid gold circle).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French besant, from Latin Byzantius 'Byzantine'. Sense 2 dates from the late 15th cent.

bez·el n. a grooved ring holding the glass or plastic cover of a watch face or other instrument in position.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a groove holding the crystal of a watch or the stone of a gem in its setting.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Old French, of unknown origin.

be·zique n. a trick-taking card game for two, played with a double pack of 64 cards, including the seven to ace only in each suit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the holding of the queen of spades and the jack of diamonds in this game.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French bésigue, perhaps from Persian 'juggler' or 'game'.

be·zoar n. a small stony concretion that may form in the stomachs of certain animals, esp. ruminants, and which was once used as an antidote for various ailments.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the general sense 'stone or concretion'): from French bezoard, based on Arabic , , from Persian 'antidote'.

b.f. abbr.
- [PRINTING] boldface.

- board foot.

- (also b/f or B/F) (in bookkeeping) brought forward.

BG (also B Gen) abbr. brigadier general.

BGH abbr. bovine growth hormone.

B-girl (also bar girl) n. an attractive woman employed to encourage customers to buy drinks at a bar.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: alteration of bar girl.

Bh symbol the chemical element bohrium.

BHA abbr. butylated hydroxyanisole.

Bha·ga·vad·gi·ta (also Gi·ta) [HINDUISM] a poem composed between the 2nd century BC and the 2nd century AD and incorporated into the Mahabharata. Presented as a dialogue between the warrior prince Arjuna and his divine charioteer Krishna, it stresses the importance of doing one's duty and of faith in God.

Bhag·wan n. INDIAN God.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a guru or revered person (often as a proper name or form of address).

<ORIGIN> from Hindi , from Sanskrit , from the root bhaj 'adore'.

bha·jan n. [HINDUISM] a devotional song.

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit bhajana.

bhak·ti n. [HINDUISM] devotional worship directed to one supreme deity, usually Vishnu (esp. in his incarnations as Rama and Krishna) or Shiva, by whose grace salvation may be attained by all regardless of sex, caste, or class. It is practiced by the majority of Hindus today.

<ORIGIN> Sanskrit.

bhang (also bang) n. the leaves and flowerheads of cannabis, used as a narcotic.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi .

bhan·gra n. a type of popular music combining Punjabi folk traditions with Western pop music.

<ORIGIN> 1960s (denoting a traditional folk dance): from Punjabi .

Bha·rat Hindi name for INDIA.

Linked entries:

INDIA ■

Bhav·na·gar an industrial port in northwestern India, in Gujarat, on the Gulf of Cambay; pop. 401,000.

bhik·khu n. a Theravada Buddhist monk.

<ORIGIN> Pali.

bhik·khu·ni n. HISTORICAL formerly, a member of an order of Theravada Buddhist nuns.

<ORIGIN> Pali.

Bhn (also BHN) abbr. Brinell hardness number.

Bhoj·pu·ri n. a Bihari language spoken in western Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Bho·pal a city in central India, the capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh; pop. 1,604,000. In December 1984, leakage of poisonous gas from a U.S.-owned pesticide factory in the city caused the death of about 2,500 people.

b.h.p. abbr. brake horsepower.

BHT abbr. butylated hydroxytoluene.

Bhu·ba·nes·war a city in eastern India, capital of the state of Orissa; pop. 412,000.

bhu·na (also bhoo·na) n. a medium-hot, dry curry originating in Bengal, prepared typically by frying meat with spices at a high temperature: lamb bhuna.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Bengali, Urdu 'to be fried', ultimately from Sanskrit bhrajj 'to fry, parch, roast'.

Bhu·tan a small independent kingdom in southern Asia, on the southeastern slopes of the Himalayas, north of India; pop. 810,000; capital, Thimphu; languages, Dzongkha (official), Nepali.

A British protectorate from 1910, it became independent in 1949, with continuing help from India regarding its foreign policy and aid.

<DERIVATIVES> Bhu·tan·ese adj. & n.

Bhut·to 1 Benazir (1953- ), Pakistani stateswoman; prime minister 1988-90 and 1993-96; daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. She was the first woman prime minister of a Muslim country and brought Pakistan back into the Commonwealth of Nations.

Bhut·to 2 Zulfikar Ali (1928-79), Pakistani statesman; president 1971-73; prime minister 1973-77. He was ousted by a military coup and executed for conspiring to murder a political rival.

BI abbr. Block Island.

Bi symbol the chemical element bismuth.

bi abbr. INFORMAL bisexual.

bi- (often bin- before a vowel) comb. form two; having two: bicolored; biathlon; binocular.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- occurring twice in every one: biannual; bimonthly.

- occurring once in every two: bicentennial; biennial.

- lasting for two: biennial; biennium.

- doubly; in two ways: biconcave.

- [CHEMISTRY] a substance having a double proportion of the radical, group, etc., indicated by the simple word: bicarbonate; binoxalate.

- [BOTANY] & [ZOOLOGY] (of division and subdivision) twice over: bipinnate.

<ORIGIN> from Latin, earlier dui-, related to Greek di- 'two' and Sanskrit dvi- 'doubly, having two'.

<USAGE>
On the ambiguity of words like bimonthly, biweekly, see usage at BIENNIAL, BIMONTHLY.

Linked entries:

BIENNIAL ■

BIMONTHLY ■

Bi·a·fra a state proclaimed in 1967, when part of eastern Nigeria, inhabited chiefly by the Ibo people, sought independence from the rest of the country. In the ensuing civil war the new state's troops were overwhelmed by numerically superior forces, and by 1970 it had ceased to exist.

<DERIVATIVES> Bi·a·fran adj. & n.

bi·a·ly n. (pl. -lys) a flat bread roll topped with chopped onions.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: from , where the bread originated.

Bia·y·stok an industrial city in northeastern Poland, close to the border with Belarus; pop. 270,568. Russian name BELOSTOK.

Linked entries:

BELOSTOK ■

bi·an·nu·al adj. occurring twice a year: the biannual meeting of the planning committee.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·an·nu·al·ly adv.

<USAGE>
See usage at BIENNIAL.

Biar·ritz a seaside resort in southwestern France, on the Bay of Biscay; pop. 28,890.

bi·as n. 1 prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair: there was evidence of bias against foreign applicants; the bias toward younger people in recruitment | [in sing.] a systematic bias in favor of the powerful.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in sing.] a concentration on or interest in one particular area or subject: he worked on a variety of Greek topics, with a discernible bias toward philosophy.

- [STATISTICS] a systematic distortion of a statistical result due to a factor not allowed for in its derivation.

2 an edge cut obliquely across the grain of a fabric.

3 in some sports, such as lawn bowling, the irregular shape given to a ball.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the oblique course that such a shape causes a ball to run.

4 [ELECTRONICS] a steady voltage, magnetic field, or other factor applied to an electronic system or device to cause it to operate over a predetermined range.

■ v. (bi·ased, bi·as·ing or bi·assed, bi·as·sing) 1 [trans.] (usu. be biased) show prejudice for or against (someone or something) unfairly: readers said the paper was biased toward the conservatives; the tests were biased against women and minorities | [as adj.] (biased) a biased view of the world.
<SPECIAL USAGE> influence unfairly to invoke favoritism: her well-rehearsed sob story failed to bias the jury.

2 give a bias to: bias the ball.

<PHRASES> cut on the bias (of a fabric or garment) cut obliquely or diagonally across the grain.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'oblique line'; also as an adjective meaning 'oblique'): from French biais, from Provençal, perhaps based on Greek epikarsios 'oblique'.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
bias, bigotry, intolerance, narrow-mindedness, parochialism, partiality, prejudice, provincialism

Bias is a predisposition either for or against something; one can have a bias against police officers or a bias for French food and wines.

Partiality, on the other hand, is a favorable bias (the partiality of parents for their own children; the partiality of Americans for fast food), while prejudice implies a preconceived and usually negative judgment or opinion (a decision motivated by racial prejudice).

Bigotry is an even stronger term, referring to an intense dislike and often violent hatred for the members of a particular race, religion, or ethnic group.

Narrow-mindedness also points to rigidly preconceived ideas, but implies that they are the result of lack of education or understanding, rather than outright hostility (her parents' narrow-mindedness prevented her from meeting any boys her age).

Parochialism is another term meaning excessive narrowness of mind (from “parochial,” pertaining to a parish or parishes; that is, concerned mainly about local issues), while provincialism is narrow-mindedness that results from lack of exposure to cultural or intellectual activity, characteristic of a province or non-urban area.

Intolerance is a broad term used to describe the inability to put up with almost anything (parents' intolerance of their children's misbehavior).

bi·as-cut adj. (of a garment or fabric) cut obliquely or diagonally across the grain.

bi·as-ply adj. (of a tire) having fabric layers with their threads running diagonally, crosswise to each other. Compare with RADIAL (sense 1).

Linked entries:

RADIAL ■

bi·as tape (also bias binding) n. a narrow strip of fabric cut obliquely and used to bind edges or for decoration.

bi·ath·lon n. an athletic contest combining two events, esp. cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·ath·lete n.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from BI- 'two' + Greek athlon 'contest', on the pattern of pentathlon.

Linked entries:

BI- ■

bi·ax·i·al adj. having or relating to two axes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of crystals) having two optic axes, as in the orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic systems.

bib 1 n. a piece of cloth or plastic fastened around a person's neck to keep their clothes clean while eating.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the part above the waist of the front of an apron or pair of overalls.

- a loose-fitting, sleeveless garment worn for identification, esp. by competitors and officials at sporting events.

- a patch of color on the throat of a bird or other animal: a black bird with a white bib.

<PHRASES> one's best bib and tucker INFORMAL one's finest clothes.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: probably from BIB^2 .

Linked entries:

BIB ■

bib 2 v. (bibbed, bib·bing) [trans.] ARCHAIC drink (something alcoholic).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: probably from Latin bibere 'to drink'.

bib·ber n. [usu. in combination] a person who regularly drinks a particular drink: a wine-bibber.

bibb let·tuce (also Bibb) n. a variety of butterhead lettuce that has crisp dark-green leaves.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after Jack Bibb (1789-1884), the American horticulturalist who developed it.

bib·cock n. a faucet with a bent nozzle fixed at the end of a pipe.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: perhaps from BIB^1 and COCK^1 .

Linked entries:

BIB ■

COCK ■

bi·be·lot n. a small, decorative ornament or trinket.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, fanciful formation based on bel 'beautiful'.

bibl. (also Bibl.) abbr. biblical.

Bi·ble n. (the Bible) the Christian scriptures, consisting of the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the Bible) the Jewish scriptures, consisting of the Torah or Law, the Prophets, and the Hagiographa or Writings.

- (also bible) a copy of the Christian or Jewish scriptures: clutching a large black Bible under his arm.

- a particular edition or translation of the Bible: the New English Bible.

- (bible) INFORMAL any authoritative book: “Larousse Gastronomique,” the bible of French cooking.

- the scriptures of any religion.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin biblia, from Greek biblia 'books', from biblion 'book', originally a diminutive of biblos 'papyrus, scroll', of Semitic origin.

Bi·ble Belt n. (the Bible Belt) INFORMAL those areas of the southern and midwestern U.S. and western Canada where Protestant fundamentalism is widely practiced.

Bi·ble-thump·ing adj. [attrib.] denoting a person who expounds or follows the teachings of the Bible in an aggressively evangelical way: a Bible-thumping evangelical Protestant.

<DERIVATIVES> Bi·ble-thump·er n.

bib·li·cal (also Bib·li·cal) (abbr.: bibl. or Bibl.) adj. of, relating to, or contained in the Bible: the biblical account of creation; biblical times.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- resembling the language or style of the Bible: there is a biblical cadence in the last words he utters.

- very great; on a large scale: they see themselves as victims of almost biblical dimensions.

<DERIVATIVES> bib·li·cal·ly adv.

bib·li·cist n. 1 one who is an expert in the Bible.

2 one who interprets the Bible literally.

<DERIVATIVES> bib·li·cism n.

biblio- comb. form relating to a book or books: bibliomania; bibliophile.

<ORIGIN> from Greek biblion 'book'.

bibliog. abbr. bibliography.

bib·li·og·ra·phy (abbr.: bibliog.) n. (pl. -phies) a list of the books referred to in a scholarly work, usually printed as an appendix.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a list of the books of a specific author or publisher, or on a specific subject: a bibliography of his publications.

- the history or systematic description of books, their authorship, printing, publication, editions, etc.: he regarded bibliography as a science.

- any book containing such information.

<DERIVATIVES> bib·li·og·ra·pher n. bib·li·o·graph·ic adj. bib·li·o·graph·i·cal adj. bib·li·o·graph·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French bibliographie or modern Latin bibliographia, from Greek biblion 'book' + -graphia 'writing'.

bib·li·ol·a·try n. 1 an excessive adherence to the literal interpretation of the Bible.

2 an excessive love of books.

<DERIVATIVES> bib·li·ol·at·er n. bib·li·ol·a·trous adj.

bib·li·o·man·cy n. RARE foretelling the future by interpreting a randomly chosen passage from a book, esp. the Bible.

bib·li·o·ma·ni·a n. passionate enthusiasm for collecting and possessing books.

<DERIVATIVES> bibli·o·ma·ni·ac n. & adj.

bib·li·o·phile n. a person who collects or has a great love of books.

<DERIVATIVES> bib·li·o·phil·ic adj. bib·li·oph·i·ly n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, from Greek biblion 'book' + philos 'loving'.

bib·li·o·pole n. ARCHAIC a person who buys and sells books, esp. rare ones.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: via Latin from Greek , from biblion 'book' + 'seller'.

bib·li·o·the·ca n. (pl. -cae or -cas) a library.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a list of books in a catalog, esp. for use by a bookseller.

bib·li·ot·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the study of documents, handwriting, and writing materials to determine authenticity.

<DERIVATIVES> bib·li·ot·ic n. bib·li·o·tist n.

bib o·ver·alls n. see OVERALLS.

bib·u·lous adj. FORMAL excessively fond of drinking alcohol.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (in the sense 'absorbent'): from Latin bibulus 'freely or readily drinking' (from bibere 'to drink') + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

bi·cam·er·al adj. (of a legislative body) having two branches or chambers.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·cam·er·al·ism n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BI- 'two' + Latin camera 'chamber' + -AL.

Linked entries:

BI- ■

-AL ■

bi·carb n. INFORMAL sodium bicarbonate.

bi·car·bo·nate n. [CHEMISTRY] a salt containing the anion HCO_3.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also bicarbonate of soda) sodium bicarbonate.

bice (also blue bice or bice blue) n. a medium blue pigment made from basic copper carbonate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the color of this.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally in the sense 'dark or brownish gray'): from Old French bis 'dark gray'.

bi·cen·ten·ar·y n. & adj. another term for BICENTENNIAL.

Linked entries:

BICENTENNIAL ■

bi·cen·ten·ni·al n. the two-hundredth anniversary of a significant event: last year's commemoration of the bicentennial of Mozart's birth.

■ adj. [attrib.] of or relating to such an anniversary: the bicentennial celebrations.

bi·ceph·a·lous adj. having two heads.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from BI- 'two' + Greek 'head' + -OUS.

Linked entries:

BI- ■

-OUS ■

bi·ceps n. (pl. same or -ceps·es ) a muscle having two points of attachment at one end, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also bi·ceps bra·chi·i ) the large muscle in the upper arm that turns the hand to face palm uppermost and flexes the arm and forearm: he clenched his fist and exhibited his bulging biceps.

- (also bi·ceps fem·o·ris ) [ANATOMY] the muscle in the back of the thigh that helps to flex the leg.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·cep adj. bicep curls.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin, literally 'two-headed', from bi- 'two' + -ceps (from caput 'head').

bich·ir n. an elongated African freshwater fish with an armor of hard shiny scales and a series of separate fins along its back.
<INFO>  Genus Polypterus, family Polypteridae: several species, including P. senegalus.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: via French from dialect Arabic .

Bi·chon Fri·sé (also Bi·chon Fri·se) n. (pl. Bi·chons Fri·sés pronunc. same) a small sturdy dog of a breed with a curly white coat and a tail that curves over its back.

bi·chro·mate adj. another term for DICHROMATE.

Linked entries:

DICHROMATE ■

bi·cip·i·tal adj. 1 two-headed.

2 of or relating to biceps.

Bick·el Ernest Frederick McIntyre see MARCH^2 .

Linked entries:

MARCH ■

bick·er v. [intrans.] 1 argue about petty and trivial matters: whenever the phone rings, they bicker over who must answer it | [as n.] (bickering) the constant bickering between Edgar and his mother.

2 POETIC/LITERARY (of water) flow or fall with a gentle repetitive noise; patter: against the glass the rain did beat and bicker.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a flame or light) flash, gleam, or flicker: the restless wheels whose flashing spokes bicker and burn.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: of unknown origin.

bi·coast·al adj. of or relating to two coasts, esp. the east and west coast regions of the U.S.: a bicoastal custody settlement.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- traveling frequently from one coast to the other: a bicoastal businessman.

- located along both the east and west coasts.

bi·col·or adj. having two colors: a male bicolor damselfish.

■ n. a bicolor blossom or animal.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·col·ored adj. & n.

bi·con·cave adj. concave on both sides.

bi·con·vex adj. convex on both sides.

bi·cul·tur·al adj. having or combining the cultural attitudes and customs of two nations, peoples, or ethnic groups: there is too little recognition of the children's bilingual and bicultural status.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·cul·tur·al·ism n.

bi·cus·pid adj. having two cusps or points.

■ n. a tooth with two cusps, esp. a human premolar tooth.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BI- 'two' + Latin cuspis, cuspid- 'sharp point'.

Linked entries:

BI- ■

bi·cus·pid valve n. [ANATOMY] another term for MITRAL VALVE.

Linked entries:

MITRAL VALVE ■

bi·cy·cle n. a vehicle composed of two wheels held in a frame one behind the other, propelled by pedals and steered with handlebars attached to the front wheel.

■ v. [intrans.] ride a bicycle in a particular direction: they had spent the day bicycling around the island.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·cy·clist n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BI- 'two' + Greek kuklos 'wheel'.

Linked entries:

BI- ■

bi·cy·cle chain n. a chain that transmits the driving power from the pedals of a bicycle to its rear wheel.

bi·cy·cle clip n. either of a pair of metal clips worn by cyclists around their ankles to prevent their pants legs from becoming entangled in the bicycle chain.

bi·cy·cle pump n. a portable pump for inflating bicycle tires.

bi·cy·cle rick·sha n. a three-wheeled bicycle for public hire, with a covered seat for passengers behind the driver.

bi·cy·clic adj. [CHEMISTRY] having two rings of atoms in its molecule.

bid 1 v. (bid·ding; past and past part. bid) [trans.] offer (a certain price) for something, esp. at an auction: a consortium of dealers bid a world record price for a snuff box; what am I bid? | [intrans.] guests will bid for pieces of fine jewelry.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (bid for) (of a contractor) offer to do (work) for a stated price; tender for: nineteen companies have indicated their intention to bid for the contract.

- [intrans.] (bid for) make an effort or attempt to achieve: the two freshmen are bidding for places in the varsity swim team.

- [BRIDGE] make a statement during the auction undertaking to make (a certain number of tricks with a stated suit as trumps) if the bid is successful and one becomes the declarer: North bids four hearts | [intrans.] with this hand, South should not bid.

■ n. an offer of a price, esp. at an auction: several buyers made bids for the Van Gogh sketches.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an offer to buy the shares of a company in order to gain control of it: a takeover bid.

- an offer to do work or supply goods at a stated price; a tender.

- an attempt or effort to achieve something: [with infinitive] an investigation would be carried out in a bid to establish what had happened; she did not hesitate to help him make a bid for the presidency.

- [BRIDGE] an undertaking by a player in the auction to make a stated number of tricks with a stated suit as trumps.

<DERIVATIVES> bid·der n.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'to offer, command', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bieden and German bieten.

bid 2 v. (bid·ding; past bid or bade ; past part. bid) [trans.] 1 utter (a greeting or farewell) to: a chance to bid farewell to their president.

2 ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY command or order (someone) to do something: I did as he bade me.
<SPECIAL USAGE> invite (someone) to do something: he bade his companions enter.

<PHRASES> bid fair to ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY seem likely to: the girl bade fair to be pretty.

<ORIGIN> Old English biddan 'ask', of Germanic origin; related to German bitten.

bi·dar·ka n. a canoe covered with animal skins, used by the Inuit of Alaska and adjacent regions.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Russian , diminutive of 'an umiak'.

bid cal·ler n. one who announces the bids and recognizes bidders at an auction.

bid·da·ble adj. 1 meekly ready to accept and follow instructions; docile and obedient. See note at OBEDIENT.

2 [BRIDGE] strong enough to justify a bid.

<DERIVATIVES> bid·da·bil·i·ty n.

Bid·de·ford an industrial city in southwestern Maine; pop. 20,942.

bid·den ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY past participle of BID^2 .

Linked entries:

BID ■

bid·ding n. 1 the offering of particular prices for something, esp. at an auction: their first sale produced a wide range of lots and some energetic bidding; other companies in the bidding include General Electric.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the offers made in such a situation: from a cautious opener of $30, the bidding soared to $450.

- (in bridge and whist) the action of stating before play how many tricks one intends to make.

2 the ordering or requesting of someone to do something: the clandestine associations that would act at their bidding | [in sing.] I never needed a second bidding.

<PHRASES> do someone's bidding do what someone orders or requests, typically in a way considered overly slavish.

bid·ding pad·dle n. a paddle-shaped baton, usually marked with an identifying number, used to signal bids at auctions.

bid·ding prayer n. a prayer inviting the congregation to join in, now usually used to describe a group of intercessionary prayers.

bid·dy n. (pl. -dies) INFORMAL a woman, usually an elderly one regarded as annoying or interfering: the old biddies were muttering in his direction.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (originally denoting a chicken): of unknown origin; probably influenced by the use of biddy denoting an Irish maidservant, from Biddy, nickname for the given name Bridget.

bide v. [intrans.] ARCHAIC or DIALECT remain or stay somewhere: how long must I bide here to wait for the answer?

<PHRASES> bide one's time wait quietly for a good opportunity to do something: she bided her time, patiently reading a magazine and planning her escape.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin.

bi·det n. a low oval basin used for washing one's genital and anal area.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'horse'): from French, literally 'pony', from bider 'to trot', of unknown origin.

bi·di (also bee·di or bi·ri ) n. (pl. bi·dis) (in the Indian subcontinent) a type of cheap cigarette made of unprocessed tobacco wrapped in leaves.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi 'betel plug, cigar', from Sanskrit .

bi·di·rec·tion·al adj. functioning in two directions.

bi·don·ville n. a shanty town built of oil drums or other metal containers, esp. on the outskirts of a North African city.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from French, from bidon 'container for liquids' + ville 'town'.

bid price n. the price that a dealer or other prospective buyer is prepared to pay for securities or other assets. Often contrasted with OFFERING PRICE.

Linked entries:

OFFERING PRICE ■

Bie·der·mei·er adj. denoting or relating to a style of furniture and interior decoration current in Germany in the period 1815-48, characterized by restraint, conventionality, and utilitarianism.

<ORIGIN> from the name of Gottlieb Biedermeier, a fictitious German provincial schoolmaster and poet created by German satirist Ludwig Eichrodt (1827-92) in 1854.

Bie·le·feld an industrial city in western Germany, in North Rhine-Westphalia; pop. 322,130.

Bien Hoa an industrial city in southern Vietnam, north of Ho Chi Minh City; pop. 314,000. A major U.S. airbase was here during the Vietnam War.

biennale n. a large art exhibition or music festival, usually one held biennially.

<ORIGIN> 1930s (used originally as the name of an international art exhibition held in Venice): from Italian, literally 'biennial'.

bi·en·ni·al adj. 1 taking place every other year: summit meetings are normally biennial.

2 (esp. of a plant) living or lasting for two years.

■ n. 1 a plant that takes two years to grow from seed to fruition and die. Compare with ANNUAL, PERENNIAL.

2 an event celebrated or taking place every two years.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·en·ni·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin biennis (from bi- 'twice' + annus 'year') + -AL.

<USAGE>
Biennial means 'lasting or occurring every two years': congressional elections are a biennial phenomenon. A biennial plant is one that lives a two-year cycle, flowering and producing seed in the second year. Biannual means 'twice a year': the solstice is a biannual event.

Linked entries:

ANNUAL ■

PERENNIAL ■

-AL ■

bi·en·ni·um n. (pl. -en·ni·ums or -en·ni·a ) (usu. the biennium) a specified period of two years: the budget for the next biennium.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Latin, from bi- 'twice' + annus 'year'.

bien pensant adj. right-thinking; orthodox.

■ n. (bien-pensant) a right-thinking or orthodox person.

<ORIGIN> French, from bien 'well' + pensant, present participle of penser 'think'.

bier n. a movable frame on which a coffin or a corpse is placed before burial or cremation or on which it is carried to the grave.

<ORIGIN>  Old English , of Germanic origin; related to German Bahre, also to BEAR^1 .

Linked entries:

BEAR ■

Bierce Ambrose (Gwinnett) (1842-c.1914), U.S. writer, best known for his sardonic short stories that include Cobwebs from an Empty Skull (1874), In the Midst of Life (1898), and The Devil's Dictionary (1911). In 1913, he traveled to Mexico and mysteriously disappeared.

bi·face n. [ARCHAEOLOGY] a type of prehistoric stone implement flaked on both faces.

bi·fa·cial adj. having two faces, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BOTANY] (of a leaf) having upper and lower surfaces that are structurally different.

- [ARCHAEOLOGY] (of a flint or other artifact) worked on both faces.

biff INFORMAL v. [trans.] strike (someone) roughly or sharply, usually with the fist: he biffed me on the nose.

■ n. a sharp blow with the fist.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: symbolic of a short sharp movement.

bi·fid adj. [BOTANY] & [ZOOLOGY] (of a part of a plant or animal) divided by a deep cleft or notch into two parts: a bifid leaf; the gut is bifid.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin bifidus, from bi- 'doubly' + fidus (from findere 'to split').

bi·fi·lar adj. consisting of or involving two threads or wires.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BI- 'two' + filum 'thread' + -AR^1 .

Linked entries:

BI- ■

-AR ■

bi·fla·gel·late adj. having two flagella: various types of biflagellate spermatozoa.

bi·fo·cal adj. (usually of a pair of eyeglasses) having lenses each with two parts with different focal lengths, one for distant vision and one for near vision.

■ n. (bifocals) a pair of eyeglasses having two such parts.

bi·fold adj. double or twofold.

bi·func·tion·al adj. 1 having two functions.

2 [CHEMISTRY] having two highly reactive binding sites in each molecule: bifunctional enzymes retain stable levels of activity.

bi·fur·cate v. divide into two branches or forks: [intrans.] just below Cairo the river bifurcates | [trans.] the trail was bifurcated by a mountain stream.

■ adj. forked; branched: a bifurcate tree.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin bifurcat- 'divided into two forks', from the verb bifurcare, from Latin bifurcus 'two-forked', from bi- 'having two' + furca 'a fork'.

bi·fur·ca·tion n. the division of something into two branches or parts: the bifurcation of the profession into social do-gooders and self-serving iconoclasts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thing divided in this way or either of the branches: the bifurcation of the aorta is a site commonly affected first.

big adj. (big·ger, big·gest) 1 of considerable size, extent, or intensity: big hazel eyes; big buildings; big cuts in staff.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [attrib.] of a large or the largest size: my big toe.

- grown up: I'm a big girl now.

- elder: my big sister.

- [attrib.] INFORMAL doing a specified action very often or on a very large scale: a big eater; a big gambler.

- INFORMAL on an ambitiously large scale: a small company with big plans.

- INFORMAL popular or exciting interest among the public: Latino bands that are big in Los Angeles.

- showing great enthusiasm: a big tennis fan; he tells me the Inuits of the Arctic are very big on Jim Reeves.

- (big with) ARCHAIC advanced in pregnancy: my wife was big with child | FIGURATIVE a word big with fate.

2 of considerable importance or seriousness: it's a big decision; Mark's biggest problem is money; he made a big mistake.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL holding an important position or playing an influential role: as a senior in college, he was a big man on campus.

3 [predic.] INFORMAL OFTEN IRONIC generous: “I'm inclined to take pity on you.” “That's big of you!”

■ n. (the bigs) INFORMAL the major league in a professional sport: the day he made it to the bigs, he forgot every minor league ballpark he ever played in.

<PHRASES>
□ big bucks INFORMAL large amounts of money, esp. as pay or profit: Emily earns big bucks on Wall Street.

□ big idea CHIEFLY IRONIC a clever or important intention or scheme: okay, what's the big idea?

□ the big lie a gross distortion or misrepresentation of the facts, esp. when used as a propaganda device by a politician or official body.

□ big screen INFORMAL the movies: the play was adapted for the big screen.

□ big shot (also big noise) INFORMAL an important or influential person.

□ big stick INFORMAL the use or threat of force or power: the authorities used quiet persuasion instead of a big stick.

□ the Big Three, Four, etc. INFORMAL the dominant group of three, four, etc.: increased competition between the Big Three networks.

□ go over big INFORMAL have a great effect; be a success: the story went over big with the children.

□ in a big way INFORMAL on a large scale; with great enthusiasm: he contributed to the project in a big way they went for it in a big way.

□ make it big INFORMAL become very successful or famous: Simon had made it big in the financial world.

□ talk big INFORMAL talk confidently or boastfully: he talked big, blinding her with legal jargon.

□ think big INFORMAL be ambitious: to trade in a heavyweight world market we must think big.

□ too big for one's britches (or breeches) INFORMAL conceited.

<DERIVATIVES> big·gish adj. big·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'strong, mighty'): of unknown origin.

big air n. INFORMAL a high jump in sports such as skateboarding, snowboarding, and BMX.

big·a·my n. the act of going through a marriage ceremony while already married to another person.

<DERIVATIVES> big·a·mist n. big·a·mous adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bigamie, from bigame 'bigamous', from late Latin bigamus, from bi- 'twice' + Greek -gamos 'married'.

Big Ap·ple nickname for New York City.

big band n. a large group of musicians playing jazz or dance music: [as adj.] the big band sound.

big bang (also Big Bang) n. [ASTRONOMY] the explosion of dense matter that, according to current cosmological theories, marked the origin of the universe.

In the beginning, a fireball of radiation at extremely high temperature and density, but occupying a tiny volume, is believed to have formed. This expanded and cooled, extremely fast at first, but more slowly as subatomic particles condensed into matter that later accumulated to form galaxies and stars. The galaxies are currently still retreating from one another. What was left of the original radiation continued to cool and has been detected as a uniform background of weak microwave radiation.

Big Bear Lake a reservoir and recreational center in southern California, in the San Bernardino Mountains, east northeast of Los Angeles.

big beat n. popular music with a steady, prominent beat: [as adj.] had my big beat box and I was jammin'.

Big Ben the great clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in London and its bell.

Big Bend Na·tion·al Park a U.S. national park in a bend of the Rio Grande, in the desert lands of southern Texas on the border with Mexico. In 1975, fossil remains of the pterosaur were discovered here.

Big Bend State a nickname for the state of TENNESSEE.

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TENNESSEE ■

Big Black Riv·er a river in Mississippi that flows 330 miles (530 km) into the Mississippi River near Vicksburg.

Big Board informal term for the New York Stock Exchange.

big box n. [usu. as adj.] INFORMAL a very large store that sells goods at discount prices, esp. one specializing in a particular type of merchandise: a big box store in the 'burbs.

Big Broth·er n. INFORMAL a person or organization exercising total control over people's lives.

<DERIVATIVES> Big Broth·er·ism n.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from the name of the head of state in Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-four (1949).

big busi·ness n. large-scale or important financial or commercial activity: the children's toy market is big business now.

big cat n. any of the large members of the cat family, including the lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, snow leopard, clouded leopard, cheetah, and cougar.
<INFO>  Panthera and other genera, family Felidae.

big crunch n. [ASTRONOMY] a contraction of the universe to a state of extremely high density and temperature, hypothesized as a possible scenario for its demise.

Big Dad·dy (also Big Chief) n. INFORMAL a person in authority; the head of an organization or enterprise.

Big Dip·per n. 1 a prominent group of seven stars in the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear), containing the Pointers that indicate the direction to Polaris.

2 BRIT. (also big dipper) a roller coaster.

bi·gem·i·ny n. a cardiac rhythm in which each normal beat is followed by an abnormal one.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·gem·i·nal adj.

big end n. (in an engine) the end of the connecting rod that encircles the crankpin.

bi·ge·ner·ic adj. [BOTANY] relating to or denoting a hybrid between two genera.

big·eye n. 1 (also bigeye tuna) a large migratory tuna that is very important to the commercial fishing industry.
<INFO>  Thunnus obesus, family Scombridae.

2 a reddish, large-eyed fish that lives in moderately deep waters of the tropical Atlantic and the western Indian Ocean. Also called CATALUFA.
<INFO>  Priacanthus arenatus, family Priacanthidae.

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CATALUFA ■

Big·foot n. (pl. -feet) a large, hairy, apelike creature resembling a yeti, supposedly found in northwestern America. Also called SASQUATCH.

<ORIGIN> so named because of the size of its footprints.

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SASQUATCH ■

big game n. large animals hunted for sport: [as adj.] a big-game hunter.

big·gie n. (pl. -gies) INFORMAL a big, important, or successful person or thing: composers including most of the biggies like Brahms, Wagner, Mendelssohn.

big·git·y (also big·get·y) adj. INFORMAL conceited, self-important, or boastful: we had no truck with biggety Yankees.

■ adv. rudely; impudently: so that's why you talked to him so biggity.

big gov·ern·ment n. government perceived as excessively interventionist and intruding into all aspects of the lives of its citizens.

big gun n. INFORMAL a powerful or influential person: the first baseman and the center fielder were the big guns of that team.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a significant or influential thing, esp. when presented as an ultimate means of persuasion: the blackmailer's big gun was the threat of photographs.

big hair n. INFORMAL a bouffant hairstyle, typically one that has been teased, permed, or sprayed to create volume.

big·head n. INFORMAL a conceited or arrogant person.

<DERIVATIVES> big·head·ed adj. big·head·ed·ness n.

big·heart·ed adj. (of a person or action) kind and generous.

big hit·ter another term for HEAVY HITTER.

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HEAVY HITTER ■

big·horn (in full American bighorn sheep) n. a stocky brown North American wild sheep, found esp. in the Rocky Mountains. Also called MOUNTAIN SHEEP.
<INFO>  Ovis canadensis, family Bovidae.

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MOUNTAIN SHEEP ■

Big·horn Moun·tains a range of the Rocky Mountains in Montana and Wyoming. The Bighorn River flows along its west side.

big house n. INFORMAL a prison: he's doing a stint in the big house.

bight n. a curve or recess in a coastline, river, or other geographical feature.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a loop of rope, as distinct from the rope's ends.

<ORIGIN> Old English byht 'a bend or angle', of Germanic origin; related to BOW^2 .

Linked entries:

BOW ■

Big Is·land a popular name for the island of HAWAII.

Linked entries:

HAWAII ■

big league n. a group of teams in a professional sport, esp. baseball, competing for a championship at the highest level: [as adj.] big league teams.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the big league) INFORMAL a very successful or important group: the film brought him into the movie world's big league.

<DERIVATIVES> big lea·guer n.

big·mouth n. 1 INFORMAL an indiscreet or boastful person.

2 Another term for LARGEMOUTH BASS; see BLACK BASS.

<DERIVATIVES> big·mouthed adj.

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BLACK BASS ■

Big Mud·dy a popular name for the Missouri River, whose waters are muddier than those of the Mississippi River.

big name n. INFORMAL a person who is famous in a certain sphere: he's a big name in gymnastics.

big noise n. INFORMAL another term for BIG SHOT.

big·o·rex·i·a n. informal term for MUSCLE DYSMORPHIA.

<DERIVATIVES> big·o·rex·ic adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> big + Greek orexis 'appetite', on the pattern of anorexia.

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MUSCLE DYSMORPHIA ■

big·ot n. a person who is bigoted: religious bigots. See note at ZEALOT.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a superstitious religious hypocrite): from French, of unknown origin.

big·ot·ed adj. obstinately convinced of the superiority or correctness of one's own opinions and prejudiced against those who hold different opinions: a bigoted group of reactionaries.
<SPECIAL USAGE> expressing or characterized by prejudice and intolerance: a thoughtless and bigoted article.

big·ot·ry n. bigoted attitudes; intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself: the report reveals racism and right-wing bigotry. See note at BIAS.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from BIGOT, reinforced by French bigoterie.

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BIGOT ■

big rig n. INFORMAL another term for TRACTOR-TRAILER.

Linked entries:

TRACTOR-TRAILER ■

Big Rip n. a theory about the end of the universe holding that the accelerating forces driving its expansion will eventually rend all currently organized matter.

<ORIGIN> early 21st cent.: on the pattern of Big Bang.

big sci·ence n. INFORMAL scientific research that is expensive and involves large teams of scientists.

Big Sioux Riv·er a river in South Dakota and Iowa that flows for 420 miles (680 km) to the Missouri River.

Big Sky Coun·try a nickname for the state of MONTANA^1 .

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MONTANA ■

Big Spring a city in west Texas, an oil industry center northeast of Midland; pop. 23,093.

Big Sur a scenic locality in west central California, south of Monterey on the Pacific coast.

big tent n. used in reference to a political party's policy of permitting or encouraging a broad spectrum of views among its members: the struggle to change Wyoming takes place inside the Republican Party and its “big tent.”

Big Thick·et a forested area in eastern Texas, north of Beaumont, noted for its biological diversity.

big-tick·et adj. [attrib.] INFORMAL constituting a major expense: big-ticket items such as cars, houses, and expensive vacations.

big time INFORMAL n. (the big time) the highest or most successful level in a career, esp. in entertainment: a bit-part actor who finally made the big time in Hollywood.

■ adv. on a large scale; to a great extent: this time they've messed up big time.

<DERIVATIVES> big-tim·er n.

big top n. the main tent in a circus.

big tree n. another term for giant redwood (see REDWOOD).

Linked entries:

REDWOOD ■

big·wig n. INFORMAL an important person, usually in a particular sphere. Also called big wheel.

Bi·har a state in northeastern India; capital, Patna.

Bi·ha·ri n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Bihar.

2 a group of three closely related Indic languages, Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Magahi, spoken principally in Bihar.

■ adj. of or relating to this people, their languages, or Bihar.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi .

bi·jou adj. (esp. of a residence or business establishment) small and elegant: the greasy spoons have given way to bijou restaurants.

■ n. (pl. -joux ) ARCHAIC a jewel or trinket.

<ORIGIN> French, from Breton bizou 'finger ring', from biz 'finger'.

bi·jou·te·rie n. jewelry or trinkets: strewn about were bric-a-brac and bijouterie.

<ORIGIN> French, from BIJOU.

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BIJOU ■

bike INFORMAL n. a bicycle or motorcycle: I'm going by bike | [as adj.] a bike ride.

■ v. [intrans.] ride a bicycle or motorcycle: we hope to encourage as many people as possible to bike to work | [as n.] (biking) the terrain is perfect for biking.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

bike lane n. a division of a road marked off with painted lines, for use by cyclists.

bike path n. a path or road for bicycles and not motor vehicles.

bik·er n. INFORMAL a motorcyclist: [as adj.] her biker boyfriend.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a member of a motorcycle gang or club.

- a cyclist: a mountain biker.

bike·way n. a path or lane for the use of bicycles.

Bi·ki·ni an atoll in the Marshall Islands, in the western Pacific Ocean, used by the U.S. 1946-58 as a site for testing nuclear weapons.

bi·ki·ni n. (pl. -nis) a very brief two-piece swimsuit for women.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also bi·ki·nis) scanty underpants.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: named after BIKINI, where an atomic bomb was exploded in 1946 (because of the supposed 'explosive' effect created by the garment).

Linked entries:

BIKINI ■

bi·ki·ni line n. the area of skin around the edge of the bottom half of a bikini, used esp. with reference to the cosmetic removal of the pubic hair in this area.

Bi·ko Steve (1946-77), South African radical leader; full name Stephen Biko. He was banned from political activity in 1973. After his death in police custody, he became a symbol of heroic resistance to apartheid.

Bi·kol (also Bi·col) n. (pl. same or -kols) a member of an indigenous people of southeastern Luzon in the Philippines.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the Austronesian language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

bi·la·bi·al adj. [PHONETICS] (of a speech sound) formed by closure or near closure of the lips, as in p, b, m, w.

■ n. a consonant sound made in such a way.

bi·lat·er·al adj. having or relating to two sides; affecting both sides: bilateral hearing is essential for sound location.
<SPECIAL USAGE> involving two parties, usually countries: the recently concluded bilateral agreements with Japan.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·lat·er·al·ly adv.

bi·lat·er·al sym·me·try n. the property of being divisible into symmetrical halves on either side of a unique plane.

bi·lay·er n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a film two molecules thick (formed, e.g., by lipids), in which each molecule is arranged with its hydrophobic end directed inward toward the opposite side of the film and its hydrophilic end directed outward.

Bil·ba·o a seaport and industrial city in northern Spain; pop. 372,200.

bil·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) a hardy dwarf shrub closely related to the blueberry, with red drooping flowers and dark blue edible berries.
<INFO>  Genus Vaccinium, family Ericaceae: several species, including the tundra bilberry (V. uliginosum).

<SPECIAL USAGE> the small blue edible berry of this plant.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare with Danish bøllebær.

bil·bo n. (pl. -bos or -boes) a sword used in former times, noted for the temper and elasticity of its blade.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Bilboa, an earlier English form of the name BILBAO, noted for the manufacture of fine blades.

Linked entries:

BILBAO ■

bil·boes plural n. an iron bar with sliding shackles formerly used for confining a prisoner's ankles.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

Bil·dungs·ro·man n. a novel dealing with one person's formative years or spiritual education.

<ORIGIN> German, from Bildung 'education' + Roman 'a novel'.

bile n. a bitter greenish-brown alkaline fluid that aids digestion and is secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE anger; irritability: that topic is sure to stir up plenty of bile.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, from Latin bilis.

bile duct n. the duct that conveys bile from the liver and the gallbladder to the duodenum.

bi-lev·el (also bi·lev·el) adj. [attrib.] having or functioning on two levels; arranged on two planes: the unit's bi-level design keeps water in the sink.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- denoting a style of two-story house in which the lower story is partially sunk below ground level, and the main entrance is between the two stories; split-level.

- denoting a railroad passenger coach or a bus with seats on two levels.

■ n. a bi-level house: a three-bedroom bi-level.

bilge n. the area on the outer surface of a ship's hull where the bottom curves to meet the vertical sides.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (bilges) the lowest internal portion of the hull.

- bilgewater.

- FIGURATIVE, INFORMAL nonsense; rubbish: romantic bilge dreamed up by journalists.

■ v. [trans.] ARCHAIC break a hole in the bilge of (a ship): she was hopelessly bilged, her back broken.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: probably a variant of BULGE.

Linked entries:

BULGE ■

bilge keel n. each of a pair of plates or timbers fastened under the sides of the hull of a ship to provide lateral resistance to the water, prevent rolling, and support its weight in dry dock.

bil·har·zi·a n. a chronic disease, endemic in parts of Africa and South America, caused by infestation with blood flukes (schistosomes). Also called BILHARZIASIS or SCHISTOSOMIASIS.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the fluke (schistosome) itself.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, former name of the genus Schistosoma, named after T. Bilharz (1825-62), the German physician who discovered the parasite.

Linked entries:

BILHARZIASIS ■

SCHISTOSOMIASIS ■

bil·har·zi·a·sis n. [MEDICINE] another term for BILHARZIA (the disease).

Linked entries:

BILHARZIA ■

bil·i·ar·y adj. [MEDICINE] of or relating to bile or the bile duct.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French biliaire, from bile 'bile'.

bi·lin·e·ar adj. [MATHEMATICS] 1 RARE of, relating to, or contained by two straight lines.

2 of, relating to, or denoting a function of two variables that is linear and homogeneous in both independently.

bi·lin·gual adj. (of a person) speaking two languages fluently: a bilingual secretary.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a text or an activity) written or conducted in two languages: bilingual dictionaries; bilingual education.

- (of a country, city, or other community) using two languages, esp. officially: the town is virtually bilingual in Dutch and German.

■ n. a person fluent in two languages.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·lin·gual·ism n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin bilinguis, from bi- 'having two' + lingua 'tongue' + -AL.

Linked entries:

-AL ■

bil·ious adj. affected by or associated with nausea or vomiting: I had eaten something that didn't agree with me and I was a little bilious.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a color) lurid or sickly: a bilious olive hue.

- FIGURATIVE spiteful; bad-tempered: outbursts of bilious misogyny.

- [PHYSIOLOGY] of or relating to bile.

<DERIVATIVES> bil·ious·ly adv. bil·ious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'biliary'): from Latin biliosus, from bilis 'bile'.

bil·i·ru·bin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] an orange-yellow pigment formed in the liver by the breakdown of hemoglobin and excreted in bile.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: coined in German from Latin bilis 'bile' + ruber 'red' + -IN^1 .

Linked entries:

-IN ■

bil·i·ver·din n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a green pigment excreted in bile. It is an oxidized derivative of bilirubin.

bilk INFORMAL v. [trans.] 1 obtain or withhold money from (someone) by deceit or without justification; cheat or defraud: government waste has bilked the taxpayer of billions of dollars.
<SPECIAL USAGE> obtain (money) fraudulently: some businesses bilk thousands of dollars from unsuspecting elderly consumers.

2 ARCHAIC evade; elude: I ducked into the pantry, bilking Edward for the third time this week.

<DERIVATIVES> bilk·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (originally used in cribbage meaning 'spoil one's opponent's score'): perhaps a variant of BALK.

Linked entries:

BALK ■

bill 1 n. 1 an amount of money owed for goods supplied or services rendered, set out in a printed or written statement of charges: he was running up a bill of hundreds of dollars; the bill for their meal came to $17.

2 a draft of a proposed law presented to parliament for discussion: a debate over the civil rights bill.

3 a program of entertainment, esp. at a theater: she was top of the bill at America's leading vaudeville house.

4 a banknote; a piece of paper money: a ten-dollar bill.

5 a poster or handbill: the circus promoters were posting bills all over town.

■ v. [trans.] 1 (usu. be billed) list (a person or event) in a program: they were billed to appear but didn't show up.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (bill someone/something as) describe someone or something in a particular, usually promotional, way, esp. as a means of advertisement: he was billed as “the new Sean Connery.”

2 send a note of charges to (someone): we shall be billing them for the damage caused | [with two objs.] he had been billed $3,000 for his license.
<SPECIAL USAGE> charge (a sum of money): we billed her $400,000.

<PHRASES>
□ fit (or fill) the bill be suitable for a particular purpose: a partner is an ally or a companion, and you don't seem to fit the bill.

□ foot (or pick up) the bill see FOOT (sense 1 of the verb).

<DERIVATIVES> bill·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a written list or catalog): from Anglo-Norman French bille, probably based on medieval Latin bulla 'seal, sealed document' (see also BULL^2 ).

Linked entries:

FOOT ■

BULL ■

bill 2 n. the beak of a bird, esp. when it is slender, flattened, or weak, or belongs to a web-footed bird or a bird of the pigeon family.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the muzzle of a platypus.

- the point of an anchor fluke.

- BRIT. a stiff brim at the front of a cap.

■ v. [intrans.] (of birds, esp. doves) stroke bill with bill during courtship.

<PHRASES> bill and coo INFORMAL exchange caresses or affectionate words; behave or talk in a very loving or sentimental way.

<DERIVATIVES> billed adj. [usu. in combination] the red-billed weaverbird.

<ORIGIN> Old English bile, of unknown origin.

bill 3 n. a medieval weapon like a halberd with a hook instead of a blade.

<ORIGIN> Old English bil; related to German Bille 'ax'.

bil·la·bong n. AUSTRAL. a branch of a river forming a backwater or stagnant pool, made by water flowing from the main stream during a flood.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Wiradhuri bilabang (originally as the name of the Bell River, New South Wales), from billa 'water' + bang 'channel that is dry except after rain'.

bill·board n. a large outdoor board for displaying advertisements.

bill·bug n. a typically large weevil that feeds on various grasses and grains.
<INFO>  Genus Sphenophorus, subfamily Rhynchophorinae, family Curculionidae: numerous species, including the maize billbug (S. maidis), which can cause serious damage to corn plants and can harm or kill poultry by clamping on to the bird's throat or tongue.

Bille·rica a town in northeastern Massachusetts, south of Lowell; pop. 37,609.

bil·let 1 n. a place, usually a civilian's house or other nonmilitary facility, where soldiers are lodged temporarily.

■ v. (-let·ed, -let·ing) [trans.] (often be billeted) lodge (soldiers) in a particular place, esp. a civilian's house or other nonmilitary facility: he didn't belong to the regiment billeted at the hotel.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally denoting a short written document): from Anglo-Norman French billette, diminutive of bille (see BILL^1 ). The verb is recorded in the late 16th cent., and the noun sense 'a written order requiring a householder to lodge the bearer, usually a soldier', from the mid 17th cent.; hence the current meaning.

Linked entries:

BILL ■

bil·let 2 n. a thick piece of wood.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a small bar of metal for further processing.

- [ARCHITECTURE] each of a series of short cylindrical pieces inserted at intervals in decorative hollow moldings.

- [HERALDRY] a rectangle placed vertically as a charge.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French billette and billot, diminutives of bille 'tree trunk', from medieval Latin billa, billus 'branch, trunk', probably of Celtic origin.

bil·let-doux n. (pl. bil·lets-doux pronunc. same or ) DATED or HUMOROUS a love letter.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: French, literally 'sweet note'.

bill·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a large, fast-swimming fish of open seas, with a streamlined body and a long, pointed, spearlike snout. It occurs on the surface in warmer waters and is a popular sporting fish.
<INFO>  Istiophoridae

bill·fold n. a thin wallet with few compartments, typically made of leather.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any wallet.

bill·hook n. a tool with a sickle-shaped blade with a sharp inner edge, used for pruning or lopping branches or other vegetation.

bil·liard n. 1 (billiards) [usu. treated as sing.] a game usually for two people, played on a billiard table, in which three balls are struck with cues into pockets around the edge of the table: play billiards at home | [as adj.] (billiard) billiard ball; billiard room.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in full English billiards) a game played on a billiard table with pockets, in which points are made by caroms, pocketing an object ball, or caroming the cue ball into a pocket:

2 a stroke in which the cue ball strikes two balls successively.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French billard, denoting both the game and the cue, diminutive of bille (see BILLET^2 ).

Linked entries:

BILLET ■

bil·liard ta·ble n. a smooth rectangular cloth-covered table used for billiards and some forms of pool, with six pockets at the corners and sides into which the balls can be struck.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar table but without pockets used for playing carom billiards.

bill·ing n. 1 the action or fact of publicizing or being publicized in a particular way: they can justify their billing as the American League favorites.
<SPECIAL USAGE> prominence in publicity, esp. as an indication of importance: he shared top billing with his wife.

2 the process of making out or sending invoices: faster, more accurate order fulfillment and billing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the total amount of business conducted in a given time, esp. that of an advertising agency: the account was worth about $2 million a year in billings.

Bil·lings a commercial city in south central Montana, the state's largest city; pop. 89,847.

Bil·lings meth·od n. a system for finding the time of ovulation by examining cervical mucus. It can be used as a form of birth control by avoiding sexual intercourse at that time.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: named after Drs. John and Evelyn Billings, who devised the method.

bil·lion cardinal number (pl. -lions or (with numeral or quantifying word) same) the number equivalent to the product of a thousand and a million; 1,000,000,000 or 10^9: a world population of over 6 billion; half a billion dollars.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (billions) INFORMAL a very large number or amount of something: our immune systems are killing billions of germs right now.

- a billion dollars (or pounds, etc.): the problem persists despite the billions spent on it.

- DATED, CHIEFLY BRIT. a million million (1,000,000,000,000 or 10^12).

<DERIVATIVES> bil·lionth ordinal number.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, from million, by substitution of the prefix bi- 'two' for the initial letters.

bil·lion·aire n. a person possessing assets worth at least a billion dollars (or pounds, etc.).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BILLION, on the pattern of millionaire.

Linked entries:

BILLION ■

bill of at·tain·der n. [LAW] an item of legislation (prohibited by the U.S. Constitution) that inflicts attainder without judicial process: during the Revolutionary War, bills of attainder were passed to a wide extent.

bill of ex·change n. a written order to a person requiring the person to make a specified payment to the signatory or to a named payee; a promissory note.

bill of fare n. DATED a menu.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL the selection of food available to or consumed by (a person or animal): our bill of fare in Alaska included clams, mussels, and herring.

- a program for a theatrical event.

bill of goods n. a consignment of merchandise.

<PHRASES> sell someone a bill of goods deceive someone, usually by persuading them to accept something untrue or undesirable: she was sold a bill of goods about that dog's pedigree.

bill of health n. a certificate relating to the incidence of infectious disease on a ship or in the port from which it has sailed.

<PHRASES> a clean bill of health a declaration or confirmation that someone is healthy or that something is in good condition: a survey gave the property a clean bill of health.

bill of in·dict·ment n. a written accusation as presented to a grand jury.

bill of lad·ing n. a detailed list of a shipment of goods in the form of a receipt given by the carrier to the person consigning the goods.

Bill of Rights n. [LAW] a statement of the rights of a class of people, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791 and guaranteeing such rights as the freedoms of speech, assembly, and worship.

- the English constitutional settlement of 1689, confirming the deposition of James II and the accession of William and Mary, guaranteeing the Protestant succession, and laying down the principles of parliamentary supremacy.

bill of sale n. a certificate of transfer of personal property.

bil·lon n. an alloy formerly used for coinage, containing gold or silver with a predominating amount of copper or other base metal.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, literally 'bronze or copper money', in Old French 'ingot', from bille (see BILLET^2 ).

Linked entries:

BILLET ■

bil·low n. a large undulating mass of something, typically cloud, smoke, or steam.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC a large sea wave.

■ v. [intrans.] (of fabric) fill with air and swell outward: her dress billowed out around her.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of smoke, cloud, or steam) move or flow outward with an undulating motion: smoke was billowing from the chimney.

<DERIVATIVES> bil·low·ing adj. bil·low·y adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Old Norse bylgja.

bill·post·er n. a person who posts advertisements, notices, or posters.

<DERIVATIVES> bill·post·ing n.

bil·ly n. (pl. -lies) 1 short for BILLY GOAT.

2 (also billy club) a truncheon; a cudgel.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Billy, nickname for the given name William.

Linked entries:

BILLY GOAT ■

bil·ly goat n. a male goat.

Bil·ly the Kid see BONNEY.

Linked entries:

BONNEY ■

bi·lobed (also bi·lo·bate ) adj. having or consisting of two lobes.

bi·lo·ca·tion n. the supposed phenomenon of being in two places simultaneously.

Bi·loxi a city in southeastern Mississippi, on the Gulf of Mexico; pop. 50,644. It is a noted fishing and tourist center.

bil·tong n. CHIEFLY S. AFRICAN lean meat that is salted and dried in strips.

<ORIGIN> Afrikaans, from Dutch bil 'buttock' + tong 'tongue'.

bi·man·u·al adj. performed with both hands.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·man·u·al·ly adv.

bim·bo (also bim·bette ) n. (pl. -bos) INFORMAL an attractive but empty-headed young woman, esp. one perceived as a willing sex object.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent. (originally in the sense 'fellow, man'): from Italian, literally 'little child'.

bi·me·tal·lic adj. made or consisting of two metals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL of or relating to bimetallism.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French bimétallique, from bi- 'two' + métallique 'metallic'.

bi·me·tal·lic strip n. a temperature-sensitive electrical contact used in some thermostats, consisting of two bands of different metals joined face to face along their lengths. When heated, the metals expand at different rates, causing the strip to bend.

bi·met·al·lism n. HISTORICAL a system allowing the unrestricted currency of two metals (e.g., gold and silver) as legal tender at a fixed ratio to each other.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·met·al·list n.

bi·mil·le·nar·y ; adj. [attrib.] of or relating to a period of two thousand years or a two-thousandth anniversary.

■ n. (pl. -nar·ies) a period of two thousand years or a two-thousandth anniversary.

Bim·i·ni (also Biminis) resort islands in the northwestern Bahamas. The legendary Fountain of Youth sought by Ponce de León was thought to be here.

bi·mod·al adj. having or involving two modes, in particular (of a statistical distribution) having two maxima.

bi·mo·lec·u·lar adj. [CHEMISTRY] consisting of or involving two molecules.

bi·month·ly adj. occurring or produced twice a month or every two months: a bimonthly newsletter.

■ adv. twice a month or every two months: the magazine appears bimonthly.

■ n. (pl. -lies) a periodical produced twice a month or every two months.

<USAGE>
The meaning of bimonthly (and other similar words such as biweekly and biyearly) is ambiguous. The only way to avoid this ambiguity is to use alternative expressions like every two months and twice a month. In the publishing world, the meaning of bimonthly is more fixed and is invariably used to mean ‘every two months.’

See also usage at BIENNIAL.

Linked entries:

BIENNIAL ■

bin n. [with adj.] a receptacle for storing a specified substance: a vegetable bin.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a receptacle in which to deposit trash or recyclables: we tossed the soda cans in the bin marked “aluminum only.”

- [STATISTICS] each of a series of ranges of numerical value into which data are sorted in statistical analysis.

- short for LOONY BIN: back in the bin, she suffers from dreadful nightmares.

■ v. (binned, bin·ning) [trans.] place (something) in a bin.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [STATISTICS] group together (data) in bins.

<ORIGIN> Old English bin(n), binne, of Celtic origin; related to Welsh ben 'cart'. The original meaning was 'receptacle' in a general sense; also specifically 'a receptacle for provender in a stable' and 'a receptacle for storing grain, bread, or other foodstuffs'. The sense 'receptacle for trash' dates from the mid 19th cent.

Linked entries:

LOONY BIN ■

bin- prefix variant spelling of BI- before a vowel (as in binaural).

Linked entries:

BI- ■

bi·na·ry adj. 1 relating to, using, or expressed in a system of numerical notation that has 2 rather than 10 as a base.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in binary format: it is stored as a binary file.

2 relating to, composed of, or involving two things: testing the so-called binary, or dual-chemical, weapons.

■ n. (pl. -ries) 1 the binary system: binary notation: the device is counting in binary.

2 something having two parts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a binary star.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'duality, a pair'): from late Latin binarius, from bini 'two together'.

bi·na·ry code n. [ELECTRONICS] a coding system using the binary digits 0 and 1 to represent a letter, digit, or other character in a computer or other electronic device.

bi·na·ry cod·ed dec·i·mal (abbr.: BCD) n. [ELECTRONICS] a system for coding a number in which each digit of a decimal number is represented individually by its binary equivalent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a number represented in this way.

bi·na·ry dig·it n. one of two digits (0 or 1) in a binary system of notation.

bi·na·ry op·er·a·tion n. a mathematical operation, such as addition or multiplication, performed on two elements of a set to derive a third element.

bi·na·ry star n. a system of two stars in which one star revolves around the other or both revolve around a common center.

bi·na·ry sys·tem n. 1 a system in which information can be expressed by combinations of the digits 0 and 1.

2 a system consisting of two parts: the binary system of state and public schools.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ASTRONOMY] a star system containing two stars orbiting around each other.

bi·na·ry tree n. [COMPUTING] a data structure in which a record is linked to two successor records, usually referred to as the left branch when greater and the right when less than the previous record.

bi·nate adj. [BOTANY] growing in pairs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> composed of two equal parts.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from modern Latin binatus, from Latin bini 'two together'.

bi·na·tion·al adj. concerning or consisting of two nations.

bin·au·ral adj. of, relating to, or used with both ears: human hearing is binaural.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to sound recorded using two microphones and usually transmitted separately to the two ears of the listener.

bind v. (past and past part. bound ) [trans.] 1 tie or fasten (something) tightly: floating bundles of logs bound together with ropes; the magician bound her wrists with a silk scarf.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- restrain (someone) by the tying up of hands and feet: the raider then bound and gagged Mr. Glenn.

- wrap (something) tightly: her hair was bound up in a towel.

- bandage (a wound): he cleaned the wound and bound it up with a clean dressing; she had bound his wounds with a poultice of herbs.

- (be bound with) (of an object) be encircled by something, typically metal bands, in order to strengthen it: an ancient oak chest, bound with brass braces.

- [LINGUISTICS] (of a rule or set of grammatical conditions) determine the relationship between (coreferential noun phrases).

2 cause (people) to feel that they belong together or form a cohesive group: the comradeship that had bound such a disparate bunch of young men together.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (bind someone to) cause someone to feel strongly attached to (a person or place): loosened the ties that had bound him to the university.

- cohere or cause to cohere in a single mass: [trans.] with the protection of trees to bind soil and act as a windbreak | [intrans.] clay is made up chiefly of tiny soil particles that bind together tightly.

- cause (ingredients) to cohere by adding another ingredient: mix the flour with the coconut and enough egg white to bind them.

- cause (painting pigments) to form a smooth medium by mixing them with oil: use a white that is bound in linseed oil.

- hold by chemical bonding: a protein in a form that can bind DNA.

- [intrans.] (bind to) combine with (a substance) through chemical bonding: these proteins have been reported to bind to calmodulin.

3 FORMAL impose a legal or contractual obligation on: a party who signs a document will normally be bound by its terms.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- indenture (someone) as an apprentice: he was bound apprentice at the age of sixteen.

- (bind oneself) FORMAL make a contractual or enforceable undertaking: the government cannot bind itself as to the form of subsequent legislation.

- secure (a contract), typically with a sum of money.

- (be bound by) be hampered or constrained by: Sarah did not want to be bound by a rigid timetable.

4 fix together and enclose (the pages of a book) in a cover: a small, fat volume, bound in red morocco.

5 trim (the edge of a piece of material) with a decorative strip: a ruffle with the edges bound in a contrasting color.

6 [LOGIC] (of a quantifier) be applied to (a given variable) so that the variable falls within its scope.
<INFO>  For example, in an expression of the form ‘For every x, if x is a dog, x is an animal,’ the universal quantifier is binding the variable x.

■ n. 1 a problematical situation: he is in a political bind over the welfare issue.

2 FORMAL a statutory constraint: the moral bind of the law.

3 BRIT. [MUSIC] another term for TIE.

4 another term for BINE.

<PHRASES> bind someone hand and foot see HAND.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  bind off cast off in knitting.

□  bind someone over (usu. be bound over) (of a court of law) require someone to fulfill an obligation, typically by paying a sum of money as surety: he was bound over for trial on a felony charge.

<ORIGIN> Old English bindan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German binden, from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit bandh.

Linked entries:

TIE ■

BINE ■

HAND ■

bind·er n. a thing or person that binds something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a cover for holding loose sheets of paper, magazines, etc., together.

- a substance that acts cohesively.

- a reaping machine that binds grain into sheaves.

- a bookbinder.

bind·er twine n. (in farming) strong cord made from plastic or natural fiber, used in a baling machine or binder to tie hay and straw bales.

bind·er·y n. (pl. -er·ies) a workshop or factory in which books are bound.

bin·di n. a decorative mark worn in the middle of the forehead by Indian women.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi .

bin·di-eye n. a small perennial Australian plant of the daisy family that has a burlike fruit.
<INFO>  Calotis cuneifolia, family Compositae.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: perhaps from an Aboriginal language.

bind·ing n. 1 a strong covering holding the pages of a book together.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fabric such as braid used for binding the edges of a piece of material.

2 (also ski binding) a mechanical device fixed to a ski to grip a ski boot, esp. either of a pair used for downhill skiing that hold the toe and heel of the boot and release it automatically in a fall.

3 the action of fastening, holding together, or being linked by chemical bonds: the binding of antibodies to cell surfaces.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in Chomskyan linguistics) the relationship between a referentially dependent form (such as a reflexive) and the independent noun phrase that determines its reference.

■ adj. (of an agreement or promise) involving an obligation that cannot be broken: business agreements are intended to be legally binding.

bind·ing en·er·gy n. [PHYSICS] the energy that holds a nucleus together, equal to the mass defect of the nucleus.

bind·ing post n. [ELECTRONICS] a connector consisting of a threaded screw to which bare wires are attached and held in place by a nut.

bin·dle·stiff n. INFORMAL a tramp or a hobo, esp. one carrying a bundle containing a bedroll and other gear.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: probably from an alteration of BUNDLE + STIFF (in the sense 'useless person').

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BUNDLE ■

STIFF ■

bind·weed n. a twining plant with trumpet-shaped flowers. Several kinds are invasive weeds.
<INFO>  Genera Convolvulus and Calystegia, family Convolvulaceae: several species, including the widespread hedge bindweed (or wild morning glory) (Calystegia (or Convolvulus) sepium).

<SPECIAL USAGE> used in names of similar twining plants, e.g., black bindweed.

bine n. a long flexible stem of a climbing plant, esp. the hop.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: originally a dialect form of BIND.

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Bi·net Alfred (1857-1911), French psychologist. He devised a mental age scale that described performance in relation to the average performance of students of the same physical age. With psychiatrist Théodore Simon (1873-1961), he was responsible for a pioneering system of intelligence tests.

Bi·net-Si·mon scale n. the measurement of intelligence by the application of a test (see BINET-SIMON TEST) consisting of tasks and problems graded in terms of mental age.

Bi·net-Si·mon test (also Bi·net test) adj. [PSYCHOLOGY] a test used to measure intelligence, esp. that of children.

Bing Sir Rudolf (1902-97), British opera conductor and manager; born in Austria. He was conductor and director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City 1950-72. In 1955, he hired Marian Anderson, ending the Met's unwritten ban against African Americans. He was knighted in 1971.

bing exclam. indicating a sudden action or event: Bing! They've hit you with something.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (originally dialect in the sense 'sudden bang'): imitative.

Bing cher·ry n. a large heart-shaped cherry, juicy, sweet and dark blackish-red.

binge INFORMAL n. a short period devoted to indulging in an activity, esp. drinking alcohol, to excess: he went on a binge and was in no shape to drive | [as adj.] binge eating | [with adj.] a spending binge.

■ v. (bing·ing or binge·ing) [intrans.] indulge in an activity, esp. eating, to excess: some dieters say they cannot help binging on chocolate | [as n.] (binging) her secret binging and vomiting.

<DERIVATIVES> bing·er n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

binge-eat·ing syn·drome n. see BULIMIA.

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BULIMIA ■

binge-purge syn·drome n. see BULIMIA.

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BULIMIA ■

Bing·ham George Caleb (1811-79), U.S. artist. His paintings of the U.S. frontier include The Fur Traders Descending the Missouri (1845), The Trappers Return (1851), and The Country Election (1851-52).

Bing·ham·ton an industrial city in south central New York, on the Susquehanna River, near the Pennsylvania border; pop. 47,380.

bin·go n. a game in which players mark off numbers on cards as the numbers are drawn randomly by a caller, the winner being the first person to mark off five numbers in a row or another required pattern.

■ exclam. used to express satisfaction or surprise at a sudden positive event or outcome: bingo, she leapfrogged into a sales trainee position.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a call by someone who wins a game of bingo.

<ORIGIN> 1920s (as an interjection): of unknown origin.

bin·na·cle n. a built-in housing for a ship's compass.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (as bittacle): from Spanish bitácula, bitácora or Portuguese bitacola, from Latin habitaculum 'dwelling place', from habitare 'inhabit'. The change to binnacle occurred in the mid 18th cent.

bin·ocs plural n. INFORMAL short for BINOCULARS.

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BINOCULARS ■

bin·oc·u·lar adj. adapted for or using both eyes: a binocular microscope.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (in the sense 'having two eyes'): from Latin bini 'two together' + oculus 'eye', on the pattern of ocular.

bin·oc·u·lars plural n. an optical instrument with a lens for each eye, used for viewing distant objects.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: plural of BINOCULAR.

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BINOCULAR ■

bin·oc·u·lar vi·sion n. vision using two eyes with overlapping fields of view, allowing good perception of depth.

bi·no·mi·al n. 1 [MATHEMATICS] an algebraic expression of the sum or the difference of two terms.

2 a two-part name, esp. the Latin name of a species of living organism (consisting of the genus followed by the specific epithet).

3 [GRAMMAR] a noun phrase with two heads joined by a conjunction, in which the order is relatively fixed (as in knife and fork).

■ adj. 1 [MATHEMATICS] consisting of two terms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to a binomial or to the binomial theorem.

2 having or using two names, used esp. of the Latin name of a species of living organism.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French binôme or modern Latin binomium (from bi- 'having two' + Greek nomos 'part, portion') + -AL.

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-AL ■

bi·no·mi·al dis·tri·bu·tion n. [STATISTICS] a frequency distribution of the possible number of successful outcomes in a given number of trials in each of which there is the same probability of success.

bi·no·mi·al no·men·cla·ture n. [BIOLOGY] the system of nomenclature in which two terms are used to denote a species of living organism, the first one indicating the genus and the second the specific epithet. Compare with SYSTEMATIC NAME.

bi·no·mi·al the·o·rem n. a formula for finding any power of a binomial without multiplying at length.

bin·tu·rong n. a tree-dwelling Asian civet with a coarse blackish coat and a muscular prehensile tail.
<INFO>  Arctictis binturong, family Viverridae.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Malay.

bi·nu·cle·ate adj. having two nuclei.

bi·o n. (pl. -os) INFORMAL 1 biology: [as modifier] he dated a bio major in college.

2 a biography: the latest in a series of unauthorized bios.

■ adj. INFORMAL 1 biological: studying the effects of bio treatment.

2 biographical: it was excluded from her official bio material.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: abbreviation.

bio- comb. form 1 of or relating to life: biosynthesis.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- biological; relating to biology: biohazard.

- of living beings: biogenesis.

2 relating to or involving the use of toxic biological or biochemical substances as weapons of war: bioterrorism.

<ORIGIN> from Greek bios '(course of) human life'. The sense is extended in modern scientific usage to mean 'organic life'.

bi·o·ac·cu·mu·late v. [intrans.] (of a substance) become concentrated inside the bodies of living things.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·ac·cu·mu·la·tion n.

bi·o·a·cou·stics plural n. [treated as sing.] the branch of acoustics concerned with sounds produced by or affecting living organisms, esp. as relating to communication.

bi·o·ac·tive adj. (of a substance) having a biological effect.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·ac·tiv·i·ty n.

bi·o·as·say n. measurement of the concentration or potency of a substance by its effect on living cells or tissues.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from BIO- 'life' + ASSAY.

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BIO- ■

ASSAY ■

bi·o·as·tro·naut·ics n. the study of the effects of space flight on living organisms.

bi·o·a·vail·a·bil·i·ty n. [PHYSIOLOGY] the proportion of a drug or other substance that enters the circulation when introduced into the body and so is able to have an active effect.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·a·vail·a·ble adj.

bi·o·bib·li·og·ra·phy n. a bibliography containing biographical information about the author(s).

bi·o·cat·a·lyst n. a substance, such as an enzyme or hormone, that initiates or increases the rate of a chemical reaction.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·cat·a·lyt·ic adj.

bi·o·ce·no·sis (also bi·o·coe·no·sis) n. (pl. -no·ses ) [ECOLOGY] an association of different organisms forming a closely integrated community.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from BIO- 'life' + Greek 'sharing' (from koinos 'common').

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bi·o·cen·trism n. the view or belief that the rights and needs of humans are not more important than those of other living things.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·cen·tric adj. bi·o·cen·trist n.

bi·o·chem·i·cal ox·y·gen de·mand (abbr.: BOD) n. the amount of dissolved oxygen that must be present in water in order for microorganisms to decompose the organic matter in the water, used as a measure of the degree of pollution. Also called BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN DEMAND.

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BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN DEMAND ■

bi·o·chem·is·try n. the branch of science concerned with the chemical and physicochemical processes that occur within living organisms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> processes of this kind: abnormal brain biochemistry.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·chem·i·cal adj. bi·o·chem·i·cal·ly adv. bi·o·chem·ist n.

bi·o·chip n. a microchip intended to function in a biological environment, esp. inside a living organism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a logical device analogous to the silicon chip, whose components are formed from biological molecules or structures.

bi·o·cide n. 1 a poisonous substance, esp. a pesticide.

2 the destruction of life: our whims have brought us to the brink of biocide.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·cid·al adj.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from BIO- 'life' + -CIDE.

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BIO- ■

-CIDE ■

bi·o·cir·cuit n. an integrated circuit incorporating biological molecules or structures.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·cir·cuit·ry n.

bi·o·cli·mat·ic adj. [ECOLOGY] of or relating to the interrelation of climate and the activities and distribution of living organisms.

bi·o·cli·ma·tol·o·gy n. the study of climate in relation to living organisms and esp. to human health.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·cli·mat·o·log·i·cal adj.

bi·o·com·pat·i·ble adj. (esp. of materials used in surgical implants) not harmful to living tissue.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·com·pat·i·bil·i·ty n.

bi·o·com·pu·ter n. a hypothetical computer based on circuits and components formed from biological molecules or structures that would be smaller and faster than an equivalent computer built from semiconductor components.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a human being, or the human mind, regarded as a computer.

bi·o·com·put·ing n. the design and construction of computers using biochemical components.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an approach to programming that seeks to emulate or model biological processes.

- computing in a biological context or environment.

bi·o·con·trol n. short for BIOLOGICAL CONTROL.

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BIOLOGICAL CONTROL ■

bi·o·con·ver·sion n. the conversion of organic matter, such as animal or plant waste, into a source of energy through the action of microorganisms.

bi·o·de·grad·a·ble adj. (of a substance or object) capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·de·grad·a·bil·i·ty n.

bi·o·de·grade v. [intrans.] (of a substance or object) be decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms: most plastics will not biodegrade at all.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·deg·ra·da·tion n.

bi·o·die·sel n. [mass noun] a biofuel intended as a substitute for diesel.

bi·o·di·ver·si·ty n. the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

bi·o·dy·nam·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] 1 the study of physical motion or dynamics in living systems.

2 a method of organic farming involving such factors as the observation of lunar phases and planetary cycles and the use of incantations and ritual substances.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·dy·nam·ic adj.

bi·o·e·lec·tric adj. of or relating to electricity or electrical phenomena produced within living organisms.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·e·lec·tri·cal adj.

bi·o·e·lec·tron·ics plural n. [usu. treated as sing.] 1 the study and application of electronics in medicine and biological processes.

2 the integration of biological principles in electronic technology: the impact of bioelectronics on computer hardware.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·e·lec·tron·ic adj. bi·o·e·lec·tron·i·cal·ly adv.

bi·o·en·er·get·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] 1 the study of the transformation of energy in living organisms.

2 a system of alternative psychotherapy based on the belief that emotional healing can be aided through resolution of bodily tension.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·en·er·get·ic adj.

bi·o·en·gi·neer·ing n. 1  another term for GENETIC ENGINEERING.

2 the use of artificial tissues, organs, or organ components to replace damaged or absent parts of the body, such as artificial limbs and heart pacemakers.

3 the use in engineering or industry of biological organisms or processes.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·en·gi·neer n. & v.

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GENETIC ENGINEERING ■

bi·o·eth·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the ethics of medical and biological research.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·eth·i·cal adj. bi·o·eth·i·cist n.

bi·o·feed·back n. the use of electronic monitoring of a normally automatic bodily function in order to train someone to acquire voluntary control of that function.

bi·o·film n. a thin, slimy film of bacteria that adheres to a surface.

bi·o·fla·vo·noid n. any of a group of compounds occurring mainly in citrus fruits and black currants, formerly regarded as vitamins. Also called CITRIN. See also VITAMIN P.

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CITRIN ■

VITAMIN P ■

bi·o·foul·ing n. the fouling of pipes and underwater surfaces by organisms such as barnacles and algae.

bi·o·fu·el n. a fuel derived directly from living matter.

bi·o·gas n. gaseous fuel, esp. methane, produced by the fermentation of organic matter.

bi·o·gen·e·sis n. the synthesis of substances by living organisms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL the hypothesis that living matter arises only from other living matter.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·ge·net·ic adj.

bi·o·ge·net·ic law n. the theory that evolutionary stages are repeated in the growth of a young animal. Also called RECAPITULATION THEORY.

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RECAPITULATION THEORY ■

bi·o·gen·ic adj. [attrib.] produced or brought about by living organisms: biogenic sediments.

bi·o·ge·o·chem·i·cal adj. relating to or denoting the cycle in which chemical elements and simple substances are transferred between living systems and the environment.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·ge·o·chem·ist n. bi·o·ge·o·chem·is·try n.

bi·o·ge·og·ra·phy n. the branch of biology that deals with the geographical distribution of plants and animals.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·ge·og·ra·pher n. bi·o·ge·o·graph·ic adj. bi·o·ge·o·graph·i·cal adj. bi·o·ge·o·graph·i·cal·ly adv.

bi·og·ra·phee n. one who is the subject of a biography.

bi·og·ra·phy n. (pl. -phies) an account of someone's life written by someone else.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- writing of such a type as a branch of literature.

- a human life in its course: although their individual biographies are different, both are motivated by a similar ambition.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·og·ra·pher n. bi·o·graph·ic adj. bi·o·graph·i·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French biographie or modern Latin biographia, from medieval Greek, from bios 'life' + -graphia 'writing'.

bi·o·hack·ing n. the activity of exploiting genetic material experimentally without regard to accepted ethical standards, or for criminal purposes.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·hack·er n.

bi·o·haz·ard n. a risk to human health or the environment arising from biological work, esp. with microorganisms.

bi·o·in·di·ca·tor n. an organism whose status in an ecosystem is analyzed as an indication of the ecosystem's heath: spruce, which is the main tree species in Austria, was used as bioindicator.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·in·di·ca·tion n.

bi·o·in·for·mat·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the science of collecting and analyzing complex biological data such as genetic codes.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·in·for·mat·ic adj.

Bi·o·ko an island in Equatorial Guinea, in the eastern part of the Gulf of Guinea. Its chief town is Malabo, which is also the capital of Equatorial Guinea. Known as Fernando Póo until 1973, it was called Macias Nguema 1973-79.

biol. abbr.
- biological.

- biologist.

- biology.

bi·o·log·i·cal (abbr.: biol.) adj. of or relating to biology or living organisms.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- genetically related; related by blood: the alleged rights of the biological father.

- (of a detergent or other cleaning product) containing enzymes to assist the process of cleaning.

■ n. a therapeutic substance, such as a vaccine or drug, derived from biological sources: [usu. plural] an international biotechnology company with interests in biologicals, agriculture, and pharmaceutical products.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·log·i·cal·ly adv.

bi·o·log·i·cal clock n. an innate mechanism that controls the physiological activities of an organism that change on a daily, seasonal, yearly, or other regular cycle.

bi·o·log·i·cal con·trol n. the control of a pest by the introduction of a natural enemy or predator.

bi·o·log·i·cal ox·y·gen de·mand (abbr.: BOD) n. another term for BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND.

bi·o·log·i·cal war·fare n. the use of toxins of biological origin or microorganisms as weapons of war: opposed to chemical and biological warfare.

bi·ol·o·gism n. the interpretation of human life from a strictly biological point of view.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·ol·o·gis·tic adj.

bi·ol·o·gy (abbr.: biol.) n. the study of living organisms, divided into many specialized fields that cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, origin, and distribution.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the plants and animals of a particular area: the biology of Chesapeake Bay.

- the physiology, behavior, and other qualities of a particular organism or class of organisms: human biology.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·ol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: coined in German, via French from Greek bios 'life' + -LOGY.

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-LOGY ■

bi·o·lu·mi·nes·cence n. the biochemical emission of light by living organisms such as fireflies and deep-sea fishes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the light emitted in such a way.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·lu·mi·nes·cent adj.

bi·o·mag·net·ism n. the interaction of living organisms with magnetic fields.

bi·o·mag·ni·fi·ca·tion n. the concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of its ingesting other plants or animals in which the toxins are more widely disbursed.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·mag·ni·fy v.

bi·o·mark·er n. a measurable substance in an organism whose presence is indicative of some phenomenon such as disease, infection, or environmental exposure: a biomarker that may predict aggressive disease recurrence in liver transplant recipients.

bi·o·mass n. the total mass of organisms in a given area or volume.
<SPECIAL USAGE> organic matter used as a fuel, esp. in a power station for the generation of electricity.

bi·o·ma·ter·i·al n. synthetic or natural material suitable for use in constructing artificial organs and prostheses or to replace bone or tissue.

bi·o·math·e·mat·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the science of the application of mathematics to biology.

bi·ome n. [ECOLOGY] a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g., forest or tundra.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from BIO- 'life' + -OME.

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-OME ■

bi·o·me·chan·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms.

bi·o·med·i·cal adj. of or relating to both biology and medicine.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·med·i·cine n.

bi·o·me·te·or·ol·o·gy n. the study of the relationship between living organisms and weather.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·me·te·or·o·log·i·cal adj.

bi·o·met·ric read·er n. an electronic device that determines identity by detecting and matching physical characteristics.

bi·o·met·rics n. 1 another term for BIOMETRY.

2 another term for BIOSTATISTICS.

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BIOMETRY ■

BIOSTATISTICS ■

bi·o·met·ric sig·na·ture n. the unique pattern of a bodily feature such as the retina, iris, or voice, encoded on an identity card and used for recognition and identification purposes.

bi·om·e·try n. the application of statistical analysis to biological data. Also called BIOMETRICS.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·met·ric adj. bi·o·met·ri·cal adj. bi·o·me·tri·cian n.

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BIOMETRICS ■

bi·o·mi·met·ic adj. [BIOCHEMISTRY] relating to or denoting synthetic methods that mimic biochemical processes.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·mi·met·ics n.

bi·o·morph n. a decorative form or object based on or resembling a living organism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a graphical representation of an organism generated on a computer, used to model evolution.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·mor·phic adj.

bi·on·ic adj. having artificial body parts, esp. electromechanical ones.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL having ordinary human powers increased by or as if by the aid of such devices (real or fictional): working out in gymnasiums to become bionic men.

- of or relating to bionics.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·on·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from BIO- 'human', on the pattern of electronic.

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bi·on·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the study of mechanical systems that function like living organisms or parts of living organisms.

bi·o·nom·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the study of the mode of life of organisms in their natural habitat and their adaptations to their surroundings; ecology.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·nom·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from BIO- 'life', on the pattern of economics.

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BIO- ■

bi·o·phys·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the science of the application of the laws of physics to biological phenomena.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·phys·i·cal adj. bi·o·phys·i·cist n.

bi·o·pic n. INFORMAL a biographical movie.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: blend of biographical (see BIOGRAPHY) and PIC.

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BIOGRAPHY ■

PIC ■

bi·o·pi·ra·cy n. bioprospecting that exploits plant and animal species by claiming patents to restrict their general use.

bi·o·pol·y·mer n. a polymeric substance occurring in living organisms, e.g., a protein, cellulose, or DNA.

bi·o·pros·pect·ing n. the search for plant and animal species from which medicinal drugs and other commercially valuable compounds can be obtained.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·pros·pec·tor n.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: from bio(diversity) prospecting.

bi·op·sy n. (pl. -sies) an examination of tissue removed from a living body to discover the presence, cause, or extent of a disease.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: coined in French from Greek bios 'life' + opsis 'sight', on the pattern of necropsy.

bi·o·psy·chol·o·gy n. the branch of psychology concerned with its biological and physiological aspects.

bi·o·re·ac·tor n. an apparatus in which a biological reaction or process is carried out, esp. on an industrial scale.

bi·o·re·gion n. a region defined by characteristics of the natural environment rather than by man-made divisions.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·re·gion·al adj.

bi·o·re·gion·al·ism n. advocacy of the belief that human activity should be largely restricted to distinct ecological and geographical regions.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·re·gion·al·ist n.

bi·o·re·me·di·a·tion n. the use of either naturally occurring or deliberately introduced microorganisms or other forms of life to consume and break down environmental pollutants, in order to clean up a polluted site.

bi·o·rhythm n. a recurring cycle in the physiology or functioning of an organism, such as the daily cycle of sleeping and waking.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a cyclic pattern of physical, emotional, or mental activity said to occur in the life of a person.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·rhyth·mic adj.

BIOS n. [COMPUTING] a set of computer instructions in firmware that control input and output operations.

<ORIGIN> acronym from Basic Input-Output System.

bi·o·sat·el·lite n. an artificial satellite that serves as an automated laboratory, conducting biological experiments on living organisms.

bi·o·sci·ence n. any of the life sciences.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·sci·en·tist n.

bi·o·se·cur·i·ty n. [often as adj.] procedures intended to protect humans or animals against disease or harmful biological agents: biosecurity risks.

bi·o·sen·sor n. a device that uses a living organism or biological molecules, esp. enzymes or antibodies, to detect the presence of chemicals.

bi·o·so·cial adj. of or relating to the interaction of biological and social factors.

bi·o·sol·ids plural n. organic matter recycled from sewage, esp. for use in agriculture.

bi·o·sphere n. the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth (or analogous parts of other planets) occupied by living organisms.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·spher·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek bios 'life' + sphaira (see SPHERE).

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SPHERE ■

bi·o·sta·tis·tics plural n. [treated as sing.] the branch of statistics that deals with data relating to living organisms. Also called BIOMETRICS.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·sta·tis·ti·cal adj. bi·o·stat·is·ti·cian n.

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BIOMETRICS ■

bi·o·stra·tig·ra·phy n. the branch of stratigraphy concerned with fossils and their use in dating rock formations.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·stra·tig·ra·pher n. bi·o·strat·i·graph·ic adj. bi·o·strat·i·graph·i·cal adj. bi·o·strat·i·graph·i·cal·ly adv.

bi·o·sur·ge·ry n. the medical use of maggots to clean infected wounds, especially in cases where a patient is resistant to conventional antibiotic treatment.

bi·o·syn·the·sis n. the production of complex molecules within living organisms or cells.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·syn·thet·ic adj.

bi·o·sys·tem·at·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] taxonomy based on the study of the genetic evolution of plant and animal populations.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·sys·tem·a·tist n.

bi·o·ta n. [ECOLOGY] the animal and plant life of a particular region, habitat, or geological period: the biota of the river.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek 'life'.

bi·o·tech n. INFORMAL short for BIOTECHNOLOGY.

■ adj. INFORMAL genetically modified: biotech corn.

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BIOTECHNOLOGY ■

bi·o·tech·nol·o·gy n. the exploitation of biological processes for industrial and other purposes, esp. the genetic manipulation of microorganisms for the production of antibiotics, hormones, etc.

bi·o·te·lem·e·try n. the detection or measurement of human or animal physiological functions from a distance using a telemeter: a review of underwater biotelemetry, with emphasis on ultrasonic techniques.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·tel·e·me·tric adj.

bi·o·ter·ror·ism n. terrorism involving the release of toxic biological agents.

bi·o·ther·a·py n. (pl. -pies) the treatment of disease using substances obtained or derived from living organisms.

bi·ot·ic adj. [attrib.] of, relating to, or resulting from living things, esp. in their ecological relations: the preservation of biotic diversity.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French biotique, or via late Latin from Greek , from bios 'life'.

bi·o·tin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a vitamin of the B complex, found in egg yolk, liver, and yeast. It is involved in the synthesis of fatty acids and glucose. Also called VITAMIN H.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: coined in German from Greek bios 'life' + -IN^1 .

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VITAMIN H ■

-IN ■

bi·o·tite n. a black, dark brown, or greenish black variety of mica, occurring in many igneous and metamorphic rocks.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after J.-B. Biot (1774-1862), French mineralogist.

bi·o·tope n. [ECOLOGY] the region of a habitat associated with a particular ecological community.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from German Biotop, based on Greek topos 'place'.

bi·o·trans·for·ma·tion n. the alteration of a substance, such as a drug, within the body.

bi·o·tur·ba·tion n. [GEOLOGY] the disturbance of sedimentary deposits by living organisms.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·o·tur·ba·ted adj.

bi·o·type n. a group of organisms having an identical genetic constitution.

bi·o·war·fare n. biological warfare, including the use of toxins of biological origin or microorganisms as weapons of war.

bi·o·weap·on n. a biological weapon: fears mount about smallpox as a bioweapon.

bi·par·ti·san adj. of or involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies: educational reform received considerable bipartisan approval.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·par·ti·san·ship n.

<USAGE>
See usage at CROSS-PARTY.

bi·par·tite adj. involving or made by two separate parties: the bipartite system of elementary and secondary schools.
<SPECIAL USAGE> TECHNICAL consisting of two parts: a bipartite uterus.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'divided into two parts'): from Latin bipartitus, past participle of bipartire, from bi- 'two' + partire 'to part'.

bi·ped·al adj. [ZOOLOGY] (of an animal) using only two legs for walking.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·ped n. & adj. bi·ped·al·ism n. bi·pe·dal·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin bipes, biped- (from bi- 'having two' + pes, ped- 'foot') + -AL.

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-AL ■

bi·pha·sic adj. having two phases: the patient's biphasic recovery curve.

bi·phen·yl n. [CHEMISTRY] an organic compound containing two phenyl groups bonded together, e.g., the PCBs.

bi·pin·nate adj. [BOTANY] (of a pinnate leaf) having leaflets that are further subdivided in a pinnate arrangement.

bi·plane n. an early type of aircraft with two pairs of wings, one above the other.

bi·pod n. a two-legged stand or support.

bi·po·lar adj. having or relating to two poles or extremities: a sharply bipolar division of affluent and underclasses.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a plant or animal species) of or occurring in both polar regions.

- (of a nerve cell) having two axons, one on either side of the cell body.

- [ELECTRONICS] (of a transistor or other device) using both positive and negative charge carriers.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·po·lar·i·ty n.

bi·po·lar dis·or·der (also bi·po·lar ill·ness) n. a mental disorder marked by alternating periods of elation and depression. Also called (esp. formerly) MANIC DEPRESSION. Compare with UNIPOLAR.

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MANIC DEPRESSION ■

bi·ra·cial adj. concerning or containing members of two racial groups.

bi·ra·mous adj. [ZOOLOGY] (esp. of crustacean limbs and antennae) dividing to form two branches.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from BI- 'two' + RAMUS + -OUS.

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BI- ■

RAMUS ■

-OUS ■

birch n. 1 (also birch tree) a slender, fast-growing tree that has thin bark (often peeling) and bears catkins. Birch trees grow chiefly in north temperate regions, some reaching the northern limit of tree growth.
<INFO>  Genus Betula, family Betulaceae: many species, including the yellow birch (B. alleghaniensis) of North America.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (also birch·wood) the hard fine-grained pale wood of any of these trees.

2 (the birch) CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a formal punishment in which a person is flogged with a bundle of birch twigs.

■ v. [trans.] CHIEFLY HISTORICAL beat (someone) with a bundle of birch twigs as a formal punishment.

<DERIVATIVES> birch·en adj. (ARCHAIC).

<ORIGIN> Old English bierce, birce, of Germanic origin; related to German Birke.

birch·bark (also birch bark) n. the impervious bark of the North American paper birch, Betula papyrifera, used, esp. formerly by American Indians, to make canoes and containers: stretched the birchbark over a cedar frame | [as adj.] birchbark baskets.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a canoe of this material.

Birch·er n. a member or supporter of the John Birch Society, a conservative anticommunist American organization founded in 1958.

<ORIGIN> from the name of John Birch, a Baptist missionary and U.S. Army Air Force officer and called the “first casualty of the Cold War,” killed by Chinese communists in 1945.

Bird Larry (1956- ), U.S. basketball player and coach. He played for the Boston Celtics 1979-92 and coached the Indiana Pacers 1997-2000. Basketball Hall of Fame (1998).

bird n. 1 a warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate distinguished by the possession of feathers, wings, and a beak and (typically) by being able to fly.
<INFO>  Aves

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an animal of this type that is hunted for sport or used for food: carve the bird at the dinner table.

- a clay pigeon.

- INFORMAL an aircraft, spacecraft, satellite, or guided missile: the crews worked frantically to ready their birds for flight.

2 [usu. with adj.] INFORMAL a person of a specified kind or character: I'm a pretty tough old bird.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT., INFORMAL a young woman; a girlfriend.

<PHRASES>
□ a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush PROVERB it's better to be content with what you have than to risk losing everything by seeking more.

□ the birds and the bees basic facts about sex and reproduction, as told to a child.

□ birds of a feather flock together PROVERB people of the same sort or with the same tastes and interests will be found together: these health professionals were birds of a feather.

□ eat like a bird see EAT.

□ flip someone the bird stick one's middle finger up at someone as a sign of contempt or anger, meaning 'fuck you'. Compare with give someone the finger in FINGER.

□ (strictly) for the birds INFORMAL not worth consideration; unimportant: this piece of legislation is for the birds.

□ give someone the bird see FLIP SOMEONE THE BIRD.

□ have a bird INFORMAL be very shocked or agitated: the press corps would have a bird if the president-to-be appointed his wife to a real job.

□ kill two birds with one stone see KILL^1 .

□ a little bird told me HUMOROUS used to say that the speaker knows something but prefers to keep the identity of the informant a secret: a little bird told me it was your birthday.

<ORIGIN> Old English brid 'chick, fledgling', of unknown origin.

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EAT ■

KILL ■

bird band·ing n. the practice of catching birds, marking them with an identifying band around the leg, and then releasing them.

<DERIVATIVES> bird band·er n.

bird·bath n. a small basin filled with water for birds to bathe in, typically found in a garden.

bird·brain n. INFORMAL an annoyingly stupid and shallow person.

<DERIVATIVES> bird·brained adj.

bird·cage n. a cage for pet birds, typically made of wire or cane.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an object resembling such a cage: the elevator was an elegant and gilded birdcage.

bird call n. a note uttered by a bird for the purpose of contact, alarm, or marking its territory.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an instrument imitating such a sound, used esp. by hunters.

bird cher·ry n. a small wild cherry tree or shrub, with bitter black fruit that is eaten by birds.
<INFO>  Genus Prunus, family Rosaceae: many species, including the pin cherry (P. pensylvanica) of North America.

bird colo·nel n. INFORMAL a full colonel.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.; from the silver eagle indicating the rank of full colonel.

bird dog n. a gun dog trained to retrieve birds.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a person whose job involves searching, esp. a talent scout for a sports team.

■ v. (bird-dog) [trans.] search out or pursue with dogged determination: he ordered the vice president to bird-dog Congress for funds.

bird·er n. INFORMAL a bird-watcher.

bird flu n. an often fatal flu virus of birds, esp. poultry, that is transmissible from them to humans, in whom it may also prove fatal.
<INFO>  the virus is an Influenza A virus, family Orthomyxoviridae.

bird·house n. a box, typically made to resemble a house, provided for a bird to make its nest in.

bird·ie n. (pl. bird·ies) 1 INFORMAL a little bird.

2 [GOLF] a score of one stroke under par at a hole.

■ v. (bird·ie·ing) [GOLF] [trans.] play (a hole) with a score of one stroke under par: she wound up birdieing the hole from 20 feet.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: diminutive of BIRD; the golf term from slang bird, denoting any first-rate thing.

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BIRD ■

bird·ing n. the observation of birds in their natural habitats as a hobby.

bird·lime n. a sticky substance spread on twigs to trap small birds.

■ v. spread with birdlime: he birdlimed the branch.
- catch or trap with birdlime.

- FIGURATIVE entrap by clever deception; inveigle: they were birdlimed by his slick line of flattery.

bird of par·a·dise n. 1 (pl. birds of par·a·dise) a tropical Australasian bird, the male of which is noted for the beauty and brilliance of its plumage and its spectacular courtship display. Most kinds are found in New Guinea, where their feathers are used in ornamental dress.
<INFO>  Paradisaeidae
<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: paradise suggested by the modern Latin family name Paradisaeidae (plural).

2 (also bird of paradise flower) a southern African plant related to the banana. It bears a showy irregular flower with a long projecting tongue.
<INFO>  Genus Strelitzia, family Strelitziaceae: several species, in particular S. regina, whose orange and dark blue flowers are pollinated by a sunbird.
<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named from the protrusion of flowers from a green spathe, resembling a bird of paradise in flight.

bird of pas·sage n. DATED a migratory bird.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who passes through or visits a place without staying for long.

bird of prey n. a predatory bird, distinguished by a hooked bill and sharp talons; a raptor.
<INFO>  Orders Falconiformes (the diurnal birds of prey) and Strigiformes (the owls).

bird pep·per n. a tropical American pepper thought to be the ancestor of both sweet and chili peppers.
<INFO>  Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum (or C. frutescens var. typicum), family Solanaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the small, red, very hot fruit of this plant.

- a variety of small hot pepper grown in Asia or Africa.

bird·seed n. any seed or blend of seed for feeding birds.

Birds·eye Clarence (1886-1956), U.S. businessman and inventor. A former fur trader, he had observed food preservation techniques practiced by the people of Labrador. He developed a process of rapidly freezing foods in small packages that were suitable for retail sale and created a revolution in eating habits.

bird's-eye n. 1 [usu. as adj.] any of a number of plants with small flowers that have contrasting petals and centers, in particular:
<INFO>
- (also bird's-eye primrose) a primrose with yellow-centered purple flowers (Primula farinosa, family Primulaceae).

- (also bird's-eye speedwell) a speedwell with bright blue flowers, also known as GERMANDER SPEEDWELL.

2 (also bird's-eye chili or bird's-eye pepper) a small, very hot chili pepper.

3 a small geometric pattern woven with a dot in the center, typically used in suiting and lining fabrics.

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GERMANDER SPEEDWELL ■

bird's-eye ma·ple n. the lumber from an American maple, typically the sugar maple, that contains eyelike markings, used in decorative woodwork.

bird's-eye view n. a general view from above: we had a bird's-eye view from the attic window.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a general view as if from above: the map gives a bird's-eye view of the route.

- a broad, general, or superficial consideration (of something): this introductory bird's-eye view will survey the animal kingdom.

bird's-foot tre·foil (also birds·foot tre·foil) n. a small plant of the pea family with leaves that consist of three leaflets, yellow flowers streaked with red, and triple pods that resemble the feet of a bird.
<INFO>  Lotus corniculatus, family Leguminosae.

bird·shot n. the smallest size of shot for shotguns.

bird's-nest n. 1 a North American brownish or yellowish flowering plant of the wintergreen family, with scalelike leaves. The bird's-nest is a saprophyte that lacks chlorophyll. Also called giant bird's-nest
<INFO>  Pterospora andromeda, family Monotropaceae.

2 (also bird's-nest fungus) a fungus of worldwide distribution that grows on dead wood and other plant debris. It produces a small bowl-shaped fruiting body that opens to reveal egg-shaped organs containing the spores.
<INFO>  Family Nidulariaceae, class Basidiomycetes: several genera and species, including the common Crucibulum levis.

bird's-nest or·chid n. a European woodland orchid that lacks chlorophyll, the whole plant being yellowish-brown. It obtains nourishment by linking its nestlike mass of thick roots to a soil-dwelling fungus from which it absorbs nutrients.
<INFO>  Neottia nidus-avis, family Orchidaceae.

bird's nest soup n. a Chinese soup made from the dried gelatinous coating of the nests of swifts and other birds.

bird·song n. the musical vocalizations of a bird or birds, typically uttered by a male songbird in characteristic bursts or phrases for territorial purposes.

bird strike (also bird-strike) n. a collision between a bird or flock of birds and an aircraft.

bird-watch·er (also bird·watch·er) n. a person who observes birds in their natural surroundings as a hobby.

<DERIVATIVES> bird-watch·ing n.

Bird Wom·an see SACAJAWEA.

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SACAJAWEA ■

bi·re·frin·gent adj. [PHYSICS] having two different refractive indices.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [OPTICS] of or relating to optically anisotropic material: double refraction will occur in a birefringent material such as quartz.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·re·frin·gence n.

bi·reme n. an ancient warship with two files of oarsmen on each side.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin biremis, from bi- 'having two' + remus 'oar'.

bi·ret·ta (also be·ret·ta) n. a square cap with three flat projections on top, worn by Roman Catholic clergymen.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Italian berretta or Spanish birreta, based on late Latin birrus 'hooded cape'. Compare with BERET.

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BERET ■

Bir·git·ta, St. see BRIDGET, ST.2

Linked entries:

BRIDGET, ST. ■

bi·ri n. (pl. -ris) variant spelling of BIDI.

Linked entries:

BIDI ■

bi·ri·a·ni n. variant spelling of BIRYANI.

Linked entries:

BIRYANI ■

Bir·ken·head a town in northwestern England on the Wirral Peninsula on the Mersey River, opposite Liverpool; pop. 116,000.

Bir·ken·stock n. TRADEMARK a type of shoe or sandal with a contoured cork-filled sole and a thick leather upper.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as modifier] denoting people concerned with political correctness or conservationist issues: home builders are no longer content to leave environmentalism to the Birkenstock crowd.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from the name of the manufacturer.

Bir·man n. a cat of a long-haired breed, typically with a cream body, a dark head, tail, and legs, and white paws.

Bir·ming·ham 1  an industrial city in north central Alabama; pop. 242,820.

2 a city in southeastern Michigan, north of Detroit; pop. 19,997.

3 an industrial city in west central England; pop. 934,900.

birr n. the basic monetary unit of Ethiopia, equal to 100 cents.

<ORIGIN> from Amharic.

birth n. the emergence of a baby or other young from the body of its mother; the start of life as a physically separate being: he was blind from birth | despite a difficult birth he's fit and healthy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with adj.] a baby born: the overall rate of incidence of Down syndrome is one in every 800 live births.

- the beginning or coming into existence of something: the birth of democracy.

- origin, descent, or ancestry: the mother is American by birth.

- high or noble descent: she was proud of her beauty and her birth.

■ v. [trans.] INFORMAL give birth to (a baby or other young): she had carried him and birthed him | [intrans.] in spring the cows birthed.

<PHRASES> give birth bear a child or young: she's due to give birth in March she gave birth to a son.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse byrth; related to BEAR^1 .

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BEAR ■

birth ca·nal n. the passageway from the womb through the cervix, the vagina, and the vulva through which a fetus passes during birth.

birth cer·tif·i·cate n. an official document issued to record a person's birth, including such identifying data as name, gender, date of birth, place of birth, and parentage.

birth con·trol n. the practice of preventing unwanted pregnancies, typically by use of contraception.

birth con·trol pill n. a contraceptive pill.

birth·date n. 1 date of birth: her baptismal record puts her birthdate as April 26, 1741.

2 the anniversary of a date of birth, especially for someone dead: the communists' symbolic vote to clear the name of Stalin came six days after Stalin's birthdate.

birth·day n. the annual anniversary of the day on which a person was born, typically treated as an occasion for celebration and present-giving: I'm getting a dollhouse for my birthday | [as adj.] a birthday cake; the birthday boy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the day of one's birth: she shares a birthday with Paul McCartney.

- the anniversary of something starting or being founded: the staff celebrated the twenty-fifth birthday of the paper.

<PHRASES> in one's birthday suit HUMOROUS naked.

birth de·fect n. a physical or biochemical abnormality that is present at birth and that may be inherited or the result of environmental influence.

birth fam·i·ly n. one's biological parents and siblings, as opposed to adoptive relatives.

birth·ing n. the action or process of giving birth: [as adj.] a birthing pool.

birth·ing cen·ter n. a medical facility, specializing in childbirth, that is less restrictive and more homelike than a hospital.

birth·ing room n. a room in a hospital or other medical facility that is equipped for labor and childbirth and is designed to be comfortable and homelike.

birth·mark n. an unusual and typically permanent brown or red mark on someone's body from birth.

birth moth·er n. a woman who has given birth to a child, as opposed to an adoptive mother; a biological mother.

birth pang n. [usu. in pl.] another term for LABOR PAIN.

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LABOR PAIN ■

birth par·ent n. a biological as opposed to an adoptive parent.

birth·place n. the place where a person was born.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the place where something started or originated: Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance.

birth rate n. the number of live births per thousand of population per year.

birth·right n. a particular right of possession or privilege one has from birth, esp. as an eldest child.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the possession or privilege itself: your daddy's gold watch is your birthright.

- a natural or moral right, possessed by everyone: she saw a liberal education as the birthright of every child.

birth·stone n. a gemstone popularly associated with the month or astrological sign of one's birth.

birth·weight n. the weight of a baby at birth.

birth·wort n. a climbing or herbaceous plant that typically has heart-shaped leaves and deep-throated, often pipe-shaped, flowers. It was formerly used as an aid to childbirth and to induce abortion.
<INFO>  Genus Aristolochia, family Aristolochiaceae.

bi·ry·a·ni (also bi·ri·a·ni) n. an Indian dish made with highly seasoned rice and meat, fish, or vegetables.

<ORIGIN> Urdu, from Persian , from 'fried, grilled'.

bis adv. again, as a direction in a musical score indicating that a passage is to be repeated.

<ORIGIN> via French and Italian from Latin, literally 'twice'.

bis- comb. form [CHEMISTRY] used to form the names of compounds containing two groups identically substituted or coordinated: bis(2-aminoethyl) ether.

Bis·cay, Bay of a part of the North Atlantic Ocean between the northern coast of Spain and the western coast of France, noted for its strong currents and storms.

Bis·cayne Bay an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in southeastern Florida, south of Miami, noted for its islands and resorts.

bis·cot·ti plural n. small, crisp rectangular twice-baked cookies typically containing nuts, made originally in Italy.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

bis·cuit n. 1 a small, typically round cake of bread leavened with baking powder, baking soda, or sometimes yeast.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT. a cookie or cracker.

2 another term for BISQUE^3 : [as adj.] biscuit ware.

3 a light brown color.

4 a small flat piece of wood used to join two mortised planks together.

■ adj. light brown in color.

<DERIVATIVES> bis·cuit·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bescuit, based on Latin bis 'twice' + coctus, past participle of coquere 'to cook' (so named because originally biscuits were cooked in a twofold process: first baked and then dried out in a slow oven so that they would keep).

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BISQUE ■

bi·sect v. [trans.] divide into two parts: a landscape of farmland bisected by long straight roads.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GEOMETRY] divide (a line, angle, shape, etc.) into two equal parts.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·sec·tion n. bi·sec·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from BI- 'two' + Latin sect- (from secare 'to cut').

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BI- ■

bi·se·ri·al adj. [STATISTICS] referring to the correlation between two sets measurements, one of which is dichotomous.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BOTANY] & [ZOOLOGY] arranged in or consisting of two series or rows.

bi·sex·u·al adj. sexually attracted to both men and women.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BIOLOGY] having characteristics of both sexes.

■ n. a person who is sexually attracted to both men and women.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·sex·u·al·i·ty n.

Bish·kek the capital of Kyrgyzstan; pop. 625,000. From 1926 to 1991, the city was named Frunze. Former name (until 1926) PISHPEK.

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PISHPEK ■

Bi·sho a town in southern South Africa, situated near the coast to the northeast of Port Elizabeth; pop. (with East London) 270,130.

Bish·op Elizabeth (1911-79), U.S. poet. Her poetry contrasts her experiences in South America 1952-67 with her New England origins. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her first two collections, North and South (1946) and A Cold Spring (1955). Other notable works include Geography III (1976).

bish·op n. 1 a senior member of the Christian clergy, typically in charge of a diocese and empowered to confer holy orders.

2 (also bishop bird) an African weaverbird, the male of which has red, orange, yellow, or black plumage.
<INFO>  Genus Euplectes, family Ploceidae: several species, including the red bishop (E. orix), which has scarlet plumage with a black face and underparts.

3 a chess piece, typically with its top shaped like a miter, that can move in any direction along a diagonal on which it stands. Each player starts the game with two bishops, one moving on white squares and the other on black.

4 mulled and spiced wine.

<ORIGIN> Old English biscop, bisceop, based on Greek episkopos 'overseer', from epi 'above' + -skopos '-looking'.

bish·op·ric n. the office or rank of a bishop.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a district under a bishop's control; a diocese.

<ORIGIN> Old English , from bisceop (see BISHOP) + 'realm'.

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BISHOP ■

Bis·la·ma n. an English-based pidgin language used as a lingua franca in Fiji and the Solomon Islands and as an official language in Vanuatu. Also called BEACH-LA-MAR.

<ORIGIN> alteration of Portuguese bicho do mar 'sea cucumber'(traded as a commodity, the word later being applied to the language of trade). Compare with BÊCHE-DE-MER.

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BEACH-LA-MAR ■

BÊCHE-DE-MER ■

Bis·marck 1 the capital of North Dakota, in the south central part of the state, on the Missouri River; pop. 55,532. It took the name of German Chancellor Bismarck in order to attract German capital for railroad building.

Bis·marck 2 Otto Eduard Leopold von, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg (1815-98), Prussian minister and German statesman; chancellor of the German Empire 1871-90; also known as the Iron Chancellor. He was the driving force behind the unification of Germany and orchestrated wars with Denmark 1864, Austria 1866, and France 1870-71 in order to achieve this end.

Bis·marck Ar·chi·pel·a·go an island group in the western Pacific Ocean, part of Papua New Guinea. Held by Germany from 1884 to World War I, it includes New Britain, New Ireland, and several hundred other islands.

Bis·marck Sea an arm of the Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Guinea and north of New Britain. In March 1943, the U.S. destroyed a large Japanese naval force in these waters.

bis·mil·lah exclam. in the name of Allah (an invocation used by Muslims at the beginning of any undertaking).

<ORIGIN> from Arabic , the first phrase of the Koran.

bis·muth n. the chemical element of atomic number 83, a brittle reddish-gray metal. (Symbol: Bi)
<SPECIAL USAGE> a compound of this element used medicinally.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin bisemutum, Latinization of German Wismut, of unknown origin.

bi·son n. (pl. same) a humpbacked shaggy-haired wild ox native to North America and Europe.
<INFO>  Genus Bison, family Bovidae: B. bison of North American prairies (also called BUFFALO), and B. bonasus of European forests (also called WISENT), now found only in Poland. These are sometimes regarded as a single species.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to WISENT.

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BUFFALO ■

WISENT ■

WISENT ■

bis·phe·nol A n. [CHEMISTRY] a synthetic organic compound used in the manufacture of epoxy resins and other polymers.
<INFO>  A bicyclic phenol; chem. formula: C(CH_3)2(C_6H_4OH)2.

bisque 1 n. a rich, creamy soup typically made with shellfish, esp. lobster.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: French, literally 'crayfish soup'.

bisque 2 n. an extra turn, point, or stroke allowed to a weaker player in croquet or court tennis.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (originally a term in court tennis): from French, of unknown ultimate origin.

bisque 3 n. 1 fired unglazed pottery: using bisque for doll heads | [as adj.] bisque figurines.

2 a light brown color: shades of bisque, taupe, and chocolate brown.

■ adj. light brown in color.

Bis·sau the capital of Guinea-Bissau, in the western part of the country; pop. 125,000.

bi·sta·ble n. an electronic circuit that has two stable states.

■ adj. (of a system) having two stable states.

bis·ter (also bis·tre) n. a brownish-yellowish pigment made from the soot of burned wood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the color of this pigment.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French bistre, of unknown origin.

bis·tort n. a Eurasian herbaceous plant with a spike of flesh-colored flowers and twisted root that is sometimes used medicinally.
<INFO>  Genus Polygonum, family Polygonaceae: several species, in particular P. bistorta.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from French bistorte or medieval Latin bistorta, from bis 'twice' + torta (feminine past participle of torquere 'to twist').

bis·tou·ry n. (pl. -ries) a surgical knife with a long, narrow, straight or curved blade.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French bistouri, originally bistorie 'dagger', of unknown origin.

bis·tro n. (pl. -tros) a small restaurant.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: French.

bi·sul·fate (CHIEFLY BRIT. also bi·sul·phate) n. [CHEMISTRY] a salt of the anion HSO_4.

bi·sul·fide (CHIEFLY BRIT. bi·sul·phide) n. another term for DISULFIDE.

Linked entries:

DISULFIDE ■

bi·sul·fite (CHIEFLY BRIT. also bi·sul·phite) n. an acid sulfite containing the radical HSO_3.

bit 1 n. 1 a small piece, part, or quantity of something: give the duck a bit of bread; he read bits of his work to me.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (a bit) a fair amount: there's a bit to talk about there.

- (a bit) a short time or distance: I fell asleep for a bit.

- [with adj.] INFORMAL a set of actions or ideas associated with a specific group or activity: she's gone off to do her theatrical bit.

2 INFORMAL, DATED a unit of 12^1/2/ cents (used only in even multiples): the sideshow admission was twenty-five cents, two bits, the fourth of a dollar.

<PHRASES>
□ a bit somewhat; to some extent: he came back looking a bit annoyed.

□ bit by bit gradually: the school was built bit by bit over the years.

□ a bit of a — used to suggest that something is not severe or extreme, or is true only to a limited extent: he's a bit of a womanizer.
- only a little —; a mere —: we went on a bit of a walk.

□ bits and pieces an assortment of small items: weird bits and pieces of paraphernalia.

□ do one's bit INFORMAL make a useful contribution to an effort or cause: she was keen to do her bit to help others.

□ every bit as see EVERY.

□ not a bit not at all: I'm not a bit tired.

□ to bits
1 into pieces: he smashed it to bits with a hammer.

2 INFORMAL very much; to a great degree: we've got two great kids whom I love to bits.

<ORIGIN> Old English bita 'bite, mouthful', of Germanic origin; related to German Bissen, also to BITE.

Linked entries:

EVERY ■

BITE ■

bit 2 past of BITE.

Linked entries:

BITE ■

bit 3 n. 1 a mouthpiece, typically made of metal, that is attached to a bridle and used to control a horse.

2 a tool or piece for boring or drilling, typically of metal: a drill bit.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the cutting or gripping part of a plane, pliers, or other tool.

- the part of a key that engages with the lock lever.

- the copper head of a soldering iron.

■ v. [trans.] put a bit into the mouth of (a horse).
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE restrain: my own hysteria was bitted by upbringing and respect.

<PHRASES>
□ above the bit (of a horse) carrying its head too high so that it evades correct contact with the bit.

□ behind the bit (of a horse) carrying its head with the chin tucked in so that it evades contact with the bit.

□ off the bit (or bridle) (of a horse) ridden on a loose rein to allow it to gallop freely, esp. at the end of a race.

□ on the bit (or bridle) (of a horse) ridden with a light but firm contact on the mouth, and accepting the bit in a calm and relaxed manner.

□ take (or get or have) the bit in (or between) one's teeth begin to tackle a problem or task in a determined or independent way.

<DERIVATIVES> bit·ted adj. [in combination] a double-bitted ax.

<ORIGIN> Old English bite 'biting, a bite', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch beet and German Biss, also to BITE.

Linked entries:

BITE ■

bit 4 n. [COMPUTING] a unit of information expressed as either a 0 or 1 in binary notation.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: blend of BINARY and DIGIT.

Linked entries:

BINARY ■

DIGIT ■

bi·tar·trate n. an acid tartrate containing the radical C_4H_5O_6.

bitch n. 1 a female dog, wolf, fox, or otter.

2 INFORMAL, DEROGATORY a woman whom one dislikes or considers to be malicious or unpleasant.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] INFORMAL a thing or situation that is unpleasant or difficult to deal with: the stove is a bitch to fix.

■ v. [intrans.] INFORMAL express displeasure; grumble: they bitch about everything [as n.] (bitching) we're tired of your bitching.

<ORIGIN> Old English bicce, of Germanic origin.

bitch·er·y n. bitchy behavior.

bitch·ing (also bitch·en or bitch·in' ) adj. INFORMAL excellent: a bitching new album.

■ adv. [as submodifier] extremely: it's bitchin' hot, ain't it?

bitch-slap v. (-slapped, -slap·ping) VULGAR SLANG [trans.] deliver a stinging blow to (someone), typically in order to humiliate them: I'd bitch-slap her too if she mouthed off to me like that.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: originally black English, referring to a woman hitting or haranguing her male partner.

bitch·y INFORMAL adj. (bitchier, bitchiest) (of a person's comments or behavior) malicious or unpleasant: bitchy remarks.

<DERIVATIVES> bitch·i·ly adv. bitch·i·ness n.

bite v. (past bit ; past part. bit·ten ) [intrans.] 1 (of a person or animal) use the teeth to cut into something in order to eat it: Rosa bit into a cupcake | [trans.] he bit a mouthful from the sandwich.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] (of an animal or a person) use the teeth in order to inflict injury on: she had bitten, scratched, and kicked her assailant.

- [trans.] (of a snake, insect, or arachnid) wound with a sting, pincers, or fangs: getting bitten by mosquitoes.

- (bite at) (of an animal) snap at; attempt to bite: it is not unusual for this dog to bite at its owner's hand.

- (of an acid) corrode a surface: chemicals have bitten deep into the stone.

- (of a fish) take the bait or lure on the end of a fishing line into the mouth.

- FIGURATIVE (of a person) be persuaded to accept a deal or offer: a hundred or so retailers should bite.

2 (of a tool, tire, boot, etc.) grip a surface: once on the wet grass, my boots failed to bite.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an object) press into a part of the body, causing pain: the handcuffs bit into his wrists.

- FIGURATIVE cause emotional pain: Cheryl's betrayal had bitten deep.

- (of a policy or situation) take effect, with unpleasant consequences: when the cuts in art education start to bite.

- INFORMAL be very bad, unpleasant, or unfortunate: it bites that your mom won't let you go.

■ n. 1 an act of biting into something in order to eat it: Stephen ate a hot dog in three big bites.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a piece cut off by biting: Robyn took a large bite out of her sandwich.

- INFORMAL a quick snack: I plan to stop off in the village and have a bite to eat.

- a small morsel of prepared food, intended to constitute one mouthful: minced bacon bites with cheese.

- FIGURATIVE a short piece of information: snack-sized bites of information. See also SOUND BITE.

- a wound inflicted by an animal's or a person's teeth: Perry's dog had given her a nasty bite.

- a wound inflicted by a snake, insect, or arachnid: suspected it to be a tick bite.

- an act of bait being taken by a fish: by four o'clock he still hadn't had a single bite.

- [DENTISTRY] the bringing together of the teeth in occlusion.

- [DENTISTRY] the imprint of this in a plastic material.

2 a sharp or pungent flavor: a fresh, lemony bite.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- incisiveness or cogency of style: his colorful characterizations brought added bite to the story.

- a feeling of cold in the air or wind: by early October there's a bite in the air.

<PHRASES>
□ one's bark is worse than one's bite PROVERB said of someone whose fierce and intimidating manner is not felt by the speaker to reflect the person's nature.

□ be bitten by the bug develop a passionate interest in a specified activity: Joe was bitten by the showbiz bug at the age of four.

□ bite the big one INFORMAL die.

□ bite the bullet decide to do something difficult or unpleasant that one has been putting off or hesitating over. <ORIGIN> from the old custom of giving wounded soldiers a bullet to bite on when undergoing surgery without anesthetic.

□ bite the dust INFORMAL be killed: and the bad guys bite the dust with lead in their bellies.
- FIGURATIVE fail; come to an end: she hoped the new program would not bite the dust for lack of funding.

□ bite the hand that feeds one deliberately hurt or offend a benefactor.

□ bite someone's head off see HEAD.

□ bite one's lip dig one's front teeth into one's lip in embarrassment, grief, or annoyance, or to prevent oneself from saying something or to control oneself when experiencing physical pain.
- FIGURATIVE forcing oneself to remain silent even though annoyed, provoked, or in possession of information: he could have mocked Carol's obnoxious behavior, but he bit his lip.

□ bite off more than one can chew take on a commitment one cannot fulfill.

□ bite one's tongue make a desperate effort to avoid saying something: I had to bite my tongue and accept his explanation.

□ one could have bitten one's tongue off used to show that someone profoundly and immediately regrets having said something.

□ once bitten, twice shy PROVERB an unpleasant experience induces caution.

□ put the bite on INFORMAL borrow or extort money from. <ORIGIN> 1930s: bite in the slang sense 'cadging'.

□ take a bite out of INFORMAL reduce by a significant amount: insurance costs that can take a bite out of your retirement funds.

<PHRASAL VERB> bite something back refrain with difficulty from saying something, making a sound, or expressing an emotion: Melissa bit back a scathing comment.

<DERIVATIVES> bit·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bijten and German beissen.

Linked entries:

SOUND BITE ■

HEAD ■

bite-sized (also bite-size) adj. (of a piece of food) small enough to be eaten in one mouthful: cut the potatoes into bite-sized pieces.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL very small or short: a series of bite-sized essays.

bite·wing n. a dental film for X-raying the crowns of upper and lower teeth simultaneously and that is held in place by a tab between the teeth.

bit·ing adj. (of insects and certain other animals) able to wound the skin with a sting or fangs: ridding the premises of biting red ants.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of wind or cold) so cold as to be painful: he leaned forward to protect himself against the biting wind.

- (of wit or criticism) harsh or cruel: his biting satire on corruption and power.

<DERIVATIVES> bit·ing·ly adv.

bit·ing midge n. a very small fly that typically occurs in large swarms. The female has piercing mouthparts and feeds on the blood of a variety of animals including humans.
<INFO>  Family Ceratopogonidae: numerous genera and species, including the punkie (Culicoides and related genera).

bit·map [COMPUTING] n. a representation in which each item corresponds to one or more bits of information, esp. the information used to control the display of a computer screen.

■ v. (-mapped, -map·ping) [trans.] represent (an item) as a bitmap.

BITNET (also Bitnet) TRADEMARK a data transmission network founded in 1981 to link North American academic institutions and to interconnect with other information networks.

bi·ton·al adj. (of music) having parts in two different keys sounding together.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·ton·al·i·ty n.

bit part n. a small acting role in a play or a movie.

bit rate n. [ELECTRONICS] the number of bits per second that can be transmitted along a digital network.

bit·stream n. [ELECTRONICS] a stream of data in binary form.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Bitstream) TRADEMARK a system of digital-to-analog signal conversion used in some audio CD players, in which the signal from the CD is digitally processed to give a signal at a higher frequency before being converted to an analog signal.

bitt n. [usu. in pl.] any of the posts fixed in pairs on the deck of a ship, for fastening cables, belaying ropes, etc.

■ v. [trans.] coil or fasten around the bitts.

bit·ten past participle of BITE.

Linked entries:

BITE ■

bit·ter adj. 1 having a sharp, pungent taste or smell; not sweet: the raw berries have an intensely bitter flavor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of chocolate) dark and unsweetened.

2 (of people or their feelings or behavior) angry, hurt, or resentful because of one's bad experiences or a sense of unjust treatment: I don't feel jealous or bitter.

3 harsh or unpleasant, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (often used for emphasis) painful or unpleasant to accept or contemplate: today's decision has come as a bitter blow.

- (of a conflict, argument, or opponent) full of anger and acrimony: a bitter, five-year legal battle.

- (of wind, cold, or weather) intensely cold: a bitter wind blowing from the east.

■ n. 1 [mass noun] BRIT. beer that is strongly flavored with hops and has a bitter taste.

2 (bitters) [treated as sing] liquor that is flavored with the sharp pungent taste of plant extracts and is used as an additive in cocktails or as a medicinal substance to promote appetite or digestion.

<PHRASES> to the bitter end used to say that one will continue doing something until it is finished, no matter what: the workers would fight to the bitter end for safer conditions. <ORIGIN> perhaps associated with a nautical word bitter denoting the last part of a cable inboard of the BITTS, perhaps influenced by the biblical phrase ‘her end is bitter as wormwood’ (Prov. 5:4).

<DERIVATIVES> bit·ter·ly adv. bit·ter·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English biter, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German bitter, and probably to BITE.

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BITTS ■

BITE ■

bit·ter al·mond n. see ALMOND (sense 2).

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ALMOND ■

bit·ter al·oes n. see ALOE.

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ALOE ■

bit·ter ap·ple n. another term for COLOCYNTH.

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COLOCYNTH ■

bit·ter·cress n. a plant with small white flowers that grows widely as a weed of temperate areas, esp. in damp soils.
<INFO>  Genus Cardamine, family Brassicaceae: several species, in particular the Pennsylvania bittercress (C. pensylvanica) of North America.

bit·ter-end·er n. a person who holds out until the end no matter what.

bit·ter gourd n. another term for BITTER MELON.

bit·ter greens plural n. mixed green leaves of a variety of salad vegetables with a bitter taste, such as kale, mustard, collard, endive, chicory, or spinach.

bit·ter mel·on n. a warty, green-colored, unripe fruit of an annual tropical vine, used in Asian cooking and for its medicinal properties. Also called BITTER GOURD.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the widespread plant of the gourd family that produces this fruit.

<INFO>  Momordica charantia, family Cucurbitaceae
.

bit·tern 1 n. a large marsh bird of the heron family, typically smaller than a heron, with brown streaked plumage. The larger kinds are noted for the deep booming call of the male in the breeding season.
<INFO>  Genera Botaurus and Ixobrychus, family Ardeidae: several species, esp. the American bittern (B. lentiginosus) and the least bittern (I. exilis).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English bitore, from Old French butor, based on Latin butio 'bittern' + taurus 'bull' (because of its call). The -n was added in the 16th cent., perhaps by association with hern, obsolete variant of HERON.

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HERON ■

bit·tern 2 (also bitterns) n. a concentrated solution of various salts remaining after the crystallization of salt from seawater.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: probably from the adjective BITTER.

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BITTER ■

bit·ter or·ange n. another term for SEVILLE ORANGE.

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SEVILLE ORANGE ■

bit·ter·root n. a plant of the purslane family with showy pinkish-white flowers on short stems. Found throughout the rocky areas of western North America, it is particularly abundant in Montana, of which it is the state flower.
<INFO>  Lewisia rediviva, family Portulacaceae.

Bit·ter·root Range part of the Rocky Mountains in western Montana and eastern Idaho.

bit·ter rot n. a disease of apples, characterized by sunken brown spots, caused by the fungus Glomerella cingulata.

bit·ter·sweet adj. (of food, drink, or flavor) sweet with a bitter aftertaste.
<SPECIAL USAGE> arousing pleasure tinged with sadness or pain: the room, with all its bittersweet memories.

■ n. 1 another term for woody nightshade (see NIGHTSHADE).

2 (also climbing bittersweet) a vinelike climbing plant that bears clusters of bright orange pods.
<INFO>  Genus Celastrus, family Celastraceae: several species, in particular C. scandens.

Linked entries:

NIGHTSHADE ■

bitts plural n. a pair of posts on the deck of a ship for fastening mooring lines or cables.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably of Low German origin.

bit·ty INFORMAL adj. (-tier, -tiest) tiny: a little bitty house.

<DERIVATIVES> bit·ti·ly adv. bit·ti·ness n.

bi·tu·men n. a black viscous mixture of hydrocarbons obtained naturally or as a residue from petroleum distillation. It is used for road surfacing and roofing.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting naturally occurring asphalt used as mortar): from Latin.

bi·tu·mi·nize v. [trans.] convert into, impregnate with, or cover with bitumen.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·tu·mi·ni·za·tion n.

bi·tu·mi·nous adj. [attrib.] of, containing, or of the nature of bitumen.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French bitumineux, from Latin bituminosus.

bi·tu·mi·nous coal n. black coal having a relatively high volatile content. It burns with a characteristically bright smoky flame.

bit·wise adj. [COMPUTING] designating an operator in a programming language that manipulates the individual bits in a byte or word.

bi·va·lence n. [LOGIC] the existence of only two states or truth values (e.g., true and false).

bi·va·lent adj. 1  [BIOLOGY] (of homologous chromosomes) associated in pairs.

2 [CHEMISTRY] another term for DIVALENT.

■ n. [BIOLOGY] a pair of homologous chromosomes.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BI- 'two' + Latin valent- 'being strong' (from the verb valere).

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DIVALENT ■

BI- ■

bi·valve n. an aquatic mollusk that has a compressed body enclosed within two hinged shells, such as oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops. Also called PELECYPOD or LAMELLIBRANCH.
<INFO>  Class Bivalvia (formerly Pelecypoda or Lamellibranchia).

■ adj. (also bi·valved) [ZOOLOGY] (of a mollusk or other aquatic invertebrate) with a hinged double shell.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BOTANY] having two valves.

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PELECYPOD ■

LAMELLIBRANCH ■

bi·var·i·ate adj. [STATISTICS] involving or depending on two variables.

biv·ou·ac n. a temporary camp without tents or cover, used esp. by soldiers or mountaineers.

■ v. [intrans.] (bivouacked, bivouacking) stay in such a camp: he'd bivouacked on the north side of the town; the battalion was now bivouacked in a field.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (denoting a night watch by the whole army): from French, probably from Swiss German Bîwacht 'additional guard at night', apparently denoting a citizens' patrol supporting the ordinary town watch.

bi·week·ly adj. & adv. appearing or taking place every two weeks or twice a week: [as adj.] a biweekly bulletin | [as adv.] she followed her doctor's instructions to undergo health checks biweekly.

■ n. (pl. -lies) a periodical that appears every two weeks or twice a week.

<USAGE>
See usage at BIENNIAL and BIMONTHLY.

Linked entries:

BIENNIAL ■

BIMONTHLY ■

bi·year·ly adj. & adv. appearing or taking place every two years or twice a year.

<USAGE>
See usage at BIENNIAL and BIMONTHLY.

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BIENNIAL ■

BIMONTHLY ■

biz n. [usu. in sing.] [usu. with adj.] INFORMAL a business, typically one connected with entertainment: in the music biz.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (originally U.S.): abbreviation.

bi·zarre adj. very strange or unusual, esp. so as to cause interest or amusement: her bizarre dresses and outrageous hairdos.

<DERIVATIVES> bi·zarre·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian bizzarro 'angry'.

bi·zarre·ly adv. in a very strange or unusual manner: bizarrely attired musicians.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [sentence adverb] used to express the opinion that something is very strange or unusual: bizarrely enough, he began to trust his abductors.

bi·zar·re·rie n. (pl. -ries) a thing considered extremely strange and unusual, typically in an amusing way: the bizarreries of small talk.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French, from BIZARRE.

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BIZARRE ■

bi·zar·ro adj. INFORMAL bizarre: a whacked-out frontman for a bizarro fringe rock n' roll band.

<ORIGIN> perhaps from Bizarro, the name of a character in DC Comics' Superman comic books, or from Bizarro, the name of a comic strip created by Dan Piraro.

Bi·zet Georges (1838-75), French composer; born Alexandre César Léopold Bizet. He is best known for the opera Carmen (1875).

BJ abbr. BLOW JOB.

Bjerk·nes Vilhelm Frimann Koren (1862-1951), Norwegian geophysicist and meteorologist. He developed a theory of physical hydrodynamics for atmosphere and oceanic circulation and mathematical models for weather prediction.

Bk symbol the chemical element berkelium.

bk abbr.
- bank.

- book.

- brick.

BL abbr.
- Bachelor of Law.

- Bachelor of Letters.

- bill of lading.

bl abbr.
- bale.

- barrel.

- black.

- blue.

blab INFORMAL v. (blabbed, blab·bing) [intrans.] reveal secrets by indiscreet talk: she blabbed to the press | [trans.] there's no need to blab the whole story.

■ n. a person who blabs.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a noun): probably of Germanic origin; ultimately imitative.

blab·ber INFORMAL v. [intrans.] talk foolishly, mindlessly, or excessively: she blabbered on and on.

■ n. a person who talks foolishly or indiscreetly.
<SPECIAL USAGE> foolish or mindless talk: annoyed by their endless blabber.

blab·ber·mouth n. INFORMAL a person who talks excessively or indiscreetly.

Black 1 Hugo Lafayette (1886-1971), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1937-71, noted as an advocate of First Amendment rights. He was also a U.S. senator from Alabama 1927-37.

Black 2 Joseph (1728-99), Scottish chemist. He developed accurate techniques for following chemical reactions by weighing reactants and products.

black adj. 1 of the very darkest color; the opposite of white; colored like coal, due to the absence of or complete absorption of light: black smoke; her hair was black.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of the sky or night) completely dark due to nonvisibility of the sun, moon, or stars, normally because of dense cloud cover: the sky was moonless and black.

- deeply stained with dirt: his clothes were absolutely black.

- (of a plant or animal) dark in color as distinguished from a lighter variety: Japanese black pine.

- (of coffee or tea) served without milk or cream.

- of or denoting the suits spades and clubs in a deck of cards.

- (of a ski run) of the highest level of difficulty, as indicated by black markers positioned along it.

2 (also Black) of any human group having dark-colored skin, esp. of African or Australian Aboriginal ancestry: black adolescents of Jamaican descent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to black people: black culture.

3 FIGURATIVE (of a period of time or situation) characterized by tragic or disastrous events; causing despair or pessimism: five thousand men were killed on the blackest day of the war; the future looks black for those of us interested in freedom.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person's state of mind) full of gloom or misery; very depressed: Jean had disappeared and Mary was in a black mood.

- (of humor) presenting tragic or harrowing situations in comic terms: “Good place to bury the bodies,” she joked with black humor.

- full of anger or hatred: Roger shot her a black look.

- ARCHAIC very evil or wicked: my soul is steeped in the blackest sin.

■ n. 1 black color or pigment: a tray decorated in black and green | a series of paintings done only in grays and blacks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- black clothes or material, often worn as a sign of mourning: dressed in the black of widowhood.

- darkness, esp. of night or an overcast sky: the only thing visible in the black was the light of the lantern.

2 (also Black) a member of a dark-skinned people, esp. one of African or Australian Aboriginal ancestry: a coalition of blacks and whites against violence.

3 (in a game or sport) a black piece or ball, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (often Black) the player of the black pieces in chess or checkers.

- the black pieces in chess.

■ v. [trans.] make black, esp. by the application of black polish: blacking the prize bull's hooves.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make (one's face, hands, and other visible parts of one's body) black with polish or makeup, so as not to be seen at night or, esp. formerly, to play the role of a black person in a musical show, play, or movie: white extras blacking up their faces to play Ethiopians.

<PHRASES>
□ black someone's eye hit someone in the eye so as to cause bruising.

□ in the black (of a person or organization) not owing any money; solvent.

□ look on the black side INFORMAL view a situation pessimistically.

□ not as black as one is painted INFORMAL not as bad as one is said to be.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  black out (of a person) undergo a sudden and temporary loss of consciousness: they knocked me around and I blacked out.

□  black something out 1 (usu. be blacked out) extinguish all lights or completely cover windows, esp. for protection against an air attack or in order to provide darkness in which to show a movie: the bombers began to come nightly and the city was blacked out.
- subject a place to an electricity failure: Chicago was blacked out yesterday after a freak flood.

2 obscure something completely so that it cannot be read or seen: the license plate had been blacked out with masking tape.
- (of a television company) suppress the broadcast of a program: they blacked out the women's finals on local television.

<DERIVATIVES> black·ish adj. black·ly adv. black·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English blæc, of Germanic origin.

<USAGE>
Black, designating Americans of African heritage, became the most widely used and accepted term in the 1960s and 1970s, replacing Negro. It is not usually capitalized: black Americans.

Through the 1980s, the more formal African American replaced black in much usage, but both are now generally acceptable.

Afro-American, first recorded in the 19th century and popular in the 1960s and 1970s, is now heard mostly in anthropological and cultural contexts.

Colored people, common in the early part of the 20th century, is now usually regarded as offensive, although the phrase survives in the full name of the NAACP, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

An inversion, people of color, has gained some favor, but is also used in reference to other nonwhite ethnic groups: a gathering spot for African Americans and other people of color interested in reading about their cultures.

See also usage at COLORED and PERSON OF COLOR.

Linked entries:

COLORED ■

PERSON OF COLOR ■

black Af·ri·ca the area of Africa, generally south of the Sahara, where black people predominate.

black·a·moor n. DATED, OFFENSIVE a black African; a very dark-skinned person.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from BLACK + MOOR.

Linked entries:

BLACK ■

MOOR ■

black and blue adj. discolored by bruising: a black-and-blue mark on his arm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) covered in bruises: they were both black and blue the day after the accident.

black and tan n. 1 a terrier of a breed with a black back and tan markings on face, flanks, and legs.

2 a drink composed of stout (or porter) and ale.

3 INFORMAL an event or establishment that is attended or frequented by both blacks and whites: takes this guy out to the black and tan every night; | [as adj.] a black and tan nightclub.

Black and Tans an armed force recruited by the British government to fight Sinn Fein in Ireland in 1921. Their harsh methods caused an outcry in Britain and the U.S.

<ORIGIN> so named because of the mixture of military khaki and black constabulary colors of their uniform.

black and white adj. 1 (of a photograph, movie, television program, or illustration) in black, white, shades of gray, and no other color: old black-and-white movies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a television) displaying images only in black, white, and shades of gray.

2 (of a situation or debate) involving clearly defined opposing principles or issues: there is nothing black and white about these matters.

■ n. INFORMAL a police car.

<PHRASES> in black and white
1 in writing or in print, and regarded as more reliable, credible, or formal than by word of mouth: getting her contract down in black and white.

2 in terms of clearly defined opposing principles or issues: children think in black and white, good and bad.

Black An·gus n. another term for ABERDEEN ANGUS.

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ABERDEEN ANGUS ■

black ant n. an ant that is black and is often found in and around houses.
<INFO>  Formicidae

black art n. (usu. the black art) another term for BLACK MAGIC.
<SPECIAL USAGE> OFTEN HUMOROUS a technique or practice considered mysterious and sinister: the black art of political news management.

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BLACK MAGIC ■

black·ball v. [trans.] reject (someone, usually a candidate applying to become a member of a private club), typically by means of a secret ballot: her husband was blackballed when he tried to join the country club.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from the practice of registering an adverse vote by placing a black ball in a ballot box.

black bass n. a North American freshwater fish of the sunfish family. It is a popular sporting and food fish.
<INFO>  Genus Micropterus, family Centrarchidae: several species, in particular the largemouth bass (M. salmoides) and the smallmouth bass (M. dolomieui).

black bean n. 1 either of two cultivated varieties of bean plant having small black seeds:
<INFO>
- a variety of soybean, used fermented in Asian cooking.

- a Mexican variety of string bean.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the dried seed of such a plant used as a vegetable.

2 either of two Australian plants of the pea family:
<INFO>
- a large tree with red or yellow flowers, dark beanlike seeds, and a hard and decorative wood (Castanospermum australe, family Leguminosae).

- a liana with blackish flowers (Kennedia nigricans, family Leguminosae).

black bear n. a medium-sized forest-dwelling bear with blackish fur and a paler face, found in North America and eastern Asia.
<INFO>  Two species, family Ursidae: the American black bear (Ursus americanus), with a wide range of coat color, and the smaller Asian black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus).

Black·beard (died 1718), English pirate; real name Edward Teach. Originally a privateer during the War of the Spanish Succession 1701-14, he turned to piracy and concentrated on the West Indies and the Virginia-North Carolina coast of America.

Black Belt an agricultural district in central Alabama and Mississippi, named for its rich soils.

black belt n. a black belt worn by an expert in judo, karate, and other martial arts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person qualified to wear this.

Black·Ber·ry trademark a hand-held wireless electronic device that provides Internet access along with e-mail, telephone, and text messaging services.

black·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) 1 an edible soft fruit, consisting of a cluster of soft purple-black drupelets.

2 the prickly climbing shrub of the rose family that bears this fruit and that grows extensively in the wild.
<INFO>  Rubus fruticosus, family Rosaceae (sometimes treated as an aggregate of many species).

■ v. (-ries, -ried) [intrans.] [usu. as n.] (blackberrying) gather blackberries in the wild.

black bile n. (in medieval science and medicine) one of the four bodily humors, believed to be associated with a melancholy temperament. Also called MELANCHOLY.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: translation of Greek melankholia (see MELANCHOLY). Compare with ATRABILIOUS.

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MELANCHOLY ■

MELANCHOLY ■

ATRABILIOUS ■

black bind·weed n. a twining weed of the dock family, with arrowhead-shaped leaves and small greenish flowers.
<INFO>  Polygonum convolvulus, family Polygonaceae.

black birch n. another term for SWEET BIRCH.

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SWEET BIRCH ■

black·bird n. 1 a European thrush with mainly black plumage.
<INFO>  Genus Turdus, subfamily Turdinae, family Muscicapidae: four species, in particular T. merula, the male of which has all-black plumage and a yellow bill.

2 an American bird with a strong pointed bill. The male has black plumage that is iridescent or has patches of red or yellow.
<INFO>  Family Icteridae: several genera and species, including the abundant red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus).

black·board n. a large board with a smooth, typically dark, surface attached to a wall or supported on an easel and used for writing on with chalk, esp. by teachers in schools.

black book n. (a book containing) a list of the names of people liable to be censured or punished.

black bot·tom n. a popular U.S. dance of the 1920s.

black bot·tom pie n. pie with a bottom layer of chocolate cream or custard and a contrasting top layer, usually of whipped cream.

black box n. a flight recorder in an aircraft.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any complex piece of equipment, typically a unit in an electronic system, with contents that are mysterious to the user.

black bread n. a coarse, dark-colored type of rye bread.

black bry·o·ny n. see BRYONY (sense 2).

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BRYONY ■

black·buck n. a small Indian gazelle, the horned male of which has a black back and white underbelly, the female being hornless.
<INFO>  Antilope cervicapra, family Bovidae.

Black·burn an industrial town in northwestern England; pop. 132,800.

black but·ter n. a sauce made by heating butter until it is dark brown. It is often flavored with vinegar and herbs.

black·cap n. 1 a mainly European warbler with a black cap in the male and a reddish-brown one in the female.
<INFO>  Sylvia atricapilla, family Sylviidae.

2 the black-capped chickadee. See CHICKADEE.

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CHICKADEE ■

black cau·cus n. a political caucus composed of black people interested in advancing the concerns of blacks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Black Caucus) a caucus of this kind composed of black members of the U.S. Congress.

black cher·ry n. a large North American cherry tree that yields valuable close-grained hard wood.
<INFO>  Prunus serotina, family Rosaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the bitter blackish fruit of this tree, sometimes used for jellies and regularly eaten by wild birds and animals.

black·cock n. (pl. same) the male of the black grouse.

black co·hosh n. see COHOSH.

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COHOSH ■

black con·scious·ness n. awareness of one's identity as a black person.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a political movement or ideology (particularly in the U.S. and South Africa) seeking to unite black people in affirming their common identity.

black cur·rant n. (BRIT. blackcurrant) 1 a small round edible black berry that grows in loose hanging clusters.

2 the shrub that produces this fruit.
<INFO>  Genus Ribes, family Grossulariaceae: several species, in particular the widely cultivated Ribes nigrum.

black·damp n. choking or suffocating gas, typically carbon dioxide, that is found in mines and other underground spaces.

Black Death the great epidemic of bubonic plague that killed a large part of the population of Europe in the mid 14th century. It originated in central Asia and China and spread rapidly through Europe, carried by the fleas of black rats, reaching England in 1348 and killing between one third and one half of the population in a matter of months.

<ORIGIN> a modern term (compare with earlier the (great) pestilence, great death, the plague), said to have been introduced into English history by Mrs. Markham (pseudonym of Mrs. Penrose) in 1823, and into medical literature by a translation of German der Schwarze Tod (1833). The epithet Black is of uncertain origin; its equivalent was first found in Swedish and Danish chroniclers.

black dia·mond n. 1 INFORMAL a lump of coal.

2 [usu. as adj.] a difficult ski slope: a steep, black diamond run.

3 another term for CARBONADO.

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CARBONADO ■

black dog n. INFORMAL used as a metaphor for melancholy or depression: I'm very happy, but the black dog is there, lurking around the corner.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: figuratively from a cant name used during Queen Anne's reign (1702-14) for a base silver coin (usually a bad shilling).

black duck n. a duck with black plumage, esp. the American black duck (Anas rubripes) of northeastern North America.

black·en v. become or make black or dark, esp. as a result of burning, decay, or bruising: [intrans.] he set fire to the paper, watching the end blacken as it burned | [trans.] she blackened George's eye before he knew what had happened | [as adj.] (blackened) her smile revealed blackened teeth.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] dye or color (the face or hair) black for camouflage or cosmetic effect: in full combat gear with blackened faces.

- [intrans.] (of the sky) become dark as night or a storm approaches.

- [trans.] FIGURATIVE damage or destroy (someone's good reputation); defame: she won't thank you for blackening her husband's name.

black Eng·lish n. any of various nonstandard forms of English spoken by black people, esp. as an urban dialect in the U.S.

Black·ett Patrick Maynard Stuart, Baron (1897-1974), English physicist. He was a member of the Maud Committee, which dealt with the development of the atom bomb. He also modified the cloud chamber for the study of cosmic rays. Nobel Prize for Physics (1948).

black eye n. a bruised and discolored area around the eye resulting from a blow: it's gonna be a doozy of a black eye.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a mark or source of dishonor or shame: legislators have caused the state to suffer yet another black eye.

black-eyed pea n. another term for COWPEA.

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COWPEA ■

black-eyed Su·san n. any of a number of flowers that have yellowish petals and a dark center, in particular:
<INFO>
- a daisylike North American flower with bristly leaves and stems (Rudbeckia hirta and its hybrids, family Compositae).

- a slender tropical climber, grown as a popular indoor or greenhouse plant (Thunbergia alata, family Acanthaceae).

black·face n. the makeup used by a nonblack performer playing a black role. The role played is typically comedic or musical and usually is considered offensive: he appeared in blackface | [as adj.] the blackface components of the minstrel era.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE used to imply patronization of blacks by whites or by institutions perceived to be insincerely or ineffectively nonracist.

black·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) 1 any of a number of dark-colored fish, in particular:
<INFO>
- an open-ocean fish related to the perches (genera Centrolophus and Schedophilus, family Centrolophidae), in particular the large and widespread C. niger.

- (Alaska blackfish) a small fish occurring along the Arctic coasts of Alaska and Siberia, noted for its ability to withstand freezing (Dallia pectoralis, family Umbridae).

- (river blackfish) a large fish of Australian rivers (Gadopsis marmoratus, family Gadopsidae).

- a salmon just after spawning.

2 another term for PILOT WHALE.

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PILOT WHALE ■

black flag n. 1 HISTORICAL a pirate's ensign, typically thought to feature a white skull and crossbones on a black background; Jolly Roger.

2 [AUTO RACING] a black flag used to signal a driver to make an immediate pit stop as punishment for violating a rule or driving dangerously, or to force inspection of a hazardous condition such as an oil leak.

black fly n. (pl. -flies) 1 a small black fly, the female of which sucks blood and can transmit a number of serious human and animal diseases. Large swarms sometimes cause distress to livestock and humans.
<INFO>  Family Simuliidae: Simulium and other genera.

2 a black or dark green aphid that is a common pest of crops and gardens.
<INFO>  Several species in the family Aphididae, in particular Aphis fabae.

Black·foot n. (pl. same or -feet) 1 a member of a confederacy of North American Indian peoples of the northwestern plains. The Blackfoot confederacy comprised three closely related tribes: the Blackfeet proper, the Bloods, and the Piegan.

2 the Algonquian language of this people.

3 a subdivision of the Teton Sioux.

■ adj. of or relating to these peoples or the language of the Blackfeet proper.

Black For·est a hilly wooded region of southwestern Germany that lies to the east of the Rhine River valley. German name SCHWARZWALD.

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SCHWARZWALD ■

Black For·est cake n. a chocolate sponge cake with layers of morello cherries or cherry jam and whipped cream and topped with chocolate icing.

<ORIGIN> Black Forest, a translation of German Schwarzwald, the name of a forested area in southwestern Germany.

Black Fri·ar n. a Dominican friar.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: so named because of the color of the order's habit.

black frost n. a dry, nonvisible killing frost that turns vegetation black.

black gold n. INFORMAL petroleum.

black grouse n. (pl. same) a large Eurasian grouse, the male of which has glossy blue-black plumage and a lyre-shaped tail. The males display in communal leks.
<INFO>  Tetrao tetrix, family Tetraonidae (or Phasianidae); the male is called a blackcock and the female a greyhen.

black·guard n. DATED a person, particularly a man, who behaves in a dishonorable or contemptible way.

■ v. [trans.] DATED abuse or disparage (someone) scurrilously.

<DERIVATIVES> black·guard·ly adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (originally as two words): from BLACK + GUARD. The term originally denoted a body of attendants or servants, esp. the menials who had charge of kitchen utensils, but the exact significance of the epithet 'black' is uncertain. The sense 'scoundrel, villain' dates from the mid 18th cent., and was formerly considered highly offensive.

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BLACK ■

GUARD ■

black guil·le·mot n. a seabird of the auk family with black summer plumage and large white wing patches, breeding on the coasts of the Arctic and North Atlantic.
<INFO>  Cepphus grylle, family Alcidae.

black gum n. another term for SOURGUM.

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SOURGUM ■

Black Hand n. a secret criminal and terrorist society in New York during the early 20th century.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any similar society.

Black Hawk (1767-1838), American Indian leader, chief of the Sauk and Fox Indians; native name Makataimeshekiakiak. He fought to repossess Indian lands in the Black Hawk War 1832.

black·head n. 1 a plug of sebum in a hair follicle, darkened by oxidation.

2 an infectious disease of turkeys producing discoloration of the head, caused by a protozoan.

Black Hills a mountain range in eastern Wyoming and western South Dakota. The highest point is Harney Peak (7,242 feet; 2,207 m); Mount Rushmore is also part of this range.

black hole n. [ASTRONOMY] a region of space having a gravitational field so intense that no matter or radiation can escape.

Black holes are probably formed when a massive star exhausts its nuclear fuel and collapses under its own gravity. If the star is massive enough, no known force can counteract the increasing gravity, and it will collapse to a point of infinite density. Before this stage is reached, within a certain radius (the event horizon), light itself becomes trapped and the object becomes invisible.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL a figurative place of emptiness or aloneness: they think he's sitting in a black hole with no interaction with his people.

- INFORMAL, CHIEFLY HUMOROUS a place where money, lost items, etc., are supposed to go, never to be seen again: the moribund economy has been a black hole for federal funds; I wouldn't dare go in that black hole he calls a “garage.”

- INFORMAL (of a system, practice, or institution) a state of inadequacy or excessive bureaucracy in which hopes, progress, etc., become futile: juveniles lost for good in the black hole of the criminal justice system.

Black Hole of Cal·cut·ta a dungeon 20 feet (6 m) square in Fort William, Calcutta, where perhaps as many as 146 English prisoners were confined overnight following the capture of Calcutta by the nawab of Bengal, in 1756. Only twenty-three of them were still alive the next morning.

black ice n. a transparent coating of ice, found esp. on a road or other paved surface.

Black Jack see PERSHING^1 .

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PERSHING ■

black·jack n. 1 a gambling card game in which players try to acquire cards with a face value as close as possible to 21 without going over. Also called TWENTY-ONE, VINGT-ET-UN.

2 a short, leather-covered, typically lead-filled club with a flexible handle, used as a weapon.

3 HISTORICAL a pirate's black ensign.

4 HISTORICAL a tarred-leather container used for alcoholic drinks.

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TWENTY-ONE ■

VINGT-ET-UN ■

Black Jew n. another term for FALASHA.

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FALASHA ■

black·lead n. another term for GRAPHITE.

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GRAPHITE ■

black·leg n. 1 any of a number of plant diseases in which part of the stem blackens and decays, in particular:
<INFO>
- a fungal disease of cabbages and related plants (caused by Leptosphaeria, Pleospora, and other genera).

- a bacterial disease of potatoes (caused by Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica).

2 an acute infectious bacterial disease of cattle and sheep, causing necrosis in one or more legs.
<INFO>  Clostridium chauvoei

3 BRIT., DEROGATORY a strikebreaker. <ORIGIN> the reason for the name remains unknown.

black let·ter n. an early, ornate, bold style of type, typically resembling Gothic.

black light n. ultraviolet or infrared radiation, invisible to the eye.

black·list n. a list of people or products viewed with suspicion or disapproval.

■ v. [trans.] (often be blacklisted) put (a person or product) on such a list: workers were blacklisted after being quoted in the newspaper.

black lo·cust n. a North American tree with compound leaves and dense, hanging clusters of fragrant white flowers, widely grown as an ornamental.
<INFO>  Robinia pseudoacacia, family Leguminosae.

black lung n. pneumoconiosis caused by inhalation of coal dust.

black mag·ic n. magic involving the supposed invocation of evil spirits for evil purposes.

black·mail n. the action, treated as a criminal offense, of demanding money from a person in return for not revealing compromising or injurious information about that person: they were acquitted of charges of blackmail.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- money demanded in this way: we do not pay blackmail.

- the use of threats or the manipulation of someone's feelings to force them to do something: out of fear, she submitted to Jim's emotional blackmail; they are trying to blackmail us with hunger.

■ v. [trans.] demand money from (a person) in return for not revealing compromising or injurious information about that person: trying to blackmail him for $400,000.
<SPECIAL USAGE> force (someone) to do something by using threats or manipulating their feelings: he had blackmailed her into sailing with him.

<DERIVATIVES> black·mail·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting protection money levied by Scottish chiefs): from BLACK + obsolete mail 'tribute, rent', from Old Norse mál 'speech, agreement'.

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BLACK ■

black mam·ba n. a highly venomous, slender, olive-brown to dark gray snake that moves with great speed and agility. Native to eastern and southern Africa, it is the largest poisonous snake on the continent.
<INFO>  Dendroaspis polylepis, family Elapidae.

Black Ma·ri·a n. INFORMAL a police vehicle for transporting prisoners.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: said to be named after a black woman, Maria Lee, who kept a boardinghouse in Boston and helped police in escorting drunk and disorderly customers to jail.

black mark n. INFORMAL used to indicate that someone is remembered and regarded with disfavor: an arrest will be a black mark on your record; a black mark went down against him for turning down the job.

black mar·ket n. (the black market) an illegal traffic or trade in officially controlled or scarce commodities: they planned to sell the meat on the black market.

<DERIVATIVES> black mar·ke·teer (also black-mar·ke·teer) n. black-mar·ke·teer v. black mar·ket·er n.

black mass (often Black Mass) n. a travesty of the Roman Catholic Mass in worship of Satan.

Black Me·sa an upland in northeastern Arizona, home to many of the Navajo. The Hopi live on extensions to the south.

black met·al n. a type of heavy metal music having lyrics that deal with Satan and the supernatural.

Black Mon·day n. Monday, October 19, 1987, when the collapse of stock prices on Wall Street triggered similar declines in markets around the world.

black mon·ey n. income illegally obtained or not declared for tax purposes.

Black Monk n. a Benedictine monk.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: so named because of the color of the order's habit.

Black·more R. D. (1825-1900), English novelist and poet; full name Richard Doddridge Blackmore. He is noted for his romantic novel Lorna Doone (1869).

Black Moun·tains a range of the Appalachian Mountains in western North Carolina. Mount Mitchell at 6,684 feet (2,039 m) is the high point.

Black·mun Harry Andrew (1908-99), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1970-94. He is noted as the author of Roe v. Wade, which ruled on the right to legal abortion in 1973.

Black Mus·lim n. a member of the NATION OF ISLAM.

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NATION OF ISLAM ■

black na·tion·al·ism n. the advocacy of separate national status for black people, esp. in the U.S.

<DERIVATIVES> black na·tion·al·ist n.

black-on-black adj. designating harmful actions in which both the perpetrator and the victim are black: black-on-black violence.

black·out n. 1 a period when all lights must be turned out or covered to prevent them being seen by the enemy during an air raid: people found it difficult to travel in the blackout | [as adj.] she peered out through the blackout curtains.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. blackouts) dark curtains put up in windows to cover lights during an air raid.

- [often with adj.] a failure of electrical power supply: due to a power blackout, their hotel was in total darkness.

- a moment in the theater when the lights on stage are suddenly turned off.

2 a suppression of information, esp. one imposed on the media by government: there is a total information blackout on minority interests.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a period during which a particular activity is prohibited: there are no blackout days during the travel period.

3 a temporary loss of consciousness: she was suffering from blackouts.

black oys·ter plant n. another term for SCORZONERA.

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SCORZONERA ■

Black Pan·ther n. a member of a militant political organization set up in the U.S. in 1966 to fight for black rights.

black pan·ther n. a leopard that has black fur rather than the typical spotted coat.

black pep·per n. the dried black berries of the pepper (see PEPPER sense 2), which are harvested while still green and unripe. Black pepper is widely used as a spice and a condiment and may be used whole (peppercorns) or ground.

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PEPPER ■

black·poll (also blackpoll warbler) n. a North American warbler, the male of which has a black cap, white cheeks, and white underparts streaked with black.
<INFO>  Dendroica striata, subfamily Parulinae, family Emberizidae.

Black·pool a seaside resort in northwestern England; pop. 144,500.

black pow·der n. the original gunpowder, composed of charcoal, saltpeter, and sulfur, now used chiefly in antique firearms and in fireworks.

Black Pow·er n. a movement in support of rights and political power for black people, esp. prominent in the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s.

Black Prince (1330-76), eldest son of Edward III of England; name given to Edward, Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, most likely because of the black armor he wore when fighting. He was responsible for the British victory at Poitiers in 1356. He predeceased his father, and his son became King Richard II.

black pud·ding n. blood sausage.

black rasp·ber·ry n. 1 an edible soft fruit related to the blackberry, consisting of a cluster of black drupelets.

2 the prickly arching shrub of the rose family that bears this fruit.
<INFO>  Rubus occidentalis, family Rosaceae.

black rat n. a rat with dark fur, large ears, and a long tail. It is found throughout the world, being particularly common in the tropics, and is the chief host of the plague-transmitting flea. Also called ROOF RAT.
<INFO>  Rattus rattus, family Muridae.

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ROOF RAT ■

black rhi·noc·er·os n. a two-horned rhinoceros with a prehensile upper lip, found in Africa south of the Sahara.
<INFO>  Diceros bicornis, family Rhinocerotidae.

Black Riv·er a river that flows southeast for 300 miles (480 km) through Missouri and Arkansas, along the eastern edge of the Ozark Plateau.

Black Rod (in full Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod) n. (in the UK) the chief usher of the Lord Chamberlain's department of the royal household, who is also usher to the House of Lords.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: so named because of the black wand carried as a symbol of office.

black rot n. a disease of fruits and vegetables caused by bacteria or fungi, producing blackening, rotting, and shriveling.

black sal·si·fy n. another term for SCORZONERA.

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SCORZONERA ■

Blacks·burg a town in southwestern Virginia, in the Appalachian Mountains, home to Virginia Polytechnic Institute; pop. 39,573.

Black Sea a tideless almost landlocked sea bounded by Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania. It is connected to the Mediterranean Sea through the Bosporus and the Sea of Marmara.

black sheep n. INFORMAL a member of a family or group who is regarded as a disgrace to them: the black sheep of the family.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from the proverb there is a black sheep in every flock.

black·shirt n. a member of a fascist organization, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in Italy) a member of a paramilitary group founded by Mussolini.

- (in Nazi Germany) a member of the SS.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: so named because of the color of the Italian Fascist uniform.

black·smith n. a person who makes and repairs things in iron by hand.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a farrier.

black smok·er n. [GEOLOGY] a geothermal vent on the seabed that ejects superheated water containing much suspended matter, typically black sulfide minerals.

black·snake n. a long black American racer, esp. the common Northern blacksnake (Coluber constrictor constrictor), the adult of which is a patternless black, above and below.

black spot n. a disease of plants, esp. of roses, producing black blotches on leaves.

Black·stone Riv·er a river that flows south for 50 miles (80 km) through Worcester, Massachusetts, to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, below which it is called the Seekonk River. The Blackstone Valley was a site of early U.S. industrial development.

black·strap n. a dark, viscous molasses, the byproduct of the final extraction phase of sugar refining, used chiefly in cattle feed and in the industrial production of citric acid and vinegar.

black swan n. a mainly black swan with white flight feathers, which is common in Australia and Tasmania and has been introduced widely elsewhere.
<INFO>  Cygnus atratus, family Anatidae.

black·tail deer (also black-tailed deer) n. a type of mule deer with black markings on the upper side of its tail, found west of the crest of the Cascade Mountains.
<INFO>  Odocoileus hemionus subsp. columbianus, family Cervidae.

black tea n. 1 tea of the most usual type, that is fully fermented before drying. Compare with GREEN TEA.

2 tea served without milk or cream.

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GREEN TEA ■

black·thorn n. a thorny Eurasian shrub that bears white flowers before the leaves appear and astringent blue-black fruits. Also called SLOE.
<INFO>  Prunus spinosa, family Rosaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a walking stick or cudgel made from the wood of this shrub.

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SLOE ■

black tie n. a black bow tie worn with a dinner jacket.
<SPECIAL USAGE> formal evening dress: the audience wears black tie.

■ adj. (black-tie) (of an event) requiring formal evening dress: evening meals were black-tie affairs.

black·top n. asphalt, or other black material used for surfacing roads: [as adj.] blacktop roads.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a road or area surfaced with such material: playing hopscotch on the blacktop behind the school.

■ v. [trans.] surface (a road or area) with such material: 41 miles had been blacktopped to date.

black tu·pe·lo n. another term for SOURGUM.

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SOURGUM ■

black vel·vet n. a drink consisting of a mixture of stout and champagne.

black vul·ture n. 1 a large, aggressive American vulture with black plumage and a short square tail. Also called CARRION CROW.
<INFO>  Coragyps atratus, family Cathartidae.

2 a very large Old World vulture with blackish-brown plumage, now rare in Europe. Also called CINEREOUS VULTURE.
<INFO>  Aygypius monachus, family Accipitridae.

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CARRION CROW ■

CINEREOUS VULTURE ■

black wal·nut n. see WALNUT.

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WALNUT ■

Black War·ri·or Riv·er a river that flows 178 miles (287 km) across northern Alabama to join the Tombigbee River. Tuscaloosa and the Birmingham area lie along its course.

black wa·ter n. TECHNICAL waste water from toilets. Compare with GRAY WATER.

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GRAY WATER ■

black·wa·ter fe·ver n. a severe form of malaria in which blood cells are rapidly destroyed, resulting in dark urine.

Black·well Elizabeth (1821-1910), U.S. physician, born in England. She was the first woman to receive a medical degree in the U.S. (1849) and the first woman listed in the Medical Register of the United Kingdom (1859).

black wid·ow n. a highly venomous American spider that has a black body with red markings.
<INFO>  Latrodectus mactans, family Theridiidae; races also occur on other continents.

black·work n. a type of embroidery done in black thread on white cloth, esp. popular in England during the Tudor period.

blad n. a promotional flyer or mockup for a product, especially for a book.

blad·der n. 1 a membranous sac in humans and other animals, in which urine is collected for excretion.

2 anything inflated and hollow: an air bladder in the arch and collar of the shoe.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BOTANY] an inflated fruit or vesicle in various plants: a dried bladder of seaweed.

<ORIGIN>  Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch blaar and German Blatter, also to BLOW^1 .

Linked entries:

BLOW ■

blad·dered adj. BRIT. INFORMAL extremely drunk.

blad·der fern n. a small delicate fern with rounded spore cases, growing on rocks and walls. Bladder ferns are native to both Eurasia and North America. Also called BRITTLE FERN.
<INFO>  Genus Cystopteris, family Dryopteridaceae: several species.

Linked entries:

BRITTLE FERN ■

blad·der·nut n. (also bladder nut) a shrub or small tree of north temperate regions that bears white flowers and inflated seed capsules.
<INFO>  Genus Staphylea, family Staphyleaceae: several species, in particular the American bladdernut (S. trifolia) of the eastern U.S.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the fruit of this shrub or tree.

blad·der sen·na n. a Mediterranean shrub of the pea family that bears yellow flowers followed by inflated reddish pods.
<INFO>  Colutea arborescens, family Leguminosae.

blad·der worm n. an immature form of a tapeworm, which lives in the flesh of the secondary host. Further development is suspended until it is eaten by the primary host.

blad·der·wort n. an aquatic plant of north temperate regions with small air-filled bladders that keep the plant afloat and trap tiny animals that provide additional nutrients.
<INFO>  Genus Utricularia, family Lentibulariaceae.

blad·der·wrack (also blad·der wrack) n. a common brown shoreline seaweed that has tough straplike fronds containing air bladders that give buoyancy.
<INFO>  Fucus vesiculosus, class Phaeophyceae.

blade n. 1 the flat cutting edge of a knife, saw, or other tool or weapon.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- short for RAZOR BLADE.

- POETIC/LITERARY a sword.

- [ARCHAEOLOGY] a long, narrow flake.

2 the flat, wide section of an implement or device such as an oar or a propeller.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a thin, flat metal runner on an ice skate.

- a shoulder bone in a cut of meat, or the cut of meat itself.

- the flat part of the tongue behind the tip.

3 a long, narrow leaf of grass or another similar plant: a blade of grass.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BOTANY] the broad thin part of a leaf apart from the stalk.

4 INFORMAL, DATED a dashing or energetic young man.

■ v. [intrans.] INFORMAL skate using in-line skates: we bladed into the parking lot behind Mensky's.

<DERIVATIVES> blad·ed adj. [in combination] double-bladed paddles.

<ORIGIN> Old English blæd 'leaf of a plant' (also in sense 2), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch blad and German Blatt.

Linked entries:

RAZOR BLADE ■

blague n. a joke or piece of nonsense.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, literally 'claptrap, nonsense'.

bla·gueur n. a person who talks nonsense.

<ORIGIN> French, from BLAGUE.

Linked entries:

BLAGUE ■

blah INFORMAL used to substitute for actual words in contexts where they are felt to be too tedious or lengthy to give in full: the typical kid, going out every night, blah, blah, blah.

■ n. 1 (also blah-blah) used to refer to something that is boring or without meaningful content: talking all kinds of blah to him | [as adj.] his blah feeling.

2 (the blahs) depression: he battled a case of the blahs | [with adj.] the winter blahs.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent. (originally U.S.): imitative.

blain n. RARE an inflamed swelling or sore on the skin. See CHILBLAIN.

<ORIGIN> Old English blegen; related to Dutch blein.

Linked entries:

CHILBLAIN ■

Blaine a city in southeastern Minnesota, north of Minneapolis; pop. 38,975.

Blair 1 Bonnie (1964- ), U.S. speed skater. She is the only U.S. woman to win five Olympic gold medals-in the 500meter race in 1988, 1992, and 1994 and in the 1,000-meter race in 1992 and 1994.

Blair 2 John (1732-1800), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1789-96. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention 1787 and signed the U.S. Constitution. He favored a strong federal government.

Blair 3 Tony (1953- ), British statesman; prime minister (1997- ); full name Anthony Charles Lynton Blair. He was elected leader of the Labour Party in 1994.

Blake 1 Eubie (1883-1983), U.S. jazz pianist and composer. One of the foremost ragtime pianists, he wrote over 300 songs, many in collaboration with lyricist Noble Sissle (1889-1975).

Blake 2 Peter (1932- ), English painter. He was prominent in the pop art movement in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Blake 3 William (1757-1827), English artist and poet. His poems mark the beginning of romanticism and a rejection of the Age of Enlightenment. His watercolors and engravings, like his writings, were not fully appreciated until after his death. Notable collections of poems: Songs of Innocence (1789) and Songs of Experience (1794).

Bla·key Art (1919-90), U.S. jazz drummer; full name Arthur Blakey. A pioneer of the bebop movement, he was known for his group, the Jazz Messengers.

blame v. [trans.] assign responsibility for a fault or wrong: the inquiry blamed the engineer for the accident.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (blame something on) assign the responsibility for something bad to (someone or something): they blame youth crime on unemployment.

■ n. responsibility for a fault or wrong: his players had to take the blame; they are trying to put the blame on us.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of assigning responsibility for a fault: he singled out food additives for blame.

<PHRASES>
□ be to blame be responsible for a fault or wrong: he was to blame for their deaths.

□ I don't (or can't) blame you (or her, etc.) used to indicate that one agrees that the action or attitude taken was reasonable: he was becoming impatient, and I couldn't blame him.

□ have only oneself to blame be solely responsible for something bad that has happened.

<DERIVATIVES> blam·a·ble (also blame·a·ble) adj. blame·ful adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French blamer, blasmer (verb), from a popular Latin variant of ecclesiastical Latin blasphemare 'reproach, revile, blaspheme', from Greek (see BLASPHEME).

Linked entries:

BLASPHEME ■

blamed adj. & adv. INFORMAL used for emphasis, esp. to express disapprobation or annoyance: a blamed old sodden-headed conservative.

blame·less adj. innocent of wrongdoing: he led a blameless life.

<DERIVATIVES> blame·less·ly adv. blame·less·ness n.

blame·wor·thy adj. responsible for wrongdoing and deserving of censure or blame.

<DERIVATIVES> blame·wor·thi·ness n.

blanc fixe n. barium sulfate in the form of a white powder used in making pigments and paper.

blanch v. 1 [trans.] make white or pale by extracting color; bleach: the cold light blanched her face.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] whiten (a plant) by depriving it of light: blanch endive by covering plants with large flowerpots.

- [intrans.] FIGURATIVE (of a person) grow pale from shock, fear, or a similar emotion: many people blanch at the suggestion; their faces blanched with fear.

2 [trans.] prepare (vegetables) for freezing or further cooking by immersing briefly in boiling water.
<SPECIAL USAGE> peel (almonds) by scalding them: [as adj.] (blanched) blanched almonds.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French blanchir, from blanc 'white', ultimately of Germanic origin.

Blan·chard Jean Pierre François (1753-1809), French balloonist. Together with an American, John Jeffries (1744-1819), he made the first air crossing of the English Channel, in a balloon, on January 7, 1785.

blanc·mange n. a sweet opaque gelatinous dessert made with cornstarch and milk.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English blancmanger, from Old French blanc mangier, from blanc 'white' + mangier 'eat' (used as a noun to mean 'food'). The shortened form without -er arose in the 18th cent.

bland adj. lacking strong features or characteristics and therefore uninteresting: rebelling against the bland uniformity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of food or drink) mild or insipid: bland and unadventurous vegetarian dish; bland beers of mediocre quality.

- (of a person or behavior) showing no strong emotion; dull and unremarkable: offering bland reassurance; his expression was bland and unreadable.

<DERIVATIVES> bland·ly adv. bland·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'gentle in manner'): from Latin blandus 'soft, smooth'.

Blan·da George Frederick (1927- ), U.S. football player. The all-time leading scorer (2,002 points) in professional football, he played the most games (340) for the most seasons (26). Football Hall of Fame (1981).

bland·ish v. [trans.] ARCHAIC coax (someone) with kind words or flattery: I was blandishing her with imprudences to get her off the subject.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French blandiss-, lengthened stem of blandir, from Latin blandiri, from blandus 'soft, smooth'.

bland·ish·ment n. (usu. blandishments) a flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something: the blandishments of the travel brochure.

blank adj. 1 (of a surface or background) unrelieved by decorative or other features; bare, empty, or plain: the blank skyline; a blank wall.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- not written or printed on: a blank sheet of paper.

- (of a document) with spaces left for a signature or details: blank tax-return forms.

- (of a tape) with nothing recorded on it: blank cassettes.

2 showing incomprehension or no reaction: we were met by blank looks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- having temporarily no knowledge or understanding: her mind went blank.

- lacking incident or result: those blank moments aboard airplanes.

3 [attrib.] complete; absolute (used emphatically with negative force): he was met with a blank refusal to discuss the issue.

■ n. 1 a space left to be filled in a document: leave blanks to type in the appropriate names; | this measure required subjects to fill in the blanks in a story.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a document with blank spaces to be filled.

2 (also blank cartridge) a cartridge containing gunpowder but no bullet, used for training or as a signal.

3 an empty space or period of time, esp. in terms of a lack of knowledge or understanding: my mind was a total blank.

4 an object that has no mark or design on it, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a roughly cut metal or wooden block intended for further shaping or finishing.

- a domino with one or both halves blank.

- a plain metal disk from which a coin is made by stamping a design on it.

5 a dash written instead of a word or letter, esp. instead of an obscenity or profanity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used euphemistically in place of a noun regarded as obscene, profane, or abusive.

■ v. [trans.] 1 cover up, obscure, or cause to appear blank or empty: electronic countermeasures blanked out the radar signals.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] become blank or empty: the picture blanked out.

- cut (a metal blank): the complete core disk can be blanked out in one piece.

2 INFORMAL defeat (a sports opponent) without allowing the opposition to score: Baltimore blanked Toronto in a 7-0 victory.

<PHRASES>
□ draw a blank elicit no successful response; fail: the search drew a blank.

□ firing blanks INFORMAL (of a man) infertile.

<DERIVATIVES> blank·ly adv. blank·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'white, colorless'): from Old French blanc 'white', ultimately of Germanic origin.

blank check n. a bank check with the amount left for the payee to fill in.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] FIGURATIVE an unlimited freedom of action: he was effectively granted a blank check to conduct a war without congressional authorization.

blan·ket n. 1 a large piece of woolen or similar material used as a bed covering or other covering for warmth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a thick mass or layer of a specified material that covers something completely: a dense gray blanket of cloud.

2 [PRINTING] a rubber surface used for transferring the image in ink from the plate to the paper in offset printing.

■ adj. covering all cases or instances; total and inclusive: a blanket ban on tobacco advertising.

■ v. (-ket·ed, -ket·ing) [trans.] cover completely with a thick layer of something: the countryside was blanketed in snow.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- stifle or keep quiet (sound): the double glazing blankets the noise a bit.

- [SAILING] take wind from the sails of (another craft) by passing to windward.

<PHRASES> born on the wrong side of the blanket DATED born of parents not lawfully married to each other.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting undyed woolen cloth): via Old Northern French from Old French blanc 'white', ultimately of Germanic origin.

blan·ket·flow·er n. another term for GAILLARDIA.

Linked entries:

GAILLARDIA ■

blan·ket·ing n. 1 material used for making blankets.

2 the action of covering something with or as if with a blanket: the blanketing of large areas with trees.

blan·ket roll n. a blanket or sleeping bag made into a cylindrical roll for ease of carrying, often with utensils and other personal supplies inside; a bedroll.

blan·ket stitch n. a buttonhole stitch used on the edges of a blanket or other material too thick to be hemmed.

blan·ket·weed n. a common green freshwater alga that forms long unbranched filaments. It can be a problem in overenriched water and garden ponds.
<INFO>  Genus Spirogyra, phylum Chlorophyta, kingdom Plantae (or Protista).

blank·e·ty (also blank·e·ty-blank) adj. & n. INFORMAL used euphemistically to replace a word considered coarse or vulgar: it's time to ditch the blankety-blank tax code.

blank verse n. verse without rhyme, esp. that which uses iambic pentameter.

blan·quette n. a dish consisting of white meat in a white sauce.

<ORIGIN> French, based on blanc 'white'.

Blan·tyre the chief commercial and industrial city in Malawi; pop. 331,600 (with Limbe, a town to the southeast). It is named after explorer David Livingstone's birthplace in Scotland.

blare v. [intrans.] sound loudly and harshly: the ambulance arrived outside, siren blaring.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] cause (something) to sound loudly and harshly: the radio was blaring out organ music.

■ n. a loud harsh sound: a blare of trumpets.

<DERIVATIVES> blar·ing adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'roar, bellow'): from Middle Dutch blaren, bleren, or Low German blaren, of imitative origin. Current senses date from the late 18th cent.

blar·ney n. talk that aims to charm, pleasantly flatter, or persuade: he had the “street charm” of an Irish politician, but this blarney concealed his inner self.
<SPECIAL USAGE> amusing and harmless nonsense: this story is perhaps just a bit of blarney.

■ v. (-neys, -neyed) [trans.] influence or persuade (someone) using charm and pleasant flattery.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: named after Blarney, a castle near Cork in Ireland, where there is a stone said to give the gift of persuasive speech to anyone who kisses it.

bla·sé adj. unimpressed or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so often before: she was becoming quite blasé about the dangers.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, past participle of blaser 'cloy', probably ultimately of Germanic origin.

blas·pheme v. [intrans.] speak irreverently about God or sacred things: allegations that he had blasphemed against Islam.

<DERIVATIVES> blas·phem·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin blasphemare 'reproach, revile, blaspheme', from Greek , from 'evil-speaking'. Compare with BLAME.

Linked entries:

BLAME ■

blas·phe·mous adj. sacrilegious against God or sacred things; profane: blasphemous and heretical talk.

<DERIVATIVES> blas·phe·mous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek 'evil-speaking' + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

blas·phe·my n. (pl. -mies) the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk: he was detained on charges of blasphemy | screaming incomprehensible blasphemies.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek 'slander, blasphemy'.

blast n. 1 a destructive wave of highly compressed air spreading outward from an explosion: they were thrown backward by the blast.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an explosion or explosive firing, esp. of a bomb: a bomb blast; a shotgun blast.

- FIGURATIVE a forceful attack or assault: he defeated his weakest opponent in such a blast that the fans left unimpressed.

2 a strong gust of wind or air: the icy blast hit them.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a strong current of air used in smelting.

3 a single loud note of a horn, whistle, or other noisemaking device: a blast of the ship's siren.

4 INFORMAL a severe reprimand: I braced myself for the inevitable blast.

5 INFORMAL an enjoyable experience or lively party: it could turn out to be a real blast.

■ v. [trans.] 1 blow up or break apart (something solid) with explosives: quantities of solid rock had to be blasted away; the explosion blasted out hundreds of windows.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- produce (damage or a hole) by means of an explosion: the force of the collision blasted out a tremendous crater.

- [trans.] force or throw (something) in a specified direction by impact or explosion: the car was blasted thirty feet into the sky.

- shoot with a gun: Fowler was blasted with an air rifle.

- [intrans.] move very quickly and loudly in a specified direction: driving rain blasted through the smashed window.

- INFORMAL criticize fiercely: the school was blasted by government inspectors.

2 make or cause to make a loud continuous musical or other noise: [intrans.] music blasted out at full volume | [trans.] an impatient motorist blasted his horn.

3 kick, strike, or throw (a ball) hard: Ripken blasted the ball into the gap in right field.

4 POETIC/LITERARY (of a wind or other natural force) wither, shrivel, or blight (a plant): crops blasted on the eve of harvest.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- strike with divine anger: damn and blast this awful place!

- destroy or ruin: a candidate whose only strategy is to blast the opposition.

■ exclam. CHIEFLY BRIT., INFORMAL expressing annoyance: “Blast! The car won't start!”

<PHRASES>
□ a blast from the past INFORMAL something forcefully nostalgic: a request for a real old blast from the past.

□ (at) full blast at maximum power or intensity: the heat is on full blast.

<PHRASAL VERB> blast off (of a rocket or spacecraft) take off from a launching site.

<ORIGIN>  Old English , of Germanic origin; related to BLAZE^3 .

Linked entries:

BLAZE ■

-blast comb. form [BIOLOGY] denoting an embryonic cell: erythroblast. Compare with -CYTE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> denoting a germ layer of an embryo: epiblast.

<ORIGIN> from Greek blastos 'sprout'.

Linked entries:

-CYTE ■

blast cell n. a primitive, undifferentiated blood cell, often found in the blood of those with acute leukemia.

blast·ed adj. 1 [attrib.] INFORMAL used to express annoyance: make your own blasted coffee!

2 [attrib.] POETIC/LITERARY withered or blighted; laid waste: an area of blasted trees.

3 [predic.] INFORMAL drunk: the waiter kept bringing us free cocktails; so I got really blasted.

blas·te·ma n. (pl. -mas or -ma·ta ) the primary formative material of plants and animals, from which cells are developed.

<DERIVATIVES> blas·te·mal adj. blas·te·mat·ic adj.

blast·er n. a person or thing that blasts: Jake was an explosives specialist, a blaster.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in science fiction) a weapon that emits a destructive blast.

- a computer game in which the objective is to shoot as many enemies as possible: the game is a blaster requiring a gun-happy trigger finger.

- short for GHETTO BLASTER.

Linked entries:

GHETTO BLASTER ■

blast fur·nace n. a smelting furnace in the form of a tower into which a blast of hot compressed air can be introduced from below. Such furnaces are used chiefly to make iron from a mixture of iron ore, coke, and limestone.

blast·ing gel·a·tin n. another term for GELATIN.

Linked entries:

GELATIN ■

blasto- comb. form relating to germination: blastoderm.

<ORIGIN> from Greek blastos 'germ, sprout'.

blas·to·coel ( also blas·to·coele) n. the fluid-filled cavity of a blastula. Also called SEGMENTATION CAVITY.

<DERIVATIVES> blas·to·coel·ic adj.

blas·to·cyst n. [EMBRYOLOGY] a mammalian blastula in which some differentiation of cells has occurred. Also called BLASTODERMIC VESICLE.

blas·to·derm n. [EMBRYOLOGY] the layer of embryonic tissue that forms prior to the development of the embryonic axis.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the outer layer of cells that forms the wall of a blastula.

<DERIVATIVES> blas·to·der·mic adj.

blas·to·der·mic ves·i·cle another term for BLASTOCYST.

blas·to·disk (also blas·to·disc) n. [EMBRYOLOGY] a blastula having the form of a disk of cells on top of the yolk in the eggs of reptiles and birds.

blast·off n. the launching of a rocket or spacecraft.

blas·to·gen·e·sis n. 1 the theory of the transmission of inherited characteristics by germ plasm.

2 asexual reproduction of an organism by budding.

3 the development of lymphocytes into larger undifferentiated cells that can undergo mitosis.

<DERIVATIVES> blas·to·gen·ic adj.

blas·to·ma n. (pl. -mas or -ma·ta ) a neoplasm consisting of immature undifferentiated cells.

blas·to·mere n. [EMBRYOLOGY] a cell formed by cleavage of a fertilized ovum.

blas·to·my·co·sis n. [MEDICINE] a disease caused by infection with parasitic fungi affecting the skin or the internal organs.
<INFO>  The fungi ( blastomycetes) belong to the genus Blastomyces, subdivision Deuteromycotina.

blas·to·pore n. the opening of the central cavity of an embryo in the early stage of development.

blas·to·sphere another term for BLASTULA.

blas·tu·la n. (pl. -las or -lae ) [EMBRYOLOGY] an animal embryo at the early stage of development when it is a hollow ball of cells. Also called BLASTOSPHERE.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek blastos 'sprout'.

blat v. (blat·ted, blat·ting) [intrans.] make a bleating sound.

■ n. a bleat or similar noise: the blat of Jack's horn.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: imitative.

bla·tant adj. (of bad behavior) done openly and unashamedly: blatant lies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> completely lacking in subtlety; very obvious: forcing herself to resist his blatant charm.

<DERIVATIVES> bla·tan·cy n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: perhaps an alteration of Scots blatand 'bleating'. It was first used by Spenser as an epithet for a thousand-tongued monster produced by Cerberus and Chimera, a symbol of calumny, which he called the blatant beast. It was subsequently used to mean 'clamorous, offensive to the ear', first of people (mid 17th cent.), later of things (late 18th cent.); the sense 'obtrusive to the eye, unashamedly conspicuous' arose in the late 19th cent.

bla·tant·ly adv. in an unsubtle and unashamed manner: the general staff blatantly manipulated press coverage of the war.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. as submodifier] used to emphasize the speaker's opinion that something disapproved of is clearly the case: he found her remarks blatantly racist.

Blatch·ford Samuel (1820-93), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1882-93. He was a circuit judge before being appointed to the Court by President Arthur. His specialty was patent law.

blath·er (also bleth·er or blith·er ) v. [intrans.] talk long-windedly without making very much sense: she began blathering on about spirituality and life after death | [as n.] (blathering) now stop your blathering and get back to work.

■ n. long-winded talk with no real substance.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a verb; originally Scots and northern English dialect): from Old Norse blathra 'talk nonsense', from blathr 'nonsense'.

blath·er·skite n. 1 a person who talks at great length without making much sense.
<SPECIAL USAGE> foolish talk; nonsense: politicians get away all the time with their blatherskite.

2 INFORMAL a scoundrel: you lousy, thieving blatherskite!

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from BLATHER + skite, a Scottish derogatory term adopted into American colloquial speech during the American Revolution, from the Scottish song Maggie Lauder, by F. Semphill, which was popular with American troops.

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BLATHER ■

Blau see ORMANDY.

Linked entries:

ORMANDY ■

Blau·e Rei·ter a group of German expressionist painters formed in 1911, based in Munich. The group included Wassily Kandinsky, Jean Arp, and Paul Klee.

<ORIGIN> German, literally 'blue rider', the title of a painting by Kandinsky.

Bla·vat·sky Helena (Petrovna) (1831-91), Russian spiritualist; born in Ukraine; born Helena Petrovna Hahn; known as Madame Blavatsky. In 1875, she cofounded the Theosophical Society in New York.

blax·ploi·ta·tion n. the exploitation of black people, esp. with regard to stereotyped roles in movies.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: blend of blacks (plural of noun BLACK) and exploitation (see EXPLOIT).

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EXPLOIT ■

blaze 1 n. 1 a very large or fiercely burning fire: twenty fireman fought the blaze.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a harsh bright light: a lightning flash changed the gentle illumination of the office into a sudden white blaze.

- [in sing.] a very bright display of light or color: the gardens in summer are a blaze of color.

- [in sing.] FIGURATIVE a conspicuous display or outburst of something: their relationship broke up in a blaze of publicity.

2 (blazes) INFORMAL used in various expressions of anger, bewilderment, or surprise as a euphemism for “hell”: “Go to blazes!” he shouted; what in blue blazes are you all talking about? <ORIGIN> with reference to the flames associated with hell.

■ v. [intrans.] 1 burn fiercely or brightly: the fire blazed merrily.
<SPECIAL USAGE> shine brightly or powerfully: the sun blazed down | FIGURATIVE Barbara's eyes were blazing with anger.

2 (of a gun or a person firing a gun) fire repeatedly or indiscriminately: two terrorists burst into the house with guns blazing.

3 INFORMAL achieve something in an impressive manner: she blazed to a gold medal in the 200-meter sprint.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] hit (a ball) with impressive strength: he blazed a drive into the rough.

<PHRASES>
□ like blazes INFORMAL very fast or forcefully: I ran like blazes toward home. <ORIGIN> see sense 2 of the noun.

□ with all guns blazing INFORMAL with great determination and energy, typically without thought for the consequences.

<PHRASAL VERB> blaze up burst into flame: he attacked the fire with poker and tongs until it blazed up.
- FIGURATIVE suddenly become angry: he blazed up without warning.

<ORIGIN> Old English blæse 'torch, bright fire', of Germanic origin; related ultimately to BLAZE^2 .

Linked entries:

BLAZE ■

blaze 2 n. 1 a white spot or stripe on the face of a mammal or bird.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a broad white stripe running the length of a horse's face.

2 a mark made on a tree by cutting the bark so as to mark a route.

■ v. (blaze a trail) mark out a path or route.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE set an example by being the first to do something; pioneer: small firms would set the pace, blazing a trail for others to follow.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (sense 1): ultimately of Germanic origin; related to German Blässe 'blaze' and blass 'pale', also to BLAZE^1 , and probably to BLEMISH.

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BLAZE ■

BLEMISH ■

blaze 3 v. [trans.] (of a newspaper) present or proclaim (news) in a prominent, typically sensational, manner.

<ORIGIN>  late Middle English (in the sense 'blow out on a trumpet'): from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch 'to blow'; related to BLOW^1 .

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BLOW ■

blaz·er n. a lightweight jacket, typically solid-colored, often worn as part of a uniform by members of a club, sports team, or school.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a plain jacket, typically dark blue, not forming part of a suit but considered appropriate for formal or semiformal wear.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from BLAZE^1 + -ER^1 . The original general sense was 'a thing that blazes or shines' (mid 17th cent.), giving rise to the term for a brightly colored sport coat.

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BLAZE ■

-ER ■

blaz·ing star n. any of a number of North American plants, some of which are cultivated for their flowers, in particular:
<INFO>
- a plant of the daisy family with tall spikes of purple or white flowers (genus Liatris, family Compositae).

- a plant of the western U.S. with toothed leaves and yellow flowers (genus Mentzelia, family Loasaceae), esp. the gray-leaved, large-flowered giant blazing star (M. laevicaulis).

- devil's bit.

bla·zon v. [trans.] 1 [with adverbial of place] display prominently or vividly: they saw their company name blazoned all over the media. See note at ANNOUNCE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> report (news), esp. in a sensational manner: accounts of their ordeal blazoned to the entire nation.

2 [HERALDRY] describe or depict (armorial bearings) in a correct heraldic manner.
<SPECIAL USAGE> inscribe or paint (an object) with arms or a name.

■ n. [HERALDRY] a correct description of armorial bearings.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC a coat of arms.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a shield, later one bearing a heraldic device): from Old French blason 'shield', of unknown origin. The sense of the verb has been influenced by BLAZE^3 .

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BLAZE ■

bla·zon·ry n. [HERALDRY] the art of describing or painting heraldic devices or armorial bearings.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [plural n.] devices or bearings of this type.

bldg. abbr. building.

bleach v. [trans.] whiten by exposure to sunlight or by a chemical process: paper products are bleached with chlorine | [as adj.] (bleached) permed and bleached hair.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- clean and sterilize: a new formula to bleach and brighten clothing

- FIGURATIVE deprive of vitality or substance: his contributions to the album are bleached of personality.

■ n. a chemical (typically a solution of sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide) used to whiten or sterilize materials.

<ORIGIN>  Old English (verb), (noun), from 'pale', of Germanic origin; related to BLEAK^1 .

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BLEAK ■

bleach·er n. 1 a person who bleaches textiles or other material.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a container or chemical used in bleaching.

2 (usu. bleachers) a cheap bench seat at a sports arena, typically in an outdoor uncovered stand.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also bleacherite ) a person occupying such a seat: the bleachers cheered.

bleach·ing pow·der n. a powder containing calcium hypochlorite, used chiefly to remove color from materials.

bleak 1 adj. (of an area of land) lacking vegetation and exposed to the elements: a bleak and barren moor.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a building or room) charmless and inhospitable; dreary: he looked around the bleak little room in despair.

- (of the weather) cold and miserable: a bleak midwinter's day.

- (of a situation or future prospect) not hopeful or encouraging; unlikely to have a favorable outcome: he paints a bleak picture of a company that has lost its way.

- (of a person or a person's expression) cold and forbidding: his bleak, near vacant eyes grew remote.

<DERIVATIVES> bleak·ly adv. bleak·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'shining, white', or in later use from synonymous Old Norse bleikr; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to BLEACH.

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BLEACH ■

bleak 2 n. a small silvery shoaling fish of the minnow family, found in Eurasian rivers.
<INFO>  Genera Alburnus and Chalcalburnus, family Cyprinidae: several species, in particular A. alburnus.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old Norse bleikja.

blear ARCHAIC v. [trans.] make dim; blur: you would blear your eyes with books.

■ adj. dim, dull, or filmy: a medicine to lay to sore and blear eyes.

■ n. a film over the eyes; a blur: he forced his eyes open and shut to rid them of blear.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a verb): probably related to Middle High German blerre 'blurred vision' and Low German blarroged 'bleary-eyed'.

blear·y adj. (blear·i·er, blear·i·est) (of the eyes) unfocused or filmy from sleep or tiredness: you hate to face the world with bleary, tear-soaked, itching eyes.

<DERIVATIVES> blear·i·ly adv. blear·i·ness n.

blear·y-eyed (also blear-eyed) adj. (of a person) having bleary eyes.

bleat v. [intrans.] (of a sheep, goat, or calf) make a characteristic wavering cry: the lamb was bleating weakly; | FIGURATIVE handing the mike to some woman who starts bleating out rap rhymes | [as n.] (bleating) the silence was broken by the plaintive bleating of sheep.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [reporting verb] speak or complain in a weak, querulous, or foolish way: he bleated incoherently about the report.

■ n. [in sing.] the wavering cry made by a sheep, goat, or calf: the distant bleat of sheep in the field.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person's plaintive cry: his despairing bleat touched her heart.

- INFORMAL a complaint: they're hoping that I'll bow to their idiotic arrangements without a bleat.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of imitative origin.

bleb n. a small blister on the skin.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a small bubble in glass or in a fluid.

- [BIOLOGY] a rounded outgrowth on the surface of a cell.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: variant of BLOB.

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BLOB ■

bleed v. (past and past part. bled ) 1 [intrans.] lose blood from the body as a result of injury or illness: the cut was bleeding steadily; some casualties were left to bleed to death | [as n.] (bleeding) the bleeding has stopped now.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a dye or color) seep into an adjacent color or area: I worked loosely with the oils, allowing colors to bleed into one another.

- [intrans.] [PRINTING] (of an illustration or a design) be printed so as to run to the edge of the page: the picture bleeds on three sides.

- [trans.] print and trim (an illustration or a design) in such a way.

2 [trans.] draw blood from (someone), esp. as a once-common method of treatment in medicine.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- remove blood from (an animal carcass): the first steer rolled out on the floor to be bled, skinned, and dressed.

- [trans.] INFORMAL drain (someone) of money or resources: his policy of attempting to bleed unions of funds.

- [trans.] allow (fluid or gas) to escape from a closed system through a valve: open the valves and bleed air from the pump chamber.

- [trans.] treat (a system) in this way: bleeding the radiator at the air vent.

■ n. an instance of bleeding: a lot of blood was lost from the placental bleed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [PRINTING] an instance of printing an illustration, design, or text to the edge of the page: it allows printing of a tabloid page with full bleed.

- the escape of fluid or gas from a closed system through a valve: the amount of air bleed from the compressor.

- the action or process of a dye, ink, or color seeping into an adjacent color or area: color bleed is apparent on brighter hues.

<PHRASES>
□ bleed someone dry (or white) drain someone of all money or resources: the railroads claimed that personnel costs were bleeding them dry.

□ my heart bleeds (for you) used ironically to express the speaker's belief that the person spoken about does not deserve the sympathetic response sought: “I flew out here feeling tired and overworked.” “My heart bleeds for you!” she replied.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to BLOOD.

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BLOOD ■

bleed·er n. 1 INFORMAL a person who bleeds easily, esp. a hemophiliac.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a blood vessel that bleeds freely during surgery.

2 [BASEBALL] a ground ball that barely passes between two infielders.

bleed·ing adj. [attrib.] BRIT., INFORMAL used for emphasis or to express annoyance.

bleed·ing edge n. the very forefront of technological development: [as modifier] an architecture that many people believe is still too bleeding edge for large mission-critical systems.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: on the pattern of leading edge, cutting edge.

bleed·ing heart n. 1 INFORMAL, DEROGATORY a person considered to be dangerously softhearted, typically someone considered too liberal in political beliefs: [as adj.] a tirade against bleeding-heart environmentalists.

2 any of a number of plants that have heart-shaped flowers, typically pink or red, in particular:
<INFO>
- a popular herbaceous garden plant (genus Dicentra, family Fumariaceae, in particular D. spectabilus).

- a tropical twining shrub with cream and red flowers, often cultivated under glass (Clerodendrum thomsoniae, family Verbenaceae).

bleep n. a short high-pitched sound made by an electronic device as a signal or to attract attention: the autopilot sent back an acknowledgment bleep.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sound of this type used in broadcasting as a substitute for a censored word or phrase.

■ v. [intrans.] (of an electronic device) make a short high-pitched sound or repeated sequence of sounds: the screen flickered for a few moments and bleeped.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] substitute a bleep or bleeps for (a censored word or phrase): cable operators have bleeped out the accuser's name.

- used in place of an expletive: “what the bleep are we going to do?” he asked.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: imitative.

bleep·er n. British term for PAGER.

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PAGER ■

bleep·ing adj. (of an electronic device) making a short high-pitched sound or sounds: a bleeping red display on the exercise machine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL, OFTEN HUMOROUS used to express exasperation or annoyance, in place of an expletive: we didn't do a bleeping thing, and we're still getting hung.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: euphemistically for BLEEDING, by association with the “bleeps” used to dub expletives in broadcast texts.

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BLEEDING ■

blem·ish n. a small mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something: the merest blemish on a Rolls Royce might render it unsalable.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a moral defect or fault: the offenses were an uncharacteristic blemish on an otherwise clean record | local government is not without blemish.

■ v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (blemished) spoil the appearance of (something) that is otherwise aesthetically perfect: thousands of Web pages are blemished with embarrassing typos | FIGURATIVE his reign as world champion has been blemished by controversy.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a verb): from Old French ble(s)miss-, lengthened stem of ble(s)mir 'make pale, injure'; probably of Germanic origin.

blench 1 v. [intrans.] make a sudden flinching movement out of fear or pain: he blenched and struggled to regain his composure.

<ORIGIN> Old English blencan 'deceive', of Germanic origin; later influenced by BLINK.

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BLINK ■

blench 2 v. CHIEFLY DIALECT variant spelling of BLANCH.

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BLANCH ■

blend v. [trans.] mix (a substance) with another substance so that they combine together as a mass: blend the cornstarch with a tablespoon of water | [intrans.] add the grated cheese and blend well.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [often as adj.] (blended) mix (different types of the same substance, such as tea, coffee, liquor, etc.) together so as to make a product of the desired quality: a blended whiskey.

- put or combine (abstract things) together: blend basic information for the novice with some scientific gardening for the more experienced | [as n.] (blending) a blending of romanticism with a more detached modernism.

- merge (a color) with another so that one is not clearly distinguishable from the other.

- [intrans.] form a harmonious combination: costumes, music, and lighting all blend together beautifully.

- (blend in/into) be unobtrusive or harmonious by being similar in appearance or behavior: she would have to employ a permanent bodyguard in the house, someone who would blend in.

■ n. a mixture of different things or people: knitting yarns in mohair blends.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a mixture of different types or grades of a substance, such as tea, coffee, whiskey, etc.

- a combination of different abstract things or qualities: a blend of Marxist and anarchist ideas; Ontario offers a cultural blend you'll find nowhere else on earth.

- a word made up of the parts of others and combining their meanings, for example motel from motor and hotel.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse blanda 'to mix'.

blende n. another term for SPHALERITE.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from German, from blenden 'deceive' (so named because it often resembles galena, but is deceptive in that it yields no lead).

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SPHALERITE ■

blend·ed fam·i·ly n. a family consisting of a couple and their children from this and all previous relationships.

blend·er n. a person or thing that mixes things together, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE> an electric mixing machine used in food preparation for liquefying, chopping, or puréeing.

Blen·heim 1 a battle in 1704 in Bavaria, near the village of Blindheim, in which the English, under the Duke of Marlborough, defeated the French and the Bavarians. See MARLBOROUGH.

Blen·heim 2 n. a dog of a small red and white breed of spaniel.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the name of Blenheim palace, the Duke of Marlborough’s seat in central England, given to the Duke in honor of his victory at Blenheim.

blen·ny n. (pl. -nies) a small, spiny-finned marine fish with scaleless skin and a blunt head, typically living in shallow inshore or intertidal waters.
<INFO>  Family Blennidae: several genera, in particular Blennius.

<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] any of a number of other small fishes that resemble or are related to the true blennies, including the hairy blenny (Labrisomus nuchipinnis, family Clinidae), found esp. along the Atlantic coast from the Bahamas to Brazil.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin blennius, from Greek blennos 'mucus' (because of its mucous coating).

blent POETIC/LITERARY past and past participle of BLEND.

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BLEND ■

ble·o·my·cin n. [MEDICINE] an antibiotic used to treat Hodgkin's disease and other cancers.
<INFO>  Streptomyces verticillus

<ORIGIN> 1960s: an arbitrary alteration of earlier phleomycin, the name of a related antibiotic.

bleph·a·ri·tis n. [MEDICINE] inflammation of the eyelid.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek blepharon 'eyelid' + -ITIS.

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-ITIS ■

bleph·a·ro·plas·ty n. [MEDICINE] surgical repair or reconstruction of an eyelid.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek blepharon 'eyelid' + -PLASTY.

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-PLASTY ■

bleph·a·ro·spasm n. involuntary tight closure of the eyelids.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek blepharon 'eyelid' + SPASM.

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SPASM ■

Blé·riot Louis (1872-1936), French aviation pioneer. On July 25, 1909, he became the first person to cross the English Channel (Calais to Dover) in a monoplane.

bles·bok n. an antelope with a mainly reddish-brown coat and white face, found in southwestern South Africa. It belongs to the same species as the bontebok.
<INFO>  Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi, family Bovidae.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Afrikaans, from Dutch bles 'blaze' (because of the white mark on its forehead) + bok 'buck'.

bless v. [trans.] (of a priest) pronounce words in a religious rite, to confer or invoke divine favor upon; ask God to look favorably on: he blessed the dying man and anointed him.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- consecrate (something) by a religious rite, action, or spoken formula.

- (esp. in Christian Church services) call (God) holy; praise (God).

- (bless someone with) (of God or some notional higher power) endow (someone) with a particular cherished thing or attribute: God has blessed us with free will.

- express or feel gratitude to; thank: she silently blessed the premonition which had made her pack her best dress.

- (bless oneself) ARCHAIC make the Christian gesture of the sign of the cross: the poor parson, blessing himself, brought up the rear.

- used in expressions of surprise, endearment, gratitude, etc.: bless my soul, Alan, what are you doing?; Lenore, bless her heart, had done just that.

<PHRASES> bless you! said to a person who has just sneezed. <ORIGIN> from the phrase (may) God bless you.

<ORIGIN> Old English , , based on 'blood' (i.e., originally perhaps 'mark or consecrate with blood'). The meaning was influenced by its being used to translate Latin benedicere 'to praise, worship', and later by association with BLISS.

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BLISS ■

bless·ed adj. 1 made holy; consecrated.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a title preceding the name of a dead person considered to have led a holy life, esp. a person formally beatified by the Roman Catholic Church: the Convent of the Blessed Agnes.

- used respectfully in reference to a dead person: a gracious lady of blessed memory.

- endowed with divine favor and protection: blessed are the meek.

- bringing pleasure or relief as a welcome contrast to what one has previously experienced: he half stumbled out of the room up to his bed and blessed, blessed sleep.

- (blessed with) endowed with (a particular quality or attribute): a beautiful city, steeped in history and blessed with huge sandy beaches.

2 INFORMAL used in mild expressions of annoyance or exasperation: there wasn't a blessed thing anybody could have done.

■ plural n. (the Blessed ) those who live with God in heaven.

<DERIVATIVES> blessedly adv.

bless·ed·ness n. the state of being blessed with divine favor.

Bless·ed Vir·gin Mar·y (also Bles·sed Vir·gin) (abbr.: BVM) a title given to Mary, the mother of Jesus. See MARY^1 .

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MARY ■

bless·ing n. [in sing.] God's favor and protection: may God continue to give us his blessing.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a prayer asking for such favor and protection: a priest gave a blessing as the ship was launched.

- grace said before or after a meal.

- a beneficial thing for which one is grateful; something that brings well-being: great intelligence can be a curse as well as a blessing; it's a blessing we're alive.

- a person's sanction or support: he gave the plan his blessing even before it was announced.

<PHRASES>
□ a blessing in disguise an apparent misfortune that eventually has good results.

□ count one's blessings see COUNT^1 .

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COUNT ■

blest adj. archaic or literary term for BLESSED.

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BLESSED ■

bleth·er n. another term for BLATHER.

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BLATHER ■

bleu cheese n. variant spelling of BLUE CHEESE.

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BLUE CHEESE ■

blew past of BLOW^1 and BLOW^3 .

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BLOW ■

BLOW ■

blew·it (also blew·its ) n. an edible wild mushroom of Europe and North America, with a pale buff or lilac cap and a lilac stem.
<INFO>  Genus Lepista, family Tricholomataceae, class Basidiomycetes: several species, including common blewit (L. saeva) and wood blewit (L. nuda).

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: probably from BLUE.

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BLUE ■

Bligh William (1754-1817), British naval officer; captain of HMS Bounty. In 1789, part of his crew, led by the first mate Fletcher Christian, mutinied and set Bligh adrift in an open boat. Bligh landed safely at Timor, nearly 4,000 miles (6,400 km) away, a few weeks later.

blight n. a plant disease, esp. one caused by fungi such as mildews, rusts, and smuts: the vines suffered blight and disease | [with adj.] potato blight.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL anything that causes a plant disease or interferes with the healthy growth of a plant.

- [in sing.] a thing that spoils or damages something: her remorse could be a blight on that happiness.

- an ugly, neglected, or rundown condition of an urban area: the depressing urban blight that lies to the south of the city.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be blighted) infect (plants or a planted area) with blight: a peach tree blighted by leaf curl.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- spoil, harm, or destroy: the scandal blighted the careers of several leading politicians | [as adj.] (blighted) his father's blighted ambitions.

- [usu. as adj.] (blighted) subject (an urban area) to neglect: plans to establish enterprise zones in blighted areas.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting inflammation of the skin): of unknown origin.

blight·er n. [with adj.] BRIT., INFORMAL a person who is regarded with contempt, irritation, or pity: you little blighter!

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from BLIGHT + -ER^1 .

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BLIGHT ■

-ER ■

Blight·y n. BRIT. an informal and typically affectionate term for Britain or England, chiefly as used by soldiers of World War I and World War II.
<SPECIAL USAGE> MILITARY SLANG a wound suffered by a soldier in World War I that was sufficiently serious to merit being shipped home to Britain: he had copped a Blighty and was on his way home.

<ORIGIN> first used by soldiers in the Indian army; Anglo-Indian alteration of Urdu , 'foreign, European', from Arabic , 'dominion, district'.

bli·mey exclam. BRIT., INFORMAL used to express one's surprise, excitement, or alarm.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: altered form of (God) blind (or blame) me!

blimp n. 1 INFORMAL a small nonrigid airship.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an obese person: I could work out four hours a day and still end up a blimp.

2 (also Colonel Blimp) BRIT. a pompous, reactionary type of person: no Colonel Blimp could have been more nationalistic.

3 a soundproof cover for a movie camera.

<DERIVATIVES> blimp·ish adj.

<ORIGIN> World War I (sense 1): of uncertain origin. Sense 2 derives from the character invented by cartoonist David Low (1891-1963), used in anti-German or antigovernment drawings before and during World War II.

blin singular form of BLINI.

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BLINI ■

blind adj. 1 unable to see; sightless: she suffered from glaucoma, which has left her completely blind; he was blind in one eye.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [attrib.] (of an action, esp. a test or experiment) done without being able to see or without being in possession of certain information; compare withDOUBLE BLIND: a blind tasting of eight wines.

- [AERONAUTICS] (of flying) using instruments only: blind landings during foggy conditions.

2 [predic.] lacking perception or discernment: he's absolutely blind where you're concerned, isn't he?
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (blind to) unwilling or unable to appreciate or notice something apparent to others: she was blind to the realities of her position.

- [attrib.] (of an action or state of mind) not controlled by reason or judgment: they left in blind panic.

- [attrib.] not governed by purpose: moving purposelessly in a world of blind chance.

3 [attrib.] concealed or closed, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a corner or bend in a road) impossible to see around: two trucks collided on a blind curve in the road.

- (of a door or window) walled up.

- closed at one end: a blind pipe.

- (of a plant) without buds, eyes, or terminal flowers: planting too shallowly is the most common cause of bulbs coming up blind.

4 [attrib.] [with negative] BRIT., INFORMAL (used in emphatic expressions) not the slightest: you don't know a blind thing!

5 INFORMAL drunk.

■ v. [trans.] 1 cause (someone) to be unable to see, permanently or temporarily: the injury temporarily blinded him; eyes blinded with tears.

2 (be blinded) deprive (someone) of understanding, judgment, or perception: a clever tactician blinded by passion; somehow Clare and I were blinded to the truth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (blind someone with) confuse or overawe someone with something difficult to understand: they try to blind you with science.

■ n. 1 [as plural n.] (the blind) people who are unable to see: guide dogs for the blind.

2 an obstruction to sight or light, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a screen for a window, esp. one on a roller or made of slats: she pulled down the blinds.

- BRIT. an awning over a shop window.

3 [in sing.] something designed to conceal one's real intentions: he phoned again from his own home: that was just a blind for his wife.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a hiding place: you can sometimes use your car as a blind.

- a camouflaged shelter used by hunters to get close to wildlife: a duck blind.

4 BRIT., INFORMAL, DATED a heavy drinking bout: he's off on a blind again.

5 BRIT. a legitimate business concealing a criminal enterprise.

■ adv. without being able to see clearly: he was the first pilot in history to fly blind.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- without having all the relevant information; unprepared: he was going into the interview blind.

- (of a stake in poker and other games) put up by a player before the cards dealt are seen.

<PHRASES>
□ (as) blind as a bat INFORMAL having very bad eyesight.

□ blind drunk INFORMAL extremely drunk.

□ effing and blinding BRIT. see EFF.

□ rob (or steal) someone blind INFORMAL rob or cheat someone in a comprehensive or merciless way.

□ turn a blind eye pretend not to notice. <ORIGIN> said to be in allusion to Nelson, who lifted a telescope to his blind eye at the Battle of Copenhagen (1801), in order to avoid seeing the signal to ‘discontinue the action.’

<DERIVATIVES> blind·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German blind.

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EFF ■

blind al·ley n. an alley or road that is closed at one end.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a course of action leading nowhere: many technologies that show early promise lead up blind alleys.

blind date n. a social engagement or date with a person one has not previously met: a blind date arranged by well-meaning friends.
<SPECIAL USAGE> either person of the couple on a blind date: where do you take a blind date, anyway?

blind·er n. (blinders) a pair of small leather screens attached to a horse's bridle to prevent it seeing sideways and behind. Also called BLINKERS (see BLINKER).
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE something that prevents someone from gaining a full understanding of a situation: they will wear their cultural blinders to the grave.

blind·fish n. another term for CAVEFISH.

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CAVEFISH ■

blind·fold v. [trans.] (often be blindfolded) deprive (someone) of sight by tying a piece of cloth around the head so as to cover the eyes.

■ n. a piece of cloth tied around the head to cover someone's eyes.

■ adj. POETIC/LITERARY wearing a blindfold.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a game of chess) conducted without sight of board and pieces.

■ adv. with a blindfold covering the eyes: the reporter was driven blindfold to meet the gangster.
<SPECIAL USAGE> done with great ease and confidence, as if it could have been done wearing a blindfold: missing putts that he would normally hole blindfold.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: alteration, by association with FOLD^1 , of blindfeld, past participle of obsolete blindfell 'strike blind, blindfold', from Old English geblindfellan (see BLIND, FELL^2 ).

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FOLD ■

BLIND ■

FELL ■

blind gut n. the cecum.

blind·ing n. BRIT. the process of covering a newly made road with grit to fill cracks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the grit used in such a process.

■ adj. [attrib.] (of light) very bright and likely to dazzle or temporarily blind someone: a massive explosion with a blinding flash of light.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a thing) temporarily obstructing a person's vision: he saw the school bus approaching through almost blinding rain.

- FIGURATIVE suddenly and overwhelmingly obvious: in a blinding flash, everything fell into place.

- FIGURATIVE (of pain or an emotion) so intense as to block out everything else: I've got a blinding headache.

- FIGURATIVE (of a process or action) remarkably fast or skillful; dazzling: a blinding fastball.

<DERIVATIVES> blind·ing·ly adv. [as submodifier] the reason was blindingly obvious.

blind·ly adv. as if blind; without seeing or noticing: I continued to stare blindly into my coffee.
<SPECIAL USAGE> without reasoning or questioning: solutions must be assessed, not blindly accepted.

blind·man's bluff (also blind·man's buff) n. a children's game in which a blindfolded player tries to catch others while being pushed about by them.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: bluff, alteration of buff 'a blow', from Old French bufe (see BUFFET^2 ).

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BUFFET ■

blind pig n. another term for BLIND TIGER.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: see BLIND TIGER.

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BLIND TIGER ■

BLIND TIGER ■

blind pool n. a company that sells stock without specifying how invested money will be spent.

blind side n. [in sing.] a direction in which a person has a poor view, typically of approaching danger: a minivan nearly clipped him on his blind side.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the side opposite the one toward which a person is looking: they came at me from my blind side | [as adj.] the crushing blind-side sack of the quarterback.

■ v. (blind·side) [trans.] hit or attack (someone) on the blind side: Jenkins blindsided Adams, knocking him to the sidewalk.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (often be blindsided) catch (someone) unprepared; attack from an unxpected position: protection against being technologically blindsided.

blind·sight n. [MEDICINE] the ability to respond to visual stimuli without consciously perceiving them. This condition can occur after certain types of brain damage.

blind snake n. a small burrowing insectivorous snake that lacks a distinct head and has very small inefficient eyes. Also called WORM SNAKE.
<INFO>  Infraorder Scolecophidia: three families, in particular Typhlopidae, and several genera.

Linked entries:

WORM SNAKE ■

blind spot n. 1 [ANATOMY] the point of entry of the optic nerve on the retina, insensitive to light.

2 an area where a person's view is obstructed: the angle rearview mirror eliminates blind spots on both sides of the car.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an area in which a person lacks understanding or impartiality: Ed had a blind spot where these ethical issues were concerned.

3 [TELECOMMUNICATIONS] a point within the normal range of a transmitter where there is unusually weak reception.

blind stamp·ing (also blind tooling) n. the impressing of text or a design on a book cover without the use of color or gold leaf.

blind stitch n. a sewing stitch producing stitches visible on one side only.

■ v. (blind-stitch) [trans.] sew (something) using such a stitch.

blind ti·ger n. INFORMAL an illegal bar.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: probably so named because in order to evade prohibition laws, the bars were disguised as exhibition halls for natural curiosities.

blind trust n. a financial arrangement in which a person in public office gives the administration of private business interests to an independent trust in order to prevent conflict of interest. Under the trust, the owner does not know how the assets are managed.

blind·worm n. another term for SLOW-WORM.

Linked entries:

SLOW-WORM ■

bling-bling n. INFORMAL expensive, ostentatious clothing and jewelry, or the wearing of them: behind the bling-bling: are diamonds worth it?

<ORIGIN> 1990s: perhaps imitative of light reflecting off jewelry, or of jewelry clashing together.

blin·i (also blin·y or blin·is) plural n. (sing. blin ) pancakes made from buckwheat flour and served with sour cream.

<ORIGIN> Russian (plural); compare withBLINTZ.

blink v. [intrans.] 1 shut and open the eyes quickly: she blinked, momentarily blinded | [trans.] he blinked his eyes nervously.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] clear (dust or tears) from the eyes by this action: she blinked away her tears.

- [trans.] (blink back) try to control or prevent (tears) by such an action: Elizabeth blinked back tears.

- (blink at) look at (someone or something) with one's eyes opening and shutting, typically to register surprise or bewilderment: Lucy blinked at him, scarcely able to believe her ears.

- (blink at) [usu. with negative] FIGURATIVE react to (something) with surprise or disapproval: he doesn't blink at the unsavory aspects of his subject.

- FIGURATIVE back down from a confrontation: it seemed that the Iraqis had blinked and that the likelihood of an immediate invasion had decreased.

2 (of a light or light source) shine intermittently or unsteadily: the icon for his e-mail was blinking.

■ n. [in sing.] 1 an act of shutting and opening the eyes quickly: he was observing her every blink.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a moment's hesitation: Thompson would have given her all this without a blink.

2 a momentary gleam of light.

<PHRASES>
□ not blink an eye show no reaction.

□ in the blink of an eye (or in a blink) INFORMAL very quickly.

□ on the blink INFORMAL (of a machine) not working properly; out of order: the computer's on the blink.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from blenk, Scots variant of BLENCH^1 , reinforced by Middle Dutch blinken 'to shine'. Early senses included 'deceive', 'flinch' (compare with BLENCH^1 ), also 'open the eyes after sleep': hence sense 1 (mid 16th cent.).

Linked entries:

BLENCH ■

BLENCH ■

blink·er n. 1 a device that blinks, esp. a vehicle's turn signal.

2 (blinkers) another term for BLINDERS (see BLINDER).

■ v. [trans.] (often be blinkered) put blinders on (a horse).
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE cause (someone) to have a narrow or limited outlook on a situation: college education blinkers researchers so that they see poverty in terms of their own specialization.

blink·ered adj. (of a horse) wearing blinders.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE having or showing a limited outlook: a small-minded, blinkered approach.

blink·ing adj. [attrib.] BRIT., INFORMAL used to express annoyance: computers can be a blinking nuisance to operators.

blintz (also blint·ze ) n. a thin rolled pancake filled with cheese or fruit and then fried or baked.

<ORIGIN> from Yiddish blintse, from Russian blinets 'little pancakes'; compare with BLINI.

Linked entries:

BLINI ■

blin·y plural n. variant spelling of BLINI.

Linked entries:

BLINI ■

blip n. 1 a short high-pitched sound made by an electronic device.

2 a flashing point of light on a radar screen representing an object, typically accompanied by a high-pitched sound.

3 an unexpected, minor, and typically temporary deviation from a general trend: an upward blip in house prices.

4 a brief segment, esp. of a telecast: the media fire unrelated blips of information at us; the blips on the evening news.

■ v. (blipped, blip·ping) 1 [intrans.] (of an electronic device) make a short high-pitched sound or succession of sounds.

2 [trans.] open (the throttle of a motor vehicle) momentarily.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (denoting a sudden rap or tap): imitative; the noun sense 'unexpected deviation' dates from the 1970s.

Bliss Sir Arthur (Edward Drummond) (1891-1975), English composer.

bliss n. perfect happiness; great joy: she gave a sigh of bliss. See note at RAPTURE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- something providing such happiness: the steam room was bliss.

- a state of spiritual blessedness, typically that reached after death.

<PHRASAL VERB> bliss out [often as adj.] (blissed out) INFORMAL reach a state of perfect happiness, typically so as to be oblivious of everything else: blissed-out hippies.

<ORIGIN> Old English , bliss, of Germanic origin; related to BLITHE.

Linked entries:

BLITHE ■

bliss·ful adj. extremely happy; full of joy: a blissful couple holding a baby.
<SPECIAL USAGE> providing perfect happiness or great joy: the blissful caress of cool cotton sheets.

<PHRASES> blissful ignorance fortunate unawareness of something unpleasant.

<DERIVATIVES> bliss·ful·ly adv. bliss·ful·ness n.

B-list n. see A-LIST.

Linked entries:

A-LIST. ■

blis·ter n. 1 a small bubble on the skin filled with serum and caused by friction, burning, or other damage.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a similar swelling, filled with air or fluid, on the surface of a plant, heated metal, painted wood, or other object.

- CHIEFLY HISTORICAL [MEDICINE] a preparation applied to the skin to cause a blister.

2 BRIT., INFORMAL or DATED an annoying person: the child is a disgusting little blister.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] form swellings filled with air or fluid on the surface of something: the surface of the door began to blister | [as adj.] (blistered) he had blistered feet.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] cause blisters to form on the surface of: a caustic liquid that blisters the skin.

2 criticize sharply: they came out and blistered the girls for pulling leaves off a chestnut tree.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: perhaps from Old French blestre 'swelling, pimple'.

blis·ter a·gent n. a chemical weapon that burns and blisters the skin or other tissues.

blis·ter bee·tle n. a beetle that, when alarmed or crushed, gives off a substance that causes blisters. The larvae are typically parasites of other insects.
<INFO>  Lytta and other genera, family Meloidae: several species. See also SPANISH FLY.

Linked entries:

SPANISH FLY ■

blis·ter cop·per n. partly purified copper with a blistered surface formed during smelting.

blis·ter·ing adj. (of heat) intense: the blistering heat of the desert.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE (of criticism) expressed with great vehemence: blistering diatribes.

- extremely fast, forceful, or impressive: Burke set a blistering pace.

blis·ter pack n. a type of packaging in which a product is sealed in plastic, often with a cardboard backing.

blis·ter rust n. any of several destructive diseases of pine trees caused by fungi of the genus Conartium, resulting in orange blisters on the bark and tips of branches.

blithe adj. showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper: a blithe disregard for the rules of the road.
<SPECIAL USAGE> happy or joyous: a blithe seaside comedy.

<DERIVATIVES> blithe·ly adv. blithe·ness n. blithe·some adj. (POETIC/LITERARY).

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch blijde, also to BLISS.

Linked entries:

BLISS ■

blith·er v. & n. another term for BLATHER.

Linked entries:

BLATHER ■

blith·er·ing adj. [attrib.] INFORMAL senselessly talkative, babbling; used chiefly as an intensive to express annoyance or contempt: a blithering idiot.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from BLITHER (see also BLATHER) + -ING^2 .

Linked entries:

BLITHER ■

BLATHER ■

-ING ■

BLitt (also BLit) abbr.
- Bachelor of Letters.

- Bachelor of Literature.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Baccalaureus Litterarum.

blitz n. an intensive or sudden military attack.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL a sudden, energetic, and concerted effort, typically on a specific task: a major press blitz.

- [FOOTBALL] a charge of the passer by the defensive linebackers just after the ball is snapped.

- (the Blitz) the German air raids on Britain in 1940.

- a form of chess in which moves must be made at very short intervals.

■ v. [trans.] (often be blitzed) attack or damage (a place or building) in a blitz: news came that Rotterdam had been blitzed | FIGURATIVE organizations blitzed Capitol Hill with mailgrams and postcards.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [FOOTBALL] attack (the passer) in a blitz.

<ORIGIN> abbreviation of BLITZKRIEG.

Linked entries:

BLITZKRIEG ■

blitz·krieg n. an intense military campaign intended to bring about a swift victory.

<ORIGIN> World War II: from German, literally 'lightning war'.

Blix·en Karen (Christentze), Baroness Blixen-Finecke (1885-1962), Danish novelist and short-story writer; born Karen Dinesen; also known by the pseudonym of Isak Dinesen. She is best known for Seven Gothic Tales (1934) and her autobiography Out of Africa (1937), which was made into a movie in 1985.

bliz·zard n. a severe snowstorm with high winds and low visibility.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE an overabundance; a deluge: a blizzard of legal forms.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (originally U.S., denoting a violent blow): of unknown origin.

bloat 1 v. [trans.] cause to swell with fluid or gas: the fungus has bloated their abdomens.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] become swollen with fluid or gas: [as n.] (bloating) she suffered from abdominal bloating.

■ n. a disease of livestock characterized by an accumulation of gas in the stomach.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (in the sense 'cause to swell'): from obsolete bloat 'swollen, soft', perhaps from Old Norse blautr 'soft, flabby'. The noun sense dates from the late 19th cent.

bloat 2 v. [trans.] cure (a herring) by salting and smoking it lightly.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: related to the adjective bloat used in the compound bloat herring 'bloater' from the late 16th to mid 17th cent.; of obscure origin.

bloat·ed adj. (of part of the body) swollen with fluid or gas: he had a bloated, unshaven face.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE excessive in size or amount: the company trimmed its bloated labor force.

- FIGURATIVE (of a person) excessively wealthy and pampered: the bloated captains of industry.

bloat·er 1 n. a herring cured by salting and light smoking.

bloat·er 2 n. another term for CISCO.

Linked entries:

CISCO ■

bloat·ware n. INFORMAL [COMPUTING] software whose usefulness is reduced because of the excessive disk-space and memory it requires.

BLOB n. [COMPUTING] binary large objects.

blob n. a drop of a thick liquid or other viscous substance: blobs of paint.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a spot of color: a badly printed blob on shopping bags.

- an indeterminate mass or shape: a leathery blob commonly known as a sea squirt.

■ v. [trans.] (often be blobbed) put small drops of thick liquid or spots of color on: her nose was blobbed with paint.

<DERIVATIVES> blob·by adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a bubble): perhaps symbolic of a drop of liquid; compare with BLOTCH, BLUBBER^1 , and PLOP.

Linked entries:

BLOTCH ■

BLUBBER ■

PLOP ■

bloc n. a combination of countries, parties, or groups sharing a common purpose: a center-left voting bloc.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French, literally 'block'.

Bloch Ernest (1880-1959), U.S. composer; born in Switzerland. His work reflects the influence of the late 19th-century romanticism of Franz Liszt and Richard Strauss and of Jewish musical forms. Notable works: Israel Symphony (1912-16) and Solomon (1916).

block n. 1 a large solid piece of hard material, esp. rock, stone, or wood, typically with flat surfaces on each side: a block of marble.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a sturdy, flat-topped block used as a work surface, typically for chopping food.

- (usu. blocks) any of a set of solid cubes used as a child's toy.

- a block of stone or low wooden steps from which a rider mounts a horse.

- (usu. blocks) a starting block: the thrust a sprinter gets when coming out of the blocks.

- [PRINTING] a piece of wood or metal engraved for printing on paper or fabric.

- (also cylinder block or engine block) the main body of an internal combustion engine, containing the pistons.

- a head-shaped mold used for shaping hats or wigs.

2 the area bounded by four streets in a town or suburb: she went for a run around the block; ours was the ugliest house on the block.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the length of one side of such an area, typically as a measure of distance: he lives a few blocks away from the museum.

3 [with adj.] a building, esp. part of a complex, used for a particular purpose: a cell block.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY BRIT. a large single building subdivided into separate rooms, apartments, or offices: an apartment block.

4 a large quantity or allocation of things regarded as a unit: a block of shares | [as adj.] block grants.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [COMPUTING] a large piece of text processed as a unit.

- CHIEFLY BRIT. a set of sheets of paper glued along one edge, used for drawing or writing on: a sketching block.

- an unseparated unit of at least four postage stamps in at least two rows, generally a group of four.

5 an obstacle to the normal progress or functioning of something: substantial demands for time off may constitute a block to career advancement; an emotional block.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [SPORTS] a hindering or stopping of an opponent’s movement or action.

- [TENNIS] a shot in which the racket is held stationary rather than being swung back, esp. a stop volley.

- short for MENTAL BLOCK.

- short for NERVE BLOCK.

- a chock for stopping the motion of a wheel.

6 a flat area of something, typically a solid area of color: cover the eyelid with a neutral block of color.

7 a pulley or system of pulleys mounted in a case.

8 INFORMAL a person’s head: “I’ll knock your block off,” he said.

■ v. [trans.] 1 make the movement or flow in (a passage, pipe, road, etc.) difficult or impossible: block up the holes with sticky tape; a police cordon blocked off roads | [as adj.] (blocked) a blocked nose.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- put an obstacle in the way of (something proposed or attempted): he stood up, blocking her escape; the administration tried to block an agreement on farm subsidies.

- restrict the use or conversion of (currency or any other asset).

- [SPORTS] hinder or stop the movement or action of (an opponent).

- [SPORTS] stop (a blow or ball) from finding its mark: when driving for a lay-up or leaping to block a shot.

- [MEDICINE] produce insensibility in (a part of the body) by injecting an anesthetic close to the nerves that supply it.

- [BRIDGE] play in such a way that an opponent cannot establish (a long suit).

2 impress text or a design on (a book cover).

3 [THEATER] design or plan the movements of actors on a stage or movie set.

4 shape or reshape (a hat) using a wooden mold.

<PHRASES>
□ have been around the block (a few times) INFORMAL (of a person) have a lot of experience.

□ the new kid on the block INFORMAL a newcomer to a particular place or sphere of activity, typically someone who has yet to prove themselves.

□ on the (auction) block for sale at auction: the original first manuscript for Ravel's Bolero goes on the block today | FIGURATIVE the company put its subsidiary on the block because it did not fit its core business interests.

□ put (or lay) one's head (or neck) on the block INFORMAL put one's standing or reputation at risk by proceeding with a particular course of action. <ORIGIN> with reference to the executioner's block.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  block something in 1 mark something out roughly.
- add something in a unit: it's a good idea to block in regular periods of exercise.

- paint something with solid areas of color.

2 park one's car in such a way as to prevent another car from moving away: he blocked in Vera's minivan.

□  block something out 1 stop something, typically light or noise, from reaching somewhere: you're blocking out my sun.
- FIGURATIVE exclude something unpleasant from one's thoughts or memory.

2 mark or sketch something out roughly.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a log or tree stump): from Old French bloc (noun), bloquer (verb), from Middle Dutch blok, of unknown ultimate origin.

Linked entries:

MENTAL BLOCK ■

NERVE BLOCK ■

block·ade n. an act of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving: the army has imposed an economic blockade.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- anything that prevents access or progress: the police pulled down blockades on the highway.

- an obstruction of a physiological or mental function, esp. of a biochemical receptor.

■ v. [trans.] seal off (a place) to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving.

<PHRASES> run a blockade (of a ship) manage to enter or leave a blockaded port.

<DERIVATIVES> blockader n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from BLOCK + -ADE^1 , probably influenced by ambuscade.

Linked entries:

BLOCK ■

-ADE ■

block·ade-run·ner n. 1 a vessel that runs or attempts to run into or out of a blockaded port.

2 the owner, master, or one of the crew of such a vessel.

block·age n. an obstruction that makes movement or flow difficult or impossible: a blockage in the pipes | the pumps are prone to blockage.

block and tack·le n. a mechanism consisting of ropes and one or more pulley-blocks, used for lifting or pulling heavy objects.

block·bust·er n. INFORMAL a thing of great power or size, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a movie, book, or other product that is a great commercial success: [as adj.] a blockbuster pay-per-view special event.

- a huge aerial bomb capable of destroying targets within a wide area.

block·bust·ing adj. [attrib.] very successful commercially: his blockbusting novel.

■ n. the practice of persuading owners to sell property cheaply because of the fear of people of another race or class moving into the neighborhood, and thus profiting by reselling at a higher price.

block cap·i·tals plural n. another term for BLOCK LETTERS.

Linked entries:

BLOCK LETTERS ■

block di·a·gram n. a diagram showing in schematic form the general arrangement of parts or components of a complex system or process, such as an industrial apparatus or an electronic circuit.

block·er n. a person or thing that blocks, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [FOOTBALL] a player whose task it is to block for the ballcarrier or kicker.

- a substance that prevents or inhibits a given physiological function.

block grant n. a grant from a central government that a local authority can allocate to a wide range of services.

block·head n. INFORMAL a stupid person.

<DERIVATIVES> block·head·ed adj.

block heat·er n. a device for heating the engine block of a vehicle.

block·house n. a reinforced concrete shelter used as an observation point.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- HISTORICAL a one-storied timber building with loopholes, used as a fort.

- a house made of squared logs.

block·ing n. 1 the action or process of obstructing movement, progress, or activity, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- obstructing or impeding the actions of an opponent in a game, esp. (in ball sports) one who does not have control of the ball.

- [PSYCHIATRY] the sudden halting of the flow of thought or speech, as a symptom of schizophrenia or other mental disorder.

- failure to recall or consider an unpleasant memory or train of thought.

2 the grouping or treatment of things (e.g., items of data or shades of color) in blocks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the physical arrangement of actors on a stage or movie set.

block·ish adj. 1 resembling a block.
<SPECIAL USAGE> big, bulky, or crude in form or appearance: his blockish architecture is ugly if functional.

2 unintelligent and stupid.

Block Is·land (abbr.: BI) a resort island in southern Rhode Island, in the Atlantic Ocean at the eastern end of Long Island Sound.

block let·ters plural n. plain capital letters.

block moun·tain n. [GEOLOGY] a mountain consisting of a block or blocks bounded by normal faults in the earth's crust. SeeNORMAL.

block par·ty n. a party for all the residents of a block or neighborhood, typically held on a closed-off city street.

block plane n. a carpenter's plane with a blade set at an acute angle, used esp. for planing across the end grain of wood.

block sys·tem n. a system of railroad signaling that divides the track into sections and allows no train to enter a section that is not completely clear.

block vote n. a vote proportional in power to the number of people a delegate represents.

block·y adj. of the nature of or resembling a block or blocks: blocky granite.

Bloem·fon·tein a city in central South Africa, judicial capital of the country, capital of Orange Free State; pop. 300,150.

blog n. a Web site on which an individual or group of users produces an ongoing narrative: Most of his work colleagues were unaware of his blog until recently.

■ v. (blogged, blog·ging) [intrans.] add new material to or regularly update a blog.

<DERIVATIVES> blog·ger n.

<ORIGIN> a shortening of WEBLOG.

blog·o·sphere n. the world of weblogs.

bloke n. BRIT., INFORMAL a man; a fellow.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Shelta.

blond adj. (of hair) fair or pale yellow: short-cropped blond hair; her hair was dyed blond.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) having hair of a fair or pale yellow color: a slim blond woman.

- (of a person) having fair hair and a light complexion, typically regarded as a racial characteristic.

- (of wood and other substances) light in color or tone: a New York office full of blond wood.

■ n. a person with fair hair and skin.

<DERIVATIVES> blond·ish adj. blond·ness n.

<USAGE>
The spellings blonde and blond correspond to the feminine and masculine forms in French. Although the distinction is usually retained in Britain, American usage since the 1970s has generally preferred the gender-neutral blond. The adjective blonde may still refer to a woman’s (but not a man’s) hair color, though use of the noun risks offense ( See that blonde over there?): the offense arises from the fact that the color of hair is not the person. The adjective applied to inanimate objects (such as wood or beer) is typically spelled blond.

blonde adj. (of a woman or a woman's hair) blond.

■ n. a blond-haired woman.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (earlier as blond): from French, feminine of blond.

<USAGE>
See usage at BLOND.

Linked entries:

BLOND ■

blonde mo·ment n. HUMOROUS an instance of being silly or scatterbrained.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: from the stereotypical perception of blonde-haired women as unintelligent.

Blood n. (pl. same or Bloods) a member of a North American Indian people belonging to the Blackfoot Confederacy.

blood n. 1 the red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of humans and other vertebrate animals, carrying oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body: drops of blood.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an internal bodily fluid, not necessarily red, that performs a similar function in invertebrates.

- FIGURATIVE violence involving bloodshed: a commando operation full of blood and danger.

- FIGURATIVE a person's downfall or punishment, typically as retribution: the press is baying for blood.

Blood consists of a mildly alkaline aqueous fluid (plasma) containing red cells (erythrocytes), white cells (leukocytes), and platelets; it is red when oxygenated and purple when deoxygenated. Red blood cells carry the protein hemoglobin, which gives blood its color and can combine with oxygen, thus enabling the blood to carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. White blood cells protect the body against the invasion of foreign agents (e.g., bacteria). Platelets and other factors present in plasma are concerned in the clotting of blood, preventing hemorrhage. In medieval science and medicine, blood was regarded as one of the four bodily humors, believed to be associated with a confident and optimistic temperament.

2 FIGURATIVE temperament or disposition, esp. when passionate: a ritual that fires up his blood.

3 [with adj.] family background; descent or lineage: she must have Irish blood in her.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in combination] a person of specified descent: a mixed-blood.

- INFORMAL a fellow black person.

4 (usu. Blood) a member of a Los Angeles street gang.

5 DATED, CHIEFLY BRIT. a fashionable and dashing young man: a group of young bloods.

■ v. [trans.] initiate (someone) in a particular activity: clubs are too slow in blooding young players.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in hunting) smear the face of (a novice) with the blood of the kill.

- (in hunting) give (a hound) a first taste of blood.

<PHRASES>
□ be like getting blood out of (or from) a stone (or turnip) be extremely difficult (said in reference to obtaining something from someone): getting a story out of her is like getting blood out of a stone!

□ blood and guts INFORMAL violence and bloodshed, typically in fiction.

□ blood and thunder INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. unrestrained and violent action or behavior, typically in sports or fiction.

□ blood is thicker than water PROVERB relationships and loyalties within a family are the strongest and most important ones.

□ blood, sweat, and tears extremely hard work; unstinting effort.

□ blood will tell PROVERB family characteristics cannot be concealed.

□ first blood
1 the first shedding of blood, esp. in a boxing match or formerly in dueling with swords.

2 the first point or advantage gained in a contest: King drew first blood when he took the opening set.

□ give blood allow blood to be removed medically from one's body in order to be stored for use in transfusions.

□ have blood on one's hands be responsible for someone's death.

□ have (or get) one's blood up be in a fighting mood.

□ in one's blood ingrained in or fundamental to one's character: racing is in his blood.

□ in cold blood ruthlessly; without feeling: proving that he can kill in cold blood.

□ make someone's blood boil INFORMAL infuriate someone.

□ make someone's blood run cold horrify someone.

□ new (or fresh) blood new members admitted to a group, typically as an invigorating force.

□ out for (someone's) blood set on getting revenge.

□ taste blood achieve an early success that stimulates further efforts: the speculators have tasted blood and could force a devaluation of the franc.

□ young blood a younger member or members of a group, typically as an invigorating force.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to German Blut and Dutch bloed.

blood bank n. a place where supplies of blood or plasma for transfusion are stored.

blood·bath n. an event or situation in which many people are killed in a violent manner: he allowed the protest to go ahead despite warnings that it would spark a bloodbath; | FIGURATIVE the bad publicity would be a media bloodbath.

blood boost·ing n. another term for BLOOD DOPING.

Linked entries:

BLOOD DOPING ■

blood-borne adj. (typically of a disease or pathogen) carried by the blood.

blood-brain bar·ri·er n. [PHYSIOLOGY] a filtering mechanism of the capillaries that carry blood to the brain and spinal cord tissue, blocking the passage of certain substances.

blood broth·er n. a brother by birth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a man who has sworn to treat another man as a brother, sometimes with a ceremonial mingling of blood.

blood cell n. any of the kinds of cell normally found circulating in the blood.

blood clot n. a gelatinous or semisolid mass of coagulated blood.

blood count n. a determination of the number of corpuscles in a specific volume of blood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the number found in such a procedure: a low blood count.

blood·cur·dling (also blood-cur·dling) adj. causing terror or horror: the warrior's bloodcurdling cry.

blood cur·rant n. another term for RED-FLOWERING CURRANT (see FLOWERING CURRANT).

Linked entries:

FLOWERING CURRANT ■

blood do·nor n. a person who gives blood for transfusion.

blood dop·ing (also blood boosting) n. the injection of oxygenated blood into an athlete before an event in an attempt to enhance athletic performance.

blood·ed adj. [usu. in combination] having blood or a temperament of a specified kind: warm-blooded animals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of horses or cattle) of good pedigree: a blooded stallion.

blood feud n. a lengthy conflict between families involving a cycle of retaliatory killings or injury.

blood film n. a specimen of blood on a glass slide, used for microscopic investigation of possible abnormalities or pathogens.

blood·fin n. a small South American freshwater fish that is silvery-yellow with bright red fins. It is popular in aquariums.
<INFO>  Aphyocharax rubripinnis, family Characidae.

blood fluke n. another term for SCHISTOSOME.

Linked entries:

SCHISTOSOME ■

blood group n. any of the various types of human blood whose antigen characteristics determine compatibility in transfusion. The best known blood groups are those of the ABO system.

blood·guilt n. guilt resulting from murder or bloodshed.

<DERIVATIVES> blood·guilt·i·ness n. blood·guilt·y adj.

blood·hound n. a large hound of a breed with a very keen sense of smell, used in tracking.

blood knot n. a type of knot used by anglers to join two fishing lines. Also called BARREL KNOT.

Linked entries:

BARREL KNOT ■

blood·less adj. 1 without blood: the meat is clean and relatively bloodless.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a revolution or conflict) without violence or killing: a bloodless coup.

- (of surgery or other medical procedures) spilling little or no blood: it is usually the drug of choice for bloodless medicine.

2 (of the skin or a part of the body) drained of color: his bloodless lips.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) cold or unemotional: a shrewd and bloodless Hollywood mogul.

- lacking in vitality; feeble: their occasionally bloodless chamber jazz.

<DERIVATIVES> blood·less·ly adv. blood·less·ness n.

blood·let·ting n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL the surgical removal of some of a patient's blood for therapeutic purposes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the violent killing and wounding of people during a war or conflict: gang members have halted their internecine bloodletting.

- bitter division and quarreling within an organization.

blood·line n. an animal's set of ancestors or pedigree, typically considered with regard to the desirable characteristics bred into it.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a set of ancestors or line of descent of a person.

blood·lust n. uncontrollable desire to kill or maim others.

blood meal n. dried blood used for feeding animals and as a fertilizer.

blood·mo·bile n. a motor vehicle equipped for collecting blood from volunteer donors.

blood mon·ey n. money paid in compensation to the family of someone who has been killed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- money paid to a hired killer.

- money paid by the police or the media for information about a killer or killing.

blood or·ange n. an orange of a variety with red or red-streaked flesh.

blood plate·let n. see PLATELET.

Linked entries:

PLATELET ■

blood poi·soning n. the presence of microorganisms or their toxins in the blood, causing disease; septicemia.

blood pres·sure n. the pressure of the blood in the circulatory system, often measured for diagnosis since it is closely related to the force and rate of the heartbeat and the diameter and elasticity of the arterial walls.

blood pud·ding n. another term for BLOOD SAUSAGE.

Linked entries:

BLOOD SAUSAGE ■

blood-red adj. of the deep red color of blood: a blood-red lipstick.

■ n. a deep red.

blood re·la·tion (also blood rel·a·tive) n. a person related to another by birth rather than by marriage.

blood·root n. 1 a North American plant of the poppy family that has white flowers and fleshy underground rhizomes that exude red sap when cut.
<INFO>  Sanguinaria canadensis, family Papaveraceae.

2 a lilylike Australian plant with a red rhizome that is roasted and eaten by some Aboriginals.
<INFO>  Haemodorum coccineum, family Haemodoraceae.

blood sau·sage (also blood pudding) n. a dark sausage containing pork, dried pig's blood, and suet.

blood·shed n. the killing or wounding of people, typically on a large scale during a conflict.

blood·shot adj. (of the eyes) inflamed or tinged with blood, typically as a result of tiredness.

blood sport n. (usu. blood sports) a sport involving the shedding of blood, esp. the hunting or killing of animals: cockfighting, bullfighting, fox hunting, and other blood sports; | FIGURATIVE politics is a blood sport.

blood·stain n. a stain or a spot caused by blood.

<DERIVATIVES> blood·stained adj.

blood·stock n. [treated as sing. or pl.] thoroughbred horses considered collectively.

blood·stone n. a type of green chalcedony spotted or streaked with red, used as a gemstone.

blood·stream n. [in sing.] the blood circulating through the body of a person or animal.

blood·suck·er n. 1 an animal or insect that sucks blood, esp. a leech or a mosquito.

2 a long-tailed arboreal Asian lizard that carries its head in a raised position. Its ability to change color is most marked in the male, whose head and shoulders become bright red when excited.
<INFO>  Calotes versicolor, family Agamidae.

3 a person who extorts money.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who lives off others; a parasite.

<DERIVATIVES> blood·suck·ing adj.

blood sug·ar n. the concentration of glucose in the blood.

blood test n. a scientific examination of a sample of blood, typically for the diagnosis of illness or for the detection and measurement of drugs or other substances.

blood·thirst·y adj. (-thirst·i·er, -thirst·i·est) eager to shed blood: a bloodthirsty dictator.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a story or movie) containing or depicting much violence: a bloodthirsty novel.

<DERIVATIVES> blood·thirst·i·ly adv. blood·thirst·i·ness n.

blood trans·fu·sion n. an injection into a patient of blood, previously taken from a healthy person.

blood type n. another term for BLOOD GROUP.

Linked entries:

BLOOD GROUP ■

blood typ·ing n. the testing of a sample of blood to determine an individual's blood group.

blood ves·sel n. a tubular structure carrying blood through the tissues and organs; a vein, artery, or capillary.

blood·wood n. any of a number of hardwood trees with deep red timber, in particular:
<INFO>
- an Australian gum tree (genus Eucalyptus, family Myrtaceae, in particular E. gummifera).

- a tree of the Old World tropics (genus Pterocarpus, family Leguminosae).

blood·worm n. 1 the bright red aquatic larva of a nonbiting midge, the blood of which contains hemoglobin that allows it to live in poorly oxygenated water.
<INFO>  Genus Chironomus, family Chironomidae.

2 another term for TUBIFEX.

Linked entries:

TUBIFEX ■

blood·wort n. any of various plants having red roots or leaves, esp. the red-veined dock.

blood·y 1 adj. (bloodier, bloodiest) 1 covered, smeared, or running with blood: a bloody body.
<SPECIAL USAGE> composed of or resembling blood: a bloody discharge.

2 involving or characterized by bloodshed or cruelty: a bloody coup; the bloody tyrannies of Europe.

■ v. (blood·ies, blood·ied) [trans.] (often be bloodied) cover or stain with blood: he ended the fight with his face bloodied and battered | FIGURATIVE she has been bloodied in her three years on the commission.

<PHRASES> bloody (or bloodied) but unbowed proud of what one has achieved despite having suffered great difficulties or losses.

<DERIVATIVES> blood·i·ly adv. blood·i·ness n.

<ORIGIN>  Old English (see BLOOD, -Y^1 ).

Linked entries:

BLOOD ■

-Y ■

blood·y 2 adj. 1 [attrib.] INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. used to express anger, annoyance, or shock, or simply for emphasis: took your bloody time | [as exclam.] bloody Hell!what was that? | [as submodifier] it's bloody cold outside.

2 BRIT., DATED unpleasant or perverse: don't be too bloody to poor Jack.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from BLOODY^1 . The use of bloody to add emphasis to an expression is of uncertain origin, but is thought to have a connection with the “bloods” (aristocratic rowdies) of the late 17th and early 18th centuries; hence the phrase bloody drunk (= as drunk as a blood) meant ‘very drunk indeed.’ After the mid 18th cent. until quite recently, bloody used as a swearword was regarded as unprintable, probably from the mistaken belief that it implied a blasphemous reference to the blood of Christ, or that the word was an alteration of “by Our Lady”; hence a widespread caution in using the term even in phrases such as bloody battle merely referring to bloodshed.

Linked entries:

BLOODY ■

Blood·y Mar·y 1 the nickname of Mary I of England (see MARY^2 ).

Linked entries:

MARY ■

Blood·y Mar·y 2 n. a drink consisting of vodka and seasoned tomato juice.

blood·y-mind·ed adj. BRIT., INFORMAL deliberately uncooperative.

<DERIVATIVES> blood·y-mind·ed·ly adv. blood·y-mind·ed·ness n.

bloo·ey (also bloo·ie) INFORMAL adv. & adj. awry; amiss: [as adv.] the ignition switch went blooey | my head for figures has gone blooey.

■ exclam. used to convey that something has happened in an abrupt way: and, blooey! He shot himself dead.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: of unknown origin.

bloom 1 n. 1 a flower, esp. one cultivated for its beauty: an exotic bloom | the hydrangea has a wealth of bloom.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the state or period of flowering: the apple trees were in bloom.

- the state or period of greatest beauty, freshness, or vigor: a young girl, still in the bloom of youth.

2 [in sing.] a youthful or healthy glow in a person's complexion: her face had lost its usual bloom.

3 a delicate powdery surface deposit on certain fresh fruits, leaves, or stems.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also algal bloom) a rapid growth of microscopic algae or cyanobacteria in water, often resulting in a colored scum on the surface.

- a grayish-white appearance on chocolate caused by cocoa butter rising to the surface.

4 a full bright sound, esp. in a musical recording: the remastering has lost some of the bloom of the strings.

■ v. [intrans.] produce flowers; be in flower: a rose tree bloomed on a ruined wall.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- come into or be in full beauty or health; flourish: she bloomed as an actress under his tutelage.

- (of fire, color, or light) become radiant and glowing: color bloomed in her cheeks.

<PHRASES> the bloom is off the rose something is no longer new, fresh, or exciting.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse blóm 'flower, blossom', blómi 'prosperity', blómar 'flowers'.

bloom 2 n. a mass of iron, steel, or other metal hammered or rolled into a thick bar for further working.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL an unworked mass of puddled iron.

■ v. [trans.] [usu. as n.] (blooming) make (metal) into such a mass.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of unknown origin.

Bloom·er Amelia Jenks (1818-94), U.S. suffragette and social reformer. She founded and edited 1849-55 the feminist paper Lily, and she wore full pants that came to be known as "bloomers."

bloom·er 1 n. [usu. in combination] a plant that produces flowers at a specified time: fragrant night-bloomers such as nicotiana.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] a person who matures or flourishes at a specified time: he was a late bloomer.

bloom·er 2 n. BRIT., INFORMAL, DATED a serious or stupid mistake.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: equivalent to blooming error.

bloo·mers plural n. women's loose-fitting knee-length underpants, considered old-fashioned.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL women's and girls' loose-fitting trousers, gathered at the knee or, originally, the ankle.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Mrs. Amelia J. Bloomer (1818-94), an American social reformer who advocated a similar garment.

Bloom·field 1 a township in northeastern New Jersey, north of Newark; pop. 45,061.

Bloom·field 2 Leonard (1887-1949), U.S. linguist. One of the founders of American structural linguistics, his primary aim was to establish linguistics as an autonomous and scientific discipline. He wrote Language (1933).

bloom·ing adj. & adv. BRIT., INFORMAL used for emphasis or to express annoyance: [as adj.] I didn't learn a blooming thing | [as submodifier] a blooming good read.

Bloom·ing·ton 1 a commercial city in central Illinois; pop. 51,972.

2 a city in south central Indiana, noted for its limestone industry and home to Indiana University; pop. 69,291.

3 a city in southeastern Minnesota, south of Minneapolis. It is home to the huge Mall of America; pop. 85,172.

Blooms·bur·y an area of central London noted for its large squares and gardens and for its associations with the Bloomsbury Group. The British Museum is located here.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] associated with or similar to the Bloomsbury Group.

Blooms·bur·y Group a group of writers, artists, and philosophers living in or associated with Bloomsbury in the early 20th century. Members of the group, which included Virginia Woolf, Lytton Strachey, Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant, and Roger Fry, were known for their unconventional lifestyles and attitudes and were a powerful force in the growth of modernism.

bloop v. 1 [intrans.] INFORMAL make a mistake: the company admitted it had blooped.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] [BASEBALL] hit a ball weakly or make (a hit) from a poorly hit fly ball landing just beyond the reach of the infielders.

2 [intrans.] CHIEFLY BRIT. (of an electronic device) emit a short low-pitched noise.

■ n. 1 INFORMAL a mistake: a typical beginner's bloop.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BASEBALL] another term for BLOOPER (sense 2): [as adj.] a bloop single.

2 CHIEFLY BRIT. a short low-pitched noise emitted by an electronic device.

<DERIVATIVES> bloop·y adj.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: imitative.

Linked entries:

BLOOPER ■

bloop·er n. INFORMAL 1 an embarrassing error: he poked fun at his own tendency to utter bloopers.
- a brief television or radio segment containing a humorous error, collected with others for broadcast as a group: a selection of bloopers and outtakes from the evening.

2 [BASEBALL] a weakly hit fly ball landing just beyond the reach of the infielders: a blooper over the shortstop's head.

<ORIGIN> 1926 (originally denoting a radio that caused others to bloop, i.e., emit a loud howling noise): from imitative BLOOP + -ER^1 .

Linked entries:

BLOOP ■

-ER ■

blos·som n. a flower or a mass of flowers on a tree or bush: tiny white blossoms | the slopes were ablaze with almond blossom.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the state or period of flowering: fruit trees in blossom.

■ v. [intrans.] (of a tree or bush) produce flowers or masses of flowers: the mango trees have shed their fruit and blossomed again.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- mature or develop in a promising or healthy way: their friendship blossomed into romance | [as n.] (blossoming) the blossoming of experimental theater.

- seem to grow or open like a flower: the smile blossomed on his lips.

<DERIVATIVES> blos·som·y adj.

<ORIGIN>  Old English , (noun), (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bloesem, also to BLOOM^1 .

Linked entries:

BLOOM ■

blot n. a dark mark or stain, typically one made by ink, paint, or dirt: an ink blot.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a shameful act or quality that tarnishes an otherwise good character or reputation: the only blot on an otherwise clean campaign.

- [BIOCHEMISTRY] a procedure in which proteins or nucleic acids separated on a gel are transferred directly to an immobilizing medium for identification.

■ v. (blot·ted, blot·ting) [trans.] 1 dry (a wet surface or substance) using an absorbent material: Guy blotted his face with a dust rag.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BIOCHEMISTRY] transfer by means of a blot.

2 mark or stain (something): [as adj.] (blotted) the writing was messy and blotted.
<SPECIAL USAGE> tarnish the good character or reputation of: the turmoil blotted his memory of the school.

3 (blot something out) cover writing or pictures with ink or paint so that they cannot be seen.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- obscure a view: a dust shield blotting out the sun.

- obliterate or disregard something painful in one's memory or existence: the concentration necessary to her job blotted out all the feelings.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse blettr.

blotch n. an irregular patch or unsightly mark on a surface, typically the skin: red blotches on her face.

■ v. (usu. be blotched) cover with blotches: her face was blotched and swollen with crying.

<DERIVATIVES> blotch·y adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as a verb): partly an alteration of obsolete plotch in the same sense (of unknown origin), influenced by BLOT; partly a blend of BLOT and BOTCH.

Linked entries:

BLOT ■

BLOT ■

BOTCH ■

blot·ter n. 1 a sheet or pad of blotting paper inserted into a frame and kept on a desk.

2 a temporary recording book, esp. a police charge sheet: the boys ended up on police blotters for property crimes.

blot·ting pa·per n. absorbent paper used for soaking up excess ink when writing.

blot·to adj. INFORMAL extremely drunk: we got blotto.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from BLOT + -O.

Linked entries:

BLOT ■

-O ■

blouse n. a woman's loose upper garment resembling a shirt, typically with a collar, buttons, and sleeves.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a loose linen or cotton garment of a type worn by peasants and manual workers, typically belted at the waist.

- a type of jacket worn as part of military uniform.

■ v. [trans.] make (a garment) hang in loose folds: I bloused my trousers over my boots | [intrans.] my dress bloused out above my waist.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (denoting a belted loose garment worn by peasants): from French, of unknown origin.

blous·on n. a short loose-fitting jacket, typically bloused and finishing at the waist.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French, diminutive of BLOUSE.

Linked entries:

BLOUSE ■

blow 1 v. (past blew ; past part. blown ) 1 [intrans.] (of wind) move creating an air current: a cold wind began to blow.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] (of wind) cause to move; propel: a gust of wind blew a cloud of smoke into his face; the spire was blown down during a gale.

- [intrans.] be carried, driven, or moved by the wind or an air current: it was so windy that the tent nearly blew away; cotton curtains blowing in the breeze.

- [trans.] INFORMAL leave (a place): I'm ready to blow town | [intrans.] I'd better blow.

2 [intrans.] (of a person) expel air through pursed lips: Willie took a deep breath, and blew; he blew on his coffee to cool it.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] use one's breath to propel: he blew cigar smoke in her face.

- breathe hard; pant: Uncle Albert was soon puffing and blowing.

- [trans.] cause to breathe hard; exhaust of breath: [as adj.] (blown) an exhausted, blown horse.

- [trans.] (of a person) force air through the mouth into (an instrument) in order to make a sound: the umpire blew his whistle.

- (of such an instrument) make a noise through being blown into in such a way: police whistles blew.

- [trans.] sound (the horn of a vehicle).

- INFORMAL play jazz or rock music in an unrestrained style: it took him maybe five choruses to warm up, but then he could really blow.

- [trans.] force air through a tube into (molten glass) in order to create an artifact.

- [trans.] remove the contents of (an egg) by forcing air through it.

- [with adverbial of place] (of flies) lay eggs in or on something: to repel the hordes of flies that would otherwise blow on the buffalo hide.

- (of a whale) eject air and vapor through the blowhole.

3 [trans.] (of an explosion or explosive device) displace violently or send flying: the blast had blown the windows out of the van; the back of his head had been blown away.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of a vehicle tire) burst suddenly while the vehicle is in motion.

- burst or cause to burst due to pressure or overheating: [intrans.] the engines sounded as if their exhausts had blown | [trans.] frost will have blown a compression joint.

- (of an electrical circuit) burn out or cause to burn out through overloading: [intrans.] the fuse in the plug had blown | [trans.] the floodlights blew a fuse.

4 [trans.] INFORMAL spend recklessly: they blew $100,000 in just eighteen months.

5 INFORMAL completely bungle (an opportunity): the wider issues were to show that politicians had blown it.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (usu. be blown) expose (a stratagem): a man whose cover was blown.

6 (past part. blowed) [trans.] [usu. as imperative] BRIT., INFORMAL damn: “Well, blow me,” he said, “I never knew that” | [with clause] I'm blowed if I want to see him again.

7 [trans.] VULGAR SLANG perform fellatio.

■ n. 1 [in sing.] a strong wind: we're in for a blow.

2 an act of blowing on an instrument: a number of blows on the whistle.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in sing.] an act of blowing one's nose: give your nose a good blow.

- [in sing.] INFORMAL a spell of playing jazz or rock music.

- (in steelmaking) an act of sending an air or oxygen blast through molten metal in a converter.

3 INFORMAL cocaine.

<PHRASES>
□ be blown off course FIGURATIVE (of a project) be disrupted by some circumstance.

□ be blown out of the water FIGURATIVE (of a person, idea, or project) be shown to lack all credibility.

□ blow away the cobwebs refresh oneself when feeling weary, typically by having some fresh air.

□ blow someone's brains out INFORMAL kill someone with a shot in the head with a firearm.

□ blow the doors off INFORMAL be considerably better or more successful than: a package that blows the doors off anything on the market.

□ blow a fuse see FUSE^1 .

□ blow a gasket INFORMAL lose one's temper.

□ blow one's own horn see HORN.

□ blow hot and cold vacillate.

□ blow someone a kiss kiss the tips of one's fingers then blow across them toward someone as a gesture of affection.

□ blow one's lid (or top or stack or cool) INFORMAL lose one's temper.

□ blow the lid off see LID.

□ blow me down BRIT. an exclamation of surprise.

□ blow someone's mind INFORMAL affect someone very strongly.

□ blow one's nose clear one's nose of mucus by blowing through it into a handkerchief.

□ blow off steam see LET OFF STEAM at STEAM.

□ blow a raspberry see RASPBERRY.

□ blow someone's socks off see SOCK.

□ blow something to bits (or pieces or smithereens) use bombs or other explosives to destroy something, typically a building, completely.

□ blow something out of proportion exaggerate the importance of something.

□ blow up in one's face (of an action, project, or situation) go drastically wrong with damaging effects to oneself.

□ blow the whistle on see WHISTLE.

□ blow with the wind be incapable of maintaining a consistent course of action.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  blow someone away INFORMAL 1 kill someone using a firearm.

2 (be blown away) be extremely impressed: I'm blown away by his new poem.

□  blow in INFORMAL (of a person) arrive casually and unannounced.

□  blow off lose one's temper and shout.

□  blow someone off INFORMAL fail to keep an appointment with someone.
- end a romantic or sexual relationship with someone.

□  blow something off INFORMAL ignore or make light of something.
- fail to attend something: Ivy blew off class.

□  blow out 1 be extinguished by an air current: the candles blew out.

2 (of a tire) puncture while the vehicle is in motion.

3 (of an oil or gas well) emit gas suddenly and forcefully.

4 (blow itself out) (of a storm) finally lose its force: FIGURATIVE the recession may finally have blown itself out.

□  blow someone out INFORMAL defeat someone convincingly.

□  blow something out 1 use one's breath to extinguish a flame: he blew out the candle.

2 INFORMAL render a part of the body useless: he blew out his arm trying to snap a curveball.

□  blow over (of trouble) fade away without serious consequences.

□  blow up 1 explode.
- (of a person) lose one's temper: Meg blows up at Patrick for always throwing his tea bags in the sink.

2 (of a wind or storm) begin to develop.
- (of a scandal or dispute) emerge or become public.

3 inflate: my stomach had started to blow up.

□  blow something up 1 cause something to explode.

2 inflate something: a small pump for blowing up balloons.
- enlarge a photograph or text.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to German blähen 'blow up, swell', from an Indo-European root shared by Latin flare 'blow'.

Linked entries:

FUSE ■

HORN ■

LID ■

STEAM ■

RASPBERRY ■

SOCK ■

WHISTLE ■

blow 2 n. a powerful stroke with a hand, weapon, or hard object: he received a blow to the skull.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sudden shock or disappointment: the news came as a crushing blow.

<PHRASES>
□ at one blow by a single stroke; in one operation: the letter had destroyed his certainty at one blow.

□ come to blows start fighting after a disagreement.

□ soften (or cushion) the blow make it easier to cope with a difficult change or upsetting news: monetary compensation was offered to soften the blow.

□ strike a blow for (or against) act in support of (or opposition to): a chance to strike a blow for freedom.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin.

blow 3 ARCHAIC OR POETIC/LITERARY v. (past blew ; past part. blown ) [intrans.] produce flowers or be in flower: I know a bank where the wild thyme blows.

■ n. the state or period of flowering: stocks in fragrant blow.

<ORIGIN>  Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bloeien and German blühen, also to BLOOM^1 and BLOSSOM.

Linked entries:

BLOOM ■

BLOSSOM ■

blow·back n. a process in which gases expand or travel in a direction opposite the usual one, esp. through escape of pressure or delayed combustion.

blow-by-blow adj. [attrib.] (of a description of an event) giving all the details in the order in which they occurred: he gave them a blow-by-blow account of your rescue.

blow·dart n. a dart shot from a blowpipe.

blow·down n. 1 a tree that has been blown down by the wind.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- such trees collectively: work to remove blowdown.

- the blowing down of a tree or trees: the measures did not prevent mass blowdown.

2 the removal of solids or liquids from a container or pipe using pressure.

blow-dry v. [trans.] arrange (the hair) into a particular style while drying it with a hand-held dryer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] (blow-dried) FIGURATIVE (of a person) well groomed, polished, and assured.

■ n. [in sing.] an act of arranging the hair in such a way.

<DERIVATIVES> blow-dry·er (also blow·dri·er) n.

blow·er n. 1 a person or thing that blows, typically a mechanical device for creating a current of air used to dry or heat something.

2 INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. a telephone.

blow·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) any of a number of fishes that are able to inflate their bodies when alarmed, such as a globefish.

blow·fly n. (pl. -flies) a large and typically metallic-colored fly that lays its eggs on meat and carcasses.
<INFO>  Calliphoridae

blow·gun n. a primitive weapon consisting of a long tube through which an arrow or dart is propelled by force of the breath.

blow·hard INFORMAL n. a person who blusters and boasts in an unpleasant way: a bunch of pompous blowhards trying to get on the news | [as adj.] local blowhard politicians.

blow·hole n. a hole for blowing or breathing through, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the nostril of a whale on the top of its head.

- a hole in ice to which seals, whales, and other aquatic animals come to breathe.

- a vent for air or smoke in a tunnel or other structure.

- a cavity in a metal casting, produced by the escape of air through the liquid metal.

blow job (BJ) n. VULGAR SLANG an act of fellatio.

blown past participle of BLOW^1 .

■ adj. destroyed; spoiled: a blown fuse; your cover is blown.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL (of a vehicle or its engine) provided with a turbocharger.

<PHRASES>
□ blown away extremely surprised; flabbergasted: Sharon was blown away by the place.

□ blown to bits (or smithereens) completely destroyed.

Linked entries:

BLOW ■

blow·off n. the action of emitting a gas, typically to reduce pressure to a safe level.

blow·out n. 1 a sudden rupture or malfunction of a part or apparatus due to pressure, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a bursting of an automobile tire.

- FIGURATIVE an outburst of anger; an argument: that exchange led to a big blowout five years ago.

- an uprush of oil or gas from a well.

- INFORMAL a melting of an electric fuse.

2 INFORMAL an easy victory in a sporting contest or an election: they had lost seven gamesfour by blowouts and three by slim margins.

3 INFORMAL a large or lavish meal or social gathering.

4 a hollow eroded by the wind.

■ adj. huge; all-consuming: year-end blowout sale; an all-night blowout bachelor bash.

blow·pipe n. 1 another term for BLOWGUN.

2 a long tube by means of which molten glass is blown into the required shape.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a tube used to intensify the heat of a flame by blowing air or other gas through it at high pressure.

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BLOWGUN ■

blows·y (also blowz·y) adj. (of a woman) coarse, untidy, and red-faced: a blowsy woman wearing Bermuda shorts and a Bally's sweatshirt | FIGURATIVE blowsy, old-fashioned roses.

<DERIVATIVES> blows·i·ly adv. blows·i·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from obsolete blowze 'beggar's female companion', of unknown origin.

blow·torch n. a portable device producing a hot flame that is directed onto a surface, typically to solder metal.

blow·up (also blow-up) n. 1 an enlargement of a photograph.

2 INFORMAL an outburst of anger.

■ adj. [attrib.] inflatable: a blowup neck pillow.

blow·y adj. (blow·i·er, blow·i·est) having or affected by strong winds; windy or windswept: a blowy day.

BLT n. INFORMAL a sandwich filled with bacon, lettuce, and tomato.

blub·ber 1 n. the fat of sea mammals, esp. whales and seals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL, DEROGATORY excessive human fat.

■ adj. [attrib.] ARCHAIC (of a person's lips) swollen or protruding. <ORIGIN> alteration of obsolete blabber 'swollen'.

<DERIVATIVES> blub·ber·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the foaming of the sea, also a bubble on water): perhaps symbolic; compare with BLOB and BLOTCH.

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BLOB ■

BLOTCH ■

blub·ber 2 v. [intrans.] INFORMAL sob noisily and uncontrollably: he was blubbering like a child | [with direct speech] “I don't like him,” blubbered Jonathan.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: probably symbolic; compare with BLOB and BLUBBER^1 .

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BLOB ■

BLUBBER ■

blu·chers plural n. HISTORICAL strong leather half-boots or high shoes.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after G. L. von Blücher (1742-1819), Prussian general.

bludg·eon n. a thick stick with a heavy end, used as a weapon: FIGURATIVE a rhetorical bludgeon in the war against liberalism.

■ v. [trans.] beat (someone) repeatedly with a bludgeon or other heavy object.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- force or bully (someone) to do something: she was determined not to be bludgeoned into submission.

- (bludgeon one's way) make one's way by brute force.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

blue adj. (blu·er, blu·est) 1 of a color intermediate between green and violet, as of the sky or sea on a sunny day: the clear blue sky; blue jeans; deep blue eyes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person's skin) having or turning such a color, esp. with cold or breathing difficulties: Annie went blue, and I panicked.

- (of a bird or other animal) having blue markings: a blue jay.

- (of cats, foxes, or rabbits) having fur of a smoky gray color: the blue fox.

- (of a ski run) of the second lowest level of difficulty, as indicated by colored markers positioned along it.

- [PHYSICS] denoting one of three colors of quark.

2 INFORMAL (of a person or mood) melancholy, sad, or depressed: he's feeling blue.

3 INFORMAL (of a movie, joke, or story) with sexual or pornographic content: the blue movies are hugely profitable.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of language) marked by cursing, swearing, and blasphemy.

4 INFORMAL rigidly religious or moralistic; puritanical.

■ n. 1 blue color or pigment: she was dressed in blue; the dark blue of his eyes | armchairs in pastel blues and greens.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- blue clothes or material: Susan wore blue.

- a blue uniform, or a person wearing a blue uniform, such as a police officer or a baseball umpire.

- (usu. Blue) the Union army in the Civil War, or a member of that army.

2 a blue thing, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a blue ball, piece, etc., in a game or sport.

- (the blue) POETIC/LITERARY the sky or sea; the unknown: a lark went trilling up, up into the blue.

3 [usu. with adj.] a small butterfly, the male of which is predominantly blue while the female is typically brown.
<INFO>  Lycaenidae

4 another term for BLUING.

■ v. (blues, blued, blu·ing or blue·ing) 1 make or become blue: [trans.] the light dims, bluing the retina | [as adj.] (blued) blued paper | [intrans.] the day would haze, the air bluing with afternoon.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] heat (metal) so as to give it a grayish-blue finish: [as adj.] (blued) nickel-plated or blued hooks.

2 [trans.] wash (white clothes) with bluing.

<PHRASES>
□ do something until (or till) one is blue in the face INFORMAL put all one's efforts into doing something to no avail: she could talk to him until she was blue in the face, but he was just not hearing.

□ once in a blue moon INFORMAL very rarely. <ORIGIN> because a “blue moon” is a phenomenon that never occurs.

□ out of the blue (or out of a clear blue sky) INFORMAL without warning; unexpectedly: she phoned me out of the blue. <ORIGIN> with reference to a “blue” (i.e., clear) sky, from which nothing unusual is expected.

□ talk a blue streak INFORMAL speak continuously and at great length.

<DERIVATIVES> blue·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bleu, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to Old English 'blue' and Old Norse blár 'dark blue'.

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BLUING ■

blue ba·by n. a baby with a blue complexion from lack of oxygen in the blood due to a congenital defect of the heart or major blood vessels.

blue·back n. a bird or fish, esp. a trout or a sockeye salmon, having a bluish back.

Blue·beard a character in a tale by Charles Perrault, who killed several wives in turn for disobeying his order to avoid a locked room, which contained the bodies of his previous wives. Local tradition in Brittany identifies him with Gilles de Rais (c.1400-40), a perpetrator of atrocities, although he had only one wife (who left him).
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (a Bluebeard) a man who murders his wives.

blue beat n. another term for SKA.

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SKA ■

blue·bell n. 1 (also English bluebell) a widely cultivated European woodland plant of the lily family that produces clusters of bell-shaped blue flowers in spring.
<INFO>  Hyacinthoides (or Endymion) nonscripta, family Liliaceae.

2 any of a number of other plants with blue bell-shaped flowers, in particular:
<INFO>
- another term for BELLFLOWER.

- chiefly Scottish term for HAREBELL.

- another term for SQUILL and other scillas.

- short for VIRGINIA BLUEBELL.

- a plant of the bellflower family (genus Wahlenbergia, family Campanulaceae), distributed mostly in the southern hemisphere, e.g., the Australian bluebell (W. gloriosa).

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BELLFLOWER ■

HAREBELL ■

SQUILL ■

VIRGINIA BLUEBELL ■

blue·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) 1 a hardy dwarf shrub of the heath family, with small, whitish drooping flowers and dark blue edible berries.
<INFO>  Genus Vaccinium, family Ericaceae: several North American species, including the common highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum), from which many cultivated varieties originate.

2 the small, sweet edible berry of this plant.

blue bice n. see BICE.

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BICE ■

blue·bill n. any of a number of ducks with blue bills, esp. the scaup.

blue·bird n. an American songbird of the thrush subfamily, the male of which has a blue head, back, and wings. See also FAIRY BLUEBIRD.
<INFO>  Genus Sialia, subfamily Turdinae, family Muscicapidae: three species, including the eastern bluebird (S. sialis).

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FAIRY BLUEBIRD ■

blue-black adj. black with a tinge of blue.

blue blood n. noble birth: blue blood is no guarantee of any particular merit, competence, or expertise.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also blueblood) a person of noble birth: a comforting figure among that crowd of blue bloods.

<DERIVATIVES> blue-blood·ed adj.

blue·bonnet n. a blue-flowered lupine, esp. common in Texas.
<INFO>  Genus Lupinus, family Leguminosae: several species, in particular the Texas bluebonnet (L. texensis) and the shy bluebonnet (L. subcarnosus).

blue book n. 1 a listing of socially prominent people.
- (in full Kelley Blue Book ) TRADEMARK a reference book listing the prices of used cars.

- (Blue Book) a report issued by the government.

- BRIT. a report issued by Parliament or the Privy Council.

2 a blank book used for written examinations in high school and college.

blue·bot·tle n. 1 a common blowfly with a metallic-blue body, the female of which often comes into houses searching for a suitable food source on which to lay her eggs.
<INFO>  Calliphora vomitoria, family Calliphoridae.

2 the wild cornflower.

blue box n. an electronic device used to access long-distance telephone lines illegally.

blue cheese n. cheese containing veins of blue mold, such as Gorgonzola and Danish Blue.

blue-chip adj. [attrib.] denoting companies or their shares considered to be a reliable investment, though less secure than gilt-edged stock.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of the highest quality: blue-chip art.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent. (originally U.S.): from the blue chip used in gambling games, which usually has a high value.

blue chip·per n. a highly valued person, esp. an athlete.

blue coat n. a person who wears a blue coat, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a soldier in a blue uniform, esp. a Union soldier during the Civil War.

- a police officer.

blue co·hosh n. see COHOSH.

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COHOSH ■

blue-col·lar adj. [attrib.] of or relating to workers who wear work clothes or specialized protective clothing, as miners, mechanics, etc.: unskilled blue-collar operators; their speech and attitudes mark them as blue-collar guys. Compare with WHITE-COLLAR.

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WHITE-COLLAR ■

blue corn n. a variety of corn with bluish grains.

blue crab n. a large edible swimming crab of the Atlantic coast of North America.
<INFO>  Callinectes sapidus, family Portunidae.

blue crane n. a large South African crane with blue-gray plumage. Also called STANLEY CRANE.
<INFO>  Anthropoides paradisea, family Gruidae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> this bird as the national bird of South Africa.

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STANLEY CRANE ■

blue·curls n. a North American plant of the mint family, with small blue flowers and blue-stalked, deeply curled stamens.
<INFO>  Genus Trichtostema, family Labiatae: several species, in particular T. dichotomum, found esp. in the northeastern U.S., and the typically more southern T. setaceum.

blue dev·il n. INFORMAL 1 a blue capsule containing a barbiturate.

2 (blue devils) a feeling of despondency or low spirits.

3 (blue devils) another term for DELIRIUM TREMENS.

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DELIRIUM TREMENS ■

blue dog Dem·o·crat (also Blue Dog Dem·o·crat) n. INFORMAL in the U.S., a Democrat from a Southern state who has a conservative voting record.

<ORIGIN> From the name of a coalition of Southern Democrats in the U.S. Congress formed in 1995. Their name alludes to an older term, “yellow dog Democrat,” for a party loyalist who allegedly “would vote for a yellow dog if it were on the ballot as a Democrat.” The blue dog Democrats claim that their conservative views have been choked off by their own party to the point that these yellow dogs have turned blue.

blue-eyed boy n. INFORMAL a person highly regarded by someone and treated with special favor.

blue-eyed grass n. a North American plant of the iris family, cultivated for its blue flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Sisyrinchium, family Iridaceae: several species, including the flat-stemmed S. montanum.

blue-eyed Mar·y n. a low-growing plant of the borage family that bears bright blue flowers and spreads by means of runners.
<INFO>  Omphalodes verna, family Boraginaceae.

blue·fin (also bluefin tuna) n. the most common large tuna, which occurs worldwide in warm seas. It is probably the largest bony fish, and is very important as a food and game fish.
<INFO>  Thunnus thynnus, family Scombridae.

blue·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a predatory blue-colored marine fish that inhabits tropical and temperate waters and is popular as a game fish.
<INFO>  Pomatomus saltatrix, the only member of the family Pomatomidae.

blue flag n. 1 a violet-flowered iris that grows in marshy places and wet meadows.
<INFO>  Genus Iris, family Iridaceae: several species, in particular the larger blue flag (I. versicolor) and the slender blue flag (I. prismatica).

2 a European award for beaches based on cleanliness and safety.

blue flu n. a sick-out, esp. among police officers.

blue·gill n. an edible North American freshwater fish of the sunfish family, with a deep body and bluish cheeks and gill covers. It is popular with anglers.
<INFO>  Lepomis macrochirus, family Centrarchidae.

blue·grass n. 1 (also Kentucky bluegrass) a bluish-green grass that was introduced into North America from northern Europe. It is widely grown for fodder, esp. in Kentucky and Virginia. See also MEADOW GRASS.

2 a kind of country music influenced by jazz and blues and characterized by virtuosic playing of banjos and guitars and high-pitched, close-harmony vocals.

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MEADOW GRASS ■

Blue·grass State a nickname for the state of KENTUCKY.

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KENTUCKY ■

blue-green al·gae plural n. another term for CYANOBACTERIA.

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CYANOBACTERIA ■

blue ground n. another term for KIMBERLITE.

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KIMBERLITE ■

blue gum n. a eucalyptus tree with blue-green aromatic leaves and smooth bark.
<INFO>  Genus Eucalyptus, family Myrtaceae: several species, in particular E. regnans.

blue·head n. a small wrasse of the tropical eastern Atlantic that is sometimes kept in aquariums. Large males have a blue head and green body with vertical stripes in between, and females and smaller males are predominantly yellowish.
<INFO>  Thalassoma bifasciatum, family Labridae.

blue hel·met n. a member of a United Nations peacekeeping force.

Blue Hen State a nickname for the state of DELAWARE^1 .

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DELAWARE ■

blue ice n. clean, dense ice of a vivid blue color, formed in glaciers by the recrystallization of snow.

blue·ish adj. variant spelling of BLUISH.

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BLUISH ■

blue·jack·et n. INFORMAL a sailor in the navy.

blue jay n. a common North American jay with a blue crest, back, wings, and tail.
<INFO>  Cyanocitta cristata, family Corvidae.

blue jeans n. jeans made of blue denim.

blue law n. a law prohibiting certain activities, such as shopping, on a Sunday.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in colonial New England) a strict religious law, particularly one preventing entertainment or leisure activities on a Sunday.

Blue Law State a nickname for the state of CONNECTICUT.

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CONNECTICUT ■

blue line n. [ICE HOCKEY] either of the two lines midway between the center of the rink and each goal.

blue mold n. a bluish fungus that grows on food. Blue molds are deliberately introduced into some cheeses, and some kinds are used to produce antibiotics such as penicillin.
<INFO>  Penicillium and other genera, phylum Ascomycota.

Blue Nile one of the two principal headwaters of the Nile River. It rises from Lake Tana in northwestern Ethiopia and flows about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) south and then northwest into Sudan, where it meets the White Nile at Khartoum.

blue·nose n. INFORMAL 1 a priggish or puritanical person: [as adj.] the most restrictive, bluenose standards.

2 (Bluenose) a person from Nova Scotia.

<DERIVATIVES> bluenosed adj. (in sense 1).

blue note n. [MUSIC] a minor interval where a major would be expected, used esp. in jazz.

blue-pen·cil v. [trans.] edit or make cuts in (a manuscript, movie, or other work).

Blue Pe·ter n. a blue flag with a white square in the center, raised by a ship about to leave port.

blue plate (also blue-plate) adj. [attrib.] (of a restaurant meal) consisting of a full main course ordered as a single menu item: the blue plate special.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: with reference to the original blue plates divided into compartments, on which fixed-price restaurant meals were served.

blue·point n. a small oyster, in particular one harvested from the oyster beds in Great South Bay, at Blue Point, Long Island. Bluepoints are typically served raw, on the half shell.

blue·print n. a design plan or other technical drawing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE something that acts as a plan, model, or template: a vague blueprint for fundamental land redistribution.

■ v. [trans.] draw up (a plan or model): [as adj.] (blueprinted) a neatly blueprinted scheme.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from the original process in which prints were composed of white lines on a blue ground or of blue lines on a white ground.

blue-rib·bon adj. [attrib.] of the highest quality; first-class: blue-ribbon service.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a jury or committee) carefully or specially selected.

blue rib·bon n. (BRIT. also blue rib·and) a badge made of blue ribbon and given as first prize to the winner of a competition.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in the UK) a badge worn by members of the Order of the Garter.

Blue Ridge Moun·tains a range in the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern U.S. that stretches from southern Pennsylvania to northern Georgia. Mount Mitchell is the highest peak, rising to a height of 6,684 feet (2,037 m).

blue rinse n. a preparation used as a rinse on gray or white hair intended to make it look more silver.

■ adj. (blue-rinse or blue-rinsed) [attrib.] INFORMAL, DEROGATORY of or relating to elderly and conservative women: the blue-rinse brigade.

blue roan adj. denoting an animal's coat consisting of black-and-white hairs evenly mixed, giving it a blue-gray hue.

■ n. an animal with such a coat.

blues plural n. 1 [treated as sing. or pl.] (often the blues) melancholic music of black American folk origin, typically in a twelve-bar sequence. It developed in the rural southern U.S. toward the end of the 19th century, finding a wider audience in the 1940s as blacks migrated to the cities. This urban blues gave rise to rhythm and blues and rock and roll.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [treated as sing.] a piece of such music: we'll do a blues in C.

2 (the blues) INFORMAL feelings of melancholy, sadness, or depression: she's got the blues.

<DERIVATIVES> blues·y adj. (in sense 1).

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (sense 2): elliptically from blue devils 'depression or delirium tremens'.

blue-screen adj. [attrib.] [CINEMATOGRAPHY] denoting a special-effects technique in which scenes shot against a blue background are superimposed on other scenes.

blue shark n. a long slender shark with an indigo-blue back and white underparts, typically occurring in the open sea.
<INFO>  Prionace glauca, family Carcharhinidae.

blue·shift (also blue shift) n. [ASTRONOMY] the displacement of the spectrum to shorter wavelengths in the light coming from distant celestial objects moving toward the observer. Compare with REDSHIFT.

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REDSHIFT ■

blue-sky (also blue-skies) adj. [attrib.] INFORMAL not yet practical or profitable: blue-sky research.

blue-sky law n. a law regulating the sale of securities, intended to protect the public from fraud.

Blue Springs a city in west central Missouri, east of Kansas City; pop. 48,080.

blue spruce n. a North American spruce with sharp, stiff blue-green needles, growing wild in the central Rocky Mountains. Its many cultivated varieties tend to be bluer in color than the wild ones. Also called COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE, COLORADO SPRUCE.
<INFO>  Picea pungens, family Pinaceae.

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COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE ■

COLORADO SPRUCE ■

blue state n. a US state that predominantly votes for or supports the Democratic Party. Compare with RED STATE.

<ORIGIN> from the typical color used to represent the Democratic Party on maps during elections.

blue·stem n. a coarse North American prairie grass with bluish leaf sheaths, often cultivated as forage.
<INFO>  Genus Andropogon, family Gramineae.

blue·stock·ing n. OFTEN DEROGATORY an intellectual or literary woman.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: originally used to describe a man wearing blue worsted (instead of formal black silk) stockings; extended to mean 'in informal dress'. Later the term denoted a person who attended the literary assemblies held (c.1750) by three London society ladies, where some of the men favored less formal dress. The women who attended became known as blue-stocking ladies or blue-stockingers.

blue·stone n. any of various bluish or gray building stones.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any of the smaller stones made of dolerite found in the inner part of Stonehenge.

blu·et n. a low-growing North American plant of the bedstraw family, with small four-petaled flowers and paired leaves. Bluets often grow in large groups.
<INFO>  Genus Houstonia (or Hedyotis), family Rubiaceae: several species, esp. H. caerulea, with milky-blue or white flowers, and long-leaved bluets (H. longifolia), with white or lavender flowers.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, diminutive of bleu 'blue'.

blue·throat n. a small, lively thrush found in northern Eurasia and Alaska. The male has a blue throat with a reddish spot in the center.
<INFO>  Luscinia svecica, subfamily Turdinae, family Muscicapidae.

blue tit n. a small titmouse with a blue cap, greenish-blue back, and yellow underparts, widespread in Eurasia and northwestern Africa.
<INFO>  Parus caeruleus, family Paridae.

blue-tongued skink (also blue-tongued lizard) n. a heavily built Australian skink with a large head, short limbs, and a blue tongue, which is displayed in defense.
<INFO>  Genus Tiliqua, family Scincidae: several species, in particular T. scincoides, which is commonly kept as a pet.

Blue·tooth n. TRADEMARK a standard for the short-range wireless interconnection of cellular phones, computers, and other electronic devices.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: said to be named after King Harald Bluetooth (910-985), credited with uniting Denmark and Norway, as Bluetooth technology unifies the telecommunications and computing industries.

blue vit·ri·ol n. ARCHAIC crystalline copper sulfate.

blue-wa·ter adj. relating to or associated with the open sea; oceangoing: a blue-water navy.

blue·weed n. another term for VIPER'S BUGLOSS.

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VIPER'S BUGLOSS ■

blue whale n. a migratory, mottled bluish-gray rorqual, found in all oceans of the world. Known to grow as long as 110 feet (33 m) and weigh as much as 150 tons (136,000 kg), it is the largest animal ever to inhabit the earth.
<INFO>  Balaenoptera musculus, family Balaenopteridae.

bluff 1 n. an attempt to deceive someone into believing that one can or will do something: the offer was denounced as a bluff | his game of bluff.

■ v. [intrans.] try to deceive someone as to one's abilities or intentions: he's been bluffing all along | [with direct speech] “I am an accredited envoy,” he bluffed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] mislead (someone) in this way: the object is to bluff your opponent into submission.

- (in a card game) bet heavily on a weak hand in order to deceive opponents.

- (bluff one's way) contrive a difficult escape or other achievement by maintaining a pretense: he bluffed his way onto an Antarctic supply vessel.

<PHRASES> call someone's bluff challenge someone thought to be bluffing: she was tempted to call his bluff, hardly believing he'd carry out his threat.

<DERIVATIVES> bluff·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (originally in the sense 'blindfold, hoodwink'): from Dutch bluffen 'brag', or bluf 'bragging'. The current sense (originally U.S., mid 19th cent.) originally referred to bluffing in the game of poker.

bluff 2 adj. direct in speech or behavior but in a good-natured way: a big, bluff, hearty man. See note at BRUSQUE.

<DERIVATIVES> bluff·ly adv. bluff·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (in the sense 'surly, abrupt in manner'): figurative use of BLUFF^3 . The current positive connotation dates from the early 19th cent.

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BLUFF ■

bluff 3 n. 1 a steep cliff, bank, or promontory.

2 CANADIAN a grove or clump of trees.

■ adj. (of a cliff or a ship's bow) having a vertical or steep broad front.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as an adjective, originally in nautical use): of unknown origin. The Canadian sense dates from the mid 18th cent.

blu·ing (also blue·ing) n. 1 CHIEFLY HISTORICAL blue powder used to preserve the whiteness of laundry.

2 a grayish-blue finish on metal produced by heating.

blu·ish (also blue·ish) adj. having a blue tinge; somewhat blue.

Blum Léon (1872-1950), French statesman; prime minister 1936-37, 1938, and 1946-47. As France's first socialist and Jewish prime minister, Blum introduced significant labor reforms.

Blume Judy Sussman (1938- ), U.S. author, mostly of young adult's fiction. Her works include Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret (1970), Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (1972), Forever (1975), and, for adults, Wifey (1977) and Summer Sisters (1998).

Blu·men·bach Johann Friedrich (1752-1840), German physiologist and anatomist. He is regarded as the founder of physical anthropology, although his approach has since been much modified. He classified modern human beings into five broad categories (Caucasian, Mongoloid, Malayan, Ethiopian, and American), based mainly on cranial measurements.

blun·der n. a stupid or careless mistake. See note at MISTAKE.

■ v. [intrans.] make such a mistake; act or speak clumsily: the mayor and the City Council have blundered in an ill-advised campaign; I blundered on in my explanation | [as adj.] (blundering) blundering actors.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] move clumsily or as if unable to see: we were blundering around in the darkness.

<DERIVATIVES> blun·der·er n. blun·der·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to BLIND.

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BLIND ■

blun·der·buss n. HISTORICAL a short-barreled large-bored gun with a flared muzzle, used at short range.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE an action or way of doing something regarded as lacking in subtlety and precision: economists resort too quickly to the blunderbuss of regulation.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: alteration (by association with BLUNDER) of Dutch donderbus, literally 'thunder gun'.

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BLUNDER ■

blunge v. [trans.] mix (clay or other materials) with water in a revolving apparatus for use in ceramics.

<DERIVATIVES> blung·er n..

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: blend of BLEND and PLUNGE.

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BLEND ■

PLUNGE ■

Blunt Anthony (Frederick) (1907-83), British art historian, foreign office official, and Soviet spy.

blunt adj. 1 (of a knife, pencil, etc.) having a worn-down edge or point; not sharp: a blunt knife.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having a flat or rounded end: the blunt tip of the leaf.

2 (of a person or remark) uncompromisingly forthright: he is as blunt as a kick in the shins;a blunt statement of fact. See note at BRUSQUE.

■ n. INFORMAL a hollowed-out cigar filled with marijuana.

■ v. make or become less sharp: [trans.] wood can blunt your ax | [intrans.] the edge may blunt very rapidly.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] FIGURATIVE weaken or reduce (something): their determination had been blunted.

<DERIVATIVES> blunt·ly adv. blunt·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'dull, insensitive'): perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse blunda 'shut the eyes'.

blunt in·stru·ment n. a heavy object without a sharp edge or point, used as a weapon.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE an imprecise or heavy-handed way of doing something: as a promotional method, direct mail has been a blunt instrument.

blur v. (blurred, blur·ring) make or become unclear or less distinct: [trans.] tears blurred her vision; his novels blur the boundaries between criticism and fiction | [intrans.] as daylight waned, the pages blurred.

■ n. a thing that cannot be seen or heard clearly: the pale blur of her face; the words were a blur.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an indistinct memory or impression of events, typically because they happened very fast: the day before was a blur.

<DERIVATIVES> blurred adj. blur·ry adj. (blurr·i·er, blurr·i·est).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'smear that partially obscures something)': perhaps related to BLEAR.

Linked entries:

BLEAR ■

blurb n. a short description of a book, movie, or other product written for promotional purposes and appearing on the cover of a book or in an advertisement.

■ v. [trans.] INFORMAL write or contribute such a passage for (a book, movie, or other product).

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: coined by Gelett Burgess (died 1951), American humorist.

blurt v. [trans.] say (something) suddenly and without careful consideration: she wouldn't blurt out words she did not mean | [with direct speech] “It wasn't my idea,” Gordon blurted.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: probably imitative.

blush v. [intrans.] develop a pink tinge in the face from embarrassment or shame: she blushed at the unexpected compliment | [with complement] Kate felt herself blushing scarlet.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- feel embarrassed or ashamed: [with infinitive] he blushed to think of how he'd paraded himself.

- [often as adj.] (blushing) (of a flower or other thing) be or become pink or pale red: the trees are loaded with blushing blossoms.

■ n. 1 a reddening of the face as a sign of embarrassment or shame: he had brought a faint blush to her cheeks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a pink or pale red tinge: the roses were white with a lovely pink blush.

- another term for BLUSHER (sense 1).

2 (also blush wine) a wine with a slight pink tint made in the manner of white wine but from red grape varieties.

<PHRASES> at first blush at the first glimpse or impression.

<ORIGIN> Old English blyscan; related to modern Dutch blozen.

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BLUSHER ■

blush·er n. 1 a cosmetic of a powder or cream consistency used to give a warm color to the cheeks. Also called BLUSH.

2 (the blusher) a woodland toadstool that has a buff cap bearing fluffy white spots and white flesh that turns pink when bruised or cut. It is native to both Eurasia and North America.
<INFO>  Amanita rubescens, family Amanitaceae, class Basidiomycetes.

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BLUSH ■

blus·ter v. [intrans.] talk in a loud, aggressive, or indignant way with little effect: you threaten and bluster, but won't carry it through | [with direct speech] “I don't care what he says,” I blustered | [as adj.] (blustering) a blustering bully.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a storm, wind, or rain) blow or beat fiercely and noisily: a winter gale blustered against the sides of the house | [as adj.] (blustering) the blustering wind.

■ n. loud, aggressive, or indignant talk with little effect: their threats contained a measure of bluster.

<DERIVATIVES> blus·ter·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: ultimately imitative.

blus·ter·y adj. (of weather or a period of time) characterized by strong winds: a gusty, blustery day.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a wind) blowing in strong gusts.

blvd. abbr. boulevard.

Bly Nellie (1867-1922), U.S. journalist and social reformer; pseudonym of Elizabeth Jane Cochrane. As a reporter for the Pittsburgh Dispatch, she wrote about child labor and unsafe working conditions in factories. Hired by Joseph Pulitzer as a reporter for his New York World, she had herself admitted to the insane asylum on Blackwell's Island and wrote a scathing exposé, called Ten Days in a Madhouse (1887), of the terrible conditions she found there. She also wrote Nellie Bly's Book: Around the World in Seventy-two Days (1890) about her trip breaking the fictional record set in Jules Vernes's Around the World in Eighty Days.

B lym·pho·cyte (also B-lymphocyte) n. [PHYSIOLOGY] another term for B CELL.

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B CELL ■

Blythe Vernon, see CASTLE.

Linked entries:

CASTLE ■

Blythe·ville a city in northeastern Arkansas; pop. 22,906.

Bly·ton Enid (1897-1968), British writer of children's fiction. Her best-known creation was the character Noddy, who first appeared in 1949. Her books for older children included the series of the Famous Five and Secret Seven adventure stories.

BM abbr.
- Bachelor of Medicine.

- Bachelor of Music.

- bowel movement.

- basal metabolism.

- board measure.

- black male.

- British Museum.

BMI abbr. body mass index.

BMOC abbr. big man on campus.

B-mov·ie n. a low-budget movie, esp. one made for use as a companion to the main attraction in a double feature: [as adj.] a B-movie actress.

BMR abbr. basal metabolic rate.

BMus abbr. Bachelor of Music.

BMX n. organized bicycle racing on a dirt track, esp. for youngsters: [as adj.] a BMX track.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a kind of bicycle designed to be used for such racing.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from the initial letters of bicycle motocross, with X standing for cross.

Bn. abbr.
- Baron.

- Battalion.

bn abbr. billion.

B'nai B'rith a Jewish organization founded in New York in 1843. It pursues educational, humanitarian, and cultural activities and attempts to safeguard the rights and interests of Jews around the world.

<ORIGIN> Hebrew, literally 'sons of the covenant'.

BO abbr.
- INFORMAL body odor.

- best offer.

- box office.

- back order.

- (also B/O or b/o) (in bookkeeping) brought over.

bo abbr. best offer.

bo·a n. 1 a constrictor snake that bears live young and may reach great size, native to America, Africa, Asia, and some Pacific islands.
<INFO>  Family Boidae, several genera and numerous species. See also BOA CONSTRICTOR.

<SPECIAL USAGE> any snake that is a constrictor.

2 a long thin stole of feathers or fur worn around a woman's neck, typically as part of evening dress.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin (mentioned in the writings of Pliny), of unknown ultimate origin.

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BOA CONSTRICTOR ■

bo·a con·stric·tor n. a large and typically boldly marked snake that kills by coiling around its prey and asphyxiating it, native to tropical America.
<INFO>  Boa constrictor, family Boidae.

boar n. (pl. same or boars) 1 (also wild boar) a tusked Eurasian wild pig from which domestic pigs are descended.
<INFO>  Sus scrofa, family Suidae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the flesh of the wild boar as food.

2 an uncastrated domestic male pig.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the full-grown male of certain other animals, esp. a badger, guinea pig, or hedgehog.

<ORIGIN> Old English ; related to Dutch beer and German Bär.

board n. 1 a long, thin, flat piece of wood or other hard material, used for floors or other building purposes: loose boards creaked as I walked on them | sections of board.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the boards) INFORMAL the stage of a theater.

2 a thin, flat, rectangular piece of wood or other stiff material used for various purposes, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a vertical surface on which to write or pin notices.

- a horizontal surface on which to cut things, play games, or perform other activities.

- a flat insulating sheet used as a mounting for an electronic circuit: [with adj.] a graphics board.

- the piece of equipment on which a person stands in surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and certain other sports.

- (boards) the wooden structure surrounding an ice-hockey rink.

- (usu. boards) [BASKETBALL] informal term for BACKBOARD, referring specifically to rebounding: the absence of center David Robinson to dominate on the boards.

- (boards) pieces of thick stiff cardboard or, originally, wood used for book covers.

3 [treated as sing. or pl.] a group of people constituted as the decision-making body of an organization: he sits on the board of directors | [in names] the Federal Reserve Board | [as adj.] a board meeting.

4 the provision of regular meals when one stays somewhere, in return for payment or services: your room and board will be free.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC a table set for a meal.

5 [SAILING] a distance covered by a vessel in a single tack.

■ v. 1 [trans.] get on or into (a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle): we boarded the plane for Oslo | [intrans.] they would not be able to board without a ticket.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (be boarding) (of an aircraft) be ready for passengers to embark: flight 172 to Istanbul is now boarding at gate 37.

2 [intrans.] live and receive regular meals in a house in return for payment or services: the cousins boarded for a while with Ruby.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a student) live at school during the semester in return for payment.

- [trans.] (often be boarded) provide (a person or animal) with regular meals and somewhere to live in return for payment: dogs may have to be boarded at kennels.

3 [trans.] (board something up) cover or seal a window, storefront, or other structure with pieces of wood: the shop was still boarded up.

4 [intrans.] ride on a snowboard.

<PHRASES>
□ go by the board (of something planned or previously upheld) be abandoned, rejected, or ignored: my education just went by the board. <ORIGIN> earlier in nautical use meaning 'fall overboard', used of a mast falling past the board, i.e., the side of the ship.

□ on board on or in a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
- INFORMAL onto a team or group as a member: the need to bring on board a young manager.

- INFORMAL (of a jockey) riding.

- [BASEBALL] on base.

□ take something on board INFORMAL fully consider or assimilate a new idea or situation: we've got to take accusations of sexism on board.

□ tread the boards INFORMAL appear on stage as an actor.

<ORIGIN> Old English bord, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boord and German Bort; reinforced in Middle English by Old French bort 'edge, ship's side' and Old Norse borth 'board, table'.

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BACKBOARD ■

board cer·ti·fi·ca·tion n. the process of examining and certifying the qualifications of a physician or other professional by a board of specialists in the field.

board-cer·ti·fied adj. having satisfied the requirements for board certification.

board·ed adj. (of a floor, roof, or other structure) built with pieces of wood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a window, storefront, or other structure) covered or sealed with pieces of wood.

board·er n. 1 a person who receives regular meals when staying somewhere, in return for payment or services.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a student who lives at school during the semester in return for payment.

2 a person who boards a ship during or after an attack.

3 a person who takes part in a sport using a board, such as surfing or snowboarding.

board foot n. (pl. board feet) a unit of volume for timber equal to 144 cubic inches, notionally twelve inches by twelve inches by one inch.

board game n. any game played on a board, esp. one that involves the movement of pieces on the board, such as chess or checkers.

board·ing n. 1 long, flat, thin pieces of wood used to build or cover something.

2 the procedure according to which students live at school during the semester in return for payment.

3 the action of getting on or into a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.

board·ing·house (also board·ing-house or board·ing house) n. a house providing food and lodging for paying guests.

board·ing ken·nel n. a place in which dogs are kept and fed, typically while their owners are on vacation.

board·ing pass (also boarding card) n. a pass for boarding an aircraft, given to a passenger when the ticket is issued or upon check-in at the airport.

board·ing school n. a school where students reside during the semester.

board of ed·u·ca·tion n. a body of officials elected or appointed to oversee a local or statewide school system or systems. Compare with SCHOOL BOARD.

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SCHOOL BOARD ■

Board of Trade n. 1 another term for CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also Chicago Board of Trade) the Chicago futures exchange.

2 (Board of Trade) a now nominal British government department within the Department of Trade and Industry concerned with commerce and industry.

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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ■

board·room n. a room in which the members of a board meet regularly.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the directors of a company or organization considered collectively.

board·sail·ing n. another term for WINDSURFING.

<DERIVATIVES> board·sail·or n.

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WINDSURFING ■

board·walk n. a wooden walkway across sand or marshy ground.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a promenade along a beach or waterfront, typically made of wood.

Bo·as Franz (1858-1942), U.S. anthropologist; born in Germany. A pioneer of modern anthropology, he developed the linguistic and cultural components of ethnology. His most notable work was Race, Language, and Culture (1940).

boast 1 v. 1 [reporting verb] talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one's achievements, possessions, or abilities: [with direct speech] Ted used to boast, “I manage ten people” | [with clause] he boasted that he had taken part in the crime | [intrans.] she boasted about her many conquests.

2 [trans.] (of a person, place, or thing) possess (a feature that is a source of pride): the hotel boasts high standards of comfort.

■ n. an act of talking with excessive pride and self-satisfaction: I said I would score, and it wasn't an idle boast.

<DERIVATIVES> boast·er n. boast·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a noun): of unknown origin.

boast 2 n. (in squash) a stroke in which the ball is made to hit one of the sidewalls before hitting the front wall.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: perhaps from French bosse denoting a rounded projection in the wall of a court for court tennis.

boast·ful adj. showing excessive pride and self-satisfaction in one's achievements, possessions, or abilities.

<DERIVATIVES> boast·ful·ly adv. boast·ful·ness n.

boat n. 1 a small vessel propelled on water by oars, sails, or an engine: a fishing boat | [as adj.] a boat trip.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in general use) a ship of any size.

2 a serving dish in the shape of a boat: a gravy boat.

■ v. [intrans.] travel or go in a boat for pleasure: they boated through fjords; | [as n.] (boating) she likes to go boating.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] transport (someone or something) in a boat in a specified direction: they boated the timber down the lake.

- [trans.] to bring a caught fish into a boat.

<PHRASES>
□ be in the same boat INFORMAL be in the same unfortunate circumstances as others.

□ miss the boat see MISS^1 .

□ off the boat INFORMAL or OFTEN OFFENSIVE recently arrived from a foreign country, and by implication naive or an outsider: what are you, fresh off the boat?

□ rock the boat INFORMAL say or do something to disturb an existing situation.

<DERIVATIVES> boat·ful n. (pl. -fuls).

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin.

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MISS ■

boat·bill n. (also boat-billed her·on) a small Central and South American heron with a broad, flattened bill and a prominent black crest.
<INFO>  Cochlearius cochlearius, family Ardeidae.

boat·build·ing n. the occupation or industry of building boats.

<DERIVATIVES> boat·build·er n.

boat deck n. the deck from which a ship's lifeboats are launched.

boat·el n. 1 a waterside hotel with facilities for mooring boats.

2 a ship moored at a wharf and used as a hotel.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: blend of BOAT and HOTEL.

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BOAT ■

HOTEL ■

boat·er n. 1 a flat-topped hardened straw hat with a brim. <ORIGIN> so named because originally worn while boating.

2 a person who uses or travels in a boat for pleasure.

boat·hook n. a long pole with a hook and a spike at one end, used for fending off or pulling a boat.

boat·house n. a shed at the edge of a river or lake used for housing boats.

boat·ing n. rowing or sailing in boats as a sport or form of recreation.

boat·load n. a number of passengers or amount of cargo that will fill a ship or boat: a boatload of coal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a large number of people: the company has signed a boatload of European distributors for the new product.

boat·man n. (pl. -men) a person who rents out or works on boats.

boat neck (also boatneck) n. a type of wide neckline on a garment that passes just below the collarbone.

<ORIGIN> from its shape.

boat peo·ple plural n. refugees who have left a country by sea, in particular the Vietnamese who fled in small boats to Hong Kong, Australia, and elsewhere after the conquest of South Vietnam by North Vietnam in 1975.

boat shoe (also deck shoe) n. a type of loafer with a flexible rubber heel and sole to provide good traction on boat decks.

boat·swain (also bo'sun or bo·sun) n. a ship's officer in charge of equipment and the crew.

<ORIGIN> late Old English (see BOAT, SWAIN).

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BOAT ■

SWAIN ■

boat·swain's chair n. a seat suspended from ropes, used in rescues and for work on the body or masts of a ship or the face of a building.

boat train n. a train scheduled to connect with the arrival or departure of a boat.

boat·yard n. a place where boats are built, repaired, or stored.

Bo·a Vis·ta a town in northern Brazil; pop. 130,426 (1990).

bob 1 v. (bobbed, bob·bing) [intrans.] (of a thing) make a quick short movement up and down: I could see his red head bobbing around; the boat bobbed up and down.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause (something) to make such a movement: she bobbed her head.

- [intrans.] make a sudden move in a particular direction so as to appear or disappear: a lady bobbed up from beneath the counter.

- [intrans.] move up and down briefly in a curtsy.

■ n. a movement up and down: she could only manage a slight bob of her head.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- another term for BOBBER.

- a curtsy.

<PHRASES>
□ bob and weave make rapid bodily movements up and down and from side to side, for example as an evasive tactic by a boxer.

□ bob for apples try to catch floating or hanging apples with one's mouth alone, as a game.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin.

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BOBBER ■

bob 2 n. 1 a style in which the hair is cut short and evenly all around so that it hangs above the shoulders.

2 a weight on a pendulum, plumb line, or kite-tail.

3 a bobsled.

4 a short line at or near the end of a stanza.

5 a horse's tail docked short.

■ v. (bobbed, bob·bing) 1 [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (bobbed) cut (someone's hair) in a bob: she tied a headscarf over her bobbed brown hair.

2 [intrans.] ride on a bobsled.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a bunch or cluster): of unknown origin.

bob 3 BRIT., INFORMAL n. (pl. same) a shilling.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used with reference to a moderately large but unspecified amount of money: those vases are worth a few bob.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

bob 4 n. a change of order in bell-ringing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used in names of change-ringing methods: plain bob; bob minor.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: perhaps connected with BOB^1 in the noun sense 'sudden movement up and down'.

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BOB ■

bo·ba tea n. another term for BUBBLE TEA.

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BUBBLE TEA ■

bob·ber n. a small float placed on a fishing line to hold the hook at the desired depth.

bob·bin n. a cylinder or cone holding thread, yarn, or wire, used esp. in weaving, machine sewing, and lacemaking.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a spool or reel.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French bobine, of unknown origin.

bob·bi·net n. machine-made cotton net (imitating lace made with bobbins on a pillow).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BOBBIN + NET^1 .

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BOBBIN ■

NET ■

bob·bin lace n. lace made by hand with thread wound on bobbins.

bob·ble 1 n. a small ball made of strands of wool used as a decoration on a hat or on furnishings.

<DERIVATIVES> bob·bly adj.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: diminutive of BOB^2 .

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BOB ■

bob·ble 2 INFORMAL v. 1 [trans.] mishandle (a ball): Andy bobbled the ball, so his throw home was too late.

2 [intrans.] move with an irregular bouncing motion: the glare of the snow made the landscape bobble.

■ n. 1 a mishandling of a ball: a once-a-season bobble by Jordan en route to a breakaway jam.

2 an irregular bouncing motion.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: frequentative of BOB^1 .

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BOB ■

Bobb·sey twins n. TRADEMARK, HUMOROUS name for two people who are often seen together or who look and act alike.

<ORIGIN> From the characters in a long-running series of children's books (1904-1992), written under the pen name Laura Lee Hope.

bob·by n. (pl. -bies) BRIT., INFORMAL, DATED a police officer.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: nickname for Robert, given name of Sir Robert PEEL.

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PEEL ■

bob·by pin n. a kind of sprung hairpin or small clip.

■ v. (bob·by-pin) [trans.] fix (hair) in place with such a pin or clip.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from BOB^2 (because bobby pins were originally used with bobbed hair) + -Y^2 .

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BOB ■

-Y ■

bob·by socks (also bob·by sox) plural n. DATED short socks reaching just above the ankle (used chiefly in the 1940s and 1950s to refer to the socks worn by teenage girls).

<ORIGIN> 1940s: compare with BOB^2 in the sense 'cut short'.

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BOB ■

bob·by-sox·er n. DATED, CHIEFLY DEROGATORY an adolescent girl.

bob·cat n. a small North American cat species with a barred and spotted coat and a short tail.
<INFO>  Lynx rufus, family Felidae. Compare withLYNX.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from BOB^2 (with reference to its short tail) + CAT^1 .

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BOB ■

CAT ■

Bo·bo-Diou·las·so a commercial and industrial city in southwestern Burkina Faso; pop. 269,000. It is an agricultural market and rail center.

bob·o·link n. a North American songbird of the American blackbird family, with a finchlike bill. The male has black, buff, and white plumage.
<INFO>  Dolichonyx oryzivorus, family Icteridae.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (originally Bob o'Lincoln, Bob Lincoln): imitative of its call.

bob·sled n. a mechanically steered and braked sled, typically manned by crews of two or four, used for racing down a steep ice-covered run with banked curves.

■ v. ride on a bobsled.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (originally denoting a sled made of two short sleds coupled together and used for hauling logs): from BOB^2 in the sense 'short' + SLED.

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BOB ■

SLED ■

bob·sled·ding n. riding in a bobsled, esp. as a winter sport.

bob·sleigh n. another term for BOBSLED.

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BOBSLED ■

bob·stay n. a rope used to hold down the bowsprit of a ship against the upward pull of the forestay.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: probably from BOB^1 + STAY^2 .

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BOB ■

STAY ■

bob·tail n. a docked tail of a horse or dog.

■ adj. (also bob·tailed) FIGURATIVE cut short; abbreviated: the bobtailed 1995 baseball season.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: probably from BOB^2 + TAIL^1 . It was originally recorded as a humorous term for a kind of broad-headed arrow, probably because it looked as though it had been cut short.

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BOB ■

TAIL ■

bob-weight n. a component used as a counterweight to a moving part in a machine.

bob·white (also bobwhite quail) n. a New World quail with mottled reddish-brown plumage, and typically a pale throat and eyestripe.
<INFO>  Genus Colinus, family Phasianidae: two species, in particular the northern (or common) bobwhite (C. virginianus).

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: imitative of its call.

bo·cac·cio n. an edible rockfish, of particular commercial importance in California.
<INFO>  Sebastes paucispinis, family Scorpaenidae.

<ORIGIN> ultimately from American Spanish bocacho 'big-mouth(ed)'.

bo·cage n. (in France) pastureland divided into small hedged fields interspersed with groves of trees.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, from Old French boscage (see BOSCAGE).

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BOSCAGE ■

Bo·ca Ra·ton a city and resort in southeastern Florida, on the Atlantic Ocean, north of Fort Lauderdale; pop. 61,492.

Boc·cac·ci·o Giovanni (1313-75), Italian writer, poet, and humanist. He is most noted for the Decameron (1348-58), a collection of 100 tales told by ten young people living in the country in order to escape the Black Death.

boc·ce (also boc·cie or boc·ci ) n. an Italian game similar to lawn bowling but played on a shorter, narrower green.

<ORIGIN> Italian, 'bowls', plural of boccia 'ball'.

Boc·che·ri·ni Luigi (1743-1805), Italian composer and cellist.

boc·con·ci·ni plural n. small balls of mozzarella cheese.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

Boche DATED, OFFENSIVE n. a German, esp. a soldier.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Boche) Germans, esp. German soldiers, considered collectively.

■ adj. German.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French soldiers' slang, originally in the sense 'rascal', later used in World War I meaning 'German'.

Bo·chum an industrial city in the Ruhr valley, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; pop. 398,580.

bock (also bock beer) n. a strong dark beer brewed in the fall and drunk in the spring.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: via French from an abbreviation of German Eimbockbier 'beer from Einbeck,' a town in Hanover.

BOD abbr. biochemical oxygen demand.

bod n. INFORMAL a body: shake your bod.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a physique: Roger was proud of his bod.

- CHIEFLY BRIT. a person: some clever bod wrote a song about them.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (originally Scots): abbreviation of BODY.

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BODY ■

bo·da·cious adj. INFORMAL excellent, admirable, or attractive: the restaurant serves bodacious grilled lobster.
<SPECIAL USAGE> audacious in a way considered admirable: those bodacious dudes have an excellent time playing games with death.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: perhaps a variant of southwestern English dialect boldacious, blend of BOLD and AUDACIOUS.

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BOLD ■

AUDACIOUS ■

bode v. [intrans.] (bode well/ill) be an omen of a particular outcome: their argument did not bode well for the future | [trans.] the 12 percent interest rate bodes dark days ahead for retailers.

<ORIGIN> Old English bodian 'proclaim, foretell', from boda 'messenger', of Germanic origin; related to German Bote, also to BID^1 .

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BID ■

bo·de·ga n. a grocery store in a Spanish-speaking neighborhood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a wineshop or wine cellar.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, via Latin from Greek 'storehouse'. Compare with APOTHECARY, BOUTIQUE.

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BOUTIQUE ■

Bo·den·see German name for Lake Constance (see CONSTANCE, LAKE).

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CONSTANCE, LAKE ■

Bodh·ga·ya (also Buddh Ga·ya ) a village in the state of Bihar in northeastern India, where Buddha attained enlightenment.

bo·dhi·satt·va (also Bo·dhi·satt·va) n. (in Mahayana Buddhism) a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: Sanskrit, 'a person whose essence is perfect knowledge', from bodhi- 'perfect knowledge' (from budh- 'awaken'[see BUDDHA]) + sattva 'being, essence'.

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BUDDHA ■

bo·dhi tree n. another term for BO TREE.

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BO TREE ■

bod·hrán n. a shallow one-sided Irish drum typically played with a short two-headed drumstick.

<ORIGIN> Irish.

bod·ice n. the part of a woman's dress (excluding sleeves) that is above the waist.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a woman’s vest, esp. a laced vest worn as an outer garment.

- a woman's vestlike undergarment.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally bodies): plural of BODY, retaining the original pronunciation. The term probably first denoted an undergarment, then known as a pair of bodice, although this sense is not recorded until the early 17th cent.

Linked entries:

BODY ■

bod·ice-rip·per n. INFORMAL, DEROGATORY or HUMOROUS a sexually explicit romantic novel or movie with a historical setting.

<DERIVATIVES> bod·ice-rip·ping adj.

bod·i·less adj. lacking a body: a bodiless head.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having no material existence; insubstantial: a sinister, bodiless voice.

bod·i·ly adj. [attrib.] of or concerning the body: children learn to control their bodily functions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> material or actual as opposed to spiritual or incorporeal: God is not present in bodily form.

■ adv. by taking hold of a person's body, esp. with force: he hauled her bodily from the van.
<SPECIAL USAGE> with one's whole body; with great force: he launched himself bodily at the door.

bod·kin n. a blunt thick needle with a large eye used esp. for drawing tape or cord through a hem.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a small pointed instrument used to pierce cloth or leather.

- HISTORICAL a long pin used for fastening hair.

- CHIEFLY HISTORICAL [PRINTING] a pointed tool used for removing pieces of metal type for correction.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: perhaps of Celtic origin and related to Irish bod, Welsh bidog, Scottish Gaelic biodag 'dagger'.

Bod·lei·an Li·brar·y the main research library of Oxford University, and one of six copyright libraries in the UK.

Bod·ley Sir Thomas (1545-1613), English scholar and diplomat. He enlarged the Oxford University library, which was renamed the Bodleian in 1604.
<SPECIAL USAGE>

Bo·do·ni Giambattista (1740-1813), Italian printer. He designed a typeface that is named after him.

bod·y n. (pl. bod·ies) 1 the physical structure of a person or an animal, including the bones, flesh, and organs: it's important to keep your body in good condition | [as adj.] body temperature.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a corpse: they found his body washed up on the beach.

- the physical and mortal aspect of a person as opposed to the soul or spirit: a duality of body and soul.

- INFORMAL a person's body regarded as an object of sexual desire: he was just after her body.

- INFORMAL, DATED a person, often one of a specified type or character: a motherly body.

2 the trunk apart from the head and the limbs: the blow almost severed his head from his body.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in sing.] (the body of) the main or central part of something, esp. a building or text: information that changes regularly is kept apart from the main body of the text.

- the main section of a car or aircraft: the body of the aircraft was filled with smoke.

- a large or substantial amount of something; a mass or collection of something: a rich body of Canadian folklore; large bodies of seawater.

- (in pottery) a clay used for making the main part of ceramic ware, as distinct from a glaze.

3 a group of people with a common purpose or function acting as an organized unit: a regulatory body; international bodies of experts.

4 [often with adj.] TECHNICAL a distinct material object: the path taken by the falling body.

5 a full or substantial quality of flavor in wine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fullness or thickness of a person's hair: designed to add body to limp and straight hair.

■ v. (bod·ies, bod·ied) [trans.] 1 (body something forth) give material form to something abstract: he bodied forth the traditional Prussian remedy for all ills.

2 build the bodywork of (a motor vehicle): an era when automobiles were bodied over wooden frames.

<PHRASES>
□ body and soul involving every aspect of a person; completely: the company owned them body and soul.

□ in a body all together; as a group: they departed in a body.

□ keep body and soul (or soul and body) together stay alive, esp. in difficult circumstances: do you think a man can keep body and soul together by selling coconuts?

□ over my dead body INFORMAL used to emphasize that one opposes something and would do anything to prevent it from happening: she moves into our home over my dead body.

<DERIVATIVES> bod·ied adj. [in combination] a wide-bodied jet.

<ORIGIN> Old English bodig, of unknown origin.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
body, cadaver, carcass, corpse, cremains, remains

The problem of what to call the human body after it has departed this life is a delicate one.

Although a body can be either dead or alive, human or animal, a corpse is most definitely a dead human body and a carcass is the body of a dead animal. The issue has been confused, of course, by the figurative use of carcass as a term of contempt (“Get your carcass out of bed and come down here!”). While carcass is often used humorously, there's nothing funny about corpse, a no-nonsense term for a lifeless physical body (the battlefield was littered with corpses).

A funeral director is likely to prefer the term remains, which is a euphemism for the body of the deceased (he had his wife's remains shipped home for burial), or cremains, if the body has been cremated.

A medical student, on the other hand, is much more likely to use the term cadaver, which is a corpse that is dissected in a laboratory for scientific study.

bod·y ar·mor n. clothing worn by military and police personnel to protect against gunfire.

bod·y art n. 1 items of jewelry or clothing worn on the body and regarded as art.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the practice of decorating the body by means of tattooing, piercing, plastic surgery, etc.

2 an artistic movement originating in the 1970s in which the physical presence of the artist (or of a model) is regarded as an integral part of the work.

bod·y bag n. a bag used for carrying a corpse from a battlefield or the scene of an accident or crime.

bod·y blow n. a heavy punch to the body.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a severe disappointment or crushing setback: a tax on books would be a body blow for education.

bod·y·board n. a short light type of surfboard ridden in a prone position.

<DERIVATIVES> bod·y·board·er n. bod·y·board·ing n.

bod·y·build·ing n. the practice of strengthening and enlarging the muscles of the body through exercise.

<DERIVATIVES> bod·y·build·er n.

bod·y-cen·tered adj. denoting a crystal structure in which there is an atom at each vertex and at the center of the unit cell. Compare with FACE-CENTERED.

bod·y check n. a deliberate obstruction of a player (esp. in ice hockey) by placing one's body in the way.

■ v. (bod·y-check) [trans.] obstruct (a player) in such a way.

bod·y clock n. a person's or animal's biological clock.

bod·y col·or n. an opaque pigment.

bod·y cor·po·rate n. formal term for CORPORATION.

Linked entries:

CORPORATION ■

bod·y count n. a list or total of casualties.

bod·y dou·ble n. a stand-in for a movie actor used during stunt or nude scenes.

bod·y dys·mor·phic dis·or·der (abbr.: BDD) n. a psychological disorder in which a person becomes obsessed with imaginary defects in their appearance.

bod·y Eng·lish n. a bodily action after throwing, hitting, or kicking a ball, intended as an attempt to influence the ball's trajectory: see him waving and using body English to try to keep the ball from going foul.

bod·y·guard n. a person or group of persons hired to escort and protect another person, esp. a dignitary.

bod·y im·age n. the subjective picture or mental image of one's own body.

bod·y·kit (also bod·y kit) n. a packaged set of decorations and fittings for customizing a car or motorcycle body.

bod·y lan·guage n. the process of communicating nonverbally through conscious or unconscious gestures and movements: his intent was clearly expressed in his body language.

bod·y louse n. a louse of a variety that infests the human body and is especially prevalent where hygiene is poor. It can transmit several diseases through its bite, including typhus.
<INFO>  Pediculus humanus humanus, family Pediculidae, order Anoplura. See also HEAD LOUSE.

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HEAD LOUSE ■

bod·y mass in·dex (abbr.: BMI) n. (pl. -di·ces or -dex·es) a weight-to-height ratio, calculated by dividing one's weight in kilograms by the square of one's height in meters and used as an indicator of obesity and underweight.

bod·y me·chan·ics plural n. [treated as sing. or pl.] exercises designed to improve posture, coordination, and stamina.

bod·y o·dor n. the smell of the human body, esp. when unpleasant.

bod·y pierc·ing n. the piercing of holes in parts of the body other than the earlobes in order to insert rings or other decorative objects.

bod·y pol·i·tic n. (usu. the body politic) the people of a nation, state, or society considered collectively as an organized group of citizens.

bod·y press n. [WRESTLING] a move in which a wrestler uses their body weight to pin an opponent to the floor.

bod·y scrub n. an exfoliating cosmetic preparation, applied to the body to cleanse the skin.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a type of beauty treatment in which the skin is cleaned and exfoliated.

bod·y search n. a search, typically conducted by customs officials or the police, of a person's body and clothing for illicit weapons, drugs, or other articles.

bod·y shirt n. a close-fitting woman's garment for the upper body that is closed at the crotch.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a close-fitting blouse or shirt.

bod·y shop n. a garage where repairs to the bodies of vehicles are carried out.

bod·y·side n. the side of the body of a vehicle: [as adj.] bodyside panels.

bod·y slam n. [WRESTLING] a move (illegal in some codes) in which the opponent's body is lifted and then thrown hard onto the floor.

bod·y·snatch·er n. HISTORICAL a person who stole corpses from a graveyard for dissection, for which there was no legal provision until 1832.

<DERIVATIVES> bod·y·snatch·ing n.

bod·y stock·ing n. a woman's one-piece undergarment that covers the torso and legs.

bod·y·suit n. a close-fitting one-piece stretch garment for women, typically worn for sports.

bod·y·surf v. [intrans.] [often as n.] (bodysurfing) float on the crest of incoming waves without using a board.

bod·y text n. (usu. the body text) the main part of a printed text, excluding items such as headings and footnotes.

bod·y wall n. the external surface of an animal body that encloses the body cavity and consists of ectoderm and mesoderm.

bod·y wave n. a soft, light permanent wave designed to give hair fullness.

bod·y·work n. 1 the metal outer shell of a vehicle.

2 therapies and techniques in complementary medicine that involve touching or manipulating the body.

<DERIVATIVES> bod·y·work·er n. (in sense 2).

bod·y wrap n. a type of beauty treatment involving the application of skin-cleansing ingredients to the body, which is then wrapped in hot towels.

boehm·ite n. a crystalline mineral compound composed of aluminum oxide and hydroxide and found in bauxite.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: AlO(OH).

Boe·ing William Edward (1881-1956), U.S. industrialist. In 1927, he founded United Aircraft and Transport, which, in 1934, was divided into Boeing Aircraft, United Aircraft, and United Airlines.

Boe·o·tia a department in central Greece, north of the Gulf of Corinth, and a region of ancient Greece of which the chief city was Thebes.

<DERIVATIVES> Boe·o·tian adj. & n.

Boer CHIEFLY HISTORICAL n. a member of the Dutch and Huguenot population that settled in southern Africa in the late 17th century.

The Boers were Calvinist in religion and fiercely self-sufficient. Conflict with the British administration of Cape Colony after 1806 led to the Great Trek of 1835-37 and the Boer Wars, after which the Boer republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State became part of the Republic of South Africa. The Boers' present-day descendants are the Afrikaners.

■ adj. of or relating to the Boers.

<ORIGIN> from Dutch boer 'farmer'. Compare withBOOR.

boer·bull (also boer·bul) n. S. AFRICAN a large dog crossbred from the mastiff and indigenous African dogs.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from Afrikaans boerboel, from boer (commonly applied to indigenous plants and animals) + boel, from Dutch bul (as in bulhond 'mastiff').

boer goat n. a goat of a hardy breed, originally from South Africa.

<ORIGIN> from Afrikaans boer 'farmer' + GOAT.

Linked entries:

GOAT ■

Boer Wars two wars fought by Great Britain in southern Africa.

The first war (1880-81) began with the revolt of the Boer settlers in Transvaal against British rule and ended with the establishment of an independent Boer Republic under British suzerainty. The second (1899-1902) was caused by the Boer refusal to grant equal rights to recent British immigrants and by the imperialist ambitions of Cecil Rhodes. The British eventually won through superior numbers and the employment of concentration camps to control the countryside.

boeuf n. [COOKING] French word for BEEF, used in the names of various beef dishes.

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BEEF ■

boeuf bour·gui·gnon n. a dish consisting of beef stewed in red wine.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally 'Burgundy beef'.

boff INFORMAL v. [trans.] have sexual intercourse with (someone).

■ n. an act of sexual intercourse.

<ORIGIN> 1920s (in the sense 'blow, punch'): imitative. The current sense dates from the 1950s.

bof·fin n. INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. a person engaged in scientific or technical research: a computer boffin.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person with knowledge or a skill considered to be complex, arcane, and difficult: he had a reputation as a tax boffin, a learned lawyer.

<DERIVATIVES> bof·fin·y adj.

<ORIGIN> World War II: of unknown origin.

bof·fo INFORMAL adj. 1 (of a review of a theatrical production, movie, etc.) wholeheartedly positive; commendatory.
<SPECIAL USAGE> resoundingly successful or popular: a boffo box-office certainty.

2 (of a laugh) deep and unrestrained.
<SPECIAL USAGE> boisterously funny.

■ n. (pl. -fos) a success: the finale is a genuine boffo.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from boff 'roaring success' + -O.

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-O ■

bof·fo·la INFORMAL n. a joke or a line in a script meant to get a laugh.

■ adj. (of a laugh) hearty and unrestrained.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: extension of BOFF.

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BOFF ■

Bo·fors gun n. a type of light antiaircraft gun.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: named after Bofors in Sweden, where it was first manufactured.

bog n. 1 wet muddy ground too soft to support a heavy body: the island is a wilderness of bog | a peat bog; | FIGURATIVE a bog of legal complications.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ECOLOGY] wetland with acid, peaty soil, typically dominated by peat moss. Compare with FEN^1 .

2 (usu. the bog) BRIT., INFORMAL a bathroom.

■ v. (bogged, bog·ging) [trans.] (usu. be bogged down) cause (a vehicle, person, or animal) to become stuck in mud or wet ground: the car became bogged down on the beach road.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (be bogged down) FIGURATIVE (of a person or process) be unable to make progress: you must not get bogged down in detail.

<DERIVATIVES> bog·gy adj. bog·gi·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Irish or Scottish Gaelic bogach, from bog 'soft'.

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FEN ■

Bo·garde Sir Dirk (1921-99), British actor and writer; born Derek Niven van den Bogaerde. Notable movies: The Servant (1963), Death in Venice (1971), and A Bridge Too Far (1977).

Bo·gart Humphrey (DeForest) (1899-1957), U.S. actor. His success as a ruthless gangster in The Petrified Forest, a play, was repeated in the movie of 1936. His many movies include Casablanca (1942), The Big Sleep (1946, in which he played opposite his fourth wife, Lauren Bacall), and The African Queen (1951, for which he won an Academy Award).

bo·gart v. [trans.] INFORMAL selfishly appropriate or keep (something, esp. a lit marijuana cigarette).

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from U.S. actor Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957), who often smoked in films.

bog as·pho·del n. a yellow-flowered marsh plant of the lily family.
<INFO>  Genus Narthecium, family Liliaceae: several species, including N. ossifragum of Europe and N. americanum of the eastern U.S., esp. New Jersey.

bog·bean n. another term for BUCKBEAN.

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BUCKBEAN ■

bo·gey 1 [GOLF] n. (pl. -geys) a score of one stroke over par at a hole.
<SPECIAL USAGE> archaic term for PAR^1 sense 1.

■ v. (-geys, -geyed) [trans.] play (a hole) in one stroke over par.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: perhaps from Bogey, denoting the Devil (see BOGEY^2 ), regarded as an imaginary player.

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PAR ■

BOGEY ■

bo·gey 2 (also bo·gy) n. (pl. -geys) a person or thing that causes fear or alarm: the bogey of recession.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an evil or mischievous spirit.

- MILITARY SLANG an enemy aircraft.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (as a proper name applied to the Devil): of unknown origin; probably related to BOGLE.

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BOGLE ■

bo·gey·man (also boo·gey·man, bo·gy·man) n. (pl. -men) (usu. the bogeyman) an imaginary evil spirit, referred to typically to frighten children: with the blankets pulled over our heads to keep out the bogeyman.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person or thing that is widely regarded as an object of fear: the violent criminal has replaced the communist as the bogeyman.

bog·gle v. [intrans.] INFORMAL (of a person or a person's mind) be astonished or overwhelmed when trying to imagine something: the mind boggles at the spectacle.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause (a person or a person's mind) to be astonished in such a way: the inflated salary of a CEO boggles the mind | [as adj.] (boggling) the total was a boggling 1.5 trillion miles.

- (boggle at) (of a person) hesitate or be anxious at: you never boggle at plain speaking.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: probably of dialect origin and related to BOGLE and BOGEY^2 .

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BOGLE ■

BOGEY ■

bo·gie n. (pl. -gies) CHIEFLY BRIT. an undercarriage with four or six wheels pivoted beneath the end of a railroad car.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (originally in northern English dialect use): of unknown origin.

bog i·ron n. soft, spongy goethite deposited in bogs.

bog·land n. CHIEFLY BRIT. marshy land.

bo·gle n. a phantom or goblin.
<SPECIAL USAGE> SCOTTISH & N. ENGL. a scarecrow.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: of unknown origin; probably related to BOGEY^2 .

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BOGEY ■

bog moss n. another term for PEAT MOSS (sense 1).

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PEAT MOSS ■

bog myr·tle n. another term for SWEET GALE.

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SWEET GALE ■

bog oak n. an ancient oak tree that has been preserved in a black state in peat.

BOGOF abbr. buy one, get one free.

Bog·o·mil n. HISTORICAL a member of a heretical medieval Balkan sect professing a modified form of Manichaeism.

<DERIVATIVES> Bog·o·mil·ism n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from medieval Greek Bogomilos, from Bogomil, literally 'beloved of God', the name of the person who first disseminated the heresy, from Old Church Slavic.

bo·gong (also bogong moth) n. AUSTRAL. a large brown moth native to southern Australia, formerly used as food by Aboriginals.
<INFO>  Agrotis infusa, family Noctuidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Ngayawuh.

Bo·go·tá the capital of Colombia, in the eastern Andes at about 8,560 feet (2,610 m); pop. 4,921,200. It was founded by the Spanish in 1538 on the site of a pre-Columbian center of the Chibcha culture. Official name SANTA FÉ DE BOGOTÁ.

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SANTA FÉ DE BOGOTÁ ■

bog rose·mar·y n. See ANDROMEDA.

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ANDROMEDA ■

bog spav·in n. a soft swelling of the joint capsule of the hock of horses that most commonly occurs in young, fast-growing horses.

bog·trot·ter n. a person who lives or works among bogs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE an Irish person.

bo·gus adj. not genuine or true; fake: a bogus insurance claim.

<DERIVATIVES> bo·gus·ly adv. bo·gus·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (originally U.S., denoting a machine for making counterfeit money): of unknown origin.

bo·gy n. (pl. -gies) variant spelling of BOGEY^2 .

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BOGEY ■

bo·gy·man n. variant spelling of BOGEYMAN.

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BOGEYMAN ■

Bo Hai (also Po Hai) a large inlet of the Yellow Sea, on the coast of eastern China. Also called GULF OF CHIHLI (see CHIHLI, GULF OF).

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GULF OF CHIHLICHIHLI, GULF OF ■

bo·hea n. a black China tea that comes from the last crop of the season and is typically regarded as of low quality.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: named after the Bu-yi (Wuyi) hills in China, from where black tea first came to Britain.

Bo·he·mi·a a region that forms the western part of the Czech Republic. Formerly a Slavic kingdom, it became a province in the newly formed Czechoslovakia by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

Bo·he·mi·an n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Bohemia.

2 (also bohemian) a person who has informal and unconventional social habits, esp. an artist or writer: the young bohemians with their art galleries and sushi bars. <ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French bohémien 'gypsy' (because gypsies were thought to come from Bohemia, or because they perhaps entered the West through Bohemia).

■ adj. 1 of or relating to Bohemia or its people.

2 (also bohemian) having informal and unconventional social habits: the bohemian writer's drafty-garret existence.

<DERIVATIVES> Bo·he·mi·an·ism n. (in sense 2 of the adjective).

bo·ho n. (pl. -hos) informal term for BOHEMIAN (sense 2).

■ adj. informal term for BOHEMIAN (sense 2).

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BOHEMIAN ■

BOHEMIAN ■

Bo·hol an island in the central Philippines, north of Mindanao; chief town, Tagbilaran.

Bohr Niels Hendrik David (1885-1962), Danish physicist and pioneer in quantum physics. His theory of the structure of the atom incorporated quantum theory for the first time and is the basis for present-day quantum-mechanical models. Bohr helped to develop the atom bomb in Britain and then in the U.S. Nobel Prize for Physics (1922).

Bohr ef·fect n. a decrease in the amount of oxygen associated with hemoglobin and other respiratory compounds in response to a lowered blood pH resulting from an increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood.

<ORIGIN> named for Danish physiologist Christian Bohr (1855-1911).

bohr·i·um n. the chemical element of atomic number 107, a very unstable element made by high-energy atomic collisions. (Symbol: Bh)

Bohr the·o·ry n. [PHYSICS] a theory of the structure of atoms stating that electrons revolve in discrete orbits around a positively charged nucleus and that radiation is given off or absorbed only when an electron moves from one orbit to another.

<ORIGIN> named for Danish physicist Niels Henrik David Bohr (1885-1962).

bo·hunk n. INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE an immigrant from central or southeastern Europe, esp. a laborer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a rough or uncivilized person.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: apparently from BOHEMIAN + -hunk, alteration of HUNGARIAN.

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BOHEMIAN ■

HUNGARIAN ■

boil 1 v. 1 [trans.] heat (a liquid) to the temperature at which it bubbles and turns to vapor: we tried to get people to boil their drinking water; I'll boil up the stock.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a liquid) be at or reach this temperature: he waited for the water to boil.

- heat (a container) until the liquid in it reaches such a temperature: [trans.] she boiled the kettle and took down a couple of mugs.

- [intrans.] (of a container) be heated until the liquid in it reaches such a temperature: the kettle boiled and he filled the teapot.

2 [trans.] subject (something) to the heat of boiling liquid, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- cook (food) by immersing in boiling water: boil the potatoes until well done | [as adj.] (boiled) two boiled eggs.

- [intrans.] (of food) be cooked in boiling water: make the sauce while the lobsters are boiling.

- wash or sterilize (clothes) in very hot water.

- HISTORICAL execute (someone) by subjecting them to the heat of boiling liquid.

3 [intrans.] (of the sea or clouds) be turbulent and stormy: a huge cliff with the black sea boiling below.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person or strong emotion) be stirred up or inflamed: he was boiling with rage.

■ n. 1 [in sing.] the temperature at which a liquid bubbles and turns to vapor: stir in cream and bring to a boil.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an act or process of heating a liquid to such a temperature.

- FIGURATIVE a state of vigorous activity or excitement.

- an area of churning water: massive current differentials, boils, and braided channels.

- [FISHING] a sudden rise of a fish at a fly.

2 an outdoor meal at which seafood is boiled: everything for a traditional Louisiana seafood boil can be carried down to the beach.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a blend of seasonings added to water to enhance the flavor of boiled seafood: Chef Eric has blended a salt-free seafood boil by combing mustard and other ingredients.

<PHRASES>
□ keep the pot boiling maintain the momentum or interest value of something.

□ make one's blood boil see BLOOD.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  boil away (of a liquid in a container) boil until the container is empty: check that the water has not boiled away.

□  boil down to be in essence a matter of: everything boiled down to cash in the end.

□  boil something down reduce the volume of a liquid by boiling: they boil down the syrup until it is very thick.

□  boil over (of a liquid) flow over the sides of the container in boiling.
- FIGURATIVE (of a situation or strong emotion) become so excited or tense as to get out of control: one woman's anger boiled over.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French boillir, from Latin bullire 'to bubble', from bulla 'bubble'.

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BLOOD ■

boil 2 n. an inflamed pus-filled swelling on the skin, typically caused by the infection of a hair follicle.

<ORIGIN> Old English , ; related to Dutch buil and German Beule.

Boi·leau Nicholas (1636-1711), French critic and poet; full name Nicholas Boileau-Despréaux. One of the founders of French literary criticism, his didactic poem Art poétique (1674) defined principles of composition and criticism.

boiled shirt n. DATED a dress shirt with a starched front.

boil·er n. a fuel-burning apparatus or container for heating water, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a household device providing a hot-water supply or serving a central heating system.

- a tank for generating steam under pressure in a steam engine. See also STEAM BOILER.

- DATED a metal tub for washing or sterilizing clothes at a very high temperature.

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STEAM BOILER ■

boil·er·mak·er n. 1 a person who makes boilers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a metalworker in heavy industry.

2 a shot of whiskey followed by a glass of beer as a chaser.

boil·er·plate n. 1 rolled steel for making boilers.

2 (boilerplates) [MOUNTAINEERING] smooth, overlapping, and undercut slabs of rock: the ice-worn boilerplates.

3 FIGURATIVE writing that is clichéd or expresses a generally accepted opinion or belief: he accepted Soviet boilerplate at face value.
<SPECIAL USAGE> standardized pieces of text for use as clauses in contracts or as part of a computer program: some sections have been written as boilerplate for use in all proposals.

boil·er room n. a room in a building (typically in the basement) or a compartment in a ship containing a boiler and related heating or steam-generating equipment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a room used for intensive telephone selling: [as adj.] boiler-room stock salesmen.

boil·er suit n. British term for COVERALLS (see COVERALLS).

boil·ing adj. (for fresh water at sea level) at 212°F (100°C).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also boiling hot) INFORMAL (used hyperbolically) extremely hot: Saturday is forecast to be boiling and sunny.

- (of an emotion) intensely and powerfully felt: his boiling hatred of oppression.

■ n. the action of bringing a liquid to the temperature at which it bubbles and turns to vapor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the temperature at which such an event occurs: reheat gently to just below boiling.

boil·ing point n. the temperature at which a liquid boils and turns to vapor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE the point at which anger or excitement breaks out into violent expression: racial tension surges to boiling point.

boil·ing-wa·ter re·ac·tor (abbr.: BWR) n. a nuclear reactor in which the fuel is uranium oxide clad in zircaloy and the coolant and moderator is water, which is boiled to produce steam for driving turbines.

boing exclam. representing the noise of a compressed spring suddenly released.

■ n. such a noise.

■ v. [intrans.] make such a noise.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: imitative.

Boi·se a city in southwestern Idaho, the capital of the state; pop. 185,787.

boi·se·rie n. wooden paneling.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French.

bois·ter·ous adj. (of a person, event, or behavior) noisy, energetic, and cheerful; rowdy: the boisterous conviviality associated with taverns of that period. See note at VOCIFEROUS.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of wind, weather, or water) wild or stormy: the boisterous wind was lulled.

<DERIVATIVES> bois·ter·ous·ly adv. bois·ter·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'rough, stiff'): variant of earlier boistuous 'rustic, coarse, boisterous', of unknown origin.

boîte n. (pl. same or boîtes) a small restaurant or nightclub.

<ORIGIN> French, literally 'box'.

Bo·kas·sa Jean Bédel (1921-96), Central African Republic statesman and military leader; president 1972-76; self-styled emperor 1976-79.

bok choy n. Chinese cabbage of a variety with smooth-edged tapering leaves.

bo·keh n. [PHOTOGRAPHY] the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, especially as rendered by a particular lens: a quick, visual survey of the foreground and background bokeh of a variety of lenses.

<ORIGIN> from Japanese.

bok·ken n. a wooden sword used as a practice weapon in kendo.

Bok·mål n. one of two standard forms of the Norwegian language, a modified form of Danish. See NORWEGIAN.

<ORIGIN> from Norwegian bok 'book' + mål 'language'.

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NORWEGIAN ■

bo·la (also bo·las) n. (esp. in South America) a weapon consisting of a number of balls connected by strong cord, which when thrown entangles the limbs of the quarry.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Spanish and Portuguese bolas, plural of bola 'ball'.

bo·la tie n. variant spelling of BOLO TIE.

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BOLO TIE ■

bold adj. 1 (of a person, action, or idea) showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous: a bold attempt to solve the crisis; he was the only one bold enough to air his dislike.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED (of a person or manner) so confident as to suggest a lack of shame or modesty: she tossed him a bold look.

2 (of a color or design) having a strong or vivid appearance: a coat with bold polka dots.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a typeface) having thick strokes.

3 (of a cliff or coastline) steep or projecting: bold, craggy edges on the lip of the plateau.

■ n. a typeface with thick strokes: difficult words and phrases are highlighted in bold.

<PHRASES>
□ be (or make) so bold (as to do something) FORMAL dare to do something (often used when politely asking a question or making a suggestion): what would he be calling for, if I might make so bold as to ask?

□ (as) bold as brass confident to the point of impudence: she marched into the library as bold as brass.

□ a bold stroke a daring action or initiative.

□ put a bold face on something see FACE.

<DERIVATIVES> bold·ly adv. bold·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English bald, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boud and to German bald 'soon'.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
aggressive, audacious, bold, brazen, bumptious, intrepid, presumptuous

Is walking up to an attractive stranger and asking him or her to have dinner with you tonight a bold move or merely an aggressive one?

Both words suggest assertive, confident behavior that is a little on the shameless side, but bold has a wider range of application. It can suggest self-confidence that borders on impudence (to be so bold as to call the president by his first name), but it can also be used to describe a daring temperament that is either courageous or defiant (a bold investigator who would not give up).

Aggressive behavior, on the other hand, usually falls within a narrower range, somewhere between menacing (aggressive attacks on innocent villagers) and just plain pushy (an aggressive salesperson).

Brazen implies a defiant lack of modesty (a brazen stare), and presumptuous goes even further, suggesting overconfidence to the point of causing offense (a presumptuous request for money).

Bumptious behavior can also be offensive, but it is usually associated with the kind of cockiness that can't be helped (a bumptious young upstart).

An audacious person is bold to the point of recklessness (an audacious explorer), which brings it very close in meaning to intrepid, suggesting fearlessness in the face of the unknown (the intrepid settlers of the Great Plains).

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FACE ■

bold·face n. a typeface with thick strokes.

■ adj. printed or displayed in such a typeface.

<DERIVATIVES> bold·faced adj.

bole 1 n. the trunk of a tree.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse bolr; perhaps related to BALK.

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BALK ■

bole 2 n. fine, compact, earthy clay, typically of a reddish color, used as a pigment.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from late Latin bolus 'rounded mass' (see BOLUS).

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BOLUS ■

bo·lec·tion n. [usu. as adj.] [ARCHITECTURE] a decorative molding that separates two planes (or surfaces), esp. around a wooden panel, usually convex.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

bo·le·ro n. (pl. -ros) 1 a Spanish dance in simple triple time.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a piece of music for this dance.

2 a woman's short open jacket.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Spanish.

bo·lete (also bo·le·tus ) n. (pl. -letes or -le·tus·es ) a mushroom or toadstool with pores rather than gills on the underside of the cap. Boletes often have a thick stem, and several kinds are edible. See also CEP.
<INFO>  Genus Boletus, family Boletaceae, class Basidiomycetes.

<ORIGIN> from Latin, from Greek , perhaps from 'lump'.

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CEP ■

Bol·eyn Anne (1507-36), second wife of Henry VIII; mother of Elizabeth I. Henry divorced Catherine of Aragon in order to marry Anne in 1533, but she fell from favor when she failed to provide him with a male heir. She was eventually executed because of alleged infidelities.

Bol·ger Ray (1904-87), U.S. dancer and actor; full name Raymond Wallace Bolger. He is best known for his role as the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz (1939).

bo·lide n. a large meteor that explodes in the atmosphere.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, from Latin bolis, bolid-, from Greek bolis 'missile'.

Bol·ing·broke the surname of Henry IV of England. (see HENRY^1 ).

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HENRY ■

Bo·ling·brook a village in northeastern Illinois, southwest of Chicago; pop. 40,843.

Bol·í·var Simón (1783-1830), Venezuelan patriot and statesman; known as the Liberator. He succeeded in driving the Spanish from Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. Upper Peru was named Bolivia in his honor.

bol·i·var n. the basic monetary unit of Venezuela, equal to 100 centimos.

<ORIGIN> named after S. BOLÍVAR.

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BOLÍVAR ■

Bo·liv·i·a a landlocked country in western South America; pop. 8,724,000; capital, La Paz; legal capital and seat of the judiciary, Sucre; languages, Spanish (official), Aymara, and Quechua.

After the defeat of the Incas, Bolivia became part of Spain's empire in the Americas. Freed from Spanish rule in 1825, it has suffered continually from political instability.

<DERIVATIVES> Bo·liv·i·an adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> named after Simón Bolívar, who liberated the country from Spanish rule.

bo·liv·i·a·no n. (pl. -nos) the basic monetary unit of Bolivia (1863-1962 and since 1987), equal to 100 centavos or cents.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Spanish, literally 'Bolivian', from BOLIVIA.

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BOLIVIA ■

Böll Heinrich (Theodor) (1917-85), German novelist and short-story writer. Notable works: Billiards at Half Past Nine (1959) and The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum (1974). Nobel Prize for Literature (1972).

boll n. the rounded seed capsule of plants such as cotton or flax.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally denoting a bubble): from Middle Dutch bolle 'rounded object'; related to BOWL^1 .

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BOWL ■

bol·lard n. 1 a short, thick post on the deck of a ship or on a wharf, to which a ship's rope may be secured.

2 BRIT. a short post used to divert traffic from an area or road.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (sense 1): perhaps from Old Norse bolr (see BOLE^1 ) + -ARD.

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BOLE ■

-ARD ■

bol·li·to mis·to n. (pl. bol·li·ti mis·ti ) a dish of mixed kinds of meat, such as chicken, veal, and sausage, boiled with vegetables in broth.

<ORIGIN> Italian, 'boiled mixed meat', from bollito past participle of bollire 'to boil' and misto 'mixed'.

bol·lix VULGAR SLANG v. [trans.] (usu. bollix something up) bungle (a task).

■ plural n. variant spelling of BOLLOCKS.

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BOLLOCKS ■

bol·locks (also bal·locks or bol·lix) VULGAR SLANG, CHIEFLY BRIT. n. 1 [in pl.] the testicles.

2 used to express contempt, annoyance, or defiance.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: plural of bollock, variant of earlier ballock, of Germanic origin; related to BALL^1 .

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BALL ■

boll wee·vil n. a small weevil that feeds on the fibers of the cotton boll. It is a major pest of the American cotton crop.
<INFO>  Anthonomus grandis, family Curculionidae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL in the U.S., a conservative Southern Democrat, esp. a member of Congress.

boll·worm n. a moth caterpillar that attacks the cotton boll, in particular:
<INFO>
- (pink bollworm) a small moth that is a serious pest of the North American cotton crop (Pectinophora gossypiella, family Gelechiidae).

- (also cotton bollworm) another term for CORN EARWORM.

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CORN EARWORM ■

Bol·ly·wood n. the Indian movie industry, based in Bombay.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: blend of BOMBAY and HOLLYWOOD.

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BOMBAY ■

HOLLYWOOD ■

bo·lo n. 1 (pl. -los) a large single-edged knife used in the Philippines.

2 variant of BOLA.

3 short for BOLO TIE.

<ORIGIN> Spanish.

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BOLA ■

BOLO TIE ■

Bo·lo·gna a city in northern Italy, northeast of Florence; pop. 411,800. Its university, which dates from the 11th century, is the oldest in Europe.

bo·lo·gna (also bologna sausage) n. a large smoked, seasoned sausage made of various meats, esp. beef and pork.

<ORIGIN> from BOLOGNA.

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BOLOGNA ■

bo·lom·e·ter n. a sensitive electrical instrument for measuring radiant energy.

<DERIVATIVES> bo·lo·met·ric adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'ray of light' + -METER.

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-METER ■

bo·lo·ney n. variant spelling of BALONEY.

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BALONEY ■

bo·lo tie (also bo·la tie ) n. a type of tie consisting of a cord worn around the neck with a large, sliding, ornamental fastening at the throat.

Bol·she·vik n. HISTORICAL a member of the majority faction of the Russian Social Democratic Party, which was renamed the Communist Party after seizing power in the October Revolution of 1917.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY DEROGATORY (in general use) a person with politically subversive or radical views; a revolutionary.

■ adj. of, relating to, or characteristic of Bolsheviks or their views or policies.

<DERIVATIVES> Bol·she·vism n. Bol·she·vist n.

<ORIGIN> Russian, from 'greater' (with reference to the greater faction).

Bol·shie (also Bol·shy) n. (pl. -shies) BRIT., INFORMAL a Bolshevik or socialist.

■ adj. (bolshie) BRIT., INFORMAL or DATED (of a person or attitude) deliberately combative or uncooperative: policemen with bolshie attitudes.

<DERIVATIVES> bol·shi·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: abbreviation of BOLSHEVIK.

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BOLSHEVIK ■

bol·ster n. (also bolster pillow) a long, thick pillow that is placed under other pillows for support.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a part of a vehicle or tool providing structural support.

- [BUILDING] a short timber cap over a post designed to increase the bearing of the beams it supports.

■ v. [trans.] support or strengthen; prop up: the fall in interest rates is starting to bolster confidence; he wished to bolster up his theories with hard data.
<SPECIAL USAGE> provide (a seat) with padded support: [as adj.] (bolstered) I snuggled down into the heavily bolstered seat.

<ORIGIN> Old English (in the sense 'long, thick pillow'), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bolster and German Polster.

Bolt Robert (Oxton) (1924-95), English writer. His play A Man for All Seasons (1960) was made into a movie in 1967, the screenplay for which won an Academy Award. He also wrote the screenplays for Lawrence of Arabia (1962), for Dr. Zhivago (1965), and for The Mission (1986).

bolt 1 n. 1 a metal pin or bar, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a bar that slides into a socket to fasten a door or window.

- a threaded pin that screws into a nut and is used to fasten things together.

- the sliding piece of the breech mechanism of a rifle.

- (in rock climbing) a long pin that is driven into a rock face so that a rope can be attached to it.

2 a short heavy arrow shot from a crossbow.

3 a flash of lightning leaving a jagged line across the sky.

■ v. [trans.] fasten (something) with a metal pin or bar, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- fasten (a door or window) with a bar that slides into a socket: all the doors were locked and bolted.

- [trans.] fasten (an object) to something else with a bolt: the lid was put into position and bolted down; a camera was bolted to the aircraft.

<PHRASES>
□ a bolt from (or out of) the blue a sudden and unexpected event or piece of news: the job came like a bolt from the blue.

□ bolt upright upright, with the back rigid and straight: she sat bolt upright in bed.

□ have shot one's bolt INFORMAL have done all that one is able.

<ORIGIN> Old English, 'arrow', of unknown origin; related to Dutch bout and German Bolzen 'arrow, bolt for a door'.

bolt 2 v. 1 [intrans.] (of a horse or other animal) run away suddenly out of control: the horses shied and bolted.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of a person) move or run away suddenly: they bolted down the stairs.

- [trans.] (in hunting) cause (a rabbit or fox) to run out of its burrow or hole.

- (of a plant) grow tall quickly and stop flowering as seeds develop: the lettuces have bolted.

2 [trans.] (often bolt something down) eat or swallow (food) quickly: it is normal for puppies to bolt down their food.

<PHRASES>
□ make a bolt for try to escape by moving suddenly toward (something): Ellie made a bolt for the door.

□ shut the stable door after the horse has bolted try to avert something bad or unwelcome when it is already too late to do so.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from BOLT^1 , expressing the sense 'fly like an arrow'.

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BOLT ■

bolt 3 n. a roll of fabric, originally as a measure: the room is stacked with bolts of cloth.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: transferred use of BOLT^1 .

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BOLT ■

bolt 4 (also boult) v. [trans.] ARCHAIC pass (flour, powder, or other material) through a sieve.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bulter, of unknown ultimate origin. The change in the first syllable was due to association with BOLT^1 .

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BOLT ■

bolt-ac·tion adj. (of a gun) having a breech that is opened by turning a bolt and sliding it back.

bolt-hole n. FIGURATIVE a place where a person can escape and hide: he thought of Antwerp as a possible bolt-hole.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY BRIT. a hole or burrow by which a rabbit or other wild animal can escape.

bolt·ing n. (in rock climbing) the action of driving metal pins into rock faces so that ropes can be attached to them.

Bol·ton a town in northwestern England, northwest of Manchester; pop. 253,300 (1991).

bolt-on adj. [attrib.] (of an extra part of a machine) able to be fastened on with a bolt or catch.

■ n. an extra part that can be fastened onto a machine with a bolt or catch.

bolt rope n. a rope sewn around the edge of a vessel's sail to prevent tearing.

Boltz·mann Ludwig (1844-1906), Austrian physicist. He made contributions to the kinetic theory of gases, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics. He also derived the Maxwell-Boltzmann equation for the distribution of energy among colliding atoms.

Boltz·mann dis·tri·bu·tion another term for MAXWELL-BOLTZMANN DISTRIBUTION.

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MAXWELL-BOLTZMANN DISTRIBUTION ■

Boltz·mann's con·stant [CHEMISTRY] the ratio of the gas constant to Avogadro's number, equal to 1.381 × 10^23 joule per kelvin. (Symbol: k)

bo·lus n. (pl. bo·luses) a small rounded mass of a substance, esp. of chewed food at the moment of swallowing.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a type of large pill used in veterinary medicine.

- [MEDICINE] a single dose of a drug or other medicinal preparation given all at once.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. denoting a large pill of medicine: via late Latin from Greek 'clod'.

Bol·za·no a city in northeastern Italy; pop. 100,000.

bomb n. 1 a container filled with explosive, incendiary material, smoke, gas, or other destructive substance, designed to explode on impact or when detonated by a time mechanism, remote-control device, or lit fuse.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with adj.] an explosive device fitted into a specified object: a package bomb. See also CAR BOMB, LETTER BOMB.

- (the bomb) nuclear weapons considered collectively as agents of mass destruction: she joined the fight against the bomb.

- a small pressurized container that sprays liquid, foam, or gas: an aerosol bomb.

2 a thing resembling a bomb in impact, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also volcanic bomb) a lump of lava thrown out by a volcano.

- INFORMAL a movie, play, or other event that fails badly: that bomb of an old movie.

- a long forward pass or hit in a ball game: a big 40-yard bomb down the middle to tight end Howard Cross.

- an old car.

- (a bomb) BRIT., INFORMAL a large sum of money: it will cost a bomb in call charges.

3 INFORMAL (da (or the) bomb) an outstandingly good person or thing: the site would really be da bomb if its content were updated more frequently.

4 INFORMAL a marijuana cigarette.

■ v. 1 [trans.] attack (a place or vehicle) with a bomb or bombs: London was bombed, night after night | [as n.] (bombing) a series of bombings.
<SPECIAL USAGE>

2 [intrans.] INFORMAL (of a movie, play, or other event) fail miserably: a big-budget movie that bombed at the box office; he bombed out at several tournaments.

3 I[intrans., with adverbial of direction] BRIT., INFORMAL move very quickly: the bus came bombing along.

<PHRASES>
□ go down a bomb BRIT., INFORMAL be very well received: those gigs we did went down a bomb.

□ it looks like a bomb's hit it INFORMAL used to describe a place that is extremely messy or untidy in appearance.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French bombe, from Italian bomba, probably from Latin bombus 'booming, humming', from Greek bombos, of imitative origin.

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CAR BOMB ■

LETTER BOMB ■

bom·bard v. [trans.] attack (a place or person) continuously with bombs, shells, or other missiles: the city was bombarded by federal forces; supporters bombarded police with bottles. See note at ATTACK.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- assail (someone) persistently, as with questions, criticisms, or information: they will be bombarded with complaints.

- [PHYSICS] direct a high-speed stream of particles at (a substance).

■ n. HISTORICAL a cannon of the earliest type, which originally fired a stone ball.

<DERIVATIVES> bom·bard·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a noun denoting an early form of cannon, also a shawm): from Old French bombarde, probably based on Latin bombus 'booming, humming' (see BOMB). The verb (late 16th cent.) is from French bombarder.

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BOMB ■

bom·barde n. [MUSIC] a medieval alto-pitched shawm.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, denoting a shawm (see BOMBARD).

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BOMBARD ■

bom·bar·dier n. 1 a member of a bomber crew in the U.S. Air Force responsible for sighting and releasing bombs.

2 a rank of noncommissioned officer in certain Canadian and British artillery regiments, equivalent to corporal.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting a soldier in charge of a bombard, an early form of cannon): from French, from Old French bombarde 'cannon' (see BOMBARD).

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BOMBARD ■

bom·bar·dier bee·tle n. a ground beetle that when alarmed discharges a puff of hot irritant vapor from its anus with an audible pop.
<INFO>  Genus Brachinus, family Carabidae: several species .

bom·bar·don n. [MUSIC] a type of valved bass tuba.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an organ stop imitating this.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Italian bombardone, from bombardo 'cannon'.Compare with BOMBARDE.

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BOMBARDE ■

bom·bast n. high-sounding language with little meaning, used to impress people.

<DERIVATIVES> bom·bas·tic adj. bom·bas·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting raw cotton or absorbent cotton used as padding, later used figuratively): from Old French bombace, from medieval Latin bombax, bombac-, alteration of bombyx 'silkworm' (see BOMBAZINE).

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BOMBAZINE ■

Bom·bay a city and port on the western coast of India, capital of the state of Maharashtra; pop. 9,990,000. Official name (from 1995) MUMBAI.

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MUMBAI ■

Bom·bay duck n. the bummalo (fish), esp. when dried and eaten as an accompaniment with curry.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: alteration of BUMMALO by association with BOMBAY in India, from which bummalo were exported.

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BUMMALO ■

BOMBAY ■

bom·ba·zine n. a twilled dress fabric of worsted and silk or cotton.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting raw cotton): from French bombasin, from medieval Latin bombacinum, from bombycinum, neuter of bombycinus 'silken', based on Greek bombux 'silkworm'.

bomb bay n. a compartment in the fuselage of an aircraft in which bombs are held and from which they may be dropped.

bomb dis·pos·al n. the defusing or removal and detonation of unexploded and delayed-action bombs.

bombe n. a frozen dome-shaped dessert.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a dome-shaped mold in which this dessert is made.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, literally 'bomb'.

bom·bé adj. (of furniture) rounded.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally 'swollen out'.

bombed adj. 1 (of an area or building) subjected to bombing: the rubble of a bombed house.

2 INFORMAL intoxicated by drink or drugs: “we might as well get bombed out of our minds,” he said, downing another bottle.

bombed-out adj. 1 [attrib.] (of a building or city) destroyed by bombing.

2 INFORMAL another term for BOMBED (sense 2).

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BOMBED ■

bomb·er n. 1 an aircraft designed to carry and drop bombs.

2 a person who plants, detonates, or throws bombs in a public place, esp. as a terrorist.

3 INFORMAL a cigarette containing marijuana.

4 short for BOMBER JACKET.

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BOMBER JACKET ■

bomb·er jack·et n. a short jacket, usually leather, tightly gathered at the waist and cuffs by elasticized bands and typically having a zipper front.

bom·bi·nate v. [intrans.] POETIC/LITERARY buzz; hum: [as adj.] (bombinating) her head had become a bombinating vacuum.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from medieval Latin bombinat- 'buzzed', from the verb bombinare, from Latin bombus 'humming' (see BOMBARD).

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BOMBARD ■

bomb·ing run n. the part of the flight path of a bomber that brings it into position to release its weapons.

bomb·let n. a small bomb.

bom·bor·a n. AUSTRAL. a wave that forms over a submerged offshore reef or rock, sometimes breaking heavily and producing a dangerous stretch of broken water.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from an Aboriginal word, perhaps Dharuk bumbora.

bomb·proof adj. strong enough to resist the effects of blast from a bomb.

bomb·shell n. 1 an overwhelming surprise or disappointment: the news came as a bombshell.

2 INFORMAL a very attractive woman: a twenty-year-old blonde bombshell.

3 DATED an artillery shell.

bomb·sight n. a mechanical or electronic device used in an aircraft for aiming bombs.

bomb squad n. a division of a police force assigned to defuse explosive devices.

Bon (also O-Bon ) n. a Japanese Buddhist festival held annually in August to honor the dead. Also called FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD or LANTERN FESTIVAL.

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FESTIVAL OF THE DEAD ■

LANTERN FESTIVAL ■

Bon, Cape a peninsula in northeastern Tunisia.

bo·na fide adj. genuine; real: only bona fide members of the company are allowed to use the logo.

■ adv. [CHIEFLY LAW] sincerely; without intention to deceive: the court will assume that they have acted bona fide.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: Latin, literally 'with good faith', ablative singular of BONA FIDES.

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BONA FIDES ■

bo·na fi·des n. a person's honesty and sincerity of intention: he went to great lengths to establish his liberal bona fides.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [treated as pl.] INFORMAL documentary evidence showing a person's legitimacy; credentials: are you satisfied with my bona fides? <ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: Latin, literally 'good faith'.

Bon·aire one of the two principal islands of the Netherlands Antilles (the other is Curaçao); chief town, Kralendijk; pop. 10,190.

bo·nan·za n. [often with adj.] a situation or event that creates a sudden increase in wealth, good fortune, or profits: a bonanza in military sales | [as adj.] a bonanza year for the computer industry.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a large amount of something desirable: the festive feature film bonanza.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (originally U.S., esp. with reference to success when mining): from Spanish, literally 'fair weather, prosperity', from Latin bonus 'good'.

Bo·na·parte (Italian Buo·na·parte ) a Corsican family, including the three French rulers named Napoleon.

bon ap·pé·tit exclam. used as a salutation to a person about to eat.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, literally 'good appetite'.

Bon·a·ven·tu·ra, St. (1221-74), Franciscan theologian; born Giovanni di Fidanza; known as the Seraphic Doctor. He wrote the official biography of St. Francis. Feast day, July 15 (formerly 14).

bon·bon n. a piece of candy, esp. one covered with chocolate.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, reduplication of bon 'good', from Latin bonus.

bond n. 1 (bonds) physical restraints used to hold someone or something prisoner, esp. ropes or chains.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a thing used to tie something or to fasten things together: she brushed back a curl that had strayed from its bonds | FIGURATIVE chaos could result if the bonds of obedience and loyalty were broken.

- adhesiveness; ability of two objects to stick to each other: a total lack of effective bond between the concrete and the steel.

- FIGURATIVE a force or feeling that unites people; a common emotion or interest: there was a bond of understanding between them.

- (bonds) FIGURATIVE restricting forces or circumstances; obligations: bonds of loyalty.

2 an agreement or promise with legal force, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [LAW] a deed by which a person is committed to make payment to another.

- a certificate issued by a government or a public company promising to repay borrowed money at a fixed rate of interest at a specified time.

- (of dutiable goods) a state of storage in a bonded warehouse until the importer pays the duty owing.

- an insurance policy held by a company, which protects against losses resulting from circumstances such as bankruptcy or misconduct by employees.

3 (also chemical bond) a strong force of attraction holding atoms together in a molecule or crystal, resulting from the sharing or transfer of electrons.

4 [with adj.] [BUILDING] any of the various patterns in which bricks are conventionally laid in order to ensure the strength of the resulting structure. See ENGLISH BOND, FLEMISH BOND.

5 short for BOND PAPER.

■ v. 1 join or be joined securely to something else, typically by means of an adhesive substance, heat, or pressure: [trans.] press the material to bond the layers together | [intrans.] this material will bond well to stainless steel rods | [as adj.] (bonding) a bonding agent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] FIGURATIVE establish a relationship with someone based on shared feelings, interests, or experiences: the failure to properly bond with their children; the team has bonded together well | [as n.] (bonding) the film has some great male bonding scenes.

2 join or be joined by a chemical bond.

3 [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (bonding) lay (bricks) in an overlapping pattern so as to form a strong structure: a bonding course.

4 [usu. as n.] (bonding) place (dutiable goods) in bond.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: variant of BAND^1 .

Linked entries:

BOND PAPER ■

BAND ■

bond·age n. 1 the state of being a slave: the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt's bondage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a state of being greatly constrained by circumstances or obligations: young women lost to the bondage of early motherhood.

2 sexual practice that involves the tying up or restraining of one partner.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Latin bondagium, from Middle English bond 'serf' (earlier 'peasant, householder'), from Old Norse bóndi 'tiller of the soil', based on búa 'dwell'; influenced in sense by BOND.

Linked entries:

BOND ■

bond·ed adj. [attrib.] 1 (of a thing) joined securely to another thing, esp. by an adhesive, a heat process, or pressure: bonded metal plates.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE emotionally or psychologically linked: a strongly bonded group of females.

- held by a chemical bond: bonded atoms.

2 (of a person or company) bound by a legal agreement, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a debt) secured by bonds.

- (of a worker or workforce) obliged to work for a particular employer, often in a condition close to slavery.

3 (of dutiable goods) placed in bond.

bond·ed ware·house n. a customs-controlled warehouse for the retention of imported goods until the duty owed is paid.

bond·maid n. ARCHAIC a slave girl.

bond·man n. ARCHAIC a serf; a slave.

bond pa·per n. high-quality writing paper.

Bonds Barry (1964-), U.S. baseball player; full name Barry Lamar Bonds. The winner of six National League Most Valuable Player awards (1990, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003), he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates 1982-1992 and the San Francisco Giants from 1993. He hit his 700th career home run in September 2004, a record matched only by Babe Ruth (1934) and Hank Aaron (1973).

bond·serv·ant n. a person bound in service without wages.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a slave or serf.

bonds·man n. (pl. -men) 1 a person who stands surety for a bond. <ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from BOND + MAN.

2 ARCHAIC a slave. <ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: variant of Middle English bondman, from obsolete bond 'serf' (see also BONDAGE).

Linked entries:

BOND ■

MAN ■

BONDAGE ■

bond·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en) a female bondservant or slave.

Bône former name for ANNABA.

Linked entries:

ANNABA ■

bone n. 1 any of the pieces of hard, whitish tissue making up the skeleton in humans and other vertebrates: his injuries included many broken bones; a shoulder bone.

The substance of bones is formed by specialized cells (osteoblasts) that secrete around themselves a material containing calcium salts (which provide hardness and strength in compression) and collagen fibers (which provide tensile strength). Many bones have a central cavity containing marrow.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (bones) a person's body: he hauled his tired bones upright.

- (bones) a corpse or skeleton: the diggers turned up the bones of a fifteen-year-old girl; bones of prehistoric mammals.

- (bones) FIGURATIVE the basic or essential framework of something: you need to put some flesh on the bones of your idea.

- a bone of an animal with meat on it, used as food for people or dogs: stewed in stock made with a ham bone; dogs yelping over a bone.

2 the calcified material of which bones consist: an earring of bone.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a substance similar to this such as ivory, dentin, or whalebone.

- (often bones) a thing made of, or once made of, such a substance, for example a pair of dice.

3 the whitish color of bone: the sandals she had dyed bone to match the small purse.

4 VULGAR SLANG a penis.

■ v. 1 [trans.] remove the bones from (meat or fish): while the gumbo is simmering, bone the cooked chicken.

2 [intrans.] (bone up on) INFORMAL study (a subject) intensively, often in preparation for something: she boned up on languages she had learned long ago and went back to New Guinea.

3 [trans.] VULGAR SLANG (of a man) have sexual intercourse with (someone).

<PHRASES>
□ a bag of bones see BAG.

□ the bare bones see BARE.

□ be skin and bones see SKIN.

□ a bone of contention a subject or issue over which there is continuing disagreement: the examination system has long been a serious bone of contention.

□ close to (or near) the bone
1 (of a remark) penetrating and accurate to the point of causing hurt or discomfort.

2 destitute; hard up.

□ cut (or pare) something to the bone reduce something to the bare minimum: costs will have to be cut to the bone.

□ (as) dry as a bone see DRY.

□ have a bone to pick with someone INFORMAL have reason to disagree or be annoyed with someone.

□ have not a bone in one's body (of a person) have not the slightest trace of the specified quality: there's not a conservative bone in his body.

□ in one's bones felt, believed, or known deeply or instinctively: he has rhythm in his bones something good was bound to happen; he could feel it in his bones.

□ make no bones about something have no hesitation in stating or dealing with something, however awkward or distasteful it is: the film is an op-ed piece, and the director makes no bones about its biases.

□ to the bone
1 (of a wound) so deep as to expose a person's bone: his thigh had been axed open to the bone | FIGURATIVE his contempt cut her to the bone.
- (esp. of cold) affecting a person in a penetrating way: chilled to the bone.

2 (or to one's bones) used to emphasize that a person has a specified quality in an overwhelming or fundamental way: she's a New Englander to her bones; he's a cop to the bone.

□ throw a bone to give someone only a token concession: was the true purpose of the minimum wage hike to throw a bone to the unions?

□ what's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh (or blood) PROVERB a person's behavior or characteristics are determined by heredity.

□ work one's fingers to the bone work very hard: Tracy can work her fingers to the bone, but it's Ms. Green who gets the thanks.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch been and German Bein.

Linked entries:

BAG ■

BARE ■

SKIN ■

DRY ■

bone ash n. the mineral residue of calcined bones, used chiefly in the production of bone china and fertilizers.

bone black n. fine charcoal made by burning animal bones in a closed container, used as a pigment and in the refining of sugar.

bone chi·na n. fine china made of clay mixed with bone ash.

boned adj. [attrib.] 1 (of meat or fish) having had the bones removed before cooking or serving: boned turkey with cranberry stuffing.

2 [in combination] (of a person) having bones of the specified type: she was fine-boned and boyishly slim.

3 (of a garment) stiffened with strips of plastic or whalebone to give shape to the figure or the garment.

bone-dry adj. extremely or completely dry.

bone·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a silvery game fish of warm coastal waters. Also called LADYFISH.
<INFO>  Family Albulidae and genus Albula: several species, in particular A. vulpes.

Linked entries:

LADYFISH ■

bone·head n. INFORMAL a stupid person.

<DERIVATIVES> bone·head·ed adj.

bone·less adj. (of a piece of meat or fish) having had the bones removed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE (of a person) limp; with loose limbs.

- FIGURATIVE lacking physical or mental strength: the slack and boneless character of his writing.

<DERIVATIVES> bone·less·ly adv. he collapsed bonelessly into an easy chair.

bone mar·row n. see MARROW (sense 1).

Linked entries:

MARROW ■

bone·meal n. crushed or ground bones used as a fertilizer.

bon·er n. 1 INFORMAL a stupid mistake.

2 VULGAR SLANG an erection of the penis.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent. (originally U.S.): from BONE + -ER^1 .

Linked entries:

BONE ■

-ER ■

bone·set n. a North American plant of the daisy family that bears clusters of small flowers and is used in herbal medicine.
<INFO>  Genus Eupatorium, family Compositae, several species, in particular the white-flowered E. perfoliatum and its purple-flowered form, purple boneset.

<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for COMFREY. <ORIGIN> its ground-up root was formerly used as a ‘plaster’ to set broken bones.

Linked entries:

COMFREY ■

bone·set·ter n. HISTORICAL a person, typically not formally qualified, who sets broken or dislocated bones.

bone spav·in n. osteoarthritis of the hock in horses, which may cause swelling and lameness.

bone-wea·ry (also bone-tired) adj. utterly weary; extremely tired.

bone·yard n. INFORMAL a cemetery.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a place where discarded cars are kept.

bon·fire n. a large open-air fire used as part of a celebration, for burning trash, or as a signal.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from BONE + FIRE. The term originally denoted a large open-air fire on which bones were burned (sometimes as part of a celebration), also one for burning heretics or proscribed literature. Dr. Johnson accepted the mistaken idea that the word came from French bon 'good'.

Linked entries:

BONE ■

FIRE ■

bong 1 n. a low-pitched sound as of a bell: the clock had struck the hour, and it was only three bongs.

■ v. [intrans.] emit such a sound.

<ORIGIN> 1920s (originally U.S.): imitative.

bong 2 n. a water pipe used for smoking marijuana or other drugs.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from Thai baung, literally 'wooden tube'.

bong 3 n. [MOUNTAINEERING] a large piton.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: probably imitative of the sound of its being hammered into rock.

bon·go 1 (also bongo drum) n. (pl. -gos or -goes) either of a pair of small, long-bodied drums typically held between the knees and played with the fingers.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Latin American Spanish bongó.

bon·go 2 n. (pl. same or -gos) a forest antelope that has a chestnut coat with narrow white vertical stripes, native to central Africa.
<INFO>  Tragelaphus euryceros, family Bovidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Kikongo.

Bon·hoef·fer Dietrich (1906-45), German Lutheran theologian and pastor. He was an active opponent of Nazism and was involved in the German resistance movement. Arrested in 1943, he was sent to Buchenwald concentration camp and later executed.

bon·ho·mie n. cheerful friendliness; geniality: he exuded good humor and bonhomie.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, from bonhomme 'good fellow'.

bon·ho·mous adj. full of cheerful friendliness: her relaxed, bonhomous nature.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from BONHOMIE + -OUS.

Linked entries:

BONHOMIE ■

-OUS ■

bo·ni·a·to n. a variety of sweet potato with white flesh.

<ORIGIN> American Spanish.

Bon·i·face, St. (680-754), Anglo-Saxon missionary; born Wynfrith; known as the Apostle of Germany. He was sent to Frisia and Germany to spread the Christian faith and was appointed primate of Germany in 732. He was martyred in Frisia. Feast day, June 5.

bo·ni·to n. (pl. -tos) a smaller relative of the tunas, with dark oblique stripes on the back and important as a food and game fish.
<INFO>  Sarda and related genera, family Scombridae: several species.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (also ocean bonito) another term for SKIPJACK (sense 1).

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Spanish.

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SKIPJACK ■

bonk INFORMAL v. 1 [trans.] knock or hit (something) so as to cause a reverberating sound: he bonked his head on the plane's low bulkhead.

2 [trans.] have sexual intercourse with (someone).

3 [intrans.] (of a cyclist or runner) reach a point of exhaustion that makes one unable to go further: I bonked and couldn't pedal another stroke.

■ n. 1 an act of knocking or hitting something that causes a reverberating sound: give it a bonk with a hammer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a reverberating sound caused in such a way.

2 an act of sexual intercourse.

3 (the bonk) a level of exhaustion that makes a cyclist or runner unable to go further: we had the bonk when we were saddle sore.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: imitative.

bon·kers adj. [predic.] INFORMAL mad; crazy: and the fans go bonkers; he's driving me bonkers.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: of unknown origin.

bon mot n. (pl. bons mots pronunc. same or ) a witty remark.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, literally 'good word'.

Bonn a city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany; pop. 296,240. From 1949 until the reunification of Germany in 1990, it was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).

Bon·nard Pierre (1867-1947), French painter and graphic artist; member of the Nabi Group.

bonne femme adj. [postpositive] (of fish dishes, stews, and soups) cooked in a simple way.

<ORIGIN> French, from the phrase à la bonne femme 'in the manner of a good housewife'.

bon·net n. 1 a woman's or child's hat tied under the chin, typically with a brim framing the face.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also war bonnet) the ceremonial feathered headdress of an American Indian.

- a soft round brimless hat like a beret, esp. as worn by men and boys in Scotland.

- [HERALDRY] the velvet cap within a coronet.

2 a protective cover or cap over a machine or object, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a cowl on a chimney.

- BRIT. the hood of an automobile.

3 HISTORICAL [SAILING] an additional canvas laced to the foot of a sail to catch more wind.

<DERIVATIVES> bon·net·ed adj. (in sense 1).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a soft brimless hat for men): from Old French bonet, from medieval Latin abonnis 'headgear'. Sense 1 dates from the late 15th cent.

Bon·ne·ville Dam hydroelectric dam built in the 1930s on the Columbia River, east of Portland in Oregon.

Bon·ne·ville Salt Flats a desert in northwestern Utah, west of the Great Salt Lake, noted as the site of automotive speed trials.

Bon·ney William H. (1859-81), U.S. outlaw; born Henry McCarty; known as Billy the Kid. A notorious robber and murderer, he was captured by Sheriff Pat Garrett in 1880 and was shot by Garrett after he had escaped from jail.

Bon·nie Prince Char·lie see STUART^1 .

Linked entries:

STUART ■

bon·ny (also bon·nie) CHIEFLY SCOTTISH N. ENGL. adj. (-ni·er, -ni·est) attractive; beautiful: a bonny lass.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a baby) plump and healthy-looking.

- sizable; considerable (usually expressing approval): it's worth a thousand pounds, a bonny sum.

■ n. (my bonny) POETIC/LITERARY used as a form of address for one's beloved or baby.

<DERIVATIVES> bon·ni·ly adv. bon·ni·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: perhaps related to Old French bon 'good'.

bon·ny clab·ber n. another term for CLABBER.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Irish bainne clabair, denoting thick milk for churning.

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CLABBER ■

Bo·no Sonny (1935-98), U.S. entertainer and politician; born Salvatore Bono. Famed as half of the singing duo Sonny and Cher 1964-74, he became a Republican politician. He was elected mayor of Palm Springs, California, in 1988 and served in the U.S. House of Representatives 1995-98. He died in a skiing accident.

bo·no·bo n. (pl. -bos) a chimpanzee with a black face and black hair, found in the rain forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). Also called PYGMY CHIMPANZEE.
<INFO>  Pan paniscus, family Pongidae.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: a local word.

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PYGMY CHIMPANZEE ■

bon·sai n. (pl. same) (also bonsai tree) an ornamental tree or shrub grown in a pot and artificially prevented from reaching its normal size.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the art of growing trees or shrubs in such a way.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Japanese, from bon 'tray' + sai 'planting'.

bons mots n. plural form of BON MOT.

Linked entries:

BON MOT ■

bon·spiel n. CHIEFLY SCOTTISH & CANADIAN a curling match.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: probably of Low German origin.

bon·te·bok n. (pl. same or -boks) an antelope with a mainly reddish-brown coat and white face, found in eastern South Africa. It belongs to the same species as the blesbok.
<INFO>  Damaliscus dorcas dorcas, family Bovidae.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Afrikaans, from Dutch bont 'pied' + bok 'buck'.

bon ton n. the fashionable world.

<ORIGIN> French, literally 'good taste'.

bo·nus n. a payment or gift added to what is usual or expected, in particular: See note at PRESENT.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an amount of money added to wages on a seasonal basis, esp. as a reward for good performance: big Christmas bonuses.

- something welcome and often unexpected that accompanies and enhances something that is itself good: good weather is an added bonus but the real appeal is the landscape.

- [BASKETBALL] an extra free throw awarded to a fouled player when the opposing team has exceeded the number of team fouls allowed during a period.

- BRIT. an extra dividend or issue paid to the shareholders of a company.

- BRIT. a distribution of profits to holders of an insurance policy.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (probably originally London stock-exchange slang): from Latin bonus (masculine) 'good', used in place of bonum (neuter) 'good, good thing'. Compare with BOON^2 .

bon vi·vant n. (pl. bon vi·vants or bons vi·vants pronunc. same or ) a person who enjoys a sociable and luxurious lifestyle.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, literally 'person living well', from bon 'good' and vivre 'to live'.

bon vi·veur n. (pl. bon vi·veurs or bons vi·veurs pronunc. same or ) another term for BON VIVANT.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: pseudo-French, from French bon 'good' and viveur 'a living person', on the pattern of bon vivant.

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BON VIVANT ■

bon vo·yage exclam. used to express good wishes to someone about to go on a journey: good luck and bon voyage!; they had come to wish her bon voyage.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: French, literally 'good journey'.

bon·y adj. (bon·i·er, bon·i·est) of or like bone: the bony plates that protect turtles and tortoises.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person or part of the body) so thin that the bones are prominent: he held up his bony fingers.

- (of a fish eaten as food) having many bones.

<DERIVATIVES> bon·i·ness n.

bon·y fish n. a fish of a large class distinguished by a skeleton of bone, and comprising the majority of modern fishes. Compare with CARTILAGINOUS FISH.
<INFO>  Osteichthyes

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CARTILAGINOUS FISH ■

bon·y lab·y·rinth n. see LABYRINTH.

Linked entries:

LABYRINTH ■

bonze n. a Japanese or Chinese Buddhist monk.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: probably from Japanese , 'priest'.

bon·zer adj. AUSTRAL./NZ, INFORMAL excellent, first-rate.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: perhaps an alteration of BONANZA.

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BONANZA ■

boo exclam. 1 said suddenly to surprise someone: “Boo!” she cried, jumping up to frighten him. <ORIGIN> probably an alteration of earlier bo, used in the same way since late Middle English.

2 said to show disapproval or contempt, esp. at a performance or athletic contest.

■ n. an utterance of “boo” to show disapproval or contempt: the audience greeted this comment with boos and hisses.

■ v. (boos, booed) say “boo” to show disapproval or contempt: [intrans.] they booed and hissed when he stepped on stage | [trans.] I was practically booed off the stage for talking about cyberpunk.

<PHRASES>
□ say boo [with negative] say anything at all; utter a sound: Walter looked at us, but he didn't say boo.

□ wouldn't say boo to a goose BRIT. used to emphasize that someone is very shy or reticent.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (sense 2): imitative of the lowing of oxen. The sound was considered to be derisive; compare with HISS and HOOT.

Linked entries:

HISS ■

HOOT ■

boob 1 INFORMAL n. 1 a foolish or stupid person: why was that boob given a key investigation?

2 BRIT. an embarrassing mistake.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: abbreviation of BOOBY^1 .

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BOOBY ■

boob 2 n. (usu. boobs) INFORMAL a woman's breast.

<ORIGIN> 1950s (originally U.S.): abbreviation of BOOBY^2 , from dialect bubby, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to German dialect Bübbi 'teat'.

Linked entries:

BOOBY ■

boob·oi·sie n. INFORMAL stupid people as a class.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from BOOB^1 , humorous formation on the pattern of bourgeoisie.

Linked entries:

BOOB ■

boo-boo n. INFORMAL a mistake: you could make a big boo-boo if you leap to any drastic conclusions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a minor injury, such as a scratch: there is no one to kiss the boo-boo!

<ORIGIN> 1950s (originally U.S.): reduplication of BOOB^1 .

Linked entries:

BOOB ■

boob tube INFORMAL n. (usu. the boob tube) television or a television set: librarians are scrambling for ways to compete with the boob tube.

boo·by 1 n. (pl. -bies) 1 a stupid or childish person.

2 a large tropical seabird of the gannet family, with brown, black, or white plumage and often brightly colored feet.
<INFO>  Genus Sula, family Sulidae: several species, including the common red-footed booby (S. sula).

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: probably from Spanish bobo (in both senses), from Latin balbus 'stammering'.

boo·by 2 n. (pl. -bies) (usu. boobies) INFORMAL a woman's breast.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: alteration of dialect bubby (see BOOB^2 ).

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BOOB ■

boo·by hatch n. INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE a psychiatric hospital.

boo·by prize n. a prize given as a joke to the last-place finisher in a race or competition.

boo·by trap n. a thing designed to catch the unwary, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an apparently harmless object containing a concealed explosive device designed to kill or injure anyone who touches it: miles of mines, booby traps, and underground fortifications.

- a trap intended as a practical joke, such as an object placed on top of a door ajar ready to fall on the next person to pass through.

■ v. (boob·y-trap) [trans.] place a booby trap in or on (an object or area): [as adj.] (booby-trapped) the area was heavily mined and booby-trapped.

boo·dle n. 1 INFORMAL money, esp. that gained or spent illegally or improperly: he spent $30 million of his own boodle trying to buy a Senate seat.

2 (boodles) a great quantity, esp. of money: Scandinavian Air has boodles of seats for America; the men expected to make boodles.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting a pack or crowd): from Dutch boedel, boel 'possessions, disorderly mass'. Compare with CABOODLE.

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CABOODLE ■

boo·ga·loo n. a modern dance to rock-and-roll music performed with swiveling and shuffling movements of the body, originally popular in the 1960s.

■ v. (-loos, -looed) [intrans.] perform this dance.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: perhaps an alteration of BOOGIE-WOOGIE (see BOOGIE).

Linked entries:

BOOGIE ■

boog·er n. 1 another term for BOGEYMAN.

2 INFORMAL a piece of dried nasal mucus.

Linked entries:

BOGEYMAN ■

boog·ey·man n. variant spelling of BOGEYMAN.

Linked entries:

BOGEYMAN ■

boog·ie n. (also boog·ie-woog·ie ) (pl. boog·ies) a style of blues played on the piano with a strong, fast beat.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a dance to fast pop or rock music.

■ v. (boog·ie·ing) [intrans.] INFORMAL dance to fast pop or rock music: ready to boogie down to the music of the house band; he can boogie the night away.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] move or leave somewhere fast: I think we'd better boogie on out of here.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent. (originally U.S. in the sense 'party'): of unknown origin.

boog·ie board n. a short light type of surfboard ridden in a prone position.

<DERIVATIVES> boog·ie board·er n.

boo·hoo exclam. used to represent the sound of someone crying noisily.

■ v. (-hoos, -hooed) [intrans.] cry noisily: she broke down and boohooed.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: imitative.

boo·jum n. an imaginary dangerous animal.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: nonsense word coined by Lewis Carroll.

book n. 1 a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers: a book of selected poems; a book on cats | [as adj.] a book report.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a literary composition that is published or intended for publication as such a work: the book is set in the 1940s; I'm writing a book.

- (the books) used to refer to studying: he is so deep in his books he would forget to eat.

- a main division of a classic literary work, an epic, or the Bible: the Book of Genesis.

- the libretto of an opera or musical, or the script of a play.

- (the book) the local telephone directory: is your name in the book?

- (the Book) the Bible.

- INFORMAL a magazine.

- FIGURATIVE an imaginary record or list (often used to emphasize the thoroughness or comprehensiveness of someone’s actions or experiences): she felt every emotion in the book of love.

2 [with adj.] a bound set of blank sheets for writing or keeping records in: an accounts book.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (books) a set of records or accounts: he can do more than balance the books.

- a bookmaker's record of bets accepted and money paid out.

3 a set of tickets, stamps, matches, checks, samples of cloth, etc., bound together: a pattern book; a book of matches.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the book) the first six tricks taken by the declarer in a hand of bridge.

■ v. [trans.] 1 reserve (accommodations, a place, etc.); buy (a ticket) in advance: I have booked a table at the Swan | [intrans.] book early to avoid disappointment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- reserve accommodations for (someone): his secretary had booked him into the Howard Hotel; | [with two objs.] book me a single room at my usual hotel.

- engage (a performer or guest) for an occasion or event.

- (be booked (up)) have all appointments or places reserved; be full: I'm booked till, like, 2008.

2 make an official record of the name and other personal details of (a criminal suspect or offender): the cop booked me and took me down to the station.

<PHRASES>
□ bring someone to book bring someone to justice; punish.

□ by the book strictly according to the rules: a cop who doesn't exactly play it by the book.

□ close the book on lay aside; expend no further energy on: Congress closed the book on wool subsidies.

□ in someone's bad (or good) books CHIEFLY BRIT. in disfavor (or favor) with a person.

□ in my book in my opinion: that counts as a lie in my book.

□ make book take bets on the outcome of an event: FIGURATIVE I wouldn't make book on it.

□ one for the books an extraordinary feat or event.

□ on the books contained in a book of laws or records: discriminatory laws still on the books the longest pitching career on the books.

□ People of the Book Jews and Christians as regarded by Muslims.

□ suit one's book BRIT. be convenient to one: it didn't suit her book at all to be moved.

□ take a leaf from (or out of) someone's book imitate or emulate someone in a particular way: Gorbachev must take a leaf from Deng's book and offer tangible benefits.

□ throw the book at INFORMAL charge or punish (someone) as severely as possible.

□ wrote the book be the leader in the field: John wrote the book on extreme biking.

□ you can't judge a book by its cover PROVERB outward appearances are not a reliable indication of true character.

<DERIVATIVES> book·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English (originally also 'a document or charter'), 'to grant by charter', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boek and German Buch, and probably to BEECH (on which runes were carved).

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BEECH ■

book·bind·er n. a person who binds books as a profession.

<DERIVATIVES> book·bind·ing n.

book·case n. a set of shelves for books set in a surrounding frame or cabinet.

book club n. an organization that sells selected books to members or subscribers, often from a mail-order catalog.

book·end n. a support for the end of a row of books to keep them upright, often one of a pair.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be bookended) INFORMAL occur or be positioned at the end or on either side of (something): the narrative is bookended by a pair of incisive essays.

book·er n. short for BOOKING AGENT.

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BOOKING AGENT ■

Book·er Prize a literary prize awarded annually for a novel published by a British or Commonwealth citizen during the previous year, financed by the multinational company Booker McConnell.

book hand n. a formal style of handwriting as used by professional copiers of books before the invention of printing.

book·ie n. (pl. -ies) informal term for BOOKMAKER.

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BOOKMAKER ■

book·ing n. an act of reserving accommodations, travel, etc., or of buying a ticket in advance: the hotel does not handle group bookings | early booking is essential.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an engagement for a performance by an entertainer: TV show bookings were mysteriously canceled.

book·ing a·gent n. a person who makes engagements or reservations for others, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who arranges concert or club engagements for performers.

- a person who makes travel arrangements for clients.

book·ing clerk n. BRIT. an official selling tickets, esp. at a railroad station.

book·ing hall (also booking office) n. BRIT. a room or area at a railroad station in which tickets are sold.

book·ish adj. (of a person or way of life) devoted to reading and studying rather than worldly interests: by comparison I was very bookish, intellectual, and wordy in a wrong way.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of language or writing) literary in style or allusion: long bookish scholarship; a bookish but eloquent erotic memoir.

<DERIVATIVES> book·ish·ly adv. book·ish·ness n.

book·keep·ing n. the activity or occupation of keeping records of the financial affairs of a business.

<DERIVATIVES> book·keep·er n.

book learn·ing n. knowledge gained from books or study; mere theory: knowledge based on experience rather than book learning.

book·let n. a small book consisting of a few sheets, typically with paper covers.

book·louse n. (pl. -lice) a minute insect that typically has reduced or absent wings and often lives in books or papers, where it feeds on mold.
<INFO>  Liposcelidae and related families in the order Psocoptera: many species.

book lung n. [ZOOLOGY] (in a spider or other arachnid) each of a pair of respiratory organs composed of many fine leaves. They are situated in the abdomen and have openings on the underside.

book·mak·er n. a person who takes bets (esp. on horse races), calculates odds, and pays out winnings.

<DERIVATIVES> book·mak·ing n.

book·man n. (pl. -men) a literary person, esp. one involved in the business of books.

book·mark n. a strip of leather, cardboard, or other material, used to mark one's place in a book.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [COMPUTING] a record of the address of a file, web page, or other data used to enable quick access by a user.

■ v. [COMPUTING] record the address of (a file, web page, or other data) for quick access by a user: if you think politics is the ultimate game, be sure to bookmark eVote.

book·mo·bile n. a truck, van, or trailer serving as a mobile library.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from BOOK, on the pattern of automobile.

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BOOK ■

Book of Chang·es n. another name for I CHING.

Linked entries:

I CHING ■

Book of Com·mon Prayer n. the official service book of the Church of England and, with some variation, of other churches of the Anglican Communion. It was compiled by Thomas Cranmer and others and first issued in 1549.

book of hours n. (in the Christian Church) a book containing the prayers or offices to be said at the canonical hours of the day, particularly popular in the Middle Ages.

book page n. 1 a page of a book.

2 a page of a newspaper or magazine devoted to book reviews.

book·plate n. a decorative label stuck in the front of a book, bearing the name of the book's owner.

book·rack n. a rack or shelf for books.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a stand or rack for holding an open book. Also called BOOKSTAND.

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BOOKSTAND ■

book·sell·er n. a person who sells books, esp. as the owner or manager of a bookstore.

book·shelf n. (pl. -shelves) a shelf on which books can be stored.

book·stall n. a stand where books are sold, typically secondhand.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY BRIT. a newsstand.

book·stand n. 1 another term for BOOKSTALL.

2 another term for BOOKRACK.

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BOOKSTALL ■

BOOKRACK ■

book·store (also CHIEFLY BRIT. book·shop ) n. a store where books are sold.

book val·ue n. the value of a security or asset as entered in a company's books. Often contrasted with MARKET VALUE.

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MARKET VALUE ■

book·work n. 1 the activity of keeping records of accounts: the bookwork has a tendency to pile up if I don't keep on top of it.

2 the studying of textbooks, as opposed to practical work: he concentrates mainly on the flying, but the heavy bookwork is in there too.

book·worm n. 1 INFORMAL a person devoted to reading.

2 the larva of a wood-boring beetle that feeds on the paper and glue in books.

Boole George (1815-64), English mathematician; responsible for Boolean algebra. The study of mathematical or symbolic logic developed mainly from his ideas.

Bool·e·an adj. denoting a system of algebraic notation used to represent logical propositions, esp. in computing and electronics.

■ n. [COMPUTING] a binary variable, having two possible values called “true” and “false.”

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the name of G. BOOLE + -AN.

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BOOLE ■

-AN ■

boom 1 n. a loud, deep, resonant sound: the deep boom of the bass drum.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the characteristic resonant call of the bittern.

■ v. [intrans.] make a loud, deep, resonant sound: thunder boomed in the sky; her voice boomed out.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with direct speech] say in a loud, deep, resonant voice: the imperative “Silence!” boomed out by Ray himself.

- (of a bittern) utter its characteristic resonant call.

<DERIVATIVES> boom·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a verb): ultimately imitative; perhaps from Dutch bommen 'to hum, buzz'.

boom 2 n. a period of great prosperity or rapid economic growth: a boom in precious metal mining | [as adj.] a boom economy.

■ v. [intrans.] enjoy a period of great prosperity or rapid economic growth: business is booming; the popularity of soy-based foods has boomed in the last two decades.

<DERIVATIVES> boom·let n. boom·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (originally U.S.): probably from BOOM^1 .

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BOOM ■

boom 3 n. a long pole or rod, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a spar pivoting on the after side of the mast and to which the foot of a vessel's sail is attached, allowing the angle of the sail to be changed.

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

- a long beam extending upward at an angle from the mast of a derrick, for guiding or supporting objects being moved or suspended.

- a floating beam used to contain oil spills or to form a barrier across the mouth of a harbor or river.

- a retractable tube for inflight transfer of fuel from a tanker airplane to another airplane.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the general sense 'beam, pole'): from Dutch, 'beam, tree, pole'; related to BEAM.

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BEAM ■

boom box n. INFORMAL a portable sound system, typically including radio and cassette or CD player, capable of powerful sound: teenagers dance to boom boxes on warm April nights.

boom·er n. INFORMAL 1 short for BABY BOOMER (see BABY BOOM).

2 something large or notable of its kind, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- AUSTRAL. a large male kangaroo.

- a large wave.

3 INFORMAL a nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles.

4 a transient construction worker, esp. a bridge builder.

5 another name for MOUNTAIN BEAVER.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: probably from the verb BOOM^1 + -ER^1 .

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BOOM ■

-ER ■

boo·mer·ang n. a curved flat piece of wood that can be thrown so as to return to the thrower, traditionally used by Australian Aboriginals as a hunting weapon.

■ v. [intrans.] (of a plan or action) return to the originator, often with negative consequences: misleading consumers about quality will eventually boomerang on a carmaker.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Dharuk.

boo·mer·ang kid (also boo·mer·ang·er ) n. INFORMAL a young adult who goes back to live with a parent after a period of independence.

<ORIGIN> allusion to a boomerang, which is thrown so as to return to the thrower.

Boom·er State a nickname for the state of OKLAHOMA.

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OKLAHOMA ■

boom·ing adj. 1 having a period of great prosperity or rapid economic growth: the booming economy of southern China.

2 (of a sound or voice) loud, deep, and resonant: his booming voice; a booming laugh.

boom·slang n. a large, highly venomous southern African tree snake, the male of which is bright green and the female dull olive brown.
<INFO>  Dispholidus typus, family Colubridae.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Afrikaans, from Dutch boom 'tree' + slang 'snake'.

boom town (also boom·town) n. a town undergoing rapid growth due to sudden prosperity: the automobile was in its heady adolescence, and Detroit was America's newest boom town.

boon 1 n. 1 [usu. in sing.] a thing that is helpful or beneficial: the navigation system will be a boon to both civilian and military users.

2 ARCHAIC a favor or request: may I have the inestimable boon of a few minutes' conversation?

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally in the sense 'request for a favor'): from Old Norse bón.

boon 2 adj. (of a companion or friend) close; intimate; favorite: he debated the question with a few boon companions in the barroom.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: boon from Old French bon, from Latin bonus 'good'. The early literal sense was 'good fellow', originally denoting a drinking companion.

boon·docks plural n. INFORMAL rough, remote, or isolated country: we're out here in the boondocks, miles from a telephone.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: boondock from Tagalog bundok 'mountain'.

boon·dog·gle INFORMAL n. work or activity that is wasteful or pointless but gives the appearance of having value: writing off the cold fusion phenomenon as a boondoggle best buried in literature.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a public project of questionable merit that typically involves political patronage and graft:
they each drew $600,000 in the final months of the great boondoggle.

■ v. [intrans.] waste money or time on such projects.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: of unknown origin.

Boone Daniel (c.1734-1820), American pioneer. He made trips west from North Carolina into the unexplored area that is now Kentucky, organizing settlements and successfully defending them against hostile Indians. He later moved further west to what is now Missouri, having been granted land there in 1799.

boon·ies plural n. short for BOONDOCKS.

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BOONDOCKS ■

boor n. a rude, unmannerly person: at last the big obnoxious boor had been dealt a stunning blow for his uncouth and belligerent manner.
- a clumsy person.

- a peasant; a yokel.

<DERIVATIVES> boor·ish adj. boor·ish·ly adv. boor·ish·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'peasant'): from Low German or Dutch boer 'farmer'. Compare with BOER.

boost v. [trans.] help or encourage (something) to increase or improve: a range of measures to boost tourism.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- push from below; assist: people they were trying to boost over a wall.

- amplify (an electrical signal).

- INFORMAL steal, esp. by shoplifting or pickpocketing.

■ n. a source of help or encouragement leading to increase or improvement: the cut in interest rates will give a further boost to the economy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an increase or improvement: a boost in exports.

- a push from below.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (originally in the sense 'push from below'): of unknown origin.

boost·er n. 1 a person or thing that helps increase or promote something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a keen promoter of a person, organization, or cause: [as adj.] athletic booster clubs.

- [in combination] a source of help or encouragement: job fairs are a great morale booster.

- [MEDICINE] a dose of an immunizing agent increasing or renewing the effect of an earlier one.

- the first stage of a rocket or spacecraft, used to give initial acceleration.

- a device for increasing electrical voltage or signal strength.

2 INFORMAL a shoplifter.

boost·er ca·ble n. another term for JUMPER CABLE.

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JUMPER CABLE ■

boost·er·ish adj. supporting or promoting something enthusiastically, and often uncritically: the city's boosterish slogan "La Porte's on the Move."

boost·er·ism n. the enthusiastic promotion of a person, organization, or cause: a barrage of boosterism about the wonderful recreation facilities.

boost·er seat n. an extra seat or cushion placed on an existing seat for a small child to sit on.

boot 1 n. 1 a sturdy item of footwear covering the foot, the ankle, and sometimes the leg below the knee: walking boots.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a covering or sheath to protect a mechanical connection, as on a gearshift.

- (also Denver boot) a clamp placed by the police on the wheel of an illegally parked vehicle to make it immobile.

- a covering to protect the lower part of a horse's leg.

- HISTORICAL an instrument of torture encasing and crushing the foot.

2 INFORMAL a hard kick: I got a boot in the stomach.
<SPECIAL USAGE>

3 BRIT. the trunk of a car.

4 (also boot up) [usu. as adj.] the process of starting a computer and putting it into a state of readiness for operation: a boot disk.

5 [MILITARY] a navy or marine recruit.

■ v. [trans.] 1 [usu. as adj.] (booted) place boots on (oneself, another person, or an animal): thin, booted legs.

2 [trans.] kick (something) hard in a specified direction: he ended up booting the ball into the stands.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in an athletic contest) misplay (a ball); mishandle (a play): the usually dependable infielder booted the ball.

- (boot someone off) force someone to leave a vehicle unceremoniously: the driver booted two teenagers off the bus.

- (boot someone out) INFORMAL force someone to leave a place, institution, or job unceremoniously: she had been booted out of school.

3 start (a computer) and put it into a state of readiness for operation: the menu will be ready as soon as you boot up your computer | [intrans.] the system won't boot from the original drive. <ORIGIN> from sense 2 of BOOTSTRAP.

4 place a Denver boot on (an illegally parked car).

<PHRASES>
□ die with one's boots on die in battle or while otherwise actively occupied.

□ get the boot INFORMAL be dismissed from one's job.

□ give someone the boot INFORMAL dismiss someone from their job.

□ one's heart sank (or fell) into one's boots used to refer to a sudden onset of depression or dismay: the way your heart drops to your boots if your foal has terribly crooked legs.

□ you (can) bet your boots INFORMAL used to express certainty about a situation or statement: you can bet your boots that patrol has raised the alarm.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse bóti or its source, Old French bote, of unknown ultimate origin.

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BOOTSTRAP ■

boot 2 n. (in phrase to boot) as well; in addition: images that are precise, revealing, and often beautiful to boot.

<ORIGIN>  originally 'something extra thrown into a bargain', fromOld English 'advantage, remedy', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boete and German Busse 'penance, fine', also to BETTER^1 and BEST.

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BETTER ■

BEST ■

boot·a·ble adj. (of a disk) containing the software required to boot a computer.

boot·black n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a person employed to polish boots and shoes.

boot camp n. a military training camp for new recruits, with strict discipline.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a prison for youthful offenders, run on military lines.

boot-cut (also bootcut) adj. (of jeans or other trousers) flared very slightly below the knee, so as to be worn comfortably over boots.

boot·ee n. (pl. -ees) variant spelling of BOOTIE.

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BOOTIE ■

Bo·ö·tes [ASTRONOMY] a northern constellation (the Herdsman), said to represent a man holding the leash of two dogs (Canes Venatici) while driving a bear (Ursa Major). It contains the bright star Arcturus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Bo·ö·tis ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate stars: the star Gamma Boötis.

<ORIGIN> Greek.

Booth 1 John Wilkes (1838-65), U.S. actor. He is better known as the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC.

Booth 2 William (1829-1912), English religious leader; founder and first general of the Salvation Army.

booth n. 1 a small temporary tent or structure, used esp. for the sale or display of goods at a market or fair: there are booths offering everything from accessories to food to health care.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a small room where a vendor sits separated from customers by a window: a ticket booth.

2 an enclosure or compartment for various purposes, such as telephoning, broadcasting, or voting: the phone booth alongside the highway; ex-athletes in the broadcast booth.

3 a set of a table and benches in a restaurant or bar: I sat in a booth with coffee and a roll.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the general sense 'temporary dwelling or shelter'): from Old Norse buth, based on búa 'dwell'.

Boo·thi·a, Gulf of a gulf in the Canadian Arctic Ocean, in Northwest Territories, between Boothia Peninsula and Baffin Island.

<ORIGIN> named in honor of Sir Felix Booth (1775-1850), patron of the expedition to the Arctic (1829-33) led by Sir John Ross.

Boo·thi·a Pen·in·su·la a peninsula in northern Canada, in the Northwest Territories, located between Victoria and Baffin islands.

boot·ie (also boot·ee) n. (pl. -ies) 1 a soft shoe, typically knitted, worn by a baby.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any soft, socklike shoe.

2 a protective shoe or lining for a shoe.

3 a woman's short boot.

boot·jack n. a device for holding a boot by the heel to ease withdrawal of one's foot.

boot·lace n. a cord or leather strip for lacing boots.

boot·leg adj. [attrib.] (esp. of liquor, computer software, or recordings) made, distributed, or sold illegally: bootleg cassettes; bootleg whiskey.

■ v. (-legged, -leg·ging) [trans.] make, distribute, or sell (illicit goods, esp. liquor, computer software, or recordings) illegally: [as n.] (bootlegging) domestic bootlegging was almost impossible to control | [as adj.] (bootlegged) bootlegged videos.

■ n. 1 an illegal musical recording, esp. one made at a concert.

2 [FOOTBALL ] a play in which the quarterback fakes a handoff and runs with the ball hidden next to his hip: he scored on a 29-yard bootleg on fourth down.

<DERIVATIVES> boot·leg·ger n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from the smugglers' practice of concealing bottles in their boots.

boot·less adj. ARCHAIC (of a task or undertaking) ineffectual; useless: words at this pass were vain and bootless.

<ORIGIN>  Old English 'not able to be compensated for by payment' (see BOOT^2 , -LESS).

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BOOT ■

-LESS ■

boot·lick·er n. INFORMAL an obsequious or overly deferential person; a toady: bootlickers telling him what a big star he's going to be.

<DERIVATIVES> boot·lick·ing n.

boots n. BRIT., DATED a hotel employee who cleans boots and shoes, carries luggage, and performs other menial tasks.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: plural of BOOT^1 , used as a singular.

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BOOT ■

boot-scoot·ing n. another term for LINE DANCING.

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LINE DANCING ■

boot·strap n. 1 a loop at the back of a boot, used to pull it on.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. as adj.] the technique of starting with existing resources to create something more complex and effective: her willingness to work night and day in a tiny basement office was evidence of her trademark bootstrap.

2 [COMPUTING] a technique of loading a program into a computer by means of a few initial instructions that enable the introduction of the rest of the program from an input device.

■ v. (-strapped, -strap·ping) 1 [trans. with adverbial of direction] get (oneself or something) into or out of a situation using existing resources: the company is bootstrapping itself out of a marred financial past.

2 [trans.] start up (an enterprise), especially one based on the Internet, with minimal resources: they are bootstrapping their stations themselves, not with lots of dot-com venture capital.

■ adj. (of a person or project) using one's own resources rather than external help: a bootstrap capitalist's trip up the entrepreneurial ladder.

<PHRASES> pull oneself up by one's (own) bootstraps improve one's position by one's own efforts.

boot top n. the part of a ship's hull just above the waterline, typically marked by a line of contrasting color.

boot-up n. see BOOT^1 (sense 4).

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BOOT ■

boo·ty 1 n. valuable stolen goods, esp. those seized in war: the militias supply themselves with booty from the raided civilian populations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL something gained or won: now the booty: four winners will receive prizes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting plunder acquired in common and destined to be divided among the plunderers): from Middle Low German , buite 'exchange, distribution', of uncertain ultimate origin.

boo·ty 2 n. (pl. -ties) INFORMAL a person's buttocks.

<PHRASES> shake one's booty dance energetically.

boo·ty call n. INFORMAL a sexual invitation or rendezvous.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person regarded for this: to him, I was just a booty call.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: from booty (slang for 'buttocks') and call.

boo·ty·li·cious adj. INFORMAL sexually attractive.

<ORIGIN> early 21st cent.: from booty (slang for 'buttocks'), on the pattern of delicious.

booze INFORMAL n. alcohol, esp. hard liquor: they turn to booze to beat work pressure.

■ v. [intrans.] drink alcohol, esp. in large quantities: you used to booze a lot on expensive hard liquor | [as n.] (boozing) Michael is trying to quit boozing.

<ORIGIN> Middle English bouse, from Middle Dutch 'drink to excess'. The spelling booze dates from the 18th cent.

booze·hound n. INFORMAL a person who drinks alcohol often and heavily.

booz·er n. INFORMAL a person who drinks large quantities of alcohol.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT. a pub or bar.

booze-up n. INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. a drinking spree.

booz·y adj. (booz·i·er, booz·i·est) INFORMAL intoxicated; addicted to drink: the boozy and drugged-out wreckage of his later years.

<DERIVATIVES> booz·i·ly adv. booz·i·ness n.

bop 1 INFORMAL n. short for BEBOP.

■ v. (bopped, bop·ping) [intrans.] dance to pop music: bopping to the radio while they made breakfast.
<SPECIAL USAGE> move or travel energetically: we had been bopping around the county all morning.

<DERIVATIVES> bop·per n.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: shortening of BEBOP.

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BEBOP ■

BEBOP ■

bop 2 INFORMAL v. (bopped, bop·ping) [trans.] hit; punch lightly: I warned him I'd bop him on the nose if he tried it.

■ n. a blow or light punch.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: imitative.

Bo·phu·that·swa·na a former homeland established in South Africa for the Tswana people.

bor. abbr. borough.

bo·ra n. a strong, cold, dry northeast wind blowing in the upper Adriatic.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: dialect variant of Italian borea, from Latin boreas 'north wind' (see BOREAL).

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BOREAL ■

Bo·ra-Bo·ra an island in the Society Islands group in French Polynesia.

bo·rac·ic adj. another term for BORIC.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from medieval Latin borax, borac- (see BORAX) + -IC.

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BORAX ■

-IC ■

bor·age n. a herbaceous plant with bright blue flowers and hairy leaves, used medicinally and as a salad green.
<INFO>  Borago officinalis, family Boraginaceae (the borage family). This family includes many plants that typically have blue or purple flowers, including forget-me-not, comfrey, and bugloss.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bourrache, from medieval Latin borrago, probably from Arabic.

bo·rane n. [CHEMISTRY] any of a series of unstable binary compounds of boron and hydrogen, analogous to the alkanes. The simplest example is diborane, B_2H_6.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from BORON + -ANE^2 .

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BORON ■

-ANE ■

Bo·rås an industrial city in southwestern Sweden; pop. 101,770.

bo·rate n. [CHEMISTRY] a salt in which the anion contains both boron and oxygen, as in borax.

bo·rax n. a white mineral in some alkaline salt deposits, used in making glass and ceramics, as a metallurgical flux, and as an antiseptic.
<INFO>  A hydrated sodium borate; chem. formula: Na_2B_4O_7(OH)4.8H_2O.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin, from Arabic , from Pahlavi .

Bo·ra·zon n. TRADEMARK an industrial abrasive consisting of boron nitride.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from BORON, with the insertion of AZO-.

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BORON ■

AZO- ■

bor·bo·ryg·mus n. (pl. -mi ) TECHNICAL a rumbling or gurgling noise made by the movement of fluid and gas in the intestines.

<DERIVATIVES> bor·bo·ryg·mic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek borborugmos.

Bor·deaux 1 a port in southwestern France, on the Garonne River; pop. 213,270.

Bor·deaux 2 n. (pl. same ) a red, white, or rosé wine from the district of Bordeaux.

Bor·deaux mix·ture n. a fungicide for vines, fruit trees, and other plants composed of equal quantities of copper sulfate and calcium oxide in water.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: first used in the vineyards of the Bordeaux region.

bor·de·laise adj. served with a sauce of red wine and onions: [postpositive] lobster bordelaise.

<ORIGIN> French, from (à la) bordelaise 'Bordeaux-style'.

bor·del·lo n. (pl. -los) a brothel.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (gradually replacing Middle English bordel): from Italian, probably from Old French bordel, diminutive of borde 'small farm, cottage', ultimately of Germanic origin.

Bor·den Lizzie Andrew (1860-1927), U.S. accused murderess. Accused of the murder of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1892, she was acquitted in a trial that became a national sensation.

bor·der n. 1 a line separating two political or geographical areas, esp. countries: Iraq's northern border with Turkey | [as adj.] border patrols.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a district near such a line: a refugee camp on the border.

2 the edge or boundary of something, or the part near it: the northern border of their distribution area | FIGURATIVE the unknown regions at the borders of physics and electronics.

3 a band or strip, esp. a decorative one, around the edge of something: put a white border around the picture.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a strip of ground along the edge of a lawn or path for planting flowers or shrubs: the garden borders are planted with perennials.

■ v. [trans.] form an edge along or beside (something): a pool bordered by palm trees.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a country or area) be adjacent to (another country or area): regions bordering Azerbaijan | [intrans.] the mountains bordering on Afghanistan.

- [intrans.] (border on) FIGURATIVE be close to an extreme condition: Sam arrived in a state of excitement bordering on hysteria.

- (usu. be bordered with) provide (something) with a decorative edge: a curving driveway bordered with chrysanthemums.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French bordeure; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to BOARD.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
border, brim, brink, edge, margin, rim, verge

A border is the part of a surface that is nearest to its boundary (a rug with a flowered border)although it may also refer to the boundary line itself (the border between Vermont and New Hampshire).

A margin is a border of a definite width that is usually distinct in appearance from what it encloses; but unlike border, it usually refers to the blankness or emptiness that surrounds something (the margin on a printed page).

While border and margin usually refer to something that is circumscribed, edge may refer to only a part of the perimeter (the edge of the lawn) or the line where two planes or surfaces converge (the edge of the table). Edge can also connote sharpness (the edge of a knife) and can be used metaphorically to suggest tension, harshness, or keenness (there was an edge in her voice; take the edge off their nervousness).

Verge may also be used metaphorically to describe the extreme limit of something (on the verge of a nervous breakdown), but in a more literal sense, it sometimes is used of the line or narrow space that marks the limit or termination of something (the verge of a desert or forest).

Brink denotes the edge of something very steep or an abrupt division between land and water (the brink of the river), or metaphorically the very final limit before an abrupt change (on the brink of disaster).

Rim and brim apply only to things that are circular or curving. But while rim describes the edge or lip of a rounded or cylindrical shape (the rim of a glass), brim refers to the inner side of the rim when the container is completely full (a cup filled to the brim with steaming coffee). However, when one speaks of the brim of a hat, it comes closer to the meaning of margin or border.

Linked entries:

BOARD ■

Bor·der col·lie n. (also border collie) a common working sheepdog, typically with a black and white coat, of a medium-sized breed originating near the border between England and Scotland.

bord·er·er n. a person living near a border.

bord·er·land n. (usu. borderlands) the district near a border.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE an area of overlap between two things: the murky borderland between history and myth.

bord·er·line n. a line marking a border.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a division between two distinct (often extreme) conditions: the borderline between ritual and custom.

■ adj. barely acceptable in quality or as belonging to a category; on the borderline: references may be requested in borderline cases.

bor·der state n. any of the slave states that bordered the northern free states during the U.S. Civil War. See also BORDER STATES.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a U.S. state that borders Canada or Mexico.

- a small country that borders a larger, more powerful country or that lies between two larger countries.

Linked entries:

BORDER STATES ■

Bor·der States those U.S. states, including Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Virginia, and Missouri, that were slave states but did not secede from the Union during the Civil War.

Bord·er ter·ri·er n. a small terrier of a breed with rough hair, originating in the Cheviot Hills.

Bor·det Jules (1870-1961), Belgian bacteriologist and immunologist. He discovered the complement system of blood serum, and developed a vaccine for whooping cough.

bor·dure n. [HERALDRY] a broad border used as a charge in a coat of arms, often as a mark of difference.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: variant of BORDER.

Linked entries:

BORDER ■

bore 1 v. 1 [trans.] make (a hole) in something, esp. with a revolving tool: they bored holes in the sides | [intrans.] the drill can bore through rock.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] hollow out (a tube or tunnel): try to bore the tunnel at the correct angle.

- [intrans.] (bore into) FIGURATIVE (of a person's eyes) stare harshly at: your terrible blue eyes bore into me.

- [trans.] hollow out (a gun barrel or other tube).

2 [intrans.] make one's way through (a crowd).

■ n. 1 the hollow part inside a gun barrel or other tube.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [often in combination] the diameter of this; the caliber: a small-bore rifle.

- [in combination] a gun of a specified bore: he shot a guard in the leg with a twelve-bore.

2 short for BOREHOLE.

<ORIGIN> Old English borian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to German bohren.

Linked entries:

BOREHOLE ■

bore 2 n. a person whose talk or behavior is dull and uninteresting: a crashing bore who tells the same old jokes over and over.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] a tedious situation or thing: it's such a bore cooking when one's alone.

■ v. [trans.] make (someone) feel weary and uninterested by tedious talk or dullness: rather than bore you with all the details, I'll hit some of the bright spots.

<PHRASES> bore someone to death (or to tears) weary (a person) in the extreme.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (as a verb): of unknown origin.

bore 3 n. a steep-fronted wave caused by the meeting of two tides or by the constriction of a tide rushing up a narrow estuary.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: perhaps from Old Norse bára 'wave'; the term was used in the general sense 'billow, wave' in Middle English.

bore 4 past of BEAR^1 .

Linked entries:

BEAR ■

bo·re·al adj. of the North or northern regions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ECOLOGY] relating to or characteristic of the climatic zone south of the Arctic, esp. the cold temperate region dominated by taiga and forests of birch, poplar, and conifers: northern boreal forest.

- (Boreal) [BOTANY] relating to or denoting a phytogeographical kingdom comprising the arctic and temperate regions of Eurasia and North America.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin borealis, from Latin Boreas, denoting the god of the north wind, from Greek.

bored 1 adj. feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one's current activity: she got bored with staring out of the window; they would hang around all day, bored stiff.

bored 2 adj. [in combination] (of a gun) having a specified bore: large-bored guns.

bore·dom n. the state of feeling bored: the boredom of afternoon duty could be relieved by friendly conversation.

bo·reen n. IRISH a narrow country road.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Irish bóithrín, diminutive of bóthar 'road'.

bore·hole n. a deep, narrow hole made in the ground, esp. to locate water or oil.

bo·rek n. an envelope of thin pastry filled with cheese, spinach, or ground meat and baked or fried.

<ORIGIN> from Turkish, 'pie'.

bor·er n. 1 a worm, mollusk, insect, or insect larva that bores into wood, other plant material, or rock.

2 a tool for boring.

bore·scope n. an instrument used to inspect the inside of a structure through a small hole.

Borg Björn (Rune) (1956- ), Swedish tennis player. He won five consecutive men's singles titles at Wimbledon 1976-80 and six French Opens 1974-75 and 1978-81.

bor·ga·ta n. (pl. -tas or -te) an organized branch of the Mafia.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from Italian borgatà 'district, village'.

Bor·ge Victor (1909-2000), U.S. pianist; born in Denmark. He was noted for his clowning while playing classical music. His one-man show, Comedy in Music, began an 849-performance run on Broadway in 1953, with a brief revival in 1977.

Bor·ges Jorge Luis (1899-1986), Argentine poet, short-story writer, and essayist. His volume of short stories A Universal History of Infamy (1935, revised 1954) is regarded as one of the first works of magic realism.

Bor·gia 1 Cesare (c.1476-1507), Italian statesman, cardinal, and general. He was the illegitimate son of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (later Pope Alexander VI) and the brother of Lucrezia Borgia.

Bor·gia 2 Lucrezia (1480-1519), Italian noblewoman; sister of Cesare Borgia. She was the illegitimate daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (later Pope Alexander VI).

Bor·glum Gutzon (1867-1941) U.S. sculptor; full name John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum. His most famous work is the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota that features the monumental heads of U.S. Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and T. Roosevelt. The work, begun in 1927, was completed in 1941 with the help of his son Lincoln Borglum (1912-86).

Borg·nine Ernest (1917- ), U.S. actor; born Ermes Effron Borgnine. His movies included From Here to Eternity (1953) and Marty (Academy Award, 1955). He turned to television during the 1960s, starring in “McHale's Navy” (1962-66). Later, he played in the series “Airwolf” (1984) and “The Single Guy” (1995).

bo·ric adj. [CHEMISTRY] of boron: boric oxide.

bo·ric ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a weakly acid crystalline compound derived from borax, used as a mild antiseptic and in the manufacture of heat-resistant glass and enamels.
<INFO>  3

Bo·ri·cua n. INFORMAL a Puerto Rican, especially one living in the United States.

bor·ing adj. not interesting; tedious: I've got a boring job in an office.

<DERIVATIVES> bor·ing·ly adv. [as submodifier] the list is excoriated as boringly predictable. bor·ing·ness n.

Bo·ris Go·du·nov see GODUNOV.

Linked entries:

GODUNOV ■

bork (also Bork) v. [trans.] INFORMAL obstruct (someone, esp. a candidate for public office) through systematic defamation or vilification: [as n.] (borking) is fear of borking scaring people from public office?

<ORIGIN> 1980s: from the name of Robert Bork (born 1927), an American judge whose nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court (1987) was rejected following unfavorable publicity for his allegedly extreme views.

Bor·laug Norman Ernest (1914- ), U.S. agronomist. He developed high-yielding cereals for cultivation in less developed countries. He wrote The Green Revolution, Peace and Humanity (1971) and Food Production in a Fertile, Unstable World (1978). Nobel Peace Prize (1970).

Bor·mann Martin (1900-c.1945), German Nazi politician. Considered to be Hitler's closest collaborator, he disappeared at the end of World War II; his skeleton, exhumed in Berlin, was identified in 1973.

Born Max (1882-1970), German theoretical physicist, a founder of quantum mechanics. Nobel Prize for Physics (1954, shared with Walther Bothe 1891-1957).

born past participle of BEAR^1 (sense 4).

■ adj. existing as a result of birth: he was born in Seattle; babies born to women aged 25-29; he was born into a family of wine merchants; she was born Margaret Roberts | [in combination] a German-born philosopher.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [attrib.] having a natural ability to do a particular job or task: he's a born engineer.

- [with infinitive] perfectly suited or trained to do a particular job or task: they believe that they are born to rule.

- (of a thing) brought into existence: her own business was born.

- (born of) existing as a result of a particular situation or feeling: a power born of obsession.

<PHRASES>
□ born and bred by birth and upbringing, esp. when considered a typical product of a place: he was a born and bred product of the Bronx.

□ born on the wrong side of the blanket see BLANKET.

□ born with a silver spoon in one's mouth see SILVER.

□ I (she, etc.) wasn't born yesterday used to remind someone that one isn't naive.

□ in all one's born days used to express surprise or shock at something one has not encountered before: in all my born days I've never seen the like of it.

□ there's one (or a sucker) born every minute there are many gullible people.

<ORIGIN> Old English boren, past participle of beran 'to bear' (see BEAR^1 ).

<USAGE>
On the difference between born and borne, see usage at BEAR^1 .

Linked entries:

BEAR ■

BLANKET ■

SILVER ■

BEAR ■

BEAR ■

born-a·gain adj. converted to a personal faith in Christ (with reference to John 3:3): a born-again Christian.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE having the extreme enthusiasm of the newly converted or reconverted: born-again environmentalists.

■ n. a born-again Christian.

borne past participle of BEAR^1 (senses 1, 2, 3, and 5).

■ adj. [in combination] carried or transported by: waterborne bacteria; insect-borne pollen.

Linked entries:

BEAR ■

Bor·ne·o a large island in the Malay Archipelago that is comprised of Kalimantan (a region of Indonesia), Sabah and Sarawak (states of Malaysia), and Brunei.

<DERIVATIVES> Bor·ne·an adj.

Born·holm a Danish island in the Baltic Sea, southeast of Sweden.

Born·holm dis·ease n. a viral infection with fever and pain in the muscles of the ribs.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: named after the island of BORNHOLM, where it was first described.

Linked entries:

BORNHOLM ■

born·ite n. a brittle reddish-brown crystalline mineral with an iridescent purple tarnish, consisting of a sulfide of copper and iron.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from the name of Ignatius von Born (1742-91), Austrian mineralogist, + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ITE ■

boro- comb. form [CHEMISTRY] representing BORON.

Linked entries:

BORON ■

Bo·ro·bu·dur a Buddhist monument in central Java, built c.800.

Bo·ro·din Aleksandr (Porfirevich) (1833-87), Russian composer. He is noted for the opera Prince Igor, which was completed after his death by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Aleksandr Glazunov (1865-1936).

Bo·ro·di·no, Battle of a battle in 1812 at Borodino, a village about 110 km (70 miles) west of Moscow, at which Napoleon's forces defeated the Russian army.

bo·ron n. the chemical element of atomic number 5, a nonmetallic solid. (Symbol: B)

Boron is usually prepared as an amorphous brown powder, but when very pure it forms hard, shiny, black crystals with semiconducting properties. The element has some specialized uses, such as in alloy steels and nuclear control rods.

<DERIVATIVES> bo·ride n..

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from BORAX, on the pattern of carbon (which it resembles in some respects).

Linked entries:

BORAX ■

bo·ro·ni·a n. a sweet-scented Australian shrub cultivated for its perfume and for use as a cut flower.
<INFO>  Genus Boronia, family Rutaceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, named after Francesco Borone (1769-94), Italian botanist.

bo·ro·sil·i·cate n. [usu. as adj.] a low-melting-point glass made from a mixture of silica and boric oxide (B_2O_3).

bor·ough (abbr.: bor.) n. a town or district that is an administrative unit, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an incorporated municipality in certain U.S. states.

- each of five divisions of New York City.

- in Alaska, a district corresponding to a county elsewhere in the U.S.

- BRIT. a town (as distinct from a city) with a corporation and privileges granted by a royal charter.

- BRIT., HISTORICAL a town sending representatives to Parliament.

<ORIGIN> Old English burg, burh 'fortress, citadel', later 'fortified town', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch burg and German Burg. Compare with BURGH.

Linked entries:

BURGH ■

Bor·ro·mi·ni Francesco (1599-1667), Italian architect, a leading figure of the Italian baroque style.

bor·row v. [trans.] take and use (something that belongs to someone else) with the intention of returning it: he had borrowed a car from one of his colleagues | [as adj.] (borrowed) she was wearing a borrowed jacket.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- take and use (money) from a person or bank under an agreement to pay it back later: I borrowed the money for a return plane ticket | [intrans.] lower interest rates will make it cheaper for individuals to borrow.

- take (a word, idea, or method) from another source and use it in one's own language or work: the term is borrowed from Greek | [intrans.] designers consistently borrow from the styles of preceding generations.

- take and use (a book) from a library for a fixed period of time.

- in subtraction, take a unit from the next larger denomination.

- [GOLF] allow (a certain distance) when playing a shot to compensate for sideways motion of the ball due to a slope or other irregularity.

■ n. [GOLF] a slope or other irregularity on a golf course that must be compensated for when playing a shot.

<PHRASES>
□ be (living) on borrowed time used to say that someone has continued to survive against expectations, with the implication that this will not be for much longer.

□ borrow trouble take needless action that may have detrimental effects.

<DERIVATIVES> bor·row·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English borgian 'borrow against security', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German borgen.

bor·row·ing n. the action of borrowing something: the borrowing of clothes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of taking and using money from a bank under an agreement to pay it back later: a curb on government borrowing | the group had total borrowings of $570 million.

- a word, idea, or method taken from another source and used in one's own language or work: a hard-bop musician with some borrowings from free jazz.

Bor·sa·li·no n. (pl. -nos) TRADEMARK a man's wide-brimmed felt hat.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from the name of the manufacturer.

borscht (also borsch) n. a Russian or Polish soup made with beets and usually served with sour cream.

<ORIGIN> from Russian borshch.

Borscht Belt n. (the Borscht Belt) HUMOROUS a resort area in the Catskill Mountains frequented chiefly by Jewish guests: [as adj.] Borscht Belt entertainers.

bor·stal (also Bor·stal) n. BRIT., HISTORICAL a custodial institution for youthful offenders.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after the village of Borstal in southern England, where the first of these was established.

bort n. small, granular, opaque diamonds, used as an abrasive in cutting tools. Compare with CARBONADO.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Dutch boort.

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CARBONADO ■

bor·zoi n. (pl. -zois) a large Russian wolfhound of a breed with a narrow head and silky, often white, coat.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Russian (adjective) 'swift'.

Bosc (also Bosc pear) n. a medium- to large-sized variety of pear, golden brown in color and often russeted. The Bosc's dense flesh makes it a common choice for baking and cooking.

<ORIGIN> named after L. Bosc d'Antic (1759-1828), French naturalist.

bos·cage (also bos·kage) n. massed trees or shrubs: the lush subtropical boscage.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to BUSH^1 . Compare with BOCAGE.

Linked entries:

BOCAGE ■

Bosch Hieronymus (c.1450-1516), Dutch painter. His highly detailed works are typically crowded with half-human, half-animal creatures and grotesque demons in settings symbolic of sin and folly.

Bose Satyendra Nath (1894-1974), Indian physicist. With Albert Einstein, he described fundamental particles that later came to be known as bosons.

bosh n. INFORMAL something regarded as absurd; nonsense: I think it's a load of bosh | [as exclam.] bosh! You don't want to go with us.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Turkish 'empty, worthless', which became widely known in English through James Morier's novel Ayesha (1834).

bosk n. a thicket of bushes; a small wood.

bosk·y adj. wooded; covered by trees or bushes: a river meandering between bosky banks.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Middle English bosk, variant of BUSH^1 .

Bos·man rul·ing n. a European Court ruling that obliges professional soccer or other sports clubs to allow players over the age of 25 to move freely between clubs once their contracts have expired.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: named after Jean-Marc Bosman (1964- ), a Belgian soccer player who brought a legal case that resulted in the ruling.

bo's'n n. variant spelling of BOATSWAIN.

Linked entries:

BOATSWAIN ■

Bos·ni·a a region in the Balkans that forms the larger, northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

<DERIVATIVES> Bos·ni·an adj. & n.

Bos·ni·a and Her·ze·go·vi·na a country in southeastern Europe, in the Balkans, formerly a constituent republic of Yugoslavia; pop. 4,007,000; capital, Sarajevo; languages, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian.

Bosnia and Herzegovina were conquered by the Turks in 1463. The province of Bosnia-Herzegovina was annexed by Austria in 1908, an event that contributed to the outbreak of World War I. In 1918, it became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which changed its name to Yugoslavia in 1929. In 1992, Bosnia and Herzegovina followed Slovenia and Croatia in declaring independence, but ethnic conflict among Muslims, Serbs, and Croats quickly reduced the republic to a state of civil war. An accord signed in December 1995 formally brought the conflict to an end.

bos·om n. a woman's chest: her ample bosom | the dress offered a fair display of bosom.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. bosoms) a woman's breast.

- a part of a woman's dress covering the chest.

- the space between a person's clothing and chest used for carrying things: he carried a letter in his bosom.

- (the bosom of) POETIC/LITERARY the loving care and protection of: Bruno went home each night to the bosom of his family; the town has taken the gay community to its bosom.

- used to refer to the chest as the seat of emotions: quivering dread was settling in her bosom.

■ adj. [attrib.] (of a friend) close or intimate: the two girls had become bosom friends.

<DERIVATIVES> bos·omed adj. [in combination] her small-bosomed physique.

<ORIGIN> Old English ; related to Dutch boezem and German Busen.

bos·om·y adj. (of a woman) having large breasts.

bo·son n. [PHYSICS] a subatomic particle, such as a photon, that has zero or integral spin and follows the statistical description given by S. N. Bose and Einstein.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: named after S. N. BOSE + -ON.

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BOSE ■

-ON ■

Bos·po·rus (also Bos·pho·rus ) a strait that connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara and separates Europe from the Anatolian peninsula of western Asia. Istanbul is located at its south end.

boss 1 INFORMAL n. a person in charge of a worker or organization: I asked my boss for a promotion; union bosses.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person in control of a group or situation: the boss of the largest crime family in the country.

■ v. [trans.] give (someone) orders in a domineering manner: plump old battle-axes bossing everyone around.

■ adj. [attrib.] excellent; outstanding: she's a real boss chick.

<PHRASES>
□ be one's own boss be self-employed.

□ show someone who's boss make it clear that one is in charge.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (originally U.S.): from Dutch baas 'master'.

boss 2 n. a round knob, stud, or other protuberance, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a stud on the center of a shield.

- [ARCHITECTURE] a piece of ornamental carving covering the point where the ribs in a vault or ceiling cross.

- [GEOLOGY] a large mass of igneous rock protruding through other strata.

- [MECHANICS] an enlarged part of a shaft.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French boce, of unknown origin.

boss 3 n. INFORMAL a cow. Compare with BOSSY^2 .

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

bos·sa no·va n. a dance like the samba, originating in Brazil.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a piece of music for this dance or in its rhythm.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from Portuguese, from bossa 'tendency' and nova (feminine of novo) 'new'.

Bos·sier Cit·y a city in northwestern Louisiana, on the Red River, just northeast of Shreveport; pop. 56,461. It is a center for the oil and gas industry.

boss·ism n. a situation in which a political party is controlled by party managers.

boss·y 1 adj. (boss·i·er, boss·i·est) INFORMAL fond of giving people orders; domineering: she was headlong, bossy, scared of nobody, and full of vinegar.

<DERIVATIVES> boss·i·ly adv. boss·i·ness n.

boss·y 2 n. (pl. boss·ies) INFORMAL a cow or calf. Compare with BOSS^3 .

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

Bos·ton 1 a city in eastern Massachusetts, the capital of the state, on Massachusetts Bay; pop. 589,141. It was founded c.1630 by the Massachusetts Bay Company under its governor, John Winthrop (1588-1649). Boston was the scene of many disturbances that led to the American Revolution at the end of the 18th century.

<DERIVATIVES> Bos·to·ni·an n. & adj.

Bos·ton 2 n. 1 a card game resembling solo whist.

2 a variation of the waltz or of the two-step.

Bos·ton baked beans plural n. a dish of baked beans with salt pork and molasses.

Bos·ton cream pie n. a round, two-layer cake that is filled with custard or cream and frosted, usually with chocolate.

Bos·ton fern n. a variety of sword fern, with long, arching bright green fronds, widely cultivated esp. as a hanging houseplant.
<INFO>  Nephrolepis exaltata bostoniensis, family Dryopteridaceae.

Bos·ton i·vy n. a Virginia creeper with three-lobed leaves, cultivated for its foliage.
<INFO>  Parthenocissus tricuspidata, family Vitaceae.

Bos·ton let·tuce n. a butterhead lettuce of a variety that has medium or light green leaves.

Bos·ton rock·er n. a rocking chair with a decorative panel on a high spindled back and with arms and a seat that curves downward at the front.

Bos·ton Tea Par·ty a violent demonstration in 1773 by American colonists before the American Revolution. Colonists boarded vessels in Boston harbor and threw the cargoes of tea into the water in protest at the imposition of a tax on tea by the British Parliament, in which the colonists had no representation.

Bos·ton ter·ri·er n. a small smooth-coated terrier of a breed originating in Massachusetts from a crossing of the bulldog and terrier.

bo·sun (also bo'sun) n. variant spelling of BOATSWAIN.

Linked entries:

BOATSWAIN ■

Bos·well James (1740-95), Scottish author, companion and biographer of Samuel Johnson. Notable works: Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides (1785) and The Life of Samuel Johnson (1791).

Bos·worth Field (also Battle of Bosworth) a battle of the Wars of the Roses fought in 1485 near Market Bosworth in Leicestershire. Henry Tudor defeated and killed the Yorkist king Richard III, which enabled him to take the throne as Henry VII.

bot 1 n. the larva of the botfly, which is an internal parasite of animals. It lives typically in the stomach, finally passing through the host's dung and pupating on the ground.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: probably of Low German origin.

bot 2 n. (chiefly in science fiction) a robot.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [COMPUTING] an autonomous program on a network (esp. the Internet) that can interact with computer systems or users, esp. one designed to respond or behave like a player in an adventure game.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: shortening of ROBOT.

Linked entries:

ROBOT ■

-bot comb. form used to form nouns denoting a computer program or robot with a very specific function: fembot;adbot.

<ORIGIN> from robot.

bot. abbr.
- (with reference to journal titles) botanic; botanical; botany.

- bottle.

- bought.

bo·tan·i·cal adj. of or relating to plants: botanical specimens; a botanical illustrator.

■ n. (usu. botanicals) a substance obtained from a plant and used as an additive, esp. in gin or cosmetics.

<DERIVATIVES> bo·tan·i·cal·ly adv.

bo·tan·i·cal gar·den (also bo·tan·ic gar·den) n. an establishment where plants are grown for display to the public and often for scientific study.

bot·a·nize v. [intrans.] study plants, esp. in their natural habitat: I'd always be scheming to go off birdwatching or botanizing.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin botanizare, from Greek botanizein 'gather plants', from 'plant'.

Bot·a·ny (also Botany wool) n. [mass noun] merino wool, esp. from Australia.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after BOTANY BAY, from where the wool originally came.

Linked entries:

BOTANY BAY ■

bot·a·ny n. the scientific study of plants, including their physiology, structure, genetics, ecology, distribution, classification, and economic importance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the plant life of a particular region, habitat, or geological period: the botany of North America.

<DERIVATIVES> bo·tan·ic adj. bot·a·nist n.

<ORIGIN>  late 17th cent.: from earlier botanic (from French botanique, based on Greek botanikos, from 'plant') + -Y^3 .

Linked entries:

-Y ■

Bot·a·ny Bay an inlet of the Tasman Sea just south of Sydney, Australia. It was the site of Captain James Cook's landing in 1770 and of an early British penal settlement.

<ORIGIN> named by Cook after the large variety of plants collected there by his companion, Sir Joseph Banks.

botch v. [trans.] INFORMAL carry out (a task) badly or carelessly: the ability to take on any task without botching it; he was in a position to hire people, and he botched that up | [as adj.] (botched) a botched attempt to kill them.
<SPECIAL USAGE> patch or repair (an object or damage) clumsily.

■ n. (also botch-up) INFORMAL a bungled or badly carried out task or action: I've probably made a botch of things.

<DERIVATIVES> botch·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'repair' but originally not implying clumsiness): of unknown origin.

bot·fly n. (pl. -flies) a stout hairy-bodied fly with larvae that are internal parasites of mammals, in particular:
<INFO>
- a fly with larvae (bots) that develop within the guts of horses (Gasterophilus and other genera, family Gasterophilidae).

- a fly of the warble fly family (Oestridae).

both adj. & pron. used to refer to two people or things, regarded and identified together: [as adj.] both his parents indulged him; I urge you to read both these books | she held on with both hands he was blind in both eyes | [as pron.] a picture of both of us together; Jackie and I are both self-employed; he looked at them both.

■ adv. used before the first of two alternatives to emphasize that the statement being made applies to each (the other alternative being introduced by “and”): they all loved to play, both the boys and the girls; it has won favor with both young and old; studies of finches, both in the wild and in captivity.

<PHRASES> have it both ways benefit from two incompatible ways of thinking or behaving: countries cannot have it both ways: the cost of a cleaner environment may sometimes be fewer jobs.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse báthir.

<USAGE>
When both is used in constructions with and, the structures following ‘both’ and ‘and’ should be symmetrical in well-formed English. Thus, studies of zebra finches, both in the wild and in captivity is stronger and clearer than studies of zebra finches, both in the wild and captivity. In the second example, the symmetry or parallelism of ‘in the wild’ and ‘in captivity’ has been lost.

Bo·tha 1 Louis (1862-1919), South African soldier and statesman; first prime minister of the Union of South Africa 1910-19.

Bo·tha 2 P. W. (1916- ), South African statesman; prime minister 1978-84; state president 1984-89; full name Pieter Willem Botha. An authoritarian leader, he continued to enforce apartheid but in response to pressure, he introduced limited reforms.

both·er v. 1 [with negative] take the trouble to do something: nobody bothered locking the doors; scientists rarely bother with such niceties | [with infinitive] the driver didn't bother to ask why.

2 (of a circumstance or event) worry, disturb, or upset (someone): secrecy is an issue that bothers journalists | it bothered me that I hadn't done anything.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- trouble or annoy (someone) by interrupting or causing inconvenience: she didn't feel she could bother Mike with the problem.

- [intrans.] [usu. with negative] feel concern about or interest in: don't bother about meI'll find my own way home | [as adj.] (bothered) I'm not particularly bothered about how I look.

- [with negative] (bother oneself) concern oneself: he wasn't to bother himself with day-to-day things.

■ n. effort, worry, or difficulty: he saved me the bother of having to come up with a speech; it may seem like too much bother to cook just for yourself.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (a bother) a person or thing that causes worry or difficulty: I hope she hasn't been a bother.

- [with negative] a nuisance or inconvenience: it's no bother, it's on my way home.

<PHRASES>
□ can't be bothered (to do something) be unwilling to make the effort to do something: they couldn't be bothered to look it up.

□ hot and bothered in a state of anxiety or physical discomfort.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (as a noun in the dialect sense 'noise, chatter'): of Anglo-Irish origin; probably related to Irish bodhaire 'noise', bodhraim 'deafen, annoy'. The verb (originally dialect) meant 'confuse with noise' in the early 18th cent.

both·er·a·tion INFORMAL n. effort, worry, or difficulty; bother: he has caused us a deal of unnecessary botheration.

■ exclam. DATED used to express mild irritation or annoyance.

both·er·some adj. causing bother; troublesome: most childhood stomachaches, though bothersome, aren't serious.

Both·ni·a, Gulf of a northern arm of the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Finland.

both·y (also both·ie) n. (pl. both·ies) (in Scotland) a small hut or cottage.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: obscurely related to Irish and Scottish Gaelic both, bothan, and perhaps to BOOTH.

Linked entries:

BOOTH ■

Bo·tox n. TRADEMARK a drug prepared from the bacterial toxin botulin, used medically to treat certain muscular conditions and cosmetically to remove wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing facial muscles.

<DERIVATIVES> Bo·toxed adj.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: from bo(tulinum) tox(in).

Bo·tox par·ty n. a social event at which guests receive Botox injections from a doctor and mingle with each other for mutual support.

<ORIGIN> on the pattern of Tupperware party.

bo tree (also bo·dhi tree ) n. a fig tree native to India and Southeast Asia, regarded as sacred by Buddhists. Also called PEEPUL, PIPAL.
<INFO>  Ficus religiosa, family Moraceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: representing Sinhalese 'tree of knowledge' (Buddha's enlightenment having occurred beneath such a tree), from (from Sanskrit budh 'understand thoroughly') + gaha 'tree'.

Linked entries:

PEEPUL ■

PIPAL ■

bot·ry·oi·dal adj. (chiefly of minerals) having a shape reminiscent of a cluster of grapes.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Greek (from botrus 'bunch of grapes') + -AL.

Linked entries:

-AL ■

bo·try·tis n. a fungus that forms a grayish powdery mold on a variety of organic matter. It causes a number of fungal plant diseases, including chocolate spot, and is deliberately cultivated (as noble rot) on the grapes used for certain wines.
<INFO>  Genus Botrytis, phylum Ascomycota: numerous species, in particular the gray mold B. cinerea.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek botrus 'cluster of grapes'.

Bot·swa·na a landlocked country in southern Africa, the western half of which is the Kalahari Desert; pop. 1,560,000; capital, Gaborone; languages, English (official) and Setswana.

Inhabited by Sotho people and, in the Kalahari Desert, San (Bushmen), the area was made the British Protectorate of Bechuanaland in 1885. It became an independent republic within the Commonwealth of Nations in 1966 and adopted the name Botswana.

<DERIVATIVES> Bot·swa·nan adj. & n.

bot·tar·ga n. the dried, pressed roe of the mullet, which is sold in blocks and shaved over Italian dishes.

<ORIGIN> from Italian, from Arabic butarkhah.

Bot·ti·cel·li Sandro (1445-1510), Italian painter; born Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi. He is noted for his mythological works, such as Primavera (c.1478) and The Birth of Venus (c.1480).

bot·tle n. a container, typically made of glass or plastic and with a narrow neck, used for storing drinks or other liquids: a bottle of soda pop.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the contents of such a container: he managed to put away a bottle of wine.

- (the bottle) INFORMAL used in reference to heavy drinking: more women are taking to the bottle.

- a bottle fitted with a nipple for giving milk or other drinks to babies and very young children: a bottle of formula.

- (the bottle) the milk given to a baby from such a bottle: the age at which parents want a baby to give up the bottle varies.

- a large metal cylinder holding liquefied gas.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be bottled) place (drinks or other liquid) in bottles or jars: the wine is then bottled | [as adj.] (bottled) bottled beer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. as adj.] (bottled) store (gas) in a container in liquefied form: connecting the bottled gas to the stove.

<PHRASES> hit the bottle INFORMAL drink heavily.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  bottle someone up (usu. be bottled up) keep (someone) trapped or contained: he had to stay bottled up in New York.

□  bottle something up repress or conceal feelings over a period of time: learning how to express anger instead of bottling it up | [as adj.] (bottled up) Lily's bottled-up fury.

<DERIVATIVES> bot·tler n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a leather bottle): from Old French boteille, from medieval Latin butticula, diminutive of late Latin buttis 'cask, wineskin' (see BUTT^4 ).

Linked entries:

BUTT ■

bot·tle age n. time spent by a wine maturing in its bottle.

bot·tle bill n. any of several U.S. state laws that require deposits to be paid on beverages sold in recyclable bottles and cans.

bot·tle blond (also bot·tle blonde) DEROGATORY adj. (of a woman's hair) of a light blond shade, as though artificially lightened or bleached.

■ n. a woman with such hair.

bot·tle·brush n. an Australian shrub or small tree with spikes of scarlet or yellow flowers that resemble a cylindrical brush in shape.
<INFO>  Genus Callistemon, family Myrtaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> any of a number of plants bearing similar flowers.

bot·tled gas n. butane or propane gas stored under pressure in portable tanks.

bot·tle-feed v. [trans.] feed (a baby) with milk from a bottle instead of from the mother's breast: [as adj.] (bottle-fed) a bottle-fed baby.

bot·tle green n. a dark shade of green.

bot·tle jack n. a bottle-shaped hydraulic jack used for lifting heavy objects.

bot·tle·neck n. 1 the neck or mouth of a bottle.

2 a point of congestion or blockage, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a narrow section of road or a junction that impedes traffic flow: narrow streets and a lack of parking space combine to make the town a bottleneck.

- a situation that causes delay in a process or system: lack of imports is making the bottlenecks in domestic output worse than usual.

3 a device shaped like the neck of a bottle, worn on a guitarist's finger to produce special sound effects.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also bottleneck guitar) the style of guitar playing that uses such a device.

bot·tle·nose dol·phin (also bot·tle-nosed dol·phin) n. a stout-bodied dolphin with a distinct short beak, found in tropical and temperate coastal waters.
<INFO>  Tursiops truncatus, family Delphinidae.

bot·tle tree n. either of two Australian trees with swollen water-containing trunks:
<INFO>
- the Australian baobab of the Kimberley region (Adansonia gregorii, family Bombacaceae).

- a relative of the flame tree occurring in Queensland (Brachychiton rupestre, family Sterculiaceae).

bot·tom n. (usu. the bottom) 1 the lowest point or part: the bottom of the page; she paused at the bottom of the stairs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the lower surface of something: place the fruit on the bottom of the dish.

- the part on which a thing rests; the underside: he sat on the bottom of an upturned bucket.

- the ground under a sea, river, or lake: the liner plunged to the bottom of the sea.

- (also bottoms) another term for BOTTOMLAND.

- the seat of a chair.

- the lowest position in a competition or ranking: he started at the bottom and now has his own business.

- the basis or origin: there's a mad scientist at the bottom of it all.

- (also bottoms) the lower half of a two-piece garment: pajama bottoms; a skimpy bikini bottom.

- the lowest part of the hull of a ship, esp. the relatively flat portion on either side of the keel.

- ARCHAIC a ship, esp. considered as a unit of transport capacity.

- ARCHAIC stamina or strength of character, esp. of a horse.

2 INFORMAL the buttocks: he climbs the side of the gorge, scratching his bottom unselfconsciously.

3 [BASEBALL] the second half of an inning: the bottom of the ninth.

4 [PHYSICS] one of six flavors of quark.

5 INFORMAL a male who takes the passive role in homosexual intercourse, esp. anal intercourse.

■ adj. in the lowest position: the books on the bottom shelf.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in the lowest or last position in a competition or ranking: households in the bottom income bracket.

■ v. [intrans.] (of a performance or situation) reach the lowest point before stabilizing or improving: interest rates have bottomed out.
<SPECIAL USAGE>

<PHRASES>
□ at bottom basically; fundamentally: at bottom, science is exploration.

□ bet your bottom dollar INFORMAL stake everything: you can bet your bottom dollar it'll end in tears.

□ the bottom falls (or drops) out collapse or failure occurs: the bottom fell out of the market for classic cars.

□ bottoms up! INFORMAL a call to finish one's drink.

□ from the bottom of one's heart see HEART.

□ from the bottom up
1 completely and thoroughly: Paul understands me from the bottom up.

2 by progressing from a lower or more fundamental starting point: we began to study history from the bottom up.

□ get to the bottom of find an explanation for (a mystery): he hopes to get to the bottom of the scam.

<DERIVATIVES> bot·tomed adj. [in combination] a glass-bottomed boat bare-bottomed toddlers. bot·tom·most adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English botm, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bodem 'bottom, ground' and German Boden 'ground, earth'.

Linked entries:

BOTTOMLAND ■

HEART ■

bot·tom-dwell·ing adj. (of an aquatic organism) dwelling on or near the bed of the sea, a lake, or other body of water.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person or organization) performing consistently poorly.

- (of a person or organization) acting or performing questionably or unethically.

<DERIVATIVES> bot·tom-dwell·er n.

bot·tom feed·er n. an aquatic creature that feeds at the bottom of a body of water.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE someone who profits from things cast off or left over by others.

bot·tom fer·men·ta·tion n. a process in the brewing of certain beers in which the yeast falls to the bottom during fermentation.

bot·tom fish n. a species of fish, such as flounder, that is a bottom feeder.

■ v. fish for species that are bottom fish.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make profits from investments that are of low value or out of favor.

bot·tom·land n. low-lying land, typically by a river and subject to overflow during floods.

bot·tom·less adj. 1 without a bottom.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- very deep: the cold dark sea in whose bottomless depths monsters swam.

- FIGURATIVE inexhaustible: I don't have a bottomless pit of money; his appetite becomes bottomless.

2 naked, esp. below the waist.

bot·tom line n. INFORMAL the final total of an account, balance sheet, or other financial document: FIGURATIVE the determination of Japanese companies to ignore the bottom line.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the ultimate criterion: the bottom line is, does it work?

- the underlying or ultimate outcome: the bottom line is I'm still married to Denny.

bot·tom round n. a steak or other cut from the outer part of a round of beef.

bot·tom·ry n. DATED a system of merchant insurance in which a ship is used as security against a loan to finance a voyage, the lender losing the investment if the ship sinks.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from BOTTOM (in the sense 'ship') + -RY, influenced by Dutch bodemerij.

Linked entries:

BOTTOM ■

-RY ■

bot·tom-up adj. proceeding from the bottom of a hierarchy upward or from the beginning of a process forward.

bot·u·lin n. the bacterial toxin involved in botulism.

bot·u·li·num n. a rod-shaped bacterium that produces botulin.
<INFO>  Clostridium botulinum

bot·u·li·num tox·in (also bot·u·li·nus tox·in ) n. another term for BOTULIN.

Linked entries:

BOTULIN ■

bot·u·lism n. food poisoning caused by a bacterium (botulinum) growing on improperly sterilized canned meats and other preserved foods.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from German Botulismus, originally 'sausage poisoning', from Latin botulus 'sausage'.

bou·bou n. 1 (also boubou shrike) an African bush shrike with the upper parts mainly blackish in color. It is noted for the duet of bell-like calls produced by the male and female together.
<INFO>  Genus Laniarius, family Laniidae: several species, in particular the tropical boubou (L. aethiopicus) and the southern boubou (L. ferrugineus).

2 a long, colorful, loose-fitting garment worn by both sexes in parts of Africa.

<ORIGIN> French, from Malinke bubu.

bou·chée n. a small pastry with a sweet or savory filling.

Bou·cher François (1703-70), French painter and decorative artist. One of the foremost artists of the rococo style in France, his works include The Rising of the Sun (1753) and Summer Pastoral (1749).

bou·clé n. [often as adj.] yarn with a looped or curled ply, or fabric woven from this yarn: a bouclé sweater.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, literally 'buckled, curled'.

Bou·dic·ca (died AD 62), a queen of the Britons; ruler of the Iceni tribe in eastern England; also known as Boadicea. She led her forces in revolt against the Romans and sacked Colchester, St. Albans, and London before being defeated by the Roman governor, Suetonius Paulinus.

bou·din n. a French type of blood sausage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a spicy sausage used esp. in Louisiana cuisine.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, literally 'blood sausage'.

bou·doir n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL or HUMOROUS a woman's bedroom or private room.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, literally 'sulking place'.

bouf·fant adj. [attrib.] (of a person's hair) styled so as to puff out in a rounded shape: a blonde lady with bouffant hair.

■ n. a bouffant hairstyle.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, literally 'swelling', present participle of bouffer.

Bou·gain·ville 1 a volcanic island in the South Pacific Ocean, the largest of the Solomon Islands.

<ORIGIN> named after Louis de Bougainville (see BOUGAINVILLE^2 ), who visited it in 1768.

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BOUGAINVILLE ■

Bou·gain·ville 2 Louis Antoine de (1729-1811), French explorer. He led the first French circumnavigation of the globe 1766-69, visiting many of the islands of the South Pacific and compiling an invaluable scientific record of his findings.

bou·gain·vil·le·a (also bou·gain·vil·lae·a) n. an ornamental climbing plant that is widely cultivated in the tropics. The insignificant flowers are surrounded by brightly colored papery bracts that persist on the plant for a long time.
<INFO>  Genus Bougainvillea, family Nyctaginaceae.

<ORIGIN> named after Louis Antoine de Bougainville (see BOUGAINVILLE^2 ).

Linked entries:

BOUGAINVILLE ■

bough n. a main branch of a tree: apple boughs laden with blossom.

<ORIGIN>  Old English , 'bough or shoulder', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boeg 'shoulders or ship's bow', German Bug 'ship's bow' and 'horse's hock or shoulder', also to BOW^3 .

Linked entries:

BOW ■

bought past and past participle of BUY.

Linked entries:

BUY ■

bought·en adj. DIALECT bought rather than homemade: wooden boxes full of boughten cookies; her first store-boughten doll.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: dialect variant of BOUGHT.

Linked entries:

BOUGHT ■

bou·gie n. (pl. -gies) [MEDICINE] a thin, flexible surgical instrument for exploring or dilating a passage of the body.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French, literally 'wax candle', from Arabic Bijya, the name of an Algerian town that traded in wax.

bouil·la·baisse n. a rich, spicy stew or soup made with various kinds of fish, originally from Provence.

<ORIGIN> French, from modern Provençal bouiabaisso 'boil down'.

bouil·lon n. a broth made by stewing meat, fish, or vegetables in water.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: French, literally 'liquid in which something has boiled'.

bouil·lon cube n. a cube of concentrated stock, used for making bouillon.

Boul·der a city in north central Colorado, northwest of Denver, home to the University of Colorado; pop. 94,673.

boul·der (also bowl·der) n. a large rock, typically one that has been worn smooth by erosion.

<DERIVATIVES> boul·der·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: shortened from earlier boulderstone, of Scandinavian origin.

boul·der clay BRIT. n. another term for TILL^4 .

boul·der·ing n. [MOUNTAINEERING] climbing on large boulders, either for practice or as a sport in its own right.

boule 1 (also boules pronunc. same) n. 1 a French lawn game, played on rough ground with metal balls.

2 a crystal, as of sapphire, synthetically manufactured by fusion and used as a gemstone.

3 a rounded loaf of bread.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent. (originally denoting a form of roulette): French, literally 'bowl'.

bou·le 2 n. a legislative body of ancient or modern Greece.

<ORIGIN> from Greek 'senate'.

boul·e·vard (abbr.: blvd.) n. a wide street in a town or city, typically one lined with trees: [in names] Sunset Boulevard.
- another term for BOULEVARD STRIP.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, literally 'a rampart' (later 'a promenade on the site of one'), from German Bollwerk (see BULWARK).

Linked entries:

BULWARK ■

bou·le·var·dier n. a wealthy, fashionable socialite.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, originally in the sense 'person who frequents boulevards'.

boul·e·vard strip n. a grassy strip between a road and a sidewalk.

bou·le·ver·se·ment n. an inversion, esp. a violent one; an upset or upheaval.

<ORIGIN> from French bouleverser 'overturn'.

Bou·lez Pierre (1925- ), French composer and conductor. He was principal conductor with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra 1971-78.

boulle n. BRIT. variant spelling of BUHL.

Linked entries:

BUHL ■

bounce v. [intrans.] (of an object, esp. a ball) move quickly away from a surface after hitting it; rebound: the ball bounced off the rim | [trans.] he was bouncing the ball against the wall.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [often with adv. or prep. phrase showing direction] rebound repeatedly: the ball bounced away, and he chased it; the puck bounced into the middle of the ice.

- (of light, sound, or an electronic signal) come into contact with an object or surface and be reflected: short sound waves bounce off even small objects.

- (of a thing) move up and down while remaining essentially in the same position: the gangplank bounced under his confident step.

- (of a person) jump repeatedly up and down, typically on something springy: bouncing up and down on the mattress.

- [trans.] cause (a child) to move lightly up and down on one's knee as a game: I remember how you used to bounce me on your knee.

- [often with adv. or prep. phrase showing direction] move in an energetic or happy manner: Linda bounced in through the open front door.

- [often with adv. or prep. phrase showing direction] (of a vehicle) move jerkily along a bumpy surface: the car bounced down the narrow track.

- (bounce back) FIGURATIVE recover well after a setback: admired for his ability to bounce back from injury.

- [BASEBALL] hit a ball that bounces before reaching a fielder: bouncing out with the bases loaded | [trans.] bounced a grounder to third.

- INFORMAL (of a check) be returned by a bank when there are insufficient funds to meet it: my rent check bounced.

- [trans.] INFORMAL write (a check) on insufficient funds: I've never bounced a check.

- [trans.] INFORMAL dismiss (someone) from a job: those who put in a dismal performance will be bounced from the tour.

- [trans.] INFORMAL eject (a troublemaker) forcibly from a nightclub or similar establishment.

■ n. a rebound of a ball or other object: a bad bounce caused the ball to get away from the second baseman.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an act of jumping or an instance of being moved up and down: every bounce of the truck brought them into fresh contact; a bounce on your knee or a cuddle and pat on the back.

- the power of rebounding: a large flange with lots of bounce.

- a sudden rise in the level of something: economists agree that there could be a bounce in prices next year.

- exuberant self-confidence: the bounce was now back in Jenny's step.

- health and body in the hair: use conditioner to help hair regain its bounce.

<PHRASES>
□ bounce an idea off someone INFORMAL share an idea with another person in order to get feedback on it.

□ be bouncing off the walls INFORMAL be full of nervous excitement or agitation.

<ORIGIN> Middle English bunsen 'beat, thump'.

bounce flash n. a device for giving reflected photographic flashlight.
<SPECIAL USAGE> flashlight reflected in this way.

bounc·er n. 1 a person employed by a nightclub or similar establishment to prevent troublemakers from entering or to eject them from the premises.

2 [BASEBALL] a batted ball that bounces before being fielded.

bounc·ing adj. (of a ball) rebounding up and down: an awkwardly bouncing ball.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a baby) vigorous and healthy: Lisa gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.

- lively and confident: by the next day she was her usual bouncing, energetic self.

- INFORMAL (of a check) returned by a bank because there are insufficient funds in an account to meet it: attempts to tighten up the law on bouncing checks.

bounc·ing Bet n. another term for SOAPWORT.

Linked entries:

SOAPWORT ■

bounc·y adj. (bounc·i·er, bounc·i·est) bouncing well: a bouncy ball.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- resilient; springy: that bouncy artificial grass.

- (of a person) confident and lively: she was still the girl he remembered, bouncy and full of life.

- (of music) having a jaunty rhythm: the bouncy cheerfulness of polka.

- (of the hair) in good condition; having bounce: hair with shiny, bouncy curls.

<DERIVATIVES> bounc·i·ly adv. bounc·i·ness n.

bound 1 v. [intrans.] walk or run with leaping strides: Louis came bounding down the stairs; the dog bounded up to him.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an object, typically a round one) rebound from a surface: bullets bounded off the veranda.

■ n. a leaping movement upward: I went up the steps in two effortless bounds.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (as a noun): from French bond (noun), bondir (verb) 'resound', later 'rebound', from late Latin bombitare, from Latin bombus 'humming'.

bound 2 n. (often bounds) a territorial limit; a boundary: the ancient bounds of the forest.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a limitation or restriction on feeling or action: it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that the issue could arise again; enthusiasm to join the union knew no bounds.

- TECHNICAL a limiting value.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be bounded) form the boundary of; enclose: the ground was bounded by a main road on one side and a meadow on the other.
<SPECIAL USAGE> place within certain limits; restrict: freedom of action is bounded by law.

<PHRASES>
□ in bounds [SPORTS] inside the regular playing area.

□ out of bounds (of a place) outside the limits of where one is permitted to be: his kitchen was out of bounds to me at mealtimes.
- [SPORTS] outside the regular playing area: he hit his third shot out of bounds at the 17th.

- FIGURATIVE beyond what is acceptable: Paul felt that this conversation was getting out of bounds.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the senses 'landmark' and 'borderland'): from Old French bodne, from medieval Latin bodina, earlier butina, of unknown ultimate origin.

bound 3 adj. heading toward somewhere: trains bound for Chicago | [in combination] the three moon-bound astronauts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE destined or likely to have a specified experience: they were bound for disaster.

<ORIGIN> Middle English boun (in the sense 'ready, dressed'), from Old Norse búinn, past participle of búa 'get ready'; the final -d is euphonic, or influenced by BOUND^4 .

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BOUND ■

bound 4 past and past participle of BIND.

■ adj. 1 [in combination] restricted or confined to a specified place: his job kept him city-bound.
<SPECIAL USAGE> prevented from operating normally by the specified conditions: blizzard-bound Boston.

2 [with infinitive] certain to do or have something: there is bound to be a change of plan.
<SPECIAL USAGE> obliged by law, circumstances, or duty to do something: I'm bound to do what I can to help Sam; I'm bound to say that I'm not sure.

3 [in combination] (of a book) having a specified binding: fine leather-bound books.

4 [LINGUISTICS] (of a morpheme) unable to occur alone, e.g., dis- in dismount.

5 constipated.

<PHRASES>
□ bound up in focusing on, to the exclusion of all else: she was too bound up in her own misery to care that other people were hurt.

□ bound up with (or in) closely connected with or related to: democracy is bound up with a measure of economic and social equality.

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BIND ■

bound·a·ry n. (pl. -ries) a line that marks the limits of an area; a dividing line: the eastern boundary of the wilderness; | the boundary between the U.S. and Canada | [as adj.] a boundary wall.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (often boundaries) FIGURATIVE a limit of a subject or sphere of activity: a community without class or political boundaries.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: variant of dialect bounder, from BOUND^2 + -ER^1 , perhaps on the pattern of limitary.

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BOUND ■

-ER ■

bound·a·ry con·di·tion n. [MATHEMATICS] a condition that is required to be satisfied at all or part of the boundary of a region in which a set of differential equations is to be solved.

bound·a·ry lay·er n. a layer of more or less stationary fluid (such as water or air) immediately surrounding an immersed object in relative motion with the fluid.

Bound·a·ry Waters a region in northeast Minnesota, along the Ontario border, known as a canoeing wilderness.

bound·en archaic past participle of BIND.

<PHRASES> one's bounden duty a responsibility regarded as obligatory: the Pastor believed that it was his bounden duty to keep them on the right path.

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BIND ■

bound·er n. INFORMAL, DATED, CHIEFLY BRIT. a dishonorable man: he is nothing but a fortune-seeking bounder.

bound form n. a morpheme that occurs only as an element of a compound word and cannot stand on its own, such as -ing or -er.

bound·less adj. unlimited; immense: enthusiasts who devote boundless energy to their hobby.

<DERIVATIVES> bound·less·ly adv. [as submodifier] the land was boundlessly fertile. bound·less·ness n.

boun·te·ous adj. ARCHAIC generously given or giving; bountiful: the earth yields a bounteous harvest.

<DERIVATIVES> boun·te·ous·ly adv. boun·te·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French bontif, -ive 'benevolent' (from bonte 'bounty'), on the pattern of plenteous.

Boun·ti·ful a city in northern Utah, north of Salt Lake City; pop. 41,301.

boun·ti·ful adj. large in quantity; abundant: the ocean provided a bountiful supply of fresh food.
<SPECIAL USAGE> giving generously: he was exceedingly bountiful to persons in distress.

<DERIVATIVES> boun·ti·ful·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from BOUNTY + -FUL.

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BOUNTY ■

-FUL ■

Boun·ty a ship of the British navy on which in 1789 part of the crew, led by Fletcher Christian, mutinied against their commander, William Bligh, and set him adrift in an open boat with eighteen crewmen.

boun·ty n. (pl. -ties) 1 generosity; liberality: FIGURATIVE for millennia the people along the Nile have depended entirely on its bounty.
<SPECIAL USAGE> abundance; plenty: we ask that growers share their bounty with others.

2 a monetary gift or reward, typically given by a government, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a sum paid for killing or capturing a person or animal: there was an increased bounty on his head.

- HISTORICAL a sum paid to encourage trade: bounties were paid to colonial producers of indigo dye.

- a sum paid to army or navy recruits upon enlistment.

- POETIC/LITERARY something given or occurring in generous amounts: the bounties of nature.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting goodness or generosity): from Old French bonte 'goodness', from Latin bonitas, from bonus 'good'. The sense 'monetary reward' dates from the early 18th cent.

boun·ty hunt·er n. one who pursues a criminal or seeks an achievement for the sake of the reward.

bou·quet n. 1 an attractively arranged bunch of flowers, esp. one presented as a gift or carried at a ceremony.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE an expression of approval; a compliment: we will happily publish the bouquets.

2 a characteristic scent, esp. that of a wine or perfume: the aperitif has a faint bouquet of almonds | champagnes have a delicacy of bouquet. See note at SMELL.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French (earlier 'clump of trees'), from a dialect variant of Old French bos 'wood'. Sense 2 dates from the mid 19th cent.

bou·quet gar·ni n. (pl. bou·quets gar·nis pronunc. same ) a bunch of herbs, typically encased in a cheesecloth bag, used for flavoring a stew or soup.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, literally 'garnished bouquet'.

Bour·bon 1 the surname of a branch of the royal family of France. The Bourbons ruled France from 1589, when Henry IV succeeded to the throne, until the monarchy was overthrown in 1848, and reached the peak of their power under Louis XIV in the late 17th century. Members of this family have also been kings of Spain (1700-1931 and since 1975).

Bour·bon 2 n. 1 a reactionary.

2 (also Bourbon rose) a rose of a variety that flowers over a long period and has a rich scent. It arose as a natural hybrid on the island of Réunion (formerly Île de Bourbon) and was introduced into Europe in the early 19th century.
<INFO>  Rosa × borboniana, a hybrid of Rosa chinensis and R. damascena, family Rosaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (sense 1, originally U.S.): from the name of the BOURBON^1 family. Sense 2 dates from the 1930s.

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BOURBON ■

bour·bon n. a straight whiskey distilled from a mash having at least 51 percent corn in addition to malt and rye.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Bourbon County, Kentucky, where it was first made.

Bour·bon Coun·ty a county in north central Kentucky, in the Bluegrass region, birthplace of the American whiskey type.

Bour·bon·nais a former duchy and province in central France; chief town, Moulins.

bour·don n. 1 [MUSIC] a low-pitched stop in an organ or harmonium, typically a sixteen-foot stopped diapason.

2 the drone pipe of a bagpipe.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'drone of a bagpipe'): from Old French, 'drone', of imitative origin.

bourg n. HISTORICAL a town or village under the shadow of a castle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a French market town.

<ORIGIN> French, from late Latin burgus 'castle' (in medieval Latin 'fortified town'), ultimately of Germanic origin and related to BOROUGH.

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BOROUGH ■

bour·geois adj. of or characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes: a rich, bored, bourgeois family; these views will shock the bourgeois critics.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in Marxist contexts) upholding the interests of capitalism; not communist: bourgeois society took for granted the sanctity of property.

■ n. (pl. same) a bourgeois person: a self-confessed and proud bourgeois.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French BOURG. Compare with BURGESS.

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BURGESS ■

bour·geoise adj. of or characteristic of female members of the bourgeoisie.

■ n. a female member of the bourgeoisie.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, feminine of bourgeois 'citizen' (see BOURGEOIS).

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BOURGEOIS ■

bour·geoi·sie n. (usu. the bourgeoisie) the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values or conventional attitudes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in Marxist contexts) the capitalist class who own most of society's wealth and means of production.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: French, from BOURGEOIS.

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BOURGEOIS ■

Bour·gogne French name for BURGUNDY.

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BURGUNDY ■

Bour·gui·ba Habib ibn Ali (1903-2000), Tunisian nationalist and statesman. He was the first president of independent Tunisia 1957-87.

Bourke-White Margaret (1906-71), U.S. photojournalist. During World War II, she was the first female photographer with the U.S. armed forces. At the end of the war, she accompanied the Allied forces when they entered the Nazi concentration camps. Later assignments included the Korean War (1950-53) and work in India and South Africa.

bourn 1 (also bourne) n. DIALECT a small stream, esp. one that flows intermittently or seasonally.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: southern English variant of BURN^2 .

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BURN ■

bourn 2 (also bourne) n. POETIC/LITERARY 1 a goal; a destination.

2 a limit; a boundary.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (denoting a boundary of a field): from French borne, from Old French bodne (see BOUND^2 ).

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BOUND ■

Bourne·mouth a resort on the southern coast of England; pop. 154,400.

bour·rée n. a lively French dance like a gavotte.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BALLET] a series of very fast little steps, with the feet close together, typically performed on pointe and giving the impression that the dancer is gliding over the floor.

■ v. [intrans.] perform a bourrée.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: French, literally 'faggot of twigs' (the dance being performed around a fire made with such twigs).

bourse n. a stock market in a non-English-speaking country, esp. France.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Bourse) the Paris stock exchange.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as burse, the usual form until the mid 19th cent.): from French, literally 'purse', via medieval Latin from Greek bursa 'leather'.

Bour·sin n. TRADEMARK a kind of soft cheese from France.

<ORIGIN> French.

bou·stro·phe·don adj. & adv. (of written words) from right to left and from left to right in alternate lines.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Greek, literally 'as an ox turns in plowing', from bous 'ox' + -strophos 'turning'.

bout n. 1 a short period of intense activity of a specified kind: occasional bouts of strenuous exercise; a drinking bout.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an attack of illness or strong emotion of a specified kind: a severe bout of flu.

- a wrestling or boxing match.

2 a curve in the side of a violin, guitar, or other musical instrument.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting a curve or circuit, hence later a “turn” of activity): from dialect bought 'bend, loop'; probably of Low German origin.

bou·tade n. FORMAL a sudden outburst or outbreak.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: French, from bouter 'to thrust'.

bou·tique n. 1 a small store selling fashionable clothes or accessories.

2 a business that serves a sophisticated or specialized clientele: a small investment boutique | [as adj.] a boutique film.

<DERIVATIVES> bou·tique·y adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, literally 'small shop', via Latin from Greek 'storehouse'. Compare with BODEGA.

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BODEGA ■

bou·tique brew·er·y n. another term for MICROBREWERY.

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MICROBREWERY ■

bou·tique ho·tel n. a small stylish hotel, typically one situated in a fashionable urban location.

bou·ton n. [ANATOMY] an enlarged part of a nerve fiber or cell, esp. an axon, where it forms a synapse with another nerve.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: from French, literally 'button'.

bou·ton·nière n. a spray of flowers worn in a buttonhole.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, 'buttonhole', from bouton 'button'.

Bou·tros-Gha·li Boutros (1922- ), Egyptian diplomat and politician; secretary-general of the UN 1992-97.

bou·vier n. a large, powerful dog of a rough-coated breed originating in Belgium.

<ORIGIN> French 'cowherd'.

bou·zou·ki n. (pl. -kis or -kia ) a long-necked Greek instrument similar to the mandolin.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from modern Greek mpouzouki, possibly related to Turkish bozuk 'spoiled' (with reference to roughly made instruments).

bo·vid n. [ZOOLOGY] a mammal of the cattle family (Bovidae).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Bovidae, from bos, bov- 'ox'.

bo·vine adj. of, relating to, or affecting cattle: bovine tuberculosis; bovine tissue.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) slow-moving and dull-witted: amiable bovine faces.

■ n. an animal of the cattle group, which also includes buffaloes and bisons.

<DERIVATIVES> bo·vine·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from late Latin bovinus, from Latin bos, bov- 'ox'.

bo·vine growth hor·mone (abbr.: BGH) n. a natural hormone in cattle that helps regulate growth and milk production and that may be produced artificially and given to dairy cattle to increase the yield of milk. Also called BOVINE SOMATROPIN.

bo·vine so·mat·o·tro·pin (abbr.: BST) n. another term for BOVINE GROWTH HORMONE.

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BOVINE GROWTH HORMONE ■

bo·vine spon·gi·form en·ceph·a·lop·a·thy n. see BSE.

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BSE ■

Bow Clara (1905-65), U.S. actress. One of the most popular stars and sex symbols of the 1920s, she was known as the “It Girl.” Her silent movies include It (1927) and The Wild Party (1929).

bow 1 n. 1 a knot tied with two loops and two loose ends, used esp. for tying shoelaces and decorative ribbons: a girl with long hair tied back in a bow.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a decorative ribbon tied in such a knot.

2 a weapon for shooting arrows, typically made of a curved piece of wood whose ends are joined by a taut string.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a bowman.

3 a long, partially curved rod with horsehair stretched along its length, used for playing the violin and other stringed instruments.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a single passage of such a rod over the strings.

4 a thing that is bent or curved in shape, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a curved stroke forming part of a letter (e.g., b, p).

- a metal ring forming the handle of a key or pair of scissors.

- a side piece or lens frame of a pair of glasses.

■ v. 1 [trans.] play (a stringed instrument or music) using a bow: the techniques by which the pieces were bowed.

2 bend into the shape of a bow: the sides of the image are squeezed in or bowed out.

<ORIGIN> Old English boga 'bend, bow, arch', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boog and German Bogen, also to BOW^2 .

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BOW ■

bow 2 v. [intrans.] bend the head or upper part of the body as a sign of respect, greeting, or shame: he turned and bowed to his father; they refused to bow down before the king | [as adj.] (bowed) councilors stood with heads bowed | [trans.] she knelt and bowed her head.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] express (thanks, agreement, or other sentiments) by bending one's head respectfully: he looked at Hector before bowing grave thanks.

- [intrans.] bend the body in order to see or concentrate: [as adj.] my mother sat bowed over a library book.

- [trans.] cause (something) to bend with age or under a heavy weight: the vines were bowed down with flowers | [intrans.] the grass bowed down before the wind.

- submit to pressure or to someone's demands: the mayor bowed to public opinion.

- [trans.] usher (someone) in a specified direction while bowing respectfully: a gorgeously dressed footman bowed her into the hallway.

■ n. an act of bending the head or upper body as a sign of respect or greeting: the man gave a little bow.

<PHRASES>
□ bow and scrape behave in an obsequious way to someone in authority.

□ make one's bow make one's first formal appearance in a particular role: he made his bow as a science fiction writer.

□ take a bow (of a performer) acknowledge applause after a performance by bowing: FIGURATIVE the aides do the grind work while the boss takes the bows.

<PHRASAL VERB> bow out withdraw or retire from an activity, role, or commitment: many artists are forced to bow out of the profession at a relatively early age.

<ORIGIN>  Old English 'bend, stoop', of Germanic origin; related to German biegen, also to BOW^1 .

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BOW ■

bow 3 (also bows) n. the front end of a ship: water sprayed high over her bows; stand in the bow.

<PHRASES>
□ on the bow [NAUTICAL] within 45° of the point directly ahead.

□ a (warning) shot across the bows a statement or gesture intended to frighten someone into changing their course of action: supporters are firing a warning shot across the President's bows.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Low German boog, Dutch boeg 'shoulder or ship's bow'; related to BOUGH.

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BOUGH ■

bow com·pass (also bow com·pass·es) n. a compass with jointed legs.

bowd·ler·ize v. [trans.] remove material that is considered improper or offensive from (a text or account), esp. with the result that it becomes weaker or less effective: [as adj.] (bowdlerized) a bowdlerized version of the story.

<DERIVATIVES> bowd·ler·ism n. bowd·ler·i·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the name of Dr. Thomas Bowdler (1754-1825), who published an expurgated edition of Shakespeare in 1818, + -IZE.

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-IZE ■

bow ech·o [METEOROLOGY] n. a bow-shaped radar signature associated with fast-moving storm systems accompanied by damaging winds.

bow·el (also bow·els) n. the part of the alimentary canal below the stomach; the intestine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the bowels of ) the parts deep inside something large: the train picks up speed for its final plunge into the subterranean bowels of Manhattan.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bouel, from Latin botellus, diminutive of botulus 'sausage'.

bow·el move·ment n. an act of defecation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the feces discharged in an act of defecation.

Bow·en Elizabeth (Dorothea Cole) (1899-1973), British novelist and short-story writer, born in Ireland. Notable works: The Death of the Heart (1938) and The Heat of the Day (1949).

bow·er 1 n. a pleasant shady place under trees or climbing plants in a garden or wood.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- POETIC/LITERARY a summerhouse or country cottage.

- POETIC/LITERARY a lady's private room or bedroom.

■ v. [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY shade or enclose (a place or person): [as adj.] (bowered) the bowered pathways into the tangle of vines.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'dwelling, inner room', of Germanic origin; related to German Bauer 'birdcage'.

bow·er 2 (also bower anchor) n. each of two anchors carried at a ship's bow.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from BOW^3 + -ER^1 .

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-ER ■

bow·er·bird n. a strong-billed Australasian bird, noted for the male's habit of constructing a bower adorned with feathers, shells, and other objects to attract the female.
<INFO>  Family Ptilonorhynchidae: several genera and species, esp. the satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), which decorates the bower with blue-colored articles.

Bow·er·y a street and district of lower Manhattan in New York City associated, esp. formerly, with flophouses and rowdies.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: built on the site of governor Peter Stuyvesant's bowery 'farm', from Dutch bouwerij.

bow·fin n. a predatory American freshwater fish with a large blunt head and a long dorsal fin. It is able to survive for long periods out of water.
<INFO>  Amia calva, the only living member of the family Amiidae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from BOW^1 + FIN.

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BOW ■

FIN ■

bow-front·ed adj. (of furniture) having a convexly curved front.

<DERIVATIVES> bow front n. & adj.

bow·head (also bowhead whale) n. a black Arctic right whale that feeds by skimming the surface for plankton. Also called GREENLAND RIGHT WHALE.
<INFO>  Balaena mysticetus, family Balaenidae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from BOW^1 + HEAD.

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GREENLAND RIGHT WHALE ■

BOW ■

HEAD ■

bow·hunt·ing n. the practice of hunting animals with a bow rather than a gun.

<DERIVATIVES> bow·hunt·er n.

Bow·ie 1 a town in west central Maryland, northeast of Washington, DC; pop. 50,269.

Bow·ie 2 David (1947- ), English rock singer, songwriter, and actor; born David Robert Jones. He is known for his theatrical performances and unconventional stage personae. Notable albums: Ziggy Stardust (1972) and Let's Dance (1983).

Bow·ie 3 Jim (1799-1836), U.S. frontiersman; full name James Bowie. The Bowie knife was designed either by him or by his brother Rezin. One of the leaders among the U.S. settlers who opposed Mexican rule in Texas, he shared command of the garrison that resisted the Mexican attack on the Alamo. He died during this battle.

bow·ie knife n. a long knife with a blade double-edged at the point.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Jim Bowie or his brother (see BOWIE^3 ).

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BOWIE ■

bow·knot n. a double-looped knot in a ribbon, tie, or other fastening.

bowl 1 n. 1 a round, deep dish or basin used for food or liquid: a mixing bowl; a sugar bowl.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the contents of such a container: huge bowls of steaming spaghetti.

- [usu. in names] a decorative round dish awarded as a prize in a competition: the McGeorge Rose Bowl.

- a rounded, concave part of an object: a toilet bowl; the bowl of a spoon.

- [GEOGRAPHY] a natural basin.

2 [in names] a stadium for sporting or musical events: the Hollywood Bowl.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a football game played after the regular season between leading or all-star teams: [as adj.] their last four bowl games.

<DERIVATIVES> bowl·ful n.

<ORIGIN> Old English bolle, bolla, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bol 'round object', also to BOLL.

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BOLL ■

bowl 2 n. a ball made slightly asymmetrical so that it runs on a curved course, used in the game of lawn bowling.

■ v. 1 [trans.] roll (a ball or hoop) along the ground: she snatched her hat off and bowled it ahead of her like a hoop.

2 [intrans.] play at tenpin bowling: I usually bowl Tuesday nights.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- achieve (a certain score) in tenpin bowling:
she bowled a 162 high game.

3 [trans.] [CRICKET] deliver (a ball to a batsman): Lillee bowled another bouncer | [intrans.] Sobers bowled to Willis.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also bowl out) dismiss (a batsman) by knocking down the wicket with the ball that one has bowled: Stewart was bowled for 33 in the one-day international.

4 [intrans.] move rapidly and smoothly in a specified direction: they bowled along the country roads.

<PHRASAL VERB> bowl someone over knock someone down.
- (usu. be bowled over) INFORMAL completely overwhelm or astonish someone, for example by one's good qualities or looks: when he met Angela, he was just bowled over by her.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'ball'): from Old French boule, from Latin bulla 'bubble'.

bowl·der n. variant spelling of BOULDER.

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BOULDER ■

bow legs plural n. legs that curve outward at the knee; bandy legs.

<DERIVATIVES> bow-leg·ged adj.

bowl·er 1 n. 1 a player at tenpin bowling, lawn bowling, or skittles.

2 [CRICKET] a member of the fielding side who bowls or is bowling.

bowl·er 2 (also bowler hat) n. a man's hard felt hat with a round dome-shaped crown.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after William Bowler, the English hatter who designed it in 1850.

Bowles Paul (Frederick) (1910-99), U.S. writer and composer. In the 1930s, he studied music in Paris and worked as a music critic and composer. His novels, which include The Sheltering Sky (1949), Let It Come Down (1952), and The Spider's House (1966), typically concern Westerners in the Arab world.

bowl hair·cut n. a haircut done by or as if by inverting a bowl on a person's head and cutting off the hair left exposed.

bow·line n. 1 a rope attached to the weather leech of a square sail and leading forward, thus helping the ship sail nearer the wind.

2 a nonbinding knot for forming a nonslipping nonjamming loop at the end of a rope.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Middle Low German , Middle Dutch boechlijne, from boeg 'ship's bow' + lijne 'line'.

bowl·ing n. 1 the game of tenpin bowling as a sport or recreation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the game of candlepin or duckpin bowling.

- the game of lawn bowling.

- the game of skittles.

2 [CRICKET] the delivery of the ball.

bowl·ing al·ley n. a long narrow track along which balls are rolled in the games of bowling (tenpin, candlepin, or duckpin) or skittles.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a building containing such tracks.

bowl·ing ball n. a large, heavy ball with holes for the thumb and two fingers, used in tenpin bowling.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a smaller, holeless ball used in candlepin and duckpin bowling.

Bowl·ing Green a city in west central Kentucky; pop. 49,296.

bowl·ing green n. an area of closely mown grass on which the game of lawn bowling is played.

bowls plural n. [treated as sing.] British term for LAWN BOWLING.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT. tenpin bowling or skittles.

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LAWN BOWLING ■

bow·man 1 n. (pl. -men) an archer.

bow·man 2 n. (pl. -men) the rower who sits nearest the bow of a boat, esp. a racing boat.

Bow·man's cap·sule n. a capsule-shaped membranous structure surrounding the glomerulus of each nephron in the kidneys of mammals that extracts wastes, excess salts, and water from the blood.

bow saw n. a narrow saw stretched like a bowstring on a light frame.

bow·ser n. TRADEMARK a tanker used for fueling aircraft and other vehicles or for supplying water.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from the name of a company of oil storage engineers.

bow·shot n. [in sing.] the distance to which a bow can send an arrow: the two armies camped almost within bowshot of each other.

bow·sprit n. a spar extending forward from a ship's bow, to which the forestays are fastened.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Middle Low German , Middle Dutch boechspriet, from boech 'bow' + spriet 'sprit'.

bow·string n. the string of an archer's bow, traditionally made of three strands of hemp.

■ v. (past and past part. -strung) [trans.] HISTORICAL strangle with a bowstring (a former Turkish method of execution).

bow·string hemp n. another term for SANSEVIERA.

bow tie n. a necktie in the form of a bow or a knot with two loops.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a pattern used for patchwork quilts, resembling such a necktie: [as adj.] a bow-tie quilt.

bow wave n. a wave or system of waves set up at the bows of a moving ship.

bow win·dow n. a curved bay window.

bow·wood n. another name for OSAGE ORANGE.

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OSAGE ORANGE ■

bow-wow exclam. an imitation of a dog's bark.

■ n. INFORMAL a child's word for a dog.

bow·yer n. a person who makes or sells archers' bows.

box 1 n. 1 a container with a flat base and sides, typically square or rectangular and having a lid: a cereal box; a hat box.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the contents of such a container: she ate a whole box of chocolates that night.

- short for BOOM BOX.

- INFORMAL a casing containing a computer.

- (the box) INFORMAL CHIEFLY BRIT. television or a television set: light entertainment shows on the box.

- INFORMAL a coffin: I always thought I'd be in a box when I finally left here.

- HISTORICAL a coachman's seat.

- VULGAR SLANG a woman's vagina.

2 an area or space enclosed within straight lines, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an area on a printed page that is to be filled in or that is set off by a border: a picture of Sandy was in the upper right-hand box.

- an area on a computer screen for user input or displaying information.

- (the box) (also the batter's box) [BASEBALL] the rectangular area occupied by the batter.

- [BASEBALL] the rectangular area behind home plate for the catcher ( catcher’s box), or those near first and third bases, in foul territory, for each base coach ( coach’s box).

- (the box) [SOCCER] the penalty area: he curled in a shot from the edge of the box.

3 a small structure or building for a specific purpose, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a separate section or enclosed area within a larger building, esp. one reserved for a group of people in a theater or sports ground or for witnesses or the jury in a law court: a box at the opera; the jury was now in the box.

- BRIT. a small country house for use when hunting or fishing.

4 a protective casing for a piece of a mechanism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL short for GEARBOX.

5 a mailbox at a post office, newspaper office, or other facility where a person may arrange to receive correspondence: write to me care of PO Box 112.

■ v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (boxed) put in or provide with a box: the books are sold as a boxed set; Muriel boxed up all of Christopher's clothes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- enclose (a piece of text) within printed lines: boxed sections in magazines.

- (box someone in) restrict the ability of (someone) to move freely: a van had double-parked alongside her car and totally boxed her in.

<PHRASES>
□ back through the box [BASEBALL] (of a batted ball) hit in the direction of the pitcher past second base.

□ in a box restricted or limited: he will find himself in a box on US policy toward the Soviet Union.

□ in-a-box (or in-the-box) packaged simply, cheaply, and conveniently: the Butler-in-a-Box is the gadget of your dreams.

□ (right) out of the box describing a newly purchased product that works immediately, without any special assembly or training: a completely preconfigured system you can quickly install right out of the box.

□ think outside (of) the box think in an original or creative way: you have to give him credit for thinking outside the box.

<PHRASAL VERB> box out [BASKETBALL] block an opponent from an area by the position of one's body: Miller neglected to box out his man in the final seconds.

<DERIVATIVES> box·ful n. box·like adj.

<ORIGIN> late Old English, probably from late Latin buxis, from Latin pyxis 'boxwood box', from Greek puxos (see BOX^3 ).

Linked entries:

BOOM BOX ■

GEARBOX ■

BOX ■

box 2 v. [intrans.] fight an opponent using one's fists; compete in the sport of boxing: he boxed for England | [trans.] he had to box Bennett for the title.

■ n. [in sing.] a slap with the hand on the side of a person's head given as a punishment or in anger: she gave him a box on the ear.

<PHRASES> box someone's ears slap someone on the side of the head as a punishment or in anger.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'a blow'): of unknown origin.

box 3 n. 1 (also box tree) a slow-growing European evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy dark green leaves. It is often grown as a hedge and for topiary.
<INFO>  Buxus sempervirens, family Buxaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (also box·wood) the hard, heavy wood of this tree, formerly widely used for engraving and for musical instruments.

2 any of a number of trees that have similar wood or foliage, in particular:
<INFO>
- several Australian eucalyptus trees (genus Eucalyptus, family Myrtaceae).

- the tropical American Venezuelan (or West Indian) box (Casearia praecox, family Flacourtiaceae), the wood of which has now largely replaced that of the European box.

<ORIGIN> Old English, via Latin from Greek puxos.

box 4 v. (in phrase box the compass) [CHIEFLY NAUTICAL] 1 recite the compass points in correct order.

2 make a complete change of direction: by now the breeze had boxed the compass.

<ORIGIN>  mid 18th cent.: perhaps from Spanish bojar 'sail around', from Middle Low German 'bend', from the base of BOW^1 .

Linked entries:

BOW ■

box beam n. another term for BOX GIRDER.

Linked entries:

BOX GIRDER ■

box·board n. a type of stiff cardboard used to make boxes.

box cam·er·a n. a simple box-shaped hand camera, typically lacking an adjustment for shutter speed.

box can·yon n. a narrow canyon with a flat bottom and vertical walls.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: probably a calque from Spanish cajón 'large box, canyon'.

box·car n. an enclosed railroad freight car, typically with sliding doors on the sides.

box-cut·ter n. a thin, inexpensive razor-blade knife designed to open cardboard boxes.

box el·der n. an American maple of damp soils that has leaves resembling the ash and green or purplish twigs.
<INFO>  Acer negundo, family Aceraceae.

box-end wrench another term for BOX WRENCH.

Box·er n. a member of a fiercely nationalistic Chinese secret society that flourished in the 19th century. In 1899 the society led a Chinese uprising ( the Boxer Rebellion) against Western domination that was eventually crushed by a combined European force, aided by Japan and the U.S.

<ORIGIN> from BOXER, translating Chinese yì hé quán, literally 'righteous harmony fists'.

Linked entries:

BOXER ■

box·er n. 1 a person who takes part in boxing, esp. as a sport.

2 a medium-sized dog of a breed with a smooth brown coat and puglike face.

box·er shorts (also boxers) plural n. men's loose underpants similar in shape to the shorts worn by boxers.

box·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a tropical marine fish that has a shell of bony plates enclosing the body, from which spines project. Also called TRUNKFISH.
<INFO>  Family Ostraciontidae: numerous genera and species, including the widely distributed Tetrosomus gibbosus.

Linked entries:

TRUNKFISH ■

box gird·er n. a hollow girder square in cross section.

box·ing n. the sport or practice of fighting with the fists, esp. with padded gloves in a roped square ring according to prescribed rules.

Box·ing Day n. (in parts of the British Commonwealth) a public holiday celebrated on the first day (strictly, the first weekday) after Christmas Day.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the custom of giving tradespeople a Christmas box on this day.

box·ing glove n. a heavily padded mitten worn in boxing.

box jel·ly·fish n. a jellyfish with a box-shaped swimming bell, living in warm seas. See also SEA WASP.
<INFO>  Class Cubozoa (formerly order Cubomedusae).

Linked entries:

SEA WASP ■

box kite n. a tailless kite in the form of a long box open at each end.

box lunch n. an individual lunch carried in a box rather than a bag.

box of·fice n. a place at a theater or other arts establishment where tickets are bought or reserved.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] used to refer to the commercial success of a movie, play, or actor in terms of the audience size or takings they command: [as adj.] the movie was a huge box-office hit.

box·out n. a piece of text written to accompany a larger text and printed in a separate area of the page.

box pew n. an old-fashioned church pew enclosed by wooden partitions.

box pleat n. a pleat consisting of two parallel creases facing opposite directions and forming a raised section in between.

box score n. the tabulated results of a baseball game or other sporting event, with statistics given for each player's performance.

box seat n. 1 a seat in a box in a theater or sports stadium.

2 HISTORICAL a coachman's seat.

box so·cial n. a fund-raising event in which box lunches are auctioned off.

box spring n. each of a set of vertical springs housed in a frame in a mattress or upholstered chair base.

box stall n. an enclosed area in a barn in which a single animal can move around freely.

box step n. a dance step in which the feet describe the form of a square or rectangle.

box tur·tle n. a land-living turtle that has a lower shell with hinged lobes that can be drawn up tightly to enclose the animal. It is native to North America and Mexico and is sometimes kept as a pet.
<INFO>  Genus Terrapene, family Emydidae: several species, including the eastern box turtle (T. carolina) and the western box turtle (T. ornata).

box·wood n. see BOX^3 (sense 1).

Linked entries:

BOX ■

box wrench n. a cylindrical wrench with a hexagonal end fitting over the head of a nut, used esp. when the nut is difficult to reach. Also called BOX-END WRENCH.

box·y adj. (box·i·er, box·i·est) squarish in shape: a boxy jacket; nondescript highrises, boxy and uniform.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a room or space) cramped: the children are too old to share this boxy bedroom.

- (of recorded sound) restricted in tone.

boy n. 1 a male child or young man: a group of six boys.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a son: she put her little boy to bed.

- [with adj.] a male child or young man who does a specified job: a delivery boy.

2 [usu. with adj.] used informally or lightheartedly to refer to a man: the inspector was a local boy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- DATED used as a friendly form of address from one man to another, often from an older man to a young man: my dear boy, don't say another word!

- DATED, OFFENSIVE (often used as a form of address) a black male servant or worker.

- used as a form of address to a male dog: down boy, down!

■ exclam. INFORMAL used to express strong feelings, esp. of excitement or admiration: oh boy, that's wonderful!

<PHRASES>
□ the big boys men or organizations considered to be the most powerful and successful.

□ boys will be boys used to express the view that mischievous or childish behavior is typical of boys or young men and should not cause surprise when it occurs.

□ one of the boys an accepted member of a group, esp. a group of men: he expected to be treated just like one of the boys Ms. Patton is one of the boys.

<DERIVATIVES> boy·hood n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a male servant): of unknown origin.

bo·yar n. HISTORICAL a member of the old aristocracy in Russia, next in rank to a prince.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Russian boyarin 'grandee'.

boy band (or girl band) n. a pop group composed of attractive young men (or young women) whose music and image are designed to appeal primarily to a young teenage audience.

boy·cott v. [trans.] withdraw from commercial or social relations with (a country, organization, or person) as a punishment or protest.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- refuse to buy or handle (goods) as a punishment or protest.

- refuse to cooperate with or participate in (a policy or event).

■ n. a punitive ban that forbids relations with other bodies, cooperation with a policy, or the handling of goods.

<ORIGIN> from the name of Captain C. C. Boycott (1832-97), an English land agent in Ireland, so treated in 1880, in an attempt instigated by the Irish to get rents reduced.

Boyd Nancy, see MILLAY.

Linked entries:

MILLAY ■

Boy·er Charles (1897-1978), U.S. actor; born in France. Before going to Hollywood in the 1930s, he enjoyed a successful stage career in France. Notable movies: Mayerling (1936), All This, and Heaven Too (1940), Tales of Manhattan (1942), Gaslight (1944), and Barefoot in the Park (1968).

boy·friend n. a regular male companion with whom one has a romantic or sexual relationship.

boy·ish adj. of, like, or characteristic of a male child or young man: his boyish charm; she looked boyish and defiant.

<DERIVATIVES> boy·ish·ly adv. boy·ish·ness n.

Boyle Robert (1627-91), Irish scientist. He advanced a corpuscular view of matter and is known for his experiments with the air pump that led to the law named after him.

Boyle's law [CHEMISTRY] a law stating that the pressure of a given mass of an ideal gas is inversely proportional to its volume at a constant temperature.

Boyne, Battle of the a battle fought near the Boyne River in Ireland in 1690, in which the Protestant army of William of Orange, the newly crowned William III, defeated the Catholic army (including troops from both France and Ireland) led by the recently deposed James II. The battle is celebrated annually (on July 12) in Northern Ireland as a victory for the Protestant cause.

Boyn·ton Beach a resort city in southeastern Florida; pop. 46,194.

boy·o n. (pl. -os) INFORMAL CHIEFLY WELSH & IRISH a boy or man (usually used as a form of address).

Boy Scout n. A member of an organization of boys, esp. the Boy Scouts of America, that promotes character, outdoor activities, good citizenship, and service to others.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an honest, friendly, and typically naive man: [as adj.] his trademark Boy Scout smile.

boy·sen·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) 1 a large red edible blackberrylike fruit.

2 the shrubby plant that bears this fruit, which is a hybrid of several kinds of bramble.
<INFO>  Rubus loganobaccus, family Rosaceae.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: named after Robert Boysen (died 1950), the American horticulturalist who developed it.

Boys Town a village in east central Nebraska, just west of Omaha, noted as a home for troubled youth; pop. 794.

boy toy n. INFORMAL, DEROGATORY a young woman who offers herself as a sex object for young men.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a young man who offers himself as a sex object for women.

boy won·der n. an exceptionally talented young man or boy.

Boz the pseudonym used by Charles Dickens in his Pickwick Papers and contributions to the Morning Chronicle.

Boze·man a city in southwestern Montana; pop. 27,509.

bo·zo n. (pl. -zos) INFORMAL a stupid, rude, or insignificant person, esp. a man.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: of unknown origin.

BP abbr.
- before the present (era): 18,000 years BP.

- blood pressure.

- [BASEBALL] batting practice.

- boiling point.

Bp. abbr. Bishop.

bp abbr.
- baptized.

- [BIOCHEMISTRY] base pair(s), as a unit of length in nucleic acid chains.

- [FINANCE] basis point(s).

- (b.p.) boiling point.

BPH [MEDICINE] abbr. benign prostatic hyperplasia (or hypertrophy), an enlargement of the prostate gland common in elderly men.

BPh abbr. (also BPhil) Bachelor of Philosophy.

bpi [COMPUTING] abbr. bits per inch, used to indicate the density of data that can be stored on magnetic tape or similar media.

B-pic·ture n. another term for B-MOVIE.

Linked entries:

B-MOVIE ■

BPR abbr. business process reengineering.

bps [COMPUTING] abbr. bits per second.

Bq abbr. becquerel.

BR abbr.
- bedroom(s).

- bills receivable.

- (in the UK) British Rail or (formerly) British Railways.

Br symbol the chemical element bromine.

Br. abbr.
- British.

- (with reference to religious orders) Brother.

bra n. an undergarment worn by women to support the breasts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also auto bra or car bra) a carbon-based cover that fits over the front bumper of a car, absorbing the microwaves used in police radar equipment to minimize the risk of detection for the speeding motorist.

<DERIVATIVES> bra·less adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: abbreviation of BRASSIERE.

Linked entries:

BRASSIERE ■

Bra·bant a former duchy in western Europe, the capital of which was Brussels. It is now divided into two provinces: North Brabant in the Netherlands, of which the capital is s-Hertogenbosch; and Brabant in Belgium, of which the capital remains Brussels.

bra burn·er n. INFORMAL a feminist perceived as militant in the struggle for women's rights.

<ORIGIN> from the mid 20th-cent. urban legend of women of burning bras to symbolize freedom from societal restraints.

brace n. 1 a device that clamps things tightly together or that gives support, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a device fitted to a weak or injured neck, leg, or other part of the body for support: a neck brace.

- a wire device fitted in the mouth to straighten the teeth.

- a strengthening piece of iron or timber used in building and carpentry.

- a tool in carpentry having a crank handle and a socket to hold a bit for boring.

- a rope leading aft from each yardarm, used for trimming the sail.

- (braces) British term for SUSPENDERS.

2 (pl. same) a pair of something, typically of birds or mammals killed in hunting: thirty brace of grouse.

3 either of the two marks { and }, used either to indicate that two or more items on one side have the same relationship as each other to the single item to which the other side points, or in pairs to show that words between them are connected.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MUSIC] a similar mark connecting staves to be performed at the same time.

■ v. [trans.] make (a structure) stronger or firmer with wood, iron, or other forms of support: the posts were braced by lengths of timber.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- press (one's body or part of one's body) firmly against something in order to stay balanced: she braced her feet against a projecting shelf | [as adj.] (braced) he stood with legs braced.

- prepare (someone or oneself) for something difficult or unpleasant: both stations are bracing themselves for job losses; police are braced for a traffic nightmare.

<PHRASAL VERB> brace up be strong or courageous.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a verb meaning 'clasp, fasten tightly'): from Old French bracier 'embrace', from brace 'two arms', from Latin bracchia, plural of bracchium 'arm', from Greek .

Linked entries:

SUSPENDERS ■

brace and bit n. a revolving tool with a D-shaped crank handle for boring.

brace·let n. an ornamental band, hoop, or chain worn on the wrist or arm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (bracelets) INFORMAL handcuffs.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from bras 'arm', from Latin bracchium.

brac·er 1 n. INFORMAL an alcoholic drink intended to prepare one for something difficult or unpleasant.

brac·er 2 n. a wristguard used in archery, fencing, and other sports. Also called ARMGUARD.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a portion of a suit of armor covering the arm.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French braciere, from bras 'arm' (see BRACELET).

Linked entries:

ARMGUARD ■

BRACELET ■

bra·cer·o n. a Mexican laborer allowed into the U.S. for a limited time as a seasonal agricultural worker.

<ORIGIN> Spanish 'farm worker', from brazo 'arm'.

bra·chi·al adj. [ANATOMY] of or relating to the arm, specifically the upper arm, or an armlike structure: the brachial artery.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- like an arm.

- [ZOOLOGY] denoting the upper valve of a brachiopod's shell.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin brachialis, from brac(c)hium 'arm'.

bra·chi·ate v. [intrans.] (of certain apes) move by using the arms to swing from branch to branch: the gibbons brachiate energetically across their enclosure.

■ adj. [BIOLOGY] branched, esp. having widely spread paired branches on alternate sides.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having arms.

<DERIVATIVES> bra·chi·a·tion n. bra·chi·a·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (originally in the sense 'having paired branches'): from Latin brachium 'arm' + -ATE^2 .

Linked entries:

-ATE ■

bra·chi·o·ce·phal·ic adj. of or relating to both arm and head.

Brach·i·op·o·da [ZOOLOGY] a phylum of marine invertebrates that comprises the lamp shells.

<DERIVATIVES> bra·chi·o·pod n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek 'arm' + pous, pod- 'foot'.

bra·chi·o·saur (also bra·chi·o·sau·rus ) n. a huge herbivorous dinosaur of the late Jurassic to mid Cretaceous periods, with forelegs much longer than the hind legs.
<INFO>  Genus Brachiosaurus, infraorder Sauropoda, order Saurischia.

<DERIVATIVES> bra·chi·o·sau·ri·an adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek 'arm' + sauros 'lizard'.

bra·chis·to·chrone n. a curve between two points along which a body can move under gravity in a shorter time than for any other curve.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Greek brakhistos 'shortest' + khronos 'time'.

bra·chi·um n. the arm, specifically the upper arm from shoulder to elbow.

brachy- comb. form short: brachycephalic.

<ORIGIN> from Greek brakhus 'short'.

brach·y·ce·phal·ic adj. having a relatively broad, short skull (usually with the breadth at least 80 percent of the length). Often contrasted with DOLICHOCEPHALIC.

<DERIVATIVES> brach·y·ceph·a·ly n.

Linked entries:

DOLICHOCEPHALIC ■

brach·y·ther·a·py n. the treatment of cancer, especially prostate cancer, by the insertion of radioactive implants directly into the tissue.

brach·y·u·ra a tribe or suborder of crustaceans that have short abdomens folded toward the ventral surface. It includes the true crabs.

<DERIVATIVES> brach·y·u·ral adj. brach·y·u·rous adj.

<ORIGIN> from BRACHY- + Greek oura 'tail'.

brach·y·u·ran n. a crab belonging to the brachyura suborder of crustaceans.

brac·ing adj. 1 fresh and invigorating: the bracing sea air.

2 [attrib.] (of a support) serving to brace a structure: bracing struts.

<DERIVATIVES> brac·ing·ly adv. (in sense 1).

bra·ci·o·la n. a thin slice of beef or other meat wrapped around a filling and cooked in wine.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

brack·en n. a tall fern with coarse lobed fronds that occurs worldwide and can cover large areas.
<INFO>  Pteridium aquilinum, family Dennstaedtiaceae (or Hypolepidaceae).

<SPECIAL USAGE> (loosely) any large coarse fern resembling this.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: of Scandinavian origin; related to Danish bregne, Swedish bräken.

brack·et n. 1 each of a pair of marks [ ] used to enclose words or figures so as to separate them from the context: symbols are given in brackets.

2 [with adj.] a category of people or things that are similar or fall between specified limits: those in a high income bracket.

3 a right-angled support attached to and projecting from a wall for holding a shelf, lamp, or other object.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a shelf fixed with such a support to a wall.

4 [MILITARY] the distance between two artillery shots fired either side of the target to establish range.

■ v. (-et·ed, -et·ing) [trans.] 1 (usu. be bracketed) place (one or more people or things) in the same category or group: he is sometimes bracketed with the “new wave” of film directors.

2 enclose (words or figures) in brackets: [as adj.] (bracketed) the relevant data are included as bracketed points.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MATHEMATICS] enclose (a complex expression) in brackets to denote that the whole of the expression rather than just a part of it has a particular relation, such as multiplication or division, to another expression.

- FIGURATIVE surround or enclose (someone or something) physically: the lines of exhaustion bracketing his mouth.

- put (a belief or matter) aside temporarily: he bracketed off the question of God.

3 hold or attach (something) by means of a right-angled support: pipes should be bracketed.

4 [MILITARY] establish the range of (a target) by firing two preliminary shots, one short of the target and the other beyond it.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHOTOGRAPHY] establish (the correct exposure) by taking several pictures with slightly more or less exposure.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French braguette or Spanish bragueta 'codpiece, bracket, corbel', from Provençal braga, from Latin braca, (plural) bracae 'breeches'.

brack·et creep n. movement into a higher tax bracket as taxable income increases.

brack·et fun·gus n. a fungus that grows on living trees or dead wood, forming one or more shelflike projections that are the spore-producing bodies. Hyphae spread through the wood absorbing nutrients and can cause the death of the tree.
<INFO>  Several families (formerly in the order Aphyllophorales), class Basidiomycetes.

brack·ish adj. (of water) slightly salty, as is the mixture of river water and seawater in estuaries.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of fish or other organisms) living in or requiring such water.

- unpleasant or distasteful: the lighting in the movie is brackish.

<DERIVATIVES> brack·ish·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from obsolete brack 'salty', from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch brac.

brac·o·nid n. [ENTOMOLOGY] a small parasitic wasp of a family (Braconidae) that is related to that of the ichneumons. Unlike the latter, braconids lay numerous eggs in a single host.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Braconidae, formed irregularly from Greek brakhus 'short'.

bract n. [BOTANY] a modified leaf or scale, typically small, with a flower or flower cluster in its axil. Bracts are sometimes larger and more brightly colored than the true flower, as in a poinsettia.

<DERIVATIVES> brac·te·ate adj.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin bractea 'thin plate of metal'.

brac·te·o·late adj. having bracteoles.

brac·te·ole n. a small bract, esp. one on a floral stem.

brad n. a small wire nail with a small, often asymmetrical head.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old Norse broddr 'spike'.

brad·awl n. a hand boring tool similar to a small, sharpened screwdriver.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from BRAD + AWL.

Linked entries:

BRAD ■

AWL ■

Brad·bur·y Ray (1920- ), U.S. writer of science fiction; full name Raymond Douglas Bradbury. Notable works: The Martian Chronicles (1950), Fahrenheit 451 (1951), and A Graveyard for Lunatics (1990).

Brad·dock Edward (1695-1755) British soldier. He was commander in chief of the British forces in America in 1754.

Bra·den·ton a city in southwestern Florida, noted as a resort and for citrus processing; pop. 43,779.

Brad·ford 1 an industrial city in northern England; pop. 449,100.

Brad·ford 2 William (1590-1657), American religious and colonial leader. He was a signer of the Mayflower Compact in 1620 and governor of Plymouth Colony sporadically from 1621 until 1656 (1621-32, 1635, 1637, 1639-43, 1645-56).

Brad·ley 1 Bill (1943- ), U.S. basketball player and politician; full name William Warren Bradley. He played professionally for the New York Knicks 1967-77 before entering politics. A New Jersey Democrat, he served as a U.S. senator 1979-97. In 2000, he unsuccessfully campaigned to be the Democratic presidential nominee. Basketball Hall of Fame (1983).

Brad·ley 2 Joseph (1813-92), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1870-92. In 1877, he was part of the Electoral College commission that was formed to resolve the indecisiveness of the Hayes-Tilden presidential election and cast the deciding vote in favor of Rutherford B. Hayes.

Brad·ley 3 Milton (1836-1911), U.S. publisher and manufacturer. His board game “The Checkered Game of Life” (1860) led to the formation of Milton Bradley and Company in 1864. Through the company, he also published books on kindergarten and manufactured materials for kindergartens.

Brad·ley 4 Omar Nelson (1893-1981), U.S. army officer. As a general, he commanded the land contingent during the Normandy campaign of 1944-45. After World War II, he served as chief of staff of the U.S. Army 1948-49, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff 1949-53, and General of the Army 1950.

Brad·ley 5 Thomas (1917-98), U.S. politician and lawyer. Elected mayor of Los Angeles 1973-93, he became the first African-American mayor of a largely white city. He was with the Los Angeles police department 1940-62 and on the city council 1963-73 before becoming mayor.

Brad·ley (in full Bradley Fighting Vehicle) n. a medium-sized tank equipped for use in combat.

<ORIGIN> named for General Omar Bradley.

Brad·man Don (1908-2001), Australian cricketer; full name Sir Donald George Bradman. His test match batting average of 99.94 is well above that of any other cricketer of any era.

Brad·shaw Terry Paxton (1948- ), U.S. football player. He quarterbacked for the Pittsburgh Steelers 1970-83. Football Hall of Fame (1989).

Brad·street Anne Dudley (1612-72), American poet. She came from England with her husband Simon Bradstreet to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. Her poetry is collected in The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America (1650).

Bra·dy Mathew W. (c.1823-96) U.S. photographer. His photographs of the Union armies taken during the Civil War became the basis for his National Photographic Collection, and the publication of his Gallery of Illustrious Americans (1850) established him as a leading U.S. photographer.

Bra·dy Bill (also Brady Law) n. a provision of U.S. federal law that requires a waiting period for handgun purchases and background checks on those who wish to purchase handguns.

<ORIGIN> For James S. Brady (1940- ), who campaigned for the bill, which was signed into law in 1993. Brady was shot and seriously wounded in the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.

Bra·dy bond n. a restructured commercial bank loan to poor countries, denominated in U.S. dollars.

brad·y·car·di·a n. [MEDICINE] abnormally slow heart action.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek bradus 'slow' + kardia 'heart'.

brad·y·kin·in n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a compound released in the blood in some circumstances that causes contraction of smooth muscle and dilation of blood vessels. It is a peptide comprising nine amino-acid residues.

<ORIGIN>  1940s: from Greek bradus 'slow' + 'motion' + -IN^1 .

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brae n. SCOTTISH & N. IRISH a steep bank or hillside.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse brá 'eyelash'. Compare with BROW^1 , in which a similar sense development occurred.

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Brae·burn n. a dessert apple of a variety with crisp flesh, first grown in New Zealand.

brag v. (bragged, brag·ging) [reporting verb] say in a boastful manner: [with direct speech] “I found them,” she bragged | [with clause] he brags that he wrote 300 pages in 10 days | [intrans.] they were bragging about how easy it had been.

■ n. 1 a gambling card game that is a simplified form of poker.

2 [in sing.] a boastful statement; an act of talking boastfully.

■ adj. [attrib.] INFORMAL, excellent; first-rate: that was my brag heifer.

<PHRASES> bragging rights used to express pride in bettering a rival: it took the team seven games to wrest bragging rights from their interstate rivals.

<DERIVATIVES> brag·ger n. brag·ging·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as an adjective in the sense 'boastful'): of unknown origin (French braguer is recorded only later).

Bra·gan·za the dynasty that ruled Portugal from 1640 until the end of the monarchy in 1910 and Brazil (on its independence from Portugal) from 1822 until the formation of a republic in 1889.

Bragg Sir William Henry (1862-1942), English physicist, a founder of solid-state physics. He collaborated with his son, Sir (William) Lawrence Bragg (1890-1971), in developing the technique of X-ray diffraction for determining the atomic structure of crystals. Nobel Prize for Physics (1915, shared with his son).

brag·ga·do·ci·o n. boastful or arrogant behavior.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a boaster): from Braggadocchio, the name of a braggart in Spenser's Faerie Queene, from BRAG or BRAGGART + the Italian suffix -occio, denoting something large of its kind.

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BRAGGART ■

brag·gart n. a person who boasts about achievements or possessions: [as adj.] braggart men.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French bragard, from braguer 'to brag'.

brag·ging rights n. (esp. of sports teams) the supposed right of a winning team and its fans to brag over the defeat of a close rival.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the supposed right to brag about an accomplishment:
the megacompanies compete for bragging rights over which entertainment combine is bigger.

Brahe Tycho (1546-1601), Danish astronomer. He built an observatory equipped with precision instruments, but despite demonstrating that comets follow sun-centered paths, he adhered to a geocentric system of planetary motions.

Brah·ma 1 the creator god in later Hinduism, who forms a triad with Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer.

2 another term for BRAHMAN (sense 2).

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit brahman.

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brah·ma n. short for BRAHMAPUTRA.

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Brah·ma bull n. another term for BRAHMAN sense 3.

Brah·man (also Brah·min ) n. (pl. -mans also -mins) 1 a member of the highest Hindu caste, that of the priesthood. <ORIGIN> from Sanskrit .

2 (in Hinduism) the ultimate reality underlying all phenomena. <ORIGIN> from Sanskrit brahman.

3 an ox of a humped breed originally domesticated in India that is tolerant of heat and drought and is now kept widely in tropical and warm-temperate countries. Also called BRAHMA BULL; ZEBU.
<INFO>  Bos indicus, family Bovidae; now usually included under the name B. taurus with other domestic cattle.

<DERIVATIVES> Brah·man·ic adj. Brah·man·i·cal adj.

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Brah·ma·na n. (in Hinduism) any of the lengthy commentaries on the Vedas, composed in Sanskrit c.900-700 BC and containing expository material relating to Vedic sacrificial ritual.

Brah·man·ism (also Brah·min·ism) n. the complex sacrificial religion that emerged in post-Vedic India (c.900 BC) under the influence of the dominant priesthood (Brahmans), an early stage in the development of Hinduism.

Brah·ma·pu·tra a river in southern Asia that rises in the Himalayas and flows for 1,800 miles (2,900 km) through Tibet, northeastern India, and Bangladesh to join the Ganges River at its delta on the Bay of Bengal.

Brah·min n. 1 variant spelling of BRAHMAN.

2 a socially or culturally superior person, esp. a member of the upper classes from New England.

<DERIVATIVES> Brah·min·i·cal adj. (in sense 1).

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Brahms Johannes (1833-97), German composer and pianist. He eschewed program music and opera and concentrated on traditional forms. He wrote four symphonies, four concertos, chamber and piano music, choral works including the German Requiem (1857-68), and nearly 200 songs.

braid n. 1 threads of silk, cotton, or other material woven into a decorative band for edging or trimming garments: a coat trimmed with gold braid | fancy braids.

2 a length of hair made up of three or more interlaced strands: women with long black braids.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a length made up of three or more interlaced strands of any flexible material: a flexible copper braid; braids of garlic.

■ v. [trans.] 1 interlace three or more strands of (hair or other flexible material) to form a length: their long hair was tightly braided | [as adj.] (braided) horses with braided manes.

2 [often as adj.] (braided) edge or trim (a garment) with braid: braided red trousers.

3 [usu. as adj.] (braided) (of a river or stream) flow into shallow interwoven channels divided by deposits of sediment.

<ORIGIN> Old English bregdan 'make a sudden movement', also 'interweave', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breien (verb).

braid·ing n. decorative braid or braided work: curtains heavy with gold braiding.

brail [SAILING] n. (brails) small ropes that are led from the leech of a fore-and-aft sail to pulleys on the mast for temporarily furling it.

■ v. [trans.] (brail a sail up) furl (a sail) by hauling on such ropes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French braiel, from medieval Latin bracale 'girdle', from braca 'breeches'.

Br·i·la an industrial city and port in eastern Romania, on the Danube River; pop. 236,300.

Braille 1 Louis (1809-52), French educator. Blind from the age of 3, he had developed his own system of raised-point reading and writing by the age of 15. His system was officially adopted two years after his death.

Braille 2 n. a form of written language for the blind, in which characters are represented by patterns of raised dots that are felt with the fingertips.

■ v. [trans.] print or transcribe in Braille.

braille·writ·er n. a machine for writing braille.

brain n. 1 an organ of soft nervous tissue contained in the skull of vertebrates, functioning as the coordinating center of sensation and intellectual and nervous activity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (brains) the substance of such an organ, typically that of an animal, used as food.

- INFORMAL an electronic device with functions comparable to those of the human brain.

The human brain consists of three main parts. (i) The forebrain, greatly developed into the cerebrum, consists of two hemispheres joined by a bridge of nerve fibers, and is responsible for thought and control of speech. (ii) The midbrain, the upper part of the tapering brainstem, contains cells involved in eye movements. (iii) The hindbrain, the lower part of the brainstem, contains cells responsible for breathing and for regulating heart action, the flow of digestive juices, and other unconscious actions and processes. The cerebellum, which lies behind the brain stem, plays an important role in the execution of highly skilled movements.

2 intellectual capacity: I didn't have enough brains for the sciences | success requires brain as well as brawn.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the brains) INFORMAL a clever person who supplies the ideas and plans for a group of people: Tom was the brains of the outfit.

- a person's mind: a tiny alarm bell began to ring in her brain.

- an exceptionally intelligent person: he was known more as a snappy dresser than a brain.

■ v. [trans.] INFORMAL hit (someone) hard on the head with an object: she brained me with a rolling pin.

<PHRASES>
□ beat (or blow) someone's brains out INFORMAL injure or kill someone with a hard hit on the head.

□ have something on the brain INFORMAL be obsessed with something: John has cars on the brain.

<ORIGIN> Old English brægen; related to Dutch brein.

brain cell n. a cell in the tissue of the brain.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL regarded as a unit of intellectual power: it does help if the student has more than one brain cell.

brain·child n. (pl. -child·ren) INFORMAL an idea or invention considered to be a particular person's creation: the statue is the brainchild of a local landscape artist.

brain cor·al n. a compact coral with a convoluted surface resembling that of the brain.
<INFO>  Diploria and other genera, order Scleractinia.

brain dam·age n. injury to the brain that impairs its functions, esp. permanently.

<DERIVATIVES> brain-dam·aged adj.

brain-dead adj. having suffered brain death: brain-dead patients.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL extremely stupid: the brain-dead politics of the past.

brain death n. irreversible brain damage causing the end of independent respiration, regarded as indicative of death.

brain drain n. [in sing.] INFORMAL the emigration of highly trained or intelligent people from a particular country.

Braine John (Gerard) (1922-86), English novelist, noted for his novel, Room at the Top (1957), whose opportunistic hero is hailed as a representative example of an “angry young man.”

brained adj. [in combination] (of vertebrates) having an organ in the skull of a certain size or kind: large-brained mammals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DEROGATORY (of a person) having an intellectual capacity of a certain quality or kind: pea-brained Americans.

brain fe·ver n. DATED inflammation of the brain.

brain fin·ger·print·ing n. the recording and analysis of an individual’s neurological responses to images and words flashed on a screen, esp. to determine if the person is telling the truth.

brain food n. food believed to be beneficial to the brain, esp. in increasing intellectual power.

brain·i·ac n. INFORMAL an exceptionally intelligent person.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from the name of a superintelligent alien character of the Superman comic strip, from a blend of BRAIN and MANIAC.

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brain·less adj. stupid; foolish: a brainless bimbo.

<DERIVATIVES> brain·less·ly adv. brain·less·ness n.

brain·pan n. INFORMAL a person's skull.

brain·pow·er n. mental ability; intelligence.

brain·sick adj. diseased in the mind; mad or insane.

brain·stem (also brain stem) n. [ANATOMY] the central trunk of the mammalian brain, consisting of the medulla oblongata, pons, and midbrain, and continuing downward to form the spinal cord.

brain·storm n. 1 a spontaneous group discussion to produce ideas and ways of solving problems.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a sudden clever idea.

2 INFORMAL a moment in which one is suddenly unable to think clearly or act sensibly.

■ v. [intrans.] produce an idea or way of solving a problem by holding a spontaneous group discussion: [as n.] (brainstorming) a brainstorming session.

brain-teas·er (also brain·teas·er, brain-twist·er) n. INFORMAL a problem or puzzle, typically one designed to be solved for amusement.

<DERIVATIVES> brain-teas·ing adj.

Brain·tree a town in eastern Massachusetts, south of Boston; pop. 32,836.

brain trust n. a group of experts appointed to advise a government or politician.

brain·wash v. [trans.] make (someone) adopt radically different beliefs by using systematic and often forcible pressure: the organization could brainwash young people; they have been brainwashed into conformity and subservience.

brain·wave n. (usu. brainwaves) an electrical impulse in the brain.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. in sing.] INFORMAL a sudden clever idea.

brain·work n. mental activity or effort, esp. as opposed to physical labor.

brain·y adj. (brain·i·er, brain·i·est) having or showing intelligence: a brainy, high-powered lawyer.

<DERIVATIVES> brain·i·ly adv. brain·i·ness n.

braise v. [trans.] fry (food) lightly and then stew it slowly in a closed container: [as adj.] (braised) braised veal.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French braiser, from braise 'live coals' (in which the container was formerly placed).

brake 1 n. a device for slowing or stopping a moving vehicle, typically by applying pressure to the wheels: he slammed on his brakes | [as adj.] a brake pedal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thing that slows or hinders a process: China's decision to put the brakes on economic reform.

■ v. [intrans.] make a moving vehicle slow down or stop by using a brake: drivers who brake abruptly | [as adj.] (braking) an anti-lock braking system.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

brake 2 n. HISTORICAL an open, horse-drawn, four-wheeled carriage.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.

brake 3 n. a toothed instrument used for crushing flax and hemp.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also brake harrow) a heavy machine formerly used in agriculture for breaking up large lumps of earth.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: possibly related to Middle Low German brake and Dutch braak, and perhaps also to BREAK.

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brake 4 n. ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY a thicket. See also CANEBRAKE, FERNBRAKE.

<ORIGIN> Old English bracu (first recorded in the plural in fearnbraca 'thickets of fern'), related to Middle Low German brake 'branch, stump'.

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brake 5 (also brake fern) n. a coarse fern of warm and tropical countries, frequently having the fronds divided into long linear segments.
<INFO>  Genus Pteris, family Pteridaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> archaic term for BRACKEN.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: perhaps an abbreviation of BRACKEN (interpreted as plural).

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BRACKEN ■

brake 6 archaic past of BREAK.

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BREAK ■

brake block n. a block of hard material pressed against the rim of a wheel to slow it down by friction, typically one of a pair made of hardened rubber used on a bicycle.

brake disc n. the disc attached to the wheel in a disc brake.

brake drum n. a broad, very short cylinder attached to a wheel, against which the brake shoes press in a drum brake.

brake flu·id n. fluid used in a hydraulic brake system.

brake har·row n. see BRAKE^3 .

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BRAKE ■

brake horse·pow·er n. (pl. same) the available power of an engine, assessed by measuring the force needed to brake it: the net brake horsepower is only up by six.

brake light n. a red light at the back of a vehicle that is automatically illuminated when the brakes are applied.

brake lin·ing n. a layer of asbestos or a similar material attached to a brake shoe to increase friction against the brake drum.

brake·man n. (pl. -men) 1 a railroad worker responsible for a train's brakes and other aspects of its operation.

2 a person in charge of brakes, for instance in a bobsled.

brake pad n. either of the thin blocks that grip the disc in a disc brake.

brake shoe n. either of the long curved blocks that press on the inside of the brake drum.

brak·ing dis·tance n. the approximate distance traveled before coming to a complete stop when the brakes are applied in a vehicle moving at a specified speed.

Bra·man·te Donato (di Angelo) (1444-1514), Italian architect. He drew up the first plan for St. Peter's Cathedral, which was begun in 1506, and established the concept of a huge central dome.

bram·ble n. a prickly scrambling wild shrub of the rose family, esp. a blackberry or (loosely) a dog rose.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any rough, prickly vine or shrub.

<DERIVATIVES> bram·bly adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English bræmbel, , of Germanic origin; related to BROOM.

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BROOM ■

Bramp·ton a city in south Ontario, an industrial and residential suburb west of Toronto; pop. 234,445.

bran n. pieces of grain husk separated from flour after milling.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, of unknown origin.

Bran·agh Kenneth (Charles) (1960- ), English actor, producer, and director. He is known especially for his Shakespearean films: Much Ado about Nothing (1993), Hamlet (1996), and Love's Labour's Lost (2000).

branch n. a part of a tree that grows out from the trunk or from a bough.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a lateral extension or subdivision extending from the main part of something, typically one extending from a river, road, or railway: a branch of the Susquehanna River.

- a division or office of a large business or organization, operating locally or having a particular function: he went to work at our Boston branch.

- a conceptual subdivision of something, esp. a family, group of languages, or a subject: a branch of mathematics called graph theory.

- [COMPUTING] a control structure in which one of several alternative sets of program statements is selected for execution.

■ v. [intrans.] (of a road or path) divide into one or more subdivisions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a tree or plant) bear or send out branches: [as adj.] (branched) the common sea lavender can be identified by its branched stem.

- (branch off) diverge from the main route or part: the road branched off at the town | FIGURATIVE Ellington was constantly branching off with new musical styles.

- (branch out) extend or expand one's activities or interests in a new direction: the company is branching out into Europe.

<DERIVATIVES> branch·let n. branch·like adj. branch·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French branche, from late Latin branca 'paw'.

bran·chi·a n. (pl. -chi·ae ) the gills of fish and some invertebrate animals.

<DERIVATIVES> bran·chi·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin branchia, (plural) branchiae, from Greek brankhia (plural).

Bran·chi·op·o·da [ZOOLOGY] a class of small aquatic crustaceans that includes water fleas and fairy shrimps, which are distinguished by having gills on their feet.

<DERIVATIVES> bran·chi·o·pod n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek brankhia 'gills' + pous, pod- 'foot'.

branch·let n. a subdivision of a branch; a twig.

branch line n. a secondary railroad line branching off from a main line.

branch wa·ter (also branch) n. ordinary water, esp. when added to alcoholic drinks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> water from a stream or brook.

Bran·cu·si Constantin (1876-1957), Romanian sculptor, who spent much of his working life in France. His sculpture represents an attempt to move away from representational art and to capture the essence of forms by reducing them to their ultimate, almost abstract, simplicity.

brand n. 1 a type of product manufactured by a particular company under a particular name: a new brand of detergent.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a brand name: the company will market computer software under its own brand.

- a particular type or kind of something: the Finnish brand of democratic socialism.

2 an identifying mark burned on livestock or (esp. formerly) criminals or slaves with a branding iron.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ARCHAIC a branding iron.

- FIGURATIVE a habit, trait, or quality that causes someone public shame or disgrace: the brand of Paula's alcoholism.

3 a piece of burning or smoldering wood: he took two burning brands from the fire.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY a torch.

4 POETIC/LITERARY a sword.

■ v. [trans.] 1 mark (an animal, formerly a criminal or slave) with a branding iron.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- mark indelibly: an ointment that branded her with unsightly violet-colored splotches.

- describe (someone or something) as something bad or shameful: the media was intent on branding us as communists | [trans.] she was branded a liar.

2 assign a brand name to: [as adj.] (branded) branded goods at low prices.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (branding) the promotion of a particular product or company by means of advertising and distinctive design.

<DERIVATIVES> brand·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English, of Germanic origin; related to German Brand, also to BURN^1 . The word originally meant 'burning' or 'a piece of burning or smoldering wood' (sense 3); the verb sense 'mark permanently with a hot iron' dates from late Middle English. The noun sense 'mark of ownership made by branding', based on the latter, arose in the mid 17th cent., and from it is derived sense 1 (early 19th cent.).

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bran·dade n. a Provençal dish consisting of salt cod mixed into a purée with olive oil and milk.

<ORIGIN> French, from modern Provençal brandado, literally 'something that has been shaken'.

brand a·ware·ness n. the extent to which consumers are familiar with the distinctive qualities or image of a particular brand of goods or services.

Bran·deis Louis Dembitz (1856-1941), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1916-39. He gained an early reputation as the "people's attorney" by defending without a fee Boston residents seeking regulation of local public utilities. His "Brandeis brief" made use of social facts, rather than relying solely on precedent and general arguments.

Bran·den·burg a state in northeastern Germany that surrounds but is independent of the city of Berlin; capital, Potsdam.

Bran·den·burg Gate one of the city gates of Berlin. Built 1788-91, it is the only one that survives. After the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, it stood in East Berlin, a conspicuous symbol of a divided city. It was reopened in December 1989.

brand ex·ten·sion n. an instance of using an established brand name or trademark on new products, so as to increase sales.

brand im·age n. the impression of a product held by real or potential consumers.

brand·ing i·ron n. a metal implement that is heated and used to brand livestock or (esp. formerly) criminals or slaves.

bran·dish v. [trans.] wave or flourish (something, esp. a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement.

<DERIVATIVES> bran·dish·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French brandiss-, lengthened stem of brandir; ultimately of Germanic origin and related to BRAND.

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brand lead·er n. the best-selling or most highly regarded product or brand of its type.

brand·ling n. a red earthworm that has rings of a brighter color, often found in manure, and used as bait by anglers and in composting kitchen waste.
<INFO>  Eisenia fetida, family Lumbricidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from BRAND + -LING.

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-LING ■

brand loy·al·ty n. the tendency of some consumers to continue buying the same brand of goods rather than competing brands.

brand name n. a name given by the maker to a product or range of products, esp. a trademark.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a familiar or widely known name: [as adj.] younger writers who clamber toward brand-name status.

brand new adj. completely new.

Bran·do Marlon (1924-2004 ), U.S. actor. An exponent of method acting, he first attracted critical acclaim in the stage production of A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) and starred in the movie version four years later. Other notable movies: On the Waterfront (1954, for which he won an Academy Award), The Godfather (1972), and Apocalypse Now (1979).

Brandt Willy (1913-92), German statesman; chancellor of West Germany 1969-74; born Karl Herbert Frahm. He achieved international recognition for his policy of détente and the opening of relations with the countries of the Eastern bloc (Ostpolitik). Nobel Peace Prize (1971).

Brand X n. a name used for an unidentified brand contrasted unfavorably with a product of the same type being promoted.

bran·dy n. (pl. -dies) a strong alcoholic spirit distilled from wine or fermented fruit juice.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from earlier brandwine, brandewine, from Dutch brandewijn, from branden 'burn, distill' + wijn 'wine'.

Bran·dy·wine Creek a historic stream in southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware, the birthplace of the U.S. gunpowder industry.

brane n. [PHYSICS]an extended object with any given number of dimensions, of which strings in string theory are examples with one dimension. Our universe is a 3-brane.

<ORIGIN> abbr. of membrane.

brane world (also brane-world) n. [PHYSICS] a world model in which our space-time is the result of a 3-brane moving through a space-time of higher dimension, with all interactions except gravity being confined to the 3-brane.

Bran·ford a town in south central Connecticut, east of New Haven; pop. 27,603.

branks plural n. HISTORICAL an instrument of punishment for a scolding woman, consisting of an iron framework for the head and a sharp metal gag for restraining the tongue.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: origin uncertain; compare with German Pranger 'a pillory or bit for a horse' and Dutch prang 'a fetter'; also with late Middle English barnacle(s), denoting a powerful bit for restraining a horse.

bran·ni·gan n. INFORMAL a brawl or violent argument.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: of unknown origin; perhaps from the surname Brannigan.

Bran·son 1 a city in southwestern Missouri, on the Ozark Plateau, noted as a resort based on country music; pop. 3,706.

Bran·son 2 Richard (1950- ), English businessman and adventurer. He established Virgin Records in 1969 and Virgin Atlantic Airways in 1984. He also made the fastest transatlantic crossing by boat in 1986 and the first by hot-air balloon in 1987.

brant n. (pl. same or brants) a small goose with a mainly black head and neck, breeding in the arctic tundra of Eurasia and Canada.
<INFO>  Branta bernicla, family Anatidae.

Braque Georges (1882-1963), French painter. His collages, which introduced commercial lettering and fragmented objects into pictures to contrast the real with the “illusory” painted image, were the first stage in the development of synthetic cubism.

brash 1 adj. self-assertive in a rude, noisy, or overbearing way: he could be brash, cocky, and arrogant.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- strong, energetic, or irreverent: I like brash, vibrant flavors.

- (of a place or thing) having an ostentatious or tasteless appearance: the cafe was a brash new building.

<DERIVATIVES> brash·ly adv. brash·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (originally dialect); perhaps a form of RASH^1 .

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brash 2 n. a mass of fragments, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE> loose broken rock or ice.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

Bra·sil Portuguese name for BRAZIL^1 .

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Bra·sil·ia the capital, since 1960, of Brazil; pop. 1,601,100. Designed by Lúcio Costa in 1956, the city was built in the center of the country with the intention of drawing people away from the crowded coastal areas.

Bra·ov a city in Romania; pop. 352,640. It belonged to Hungary until after World War I and was ceded to Romania in 1920. Hungarian name BRASSÓ. German name KRONSTADT.

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KRONSTADT ■

brass n. a yellow alloy of copper and zinc: [as adj.] a brass plate on the door.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a decorative object made of such an alloy: shining brasses stood on the mantelpiece.

- a memorial, typically medieval, consisting of a flat piece of inscribed brass, laid in the floor or set into the wall of a church.

- a brass block or die used for stamping a design on a book binding.

- BRIT., INFORMAL money: they wanted to spend their newly acquired brass.

- [MUSIC] brass wind instruments (including trumpet, horn, trombone) forming a band or a section of an orchestra: the brass and percussion were consistently too loud.

- (also top brass) INFORMAL people in authority or of high military rank.

- INFORMAL in extended or metaphorical use referring to a person's hardness or effrontery: he was the only one who had the brass to show his face.

<PHRASES> the brass ring INFORMAL a prize or goal that someone strives for: Willa went for the brass ring, joining the firm at a whopping salary. <ORIGIN> with reference to the reward of a free ride given on a merry-go-round to the person hooking a brass ring suspended over the horses.

<ORIGIN> Old English bræs, of unknown origin.

bras·sard n. a band worn on the sleeve, typically having an identifying mark and worn with a uniform.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a piece of armor for the upper arm.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a piece of armor for the upper arm): from French, from bras 'arm'.

brass band n. a group of musicians playing brass instruments and sometimes also percussion.

brass-bound adj. trimmed or banded with brass fittings.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) adhering inflexibly to tradition or belief.

- (of a person) brazen or impudent.

bras·se·rie n. (pl. -ries) an informal restaurant, esp. one in France or modeled on a French one and with a large selection of drinks.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, originally 'brewery', from brasser 'to brew'.

Bras·sey Thomas (1805-70), English engineer and railroad contractor. He built more than 6,500 miles (10,000 km) of railroads in Europe, India, South America, and Australia.

brass hat n. INFORMAL a high-ranking officer in the armed forces.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: so named because of the gilt insignia on the caps of such officers.

bras·si·ca n. a plant of a genus that includes cabbage, turnip, Brussels sprout, and mustard.
<INFO>  Genus Brassica, family Brassicaceae.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: Latin, literally 'cabbage'.

brass·ie (also brass·y) n. (pl. -ies) INFORMAL [GOLF] a number two wood.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: so named because the wood was originally shod with brass.

bras·siere n. full form of BRA.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French, literally 'bodice, child's vest'.

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BRA ■

brass in·stru·ment n. a wind instrument, such as a trumpet or trombone, typically made of brass.

brass knuck·les n. a metal guard worn over the knuckles in fighting, esp. to increase the effect of the blows.

brass mon·key n. INFORMAL used in phrases to refer to extremely cold weather: it's brass monkey weather tonight.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: perhaps from a type of brass rack or ‘monkey’ in which cannon balls were stored and which contracted in very cold weather, ejecting the balls.

Bras·só Hungarian name for BRAOV.

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BRAOV ■

brass rub·bing n. the action of rubbing crayon or chalk over paper laid on an engraved brass to reproduce its design.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an image created by doing this.

brass·ware n. utensils or other objects made of brass.

brass·y 1 adj. (brass·i·er, brass·i·est) resembling brass, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- bright or harsh yellow.

- sounding like a brass musical instrument; harsh and loud.

- (of a person, typically a woman) tastelessly showy or loud in appearance or manner: her brassy, audacious exterior.

<DERIVATIVES> brass·i·ly adv. brass·i·ness n.

brass·y 2 n. variant spelling of BRASSIE.

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BRASSIE ■

brat n. INFORMAL, DEROGATORY or HUMOROUS a child, typically a badly behaved one.

<DERIVATIVES> brat·tish adj. brat·tish·ness n. brat·ty adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.

Bra·ti·sla·va the capital of Slovakia, in the western part of the country, a port on the Danube River; pop. 441,450. From 1526 to 1784 it was the capital of Hungary. German name PRESSBURG; Hungarian name POZSONY.

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PRESSBURG ■

POZSONY ■

brat pack n. INFORMAL a rowdy and ostentatious group of young celebrities, typically movie stars.

<DERIVATIVES> brat pack·er n.

Brat·tain Walter Houser (1902-87), U.S. physicist and inventor. He co-invented the point-contact transistor 1947 with John Bardeen and William Shockley. Nobel Prize for Physics (1956, shared with Bardeen and Shockley).

brat·tice n. a partition or shaft lining in a coal mine, typically made of wood or heavy cloth.

<DERIVATIVES> brat·ticed adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a temporary wooden gallery for use in a siege): from Old French bretesche, from medieval Latin britisca, from Old English brittisc 'British'. The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

brat·tle DIALECT n. a sharp rattling sound: a distant brattle of thunder.

■ v. [trans.] rattle (something).
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] produce a rattling sound.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: probably imitative, from a blend of BREAK and RATTLE.

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BREAK ■

RATTLE ■

Brat·tle·bo·ro a town in southeastern Vermont, on the Connecticut River; pop. 12,005.

brat·wurst (also brats) n. a type of fine German pork sausage that is typically fried or grilled.

<ORIGIN> German, from Brat 'a spit' + Wurst 'sausage'.

Braun 1 Eva (1910-45), German mistress of Adolf Hitler. Braun and Hitler are thought to have married during the fall of Berlin, shortly before committing suicide together in the air-raid shelter of his Berlin headquarters.

Braun 2 Karl Ferdinand (1850-1918), German physicist. He invented the coupled system of radio transmission and the Braun tube (forerunner of the cathode-ray tube), in which a beam of electrons could be deflected. Nobel Prize for Physics (1909, shared with Guglielmo Marconi).

Braun 3 Wernher Magnus Maximilian von (1912-77), U.S. rocket engineer; born in Germany. He led the development of the V-2 rockets used by Germany during World War II. After the war he moved to the U.S., where he worked in the U.S. space program.

Braun·schweig German name for BRUNSWICK.

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BRUNSWICK ■

braun·schwei·ger n. a variety of smoked liver sausage.

bra·va exclam. feminine of BRAVO^1 .

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BRAVO ■

bra·va·do n. a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Spanish bravada, from bravo 'bold' (see BRAVE, -ADO).

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BRAVE ■

-ADO ■

brave adj. ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage: a brave soldier; he put up a brave fight before losing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY fine or splendid in appearance: his medals made a brave show.

■ n. 1 [as plural n.] (the brave) people who are ready to face and endure danger or pain.

2 DATED an American Indian warrior.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a young man who shows courage or a fighting spirit.

■ v. [trans.] endure or face (unpleasant conditions or behavior) without showing fear: we had to brave the full heat of the sun.

<PHRASES>
□ brave new world used to refer, often ironically, to a new and hopeful period in history resulting from major changes in society: the brave new world of computing.

□ put a brave face on something see FACE.

<DERIVATIVES> brave·ly adv. brave·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French, from Italian bravo 'bold' or Spanish bravo 'courageous, untamed, savage', based on Latin barbarus (see BARBAROUS).

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FACE ■

BARBAROUS ■

brav·er·y n. courageous behavior or character.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'bravado'): from French braverie or Italian braveria, based on Latin barbarus (see BARBAROUS).

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BARBAROUS ■

bra·vis·si·mo exclam. used to express great approval of a performance or performer.

bra·vo 1 exclam. used to express approval when a performer or other person has done something well: people kept on clapping and shouting “bravo!”

■ n. (pl. -vos) 1 a cry of bravo: bravos rang out.

2 a code word representing the letter B, used in radio communication.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French, from Italian, literally 'bold' (see BRAVE).

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BRAVE ■

bra·vo 2 n. (pl. -vos or -voes) a thug or hired assassin.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Italian, from bravo 'bold (one)' (see BRAVE).

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BRAVE ■

bra·vu·ra n. great technical skill and brilliance shown in a performance or activity: the recital ended with a blazing display of bravura | [as adj.] a bravura performance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the display of great daring: the show of bravura hid a guilty timidity.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Italian, from bravo 'bold'.

braw adj. SCOTTISH fine: it was a braw day.

<DERIVATIVES> braw·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: variant of BRAVE.

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BRAVE ■

brawl n. a rough or noisy fight or quarrel.

■ v. [intrans.] fight or quarrel in a rough or noisy way.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY (of a stream) flow noisily.

<DERIVATIVES> brawl·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: perhaps ultimately imitative and related to BRAY^1 .

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BRAY ■

brawn n. 1 physical strength in contrast to intelligence: commando work required as much brain as brawn.

2 BRIT. meat from a pig's or calf's head that is cooked and pressed in a pot with jelly.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French braon 'fleshy part of the leg', of Germanic origin; related to German Braten 'roast meat'.

brawn·y adj. (brawn·i·er, brawn·i·est) physically strong; muscular.

<DERIVATIVES> brawn·i·ness n.

Brax·ton Hicks con·trac·tions plural n. [MEDICINE] intermittent weak contractions of the uterus occurring during pregnancy.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after John Braxton Hicks (1823-97), English gynecologist.

brax·y n. a fatal bacterial infection of young sheep, caused by ingestion of frozen grass or contaminated feed.
<INFO>  Clostridium septicum

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.

bray 1 n. [usu. in sing.] the loud, harsh cry of a donkey or mule.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sound, voice, or laugh resembling such a cry.

■ v. [intrans.] make a loud, harsh cry or sound: he brayed with laughter.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] say (something) in a loud, harsh way: vendors brayed the merits of spiced sausages | [with direct speech] “Leave,” brayed a hoarse voice behind her.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French brait 'a shriek', braire 'to cry' (the original senses in English), perhaps ultimately of Celtic origin.

bray 2 v. [trans.] ARCHAIC pound or crush (something) to small pieces, typically with a pestle and mortar.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French breier, of Germanic origin; related to BREAK, BRIOCHE.

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BREAK ■

braze v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (brazed) form, fix, or join by soldering with an alloy of copper and zinc at high temperature.

■ n. a brazed joint.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French braser 'solder', ultimately of Germanic origin.

bra·zen adj. 1 bold and without shame: he went about his illegal business with a brazen assurance; a brazen hussy! See note at BOLD.

2 CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY made of brass.
<SPECIAL USAGE> harsh in sound: the music's brazen chords.

<PHRASAL VERB> brazen it (or something) out endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving with apparent confidence and lack of shame.

<DERIVATIVES> bra·zen·ly adv. bra·zen·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English bræsen 'made of brass', from bræs 'brass', of unknown ultimate origin.

bra·zier n. 1 a portable heater consisting of a pan or stand for holding lighted coals.

2 a barbecue.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French brasier, from braise 'hot coals'.

Bra·zil 1 the largest country in South America, in the east-central part of the continent, on the Atlantic Ocean; pop. 184,100,000; capital, Brasilia; official language, Portuguese. Portuguese name BRASIL.

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world. Previously inhabited in large part by Tupi and Guarani peoples, Brazil was colonized by the Portuguese, who imported large numbers of slaves from West Africa to work on sugar plantations. The country was proclaimed an independent empire in 1822 and became a republic after the overthrow of the monarchy in 1889.

<DERIVATIVES> Bra·zil·ian adj. & n.

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BRASIL ■

Bra·zil 2 (also bra·zil) n. 1 (also Brazil nut) a large three-sided nut with an edible kernel, several of which grow inside a large woody capsule. Brazil nuts grow on a South American forest tree, and most are harvested in the wild.
<INFO>  Bertholletia excelsa, family Lecythidaceae.

2 (also Brazil wood) a hard red wood obtained from a tropical tree and from which dyes may be obtained.
<INFO>  Genus Caesalpinia, family Leguminosae: several species.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (sense 2): from medieval Latin brasilium. The South American country Brazil (see BRAZIL^1 ) takes its name from the wood.

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BRAZIL ■

Braz·os Riv·er a river that flows southeast for 840 miles (1,350 km) across Texas, from the Panhandle to the Gulf of Mexico. The cities at its mouth are called collectively Brazosport.

Braz·za·ville the capital of and a major port in the Republic of the Congo; pop. 2,936,000. It was founded in 1880 by French explorer Savorgnan de Brazza (1852-1905) and was capital of French Equatorial Africa 1910-58.

breach n. 1 an act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct: a breach of confidence | I sued for breach of contract.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a break in relations: a sudden breach between father and son.

2 a gap in a wall, barrier, or defense, esp. one made by an attacking army.

■ v. [trans.] 1 make a gap in and break through (a wall, barrier, or defense): the river breached its bank.
<SPECIAL USAGE> break or fail to observe (a law, agreement, or code of conduct).

2 [intrans.] (of a whale) rise and break through the surface of the water.

<PHRASES>
□ breach of the peace an act of violent or noisy behavior that causes a public disturbance and is considered a criminal offense.

□ breach of promise the action of breaking a sworn assurance to do something, formerly esp. to marry someone.

□ step into the breach replace someone who is suddenly unable to do a job or task.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French breche, ultimately of Germanic origin; related to BREAK.

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BREAK ■

bread n. food made of flour, water, and yeast or another leavening agent, mixed together and baked: a loaf of bread | [as adj.] a bread roll | Italian breads.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the bread or wafer used in the Eucharist: altar bread.

- INFORMAL the money or food that one needs in order to live: I hate doing this, but I need the bread; his day job puts bread on the table.

<PHRASES>
□ best (or greatest) thing since sliced bread INFORMAL used to emphasize one's enthusiasm about a new idea, person, or thing: they don't consider you to be the greatest thing since sliced bread.

□ bread and circuses a diet of entertainment or political policies on which the masses are fed to keep them happy and docile. <ORIGIN> translating Latin panem et circenses (Juvenal's Satires, x.80).

□ bread and water a frugal diet that is eaten in poverty, chosen in abstinence, or given as a punishment.

□ bread and wine the consecrated elements used in the celebration of the Eucharist; the sacrament of the Eucharist.

□ the bread of life something regarded as a source of spiritual nourishment: the Roman Catholic Church and faith were the bread of life to the subordinate classes.

□ break bread celebrate the Eucharist.
- POETIC/LITERARY share a meal with someone.

□ cast one's bread upon the waters do good without expecting gratitude or reward. <ORIGIN> with biblical allusion to Eccles. 11:1.

□ daily bread the money or food that one needs in order to live: she earned her daily bread by working long hours.

□ know which side one's bread is buttered (on) INFORMAL know where one's advantage lies.

□ one cannot live by bread alone people have spiritual as well as physical needs. <ORIGIN> with biblical allusion to Deut. 8:3, Matt. 4:4.

□ take the bread out of (or from) people's mouths deprive people of their livings by competition or unfair working practices.

□ want one's bread buttered on both sides INFORMAL want more than is practicable or than is reasonable to expect.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch brood and German Brot.

bread and but·ter n. a person's livelihood or main source of income, typically as earned by routine work: their bread and butter is reporting local events | [as adj.] bread-and-butter occupations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an everyday or ordinary person or thing: the bread and butter of non-League soccer | [as adj.] a good bread-and-butter player.

bread-and-but·ter let·ter n. a letter expressing thanks for hospitality.

bread-and-but·ter pick·le n. a variety of sweet pickle made with thin-sliced cucumbers and various seasonings.

Bread and But·ter State a nickname for the state of MINNESOTA.

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MINNESOTA ■

bread·bas·ket n. 1 a part of a region that produces cereals for the rest of it.

2 INFORMAL a person's stomach, considered as the target for a blow.

Bread·bas·ket of A·mer·i·ca a nickname for the state of KANSAS.

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KANSAS ■

bread·board n. a board for making an experimental model of an electric circuit.

■ v. [trans.] make (an experimental circuit).

bread·box n. a box for storing bread and other baked goods.

bread·crumb n. (usu. breadcrumbs) a small fragment of bread.

<DERIVATIVES> bread·crumbed adj.

bread·ed adj. (of food) coated with breadcrumbs and then fried: lightly breaded chicken strips.

bread·fruit n. 1 the large, round, starchy fruit of a tropical tree, which is used as a vegetable and sometimes to make a substitute for flour.

2 (also breadfruit tree) the large evergreen tree that bears this fruit, which is widely cultivated on the islands of the Pacific and the Caribbean.
<INFO>  Artocarpus altilis, family Moraceae.

bread knife n. a long knife, typically with a serrated edge, for slicing bread.

bread·line n. a line of people waiting to receive free food.

bread mold n. any of various fungi, esp. of the genus Rhizopus, that grow on bread and other foods.

bread pud·ding n. a dessert consisting of slices of bread baked together with dried fruit, sugar, spices, eggs, and milk.

bread·stick n. a long, thin, often crisp piece of bread.

bread·stuff n. any bread product.
<SPECIAL USAGE> grain or flour used in the making of bread.

breadth n. the distance or measurement from side to side of something; width: a black sweater outlined the breadth of his shoulders; the boat measured 27 feet in breadth; we traveled the length and breadth of India.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- wide range or extent: she has the advantage of breadth of experience; there is a greater breadth of sound in the later recordings.

- the capacity to accept a wide range of ideas or beliefs: the minister is not noted for his breadth of vision.

- DATED a piece of cloth of standard or full width.

- overall unity of artistic effect: these masterpieces showed a new breadth of handling.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from obsolete brede in the same sense (related to BROAD) + -TH^2 , on the pattern of length.

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BROAD ■

-TH ■

breadth·wise (also breadth·ways ) adv. in a direction parallel with a thing's width.

bread·win·ner n. a person who earns money to support a family.

<DERIVATIVES> bread·win·ning n.

break v. (past broke ; past part. brok·en ) 1 separate or cause to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain: [intrans.] the rope broke with a loud snap; the slate fell from my hand and broke in two on the hard floor | [trans.] windows in the street were broken by the blast; break the chocolate into pieces.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] (of a person or animal) sustain an injury involving the fracture of a bone or bones in (a part of the body): she had broken her leg in two places.

- [trans.] sustain such an injury to (a bone in the body).

- [intrans.] (of a part of the body or a bone) sustain a fracture: what if his leg had broken?

- [trans.] cause a cut or graze in (the skin): the bite had scarcely broken the skin.

- make or become inoperative: [intrans.] the machine has broken, and they can't fix it until next week | [trans.] he's broken the video.

- (of the amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus) be or cause to be discharged when the sac is ruptured in the first stages of labor: [intrans.] she realized her water had broken.

- [trans.] open (a safe) forcibly.

- [trans.] use (a piece of paper currency) to pay for something and receive change out of the transaction: she had to break a ten.

- [trans.] exchange (a piece of paper currency of large denomination) for the same amount in smaller denominations.

- [intrans.] (of two boxers or wrestlers) come out of a clinch, typically at the referee's command: I was acting as referee and telling them to break.

- [trans.] unfurl (a flag or sail).

- [trans.] succeed in deciphering (a code).

- [trans.] open (a shotgun or rifle) at the breech.

- [trans.] disprove (an alibi).

- [trans.] invalidate (a will) through legal process.

2 [trans.] interrupt (a continuity, sequence, or course): the new government broke the pattern of growth; his concentration was broken by a sound.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- put an end to (a silence) by speaking or making contact.

- make a pause in (a journey): we will break our journey in Venice.

- [intrans.] stop proceedings in order to have a pause or vacation: at mid-morning they broke for coffee.

- lessen the impact of (a fall): she put out an arm to break her fall.

- stop oneself from being subject to (a habit).

- put an end to (a tie in a game) by making a score.

- [intrans.] (chiefly of an attacking player or team, or of a military force) make a rush or dash in a particular direction: the flight broke to the right and formed a defensive circle.

- surpass (a record): the movie broke box-office records.

- disconnect or interrupt (an electrical circuit).

- [intrans.] [SPORTS] (of a pitched or bowled ball) swerve or dip in direction.

- [intrans.] [SOCCER] (of the ball) rebound unpredictably: the ball broke to Craig but his shot rebounded from the post.

- [intrans.] (of a bowled cricket ball) change direction on bouncing, due to spin.

3 [trans.] fail to observe (a law, regulation, or agreement): the district attorney says she will prosecute retailers who break the law; a legally binding contract that can only be broken by mutual consent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fail to continue with (a self-imposed discipline): diets started without preparation are broken all the time.

4 [trans.] crush the emotional strength, spirit, or resistance of: the idea was to better the prisoners, not to break them.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of a person's emotional strength) give way: her self-control finally broke.

- destroy the power of (a movement or organization).

- destroy the effectiveness of (a strike), typically by bringing in other people to replace the striking workers.

- tame or train (a horse).

5 [intrans.] undergo a change or enter a new state, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of the weather) change suddenly: the weather broke, and thunder rumbled through a leaden sky.

- (of a storm) begin violently.

- (of dawn or day) begin with the sun rising: dawn was just breaking.

- (of clouds) move apart and begin to disperse.

- (of waves) curl over and dissolve into foam: the Caribbean sea breaking gently on the shore.

- (of a pitched baseball) curve or drop on its way toward the batter.

- (of the voice) falter and change tone, due to emotion: her voice broke as she relived the experience.

- (of a boy's voice) change in tone and register at puberty.

- [PHONOLOGY] (of a vowel) develop into a diphthong, under the influence of an adjacent sound: [as n.] (breaking) breaking due to a following r or h.

- (of prices on the stock exchange) fall sharply.

- (of news or a scandal) suddenly become public: since the news broke I've received thousands of wonderful letters.

- [trans.] (break something to someone) make bad news known to someone.

- make the first stroke at the beginning of a game of billiards, pool, or snooker.

■ n. 1 an interruption of continuity or uniformity: the magazine has been published without a break since 1950.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an act of separating oneself from a state of affairs: a break with the past.

- a change in the weather.

- [with adj.] a change of line, paragraph, or page: dotted lines on the screen show page breaks.

- a curve or drop in the path of a pitched baseball.

- a change of tone in the voice due to emotion: there was a break in her voice now.

- an interruption in an electrical circuit.

- a rush or dash in a particular direction, esp. by an attacking player or team: he made a bounce pass for a basket on the break in the second quarter.

- a breakout, esp. from prison.

- a sudden decrease, typically in prices.

- INFORMAL an opportunity or chance, esp. one leading to professional success: his big break came when a critic gave him a rave review.

- (also break of serve or service break) [TENNIS] the winning of a game against an opponent's serve.

2 a pause in work: I need a break from mental activity; they take long coffee breaks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a short vacation: the Christmas break.

- a period of time taken out of one's professional activity in order to do something else: those returning to work after a career break.

- a short solo or instrumental passage in jazz or popular music.

3 a gap or opening: the spectacular vistas occasionally offered by a break in the rain forest; he stopped to wait for a break in the traffic.

4 an instance of breaking; the point where something is broken: a break in the valve was being repaired.

5 [BILLIARDS] & [SNOOKER] a player's turn to make the opening shot of a game or a rack.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a consecutive series of successful shots, scoring a specified number of points: a break of 83 put him in front for the first time.

<PHRASES>
□ break the back of do the hardest part of (a task): we've broken the back of the problem.
- overwhelm or defeat: I thought we really had broken the back of inflation.

□ break the bank see BANK^2 .

□ break bread see BREAD.

□ break camp see CAMP^1 .

□ break cover (of game being hunted) emerge into the open.

□ break someone's heart see HEART.

□ break the ice see ICE.

□ break a leg! THEATRICAL SLANG good luck!

□ break the mold see MOLD^1 .

□ break of day dawn.

□ break ranks see RANK^1 .

□ break (someone's) serve (or service) win a game in a tennis match against an opponent's service.

□ break step see STEP.

□ break wind release gas from the anus.

□ give someone a break [usu. in imperative] INFORMAL stop putting pressure on someone about something.
- (give me a break) used to express contemptuous disagreement or disbelief about what has been said: He's seven times as quick and he's only 20 years old. Give me a break.

□ make a break for make a sudden dash in the direction of, typically in a bid to escape: he made a break for the door.

□ make a clean break remove oneself completely and finally from a situation or relationship.

□ those are (or them's) the breaks that is the way things turn out.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  break away (of a person) escape from someone's hold.
- escape from the control of a person, group, or practice: an attempt to break away from the elitism that has dominated the book trade.

- (of a competitor in a race) move into the lead.

- (of a material or object) become detached from its base, typically through decay or under force.

□  break down 1 (of a machine or motor vehicle) suddenly cease to function: his van broke down.
- (of a person) have the vehicle they are driving cease to function: she broke down on the highway.

- (of a relationship, agreement, or process) cease to continue; collapse: pay negotiations with management broke down.

- lose control of one's emotions when in a state of distress: if she had tried to utter a word, she would have broken down; the old woman broke down in tears.

- (of a person's health or emotional control) fail or collapse: his health broke down under the strain of overwork.

2 undergo chemical decomposition: waste products that break down into low-level toxic materials.

□  break something down 1 demolish a door or other barrier: they had to get the police to break the door down | FIGURATIVE race barriers can be broken down by educational reform.

2 separate something into parts: each tutorial is broken down into more manageable units.
- analyze information: bar graphs show how the information can be broken down.

- convert a substance into simpler compounds by chemical action: almost every natural substance can be broken down by bacteria.

□  break even reach a point in a business venture when the profits are equal to the costs.

□  break forth burst out suddenly; emerge.

□  break free another way of saying BREAK AWAY.

□  break in 1 force entry to a building: it sounded like someone trying to break in.

2 [with direct speech] interject: “I don't want to interfere,” Mrs. Hendry broke in.

□  break someone in familiarize someone with a new job or situation: there was no time to break in a new executive assistant.
- (break a horse) accustom a horse to a saddle and bridle, and to being ridden.

□  break something in wear something, typically a pair of new shoes, until it becomes supple and comfortable.

□  break in on interrupt: the doctor's voice broke in on her thoughts.

□  break into 1 enter or open a (place, vehicle, or container) forcibly, typically for the purposes of theft: four men broke into the house; a friend of mine had his car broken into.
- succeed in winning a share of (a market or a position in a profession): Japanese companies failed to break into the U.S. personal-computer market.

- interrupt (a conversation).

2 (of a person) suddenly or unexpectedly burst forth into (laughter or song).
- (of a person's face or mouth) relax into (a smile).

3 change one's pace to (a faster one): Greg broke into a sprint.

□  break off become severed: the fuselage had broken off just behind the pilot's seat.
- abruptly stop talking: she broke off, stifling a sob.

□  break something off remove something from a larger unit or whole: Tucker broke off a piece of bread.
- discontinue talks or relations: the U.S. threatened to break off diplomatic relations.

□  break something open open something forcibly.

□  break out (of war, fighting, or similarly undesirable things) start suddenly: forest fires have broken out across Indonesia.
- (of a physical discomfort) suddenly manifest itself: prickles of sweat had broken out along her backbone.

□  break out in (of a person or a part of their body) be suddenly affected by an unpleasant sensation or condition: something had caused him to break out in a rash.

□  break out of escape from: FIGURATIVE executives looking to break out of the corporate hierarchy.

□  break something out INFORMAL open and start using something: it was time to break out the champagne.

□  break through make or force a way through (a barrier): demonstrators attempted to break through the police lines the sun might break through in a few spots.
- FIGURATIVE (of a person) achieve success in a particular area: so many talented players are struggling to break through.

□  break up disintegrate; disperse: the bones had broken up into minute fragments the gray clouds had begun to break up.
- (of a gathering) disband; end.

- BRIT. end the school term: we broke up for the summer.

- (of a couple in a relationship) part company.

- start laughing uncontrollably: the whole cast broke up.

- become emotionally upset.

□  break someone up cause someone to become extremely upset.

□  break something up cause something to separate into pieces, parts, or sections: break up the chocolate, and place it in a bowl he intends to break the company up into strategic business units.
- bring a social event or meeting to an end by being the first person to leave: Richard was sorry to break up the party.

- disperse or put an end to a gathering: police broke up a demonstration in the capital.

□  break with quarrel or cease relations with (someone): he had broken with his family long before.
- act in a way that is not in accordance with (a custom or tradition).

<ORIGIN> Old English brecan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breken and German brechen, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin frangere 'to break'.

Linked entries:

BANK ■

BREAD ■

CAMP ■

HEART ■

ICE ■

MOLD ■

RANK ■

STEP ■

break·a·ble adj. capable of breaking or being broken easily: breakable ornaments; an encrypted password isn't easily breakable.

■ n. (breakables) things that are fragile and easily broken.

break·age n. the action of breaking something: some breakage of bone has occurred | there had been three breakages in the overhead wires.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thing that has been broken: they left minor breakages behind them.

break·a·way n. 1 a divergence or radical change from something established or long standing: rock was a breakaway from pop | as [adj.] the breakaway hit movie.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a secession of a number of people from an organization, typically following conflict or disagreement and resulting in the establishment of a new organization: [as adj.] the breakaway republic.

2 [SPORTS] a sudden attack or forward movement, esp. in a bicycle race or in hockey or football: a winning breakaway.

3 an object, such as a stage prop, designed to break apart easily: [as adj.] barroom brawls are staged with breakaway furniture.

break·beat n. [MUSIC] a repeated sample of a drumbeat, usually forming a fast syncopated rhythm, used as a basis for dance music.
<SPECIAL USAGE> dance music featuring breakbeats.

break·bone fe·ver n. another term for DENGUE.

Linked entries:

DENGUE ■

break-bulk adj. [attrib.] denoting a system of transporting cargo as separate pieces rather than in containers.

break crop n. a crop grown between fields of grain to ensure a varied planting pattern.

break·danc·ing n. an energetic and acrobatic style of street dancing, developed by American blacks.

<DERIVATIVES> break·dance v. & n. break·danc·er n.

break·down n. 1 a failure of a relationship or of communication: the breakdown of their marriage | some of these women will have experienced marital breakdown.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a collapse of a system of authority due to widespread transgression of the rules: a breakdown in military discipline.

- a sudden collapse in someone's mental health.

- a mechanical failure.

- [in sing.] the chemical or physical decomposition of something: the breakdown of ammonia to nitrites.

2 an explanatory analysis, esp. of statistics: a detailed cost breakdown.

3 a lively, energetic American country dance.

break·er n. 1 a heavy sea wave that breaks into white foam on the shore or a shoal.

2 a person or thing that breaks something: [in combination] a rule-breaker a code-breaker.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who breaks horses.

- short for CIRCUIT BREAKER.

3 a person who interrupts the conversation of others on a Citizens' Band radio channel, indicating a wish to transmit a message.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any CB radio user.

4 a break dancer.

Linked entries:

CIRCUIT BREAKER ■

break-e·ven n. the point or state at which a person or company breaks even: [as adj.] the break-even point.

break-fall n. (in martial arts) a controlled fall in which most of the impact is absorbed by the arms or legs.

break·fast n. a meal eaten in the morning, the first of the day: I often have toast for my breakfast | I don't eat breakfast.

■ v. [intrans.] have this meal: she breakfasted on French toast and bacon.

<PHRASES> have (or eat) someone for breakfast INFORMAL deal with or defeat someone with contemptuous ease.

<DERIVATIVES> break·fast·er n. break·fast·less adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from the verb BREAK + FAST^2 .

Linked entries:

BREAK ■

FAST ■

break·front n. a piece of furniture having the line of its front broken by a curve or angle: [as adj.] a breakfront bookcase.

break-in n. a forced or unconsented entry into a building, car, computer system, etc., typically to steal something.

break·ing and en·ter·ing n. the crime of entering a building by force so as to commit burglary.

break·ing point n. the moment of greatest strain at which someone or something gives way: the refugee crisis has reached the breaking point; her nerves were stretched to the breaking point.

break·neck adj. [attrib.] dangerously or extremely fast: he drove at breakneck speed.

break-off n. an instance of breaking something off or of discontinuing something.

break·out n. 1 a forcible escape, typically from prison: a prison breakout.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] (in soccer, hockey, and other sports) a sudden attack by a team that had been defending.

2 [in sing.] an outbreak: a breakout of hostilities.

3 a categorized list: an excellent breakout of Web sites by topic.

4 a sudden advance to a new level: gold was overdue for a breakout.

5 the deformation or splintering of wood, stone, or other material being drilled or planed.

■ adj. INFORMAL 1 suddenly and extremely popular or successful: a breakout movie.

2 denoting or relating to groups that break away from a conference or other larger gathering for discussion: we divided into 15 breakout groups.

break point n. 1 a place or time at which an interruption or change is made.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (usu. break·point) [COMPUTING] a place in a computer program where the sequence of instructions is interrupted, esp. by another program or by the operator.

2 [TENNIS] the state of a game when the side receiving service needs only one more point to win the game: he hit a winner to reach break point.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a point of this nature: he saved three break points.

3 another term for BREAKING POINT.

Linked entries:

BREAKING POINT ■

Break·spear , Nicholas, see ADRIAN IV.

Linked entries:

ADRIAN IV ■

break·through n. a sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development, esp. in science: a major breakthrough in DNA research.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a significant and dramatic overcoming of a perceived obstacle, allowing the completion of a process: the union's agreement was the key breakthrough on pay and conditions.

break·through bleed·ing n. bleeding from the uterus occurring between menstrual periods, a side effect of some oral contraceptives.

break·through pain n. (usually in connection with cancer) severe pain that erupts while a patient is already medicated with a long-acting painkiller.

break·up n. an end to a relationship, typically a marriage.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a division of a country or organization into smaller autonomous units: the breakup of the Soviet Union.

- a physical disintegration of something: large quantities of oil are released after the breakup of a tanker; | the spring breakup of the ice.

break·wa·ter n. a barrier built out into a body of water to protect a coast or harbor from the force of waves.

bream 1 n. (pl. same) a greenish-bronze deep-bodied freshwater fish native to Europe, popular with anglers.
<INFO>  Abramis brama, family Cyprinidae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> used in names of other fishes resembling or related to this, e.g., sea bream.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French bresme, of Germanic origin; related to German Brachsen, Brassen.

bream 2 v. [trans.] ARCHAIC [NAUTICAL] clear (a ship or its bottom) of weeds, shells, or other accumulated matter by burning and scraping it.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: probably of Low German origin and related to BROOM.

Linked entries:

BROOM ■

breast n. either of the two soft, protruding organs on the upper front of a woman's body that secrete milk after pregnancy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the corresponding less-developed part of a man's body.

- a person's chest: her heart was hammering in her breast.

- the corresponding part of a bird or mammal: [as adj.] the breast feathers of the doves.

- a portion of poultry cut from such a part: a grilled chicken breast.

- the part of a garment that covers the chest: [as adj.] a breast pocket.

- a person's chest regarded as the seat of the emotions: wild feelings of frustration were rising up in his breast.

■ v. [trans.] face and move forward against or through (something): I watched him breast the wave.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reach the top of (a hill).

<PHRASES>
□ beat one's breast make an exaggerated show of sorrow, despair, or regret.

□ make a clean breast of something see CLEAN.

<DERIVATIVES> breast·ed adj. [in combination] a bare-breasted woman a crimson-breasted bird.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch borst and German Brust.

Linked entries:

CLEAN ■

breast-beat·ing n. a loud, emotional expression of remorse: the breast-beating of American media commentators | [as adj.] the breast-beating advocates of the people.

breast·bone n. a thin, flat bone running down the center of the chest and connecting the ribs. Also called STERNUM.

Linked entries:

STERNUM ■

breast col·lar n. a thick chest strap that forms part of a horse's harness, often used instead of an ordinary collar on horses pulling lightweight or show vehicles.

breast drill n. a drill on which pressure is brought to bear by the operator's chest.

breast-feed v. (past and past part. -fed) [trans.] (of a woman) feed (a baby) with milk from the breast: she breast-fed her first child | [intrans.] sometimes it is not possible to breast-feed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (of a baby) feed from the breast: the child began to breast-feed.

breast-high adj. & adv. submerged to or as high as the breast: [as adj.] we pushed through breast-high weeds | [as adv.] a cement patio fenced breast-high.

breast·hook n. a large piece of shaped timber fitted horizontally in the bows of a ship, used to connect the sides to the stem.

breast im·plant n. [MEDICINE] a prosthesis consisting of a gellike or fluid material in a flexible sac, implanted behind or in place of a female breast in reconstructive or cosmetic surgery.

breast·plate n. 1 a piece of armor covering the chest.

2 [JUDAISM] in ancient times, a jeweled vestment covering the chest of the Jewish high priest.

3 a set of straps attached to the front of a saddle, which pass across the horse's chest and prevent the saddle from slipping backward.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the strap of a harness covering the chest of a horse.

breast pump n. a device for drawing milk from a woman's breasts by suction.

breast·stroke n. [in sing.] a style of swimming on one's front, in which the arms are pushed forward and then swept back in a circular movement, while the legs are tucked in toward the body and then kicked out in a corresponding movement.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the breaststroke) a race, typically of a specified length or kind, in which such a style of swimming is used: she won the 200 m breaststroke.

breast·work n. a low temporary defense or parapet.

breath n. an inhalation or exhalation of air from the lungs: she drew in a quick breath; take three deep breaths.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an exhalation of air by a person or animal that can be seen, smelled, or heard: he sighed, his breath hanging like a cloud in the icy air.

- the physiological process of taking air into the lungs and expelling it again, esp. the ability to breathe easily: she paused for breath.

- the air taken into or expelled from the lungs: I was gasping for breath.

- ARCHAIC the power of breathing; life.

- a brief moment; the time required for one act of respiration: in Las Vegas, they marry you in a breath.

- [in sing.] a slight movement of air: the weather was balmy, not a breath of wind.

- [in sing.] a sign, hint, or suggestion: he avoided the slightest breath of scandal.

<PHRASES>
□ a breath of fresh air a small amount of or a brief time in the fresh air.
- a refreshing change: the company's no-nonsense attitude is a breath of fresh air.

□ the breath of life a thing that someone needs or depends on: politics has been the breath of life to her for 50 years.

□ catch one's breath
1 cease breathing momentarily in surprise or fear.

2 rest after exercise to restore normal breathing: she stood for a few moments, catching her breath.

□ don't hold your breath INFORMAL used hyperbolically to indicate that something is likely to take a long time: don't hold your breath waiting for Congress to clean up political action committees.

□ draw breath breathe in.

□ get one's breath (back) begin to breathe normally again after exercise or exertion.

□ hold one's breath cease breathing temporarily.
- FIGURATIVE be in a state of suspense or anticipation: France held its breath while the Senate chose its new president.

□ in the same (or next) breath at the same time: he congratulated Simon on his victory but in the same breath dismissed it.

□ last breath the last moment of one's life (often used hyperbolically); death: she would fight to the last breath to preserve her good name.

□ out of breath gasping for air, typically after exercise: he arrived on the top floor out of breath.

□ save one's breath stop wasting time in futile talk: save your breath; I know all about it.

□ take someone's breath away astonish or inspire someone with awed respect or delight.

□ under (or below) one's breath in a very quiet voice; almost inaudibly: he swore violently under his breath. Compare with SOTTO VOCE.

□ waste one's breath talk or give advice without effect: I have better things to do than waste my breath arguing.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'smell, scent', of Germanic origin; related to BROOD.

Linked entries:

BROOD ■

breath·a·ble adj. (of the air) fit or pleasant to breathe.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of clothes or material) admitting air to the skin and allowing sweat to evaporate.

breath·a·lyze v. [trans.] (usu. be breathalyzed) (of the police) use a breathalyzer.

breath·a·lyz·er (also Breath·a·lyz·er) n. TRADEMARK a device used by police for measuring the amount of alcohol in a driver's breath.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: blend of BREATH and (an)alyze + -ER^1 .

Linked entries:

BREATH ■

-ER ■

breath·ar·i·an n. a person who believes that it is possible, through meditation, to reach a level of consciousness where one can obtain all sustenance from the air or sunlight.

breathe v. [intrans.] take air into the lungs and then expel it, esp. as a regular physiological process: she was wheezing as she breathed; breathe in through your nose; he breathed out heavily | [trans.] we are polluting the air we breathe.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- be or seem to be alive because of this: at least I'm still breathing.

- POETIC/LITERARY (of wind) blow softly.

- [with direct speech] say something with quiet intensity: “We're together at last,” she breathed.

- (of an animal or plant) respire or exchange gases: plants breathe through their roots.

- [trans.] give an impression of (something): the whole room breathed an air of hygienic efficiency.

- (of wine) be exposed to fresh air: red wine needs untold time to breathe.

- (of material or soil) admit or emit air or moisture: let your lawn breathe by putting air into the soil.

- [trans.] allow (a horse) to rest after exertion.

- (breathe upon) ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY tarnish or taint: before the queen's fair name was breathed upon.

<PHRASES>
□ breathe (freely) again relax after being frightened or tense about something: she wouldn't breathe freely again until she was airborne.

□ breathe down someone's neck follow closely behind someone.
- constantly check up on someone.

□ breathe one's last die.

□ breathe (new) life into fill with enthusiasm and energy; reinvigorate: spring breathes new life into a wintry woods.

□ breathe a sigh of relief exhale noisily as a sign of relief (often used hyperbolically): they breathed a great sigh of relief after the election was won.

□ live and breathe see LIVE^1 .

□ not breathe a word remain silent about something; keep secret.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'exhale, steam'): from BREATH.

Linked entries:

LIVE ■

BREATH ■

breathed adj. [usu. in combination] having breath of a specified kind: a foul-breathed poodle.

■
- (also ) [PHONETICS] unvoiced; voiceless.

breath·er n. 1 [in sing.] INFORMAL a brief pause for rest: the director is taking a breather from his furious schedule.

2 a vent or valve to release pressure or to allow air to move freely around something: a cask breather | [as adj.] a breather pipe.

3 [with adj.] a person or animal that breathes in a particular way, or breathes a particular substance: a heavy breather | [in combination] reptiles are lung-breathers.

breath·ing n. 1 the process of taking air into and expelling it from the lungs: his breathing was shallow.

2 a sign in Greek ( or `) indicating the presence of an aspirate (rough breathing) or the absence of an aspirate (smooth breathing) at the beginning of a word.

breath·ing room n. sufficient room to move and breathe comfortably.
<SPECIAL USAGE> breathing space.

breath·ing space n. [in sing.] an opportunity to pause, relax, or decide what to do next.

breath·less adj. gasping for breath, typically due to exertion: the climb left me breathless.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- short of breath or appearing this way because of excitement or other strong feelings: her breathless account of what happened in the courtroom.

- (of the air or weather) unstirred by a wind or breeze; stiflingly still: the warm, breathless air.

<DERIVATIVES> breath·less·ly adv. breath·less·ness n.

breath·tak·ing adj. astonishing or awe-inspiring in quality, so as to take one's breath away: the scene was one of breathtaking beauty.

<DERIVATIVES> breath·tak·ing·ly adv.

breath test n. a test in which a driver is made to blow into a breathalyzer to check the amount of alcohol that has been drunk.

■ v. (breath-test) [trans.] give (someone) such a test.

breath·y adj. (breath·i·er, breath·i·est) producing or causing an audible sound of breathing, often related to physical exertion or strong feelings: a breathy laugh.

<DERIVATIVES> breath·i·ly adv. breath·i·ness n.

brec·ci·a n. [GEOLOGY] rock consisting of angular fragments cemented together.

<DERIVATIVES> brec·ci·ate v. brec·ci·a·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Italian, literally 'gravel', ultimately of Germanic origin and related to BREAK.

Linked entries:

BREAK ■

Brecht (Eugen) Bertolt (Friedrich) (1898-1956), German playwright, producer, and poet. His interest in combining music and drama led to collaboration with Kurt Weill in The Threepenny Opera (1928). Brecht's later dramas include Mother Courage (1941) and The Caucasian Chalk Circle (1948).

Breck·in·ridge John Cabell (1821-75), U.S. politician and vice president of the U.S. 1857-61. He also served as a major general in the Confederate Army 1861.

bred past and participle of BREED.

■ adj. [usu. in combination] (of a person or animal) reared in a specified environment or way: a city-bred man.

Linked entries:

BREED ■

Bre·da a manufacturing town in southwestern Netherlands; pop. 124,800. Historically, it is noted for the Compromise of Breda of 1566; the 1660 manifesto of Charles II; and the Treaty of Breda.

bred-in-the-bone adj. firmly established; deep-rooted.
<SPECIAL USAGE> long established and unlikely to change; inveterate.

breech n. 1 the part of a cannon behind the bore.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the back part of a rifle or gun barrel.

2 ARCHAIC a person's buttocks.

■ v. [trans.] ARCHAIC put (a boy) into breeches after being in petticoats since birth.

<ORIGIN> Old English (plural of , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch broek), interpreted as a singular form. The original sense was 'garment covering the loins and thighs' (compare with BREECHES), hence 'the buttocks' (sense 2, mid 16th cent.), later 'the hind part' of anything (late 16th cent.).

Linked entries:

BREECHES ■

breech birth (also breech delivery) n. a delivery of a baby so positioned in the uterus that the buttocks or feet are delivered first.

breech·block n. a metal block that closes the aperture at the back part of a rifle or gun barrel.

breech·clout n. (also breech·cloth) another term for LOINCLOTH.

Linked entries:

LOINCLOTH ■

breech·es plural n. short trousers fastened just below the knee, now chiefly worn for riding a horse or as part of ceremonial dress.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL trousers.

<PHRASES> too big for one's breeches see BIG.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: plural of BREECH.

Linked entries:

BIG ■

BREECH ■

Breech·es Bi·ble n. the Geneva Bible of 1560, so named because the word breeches is used in Gen. 3:7 for the garments made by Adam and Eve.

breech·es bu·oy n. a lifebuoy with canvas breeches attached that, when suspended from a rope, can be used to transfer a person to safety from a ship.

breech·ing n. 1 a strong leather strap passing around the hindquarters of a horse harnessed to a vehicle.

2 HISTORICAL a thick rope used to secure the carriage of a cannon on a ship and to absorb the force of the recoil.

3 the hair or wool on the hindquarters of an animal.

breech-load·er n. a gun designed to have ammunition inserted at the breech rather than through the muzzle.

<DERIVATIVES> breech-load·ing adj.

breech pre·sen·ta·tion n. a position of a fetus in which the feet or buttocks appear first during birth.

breed v. (past and past part. bred ) [trans.] cause (an animal) to produce offspring, typically in a controlled and organized way: bitches may not be bred from more than once a year.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of animals) mate and then produce offspring: toads are said to return to the pond of their birth to breed | [as adj.] (breeding) the breeding season.

- develop (a kind of animal or plant) for a particular purpose or quality: these horses are bred for this sport.

- raise (livestock or animals): they live on an island, where they breed Hanoverian horses.

- rear and train (someone) to behave in a particular way or have certain qualities: Theresa had been beautifully bred.

- cause (something) to happen or occur, typically over a period of time: success breeds confidence.

- [PHYSICS] create (fissile material) by nuclear reaction.

■ n. a stock of animals or plants within a species having a distinctive appearance and typically having been developed by deliberate selection.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sort or kind of person or thing: a new breed of entrepreneurs was brought into being.

<PHRASES>
□ a breed apart a sort or kind or person that is very different from the norm: Japanese capitalism is a breed apart from that found in the U.S.

□ a dying breed a sort or kind of person that is slowly disappearing: the country's dying breed of elder statesmen.

□ what's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh (or blood) see BONE.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'produce (offspring), bear (a child)', of Germanic origin; related to German brüten, also to BROOD.

Linked entries:

BONE ■

BROOD ■

breed·er n. a person who breeds livestock, racehorses, other animals, or plants: a plant breeder; a breeder of fine cattle.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with adj.] an animal that breeds at a particular time or in a particular way: emperor penguins are winter breeders.

- INFORMAL, DEROGATORY (among homosexuals) a heterosexual person.

breed·er doc·u·ment n. a document, genuine or fraudulent, that can serve as a basis to obtain other identification documents or benefits fraudulently.

breed·er re·ac·tor n. a nuclear reactor that creates fissile material (typically plutonium-239 by irradiation of uranium-238) at a faster rate than it uses another fissile material (typically uranium-235) as fuel.

breed·ing n. the mating and production of offspring by animals: palolo worms use the moon to time their breeding.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the activity of controlling the mating and production of offspring of animals: the breeding of rats and mice for experiments.

- training and education, esp. in proper social behavior: a girl of good breeding.

- the good manners regarded as characteristic of the aristocracy and conferred by heredity: a lady of breeding.

breed·ing ground n. an area where birds, fish, or other animals habitually breed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. in sing.] FIGURATIVE a thing that favors the development or occurrence of something: Austin is a breeding ground for musical talent.

Breed·love Sarah see WALKER.

breeks plural n. Scottish term for BREECHES.

Linked entries:

BREECHES ■

breeze 1 n. 1 a gentle wind.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] a wind of force 2 to 6 on the Beaufort scale (4-27 knots or 4.5-31 mph).

2 INFORMAL a thing that is easy to do or accomplish: traveling through London was a breeze.

■ v. [intrans.] INFORMAL come or go in a casual or lighthearted manner: I breezed in as if nothing were wrong.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] deal with something with apparently casual ease: the computer has the power to breeze through huge documents; he breezed to victory.

<PHRASES> shoot the breeze see SHOOT.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: probably from Old Spanish and Portuguese briza 'northeastern wind' (the original sense in English).

Linked entries:

SHOOT ■

breeze 2 n. small cinders mixed with sand and cement to make cinder blocks.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French braise, (earlier) brese 'live coals'.

breeze block n. British term for CINDER BLOCK.

Linked entries:

CINDER BLOCK ■

breeze·way n. a roofed outdoor passage, as between a house and a garage.

breez·y adj. (breez·i·er, breez·i·est) 1 pleasantly windy: it was a bright, breezy day.

2 appearing relaxed, informal, and cheerily brisk: the text is written in a breezy, matter-of-fact manner.

<DERIVATIVES> breez·i·ly adv. breez·i·ness n.

breg·ma n. the point or area of the skull where the sagittal and coronal sutures joining the parietal and frontal bones come together.

Brel Jacques (1929-78), Belgian singer and composer.

Brem·en a state in northeastern Germany. Divided into two parts, which center on the city of Bremen and the port of Bremerhaven, it is surrounded by the state of Lower Saxony.
<SPECIAL USAGE> its capital, an industrial city linked by the Weser River to the port of Bremerhaven and the North Sea; pop. 537,600.

Brem·er·ha·ven a seaport in northwestern Germany, on the North Sea coast, north of Bremen; pop. 131,000. Bremerhaven is one of the largest seaports and fishing centers in Europe. The first regular shipping service between the U.S. and Europe began here. Former name WESERMÜNDE.

Brem·er·ton a city in west central Washington, on Puget Sound, home to large naval shipyards; pop. 38,142.

brems·strah·lung n. [PHYSICS] electromagnetic radiation produced by the acceleration or esp. the deceleration of a charged particle after passing through the electric and magnetic fields of a nucleus.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from German, from bremsen 'to brake' + Strahlung 'radiation'.

Bren (also Bren gun) n. a lightweight quick-firing machine gun used by the Allied Forces in World War II.

<ORIGIN> blend of Brno (a town in the Czech Republic where it was originally made) and Enfield in England (site of the Royal Small Arms Factory where it was later made).

Bren·dan, St. (c.486-c.575), Irish abbot. Feast day, May 16.

Bren·nan 1 Walter (1894-1974), U.S. actor. A character actor, he appeared in many movies and was the first actor to win three Academy Awards, all for best supporting actor. His award-winning movies were Come and Get It (1936), Kentucky (1938), and The Westerner (1940).

Bren·nan 2 William Joseph, Jr. (1906-97), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1956-90. He was a New Jersey Supreme Court judge 1952-56 before being appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Eisenhower. He was noted for his defense of First Amendment rights.

Bren·ner Pass an Alpine pass at the border between Austria and Italy, on the route between Innsbruck and Bolzano, at an altitude of 4,450 feet (1,371 m).

brent goose n. British term for BRANT.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin.

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BRANT ■

Brent·wood 1 a village in central Long Island in New York; pop. 45,218.

2 a section of West Los Angeles, California, noted for expensive homes and celebrity inhabitants.

bre·sao·la n. an Italian dish of raw beef cured by salting and air-drying, served typically in slices with a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, and black pepper.

<ORIGIN> Italian, from bresada, past part. of brasare 'braise'.

Bre·scia an industrial city in northern Italy, in the region of Lombardy; pop. 196,770.

Bres·lau German name for WROCAW.

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WROCAW ■

Bres·lin Jimmy (1930- ), U.S. journalist and writer. A syndicated columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winner 1986, he wrote The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1969), He Got Hungry and Forgot His Manners (1988), Damon Runyon: A Life (1991), and I'd Like to Thank My Brain for Remembering Me (1996).

Brest 1 a port and naval base in northwestern France, on the Atlantic coast of Brittany; pop. 153,100.

2 a river port and industrial city in Belarus, close to the border with Poland; pop. 268,800. The peace treaty between Germany and Russia was signed here in March 1918. Former name (until 1921) BREST-LITOVSK. Polish name BRZE NAD BUGIEM.

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BRZE NAD BUGIEM ■

Bre·tagne French name for BRITTANY.

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BRITTANY ■

breth·ren archaic plural form of BROTHER.

■ plural n. fellow Christians or members of a male religious order. See also BROTHER (sense 2).
<SPECIAL USAGE> used for humorous or rhetorical effect to refer to people belonging to a particular group: our brethren in the popular press.

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BROTHER ■

BROTHER ■

Bret·on 1 n. 1 a native of Brittany.

2 the Celtic language of Brittany, related to Cornish.

■ adj. of or relating to Brittany or its people or language.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Old French, literally 'Briton'.

Bret·on 2 André (1896-1966), French poet, essayist, and critic. He launched the surrealist movement, outlining the movement's philosophy in his manifesto of 1924.

Brett George (1953- ), U.S. baseball player. Playing for the Kansas City Royals 1971-93, he was the American League batting champion in three different decades 1976, 1980, and 1990. Baseball Hall of Fame (1999).

Bret·ton Woods a resort in the White Mountains of north central New Hampshire, noted as the site of UN conferences at the end of World War II.

Breu·er Marcel Lajos (1902-81), U.S. architect; born in Hungary. He designed the UNESCO headquarters in Paris 1953-58 and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City 1965-66. He is also known for his chair designs.

Bre·vard Coun·ty a county in east central Florida, on the Atlantic Ocean, the site of Cape Canaveral and of large citrus and resort industries; pop. 398,978.

breve n. 1 a musical note having the time value of two semibreves or whole notes.

2 a written or printed mark () indicating a short or unstressed vowel.

3 HISTORICAL an authoritative letter from a pope or monarch.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: variant of BRIEF. In the musical sense, the term was originally used in a series where a long was of greater time value than a breve.

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BRIEF ■

bre·vet n. [often as adj.] a former type of military commission conferred esp. for outstanding service by which an officer was promoted to a higher rank without the corresponding pay: a brevet lieutenant.

■ v. (-vet·ed or -vet·ted, -vet·ing or -vet·ting) [trans.] confer a brevet rank on.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting an official letter, esp. a papal indulgence): from Old French brievet 'little letter', diminutive of bref.

bre·vi·ar·y n. (pl. -ar·ies) a book containing the service for each day, to be recited by those in orders in the Roman Catholic Church.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also denoting an abridged version of the psalms): from Latin breviarium 'summary, abridgment', from breviare 'abridge', from brevis 'short, brief'.

brev·i·ty n. concise and exact use of words in writing or speech.
<SPECIAL USAGE> shortness of time: the brevity of human life.

<PHRASES> brevity is the soul of wit PROVERB the essence of a witty statement lies in its concise wording and delivery. <ORIGIN> from Shakespeare's Hamlet II. ii. 90.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French brievete, from Latin brevitas, from brevis 'brief'.

brew v. [trans.] 1 make (beer) by soaking, boiling, and fermentation.

2 make (tea or coffee) by mixing it with hot water: I've just brewed some coffee | [intrans.] he did a crossword while the tea brewed.

3 [intrans.] (of an unwelcome event or situation) begin to develop: there was more trouble brewing as the airline pilots went on strike; a storm was brewing.

■ n. 1 a kind of beer: nonalcoholic brews.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a serving of beer.

2 a cup or mug of tea or coffee.

3 a mixture of events, people, or things that interact to form a more potent whole: a dangerous brew of political turmoil and violent conflict.

<PHRASAL VERB> brew up BRIT. make tea.

<DERIVATIVES> brew·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch brouwen and German brauen.

Brew·er David Josiah (1837-1910), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1889-1910. Appointed to the Court by President Benjamin Harrison, he was considered a moderate conservative and generally opposed a strong central government.

brew·er's yeast n. a yeast that is used in breadmaking, winemaking, and the brewing of top-fermenting beer. It is also consumed as a source of vitamin B and is used in laboratories as an important research organism.
<INFO>  Saccharomyces cerevisiae, phylum Ascomycota.

brew·er·y n. (pl. -er·ies) a place where beer is made commercially.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from BREW, probably on the pattern of Dutch brouwerij.

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BREW ■

brew·house n. a brewery.

brew·mas·ter n. a person who supervises the brewing process in a brewery.

brew·pub n. an establishment selling beer brewed on the premises and often including a restaurant.

brew·ski n. INFORMAL a bottle, can, or glass of beer.

Brey·er Stephen Gerald (1938- ), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1994- . He is known for his pragmatic judgments.

Brezh·nev Leonid (Ilich) (1906-82), Soviet statesman; general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union 1966-82; president 1977-82. His administration was marked by intensified persecution of dissidents at home and by attempted détente followed by renewed Cold War in 1968; he was largely responsible for the invasion of Czechoslovakia 1968.

bri·ar 1 n. variant spelling of BRIER^1 .

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BRIER ■

bri·ar 2 n. variant spelling of BRIER^2 .

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BRIER ■

bri·ar·root n. variant spelling of BRIERROOT.

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BRIERROOT ■

bri·ar·wood n. variant spelling of BRIERWOOD.

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BRIERWOOD ■

bribe v. [trans.] persuade (someone) to act in one's favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement: an undercover agent bribed the judge into giving a lenient sentence | [trans.] you weren't willing to be good to your sister without being bribed with a lollipop. | [intrans.] he has no money to bribe with.

■ n. a sum of money or other inducement offered or given in this way.

<DERIVATIVES> brib·a·ble adj. brib·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French briber, brimber 'beg', of unknown origin. The original sense was 'rob, extort', hence (as noun) 'theft, stolen goods', also 'money extorted or demanded for favors', later 'offer money as an inducement' (early 16th cent.).

brib·er·y n. the giving or offering of a bribe: he was convicted of racketeering and bribery | [as adj.] a bribery scandal.

bric-a-brac n. miscellaneous objects and ornaments of little value.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from obsolete à bric et à brac 'at random'.

Brick a township in southeastern New Jersey; pop. 76,119.

brick n. 1 a small rectangular block typically made of fired or sun-dried clay, used in building.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- bricks collectively as a building material: this mill was built of brick; | [as modifer] a large brick building.

- a small, rectangular object: a brick of ice cream.

2 BRIT., INFORMAL, DATED a generous, helpful, and reliable person.

■ v. [trans.] (often be bricked) block or enclose with a wall of bricks: the doors have been bricked up.

<PHRASES>
□ be built like a brick shithouse see SHITHOUSE.

□ a brick short of a load see SHORT.

□ hit (or run into) a brick wall face an insuperable problem or obstacle while trying to do something.

□ like a ton of bricks INFORMAL with crushing weight, force, or authority: all her years of marriage suddenly fell on her like a ton of bricks.

□ shit a brick (or bricks) VULGAR SLANG be extremely anxious or nervous.

□ you can't make bricks without straw PROVERB nothing can be made or accomplished without proper or adequate material or information. <ORIGIN> with biblical allusion to Exodus 5; “without straw” meant “without having straw provided” (i.e., the Israelites were required to gather the straw for themselves). A misinterpretation has led to the current sense.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch bricke, brike; probably reinforced by Old French brique; of unknown ultimate origin.

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SHITHOUSE ■

SHORT ■

brick·bat n. a piece of brick, typically when used as a weapon.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a remark or comment which is highly critical and typically insulting: the plaudits were beginning to outnumber the brickbats.

brick-built adj. [attrib.] (of a building or structure) made of bricks.

brick·field n. BRIT. an area of ground where bricks are made.

brick·lay·er n. a person whose job is to build walls, houses, and other structures with bricks.

<DERIVATIVES> brick·lay·ing n.

brick red n. a deep brownish red: various shades from blushing pink to angry brick red | [as adj.] he had a brick-red face.

bricks and mor·tar n. used to denote a business that operates in the physical world rather than over the Internet: [as modifier] the bricks-and-mortar banks. Compare with CLICKS AND MORTAR.

brick ve·neer n. a covering of brick applied to a timber frame.
<SPECIAL USAGE> timber frames covered in brick as a building material.

brick·work n. the bricks in a wall, house, or other structure, typically in terms of their type or layout: the patterned brickwork of the gables.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the craft or occupation of building walls, houses, or other structures with bricks.

brick·yard n. a place where bricks are made.

bri·co·lage n. (pl. same or -lag·es) (in art or literature) construction or creation from a diverse range of available things: the chaotic bricolage of the novel is brought together in a unifying gesture.
<SPECIAL USAGE> something constructed or created in this way: bricolages of painted junk.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: French, from bricoler 'do odd jobs, repair'.

bri·co·leur n. a person who engages in bricolage.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: French, literally 'handyman'.

brid·al adj. [attrib.] of or concerning a bride or a wedding: her white bridal gown; the bridal party came out into the church porch.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old English 'wedding feast', from 'bride' + ealu 'ale-drinking'. Since the late 16th cent., the word has been associated with adjectives ending in -AL.

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-AL ■

brid·al reg·is·try n. a service offered by a store or other organization in which a bridal couple's gift preferences are recorded so as to be available to family and friends when shopping at the store.

brid·al suite n. a suite of rooms in a hotel for the use of a newly married couple.

brid·al wreath n. a spirea with sprays of white flowers.
<INFO>  Spirea prunifolia, family Rosaceae.

Bride, St. see BRIDGET, ST.1

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BRIDGET, ST. ■

bride n. a woman on her wedding day or just before and after the event.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bruid and German Braut.

bride·groom n. a man on his wedding day or just before and after the event.

<ORIGIN> Old English , from 'bride' + guma 'man'. The change in the second syllable was due to association with GROOM.

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GROOM ■

bride price n. [in sing.] a sum of money or quantity of goods given to a bride's family by that of the groom, esp. in tribal societies: payments of bride price from the husband's kin.

brides·maid n. a girl or woman who accompanies a bride on her wedding day.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: alteration of earlier bridemaid.

bride·well n. a prison for petty offenders such as a reform school.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: named after St. Bride's Well in the City of London, near which such a building stood.

bride·zil·la n. HUMOROUS an overzealous bride-to-be who acts irrationally or causes offense.

<ORIGIN> on the pattern of Godzilla.

bridge 1 n. 1 a structure carrying a road, path, railroad, or canal across a river, ravine, road, railroad, or other obstacle: a bridge across the river | a railroad bridge.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- something that makes a physical connection between two other things.

- something that is intended to reconcile or form a connection between two things: a committee that was formed to create a bridge between rival parties.

- a partial denture supported by natural teeth on either side. See also BRIDGEWORK.

- the support formed by the hand for the forward part of a billiard cue.

- a long stick with a frame at the end that is used to support a cue for a shot that is otherwise hard to reach.

- [MUSIC] an upright piece of wood on a string instrument over which the strings are stretched.

- [MUSIC] a bridge passage or middle eight.

- short for LAND BRIDGE.

2 the elevated, enclosed platform on a ship from which the captain and officers direct operations.

3 the upper bony part of a person's nose: he pushed his spectacles further up the bridge of his nose.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the central part of a pair of glasses, fitting over this: these sunglasses have a special nose bridge for comfort.

4 an electric circuit with two branches across which a detector or load is connected. These circuits are used to measure resistance or other property by equalizing the potential across the two ends of a detector, or to rectify an alternating voltage or current.

■ v. [trans.] be a bridge over (something): a covered walkway that bridged the gardens.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- build a bridge over (something): earlier attempts to bridge the channel had failed.

- make (a difference between two groups) smaller or less significant: bridging the gap between avant garde art and popular culture.

<PHRASES>
□ burn one's bridges see BURN^1 .

□ cross that bridge when one comes to it deal with a problem when and if it arises.

<DERIVATIVES> bridge·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English brycg (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch brug and German Brücke.

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BRIDGEWORK ■

LAND BRIDGE ■

BURN ■

bridge 2 n. a card game descended from whist, played by two partnerships of two players who at the beginning of each hand bid for the right to name the trump suit, the highest bid also representing a contract to make a specified number of tricks with a specified suit as trumps.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

bridge-build·ing n. the activity of building bridges.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE the promotion of friendly relations between groups.

<DERIVATIVES> bridge-build·er n.

bridge·head n. a strong position secured by an army inside enemy territory from which to advance or attack: FIGURATIVE in the 1970s, academic literary theory established bridgeheads in Britain.

bridge loan n. a sum of money lent by a bank to cover an interval between two transactions, typically the buying of one house and the selling of another.

bridge mix n. a mixture of various bite-size snack foods, such as nuts, raisins, and chocolates, typically served in a bowl at card games, parties, etc.

Bridge of Sighs a 16th-century enclosed bridge in Venice between the Doges' Palace and the state prison, originally crossed by prisoners on their way to torture or execution.

bridge pas·sage n. a transitional section in a musical composition leading to a new section or theme.

Bridge·port an industrial city in southwestern Connecticut, on Long Island Sound; pop. 139,529.

Bridg·es 1 Lloyd (Vernet, Jr.) (1913-98), U.S. actor; father of actors Jeff Bridges (1949- ) and Beau Bridges (1941- ). His many movie credits include High Noon (1952) and Airplane (1980). He also starred in the television series “Sea Hunt” (1958-61).

Bridg·es 2 Robert (Seymour) (1844-1930), English poet and literary critic; poet laureate 1913-30. His long philosophical poem, The Testament of Beauty (1929), was written in the Victorian tradition.

Bridg·et, St. 1 (also Bride or Brig·id ) (6th century), Irish abbess; also known as St. Bridget of Ireland. She was venerated in Ireland as a virgin saint and noted in miracle stories for her compassion. Feast day, July 23.

Bridg·et, St. 2 (also Bir·git·ta ) (c.1303-73), Swedish nun and visionary; also known as St. Bridget of Sweden. She experienced her first vision of the Virgin Mary at the age of seven. Feast day, February 1.

Bridge·town the capital of Barbados, a port on the southern coast; pop. 6,720.

bridge·work n. 1 dental bridges collectively.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the construction or insertion of such bridges.

2 [BUILDING] the component parts of a bridge.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the construction of bridges.

bridg·ing n. the action of putting a bridge over something: the bridging of a ditch.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MOUNTAINEERING] a method of climbing a wide chimney by using the left hand and foot on one sidewall and the right hand and foot on the other.

Bridg·man Percy Williams (1882-1961), U.S. physicist. He worked with liquids and solids under very high pressures; his techniques were later used in making artificial minerals (including diamonds). Nobel Prize for Physics (1946).

bri·dle n. the headgear used to control a horse, consisting of buckled straps to which a bit and reins are attached.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a line, rope, or device that is used to restrain or control the action or movement of something.

- [NAUTICAL] a length of rope, chain, or cable fastened at both ends to an object that is to be secured or moved or to a vessel that is to do the towing, a pull being exerted at the center of its length.

■ v. 1 [trans.] (usu. be bridled) put a bridle on (a horse).
<SPECIAL USAGE> bring (something) under control; curb: the fact that he was their servant bridled his tongue.

2 [intrans.] show one's resentment or anger, esp. by throwing up the head and drawing in the chin: ranchers have bridled at excessive federal control.

<PHRASES>
□ off the bridle see BIT^3 .

□ on the bridle see BIT^3 .

<ORIGIN> Old English (noun), (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breidel (noun). Sense 2 of the verb use is from the action of a horse when reined in.

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BIT ■

BIT ■

bri·dle path n. a path or track used for horseback riding.

Brie n. a kind of soft, mild, creamy cheese with a firm, white skin.

<ORIGIN> named after Brie in northern France, where it was originally made.

brief adj. of short duration: the president made a brief visit to Moscow.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- concise in expression; using few words: introductions were brief and polite.

- (of a piece of clothing) not covering much of the body; scanty: Alice sported a pair of extremely brief black shorts.

■ n. a concise statement or summary: their comments were cribbed right from industry briefs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a set of instructions given to a person about a job or task: his brief is to turn around the country's economy.

- a written summary of the facts and legal points supporting one side of a case, for presentation to a court.

- a letter from the pope to a person or community on a matter of discipline.

■ v. [trans.] instruct or inform (someone) thoroughly, esp. in preparation for a task: she briefed him on last week's decisions.

<PHRASES>
□ hold no brief for not support or argue in favor of: I hold no brief for the president.

□ in brief in a few words; in short: he is, in brief, the embodiment of evil the news in brief.

<DERIVATIVES> brief·ly adv. [sentence adverb] briefly, the plot is as follows brief·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French brief, from Latin brevis 'short'. The noun is via late Latin breve 'note, dispatch', hence 'an official letter'.

brief·case n. a flat, rectangular container, typically made of leather, for carrying books and papers.

brief·ing n. a meeting for giving information or instructions: the daily press briefing.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the information or instructions given: this briefing explains the systems, products and standards.

- the action of informing or instructing someone: today's briefing of NATO allies.

briefs plural n. close-fitting legless underpants that are cut so as to cover the body to the waist, in contrast to a bikini.

bri·er 1 (also bri·ar) n. any of a number of prickly scrambling shrubs, esp. the sweetbrier and other wild roses.

<DERIVATIVES> bri·er·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English , , of unknown origin.

bri·er 2 (also bri·ar) n. 1 (also brier pipe) a tobacco pipe made from nodules borne at ground level by a large woody plant of the heath family.

2 the white-flowered shrub of the heath family that bears these nodules, native chiefly to France and Corsica.
<INFO>  Erica arborea, family Ericaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French bruyère 'heath, heather', from medieval Latin brucus.

bri·er·root n. wood from the nodules of the brier (Erica arborea), used esp. for making tobacco pipes.

bri·er·wood n. another term for BRIERROOT.

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BRIERROOT ■

brig n. a two-masted, square-rigged ship with an additional gaff sail on the mainmast.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a prison, esp. on a warship.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: abbreviation of BRIGANTINE (the original sense).

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Brig. abbr.
- brigade.

- brigadier.

bri·gade n. a subdivision of an army, typically consisting of a small number of infantry battalions and/or other units and often forming part of a division: he commanded a brigade of 3,000 men.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [usu. with adj.] an organization with a specific purpose, typically with a military or quasi-military structure: the local fire brigade.

- [in sing.] INFORMAL, OFTEN DEROGATORY a group of people with a common characteristic or dedicated to a common cause: the anti-smoking brigade.

■ v. [trans.] (often be brigaded) RARE form into a brigade.
<SPECIAL USAGE> associate with (someone or something): they thought the speech too closely brigaded with illegal action.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian brigata 'company', from brigare 'contend', from briga 'strife'.

brig·a·dier n. a rank of officer in the British army, above colonel and below major general.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French (see BRIGADE, -IER).

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BRIGADE ■

-IER ■

brig·a·dier gen·er·al n. (pl. brig·a·dier gen·er·als) an officer in the U.S. Army, Air Force, or Marine Corps ranking above colonel and below major general.

brig·and n. POETIC/LITERARY a member of a gang that ambushes and robs people in forests and mountains.

<DERIVATIVES> brig·and·age n. brig·and·ry n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also denoting an irregular foot soldier): from Old French, from Italian brigante, literally '(person) contending', from brigare 'contend' (see BRIGADE).

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BRIGADE ■

brig·an·dine n. HISTORICAL a coat of mail, typically one made of iron rings or plates attached to canvas or other fabric.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from brigand (see BRIGAND).

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BRIGAND ■

brig·an·tine n. a two-masted sailing ship with a square-rigged foremast and a fore-and-aft-rigged mainmast.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (denoting a small vessel used by pirates): from Old French, from Italian brigantino, from brigante (see BRIGAND).

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BRIGAND ■

Briggs Henry (1561-1630), English mathematician. Renowned for his work on logarithms, he introduced the decimal base, made the thousands of calculations necessary for the tables, and popularized their use. He also devised the usual method used for long division.

Bright John (1811-89), English politician and reformer. A noted orator, Bright was the leader, along with Richard Cobden, of the campaign to repeal the Corn Laws and was closely identified with the 1867 Reform Act.

bright adj. 1 giving out or reflecting a lot of light; shining: I have problems seeing when the sun is bright; her bright, dark eyes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- full of light: the rooms are bright and spacious.

- (of a period of time) having sunny, cloudless weather: the long, bright days of June.

- having a vivid color: the bright flowers; a bright tie.

- (of color) vivid and bold: the bright green leaves.

2 (of sound) clear, vibrant, and typically high-pitched: her voice is fresh and bright.

3 (of a person, idea, or remark) intelligent and quick-witted: a bright young journalist; a suggestion box for bright ideas.

4 giving an appearance of cheerful liveliness: she gave a bright smile.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of someone's future) likely to be successful and happy: the bright prospects for her early retirement.

■ adv. luminously: a full moon shining bright.

■ n. (brights) 1 bold and vivid colors: webbed gloves in neon brights.

2 headlights switched to high beam: he turned the brights on, and we drove along the dirt road.

<PHRASES>
□ bright and early very early in the morning.

□ the bright lights the glamor and excitement of the city: they hankered for the bright lights of the capital.

□ look on the bright side be optimistic or cheerful in spite of difficulties.

<DERIVATIVES> bright·ish adj. bright·ly adv. bright·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English beorht, of Germanic origin.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
bright, brilliant, effulgent, luminous, lustrous, radiant, refulgent, resplendent, shining

Looking for just the right word to capture the quality of the light on a moonlit night or a summer day? All of these adjectives describe an intense, steady light emanating (or appearing to emanate) from a source.

Bright is the most general term, applied to something that gives forth, reflects, or is filled with light (a bright and sunny day; a bright star).

Brilliant light is even more intense or dazzling (the brilliant diamond on her finger), and resplendent is a slightly more formal, even poetic, way of describing a striking brilliance (the sky was resplendent with stars).

Poets also prefer adjectives like effulgent and refulgent, both of which can be applied to an intense, pervading light, sometimes from an unseen source (her effulgent loveliness); but refulgent specifically refers to reflected light (a chandelier of refulgent crystal pendants).

Radiant is used to describe the power of giving off light, either literally or metaphorically (a radiant June day; the bride's radiant face); it describes a steady, warm light that is emitted in all directions.

Like radiant, luminous suggests sending forth light, but light of the glow-in-the-dark variety (the luminous face of the alarm clock).

While diamonds are known for being brilliant, fabrics like satin and surfaces like polished wood, which reflect light and take on a gloss or sheen, are often called lustrous.

If none of these words captures the exact quality of the light you're trying to describe, you can always join the masses and use shining, a word that has been overworked to the point of cliché (my knight in shining armor).

bright·en v. make or become more light: [intrans.] the day began to brighten in the east | [trans.] the fire began to blaze fiercely, brightening the room.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] make (something) more attractively and cheerfully colorful: this colorful hanging ornament will brighten any room; | daffodils brighten up many gardens and parks.

- make or become happier and more cheerful: [intrans.] Sarah brightened up considerably as she thought of Emily's words | [trans.] she seems to brighten his life.

<ORIGIN> Old English (ge)beorhtnian.

bright-eyed adj. 1 having shining eyes.

2 alert and lively: bright-eyed young lawyers; a bright-eyed optimism.

<PHRASES> bright-eyed and bushy-tailed INFORMAL alert and lively; eager. <ORIGIN> from the conventional description of a squirrel.

Bright·on a resort town on the southern coast of England; pop. 133,400.

Brigh·ton Beach a section of southern Brooklyn in New York City, east of Coney Island, noted for its Jewish community, and now home to a large Russian immigrant population.

Bright's dis·ease n. a disease involving chronic inflammation of the kidneys.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Richard Bright (1789-1858), the English physician who established its nature.

bright·work n. polished metalwork on ships or vehicles.

Brig·id, St. see BRIDGET, ST.1

Linked entries:

BRIDGET, ST. ■

brill n. a European flatfish that resembles a turbot.
<INFO>  Scophthalmus rhombus, family Scophthalmidae (or Bothidae).

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: of unknown origin.

bril·liance (also bril·lian·cy ) n. intense brightness of light: the nights were dark, lit only by the brilliance of Aegean stars.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- vividness of color.

- exceptional talent or intelligence: he's played the stock market with great brilliance.

bril·liant adj. 1 (of light) very bright and radiant. See note at BRIGHT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a color) brightly and intensely vivid.

2 exceptionally clever or talented: a brilliant young mathematician; a brilliant idea.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- outstanding; impressive: his brilliant career at Harvard.

- BRIT., INFORMAL very good, excellent, or marvelous: we had a brilliant time | [as exclam.] “Brilliant!” he declared excitedly as she finished telling him what had happened.

■ n. a diamond of brilliant cut.

<DERIVATIVES> bril·liant·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French brillant 'shining', present participle of briller, from Italian brillare, probably from Latin beryllus (see BERYL).

Linked entries:

BERYL ■

bril·liant cut n. a circular cut for diamonds and other gemstones in the form of two many-faceted pyramids joined at their bases, the upper one truncated near its apex.

bril·lian·tine n. 1 DATED scented oil used on men's hair to make it look glossy.

2 shiny dress fabric made from cotton and mohair or cotton and worsted.

<DERIVATIVES> bril·lian·tined adj. (in sense 1).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French brillantine, from brillant 'shining' (see BRILLIANT).

Linked entries:

BRILLIANT ■

Bril·lo (also Brillo pad) n. INFORMAL, OFTEN OFFENSIVE hair that is wiry or tightly curled.

<ORIGIN> from the trademark Brillo, used for soaped, steel-wool scouring pads.

brim n. the projecting edge around the bottom of a hat: a soft hat with a turned-up brim. See note at BORDER.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the upper edge or lip of a cup, bowl, or other container: tankards frothing to the brim.

■ v. (brimmed, brim·ming) [often as adj.] (brimming) fill or be full to the point of overflowing: [intrans.] a brimming cup; | [trans.] seawater brimmed the riverbanks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- fill something so completely as almost to spill out of it: large tears brimmed in her eyes.

- FIGURATIVE be possessed by or full of feelings or thoughts: he is brimming with ideas.

<DERIVATIVES> brimmed adj. [in combination]: a wide-brimmed hat. brim·less adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting the edge of the sea or other body of water): perhaps related to German Bräme 'trimming'.

brim·ful adj. [predic.] filled with something to the point of overflowing: a jug brimful of custard.

brim·stone n. ARCHAIC sulfur.

<PHRASES> fire and brimstone see FIRE.

<ORIGIN> late Old English , probably from bryne 'burning' + 'stone'.

Linked entries:

FIRE ■

brin·dle n. a brownish or tawny color of animal fur, with streaks of other color.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an animal with such a coat.

■ adj. (also brin·dled) (esp. of domestic animals) brownish or tawny with streaks of other color: a brindle pup.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: back-formation from brindled, alteration of Middle English brinded in the same sense, probably of Scandinavian origin.

brine n. water saturated or strongly impregnated with salt.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- seawater: dolphins and whales can't help taking in the odd gulp of brine as they swallow a fish.

- TECHNICAL a strong solution of a salt or salts: these brines percolated downward.

■ v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (brined) soak in or saturate with salty water: brined anchovies.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of unknown origin.

Bri·nell hard·ness test n. a test to determine the hardness of metals and alloys by hydraulically pressing a steel ball into the metal and measuring the resulting indentation.

The steel ball used in the test has a diameter of 1.6 millimeters and the applied load has a weight of 12.6 kilograms. The ratio of this load to the area of the resulting indentation is the Bri·nell hard·ness num·ber.

<ORIGIN> named for Johan August Brinell (1849-1925), Swedish engineer.

brine shrimp n. a small fairy shrimp that lives in brine pools and salt lakes and is used as food for aquarium fish.
<INFO>  Artemia salina, class Branchiopoda.

bring v. (past brought ) [trans.] come to a place with (someone or something): she brought Luke home from the hospital | [with two objs.] Liz brought her a glass of water.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- cause (someone or something) to come to a place: what brings you here?; a felony case brought before a jury | FIGURATIVE his inner confidence has brought him through his ordeal.

- make (someone or something) move in a particular direction or way: he brought his hands out of his pockets; heavy rain brought down part of the ceiling.

- cause (something): the bad weather brought famine; her letter brought forth a torrent of criticism.

- cause (someone or something) to be in or change to a particular state or condition: I'll give you some aspirin to bring down his temperature; his approach brought him into conflict with government.

- (bring someone in) involve (someone) in a particular activity: he has brought in a consultant.

- initiate (legal action) against someone: riot and conspiracy charges should be brought against them.

- [usu. with negative] (bring oneself to do something) force oneself to do something unpleasant or distressing: she could not bring herself to mention it.

- cause someone to receive (an amount of money) as income or profit: two important Chippendale lots brought $10,000 each | [with two objs.] five more novels brought him $150,000.

<PHRASES>
□ bring home the bacon see BACON.

□ bring something home to someone see HOME.

□ bring the house down make an audience respond with great enthusiasm, typically as shown by their laughter or applause.

□ bring something into play cause something to begin operating or to have an effect; activate.

□ bring something to bear exert influence or pressure so as to cause a particular result: he was released after pressure had been brought to bear by the aid agencies.

□ bring someone to book see BOOK.

□ bring something to light see LIGHT^1 .

□ bring someone/something to mind cause one to remember or think of someone or something: all that marble brought to mind a mausoleum.

□ bring something to pass CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY cause something to happen.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  bring something about 1 cause something to happen: she brought about a revolution.

2 cause a ship to head in a different direction.

□  bring something back cause something to return.
- reintroduce something: bringing back capital punishment would solve nothing.

□  bring someone down cause someone to fall over, esp. by tackling them during a football game or rugby match.
- cause someone to lose power: the vote will not bring down the government.

- make someone unhappy.

□  bring someone/something down cause an animal or person to fall over by shooting them.
- cause an aircraft or bird to fall from the sky by shooting it.

□  bring something forth ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY give birth to: why does Elsbeth not bring forth a child?

□  bring something forward 1 move a meeting or event to an earlier date or time.

2 [often as adj.] (brought forward) in bookkeeping, transfer a total sum from the bottom of one page to the top of the next: a profit and loss balance brought forward of $5,000,000.

3 propose a plan, subject, or idea for consideration.

□  bring something in 1 introduce something, esp. a new law or product: Congress brought in reforms to prevent abuse of presidential power.

2 make or earn a particular amount of money: their fund-raising efforts have brought in more than $1 million.

3 (of a jury) give a decision in court: the jury brought in a unanimous verdict.

□  bring someone off 1 be rescued from a ship in difficulties.

2 VULGAR SLANG give someone or oneself an orgasm.

□  bring something off achieve something successfully: a good omelet is very hard to bring off.

□  bring someone on encourage someone who is learning something to develop or improve at a faster rate.

□  bring something on cause something, typically something unpleasant, to occur or develop: ulcers are not brought on by a rich diet.
- (bring something on/upon) be responsible for something, typically something unpleasant, that happens to oneself or someone else: the doom that he has brought upon himself.

□  bring someone out 1 encourage one to feel more confident or sociable: she needs friends to bring her out of herself.

2 introduce (a young woman) formally into society.

3 introduce (a homosexual) into the homosexual subculture.

□  bring something out produce and launch a new product or publication: the band is bringing out a video.
- make something more evident; emphasize something: the shawl brings out the color of your eyes; he brought out the best in his team.

□  bring someone around 1 restore someone to consciousness.

2 persuade someone to do something, esp. to adopt one's own point of view: my wife has brought me around to eating broiled grouper.

□  bring someone to restore someone to consciousness.

□  bring something to cause a boat to stop, esp. by turning into the wind.

□  bring up (chiefly of a ship) come to a stop.

□  bring someone up look after a child until it is an adult.
- (be brought up) be taught as a child to adopt particular behavior or attitudes: he had been brought up to believe that marriage was forever.

□  bring something up 1 vomit something.

2 raise a matter for discussion or consideration: she tried repeatedly to bring up the subject of marriage.

<DERIVATIVES> bring·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English bringan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch brengen and German bringen.

Linked entries:

BACON ■

HOME ■

BOOK ■

LIGHT ■

bring·down n. a disappointment or letdown; comedown.

Brink André (1935- ), South African novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. His novel, Looking on Darkness (1973), became the first novel in Afrikaans to be banned by the South African government. Other notable novels: A Dry White Season (1979) and A Chain of Voices (1982).

brink n. an extreme edge of land before a steep or vertical slope: the brink of the cliffs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a margin or bank of a body of water: the brink of the pond.
See note at BORDER.
- a point at which something, typically an unwelcome or disastrous event, is about to happen: a hapless dictator teetering on the brink.

<PHRASES> on the brink of about to experience something, typically a disastrous or unwelcome event: the country was on the brink of a constitutional crisis.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: of Scandinavian origin.

Brink·ley David (1920-2003 ), U.S. news commentator. He reported news for NBC 1951-81, co-anchoring "The Huntley-Brinkley Report" 1956-70 with Chet Huntley. He anchored ABC's "This Week" 1981-97.

brink·man·ship (also brinks·man·ship ) n. the art or practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the limits of safety before stopping, typically in politics.

brin·y adj. of salty water or the sea; salty: the briny tang of the scallops.

■ n. (the briny) BRIT., INFORMAL the sea.

bri·o n. vigor or vivacity of style or performance: she told her story with some brio. See also CON BRIO.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Italian.

Linked entries:

CON BRIO ■

bri·oche n. a light, sweet yeast bread typically in the form of a small, round roll.

<ORIGIN> French, from Norman French brier, synonym of broyer, literally 'split up into very small pieces by pressure'; related to BRAY^2 .

bri·quette (also bri·quet) n. a block of compressed charcoal or coal dust used as fuel.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, diminutive of brique 'brick'.

bris n. the Jewish ceremony of circumcision. Also called BRITH.

Linked entries:

BRITH ■

Bris·bane the capital of Queensland, Australia; pop. 1,273,500. It was founded in 1824 as a penal colony.

<ORIGIN> named after Sir Thomas Brisbane (1773-1860), governor of New South Wales 1821-25.

bri·sé n. [BALLET] a jump in which the dancer sweeps one leg into the air to the side while jumping off the other, brings both legs together in the air and beats them before landing.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, literally 'broken'.

brisk adj. active, fast, and energetic: a good brisk walk; business appeared to be brisk.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of the weather or wind) cold but fresh and enlivening.

- sharp or abrupt: the brisk, dismissive nod of her head.

<DERIVATIVES> brisk·ly adv. brisk·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: probably from French brusque (see BRUSQUE).

Linked entries:

BRUSQUE ■

bris·ket n. meat cut from the breast of an animal, typically a cow.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: perhaps from Old Norse brjósk 'cartilage, gristle'.

bris·ling n. (pl. same or -lings) a sprat, typically one seasoned and smoked in Norway and sold in a can.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Norwegian and Danish.

bris·tle n. (usu. bristles) a short stiff hair, typically one of those on an animal's skin, a man's face, or a plant.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a stiff animal hair, or a man-made substitute, used to make a brush: a toothbrush with nylon bristles | the heads are made with natural bristle.

■ v. [intrans.] 1 (of hair or fur) stand upright away from the skin, esp. in anger or fear: the hair on the back of his neck bristled.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make one's hair or fur stand on end: the cat bristled in annoyance.

- react angrily or defensively, typically by drawing oneself up: she bristled at his rudeness.

2 (bristle with) be covered with or abundant in: the roof bristled with antennas.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old English byrst (of Germanic origin, related to German Borste) + -LE^1 .

Linked entries:

-LE ■

bris·tle·cone pine n. a very long-lived shrubby pine of western North America. It has been used in dendrochronology to correct radiocarbon dating.
<INFO>  Pinus longaeva, family Pinaceae.

bris·tle fern n. a filmy fern with hairlike bristles protruding from the spore-containing bodies. Most bristle ferns have delicate fronds and live in damp shady places, chiefly in tropical areas.
<INFO>  Genus Trichomanes, family Hymenophyllaceae.

bris·tle·tail n. a small wingless insect that has bristles at the end of the abdomen.
<INFO>  Orders Thysanura (the true bristletails, with three bristles, including the silverfish) and Diplura (the two-pronged bristletails), subclass Apterygota.

bris·tle worm n. a marine annelid worm that has a segmented body with numerous bristles on the fleshy lobes of each segment. Also called POLYCHAETE (see POLYCHAETA).
<INFO>  Polychaeta

bris·tling adj. 1 (esp. of hair) close-set, stiff, and spiky: a bristling beard.

2 FIGURATIVE aggressively brisk or tense: he fills the screen with a restless, bristling energy.

bris·tly adj. (of hair or foliage) having a stiff and prickly texture.
<SPECIAL USAGE> covered with short stiff hairs: he rubbed his bristly chin.

bris·tly sar·sa·pa·ril·la n. see ARALIA.

Linked entries:

ARALIA ■

Bris·tol 1 a city in southwestern England; pop. 370,300. It is located on the Avon River about 6 miles (10 km) from the Bristol Channel.

2 an industrial city and township in west central Connecticut; pop. 60,062.

3 a township in southeastern Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River; pop. 55,521.

4 an industrial city in eastern Tennessee; pop. 23,421.

Bris·tol board n. fine, smooth pasteboard used for drawing or cutting.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after the city of BRISTOL in southwestern England.

Linked entries:

BRISTOL ■

Bris·tol Chan·nel a wide inlet of the Atlantic Ocean between South Wales and the southwestern peninsula of England that narrows into the estuary of the River Severn.

Brit INFORMAL n. a British person.

■ adj. British.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: abbreviation.

Brit·ain an island that consists of England, Wales, and Scotland and includes the small adjacent islands. The name is broadly synonymous with Great Britain, but the longer form is more usual for the political unit. See also GREAT BRITAIN.

<ORIGIN> Old English Breoton, from Latin Brittones 'Britons', superseded in Middle English by forms from Old French Bretaigne (from Latin Brit(t)annia).

Linked entries:

GREAT BRITAIN ■

Bri·tan·ni·a the personification of Britain, usually depicted as a helmeted woman with shield and trident. The figure had appeared on Roman coins and was revived with the name Britannia on the coinage of Charles II.

<ORIGIN> the Latin name for BRITAIN.

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BRITAIN ■

Bri·tan·ni·a met·al n. a silvery alloy consisting of tin with about 5-15 percent antimony and typically some copper, lead, or zinc.

Bri·tan·nic adj. DATED (usually in names or titles) of Britain or the British Empire: he answered His Britannic Majesty's call to arms.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin Britannicus, from Britannia (see BRITANNIA).

Linked entries:

BRITANNIA ■

britch·es n. variant spelling of BREECHES.

<PHRASES> too big for one's britches see BIG.

Linked entries:

BREECHES ■

BIG ■

brith n. another term for BRIS.

<ORIGIN> For brith milah, from Hebrew berit mila 'covenant of circumcision' (Gen 17:9-10).

Linked entries:

BRIS ■

Brit·i·cism (also Brit·ish·ism ) n. an idiom used in Britain but not in other English-speaking countries.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BRITISH, on the pattern of words such as Gallicism.

Linked entries:

BRITISH ■

Brit·ish adj. 1 of or relating to Great Britain or the United Kingdom, or to its people or language.

2 of the British Commonwealth or (formerly) the British Empire.

■ n. [as plural n.] (the British) the British people.

<DERIVATIVES> Brit·ish·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English Brettisc 'relating to the ancient Britons', from Bret 'Briton', from Latin Britto, or its Celtic equivalent.

Brit·ish Ant·arc·tic Ter·ri·to·ry that part of Antarctica claimed by Britain. It includes about 150,058 square miles (388,500 sq km) of the continent of Antarctica as well as the South Orkney and South Shetland islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Brit·ish Broad·cast·ing Cor·po·ra·tion (abbr.: BBC) a public corporation for radio and television broadcasting in Britain.

The BBC was established in 1927 by royal charter and held a monopoly until the introduction of the first commercial TV station in 1954. It is financed by the sale of television viewing licenses rather than by revenue from advertising and has an obligation to remain impartial in its reporting.

Brit·ish Co·lum·bi·a a province on the western coast of Canada; pop. 3,282,061; capital, Victoria. Formed in 1866 by the union of Vancouver Island and the mainland area, then called New Caledonia, the province includes the Queen Charlotte Islands.

Brit·ish Com·mon·wealth see COMMONWEALTH (sense 2).

Linked entries:

COMMONWEALTH ■

Brit·ish Em·pire a former empire consisting of Great Britain and its possessions, dominions, and dependencies.

Colonization of North America and domination of India began in the 17th century. A series of small colonies, mostly in the West Indies, was gained during the late 17th-early 19th centuries, and Australia, New Zealand, various parts of the Far East, and large areas of Africa were added in the 19th century. Self-government was granted to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa in the mid 19th century, and most of the remaining colonies have gained independence since the end of World War II.

Brit·ish Eng·lish n. English as used in Great Britain, as distinct from that used elsewhere.

Brit·ish·er n. INFORMAL (in North America and old-fashioned British English) a native or inhabitant of Britain.

Brit·ish Ex·pe·di·tion·ar·y Force (abbr.: BEF) a British force made available by the army reform of 1908 for service overseas against foreign countries. Such forces were sent to France at the outbreak of both world wars.

Brit·ish In·di·a that part of the Indian subcontinent administered by the British from 1765, when the East India Company acquired control over Bengal, until 1947, when India became independent and Pakistan was created. See also INDIA.

Linked entries:

INDIA ■

Brit·ish In·di·an O·cean Ter·ri·to·ry a British dependency in the Indian Ocean that consists of the islands of the Chagos Archipelago and (until 1976) some other groups that now belong to the Seychelles. Ceded to Britain by France in 1814, the islands became a separate dependency in 1965.

Brit·ish Isles a group of islands lying off the coast of northwestern Europe, from which they are separated by the North Sea and the English Channel. They include Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Isle of Wight, the Hebrides, the Orkney Islands, the Shetland Islands, the Scilly Isles, and the Channel Islands.

Brit·ish·ism n. variant spelling of BRITICISM.

Linked entries:

BRITICISM ■

Brit·ish Mu·se·um a national museum of antiquities in Bloomsbury, London. Established with public funds in 1753, it includes among its holdings the Magna Carta, the Elgin Marbles, and the Rosetta Stone.

Brit·ish So·ma·li·land a former British protectorate that was established on the Somali coast of East Africa in 1884. In 1960, it united with a former Italian territory to create the independent republic of Somalia.

Brit·ish ther·mal u·nit (abbr.: Btu, BTU) n. the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water at maximum density through one degree Fahrenheit, equivalent to 1.055 × 10^3 joules.

Brit·ish Vir·gin Is·lands see VIRGIN ISLANDS.

Linked entries:

VIRGIN ISLANDS ■

Brit·on n. 1 a citizen or native of Great Britain.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person of British descent.

2 one of the people of southern Britain before and during Roman times.

<ORIGIN> from Old French Breton, from Latin Britto, Britton-, or its Celtic equivalent.

Brit·pop n. pop music by a loose affiliation of British groups of the mid 1990s, typically influenced by the Beatles and other British groups of the 1960s and perceived as a reaction against American grunge music.

Brit·ta·ny a region and former duchy of northwestern France that forms a peninsula between the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel. French name BRETAGNE.

Linked entries:

BRETAGNE ■

Brit·ten (Edward) Benjamin, Lord Britten of Aldeburgh (1913-76), English composer, pianist, and conductor. Notable operas: Peter Grimes (1945), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1960), and Death in Venice (1973).

brit·tle adj. hard but liable to break or shatter easily: her bones became fragile and brittle.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a sound, esp. a person's voice) unpleasantly hard and sharp and showing signs of instability or nervousness: a brittle laugh.

- (of a person or behavior) appearing aggressive or hard but unstable or nervous within: her manner was artificially bright and brittle.

■ n. a candy made from nuts and set melted sugar: peanut brittle.

<DERIVATIVES> brit·tle·ly (or brit·tly) adv. brit·tle·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to Old English 'break up'.

brit·tle bone dis·ease n. [MEDICINE] 1 another term for OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA.

2 another term for OSTEOPOROSIS.

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OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA ■

OSTEOPOROSIS ■

brit·tle fern n. another term for BLADDER FERN.

Linked entries:

BLADDER FERN ■

brit·tle frac·ture n. fracture of a metal or other material occurring without appreciable prior plastic deformation.

brit·tle·star n. an echinoderm related to the starfish, with long, thin, flexible arms radiating from a small central disk.
<INFO>  Class Ophiuroidea: Ophiura and other genera.

Brit·ton·ic adj. & n. variant of BRYTHONIC.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Britto, Britton- 'Briton' + -IC.

Linked entries:

BRYTHONIC ■

-IC ■

britz·ka (also britz·ska) n. HISTORICAL an open carriage with calash top and space for reclining.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Polish bryczka.

Brix scale n. a hydrometer scale for measuring the amount of sugar in a solution at a given temperature.

Br·no an industrial city in the Czech Republic; pop. 388,000.

bro n. INFORMAL short for BROTHER: his baby bro.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in sing.] a friendly greeting or form of address: “Yo bro!”

- (Bro.) Brother (used before a first name when referring in writing to a member of a religious order of men): Bro. Felix.

Linked entries:

BROTHER ■

broach 1 v. [trans.] 1 raise (a sensitive or difficult subject) for discussion: he broached the subject he had been avoiding all evening.

2 pierce (a cask) to draw liquor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> open and start using the contents of (a bottle or other container).

3 [intrans.] (of a fish or sea mammal) rise through the water and break the surface: the salmon broach, then fall to slap the water.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French brochier, based on Latin brocchus, broccus 'projecting'. The earliest recorded sense was 'prick with spurs', part of the general meaning 'pierce with something sharp', from which sense 2 arose in late Middle English. Sense 1, a figurative use of this, dates from the late 16th cent.

broach 2 [NAUTICAL] v. [intrans.] (also broach to) (of a ship with the wind on the quarter) veer and pitch forward because of bad steering or a sea hitting the stern, causing it to present a side to the wind and sea, lose steerage, and possibly suffer serious damage: we had broached badly, side on to the wind and sea; the ship would have broached to if the captain had not sprung to the wheel.

■ n. a sudden and hazardous veering of a ship having such consequences.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

broad adj. 1 having an ample distance from side to side; wide: a broad staircase.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (after a measurement) giving the distance from side to side: the valley is three miles long and half a mile broad.

- large in area; spacious: a broad expanse of prairie.

2 covering a large number and wide scope of subjects or areas: a broad range of experience.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- having or incorporating a wide range of meanings, applications, or kinds of things; loosely defined: three broad categories of mutual funds.

- including or coming from many people of many kinds: broad support for the president's foreign policy.

3 general; without detail: a broad outline of NATO's position.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a hint) clear and unambiguous; not subtle: a broad hint.

- somewhat coarse and indecent: what we regard as broad or even bawdy is a fact of nature to him.

- (of a phonetic transcription) showing only meaningful distinctions in sound and ignoring minor details.

4 (of a regional accent) very noticeable and strong: his broad Bronx accent.

■ n. INFORMAL, CHIEFLY DEROGATORY a woman.

<PHRASES>
□ broad in the beam fat around the hips.

□ in broad daylight during the day, when it is light, and surprising or unexpected for this reason: the kidnapping took place in broad daylight.

<DERIVATIVES> broad·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch breed and German breit.

broad ar·row n. a mark resembling a broad arrowhead, formerly used on British prison clothing, Navy timber, and other government property.

broad·ax (also broad·axe) n. an ax with a wide head and a short handle.

broad·band adj. of or using signals over a wide range of frequencies in high-capacity telecommunications, esp. as used for access to the Internet: broadband applications such as video and live audio.

■ n. signals over such a range of frequencies: our ability to uplink on broadband has been curtailed.

broad bean n. 1 a large edible flat green bean that is typically eaten without the pod. Also called FAVA BEAN, HORSEBEAN.

2 the plant that yields these beans, often cultivated in gardens.
<INFO>  Vicia faba, family Leguminosae.

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FAVA BEAN ■

HORSEBEAN ■

broad·bill n. 1 a small bird of the Old World tropics, with a stocky body, a large head, a flattened bill with a wide gape, and typically very colorful plumage.
<INFO>  Eurylaimidae

2 a bird with a broad bill, esp. a duck like the shoveler or the scaup.

3 another term for SWORDFISH.

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SWORDFISH ■

broad-brush adj. lacking in detail and subtlety: a broad-brush measure of inflation.

■ n. (broad brush) an approach characterized in this way: the public painted all evangelists with a broad brush.

broad·cast v. (past -cast or -cast·ed; past part. -cast or -cast·ed) [trans.] 1 (often be broadcast) transmit (a program or some information) by radio or television: the announcement was broadcast live | [as n.] (broadcasting) the 1920s saw the dawn of broadcasting.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] take part in a radio or television transmission: the station broadcasts 24 hours a day.

- tell (something) to many people; make widely known: we don't want to broadcast our unhappiness to the world.

2 scatter (seeds) by hand or machine rather than placing in drills or rows. See note at SCATTER.

■ n. a radio or television program or transmission.

■ adj. of or relating to such programs: a broadcast journalist.

■ adv. by scattering: green manure can be sown broadcast or in rows.

<DERIVATIVES> broad·cast·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (in the sense 'sown by scattering'): from BROAD + the past participle of CAST^1 . Senses relating to radio and television date from the early 20th cent.

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BROAD ■

CAST ■

Broad Church n. a tradition or group within the Anglican Church favoring a liberal interpretation of doctrine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a group, organization, or doctrine that allows for and caters to a wide range of opinions and people.

broad·cloth n. clothing fabric of fine twilled wool or worsted, or plain-woven cotton.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: originally denoting cloth made 72 inches wide, as opposed to 'strait' cloth, 36 inches wide. The term now implies quality rather than width.

broad·en v. [intrans.] become larger in distance from side to side; widen: her smile broadened; the river slowed and broadened out slightly.
<SPECIAL USAGE> expand to encompass more people, ideas, or things: her interests broadened as she grew up | [trans.] efforts to broaden classical music's appeal.

<PHRASES> broaden one's horizons expand one's range of interests, activities, and knowledge.

broad gauge n. a railroad gauge that is wider than the standard gauge of 56.5 inches (1.435 m).

broad jump n. another term for LONG JUMP.

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LONG JUMP ■

broad·leaf adj. another term for BROAD-LEAVED.

■ n. (pl. -leaves or -leafs) a tree or plant with wide flat leaves.

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BROAD-LEAVED ■

broad-leaved adj. [attrib.] (of a tree or plant) having relatively wide, flat leaves rather than needles; nonconiferous.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a wood or woodland) consisting of trees with such leaves: ancient broad-leaved woodlands.

broad·loom n. carpet woven in wide widths: wall-to-wall broadloom.

<DERIVATIVES> broad·loomed adj.

broad·ly adv. 1 in general and with the exception of minor details: the climate is broadly similar in the two regions.

2 widely and openly: he was grinning broadly.

broad-mind·ed adj. tolerant or liberal in one's views and reactions; not easily offended: a broad-minded approach to religion.

<DERIVATIVES> broad-mind·ed·ness n. broad-mind·ed·ly adv.

broad pen·nant (also broad pen·dant) n. a short swallow-tailed pennant distinguishing the commodore's ship in a squadron.

broad reach [SAILING] n. a point of sailing in which the wind blows over a boat's quarter, between the beam and the stern: on a broad reach they are magnificent craft.

■ v. (broad-reach) [intrans.] sail with the wind in this position.

broad·sheet n. a large piece of paper printed on one side only with information; a broadside.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also broadsheet newspaper) a newspaper with a large format regarded as more serious and less sensationalist than tabloids.

broad·side n. 1 a nearly simultaneous firing of all the guns from one side of a warship.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE a strongly worded critical attack: broadsides against the Christian faith.

- the set of guns that can fire on each side of a warship.

- the side of a ship above the water between the bow and quarter.

2 a sheet of paper printed on one side only, forming one large page: a broadside of Lee's farewell address. Also called BROADSHEET.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in 16th- and 17th-century England, a popular ballad. Also called broadside ballad.

■ adv. with the side turned to a particular thing: the yacht was drifting broadside to the wind.
<SPECIAL USAGE> on the side: her car was hit broadside by another vehicle.

■ v. [trans.] collide with the side of (a vehicle): I had to skid my bike sideways to avoid broadsiding her.

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BROADSHEET ■

broad-spec·trum adj. [attrib.] denoting antibiotics, pesticides, etc., effective against a large variety of organisms.

broad·sword n. a sword with a wide blade, used for cutting rather than thrusting.

broad·tail n. a karakul sheep.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the fleece or wool from a karakul lamb.

Broad·way a street that runs the length of Manhattan in New York City. It is famous for its theaters, and its name has become synonymous with show business. It is also known as the Great White Way, in reference to its brilliant street illuminations.

broad·way n. (usually in names) a large open or main road.

Broad·way Joe see NAMATH.

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NAMATH ■

broast v. prepare food using a cooking process that combines broiling and roasting: [as adj.] broasted chicken.

Brob·ding·nag·i·an adj. gigantic.

■ n. a giant.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Brobdingnag, the name given by Swift (in Gulliver's Travels) to a land where everything is of huge size, + -IAN.

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-IAN ■

bro·cade n. a rich fabric, usually silk, woven with a raised pattern, typically with gold or silver thread: [as adj.] a heavy brocade curtain.

■ v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (brocaded) weave (something) with this design: a heavily brocaded blanket.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Spanish and Portuguese brocado (influenced by French brocart), from Italian broccato, from brocco 'twisted thread'.

Bro·ca's ar·e·a n. [ANATOMY] a region of the brain concerned with the production of speech, located in the cortex of the dominant frontal lobe. Damage in this area causes Broca's aphasia, characterized by hesitant and fragmented speech with little grammatical structure.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after P. Paul Broca (1824-80), French surgeon.

broc·ci·flow·er (also broc·co·flow·er) n. a light green vegetable that is a cross between broccoli and cauliflower.

<ORIGIN> blend of broccoli and cauliflower.

broc·co·li n. a cabbage of a variety similar to the cauliflower, bearing heads of green or purplish flower buds. It is widely cultivated as a vegetable.
<INFO>  There are several kinds of broccoli, in particular those in the “Italica” group.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the flower stalk and head eaten as a vegetable.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Italian, plural of broccolo 'cabbage sprout, head', diminutive of brocco 'shoot', based on Latin brocchus, broccus 'projecting'.

broc·co·li·ni n. a vegetable that is a hybrid of broccoli and kale, with small florets on slender stalks. It has a mild, nutty flavor.

broc·co·li rabe (also broc·co·li raab) n. a leafy green vegetable with broccolilike buds and bitter-flavored greens.

bro·chette n. a skewer or spit on which chunks of meat or fish are barbecued, grilled, or roasted: beef and lamb en brochette.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a dish of meat or fish chunks cooked in such a way.

<ORIGIN> French, diminutive of broche (see BROACH^1 ).

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BROACH ■

bro·chure n. a small book or magazine containing pictures and information about a product or service.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French, literally 'something stitched', from brocher 'to stitch' (see BROACH^1 ).

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BROACH ■

bro·chure·ware n. Web sites or Web pages produced by converting a company's printed marketing or advertising material into an Internet format, typically providing little or no opportunity for interactive contact with prospective customers.

Brock Lou (1939- ), U.S. baseball player. An outfielder, he played for the Chicago Cubs 1961-64 and the St. Louis Cardinals 196479. Baseball Hall of Fame (1985).

Brock·en a mountain in northern central Germany, in the Harz Mountains, that rises to 3,747 feet (1,143 m). It is noted for the optical phenomenon of the Brocken specter, in which a greatly enlarged image appears projected on clouds, and for witches' revels that reputedly took place here on Walpurgis night.

brock·et (also brocket deer) n. a small deer with short, straight antlers, found in Central and South America.
<INFO>  Genus Mazama, family Cervidae: four species.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting any red deer stag in its second year, with straight antlers): from Anglo-Norman French broquet, diminutive of broque, variant of broche (see BROOCH). The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

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BROOCH ■

Brock·ton an industrial city in southeastern Massachusetts, south of Boston, noted esp. for shoe manufacture; pop. 94,304.

bro·de·rie an·glaise n. open embroidery, typically in white floral patterns, on fine white cotton or linen.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, literally 'English embroidery'.

Brod·sky Joseph (1940-96), U.S. poet; born in Russia; born Iosif Aleksandrovich Brodsky; U.S. poet laureate 1991. Writing both in Russian and in English, he was noted for his collection, The End of a Beautiful Era (1977). Nobel Prize for Literature (1987).

Broe·der·bond a largely secret society in South Africa (founded in 1918) promoting the interests of and restricted in membership to male, Protestant Afrikaners.

<ORIGIN> Afrikaans, from broeder 'brother' + bond 'league'.

bro·gan n. a coarse, stout leather shoe reaching to the ankle.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Irish brógán, Scottish Gaelic brógan, literally 'small brogue'.

brogue 1 n. a strong outdoor shoe with ornamental perforated patterns in the leather.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a rough shoe of untanned leather, formerly worn in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic and Irish bróg, from Old Norse brók (related to BREECH).

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BREECH ■

brogue 2 n. [usu. in sing.] a marked accent, esp. Irish or Scottish, when speaking English: a fine Irish brogue | a sweet lilt of brogue in her voice.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: perhaps allusively from BROGUE^1 , referring to the rough footwear of Irish peasants.

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BROGUE ■

broi·der v. [trans.] ARCHAIC ornament with embroidery.

broil 1 v. [trans.] cook (meat or fish) by exposure to direct, intense radiant heat: he broiled a wedge of sea bass | [as adj.] (broiled) a broiled sirloin steak.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] become very hot, esp. from the sun: the countryside lay broiling in the sun.

<DERIVATIVES> broil·ing adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also in the sense 'burn, char'): from Old French bruler 'to burn', of unknown origin.

broil 2 n. ARCHAIC a quarrel or a commotion.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from obsolete broil 'to muddle'. Compare with EMBROIL.

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EMBROIL ■

broil·er n. 1 (also broil·er chick·en) a young chicken suitable for roasting, grilling, or barbecuing.

2 a gridiron, grill, or special part of a stove for broiling meat or fish.

broke past (and archaic past participle) of BREAK.

■ adj. [predic.] INFORMAL having completely run out of money: many farmers went broke.

<PHRASES> go for broke INFORMAL risk everything in an all-out effort.

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BREAK ■

bro·ken past participle of BREAK. adj. 1 having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order: a broken arm.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- rejected, defeated, or despairing: he went to his grave a broken man; a broken heart.

- sick or weakened: broken health.

- (of a relationship) ended, typically by betrayal or faithlessness: a broken marriage.

- disrupted or divided: broken families.

- (of an agreement or promise) not observed by one of the parties involved.

2 having gaps or intervals that break a continuity: a broken white line across the road.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- having an uneven and rough surface: broken ground.

- (of speech or a language) spoken falteringly and with many mistakes, as by a foreigner: a young man talking in broken Italian.

- spoken haltingly, as if overcome by emotion: he whispered in a broken voice.

<PHRASES> broken record a scratched record that repeats the same brief passage over and over.

<DERIVATIVES> bro·ken·ly adv. bro·ken·ness n.

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BREAK ■

Bro·ken Ar·row a city in northeastern Oklahoma, southeast of Tulsa; pop. 74,859.

bro·ken chord n. [usu. as adj.] [MUSIC] a chord in which the notes are played successively: the second entry is a straight broken-chord figure.

bro·ken-down adj. [attrib.] worn out and dilapidated by age, use, or ill-treatment: a broken-down car.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a machine or vehicle) not functioning due to a mechanical failure.

- (of a horse) with serious damage to the legs, in particular the tendons, caused by excessive strain.

bro·ken-field [FOOTBALL] adj. relating to or occurring in the area beyond the line of scrimmage where defenders are relatively scattered: a broken-field run.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL (of a movement) with starts, stops, and changes of direction, in the manner of a broken-field ballcarrier: a broken-field chase.

bro·ken-heart·ed adj. overwhelmed by grief or disappointment.

Bro·ken Hill 1 a town in New South Wales in Australia, a center of lead, silver, and zinc mining; pop. 23,260.

2 former name (1904-65) for KABWE.

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KABWE ■

bro·ken home n. a family in which the parents are divorced or separated.

bro·ken wind n. another term for COPD in horses.

<DERIVATIVES> bro·ken-wind·ed adj.

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COPD ■

bro·ker n. a person who buys and sells goods or assets for others.

■ v. [trans.] arrange or negotiate (a settlement, deal, or plan): fighting continued despite attempts to broker a cease-fire.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a retailer or peddler): from Anglo-Norman French brocour, of unknown ultimate origin.

bro·ker·age n. the business or service of acting as a broker.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a fee or commission charged by a broker: a revenue of $1,400 less a sales brokerage of $12.50.

- a company that buys or sells goods or assets for clients.

bro·ker-deal·er n. a brokerage firm that buys and sells securities on its own account as a principal before selling the securities to customers.

brol·ga n. a large gray Australian crane that has an elaborate courtship display that involves much leaping, wing-flapping, and trumpeting.
<INFO>  Grus rubicundus, family Gruidae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Kamilaroi burralga (also found in other Aboriginal languages).

Brom·berg German name for BYDGOSZCZ.

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BYDGOSZCZ ■

brome n. an oatlike grass that is sometimes grown for fodder or ornamental purposes.
<INFO>  Genus Bromus, family Gramineae.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin Bromus, from Greek bromos 'oat'.

bro·me·li·ad n. a plant native to tropical and subtropical America, typically having short stems with rosettes of stiff, usually spiny, leaves. Some kinds are epiphytic, and many are cultivated as houseplants.
<INFO>  Family Bromeliaceae: Bromelia and other genera, and numerous species, including the pineapple and Spanish moss.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Bromelia (named by Linnaeus after Olaf Bromel (1639-1705), Swedish botanist) + -AD^1 .

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-AD ■

bro·mic ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a strongly oxidizing acid known only in aqueous solutions.
<INFO>  3

<DERIVATIVES> bro·mate n.

bro·mide n.
1 [CHEMISTRY] a compound of bromine with another element or group, esp. a salt containing the anion Br or an organic compound with bromine bonded to an alkyl radical.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a reproduction or piece of typesetting on bromide paper.

- DATED a sedative preparation containing potassium bromide.

2 a trite and unoriginal idea or remark, typically intended to soothe or placate: feel-good bromides create the illusion of problem solving.

<DERIVATIVES> bro·mid·ic adj. (in sense 2).

bro·mide pa·per n. photographic printing paper coated with silver bromide emulsion.

bro·min·ate v. [trans.] treat with bromine.

■
- [usu. as adj.] (brominated) introduce one or more bromine atoms into a compound or molecule, usually in place of hydrogen: brominated flame retardants.

<DERIVATIVES> bro·mi·na·tion n.

bro·mine n. the chemical element of atomic number 35, a dark red fuming toxic liquid with a choking, irritating smell. It is a member of the halogen group and occurs chiefly as salts in seawater and brines. (Symbol: Br)

<ORIGIN>  early 19th cent.: from French brome, from Greek 'a stink', + -INE^4 .

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-INE ■

bro·mism n. DATED a condition of dullness and weakness due to excessive intake of bromide sedatives.

bromo- (usu. brom- before a vowel) comb. form [CHEMISTRY] representing BROMINE.

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BROMINE ■

Bromp·ton cock·tail n. a powerful painkiller and sedative consisting of vodka or other liquor laced with morphine and sometimes also cocaine.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: said to be from the name of Brompton Hospital, London, where the mixture was invented for cancer patients.

bronc n. INFORMAL short for BRONCO.

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BRONCO ■

bron·chi plural form of BRONCHUS.

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BRONCHUS ■

bron·chi·a n. RARE the ramifications of the two main bronchi in the lungs.

bron·chi·al adj. of or relating to the bronchi or bronchioles: bronchial pneumonia.

bron·chi·al tree n. the branching system of bronchi and bronchioles conducting air from the windpipe into the lungs.

bron·chi·al tube n. a bronchus or a primary branch off of one.

bron·chi·ec·ta·sis n. [MEDICINE] abnormal widening of the bronchi or their branches, causing a risk of infection.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek bronkhia (denoting the branches of the main bronchi) + ektasis 'dilatation'.

bron·chi·ole n. [ANATOMY] any of the minute branches into which a bronchus divides.

<DERIVATIVES> bron·chi·o·lar adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin bronchiolus, bronchiolum, diminutives of late Latin bronchia, denoting the branches of the main bronchi.

bron·chi·o·li·tis n. [MEDICINE] inflammation of the bronchioles.

bron·chi·tis n. inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial tubes. It typically causes bronchospasm and coughing.

<DERIVATIVES> bron·chit·ic adj. & n.

bron·chi·um n. a bronchial tube smaller than a bronchus and larger than a bronchiole.

broncho- comb. form of or relating to the bronchi: bronchopneumonia.

<ORIGIN> from Greek bronkho-, from bronkhos (see BRONCHUS).

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BRONCHUS ■

bron·cho·di·la·tor n. [MEDICINE] a drug that causes widening of the bronchi, e.g., any of those taken by inhalation for the alleviation of asthma.

bron·cho·gen·ic adj. of bronchial origin.

bron·cho·pneu·mo·nia n. inflammation of the lungs, arising in the bronchi or bronchioles.

bron·cho·scope n. a fiber-optic cable that is passed into the windpipe in order to view the bronchi.

<DERIVATIVES> bron·chos·co·py n.

bron·cho·spasm n. [MEDICINE] spasm of bronchial smooth muscle producing narrowing of the bronchi.

bron·chus n. (pl. -chi ) any of the major air passages of the lungs that diverge from the windpipe.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from late Latin, from Greek bronkhos 'windpipe'.

bron·co n. (pl. -cos) a wild or half-tamed horse, esp. of the western U.S.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, literally 'rough, rude'.

bron·co·bust·er n. INFORMAL a cowboy who breaks in wild or half-tamed horses.

Bron·të three English novelists:
<SPECIAL USAGE> Charlotte (1816-55), author of Jane Eyre (1847), Shirley (1849), and Villette (1853).

<SPECIAL USAGE> Emily (1818-48), author of Wuthering Heights (1847); also a poet.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Anne (1820-49), author of Agnes Grey (1845) and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1847).

bron·to·saur (also bron·to·sau·rus ) n. another term for APATOSAUR.

<DERIVATIVES> bron·to·sau·ri·an adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin from Greek 'thunder' + sauros 'lizard'.

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APATOSAUR ■

bron·to·there n. a large ungulate mammal (Embolotherium andrewsi) of the Eocene epoch with a hornlike bony growth on the nose.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek 'thunder' + 'wild beast'.

Bronx (the Bronx) a borough in northeastern New York City.

<ORIGIN> named after Jonas Bronck, a Dutch settler who purchased land here in 1641.

Bronx cheer n. a sound of derision or contempt made by blowing through closed lips with the tongue between them; a raspberry.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: named after the BRONX in New York.

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BRONX ■

bronze n. a yellowish-brown alloy of copper with up to one-third tin.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a yellowish-brown color: rich, gleaming shades of bronze.

- a work of sculpture or other object made of bronze.

- short for BRONZE MEDAL.

■ adj. made of or colored like bronze: a bronze statue.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be bronzed) make (a person or part of the body) suntanned: Alison was bronzed by outdoor life | [as adj.] (bronzed) bronzed and powerful arms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> give a surface of bronze or something resembling bronze to: the doors were bronzed with sculpted reliefs.

<DERIVATIVES> bronz·y adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (as a verb): from French bronze (noun), bronzer (verb), from Italian bronzo, probably from Persian birinj 'brass'.

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BRONZE MEDAL ■

Bronze Age a prehistoric period that followed the Stone Age and preceded the Iron Age, when certain weapons and tools came to be made of bronze rather than stone.

The Bronze Age began in the Near East and southeastern Europe in the late 4th and early 3rd millennium BC. It is associated with the first European civilizations, the beginnings of urban life in China, and the final stages of some Meso-American civilizations, but did not appear in Africa and Australasia at all.

bronze med·al n. a medal made of bronze, customarily awarded for third place in a race or competition.

Bronze Star n. a U.S. military decoration awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement not involving participation in aerial flight.

Bron·zi·no Agnolo (1503-72), Italian painter; born Agnolo di Cosimo.

brooch n. an ornament fastened to clothing with a hinged pin and catch.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: variant of broach, a noun originally meaning 'skewer, bodkin', from Old French broche 'spit for roasting', based on Latin brocchus, broccus 'projecting'. Compare with BROACH^1 .

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BROACH ■

brood n. a family of young animals, esp. of a bird, produced at one hatching or birth: a brood of chicks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- bee or wasp larvae.

- INFORMAL all of the children in a family: she was brought up by a loving stepfather as part of a brood of eight.

- a group of things or people having a similar character: a remarkable brood of writers.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] think deeply about something that makes one unhappy: he brooded over his need to find a wife.

2 [trans.] (of a bird) sit on (eggs) to hatch them.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a fish, frog, or invertebrate) hold (developing eggs) within the body.

3 [usu. foll. by over] (of silence, a storm, etc.) hang or hover closely: a winter storm broods over the lake.

■ adj. [attrib.] (of an animal) kept to be used for breeding: a brood mare.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch broed and German Brut, also to BREED. Sense 1 of the verb was originally used with an object, i.e. 'to nurse (feelings) in the mind' (late 16th cent.), a figurative use of the notion of a hen nursing chicks under her wings.

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BREED ■

brood·er n. 1 a heated house for chicks or piglets.

2 a person who broods about something.

brood·ing adj. showing deep unhappiness of thought: he stared with brooding eyes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> appearing darkly menacing: a dark, brooding landscape.

<DERIVATIVES> brood·ing·ly adv.

brood pouch n. a pouch in certain fish, frogs, and invertebrates in which the eggs are protected before hatching.

brood·y adj. (brood·i·er, brood·i·est) 1 (of a hen) wishing or inclined to incubate eggs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL (of a woman) having a strong desire to have a baby.

2 thoughtful and unhappy: his broody concern for the future.

<DERIVATIVES> brood·i·ly adv. brood·i·ness n.

brook 1 n. a small stream.

<DERIVATIVES> brook·let n.

<ORIGIN> Old English ; related to Dutch broek and German Bruch 'marsh'.

brook 2 v. [trans.] [with negative] FORMAL tolerate or allow (something, typically dissent or opposition): Jenny would brook no criticism of Matthew.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'use, possess', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bruiken and German brauchen. The current sense dates from the mid 16th cent., a figurative use of an earlier sense 'digest, stomach'.

Brooke 1 Edward William (1919- ), U.S. lawyer and politician. A Republican senator from Massachusetts 1966-79, he was the first African-American senator popularly elected to the U.S. Senate. He was awarded the Spingarn Medal in 1967.

Brooke 2 Rupert (Chawner) (1887-1915), English poet. He is noted for his wartime poetry, 1914 and Other Poems (1915).

Brook Farm a historic commune that existed in the 1840s in West Roxbury, now a southwestern section of Boston in Massachusetts, associated with Margaret Fuller and other writers.

Brook·field a city in southeastern Wisconsin, west of Milwaukee; pop. 35,184.

Brook·ha·ven a town in eastern Long Island in New York that includes the villages of Brookhaven and Stony Brook, home to a noted nuclear laboratory; pop. 407,779.

brook·lime n. a speedwell with smooth, fleshy leaves and deep blue flowers on long stalks. It grows in wet areas, where the stems take root or float in the water.
<INFO>  Genus Veronica, family Scrophulariaceae: several species, in particular V. beccabunga of Eurasia and the American brooklime (V. americana).

<ORIGIN> Middle English broklemok, from BROOK^1 + hleomoce, the name of the plant in Old English.

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BROOK ■

Brook·line a town in eastern Massachusetts, on the west side of Boston and almost surrounded by the city; pop. 54,718.

Brook·lyn a borough of New York City, at the southwestern corner of Long Island.

Brook·lyn Bridge a suspension bridge between southern Manhattan and northern Brooklyn (on Long Island) in New York City. Constructed 1869-1883, it was one of the period's engineering marvels and is celebrated in art and literature.

Brook·lyn·ese n. a form of New York speech associated esp. with the borough of Brooklyn.

Brook·lyn Park a city in southeastern Minnesota, north of Minneapolis; pop. 67,388.

Brook·ner Anita (1928- ), English novelist and art historian. Notable works: Hotel du Lac (1984), Visitors (1997), The Bay of Angels (2001) and The Rules of Engagement (2003).

Brooks 1 Cleanth (1906-94), U.S. teacher and critic. A leading proponent of the New Criticism movement, he edited The Southern Review 1935-42 and taught at Yale University 1947-75. Notable works: Modern Poetry and Tradition (1939) and The Well-Wrought Urn (1947).

Brooks 2 Garth (1962- ), U.S. country music singer and songwriter; full name Troyal Garth Brooks. His albums include No Fences (1990), Ropin' the Wind (1991), and Sevens (1997).

Brooks 3 Gwendolyn (1917- 2000), U.S. poet and writer. She was the first African-American woman named as poetry consultant to the Library of Congress 1985-86 and the first to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize for her poetry collected in Annie Allen (1949).

Brooks 4 Mel (1927- ), U.S. comedian, movie director and actor; born Melvin Kaminsky. He is known esp. for his parodies and farces. His movie debut, The Producers (1967), was followed by the spoof Blazing Saddles (1974) and Silent Movie (1976), which established his characteristic style. Other notable movies: High Anxiety (1977), Spaceballs (1987), and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993).

Brooks Range a mountain chain that extends across northern Alaska. It is the northwestern end of the Rocky Mountains; the North Slope lies on its north.

brook trout n. see CHAR^4 .

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CHAR ■

broom n. 1 a long-handled brush of bristles or twigs used for sweeping.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an implement for sweeping the ice in the game of curling. <ORIGIN> formerly made of twigs of broom.

2 a flowering shrub with long, thin green stems and small or few leaves, that is cultivated for its profusion of flowers.
<INFO>  Genera Cytisus and Genista, family Leguminosae: many species and cultivated hybrids. See also SPANISH BROOM.

<PHRASES> a new broom sweeps clean PROVERB people newly appointed to positions of responsibility tend to be eager to make big or far-reaching changes.

<ORIGIN> Old English (sense 2), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch braam, also to BRAMBLE.

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SPANISH BROOM ■

BRAMBLE ■

broom·corn n. a variety of sorghum whose dried inflorescences are used to make brooms.

broom·rape n. a parasitic plant that bears tubular flowers on a leafless brown stem. It is attached by its tubers to the roots of a host plant, which may be any of a number of species.
<INFO>  Genus Orobanche, family Orobanchaceae.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from BROOM + Latin rapum 'tuber'.

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BROOM ■

broom·stick n. the long handle of a broom.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a broom on which, in children's literature, witches are said to fly.

Bros plural n. brothers (in names of companies): Hills Bros. coffee.

broth n. 1 soup consisting of meat or vegetable chunks, and often rice, cooked in stock.
<SPECIAL USAGE> meat or fish stock.

2 [MICROBIOLOGY] liquid medium containing proteins and other nutrients for the culture of bacteria: [as adj.] broth cultures of intestinal tissue.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a liquid mixture for the preservation of tissue: tissue samples were frozen in a cryoprotective broth.

<PHRASES> a broth of a boy INFORMAL, CHIEFLY IRISH used approvingly to refer to a very lively boy.

<ORIGIN> Old English, of Germanic origin; related to BREW.

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BREW ■

broth·el n. a house where men can visit prostitutes.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally brothel-house): from late Middle English brothel 'worthless man, prostitute', related to Old English 'degenerate, deteriorate'.

broth·er n. 1 a man or boy in relation to other sons and daughters of his parents.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a half-brother, stepbrother, or foster brother.

- a brother-in-law.

- a male associate or fellow member of an organization: fraternity brothers.

- INFORMAL a black man (chiefly used as a term of address among black people).

- a fellow human being.

- a thing that resembles or is connected to another thing: the machine is almost identical to its larger brother.

2 (pl. also breth·ren ) [CHRISTIAN CHURCH] a (male) fellow Christian.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a member of a religious order or congregation of men: a Benedictine brother.

■ exclam. used to express annoyance or surprise.

<PHRASES> brothers in arms soldiers fighting together, esp. in a war.

<DERIVATIVES> broth·er·li·ness n. broth·er·ly adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch broeder and German Bruder, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin frater.

broth·er·hood n. 1 the relationship between brothers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the feeling of kinship with and closeness to a group of people or all people: a gesture of solidarity and brotherhood.

2 an association, society, or community of people linked by a common interest, religion, or trade: a religious brotherhood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a trade union.

<ORIGIN>  Middle English: probably from obsolete brotherred (based on Old English 'condition, state'; compare with KINDRED). The change of suffix was due to association with words ending in -HOOD and -HEAD^1 .

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KINDRED ■

-HOOD ■

-HEAD ■

broth·er-in-law n. (pl. broth·ers-in-law ) the brother of one's wife or husband.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the husband of one's sister or sister-in-law.

brough·am n. HISTORICAL a horse-drawn carriage with a roof, four wheels, and an open driver's seat in front.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an automobile with an open driver's seat.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Lord Brougham (1778-1868), who designed the carriage.

brought past and past participle of BRING.

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BRING ■

brou·ha·ha n. [usu. in sing.] a noisy and overexcited critical response, display of interest, or trail of publicity: 24 members resigned over the brouhaha | all that election brouhaha.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, probably imitative.

Brou·wer Adriaen (c.1605-38), Flemish painter. Providing an important link between Dutch and Flemish genre painting, his most typical works represent peasant scenes in taverns.

brow 1 n. 1 a person's forehead: he wiped his brow.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (usu. brows) an eyebrow: his brows lifted in surprise.

2 the summit of a hill or pass: the cottages were built on the brow of a hill.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'eyelash, eyebrow', of Germanic origin. The sense 'forehead' dates from Middle English, and 'top of a hill' from late Middle English; compare with BRAE.

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BRAE ■

brow 2 n. a gangway from a ship to the shore.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a hinged part of a ferry or landing craft forming a landing platform or ramp.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: probably from Norwegian bru, from Old Norse brú 'bridge'.

Brow·ard Coun·ty a county in southeastern Florida, on the Atlantic Ocean, north of Miami; pop. 1,255,488. Fort Lauderdale is its seat.

brow·beat v. (past -beat; past part. -beat·en) [trans.] intimidate (someone), typically into doing something, with stern or abusive words: a witness is being browbeaten under cross-examination.

-browed comb. form having a specified kind of brow or brows: [in combination] furrow-browed ;monobrowed.

Brown 1 Sir Arthur Whitten (1886-1948), Scottish aviator. In 1919, he made the first transatlantic flight with Sir John William Alcock.

Brown 2 Ford Madox (1821-93), English painter. His early work was inspired by the Pre-Raphaelites, and in 1861 he became a founder member of William Morris's company, designing stained glass and furniture.

Brown 4 Henry Billings (1836-1913), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1890-1906. After serving in several judicial posts in Michigan, he was appointed to the Court by President Benjamin Harrison.

Brown 5 James (1928-2006), U.S. soul and funk singer and songwriter. In the 1960s he played a leading role in the development of funk with songs such as "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag” (1965) and "Sex Machine” (1970).

Brown 6 Jim (1936- ), U.S. football player and actor. He was the National Football League's premier running back, leading the league in rushing in eight of his nine seasons 1957-66 with the Cleveland Browns. He was later featured in several movies, including The Dirty Dozen (1967) and Ice Station Zebra (1968). Football Hall of Fame (1971).

Brown 7 John (1800-59), U.S. abolitionist. In 1859 he was executed after raiding a government arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia (later part of West Virginia), with the intention of arming slaves and starting a revolt. He became a hero of the abolitionists in the Civil War, and he is commemorated in the song “John Brown's Body.”

Brown 8 Lancelot (1716-83), English landscape gardener; known as Capability Brown. He evolved an English style of natural-looking landscape parks.

brown adj. of a color produced by mixing red, yellow, and black, as of dark wood or rich soil: an old brown coat; she had warm brown eyes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- dark-skinned or suntanned: his face was brown from the sun.

- (of bread) made from a dark, unsifted, or unbleached flour.

■ n. brown color or pigment: the brown of his eyes; a pair of boots in brown | the print is rich with velvety browns.
<SPECIAL USAGE> brown clothes or material: a woman all in brown.

■ v. make or become brown, typically by cooking: [trans.] a skillet in which food has been browned | [intrans.] bake the pizza until the cheese has browned.

<PHRASES>
□ (as) brown as a berry (of a person) very suntanned.

□ do something up brown do something thoroughly or completely: [as adj.] a real picnic, done up brown according to all the rules.

□ in a brown study see STUDY.

<PHRASAL VERB> brown someone off [usu. as adj.] (browned off) make someone feel irritated or depressed: they are getting browned off with the overtime.

<DERIVATIVES> brown·ish adj. brown·ness n. brown·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bruin and German braun.

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STUDY ■

brown al·gae plural n. algae belonging to a large group that includes many seaweeds, typically olive brown or greenish in color. They contain xanthophyll in addition to chlorophyll.
<INFO>  Class Phaeophyceae, phylum Heterokonta, kingdom Protista; formerly division Phaeophyta.

brown bag n. a bag made of opaque brown paper.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a bag of such a kind in which a lunch is packed and carried to work, school, or informal functions: [as adj.] a brown bag lunch.

■ v. [trans.] (brown bag it) take a packed lunch to work or school: no school lunch next week, so I'm brown-bagging it.

<DERIVATIVES> brown bag·ger n.

brown bag·ging n. 1 the practice of bringing one's own packed lunch to work.

2 the practice of bringing one's own liquor to a restaurant or club that may supply setups but can not sell alcoholic beverages.

brown bear n. a large bear with a coat color ranging from cream to black, occurring chiefly in forests in Eurasia and North America. See also GRIZZLY BEAR (see GRIZZLY).
<INFO>  Ursus arctos, family Ursidae.

brown belt n. a brown belt marking a high level of proficiency in judo, karate, or other martial arts, below that of a black belt.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person qualified to wear such a belt.

brown bet·ty n. a baked pudding made with apples or other fruit and breadcrumbs.

brown cloud n. a visible pall of air pollutants that persists over a city or other area: the Asian brown cloud; throughout the day, air shifts in the valley cause variances in the brown cloud.

brown coal n. another term for LIGNITE.

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LIGNITE ■

brown dwarf n. [ASTRONOMY] a celestial object intermediate in size between a giant planet and a small star, believed to emit mainly infrared radiation.

brown earth n. [SOIL SCIENCE] a type of soil having a brown humus-rich surface layer.

brown fat n. a dark-colored adipose tissue with many blood vessels, involved in the rapid production of heat in hibernating animals and human babies.

brown·field adj. [attrib.] (of an urban site for potential building development) having had previous development on it. Compare with GREENFIELD.

■ n. a former industrial or commercial site where future use is affected by real or perceived environmental contamination.

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GREENFIELD ■

brown goods plural n. television sets, audio equipment, and similar household appliances: a supply chain that accommodates highly perishable products, as well as white and brown goods. Compare with WHITE GOODS.

brown hare n. a hare found commonly in much of Eurasia.
<INFO>  Lepus europaeus (or capensis), family Leporidae.

brown hol·land n. unbleached holland linen.

Brown·i·an mo·tion n. [PHYSICS] the erratic random movement of microscopic particles in a fluid, as a result of continuous bombardment from molecules of the surrounding medium.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after Robert Brown (1773-1858), the Scottish botanist who first observed the motion.

Brown·ie n. (pl. -ies) 1 a member of the junior branch of the Girl Scouts, for girls aged between about 6 and 8. <ORIGIN> so named because of the color of the uniform.

2 (brownie) a small square of rich cake, typically chocolate cake with nuts.

3 (brownie) a benevolent elf supposed to haunt houses and do housework secretly. <ORIGIN> diminutive of BROWN; a “wee brown man” often appears in Scottish ballads and fairy tales; compare with Old Norse svartálfar, the dark elves of the Edda.

<PHRASES> brownie point INFORMAL, HUMOROUS an imaginary award given to someone who does good deeds or tries to please: his policy will win brownie points with voters.

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BROWN ■

Brown·ing 1 Elizabeth Barrett (1806-61), English poet; born Elizabeth Barrett. She established her reputation with Poems (1844). In 1846, she eloped with Robert Browning. Other notable works: Sonnets from the Portuguese (1850), Aurora Leigh (novel, 1857), and the posthumous Last Poems (1862).

Brown·ing 2 Robert (1812-89), English poet. In 1842, he established his name with Dramatic Lyrics that contained “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” and “My Last Duchess.” A highly creative period followed his elopement with Elizabeth Barrett. Other notable works: Dramatic Romances and Lyrics (1845), Men and Women (1855), and The Ring and the Book (1868-69).

Brown·ing 3 n. (also Browning machine gun) a type of water-cooled automatic machine gun.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also Browning automatic) a type of automatic pistol.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (also Browning automatic rifle) a gas-operated automatic rifle, typically fired from a bipod.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after J. M. Browning (1855-1926), American designer of the weapons.

brown-nose (also brown·nose) INFORMAL n. (also brown-nos·er) a person who acts in a grossly obsequious way.

■ v. [trans.] curry favor with (someone) by acting in such a way: academics were brown-nosing the senior faculty | [intrans.] I dedicated a book to himI was not brown-nosing.

<ORIGIN> the assumed result of ASS-KISSING.

brown·out n. a partial blackout.

brown owl n. another term for TAWNY OWL.

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TAWNY OWL ■

brown rat n. a rat found throughout the world, often living in association with man and regarded as a pest. It is commonly kept as a laboratory animal and as a pet, and is also bred in the albino form. Also called COMMON RAT, NORWAY RAT.
<INFO>  Rattus norvegicus, family Muridae.

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COMMON RAT ■

NORWAY RAT ■

brown rec·luse (also brown rec·luse spi·der) n. a brown venomous North American spider, identifiable by the dark brown violin-shaped marking on the top of its orange-yellow head. Also called FIDDLEBACK, VIOLIN SPIDER.
<INFO>  Loxosceles reclusa, family Loxoscelidae.

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FIDDLEBACK ■

VIOLIN SPIDER ■

brown rice n. unpolished rice with only the husk of the grain removed.

brown rot n. a fungal disease causing the rotting and browning of parts of plants, in particular:
<INFO>
- a disease producing discoloration and shriveling of apples, pears, plums, etc. (caused by fungi of the genus Monilinia, phylum Ascomycota).

- a disease resulting in the softening and cracking of timber (caused by bracket fungi of the family Polyporaceae, class Basidiomycetes).

brown sauce n. a savory sauce made with fat and flour cooked to a brown color.

Brown·shirt n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a member of an early Nazi militia founded by Hitler in Munich in 1921, with brown uniforms resembling that of Mussolini's Blackshirts.They aided Hitler's rise to power, but were eclipsed by the SS after the “night of the long knives” in June 1934. Also called STORM TROOPS or STURMABTEILUNG.

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STORM TROOPS ■

STURMABTEILUNG ■

brown snake n. 1 a fast-moving, venomous, and aggressive Australian snake, with a variety of color forms.
<INFO>  Pseudonaja and other genera, family Elapidae: several species, in particular P. textilis.

2 a small, secretive, harmless North American snake that is typically brownish in color.
<INFO>  Storeria dekayi, family Colubridae.

brown·stone n. a kind of reddish-brown sandstone used for building.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a building faced with such sandstone.

brown sug·ar n. unrefined or partially refined sugar.
- a consumer product made by adding molasses to white sugar.

Browns·ville 1 a city in southern Texas, on the Rio Grande and the Mexican border; pop. 98,962.

2 a section of eastern Brooklyn in New York City, noted in the early 20th century for its Jewish community, today a struggling inner-city neighborhood. Local name the 'Ville.

Brown Swiss n. an animal of a brown breed of dairy cattle, originally bred in Switzerland.

brown-tail (also brown-tail moth) n. a white European moth that has a brown tip to the abdomen and is a pest of tree foliage in several areas, including North America. The caterpillars live communally in web tents and bear irritant hairs that can produce an allergic reaction.
<INFO>  Euproctis chrysorrhoea, family Lymantriidae.

brown tree snake n. a nocturnal tree snake of Pacific origin that has escaped captivity as a pet to threaten native fauna in many Pacific Rim locations.
<INFO>  Boiga irregularis, family Colubridae.

brown trout n. (pl. same) the common trout of Europe, esp. one of a nonmigratory race with dark spotted skin, that occurs in small rivers and pools. It has been introduced into North America as a game fish.
<INFO>  Salmo trutta, family Salmonidae, in particular S. trutta fario. Compare with LAKE TROUT, SEA TROUT.

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LAKE TROUT ■

SEA TROUT ■

browse v. [intrans.] 1 survey objects casually, esp. goods for sale: he stopped to browse around a sporting goods store.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- scan through a book or magazine superficially to gain an impression of the contents: she browsed through the newspaper; | [trans.] patrons can browse the shelves of the library.

- [trans.] [COMPUTING] read or survey (data files), typically via a network.

2 (of an animal) feed on leaves, twigs, or other high-growing vegetation: they reach upward to browse on bushes | [trans.] the animals browse the high foliage of trees.

■ n. 1 [in sing.] an act of casual looking or reading: the brochure is well worth a browse.

2 vegetation, such as twigs and young shoots, eaten by animals: a moose needs to eat forty to fifty pounds of browse a day.

<DERIVATIVES> brows·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2 of the verb): from Old French broster, from brost 'young shoot', probably of Germanic origin.

brows·er n. a person who looks casually through books or magazines or at things for sale.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an animal that feeds mainly on high-growing vegetation.

- [COMPUTING] a program with a graphical user interface for displaying HTML files, used to navigate the World Wide Web: a Web browser.

brrr exclam. used to express someone's reaction to feeling cold: Brrr! It's a freezing cold day.

Bru·beck Dave (1920- ), U.S. jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader; full name David Warren Brubeck. He formed the Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1951 and gained a reputation as an experimental musician. He won international recognition with the album Time Out (1959), which included “Take Five.”

Bruce 1 Lenny (1925-66), U.S. comedian; born Leonard Alfred Schneider. He gained notoriety for flouting the bounds of respectability with his humor and was imprisoned for obscenity in 1961. In 1963, he was refused entry to Britain and banned in Australia. He died following an accidental drug overdose.

Bruce 2 , Robert the, see ROBERT I.

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ROBERT ■

bru·cel·lo·sis n. a bacterial disease typically affecting cattle and buffalo and causing undulant fever in humans.
<INFO>  This disease is caused by Gram-negative bacteria of the genus Brucella, in particular B. abortus.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from modern Latin Brucella + -OSIS: named after Sir David Bruce (1855-1931), the Scottish physician who identified the bacterium.

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-OSIS ■

bru·cine n. a highly toxic alkaloid present in nux vomica.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_23H_26N_2O_4.

bru·cite n. a white, gray, or greenish mineral consisting of magnesium hydroxide.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after Archibald Bruce (1777-1818), American mineralogist, + -ITE^1 .

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-ITE ■

Brue·gel (also Breu·ghel or Brue·ghel) a family of Flemish artists:
<SPECIAL USAGE> Pieter (c.1525-69); known as Pieter Bruegel the Elder. He produced landscapes, religious allegories, and satires of peasant life. Notable works: The Procession to Calvary (1564).

<SPECIAL USAGE> Pieter Bruegel the Younger (1564-1638), son of Pieter Bruegel the Elder; known as Hell Bruegel. A very able copyist of his father's work, he is also noted for his paintings of devils.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Jan (1568-1623), son of Pieter Bruegel the Elder; known as Velvet. He was a celebrated painter of flower, landscape, and mythological pictures.

Bru·ges a city in northwestern Belgium; pop. 117,000. Flemish name BRUGGE.

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BRUGGE ■

Brug·ge Flemish name for BRUGES.

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BRUGES ■

bru·in n. a bear, esp. in children's fables.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Dutch bruin (see BROWN); used as a name for the bear in the 13th-cent. fable Reynard the Fox.

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BROWN ■

bruise n. an injury appearing as an area of discolored skin on the body, caused by a blow or impact rupturing underlying blood vessels.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar area of damage on a fruit, vegetable, or plant.

■ v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (bruised) inflict such an injury on (someone or something): a bruised knee.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- hurt (someone's feelings): she tried to bolster her bruised pride.

- [intrans.] be susceptible to bruising: potatoes bruise easily, so treat them with care.

- crush or pound (something): bruise the raisins before adding to the mixture.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'crush, injure or damage with a blow', reinforced in Middle English by Old French bruisier 'break'.

bruis·er n. INFORMAL, CHIEFLY DEROGATORY a person who is tough and aggressive and enjoys a fight or argument.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a professional boxer.

bruis·ing adj. causing a bruise or bruises: his legs took the bruising blows.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE (of an antagonistic or competitive situation) conducted in an aggressive way and likely to have a stressful effect on those involved: a bruising congressional battle over public spending.

■ n. bruises on the skin: her arm showed signs of bruising.

bruit v. [trans.] spread (a report or rumor) widely: I didn't want to have our relationship bruited about the office.

■ n. 1 ARCHAIC a report or rumor.

2 a sound, typically an abnormal one, heard through a stethoscope; a murmur.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a noun): from Old French bruit 'noise', from bruire 'to roar'.

Bru·maire n. the second month of the French Republican calendar (1793-1805), originally running from October 22 to November 20.

<ORIGIN> French, from brume 'mist'.

bru·mal adj. POETIC/LITERARY of or relating to winter; wintry: 'tis a brumal night.

brume n. POETIC/LITERARY mist or fog: the birds rise like brume.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, from Latin bruma 'winter'.

Brum·ma·gem (also brum·ma·gem) adj. [attrib.] cheap, showy, or counterfeit: a vile Brummagem substitute for the genuine article.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: dialect form of BIRMINGHAM, England, with reference to counterfeit coins and plated goods once made there.

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BIRMINGHAM ■

Brum·mell George Bryan (1778-1840), English dandy; known as Beau Brummell. He was the arbiter of British fashion for the early 19th century, owing his social position to his friendship with the Prince Regent.

bru·mous adj. POETIC/LITERARY foggy; wintry.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French brumeux, from late Latin brumosus (from bruma 'winter').

brunch n. a late morning meal eaten instead of breakfast and lunch.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: blend of BREAKFAST and LUNCH.

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BREAKFAST ■

LUNCH ■

Brundt·land Gro Harlem (1939- ), Norwegian stateswoman, prime minister 1981, 1986-89, and 1990-96. As Norway's first female prime minister, she chaired the World Commission on Environment and Development (known as the Brundtland Commission), which produced the Our Common Future report in 1987.

Bru·nei a small oil-rich constitutional sultanate on the northwestern coast of Borneo, divided by parts of Malaysia’s state of Sarawak; pop. 365,000; capital, Bandar Seri Begawan; languages, Malay (official), English (official), Chinese. Official name BRUNEI DARUSSALAM.

In the 16th century Brunei dominated Borneo and parts of the Philippines, but its power declined as that of the Portuguese and Dutch grew. In 1888, it was placed under British protection; it became a fully independent Commonwealth of Nations state in 1984. Brunei has been ruled by the same family for six centuries.

<DERIVATIVES> Bru·nei·an adj. & n.

Bru·nel Isambard Kingdom (1806-59), English engineer, son of Sir Marc Isambard Brunel (1769-1849). He designed the Great Western (1838), the first transatlantic steamship, and the Great Eastern (1858), the world's largest ship until 1899.

Bru·nel·les·chi Filippo (1377-1446), Italian architect; born Filippo di Ser Brunellesco. He is noted for the dome of Florence Cathedral (1420-61), which he raised without the use of temporary supports.

bru·nette (also bru·net) adj. having dark brown hair: a fresh-faced brunette woman in her thirties.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of hair) dark brown: her lustrous brunette tresses.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, feminine of brunet, diminutive of brun 'brown'.

brung dialect past and past participle of BRING.

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BRING ■

Brun·hild [GERMANIC MYTHOLOGY] in the Nibelungenlied, the wife of Gunther, who instigated the murder of Siegfried. In the Norse versions she is a Valkyrie whom Sigurd (the counterpart of Siegfried) wins by penetrating the wall of fire behind which she lies in an enchanted sleep.

Bru·no Giordano (1548-1600), Italian philosopher. A supporter of the heliocentric Copernican view of the solar system, envisaging an infinite universe of numerous worlds moving in space, he was tried by the Inquisition for heresy and burned at the stake.

Bru·no, St. (c.1032-1101), French churchman, born in Germany. He founded the Carthusian order at La Grande Chartreuse in 1084. Feast day, October 6.

bru·noise n. finely diced vegetables that are cooked in butter and used to flavor soups and sauces

Bruns·wick 1 a former duchy and state in central Germany, mostly incorporated into Lower Saxony. German name BRAUNSCHWEIG.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the capital of this former duchy, an industrial city in Lower Saxony, Germany; pop. 259,130.

2 a town in southwestern Maine, home to Bowdoin College; pop. 21,172.

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BRAUNSCHWEIG ■

Bruns·wick stew n. a stew originally made with squirrel or rabbit, but now consisting of chicken and vegetables including onion and tomatoes.

brunt n. (the brunt) the worst part or chief impact of a specified thing: education will bear the brunt of the cuts.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a blow or an attack, also the force or shock of something): of unknown origin.

bru·schet·ta n. toasted Italian bread drenched in olive oil and served typically with garlic or tomatoes.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

brush 1 n. 1 an implement with a handle, consisting of bristles, hair, or wire set into a block, used for cleaning or scrubbing, applying a liquid or powder to a surface, arranging the hair, or other purposes: a paint brush.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an act of sweeping, applying, or arranging with such an implement or with one's hand: he gave the seat a brush.

- (usu. brushes) a thin stick set with long wire bristles, used to make a soft hissing sound on drums or cymbals.

- the bushy tail of a fox.

2 a slight and fleeting touch: the lightest brush of his lips against her cheek.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a brief and typically unpleasant or unwelcome encounter with someone or something: a brush with death.

3 a piece of carbon or metal serving as an electrical contact with a moving part in a motor or alternator.

■ v. 1 [trans.] remove (dust or dirt) by sweeping or scrubbing: we'll be able to brush the mud off easily; he brushed himself down.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] use a brush or one's hand to remove dust or dirt from (something): she brushed down her best coat.

- [trans.] clean (one's teeth) by scrubbing with a brush.

- [trans.] arrange (one's hair) by running a brush through it.

- [trans.] apply a liquid to (a surface) with a brush: brush the potatoes with oil.

- apply (a liquid or substance) to a surface: brush on a floor enamel for a long-lasting base coat.

2 [intrans.] touch lightly and gently: stems of grass brush against her legs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (brush past) touch fleetingly and in passing: she brushed past him to leave the room.

- [trans.] push (something) away with a quick movement of the hand: she brushed a wisp of hair away from her face.

- [trans.] (brush something aside) dismiss (something) curtly and confidently: people brushed aside the possibility of imminent war.

- [trans.] (brush someone/something off) dismiss in an abrupt, contemptuous way: the president brushed off a reporter's question about terrorism.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  brush someone back INFORMAL [BASEBALL] (of a pitcher) force a batter to step back to avoid being hit by a ball pitched close to the body.

□  brush up on improve one's previously good knowledge of or skill at a particular thing: brush up on your telephone skills.

<DERIVATIVES> brush·less adj. CHIEFLY TECHNICAL.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: noun from Old French broisse; verb partly from Old French brosser 'to sweep'.

brush 2 n. undergrowth, small trees, and shrubs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- land covered with such growth.

- cut brushwood.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French broce, perhaps based on Latin bruscum, denoting an excrescence on the maple.

brush·back (also brushback pitch) n. [BASEBALL] a pitch aimed close to the body so that the batter must step back to avoid it.

brushed adj. having been treated with a brush, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of fabric) having a soft raised nap: brushed cotton.

- (of metal) finished with a nonreflective surface: brushed aluminum.

brush fire (also brush·fire) n. 1 a fire in brush or scrub.

2 a conflict, esp. an armed conflict, that arises suddenly and is limited in scale or area: [as adj.] fighting brush-fire wars.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a minor crisis.

brush-off n. [in sing.] INFORMAL a rejection or dismissal in which someone is treated as unimportant: he's been giving her the brush-off.

brush·stroke n. 1 the stroke of a brush, especially a hair brush or paintbrush.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the mark or effect created by this: an errant brushstroke doesn't necessarily destroy a painting.

2 an individual action that contributes to an overall effect or work: you write in broad, inaccurate brushstrokes, and seem incapable of grasping the meaning of your own words.

brush tur·key n. a large mound-building bird of the megapode family, resembling a turkey and found mainly in New Guinea.
<INFO>  Family Megapodiidae: several genera and species, including Alectura lathami of eastern Australia.

brush wolf n. another term for COYOTE.

Linked entries:

COYOTE ■

brush·wood n. undergrowth, twigs, and small branches, typically used for firewood or kindling.

brush·work n. the way in which painters use their brush, as evident in their paintings: canvases characterized by lively, flowing brushwork.

brush·y adj. 1 covered in or consisting of brushwood: a brushy hillside.

2 [ART] relating to or displaying bold use of the brush in painting: brushy outlining of form.

brusque adj. abrupt or offhand in speech or manner: she could be brusque and impatient.

<DERIVATIVES> brusque·ly adv. brusque·ness n. brus·que·rie n. (ARCHAIC).

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, 'lively, fierce', from Italian brusco 'sour'.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
bluff, blunt, brusque, curt, gruff, surly

Brusque, which comes from an Italian word meaning rude, describes an abruptness of speech or manner that is not necessarily meant to be rude (a brusque handshake; a brusque reply).

Curt is more deliberately unfriendly, suggesting brevity and coldness of manner (a curt dismissal).

There's nothing wrong with being blunt, although it implies an honesty and directness that can border on tactlessness (a blunt reply to his question about where the money went).

Someone who is bluff is usually more likable, possessing a frank, hearty manner that may be a little too outspoken but is seldom offensive (a bluff man who rarely minced words).

Exhibiting gruff or surly behavior will not win friends, since both words suggest bad temper if not rudeness. But gruff is used to describe a rough or grouchy disposition and, like bluff, is applied more often to a man.

Anyone who has had to deal with an overworked store clerk while shopping during the holidays knows the meaning of surly, which is worse than gruff. It describes not only a sour disposition but an outright hostility toward people, and it can apply to someone of either sex (that surly woman at the customer service desk).

Brus·sels the capital of Belgium, in the central part of the country; pop. 954,000. The headquarters of the European Commission is located here. French name BRUXELLES; Flemish name BRUSSEL.

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BRUXELLES ■

Brus·sels car·pet n. a carpet with a heavy woolen pile and a strong linen back.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: named after BRUSSELS^1 in Belgium.

Brus·sels lace n. an elaborate kind of lace, typically with a raised design, made using a needle or lace pillow.

Brus·sels sprout (also brus·sels sprout) n. a vegetable consisting of the small compact bud of a variety of cabbage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the plant that yields this vegetable, bearing many such buds along a tall single stem.

brut adj. (of sparkling wine) unsweetened; very dry.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, literally 'raw, rough'.

bru·tal adj. savagely violent: a brutal murder.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- punishingly hard or uncomfortable: the brutal winter wind.

- without any attempt to disguise unpleasantness: the brutal honesty of his observations.

<DERIVATIVES> bru·tal·i·ty n. bru·tal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the sense 'relating to the lower animals'): from Old French, or from medieval Latin brutalis, from brutus 'dull, stupid' (see BRUTE).

Linked entries:

BRUTE ■

bru·tal·ism n. a style of architecture or art characterized by a deliberate plainness, crudity, or violence of imagery. The term was first applied to functionalist buildings of the 1950s and 1960s that made much use of steel and concrete in starkly massive blocks.

<DERIVATIVES> bru·tal·ist n. & adj.

bru·tal·ize v. [trans.] attack (someone) in a savage and violent way: they brutalize and torture persons in their custody.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (often be brutalized) desensitize (someone) to the pain or suffering of others by exposing them to violent behavior or situations: he had been brutalized in prison and became cynical | [as adj.] (brutalizing) the brutalizing effects of warfare.

<DERIVATIVES> bru·tal·i·za·tion n.

brute n. a savagely violent person or animal: he was a cold-blooded brute.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL a cruel, unpleasant, or insensitive person: what an unfeeling little brute you are.

- an animal as opposed to a human being.

- something awkward, difficult, or unpleasant: a great brute of a machine.

■ adj. [attrib.] unreasoning and animallike: a brute struggle for social superiority.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- merely physical: we achieve little by brute force.

- harsh, fundamental, or inescapable: the brute necessities of basic subsistence.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an adjective): from Old French brut(e), from Latin brutus 'dull, stupid'.

brut·ish adj. resembling or characteristic of a brute: brutish behavior.

<DERIVATIVES> brut·ish·ly adv. brut·ish·ness n.

Bru·tus 1 Lucius Junius, (6th century BC), legendary founder of the Roman Republic. Traditionally, he led a popular uprising, after the rape of Lucretia, against his uncle, the king, and drove him from Rome.

Bru·tus 2 Marcus Junius (85-42 BC), Roman senator. With Cassius he led the conspirators who assassinated Julius Caesar in 44. They were defeated by Caesar's supporters, Antony and Octavian, at the battle of Philippi in 42, after which he committed suicide.

Brux·elles French name for BRUSSELS^1 .

brux·ism n. the involuntary or habitual grinding of the teeth, typically during sleep.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from Greek brukhein 'gnash the teeth' + -ISM.

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-ISM ■

Bry·an a city in east central Texas; pop. 55,002.

Bry·ansk (also Bri·ansk) an industrial city in western Russia, southwest of Moscow, on the Desna River; pop. 456,000.

Bry·ant William Cullen (1794-1878), U.S. poet and editor. He was co-owner and editor of the New York Evening Post 1829-78; his poems "Thanatopsis" (1811) and "To a Waterfowl" (1821) established him as the leading poet of his time.

Bryce Can·yon a region in south central Utah, site of a national park noted for spectacular rock formations.

Bryl·creem n. TRADEMARK a cream used on men's hair to give it a smooth, shiny appearance.

<DERIVATIVES> Bryl·creemed adj.

bry·ol·o·gy n. the study of mosses and liverworts.

<DERIVATIVES> bry·o·log·i·cal adj. bry·ol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek bruon 'moss' + -LOGY.

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-LOGY ■

bry·o·ny n. (pl. -nies) 1 (also white bryony) a climbing plant that has greenish-white flowers, red berries, and springlike tendrils. Native to Eurasia, it is the only British member of the gourd family.
<INFO>  Bryonia dioica, family Cucurbitaceae.

2 (black bryony) a climbing plant with broad glossy leaves, poisonous red berries, and black tubers. Native to Europe, it is the only British member of the yam family.
<INFO>  Tamus communis, family Dioscoreaceae.

<ORIGIN> Old English, via Latin from Greek .

Bry·oph·y·ta [BOTANY] a division of small, simple plants that comprises the mosses and liverworts. They lack flowers and roots, reproduce by spores released from a stalked capsule, and are anchored to the soil by specialized hairs.
<INFO>  Division Bryophyta: classes Musci (mosses) and Hepaticae (liverworts).

<DERIVATIVES> bry·o·phyte n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek bruon 'moss' + phuta 'plants'.

Bry·o·zo·a [ZOOLOGY] a phylum of sedentary aquatic invertebrates that comprises the moss animals.

<DERIVATIVES> bry·o·zo·an n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek bruon'moss' + 'animals'.

Bry·thon·ic (also Brit·ton·ic ) adj. denoting, relating to, or belonging to the southern group of Celtic languages, consisting of Welsh, Cornish, and Breton. Compare with GOIDELIC. Also called P-CELTIC.

■ n. these languages collectively.

<ORIGIN> from Welsh Brython 'Britons' + -IC.

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GOIDELIC ■

P-CELTIC ■

-IC ■

Brze nad Bu·giem Polish name for BREST (sense 2.)

Linked entries:

BREST ■

BS abbr.
- Bachelor of Science.

- balance sheet.

- Blessed Sacrament.

- VULGAR SLANG used as a euphemism for "bullshit.”

BSA abbr. Boy Scouts of America.

BSc abbr. Bachelor of Science.

B-school abbr. business school.

BSE abbr. bovine spongiform encephalopathy, a usually fatal disease of cattle affecting the central nervous system, causing agitation and staggering. It is thought to be caused by an agent such as a prion or a virino, and its possible connection with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans is still much debated. Also (popularly) called MAD COW DISEASE.

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MAD COW DISEASE ■

B-side n. the less important side of a pop single record.

BST abbr.
- bovine somatotropin, esp. as a hormone injected in cattle.

Bt. abbr. Baronet.

B2B abbr. business-to-business, denoting trade conducted via the Internet between businesses.

B2C abbr. business-to-consumer, denoting trade conducted via the Internet between businesses and consumers.

B-tree n. [COMPUTING] an organizational structure for information storage and retrieval in the form of a tree in which all terminal nodes are the same distance from the base, and all nonterminal nodes have between n and 2n subtrees or pointers (where n is an integer).

Btu (also BTU) abbr. British thermal unit(s).

btw abbr. by the way.

bu. abbr.
- bureau.

- bushel(s).

Bual n. a variety of wine grape grown chiefly in Madeira.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a Madeira wine of a medium sweet type made from such grapes.

<ORIGIN> from Portuguese boal.

bub n. INFORMAL an aggressive or rude way of addressing a boy or man: hey, bub, I'm looking for someone.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.

bu·bal n. a hartebeest, esp. one of an extinct race that was formerly found in North Africa.
<INFO>  Alcelaphus buselaphus buselaphus, family Bovidae.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French bubale, via Latin from Greek boubalos 'wild ox, antelope'.

bub·ba n. INFORMAL 1 used as an informal or affectionate form of address to a brother: my sister has always called me bubba.

2 DEROGATORY a working-class white male of the rural South.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: alteration of BROTHER.

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BROTHER ■

bub·bie n. INFORMAL (chiefly Jewish) one's grandmother.

<ORIGIN> from Yiddish bubeleh 'grandmother'.

bub·ble n. 1 a thin sphere of liquid enclosing air or another gas.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an air- or gas-filled spherical cavity in a liquid or a solidified liquid such as glass or amber.

- FIGURATIVE a state or feeling that is unstable and unlikely to last: many companies enjoyed rapid expansion before the bubble burst; he said the plan was a bubble.

- a brief, sudden, upward change from a general trend: the slide in soybean prices confirmed that Wednesday's rally was just a bubble.

2 (also bubble shell) a marine mollusk that typically has a thin scroll-like shell.
<INFO>  Bullidae and other families, order Cephalaspidea, class Gastropoda.

3 a transparent domed cover or enclosure: piglets born into a sterile bubble.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a place or position of isolated safety: they are not on tour packages seeing foreign ports from a bubble.

■ v. [intrans.] (of a liquid) contain bubbles of air or gas rising to the surface: a pot of soup bubbled away on the stove.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [often as adj.] (bubbling) make a sound resembling this: a bubbling fountain.

- (bubble with or over with) FIGURATIVE (of a person) be exuberantly filled with an irrepressible positive feeling: Ellen was bubbling with such enthusiasm.

- (bubble up) FIGURATIVE (esp. of a negative feeling) become more intense and approach the point of being vehemently expressed: the fury bubbling up inside her.

<PHRASES>
□ burst someone's bubble see BURST.

□ on the bubble INFORMAL (of a sports player or team) last or among the last awaiting news about qualifying for the final place in a competition. <ORIGIN> from sit on the bubble, with the implication that the bubble may burst.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: partly imitative, partly an alteration of BURBLE.

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BURST ■

BURBLE ■

bub·ble and squeak n. BRIT. cooked cabbage fried with cooked potatoes and often meat.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from the sounds of the mixture cooking.

bub·ble bath n. liquid, crystals, or powder added to bathwater to make it foam and have a fragrant smell.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a bath of water with such a substance added.

bub·ble can·o·py n. a transparent domed canopy on an aircraft or bubble car.

bub·ble car n. a small car with a transparent domed canopy and typically three wheels.

bub·ble cham·ber n. [PHYSICS] an apparatus designed to make the tracks of ionizing particles visible as a row of bubbles in a liquid.

bub·ble e·con·o·my n. an unstable expanding economy; in particular, a period of heightened prosperity and increased commercial activity in Japan in the late 1980s brought about by artificially adjusted interest rates.

bub·ble·gum n. 1 chewing gum that can be blown into bubbles.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also bubblegum pink) the bright pink color of such gum: [as adj.] bubblegum capri pants.

2 [usu. as adj.] a thing considered to be insipid, simplistic, or adolescent in taste or style: rockers hate bubblegum pop.

bub·ble·head n. INFORMAL a foolish or empty-headed person.

bub·ble·jet print·er n. a kind of inkjet printer.

bub·ble lev·el n. another term for LEVEL (sense 3).

Linked entries:

LEVEL ■

bub·ble lift (also bub·ble) n. INFORMAL a ski lift with enclosed cabins.

bub·ble mem·o·ry n. [COMPUTING] a type of memory in which data is stored as a pattern of magnetized regions in a thin layer of magnetic material.

bub·ble pack n. another term for BUBBLE WRAP.

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BUBBLE WRAP ■

bub·bler n. a drinking fountain.

bub·ble tea n. a cold, frothy drink made with iced tea, sweetened milk or other flavorings, and usually with sweet black balls or “pearls” made from tapioca. Also called BOBA TEA, PEARL TEA..

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PEARL TEA ■

bub·ble wrap (TRADEMARK Bub·ble Wrap) n. plastic packaging material in sheets containing numerous small air cushions designed to protect fragile goods.

bub·bly adj. (-bli·er, -bli·est) containing bubbles: bake until the top is crisp and bubbly.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE (of a person) full of cheerful high spirits: a bright and bubbly personality.

■ n. INFORMAL champagne.

Bu·ber Martin (1878-1965), Israeli religious philosopher, born in Austria. In his existentialist work I and Thou (1923), he argued that religious experience involves reciprocal relationships with a personal subject, rather than knowledge of some “thing.”

bu·bo n. (pl. -boes) a swollen, inflamed lymph node in the armpit or groin.

<DERIVATIVES> bu·bon·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, from Greek 'groin or swelling in the groin'.

bu·bon·ic plague n. the commonest form of plague in humans, characterized by fever, delirium, and the formation of buboes.

The plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis is transmitted by rat fleas. Epidemics occurred in Europe throughout the Middle Ages (notably as the Black Death and the Great Plague of 1665-66); the disease is still endemic in parts of Asia.

bucatini n. pasta in the shape of small tubes.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

buc·cal adj. TECHNICAL of or relating to the mouth: the buccal cavity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to the cheek: the buccal side of the molars.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin bucca 'cheek' + -AL.

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-AL ■

buc·ca·neer n. HISTORICAL a pirate, originally off the Spanish-American coasts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a daring, adventurous, and sometimes reckless person, esp. in business: [as adj.] a shrewd and buccaneering businessman.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (originally denoting European hunters in the Caribbean): from French boucanier, from boucan 'a frame on which to cook or cure meat', from Tupi mukem.

buc·ca·neer·ing adj. daring and adventurous (often used in a business context): the buccaneering nature of the oil-transport industry.

buc·ci·na·tor n. [ANATOMY] a flat, thin muscle in the wall of the cheek.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin, from buccinare 'blow a trumpet', from buccina, denoting a kind of trumpet.

Bu·ceph·a·lus the favorite horse of Alexander the Great, who tamed the horse as a boy and took it with him on his campaigns until its death, after a battle, in 326 BC.

Bu·chan·an James (1791-1868), 15th president of the U.S. 1857-61. A Pennsylvania Democrat, he served as U.S. congressman 1821-31, minister to Russia 1832-34, U.S. senator 1834-45, U.S. secretary of state 1845-49, and minister to Great Britain 1853-56. As president, his leanings toward the pro-slavery side in the developing dispute over slavery made the issue more fraught. He retired from politics in 1861.

Bu·cha·rest the capital of Romania, in the southeastern part of the country; pop. 2,343,800. Romanian name BUCURETI.

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BUCURETI ■

Bu·chen·wald a Nazi concentration camp in World War II, near the village of Buchenwald in central Germany.

Buch·ner Eduard (1860-1917), German organic chemist. He studied the chemistry of alcoholic fermentation and identified several enzymes, notably zymase. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1907).

Buck Pearl S. (1892-1973), U.S. writer; full name Pearl Sydenstricker Buck. Her upbringing and work in China inspired her earliest novels, including The Good Earth (1931) and Dragon Seed (1942). Nobel Prize for Literature (1938).

buck 1 n. 1 the male of some antlered animals, esp. the fallow deer, roe deer, reindeer, and antelopes. Compare with DOE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a male hare, rabbit, ferret, rat, or kangaroo.

2 a vaulting horse.

3 a vertical jump performed by a horse, with the head lowered, back arched, and back legs thrown out behind.

4 a fashionable and typically hell-raising young man.

5 INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE a black or American Indian man.

6 (bucks) an oxford shoe made of buckskin.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] (of a horse) to perform a buck: he's got to get his head down to buck | [trans.] she bucked them off if they tried to get on her back.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a vehicle) make sudden jerky movements: the boat began to buck in the water.

2 [trans.] oppose or resist (something that seems oppressive or inevitable): the shares bucked the market trend.

3 [trans.] INFORMAL make (someone) more cheerful: Bella and Jim need me to buck them up | [intrans.] (buck up) buck up, kid, it's not the end of the world.

■ adj. MILITARY SLANG lowest of a particular rank: a buck private.

<ORIGIN> Old English, partly from buc 'male deer' (of Germanic origin, related to Dutch bok and German Bock); reinforced by bucca 'male goat', of the same ultimate origin.

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DOE ■

buck 2 n. INFORMAL a dollar: a run-down hotel room for five bucks a night.

<PHRASES>
□ big bucks a lot of money.

□ a fast (or quick) buck easily and quickly earned money: the pursuit of a fast buck is the cause of most losses.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

buck 3 n. an article placed as a reminder before a player whose turn it is to deal at poker.

<PHRASES>
□ the buck stops here (or with someone) INFORMAL the responsibility for something cannot or should not be passed to someone else.

□ pass the buck INFORMAL shift the responsibility for something to someone else.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the use of a buck-handled knife to indicate the dealer in a poker game.

buck-and-wing n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a lively solo tap dance, typically done in wooden-soled shoes.

buck·a·roo n. a cowboy.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: alteration of VAQUERO.

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VAQUERO ■

buck·bean n. a plant of bogs and shallow water with creeping rhizomes, beanlike leaves that consist of three leaflets, and white or pinkish hairy flowers. Formerly used as a substitute for hops, it is now cultivated as an ornamental aquatic plant. Also called BOGBEAN.
<INFO>  Menyanthes trifoliata, family Menyanthaceae.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Flemish bocks boonen 'goat's beans'.

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BOGBEAN ■

buck·board n. an open, four-wheeled, horse-drawn carriage with seating that is attached to a plank stretching between the front and rear axles.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from buck 'body of a cart' (perhaps a variant of obsolete bouk 'belly, body') + BOARD.

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BOARD ■

buck·brush n. coarse vegetation on which wild deer browse.

buck·e·roo n. variant spelling of BUCKAROO.

Linked entries:

BUCKAROO ■

buck·et n. a roughly cylindrical open container, typically made of metal or plastic, with a handle, used to hold and carry liquids or other material.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the contents of such a container or the amount it can contain: she emptied a bucket of water over them.

- (buckets) INFORMAL large quantities of liquid, typically rain or tears: I wept buckets.

- [BASKETBALL] a basket.

- [COMPUTING] a unit of data that can be transferred from secondary storage in a single operation.

- a compartment on the outer edge of a waterwheel.

- the scoop of a dredger or grain elevator.

- a scoop attached to the front of a loader, digger, or tractor.

■ v. (buck·et·ed, buck·et·ing) [intrans.] 1 (it buckets, it is bucketing, etc.) INFORMAL rain heavily: it was still bucketing down.

2 [with adverbial of direction] (of a vehicle) move quickly and jerkily: the car came bucketing out of a side road.

<PHRASES>
□ a drop in the bucket see DROP.

□ kick the bucket see KICK^1 .

<DERIVATIVES> buck·et·ful n. (pl. -fuls).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French buquet 'tub, pail', perhaps from Old English 'belly, pitcher'.

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DROP ■

KICK ■

buck·et bri·gade n. a line of people who pass buckets of water from one to another to put out a fire.

buck·et hat n. a simple soft cloth hat with a brim.

buck·et·load n. INFORMAL a large quantity: he scoops up business donations by the bucketload.

buck·et seat n. a seat in a car or aircraft with a rounded back to fit one person.

buck·et shop n. INFORMAL, DEROGATORY an unauthorized office for speculating in stocks or currency using the funds of unwitting investors.

buck·et·wheel n. a machine with a series of scoops or buckets on a rotating belt, used to excavate or move material.

buck·eye n. 1 a North American tree or shrub related to the horse chestnut, with showy yellow, red, or white flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Aesculus, family Hippocastanaceae: several species, including the Ohio buckeye (A. glabra), with yellow flowers and prickly fruit husks.

2 (also buckeye butterfly) an orange and brown New World butterfly with conspicuous eyespots on the wings.
<INFO>  Junonia coenia, subfamily Nymphalinae, family Nymphalidae.

3 (Buckeye) INFORMAL a native of the state of Ohio. <ORIGIN> from the name given to the state, with reference to the abundance of buckeye trees.

4 (also buckeye coupling) a kind of automatic coupling for railroad rolling stock. <ORIGIN> named after the Buckeye Steel Castings Company, Columbus, Ohio.

Buck·eye State a nickname for the state of OHIO.

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OHIO ■

buck fe·ver n. nervousness felt by novice hunters when they first sight game.

buck·horn n. a horn of a deer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> such horn, used typically for knife handles, small containers, or rifle sights.

buckhound n. a staghound of a small breed.

buck·jump AUSTRAL. v. [intrans.] (of a horse) jump vertically with the head lowered, back arched, and legs drawn together in an attempt to unseat the rider.

■ n. [often as adj.] an act or display of buckjumping: a buckjump rider.

<DERIVATIVES> buck·jump·er n.

buck·jump·ing n. a rodeo event in which a rider attempts to stay in the saddle of a bucking horse for a period of eight seconds: [as adj.] a buckjumping event.

buck·le n. a flat, typically rectangular frame with a hinged pin, used for joining the ends of a belt or strap.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similarly shaped ornament, esp. on a shoe.

■ v. 1 [trans.] fasten or decorate with a buckle: he buckled his belt.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (buckle up) fasten one's seat belt in a car or aircraft.

2 [intrans.] bend and give way under pressure or strain: the earth buckled under the titanic stress. <ORIGIN> from French boucler 'to bulge'.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] bend (something) out of shape: a giant oak buckles the sidewalk.

- FIGURATIVE (of a person) yield or collapse under pressure: a weaker person might have buckled under the strain.

<PHRASAL VERB> buckle down tackle a task with determination: they will buckle down to negotiations over the next few months.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bocle, from Latin buccula 'cheek strap of a helmet', from bucca 'cheek'.

buck·le bun·ny n. INFORMAL a woman who is a follower or devotee of rodeos and cowboys.

buck·ler n. HISTORICAL a small, round shield held by a handle or worn on the forearm.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French (escu) bocler, literally '(shield) with a boss', from bocle 'buckle, boss' (see BUCKLE).

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BUCKLE ■

Buck·ley William F(rank), Jr. (1925- ), U.S. journalist and writer. Founder of the politically conservative National Review magazine (1955), he hosted the television discussion program "Firing Line" from 1966 until 1999.

buck·min·ster·ful·ler·ene n. [CHEMISTRY] a form of carbon having molecules of 60 atoms arranged in a polyhedron resembling a geodesic sphere. See also FULLERENE.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: named after Richard Buckminster Fuller (see FULLER^3 ).

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FULLERENE ■

FULLER ■

buck na·ked (also buck-nak·ed) adj. INFORMAL completely naked.

buck·o n. (pl. -oes or -os) INFORMAL a young man (often as a form of address): now hold on a minute, bucko.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (originally nautical slang): from BUCK^1 + -O.

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BUCK ■

-O ■

buck-pass·ing n. the practice of shifting the responsibility for something to someone else.

buck·ra n. (pl. same or -ras ) INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE a white person, typically a man.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Ibibio and Efik (m)bakara 'European, master'.

buck·ram n. coarse linen or other cloth stiffened with gum or paste and used typically as interfacing and in bookbinding.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE, ARCHAIC stiffness of manner.

■ adj. [attrib.] of or like such material: sturdy volumes in buckram bindings.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE, ARCHAIC (of a person) starchy or formal.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a kind of fine linen or cotton cloth): from Old French boquerant, perhaps from BUKHORO in central Asia.

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BUKHORO ■

buck·saw n. a type of saw typically set in an H-shaped frame and used with both hands.

Bucks Coun·ty a county in southeastern Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River, noted for its affluent Philadelphia suburbs and its artists' colonies; pop. 541,174. Its seat is Doylestown.

buck·shee adj. INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. free of charge: a buckshee brandy.

<ORIGIN> World War I (originally soldiers' slang): alteration of BAKSHEESH.

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BAKSHEESH ■

buck·shot n. coarse lead shot used in shotgun shells.

buck·skin n. 1 the skin of a male deer.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- grayish leather with a suede finish, traditionally made from such skin but now more commonly made from sheepskin: [as adj.] a pair of buckskin moccasins.

- (buckskins) clothes or shoes made from such leather.

- thick, smooth cotton or woolen fabric.

2 a horse of a grayish-yellow color.

<DERIVATIVES> buck·skinned adj.

buck·thorn n. 1 a shrub or small tree of the buckthorn family, typically bearing thorns. Some kinds yield dyes, and others have been used medicinally.
<INFO>  Genus Rhamnus, family Rhamnaceae: several species, including the European common buckthorn (R. cathartica), now established in the northeastern and central U.S., and the Carolina buckthorn (R. caroliniana) of the southern U.S.

2 (also buckthorn bumelia) a shrub or small tree of the sapodilla family, with sharp thorns and clusters of small white flowers, commonly found in moist soils of the southern and central U.S.
<INFO>  Bumelia lycioides, family Sapotaceae.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from BUCK^1 in the sense 'deer' + THORN, translating modern Latin spina cervina.

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BUCK ■

THORN ■

buck·tooth n. an upper tooth that projects over the lower lip.

<DERIVATIVES> buck·toothed adj.

buck·wheat n. 1 an Asian plant of the dock family that produces starchy seeds. The seeds are used for fodder and are also milled into flour that is widely used in the U.S.
<INFO>  Fagopyrum esculentum, family Polygonaceae.

2 (in full buckwheat tree) see TITI^2 .

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Middle Dutch boecweite 'beech wheat', its grains being shaped like beech mast.

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TITI ■

buck·y·balls plural n. INFORMAL [CHEMISTRY] spherical molecules of a fullerene, esp. buckminsterfullerene. Related cylindrical molecules are termed buckytubes.

buck·y·tube n. INFORMAL a carbon nanotube.

bu·col·ic adj. of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life: the church is lovely for its bucolic setting.

■ n. (usu. bucolics) a pastoral poem.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (denoting a pastoral poem): via Latin from Greek boukolikos, from boukolos 'herdsman', from bous 'ox'.

Bu·cu·reti Romanian name for BUCHAREST.

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BUCHAREST ■

bud 1 n. a compact knoblike growth on a plant that develops into a leaf, flower, or shoot.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BIOLOGY] an outgrowth from an organism (e.g., a yeast cell) that separates to form a new individual without sexual reproduction taking place.

- [with adj.] [ZOOLOGY] (of an animal) a rudimentary leg or other appendage that has not yet grown, or never will grow, to full size.

■ v. (bud·ded, bud·ding) [intrans.] [BIOLOGY] (of a plant or animal) form a bud: new blood vessels bud out from the vascular bed | [trans.] tapeworms bud off egg-bearing sections from their tail end.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] graft a bud of (a plant) on to another plant.

<PHRASES> in bud (of a plant) having newly formed buds.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin.

bud 2 n. INFORMAL a form of address, usually to a boy or man, used esp. when the name of the one being addressed is not known: listen, bud, I saw you there with my own eyes.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: abbreviation of BUDDY.

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BUDDY ■

Bu·da·pest the capital of Hungary, in the northern central part of the country; pop. 2,000,000. It was formed in 1873 by the union of the city of Buda on the right bank of the Danube River with the city of Pest on the left.

Bud·dha (often the Buddha) a title given to the founder of Buddhism, Siddartha Gautama (c.563-c.460 BC). Born an Indian prince, he renounced wealth and family to become an ascetic, and after achieving enlightenment while meditating, taught all who came to learn from him.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [as n.] (a buddha) [BUDDHISM] a person who has attained full enlightenment.

- a statue or picture of the Buddha.

<ORIGIN> Sanskrit, literally 'enlightened', past participle of budh 'know'.

Bud·dhism n. a widespread Asian religion or philosophy, founded by Siddartha Gautama in northeastern India in the 5th century BC.

Buddhism has no creator god and gives a central role to the doctrine of karma. The ‘four noble truths’ of Buddhism state that all existence is suffering, that the cause of suffering is desire, that freedom from suffering is nirvana, and that this is attained through the ‘eightfold’ path of ethical conduct, wisdom, and mental discipline (including meditation). There are two major traditions, Theravada and Mahayana.

<DERIVATIVES> Bud·dhist n. & adj. Bud·dhis·tic adj. Bud·dhis·ti·cal adj.

bud·ding adj. [attrib.] (of a plant) having or developing buds: a budding chrysanthemum.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a part of the body) becoming larger as part of the process of normal growth.

- (of a person) beginning and showing signs of promise in a particular career or field: budding young actors.

- just beginning and showing promising signs of continuing: their budding relationship.

bud·dle n. a shallow inclined container in which ore is washed.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

bud·dle·ia n. a widely cultivated shrub with fragrant lilac, white, or yellow flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Buddleia (or Buddleja), family Loganiaceae: several species, esp. the butterfly bush.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin; named in honor of the English botanist Adam Buddle (died 1715), by Linnaeus, at the suggestion of Sir William Houston who introduced the plant to Europe from South America.

bud·dy INFORMAL n. (pl. -dies) a close friend.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a working companion with whom close cooperation is required.

■ v. (-dies, -died) [intrans.] become friendly and spend time with: I decided to buddy up to them.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: perhaps an alteration of BROTHER.

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BROTHER ■

bud·dy-bud·dy adj. INFORMAL, CHIEFLY DEROGATORY very friendly: he's buddy-buddy with the ambassador.

bud·dy mov·ie n. INFORMAL a movie portraying a close friendship between two people, esp. between two men.

bud·dy sys·tem n. a cooperative arrangement whereby individuals are paired or teamed up and assume responsibility for one another's instruction, productivity, welfare, or safety.

Budge Don (1915-2000), U.S. tennis player; born John Donald Budge. He was the first to win the four major singles championships, the "Grand Slam”Australia, France, Wimbledon, and the U.S.in one year, 1938.

budge v. [usu. with negative] make or cause to make the slightest movement: [intrans.] the line in the bank hasn't budged | [trans.] I couldn't budge the door.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (budge over) INFORMAL make room for another person by moving: budge over, boys, make room for your uncle.

- [usu. with modal] change or make (someone) change an opinion: [intrans.] I tried to persuade him, but he wouldn't budge | [trans.] neither bribe nor threat will budge him.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French bouger 'to stir', based on Latin bullire 'to boil'.

budg·er·i·gar n. a small gregarious Australian parakeet that in the wild is green with a yellow head. It is popular as a pet bird and has been bred in a variety of colors.
<INFO>  Melopsittacus undulatus, family Psittacidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: of Aboriginal origin, perhaps an alteration of Kamilaroi gijirrigaa (also in related languages).

budg·et n. 1 an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time: keep within the household budget. | [as adj.] a budget deficit.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an annual or other regular estimate of national revenue and expenditure put forward by the government, often including details of changes in taxation.

- the amount of money needed or available for a purpose: they have a limited budget.

2 ARCHAIC a quantity of material, typically that which is written or printed.

■ v. (budg·et·ed, budg·et·ing) [intrans.] allow or provide for in a budget: the university is budgeting for a deficit | [as adj.] (budgeted) a budgeted figure of $31,000 | [as n.] (budgeting) corporate planning and budgeting.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] provide (a sum of money) for a particular purpose from a budget: the council proposes to budget $100,000 to provide grants.

■ adj. [attrib.] inexpensive: a budget guitar.

<PHRASES> on a budget with a restricted amount of money: we're traveling on a budget.

<DERIVATIVES> budg·et·ar·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French bougette, diminutive of bouge 'leather bag', from Latin bulga 'leather bag, knapsack', of Gaulish origin. Compare with BULGE. The word originally meant a pouch or wallet, and later its contents. In the mid 18th cent., the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the UK, in presenting his annual statement, was said “to open the budget.” In the late 19th cent. the use of the term was extended from governmental to private or commercial finances.

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BULGE ■

budg·ie n. (pl. -ies) informal term for BUDGERIGAR.

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BUDGERIGAR ■

bud-graft v. [trans.] graft a bud of (a plant) on to another plant.

■ n. a plant grown by this method.

Bud·weis German name for ESKÉ BUDJOVICE.

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ESKÉ BUDJOVICE ■

bud·wood n. short lengths of young branches with buds prepared for grafting on to the rootstock of another plant.

bud·worm n. a moth caterpillar that is destructive to buds. See SPRUCE BUDWORM.

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SPRUCE BUDWORM ■

Bue·na Park a city in southern California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 68,784. Its tourist attractions include Knott's Berry Farm, a theme park.

Bue·na·ven·tu·ra the chief Pacific Ocean port of Colombia; pop. 122,500.

Bue·na Vis·ta a village in northern Mexico, in Coahuila state, near Saltillo, where U.S. forces under Zachary Taylor won a major battle against Mexican forces under Santa Anna in February 1847.

Bue·nos Ai·res the capital city and chief port of Argentina, in the eastern central part of the country, on the Plata River; pop. 2,961,000.

Buer·ger's dis·ease n. inflammation and thrombosis in small and medium-sized blood vessels, typically in the legs and leading to gangrene. It has been associated with smoking.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after L. Buerger (1879-1943), American surgeon.

buff 1 n. 1 a yellowish-beige color:

2 a stout, dull yellow leather with a velvety surface.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a stick, wheel, or pad used for polishing or smoothing.

■ v. [trans.] polish (something): he buffed the glass until it gleamed.
- give (leather) a velvety finish by removing the surface of the grain.

■ adj. 1 yellowish beige: a fortnight later the buff OHMS envelope had been delivered.

2 INFORMAL being in good physical shape with fine muscle tone.

<PHRASES> in the buff INFORMAL naked.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: probably from French buffle, from Italian bufalo, from late Latin bufalus (see BUFFALO). The original sense in English was 'buffalo', later 'oxhide' or 'color of oxhide'.

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BUFFALO ■

buff 2 n. [with adj.] INFORMAL a person who is enthusiastically interested in and very knowledgeable about a particular subject: a computer buff.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from BUFF^1 , originally applied to enthusiastic fire-watchers, because of the buff uniforms formerly worn by New York volunteer firemen.

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BUFF ■

Buf·fa·lo an industrial city in the northwestern part of the state of New York; pop. 292,648. Located at the eastern end of Lake Erie, it is a major port on the St. Lawrence Seaway.

buf·fa·lo n. (pl. same, -loes or -los) 1 a heavily built wild ox with backswept horns, found mainly in the Old World tropics:
<INFO>
- four species native to South Asia (genus Bubalus, family Bovidae). See also WATER BUFFALO, ANOA.

- see AFRICAN BUFFALO.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the North American bison.

2 (also buf·fa·lo fish) a large grayish-olive freshwater fish with thick lips, common in North America.
<INFO>  Genus Ictiobus, family Catostomidae: several species.

■ v. (-loes, -loed) [trans.] (often be buffaloed) INFORMAL overawe or intimidate (someone): she didn't like being buffaloed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> baffle (someone): the problem has buffaloed the advertising staff.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: probably from Spanish or Portuguese búfalo, from late Latin bufalus, from earlier bubalus, from Greek boubalos 'antelope, wild ox'.

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WATER BUFFALO ■

ANOA ■

AFRICAN BUFFALO ■

buf·fa·lo ber·ry n. a North American shrub with silvery twigs and leaves and edible berries. See also SOAPBERRY.
<INFO>  Genus Shepherdia, family Elaeagnaceae: two species, the western silver buffalo berry (S. argentea), with bright red berries, and the northern Canada buffalo berry (S. canadensis), with reddish or yellow berries.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the berry of this shrub.

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SOAPBERRY ■

Buf·fa·lo Bill (1846-1917), U.S. showman; born William Frederick Cody. He gained his nickname for killing 4,280 buffalo in 8 months to feed the Union Pacific Railroad workers. He subsequently devoted his life to his traveling Wild West Show.

buf·fa·lo gnat n. another term for BLACK FLY (sense 2).

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BLACK FLY ■

buf·fa·lo grass n. any of a number of grasses, in particular:
<INFO>
- a creeping grass of the North American plains, which is sometimes used for erosion control (Buchloe dactyloides, family Gramineae).

- a grass native to Australia and New Zealand (Stenotaphrum secundatum, family Gramineae).

buf·fa·lo moz·za·rel·la n. mozzarella cheese made in the traditional way, from the milk of the water buffalo.

Buf·fa·lo Riv·er a river that flows for 132 miles (213 km) through the Ozark Plateau in northwestern Arkansas and is a designated national preserve.

buf·fa·lo robe n. a rug, cloak, or blanket made from the dressed hide of a North American bison.

buf·fa·lo sol·dier n. (in U.S. history) an African-American cavalry soldier.

Buf·fa·lo wings (also buf·fa·lo wings or Buffalo chicken wings) plural n. deep-fried chicken wings coated in a spicy sauce and usually served with blue cheese dressing.

buff·er n. 1 a person or thing that prevents incompatible or antagonistic people or things from coming into contact with or harming each other: family and friends can provide a buffer against stress.

2 (also buffer solution) [CHEMISTRY] a solution that resists changes in pH when acid or alkali is added to it. Buffers typically involve a weak acid or alkali together with one of its salts.

3 [COMPUTING] a temporary memory area or queue used when transferring data between devices or programs operating at different speeds.

■ v. [trans.] 1 lessen or moderate the impact of (something): the massage helped to buffer the strain.

2 treat with a chemical buffer: add organic matter to buffer the resulting alkalinity.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: probably from obsolete buff (verb), imitative of the sound of a blow to a soft body.

buff·er state n. a small neutral country, situated between two larger hostile countries, serving to prevent the outbreak of regional conflict.

buff·er zone n. a neutral area serving to separate hostile forces or nations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an area of land designated for environmental protection: oyster harvesters are not allowed in certain buffer zones.

buf·fet 1 n. 1 a meal consisting of several dishes from which guests serve themselves: [as adj.] a cold buffet lunch.

2 a room or counter in a station, hotel, or other public building selling light meals or snacks.

3 a cabinet with shelves and drawers for keeping dinnerware and table linens.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (sense 3): from French, from Old French bufet 'stool', of unknown origin.

buf·fet 2 v. (-fet·ed, -fet·ing) [trans.] (esp. of wind or waves) strike repeatedly and violently; batter: the rough seas buffeted the coast | [intrans.] the wind was buffeting at their bodies.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- knock (someone) over or off course: he was buffeted from side to side.

- (often be buffeted) FIGURATIVE (of misfortunes or difficulties) afflict or harm (someone) repeatedly or over a long period: they were buffeted by a major recession.

■ n. 1 DATED a blow, typically of the hand or fist.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a shock or misfortune: the daily buffets of urban civilization.

2 [AERONAUTICS] another term for BUFFETING.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French buffeter (verb), buffet (noun), diminutive of bufe 'a blow'.

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BUFFETING ■

buf·fet·ing n. the action of striking someone or something repeatedly and violently: the roofs have survived the buffeting of worse winds than this.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE the action or result of afflicting or harming someone, typically repeatedly or over a long period: the buffeting that people are taking in lost job status.

- [AERONAUTICS] irregular oscillation of part of an aircraft, caused by turbulence.

Buf·fett Warren Edward (1930- ), U.S. businessman and financier. He heads Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. and is an influential board member of Salomon Brothers.

buf·fle·head n. a small North American diving duck related to the goldeneye, with a large puffy head. The male has white plumage with a black back.
<INFO>  Bucephala albeola, family Anatidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'simpleton'): from obsolete buffle 'buffalo' + HEAD. The current sense (mid 18th cent.) may be an independent formation because of the duck's large square-shaped head.

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HEAD ■

buf·fo n. (pl. -fos) a comic actor in Italian opera or a person resembling such an actor.

■ adj. of or typical of Italian comic opera: a buffo character.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: Italian, 'puff of wind, buffoon', from buffare 'to puff', of imitative origin.

Buf·fon Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de (1707-88), French naturalist. A founder of paleontology, he emphasized the unity of all living species, minimizing the apparent differences between animals and plants. His compilation of the animal kingdom, the Histoire Naturelle, reached 36 volumes by the time of his death.

buf·foon n. a ridiculous but amusing person; a clown.

<DERIVATIVES> buf·foon·ish adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French bouffon, from Italian buffone, from medieval Latin buffo 'clown'. Originally recorded as a rare Scots word for a kind of pantomime dance, the term later (late 16th cent.) denoted a professional jester.

buf·foon·er·y n. (pl. -er·ies) behavior that is ridiculous but amusing.

bug n. 1 a small insect.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL a harmful microorganism, as a bacterium or virus.

- an illness caused by such a microorganism: suffering from a flu bug.

- [with adj.] FIGURATIVE, INFORMAL an enthusiastic, almost obsessive, interest in something: they caught the sailing bug; Joe was bitten by the showbiz bug.

2 (also true bug) [ENTOMOLOGY] an insect of a large order distinguished by having mouthparts that are modified for piercing and sucking.
<INFO>  Order Hemiptera: see HEMIPTERA.

3 a miniature microphone, typically concealed in a room or telephone, used for surveillance.

4 an error in a computer program or system.

■ v. (bugged, bug·ging) [trans.] 1 (often be bugged) conceal a miniature microphone in (a room or telephone) in order to monitor or record someone's conversations: the telephones in the presidential palace were bugged.
<SPECIAL USAGE> record or monitor (a conversation) in this way.

2 INFORMAL annoy or bother (someone): a persistent reporter was bugging me.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  bug off INFORMAL go away.

□  bug out INFORMAL 1 leave quickly: if you see enemy troops, bug out.

2 CHIEFLY FIGURATIVE bulge outward: he did a double take and his eyes bugged out.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: of unknown origin. Current verb senses date from the early 20th cent.

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HEMIPTERA ■

bug·a·boo n. an object of fear or alarm; a bugbear.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: probably of Celtic origin and related to Welsh bwci bo 'bogey, the Devil', bwci 'hobgoblin' and Cornish bucca.

bug·bane n. a tall plant with wandlike spikes of cream or yellow flowers. A member of the buttercup family, it is native to north temperate regions.
<INFO>  Genus Cimicifuga, family Ranunculaceae: several species, in particular the American bugbane (C. americana) of the eastern U.S. and the black cohosh (C. racemosa).

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from BUG + BANE, with reference to the former use of the species C. foetida to drive away bedbugs.

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BUG ■

BANE ■

bug·bear n. a cause of obsessive fear, irritation, or loathing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC an imaginary being invoked to frighten children, typically a sort of hobgoblin supposed to devour them.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: probably from obsolete bug 'bogey' (of unknown origin) + BEAR^2 .

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BEAR ■

bug-eyed adj. & adv. with bulging eyes: [as adj.] bug-eyed monsters | [as adv.] he stared bug-eyed at John.

bug·ger VULGAR SLANG CHIEFLY BRIT. n. 1 [with adj.] a contemptible or pitied person, typically a man.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person with a particular negative quality or characteristic.

- used as a term of affection or respect, typically grudgingly: all right, let the little buggers come in.

2 DEROGATORY a person who commits buggery.

■ v. [trans.] penetrate the anus of (someone) during sexual intercourse; sodomize.

■ exclam. used to express annoyance or anger.

<PHRASAL VERB> bugger off [usu. in imperative] go away.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally denoting a heretic, specifically an Albigensian): from Middle Dutch, from Old French bougre, originally in the sense 'heretic', from medieval Latin Bulgarus 'Bulgarian', particularly one belonging to the Orthodox Church and therefore regarded as a heretic by the Roman Church. The sense 'sodomite' (16th cent.) arose from an association of heresy with forbidden sexual practices; its use as a general insult dates from the early 18th cent. Compare with BULGAR.

bug·ger·y n. anal intercourse.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'heresy'): from Middle Dutch buggerie, from Old French bougrerie, from bougre (see BUGGER).

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BUGGER ■

bug·gy 1 n. (pl. -gies) a small or light vehicle, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a small motor vehicle, typically one with an open top: a golf buggy.

- short for BABY BUGGY.

- HISTORICAL a light, horse-drawn vehicle for one or two people, with two or four wheels.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

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BABY BUGGY ■

bug·gy 2 adj. (-gi·er, -gi·est) 1 infested with bugs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a computer program or system) faulty in operation.

2 INFORMAL crazy; insane.

bug·house INFORMAL n. OFFENSIVE a mental hospital or asylum.

■ adj. crazy; insane.

bug juice n. 1 whisky or other liquor, esp. when of poor quality.

2 a sweet, artificially colored, non-carbonated soft drink.

bu·gle 1 n. a brass instrument like a small trumpet, typically without valves or keys and used for military signals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a loud sound resembling that of a bugle, as the mating call of a bull elk: the piercing bugle of adult bulls.

■ v. [intrans.] sound a bugle.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] sound (a note or call) on a bugle: he bugled a warning.

- issue a loud sound resembling that of a bugle, particularly the mating call of a bull elk.

<DERIVATIVES> bu·gler n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin buculus, diminutive of bos 'ox'. The early English sense was 'wild ox', hence the compound bugle-horn, being originally the horn of an ox used to give signals in hunting.

bu·gle 2 n. a creeping plant of the mint family with blue flowers held on upright stems. Also called BUGLEWEED.
<INFO>  Genus Ajuga, family Labiatae: several species, esp. the common A. reptans.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from late Latin bugula.

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BUGLEWEED ■

bu·gle 3 n. (also bugle bead) an ornamental tube-shaped glass or plastic bead sewn on to clothing.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

bu·gle·weed n. another term for BUGLE^2 .

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BUGLE ■

bu·gloss n. a bristly plant of the borage family, with bright blue flowers.
<INFO>  Anchusa, Lycopsis, and other genera, family Boraginaceae: several species, including the small bugloss (L. arvensis) and the widespread viper's bugloss.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French buglosse or Latin buglossus, from Greek 'ox-tongued', from bous 'ox' + 'tongue'.

buhl n. brass, tortoiseshell, or other material cut to make a pattern and used for inlaying furniture: [as adj.] buhl cabinets.
<SPECIAL USAGE> work inlaid in such a way.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French boule, from the name of André Charles Boulle (1642-1732), French cabinetmaker. The variant buhl, apparently a modern Germanized spelling, is standard in the U.S.

buhr·stone (also bur·stone or burr·stone) a porous limestone formerly much used for millstones.

build v. (past and past part. built ) [trans.] (often be built) construct (something, typically something large) by putting parts or material together over a period of time: the factory was built in 1936.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- commission, finance, and oversee the building of (something): the city council plans to build a bridge.

- (build something in/into) incorporate (something) and make it a permanent part of a structure, system, or situation: engineers want to build in extra traction.

- [COMPUTING] compile (a program, database, index, etc.).

- [intrans.] (of a program, database, index, etc.) be compiled.

- establish and develop (a business, relationship, or situation) over a period of time: he'd built up the store from nothing.

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

- increase the size, intensity, or extent of: we built up confidence in our abilities | [intrans.] the air of excited anticipation builds.

■ n. 1 the dimensions or proportions of a person's or animal's body: she was of medium height and slim build | [in sing.] he has the ideal build for a sprinter.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the style or form of construction of something, typically a vehicle.

2 [COMPUTING] a compiled version of a program.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the process of compiling a program.

<PHRASES>
□ build one's hopes up become ever more hopeful or optimistic about something.

□ built upon/on sand FIGURATIVE without reliable foundations or any real substance: what more could you expect from a relationship built upon sand?

<ORIGIN> Old English byldan, from bold, botl 'dwelling', of Germanic origin; related to BOWER^1 .

Linked entries:

BOWER ■

build·down n. a gradual, systematic reduction in numbers, esp. of nuclear weapons.

build·er n. a person who constructs something by putting parts or material together over a period of time: a boat builder.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person whose job is to construct or repair houses, or to contract for their construction and repair.

- [usu. in combination] a person or thing that creates or develops a particular thing: breaking the record was a real confidence builder.

build·ing (abbr.: bldg.) n. 1 a structure with a roof and walls, such as a house, school, store, or factory.

2 the process or business of constructing something: the building of highways | [as adj.] building materials.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the process of commissioning, financing, or overseeing the construction of something.

- the process of creating or developing something, typically a system or situation, over a period of time: the building of democracy in Guatemala.

- the process of increasing the intensity of a feeling: a playwright's cunning in the building of suspense.

-building comb. form the process of constructing, shaping, developing, or forming a particular thing: boat-building.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the process of promoting something: bridge-building (between the nations).

- able to build: reef-building coral.

build·ing block n. a child's toy brick, typically made of wood or plastic.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a basic unit from which something is built up: sounds are the building blocks of language.

build·ing site n. an area where a structure is being constructed or repaired.

build·out n. the growth, development, or expansion of something: the rapid buildout of digital technology.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the state of maximum development as permitted by a plan or regulations: Pueblo West will need a source for new water as the community approaches its buildout.

- the execution of a building or community development plan: we are working on Phase I Engineering and don't know if we'll even get the buildout.

build·up n. [usu. in sing.] 1 a gradual accumulation or increase, typically of something negative and typically leading to a problem or crisis: the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

2 a period of excitement and preparation in advance of a significant event: the buildup to Christmas.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a favorable description in advance; publicity: a showbiz buildup before the album release.

built past and past participle of BUILD.

■ adj. (of a person) having a specified physical size or build: a slightly built woman.

Linked entries:

BUILD ■

built-in adj. [attrib.] forming an integral part of a structure or device: a camera with a built-in zoom lens.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a characteristic) inherent; innate: the system has a built-in resistance to change.

built-up adj. 1 (of an area) densely covered by houses or other buildings.

2 increased in height by the addition of parts: shoes with built-up heels.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a feeling) increasing in intensity over a period of time: built-up frustration.

Bu·jum·bu·ra the capital of Burundi, at the northeastern end of Lake Tanganyika; pop. 235,440. It was known as Usumbura until 1962.

Bu·kho·ro (also Bu·kha·ra, Bo·kha·ra ) a city in southeastern Uzbekistan; pop. 246,200.

Bu·la·wa·yo an industrial city in western Zimbabwe; pop. 620,940.

bulb n. 1 a rounded underground storage organ present in some plants, notably those of the lily family, consisting of a short stem surrounded by fleshy scale leaves or leaf bases and resting over winter. Compare with CORM, RHIZOME.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a plant grown from an organ of this kind.

- a similar underground organ such as a corm or a rhizome.

2 an object with a rounded or teardrop shape like a bulb, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a light bulb.

- an expanded part of a glass tube such as that forming the reservoir of a thermometer.

- a hollow flexible container with an opening through which the air can be expelled by squeezing, such as that used to fill a syringe.

- a spheroidal dilated part at the end of an anatomical structure.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek bolbos 'onion, bulbous root'.

Linked entries:

CORM ■

RHIZOME ■

bul·bar adj. of or relating to a bulb, esp. the medulla oblongata.

bul·bil n. [BOTANY] a small bulblike structure, esp. in the axil of a leaf or at the base of a stem, that may form a new plant.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin bulbillus, diminutive of bulbus 'onion, bulbous root'.

bul·bous adj. 1 fat, round, or bulging: a bulbous nose.

2 (of a plant) growing from a bulb.

bul·bul n. a tropical African and Asian songbird that typically has a melodious voice and drab plumage. Many kinds have a crest.
<INFO>  Pycnonotidae

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Persian, of imitative origin.

Bul·ga·nin Nikolai (Aleksandrovich) (1895-1975), Soviet statesman, chairman of the Council of Ministers (premier) 1955-58. He was vice-premier in the government of Georgi Malenkov in 1953 and shared the premiership with Khruschev in 1955.

Bul·gar n. a member of a Slavic people who settled in what is now Bulgaria in the 7th century.

<ORIGIN> from medieval Latin Bulgarus, from Old Church Slavic . Compare with BUGGER.

bul·gar (also bul·gur, bulgar wheat) n. a cereal food made from whole wheat partially boiled then dried: [as adj.] bulgar wheat.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from Turkish bulgur 'bruised grain'.

Bul·gar·i·a a country in southeastern Europe, on the western shores of the Black Sea; pop. 7,517,000; capital, Sofia; official language, Bulgarian.

Part of the Ottoman Empire from the 14th century, Bulgaria remained under Turkish rule until the late 19th century, becoming independent in 1908. A communist state was set up by the Soviet Union after World War II, and a multiparty democratic system was introduced in 1989. Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004.

<ORIGIN> named after the Bulgars (see BULGAR).

Linked entries:

BULGAR ■

Bul·gar·i·an n. 1 a native or national of Bulgaria.

2 the South Slavic language spoken in Bulgaria.

■ adj. of or relating to Bulgaria, its people, or their language.

bulge n. a rounded swelling or protuberance that distorts a flat surface.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (esp. in a military context) a piece of land that projects outward from an otherwise regular line: the advance created an eastward-facing bulge in the line.

- [in sing.] INFORMAL a temporary unusual increase in number or size: a bulge in the birth rate.

■ v. [intrans.] swell or protrude to an unnatural or incongruous extent: the veins in his neck bulged | [as adj.] (bulging) he stared with bulging eyes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- be full of and distended with: a briefcase bulging with documents.

-

<DERIVATIVES> bulg·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French boulge, from Latin bulga (see BUDGET). The original meaning was 'wallet or bag', later 'a ship's bilge' (early 17th cent.); other senses presumably derived from association with the shape of a full bag.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
bulge, project, protrude, protuberate

While all of these verbs mean to extend outward, beyond the normal line or surface of something, it is almost impossible not to associate the word bulge with the human body (a stomach that bulges over a waistband; muscles that bulge beneath a shirt). Bulge suggests a swelling out that is quite noticeable or even abnormal, and that may be the result of internal pressure, although a brick wall can bulge, as can a bicep muscle.

Protuberate is a less common word meaning to swell or stick out, but it does not necessarily imply that anything is abnormal or radically wrong (he was so thin that his knees protuberated).

To protrude is to thrust forth in an unexpected way or to stick out in a way that is abnormal or disfiguring (her eyes protruded from her skull).

Project is the least upsetting of all these words, probably because it is used less often with reference to the human body. Anything that juts out abruptly beyond the rest of a surface is said to project (the balcony projected from the south side of the house).

Linked entries:

BUDGET ■

bul·go·gi n. a Korean dish of thin beef slices marinated and grilled on a barbecue.

bul·gur n. variant spelling of BULGAR.

Linked entries:

BULGAR ■

bu·lim·a·rex·i·a n. another term for BULIMIA NERVOSA (see BULIMIA).

<DERIVATIVES> bu·lim·a·rex·ic adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: blend of BULIMIA and ANOREXIA.

Linked entries:

BULIMIA ■

ANOREXIA ■

bu·lim·i·a n. insatiable overeating as a medical condition, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also bu·lim·i·a ner·vo·sa ) an emotional disorder involving distortion of body image and an obsessive desire to lose weight, in which bouts of extreme overeating are followed by depression and self-induced vomiting, purging, or fasting. Also called BINGE-PURGE SYNDROME.

- an eating disorder in which a large quantity of food is consumed in a short period of time, often followed by feelings of guilt or shame. Also called BINGE-EATING SYNDROME.

<DERIVATIVES> bu·lim·ic adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as bolisme, later bulimy): modern Latin, or from medieval Latin bolismos, from Greek boulimia 'ravenous hunger', from bous 'ox' + limos 'hunger'.

Linked entries:

BINGE-PURGE SYNDROME ■

BINGE-EATING SYNDROME ■

bulk n. the mass or magnitude of something large: the sheer bulk of the bags.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a large mass or shape, for example of a building or a heavy body: he moved quickly in spite of his bulk.

- [as adj.] large in quantity or amount: bulk orders of more than 100 copies.

- (the bulk) the majority or greater part of something: the bulk of the traffic had passed.

- roughage in food: bread and potatoes supply energy, essential protein, and bulk.

- cargo that is an unpackaged mass such as grain, oil, or milk.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] be or seem to be of great size or importance: territorial questions bulked large in diplomatic relations.

2 [trans.] treat (a product) so that its quantity appears greater than it in fact is: traders were bulking up their flour with chalk.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (bulk up) build up body mass, typically in training for athletic events.

<PHRASES> in bulk
1 (esp. of goods) in large quantities, usually at a reduced price: buying tomatoes in bulk from a local farmer.

2 (of a cargo or commodity) loose; not packaged: sugar is imported in bulk and bagged on the island.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: the senses 'cargo as a whole' and 'heap, large quantity' (the earliest recorded) are probably from Old Norse búlki 'cargo'; the origin of other senses remains uncertain, perhaps arising by alteration of obsolete bouk 'belly, body'. The original senses are also reflected in the phrases break bulk and in bulk.

bulk buy·ing n. the purchase of goods in large amounts, typically at a discount.

<DERIVATIVES> bulk-buy v.

bulk car·ri·er n. a ship that carries nonliquid cargoes such as grain or ore in bulk.

bulk·er n. INFORMAL another term for BULK CARRIER.

Linked entries:

BULK CARRIER ■

bulk·head n. a dividing wall or barrier between compartments in a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old Norse bálkr 'partition' + HEAD.

Linked entries:

HEAD ■

bulk mail n. a class of mail for sending out large numbers of identical items at a reduced rate.

bulk·y adj. (bulk·i·er, bulk·i·est) taking up much space, typically inconveniently; large and unwieldy: a bulky piece of luggage.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) heavily built.

- (of clothing) made of a thick yarn or fabric: a bulky sweater.

<DERIVATIVES> bulk·i·ly adv. bulk·i·ness n.

bull 1 n. 1 an uncastrated male bovine animal: [as adj.] bull calves.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a large male animal, esp. a whale or elephant.

- (the Bull) the zodiacal sign or constellation Taurus.

2 [STOCK MARKET] a person who buys shares hoping to sell them at a higher price later. Often contrasted with BEAR^2 .

■ adj. [attrib.] (of a part of the body, esp. the neck) resembling the corresponding part of a male bovine animal in build and strength: his bull neck and broad shoulders.

■ v. 1 [trans.] push or drive powerfully or violently: he bulled the motorcycle clear of the tunnel | [intrans.] he was bulling his way through a mob of admirers.

2 [intrans.] (be bulling) (of a cow) behave in a manner characteristic of being in heat.

<PHRASES>
□ like a bull in a china shop behaving recklessly and clumsily in a place or situation where one is likely to cause damage or injury.

□ (like) a red rag to a bull see RED.

□ take the bull by the horns deal bravely and decisively with a difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant situation.

<ORIGIN> late Old English bula (recorded in place names), from Old Norse boli. Compare with BULLOCK.

Linked entries:

BEAR ■

RED ■

BULLOCK ■

bull 2 n. a papal edict.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bulle, from Latin bulla 'bubble, rounded object' (in medieval Latin 'seal or sealed document').

bull 3 n. INFORMAL stupid or untrue talk or writing; nonsense: much of what he says is sheer bull.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

bul·la n. (pl. bul·lae ) 1 [MEDICINE] a bubblelike cavity filled with air or fluid, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a large blister containing serous fluid.

- an abnormal air-filled cavity in the lung. <ORIGIN> early 19th cent.

2 [ANATOMY] a rounded prominence. <ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.

3 a round seal attached to a papal bull, typically made of lead. <ORIGIN> Middle English

<ORIGIN> Latin, literally 'bubble'.

bul·lace n. a thorny shrub or small tree of the rose family that bears purple-black fruits. It is a wild plum, of which the damson is the cultivated form.
<INFO>  Prunus insititia (or Prunus domesticus subsp. insititia), family Rosaceae.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French buloce 'sloe': of unknown origin.

bul·late adj. [BOTANY] covered with rounded swellings like blisters.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin bullatus, from bulla 'bubble'.

bull·bait·ing n. HISTORICAL the practice of setting dogs to harass and attack a tethered bull, popular as a sport in medieval Europe.

bull·bat n. another term for NIGHTHAWK (sense 1).

Linked entries:

NIGHTHAWK ■

bull·dog n. a dog of a sturdy smooth-haired breed with a large head and powerful protruding lower jaw, a flat wrinkled face, and a broad chest.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person noted for courageous or stubborn tenacity: [as adj.] the bulldog spirit.

- INFORMAL (at Oxford and Cambridge Universities) an official who assists the proctors, esp. in disciplinary matters.

■ v. (-dogged, -dog·ging) [trans.] wrestle (a steer) to the ground by holding its horns and twisting its neck: [as n.] (bulldogging) cowboys compete in bulldogging and bareback riding.

<DERIVATIVES> bull·dog·ger n.

bull·doze v. [trans.] clear (ground) or destroy (buildings, trees, etc.) with a bulldozer: developers are bulldozing the site.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE, INFORMAL use insensitive force when dealing with (someone or something): she believes that to build status you need to bulldoze everyone else.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. ( in the sense 'intimidate'): from BULL^1 + -doze, alteration of the noun DOSE.

Linked entries:

BULL ■

DOSE ■

bull·doz·er n. a powerful tractor with a broad upright blade at the front for clearing ground.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a person, army, or other body exercising irresistible power, esp. in disposing of obstacles or opposition: he was a political bulldozer; | as president of the board, she was an insufferable bulldozer.

bull·dyke (also bull·dike or bull·dyk·er) n. INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE a particularly masculine lesbian.

bul·let n. 1 a projectile for firing from a rifle, revolver, or other small firearms, typically of metal, cylindrical and pointed, and sometimes containing an explosive.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used in similes and comparisons to refer to someone or something that moves very fast: the ball sped across the grass like a bullet.

- (in a sporting context) a very fast ball.

2 [PRINTING] a small solid circle printed just before a line of type, such as an item in a list, to emphasize it.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (denoting a cannonball): from French boulet, boulette 'small ball', diminutive of boule, from Latin bulla 'bubble'.

bul·let·head n. DEROGATORY a person's head that is small and round.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person with this type of head.

- a stupid, self-important, or obstinate person.

<DERIVATIVES> bul·let·head·ed adj.

bul·le·tin n. a short official statement or broadcast summary of news.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a regular newsletter or printed report issued by an organization or society.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (denoting an official warrant in some European countries): from French, from Italian bullettino, diminutive of bulletta 'passport', diminutive of bulla 'seal, bull'.

bul·le·tin board n. a board for displaying notices.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [COMPUTING] (also bulletin board system) an information storage system designed to permit any authorized computer user to access and add to it from a remote terminal.

bul·let point n. each of several items in a list, typically the ideas or arguments in an article or presentation and typically printed with a bullet before each for emphasis.

bul·let·proof adj. designed to resist the penetration of bullets: a bulletproof vest.

bul·let train n. INFORMAL a high-speed passenger train: a bullet train that would whisk passengers at speeds of 150-250 mph along a Tampa-Miami route.

bull fid·dle n. INFORMAL a double bass.

bull·fight n. a public spectacle, particularly in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America, at which a bull is baited in a highly stylized manner and then usually killed.

<DERIVATIVES> bull·fight·er n.

bull·fight·ing n. the sport of baiting and killing a bull as a public spectacle in an outdoor arena.

Bullfighting is the national spectator sport of Spain, and is found also in Latin America and Portugal. Typically, the bull is tormented with darts stuck into its neck, and the matador then baits it with a red cape and attempts to kill it with a sword-blow beneath the shoulder blade.

bull·finch n. a stocky Eurasian finch with a short, thick bill, and typically with gray or pinkish plumage, dark wings, and a white rump.
<INFO>  Genus Pyrrhula, family Fringillidae: several species, in particular the common P. pyrrhula, the male of which has a black face and pink breast.

bull·frog n. a very large frog that has a deep booming croak and is often a predator of smaller vertebrates.
<INFO>  Genera Rana and Pyxicephalus, family Ranidae: the North American bullfrog (R. catesbeiana), the Asian bullfrog (R. tigrina), and the African bullfrog (P. adspersus).

bull·head n. 1 (also bullhead catfish) an American freshwater catfish with four pairs of barbels around the mouth.
<INFO>  Family Ictaluridae: several genera and numerous species, including the black bullhead (Ameiurus melas).

2 a small, mainly freshwater Eurasian fish of the sculpin family, with a broad flattened head and spiny fins.
<INFO>  Genera Cottus and Taurulus, family Cottidae: three species.

3 (also bullhead lily) a North American water lily with globular yellow flowers.
<INFO>  Nuphar variegatum, family Nymphaeaceae.

Bull·head Cit·y a city in northwestern Arizona, on the Colorado River, a resort and casino center; pop. 21,951.

bull·head·ed adj. determined in an obstinate or unthinking way: a bullheaded belief that she is right.

<DERIVATIVES> bull·head·ed·ly adv. bull·head·ed·ness n.

bull·horn n. an electronic device for amplifying the sound of the voice so it can be heard at a distance.

bul·lion n. 1 gold or silver in bulk before coining, or valued by weight.

2 (also bullion fringe) ornamental braid or trimming made with twists of gold or silver thread.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, in the sense 'a mint', variant of Old French bouillon, based on Latin bullire 'to boil'.

bul·lion knot n. a decorative stitch in embroidery made by winding the thread several times around the needle before sewing a backstitch.

bull·ish adj. 1 resembling a bull: a sketch of his round, bullish head.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- stupid or oafish; bullheaded: it's impossible to reason with such a bullish man.

- assertively masculine; macho: surrounded by girls and the aura of bullish manhood.

- CHIEFLY BRIT. aggressively confident and self-assertive: the team is at its most bullish.

2 [STOCK MARKET] characterized by rising share prices: the market was bullish.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a dealer) inclined to buy because of an anticipated rise in prices.

3 feeling especially hopeful; optimistic: challenging those who are bullish on the nation's economic prospects.

<DERIVATIVES> bull·ish·ly adv. bull·ish·ness n.

bull kelp n. a very large brown seaweed found in Pacific and Antarctic waters, growing up to 165 feet (50 m) in length off the northwestern coasts of North America.
<INFO>  Nereocystis and other genera, class Phaeophyceae.

bull mar·ket n. [STOCK MARKET] a market in which share prices are rising, encouraging buying.

bull·mas·tiff n. a dog of a crossbreed of bulldog and mastiff.

Bull Moose n. a supporter or member of the Progressive Party.

Bull Moose Par·ty n. another term for the PROGRESSIVE PARTY.

Linked entries:

PROGRESSIVE PARTY ■

bull-necked adj. having a short, thick neck: a bull-necked man.

bull·nose TECHNICAL adj. (also bull·nosed) [attrib.] (of the edge of a surface) rounded.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a surface or object) having a rounded edge or edges: a bullnose tile.

■ n. a rounded edge of this type.

Bul·lock Anna Mae see TURNER^2 .

Linked entries:

TURNER ■

bul·lock n. another term for STEER^2 .

<ORIGIN> late Old English bulluc, diminutive of bula (see BULL^1 ).

Linked entries:

STEER ■

BULL ■

bull of the woods n. a sexually mature male of a large wild species, such as moose or elk.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE the supervisor of a logging camp.

bul·lous adj. [MEDICINE] characterized by blisters or bullae on the skin.

bull·pen n. (also bull pen) an enclosure for bulls.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an exercise area for baseball pitchers.

- the relief pitchers of a baseball team.

- an open-plan office area.

- a large cell in which prisoners are held before a court hearing.

bull·ring n. an arena where bullfights are held.

Bull Run a small river in eastern Virginia that was the scene of two Confederate victories1861 and 1862during the Civil War.

bull·rush n. variant spelling of BULRUSH.

Linked entries:

BULRUSH ■

bull ses·sion n. an informal, typically impromptu discussion, esp. among a small group.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: bull from BULL^3 .

Linked entries:

BULL ■

bull's-eye n. (also bulls·eye) 1 the center of a target in sports such as archery, shooting, and darts.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a shot that hits such a target center.

- FIGURATIVE used to refer to something that achieves exactly the intended effect: the silence told him he'd scored a bull's-eye.

2 a large, round, hard peppermint-flavored candy.

3 DATED a hemisphere or thick disk of glass forming a small window in a ship or the glass of a lamp: [as adj.] a bull's-eye lantern.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thick knob or boss of glass at the center of a blown glass sheet.

bull shark n. a large, stout-bodied aggressive shark. Its widespread distribution, its habits of feeding close to shore, and its tendency to venture far into estuaries and rivers makes it a species particularly dangerous to humans.
<INFO>  Carcharhinus leucas, family Carcharhinidae.

bull·shit VULGAR SLANG n. stupid or untrue talk or writing; nonsense.

■ v. (-shit·ted, -shit·ting) [trans.] talk nonsense to (someone), typically to be misleading or deceptive.

<DERIVATIVES> bull·shit·ter n.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from BULL^3 + SHIT.

Linked entries:

BULL ■

SHIT ■

bull snake n. (also bull·snake) a constrictor found commonly on the plains and prairies of North America.
<INFO>  Family Colubridae and genus Pituophis: several species, including the gopher snake P. catenifer sayi.

bull ter·ri·er n. a short-haired dog of a breed that is a cross between a bulldog and a terrier.

bull trout n. a North American trout that resembles the Dolly Varden, found in cold rivers and lakes.
<INFO>  Salvelinus confluentus, family Salmonidae.

bull·whip n. a whip with a long heavy lash.

■ v. (-whipped, -whip·ping) [trans.] strike or thrash with such a whip.

bul·ly 1 n. (pl. -lies) a person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker.

■ v. (-lies, -lied) [trans.] use superior strength or influence to intimidate (someone), typically to force him or her to do what one wants: a local man was bullied into helping them.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: probably from Middle Dutch boele 'lover'. The original usage was as a term of endearment applied to either sex; later becoming a familiar form of address to a male friend. The current sense dates from the late 17th cent.

bul·ly 2 INFORMAL adj. very good; first-rate: the statue really looked bully.

■ exclam. (bully for) an expression of admiration or approval: he got awaybully for him.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (originally of a person meaning 'admirable, gallant, jolly'): from BULLY^1 . The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

Linked entries:

BULLY ■

bul·ly 3 (also bully beef) INFORMAL n. corned beef.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French bouilli, literally 'boiled'.

bul·ly boy n. a tough or aggressive man: [as adj.] bully-boy tactics.

bul·ly pul·pit n. [in sing.] a public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue: he could use the presidency as a bully pulpit to bring out the best in civic life.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: apparently originally used by President Theodore Roosevelt, explaining his personal view of the presidency.

bul·ly·rag v. (-ragged, -rag·ging) [trans.] INFORMAL treat (someone) in a scolding or intimidating way: he would bullyrag his staff around but then kiss up to his superiors.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

bul·rush (also bull·rush) n. 1 another term for CATTAIL.

2 a tall rushlike water plant of the sedge family. Native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, it has been widely used for weaving and is grown as an aid to water purification in some areas.
<INFO>  Scirpus lacustris, family Cyperaceae.

3 (in biblical use) a papyrus plant.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: probably from BULL^1 in the sense 'large or coarse', as in words such as bullfrog.

Linked entries:

CATTAIL ■

BULL ■

bul·wark n. a defensive wall.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE a person, institution, or principle that acts as a defense: the security forces are a bulwark against the breakdown of society.

- (usu. bulwarks) an extension of a ship's sides above the level of the deck.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch bolwerk; related to BOLE^1 and WORK.

Linked entries:

BOLE ■

WORK ■

Bul·wer-Lyt·ton see LYTTON.

Linked entries:

LYTTON ■

bum 1 INFORMAL n. 1 a vagrant.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a lazy or worthless person: you ungrateful bum.

2 [in combination] a person who devotes a great deal of time to a specified activity: a ski bum; a poker bum.

■ v. (bummed, bum·ming) 1 [intrans.] travel, with no particular purpose or destination: he bummed around Florida for a few months.
<SPECIAL USAGE> pass one's time idly: we spent most of the summer just bumming around.

2 [trans.] get by asking or begging: they tried to bum money off us.

3 [trans.] make (someone) feel upset or disappointed: it really bummed me out when he forgot my birthday.

■ adj. [attrib.] of poor quality; bad or wrong: not one bum note was played.

<PHRASES>
□ give someone (or get) the bum's rush forcibly eject someone (or be forcibly ejected) from a place or gathering.
- abruptly dismiss someone (or be abruptly dismissed) for a poor idea or performance.

□ on the bum traveling with rough provisions and with no fixed home; living as a vagrant.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: probably from BUMMER.

Linked entries:

BUMMER ■

bum 2 n. BRIT., INFORMAL buttocks.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin.

bum·bag n. British term for FANNY PACK.

Linked entries:

FANNY PACK ■

bum-bail·iff n. HISTORICAL, DEROGATORY a bailiff empowered to collect debts or arrest debtors for nonpayment.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from BUM^2 , so named because of the association of an approach from behind.

Linked entries:

BUM ■

bum·ber·shoot n. INFORMAL an umbrella.

bum·ble v. 1 [intrans.] move or act in an awkward or confused manner: they bumbled around the house | [as adj.] (bumbling) his bumbling interventions.

2 [intrans.] speak in a confused or indistinct way: the succeeding speakers bumbled.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adverbial] (of an insect) buzz or hum: she watched a bee bumble among the flowers.

<DERIVATIVES> bum·bler n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'hum, drone'): from BOOM^1 + -LE^4 .

Linked entries:

BOOM ■

-LE ■

bum·ble·bee n. a large hairy bee with a loud hum, living in small colonies in holes underground.
<INFO>  Genus Bombus, family Apidae: many species.

bum·boat n. a small vessel carrying provisions for sale to ships in port.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from BUM^1 + BOAT. The term originally denoted a scavenger's boat removing refuse, etc., from ships, often also bringing produce for sale.

Linked entries:

BUM ■

BOAT ■

bumf (also bumph) n. INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. useless or tedious printed information or documents.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: abbreviation of slang bum-fodder, in the same sense.

bum·ma·lo n. (pl. same) a small elongated fish of South Asian coasts that is dried and used as food. Also called BOMBAY DUCK.
<INFO>  Harpodon nehereus, family Harpadontidae.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: perhaps from Marathi .

Linked entries:

BOMBAY DUCK ■

bum·mer n. INFORMAL 1 (a bummer) a thing that is annoying or disappointing: the party was a real bummer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an unpleasant reaction to a hallucinogenic drug.

2 a loafer or vagrant.

■ exclam. INFORMAL used to express frustration or disappointment, typically sympathetically: You lost your wallet? Bummer!

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: perhaps from German Bummler, from bummeln 'stroll, loaf around'.

bump n. 1 a light blow or a jolting collision: a nasty bump on the head.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the dull sound of such a blow or collision.

- [AERONAUTICS] a rising air current causing an irregularity in an aircraft's motion.

2 a protuberance on a level surface: bumps in the road.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a swelling on the skin, esp. one caused by illness or injury.

- DATED or HUMOROUS a prominence on a person's skull, formerly thought to indicate a particular mental faculty; such a faculty: he was making the most of his bump of direction.

3 a loosely woven fleeced cotton fabric used in upholstery and as lining material.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] knock or run into someone or something, typically with a jolt: I almost bumped into him | [trans.] she bumped the girl with her hip.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (bump into) meet by chance: we might just bump into each other.

- [trans.] hurt or damage (something) by striking or knocking it against something else: she bumped her head on the sink.

- [trans.] cause to collide with something: she went through the door, bumping the bag against it.

2 [intrans.] move or travel with much jolting and jarring: the car bumped along the rutted track.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] push (something) jerkily in a specified direction: she had to bump the wheelchair down the steps.

3 [trans.] refuse (a passenger) a reserved place on an airline flight, typically because of deliberate overbooking.
<SPECIAL USAGE> cause to move from a job or position, typically in favor of someone else; displace: she was bumped for a youthful model.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  bump someone off INFORMAL murder someone.

□  bump someone up INFORMAL move someone to a higher level or status; promote: he was a writer for nine years before he was bumped up to editor.

□  bump something up INFORMAL 1 make larger, greater, or more numerous; increase: they finally agreed to bump up her salary.

2 make, complete, or release earlier than planned or expected: the date of publication was bumped up to coincide with the grand jury investigation.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as a verb): imitative, perhaps of Scandinavian origin.

bump·er n. 1 a horizontal bar fixed across the front or back of a motor vehicle to reduce damage in a collision or as a trim.

2 ARCHAIC a generous glassful of an alcoholic drink, typically one drunk as a toast.

■ adj. exceptionally large, fine, or successful: a bumper crop.

<PHRASES> bumper-to-bumper very close together, as cars in a traffic jam.

bump·er car n. a small electrically powered car with rubber bumpers all around, driven in an enclosure at an amusement park with the aim of bumping into other such cars.

bump·er stick·er n. a label carrying a slogan or advertisement fixed to a vehicle's bumper.

bump·kin n. INFORMAL, OFTEN DEROGATORY an unsophisticated or socially awkward person from the countryside: she thought Tom a bit of a country bumpkin.

<DERIVATIVES> bump·kin·ish adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent..

bump run n. a ski run with many small mounds on it, caused by skiers turning in the same places.

bump·tious adj. self-assertive or proud to an irritating degree: these bumptious young boys today. See note at BOLD.

<DERIVATIVES> bump·tious·ly adv. bump·tious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: humorously from BUMP, on the pattern of fractious.

Linked entries:

BUMP ■

bump·y adj. (bump·i·er, bump·i·est) (of a surface) uneven, with many patches raised above the rest: the bumpy road.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a journey or other movement) involving sudden jolts and jerks, esp. caused by an uneven surface: she took us all on a bumpy ride.

- FIGURATIVE fluctuating and unreliable; subject to unexpected difficulties: bumpy market conditions.

<DERIVATIVES> bump·i·ly adv. bump·i·ness n.

bum rap n. [in sing.] INFORMAL a false charge, typically one leading to imprisonment: he's been handed a bum rap for handling stolen goods.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE an unfair punishment or scolding.

bum-rush v. [trans.] suddenly force or barge one's way into: fans bum-rushed record stores.

bum steer n. INFORMAL a piece of false information or guidance: apparently, those who recommended your good service gave us a bum steer.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from BUM^2 + STEER^1 in the sense 'advice, guidance'.

Linked entries:

BUM ■

STEER ■

bun n. 1 a bread roll of various shapes and flavorings, typically sweetened and often containing dried fruit.

2 a hairstyle in which the hair is drawn back into a tight coil at the back of the head.

3 (buns) INFORMAL a person's buttocks.

<PHRASES> have a bun in the oven INFORMAL be pregnant.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin.

bunch n. a number of things, typically of the same kind, growing or fastened together: a bunch of grapes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in sing.] INFORMAL a group of people.

- INFORMAL a large number or quantity; a lot: I had to turn down a bunch of well-paid jobs.

■ v. [trans.] collect or fasten into a compact group: she bunched the carnations together.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- gather (cloth) into close folds.

- [intrans.] (of cloth) gather into close folds: his pants bunched around his ankles.

- [intrans.] form into a tight group or crowd: he halted, forcing the rest of the field to bunch up behind him.

- [intrans.] (of muscles) flex or bulge.

<PHRASES> the best (or the pick) of the bunch the best in a particular group.

<DERIVATIVES> bunch·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin.

bunch·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) a low-growing plant of the dogwood family that produces white flowers followed by red berries and bright red autumn foliage. It is native to North America, East Asia, and Greenland.
<INFO>  Cornus canadensis, family Cornaceae.

Bunche Ralph Johnson (1904-71), U.S. diplomat and statesman. Instrumental in the settlement of the Israeli-Arab conflict in 1948, he was the first African American to receive a Nobel Prize. Nobel Peace Prize (1950).

bunch·flow·er n. a North American plant of the lily family that is sometimes cultivated for its yellowish-green flowers.
<INFO>  Melanthium virginicum, family Liliaceae.

bunch grass (also bunch·grass) n. a grass that grows in clumps.
<INFO>  Schizachyrium and other genera, family Gramineae: several species, esp. S. scoparium, used for grazing and in erosion control, esp. on the Great Plains.

bun·co (also bun·ko) INFORMAL n. (pl. -cos) [often as adj.] a swindle or confidence trick: a bunco artist | he was out to make a buck using fraud or bunco.

■ v. (-coes, -coed) [trans.] DATED swindle or cheat: he didn't propose to be buncoed without a fight.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: perhaps from Spanish banca, the name of a card game.

bun·combe n. variant spelling of BUNKUM.

Linked entries:

BUNKUM ■

bund 1 n. an embankment or causeway, particularly in India and other Asian countries.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Urdu band, from Persian.

bund 2 n. an association, esp. a politcal one.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (Bund) a pro-Nazi German-American organization of the 1930's.

- (Bund) an Ashkenazi Jewish socialist movement founded in Russia in 1897.

Bun·des·tag the Lower House of Parliament in Germany.

<ORIGIN> German, from Bund 'federation' + tagen 'confer'.

bun·dle n. a collection of things, or a quantity of material, tied or wrapped up together: a thick bundle of envelopes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE a large quantity or collection, typically a disorganized one: a bundle of facts.

- [in sing.] INFORMAL a person displaying a specified characteristic to a very high degree: he was an enthusiastic bundle of energy.

- FIGURATIVE a person, esp. a child, huddled or wrapped up.

- a set of nerve, muscle, or other fibers running close together in parallel.

- [COMPUTING] a set of software or hardware sold together.

- (a bundle) INFORMAL a large amount of money: the new printer cost a bundle.

■ v. 1 [trans.] tie or roll up (a number of things) together as though into a parcel: she quickly bundled up her clothes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] wrap or pack (something): the figure was bundled in furs.

- (usu. be bundled up) dress (someone) in many clothes to keep warm: they were bundled up in thick sweaters | [intrans.] I bundled up in my parka.

- [COMPUTING] sell (items of hardware and software) as a package.

2 [trans.] (often be bundled) INFORMAL push or carry forcibly: he was bundled into a van.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- send (someone) away hurriedly or unceremoniously: the old man was bundled off into exile.

- [intrans.] (esp. of a group of people) move clumsily or in a disorganized way: they bundled out into the corridor.

3 [intrans.] DATED sleep fully clothed with another person, particularly during courtship, as a former local custom in New England and Wales: he would dance at country frolics and bundle with the Yankee lasses.

<PHRASES>
□ a bundle of fun (or laughs) [often with negative] INFORMAL something extremely amusing or pleasant: the last year hasn't been a bundle of fun.

□ a bundle of nerves INFORMAL a person who is extremely timid or tense.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: perhaps originally from Old English byndelle 'a binding', reinforced by Low German and Dutch bundel (to which byndelle is related).

Bundt cake n. TRADEMARK a ring-shaped cake made in a fluted tube pan, called a Bundt pan.

bun·fight n. BRIT., INFORMAL or HUMOROUS a tea party or other function, typically of a grand or official kind.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a heated argument or exchange.

bun foot n. (pl. bun feet) a foot in the shape of a flattened sphere, used for chairs, tables, or other furniture in the late 17th century.

bung n. a stopper for closing a hole in a container.

■ v. [trans.] close with a stopper: the casks are bunged before delivery.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (bung something up) block (something), typically by overfilling it: you let vegetable peelings bung up the sink.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Middle Dutch bonghe (noun).

bun·ga·low n. a low house, with a broad front porch, having either no upper floor or upper rooms set in the roof, typically with dormer windows.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Hindi 'belonging to Bengal'.

bun·ga·ro·tox·in n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a powerful neurotoxin found in the venom of the krait.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from the modern Latin genus name Bungarus (perhaps from Sanskrit 'bent') + TOXIN.

Linked entries:

TOXIN ■

bun·gee n. (also bungee cord) a long nylon-cased rubber band, used typically in bungee jumping or for securing luggage.

■ v. [intrans.] (as a sport) leap from a great height, typically a bridge or crane, while secured by such a band around the ankles.

<ORIGIN> 1930s (denoting an elastic cord for launching a glider): of unknown origin.

bun·gee-jump·ing n. the sport of leaping from a height while secured by a long nylon-cased rubber band from the ankles.

<DERIVATIVES> bun·gee jump n. bun·gee-jump·er n.

bung·hole n. an aperture through which a cask can be filled or emptied.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the anus.

bun·gle v. [trans.] carry out (a task) clumsily or incompetently, leading to failure or an unsatisfactory outcome: she had bungled every attempt to help | [as adj.] (bungled) a bungled bank raid.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] [usu. as adj.] (bungling) make or be prone to making many mistakes: the work of a bungling amateur.

■ n. a mistake or failure, typically one resulting from mismanagement or confusion.

<DERIVATIVES> bun·gler n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin; compare with BUMBLE.

Linked entries:

BUMBLE ■

Bu·nin Ivan (Alekseevich) (1870-1953), Russian poet and writer. An opponent of modernism, he concentrated on the themes of peasant life and love. Nobel Prize for Literature (1933).

bun·ion n. a painful swelling on the first joint of the big toe.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Old French buignon, from buigne 'bump on the head'.

bunk 1 n. a narrow shelflike bed, typically one of two or more arranged one on top of the other.

■ v. [intrans.] sleep in a narrow berth or improvised bed, typically in shared quarters as a temporary arrangement: they bunk together in the dormitory.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: of unknown origin; perhaps related to BUNKER.

Linked entries:

BUNKER ■

bunk 2 n. INFORMAL nonsense: anyone with a brain cell would never believe such bunk. See note at NONSENSE.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: abbreviation of BUNKUM.

Linked entries:

BUNKUM ■

bunk bed n. a piece of furniture consisting of two beds, one above the other, that form a unit.

bun·ker n. 1 a large container or compartment for storing fuel: a coal bunker.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (bunkers) fuel for a ship.

2 a reinforced underground shelter, typically for use in wartime.

3 a hollow filled with sand, used as an obstacle on a golf course.

■ v. [trans.] 1 fuel (a ship).

2 (be bunkered) [GOLF] (of a player) have one's ball lodged in a bunker: he was bunkered at the fifth hole.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally Scots, denoting a seat or bench): perhaps related to BUNK^1 .

Linked entries:

BUNK ■

bun·ker bust·er (also bun·ker-bust·er) n. a bomb designed to penetrate deep into the ground or rock before exploding.

Bun·ker Hill a hill in the Charlestown section of northern Boston in Massachusetts. It gave its name to the first pitched battle (1775) of the American Revolution, which was actually fought on nearby Breed's Hill. Although the British won, the good performance of the untrained Americans gave considerable impetus to the Revolution.

bunk·house n. a building offering basic sleeping accommodations for workers, visitors, or campers.

bunk·mate n. a person who sleeps in an adjoining bunk or who shares one's sleeping quarters.

bun·ko n. variant spelling of BUNCO.

Linked entries:

BUNCO ■

bun·kum (also bun·combe) n. DATED, INFORMAL nonsense: they talk a lot of bunkum about their products.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (originally buncombe): named after Buncombe County in North Carolina, mentioned in an inconsequential speech made by its congressman solely to please his constituents (c.1820).

bun·ny n. (pl. -nies) INFORMAL (also bunny rabbit) a rabbit, esp. a young one.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] INFORMAL a person of a specified type or in a specified mood: ski slopes crawling with snow bunnies; | that dumb bunny actually thought I was a famous writer.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (originally used as a term of endearment to a person, later as a pet name for a rabbit): from dialect bun 'squirrel, rabbit', also used as a term of endearment, of unknown origin.

bun·ny-boil·er n. INFORMAL a woman who acts vengefully after having been spurned by her lover.

<ORIGIN> with reference to the movie Fatal Attraction (1987), in which a rejected woman boils her lover's pet rabbit.

bun·ny-hop v. [intrans.] jump forward in a crouched position: he bunny-hopped around the stage.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] move (a vehicle) forward jerkily.

- move a bicycle forward by jumping in the air while standing on the pedals.

- [trans.] jump (an obstacle) on a bicycle in this way.

■ n. (usu. bun·ny hop) 1 a jump in a crouched position.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a short jump forward on a bicycle.

- an obstacle on a cycling course that is usually cleared by jumping the bicycle over it.

2 a dance of hopping steps in which the participants face the same direction and form a line by placing their hands on the waist or shoulders of the person in front of them.

bun·ny hug·ger n. INFORMAL, DEROGATORY an animal lover; a conservationist.

bun·ny slope n. [SKIING] a gentle slope suitable for beginners.

Bun·sen Robert Wilhelm Eberhard (1811-99), German chemist. With Gustav Kirchhoff, he pioneered spectroscopy, detecting new elements (cesium and rubidium) and determining the composition of many substances and of the sun and stars. He also designed some chemical apparatuses, most notably the Bunsen burner (1855).

Bun·sen burn·er n. a small adjustable gas burner used in laboratories.

Bun·shaft Gordon (1909-90), U.S. architect. He is best known for his use of the International style in corporate architecture. He designed the Pepsi-Cola building 1960 in New York City and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden 1974 in Washington, DC.

bunt 1 v. [trans.] 1 [BASEBALL] (of a batter) gently tap (a pitched ball) without swinging in an attempt to make it more difficult to field: the batter tried to bunt the ball down the first baseline | [intrans.] Phil bunted and got to first.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a batter) help (a base runner) to progress to a further base by tapping a ball in such a way: he bunted Davis to third.

2 (of a person or animal) butt with the head or horns: he bunted her with his head.

■ n. 1 [BASEBALL] an act or result of tapping a pitched ball in such a way.

2 an act of flying an aircraft in part of an outside loop.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: probably related to the noun BUTT^1 (the original sense). The usage in aeronautics dates from the 1930s.

Linked entries:

BUTT ■

bunt 2 n. the baggy center of a fishing net or a sail.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

bunt 3 n. a disease of wheat caused by a smut fungus, the spores of which give off a smell of rotten fish. Also called STINKING SMUT.
<INFO>  This disease is caused by Tilletia caries, class Teliomycetes.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting the puffball fungus): of unknown origin.

Linked entries:

STINKING SMUT ■

bunt·ing 1 n. 1 an Old World seed-eating songbird related to the finches, typically with brown streaked plumage and a boldly marked head.
<INFO>  Family Emberizidae, subfamily Emberizinae (the bunting family and subfamily): several genera, in particular Emberiza, and numerous species.

2 a small New World songbird of the cardinal subfamily, the male of which is brightly colored.
<INFO>  Family Emberizidae, subfamily Cardinalinae: genera Passerina and Cyanocompsa, and several species, in particular the deep blue indigo bunting (P. cyanea) and the painted bunting (P. ciris). The painted bunting, with its violet head, red body, and green back, is the only such multicolored songbird in North America.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: of unknown origin.

bunt·ing 2 n. flags and other colorful festive decorations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a loosely woven fabric used for such decoration.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

bunt·line n. a line for restraining the loose center of a sail while it is furled.

Bu·ñuel Luis (1900-83), Spanish movie director. Influenced by surrealism, he wrote and directed his first movie Un Chien andalou (1928) jointly with Salvador Dali. Other notable movies: Belle de jour (1967) and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972).

bun·ya (also bunya pine or bun·ya-bun·ya ) n. a tall coniferous Australian tree of the monkey puzzle family that bears large cones containing edible seeds.
<INFO>  Araucaria bidwillii, family Araucariaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Wiradhuri.

Bun·yan John (1628-88), English writer. His major work, The Pilgrim's Progress (1678-84), is an allegory recounting the spiritual journey of its hero Pilgrim.

<DERIVATIVES> Bun·yan·esque adj.

bun·yan·ize v. [trans.] cause (someone) to appear heroic or larger than life: How are you going to allow teachers to finish their work if you keep bunyanizing them?

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: after Paul Bunyan, legendary American giant lumberjack.

bun·yip n. AUSTRAL. 1 a fabulous amphibious monster inhabiting inland waterways.

2 [often as adj.] an impostor or pretender: Australia's bunyip aristocracy.

<ORIGIN> from Wemba-Wemba banib.

Buo·na·par·te see BONAPARTE.

Linked entries:

BONAPARTE ■

Buo·nar·ro·ti , Michelangelo, see MICHELANGELO.

Linked entries:

MICHELANGELO ■

bu·oy n. an anchored float serving as a navigation mark, to show reefs or other hazards, or for mooring.

■ v. [trans.] 1 keep (someone or something) afloat: I let the water buoy up my weight.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (often be buoyed) cause to become cheerful or confident: the party was buoyed by an election victory.

- (often be buoyed) cause (a price) to rise to or remain at a high level: the price is buoyed up by investors.

2 mark with a buoy: [as adj.] (buoyed) a buoyed channel.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably from Middle Dutch boye, boeie, from a Germanic base meaning 'signal'.

buoy·an·cy n. the ability or tendency to float in water or air or some other fluid.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the power of a liquid to keep something afloat.

- FIGURATIVE an optimistic and cheerful disposition: the happiness and buoyancy of his nature.

- FIGURATIVE a high level of activity in an economy or stock market: there is renewed buoyancy in the demand for steel.

buoy·ant adj. able or apt to stay afloat or rise to the top of a liquid or gas.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a liquid or gas) able to keep something afloat.

- FIGURATIVE (of an economy, business, or market) involving or engaged in much activity: car sales were not buoyant.

- FIGURATIVE cheerful and optimistic: the conference ended with the party in a buoyant mood.

<DERIVATIVES> buoy·ant·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French bouyant or Spanish boyante, present participle of boyar 'to float' (see BUOY).

Linked entries:

BUOY ■

bup·kis n. INFORMAL nothing at all: you know bupkis about fund-raising.

<ORIGIN> from Yiddish.

bup·pie n. (pl. -pies) INFORMAL a young urban black professional; a black yuppie.

bu·pro·pi·on n. an antidepressant drug (C_13H_18ClNO) that is also given to relieve the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Also called ZYBAN (TRADEMARK).

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from butane + propionic.

bur (also burr) n. 1 a prickly seed case or flowerhead that clings to animals and clothes. <ORIGIN> Middle English
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. as adj.] a plant that produces burs, e.g., bur reed.

2 [as adj.] denoting wood containing knots or other growths that show a pattern of dense swirls in the grain when sawn, used for veneers and other decorative woodwork: bur walnut. <ORIGIN> late 19th cent.

3 variant spelling of BURR (senses 2, 3, and 5).

<ORIGIN> possibly of Scandinavian origin, identical or related to Danish burre 'bur', 'burdock'. See also BURR.

Linked entries:

BURR ■

BURR ■

bur. abbr. bureau.

burb n. (usu. the burbs) INFORMAL short for SUBURB: the leafy burbs of Connecticut.

Linked entries:

SUBURB ■

Bur·bank 1 a city in southern California, a northern suburb of Los Angeles; pop. 93,640. It is a center of the movie and television industries.

Bur·bank 2 Luther (1849-1926), U.S. horticulturist. His experiments in cross-breeding led to new types and improved varieties of plants, esp. the Shasta daisy and the potato.

Bur·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) TRADEMARK a kind of lightweight belted raincoat, typically beige in color, with a distinctive tartan lining.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Burberrys, the name of the manufacturer.

bur·ble v. [intrans.] make a continuous murmuring noise: the wind burbled at his ear.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- speak in an unintelligible or silly way, typically at unnecessary length: he burbled on about annuities | [trans.] he was burbling inanities.

- [AERONAUTICS] [often as n.] (burbling) (of an airflow) break up into turbulence.

■ n. continuous murmuring noise.
<SPECIAL USAGE> rambling speech: an hour of boring burble.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'to bubble'): imitative. Current senses date from the late 19th cent.

bur·bot n. an elongated bottom-dwelling fish that is the only member of the cod family that lives in fresh water. It occurs in Eurasia and North America, but is almost extinct in Britain.
<INFO>  Lota lota, family Gadidae.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French borbete, probably from borbe 'mud, slime'.

bur·den n. 1 a load, esp. a heavy one.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE a duty or misfortune that causes hardship, anxiety, or grief; a nuisance: the burden of mental illness.

- the main responsibility for achieving a specified aim or task: the burden of establishing that the cost was unreasonable.

- a ship's carrying capacity; tonnage: the schooner Wyoming, of about 6,000 tons burden.

2 (the burden) the main theme or gist of a speech, book, or argument: the burden of his views.
- the refrain or chorus of a song.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be burdened) load heavily: she walked forward burdened with a wooden box.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE cause (someone) hardship or distress: they were not yet burdened with adult responsibility.

<PHRASES> burden of proof the obligation to prove one's assertion.

<DERIVATIVES> bur·den·some adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English byrthen; related to BEAR^1 .

Linked entries:

BEAR ■

bur·dock n. a large herbaceous Old World plant of the daisy family. The hook-bearing flowers become woody burrs after fertilization and cling to animals' coats for seed dispersal.
<INFO>  Genus Arctium, family Compositae: several species, including the large-leaved great burdock (A. lappa), which has edible roots and is used in herbal medicine.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from BUR + DOCK^3 .

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BUR ■

DOCK ■

bu·reau n. (pl. bu·reaus or bu·reaux ) 1 a chest of drawers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT. a writing desk with drawers and typically an angled top opening downward to form a writing surface.

2 (abbr.: bur.) an office or department for transacting particular business: a news bureau.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the office in a particular place of an organization based elsewhere: the London bureau of the Washington Post.

- a government department: the intelligence bureau.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, originally 'baize' (used to cover writing desks), from Old French burel, probably from bure 'dark brown',.

bu·reauc·ra·cy n. (pl. -cies) a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a state or organization governed or managed according to such a system.

- the officials in such a system, considered as a group or hierarchy.

- excessively complicated administrative procedure, seen as characteristic of such a system: the unnecessary bureaucracy in local government.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French bureaucratie, from bureau (see BUREAU, -CRACY).

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bu·reau·crat n. an official in a government department.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an administrator concerned with procedural correctness at the expense of people's needs.

<DERIVATIVES> bu·reau·crat·ic adj. bu·reau·crat·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French bureaucrate, from bureaucratie (see BUREAUCRACY).

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BUREAUCRACY ■

bu·reau·crat·ese n. a style of speech or writing characterized by jargon, euphemism, and abstractions, held to be typical of bureaucrats.

bu·reauc·ra·tize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (bureaucratized) endue (someone or something) with the characteristics of a bureaucracy: impersonal and bureaucratized welfare systems.

<DERIVATIVES> bu·reauc·ra·ti·za·tion n.

bu·reau de change n. (pl. bu·reaux de change pronunc. same) an establishment at which customers can exchange foreign money.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: French, literally 'office of exchange'.

bu·rette (also bu·ret) n. a graduated glass tube with a tap at one end, for delivering known volumes of a liquid, esp. in titrations.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from buire 'jug', of Germanic origin; related to German Bauch 'stomach'.

burg n. an ancient or medieval fortress or walled town. <ORIGIN> from late Latin burgus (see BURGESS).
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a town or city. <ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from German Burg 'castle, city'; related to BOROUGH.

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BURGESS ■

BOROUGH ■

bur·gage n. HISTORICAL (in England and Scotland) tenure of land in a town held in return for service or annual rent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a house or other property held by such tenure.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin burgagium, from burgus 'fortified town', of Germanic origin and related to BOROUGH.

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BOROUGH ■

Bur·gas an industrial port and resort in eastern Bulgaria, on the coast of the Black Sea; pop. 226,120.

bur·gee n. a flag bearing the colors or emblem of a sailing club, typically triangular.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: perhaps from French bourgeois (see BURGESS) in the sense 'owner, master'.

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BURGESS ■

bur·geon v. [intrans.] [often as adj.] (burgeoning) begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish: manufacturers are keen to cash in on the burgeoning demand.
<SPECIAL USAGE> put forth young shoots; bud.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bourgeonner 'put out buds', from borjon 'bud', based on late Latin burra 'wool'.

Bur·ger Warren Earl (1907-95), U.S. chief justice 1969-86. Appointed to head the U.S. Supreme Court by President Richard Nixon, he was a conservative, except in matters of civil rights, and an advocate of judicial restraint.

burg·er n. short for HAMBURGER.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] a particular variation of a hamburger with additional or substitute ingredients: a veggie burger.

<ORIGIN> 1930s (originally U.S.): abbreviation.

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HAMBURGER ■

Bur·gess 1 Anthony (1917-93), English novelist and critic; pseudonym of John Anthony Burgess Wilson. He wrote A Clockwork Orange (1962), a disturbing, futuristic vision of juvenile delinquency, violence, and high technology. Other notable works: The Malayan Trilogy (1956-59) and Earthly Powers (1980).

Bur·gess 2 Guy (Francis de Moncy) (1911-63), British foreign office official and spy. Acting as a Soviet agent from the 1930s, he was charged with espionage in 1951 and fled to the Soviet Union with Donald Maclean.

bur·gess n. a person with municipal authority or privileges, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- BRIT., ARCHAIC an inhabitant of a town or borough with full rights of citizenship.

- BRIT., HISTORICAL a member of Parliament for a borough, corporate town, or university.

- (in the U.S. and also historically in the UK) a magistrate or member of the governing body of a town.

- HISTORICAL a member of the assembly of colonial Maryland or Virginia.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French burgeis, from late Latin burgus 'castle, fort' (in medieval Latin 'fortified town'); related to BOROUGH.

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BOROUGH ■

Bur·gess Shale a bed of shale exposed in the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia, Canada. The bed, dated to the Cambrian period (about 530 million years ago), is rich in well-preserved fossils of early marine invertebrates, many of which represent evolutionary lineages unknown in later times.

<ORIGIN> named after the Burgess Pass, British Colombia, where the shale crops out.

burgh n. ARCHAIC or SCOTTISH a borough or chartered town.

<DERIVATIVES> burgh·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: Scots form of BOROUGH.

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BOROUGH ■

burgh·er n. ARCHAIC or HUMOROUS a citizen of a town or city, typically a member of the wealthy bourgeoisie.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from BURGH, reinforced by Dutch burger, from burg 'castle' (see BOROUGH).

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BURGH ■

BOROUGH ■

bur·glar n. a person who commits burglary.

<DERIVATIVES> bur·glar·i·ous adj. (ARCHAIC).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from legal French burgler or Anglo-Latin burgulator, burglator; related to Old French burgier 'pillage'.

bur·glar·ize v. [trans.] (often be burglarized) enter (a building) illegally with intent to commit a crime, esp. theft: our summer house has been burglarized.

bur·glar·proof adj. protected against or providing protection against burglary.

bur·gla·ry n. (pl. -ries) entry into a building illegally with intent to commit a crime, esp. theft: a two-year sentence for burglary | a series of burglaries.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from legal French burglarie, from burgler (see BURGLAR).

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BURGLAR ■

bur·gle v. another term for BURGLARIZE.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: originally a humorous and colloquial back-formation from BURGLAR.

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BURGLARIZE ■

BURGLAR ■

bur·go·mas·ter n. the mayor of a Dutch, Flemish, German, Austrian, or Swiss town.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Dutch burgemeester, from burg 'castle, citadel' (see BOROUGH) + meester 'master'. The change in the final element was due to association with MASTER^1 .

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BOROUGH ■

MASTER ■

bur·go·net n. HISTORICAL a kind of visored helmet.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French bourguignotte, perhaps a use of the feminine of bourguignot 'Burgundian', the ending being assimilated to -ET^1 .

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-ET ■

bur·goo n. a stew or thick soup, typically made for an outdoor meal.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an outdoor meal at which such food is served.

- [CHIEFLY NAUTICAL] a thick porridge.

<ORIGIN> from Arabic .

Bur·gos a town in northern Spain; pop. 169,280.

Bur·goyne John (1722-92), English general and playwright; known as Gentleman Johnny. He surrendered to the Americans at Saratoga (1777) during the American Revolution. His plays include The Maid of the Oaks (1774) and The Heiress (1786).

bur·grave n. HISTORICAL the governor or hereditary ruler of a German town or castle.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from German Burggraf, from Burg 'castle' (see BOROUGH) + Graf 'count, noble'.

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BOROUGH ■

Bur·gun·di·an n. a native or inhabitant of Burgundy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a member of a Germanic people that invaded Gaul from the east and established the kingdom of Burgundy in the 5th century AD.

■ adj. of or relating to Burgundy or the Burgundians.

Bur·gun·dy a region and former duchy of eastern central France, the center of which is Dijon. The region is noted for its wine. French name BOURGOGNE.

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BOURGOGNE ■

bur·gun·dy (also Bur·gun·dy) n. (pl. -dies) a wine from Burgundy (usually taken to be red unless otherwise specified): a glass of Burgundy | elegant red burgundies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a deep red color like that of burgundy wine: warm shades of brown and burgundy | [as adj.] burgundy leather.

bur·i·al n. the action or practice of interring a dead body: his remains were shipped home for burial.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a ceremony at which someone's body is interred; a funeral: [as adj.] burial rites.

- [ARCHAEOLOGY] a grave or the remains found in it: [as adj.] burial mounds.

<ORIGIN> Old English byrgels 'place of burial, grave' (interpreted as plural in Middle English, hence the loss of the final -s), of Germanic origin; related to BURY.

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BURY ■

bur·i·al ground n. (often as burial grounds) an area of ground set aside for the burying of human bodies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a site at which the remains of once-living specimens can be found: coral reefs are the burial grounds of untold organisms.

bu·rin n. a steel tool used for engraving in copper or wood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ARCHAEOLOGY] a flint tool with a chisel point.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French; perhaps related to Old High German bora 'boring tool'.

bur·ka (also bur·kha, burqa) n. a long, loose garment covering the whole body, worn in public by many Muslim women.

<ORIGIN> from Urdu and Persian , from Arabic .

Burke 1 Edmund (1729-97), British politician and man of letters. He wrote on the issues of political emancipation and moderation, notably with respect to Roman Catholics and the American colonies.

Burke 2 John (1787-1848), Irish genealogical and heraldic writer. In 1826, he compiled the first edition of Burke's Peerage, still regarded as the authoritative guide to the British aristocracy.

Bur·ki·na Fa·so a landlocked country in western Africa, in the Sahel; pop. 13,574,000; capital, Ouagadougou; languages, French (official), indigenous languages of the Sudanic family. Former name (until 1984) UPPER VOLTA.

A French protectorate from 1898, it became an autonomous republic within the French Community in 1958 and a fully independent republic in 1960.

<DERIVATIVES> Bur·ki·nan adj. & n.

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UPPER VOLTA ■

Bur·kitt's lym·pho·ma n. [MEDICINE] cancer of the lymphatic system, caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, chiefly affecting children in central Africa.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: named after D. P. Burkitt (1911-93), the British surgeon who described it.

burl n. a slub or lump in wool or cloth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a rounded knotty growth on a tree, giving an attractive figure when polished and used esp. for handcrafted objects and veneers: she used warty burls to construct her pieces | wooden coin banks made of elm burl | [as adj.] a burl bowl.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French bourle 'tuft of wool', diminutive of bourre 'coarse wool', from late Latin burra 'wool'.

bur·lap n. coarse canvas woven from jute, hemp, or a similar fiber, used esp. for sacking.
<SPECIAL USAGE> lighter material of a similar kind used in dressmaking and furnishing: [as adj.] a burlap shirt | fabrics ranging from hessians to burlaps.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

bur·lesque n. 1 a parody or comically exaggerated imitation of something, esp. in a literary or dramatic work: the funniest burlesque of opera | [as adj.] burlesque Shakespearean stanzas. See note at CARICATURE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> humor that depends on comic imitation and exaggeration; absurdity: the argument descends into burlesque.

2 a variety show, typically including striptease: [as adj.] burlesque clubs.

■ v. (-lesques, -lesqued, -lesqu·ing) [trans.] cause to appear absurd by parodying or copying in an exaggerated form: she struck a ridiculous pose that burlesqued her own vanity.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian burlesco, from burla 'mockery', of unknown origin.

bur·ley n. (also burley tobacco) a tobacco of a light-colored variety grown mainly in Kentucky.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

Bur·lin·game a city in north central California, on San Francisco Bay, south of San Francisco; pop. 26,801.

Bur·ling·ton 1 a city in southern Canada, on Lake Ontario, southwest of Toronto; pop. 129,600.

2 a city in north central North Carolina, noted as a textile center; pop. 39,498.

3 a city in northwestern Vermont, the largest in the state, on Lake Champlain; pop. 38,889.

bur·ly adj. (-li·er, -li·est) (of a person) large and strong; heavily built.

<DERIVATIVES> bur·li·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'dignified, imposing'): probably from an unrecorded Old English word meaning 'stately, fit for the bower' (see BOWER^1 , -LY^1 ).

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BOWER ■

-LY ■

Bur·ma , see MYANMAR.

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MYANMAR ■

bur mar·i·gold n. another term for BEGGAR TICKS.

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BEGGAR TICKS ■

Bur·ma Road a route that links Lashio in Myanmar (Burma) to Kunming in China and covers 717 miles (1,154 km). Completed in 1939, it was built by the Chinese to serve as a supply route to the interior in response to the Japanese occupation of the Chinese coast.

Bur·mese n. (pl. same) 1 a member of the largest ethnic group of Myanmar (Burma) in Southeast Asia.

2 a native or national of Myanmar.

3 the Tibeto-Burman language of the Burmese people, written in an alphabet derived from that of Pali and the official language of Myanmar.

4 (also Burmese cat) a cat of a short-haired breed originating in Asia.

■ adj. of or relating to Myanmar, its people, or their language.

burn 1 v. (past and past part. burned or CHIEFLY BRIT. burnt ) 1 [intrans.] (of a fire) flame or glow while consuming a material such as coal or wood: a fire burned and crackled cheerfully in the grate.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a candle or other source of light) be alight: a light was burning in the hall.

- be or cause to be destroyed by fire: he watched his restaurant burn to the ground

- [trans.] damage or injure by heat or fire: I burned myself on the stove.

2 [intrans.] (of a person, the skin, or a part of the body) become red and painful through exposure to the sun: my skin tans easily but sometimes burns.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- feel or cause to feel sore, hot, or inflamed, typically as a result of illness or injury.

- (of a person's face) feel hot and flushed from an intense emotion such as shame or indignation: her face burned with the humiliation.

- (be burning with) be possessed by (a desire or an emotion): Martha was burning with curiosity.

3 [trans.] use (a type of fuel) as a source of heat or energy: a diesel engine converted to burn natural gas.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] (of a person) convert (calories) to energy: the speed at which your body burns calories.

4 [trans.] produce (a compact disc) by copying from an original or master copy.

5 [intrans., with adverbial of direction] INFORMAL drive very fast: he burned past us like a maniac.

■ n. 1 an injury caused by exposure to heat or flame: he was treated in the hospital for burns to his hands.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a mark left on something as a result of being burned: the carpet was covered with cigarette burns.

- [with adj.] a feeling of heat and discomfort on the skin caused by friction, typically by a rope or razor: a smooth shave without razor burn.

- a sensation of heat experienced on swallowing spicy food, hot liquid, or strong alcoholic drink: Kate felt the burn as the curry hit her throat.

2 consumption of a type of fuel as an energy source: natural gas produces the cleanest burn of the lot.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a firing of a rocket engine in flight.

3 an act of clearing vegetation by burning, intentionally or by accident.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an area of land cleared in this way.

4 a hot, painful sensation in the muscles experienced as a result of sustained vigorous exercise: work up a burn.

5 short for BURN RATE.

<PHRASES>
□ be burned at the stake HISTORICAL be executed by being burned alive in public, typically for heresy or witchcraft.

□ burn one's bridges do something that makes it impossible to return to an earlier state.

□ burn the candle at both ends go to bed late and get up early, esp. to get work done.

□ burn the midnight oil read, study, or work late into the night.

□ burn (or lay) rubber INFORMAL drive very fast.

□ go for the burn INFORMAL push one's body to the extremes when doing physical exercise.

□ money burns a hole in someone's pocket someone has a strong urge to spend money as soon as they receive it.

□ slow burn INFORMAL a state of slowly mounting anger or annoyance: the medical community's shrugging acceptance is fueling a slow burn among women.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  burn something down (or burn down) (of a building or structure) destroy or be destroyed completely by fire.

□  burn something in/into brand or imprint by burning: designs are burned into the skin | FIGURATIVE a childhood incident that was burned into her memory.
- [PHOTOGRAPHY] expose one area of a print more than the rest: the sky and bottom of the picture needed substantial burning in.

□  burn something off remove (a substance) using a flame: using a blowtorch to burn off the paint.

□  burn out be completely consumed and thus no longer aflame: the candle in the saucer had burned out | FIGURATIVE his political ambitions had burned themselves out.
- cease to function as a result of excessive heat or friction: the clutch had burned out.

□  burn (oneself) out ruin one's health or become completely exhausted through overwork.

□  burn someone out make someone homeless by destroying their home by fire: they were burned out of their homes.

□  burn something out completely destroy a building or vehicle by fire, so that only a shell remains.

□  burn up
1 (of a fire) produce brighter and stronger flames.

2 (of an object entering the earth's atmosphere) be destroyed by heat.

□  burn someone up INFORMAL make someone angry: his thoughtless remarks really burn me up.

□  burn something up
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- use up the calories or energy provided by food, rather than converting these to fat:
in the typical Western diet, all the energy in protein is burned up daily.

<ORIGIN> Old English birnan 'be on fire' and bærnan 'consume by fire', both from the same Germanic base; related to German brennen.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
burn, cauterize, char, scald, scorch, sear, singe

If you're not an experienced cook, you're likely to burn your vegetables and char your meat, and, if you put your face too close to the stove, you might even singe your eyebrows. All of these verbs mean to injure or bring about a change in something by exposing it to fire or intense heat.

Burn, which is the most comprehensive term, can mean to change only slightly (she burned her face by staying out in the sun) or to destroy completely (the factory was burned to the ground).

To char is to reduce a substance to carbon or charcoal (the beams in the ceiling were charred by the fire).

Like char, singe and scorch mean to burn only partially or superficially (scorched the blouse while ironing it; singe the chicken before cooking it). Singeing is often done deliberately to remove the hair, bristles, or feathers from the carcass of an animal or bird.

Scald refers specifically to burning with, or as if with, a hot liquid or steam (the cook scalded herself when she spilled the boiling water); it can also mean to parboil or heat to a temperature just below boiling ( scald the milk to make the sauce).

Sear is also a term used in cooking, where it means to brown the outside of a piece of meat by subjecting it briefly to intense heat to seal in the juices.

When it's human flesh that's being seared in surgery, the correct verb is cauterize, which means to burn for healing purposes (the doctor cauterized the wound to ward off infection).

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BURN RATE ■

burn 2 n. CHIEFLY SCOTTISH & N. ENGL. a small stream; a brook.

<ORIGIN> Old English burna, burn(e), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bron and German Brunnen 'well'.

burned (also burnt) past and past participle of BURN^1 .

■ adj. [attrib.] having been burned: burned wood; burned shoulders and peeling noses.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a taste) like that of food that has been charred in cooking.

- (of sugar) cooked or heated until caramelized.

- (usu. burnt) (of a warm color) dark or deep: burnt orange.

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BURN ■

burned-out (also burnt-out) adj. (of a vehicle or building) destroyed or badly damaged by fire; gutted.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an electrical device or component) having failed through overheating.

- (of a person) in a state of physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress: she felt burned out, an empty shell; a burned-out undercover cop.

- INFORMAL (of a teenager or other person) having dropped out; drug-using.

Burne-Jones Sir Edward (Coley) (1833-98), English painter and designer. Notable paintings: The Golden Stairs (1880) and The Mirror of Venus (1898-99).

burn·er n. a thing that burns something or is burned, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a part of a stove, lamp, etc., that emits and shapes a flame.

- an apparatus in which a fuel is used or an aromatic substance is heated.

- [with adj.] an activity that uses something of a specified kind as energy: uphill walking is a great calorie burner.

- short for CD BURNER.

- INFORMAL a handgun.

<PHRASES> on the back (or front) burner INFORMAL having low (or high) priority: he wants the matter to be put on the back burner.

bur·net n. 1 a herbaceous plant of the rose family, with globular pinkish flowerheads and leaves composed of many small leaflets.
<INFO>  Genus Sanguisorba, family Rosaceae: several species, including the edible salad burnet (S. minor), which is often cultivated, and the spiny shrublike thorny burnet (S. spinosum), common in the eastern Mediterranean.

2 a day-flying moth that typically has greenish-black wings marked with crimson spots.
<INFO>  Zygaena and other genera, family Zygaenidae.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a kind of dark brown woolen cloth): from Old French brunete, burnete (denoting brown cloth or a plant with brown flowers), diminutives of brun 'brown'.

Bur·nett 1 Carol (1936- ), U.S. comedienne and actress. She is best known for the television program "The Carol Burnett Show" (1966-77).

Bur·nett 2 Frances (Eliza) Hodgson (1849-1924), U.S. novelist; born in Britain. She is noted for her children’s novels, which include Little Lord Fauntleroy (1886), A Little Princess (1905), and The Secret Garden (1911).

burn-in n. damage to a computer or television screen, caused by being left on too long.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a reliability test in which a device is switched on for a long time.

burn·ing adj. [attrib.] on fire: a burning building.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- very hot or bright: burning desert sands.

- FIGURATIVE very keenly or deeply felt; intense: he had a burning ambition to climb to the upper reaches of management.

- FIGURATIVE of urgent interest and importance; exciting or calling for debate: democracy remains a burning issue; the burning question of independence.

<DERIVATIVES> burn·ing·ly adv.

burn·ing bush n. 1 any of a number of shrubs noted for their bright red autumn foliage, in particular:
<INFO>
- the kochia.

- the smoke tree.

2 any of a number of shrubs or trees with bright red leaves or fruits.
<INFO>  Several plants, in particular the purple-flowered North American Euonymus atropurpurea (family Celastraceae), a relative of the spindle tree.

3 another term for GAS PLANT.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: with biblical allusion to Exod. 3:2.

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GAS PLANT ■

burn·ing glass n. a lens for concentrating the sun's rays on an object so as to set fire to it.

bur·nish v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (burnished) polish (something, esp. metal) by rubbing: highly burnished armor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE enhance or perfect (something such as a reputation or a skill).

■ n. [in sing.] the shine on a highly polished surface.

<DERIVATIVES> bur·nish·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French burniss-, lengthened stem of burnir, variant of brunir 'make brown', from brun 'brown'.

bur·noose (also bur·nous) n. a long, loose hooded cloak worn by Arabs.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: French, from Arabic burnus, from Greek birros 'cloak'.

burn·out n. 1 the reduction of a fuel or substance to nothing through use or combustion: good carbon burnout | [as adj.] a burnout furnace.

2 physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress: high levels of professionalism that may result in burnout | you'll suffer a burnout.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a dropout or drug abuser, esp. a teenage one.

3 failure of an electrical device or component through overheating: [with adj.] an antistall mechanism prevents motor burnout.

burn rate n. the rate at which an enterprise spends money, especially venture capital, in excess of income: the corporation lays off workers to cut burn rate.

Burns 1 George (1896-1996), U.S. comedian and movie actor; born Nathan Birnbaum. In 1922, he paired up with comedienne Gracie Allen (1902-64), whom he married in 1926. They had shows in vaudeville, on radio, and later on television. Notable movies: The Sunshine Boys (Academy Award, 1975) and Oh God! (1977).

Burns 2 Robert (1759-96), Scottish poet, noted for poems, such as “The Jolly Beggars” (1786) and “Tam o' Shanter” (1791), and for old Scottish songs that he collected, including “Auld Lang Syne.”

Burn·side Ambrose Everett (1824-81), U.S. army officer. He was appointed General of the Army of the Potomac in 1862, but his incompetence at the Battle of Fredericksburg that same year led to his transfer to Ohio.

burn·side n. (usu. burnsides) a mustache in combination with whiskers on the cheeks but no beard on the chin.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after General Ambrose BURNSIDE.

Burns·ville a city in southeastern Minnesota, south of Minneapolis; pop. 60,220.

burnt adj. variant spelling of BURNED.

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BURNED ■

burnt o·cher n. a pigment made from ocher that has been darkened by heating, or resembling this in color.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the deep yellow-brown color of this pigment.

burnt of·fer·ing n. 1 an offering burned on an altar as a religious sacrifice.

2 (usu. burnt offerings) HUMOROUS overcooked or charred food.

burnt si·en·na n. a deep reddish-brown pigment made from sienna that has been darkened by heating, or resembling this in color.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the color of this pigment.

burnt um·ber n. see UMBER (sense 1).

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UMBER ■

bur oak n. a North American oak, with large fringed acorn cups. Its timber was formerly important in shipbuilding. Also called MOSSYCUP OAK.
<INFO>  Quercus macrocarpa, family Fagaceae.

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MOSSYCUP OAK ■

burp INFORMAL v. [intrans.] noisily release air from the stomach through the mouth; belch.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] make (a baby) belch after feeding, typically by patting its back.

■ n. a noise made by air released from the stomach through the mouth; a belch.

<ORIGIN> 1930s): imitative.

burp gun n. INFORMAL a lightweight submachine gun.

bur·qa n. variant spelling of BURKA.

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BURKA ■

Burr Aaron (1756-1836), U.S. statesman. In 1804, while U.S. vice-president, he killed Alexander Hamilton, his rival, in a duel. He then plotted to form an independent administration in Mexico and was tried for treason but was acquitted.

burr n. 1 [in sing.] a rough sounding of the sound r, esp. with a uvular trill (a "French r") as in certain Northern England accents. <ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (loosely) a regional accent characterized by such a trill: a soft Scottish burr.

- a whirring sound, such as a telephone ringing tone or the sound of cogs turning. <ORIGIN> early 19th cent.

2 (also bur) a rough edge or ridge left on an object (esp. of metal) by the action of a tool or machine. <ORIGIN> early 17th cent.

3 (also bur) a small rotary cutting tool with a shaped end, used chiefly in woodworking and dentistry. <ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a small surgical drill for making holes in bone, esp. in the skull.

4 a siliceous rock used for millstones. <ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a whetstone.

5 (also bur) a ring of bone at the base of a deer's antler. Also called CORONET. <ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: possibly from French (cf. bourre 'vine-bud' or related to BURL.

6 variant spelling of BUR.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] speak with an accent in which the sound r is trilled: [with direct speech] “I like to have a purrrpose,” she burrs. <ORIGIN> early 19th cent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make a whirring sound such as a telephone ringing tone or the sound of cogs turning. <ORIGIN> late 18th cent.

2 [trans.] form a rough edge on (metal): the handles were fixed by rivets burred over on the shield's front. <ORIGIN> late 19th cent.

<PHRASES> a burr under one's saddle INFORMAL a persistent source of irritation: he had been a burr under the saddle of the government in his time.

<ORIGIN> Sense 1 of the noun and verb is probably imitative, the word burr incorporating the uvular r, but it is also possibly a figurative use borrowed from senses 2, 3, and 4 of the noun and sense 2 of the verb, the r being a 'rough' sound. See also BUR.

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BURL ■

BUR ■

BUR ■

bur·ra·wang (also bur·ra·wong) n. an Australian cycad with palmlike leaves and a sunken underground trunk.
<INFO>  Macrozamia spiralis, family Zamiaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the poisonous nut of this tree, which loses its toxicity after prolonged soaking and becomes edible.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Dharuk.

bur reed n. an aquatic reedlike plant with rounded flowerheads. Its oily seeds are an important source of winter food for wildfowl.
<INFO>  Genus Sparganium, family Sparganiaceae.

burr·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a porcupine fish with spines that are permanently erected, occurring in tropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific.
<INFO>  Genus Chilomycterus, family Diodontidae: several species, including the common striped burrfish (C. schoepfi) of the western Atlantic.

bur·ri·to n. (pl. -tos) a Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla rolled around a filling, typically of beans or ground or shredded beef.

<ORIGIN> Latin American Spanish, diminutive of Spanish burro, literally 'donkey' (see BURRO).

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BURRO ■

bur·ro n. (pl. -ros) a small donkey used as a pack animal.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Spanish.

Bur·roughs 1 Edgar Rice (1875-1950), U.S. novelist and science fiction writer. Although he began his writing career with science fiction stories, he was most successful with an adventure series that began with Tarzan of the Apes (1914).

Bur·roughs 2 John (1837-1921), U.S. naturalist and author. At his home near the Hudson River at West Park, New York, he entertained friends such as John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, and Walt Whitman. Among his works are Wake-Robin (1871), Locusts and Wild Honey (1879), and The Summit of the Years (1913).

Bur·roughs 3 William (Seward) (1914-97), U.S. novelist. In the 1940s, he became addicted to heroin, and his best-known writing, such as Junkie (1953) and The Naked Lunch (1959), deals in a unique, surreal style with life as a drug addict.

bur·row n. a hole or tunnel dug by a small animal, esp. a rabbit, as a dwelling.

■ v. [intrans.] (of an animal) make a hole or tunnel, esp. to use as a dwelling: moles burrowing away underground | [as adj.] (burrowing) burrowing earthworms | [trans.] the fish can burrow a hiding place.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with adverbial of direction] advance into or through something solid by digging or making a hole: worms that burrow through dead wood.

- [with adverbial of direction] move underneath or press close to something in order to hide oneself or in search of comfort: the child burrowed deeper into the bed.

- [trans.] move (something) in this way: she burrowed her face into the pillow.

- FIGURATIVE make a thorough inquiry; investigate: journalists are burrowing into the president's business affairs.

<DERIVATIVES> bur·row·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English.

bur·ry adj. 1 having or containing burs; prickly.

2 (of speech) having a burr.

Bur·sa a city in northwestern Turkey; pop. 834,580. It was the capital of the Ottoman Empire 1326-1402.

bur·sa n. (pl. -sae or -sas) [ANATOMY] a fluid-filled sac or saclike cavity, esp. one countering friction at a joint.

<DERIVATIVES> bur·sal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from medieval Latin, 'bag, purse', from Greek bursa 'leather'.

bur·sa of Fa·bri·ci·us n. [ZOOLOGY] a glandular sac opening into the cloaca of a bird, producing B cells.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (in the Latin form bursa Fabricii): from BURSA, and a Latinized form of the name of Girolama Fabrici (1533-1619), Italian anatomist.

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BURSA ■

bur·sar n. 1 a person who manages the financial affairs of a college or university.

2 CHIEFLY SCOTTISH a student attending a college or university on a scholarship.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French boursier or (sense 1) medieval Latin bursarius, from bursa 'bag, purse' (see BURSA).

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BURSA ■

bur·sa·ry n. (pl. -ries) 1 CHIEFLY BRIT. a scholarship to attend a college or university.

2 the treasury of an institution, esp. a religious one.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (sense 2): from medieval Latin bursaria, from bursa 'bag, purse' (see BURSA).

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BURSA ■

burse n. a flat, square, fabric-covered case in which a folded corporal is carried to and from an altar in church.

bur·si·tis n. [MEDICINE] inflammation of a bursa, typically one in the knee, elbow or shoulder.

burst v. (past and past part. burst) [intrans.] (of a container) break suddenly and violently apart, spilling the contents, typically as a result of an impact or internal pressure: we inflated dozens of balloons and only one burst.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause to break, esp. by puncturing: he burst the balloon in my face.

- [trans.] (of contents) break open (a container) from the inside by growing too large to be held: the swollen river was expected to burst its banks.

- [trans.] suffer from the sudden breaking of (a bodily organ or vessel): he burst a blood vessel during a fit of coughing.

- be so full as almost to break open: the drawers were bursting with clothes.

- feel a very strong or irrepressible emotion or impulse: he was bursting with joy and excitement | [with infinitive] she was bursting to say something.

- suddenly begin doing something as an expression of a strong feeling: if anyone said anything to upset me, I'd burst out crying; she burst into a fresh flood of tears.

- issue suddenly and uncontrollably, as though from a splitting container: the words burst from him in an angry rush; an aircraft crashed and burst into flames.

- be opened suddenly and forcibly: a door burst open and a girl raced out.

- [with adverbial of direction] make one's way suddenly and typically violently: he burst into the room without knocking.

- [trans.] separate (continuous stationery) into single sheets.

■ n. an instance of breaking or splitting as a result of internal pressure or puncturing; an explosion.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a sudden issuing forth: her breath was coming in short bursts.

- a sudden outbreak, typically short and often violent or noisy: a sudden burst of activity; he heard a burst of gunfire.

- a short, sudden, and intense effort: he sailed 474 miles in one 24-hour burst.

<PHRASES> burst someone's bubble shatter someone's illusions about something or destroy someone's sense of well-being.

<ORIGIN> Old English berstan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bersten, barsten.

burst·er n. a thing that bursts, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ASTRONOMY] a cosmic source of powerful short-lived bursts of X-rays or other radiation.

- a violent gale.

- a machine that separates continuous stationery into single sheets.

burst·y adj. INFORMAL or TECHNICAL occurring at intervals in short sudden episodes or groups.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or denoting the transmission of data in short separate bursts of signals.

bur·then n. archaic form of BURDEN.

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BURDEN ■

Bur·ton 1 Harold Hitz (1888-1964), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1945-58. He was the mayor of Cleveland, Ohio 1935-40 and a U.S. senator 1941-45 before being appointed to the Court by President Truman. He held strongly to a constructionist view of the U.S. Constitution.

Bur·ton 2 Richard (1925-84), Welsh actor; born Richard Jenkins. He played a number of Shakespearean roles on stage before appearing in movies such as The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1966) and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966). He often costarred with Elizabeth Taylor, whom he married twice.

Bur·ton 3 Sir Richard (Francis) (1821-90), English explorer, anthropologist, and translator. In 1858, he and John Hanning Speke were the first Europeans to see Lake Tanganyika. Notable translations: Arabian Nights (1885-88), Kama Sutra (1883), and The Perfumed Garden (1886).

bur·ton (also bur·ton-tack·le) n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a light two-block tackle for hoisting.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: alteration of Middle English Breton tackle, a nautical term in the same sense (see BRETON^1 ).

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BRETON ■

Bu·run·di a central African country on the northeastern side of Lake Tanganyika, south of Rwanda; pop. 6,230,000; official languages, French and Kirundi; capital, Bujumbura.

Inhabited mainly by Hutu and Tutsi peoples, the area formed part of German East Africa from the 1890s until World War I, after which it was administered by Belgium. The country became an independent monarchy in 1962 and a republic in 1966. Multiparty elections in 1993 resulted in the country's being led for the first time by a member of the Hutu majority rather than the traditionally dominant Tutsis; the assassination of the president within months, and the death in 1994 of the country's next leader, sparked large-scale ethnic violence. A new transitional government was formed in 2001, but a December 2002 cease-fire was not implemented.

<DERIVATIVES> Bu·run·di·an adj. & n.

bur·y v. (bur·ies, bur·ied) [trans.] put or hide under ground: he buried the box in the back garden | [as adj.] (buried) buried treasure.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. be buried) place (a dead body) in the earth, in a tomb, or in the sea, typically with funeral rites: he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

- FIGURATIVE lose (someone, typically a relative) through death: she buried her sixty-year-old husband.

- completely cover; cause to disappear or become inconspicuous: the countryside has been buried under layers of concrete | FIGURATIVE the warehouse was buried in the faceless sprawl of the city.

- move or put out of sight: she buried her face in her hands; with his hands buried in the pockets of his overcoat.

- FIGURATIVE deliberately forget; conceal from oneself: they had buried their feelings of embarrassment and fear.

- overwhelm (an opponent) beyond hope of recovery: he boasted that socialism would bury capitalism.

- (bury oneself) involve oneself deeply in something to the exclusion of other concerns: he buried himself in work.

<PHRASES>
□ bury the hatchet end a quarrel or conflict and become friendly.

□ bury one's head in the sand ignore unpleasant realities.

<ORIGIN> Old English byrgan; related to the verb BORROW and to BOROUGH.

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BORROW ■

BOROUGH ■

Bur·yat·ia (also Bur·yat Re·pub·lic ) an autonomous republic in southeastern Russia, between Lake Baikal and the Mongolian border; pop. 1,049,000; capital, Ulan-Ude.

bur·y·ing bee·tle n. a black beetle that typically has broad orange bands on its wing cases. It buries small animal carcasses to provide a food store for its larvae. Also called SEXTON BEETLE.
<INFO>  Nicrophorus and other genera, family Silphidae.

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SEXTON BEETLE ■

bus n. (pl. bus·es or bus·ses) 1 a large motor vehicle carrying passengers by road, esp. one serving the public on a fixed route and for a fare: [as adj.] a bus service.

2 [COMPUTING] a distinct set of conductors carrying data and control signals within a computer system, to which pieces of equipment may be connected in parallel.

■ v. (bus·es, bused, bus·ing or bus·ses, bus·sed, bus·sing) 1 [trans.] (often be bused) transport in a communal road vehicle: managerial staff was bused in and out of the factory.
<SPECIAL USAGE> transport (a child of one race) to a school where another race is predominant, in an attempt to promote racial integration.

2 [trans.] remove (dirty tableware) from a table in a restaurant or cafeteria: I'd never bused so many dishes in one night.
<SPECIAL USAGE> remove dirty tableware from (a table): Chad buses tables on weekends.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: shortening of OMNIBUS.

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OMNIBUS ■

bus. abbr. business.

bus·bar (also bus bar) n. a system of electrical conductors in a generating or receiving station on which power is concentrated for distribution.

bus·boy n. a young man who clears tables in a restaurant or cafeteria.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: shortening of OMNIBUS + BOY.

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OMNIBUS ■

BOY ■

bus·by n. (pl. -bies) a tall fur hat with a colored cloth flap hanging down on the right-hand side and often a plume on the top, worn by soldiers of certain regiments of hussars and artillerymen.
<SPECIAL USAGE> popular term for BEARSKIN (the cap).

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (denoting a large bushy wig): of unknown origin.

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BEARSKIN ■

Bush 1 George (Herbert Walker) (1924- ), 41st president of the U.S. 1989-93. A Texas Republican, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives 1967-71 and as director of the CIA 1975-76. His presidency was preceded by two terms as Ronald Reagan's vice president 1981-89. As president, Bush negotiated further arms reductions with the Soviet Union and organized international action to expel the Iraqis from Kuwait following the invasion in 1990.

Bush 2 George W(alker) (1946- ), 43rd president of the U.S. 2001- . He is the son of President George Bush. A conservative Texas Republican, he served as governor of Texas 1994-2001 before he became president in one of the closest and most controversial presidential elections in U.S. history, when the accuracy of the vote count in the state of Florida was challenged by Democratic nominee Al Gore. As part of his war of terrorism and maintaining that Saddam Hussein was developing chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. The war became increasingly controversial as casualties mounted and as it became evident that U.S. troops would need to remain in Iraq for years to come.

bush n. a shrub or clump of shrubs with stems of moderate length: a rose bush; the plant will develop into a dense bush.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a thing resembling such a shrub, esp. a clump of thick hair or fur: a childish face with a bush of bright hair.

- VULGAR SLANG a person's pubic hair, esp. that of a woman.

- (the bush) (esp. in Australia, Africa, and Canada) wild or uncultivated country: they have to spend a night camping in the bush.

- the vegetation growing in such a district: the lowland country was covered in thick bush.

■ adj. INFORMAL short for BUSH LEAGUE.

■ v. [intrans.] spread out into a thick clump: her hair bushed out like a halo.

<PHRASES>
□ beat around (or beat about) the bush see BEAT.

□ beat the bushes see BEAT.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bos, bosc, variants of bois 'wood', reinforced by Old Norse buski, of Germanic origin and related to obsolete Dutch bosch (now bos) and German Busch. The sense 'uncultivated country' is probably directly from Dutch bos.

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BUSH LEAGUE ■

BEAT ■

BEAT ■

bush ba·by (also bush·ba·by) n. (pl. -bies) a small nocturnal tree-dwelling African primate with very large eyes. Also called GALAGO.
<INFO>  Genus Galago, family Lorisidae, suborder Prosimii: several species.

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GALAGO ■

bush bean n. a variety of bean plant whose bushy growth requires no support. Compare with POLE BEAN.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the edible bean from such a plant.

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POLE BEAN ■

bush·buck n. a small antelope with a reddish-brown coat with white markings, found in southern Africa.
<INFO>  Tragelaphus scriptus, family Bovidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BUSH^1 + BUCK^1 , influenced by obsolete Dutch boshbok (now bosbok).

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BUCK ■

bush·craft n. skill at living in the bush.

bush dog n. a small, stocky carnivorous mammal of the dog family, with short legs and small ears. It is native to the forests of Central and South America.
<INFO>  Speothus venaticus, family Canidae.

bushed adj. INFORMAL tired out: after three days of training, the rookies were totally bushed.

bush·el (abbr.: bu.) n. 1 a measure of capacity equal to 64 U.S. pints (equivalent to 35.2 liters), used for dry goods.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a large amount: we sold it for a bushel of money.

2 BRIT. a measure of capacity equal to 8 imperial gallons (equivalent to 36.4 liters), used for dry goods and liquids.

3 a container with the capacity of a bushel: [as adj.] packing oysters into bushel baskets.

<PHRASES> hide one's light under a bushel see HIDE^1 .

<DERIVATIVES> bush·el·ful n. (pl. -fuls).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French boissel, perhaps of Gaulish origin.

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HIDE ■

bush fire (also bush·fire) n. a fire in scrub or a forest, esp. one that spreads rapidly: FIGURATIVE news of discontent igniting a bush fire of revolt.

bu·shi·do n. the code of honor and morals developed by the Japanese samurai.

<ORIGIN> Japanese, from bushi 'samurai' + 'way'.

bush·ing n. a metal lining for a round hole enclosing a revolving shaft.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- more generally, a bearing for a revolving shaft.

- a clamp that grips and protects an electric cable where it passes through a metal panel.

Bush·ism n. INFORMAL 1 a linguistic gaffe of President George H. W. Bush or President George W. Bush.

2 the policies or political philosophy of President George H. W. Bush or President George W. Bush: Bushism is feel-good politics, adding self-satisfaction to the material comfort of the comfortable.

bush jack·et n. a belted cotton jacket with patch pockets.

bush league n. a minor league of a professional sport, esp. baseball: [as adj.] their bush league image.

■ adj. (bush-league) INFORMAL not of the highest quality or sophistication; second-rate.

<DERIVATIVES> bush lea·guer n.

Bush·man n. (pl. -men) 1 a member of any of several aboriginal peoples of southern Africa, esp. of the Kalahari Desert. They are traditionally nomadic hunter-gatherers. Also called SAN. <ORIGIN> influenced by Dutch boschjesman.

2 the language of these peoples, now usually called SAN.

3 (bushman) a person who lives, works, or travels in the Australian bush.

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SAN ■

bush·mas·ter n. a pit viper that is the largest venomous snake in the New World, found in Central and South America.
<INFO>  Lachesis muta, family Viperidae.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: perhaps from obsolete Dutch boschmeester (now bosmeester), from bos 'bush' + meester 'master'.

bush·meat n. the meat of African wild animals.

bush pig (also African bush pig) n. a wild pig native to the forests and savannas of Africa and Madagascar.
<INFO>  Potamochoerus porcus and P. larvatus, family Suidae.

bush pi·lot n. one who flies small aircraft into remote areas.

bush·rang·er n. a person living far from civilization.
<SPECIAL USAGE> AUSTRAL., HISTORICAL an outlaw living in the bush.

bush tea n. a tea made from dried leaves and twigs of various shrubs, esp. in tropical countries.

bush tel·e·graph n. [in sing.] a rapid informal network by which information or gossip is spread.

bush·tit (also bush tit) n. a small American songbird of the long-tailed tit family, with mainly pale gray plumage and sometimes a black mask.
<INFO>  Psaltriparus minimus, family Aegithalidae (formerly Paridae); formerly regarded as two species.

bush·wa (also bush·wah) n. INFORMAL rubbish; nonsense.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French bourgeois, now used as a euphemism for BULLSHIT.

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BULLSHIT ■

bush·walk·ing n. CHIEFLY AUSTRAL./NZ hiking or backpacking.

<DERIVATIVES> bush·walk·er n.

bush·whack v. 1 [intrans.] [often as n.] (bushwhacking) live or travel in wild or uncultivated country: I have not seen a bear yet after seven days of bushwhacking.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adverbial of direction] cut or push one's way in a specified direction through dense vegetation: he'd bushwhacked down the steep slopes.

2 [intrans.] fight as a guerrilla in the bush.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] make a surprise attack on (someone) from a hidden place; ambush.

bush·whack·er n. 1 a person who clears woods and bush country.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who lives or travels in bush country.

2 a guerrilla fighter (originally in the American Civil War).

bush·y adj. (bush·i·er, bush·i·est) 1 growing thickly into or so as to resemble a bush: a dense, bushy plant; his eyebrows were thick and bushy.

2 covered with bush or bushes: bushy desert areas.

<DERIVATIVES> bush·i·ly adv. bush·i·ness n.

busi·ness (bus.) n. 1 a person's regular occupation, profession, or trade: she had to do a lot of smiling in her business; are you here on business?
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an activity that someone is engaged in: what is your business here?

- a person's concern: this is none of your business; the neighbors make it their business to know all about you.

- work that has to be done or matters that have to be attended to: government business; let's get down to business.

2 the practice of making one's living by engaging in commerce: the world of business; whom do you do business with in Manila? | [as adj.] the business community | [with adj.] the jewelry business.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- trade considered in terms of its volume or profitability: how's business?

- a commercial house or firm: a catering business.

3 [in sing.] INFORMAL an affair or series of events, typically a scandalous or discreditable one: they must be told about this blackmailing business.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a group of related or previously mentioned things: use carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli, and serve the whole business hot.

4 [THEATER] actions other than dialogue performed by actors: a piece of business.

5 INFORMAL a scolding; harsh verbal criticism: the supervisor really gave him the business.

<PHRASES>
□ business as usual an unchanging state of affairs despite difficulties or disturbances: apart from being under new management, it's business as usual in the department.

□ have no business have no right to do something or be somewhere: he had no business tampering with social services.

□ in business operating, esp. in commerce: they will have to import from overseas to remain in business.
- INFORMAL able to begin operations: if you'll contact the right people, I think we'll be in business.

□ in the business of engaged in or prepared to engage in: I am not in the business of making accusations.

□ like nobody's business INFORMAL to an extraordinarily high degree or standard: these weeds spread like nobody's business.

□ mean business be in earnest.

□ mind one's own business refrain from meddling in other people's affairs: he was yelling at her to get out and mind her own business.

□ send someone about his/her business DATED tell someone to go away.

<ORIGIN> Old English bisignis (see BUSY, -NESS). The sense in Old English was 'anxiety'; the sense 'the state of being busy' was used from Middle English down to the 18th cent., but is now differentiated as busyness. The sense 'an appointed task' dates from late Middle English, and from it all the other current senses have developed.

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BUSY ■

-NESS ■

busi·ness card n. a small card printed with one's name, professional occupation, company position, business address, and other contact information.

busi·ness cy·cle n. a cycle or series of cycles of economic expansion and contraction.

busi·ness day n. another term for WORKDAY.

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WORKDAY ■

busi·ness dou·ble n. [BRIDGE] a double made with the intention of increasing the penalty points scored by a partnership if they defeat their opponents' contract. Often contrasted with TAKEOUT DOUBLE.

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TAKEOUT DOUBLE ■

busi·ness end n. INFORMAL (the business end) the functional part of a tool, device, or weapon: he found himself facing the business end of six lethal-looking weapons.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the essential or basic part of a process or operation: the rigs are the business end of the oil industry.

busi·ness hours plural n. another term for OFFICE HOURS.

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OFFICE HOURS ■

busi·ness·like adj. (of a person) carrying out tasks efficiently without wasting time or being distracted by personal or other concerns; systematic and practical.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of clothing, furniture, etc.) designed or appearing to be practical rather than decorative.

- excessively brisk or practical; severe or impersonal: he was businesslike and unmoved.

busi·ness·man n. (pl. -men) a man who works in business or commerce, esp. at an executive level.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] a person with a specified level of skill in financial matters: his knowledge and talent were never in question, but he was a poor businessman.

busi·ness mod·el n. a design for the successful operation business, identifying revenue sources, customer base, products, and details of financing: many of the free sites have either shifted their business model or have gone out of business completely.

busi·ness park n. an area where company offices and light industrial premises are built.

busi·ness per·son (also busi·ness·per·son) n. a man or woman who works in business or commerce, esp. at an executive level.

busi·ness proc·ess re·en·gi·neer·ing (abbr.: BPR) n. the process or activity of restructuring a company's organization and methods, esp. to exploit the capabilities of computers.

busi·ness stud·ies plural n. [treated as sing.] the study of economics and management, esp. as an educational topic.

busi·ness·wom·an n. a woman who works in business or commerce, esp. at an executive level.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] a woman with a specified level of skill in financial affairs: she has become quite the savvy businesswoman.

busk 1 v. [intrans.] play music or otherwise perform for voluntary donations in the street or in subways: the group began by busking on Philadelphia sidewalks | [as n.] (busking) busking was a real means of living.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (busk it) INFORMAL improvise.

<DERIVATIVES> busk·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from obsolete French busquer 'seek', from Italian buscare or Spanish buscar, of Germanic origin. Originally in nautical use in the sense 'cruise about, tack', the term later meant 'go around selling', hence 'go around performing' (mid 19th cent.).

busk 2 n. HISTORICAL a stay or stiffening strip for a corset.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French busc, from Italian busco 'splinter' (related to French bûche 'log'), of Germanic origin.

bus·kin n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a calf-high or knee-high boot of cloth or leather.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a thick-soled laced boot worn by an ancient Athenian tragic actor to gain height.

- (the buskin) the style or spirit of tragic drama.

<DERIVATIVES> bus·kined adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (designating a calf-length boot): probably from Old French bouzequin, variant of brousequin, from Middle Dutch broseken, of unknown ultimate origin.

bus lane n. a division of a road marked off with painted lines for use by buses.

bus·man n. (pl. -men) a driver of a bus.

<PHRASES> a busman's holiday a vacation or form of recreation that involves doing the same thing that one does at work.

buss ARCHAIC OR INFORMAL n. a kiss.

■ v. [trans.] kiss.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: alteration of late Middle English bass (noun and verb), probably from French baiser, from Latin basiare.

bus shel·ter n. a roofed structure for people to wait under at a bus stop.

bus sta·tion n. a terminal where buses arrive and depart.

bus stop n. a place where a bus regularly stops, typically marked by a sign.

bust 1 n. 1 a woman's chest as measured around her breasts: a 36-inch bust.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a woman's breasts, esp. considered in terms of their size: selecting clothes that would minimize her big bust.

2 a sculpture of a person's head, shoulders, and chest.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (denoting the upper part or torso of a large sculpture): from French buste, from Italian busto, from Latin bustum 'tomb, sepulchral monument'.

bust 2 INFORMAL v. (past and past part. bust·ed or bust) [trans.] 1 break, split, or burst (something): they bust the tunnel wide open | FIGURATIVE the film busts every box-office record.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] come apart or split open: FIGURATIVE he was laughing fit to bust.

- cause to collapse; defeat utterly: he promised to bust the mafia.

- [intrans.] (bust up) (esp. of a married couple) separate, typically after a quarrel.

- (bust something up) cause (something) to break up: men hired to bust up union rallies.

- strike violently: they wanted to bust me on the mouth.

- [intrans.] (bust out) break out; escape: she busted out of prison.

- [intrans.] (in blackjack and similar card games) exceed the score of 21, losing one's stake.

2 raid or search (premises where illegal activity is suspected): their house got busted.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- arrest: he was busted for drugs.

- reduce (a soldier) to a lower rank; demote: he was busted to private.

■ n. 1 a period of economic difficulty or depression: the boom was followed by the present bust.

2 a police raid: a drug bust.

3 a worthless thing: as a show it was a bust.

■ adj. bankrupt: firms will go bust.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (originally as a noun in the sense 'an act of bursting or splitting'): variant of BURST.

Linked entries:

BURST ■

bus·tard n. a large, heavily built, swift-running bird, found in open country in the Old World. The males of most bustards have a spectacular courtship display.
<INFO>  Family Otididae: several genera and species, including the great bustard (Otis tarda), which is the heaviest flying land bird.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: perhaps an Anglo-Norman French blend of Old French bistarde and oustarde, both from Latin avis tarda 'slow bird': the name is unexplained, as the bustards are fast runners.

bus·tard quail n. the barred button quail (see BUTTON QUAIL).

Linked entries:

BUTTON QUAIL ■

bus·tee n. INDIAN a slum area or shanty town.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi 'dwelling'.

bust·er n. CHIEFLY INFORMAL 1 a person or thing that breaks, destroys, or overpowers something: [in combination] the drug's reputation as a flu-buster.
<SPECIAL USAGE> short for BRONCOBUSTER.

2 INFORMAL used as a mildly disrespectful or humorous form of address, esp. to a man or boy: your parents' decisions affect you, like it or not, buster.

Linked entries:

BRONCOBUSTER ■

bus·tier n. a close-fitting strapless top worn by women.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from French, from buste (see BUST^1 ).

Linked entries:

BUST ■

bus·tle 1 v. [intrans.] move in an energetic or noisy manner: people clutching clipboards bustled about.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] make (someone) move hurriedly in a particular direction: she bustled us into the kitchen.

- [intrans.] (of a place) be full of activity: the small harbor bustled with boats | [as adj.] (bustling) the bustling little town.

■ n. excited activity and movement: all the noise and the traffic and the bustle.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: perhaps a variant of obsolete buskle, frequentative of busk 'prepare', from Old Norse.

bus·tle 2 n. HISTORICAL a pad or frame worn under a skirt and puffing it out behind.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

bust·y adj. (bust·i·er, bust·i·est) INFORMAL (of a woman) having large breasts.

<DERIVATIVES> bust·i·ness n.

bus·way n. a road, or section of a road, set apart exclusively for buses, typically with tracks or grooves for guiding them.

bus·y adj. (bus·i·er, bus·i·est) having a great deal to do: he had been too busy to enjoy himself; there was enough work to keep two people busy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- occupied with or concentrating on a particular activity or object of attention: the team members are busy raising money; he was busy with preparations.

- (of a place) full of activity.

- excessively detailed or decorated; fussy: they papered the bedroom with a busy pattern of satyrs and dryads.

- (of a telephone line) engaged.

■ v. (bus·ies, bus·ied) [trans.] (busy oneself) keep occupied: she busied herself with her new home.

<DERIVATIVES> bus·i·ly adv. bus·y·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English bisgian (verb), bisig (noun); related to Dutch bezig.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
assiduous, busy, diligent, engaged, industrious, sedulous

There are varying degrees of busyness. Busy implies actively and attentively involved in work or a pastime (too busy to come to the phone). It can also be used to describe intensive activity of any kind (a busy intersection; a busy day).

Someone who is engaged is also busy, but in a more focused way (engaged in compiling a dictionary).

Diligent is used to describe earnest and constant effort, and it often connotes enjoyment of or dedication to what one is doing (diligent efforts to rescue injured animals).

To be industrious is to be more focused still, often with a definite goal in mind (an industrious employee working for a promotion).

Sedulous also applies to goal-oriented activity, but it suggests more close care and perseverance than industrious does (a sedulous investigation of the accident).

The award for concentrated effort goes to the person who is assiduous, which suggests painstaking preoccupation with a specific task (an assiduous student is the one most likely to win his or her teacher's favor).

bus·y bee n. INFORMAL an industrious person.

bus·y·bod·y n. (pl. -bod·ies) a meddling or prying person.

bus·y sig·nal n. a sound indicating that a telephone line is engaged, typically a repeated single bleep.

bus·y·work n. work that keeps a person busy but has little value in itself.

but conj. 1 used to introduce something contrasting with what has already been mentioned:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- nevertheless; however: he stumbled but didn't fall; | this is one principle, but it is not the only one. |

- on the contrary; in contrast: I am clean but you are dirty; | the problem is not that they are cutting down trees, but that they are doing it in a predatory way.

2 [with negative or in questions] used to indicate the impossibility of anything other than what is being stated: one cannot but sympathize; | there was nothing they could do but swallow their pride; | they had no alternative but to follow.

3 used to introduce a response expressing a feeling such as surprise or anger: but that's an incredible saving!;| but why?

4 used after an expression of apology for what one is about to say: I'm sorry, but I can't pay you.

5 [with negative] ARCHAIC without its being the case that: it never rains but it pours.

■ prep. except; apart from; other than: in Texas, we were never anything but poor; | I trusted no one but him; | the last but one.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used with repetition of certain words to give emphasis: nobody, but nobody, was going to stop her.

■ adv. no more than; only: he is but a shadow of his former self; | choose from a colorful array of oranges, cherries, and raspberries, to name but a few.

■ n. an argument against something; an objection: no butsjust get out of here; | as with all these proposals, ifs and buts abound.

<PHRASES>
□ all but see ALL.

□ anything but see ANYTHING.

□ but for except for: I walked along Broadway, deserted but for the occasional cab.
- if it were not for: the game could be over but for you.

□ but me no buts do not raise objections.

□ but that ARCHAIC other than that; except that: who knows but that the pictures painted on air are eternal.

□ but then on the other hand; that being so: it's a very hard exam, but then they all are.

<ORIGIN> Old English , , 'outside, without, except' (see BY, OUT).

<USAGE>
For advice about using but and other conjunctions to begin a sentence, see usage at AND.

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ALL ■

ANYTHING ■

BY ■

OUT ■

AND ■

bu·ta·di·ene n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless gaseous hydrocarbon made by catalytic dehydrogenation of butane and used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: CH_2=CHCH=CH_2.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from BUTANE + DI-1 + -ENE.

Linked entries:

BUTANE ■

DI- ■

-ENE ■

bu·tane n. [CHEMISTRY] a flammable hydrocarbon gas that is a constituent of petroleum and is used in bottled form as a fuel. It is a member of the alkane series. See also ISOBUTANE.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: CH_3CH_2CH_2CH_3.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from BUTYL + -ANE^2 .

Linked entries:

ISOBUTANE ■

BUTYL ■

-ANE ■

bu·ta·no·ic ac·id n. systematic chemical name for BUTYRIC ACID.

<DERIVATIVES> bu·ta·no·ate n.

Linked entries:

BUTYRIC ACID ■

bu·ta·nol n. [CHEMISTRY] each of two isomeric liquid alcohols used as solvents; butyl alcohol.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: CH_3CH_2CH_2CH_2OH ( 1-butanol, butan-1-ol) and CH_3CH_2CH(OH)CH_3 ( 2-butanol, butan-2-ol).

Bu·ta·zo·li·din n. TRADEMARK a preparation of phenylbutazone used to reduce pain and inflammation.

butch INFORMAL adj. manlike or masculine in appearance or behavior, typically aggressively or ostentatiously so.

■ n. a mannish lesbian, often contrasted with a more feminine partner. Compare with FEMME.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: perhaps an abbreviation of BUTCHER.

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BUTCHER ■

butch·er n. 1 a person whose trade is cutting up and selling meat in a shop.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who slaughters and cuts up animals for food: [with adj.] a pork butcher.

- a person who kills or has people killed indiscriminately or brutally: the Nazi death camp butcher.

2 INFORMAL a person selling refreshments, newspapers, and other items on a train or in a stadium or theater.

■ v. [trans.] (often be butchered) slaughter or cut up (an animal) for food: the meat will be butchered for the local market.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- kill (someone) brutally: they butchered 250 people.

- FIGURATIVE ruin (something) deliberately or through incompetence: the film was butchered by the studio that released it.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French bochier, from boc 'he-goat', probably of the same ultimate origin as BUCK^1 .

Linked entries:

BUCK ■

butch·er·bird n. 1 a shrike (family Laniidae) that impales its prey on thorns.

2 a crowlike predacious Australasian songbird, with a heavy hook-tipped bill. Compare with MAGPIE (sense 2).
<INFO>  Family Cracticidae: three genera, in particular Cracticus, and several species.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from its habit of impaling its prey on thorns.

Linked entries:

MAGPIE ■

butch·er block n. a material used to make kitchen worktops and tables, consisting of strips of hardwood glued together: a slab of butcher block | [as adj.] a butcher-block table.

butch·er knife n. a large, broad-bladed knife used for cutting meat.

butch·er's block n. a sturdy wooden kitchen table with a square top on which food may be chopped.

butch·er's broom n. a low evergreen Eurasian shrub of the lily family, with flat shoots that give the appearance of stiff, spine-tipped leaves.
<INFO>  Ruscus aculeatus, family Liliaceae.

butch·er·y n. (pl. -er·ies) the savage killing of large numbers of people.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the work of slaughtering animals and preparing them for sale as meat.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a slaughterhouse or meat market): from Old French boucherie, from bouchier 'butcher'.

butch haircut n. a haircut that is trimmed very close to the head; crewcut.

bute n. informal term for PHENYLBUTAZONE.

Linked entries:

PHENYLBUTAZONE ■

bu·te·o n. a bird of prey of a group distinguished by broad wings that are used for soaring.
<INFO>  Buteo and related genera, family Accipitridae; many species, including the buzzards and the red-tailed and Harris's hawks.

<ORIGIN> from Latin buteo 'buzzard, hawk'.

Bu·tey·ko meth·od n. a technique of controlled breathing that is claimed to alleviate asthma.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: named after Ukrainian physiologist Konstantin Buteyko (1923-2003 ), who devised the technique.

Bu·the·le·zi Chief Mangosuthu (Gatsha) (1928- ), South African politician. He was elected leader of Zululand (later KwaZulu) in 1970 and was responsible for the revival of the Inkatha movement. He became minister of home affairs in 1994.

But·kus Dick (1942- ), U.S. football player; full name Richard Marvin Butkus. A middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears 1965-73, he was named to the National Football League's (NFL) All-Pro team seven times. Football Hall of Fame (1979).

But·ler 1 Pierce (1866-1939), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1922-39. A conservative, he was appointed to the Court by President Harding.

But·ler 2 Samuel (1612-80), English poet, most notable for his three-part satirical poem Hudibras (1663-78).

But·ler 3 Samuel (1835-1902), English novelist. Notable works: Erewhon (1872), Erewhon Revisited (1901), and The Way of All Flesh (1903).

but·ler n. the chief manservant of a house.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bouteillier 'cupbearer', from bouteille 'bottle'.

but·ler's pan·try n. a small service and storage room between a kitchen and a dining room.

butt 1 v. [trans.] (of a person or animal) hit (someone or something) with the head or horns: she butted him in the chest with her head.
<SPECIAL USAGE> strike (the head) against something: he butts his head against a wall.

■ n. a push or blow, typically given with the head: he would follow up with a butt from his head.

<PHRASES> butt heads engage in conflict or be in strong disagreement: the residents continue to butt heads with the mall developers.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  butt in take part in a conversation or activity, or enter somewhere, without being invited or expected: sorry to butt in on you.

□  butt out INFORMAL stop interfering: anyone who tries to cut across our policies should butt out.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French boter, of Germanic origin.

butt 2 n. the person or thing at which criticism or humor, typically unkind, is directed: his singing is the butt of dozens of jokes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. butts) an archery or shooting target or range.

- a mound on or in front of which a target is set up for archery or shooting.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the archery sense): from Old French but, of unknown origin; perhaps influenced by French butte 'rising ground'.

butt 3 n. 1 (also butt end) the thicker end, esp. of a tool or a weapon: a rifle butt.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the square end of a plank or plate meeting the end or side of another, as in the side of a ship.

- the thicker or hinder end of a hide used for leather.

2 (also butt end) the stub of a cigar or a cigarette: the ashtray was crammed with cigarette butts.

3 INFORMAL the buttocks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the anus.

4 the trunk of a tree, esp. the part just above the ground.

■ v. [intrans.] adjoin or meet end to end: the church butted up against the row of houses; a garden that butted up to the neighbor's.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] join (pieces of stone, lumber, and other building materials) with the ends or sides flat against each other: the floorboards will be butted up against each other to make tight seams.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: the noun apparently related to Dutch bot 'stumpy', also to BUTTOCK; the verb partly from BUTT^2 , reinforced by ABUT.

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BUTTOCK ■

BUTT ■

ABUT ■

butt 4 n. a cask, typically used for wine, ale, or water.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a liquid measure equal to 2 hogsheads (equivalent to 126 U.S. gallons).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French bot, from late Latin buttis.

Butte a city in southwestern Montana, noted as a mining center; pop. 33,336.

butte n. TECHNICAL an isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top (similar to but narrower than a mesa).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, 'mound', from Old French but, of unknown origin (compare with BUTT^2 ).

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BUTT ■

but·ter n. a pale yellow edible fatty substance made by churning cream and used as a spread or in cooking.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] a substance of a similar consistency: cocoa butter.

■ v. [trans.] spread (something) with butter: she buttered the toast | [as adj.] (buttered) lavishly buttered bread.

<PHRASES> look as if butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth INFORMAL appear gentle or innocent while typically being the opposite.

<PHRASAL VERB> butter someone up INFORMAL flatter or otherwise ingratiate oneself with someone.

<ORIGIN> Old English butere, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch boter and German Butter, based on Latin butyrum, from Greek bouturon 'cow cheese'.

but·ter-and-eggs n. see TOADFLAX.

Linked entries:

TOADFLAX ■

but·ter·ball n. INFORMAL DEROGATORY a fat person.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a plump bird, esp. a turkey or bufflehead.

but·ter bean n. a lima bean, esp. one of a variety with large flat white seeds that are usually dried.

but·ter·bur n. a Eurasian waterside plant of the daisy family, the rounded flowerheads of which are produced before the leaves. The large soft leaves were formerly used to wrap butter, and extracts of the plant have long been used medicinally as a powerful anticonvulsant.
<INFO>  Genus Petasites, family Compositae: several species, in particular the common P. hybridus.

but·ter·cream n. a soft mixture of butter and powdered sugar used as a filling or topping for a cake.

but·ter·cup n. a herbaceous plant with bright yellow cup-shaped flowers, common in grassland and as a garden weed. All kinds are poisonous and generally avoided by livestock.
<INFO>  Genus Ranunculus, family Ranunculaceae (the buttercup family): numerous species, including the very familiar common buttercup (R. acris). This large family also includes anemones, celandines, aconites, clematises, and hellebores, many of which have poisonous seeds.

but·ter·cup squash n. a winter squash of a variety with dark green skin and orange flesh.

but·ter·fat n. the natural fat contained in milk and dairy products.

but·ter·fin·gers n. (pl. same) INFORMAL a clumsy person, esp. one who fails to hold a catch.
<SPECIAL USAGE> clumsiness in handling something: fumbling for the ball with butterfingers.

<DERIVATIVES> but·ter·fin·gered adj.

but·ter·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) any of a number of fishes with oily flesh or slippery skin, in particular:
<INFO>
- a deep-bodied edible fish of temperate and tropical seas (family Stromateidae), in particular Peprilus triacanthus of eastern North America.

- another term for GUNNEL^1 .

- an Australasian reef fish (family Odacidae), in particular the edible Odax pullus of New Zealand, which has green bones and feeds on kelp.

- a tropical freshwater or marine fish that is popular in aquariums (several families, including Scatophagidae).

Linked entries:

GUNNEL ■

but·ter·fly n. (pl. -flies) an insect with two pairs of large wings that are covered with tiny scales, usually brightly colored, and typically held erect when at rest. Butterflies fly by day, have clubbed or dilated antennae, and usually feed on nectar.
<INFO>  Superfamilies Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea, order Lepidoptera: several families. Formerly placed in a grouping known as the Rhopalocera.
Compare with MOTH.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a showy or frivolous person: a social butterfly.

- (butterflies) INFORMAL a fluttering and nauseated sensation felt in the stomach when one is nervous.

- (in full butterfly stroke) [in sing.] a stroke in swimming in which both arms are raised out of the water and lifted forward together.

- [as adj.] having a two-lobed shape resembling the spread wings of a butterfly: a butterfly clip.

■ v. (-flies, -flied) [trans.] split (a piece of meat) almost in two and spread it out flat: [as adj.] (butterflied) butterflied shrimp.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from BUTTER + FLY^2 ; perhaps from the cream or yellow color of common species, or from an old belief that the insects stole butter.

Linked entries:

BUTTER ■

FLY ■

but·ter·fly bush n. a Chinese buddleia that is cultivated in the West for its large spikes of fragrant purplish-lilac or white flowers, which are highly attractive to butterflies.
<INFO>  Buddleia davidii, family Loganiaceae.

but·ter·fly ef·fect n. (with reference to chaos theory) the phenomenon whereby a minute localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: from the notion that a butterfly fluttering in Rio de Janeiro could change the weather in Chicago.

but·ter·fly·fish n. 1 any of a number of typically brightly colored or boldly marked fish of warm waters, in particular:
<INFO>
- a reef-dwelling fish that is popular in marine aquariums (Chaetodon and other genera, family Chaetodontidae).

- a predatory marine fish that bears long venomous spines (genus Pterois, family Scorpaenidae).

2 a West African freshwater fish with large pectoral fins used in leaping out of the water and long fin rays used as stilts.
<INFO>  Pantodon buchholzi, the only member of the family Pantodontidae.

but·ter·fly knife n. a long broad knife used in pairs in some forms of kung fu.

but·ter·fly net n. a fine-meshed bag supported on a frame at the end of a handle for catching butterflies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE, HUMOROUS such a net supposedly dropped over a person in order to take the person away to a mental hospital: the men with the butterfly nets will be sitting on the foot of my bed.

but·ter·fly nut n. another term for WING NUT.

Linked entries:

WING NUT ■

but·ter·fly or·chid n. an epiphytic wild orchid of South America with large yellow and red flowers that somewhat resemble a butterfly in shape.
<INFO>  Oncidium papilio, family Orchidaceae.

but·ter·fly stroke n. another term for BUTTERFLY (in swimming).

Linked entries:

BUTTERFLY ■

but·ter·fly valve n. 1 a valve consisting of a disk rotating on an axis across the diameter of a pipe to regulate the flow, as in the throttles of many engines.

2 a valve consisting of a pair of semicircular plates that are attached to a spindle across a pipe and hinged to allow flow only one way.

but·ter·fly weed n. a North American milkweed with bright orange flowers that are attractive to butterflies.
<INFO>  Asclepias tuberosa, family Asclepiadaceae.

but·ter·head let·tuce n. a class of lettuce varieties having soft leaves that grow in a loose head.

but·ter ic·ing n. another term for BUTTERCREAM.

Linked entries:

BUTTERCREAM ■

but·ter knife n. a blunt knife used for cutting or spreading butter or other similar spreads.

but·ter·milk n. the slightly sour liquid left after butter has been churned, used in baking or consumed as a drink.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a pale yellow color (used esp. to describe paint or wallpaper): [as adj.] buttermilk paintwork.

but·ter·nut n. 1 a North American walnut tree that bears oblong sticky fruits. Its light-colored, soft timber is useful primarily for making furniture and cabinetry. Also called WHITE WALNUT.
<INFO>  Juglans cinerea, family Juglandaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the edible oily nut of this tree.

2 HISTORICAL, INFORMAL a Confederate soldier or supporter (so called because the fabric of the Confederate uniform was typically homespun and dyed with butternut extract).

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WHITE WALNUT ■

but·ter·nut squash n. a popular winter squash of a variety that has a bell-shaped fruit with sweet orange-yellow flesh.

but·ter·scotch n. a flavor created originally by combining melted butter with brown sugar: [as adj.] butterscotch syrup.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a candy with this flavor.

but·ter·weed n. a yellow-flowered plant of the daisy family, closely related to ragwort.
<INFO>  Genus Senecio, family Compositae: several species, including the common butterweed (S. vulgaris) of the Pacific states and Bolander's butterweed (S. bolanderi), found esp. along the Pacific coast of North America.

but·ter·wort n. a carnivorous bog plant that has violet flowers borne above a rosette of yellowish-green greasy leaves that trap and digest small insects. It is native to both Eurasia and North America.
<INFO>  Genus Pinguicula, family Lentibulariaceae: several species, in particular the common butterwort (P. vulgaris).

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.

but·ter·y 1 adj. containing or tasting like butter: layers of flaky buttery pastry.
<SPECIAL USAGE> covered with butter: buttery fingers.

<DERIVATIVES> but·ter·i·ness n.

but·ter·y 2 n. (pl. -ter·ies) a pantry, or a room for storing wine and liquor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT. a room, esp. in a college, where food is kept and sold to students.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French boterie 'storeroom for casks', from Old French bot (see BUTT^4 ).

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BUTT ■

butt hinge n. a hinge attached to the abutting surfaces of a door and a door jamb.

butt·in·sky n. (pl. -skies) a person who habitually butts in; an intruder or meddler.

butt joint n. (of wood, metal, etc.) a joint formed by two surfaces abutting at right angles.

but·tle v. [intrans.] HUMOROUS work as a butler: there is no one today worth buttling for.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: back-formation from BUTLER.

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BUTLER ■

but·tock n. either of the two round fleshy parts that form the lower rear area of a human trunk.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (buttocks) the rump of an animal.

<ORIGIN> Old English buttuc, probably from the base of BUTT^3 + -OCK.

Linked entries:

BUTT ■

-OCK ■

but·ton n. a small disk or knob sewn on to a garment, either to fasten it by being pushed through a slit made for the purpose, or for decoration: a blouse with five buttons in front | [as adj.] button thread.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a knob on a piece of electrical or electronic equipment that is pressed to operate it.

- a badge bearing a design or slogan and pinned to the clothing.

- a small, round object resembling a button: chocolate buttons.

- [FENCING] a knob fitted to the point of a foil to make it harmless.

■ v. [trans.] fasten (clothing) with buttons: he buttoned up his jacket.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (button someone into) fasten the buttons of a garment being worn by (someone): he buttoned himself into the raincoat.

- [intrans.] (of a garment) be fastened with buttons: a dress that buttons down the front.

- (button it) [often in imperative] INFORMAL stop talking.

<PHRASES>
□ button one's lip INFORMAL stop or refrain from talking.

□ on the button INFORMAL punctually: it was nearly visiting hours and she would arrive on the button.
- exactly right: his prediction was right on the button in terms of actual rainfall.

□ press the button INFORMAL initiate an action or train of events, esp. nuclear war.

□ push (or press) someone's buttons INFORMAL arouse or provoke a reaction in someone: stay cool and don't allow them to push your buttons.

<PHRASAL VERB> button something up 1 INFORMAL complete or conclude something satisfactorily: trying to button up a deal.

2 [often as adj.] (buttoned up) repress or contain something: it was repressive enough to keep public opinion buttoned up.

<DERIVATIVES> but·ton·less adj. but·toned adj. [in combination] a gold-buttoned blazer.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French bouton, of Germanic origin and related to BUTT^1 .

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BUTT ■

but·ton·ball tree n. another term for SYCAMORE (sense 1).

Linked entries:

SYCAMORE ■

but·ton·bush n. a low-growing North American aquatic shrub of the bedstraw family, with small tubular flowers that form globular flowerheads.
<INFO>  Cephalanthus occidentalis, family Rubiaceae.

but·ton-down adj. [attrib.] (of a collar) having points that are buttoned to the garment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a shirt) having such a collar.

- (of a person) conservative or unimaginative.

■ n. a shirt with a button-down collar.

but·toned-up adj. 1 reserved and not inclined to reveal information: Fleischer's buttoned-up style.

2 secured to the maximum degree against attack: the tank had been buttoned up and had not been seriously damaged.

but·ton·hole n. a slit made in a garment to receive a button for fastening.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT. a boutonnière.

■ v. [trans.] 1 INFORMAL attract the attention of and detain (someone) in conversation, typically against his or her will.

2 make slits for receiving buttons in (a garment).

but·ton·hol·er n. an attachment for a sewing machine used to make buttonholes.

but·ton·hole stitch n. a looped stitch used for edging buttonholes or pieces of material: the edges are worked in buttonhole stitch.

but·ton·hook n. 1 a small hook with a long handle for fastening tight buttons (often formerly on buttoned boots or gloves).

2 [FOOTBALL] a play in which a pass receiver runs straight downfield and then doubles back sharply toward the line of scrimmage.

but·ton man n. INFORMAL a hired killer.

but·ton mush·room n. a young unopened mushroom.

but·ton quail n. a small quaillike Old World bird related to the rails, with only three toes.
<INFO>  Family Turnicidae and genus Turnix: several species, including the widespread barred button quail (T. suscitator) of Asia .

But·tons n. BRIT., INFORMAL a nickname for a liveried pageboy, esp. in pantomimes.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the rows of buttons on his jacket.

but·ton·wood n. 1 (also buttonwood tree) another term for SYCAMORE (sense 1).

2 either of two mangroves native mainly to tropical America, used in the production of tanbark and for charcoal.
<INFO>  Conocarpus erectus (the button mangrove) and Laguncularia racemosa, family Combretaceae.

Linked entries:

SYCAMORE ■

but·tress n. a projecting support of stone or brick built against a wall.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a projecting portion of a hill or mountain.

- FIGURATIVE a source of defense or support: there was a demand for a new stable order as a buttress against social collapse.

■ v. [trans.] provide (a building or structure) with projecting supports built against its walls: [as adj.] (buttressed) a buttressed wall.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE increase the strength of or justification for; reinforce: authority was buttressed by religious belief.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French (ars) bouterez 'thrusting (arch)', from boter 'to strike, thrust' (see BUTT^1 ).

Linked entries:

BUTT ■

but·tress root n. a tree root whose upper, exposed parts project from the trunk like a buttress.

bu·tut n. (pl. same or -tuts) a monetary unit of the Gambia, equal to one hundredth of a dalasi.

bu·tyl n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] an alkyl radical C_4H_9, derived from butane: butyl acetate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> short for BUTYL RUBBER.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from BUTYRIC ACID + -YL.

Linked entries:

BUTYL RUBBER ■

BUTYRIC ACID ■

-YL ■

bu·tyl al·co·hol n. any of four isomeric alcohols used as solvents and in organic synthesis.

bu·tyl·ate v. [trans.] [CHEMISTRY] to combine with a butyl group.

<DERIVATIVES> bu·tyl·a·tion n.

bu·tyl·at·ed hy·drox·y·an·i·sole (abbr.: BHA) n. a synthetic antioxidant used to preserve fats and oils in food.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_11H_16O_2.

bu·tyl·at·ed hy·drox·y·tol·u·ene (abbr. BHT) n. a synthetic antioxidant used to preserve fats and oils in foods, medicinal drugs, and cosmetics.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_15H_24O.

bu·tyl·ene n. any of several isomeric hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum and used to make polymers and in organic synthesis.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_4H_8.

bu·tyl rub·ber n. a synthetic rubber made by polymerizing isobutylene and isoprene.

bu·tyr·a·ceous adj. of or like butter.

bu·tyr·ic ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless, syrupy liquid organic acid found in rancid butter and in arnica oil.
<INFO>  Alternative name: butanoic acid; chem. formula: C_3H_7COOH.

<DERIVATIVES> bu·tyr·ate n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: butyric from Latin butyrum (see BUTTER) + -IC.

Linked entries:

BUTTER ■

-IC ■

bu·ty·rin n. any of three glyceryl esters of butyric acid found naturally in butter.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_3H_5(C_3H_4O_2)3.

bux·om adj. (of a woman) plump, esp. with large breasts.

<DERIVATIVES> bux·om·ness n.

<ORIGIN>  Middle English: from the stem of Old English 'to bend' (see BOW^2 ) + -SOME^1 . The original sense was 'compliant, obliging', later 'lively and good-tempered', influenced by the traditional association of plumpness and good health with an easygoing nature.

Linked entries:

BOW ■

-SOME ■

buy v. (buys, buy·ing; past and past part. bought ) [trans.] 1 obtain in exchange for payment: we had to find some money to buy a house; he had been able to buy up hundreds of acres | [with two objs.] he bought me a new dress | [intrans.] had no interest in buying into an entertainment company.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (buy someone out) pay someone to give up an ownership, interest, or share.

- procure the loyalty and support of (someone) by bribery: here was a man who could not be bought; I'll buy off the investigators.

- [often with negative] be a means of obtaining (something) through exchange or payment: money can't buy happiness.

- (often be bought) get by sacrifice or great effort: greatness is dearly bought.

- [intrans.] make a profession of purchasing goods for a store or firm.

2 INFORMAL accept the truth of: I am not prepared to buy the claim that the ends justify the means | [intrans.] I hate to buy into stereotypes.

3 (bought it) INFORMAL used to say that someone has died: his friends had bought it in the jungle.

■ n. INFORMAL a purchase: the wine is a good buy at $3.49.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an act of purchasing something: out on a produce buy for the restaurant.

<PHRASES>
□ buy the farm INFORMAL die: I refused to admit to my recklessness, even when I nearly bought the farm.

□ buy time delay an event temporarily so as to have longer to improve one's own position.

<ORIGIN> Old English bycgan, of Germanic origin.

buy-back n. the buying back of goods by the original seller.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the buying back by a company of its own shares.

- a form of borrowing in which shares or bonds are sold with an agreement to repurchase them at a later date: [with adj.] a share buy-back.

buy·er n. a person who makes a purchase.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person employed to select and purchase stock or materials for a large retail or manufacturing business, etc.

<PHRASES> a buyer's market an economic situation in which goods or shares are plentiful and buyers can keep prices down.

buy-in n. 1 a purchase of shares by a broker after a seller has failed to deliver similar shares, the original seller being charged any difference in cost.

2 INFORMAL agreement to support a decision: the CEO got a buy-in from all his vice presidents to launch the new product.

buy·out n. the purchase of a controlling share in a company, esp. by its own managers.

buzkashi n. a sport in which teams on horseback compete to gain possession of a headless animal carcass and bring it to a scoring area. It is the national sport of Afghanistan.

buzz n. [in sing.] a low, continuous humming or murmuring sound, made by or similar to that made by an insect: the buzz of the bees; a buzz of conversation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the sound of a buzzer or telephone.

- INFORMAL a telephone call: I'll give you a buzz.

- INFORMAL a rumor: the buzz is that he's in big trouble.

- an atmosphere of excitement and activity: there is a real buzz about the place.

- INFORMAL a feeling of excitement or euphoria: I got such a buzz out of seeing the kids' faces.

■ v. [intrans.] 1 make a humming sound: mosquitoes were buzzing all around us.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [often as n.] (buzzing) (of the ears) be filled with a humming sound: I remember a buzzing in my ears.

- signal with a buzzer: the electric bell began to buzz for closing time | [trans.] he buzzed the stewardesses every five minutes.

- [trans.] INFORMAL make a telephone call to (someone).

2 [with adverbial of direction] move quickly or busily: she buzzed along the highway back into town.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] INFORMAL [AERONAUTICS] fly very close to (another aircraft, the ground, etc.) at a high speed.

3 (of a place) have an air of excitement or purposeful activity: the club is buzzing with excitement.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person's mind or head) be filled with excited or confused thoughts: her mind was buzzing with ideas.

<PHRASAL VERB> buzz off [often in imperative] INFORMAL go away.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: imitative.

buz·zard n. a large hawklike bird of prey with broad wings and a rounded tail, typically seen soaring in wide circles.
<INFO>  Family Accipitridae: several genera, in particular Buteo, and including the common ( Eurasian) buzzard (B. buteo).

<SPECIAL USAGE> a North American vulture, esp. a turkey vulture.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French busard, based on Latin buteo 'falcon'.

Buz·zards Bay an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in southeastern Massachusetts, just west of Cape Cod.

buzz bomb n. INFORMAL a robot bomb, esp. the German V-1 used during World War II.

buzz cut n. a haircut in which all the hair is cut very close to the scalp.

buzz·er n. an electrical device, similar to a bell, that makes a buzzing noise and is used for signaling.

<PHRASES> at the buzzer [SPORTS] at the end of a game or period of play: Smith missed another 3-pointer at the buzzer.

buzz saw n. another term for CIRCULAR SAW.

Linked entries:

CIRCULAR SAW ■

buzz·word (also buzz phrase) n. INFORMAL a technical word or phrase that has become fashionable, typically as a slogan.

buzz·y adj. (buzz·i·er, buzz·i·est) INFORMAL (especially of a place or atmosphere) lively and exciting: a buzzy bar with live music.

BVDs plural n. TRADEMARK a type of boxer shorts.

BVM abbr. Blessed Virgin Mary.

b/w abbr. black and white (used esp. to describe printing, movies, photographs, or television pictures).

bwa·na n. (in East Africa) a boss or master.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used as a form of address: he can't hear you, bwana.

<ORIGIN> Kiswahili.

BWI HISTORICAL abbr. British West Indies.

BWR abbr. boiling-water reactor.

by prep. 1 identifying the agent performing an action:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- after a passive verb: the door was opened by my cousin Annie; | damage caused by fire.

- after a noun denoting an action: further attacks by the mob; a clear decision by the electorate.

- identifying the author of a text, idea, or work of art: a book by Ernest Hemingway.

2 [often with verbal n.] indicating the means of achieving something: malaria can be controlled by attacking the parasite; | they plan to provide further working capital by means of borrowing.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- indicating a term to which an interpretation is to be assigned: what is meant by “fair?”

- indicating a name according to which a person is known: she mostly calls me by my last name.

- indicating the means of transport selected for a journey: traveling by train to Boston.

- indicating the other parent of someone's child or children: Richard is his son by his third wife.

- indicating the sire of a pedigree animal, esp. a horse: a black filly by Goldfuerst.

- (followed by a noun without an adjective) in various phrases indicating how something happens: I heard by chance that she has married again; Anderson, by contrast, rejects this view; she ate by candlelight.

3 indicating the amount or size of a margin: the shot missed her by miles; the raising of taxes by 2.5%.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- indicating a unit of measurement: billing is by the minute.

- in phrases indicating something happening repeatedly or progressively, typically with repetition of a unit of time: colors changing minute by minute; the risk becomes worse by the day.

- identifying a parameter: a breakdown of employment figures by age and occupation.

- expressing multiplication, often in dimensions: a map measuring 24 by 36 inches; she multiplied it by 89.

4 indicating a deadline or the end of a particular time period: I've got to do this report by Monday; by now Kelly needed extensive physiotherapy.

5 indicating location of a physical object beside a place or object: remains were discovered by the roadside; the lamp was by the door.
<SPECIAL USAGE> past; beyond: I drove by our house.

6 indicating the period in which something happens: this animal always hunts by night.

7 concerning; according to: anything you do is all right by me; she had done her duty by him.

8 used in mild oaths: it was the least he could do, by God. <ORIGIN> partly translating French par 'through the medium or agency of'.

■ adv. so as to go past: a car flashed by on the other side of the road; he let only a moment go by.

■ n. (pl. byes) variant spelling of BYE^1 .

<PHRASES>
□ by and by before long; eventually.

□ by the by (or bye) incidentally; parenthetically: where's Hector, by the by?

□ by and large on the whole; everything considered: mammals have, by and large, bigger brains than reptiles. <ORIGIN> originally in nautical use, describing the handling of a ship both with the wind and against it.

□ by oneself
1 alone: living in that big house by himself.

2 unaided: the patient often learns to undress by himself.

□ by way of see WAY.

<ORIGIN> Old English , bi, be, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bij and German bei.

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BYE ■

WAY ■

by- prefix subordinate; incidental; secondary: by-form; byproduct.

By·att A. S. (1936- ), English novelist and literary critic; born Antonia Susan Byatt. She is the sister of Margaret Drabble. Notable novels: The Virgin in the Garden (1978) and Possession (Booker Prize, 1990).

Byb·los an ancient Mediterranean seaport, located on the site of modern Jebeil, north of Beirut in Lebanon. It was a thriving Phoenician city in the 2nd millennium BC.

by-blow n. BRIT. 1 a side-blow not at the main target.

2 a man's illegitimate child.

by-catch n. the unwanted fish and other marine creatures caught during commercial fishing for a different species.

Byd·goszcz an industrial river port in northern central Poland; pop. 381,530. Twenty thousand of its citizens were massacred by Nazis in September 1939. German name BROMBERG.

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BROMBERG ■

bye 1 n. 1 the transfer of a competitor directly to the next round of a competition in the absence of an assigned opponent.

2 [GOLF] one or more holes remaining unplayed after the match has been decided.

<PHRASES> by the bye variant spelling of BY THE BY (see BY).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting a side issue or incidental matter): from the noun BY.

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BY ■

BY ■

bye 2 exclam. INFORMAL short for GOODBYE.

Linked entries:

GOODBYE ■

bye-bye exclam. informal way of saying GOODBYE.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: child's reduplication.

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GOODBYE ■

by-e·lec·tion n. CHIEFLY BRIT. an election to fill a vacancy arising during a term of office.

Bye·lo·rus·sian adj. & n. variant spelling of BELORUSSIAN.

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BELORUSSIAN ■

by-form n. a secondary form of a word: historically, “inquire” is a by-form of “enquire.”

by·gone adj. belonging to an earlier time: relics of a bygone society.

■ n. (usu. bygones) a thing dating from an earlier time.

<PHRASES> let bygones be bygones forget past offenses or causes of conflict and be reconciled.

by·law (also by-law) n. 1 a rule made by a company or society to control the actions of its members.

2 a regulation made by a local authority; an ordinance.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably from obsolete byrlaw 'local law or custom', from Old Norse býjar, genitive singular of býr 'town', but associated with BY.

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BY ■

by·line n. a line in a newspaper naming the writer of an article.

by·name n. (also by-name) a sobriquet or nickname, esp. one given to distinguish people with the same given name.

BYOB abbr. bring your own bottle (or booze, or beer).

by·pass n. a road passing around a town or its center to provide an alternative route for through traffic.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a secondary channel, pipe, or connection to allow a flow when the main one is closed or blocked.

- an alternative passage made by surgery, typically to aid the circulation of blood.

- a surgical operation to make such a passage: a heart bypass.

■ v. [trans.] go past or around: bypass the farm and continue to the road.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- provide (a town) with a route diverting traffic from its center: the town has been bypassed.

- avoid or circumvent (an obstacle or problem): a manager might bypass formal channels of communication.

by·path n. (also by-path) an indirect route.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a minor or obscure branch or detail of a subject: the bypaths of European political life.

by·play n. (also by-play) secondary or subsidiary action or involvement in a play or movie.

by·prod·uct n. (also by-prod·uct) an incidental or secondary product made in the manufacture or synthesis of something else: zinc is a byproduct of the glazing process.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a secondary result, unintended but inevitably produced in doing or producing something else: he saw poverty as the byproduct of colonial prosperity.

Byrd 1 Charlie (1925-99), U.S. guitarist; full name Charles L. Byrd. He was responsible for introducing and applying acoustic classical guitar techniques to jazz and popular music and for launching the samba and bossa nova movements of the 1960s in the U.S. with his album Jazz Samba (1962) with Stan Getz.

Byrd 2 Richard (Evelyn) (1888-1957), U.S. explorer, naval officer, and aviator. He claimed to have made the first aircraft flight over the North Pole 1926, although his actual course has been disputed. He was the first to fly over the South Pole 1929 and led further scientific expeditions to the Antarctic in 1933-34 and 1939-41.

Byrd 3 Robert (1917- ), U.S. politician. From West Virginia, he served in the U.S. Senate 1950-52, 1959- in many leadership positions, including majority leader 1977-80, 1987-88 and chairman of the Appropriations Committee 1989-95.

byre n. CHIEFLY BRIT. a cowshed.

<ORIGIN>  Old English ; perhaps related to BOWER^1 .

Linked entries:

BOWER ■

Byrnes James Francis (1879-1972), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1941-42. A Democrat from South Carolina, he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives 1911-25 and the U.S. Senate 1931-41 before being appointed to the Court by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He resigned from the Court a year later to take several federal positions in the war effort.

by·road n. (also by-road) a minor road.

By·ron George Gordon, 6th Baron (1788-1824), English poet. His poetry exerted considerable influence on the romantic movement, particularly on the Continent. Having joined the fight for Greek independence, he died of malaria before seeing serious action. Notable works: Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (1812-18) and Don Juan (1819-24).

By·ron·ic adj. characteristic of Lord Byron or his poetry.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a man) alluringly dark, mysterious, or moody.

bys·si·no·sis n. a lung disease caused by prolonged inhalation of textile fiber dust.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin byssinus 'made of byssus' (from Greek bussinos) + -OSIS.

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-OSIS ■

bys·sus n. (pl. bys·sus·es or bys·si ) 1 HISTORICAL a fine textile fiber and fabric of flax.

2 [ZOOLOGY] a tuft of tough silky filaments by which mussels and some other bivalves adhere to rocks and other objects: [as adj.] byssus threads.

<DERIVATIVES> bys·sal adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, from Greek bussos, of Semitic origin.

by·stand·er n. a person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part.

by·street n. a side street off the main thoroughfare.

byte n. [COMPUTING] a group of binary digits or bits (usually eight) operated on as a unit. Compare with BIT^4 .
<SPECIAL USAGE> such a group as a unit of memory size.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: an arbitrary formation based on BIT^4 and BITE.

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BIT ■

BIT ■

BITE ■

By·tom a city in southern Poland, northwest of Katowice; pop. 231,200. German name BEUTHEN.

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BEUTHEN ■

by·town·ite n. a calcium-rich plagioclase present in many basic igneous rocks.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Bytown, the former name of Ottawa, Canada, + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ITE ■

by·way n. a road or track not following a main route; a minor road or path.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a little-known area or detail: byways of Russian music.

by·word n. a person or thing cited as a notorious and outstanding example or embodiment of something: his name became a byword for luxury.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a word or expression summarizing a thing's characteristics or a person's principles: “Small is beautiful” may be the byword for most couturiers.

by-your-leave n. request for permission: he borrowed my car without so much as a by-your-leave. See also LEAVE^2

Linked entries:

LEAVE ■

Byz·an·tine adj. of or relating to Byzantium, the Byzantine Empire, or the Eastern Orthodox Church.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of an ornate artistic and architectural style that developed in the Byzantine Empire and spread esp. to Italy and Russia. The art is generally rich and stylized (as in religious icons) and the architecture typified by many-domed, highly decorated churches.

- (of a system or situation) excessively complicated, typically involving a great deal of administrative detail: Byzantine insurance regulations.

- characterized by deviousness or underhanded procedure: Byzantine intrigues; he has the most Byzantine mind in politics.

■ n. a citizen of Byzantium or the Byzantine Empire.

<DERIVATIVES> By·zan·tin·ism n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a BEZANT, a Byzantine coin): from Latin Byzantinus, from BYZANTIUM.

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BEZANT ■

BYZANTIUM ■

Byz·an·tine Em·pire the empire in southeastern Europe and Asia Minor formed from the eastern part of the Roman Empire. It ended with the loss of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

Byz·an·tin·ist n. a historian or other scholar specializing in the study of the Byzantine Empire.

Byz·an·ti·um an ancient Greek city, founded in the 7th century BC, at the southern end of the Bosporus, site of the modern city of Istanbul. It was rebuilt by Constantine the Great in AD 324-330 as Constantinople.

C 1 (also c) n. (pl. Cs or C's) 1 the third letter of the alphabet.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- denoting the third in a set of items, categories, sizes, etc.

- denoting the third of three or more hypothetical people or things.

- the third highest class of academic grades.

- (c) [CHESS] denoting the third file from the left of a chessboard, as viewed from White's side of the board.

- (usu. c) the third fixed constant to appear in an algebraic expression, or a known constant.

- denoting the lowest soil horizon, comprising parent materials.

2 a shape like that of a letter C: [in combination] C-springs.

3 (usu. C) [MUSIC] the first note of the diatonic scale of C major, the major scale having no sharps or flats.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a key based on a scale with C as its keynote.

4 the Roman numeral for 100. <ORIGIN> abbreviation of Latin centum 'hundred'.

5 (C) a high-level computer programming language originally developed for implementing the UNIX operating system. <ORIGIN> formerly known as B, abbreviation of BCPL.

C 2 abbr.
- (C.) Cape (chiefly on maps): C. Hatteras.

- Celsius or centigrade: it was 29°C at noon.

- (©) copyright.

- (in personal ads) Christian.

- a 1.5 volt dry cell battery size.

- [PHYSICS] coulomb(s).

■ symbol
- [PHYSICS] capacitance.

- the chemical element carbon.

<PHRASES> the Big C INFORMAL cancer.

c abbr.
- cent(s).

- [in combination] (in units of measurement) centi-: centistokes (cS).

- (c.) century or centuries: a watch case, 19th c.

- (preceding a date or amount) circa; approximately: Isabella was born c 1759.

- (of water) cold: all cabins have h & c.

- colt.

■ symbol [PHYSICS] the speed of light in a vacuum: E = mc^2.

C8 n. a popular designation for ammonium perfluorooctanoate, a detergentlike chemical used in the manufacture of fluoropolymers. It is the subject of litigation concerning its potentially harmful presence in some drinking water supplies.

CA abbr.
- California (in official postal use).

- Central America.

- chief accountant.

- CANADIAN & SCOTTISH chartered accountant.

Ca symbol the chemical element calcium.

ca (also ca.) abbr. (preceding a date or amount) circa.

Caa·ba variant spelling of KAABA.

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KAABA ■

CAB abbr. Civil Aeronautics Board.

cab 1 n. 1 short for TAXICAB.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a horse-drawn vehicle for public hire.

2 the driver's compartment in a truck, bus, or train.

■ v. (cabbed, cab·bing) [intrans.] travel in a taxi: Roger cabbed home.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: abbreviation of CABRIOLET.

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TAXICAB ■

CABRIOLET ■

cab 2 n. INFORMAL a cabinet containing a speaker or speakers for a guitar amplifier.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: abbreviation.

ca·bal n. a secret political clique or faction: a cabal of dissidents. See note at PLOT.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting the cabbala): from French cabale, from medieval Latin cabala (see KABBALAH).

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KABBALAH ■

Cab·a·la n. variant spelling of KABBALAH.

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KABBALAH ■

ca·ba·let·ta n. (pl. -let·tas or -let·te ) a simple aria with a repetitive rhythm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the uniformly quick final section of an aria.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Italian, variant of coboletta 'short stanza', diminutive of cobola, from Old Provençal cobla, from Latin copula 'connection'.

cab·a·lis·tic adj. relating to or associated with mystical interpretation or esoteric doctrine. See also KABBALAH.

<DERIVATIVES> cab·a·lism n. cab·a·list n.

<ORIGIN> variant of Kabbalistic: see KABBALAH.

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KABBALAH ■

KABBALAH ■

ca·bal·le·ro n. (pl. -ros) 1 a Spanish or Mexican gentleman.

2 (in the southwestern U.S.) a horseman.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Spanish, 'gentleman, horseman', based on Latin caballus 'horse'. Compare with CAVALIER, CHEVALIER.

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CAVALIER ■

CHEVALIER ■

ca·ban·a n. a cabin, hut, or shelter, esp. one at a beach or swimming pool.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Spanish cabaña, from late Latin capana, cavana 'cabin'.

cab·a·ret n. entertainment held in a nightclub or restaurant while the audience eats or drinks at tables: she was seen recently in cabaret | [as adj.] a cabaret act.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a nightclub or restaurant where such entertainment is performed.

<ORIGIN> mid-17th cent. (denoting a French inn): from Old French, literally 'wooden structure', via Middle Dutch from Old Picard camberet 'little room'. Current senses date from the early 20th cent.

cab·bage n. a cultivated plant eaten as a vegetable, having thick green or purple leaves surrounding a spherical heart or head of young leaves.
<INFO>  Brassica oleracea, family Brassicaceae (the cabbage family). As well as the brassicas, the members of this family (known as crucifers) include the mustards and cresses together with many ornamentals (candytuft, alyssum, stocks, nasturtiums, wallflowers).

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the leaves of this plant, eaten as a vegetable.

- INFORMAL paper money: I'd have cabbage galore in the bank if I were more frugal.

<DERIVATIVES> cab·bage·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French (Picard) caboche 'head', variant of Old French caboce, of unknown origin.

cab·bage mag·got n. a small fly whose larvae feed on the roots and stems of cabbages and related plants and can be a serious pest.
<INFO>  Delia radicum, family Anthomyiidae.

cab·bage moth n. a brown moth whose caterpillars are pests of cabbages and related plants.
<INFO>  Mamestra brassicae, family Noctuidae.

cab·bage palm n. any of a number of palms or palmlike plants that resemble a cabbage in some way, in particular:
<INFO>
- a Caribbean palm with edible buds that resemble a cabbage (Roystonea oleraceae, family Palmae).

- an evergreen plant occurring in warm regions and grown elsewhere as a greenhouse or indoor plant (genus Cordyline, family Agavaceae).

cab·bage pal·met·to n. see PALMETTO.

Linked entries:

PALMETTO ■

cab·bage rose n. a kind of rose with a large, round, compact double flower.

cab·bage white n. a mainly white butterfly that has caterpillars that are pests of cabbages and related plants.
<INFO>  Genus Pieris, family Pieridae: several species, in particular the imported cabbageworm P. rapae.

cab·bage·worm n. any caterpillar that is a pest of cabbages, esp. that of the cabbage white butterfly.

Cab·ba·la n. variant spelling of KABBALAH.

Linked entries:

KABBALAH ■

cab·bie (also cab·by) n. (pl. -bies) INFORMAL a taxicab driver.

ca·ber n. a roughly trimmed tree trunk used in the Scottish Highland sport of tossing the caber. This involves holding the caber upright and running forward to toss it so that it lands on the opposite end.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic cabar 'pole'.

Ca·ber·net n. short for CABERNET FRANC or CABERNET SAUVIGNON.

Linked entries:

CABERNET FRANC ■

CABERNET SAUVIGNON ■

Ca·ber·net Franc n. a variety of black wine grape grown chiefly in parts of the Loire valley and northeastern Italy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a red wine made from this grape.

<ORIGIN> French.

Ca·ber·net Sau·vi·gnon n. a variety of black wine grape from the Bordeaux area of France, now grown throughout the world.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a red wine made from this grape.

<ORIGIN> French.

Ca·be·za Pri·e·ta a national wildlife refuge in southwestern Arizona, in the Sonoran Desert. The Cabeza Prieta Mountains give their name to the preserve, which is home to bighorn sheep and other species.

cab·e·zon n. a heavy-bodied fish with a broad tentacle above each eye and a green-brown body with white patches, found on the west coast of North America.
<INFO>  Scorpaenichthys marmoratus, family Cottidae.

<ORIGIN> Spanish.

cab-for·ward adj. [attrib.] (of the design of car or truck) having the driver's or passenger compartment is placed so as to extend further forward than the standard position.

ca·bil·do n. (pl. -dos) (in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries) a town council or local government council.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a town hall.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, from late Latin capitulum 'chapter house'.

cab·in n. 1 a private room or compartment on a ship.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the area for passengers in an aircraft.

2 a small shelter or house, made of wood and situated in a wild or remote area.

■ v. (cab·ined, cab·in·ing) [trans.] [often as adj.] (cabined) DATED confine in a small place.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cabane, from Provençal cabana, from late Latin capanna, cavanna.

cab·in boy n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a boy employed to wait on a ship's officers or passengers.

cab·in class n. the intermediate class of accommodations on a passenger ship.

cab·in crew n. [treated as sing. or pl.] the members of an aircraft crew who attend to passengers or cargo.

cab·in cruis·er n. a recreational motorboat with sleeping accommodations.

Ca·bin·da an exclave of Angola at the mouth of the Congo River, separated from the rest of Angola by a wedge of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).
<SPECIAL USAGE> the capital of this area; pop. 163,000.

cab·i·net n. 1 a cupboard with drawers or shelves for storing or displaying articles: a medicine cabinet.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a wooden box, container, or piece of furniture housing a radio, television set, or speaker.

2 (in the U.S.) a body of advisers to the President, composed of the heads of the executive departments of the government: [as adj.] a cabinet meeting.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also Cabinet) (in the UK, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries) the committee of senior ministers responsible for controlling government policy.

3 ARCHAIC a small private room.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from CABIN + -ET^1 , influenced by French cabinet.

Linked entries:

CABIN ■

-ET ■

cab·i·net·mak·er n. a skilled joiner who makes furniture or similar high-quality woodwork.

<DERIVATIVES> cab·i·net·mak·ing n.

cab·i·net min·is·ter n. (in the UK, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries) a member of a parliamentary cabinet.

cab·i·net·ry n. cabinets collectively.

cab·in fe·ver n. INFORMAL irritability, listlessness, and similar symptoms resulting from long confinement or isolation indoors during the winter.

ca·ble n. 1 a thick rope of wire or nonmetallic fiber, typically used for construction, mooring ships, and towing vehicles.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the chain of a ship's anchor.

- [NAUTICAL] a length of 200 yards (182.9 m) or (in the U.S.) 240 yards (219.4 m).

- short for CABLE STITCH.

- (also cable molding) [ARCHITECTURE] a molding resembling twisted rope.

2 an insulated wire or wires having a protective casing and used for transmitting electricity or telecommunication signals: an underground cable | transatlantic phone calls went by cable.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a cablegram.

- short for CABLE TELEVISION.

■ v. [trans.] 1 contact or send a message to (someone) by cablegram.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- transmit (a message) by cablegram.

- [intrans.] send a cablegram: we cabled to a boat at sea, asking it to stop.

2 (often be cabled) provide (an area or community) with power lines or with the equipment necessary for cable television.

3 [ARCHITECTURE] decorate (a structure) with rope-shaped moldings.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French chable, from late Latin capulum 'halter'.

Linked entries:

CABLE STITCH ■

CABLE TELEVISION ■

ca·ble car n. 1 a transportation system, typically one traveling up and down a mountain, in which cabins are suspended on a continuous moving cable driven by a motor at one end of the route.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a cabin on such a system.

2 a car on a cable railroad.

ca·ble·gram n. HISTORICAL a telegraph message sent by cable: Walter shot off a cablegram | we received the word of his death by cablegram.

ca·ble-laid adj. (of rope) made of three right-handed triple strands (or smaller ropes) twisted together left-handed, used originally of a very large rope of the type used for anchor cables.

ca·ble mo·dem n. a type of modem that connects a computer or local network to broadband Internet service through the same cable that supplies cable television service: [as adj.] a cable-modem connection.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the service connection made via a cable modem: a broadband Internet connection, such as DSL or cable modem.

ca·ble rail·road n. a railroad along which cars are drawn by a continuous cable, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a tramway on which the unpowered cars are attached, for as long as they are required to move, to a continuously moving cable running in a slot in the street.

- a funicular.

ca·ble-read·y adj. [attrib.] adapted for cable television.

ca·ble re·lease n. [PHOTOGRAPHY] a cable attached to the shutter release of a camera, allowing the photographer to open the shutter without touching or moving the camera.

ca·ble-stayed bridge n. a bridge in which the weight of the deck is supported by a number of cables running directly to one or more towers.

ca·ble stitch n. a combination of knitted stitches done to resemble twisted rope.

ca·ble tel·e·vi·sion n. a system in which television programs are transmitted to the sets of subscribers by cable rather than by a broadcast signal.

ca·ble tier n. HISTORICAL [NAUTICAL] a place in a ship for stowing a coiled cable.

ca·ble·way n. a transportation system in which goods are carried suspended from a continuous moving cable.

cab·man n. (pl. -men) a taxicab driver.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL the driver of a horse-drawn hackney carriage.

ca·boched adj. variant spelling of CABOSHED.

Linked entries:

CABOSHED ■

cab·o·chon n. a gem polished but not faceted: [as adj.] a necklace of cabochon rubies.

<PHRASES> en cabochon (of a gem) treated in this way.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, diminutive of caboche 'head'.

ca·bo·clo n. (pl. -clos) (in Brazil) an American Indian.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a Brazilian of mixed white and Indian or Indian and black ancestry.

<ORIGIN> Brazilian Portuguese, perhaps from Tupi Kaa-boc 'person having copper-colored skin'.

ca·boo·dle (also ka·boo·dle) n. (in phrase the whole caboodle or the whole kit and caboodle) INFORMAL the whole number or quantity of people or things in question.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (originally U.S.): perhaps from the phrase kit and boodle, in the same sense (see KIT^1 , BOODLE).

Linked entries:

KIT ■

BOODLE ■

ca·boose n. 1 a railroad car with accommodations for the train crew, typically attached to the end of the train.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL (typically referring to a woman) buttocks:
she got a sexy caboose.

2 ARCHAIC a kitchen on a ship's deck.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Dutch kabuis, kombuis, of unknown origin.

Ca·bo·ra Bas·sa a lake on the Zambezi River in western Mozambique. Its waters are impounded by a dam and massive hydroelectric complex.

ca·boshed (also ca·boched or ca·bossed ) adj. [usu. postpositive] [HERALDRY] (of the head of a stag, bull, etc.) shown full face with no neck visible.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French caboché, in the same sense.

Cab·ot the name of two Italian explorers and navigators.
<SPECIAL USAGE> John (c.1450-c.1498); Italian name Giovanni Caboto. An Italian in the service of England, he sailed from Bristol in 1497 in search of Asia, but in fact discovered the mainland of North America.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Sebastian (c.1475-1557), son of John. It is thought that he accompanied his father on his voyage in 1497 and that he made further voyages after the latter's death, most notably to explore the coast of Brazil and the Plate River in 1526.

cab·o·tage n. the right to operate sea, air, or other transport services within a particular territory.
<SPECIAL USAGE> restriction of the operation of sea, air, or other transport services within or into a particular country to that country's own transport services.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from caboter 'sail along a coast', perhaps from Spanish cabo 'cape, headland'.

Cab·ot Strait an ocean passage between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia that links the Gulf of St. Lawrence with the Atlantic Ocean.

cab·o·ver n. a truck where the driver's cab is mounted directly above the engine.

Ca·bra·les n. a pungent blue cheese from Spain.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, from cabra 'goat'.

Ca·bri·ni St. Frances Xavier (1850-1917), U.S. religious leader, born in Italy; born Maria Francesca Cabrini; known as Mother Cabrini. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in 1880 and was responsible for the establishment of many schools, hospitals, and orphanages in the U.S. and South America. She became the first American saint in 1946.

cab·ri·ole n. [BALLET] a jump in which one leg is extended into the air forward or backward, the other is brought up to meet it, and the dancer lands on the second foot.

<ORIGIN> French, literally 'light leap', from cabrioler (earlier caprioler), from Italian capriolare 'to leap in the air' (see CAPRIOLE).

Linked entries:

CAPRIOLE ■

cab·ri·ole leg n. a kind of curved leg characteristic of Chippendale and Queen Anne furniture.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: so named from the resemblance to the front leg of a leaping animal (see CABRIOLE).

Linked entries:

CABRIOLE ■

cab·ri·o·let n. 1 a car with a roof that folds down.

2 a light, two-wheeled carriage with a hood, drawn by one horse.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French, from cabriole 'goat's leap', from cabrioler 'to leap in the air' (see CABRIOLE); so named because of the carriage's motion.

Linked entries:

CABRIOLE ■

cab·stand n. a place for taxis to wait for passengers.

ca'can·ny n. BRIT., DATED the policy of deliberately limiting output at work.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (originally Scots in the sense 'proceed warily'): from ca' (variant of the verb CALL) and CANNY.

Linked entries:

CALL ■

CANNY ■

ca·ca·o n. (pl. -os) 1 beanlike seeds from which cocoa, cocoa butter, and chocolate are made.

2 the small tropical American evergreen tree that bears these seeds, which are contained in large, oval pods that grow on the trunk. The tree is now cultivated mainly in West Africa.
<INFO>  Theobroma cacao, family Sterculiaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via Spanish from Nahuatl cacaua.

cac·cia·to·re (also cac·cia·to·ra ) adj. [postpositive] prepared in a spicy tomato sauce with mushrooms and herbs: chicken cacciatore.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'hunter' (because of the use of ingredients that a hunter might have to hand).

ca·cha·ca (also ca·ch·aça) n. a Brazilian white rum made from sugar cane.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Brazilian Portuguese, from Portuguese cacaça '(white) rum'.

cach·a·lot n. another term for SPERM WHALE.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French, from Spanish and Portuguese cachalote, from cachola 'big head'.

Linked entries:

SPERM WHALE ■

cache n. a collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden or inaccessible place: an arms cache; a cache of gold coins.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a hidden or inaccessible storage place for valuables, provisions, or ammunition.

- (also cache memory) [COMPUTING] an auxiliary memory from which high-speed retrieval is possible.

■ v. [trans.] store away in hiding or for future use.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [COMPUTING] store (data) in a cache memory.

- [COMPUTING] provide (hardware) with a cache memory.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, from cacher 'to hide'.

ca·chec·tic adj. [MEDICINE] relating to or having the symptoms of cachexia.

cache·pot n. (pl. pronunc. same) an ornamental holder for a flowerpot.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French cache-pot, from cacher 'to hide' + pot 'pot'.

cache-sexe n. (pl. cache-sexes pronunc. same) a covering for a person's genitals, typically worn by erotic dancers or tribal peoples.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from French, from cacher 'to hide' and sexe 'genitals'.

ca·chet n. 1 the state of being respected or admired; prestige: no other shipping company had quite the cachet of Cunard.

2 a distinguishing mark or seal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHILATELY] a printed design added to an envelope to commemorate a special event.

3 a flat capsule enclosing a dose of unpleasant-tasting medicine.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French, from cacher in the sense 'to press', based on Latin coactare 'constrain'.

ca·chex·i·a n. [MEDICINE] weakness and wasting of the body due to severe chronic illness.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek kakhexia, from kakos 'bad' + hexis 'habit'.

cach·in·nate v. [intrans.] POETIC/LITERARY laugh loudly.

<DERIVATIVES> cach·in·na·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin cachinnat- 'laughed loudly', from the verb cachinnare, of imitative origin.

ca·chou n. (pl. -chous) 1 DATED a pleasant-smelling lozenge sucked to mask bad breath.

2 var. of CATECHU.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'catechu'): from French, from Portuguese cachu, from Malay kacu. The 'lozenge' sense dates from the early 18th cent.

Linked entries:

CATECHU ■

ca·chu·cha n. a lively Spanish solo dance in triple time, accompanied by castanets.

<ORIGIN> Spanish.

ca·cique n. 1 (in Latin America or the Spanish-speaking Caribbean) a native chief.

2 (in Spain or Latin America) a local political boss.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Spanish or French, from Taino.

cack·le v. [intrans.] (of a bird, typically a hen or goose) give a raucous, clucking cry: the hen was cackling as if demented | [as adj.] (cackling) cackling, whooping cries.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make a harsh sound resembling such a cry when laughing: she cackled with laughter | [with direct speech] “Ah ha!” he cackled.

■ n. the raucous clucking cry of a bird such as a hen or a goose.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a harsh laugh resembling such a cry: her delighted cackle.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably from Middle Low German , partly imitative, reinforced by 'jaw, cheek'.

cack·le·ber·ry n. HUMOROUS a hen's egg.

cac·o·de·mon n. a malevolent spirit or person.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Greek , from kakos 'bad' + 'spirit'.

cac·o·dyl n. [CHEMISTRY] a malodorous, toxic, spontaneously flammable liquid compound containing arsenic.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: ((CH_3)2As)2.

<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] of or denoting the radical As(CH_3)2, derived from this.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek 'stinking' (from kakos 'bad') + -YL.

Linked entries:

-YL ■

cac·o·dyl·ic ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a toxic crystalline acid containing arsenic, used as a herbicide.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: (CH_3)2AsO(OH).

<DERIVATIVES> cac·o·dyl·ate n.

cac·o·e·thes n. [in sing.] RARE an irresistible urge to do something inadvisable.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek 'ill-disposed', from kakos 'bad' + 'disposition'.

ca·cog·ra·phy n. ARCHAIC bad handwriting or spelling.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·cog·ra·pher n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Greek kakos 'bad', on the pattern of orthography.

ca·col·o·gy n. ARCHAIC bad choice of words or poor pronunciation.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: via late Latin from Greek kakologia 'vituperation', from kakos 'bad'.

cac·o·mis·tle n. a nocturnal raccoonlike animal with a dark-ringed tail, found in North and Central America.
<INFO>  Genus Bassariscus, family Procyonidae: two species, in particular B. sumichrasti of Central America. See also RING-TAILED CAT.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin American Spanish cacomixtle, from Nahuatl tlacomiztli.

Linked entries:

RING-TAILED CAT ■

ca·coph·o·ny n. (pl. -nies) a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds: a cacophony of deafening alarm bells | FIGURATIVE a cacophony of architectural styles | songs of unrelieved cacophony.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·coph·o·nous adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French cacophonie, from Greek , from 'ill-sounding', from kakos 'bad' + 'sound'.

cac·tus n. (pl. -ti or -tuses) a succulent plant with a thick, fleshy stem that typically bears spines, lacks leaves, and has brilliantly colored flowers. Cacti are native to arid regions of the New World and are cultivated elsewhere, esp. as houseplants.
<INFO>  Cactaceae

<DERIVATIVES> cac·ta·ceous adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'cardoon'): from Latin, from Greek kaktos 'cardoon'.

cac·tus dahl·ia n. a dahlia of a variety that has rolled petals, giving the flower a prickly appearance.

ca·cu·mi·nal adj. [PHONETICS] another term for RETROFLEX.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin cacuminare 'make pointed' (from cacumen, cacumin- 'top, summit') + -AL.

Linked entries:

RETROFLEX ■

-AL ■

CAD abbr. computer-aided design.

cad n. DATED or HUMOROUS a man who behaves dishonorably, esp. toward a woman: her adulterous cad of a husband.

<DERIVATIVES> cad·dish adj. cad·dish·ly adv. cad·dish·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (denoting a passenger picked up by the driver of a horse-drawn coach for personal profit): abbreviation of CADDIE or CADET.

Linked entries:

CADDIE ■

CADET ■

ca·das·tral adj. (of a map or survey) showing the extent, value, and ownership of land, esp. for taxation.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from cadastre 'register of property', from Provençal cadastro, from Italian catastro (earlier catastico), from late Greek katastikhon 'list, register', from kata stikhon 'line by line'.

ca·das·tre n. a register of property showing the extent, value, and ownership of land for taxation.

ca·dav·er n. [MEDICINE] or POETIC/LITERARY a corpse. See note at BODY.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·dav·er·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, from cadere 'to fall'.

ca·dav·er·ine n. a toxic liquid base, 1,5-diaminopentane, formed by the putrefaction of proteins.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: H_2N(CH_2)5NH_2.

ca·dav·er·ous adj. resembling a corpse in being very pale, thin, or bony: he had a cadaverous appearance.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin cadaverosus, from cadaver 'corpse'.

CADCAM (also CAD/CAM) abbr. computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing.

cad·die (also cad·dy) n. (pl. -dies) a person who carries a golfer's clubs and provides other assistance during a match.

■ v. (cad·died, cad·dy·ing) [intrans.] work as a caddie.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (originally Scots): from French CADET. The original term denoted a gentleman who joined the army without a commission, intending to learn the profession and follow a military career, later coming to mean 'odd-job man'. The current sense dates from the late 18th cent.

Linked entries:

CADET ■

cad·dis·fly (also cad·dis fly) n. (pl. -flies) a small, mothlike insect with an aquatic larva that typically builds a protective, portable case of sticks, stones, and other particles. Some kinds have been traditionally used as bait by fishermen.
<INFO>  Trichoptera

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

cad·dis-worm (also cad·dis worm) n. the soft-bodied, aquatic larva of a caddisfly, often used as fishing bait.

Cad·do·an adj. relating to or denoting a group of American Indian peoples formerly inhabiting the Midwest, or their languages.

■ n. 1 a member of any of these peoples.

2 the family of languages spoken by these peoples, which includes Pawnee and may be related to Siouan and Iroquoian.

<ORIGIN> from Caddo (a language of this family) kaduhdacu, denoting a band belonging to this group, + -AN.

Linked entries:

-AN ■

cad·dy 1 n. (pl. -dies) [usu. with adj.] a small storage container, typically one with divisions: a tool caddy. See also TEA CADDY.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from earlier catty, denoting a unit of weight of 1^1/3/ lb. (0.61 kg.), from Malay kati.

Linked entries:

TEA CADDY ■

cad·dy 2 n. & v. variant spelling of CADDIE.

Linked entries:

CADDIE ■

Cade Jack (died 1450), Irish rebel; full name John Cade. In 1450, he assumed the name of Mortimer and led the Kentish rebels against Henry VI. They occupied London for three days and executed the treasurer of England and the sheriff of Kent.

ca·delle n. a small, dark beetle that is frequently found in food storage, where it scavenges and preys on other insects.
<INFO>  Tenebroides mauritanicus, family Cleridae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, based on Latin catella, catellus 'young (of an animal), little dog'.

ca·dence n. 1 a modulation or inflection of the voice: the measured cadences that he employed in the Senate.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- such a modulation in reading aloud as implied by the structure and ordering of words and phrases in written text: the dry cadences of the essay.

- a fall in pitch of the voice at the end of a phrase or sentence.

- rhythm: the thumping cadence of the engines; try to vary your cadence during a run.

2 [MUSIC] a sequence of notes or chords comprising the close of a musical phrase: the final cadences of the Prelude.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·denced adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'rhythm or metrical beat'): via Old French from Italian cadenza, based on Latin cadere 'to fall'.

ca·den·cy n. [CHIEFLY HERALDRY] the status of a younger branch of a family.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'rhythm or metrical beat'): based on Latin cadent- 'falling', from the verb cadere. The current sense is apparently by association with CADET.

Linked entries:

CADET ■

ca·den·tial adj. of or relating to a cadenza or cadence.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CADENCE, on the pattern of pairs such as essence, essential.

Linked entries:

CADENCE ■

ca·den·za n. [MUSIC] a virtuoso solo passage inserted into a movement in a concerto or other work, typically near the end.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Italian (see CADENCE).

Linked entries:

CADENCE ■

ca·det n. 1 a young trainee in the armed services or police force: an air force cadet.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a student in training at a military school.

2 FORMAL or ARCHAIC a younger son or daughter.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. as adj.] a junior branch of a family: a cadet branch of the family.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·det·ship n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (sense 2): from French, from Gascon dialect capdet, a diminutive based on Latin caput 'head'. The notion “little head” or “inferior head” gave rise to that of 'younger, junior'.

cadge v. [trans.] BRIT. INFORMAL ask for or obtain (something to which one is not strictly entitled): he eats whenever he can cadge a meal. | [intrans.] they cadge, but timidly.

■ n. [FALCONRY] a padded wooden frame on which hooded hawks are carried to the field. <ORIGIN> apparently an alteration of CAGE, perhaps confused with the dialect verb cadge 'carry around'.

<PHRASES> on the cadge BRIT., INFORMAL looking for an opportunity to obtain something without paying for it.

<DERIVATIVES> cadg·er n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the dialect sense 'carry around'): back-formation from the noun cadger, which dates from the late 15th cent., denoting (in northern English and Scots) an itinerant dealer, whence the verb sense 'hawk, peddle', giving rise to the current verb senses from the early 19th cent.

Linked entries:

CAGE ■

ca·di (also ka·di) n. (pl. ca·dis) (in Islamic countries) a judge.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Arabic , from 'to judge'.

Ca·dil·lac Antoine Laumet de La Mothe (1658-1730), French soldier and colonialist. He founded military posts at Mackinac 1694 and Detroit 1701; from 1713 to about 1716 or 1717 he served as governor of Louisiana.

Cad·il·lac Moun·tain a peak on Mount Desert Island in southeastern Maine, within Acadia National Park. At 1,532 feet (467 m), it is the highest point on the U.S. east coast.

Ca·diz a city and port on the southwestern coast of Spain; pop. 156,560. Spanish name CÁDIZ.

Cad·me·an adj. of or relating to Cadmus.

cad·mi·um n. the chemical element of atomic number 48, a silvery-white metal. (Symbol: Cd)

Cadmium occurs naturally in zinc ores and is obtained as a byproduct of zinc smelting. It is used as a component in low melting point alloys and as a corrosion-resistant coating on other metals.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin cadmia 'calamine', so named because it is found with calamine in zinc ore. Compare with CALAMINE.

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CALAMINE ■

cad·mi·um cell n. a primary electric cell with a cathode of cadmium amalgam and an electrolyte of saturated cadmium sulfate solution, used in laboratories as a standard of electromotive force.

cad·mi·um yel·low n. a bright yellow pigment containing cadmium sulfide. Deeper versions are called cadmium orange; the addition of cadmium selenide gives cadmium red.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a bright yellow color.

Cad·mus [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the brother of Europa and traditional founder of Thebes in Boeotia. He killed a dragon that guarded a spring, and when (on Athena's advice) he sowed the dragon's teeth, there came up a harvest of armed men; he disposed of the majority by setting them to fight one another, and the survivors formed the ancestors of the Theban nobility.

ca·dre n. a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession: a small cadre of scientists.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a group of activists in a communist or other revolutionary organization.

- a member of such a group.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from Italian quadro, from Latin quadrus 'square'.

ca·du·ce·us n. (pl. -ce·i ) an ancient Greek or Roman herald's wand, typically one with two serpents twined around it, carried by the messenger god Hermes or Mercury.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a representation of this, traditionally associated with healing.

<ORIGIN> Latin, from Doric Greek karukeion, from Greek 'herald'.

ca·du·ci·ty n. ARCHAIC the infirmity of old age; senility.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY frailty or transitory nature: read these books and reflect on their caducity.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French caducité, from caduc, from Latin caducus 'liable to fall', from cadere 'to fall'.

ca·du·cous adj. [CHIEFLY BOTANY] (of an organ or part) easily detached and shed at an early stage.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (in the sense 'epileptic'): from Latin caducus 'liable to fall' (from cadere 'to fall') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

CAE abbr. computer-aided engineering.

cae·cil·i·an (also coe·cil·i·an) n. [ZOOLOGY] a burrowing wormlike amphibian of a tropical order distinguished by poorly developed eyes and the lack of limbs.
<INFO>  Order Gymnophiona (or Apoda): five families.

<ORIGIN> from modern Latin Caecilia (genus name), from Latin caecilia 'slow-worm' + -AN.

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-AN ■

cae·cum n. (pl. -ca) British spelling of CECUM.

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CECUM ■

Caed·mon (7th century), Anglo-Saxon monk and poet. He is said to have been an illiterate herdsman who was inspired in a vision to compose poetry on biblical themes.

Cae·lum [ASTRONOMY] a small and faint southern constellation (the Chisel), next to Eridanus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Cae·li ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Beta Caeli.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

Caen an industrial city and river port in northern France, in Normandy, on the Orne River, capital of the region of Basse-Normandie; pop. 115,620.

Caer·dydd Welsh name for CARDIFF.

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CARDIFF ■

Caer·phil·ly n. a kind of mild white cheese, originally made in Caerphilly in Wales.

Cae·sar 1 Gaius Julius (100-44 BC), Roman general and statesman. He established the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus in 60 and became consul in 59. Between 58 and 51 he fought the Gallic Wars, invaded Britain 55-54, and acquired immense power. After civil war with Pompey, which ended in Pompey's defeat at Pharsalus in 48, Caesar became dictator of the Roman Empire. He was murdered on the Ides (15th) of March in a conspiracy led by Brutus and Cassius.

Cae·sar 2 Sid (1922- ), U.S. comedian and actor. One of the stars featured on television's "Your Show of Shows" (1950-54), he was paired with comedienne Imogene Coca (1908-2001).

Cae·sar 3 n. 1 a title used by Roman emperors, esp. those from Augustus to Hadrian.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an autocrat: they complained that he was behaving like a Caesar.

2 INFORMAL [MEDICINE] a Caesarean section.

<PHRASES> Caesar's wife a person who is required to be above suspicion. <ORIGIN> with reference to Plutarch's Caesar (X. 6) ‘I thought my wife ought not even to be under suspicion.’

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin Caesar, family name of the Roman statesman Gaius JULIUS CAESAR.

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JULIUS CAESAR ■

Caes·a·re·a an ancient port on the Mediterranean coast of Israel, one of the principal cities of Roman Palestine.

Cae·sa·re·a Maz·a·ca former name for KAYSERI.

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KAYSERI ■

cae·sar·e·an adj. & n. 1 (also Cae·sar·e·an) variant spelling of CESAREAN.

2 (Caesarean) of or connected with Julius Caesar or the Caesars.

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CESAREAN ■

Caes·a·re·a Phi·lip·pi a city in ancient Palestine, on the site of the present-day village of Baniyas in the Golan Heights.

Cae·sar sal·ad n. a salad consisting of romaine lettuce and croutons served with a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, raw egg, Worcestershire sauce, and seasoning.

<ORIGIN> named after Caesar Cardini, the Mexican restaurateur who invented it in 1924.

cae·si·um n. British spelling of CESIUM.

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CESIUM ■

cae·su·ra n. (in Greek and Latin verse) a break between words within a metrical foot.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in modern verse) a pause near the middle of a line.

- any interruption or break: an unaccountable caesura: no deaths were reported in the newspapers.

<DERIVATIVES> cae·su·ral adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin, from caes- 'cut, hewn', from the verb caedere.

CAF abbr. cost and freight.

ca·fard n. depression; melancholia.

<ORIGIN> from French.

CAFE abbr. Corporate Average Fuel Economy.

ca·fé (also ca·fe) n. 1 a small restaurant selling light meals and drinks.

2 a bar or nightclub.

3 a serving of coffee, esp. prepared European-style: [in combination] an assortment of cappuccinos and café mochas.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, 'coffee or coffeehouse'.

ca·fé au lait n. coffee with milk.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the light brown color of this: [as adj.] smooth café au lait skin.

<ORIGIN> from French.

ca·fé con le·che n. coffee with milk.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, literally 'coffee with milk.'

ca·fé fil·tre n. coffee made with a cafetière.

ca·fé noir n. black coffee.

<ORIGIN> French.

caf·e·te·ri·a n. a restaurant or dining room in a school or a business in which customers serve themselves or are served from a counter and pay before eating.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin American Spanish cafetería 'coffee shop'.

caf·e·te·ri·a ben·e·fit n. an employee benefit selected from a variety of offerings under a fringe-benefit plan that can be tailored to fit individual needs.

caf·fein·at·ed adj. (of coffee or tea) containing the natural amount of caffeine, or with caffeine added.

caf·feine n. a crystalline compound that is found esp. in tea and coffee plants and is a stimulant of the central nervous system.
<INFO>  An alkaloid, 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine; chem. formula: C_8H_10N_4O_2.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French caféine, from café 'coffee'.

caf·fè lat·te n. a drink made by adding a shot of espresso to a glass or cup of frothy steamed milk.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'milk coffee'.

caf·tan n. variant spelling of KAFTAN.

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KAFTAN ■

Ca·ga·yan Is·lands a group of seven small islands in the western Philippines, in the Sulu Sea.

Cage John (Milton) (1912-92), U.S. composer, pianist, and writer. He was noted for his experimental approach, which included the use of aleatory music and periods of silence. He also experimented with musical instruments.

cage n. a structure of bars or wires in which birds or other animals are confined: she kept a canary in a cage | FIGURATIVE his cage of loneliness.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a prison cell or camp.

- an open framework forming the compartment in an elevator.

- a structure of crossing bars or wires designed to hold or support something.

- [BASEBALL] a portable backstop situated behind the batter during batting practice.

- (in hockey and other games) a goal made from a network frame.

- an indoor athletic facility with areas fenced off for security.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be caged) confine in or as in a cage: the parrot screamed, furious at being caged | [as adj.] (caged) a caged bird.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL put in prison.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin cavea.

cag·ey (also cag·y) adj. INFORMAL reluctant to give information owing to caution or suspicion: manufacturers are cagey about the recipes they use to create a wine.

<DERIVATIVES> cag·i·ly adv. cag·i·ness (also cag·ey·ness) n.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent. (originally U.S.): of unknown origin.

Ca·glia·ri the capital of the Italian island of Sardinia, a port on the southern coast; pop. 211,720.

Cag·ney James (1899-1986), U.S. actor. He is noted for playing gangster roles in movies such as The Public Enemy (1931) and Angels with Dirty Faces (1938). He was also a skilled dancer and comedian who received an Academy Award for his part in the musical Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942).

ca·goule n. a lightweight, hooded, thigh-length waterproof jacket.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from French, literally 'cowl'.

ca·hier n. (pl. same) an exercise book or notebook.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French; compare with QUIRE.

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QUIRE ■

Ca·ho·kia a village in southwestern Illinois, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis in Missouri; pop. 17,550. The Cahokia Mounds, major pre-Columbian earthworks, are to the northeast.

ca·hoots plural n. (in phrase in cahoots) INFORMAL colluding or conspiring together secretly: the area is dominated by guerrillas in cahoots with drug traffickers.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (originally U.S.): of unknown origin.

ca·houn n. variant spelling of COHUNE.

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COHUNE ■

ca·how n. a large Atlantic petrel that breeds in Bermuda. It is an endangered species.
<INFO>  Pterodroma cahow, family Procellariidae.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: imitative of its call.

CAI abbr. computer-assisted (or -aided) instruction.

cai·man (also cay·man) n. a semiaquatic reptile similar to the alligator but with a heavily armored belly, native to tropical America.
<INFO>  Caiman and other genera, family Alligatoridae: three species, in particular the spectacled caiman (C. sclerops).

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Spanish caimán, Portuguese caimão, from Carib acayuman.

Cain n. (in the Bible) the eldest son of Adam and Eve and murderer of his brother Abel.

<PHRASES> raise Cain INFORMAL create trouble or a commotion.

Caine Sir Michael (1933- ), English actor; born Maurice Micklewhite. He has appeared in a wide variety of movies that include The Ipcress File (1965) and Educating Rita (1983). He won Academy Awards for Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and The Cider House Rules (1999).

Cai·no·zo·ic adj. variant spelling of CENOZOIC.

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CENOZOIC ■

cai·pi·ri·nha n. a Brazilian cocktail made with cachaca, lime or lemon juice, sugar, and crushed ice.

<ORIGIN> Brazilian Portuguese, from caipira 'yokel'.

ca·ique n. 1 a light rowboat used on the Bosporus.

2 a small eastern Mediterranean sailing ship.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French caïque, from Italian caicco, from Turkish .

cairn n. 1 a mound of rough stones built as a memorial or landmark, typically on a hilltop or skyline.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a prehistoric burial mound made of stones.

2 (also cairn ter·ri·er) a small terrier of a breed with short legs, a longish body, and a shaggy coat. <ORIGIN> perhaps so named from being used to hunt among cairns.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Scottish Gaelic carn.

cairn·gorm n.
- another term for SMOKY QUARTZ.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: named after the CAIRNGORM MOUNTAINS.

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SMOKY QUARTZ ■

CAIRNGORM MOUNTAINS ■

Cairn·gorm Moun·tains (also the Cairn·gorms) a mountain range in northern Scotland.

<ORIGIN> from Scottish Gaelic carn gorm 'blue cairn'.

Cai·ro the capital of Egypt, a port on the Nile River near the head of its delta; pop. 13,300,000. Arabic name AL QAHIRA.

<DERIVATIVES> Cai·rene adj. & n.

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AL QAHIRA ■

cais·son n. 1 a large watertight chamber, open at the bottom from which the water is kept out by air pressure and in which construction work may be carried out under water.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a floating vessel or watertight structure used as a gate across the entrance of a dry dock or basin.

2 HISTORICAL a chest or wagon for holding or conveying ammunition.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, literally 'large chest', from Italian cassone, the spelling having been altered in French by association with caisse 'case'.

cais·son dis·ease n. another term for DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS.

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DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS ■

cai·tiff n. ARCHAIC a contemptible or cowardly person: [as adj.] a caitiff knight.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a captive or prisoner): from Old French caitif 'captive', based on Latin captivus '(person) taken captive' (see CAPTIVE).

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CAPTIVE ■

ca·jole v. [trans.] (often cajole someone into doing something) persuade someone to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery: he hoped to cajole her into selling the house | [intrans.] she pleaded and cajoled as she tried to win his support.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·jole·ment n. ca·jol·er·y n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French cajoler.

Ca·jun n. a member of any of the largely self-contained communities in the bayou areas of southern Louisiana formed by descendants of French Canadians, speaking an archaic form of French.

■ adj. of or relating to the Cajuns, esp. with reference to their folk music (typically featuring the concertina, accordion, and fiddle) or spicy cuisine.

<ORIGIN> alteration of ACADIAN.

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ACADIAN ■

Ca·jun Coun·try a region of southern Louisiana that is inhabited largely by Cajuns, who are descendants of 18th-century exiles from Acadia, now Nova Scotia.

caj·u·put (also caj·e·put) n. 1 (also cajuput oil) an aromatic medicinal oil that is similar to eucalyptus oil, obtained from a tree of the myrtle family.

2 a chiefly Australasian tree related to the bottlebrushes, having papery bark and yielding this aromatic oil. Also called PAPERBARK.
<INFO>  Genus Melaleuca, family Myrtaceae: M. cajuputi, which produces cajuput oil, and M. quinquenervia.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Malay kayu putih, literally 'white tree'.

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PAPERBARK ■

cake n. an item of soft, sweet food made from a mixture of flour, shortening, eggs, sugar, and other ingredients, baked and often decorated: a carrot cake | [as adj.] cake pans | a mouthful of cake.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an item of savory food formed into a flat, round shape, and typically baked or fried: crab cakes.

- a flattish, compact mass of something, esp. soap: a cake of soap.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be caked) (of a thick or sticky substance that hardens when dry) cover and become encrusted on (the surface of an object): a pair of boots caked with mud.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (of a thick or sticky substance) dry or harden into a solid mass: the blood under his nose was beginning to cake.

<PHRASES>
□ cakes and ale DATED merrymaking.

□ a piece of cake INFORMAL something easily achieved: I never said that training him would be a piece of cake.

□ sell like hotcakes INFORMAL be sold quickly and in large quantities.

□ take the cake surpass or exceed all others: of all the hard-hearted women, she takes the cake.

□ you can't have your cake and eat it (too) PROVERB you can't enjoy both of two desirable but mutually exclusive alternatives.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a small flat bread roll): of Scandinavian origin; related to Swedish kaka and Danish kage.

cake·box n. a storage container for a round layer cake, with a surrounding cover that protects and preserves the cake.
- a similarly shaped package for blank, recordable compact discs, with a central spindle on which discs are stacked.

cake·walk n. 1 INFORMAL an absurdly or surprisingly easy task: winning the game won't be a cakewalk.

2 a strutting dance popular at the end of the 19th century, developed from a black-American contest in graceful walking that had a cake as a prize.

■ v. [intrans.] 1 INFORMAL achieve or win something easily: he cakewalked to a 5-1 triumph.

2 walk or dance in the manner of a cakewalk: a troupe of clowns cakewalked by.

CAL abbr. computer-assisted (or -aided) learning.

Cal abbr. large calorie(s).

cal (also cal.) abbr.
- calendar.

- caliber.

- calorie.

- small calorie(s).

Cal. abbr. California.

Cal·a·bar a seaport in southeastern Nigeria; pop. 126,000.

Cal·a·bar bean n. the poisonous seed of a tropical West African climbing plant, containing physostigmine and formerly used for tribal ordeals.
<INFO>  The plant is Physostigma venosum, family Leguminosae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after CALABAR.

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CALABAR ■

cal·a·bash n. (also calabash tree) an evergreen tropical American tree that bears fruit in the form of large woody gourds.
<INFO>  Crescentia cujete, family Bignoniaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a gourd from this tree.

- a water container, tobacco pipe, or other object made from the dried shell of this or a similar gourd.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French calebasse, from Spanish calabaza, perhaps from Persian karbuz 'melon'.

ca·la·ba·za n. another term for CALABASH.

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CALABASH ■

cal·a·boose n. INFORMAL a prison.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from black French calabouse, from Spanish calabozo 'dungeon'.

Ca·la·bri·a a region of southwestern Italy, forming the “toe” of the Italian peninsula; capital, Reggio di Calabria.

<DERIVATIVES> Ca·la·bri·an adj. & n.

ca·la·di·um n. (pl. -ums) a tropical South American plant of the arum family that is cultivated for its brilliantly colored ornamental foliage.
<INFO>  Genus Caladium, family Araceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Malay keladi.

Cal·ais a ferry port in northern France; pop. 75,840.

cal·a·man·co n. (pl. -coes) HISTORICAL a glossy woolen cloth checkered on one side only.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

cal·a·man·der (also calamander wood) n. another term for COROMANDEL.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Sinhalese , perhaps from Coromandel ebony (see COROMANDEL), changed by association with Sinhalese 'black'.

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COROMANDEL ■

COROMANDEL ■

ca·la·ma·ri n. squid served as food.

<ORIGIN> Italian, plural of calamaro, from medieval Latin calamarium 'pen case', from Greek kalamos 'pen' (with reference to the squid's long tapering internal shell and its ink). The variant calamares is Spanish, calamaries being its anglicized form.

cal·a·mi n. plural form of CALAMUS.

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CALAMUS ■

cal·a·mine n. a pink powder consisting of zinc carbonate and ferric oxide, used to make a soothing lotion or ointment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED smithsonite or a similar zinc ore.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin calamina, alteration of Latin cadmia 'calamine', from Greek 'Cadmean (earth)', from Kadmos 'Cadmus' (see CADMUS).

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CADMUS ■

cal·a·mint n. an aromatic Eurasian herbaceous plant or shrub with blue or lilac flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Calamintha, family Labiatae.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French calament, from medieval Latin calamentum, from late Latin calaminthe, from Greek .

cal·a·mite n. a jointed-stemmed swamp plant of an extinct group related to the horsetails, growing to a height of 60 feet (18 m). Calamites are characteristic fossils of the Carboniferous coal measures.
<INFO>  Calamites and other genera, family Calamitaceae, class Sphenopsida.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from CALAMUS.

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CALAMUS ■

ca·lam·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster.
<SPECIAL USAGE> disaster and distress: the journey had led to calamity and ruin.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·lam·i·tous adj. ca·lam·i·tous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'disaster and distress'): from Old French calamite, from Latin calamitas.

Ca·lam·i·ty Jane (c.1852-1903), U.S. frontierswoman; noted for her skill at shooting and riding; born Martha Jane Cannary. She dressed as a man and was known for her wild behavior and heavy drinking. She later joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.

cal·a·mon·din (also calamondin orange) n. a small hybrid citrus plant that bears fragrant white flowers followed by small orange-yellow fruit, native to the Philippines and widely grown as a houseplant.
<INFO>  ×Citrofortunella microcarpa (formerly Citrus mitis), family Rutaceae.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Tagalog kalamunding.

cal·a·mus n. (pl. -mi ) 1 another term for SWEET FLAG.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also calamus root) a preparation of the aromatic root of the sweet flag.

2 [ZOOLOGY] the hollow lower part of the shaft of a feather, which lacks barbs; a quill.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a reed or an aromatic plant mentioned in the Bible): from Latin, from Greek kalamos. Sense 1 dates from the mid 17th cent.

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SWEET FLAG ■

ca·lan·do adv. [MUSIC] (esp. as a direction) gradually decreasing in tempo and volume of sound.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'slackening'.

ca·lan·dra (also calandra lark) n. a large Eurasian lark with a stout bill and a black patch on each side of the neck.
<INFO>  Genus Melanocorypha, family Alaudidae: two species, in particular M. calandra.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Old French calandre, via medieval Latin from Greek kalandros.

ca·lash n. another term for CALÈCHE.

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CALÈCHE ■

cal·a·the·a n. a tropical American plant that typically has variegated and ornamental leaves, widely grown as a greenhouse or indoor plant.
<INFO>  Genus Calathea, family Marantaceae: many species.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek kalathos 'basket'.

Ca·la·ver·as Coun·ty a largely rural county in east central California, in the Sierra Nevada, associated with the 1840s gold rush and the writings of Mark Twain.

calc- comb. form (used chiefly in geological terms) of lime or calcium: calcalkaline.

<ORIGIN> from German Kalk 'lime', with spelling influenced by Latin calx 'lime' (see CALX).

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CALX ■

cal·cal·ka·line adj. [GEOLOGY] (chiefly of rocks) relatively rich in both calcium and alkali metals.

cal·ca·ne·us (also cal·ca·ne·um ) n. (pl. -ne·i or -ne·a ) [ANATOMY] the large bone forming the heel. It articulates with the cuboid bone of the foot and the talus bone of the ankle, and the Achilles tendon (or tendo calcaneus) is attached to it.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin.

cal·car·e·ous adj. containing calcium carbonate; chalky.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ECOLOGY] (of vegetation) occurring on chalk or limestone.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin calcarius (from calx, calc- 'lime') + -EOUS.

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-EOUS ■

cal·ce·o·lar·i·a n. a South American plant of the figwort family that is cultivated for its brightly colored slipper- or pouch-shaped flowers. Also called POCKETBOOK PLANT.
<INFO>  Genus Calceolaria, family Scrophulariaceae.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin calceolus, diminutive of calceus 'shoe'.

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POCKETBOOK PLANT ■

cal·ces plural form of CALX.

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CALX ■

calci- comb. form relating to calcium or its compounds: calcifuge.

<ORIGIN> from Latin calx, calc- 'lime'.

cal·cic adj. (chiefly of minerals) containing or relatively rich in calcium.

cal·ci·cole n. [BOTANY] a plant that grows best in calcareous soil, occurring chiefly on chalk and limestone: [as adj.] a rich calcicole flora.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·cic·o·lous adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CALCI- + Latin colere 'inhabit'.

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CALCI- ■

cal·cif·er·ol n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] one of the D vitamins, a sterol that is formed when its isomer ergosterol is exposed to ultraviolet light, and that is routinely added to dairy products. Also called ERGOCALCIFEROL, VITAMIN D_2 (see VITAMIN D).

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from CALCIFEROUS + -OL.

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ERGOCALCIFEROL ■

CALCIFEROUS ■

-OL ■

cal·cif·er·ous adj. containing or producing calcium salts, esp. calcium carbonate.

cal·ci·fuge n. [BOTANY] a plant that is not suited to calcareous soil: [as adj.] calcifuge plants such as heathers.

cal·ci·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (calcified) harden by deposition of or conversion into calcium carbonate or some other insoluble calcium compounds: calcified cartilage.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·cif·ic adj. cal·ci·fi·ca·tion n.

cal·ci·mine (also kal·so·mine) n. a kind of white or pale blue wash for walls and ceilings.

■ v. [trans.] whitewash with calcimine.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

cal·cine v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (calcined) reduce, oxidize, or desiccate by roasting or strong heat: calcined bone ash.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·ci·na·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin calcinare, from late Latin calcina 'lime', from Latin calx, calc- 'lime' (see CALX).

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CALX ■

cal·cite n. a white or colorless mineral consisting of calcium carbonate. It is a major constituent of sedimentary rocks such as limestone, marble, and chalk, can occur in crystalline form (as in Iceland spar), and may be deposited in caves to form stalactites and stalagmites.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·cit·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: coined in German from Latin calx, calc- 'lime' (see CALX).

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CALX ■

cal·ci·to·nin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a hormone secreted by the thyroid that has the effect of lowering blood calcium.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from CALCI- + TONIC + -IN^1 .

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CALCI- ■

TONIC ■

-IN ■

cal·ci·um n. the chemical element of atomic number 20, a soft gray metal. (Symbol: Ca)

Calcium is one of the alkaline earth metals. Its compounds occur naturally in limestone, fluorite, gypsum, and other minerals. Many physiological processes involve calcium ions, and calcium salts are an essential constituent of bone, teeth, and shells.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin calx, calc- 'lime' (see CALX) + -IUM.

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CALX ■

-IUM ■

cal·ci·um an·tag·o·nist n. [MEDICINE] a compound of a type that reduces the influx of calcium into the cells of cardiac and smooth muscle, reducing the strength of contractions. Such drugs are used to treat angina and high blood pressure.

cal·ci·um car·bide n. see CARBIDE.

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CARBIDE ■

cal·ci·um car·bon·ate n. a white, insoluble solid occurring naturally as chalk, limestone, marble, and calcite, and forming mollusk shells and stony corals.
<INFO>  3

cal·ci·um chlo·ride n. a white crystalline salt used to de-ice roads and as a drying agent.
<INFO>  2

cal·ci·um hy·drox·ide n. a soluble white crystalline solid commonly produced in the form of slaked lime.
<INFO>  2

cal·ci·um ox·ide n. a white caustic alkaline solid, commonly produced in the form of quicklime.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: CaO.

cal·cu·la·ble adj. able to be measured or assessed.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·cu·la·bil·i·ty n. cal·cu·la·bly adv.

cal·cu·late v. [trans.] 1 determine (the amount or number of something) mathematically: Japanese land value was calculated at 2.5 times that of the U.S. | [with clause] he calculated that Texas would gain four new seats in the House of Representatives.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- determine by reasoning, experience, or common sense; reckon or judge: I was bright enough to calculate that she had been on vacation.

- [intrans.] (calculate on) include as an essential element in one's plans: he may have calculated on maximizing pressure for policy revision.

2
- (usu. be calculated to do something) intend (an action) to have a particular effect: his last words were calculated to wound her.

<SPECIAL USAGE> [with clause] suppose; believe.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·cu·la·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin calculat- 'counted', from the verb calculare, from calculus 'a small pebble (as used on an abacus)'.

cal·cu·lat·ed adj. (of an action) done with full awareness of the likely consequences: a calculated decision.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- carefully planned or intended: victims of vicious and calculated assaults.

- (of an amount or number) mathematically worked out or measured.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·cu·lat·ed·ly adv.

cal·cu·lat·ing adj. acting in a scheming and ruthlessly determined way: he was a coolly calculating, ruthless man.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·cu·lat·ing·ly adv.

cal·cu·la·tion n. a mathematical determination of the size or number of something: finding ways of saving money involves complicated calculations | calculation of depreciation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (often calculations) an assessment of the risks, possibilities, or effects of a situation or course of action: decisions are shaped by political calculations.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin calculatio(n-), from the verb calculare (see CALCULATE).

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CALCULATE ■

cal·cu·la·tor n. something used for making mathematical calculations, in particular a small electronic device with a keyboard and a visual display.

cal·cu·lus n. 1 (pl. -lus·es) (also infinitesimal calculus) the branch of mathematics that deals with the finding and properties of derivatives and integrals of functions, by methods originally based on the summation of infinitesimal differences. The two main types are differential calculus and integral calculus.

2 (pl. -lus·es) [MATHEMATICS] & [LOGIC] a particular method or system of calculation or reasoning.

3 (pl. -li ) [MEDICINE] a concretion of minerals formed within the body, esp. in the kidney or gallbladder.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for TARTAR.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin, literally 'small pebble (as used on an abacus)'.

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TARTAR ■

cal·cu·lus of var·i·a·tions n. a form of calculus applied to expressions or functions in which the law relating the quantities is liable to variation, esp. to find what relation between the variables makes an integral a maximum or a minimum.

Cal·cut·ta a port and industrial center in eastern India, capital of the state of West Bengal, the second largest city in India; pop. 10,916,000. It is situated on the banks of the Hooghly River near the Bay of Bengal.

<DERIVATIVES> Cal·cut·tan n. & adj.

Cal·de·cott Randolph (1846-86), English graphic artist and watercolor painter. He is noted for his illustrations for children's books. A medal awarded annually for the illustration of U.S. children's books is named for him.

Cal·der Alexander (1898-1976), U.S. sculptor and painter. He was one of the first artists to introduce movement into sculpture, making mobiles incorporating abstract forms. His static sculptures are known as stabiles.

cal·de·ra n. a large volcanic crater, typically one formed by a major eruption leading to the collapse of the mouth of the volcano.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Spanish, from late Latin caldaria 'boiling pot'.

Cal·de·rón de la Bar·ca Pedro (1600-81), Spanish playwright and poet. He wrote about 120 plays, more than 70 of them religious dramas.

cal·dron n. variant spelling of CAULDRON.

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CAULDRON ■

Cald·well 1 Erskine (Preston) (1903-87), U.S. novelist and short-story writer. Caldwell reproduced the dialect of the poor whites in his realistic, earthy, and popular novels. Notable works: Tobacco Road (1932) and God’s Little Acre (1933).

Cald·well 2 a city in southwestern Idaho, west of Boise; pop. 25,967.

ca·lèche (also ca·leche or ca·lash) n. HISTORICAL 1 a light low-wheeled carriage with a removable folding hood.

2 CANADIAN a two-wheeled one-horse vehicle with a seat for the driver on the splashboard.

3 a woman's hooped silk hood.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: French, from German Kalesche, from Polish , from 'wheel'.

Cal·e·do·ni·an adj. 1 (chiefly in names or geographical terms) of or relating to Scotland or the Scottish Highlands: the Caledonian Railway.

2 [GEOLOGY] relating to or denoting a mountain-forming (orogenic) period in northwestern Europe and Greenland during the Early Paleozoic era, esp. the late Silurian.

■ n. 1 HUMOROUS or POETIC/LITERARY a person from Scotland.

2 (the Caledonian) [GEOLOGY] the Caledonian orogeny.

<ORIGIN> from Caledonia, the Latin name for northern Britain, + -AN.

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-AN ■

Cal·e·do·ni·an Ca·nal a system of lochs and canals that cross Scotland from east to west.

cal·e·fa·cient n. ARCHAIC [MEDICINE] a drug or other agent causing a sensation of warmth.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin calefacient- 'making warm', from the verb calefacere, from calere 'be warm' + facere 'make'.

cal·en·dar (abbr.: cal or cal.) n. a chart or series of pages showing the days, weeks, and months of a particular year, or giving particular seasonal information.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a datebook.

- a system by which the beginning, length, and subdivisions of the year are fixed. See also JEWISH CALENDAR, JULIAN CALENDAR, GREGORIAN CALENDAR.

- a timetable of special days or events of a specified kind or involving a specified group: the college calendar.

- a list of people or events connected with particular dates, esp. canonized saints and cases for trial.

■ v. [trans.] enter (something) in a calendar or timetable.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·en·dar·ize v. ca·len·dric adj. ca·len·dri·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French calendier, from Latin kalendarium 'account book', from kalendae (see CALENDS).

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JEWISH CALENDAR ■

JULIAN CALENDAR ■

GREGORIAN CALENDAR ■

CALENDS ■

cal·en·dar month n. see MONTH.

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MONTH ■

cal·en·dar year n. see YEAR (sense 2).

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YEAR ■

cal·en·der n. a machine in which cloth or paper is pressed by rollers to glaze or smooth it.

■ v. [trans.] press in such a machine.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (as a verb): from French calendre (noun), calendrer (verb), of unknown origin.

cal·ends (also kal·ends) plural n. the first day of the month in the ancient Roman calendar.

<ORIGIN> Old English (denoting an appointed time): from Old French calendes, from Latin kalendae, calendae 'first day of the month' (when accounts were due and the order of days was proclaimed); related to Latin calare and Greek kalein 'call, proclaim'.

ca·len·du·la n. a Mediterranean plant of a genus that includes the common (or pot) marigold.
<INFO>  Genus Calendula, family Compositae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, diminutive of calendae (see CALENDS); perhaps because it flowers for most of the year.

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CALENDS ■

cal·en·ture n. feverish delirium supposedly caused by the heat in the tropics.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, from Spanish calentura 'fever', from calentar 'be hot', based on Latin calere 'be warm'.

calf 1 n. (pl. calves ) 1 a young bovine animal, esp. a domestic cow or bull in its first year.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the young of some other large mammals, such as elephants, rhinoceroses, large deer and antelopes, and whales.

- short for CALFSKIN.

2 a floating piece of ice detached from an iceberg.

<PHRASES>
□ in (or with) calf (of a cow) pregnant.

□ kill the fatted calf see FAT.

<DERIVATIVES> calf·like adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English cælf, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kalf and German Kalb.

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CALFSKIN ■

FAT ■

calf 2 n. (pl. calves ) the fleshy part at the back of a person's leg below the knee.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse kálfi, of unknown origin.

calf·skin n. leather made from the hide or skin of a calf, used chiefly in bookbinding and shoemaking.

Cal·ga·ry a city in southern Alberta, in southwestern Canada; pop. 710,680.

Cal·houn John Caldwell (1782-1850) U.S. politician. A South Carolina Democrat, he served as U.S. vice president 1825-32 and in the U.S. Senate 1832-43, 1845-50. He was noted as a champion of states' rights and of slavery.

Ca·li an industrial city in western Colombia; pop. 1,624,400.

cal·i·ber (BRIT. cal·i·bre) (abbr.: cal or cal.) n. 1 the quality of someone's character or the level of someone's ability: they could ill afford to lose a man of his caliber.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the standard reached by something: educational facilities of a very high caliber.

2 the internal diameter or bore of a gun barrel: [in combination] a .22 caliber repeater rifle.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the diameter of a bullet, shell, or rocket.

- the diameter of a body of circular section, such as a tube, blood vessel, or fiber.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·i·bered adj. [also in combination].

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'social standing or importance'): from French calibre, from Italian calibro, perhaps from Arabic 'mold', based on Greek kalapous 'shoemaker's last'.

cal·i·brate v. [trans.] (often be calibrated) mark (a gauge or instrument) with a standard scale of readings.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- correlate the readings of (an instrument) with those of a standard in order to check the instrument's accuracy.

- adjust (experimental results) to take external factors into account or to allow comparison with other data.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·i·bra·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CALIBER + -ATE^3 .

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CALIBER ■

-ATE ■

cal·i·bra·tion n. the action or process of calibrating an instrument or experimental readings: the measuring devices require calibration | calibrations in the field of electronic measurements.
<SPECIAL USAGE> each of a set of graduations on an instrument.

ca·li·che n. a mineral deposit of gravel, sand, and nitrates, found esp. in dry areas of South America.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an area of calcium carbonate formed in the soils of semiarid regions.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin American Spanish.

cal·i·co n. (pl. -coes or-cos) printed cotton fabric: [as adj.] a calico dress.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT. a type of cotton cloth, typically plain white or unbleached.

■ adj. (of an animal, typically a cat) multicolored or mottled.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally also calicut): alteration of CALICUT, where the fabric originated.

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CALICUT ■

Cal·i·cut a seaport in the state of Kerala in southwestern India, on the Malabar Coast; pop. 420,000. Also called KOZHIKODE.

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KOZHIKODE ■

Calif. abbr. California.

Cal·i·for·nia a state in the western U.S., on the coast of the Pacific Ocean; pop. 33,871,648; capital, Sacramento; statehood, Sept. 9, 1850 (31). Formerly part of Mexico, it was ceded to the U.S. in 1847, having briefly been an independent republic. Large numbers of settlers were attracted to California in the 19th century, esp. during the gold rushes of the 1840s; it is now the most populous state.

<DERIVATIVES> Cal·i·for·nian adj. & n.

Cal·i·for·nia, Gulf of an arm of the Pacific Ocean that separates the Baja California peninsula from mainland Mexico.

Cal·i·for·nia Cur·rent a cold ocean current of the eastern Pacific Ocean that flows south along the western coast of North America.

Cal·i·for·nia pop·py n. an annual poppy native to western North America that is cultivated for its brilliant yellow or orange flowers.
<INFO>  Eschscholzia californica, family Papaveraceae.

Cal·i·for·nia sheeps·head n. see SHEEPSHEAD.

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SHEEPSHEAD ■

cal·i·for·ni·um n. the chemical element of atomic number 98, a radioactive metal of the actinide series, first produced by bombarding curium with helium ions. (Symbol: Cf)

<ORIGIN> 1950s: named after University of California at Berkeley (where it was first made) + -IUM.

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-IUM ■

ca·lig·i·nous adj. ARCHAIC misty, dim; obscure, dark.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·lig·i·nos·i·ty n.

Ca·lig·u·la (AD 12-41), Roman emperor 37-41; born Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus. His reign was notorious for its tyrannical excesses.

cal·i·per (also cal·li·per) n. 1 (calipers) an instrument for measuring external or internal dimensions, having two hinged legs resembling a pair of compasses and in-turned or out-turned points.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also caliper rule) an instrument performing a similar function but having one linear component sliding along another, with two parallel jaws and a vernier scale.

- (also brake caliper) a motor-vehicle or bicycle brake consisting of two or more hinged components.

2 (also caliper splint) a metal support for a person's leg.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: apparently an alteration of CALIBER.

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CALIBER ■

ca·liph n. HISTORICAL the chief Muslim civil and religious ruler, regarded as the successor of Muhammad. The caliph ruled in Baghdad until 1258 and then in Egypt until the Ottoman conquest of 1517; the title was then held by the Ottoman sultans until it was abolished in 1924 by Atatürk.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·iph·ate n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French caliphe, from Arabic meaning 'deputy (of God)' (from the title ), or meaning 'successor (of Muhammad)' (from the title 'of the Messenger of God'), from kalafa 'succeed'.

cal·is·then·ics (BRIT. cal·lis·then·ics) plural n. gymnastic exercises to achieve bodily fitness and grace of movement.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·is·then·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek kallos 'beauty' + sthenos 'strength' + -ICS.

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-ICS ■

ca·lix n. 1 variant spelling of CALYX.

2 a chalice.

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CALYX ■

calk n. & v. variant spelling of CAULK.

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CAULK ■

call v. 1 [trans.] cry out to (someone) in order to summon them or attract their attention: she heard Terry calling her | [intrans.] I distinctly heard you call.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- cry out (a word or words): he heard an insistent voice calling his name; Meredith was already calling out a greeting.

- shout out or chant (the steps and figures) to people performing a square dance or country dance.

- [intrans.] (of an animal, esp. a bird) make its characteristic cry.

- telephone (a person or telephone number): could I call you back?

- summon (something, esp. an emergency service or a taxicab) by telephone: if you are suspicious, call the police.

- bring (a witness) into court to give evidence.

- [trans.] ARCHAIC inspire or urge (someone) to do something: I am called to preach the Gospel.

- fix a date or time for (a meeting, strike, or election).

- [intrans.] guess the outcome of tossing a coin: “You call,” he said. “Heads or tails?”

- predict the result of (a future event, esp. an election or a vote): in the Northeast, the race remains too close to call.

- [COMPUTING] cause the execution of (a subroutine).

2 [intrans.] (of a person) pay a brief visit: he called around last night looking for you.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (call for) stop to pick up (someone) at the place where they are living or working: I'll call for you around seven.

3 [trans.] give (an infant or animal) a specified name: they called their daughter Hannah.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- address or refer to (someone) by a specified name, title, endearment, or term of abuse: please call me Lucy.

- refer to, consider, or describe (someone or something) as being: he's the only person I would call a friend.

- (of an umpire or other official in a game) pronounce (a ball, stroke, or other action) to be the thing specified: the linesman called the ball wide.

■ n. 1 a cry made as a summons or to attract someone's attention: in response to the call, a figure appeared.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the characteristic cry of a bird or other animal.

- [with adj.] a series of notes sounded on a brass instrument as a signal to do something: a bugle call to rise at 5:30.

- a telephone communication or conversation: I'll give you a call at around five.

- (a call for) an appeal or demand for: the call for action was welcomed.

- a summons: a messenger arrived bringing news of his call to the throne.

- [in sing.] a vocation: his call to be a disciple.

- [in sing.] a powerful force of attraction: hikers can't resist the call of the Sierras.

- [usu. with negative] (a call for) a demand or need for (goods or services): there was little call for Turkish food in Milltown.

- [COMPUTING] a command to execute a subroutine.

- a shout by an official in a game indicating whether the ball has gone out of play, if a rule has been breached, etc.; the decision or ruling so made: the replay shows that the umpire made a bad call.

- [BRIDGE] a bid, response, or double.

- a direction in a square dance given by the caller.

- a demand for payment of lent or unpaid capital.

- [STOCK MARKET] short for CALL OPTION.

- a player's right or turn to make a bid in a card game.

2 a brief visit: we paid a call on Howard.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a visit or journey made in response to an emergency appeal for help: the doctor was out on a call.

<PHRASES>
□ call attention to cause people to notice: he is seeking to call attention to himself by his crimes.

□ call someone's bluff see BLUFF^1 .

□ call collect make a telephone call reversing the charges.

□ call something into play cause or require something to start working so that one can make use of it: our active participation as spectators is called into play.

□ call something into (or in) question cast doubt on something: these findings call into question the legitimacy of the proceedings.

□ call it a day see DAY.

□ call someone names see NAME.

□ call of nature see NATURE.

□ call the shots (or tune) take the initiative in deciding how something should be done.

□ call a spade a spade see SPADE^1 .

□ call someone to account see ACCOUNT.

□ call someone/something to mind cause one to think of someone or something, esp. through similarity: the still lifes call to mind certain of Cézanne's works.
- [with negative] remember someone or something: [with clause] I cannot call to mind where I have seen you.

□ call someone/something to order ask those present at a meeting to be silent so that business may proceed.

□ don't call us, we'll call you INFORMAL used as a dismissive way of saying that someone has not been successful in an audition or a job application.

□ on call
1 (of a person) able to be contacted in order to provide a professional service if necessary, but not formally on duty: our technicians are on call around the clock.

2 (of money lent) repayable on demand.

□ to call one's own used to describe something that one can genuinely feel belongs to one: I had not an item to call my own.

□ within call near enough to be summoned by calling: she moved into the guest room, within call of her father's room.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  call for make necessary: desperate times call for desperate measures.
- draw attention to the need for: the report calls for an audit of endangered species.

□  call something forth elicit a response: few things call forth more compassion.

□  call someone/something down 1 cause or provoke someone or something to appear or occur: nothing called down the wrath of Nemesis quicker.

2 DATED reprimand someone.

□  call someone in enlist someone's aid or services.

□  call something in require payment of a loan or promise of money.

□  call someone/something off order a person or dog to stop attacking someone.

□  call something off cancel an event or agreement.

□  call on 1 pay a visit to (someone): he's planning to call on Katherine today.

2 (also call upon) have recourse to: we are able to call on academic staff with a wide variety of expertise.
- [with infinitive] demand that (someone) do something: he called on the government to hold a plebiscite.

□  call someone out 1 summon someone, esp. to deal with an emergency or to do repairs.

2 order or advise workers to strike.

3 ARCHAIC challenge someone to a duel.

□  call something over DATED read out a list of names to determine those present.

□  call someone up 1 INFORMAL telephone someone.

2 summon someone to serve in the army: they have called up more than 20,000 reservists.
- select someone to play in a team: he was called up from Columbus to finish the season with the Yankees.

□  call something up summon for use something that is stored or kept available: icons that allow you to call up a graphic.
- FIGURATIVE evoke something: the special effects that called up the Mars landscape were impressive.

<ORIGIN> late Old English ceallian, from Old Norse kalla 'summon loudly'.

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CALL OPTION ■

BLUFF ■

DAY ■

NAME ■

NATURE ■

SPADE ■

ACCOUNT ■

cal·la n. either of two plants of the arum family:
<INFO>
- (usu. calla lily) Genus Zantedeschia, family Araceae: several species, in particular Z. aethiopica.

- (also wild calla) another term for WATER ARUM.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: modern Latin.

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WATER ARUM ■

call·a·ble adj. [FINANCE] designating a bond that can be paid off earlier than the maturity date.

Cal·la·ghan (Leonard) James, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff (1912- ), British statesman, prime minister 1976-79.

cal·la·loo (also cal·la·lou) n. 1 the spinachlike leaves of a tropical American plant, widely used in Caribbean cooking.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a soup or stew made with such leaves.

2 the plant of the arum family from which these leaves are obtained.
<INFO>  Genus Xanthosoma, family Araceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from American Spanish calalú.

Cal·la·net·ics plural n. [treated as sing. or pl.] TRADEMARK a system of physical exercises based on small repeated movements.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: named after Callan Pinckney (born 1939), American deviser of the system, perhaps on the pattern of athletics.

Ca·llao the principal seaport of Peru, west of Lima; pop. 369,770.

Cal·las Maria (1923-77), U.S. opera singer; born Maria Cecilia Anna Kalageropoulos. She was a coloratura soprano whose bel canto style of singing was especially suited to early Italian opera.

call·back n. 1 an invitation to return for a second audition or interview.

2 a telephone call made to return a call received.

3 a recall of a defective product: ask which products have the most callbacks.

4 an emergency call summoning an employee to work after hours: uncontrolled air leakage results in increased callbacks.

5 [COMPUTING] a security feature used by systems accessed by telephone, in which a remote user must log on using a previously registered phone number, to which the system then places a return call.

call-board n. a bulletin board in a theater on which announcements for the cast and crew are posted.

call box n. 1 a roadside telephone for use only in an emergency.

2 BRIT. a public telephone booth.

call boy n. 1 a person in a theater who summons actors when they are due on stage.

2 a male prostitute who accepts appointments by telephone.

call cen·ter n. an office set up to handle a large volume of telephone calls, esp. for taking orders and providing customer service.

call·er n. 1 a person who makes a telephone call or pays a brief visit.

2 a person who calls out numbers in a game of bingo or directions in a dance.

call·er ID n. a facility that identifies and displays the telephone numbers of incoming calls made to a particular line.

call for·ward·ing n. a telephone feature that allows calls made to one number to be forwarded to another specified number.

call girl n. a female prostitute who accepts appointments by telephone.

Cal·lic·ra·tes (5th century BC), Greek architect. He was the leading architect in Periclean Athens and, with Ictinus, designed the Parthenon (447-438 BC).

cal·li·graph v. [trans.] (usu. be calligraphed) write in calligraphic style: invitations meticulously calligraphed in black ink.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (as a noun): from French calligraphe, via medieval Latin from Greek kalligraphos (see CALLIGRAPHY). The verb dates from the late 19th cent.

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CALLIGRAPHY ■

cal·li·graph·ic adj. of or relating to calligraphy: a calligraphic pen; calligraphic script.
<SPECIAL USAGE> resembling lettering in shape.

cal·lig·ra·phy n. decorative handwriting or handwritten lettering.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the art of producing decorative handwriting or lettering with a pen or brush.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·lig·ra·pher n. cal·lig·ra·phist n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Greek kalligraphia, from kalligraphos 'person who writes beautifully', from kallos 'beauty' + graphein 'write'.

Cal·lim·a·chus (c.305-c.240 BC), Greek poet and scholar. He wrote hymns and epigrams and was head of the library at Alexandria.

call-in n. a radio or television program during which the listeners or viewers telephone the studio and participate.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a telephone conversation that is broadcast during such a program: Tuesday’s show will include viewer call-ins.

- [as adj.] denoting something conducted by people leaving answers or messages by telephone: a call-in poll.

call·ing n. 1 the loud cries or shouts of an animal or person: the calling of a cuckoo.

2 [in sing.] a strong urge toward a particular way of life or career; a vocation: those who have a special calling to minister to others' needs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a profession or occupation: he considered engineering one of the highest possible callings.

call·ing card n. 1 a card bearing a person's name and address, sent or left in lieu of a formal social or business visit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE an action or the result of an action by which someone or something can be identified: a dog whose calling card is a savage nip at the nearest ankles.

2 a card that allows the user to make telephone calls from any phone and charge the cost to their home telephone number.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a prepaid card that allows the user to make telephone calls up to a specified value.

Cal·li·o·pe [GREEK & ROMAN MYTHOLOGY] the Muse of epic poetry.

<ORIGIN> from Greek , literally 'having a beautiful voice'.

cal·li·o·pe n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a keyboard instrument resembling an organ but with the notes produced by steam whistles, used chiefly on showboats and in traveling fairs.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the Greek name Kalliop (see CALLIOPE).

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CALLIOPE ■

cal·li·per n. variant spelling of CALIPER.

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CALIPER ■

cal·li·pyg·i·an (also cal·li·pyg·e·an) adj. having well-shaped buttocks.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·li·py·gous adj.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Greek (used to describe a famous statue of Venus), from kallos 'beauty' + 'buttocks', + -IAN.

Linked entries:

-IAN ■

cal·lis·then·ics plural n. British spelling of CALISTHENICS.

Linked entries:

CALISTHENICS ■

Cal·lis·to 1 [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a nymph who was changed into a bear by Zeus. See also URSA MAJOR.

2 [ASTRONOMY] one of the Galilean moons of Jupiter, the eighth closest satellite to the planet. Icy with a dark, cratered surface, it has a diameter of 2,938 miles (4,800 km).

Linked entries:

URSA MAJOR ■

cal·li·tri·chid n. [ZOOLOGY] a primate of a family (Callitrichidae or Callithricidae) that comprises the marmosets and tamarins.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from modern Latin Callitrichidae (plural), from Greek kallitrikhos 'beautiful-haired'.

call let·ters plural n. a sequence of letters used by a television or radio station as an identifying code.

call mon·ey n. money lent by a bank or other institution that is repayable on demand.

call num·ber n. a mark, esp. a number, on the spine of a library book, or listed in the library's catalog, indicating the book's location in the library.

call op·tion n. [STOCK MARKET] an option to buy assets at an agreed price on or before a particular date.

cal·los·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) TECHNICAL a thickened and hardened part of the skin; a callus.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French callosité, from Latin callositas, from callosus 'hard-skinned', from callum, callus 'hardened skin'.

cal·lous adj. showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others: his callous comments about the murder made me shiver.

■ n. variant spelling of CALLUS.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·lous·ly adv. cal·lous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the Latin sense): from Latin callosus 'hard-skinned'.

Linked entries:

CALLUS ■

cal·loused adj. variant spelling of CALLUSED.

Linked entries:

CALLUSED ■

call-out n. 1 an instance of being summoned, esp. in order to deal with an emergency or to do repairs: [as adj.] a call-out charge.

2 [PRINTING] a letter, word, number or other symbol identifying a specific part of an illustration.

cal·low adj. (esp. of a young person) inexperienced and immature: earnest and callow undergraduates. See notes at GULLIBLE, RUDE, YOUTHFUL.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·low·ly adv. cal·low·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English calu 'bald '; probably from Latin calvus 'bald'. This was extended to mean 'unfledged', which led to the present sense 'immature'.

Cal·lo·way Cab (1907-94), U.S. jazz singer and bandleader; full name Cabell Calloway. He was known for his style of scat singing and for his flamboyant appearance. He is associated with songs such as “Minnie the Moocher” (1931) and “Jumpin' Jive” (1939) and led a succession of outstanding big bands 1928-53.

call sign (also call signal) n. a message, code, or tune that is broadcast by radio to identify the broadcaster or transmitter.

call to quar·ters n. a bugle call summoning soldiers to their barracks.

call-up n. [in sing.] an act of summoning someone or of being summoned to serve in the armed forces or on a sports team: [as adj.] my call-up papers.

cal·lus (also cal·lous) n. a thickened and hardened part of the skin or soft tissue, esp. in an area that has been subjected to friction.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MEDICINE] the bony healing tissue that forms around the ends of broken bone.

- [BOTANY] a hard formation of tissue, esp. new tissue formed over a wound.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin callus (more commonly callum) 'hardened skin'.

cal·lused (also cal·loused) adj. (of a part of the body) having an area of hardened skin: a callused palm.

call wait·ing n. a service whereby someone making a telephone call is notified of an incoming call and is able to place the first call on hold while answering the second.

calm adj. 1 (of a person, action, or manner) not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other emotions: keep calm, she told herself; his voice was calm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a place) peaceful, esp. in contrast to recent violent activity: the city was reported to be calm, but army patrols remained.

2 (of the weather) pleasantly free from wind: the night was clear and calm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of the sea) not disturbed by large waves.

■ n. 1 the absence of violent or confrontational activity within a place or group: the elections proceeded in an atmosphere of relative calm | [in sing.] an edgy calm reigned in the capital.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the absence of nervousness, agitation, or excitement in a person: his usual calm deserted him.

2 the absence of wind: in the center of the storm calm prevailed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- still air represented by force 0 on the Beaufort scale (less than 1 knot).

- (often calms) an area of the sea without wind.

■ v. [trans.] make (someone) tranquil and quiet; soothe: I took him inside and tried to calm him down; he lit a cigarette to calm his nerves | [as adj.] (calming) a cup of tea will have a calming effect.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (calm down) (of a person) become tranquil and quiet: gradually I calmed down and lost my anxiety.

<PHRASES> the calm before the storm see STORM.

<DERIVATIVES> calm·ly adv. calm·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via one of the Romance languages from Greek kauma 'heat (of the day)'.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
calm, halcyon, peaceful, placid, serene, tranquil

We usually speak of the weather or the sea as calm, meaning free from disturbance or storm.

When applied to people and their feelings or moods, calm implies an unruffled state, often under disturbing conditions (to remain calm in the face of disaster).

Halcyon is another adjective associated with the weather (the halcyon days of summer); it comes from the name of a mythical bird, usually identified with the kingfisher, that builds its nest on the sea and possesses a magical power to calm the winds and waves.

Peaceful also suggests a lack of turbulence or disorder, although it is usually applied to situations, scenes, and activities rather than to people (a peaceful gathering of protesters; a peaceful resolution to their problems).

Serene, tranquil, and placid are more often used to describe human states of being. Serene suggests a lofty and undisturbed calmness (he died with a serene look on his face), while tranquil implies an intrinsic calmness (they led a tranquil life in the country).

Placid usually refers to a prevailing tendency and is sometimes used disparagingly to suggest a lack of responsiveness or a dull complacency (with her placid disposition, she seldom got involved in family arguments).

Linked entries:

STORM ■

calm·a·tive adj. (of a drug) having a sedative effect.

■ n. a calmative drug.

cal·mod·u·lin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a protein that binds calcium and is involved in regulating a variety of activities in cells.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from cal(cium) + modul(ate) + -IN^1 .

Linked entries:

-IN ■

cal·o·mel n. a white powder used as a purgative and a fungicide. Also called MERCURIC CHLORIDE.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: Hg_2Cl_2.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: modern Latin, perhaps from Greek kalos 'beautiful' + melas 'black' (perhaps because it was originally obtained from a black mixture of mercury and mercuric chloride).

Linked entries:

MERCURIC CHLORIDE ■

Ca·lo·o·can (also Kalookan) a city in the Philippines, on southern Luzon, northwest of Manila; pop. 763,000.

ca·lor·ic adj. TECHNICAL of or relating to heat; calorific: a caloric value of 7 calories per gram.

■ n. HISTORICAL [PHYSICS] (in the late 18th and early 19th centuries) a hypothetical fluid substance that was thought to be responsible for the phenomena of heat.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·lor·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (as a noun): from French calorique, from Latin calor 'heat'.

cal·o·rie (abbr.: cal.) n. (pl. -ries) either of two units of heat energy:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also small calorie) (abbr.: cal) the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water through 1 °C (now usually defined as 4.1868 joules).

- (also large calorie) (abbr.: Cal) the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water through 1 °C, equal to one thousand small calories and often used to measure the energy value of foods.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from Latin calor 'heat' + French suffix -ie (see -Y^3 ).

Linked entries:

-Y ■

cal·o·rif·ic adj. CHIEFLY BRIT. relating to the amount of energy contained in food or fuel: she knew the calorific contents of every morsel.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of food or drink) containing many calories and so likely to be fattening: there is fruit salad for those who can resist the more calorific concoctions.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·o·rif·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin calorificus, from calor 'heat'.

cal·o·rif·ic val·ue n. the energy contained in a fuel or food, determined by measuring the heat produced by the complete combustion of a specified quantity of it. This is now usually expressed in joules per kilogram.

cal·o·rim·e·ter n. an apparatus for measuring the amount of heat involved in a chemical reaction or other process.

<DERIVATIVES> cal·o·ri·met·ric adj. cal·o·rim·e·try n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin calor 'heat' + -METER.

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-METER ■

cal·o·type (also calotype process) n. HISTORICAL an early photographic process in which negatives were made using paper coated with silver iodide.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek kalos 'beautiful' + TYPE.

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TYPE ■

calque [LINGUISTICS] n. another term for LOAN TRANSLATION.

■ v. (be calqued on) originate or function as a loan translation of.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from French, literally 'copy, tracing', from calquer 'to trace', via Italian from Latin calcare 'to tread'.

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LOAN TRANSLATION ■

cal·trop (also cal·trap) n. 1 a spiked metal ball thrown on the ground to impede wheeled vehicles or (formerly) cavalry horses.

2 a creeping plant with woody carpels that typically have hard spines and resemble military caltrops.
<INFO>  Genus Tribulus, family Zygophyllaceae.

3 (also water caltrop) another term for WATER CHESTNUT (sense 3).

<ORIGIN> Old English calcatrippe, denoting any plant that tended to catch the feet, from medieval Latin calcatrippa, from calx 'heel' or calcare 'to tread' + a word related to TRAP^1 . Sense 1 was probably adopted from French.

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WATER CHESTNUT ■

TRAP ■

cal·u·met n. a North American Indian peace pipe.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, from late Latin calamellus 'little reed', diminutive of Latin calamus (referring to the pipe's reed stem).

Cal·u·met Cit·y a city in northeastern Illinois, south of Chicago, on the Indiana border; pop. 37,840. The surrounding industrial region, in both states, is called the Calumet.

ca·lum·ni·ate v. [trans.] FORMAL make false and defamatory statements about: Ezra Pound calumniated the Jews over the airwaves. See note at MALIGN.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·lum·ni·a·tion n. ca·lum·ni·a·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin calumniari, from calumnia (see CALUMNY).

Linked entries:

CALUMNY ■

cal·um·ny n. (pl. -nies) the making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone's reputation; slander.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a false and slanderous statement.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·lum·ni·ous adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin calumnia.

cal·u·tron n. a device that uses large electromagnets to separate uranium isotopes from uranium ore. It was developed in the 1940s to produce highly enriched weapons-grade uranium.

<ORIGIN> from Cal(ifornia) U(niversity) (cyclo)tron.

Cal·va·dos (also cal·va·dos) n. apple brandy, traditionally made in the Calvados region of Normandy.

Cal·va·ry the hill outside Jerusalem on which Jesus was crucified.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (a calvary) a sculpture or picture representing the scene of the Crucifixion.

<ORIGIN> from late Latin calvaria 'skull', translation of Greek golgotha 'place of a skull' (Matt. 27:33) (see GOLGOTHA).

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GOLGOTHA ■

calve v. 1 [intrans.] (of cows and certain other large animals) give birth to a calf.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] (of a person) help (a cow) give birth to a calf.

2 [trans.] (of an iceberg or glacier) split and shed (a smaller mass of ice).
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (of a mass of ice) split off from an iceberg or glacier.

<ORIGIN> Old English calfian, from cælf 'calf'.

calves plural form of CALF^1 , CALF^2 .

Linked entries:

CALF ■

CALF ■

Cal·vin 1 John (1509-64), French theologian and reformer. On becoming a Protestant, he fled to Switzerland, where he attempted to reorder society on reformed Christian principles. His Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536) was the first systematic account of reformed Christian doctrine.

Cal·vin 2 Melvin (1911-97), U.S. biochemist. He investigated photosynthesis and discovered the cycle of reactions (the Calvin cycle), which constitutes the dark reaction. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1961).

Cal·vin·ism n. the Protestant theological system of John Calvin and his successors, which develops Luther's doctrine of justification by faith alone and emphasizes the grace of God and the doctrine of predestination.

<DERIVATIVES> Cal·vin·ist n. Cal·vin·is·tic adj. Cal·vin·is·ti·cal adj.

Cal·vi·no Italo (1923-87), Italian novelist and short-story writer; born in Cuba. Notable works: The Path to the Nest of Spiders (1947) and If on a Winter's Night a Traveler (1979).

calx n. (pl. cal·ces ) ARCHAIC [CHEMISTRY] a powdery metallic oxide formed when an ore or mineral has been heated.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, 'lime', probably from Greek khalix 'pebble, limestone'.

Ca·lyp·so [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a nymph who kept Odysseus on her island, Ogygia, for seven years.

<ORIGIN> Greek, literally 'she who conceals'.

ca·lyp·so n. (pl. -sos) a kind of West Indian (originally Trinidadian) music in syncopated African rhythm, typically with words improvised on a topical theme.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a song in this style.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·lyp·so·ni·an adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: of unknown origin.

ca·lyx (also ca·lix) n. (pl. ca·ly·ces or ca·lyx·es) 1 [BOTANY] the sepals of a flower, typically forming a whorl that encloses the petals and forms a protective layer around a flower in bud. Compare with COROLLA.

2 [ZOOLOGY] a cuplike cavity or structure, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a portion of the pelvis of a mammalian kidney.

- the cavity in a calcareous coral skeleton that surrounds the polyp.

- the plated body of a crinoid, excluding the stalk and arms.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin, from Greek kalux 'case of a bud, husk', related to kaluptein 'to hide'.

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COROLLA ■

cal·zo·ne , n. (pl. -zo·ni or -zo·nes ) a type of pizza that is folded in half before cooking to contain a filling.

<ORIGIN> Italian dialect, probably a special use of calzone 'trouser leg', with reference to the shape of the pizza.

CAM abbr. computer-aided manufacturing.

cam n. a projection on a rotating part in machinery, designed to make sliding contact with another part while rotating and to impart reciprocal or variable motion to it.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- short for CAMSHAFT.

- short for CAMERA^1 .

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Dutch kam 'comb', as in kamrad 'cogwheel'.

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CAMSHAFT ■

CAMERA ■

ca·ma n. a hybrid animal produced by crossing a camel with a llama.

ca·ma·ra·de·rie n. mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together: a genuine camaraderie on the hockey team.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from camarade 'comrade'.

cam·a·ril·la n. a small group of people, esp. a group of advisers to a ruler or politician, with a shared, typically nefarious, purpose: Stalin and his camarilla.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, diminutive of camara 'chamber'.

Cam·a·ril·lo a city in southwestern California, west of Los Angeles; pop. 52,303.

cam·as (also cam·ass or quam·ash) n. a North American plant of the lily family, cultivated for its starry blue or purple flowers.
<INFO>  Genera Camassia and Zigadenus, family Liliaceae: several species, including C. quamash, the large bulbs of which are edible.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Chinook Jargon , perhaps from Nootka.

Cam·bay, Gulf of an inlet of the Arabian Sea on the Gujarat coast of western India, north of Bombay. Also called GULF OF KHAMBHAT (see KHAMBHAT, GULF OF).

cam·ber n. a slightly convex or arched shape of a road or other horizontal surface: the deck beams are curved for the camber of the deck.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- BRIT. a tilt built into a road at a bend or curve, enabling vehicles to maintain speed.

- the slight sideways inclination of the front wheels of a motor vehicle.

- the extent of curvature of a section of an airfoil.

<DERIVATIVES> cam·bered adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cambre, dialect variant of chambre 'arched', from Latin camurus 'curved inward'.

cam·bi·um n. (pl. -bi·a or -bi·ums) [BOTANY] a cellular plant tissue from which phloem, xylem, or cork grows by division, resulting (in woody plants) in secondary thickening.

<DERIVATIVES> cam·bi·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting one of the alimentary humors once supposed to nourish the body): from medieval Latin, 'change, exchange'.

Cam·bo·di·a a country in Southeast Asia between Thailand and southern Vietnam; pop. 13,363,000; capital, Phnom Penh; official language, Khmer. Also officially called the KHMER REPUBLIC (1970-75) and KAMPUCHEA (1976-89).

The country was made a French protectorate in 1863 and remained under French influence until it became fully independent in 1953. During the Vietnam War, it was the scene of fighting between the North Vietnamese army and South Vietnamese and U.S. forces. Following a civil war 1970-75, Cambodia came under the control of the Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot; more than 2 million Cambodians died before the regime was toppled by a Vietnamese invasion in 1979. The Vietnamese withdrew in 1989, and the monarchy was restored in 1993. Elections were held in 1998 and again in 2003.

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KHMER REPUBLIC ■

KAMPUCHEA ■

Cam·bo·di·an adj. of or relating to Cambodia, its people, or their language.

■ n. 1 a native or national of Cambodia, or a person of Cambodian descent.

2 another term for KHMER (the language).

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KHMER ■

cam·boy n. a boy or man who poses for a webcam.

cam·bo·zo·la (also cam·ba·zo·la) n. TRADEMARK a type of German blue soft cheese with a rind like Camembert, produced using Gorgonzola blue mold.

<ORIGIN> an invented name, blend of CAMEMBERT and GORGONZOLA, with the insertion of -bo-.

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CAMEMBERT ■

GORGONZOLA ■

Cam·brelle n. TRADEMARK a synthetic fabric that absorbs perspiration, used as a lining material for climbing and hiking boots.

Cam·bri·an adj. 1 (chiefly in names or geographical terms) Welsh: the Cambrian Railway.

2 [GEOLOGY] of, relating to, or denoting the first period in the Paleozoic era, between the end of the Precambrian eon and the beginning of the Ordovician period.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (the Cambrian) the Cambrian period or the system of rocks deposited during it.

The Cambrian lasted from about 570 million to 510 million years ago and was a time of widespread seas. It is the earliest period in which fossils, notably trilobites, can be used in geological dating.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin Cambria 'Wales', variant of Cumbria, from Welsh Cymry 'Welshman' or Cymru 'Wales'.

cam·bric n. a lightweight, closely woven white linen or cotton fabric.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Kamerijk, Flemish form of Cambrai, a town in northern France, where it was originally made. Compare with CHAMBRAY.

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CHAMBRAY ■

Cam·bridge 1 a city in eastern England; pop. 101,000. Cambridge University is located here.

2 a city in eastern Massachusetts, across the Charles River from Boston; pop. 101,355. Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are located here.

Cam·bridge·shire a county in eastern England; county town, Cambridge.

Cam·by·ses (died 522 BC), king of Persia 529-522 BC, son of Cyrus. He is chiefly remembered for his conquest of Egypt in 525 BC.

cam·cord·er n. a portable combined video camera and video recorder.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: blend of CAMERA^1 and RECORDER.

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CAMERA ■

RECORDER ■

Cam·den an industrial city in southwestern New Jersey, across the Delaware River from Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; pop. 79,904.

came past tense of COME.

Linked entries:

COME ■

cam·el n. 1 a large, long-necked ungulate mammal of arid country, with long slender legs, broad cushioned feet, and either one or two humps on the back. Camels can survive for long periods without food or drink, chiefly by using up the fat reserves in their humps.
<INFO>  Genus Camelus, family Camelidae (the camel family): two species (see ARABIAN CAMEL, BACTRIAN CAMEL). The camel family also includes the llama and its relatives.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a fabric made from camel hair.

- a light yellowish-brown color like that of camel hair.

2 an apparatus for raising a sunken ship, consisting of one or more watertight chests to provide buoyancy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a large floating fender used to keep a vessel off the dock.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Latin camelus, from Greek , of Semitic origin.

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ARABIAN CAMEL ■

BACTRIAN CAMEL ■

cam·el·back n. a back with a hump-shaped curve on a sofa or other piece of furniture: [as adj.] a camelback sofa.

cam·el crick·et n. a wingless humpbacked insect related to the grasshoppers, typically living in caves or holes. Also called CAVE CRICKET.
<INFO>  Raphidophoridae

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CAVE CRICKET ■

cam·el·eer n. a person who controls or rides a camel.

cam·el hair (also cam·el's hair) n. 1 a fabric made from the hair of a camel: [as adj.] a camel-hair coat.

2 [usu. as adj.] fine, soft hair from a squirrel's tail, used in artists' brushes.

cam·e·lid n. [ZOOLOGY] a mammal of the camel family (Camelidae).

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: from modern Latin Camelidae (plural), from Latin camelus 'camel', from Greek .

ca·mel·lia n. an evergreen eastern Asian shrub related to the tea plant, grown for its showy flowers and shiny leaves.
<INFO>  Genus Camellia, family Theaceae: several species, in particular the common camellia (C. japonica), which has numerous cultivars and hybrids.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, named by Linnaeus after Joseph Kamel (Latinized as Camellus), Moravian botanist (1661-1706), who described the flora of Luzon, an island in the Philippines.

Ca·mel·lia State a nickname for the state of ALABAMA.

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ALABAMA ■

ca·mel·o·pard n. ARCHAIC a giraffe.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek , from 'camel' + pardalis (see PARD).

Linked entries:

PARD ■

Ca·mel·o·par·da·lis [ASTRONOMY] a large but inconspicuous northern constellation (the Giraffe), between Polaris and Perseus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Ca·mel·o·par·da·lis) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Alpha Camelopardalis.

<ORIGIN> via Latin from Greek (see CAMELOPARD).

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CAMELOPARD ■

Cam·e·lot (in Arthurian legend) the place where King Arthur held his court.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (a Camelot) a place associated with glittering romance and optimism.

ca·mel spi·der n. another term for SUN SPIDER.

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SUN SPIDER ■

Cam·em·bert n. a kind of rich, soft, creamy cheese with a whitish rind, originally made near Camembert in Normandy.

cam·e·o n. (pl. -os) 1 a piece of jewelry, typically oval in shape, consisting of a portrait in profile carved in relief on a background of a different color.

2 a short descriptive literary sketch that neatly encapsulates someone or something: cameos of street life.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a small character part in a play or movie, played by a distinguished actor or a celebrity: [as adj.] he played numerous cameo roles.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French camahieu, cama(h)u; later influenced by Italian cam(m)eo, from medieval Latin cammaeus, related to the Old French word.

cam·er·a 1 n. a device for recording visual images in the form of photographs, movie film, or video signals.

<PHRASES> on (or off) camera while being filmed or televised (or not being filmed or televised): on camera, she was error-prone and nervous.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin (see CAMERA^2 , CAMERA OBSCURA).

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CAMERA ■

CAMERA OBSCURA ■

cam·er·a 2 n. [in names] a chamber or round building: the Radcliffe Camera.

<PHRASES> in camera [CHIEFLY LAW] in private, in particular taking place in the private chambers of a judge, with the press and public excluded: judges assess the merits of such claims in camera. <ORIGIN> late Latin, 'in the chamber'.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (denoting a council or legislative chamber in Italy or Spain): from Latin, 'vault, arched chamber', from Greek kamara 'object with an arched cover'.

cam·er·a lu·ci·da n. an instrument in which rays of light are reflected by a prism to produce on a sheet of paper an image, from which a drawing can be made.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin, 'bright chamber', on the pattern of camera obscura.

cam·er·a·man n. (pl. -men) a man whose profession involves operating a television or movie camera.

cam·er·a ob·scu·ra n. a darkened box with a convex lens or aperture for projecting the image of an external object onto a screen inside. It is important historically in the development of photography.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a small round building with a rotating angled mirror at the apex of the roof, projecting an image of the landscape on to a horizontal surface inside.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Latin, 'dark chamber'.

cam·er·a·per·son n. a cameraman or camerawoman (used as a neutral alternative).

cam·er·a-read·y adj. [PRINTING] (of matter to be printed) in the right form and of good enough quality to be reproduced photographically onto a printing plate: camera-ready copy.

cam·er·a·wom·an n. a woman whose profession involves operating a television or movie camera.

cam·er·a·work n. the way in which cameras are used in a movie or television program: discreet camerawork and underplayed acting.

Cam·e·roon a country on the western coast of Africa, between Nigeria and Gabon; pop. 16,063,000; capital, Yaoundé; languages, French and English (official), many local languages, pidgin. French name CAMEROUN.

A German protectorate from 1884 until 1916, it was subsequently administered by France and then by Britain as a League of Nations (later UN) trusteeship. In 1960, the French part became an independent republic and was joined in 1961 by part of British Cameroon; the remainder became part of Nigeria. Cameroon became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1995.

<DERIVATIVES> Cam·e·roon·i·an adj. & n.

cam fol·low·er n. the part of a machine in sliding or rolling contact with a rotating cam and given motion by it.

cam·girl n. a girl or woman who poses for a webcam.

cam·i n. a camisole.

cam·i·on n. a large truck or a bus.

Cam·i·sard n. a member of the French Protestant insurgents who rebelled against the persecution that followed the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

<ORIGIN> French, from Provençal camisa, from late Latin camisia 'shirt', because of the white shirts worn by the insurgents over their clothing for ease of recognition.

cam·i·sole n. a woman's loose-fitting undergarment for the upper body, typically held up by shoulder straps and having decorative trimming.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, either from Italian camiciola, diminutive of camicia, or from Spanish camisola, diminutive of camisa, both from late Latin camisia 'shirt or nightgown'.

cam·lock n. a fastening mechanism that incorporates a cam or tab that is turned to engage a catch or slot.

cam·o n. INFORMAL short for CAMOUFLAGE: [as adj.] a camo jacket.

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CAMOUFLAGE ■

Ca·mõ·es (also Ca·mo·ëns ) Luis (Vaz) de (c.1524-80), Portuguese poet. His most noted work, The Lusiads (1572), describes Vasco da Gama's discovery of the sea route to India.

cam·o·mile n. variant spelling of CHAMOMILE.

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CHAMOMILE ■

Ca·mor·ra (the Camorra) n. a secret criminal society originating in Naples and Neapolitan emigrant communities in the 19th century. Some members later moved to the U.S. and formed links with the Mafia.

<ORIGIN> Italian, perhaps from Spanish camorra 'dispute, quarrel'.

cam·ou·flage n. the disguising of military personnel, equipment, and installations by painting or covering them to make them blend in with their surroundings: on the trenches were pieces of turf, which served for camouflage | [as adj.] camouflage nets.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the clothing or materials used for such a purpose: figures dressed in army camouflage.

- an animal's natural coloring or form that enables it to blend in with its surroundings: the whiteness of polar bears provides camouflage.

- FIGURATIVE actions or devices intended to disguise or mislead: much of my apparent indifference was merely protective camouflage.

■ v. [trans.] (often be camouflaged) hide or disguise the presence of (a person, animal, or object) by means of camouflage: the war area had to be camouflaged with mud | FIGURATIVE grievances should be discussed, not camouflaged.

<ORIGIN> World War I: from French, from camoufler 'to disguise' (originally thieves' slang), from Italian camuffare 'disguise, deceive', perhaps by association with French camouflet 'whiff of smoke in the face'.

Camp Walter Chauncey (1859-1925), U.S. football coach. One of the first to play U.S. football, he coached at Yale 1888-92 and was influential in shaping the rules of the sport. In 1889, he and a colleague initiated the annual selection of an All-American football team.

camp 1 n. 1 a place with temporary accommodations of huts, tents, or other structures, typically used by soldiers, refugees, prisoners, or travelers: the enemy camp; a detention camp.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the people lodging in such a place: the shot woke the whole camp.

- a recreational institution providing facilities for outdoor activities, sports, crafts, and other special interests and typically featuring rustic overnight accommodations: a summer camp for children; drama camp.

- temporary overnight lodging out of doors, typically in tents: we made camp at a bend in the creek; we pitched camp at a fine spot.

- a facility at which athletes train during the off-season: football tryout camps.

2 the supporters of a particular party or doctrine regarded collectively: his views were firmly rooted in the conservative camp.

■ v. [intrans.] live for a time in a camp, tent, or camper, as when on vacation: parks in which you can camp or stay in a chalet | [as n.] (camping) camping attracts people of all ages.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- lodge temporarily, esp. in an inappropriate or uncomfortable place: we camped out for the night in a mission schoolroom.

- remain persistently in one place: the press will be camping on your doorstep once they get onto this story.

<PHRASES> break camp take down a tent or the tents of an encampment ready to leave.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from French camp, champ, from Italian campo, from Latin campus 'level ground', specifically applied to the Campus Martius in Rome, used for games, athletic practice, and military drill.

camp 2 INFORMAL adj. deliberately exaggerated and theatrical in style, typically for humorous effect: the movie seems more camp than shocking or gruesome.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a man or his manner) ostentatiously and extravagantly effeminate: a heavily made-up and highly camp actor.

- innocently idealistic, conventional, or sentimental: straight camp is about the ongoing comedy of American straightness: the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Secret Service, the NRA.

■ n. deliberately exaggerated and theatrical behavior or style: Hollywood camp.

■ v. [intrans.] (of a man) behave in an ostentatiously effeminate way: he camped it up a bit for the cameras.

<DERIVATIVES> camp·i·ly adv. camp·i·ness n. camp·y adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.

cam·paign n. a series of military operations intended to achieve a particular objective, confined to a particular area, or involving a specified type of fighting: a desert campaign; the air campaign | the army set off on campaign.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an organized course of action to achieve a particular goal: an advertising campaign; the campaign for a full inquiry into the regime | [with infinitive] his campaign to win the heart of a new woman.

- the organized actions that a political candidate undertakes in order to win an election.

■ v. [intrans.] work in an organized and active way toward a particular goal, typically a political or social one: people who campaigned against child labor | [with infinitive] the services he had campaigned to protect.

<DERIVATIVES> cam·paign·er n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting a tract of open country): from French campagne 'open country', via Italian from late Latin campania, from campus 'level ground' (see CAMP^1 ). The change in sense arose from an army's practice of “taking the field” (i.e., moving from a fortress or town to open country) at the onset of summer.

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CAMP ■

Cam·pa·nel·la Roy (1921-93), U.S. baseball player; known as Campy. He was a catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers 1948-58. Baseball Hall of Fame (1969).

cam·pa·ni·le n. an Italian bell tower, esp. a freestanding one.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Italian, from campana 'bell'.

cam·pa·nol·o·gy n. the art or practice of bell-ringing.

<DERIVATIVES> cam·pa·no·log·i·cal adj. cam·pa·nol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin campanologia, from late Latin campana 'bell'.

cam·pan·u·la n. another term for BELLFLOWER.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, diminutive of late Latin campana 'bell'.

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BELLFLOWER ■

cam·pan·u·late adj. [BOTANY] (of a flower) bell-shaped, as in a campanula.

Cam·pa·ri n. TRADEMARK a pinkish aperitif flavored with bitters.

<ORIGIN> named after the manufacturer.

Camp·bell 1 a city in west central California, southwest of San Jose, part of the Silicon Valley research and industrial complex; pop. 36,048.

Camp·bell 2 John Archibald (1811-89), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1853-61. Appointed to the Court by President Pierce, he resigned to serve as assistant secretary of war in the Confederate cabinet 1862-65.

Camp·bell 3 Mrs. Patrick (1865-1940), English actress; born Beatrice Stella Tanner. George Bernard Shaw wrote the part of Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion (1914) for her.

Camp·bell-Ban·ner·man Sir Henry (1836-1908), British statesman; prime minister 1905-08.

Camp Da·vid the country retreat of the President, in the Catoctin Mountains (part of the Blue Ridge Mountains) in northeastern Maryland. President Carter hosted talks there between the leaders of Israel and Egypt which resulted in the Camp David agreements (1978) and the Egypt-Israel peace treaty of 1979.

Cam·pe·che a state in southeastern Mexico, on the Yucatán Peninsula.
<SPECIAL USAGE> its capital, a seaport on the Gulf of Mexico; pop. 172,200.

camp·er n. 1 a person who spends a vacation in a tent or camp.

2 a large motor vehicle with facilities for sleeping and cooking while camping.

<PHRASES> happy camper a comfortable, contented person: when I'm onstage, I'm really a happy camper.

cam·pe·si·no n. (pl. -nos) (in Spanish-speaking regions) a peasant farmer.

<ORIGIN> Spanish.

camp·fire n. an open-air fire in a camp, used for cooking and as a focal point for social activity.

camp fol·low·er n. a civilian who works in or is attached to a military camp.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who is nominally attached to a group but is not fully committed or does not make a substantial contribution to its activities: cynical opportunists and camp followers.

camp·ground n. a place used for camping, esp. one equipped with cooking grills, water, and bathrooms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a place where a camp meeting is held.

cam·phor n. a white, volatile, crystalline substance with an aromatic smell and bitter taste, occurring in certain essential oils.
<INFO>  A terpenoid ketone; chem. formula: C_10H_16O.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French camphore or medieval Latin camphora, from Arabic , via Malay from Sanskrit .

cam·phor·ate v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (camphorated) impregnate or treat with camphor.

cam·phor tree n. an eastern Asian tree that belongs to the laurel family and serves as the chief natural source of camphor.
<INFO>  Cinnamomum camphora, family Lauraceae.

Cam·pi·nas a city in southeastern Brazil, northwest of São Paulo; pop. 835,000.

Cam·pi·on 1 Jane (1954- ), New Zealand movie director and screenwriter. She received an Academy Award for best screenplay for The Piano (1993).

Cam·pi·on 2 St. Edmund (1540-81), English Jesuit priest and martyr. Feast day, December 1.

cam·pi·on n. a plant of the pink family, typically having pink or white flowers with notched petals, found in both Eurasia and North America.
<INFO>  Genera Silene and Lychnis, family Caryophyllaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: perhaps related to CHAMPION. The name was originally used for the rose campion, whose name in Latin (Lychnis coronaria) and Greek ( ) means 'campion fit for a crown', and which was said in classical times to have been used for victors' garlands.

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CHAMPION ■

camp meet·ing n. a religious meeting held in the open air or in a tent, often lasting several days.

cam·po n. (pl. -pos) 1 (usu. the campo) (in South America, esp. Brazil), a grass plain with occasional stunted trees.

2 a square in an Italian or Spanish town.

<ORIGIN> from Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian campo, literally 'field'.

Cam·po·bel·lo Is·land a resort island in southwestern New Brunswick, off Eastport in Maine, noted as the vacation home of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Cam·po Gran·de a city in southwestern Brazil; pop. 489,000.

camp·o·ree n. a local or regional camping event for Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: blend of CAMP^1 and JAMBOREE.

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CAMP ■

JAMBOREE ■

camp·site n. a place used for camping.

cam·pus n. (pl. -pus·es) the grounds and buildings of a university or college: for the first year I had a room on campus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the grounds of a school, hospital, or other institution.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (originally U.S.): from Latin campus 'field' (see CAMP^1 ).

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CAMP ■

cam·py·lo·bac·ter n. [MEDICINE] a bacterium that sometimes causes abortion in animals and food poisoning in humans.
<INFO>  Genus Campylobacter: several species, in particular C. jejuni; curved or spiral Gram-negative bacteria.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: modern Latin, from Greek kampulos 'bent' + BACTERIUM.

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BACTERIUM ■

Cam Ranh Bay an inlet of the South China Sea, in south central Vietnam. It has been a major base for France, Japan, the former Soviet Union, and the U.S., which had a major installation here during the Vietnam War.

cam·shaft n. a shaft with one or more cams attached to it, esp. one operating the valves in an internal combustion engine.

Ca·mus Albert (1913-60), French novelist, playwright, and essayist; closely aligned with existentialism. Notable works: The Stranger (1942), The Plague (1947), and The Rebel (1951). Nobel Prize for Literature (1957).

can 1 modal verb (3rd sing. present can; past could ) 1 be able to: they can run fast; I could hear footsteps; he can't afford it.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- be able to through acquired knowledge or skill: I can speak Italian.

- have the opportunity or possibility to: there are many ways vacationers can take money abroad.

- [with negative or in questions] used to express doubt or surprise about the possibility of something's being the case: he can't have finished; where can she have gone?

2 be permitted to: you can use the phone if you want to; nobody could legally drink on the premises.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used to ask someone to do something: can you open the window?; can't you leave me alone?

- used to make a suggestion or offer: we can have another drink if you like.

3 used to indicate that something is typically the case: antique clocks can seem out of place in modern homes; he could be very moody.

<ORIGIN> Old English cunnan 'know' (in Middle English 'know how to'), related to Dutch kunnen and German können; from an Indo-European root shared by Latin gnoscere 'know' and Greek 'know'.

<USAGE>
Is there any difference between can and may when used to request or express permission, as in may I ask you a few questions? or can I ask you a few questions? It is still widely held that using can for permission is somehow incorrect and that it should be reserved for expressions denoting capability, as in can you swim? Although the use of the 'permission' sense of can is not regarded as incorrect in standard English, there is a clear difference in formality between the two verbs: may is, generally speaking, a more polite way of asking for something and is the better choice in more formal contexts. The distinction is largely a matter of manners, and sometimes of authority.

See also usage at MAY^1 .

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MAY ■

can 2 n. 1 a cylindrical metal container: a garbage can; a can of paint.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a small steel or aluminum container in which food or drink is hermetically sealed for storage over long periods: soup cans.

- the quantity of food or drink held by such a container: he drank two cans of beer.

2 (the can) INFORMAL prison.

3 (the can) INFORMAL the toilet.

■ v. (canned, can·ning) [trans.] (often be canned) 1 preserve (food) in a can.

2 INFORMAL dismiss (someone) from their job: he was canned because of a fight over promotion.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reject (something) as inadequate: the editorial team was so disappointed that they canned the project.

<PHRASES>
□ a can of worms a complicated matter likely to prove awkward or embarrassing: to question the traditional model of education opens up a can of worms.

□ in the can INFORMAL on tape or film and ready to be broadcast or released.

<DERIVATIVES> can·ner n.

<ORIGIN> Old English canne, related to Dutch kan and German Kanne; either of Germanic origin or from late Latin canna.

Can. abbr. Canada or Canadian.

Ca·na an ancient small town in Galilee where Christ is said to have performed his first miracle by changing water into wine during a marriage feast (John 2:1-11).

Ca·naan the biblical name for the area of ancient Palestine west of the Jordan River, the Promised Land of the Israelites, who conquered and occupied it during the latter part of the 2nd millennium BC.

<DERIVATIVES> Ca·naan·ite n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek Khanaan, from Hebrew .

Can·a·da a country in northern North America, the second largest country in the world; pop. 32,507,900; capital, Ottawa; official languages, English and French.

Eastern Canada was colonized by the French in the 17th century, but the British emerged as the ruling colonial power in 1763 after the Seven Years War. Canada became a federation of provinces with dominion status in 1867. The signing of the Constitution Act of 1982 was the final step in attaining legal independence from the UK; however, Canada remains a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. French-speakers are largely concentrated in Quebec, the focal point for the French-Canadian separatist movement.

<DERIVATIVES> Ca·na·di·an n. & adj.

Can·a·da bal·sam n. a yellowish resin obtained from the balsam fir and used for mounting preparations on microscope slides.

Can·a·da goose n. a common North American goose with a black head and neck, a white chinstrap, and a loud, trumpeting call.
<INFO>  Branta canadensis, family Anatidae.

Can·a·da jay n. another term for GRAY JAY.

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GRAY JAY ■

Can·a·darm n. the popular name for a robotic manipulation system designed for use in zero gravity. It has accompanied numerous space missions as a component on space shuttles.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: blend of Canada (where it was manufactured) and arm.

Can·a·da this·tle n. the European creeping or field thistle, which has become naturalized as a serious weed in North America.
<INFO>  Cirsium arvense, family Compositae.

Ca·na·di·an foot·ball n. a form of football played in Canada, derived from rugby but now resembling American football. There are twelve players on a side.

Ca·na·di·an French n. the form of the French language written and spoken by French Canadians.

Ca·na·di·an goose n. another term for CANADA GOOSE.

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CANADA GOOSE ■

Ca·na·di·an Riv·er (also South Canadian River) a river that flows for 900 miles (1,450 km) from eastern New Mexico across the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma. Oklahoma City lies on it.

Ca·na·di·an Shield 1 a large plateau that occupies more than two fifths of the land area of Canada and is drained by rivers flowing into Hudson Bay.

2 Also called LAURENTIAN PLATEAU.

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LAURENTIAN PLATEAU ■

ca·naille n. (the canaille) DEROGATORY the common people; the masses: the haughty contempt of a grandee sneering at the canaille.

<ORIGIN> French, from Italian canaglia 'pack of dogs', from cane 'dog'.

ca·nal n. an artificial waterway constructed to allow the passage of boats or ships inland or to convey water for irrigation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a tubular duct in a plant or animal, serving to convey or contain food, liquid, or air: the ear canal.

- [ASTRONOMY] any of a number of linear markings formerly reported as seen by telescope on the planet Mars. <ORIGIN> named canali ('channels') by G. V. Schiaparelli (1835-1910); the markings are now thought to have arisen from eye or lens defects.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, alteration of chanel 'channel', from Latin canalis 'pipe, groove, channel', from canna 'cane'.

ca·nal boat n. a long, narrow boat used on canals.

Ca·na·let·to (1697-1768), Italian painter; born Giovanni Antonio Canale. He is noted for his paintings of Venetian festivals and scenery.

can·a·lic·u·lus n. (pl. -li ) [ANATOMY] a small channel or duct.

<DERIVATIVES> can·a·lic·u·lar adj.

can·al·ize v. [trans.] convert (a river) into a navigable canal.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- convey (something) through a duct or channel.

- FIGURATIVE give a direction or purpose to (something): his strategy was to canalize the enthusiasm of the diehards into party channels.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·nal·i·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French canaliser, from canal 'channel' (see CANAL).

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CANAL ■

Ca·nal Zone see PANAMA CANAL.

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PANAMA CANAL ■

can·a·pé n. 1 a small piece of bread or pastry with a savory topping, often served with drinks at a reception or formal party.

2 a sofa, esp. a decorative French antique.

<ORIGIN> French, sense 1 being a figurative extension of the sense 'sofa' (as a “couch” on which to place toppings). See also CANOPY.

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CANOPY ■

ca·nard n. 1 an unfounded rumor or story: the old canard that LA is a cultural wasteland.

2 a small winglike projection attached to an aircraft forward of the main wing to provide extra stability or control, sometimes replacing the tail.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, literally 'duck', also 'hoax', from Old French caner 'to quack'.

Ca·nar·sie a residential section of southeastern Brooklyn in New York City, along Jamaica Bay.

<ORIGIN> named after the American Indian tribe who originally inhabited the area.

ca·nar·y n. (pl. -nar·ies) 1 a mainly African finch with a melodious song, typically having yellowish-green plumage. One kind is popular as a pet bird and has been bred in a variety of colors, esp. bright yellow.
<INFO>  Genus Serinus, family Fringillidae: several species, esp. the island canary (S. canaria), which is native to the Canary Islands, the Azores, and Madeira, and from which the domestic canary was developed.

2 (also canary yellow) a bright yellow color resembling the plumage of a canary.

3 (also canary wine) HISTORICAL a sweet wine from the Canary Islands, similar to Madeira.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French canari, from Spanish canario 'canary' or 'person from the Canary Islands' (see CANARY ISLANDS).

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CANARY ISLANDS ■

ca·nar·y grass n. a tall grass of northwestern Africa and the Canary Islands, grown for its seeds, which are fed to canaries and other caged finches.
<INFO>  Genus Phalaris, family Gramineae: several species, in particular P. canariensis.

Ca·nar·y Is·lands (also the Ca·nar·ies) a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean, off the northwestern coast of Africa, that forms an autonomous region of Spain; capital, Las Palmas; pop. 1,557,530.

<ORIGIN> from French Canarie, via Spanish from Latin Canaria (insula) '(island) of dogs', from canis "dog,” one of the islands being noted in Roman times for large dogs.

ca·nas·ta n. a card game resembling rummy, using two packs. It is usually played by two pairs of partners, and the aim is to collect sets (or melds) of cards.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a meld of seven cards in this game.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Spanish (of Uruguayan origin), literally 'basket', based on Latin canistrum 'basket' (see CANISTER).

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CANISTER ■

Ca·nav·er·al, Cape a cape on the eastern coast of Florida, known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 until 1973. It is the site of the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

Can·ber·ra the capital of Australia and seat of the federal government, in Australian Capital Territory that is an enclave within New South Wales; pop. 310,000.

can·can n. a lively, high-kicking stage dance originating in 19th-century Parisian music halls and performed by women in long skirts and petticoats:

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, child's word for canard 'duck', from Old French caner 'to quack'.

can·cel v. (-celed, -cel·ing; BRIT. -celled, -cel·ling) [trans.] 1 decide or announce that (an arranged or planned event) will not take place: he was forced to cancel his visit.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- annul or revoke (a formal arrangement which is in effect): his visa had been canceled.

- abolish or make void (a financial obligation): I intend to cancel your debt to me.

- mark, pierce, or tear (a ticket, check, or postage stamp) to show that it has been used or invalidated: [as adj.] canceled checks.

2 (of a factor or circumstance) neutralize or negate the force or effect of (another): the electric fields may cancel each other out.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MATHEMATICS] delete (an equal factor) from both sides of an equation or from the numerator and denominator of a fraction.

■ n. 1 a mark made on a postage stamp to show that it has been used.

2 [PRINTING] a new page or section inserted in a book to replace the original text, typically to correct an error: [as adj.] a cancel title page.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'obliterate or delete writing by drawing or stamping lines across it'): from Old French canceller, from Latin cancellare, from cancelli 'crossbars'.

can·cel·bot n. [COMPUTING] a program that searches for and deletes specified postings from Internet newsgroups.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: from CANCEL + BOT^2 .

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CANCEL ■

BOT ■

can·cel·er (also can·cel·ler) n. a manual, mechanical, or electronic device used to cancel something, esp. one that makes a cancellation on a postage stamp.

can·cel·la·tion n. the action of canceling something that has been arranged or planned: train services are subject to cancellation at short notice; the project was threatened with cancellation by the government | the cancellation of the performance.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a crossing out of something written: all cancellations on documents must be made indelibly.

- a visible or electronic mark placed on a postage stamp to show that it has been used.

- [LAW] the annulling of a legal document: the debtor can procure cancellation if satisfied within one month.

can·cel·lous adj. [ANATOMY] of or denoting bone tissue with a meshlike structure containing many pores, typical of the interior of mature bones.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin cancelli 'crossbars' + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

Can·cer 1 [ASTRONOMY] a constellation (the Crab), said to represent a crab crushed under the foot of Hercules. It is most noted for the globular star cluster of Praesepe (the Beehive cluster).
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Can·cri ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Delta Cancri.

2 [ASTROLOGY] the fourth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters at the northern summer solstice (about June 21).
<SPECIAL USAGE> (a Cancer) a person born when the sun is in this sign.

<PHRASES> tropic of Cancer see TROPIC^1 .

<DERIVATIVES> Can·cer·i·an n. & adj. (in sense 2).

<ORIGIN> Latin.

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TROPIC ■

can·cer n. the disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body: he's got cancer; smoking is the major cause of lung cancer.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a malignant growth or tumor resulting from such a division of cells: most skin cancers are curable.

- FIGURATIVE a practice or phenomenon perceived to be evil or destructive and hard to contain or eradicate: racism is a cancer sweeping across Europe.

<DERIVATIVES> can·cer·ous adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Latin, 'crab or creeping ulcer', translating Greek karkinos, said to have been applied to such tumors because the swollen veins around them resembled the limbs of a crab. CANKER was the usual form until the 17th cent. Compare with CANCER.

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CANKER ■

CANCER ■

can·cer clus·ter n. a geographic area with a statistically higher than average occurrence of cancer among its residents.

can·cer stick n. INFORMAL, HUMOROUS a cigarette.

can·croid adj. 1 [ZOOLOGY] like a crab, esp. in structure.

2 [MEDICINE] (of a growth) resembling cancer.

Can·cún a resort town in southeastern Mexico, on the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula; pop. 27,500.

can·de·la (abbr.: cd) n. [PHYSICS] the SI unit of luminous intensity. One candela is the luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 × 10^12Hz and has a radiant intensity in that direction of 1/683/ watt per steradian.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Latin, 'candle'.

can·de·la·brum n. (pl. -la·bra ) a large branched candlestick or holder for several candles or lamps.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin, from candela (see CANDLE).

<USAGE>
Based on the Latin forms, the correct singular is candelabrum, and the correct plural is candelabra. Candelabra, however, is often mistakenly thought to be the singular, resulting in the plural candelabras (as in Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe). Another false plural, candelabrums, is also sometimes found.

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CANDLE ■

can·des·cent adj. glowing with, or as with, heat.

<DERIVATIVES> can·des·cence n. can·des·cent·ly adv.

can·did adj. 1 truthful and straightforward; frank: his responses were remarkably candid; a candid discussion.

2 (of a photograph of a person) taken informally, esp. without the subject's knowledge.

<DERIVATIVES> can·did·ly adv. can·did·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the Latin sense): from Latin candidus 'white'. Subsequent early senses were 'pure, innocent', 'unbiased', and 'free from malice', hence 'frank' (late 17th cent.). Compare with CANDOR.

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CANDOR ■

can·di·da n. a yeastlike, parasitic fungus that can sometimes cause thrush.
<INFO>  Genus Candida, phylum Ascomycota, esp. C. albicans.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, feminine of Latin candidus 'white'.

can·di·date n. a person who applies for a job or is nominated for election: candidates applying for this position should be computer-literate; the Republican candidate.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person taking an examination: doctoral candidates in literature.

- a person or thing regarded as suitable for or likely to receive a particular fate, treatment, or position: she was the perfect candidate for a biography; a leading candidate for the title of New York's ugliest building.

<DERIVATIVES> can·di·da·cy n. can·di·da·ture n. BRIT.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin candidatus 'white-robed', also denoting a candidate for office (who traditionally wore a white toga), from candidus 'white'.

can·di·di·a·sis n. infection with candida, esp. as causing oral or vaginal thrush.

can·di·ru n. a minute, slender catfish of the Amazon region that feeds by sucking blood from other fishes and sometimes enters the body orifices of mammals. It is notorious for its occasional habit of entering the urethra of human swimmers.
<INFO>  Vandellia cirrhosa, family Trichomycteridae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: via Portuguese from Tupi candirú.

can·dle n. a cylinder or block of wax or tallow with a central wick that is lit to produce light as it burns.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also international candle) [PHYSICS] a unit of luminous intensity, superseded by the candela.

■ v. [trans.] (often be candled) (of a poultry breeder) test (an egg) for freshness or fertility by holding it to the light.

<PHRASES> be unable to hold a candle to INFORMAL be not nearly as good as: nobody in the final could hold a candle to her.

<DERIVATIVES> can·dler n.

<ORIGIN> Old English candel, from Latin candela, from candere 'be white or glisten'.

can·dle·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) any of a number of trees or shrubs whose berries or seeds yield a wax or oil that can be used for making candles, in particular:
<INFO>
- a bayberry or related North American shrub (genus Myrica, family Myricaceae).

- the candlenut.

can·dle·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a small, edible marine fish with oily flesh, occurring on the west coast of North America. Also called EULACHON.
<INFO>  Thaleichthys pacificus, family Osmeridae.

<ORIGIN> so named because the Chinook Indians formerly burned the oily bodies of these fish as candles.

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EULACHON ■

can·dle·hold·er n. a holder or support for a candle, typically one that is small or sturdy.

can·dle·light n. dim light provided by a candle or candles: we dined by candlelight.

can·dle·lit adj. lit by a candle or candles: a romantic candlelit dinner.

Can·dle·mas n. a Christian festival held on February 2 to commemorate the purification of the Virgin Mary (after childbirth, according to Jewish law) and the presentation of Christ in the Temple. Candles were traditionally blessed at this festival.

<ORIGIN> Old English Candelmæsse (see CANDLE, MASS).

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CANDLE ■

MASS ■

can·dle·nut n. an evergreen tree of the spurge family, with large seeds that yield an oil used for lighting and other purposes, native to Southeast Asia and the South Pacific islands. Also called CANDLEBERRY.
<INFO>  Aleurites moluccana, family Euphorbiaceae.

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CANDLEBERRY ■

can·dle·pow·er n. illuminating power expressed in candelas or candles: [as adj.] a 16-candlepower lamp.

can·dle·snuff·er n. see SNUFFER.

Linked entries:

SNUFFER ■

can·dle·stick n. a support or holder for one or more candles, typically one that is tall and thin.

can·dle·wick n. a thick, soft cotton fabric with a raised, tufted pattern: [as adj.] a candlewick dressing gown.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the yarn used to make such a fabric.

- tufted embroidery work made with heavy cotton yarn similar to that used to make wicks for candles.

can-do adj. [attrib.] INFORMAL characterized by or exhibiting a determination or willingness to take action and achieve results: I like his can-do attitude.

can·dom·blé n. Brazilian sect of the macumba cult.

<ORIGIN> Brazilian Portuguese.

can·dor (BRIT. can·dour) n. the quality of being open and honest in expression; frankness: a man of refreshing candor.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the Latin sense): from Latin candor 'whiteness'. The current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.; the development of the senses paralleled that of CANDID.

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CANDID ■

CANDU (also Can·du) n. a nuclear reactor of a Canadian design in which the fuel is unenriched uranium oxide clad in zircaloy and the coolant and moderator is heavy water.

<ORIGIN> from Can(ada) + the initial letters of DEUTERIUM and URANIUM.

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DEUTERIUM ■

URANIUM ■

C&W abbr. country and western (music).

can·dy n. (pl. -dies) a sweet food made with sugar or syrup combined with fruit, chocolate, or nuts: [as adj.] a candy bar | pink and yellow candies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> sugar crystallized by repeated boiling and slow evaporation.

■ v. (-dies, -died) [trans.] [often as adj.] (candied) preserve (fruit) by coating and impregnating it with a sugar syrup: candied fruit.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (as a verb): the noun use is from late Middle English sugar-candy, from French sucre candi 'crystallized sugar', from Arabic sukkar 'sugar' + 'candied', based on Sanskrit 'fragment'.

can·dy ap·ple n. an apple coated with a thin layer of cooked sugar or caramel and fixed on a stick.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also candy-apple red) a bright red color.

can·dy-ass n. INFORMAL a timid, cowardly, or despicable person.

<DERIVATIVES> can·dy-assed adj.

can·dy cane n. a cylindrical stick of striped, sweet candy with a curved end, resembling a walking stick.

can·dy corn n. a form of chewy candy shaped like a large kernel of corn.

can·dy·man n. (pl. -men) INFORMAL a person who sells illegal drugs.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CANDY + MAN, an earlier sense denoting a ragman who gave toffee in exchange for goods.

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CANDY ■

MAN ■

can·dy-striped adj. (of material or a garment) patterned with alternating stripes of white and another color, typically pink.

<DERIVATIVES> can·dy-stripe adj. & n.

can·dy-strip·er n. INFORMAL a teenage girl who does volunteer nursing in a hospital.

<ORIGIN> so named because of the candy-striped uniforms of such nurses.

can·dy·tuft n. a European plant with small heads of white, pink, or purple flowers, often cultivated as a garden plant.
<INFO>  Genus Iberis, family Brassicaceae.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Candy (obsolete form of Candia, former name of Crete) + TUFT.

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TUFT ■

cane n. 1 the hollow, jointed stem of a tall grass, esp. bamboo or sugar cane, or the stem of a slender palm such as rattan.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- any plant that produces such stems.

- stems of bamboo, rattan, or wicker used as a material for making furniture or baskets: [as adj.] a cane coffee table.

- short for SUGAR CANE.

- a flexible, woody stem of the raspberry plant or any of its relatives.

2 a length of cane or a slender stick, esp. one used as a support for plants, as a walking stick, or as an instrument of punishment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the cane) CHIEFLY BRIT. a form of corporal punishment used in certain schools, involving beating with a cane: wrong answers were rewarded by the cane.

■ v. [trans.] 1 (often be caned) beat with a cane as a punishment.

2 [usu. as adj.] (caned) make or repair (furniture) with cane: armchairs with caned seats.

<DERIVATIVES> can·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, via Latin from Greek kanna, , of Semitic origin.

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SUGAR CANE ■

cane·brake n. a piece of ground covered with a dense growth of canes.

cane chair n. a chair with a seat made of woven cane strips.

cane rat n. a large, ratlike, African rodent found in wetlands south of the Sahara. It is often a pest of sugar plantations.
<INFO>  Family Thryonomyidae and genus Thryonomys: two species.

cane sug·ar n. sugar obtained from sugar cane.

Ca·nes Ve·nat·i·ci [ASTRONOMY] a small northern constellation (the Hunting Dogs), said to represent two dogs (Asterion and Chara) held on a leash by Boötes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Ca·num Ve·nat·i·co·rum ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Beta Canum Venaticorum.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

cane toad n. a large brown toad native to tropical America. It has been introduced elsewhere as a pest control agent but can become a serious pest itself, partly because animals eating it are killed by its toxins. Also called MARINE TOAD, GIANT TOAD.
<INFO>  Bufo marinus, family Bufonidae.

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MARINE TOAD ■

GIANT TOAD ■

Ca·net·ti Elias (1905-94), British writer; born in Bulgaria. Notable works: Auto-da-Fé (1936) and Crowds and Power (1960). Nobel Prize for Literature (1981).

Can·field n. a form of the card game solitaire.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after Richard A. Canfield (1855-1914), an American gambler.

ca·nic·u·lar adj. pertaining to a dog, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or pertaining to the Dog Star, Sirius.

<SPECIAL USAGE> of or pertaining to the dog days.

can·id n. [ZOOLOGY] a mammal of the dog family (Canidae).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Canidae (plural), from Latin canis 'dog'.

ca·nine adj. of, relating to, or resembling a dog or dogs: canine distemper virus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ZOOLOGY] of or relating to animals of the dog family.

■ n. 1 a dog.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ZOOLOGY] another term for CANID.

2 (also canine tooth) a pointed tooth between the incisors and premolars of a mammal, often greatly enlarged in carnivores.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from French, from Latin caninus, from canis 'dog'.

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CANID ■

ca·nine dis·tem·per n. see DISTEMPER^1 (sense 1).

Ca·nis Ma·jor [ASTRONOMY] a small constellation (the Great Dog), said to represent one of the dogs following Orion. It is just south of the celestial equator and contains the brightest star, Sirius.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Ca·nis Ma·jo·ris ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Eta Canis Majoris.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

Ca·nis Mi·nor [ASTRONOMY] a small constellation (the Little Dog), said to represent one of the dogs following Orion. It is close to the celestial equator and contains the bright star Procyon.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Ca·nis Mi·no·ris ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Beta Canis Minoris.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

can·is·ter n. a round or cylindrical container, typically one made of metal, used for storing such things as food, chemicals, or rolls of film.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a cylinder of pressurized gas, typically one that explodes when thrown or fired from a gun: riot police fired tear-gas canisters into the crowd.

- HISTORICAL small bullets packed in cases that fit the bore of an artillery piece or gun: another deadly volley of canister.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (denoting a basket): from Latin canistrum, from Greek kanastron 'wicker basket', from kanna 'cane, reed' (see CANE).

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CANE ■

can·ker n. 1 a necrotic, fungal disease of apple and other trees that results in damage to the bark.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an open lesion in plant tissue caused by infection or injury.

- fungal rot in some fruits and vegetables, e.g., parsnips and tomatoes.

2 [MEDICINE] an ulcerous condition or disease, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also canker sore) a small ulcer of the mouth or lips.

- another term for THRUSH^2 (sense 2).

- ulceration of the throat and other orifices of birds, typically caused by a protozoal infection.

- (also ear can·ker) inflammation of the ear of a dog, cat, or rabbit, typically caused by a mite infestation.

- FIGURATIVE a malign and corrupting influence that is difficult to eradicate: [in sing.] racism remains a canker at the heart of the nation.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] (of woody plant tissue) become infected with canker: [as n.] (cankering) we found some cankering of the wood.

2 [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (cankered) infect with a pervasive and corrupting bitterness: he hated her with a cankered, shameful abhorrence.

<DERIVATIVES> can·ker·ous adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a tumor): from Old French chancre, from Latin cancer 'crab' (see CANCER).

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THRUSH ■

CANCER ■

can·ker·worm n. the caterpillar of a North American moth that has wingless females. Cankerworms consume the buds and leaves of trees and can be a major pest.
<INFO>  Several species in the family Geometridae, in particular Paleacrita vernata and Alsophila pometaria.

can·kle n. INFORMAL an unusually thick or stout ankle.

<ORIGIN> blend of calf and ankle.

Can·more the nickname of Malcolm III of Scotland (see MALCOLM).

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MALCOLM ■

can·na (also canna lily) n. a lilylike, tropical American plant with bright flowers and ornamental straplike leaves.
<INFO>  Genus Canna, family Cannaceae: several species, in particular forms of Indian shot (C. indica), which are widely naturalized.

<ORIGIN> from modern Latin, from Latin canna 'cane, reed' (see CANE).

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CANE ■

can·na·bin n. a poisonous resin extracted from cannabis.

can·nab·i·noid n. [CHEMISTRY] any of a group of closely related compounds that include cannabinol and the active constituents of cannabis.

can·nab·i·nol n. [CHEMISTRY] a crystalline compound whose derivatives, esp. THC, are the active constituents of cannabis.
<INFO>  A polycyclic phenol; chem. formula: C_21H_26O_2.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CANNABIS + -OL.

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CANNABIS ■

-OL ■

can·na·bis n. a tall plant with a stiff upright stem, divided serrated leaves, and glandular hairs. It is used to produce hemp fiber and as a psychotropic drug. Also called INDIAN HEMP, MARIJUANA.
<INFO>  Cannabis sativa, family Cannabaceae (or Cannabidaceae): two subspecies (sometimes considered two species), C. s. sativa, which is chiefly used for hemp, and C. s. indica, from which the drug is usually obtained.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a dried preparation of the flowering tops or other parts of this plant, or a resinous extract of it (cannabis resin), used (generally illegally) as a psychotropic drug, chiefly in cigarettes.

<ORIGIN> from Latin, from Greek kannabis.

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INDIAN HEMP ■

MARIJUANA ■

canned adj. 1 (of food or drink) preserved or supplied in a sealed can: canned beans.

2 INFORMAL, OFTEN DEROGATORY (of music, laughter, or applause) prerecorded and therefore considered to be lacking in freshness and spontaneity.

can·nel coal n. a hard, compact kind of bituminous coal.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally a northern English usage): of unknown origin.

can·nel·li·ni bean n. a kidney-shaped bean of a medium-sized, creamy-white variety.

<ORIGIN> Italian cannellini, literally 'small tubes'.

can·nel·lo·ni n. rolls of pasta stuffed with a meat or vegetable mixture.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [treated as sing.] an Italian dish consisting of such rolls of pasta cooked in a cheese sauce.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'large tubes', from cannello 'tube'.

can·ne·lure n. a groove around the cylindrical part of a bullet.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French, from canneler 'provide with a channel', from canne 'reed, cane'.

can·ner·y n. (pl. -ner·ies) a factory where food is canned.

Cannes a resort on the Mediterranean coast of France; pop. 69,360. An international film festival is held here annually.

can·ni·bal n. a person who eats the flesh of other human beings: [as adj.] cannibal tribes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an animal that feeds on flesh of its own species.

<DERIVATIVES> can·ni·bal·ism n. can·ni·bal·is·tic adj. can·ni·bal·is·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Spanish Canibales (plural), variant (recorded by Columbus) of Caribes, the name of a West Indian people reputed to eat humans (see CARIB).

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CARIB ■

can·ni·bal·ize v. [trans.] 1 use (a machine) as a source of spare parts for another, similar machine.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- use (the creative work of others) in one's own art: high culture should cannibalize mass culture.

- (of a company) reduce (the sales of one of its products) by introducing a similar, competing product.

2 (of an animal) eat (an animal of its own kind): female spiders cannibalize courting males.

<DERIVATIVES> can·ni·bal·i·za·tion n.

Can·niz·za·ro Stanislao (1826-1910), Italian chemist. He revived Avogadro's law and used it to distinguish clearly between atoms and molecules and to introduce the unified system of atomic and molecular weights.

can·no·li plural n. Italian pastries in the form of hard tubular shells filled with sweetened ricotta cheese and often containing nuts, citron, or chocolate bits.

<ORIGIN> Italian, plural of cannolo, from canna 'reed', from Greek kanna, of Semitic origin.

can·non n. 1 (pl. usu. same) a large, heavy piece of artillery, typically mounted on wheels, formerly used in warfare.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an automatic heavy gun that fires shells from an aircraft or tank.

2 [BILLIARDS] CHIEFLY BRIT. a carom. <ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: alteration of CAROM.

3 [ENGINEERING] a heavy cylinder or hollow drum that is able to rotate independently on a shaft.

■ v. [intrans.] [BILLIARDS] & [SNOOKER] make a cannon shot.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French canon, from Italian cannone 'large tube', from canna 'cane, reed' (see CANE).

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CAROM ■

CANE ■

can·non·ade n. a period of continuous, heavy gunfire.

■ v. [intrans.] discharge heavy guns continuously: [as n.] (cannonading) the daily cannonading continued.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian cannonata, from cannone (see CANNON).

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CANNON ■

can·non·ball n. a round metal or stone projectile fired from a cannon in former times.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also cannonball dive) a jump into water performed upright with the knees clasped to the chest.

can·non bone n. a long, tube-shaped bone in the lower leg of a horse or other large quadruped, between the fetlock and the knee or hock.

can·non·eer n. HISTORICAL an artilleryman who positioned and fired a cannon.

can·non fod·der n. soldiers regarded merely as material to be expended in war.

can·non·ry n. (pl. -ries) the use or discharge of cannon; artillery.

can·not contraction of can not.

<USAGE>
Both the one-word form cannot and the two-word form can not are acceptable, but cannot is far more common in all contexts. Indeed, can not has come to be so unusual that it may be read as an error. The two-word form is advised only in a construction in which not is part of a set phrase, such as 'not only . . . but (also)': Stevenson can not only sing well, but he paints brilliantly.

can·nu·la n. (pl. -lae or -las) [SURGERY] a thin tube inserted into a vein or body cavity to administer medicine, drain off fluid, or insert a surgical instrument.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin, 'small reed', diminutive of canna (see CANE).

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CANE ■

can·nu·late v. [trans.] [SURGERY] introduce a cannula or thin tube into (a vein or body cavity).

<DERIVATIVES> can·nu·la·tion n.

can·ny adj. (-ni·er, -ni·est) 1 having or showing shrewdness and good judgment, esp. in money or business matters: canny shoppers came early for a bargain.

2 SCOTTISH & N. ENGLISH pleasant; nice: she's a canny lass.

<DERIVATIVES> can·ni·ly adv. can·ni·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (originally Scots): from CAN^1 (in the obsolete sense 'know') + -Y^1 .

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CAN ■

-Y ■

ca·noe n. a narrow, keelless boat with pointed ends, propelled by a paddle or paddles.

■ v. (-noes, -noed, -noe·ing) [intrans.] travel in or paddle a canoe: he had once canoed down the Nile.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·noe·ist n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Spanish canoa, from Arawak, from Carib canaoua.

ca·noe·ing n. the sport or activity of traveling in or paddling a canoe.

can·o·la n. oilseed rape of a variety developed in Canada and grown in North America. It yields a valuable culinary oil.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from CANADA + -ola (based on Latin oleum 'oil').

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CANADA ■

can·on 1 n. 1 a general law, rule, principle, or criterion by which something is judged: the appointment violated the canons of fair play and equal opportunity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a church decree or law: a set of ecclesiastical canons.

2 a collection or list of sacred books accepted as genuine: the formation of the biblical canon.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the works of a particular author or artist that are recognized as genuine: the Shakespeare canon.

- a list of literary or artistic works considered to be permanently established as being of the highest quality: Hopkins was firmly established in the canon of English poetry.

3 (also canon of the Mass) (in the Roman Catholic Church) the part of the Mass containing the words of consecration.

4 [MUSIC] a piece in which the same melody is begun in different parts successively, so that the imitations overlap.

<PHRASES> in canon [MUSIC] with different parts successively beginning the same melody.

<ORIGIN> Old English: from Latin, from Greek 'rule', reinforced in Middle English by Old French canon.

can·on 2 n. a member of the clergy who is on the staff of a cathedral, esp. one who is a member of the chapter. The position is frequently conferred as an honorary one.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also canon regular or regular canon) (in the Roman Catholic Church) a member of certain orders of clergy that live communally according to an ecclesiastical rule in the same way as monks.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'canon regular'): from Old French canonie, from Latin canonicus 'according to rule' (see CANONIC). The other sense dates from the mid 16th cent.

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CANONIC ■

ca·ñon n. archaic spelling of CANYON.

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CANYON ■

can·on can·cri·zans n. [MUSIC] a canon in which the theme or subject is repeated backward in the second part. Also called CRAB CANON.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CANON^1 + medieval Latin cancrizans 'walking backward' (from cancer 'crab').

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CRAB CANON ■

CANON ■

can·on·ess n. (in the Roman Catholic Church) a member of certain religious orders of women living communally according to an ecclesiastical rule in the same way as nuns.

ca·non·ic adj. 1 [MUSIC] in canon form.

2 another term for CANONICAL.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·non·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Old English (as a noun): from Old French canonique or Latin canonicus 'canonical', from Greek kanonikos, from kanon 'rule' (see CANON^1 ). The adjective dates from the late 15th cent.

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CANONICAL ■

CANON ■

ca·non·i·cal adj. 1 according to or ordered by canon law: the canonical rites of the Roman Church.

2 included in the list of sacred books officially accepted as genuine: the canonical Gospels of the New Testament.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- accepted as being accurate and authoritative: the canonical method of comparative linguistics.

- (of an artist or work) belonging to the literary or artistic canon: canonical writers like Jane Austen.

- according to recognized rules or scientific laws: canonical nucleotide sequences.

- [MATHEMATICS] of or relating to a general rule or standard formula.

3 of or relating to a cathedral chapter or a member of it.

■ plural n. (canonicals) the prescribed official dress of the clergy: Cardinal Bea in full canonicals.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·non·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin canonicalis, from Latin canonicus (see CANONIC).

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CANONIC ■

ca·non·i·cal hours plural n. the times of daily Christian prayer appointed in the breviary.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the offices set for these times, namely matins with lauds, prime, terce, sext, nones, vespers, and compline.

can·on·ic·i·ty n. the fact or status of being canonical: established standards of canonicity.

can·on·ist n. an expert in canon law.

<DERIVATIVES> can·on·is·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French canoniste or medieval Latin canonista, from Latin canon (see CANON^1 ).

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CANON ■

can·on·ize v. [trans.] (often be canonized) (in the Roman Catholic Church) officially declare (a dead person) to be a saint: he was the last English saint to be canonized prior to the Reformation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE regard as being above reproach or of great significance: we have canonized freedom of speech as an absolute value overriding all others.

- accept into the literary or artistic canon: [as adj.] a familiar, canonized writer.

- sanction by Church authority.

<DERIVATIVES> can·on·i·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin canonizare 'admit as authoritative' (in medieval Latin 'admit to the list of recognized saints'), from Latin canon (see CANON^1 ).

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CANON ■

can·on law n. ecclesiastical law, esp. (in the Roman Catholic Church) that laid down by papal pronouncements.

can·on reg·u·lar n. see CANON^2 .

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CANON ■

can·on·ry n. (pl. -ries) the office or benefice of a canon.

ca·noo·dle v. [intrans.] INFORMAL kiss and cuddle amorously: she was caught canoodling with her boyfriend.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (originally U.S.): of unknown origin.

Ca·no·pic jar (also Canopic vase) n. a covered urn used in ancient Egyptian burials to hold the entrails from an embalmed body.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Canopic from Latin Canopicus, from Canopus, the name of a town in ancient Egypt.

Ca·no·pus [ASTRONOMY] the second brightest star in the sky, and the brightest in the constellation Carina. It is a supergiant, visible only to observers in the southern hemisphere.

<ORIGIN> Latin, from Greek , the name of the pilot of the fleet of King Menelaus in the Trojan War.

can·o·py n. (pl. -pies) an ornamental cloth covering hung or held up over something, esp. a throne or bed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE something hanging or perceived as hanging over a person or scene: the canopy of twinkling stars.

- [ARCHITECTURE] a rooflike projection or shelter: they mounted the station steps under the concrete canopy.

- the transparent plastic or glass cover of an aircraft's cockpit.

- the expanding, umbrellalike part of a parachute, made of silk or nylon.

- [in sing.] the uppermost trees or branches of the trees in a forest, forming a more or less continuous layer of foliage: monkeys spend hours every day sitting high in the canopy.

■ v. (-pies, -pied) [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (canopied) cover or provide with a canopy: a canopied bed | the river was canopied by overhanging trees.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin canopeum 'ceremonial canopy', alteration of Latin conopeum 'mosquito net over a bed', from Greek 'couch with mosquito curtains', from 'mosquito'.

ca·no·rous adj. RARE (of song or speech) melodious or resonant.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin canorus (from canere 'sing') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

canst archaic second person singular present of CAN^1 .

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CAN ■

cant 1 n. 1 hypocritical and sanctimonious talk, typically of a moral, religious, or political nature: the liberal case against all censorship is often cant.

2 [as adj.] denoting a phrase or catchword temporarily current or in fashion: they are misrepresented as, in the cant word of our day, uncaring.
<SPECIAL USAGE> language peculiar to a specified group or profession and regarded with disparagement: thieves' cant.
See note at DIALECT.

■ v. [intrans.] DATED talk hypocritically and sanctimoniously about something: if they'd stop canting about “honest work,” they might get somewhere.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: probably from Latin cantare 'to sing' (see CHANT). The early meaning was 'musical sound, singing'; in the mid 17th cent. this gave rise to the senses 'whining manner of speaking' and 'form of words repeated mechanically in such a manner' (for example a beggar's plea), hence 'jargon' (of beggars and other such groups).

Linked entries:

CHANT ■

cant 2 v. [trans.] cause (something) to be in a slanting or oblique position; tilt: he canted his head to look at the screen.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] take or have a slanting position: mismatched slate roofs canted at all angles.

■ n. 1 [in sing.] a slope or tilt: the outward cant of the curving walls.

2 a wedge-shaped block of wood, esp. one remaining after the better-quality pieces have been cut off.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting an edge or brink): from Middle Low German kant, kante, Middle Dutch cant 'point, side, edge', based on a Romance word related to medieval Latin cantus 'corner, side'.

can't contraction of cannot.

Cant. abbr. [BIBLE] Canticles.

can·ta·bi·le [MUSIC] adv. & adj. in a smooth singing style.

■ n. a cantabile passage or movement.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'singable'.

Can·ta·brig·i·an adj. of or relating to Cambridge (in England) or Cambridge University.

■ n. a student or faculty member of Cambridge University.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin Cantabrigia (see sense 1 of CAMBRIDGE) + -IAN.

Linked entries:

CAMBRIDGE ■

-IAN ■

can·tal n. a hard, strong cheese made chiefly in the Auvergne.

<ORIGIN> named after Cantal, a department of Auvergne, France.

can·ta·loupe (also cantaloupe melon) n. a small, round melon of a variety with orange flesh and ribbed skin.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French cantaloup, from Cantaluppi near Rome, where it was first grown in Europe after being introduced from Armenia.

can·tan·ker·ous adj. bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative: a crusty, cantankerous old man.

<DERIVATIVES> can·tan·ker·ous·ly adv. can·tan·ker·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: of unknown origin; perhaps a blend of Anglo-Irish cant 'auction' and rancorous (see RANCOR).

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RANCOR ■

can·ta·ta n. a medium-length narrative or descriptive piece of music with vocal solos and usually a chorus and orchestra.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Italian cantata (aria) 'sung (air)', from cantare 'sing'.

cant dog n. another term for CANT HOOK.

Linked entries:

CANT HOOK ■

can·teen n. 1 a restaurant provided by an organization such as a military camp, college, factory, or company for its students or staff.

2 a small water bottle, as used by soldiers or campers.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (originally denoting a type of shop in a barracks or garrison town): from French cantine, from Italian cantina 'cellar'.

can·ter n. [in sing.] a three-beat gait of a horse or other quadruped between a trot and a gallop: he kicked his horse into a canter; I rode away at a canter.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a ride on a horse at such a speed: we came back from one of our canters.

■ v. [intrans.] (of a horse) move at a canter in a particular direction: they cantered down into the village.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] make (a horse) move at a canter: Katharine cantered Benji in a smaller and smaller circle.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (as a verb): short for Canterbury pace or Canterbury gallop, from the supposed easy pace of medieval pilgrims to CANTERBURY.

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CANTERBURY ■

Can·ter·bur·y a city in Kent, in southeastern England, the seat of the archbishop of Canterbury; pop. 39,700.

Can·ter·bur·y, Arch·bish·op of n. the archbishop of the southern province of the Church of England, who is Primate of All England and plays a leading role in the worldwide Anglican Church.

Can·ter·bur·y bell n. a tall, sturdy cultivated bellflower with large blue, pink, or white flowers.
<INFO>  Campanula medium, family Campanulaceae.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: named after the bells on Canterbury pilgrims' horses (see CANTER).

Linked entries:

CANTER ■

can·thar·i·des plural n. see SPANISH FLY.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, plural of cantharis, from Greek kantharis 'Spanish fly'.

Linked entries:

SPANISH FLY ■

can·tha·rus n. (pl. -ri ) (in ancient Greece and Rome) a large, two-handled drinking cup.

<ORIGIN> Latin, from Greek kantharos.

cant hook n. a hinged metal hook at the end of a long handle, used for gripping and rolling logs.

can·thus n. (pl. -thi ) the outer or inner corner of the eye, where the upper and lower lids meet.

<DERIVATIVES> can·thic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin, from Greek kanthos.

can·ti·cle n. 1 a hymn or chant, typically with a biblical text, forming a regular part of a church service.

2 (Can·ti·cles or Can·ti·cle of Can·ti·cles) another name for SONG OF SONGS (esp. in the Vulgate Bible).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin canticulum 'little song', diminutive of canticum, from canere 'sing'.

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SONG OF SONGS ■

can·ti·le·na n. [MUSIC] a lyrical vocal or instrumental melody in a composition.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Italian, from Latin, 'song'.

can·ti·le·ver n. a long projecting beam or girder fixed at only one end, used chiefly in bridge construction.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a long bracket or beam projecting from a wall to support a balcony, cornice, or similar structure.

■ v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (cantilevered) support by a cantilever or cantilevers: a cantilevered deck.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] project as or like a cantilever: a conveyor cantilevered out over the river.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

can·ti·le·ver bridge n. a bridge in which each span is constructed from cantilevers built out sideways from piers.

can·til·late v. [trans.] RARE chant or intone (a passage of religious text).

<DERIVATIVES> can·til·la·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin cantillat- 'hummed', from the verb cantillare, from cantare (see CHANT).

Linked entries:

CHANT ■

can·ti·na n. (esp. in a Spanish-speaking country or the southwestern U.S.) a bar.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in Italy) a wine shop.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Spanish and Italian.

cant·ing arms plural n. [HERALDRY] arms containing an allusion to the name of the bearer.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: canting from CANT^1 , in the obsolete sense 'speak, say (in a particular way)'.

Linked entries:

CANT ■

can·tle n. the raised, curved part at the back of a horse's saddle.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'a corner'): from Anglo-Norman French cantel, variant of Old French chantel, from medieval Latin cantellus, from cantus 'corner, side'.

can·to n. (pl. -tos) one of the sections into which certain long poems are divided.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Italian, literally 'song', from Latin cantus.

Can·ton 1 variant of GUANGZHOU.

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GUANGZHOU ■

Can·ton 2 an industrial city in northeastern Ohio; pop. 80,806. The Professional Football Hall of Fame is here.

can·ton n. 1  a subdivision of a country established for political or administrative purposes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a state of the Swiss Confederation.

2 [HERALDRY] a square charge smaller than a quarter and positioned in the upper (usually dexter) corner of a shield.

<DERIVATIVES> can·ton·al adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Old French, literally 'corner', from Provençal, based on a Romance word related to medieval Latin cantus (see CANT^2 ).

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CANT ■

Can·ton·ese adj. of or relating to Canton (Guangzhou), its inhabitants, their dialect, or their cuisine.

■ n. (pl. same) 1 a native or inhabitant of Canton.

2 a form of Chinese spoken mainly in southeastern China (including Hong Kong). Also called YUE.

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YUE ■

can·ton·ment n. a military camp.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a permanent military station in British India.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French cantonnement, from cantonner 'to quarter' (see CANTON).

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CANTON ■

Can·tor Georg (1845-1918), German mathematician; born in Russia. His work on numbers laid the foundations for the theory of sets and stimulated 20th-century exploration of number theory.

can·tor n. 1 an official who sings liturgical music and leads prayer in a synagogue. Also called HAZZAN.

2 (in formal Christian worship) a person who sings solo verses or passages to which the choir or congregation responds.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin, 'singer', from canere 'sing'.

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HAZZAN ■

can·to·ri·al adj. of or relating to a cantor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or denoting the north side of the choir of a church, the side on which the cantor sits. The opposite of DECANAL.

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DECANAL ■

can·trip n. SCOTTISH, ARCHAIC a mischievous or playful act; a trick.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (also in the sense 'witch's trick'): of unknown origin.

can·tus n. the highest voice in polyphonic choral music.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin.

can·tus fir·mus n. (pl. can·tus fir·mi ) [MUSIC] an existing melody used as the basis for a polyphonic composition.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin, literally 'firm song'.

Ca·nuck n. INFORMAL a Canadian, esp. a French Canadian (chiefly used by Canadians themselves and often derogatory in the U.S.).

<ORIGIN> apparently from CANADA.

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CANADA ■

Ca·nute (also Cnut or Knut) (died 1035), Danish king of England 1017-35, Denmark 1018-35, and Norway 1028-35; son of Sweyn I.

can·vas n. a strong, coarse unbleached cloth made from hemp, flax, cotton, or a similar yarn, used to make items such as sails and tents and as a surface for oil painting: [as adj.] a canvas bag.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a piece of such cloth prepared for use as the surface for an oil painting.

- an oil painting: Turner's late canvases.

- a variety of canvas with an open weave, used as a basis for tapestry and embroidery.

- (the canvas) the floor of a boxing or wrestling ring, having a canvas covering.

- either of a racing boat's tapering ends, originally covered with canvas.

■ v. (-vased, -vas·ing) [trans.] (usu. be canvased) cover with canvas: the door had been canvased over.

<PHRASES>
□ by a canvas (in boat racing) by a small margin. <ORIGIN> referring to the tapered front end of a racing boat (see above).

□ under canvas
1 in a tent or tents: the family will be living under canvas.

2 with sails spread.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old Northern French canevas, based on Latin cannabis 'hemp', from Greek kannabis.

can·vas·back n. a North American diving duck with a long, sloping black bill, related (and with similar coloring) to the pochard, common in Eurasia.
<INFO>  Aythya valisineria, family Anatidae.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: so named because of the white back of the male.

can·vas duck n. a lightweight cotton or linen fabric.

can·vass v. 1 [trans.] solicit votes from (electors in a constituency): in each ward, two workers canvassed some 2,000 voters | [intrans.] she canvassed for votes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- question (someone) in order to ascertain their opinion on something: they promised to canvass all member clubs for their views.

- ascertain (someone's opinion) through questioning: opinions on the merger were canvassed.

- try to obtain; request: they're canvassing support among shareholders.

2 [trans.] (often be canvassed) discuss thoroughly: the issues that were canvassed are still unresolved.

■ n. [usu. in sing.] an act or process of attempting to secure votes or ascertain opinions: a house-to-house canvass.

<DERIVATIVES> can·vass·er n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (in the sense 'toss in a canvas sheet' (as a sport or punishment)): from CANVAS. Later extended senses include 'criticize, discuss' (mid 16th cent.) and 'propose for discussion'; hence 'seek support for'.

Linked entries:

CANVAS ■

can·yon n. a deep gorge, typically one with a river flowing through it, as found in North America.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish cañón 'tube', based on Latin canna 'reed, cane'.

Can·yon de Chel·ly a national monument in northeastern Arizona, on the Navajo Indian Reservation, noted for cliff dwellings and other ruins.

can·yon·ing (also can·yon·eer·ing ) n.the sport of exploring a canyon by engaging in such activities as rappelling, rafting, and waterfall jumping.

Can·yon·lands a region in southeastern Utah, many of whose rock formations are preserved in the Canyonlands National Park.

can·zo·na n. [MUSIC] an instrumental arrangement of a French or Flemish song, typical of 16th-century Italy.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Italian, from CANZONE.

Linked entries:

CANZONE ■

can·zo·ne n. (pl. can·zo·ni ) an Italian or Provençal song or ballad.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a type of lyric resembling a madrigal.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Italian, 'song', from Latin cantio(n-) 'singing', from canere 'sing'.

can·zo·net·ta n. (pl. -net·tas or -net·te ) a short, light vocal piece, esp. in the Italian style of the 17th century.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Italian, 'little song', diminutive of canzone, from Latin cantio(n-) 'singing', from canere 'sing'.

caou·tchouc n. unvulcanized natural rubber.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, from obsolete Spanish cauchuc, from Quechua kauchuk.

CAP abbr. Civil Air Patrol.

cap 1 n. 1 a kind of soft, flat hat without a brim, and sometimes having a visor.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with adj.] a kind of soft, close-fitting head covering worn for a particular purpose or as a mark of a particular profession or status: a nurse's cap; a bathing cap.

- an academic mortarboard: graduates in cap and gown.

2 a protective lid or cover for an object such as a bottle, the point of a pen, or a camera lens.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [DENTISTRY] an artificial protective covering for a tooth.

- the top of a bird's head when distinctively colored.

- the broad upper part of the fruiting body of most mushrooms and toadstools, at the top of a stem and bearing gills or pores.

3 an upper limit imposed on spending or other activities: a cap on legal immigration.

4 short for PERCUSSION CAP.

■ v. (capped, cap·ping) [trans.] 1 put a lid or cover on: he capped his pen.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (often be capped) form a covering layer or top part of: several towers were capped by domes | [as adj., in combination] (-capped) snow-capped mountains.

- put an artificial protective covering on (a tooth).

- provide a fitting climax or conclusion to: he capped a memorable season by becoming champion.

- follow or reply to (a story, remark, or joke) by producing a better or more apposite one: they capped each other's stories.

2 (often be capped) place a limit or restriction on (prices, expenditure, or other activity): council budgets will be capped.

<PHRASES>
□ cap (or hat) in hand humbly asking for a favor: we have to go cap in hand begging for funds.

□ set one's cap for (or at) DATED (of a woman) try to attract (a particular man) as a suitor.

<DERIVATIVES> cap·ful n. (pl. -fuls).

<ORIGIN> Old English cæppe 'hood', from late Latin cappa, perhaps from Latin caput 'head'.

Linked entries:

PERCUSSION CAP ■

cap 2 n. [FINANCE] short for capitalization: [as modifier] mid-cap companies;small-cap stocks.

cap. abbr.
- capacity.

- capital (city).

- capital letter.

ca·pa·bil·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) (often capability of doing (or to do) something) power or ability: he had an intuitive capability of bringing the best out in people; the capability to increase productivity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (often capabilities) the extent of someone's or something's ability: the job is beyond my capabilities.

- [usu. with adj.] a facility on a computer for performing a specified task: a graphics capability.

- [usu. with adj.] forces or resources giving a country or state the ability to undertake a particular kind of military action: their nuclear weapons capability.

Ca·pa·bil·i·ty Brown see BROWN^4 .

Linked entries:

BROWN ■

ca·pa·ble adj. [predic.] (capable of doing something) having the ability, fitness, or quality necessary to do or achieve a specified thing: I'm quite capable of taking care of myself; the aircraft is capable of flying 5,000 miles nonstop.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- able to achieve efficiently whatever one has to do; competent: she looked enthusiastic and capable; a highly capable man.

- open to or admitting of something: the strange events are capable of rational explanation.

- ready or inclined to: children capable of murder.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·pa·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'able to take in', physically or mentally): from French, from late Latin capabilis, from Latin capere 'take or hold'.

ca·pa·cious adj. having a lot of space inside; roomy: she rummaged in her capacious handbag.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·pa·cious·ly adv. ca·pa·cious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin capax, capac- 'capable' + -IOUS.

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-IOUS ■

ca·pac·i·tance n. [PHYSICS] the ability of a system to store an electric charge.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the ratio of the change in an electric charge in a system to the corresponding change in its electric potential. (Symbol: C)

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CAPACITY + -ANCE.

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CAPACITY ■

-ANCE ■

ca·pac·i·tate v. [trans.] FORMAL or ARCHAIC make (someone) capable of a particular action or legally competent to act in a particular way.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (be capacitated) [PHYSIOLOGY] (of spermatozoa) undergo changes inside the female reproductive tract enabling them to penetrate and fertilize an ovum.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·pac·i·ta·tion n.

ca·pac·i·tor n. a device used to store an electric charge, consisting of one or more pairs of conductors separated by an insulator.

ca·pac·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) 1 [in sing.] the maximum amount that something can contain: the capacity of the freezer is 1.1 cubic feet; the stadium's seating capacity | the room was filled to capacity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [as adj.] fully occupying the available area or space: they played to a capacity crowd.

- the amount that something can produce: the company aimed to double its electricity-generating capacity; when running at full capacity, the factory will employ 450 people.

- the total cylinder volume that is swept by the pistons in an internal combustion engine.

- former term for CAPACITANCE.

2 the ability or power to do, experience, or understand something: I was impressed by her capacity for hard work; | [with infinitive] his capacity to inspire trust in others their intellectual capacities.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] a person's legal competence: cases where a patient's testamentary capacity is in doubt.

3 [in sing.] a specified role or position: I was engaged in a voluntary capacity; writing in his capacity as legal correspondent.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·pac·i·tive (also ca·pac·i·ta·tive) adj. ([CHIEFLY PHYSICS]).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French capacité, from Latin capacitas, from capax, capac- 'that can contain', from capere 'take or hold'.

Linked entries:

CAPACITANCE ■

cap and bells plural n. HISTORICAL the insignia of the professional jester.

ca·par·i·son n. an ornamental covering spread over a horse's saddle or harness.

■ v. (be caparisoned) (of a horse) be decked out in rich decorative coverings.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from obsolete French caparasson, from Spanish caparazón 'saddlecloth', from capa 'hood'.

cape 1 n. a sleeveless cloak, typically a short one.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a part of a longer coat or cloak that falls loosely over the shoulders from the neckband.

- the pelt from the head and neck of an animal, for preparation as a hunting trophy.

■ v. [trans.] skin the head and neck of (an animal) to prepare a hunting trophy.

<DERIVATIVES> caped adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, from Provençal capa, from late Latin cappa 'covering for the head'.

cape 2 n. 1 a headland or promontory.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the Cape) the Cape of Good Hope.

- (the Cape) Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

- (the Cape) the former Cape Province of South Africa.

2 (Cape) short for CAPE COD (the style of house).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cap, from Provençal, based on Latin caput 'head'.

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CAPE COD ■

Cape A·gul·has, Cape Bon, etc. see AGULHAS, CAPE; BON, CAPE, etc.

Linked entries:

AGULHAS, CAPE ■

BON, CAPE ■

Cape Bar·ren goose n. a pale gray Australian goose related to the shelducks, with a short black bill that is almost covered by a waxy yellow cere, and a black tail. Also called CEREOPSIS GOOSE.
<INFO>  Cereopsis novaehollandiae, family Anatidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Cape Barren, an island in the Bass Strait, Australia.

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CEREOPSIS GOOSE ■

Cape Bret·on Is·land an island that forms the northeastern part of the province of Nova Scotia in eastern Canada.

Cape buf·fa·lo n. see AFRICAN BUFFALO.

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AFRICAN BUFFALO ■

cape·ci·ta·bine n. [MEDICINE] an antimetabolite used to treat various metastatic cancers by inhibiting tumor growth while sparing most surrounding tissue.

Cape Cod (abbr.: CC) 1 a sandy peninsula in southeastern Massachusetts that forms a wide curve enclosing Cape Cod Bay. The Pilgrims landed on the northern tip of Cape Cod in November 1620.

2 (also Cape) a type of rectangular house with a deeply gabled roof.

Cape Col·o·ny early name (1814-1910) for the former CAPE PROVINCE.

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CAPE PROVINCE ■

Cape col·ored n. (pl. same or Cape col·oreds) (in South Africa) a person of mixed ethnic descent resident in the Western Cape Province, speaking Afrikaans or English as their first language, and typically not a Muslim. Compare with CAPE MALAY.

■ adj. of or relating to Cape colored people.

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CAPE MALAY ■

Cape Cor·al a resort city in southwestern Florida, near the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River, southwest of Fort Myers; pop. 102,286.

ca·peesh exclam. INFORMAL do you understand?: Upstairs is off limits. Capeesh?

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Italian capisce third person singular present tense of capire 'understand'.

Cape Fear Riv·er a river that flows for 200 miles (320 km) across eastern North Carolina to enter the Atlantic Ocean near Wilmington at Cape Fear.

Cape Gi·rar·deau a city in southeastern Missouri, on the Mississippi River; pop. 34,438.

cape goose·ber·ry n. 1 a soft, edible, yellow berry enclosed in a husk that resembles a lantern in shape.

2 the tropical South American plant that has heart-shaped leaves and that bears this fruit.
<INFO>  Physalis peruviana, family Solanaceae.

Cape hunt·ing dog n. see HUNTING DOG (sense 2).

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HUNTING DOG ■

Cape jas·mine (also Cape jessamine) n. a fragrant Chinese gardenia, some kinds of which have flowers that are used to perfume tea.
<INFO>  Genus Gardenia, family Rubiaceae: several species, in particular G. jasminoides.

a·pek Karel (1890-1938), Czech novelist and playwright. He is known for R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) (1920), which introduced the word robot to the English language, and for The Insect Play (1921), written with his brother Josef (1887-1945).

cap·e·lin (also cap·lin ) n. a small fish of the North Atlantic, resembling a smelt. It is abundant in coastal waters and provides a staple food for humans and many animals.
<INFO>  Mallotus villosus, family Osmeridae.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French, from Provençal capelan, from medieval Latin cappellanus 'custodian' (see CHAPLAIN).

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CHAPLAIN ■

Ca·pel·la [ASTRONOMY] the sixth brightest star in the sky, and the brightest in the constellation Auriga. It is a yellow giant.

<ORIGIN> Latin, 'she-goat', diminutive of caper 'goat'.

cap·el·li·ni plural n. pasta in the form of long, thin round strands, only slightly thicker than angel hair.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: Italian, diminutive of capello 'hair'.

Cape Ma·lay (also Cape Muslim) n. (in South Africa) a member of a predominantly Afrikaans-speaking and Muslim group resident mainly in the Western Cape Province. Compare with CAPE COLORED.

■ adj. of or relating to the Cape Malay people.

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CAPE COLORED ■

Cape May a resort city in extreme southern New Jersey, on the Atlantic Ocean; pop. 4,668.

Cape of Good Hope a mountainous promontory south of Cape Town, South Africa, near the southern extremity of Africa. Sighted toward the end of the 15th century by Bartolomeu Dias, it was sailed around for the first time by Vasco da Gama in 1497.

Cape pi·geon (also Cape petrel) n. a common petrel of southern oceans that has black plumage with white markings. Also called PINTADO PETREL.
<INFO>  Daption capense, family Procellariidae.

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PINTADO PETREL ■

Cape Prov·ince a former province of South Africa, containing the Cape of Good Hope. The area became a British colony in 1814: it was known as Cape Colony from then until 1910, when it joined the Union of South Africa. In 1994 it was divided into the provinces of Northern Cape, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape.

ca·per 1 v. [intrans.] skip or dance about in a lively or playful way: children were capering about the room.

■ n. 1 a playful skipping movement: she did a little caper.

2 INFORMAL an activity or escapade, typically one that is illicit or ridiculous.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an amusing or far-fetched story, esp. one presented on film or stage: a cop caper about intergalactic drug dealers.

<PHRASES> cut a caper make a playful, skipping movement.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·per·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: abbreviation of CAPRIOLE.

Linked entries:

CAPRIOLE ■

ca·per 2 n. 1 (usu. capers) the cooked and pickled flower buds of a bramblelike southern European shrub, used to flavor food.

2 the shrub from which these buds are taken.
<INFO>  Capparis spinosa, family Capparidaceae.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French câpres or Latin capparis, from Greek kapparis; later interpreted as plural, hence the loss of the final -s in the 16th cent.

cap·er·cail·lie (SCOTTISH also cap·er·cail·zie ) n. (pl. -lies) a large, turkeylike Eurasian grouse of mature pine forests. The male has a courtship display in which it fans the tail and makes an extraordinary succession of sounds.
<INFO>  Genus Tetrao, family Tetraonidae (or Phasianidae): two species, in particular T. urogallus, which has been reestablished in the Scottish Highlands.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic capull coille, literally 'horse of the wood'.

cape·skin n. a soft leather made from South African sheepskin.

Ca·pet Hugh (938-996), king of France 987-996; founder of the Capetian dynasty.

Ca·pe·tian adj. relating to or denoting the dynasty ruling France 987-1328.

■ n. a member of this dynasty.

Cape Town a city in southwestern South Africa at the foot of Table Mountain, the legislative capital of the country and the administrative capital of the province of Western Cape; pop. 776,600.

Cape Verde (also Cape Verde Islands) a country in Africa that consists of a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Senegal, named after the most western cape in Africa; pop. 415,300; capital, Praia; languages, Portuguese (official) and Creole.

Previously uninhabited, the islands were settled by the Portuguese from the 15th century and later served as a trading center for African slaves. They remained a Portuguese colony until 1975, when an independent republic was established.

<DERIVATIVES> Cape Ver·de·an adj. & n.

Cape York the northernmost point of Australia, on Torres Strait, at the tip of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.

Cap-Ha·ï·tien a historic port city in northern Haiti; pop. 133,000. It is the former capital of Haiti and the second-largest city in the country.

ca·pi·as n. (pl. -as·es) [LAW] a writ ordering the arrest of a named person.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin capias (ad respondendum), literally 'you are to seize (until reply is made)', from capere 'take'.

cap·il·lar·i·ty n. the tendency of a liquid in a capillary tube or absorbent material to rise or fall as a result of surface tension. Also called CAPILLARY ACTION.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French capillarité, from Latin capillaris 'like a hair' (see CAPILLARY).

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CAPILLARY ACTION ■

CAPILLARY ■

cap·il·lar·y n. 1 [ANATOMY] any of the fine branching blood vessels that form a network between the arterioles and venules.

2 (also capillary tube) a tube that has an internal diameter of hairlike thinness.

■ adj. [attrib.] of or relating to capillaries or capillarity.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin capillaris, from capillus 'hair', influenced by Old French capillaire.

cap·il·lar·y ac·tion n. another term for CAPILLARITY.

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CAPILLARITY ■

cap·il·lar·y at·trac·tion n. the tendency of a liquid in a capillary tube to rise as a result of surface forces.

cap·i·tal 1 n. 1 (also capital city or town) the most important city or town of a country or region, usually its seat of government and administrative center.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] a place associated more than any other with a specified activity or product: Milan is the fashion capital of the world.

2 wealth in the form of money or other assets owned by a person or organization or available or contributed for a particular purpose such as starting a company or investing: the senior partner would provide the initial capital; rates of return on invested capital were high.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the excess of a company's assets over its liabilities.

- people who possess wealth and use it to control a society's economic activity, considered collectively: a conflict of interest between capital and labor.

- [with adj.] FIGURATIVE a valuable resource of a particular kind: there is insufficient investment in human capital.

3 (also capital letter) a letter of the size and form used to begin sentences and names: he wrote the name in capitals.

■ adj. 1 [attrib.] (of an offense or charge) liable to the death penalty: murder was a capital crime.

2 of or relating to wealth: capital losses.

3 of greatest political importance: the capital city.

4 [attrib.] (of a letter of the alphabet) large in size and of the form used to begin sentences and names.

5 INFORMAL, DATED excellent: he's a really capital fellow.

■ exclam. BRIT., INFORMAL, DATED used to express approval, satisfaction, or delight: That's splendid! Capital!

<PHRASES>
□ make capital out of use to one's own advantage: trying to make political capital out of the weakness of his rival.

□ with a capital used to give emphasis to the word or concept in question: he's trouble with a capital T.

<DERIVATIVES> cap·i·tal·ly adv. (in sense 5).

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as an adjective in the sense 'relating to the head or top', later 'standing at the head or beginning'): via Old French from Latin capitalis, from caput 'head'.

cap·i·tal 2 n. [ARCHITECTURE] the distinct, typically broader section at the head of a pillar or column.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French capitel, from late Latin capitellum 'little head', diminutive of Latin caput.

cap·i·tal gain n. (often capital gains) a profit from the sale of property or of an investment.

cap·i·tal gains tax n. a tax levied on profit from the sale of property or of an investment.

cap·i·tal goods plural n. goods that are used in producing other goods, rather than being bought by consumers. Often contrasted with CONSUMER GOODS.

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CONSUMER GOODS ■

cap·i·tal-in·ten·sive adj. (of a business or industrial process) requiring the investment of large sums of money.

cap·i·tal·ism n. an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

cap·i·tal·ist n. a wealthy person who uses money to invest in trade and industry for profit in accordance with the principles of capitalism: the creation of the factory system by nineteenth-century capitalists.

■ adj. practicing, supporting, or based on the principles of capitalism: capitalist countries; the global economy is essentially capitalist.

<DERIVATIVES> cap·i·tal·is·tic adj. cap·i·tal·is·ti·cal·ly adv.

cap·i·tal·ize v. 1 [intrans.] (capitalize on) take the chance to gain advantage from: an attempt by the opposition to capitalize on the government's embarrassment.

2 [trans.] provide (a company or industry) with capital: [as adj.] (capitalized) a highly capitalized industry.

3 realize (the present value of an income); convert into capital.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reckon (the value of an asset) by setting future benefits against the cost of maintenance: a trader will want to capitalize repairs expenditure.

4 [trans.] write or print (a word or letter) in capital letters.
<SPECIAL USAGE> begin (a word) with a capital letter.

<DERIVATIVES> cap·i·tal·i·za·tion n.

cap·i·tal mar·ket n. the part of a financial system concerned with raising capital by dealing in shares, bonds, and other long-term investments.

cap·i·tal pun·ish·ment n. the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime.

cap·i·tal ship n. a large warship such as a battleship or aircraft carrier.

cap·i·tal sum n. a lump sum of money payable to an insured person or paid as an initial fee or investment.

cap·i·tal ter·ri·to·ry n. a territory containing the capital city of a country, in Australia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and elsewhere.

ca·pi·ta·no n. (pl. -nos) (in Italy or among Italian speakers) a captain or chief (used chiefly as a form of address).

<ORIGIN> Italian.

cap·i·tate adj. [BOTANY] & [ZOOLOGY] ending in a distinct compact head.

■ n. (also capitate bone) [ANATOMY] the largest of the carpal bones, situated at the base of the palm of the hand and articulating with the third metacarpal.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin capitatus, from caput, capit- 'head'.

cap·i·ta·tion n. the payment of a fee or grant to a doctor, school, or other person or body providing services to a number of people, such that the amount paid is determined by the number of patients, pupils, or customers: the increased capitation enabled schools to offer pupils an enhanced curriculum | [as adj.] income capitation fees.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting the counting of heads): from late Latin capitatio 'poll tax', from caput 'head'.

Cap·i·tol (usu. the Capitol) 1 the seat of the U.S. Congress in Washington, DC.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (cap·i·tol) a building housing a legislative assembly: 50,000 people marched on New Jersey's state capitol.

2 the temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill in ancient Rome.

<ORIGIN> from Old French capitolie, capitoile, later assimilated to Latin Capitolium (from caput, capit- 'head').

Cap·i·tol Hill the region around the Capitol building in Washington, DC (often used as an allusive reference to the U.S. Congress itself).

Cap·i·tol Reef Na·tion·al Park a preserve in south central Utah, noted for its fossils and rock formations.

ca·pit·u·lar adj. 1 of or relating to a cathedral chapter.

2 [ANATOMY] & [BIOLOGY] of or relating to a capitulum.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from late Latin capitularis, from Latin capitulum 'small head'.

ca·pit·u·lar·y n. (pl. -lar·ies) HISTORICAL a royal ordinance under the Merovingian dynasty.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from late Latin capitularius, from Latin capitulum in the sense 'section of a law'.

ca·pit·u·late v. [intrans.] cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; surrender: the patriots had to capitulate to the enemy forces.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·pit·u·la·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'parley, draw up terms'): from French capituler, from medieval Latin capitulare 'draw up under headings', from Latin capitulum, diminutive of caput 'head'.

ca·pit·u·la·tion n. the action of surrendering or ceasing to resist an opponent or demand: the victor sees it as a sign of capitulation | a capitulation to wage demands.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (capitulations) HISTORICAL an agreement or set of conditions.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from late Latin capitulatio(n-), from the verb capitulare (see CAPITULATE).

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ca·pit·u·lum n. (pl. -la ) [ANATOMY] & [BIOLOGY] a compact head of a structure, in particular a dense, flat cluster of small flowers or florets, as in plants of the daisy family.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Latin, diminutive of caput 'head'.

cap·let (TRADEMARK Cap·let) n. a coated oral medicinal tablet.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: blend of CAPSULE and TABLET.

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CAPSULE ■

TABLET ■

cap·lin n. variant spelling of CAPELIN.

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CAPELIN ■

cap'n n. informal contraction of CAPTAIN, used in representing speech.

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CAPTAIN ■

ca·po 1 (also ca·po tas·to) n. (pl. -pos) a clamp fastened across all the strings of a fretted musical instrument to raise their tuning by a chosen amount.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Italian capo tasto, literally 'head stop'.

ca·po 2 n. (pl. -pos) the head of a crime syndicate, esp. the Mafia, or a branch of one.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Italian, from Latin caput 'head'.

ca·po·ei·ra n. a system of physical discipline and movement originating among Brazilian slaves, treated as a martial art and dance form.

<ORIGIN> Portuguese.

cap of lib·er·ty n. a soft conical cap given to Roman slaves on their emancipation and often used as a republican symbol in more recent times.

ca·pon n. a castrated domestic cock fattened for eating.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·pon·ize v.

<ORIGIN> late Old English: from Old French, based on Latin capo, capon-.

ca·po·na·ta n. a dish of eggplant, olives, and onions seasoned with herbs, typically served as an appetizer.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

Ca·pone Al (1899-1947), U.S. gangster; full name Alphonse Capone. He was notorious for his domination of organized crime in Chicago in the 1920s. Although he was believed responsible for many murders, including the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, it was for federal income tax evasion that he was eventually imprisoned in 1931.

ca·po tas·to n. (pl. -tos) another term for CAPO^1 .

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CAPO ■

Ca·pote Truman (1924-84), U.S. writer; born Truman Streckfus Persons. Notable works: Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) and In Cold Blood (1966).

ca·pote n. HISTORICAL a long cloak or coat with a hood, typically part of an army or company uniform.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, diminutive of cape (see CAPE^1 ).

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CAPE ■

Capp Al (1909-79), U.S. cartoonist; full name Alfred Gerald Caplin. He was noted for his comic strip, “Li'l Abner,” which appeared in the New York Mirror from 1934 to 1977.

Cap·pa·do·cia an ancient region of central Asia Minor, between Lake Tuz and the Euphrates River, north of Cilicia. It was an important center of early Christianity.

<DERIVATIVES> Cap·pa·do·cian adj. & n.

cap·pel·let·ti n. small pieces of pasta folded and stuffed with meat or cheese.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'little hats'.

cap·per n. INFORMAL a more surprising, upsetting, or entertaining event or situation than all others that have gone before: the capper was him accusing her of ripping off his car.

cap·puc·ci·no n. (pl. -nos) coffee made with milk that has been frothed up with pressurized steam.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Italian, literally 'Capuchin', because its color resembles that of a Capuchin's habit.

Ca·pra Frank (1897-1991), U.S. movie director; born in Italy. He is known for movies such as It Happened One Night (Academy Award, 1934), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (Academy Award, 1936), You Can't Take It with You (Academy Award, 1938), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), and It's a Wonderful Life (1946).

Ca·pri an island off the western coast of Italy, south of Naples.

ca·pric·ci·o n. (pl. -os) a lively piece of music, typically one that is short and free in form.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a painting or other work of art representing a fantasy or a mixture of real and imaginary features.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting a sudden change of mind): from Italian, literally 'head with the hair standing on end', hence 'horror', later 'a sudden start' (influenced by capra 'goat', associated with frisky movement), from capo 'head' + riccio 'hedgehog'.

ca·pric·ci·o·so adv. & adj. [MUSIC] (esp. as a direction) in a free, playful, impulsive style.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'capricious', from CAPRICCIO.

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CAPRICCIO ■

ca·price n. 1 a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior: her caprices had made his life impossible | a land where men were ruled by law and not by caprice.

2 [MUSIC] another term for CAPRICCIO.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian (see CAPRICCIO).

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CAPRICCIO ■

ca·pri·cious adj. given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior: a capricious and often brutal administration; a capricious climate.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·pri·cious·ly adv. ca·pri·cious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French capricieux, from Italian (see CAPRICCIOSO).

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Cap·ri·corn [ASTROLOGY] the tenth sign of the zodiac (the Goat), which the sun enters at the northern winter solstice (about December 21). Compare with CAPRICORNUS.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (a Capricorn) a person born when the sun is in this sign.

<PHRASES> tropic of Capricorn see TROPIC^1 .

<DERIVATIVES> Cap·ri·corn·i·an n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Latin capricornus, from caper, capr- 'goat' + cornu 'horn', on the pattern of Greek 'goat-horned, Capricorn'.

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TROPIC ■

Cap·ri·cor·nus [ASTRONOMY] a constellation (the Goat), said to represent a goat with a fish's tail. It has few bright stars. Compare with CAPRICORN.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Cap·ri·cor·ni ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star 41 Capricorni.

<ORIGIN> Latin (see CAPRICORN).

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CAPRICORN ■

cap·rine adj. of, relating to, or resembling goats.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin caprinus, from caper, capr- 'goat'.

cap·ri·ole n. a movement performed in classical riding, in which the horse leaps from the ground and kicks out with its hind legs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a leap or caper in dancing, esp. a cabriole.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from obsolete French (now cabriole), from Italian capriola 'leap', from capriolo 'roebuck', from Latin capreolus, diminutive of caper, capr- 'goat'.

ca·pri pants (also ca·pris) plural n. close-fitting calf-length tapered trousers, usually worn by women and girls.

<ORIGIN> 1950s (originally U.S.): named after the island of CAPRI.

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Ca·pri·vi Strip a narrow strip in Namibia that extends toward Zambia from the northeastern corner of Namibia and reaches the Zambezi River.

<ORIGIN> named after Leo Graf von Caprivi, German imperial Chancellor 1890-94 at the time when this region became part of the colony of German Southwest Africa.

cap rock n. a layer of hard, impervious rock overlying and often sealing in a deposit of oil, gas, or coal.

ca·pro·ic ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a liquid fatty acid present in milk fat and coconut and palm oils.
<INFO>  Alternative name: hexanoic acid; chem. formula: CH_3(CH_2)4COOH.

<DERIVATIVES> cap·ro·ate n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: caproic from Latin caper, capr- 'goat' (because of its smell) + -IC.

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cap·ro·lac·tam n. [CHEMISTRY] a synthetic crystalline compound that is an intermediate in nylon manufacture.
<INFO>  A lactam; chem. formula: C_6H_11NO.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from CAPROIC ACID + LACTAM.

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LACTAM ■

ca·pryl·ic ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a liquid fatty acid present in butter and other fats.
<INFO>  Alternative name: n-octanoic acid; chem. formula: CH_3(CH_2)6COOH.

<DERIVATIVES> cap·ry·late n..

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin caper, capr- 'goat' + -YL + -IC.

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-IC ■

caps abbr. capital letters.

cap·sa·i·cin n. [CHEMISTRY] a compound that is responsible for the pungency of capsicums.
<INFO>  A cyclic amide; chem. formula: C_18H_27NO_3.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: alteration of capsicine, the name of a substance formerly thought to have the same property.

Cap·si·an adj. [ARCHAEOLOGY] of, relating to, or denoting a Paleolithic culture of North Africa and southern Europe, noted for its microliths. It is dated to c.8000-4500 BC.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (the Capsian) the Capsian culture or period.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Latin Capsa (now Gafsa in Tunisia), where objects from this culture were found, + -IAN.

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cap·si·cum n. (pl. -cums) a tropical American pepper plant of the nightshade family with fruits containing many seeds. Many cultivated varieties with edible, pungent fruits have been developed.
<INFO>  Genus Capsicum, family Solanaceae: several species and varieties, in particular C. annuum var. annuum, the cultivated forms of which include the ‘grossum’ group (sweet peppers) and the ‘longum’ group (chili peppers).

<SPECIAL USAGE> the fruit of any of these plants, varying in size, color, and pungency.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: modern Latin, perhaps from Latin capsa (see CASE^2 ).

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cap·sid 1 n. another term for MIRID.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Capsidae (plural), from Capsus (genus name).

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MIRID ■

cap·sid 2 n. [MICROBIOLOGY] the protein coat or shell of a virus particle, surrounding the nucleic acid or nucleoprotein core.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: coined in French from Latin capsa (see CASE^2 ).

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cap·size v. (of a boat) overturn in the water: [intrans.] the craft capsized in heavy seas; | [as adj.] (capsized) a capsized dinghy. | [trans.] gale-force gusts capsized the dinghies.

■ n. [in sing.] an instance of capsizing.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: perhaps based on Spanish capuzar 'sink (a ship) by the head', from cabo 'head' + chapuzar 'to dive or duck'.

cap sleeve n. a sleeve extending only a short distance from the shoulder and tapering to nothing under the arm.

cap·stan n. a revolving cylinder with a vertical axis used for winding a rope or cable, powered by a motor or pushed around by levers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the motor-driven spindle on a tape recorder that makes the tape travel past the head at constant speed.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Provençal cabestan, from cabestre 'halter', from Latin capistrum, from capere 'seize'.

cap·stone n. a stone fixed on top of something, typically a wall.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ARCHAEOLOGY] a large, flat stone forming a roof over the chamber of a megalithic tomb.

- FIGURATIVE a concluding achievement.

cap·sule n. a small case or container, esp. a round or cylindrical one.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a small, soluble case of gelatin containing a dose of medicine, swallowed whole.

- a top or cover for a bottle, esp. the foil or plastic covering the cork of a wine bottle.

- short for SPACE CAPSULE.

- [as adj.] FIGURATIVE (of a piece of writing) shortened but retaining the essence of the original; condensed: a capsule review of the movie.

- [ANATOMY] a tough sheath or membrane that encloses something in the body, such as a kidney, a lens, or a synovial joint.

- [BIOLOGY] a gelatinous layer forming the outer surface of some bacterial cells.

- [BOTANY] a dry fruit that releases its seeds by bursting open when ripe, such as a pea pod.

- [BOTANY] the spore-producing structure of mosses and liverworts, typically borne on a stalk.

<DERIVATIVES> cap·su·lar adj. cap·su·late adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'small container'): via French from Latin capsula, diminutive of capsa (see CASE^2 ).

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SPACE CAPSULE ■

CASE ■

cap·sule en·do·scope n. another term for VIDEO PILL.

<DERIVATIVES> cap·sule en·dos·co·py n.

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VIDEO PILL ■

cap·sul·ize v. [trans.] put (information) in compact form; summarize.

Capt. abbr. Captain.

cap·tain n. the person in command of a ship.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the pilot in command of a civil aircraft.

- a naval officer of high rank, in particular (in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard) an officer ranking above commander and below commodore.

- an army officer of high rank, in particular (in the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, or Air Force) an officer ranking above first lieutenant and below major.

- a police officer in charge of a precinct, ranking below a chief: captain of the 20th precinct.

- the head of a precinct's fire department.

- the leader of a team, esp. in sports.

- a powerful or influential person in a particular field: a captain of industry.

- a political party leader in a local district.

- a supervisor of waiters or bellboys.

■ v. [trans.] be the captain of (a ship, aircraft, or sports team).

<DERIVATIVES> cap·tain·cy n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'chief or leader'): from Old French capitain (superseding earlier chevetaigne 'chieftain'), from late Latin capitaneus 'chief', from Latin caput, capit- 'head'.

cap·tain gen·er·al n. an honorary rank of senior officer in the British army, most commonly in an artillery regiment.

cap·tain's chair n. a wooden chair along whose side and back edges a row of vertical spindles supports a bar that forms the back and armrests.

cap·tain's mast n. see MAST^1 .

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cap·tan n. a synthetic fungicide derived from a mercaptan.

CAPTCHA (also captcha) n. a program or system intended to distinguish human from machine input, typically as a way of thwarting spam and automated extraction of data from Web sites.

cap·tion n. a title or brief explanation appended to an article, illustration, cartoon, or poster.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a piece of text appearing on a movie or television screen as part of a movie or broadcast.

- [LAW] the heading of a legal document.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be captioned) provide (an illustration) with a title or explanation: the drawings were captioned with humorous texts | [with two objs.] the photograph was captioned “Three little maids.”

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'seizing, capture'): from Latin caption-, from capere 'take, seize'. Early senses 'arrest' and 'warrant for arrest' gave rise to 'statement of where, when, and by whose authority a warrant was issued' (late 17th cent.): this was usually appended to a legal document, hence the sense 'heading or appended wording' (late 18th cent.).

cap·tious adj. FORMAL (of a person) tending to find fault or raise petty objections.

<DERIVATIVES> cap·tious·ly adv. cap·tious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also in the sense 'intended to deceive someone'): from Old French captieux or Latin captiosus, from captio(n-) 'seizing', (figuratively) 'deceiving' (see CAPTION).

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CAPTION ■

cap·ti·vate v. [trans.] attract and hold the interest and attention of; charm: he was captivated by her beauty | [as adj.] (captivating) a captivating smile.

<DERIVATIVES> cap·ti·vat·ing·ly adv. cap·ti·va·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from late Latin captivat- 'taken captive', from the verb captivare, from captivus (see CAPTIVE).

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cap·tive n. a person who has been taken prisoner or an animal that has been confined.

■ adj. imprisoned or confined: the farm was used to hold prisoners of war captive; a captive animal.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [attrib.] having no freedom to choose alternatives or to avoid something: advertisements at the movie theater reach a captive audience.

- (of a facility or service) controlled by, and typically for the sole use of, an establishment or company: a captive power plant.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin captivus, from capere 'seize, take'.

cap·tive bal·loon n. a lighter-than-air balloon secured by a rope to the ground, used to carry radar equipment or for parachute jumps.

cap·tiv·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) the condition of being imprisoned or confined: he was released after 865 days in captivity; the third month of their captivity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Captivity) short for BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin captivitas, from captivus 'taken captive' (see CAPTIVE).

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BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY ■

CAPTIVE ■

cap·tor n. a person or animal that catches or confines another.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin, from capt- 'seized, taken', from the verb capere.

cap·ture v. [trans.] take into one's possession or control by force: the Russians captured 13,000 men | FIGURATIVE the appeal captured the imagination of thousands.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- record or express accurately in words or pictures: she did a series of sketches, trying to capture all his moods.

- [PHYSICS] absorb (an atomic or subatomic particle).

- (in chess and other board games) make a move that secures the removal of (an opposing piece) from the board.

- [ASTRONOMY] (of a star, planet, or other celestial body) bring (a less massive body) permanently within its gravitational influence.

- (of a stream) divert the upper course of (another stream) by encroaching on its catchment area.

- cause (data) to be stored in a computer or in a digital format.

■ n. the action of capturing or of being captured: the capture of the city marks the high point of his career; he was killed while resisting capture.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person or thing that has been captured.

- [PHYSICS] the absorption of an atomic or subatomic particle.

<DERIVATIVES> cap·tur·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as a noun): from French, from Latin captura, from capt- 'seized, taken', from the verb capere.

cap·ture-the-flag n. a game in which two teams each hide a colored cloth, representing the team's flag, and then try to find the other team's flag and return with it to their home base.

Cap·u·chin n. 1 a friar belonging to a branch of the Franciscan order that observes a strict rule drawn up in 1529.

2 (capuchin) a cloak and hood formerly worn by women.

3 (capuchin or capuchin monkey) a South American monkey with a cap of hair on the head that has the appearance of a cowl.
<INFO>  Genus Cebus, family Cebidae: four species, including the brown capuchin (C. apella).

4 (capuchin) a pigeon of a breed with head and neck feathers resembling a cowl.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from obsolete French, earlier form of capucin, from Italian cappuccino, from cappuccio 'hood, cowl', from cappa (see CAPE^1 ), the friars being so named because of their sharp-pointed hoods.

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CAPE ■

cap·y·ba·ra n. (pl. same or -ras) a South American mammal that resembles a giant, long-legged guinea pig. It lives in groups near water and is the largest living rodent.
<INFO>  Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, the only member of the family Hydrochaeridae.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Spanish capibara or Portuguese capivara, from Tupi capiuára, from 'grass' + uára 'eater'.

car n. a road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine and able to carry a small number of people: we're going by car | [as adj.] a car crash.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a vehicle that runs on rails, esp. a railroad car.

- a railroad car of a specified kind: the first-class cars.

- the passenger compartment of an elevator, cableway, airship, or balloon.

- POETIC/LITERARY a chariot.

<DERIVATIVES> car·ful n. (pl. -fuls).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'wheeled vehicle'): from Old Northern French carre, based on Latin carrum, carrus, of Celtic origin.

ca·ra·ba·o n. (pl. same or -os) another term for WATER BUFFALO.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Spanish, from a local word in the Philippines.

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WATER BUFFALO ■

ca·ra·bid n. [ENTOMOLOGY] a fast-running beetle of a family (Carabidae) that comprises the predatory ground beetles.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Carabidae (plural), from Latin carabus, denoting a kind of crab.

car·a·bi·neer (also car·a·bi·nier) n. HISTORICAL a cavalry soldier whose principal weapon was a carbine.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French carabinier, from carabine (see CARBINE).

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CARBINE ■

car·a·bi·ner (also kar·a·bi·ner) n. a coupling link with a safety closure, used by rock climbers.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: shortened from German Karabiner-haken 'spring hook'.

ca·ra·bi·ne·ro n. (pl. -ros) a Spanish or South American frontier guard or customs officer.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Spanish, literally 'soldier armed with a carbine'.

ca·ra·bi·nie·re n. (pl. -ri pronunc. same) a member of the Italian paramilitary police.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'carabineer'.

car·a·cal n. a long-legged lynxlike cat with black tufted ears and a uniform brown coat, native to Africa and western Asia. Also called AFRICAN LYNX.
<INFO>  Felis caracal, family Felidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French or Spanish, from Turkish karakulak, from kara 'black' + kulak 'ear' (because of its black ear tufts).

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AFRICAN LYNX ■

Car·a·cal·la (188-217), Roman emperor 211-217; born Septimius Bassanius; later called Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus. In 212, he granted Roman citizenship to all free inhabitants of the Roman Empire.

ca·ra·ca·ra n. (pl. same or -ras) a large New World bird of prey of the falcon family, with a bare face and a deep bill, feeding largely on carrion.
<INFO>  Family Falconidae: four genera and several species, in particular the common caracara (Polyborus plancus).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish or Portuguese caracará, from Tupi-Guarani, imitating its cry.

Ca·ra·cas the capital of Venezuela, in the northern part of the country near the Caribbean Sea; pop. 1,824,890.

car·a·cole n. a half turn to the right or left by a horse.

■ v. [intrans.] (of a horse) perform a caracole.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French caracole, caracol 'snail's shell, spiral'.

car·a·cul n. variant spelling of KARAKUL.

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KARAKUL ■

ca·rafe n. an open-topped glass flask typically used for serving wine or water.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, from Italian caraffa, probably based on Arabic 'draw water'.

car·a·ga·na n. a leguminous shrub or small tree native to central Asia and Siberia, widely planted as an ornamental.
<INFO>  Genus Caragana, family Leguminosae: several species, including the pea tree of Siberia.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, of Turkic origin.

Ca·ra·jás a mining region in northern Brazil, the site of one of the world’s richest deposits of iron ore.

ca·ram·ba exclam. INFORMAL, OFTEN HUMOROUS an expression of surprise or dismay.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish.

ca·ram·bo·la n. 1 a golden-yellow juicy fruit with a star-shaped cross section. Also called STAR FRUIT.

2 the small tropical tree that bears this fruit.
<INFO>  Averrhoa carambola, family Oxalidaceae.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Portuguese, probably from Marathi karambal.

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STAR FRUIT ■

car·a·mel n. sugar or syrup heated until it turns brown, used as a flavoring or coloring for food or drink: an apple dipped in caramel | [as adj.] caramel ice cream.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the light brown color of this substance: the liquid turns a pale caramel | [as adj.] a caramel sweater.

- a soft candy made with sugar and butter that have been melted and further heated.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, from Spanish caramelo.

car·a·mel·ize v. [intrans.] (of sugar or syrup) be converted into caramel.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (caramelized) cook (food) with sugar so that it becomes coated with caramel.

<DERIVATIVES> car·a·mel·i·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French caraméliser, from caramel 'caramel'.

ca·ran·gid n. [ZOOLOGY] a marine fish of the jack family (Carangidae), whose members typically have a sloping forehead and two dorsal fins.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Carangidae (plural), from the genus name Caranx.

car·a·pace n. the hard upper shell of a turtle or crustacean.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from Spanish carapacho, of unknown origin.

car·at n. 1 a unit of weight for precious stones and pearls, now equivalent to 200 milligrams: a half-carat diamond ring.

2 chiefly British spelling of KARAT.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from French, from Italian carato, from Arabic (a unit of weight), from Greek keration 'fruit of the carob' (also denoting a unit of weight), diminutive of keras 'horn', with reference to the elongated seedpod of the carob.

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KARAT ■

Ca·ra·vag·gio Michelangelo Merisi da (c.1571-1610), Italian painter. He was an influential figure in the transition from late mannerism to baroque.

car·a·van n. 1 BRIT. a vehicle equipped for living in, typically towed by a car and used for vacations: [as adj.] a caravan holiday.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a covered horse-drawn wagon: a gypsy caravan.

- a covered truck; a van.

2 HISTORICAL a group of people, esp. traders or pilgrims, traveling together across a desert in Asia or North Africa.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any large group of people, typically with vehicles or animals traveling together, in single file: a caravan of cars and trucks.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (sense 2): from French caravane, from Persian . The sense 'covered horse-drawn wagon' dates from the early 19th cent.

car·a·van·sa·ry (CHIEFLY BRIT. also car·a·van·se·rai ) n. (pl. -sa·ries or -se·rais ) 1 HISTORICAL an inn with a central courtyard for travelers in the desert regions of Asia or North Africa.

2 a group of people traveling together; a caravan.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Persian , from 'caravan' + 'palace'.

car·a·vel (also car·vel ) n. HISTORICAL a small, fast Spanish or Portuguese ship of the 15th-17th centuries.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from French caravelle, from Portuguese caravela, diminutive of caravo, via Latin from Greek karabos 'horned beetle' or 'light ship'.

car·a·way n. 1 (also caraway seed) the seeds of a plant of the parsley family, used for flavoring and as a source of oil.

2 the white-flowered Mediterranean plant that bears these seeds.
<INFO>  Carum carvi, family Umbelliferae.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from medieval Latin carui, from Arabic , probably from Greek karon 'cumin'.

carb 1 n. short for CARBURETOR.

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CARBURETOR ■

carb 2 n. short for CARBOHYDRATE.

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CARBOHYDRATE ■

car·ba·mate n. [CHEMISTRY] a salt or ester containing the anion NH_2COO or the group OOCNH_2, derived from the hypothetical compound carbamic acid.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from carbamic (from CARBO- + AMIDE + -IC) + -ATE^1 .

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CARBO- ■

AMIDE ■

-IC ■

-ATE ■

car·ba·maz·e·pine n. [MEDICINE] a synthetic compound of the benzodiazepine class, used as an anticonvulsant and analgesic drug.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: from CARBO- + AMIDE, on the pattern of benzodiazepine.

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CARBO- ■

AMIDE ■

car·ban·i·on n. [CHEMISTRY] an organic anion in which the negative charge is located on a carbon atom.

car·ba·ryl n. a synthetic insecticide used to protect crops and in the treatment of fleas and lice.
<INFO>  Alternative name: 1-naphthyl-N-methylcarbamate; chem. formula: C_12H_11NO_2.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: from CARBAMATE + -YL.

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CARBAMATE ■

-YL ■

car·ba·zole n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless crystalline substance obtained from coal tar, used in dye production.
<INFO>  A tricyclic heteroaromatic compound; chem. formula: C_12H_9N.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CARBO- + AZO- + -OLE.

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CARBO- ■

AZO- ■

-OLE ■

car·bene n. [CHEMISTRY] a highly reactive molecule containing a divalent carbon atom, examples of which occur as intermediates in some organic reactions.

car·bide n. [CHEMISTRY] a binary compound of carbon with an element of lower or comparable electronegativity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> calcium carbide (CaC_2), used to generate acetylene by reaction with water and formerly used in portable lamps: [as adj.] a carbide lamp.

car·bine n. a light automatic rifle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a short rifle or musket used by cavalry.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French carabine, from carabin 'mounted musketeer', of unknown origin.

carbo- comb. form representing CARBON.

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CARBON ■

car·bo·ca·tion n. [CHEMISTRY] another term for CARBONIUM ION.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from CARBO- + CATION.

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CARBONIUM ION ■

CARBO- ■

CATION ■

car·bo·hy·drate n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] any of a large group of organic compounds occurring in foods and living tissues and including sugars, starch, and cellulose. They contain hydrogen and oxygen in the same ratio as water (2:1) and typically can be broken down to release energy in the animal body.

car·bo·lat·ed adj. impregnated with carbolic acid.

car·bol·ic n. short for CARBOLIC ACID or CARBOLIC SOAP.

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CARBOLIC ACID ■

CARBOLIC SOAP ■

car·bol·ic ac·id n. phenol, esp. when used as a disinfectant.

car·bol·ic soap n. disinfectant soap containing phenol.

car·bo-load v. [intrans.] eat large amounts of carbohydrates, as in preparation for athletic endurance.

car·bo-load·ed adj. (of a food, beverage, or meal) containing a relatively high amount of carbohydrates: drink half a bottle of a carbo-loaded drink about 30 minutes before your workout.

car bomb n. a bomb concealed in or under a parked car, used esp. by terrorists.

■ v. (car-bomb) [trans.] attack with such a bomb.

<DERIVATIVES> car bomb·er n.

car·bon n. the chemical element of atomic number 6, a nonmetal that has two main forms (diamond and graphite) and that also occurs in impure form in charcoal, soot, and coal. (Symbol: C)
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [CHEMISTRY] an atom of this element.

- a rod of carbon in an arc light.

- a piece of carbon paper or a carbon copy.

Compounds of carbon (organic compounds) form the physical basis of all living organisms. Carbon atoms are able to link with each other and with other atoms to form chains and rings, and an infinite variety of carbon compounds exist.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French carbone, from Latin carbo, carbon- 'coal, charcoal'.

car·bon-12 n. the commonest natural carbon isotope, of mass 12. It is the basis for the accepted scale of atomic mass units.

car·bon-14 n. a long-lived naturally occurring radioactive carbon isotope of mass 14, used in carbon dating and as a tracer in biochemistry.

car·bo·na·ceous adj. (chiefly of rocks or sediments) consisting of or containing carbon or its compounds.

car·bo·na·do n. (pl. -dos) a dark opaque diamond, used in abrasives and cutting tools. Compare with BORT.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Portuguese.

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BORT ■

car·bo·na·ra adj. denoting a pasta sauce made with bacon or ham, egg, and cream: [postpositive] spaghetti carbonara.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'charcoal kiln', perhaps influenced by carbonata, a dish of charcoal-grilled salt pork.

car·bo·nate n. a salt of the anion CO_3^2, typically formed by reaction of carbon dioxide with bases.

■ v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (carbonated) dissolve carbon dioxide in (a liquid): a carbonated soft drink.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHEMISTRY] convert into a carbonate, typically by reaction with carbon dioxide.

<DERIVATIVES> car·bo·na·tion n.

car·bon black n. a fine carbon powder used as a pigment, made by burning hydrocarbons in insufficient air.

car·bon cop·y n. a copy of written or typed material made with carbon paper.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a person or thing identical or very similar to another: Karl was a carbon copy of his father.

car·bon cy·cle n. 1 the series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment, chiefly involving the incorporation of carbon dioxide into living tissue by photosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere through respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels.

2 [ASTRONOMY] the cycle of thermonuclear reactions believed to occur in stars, in which carbon nuclei are repeatedly formed and broken down in the conversion of hydrogen into helium.

Car·bon·dale a city in south central Illinois, a coal center and home to Southern Illinois University; pop. 27,033.

car·bon dat·ing n. the determination of the age of an organic object from the relative proportions of the carbon isotopes carbon-12 and carbon-14 that it contains. The ratio between them changes as radioactive carbon-14 decays and is not replaced by exchange with the atmosphere.

car·bon di·ox·ide n. a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning carbon and organic compounds and by respiration. It is naturally present in air (about 0.03 percent) and is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis.
<INFO>  2

car·bon di·sul·fide n. a colorless toxic flammable liquid used as a solvent, esp. for rubber and sulfur, and in the manufacture of viscose rayon, cellophane, and carbon tetrachloride.
<INFO>  2

car·bon fi·ber n. a material consisting of thin, strong crystalline filaments of carbon, used as a strengthening material, esp. in resins and ceramics: [as adj.] a carbon-fiber chassis.

car·bon foot·print adj. the amount of carbon dioxide emitted due to the the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc.

car·bon·ic adj. of or relating to carbon or its compounds, esp. carbon dioxide.

car·bon·ic ac·id n. a very weak acid formed in solution when carbon dioxide dissolves in water.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: H_2CO_3.

car·bon·ic ac·id gas n. archaic term for CARBON DIOXIDE.

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CARBON DIOXIDE ■

car·bon·ic an·hy·drase n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of dissolved bicarbonates into carbon dioxide.

Car·bon·if·er·ous adj. [GEOLOGY] of, relating to, or denoting the fifth period of the Paleozoic era, between the Devonian and Permian periods.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Carboniferous) [as n.] the Carboniferous period or the system of rocks deposited during it.

The Carboniferous lasted from about 360 million to 286 million years ago. This period is subdivided into two periods, the Older Carboniferous, or Mississippian Period (about 360-320 million years ago), and the Younger Carboniferous, or Pennsylvanian Period (about 320-286 million years ago). During this time the first reptiles and seed-bearing plants appeared, and there were extensive coral reefs and coal-forming swamp forests.

car·bo·ni·um i·on n. [CHEMISTRY] an organic cation in which the positive charge is located on a carbon atom.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: carbonium from CARBO- 'carbon', on the pattern of ammonium.

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CARBO- ■

car·bon·ize v. [trans.] convert into carbon, typically by heating or burning, or during fossilization: the steak was carbonized on the outside.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. as adj.] (carbonized) coat with carbon.

<DERIVATIVES> car·bon·i·za·tion n.

car·bon mon·ox·ide n. a colorless, odorless toxic flammable gas formed by incomplete combustion of carbon.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: CO.

car·bon·nade n. a rich beef stew made with onions and beer.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (denoting a piece of meat or fish cooked on hot coals): from French, from Latin carbo, carbon- 'coal, charcoal'.

car·bon-neu·tral adj. making no net release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, esp. through offsetting emissions by planting trees.

car·bon pa·per n. thin paper coated with carbon or another pigmented substance, used for making copies of written or typed documents.

car·bon proc·ess n. a method of making photographic prints that uses a pigment, esp. carbon, contained in a sensitized tissue of gelatin.

car·bon sink n. [ECOLOGY] a forest, ocean, or other natural environment viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

car·bon steel n. steel in which the main alloying element is carbon, and whose properties are chiefly dependent on the percentage of carbon present.

car·bon tax n. a tax on fossil fuels, esp. those used by motor vehicles, intended to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide.

car·bon tet·ra·chlo·ride n. a colorless toxic volatile liquid used as a solvent, esp. for fats and oils.
<INFO>  4

car·bon·yl n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] of or denoting the divalent radical =C=O, present in such organic compounds as aldehydes, ketones, amides, and esters, and in organic acids as part of the carboxyl group: carbonyl compounds.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a coordination compound in which one or more carbon monoxide molecules are bonded as neutral ligands to a central metal atom: [with adj.] nickel carbonyl.

car·bon·yl chlo·ride n. another term for PHOSGENE.

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PHOSGENE ■

car·bo·run·dum n. a very hard black solid consisting of silicon carbide, used as an abrasive.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (originally U.S., as a trademark): blend of CARBON and CORUNDUM.

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CARBON ■

CORUNDUM ■

car·box·y·he·mo·glo·bin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a compound formed in the blood by the binding of carbon monoxide to hemoglobin. It is stable and therefore cannot absorb or transport oxygen.

car·box·yl n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] of or denoting the acid radical COOH, present in most organic acids: the carboxyl group.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CARBO- + OX- 'oxygen' + -YL.

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CARBO- ■

OX- ■

-YL ■

car·box·yl·ase n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] an enzyme that catalyzes the addition of a carboxyl group to a specified substrate.

car·box·yl·ate [CHEMISTRY] n. a salt or ester of a carboxylic acid.

■ v. [trans.] add a carboxyl group to (a compound): [as adj.] (carboxylated) carboxylated polysaccharides.

<DERIVATIVES> car·box·yl·a·tion n.

car·box·yl·ic ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] an organic acid containing a carboxyl group. The simplest examples are methanoic (or formic) acid and ethanoic (or acetic) acid.

car·boy n. a large globular plastic bottle with a narrow neck, typically protected by a frame and used for holding acids or other corrosive liquids.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Persian 'large glass flagon'.

car bra n. see BRA.

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BRA ■

carbs plural n. INFORMAL dietary carbohydrates.

car·bun·cle n. 1 a severe abscess or multiple boil in the skin, typically infected with staphylococcus bacteria.

2 a bright red gem, in particular a garnet cut en cabochon.

<DERIVATIVES> car·bun·cu·lar adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (sense 2): from Old French charbuncle, from Latin carbunculus 'small coal', from carbo 'coal, charcoal'.

car·bu·ret·ed (BRIT. car·bu·ret·ted) adj. (of a vehicle or engine) having fuel supplied through a carburetor, rather than an injector.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from archaic carburet 'carbide' + -ED^2 .

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-ED ■

car·bu·re·tor (also car·bu·ra·tor, BRIT. car·bu·ret·tor or car·bu·ret·ter) n. a device in an internal combustion engine for mixing air with a fine spray of liquid fuel.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from archaic carburet 'combine or charge with a hydrocarbon' + -OR^1 .

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-OR ■

car·bu·rize v. [trans.] add carbon to (iron or steel), in particular by heating in the presence of carbon to harden the surface.

<DERIVATIVES> car·bu·ri·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French carbure 'carbide' + -IZE.

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-IZE ■

car·ca·jou n. another term for the North American WOLVERINE.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Canadian French, from Montagnais (compare with KINKAJOU).

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WOLVERINE ■

KINKAJOU ■

car·cass (BRIT. also car·case) n. the dead body of an animal. See note at BODY.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the trunk of an animal such as a cow, sheep, or pig, for cutting up as meat.

- the remains of a cooked bird after all the edible parts have been removed.

- DEROGATORY or HUMOROUS a person's body, living or dead: my obsession will last while there's life in this old carcass.

- the structural framework of a building, ship, or piece of furniture.

- FIGURATIVE the remains of something being discarded, dismembered, or worthless: the floor is littered with the carcasses of newspapers.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French carcois, variant of Old French charcois; in later use from French carcasse; of unknown ultimate origin.

car·cin·o·gen n. a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from an abbreviation of CARCINOMA + -GEN.

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CARCINOMA ■

-GEN ■

car·cin·o·gen·e·sis n. the initiation of cancer formation.

car·cin·o·gen·ic adj. having the potential to cause cancer.

<DERIVATIVES> car·ci·no·ge·nic·i·ty n.

car·ci·noid n. [MEDICINE] a tumor of a type occurring in the glands of the intestine (esp. the appendix) or in the bronchi, and abnormally secreting hormones.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from an abbreviation of CARCINOMA + -OID.

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CARCINOMA ■

-OID ■

car·ci·no·ma n. (pl. -no·mas or -no·ma·ta ) a cancer arising in the epithelial tissue of the skin or of the lining of the internal organs.

<DERIVATIVES> car·ci·no·ma·tous adj.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: via Latin from Greek , from karkinos 'crab' (compare with CANCER).

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CANCER ■

car coat n. a short, square-cut style of coat designed to be worn when driving a car.

card 1 n. 1 a piece of thick, stiff paper or thin pasteboard, in particular one used for writing or printing on: some notes jotted down on a card.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- such a piece of thick paper printed with a picture and used to send a message or greeting: a birthday card.

- a small piece of such paper with a person's name and other details printed on it for purposes of identification, for example a business card.

2 a small rectangular piece of plastic issued by a bank, containing personal data in a machine-readable form and used chiefly to obtain cash or credit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar piece of plastic used for other purposes such as paying for a telephone call or gaining entry to a room or building.

3 a playing card: a deck of cards.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (cards) a game played with playing cards.

4 [COMPUTING] short for EXPANSION CARD.

5 INFORMAL a person regarded as odd or amusing: He laughed: “You're a card, you know.”

6 a program of events at a racetrack.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a record of scores in a sporting event; a scorecard.

- a list of holes on a golf course, on which a player's scores are entered.

■ v. [trans.] 1 write (something) on a card, esp. for indexing.

2 check the identity card of (someone), in particular as evidence of legal drinking age.

3 INFORMAL (in golf and other sports) score (a certain number of points on a scorecard): he carded 68 in the final round.

<PHRASES>
□ hold all the cards be in a very strong or advantageous position.

□ in the cards INFORMAL very possible or likely: an overwhelming military triumph is in the cards.

□ play the card exploit the specified issue or idea mentioned, esp. for political advantage: he saw an opportunity to play the peace card.

□ play one's cards right make the best use of one's assets and opportunities.

□ put (or lay) one's cards on the table be completely open and honest in declaring one's resources, intentions, or attitude.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 3 of the noun): from Old French carte, from Latin carta, charta, from Greek 'papyrus leaf'.

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EXPANSION CARD ■

card 2 v. [trans.] comb and clean (raw wool, hemp fibers, or similar material) with a sharp-toothed instrument in order to disentangle the fibers before spinning.

■ n. a toothed implement or machine for this purpose.

<DERIVATIVES> card·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French carde, from Provençal carda, from cardar 'tease, comb', based on Latin carere 'to card'.

Card. abbr. Cardinal.

car·da·mom (also car·da·mon ) n. 1 the aromatic seeds of a plant of the ginger family, used as a spice and also medicinally.

2 the Southeast Asian plant that bears these seeds.
<INFO>  Elettaria cardamomum, family Zingiberaceae.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cardamome or Latin cardamomum, from Greek , from kardamon 'cress' + , the name of a kind of spice plant.

Car·da·mom Moun·tains a range of mountains in western Cambodia.

card·board n. pasteboard or stiff paper: [as adj.] a cardboard box.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] (of a character in a literary work) lacking depth and realism; artificial: with its superficial, cardboard characters, the novel was typical of her work.

card-car·ry·ing adj. [attrib.] registered as a member of a political party or labor union.
<SPECIAL USAGE> OFTEN HUMOROUS confirmed in or dedicated to a specified pursuit or outlook: a card-carrying pessimist.

Cár·de·nas an industrial port in north central Cuba, east of Havana; pop. 63,000.

card·hold·er n. a person who has a credit card or debit card.

car·di·a n. [ANATOMY] the upper opening of the stomach, where the esophagus enters.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Greek kardia.

car·di·ac adj. [attrib.] 1 of or relating to the heart: a cardiac arrest.

2 of or relating to the part of the stomach nearest the esophagus.

■ n. INFORMAL [MEDICINE] a person with heart disease.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a noun denoting heart disease): from French cardiaque or Latin cardiacus, from Greek kardiakos, from kardia 'heart or upper opening of the stomach'. The adjective dates from the early 17th cent.

car·di·ac ar·rest n. a sudden, sometimes temporary, cessation of function of the heart.

car·di·ac mas·sage n. a procedure to resuscitate a patient suffering cardiac arrest or fibrillation by rhythmically compressing the chest and heart to restore circulation. Also called HEART MASSAGE.

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HEART MASSAGE ■

car·di·ac mus·cle n. another term for MYOCARDIUM.

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MYOCARDIUM ■

car·di·ac tam·pon·ade n. see TAMPONADE (sense 1).

Linked entries:

TAMPONADE ■

car·di·al·gi·a n. 1 heartburn.

2 another term for CARDIODYNIA.

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CARDIODYNIA ■

Car·diff the capital of Wales, a seaport on the Bristol Channel, in the southern part of the country; pop. 272,600. Welsh name CAERDYDD.

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CAERDYDD ■

car·di·gan n. a knitted sweater fastening down the front, typically with long sleeves.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (Crimean War): named after James Thomas Brudenel, 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797-1868), leader of the Charge of the Light Brigade, whose troops first wore such garments.

Car·din Pierre (1922- ), French couturier, the first designer in the field of haute couture to show a collection of clothes for men as well as for women.

car·di·nal n. 1 a leading dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinals are nominated by the pope and form the Sacred College, which elects succeeding popes (now invariably from among their own number).
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also cardinal red) a deep scarlet color like that of a cardinal's cassock.

2 a New World songbird of the bunting family, with a stout bill and typically with a conspicuous crest. The male is partly or mostly red in color.
<INFO>  Family Emberizidae, subfamily Cardinalinae (the cardinal grosbeak subfamily): four genera and several species, esp. the northern (or common) cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), the male of which is scarlet with a black face. This subfamily also includes American grosbeaks, buntings, and saltators.

■ adj. [attrib.] of the greatest importance; fundamental: two cardinal points must be borne in mind.

<DERIVATIVES> car·di·nal·ate n. (in sense 1 of the noun) car·di·nal·ly adv. car·di·nal·ship n. (in sense 1 of the noun).

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Latin cardinalis, from cardo, cardin- 'hinge'. Sense 1 has arisen through the notion of the important function of such priests as “pivots” of church life.

car·di·nal bee·tle n. a mainly bright red beetle with feathery or comblike antennae. It typically lives under loose bark.
<INFO>  Pyrochroidae

car·di·nal fish n. a small brightly colored fish found in shallow tropical seas around reefs. The male often broods the eggs in his mouth.
<INFO>  Family Apogonidae: several genera, in particular Apogon, and numerous species.

car·di·nal flow·er n. a tall scarlet-flowered lobelia found in North America.
<INFO>  Lobelia cardinalis, family Campanulaceae.

car·di·nal hu·mor n. see HUMOR (sense 3).

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HUMOR ■

car·di·nal·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) [MATHEMATICS] the number of elements in a set or other grouping, as a property of that grouping.

car·di·nal num·ber n. a number denoting quantity (one, two, three, etc.), as opposed to an ordinal number (first, second, third, etc.).

car·di·nal point n. each of the four main points of the compass (north, south, east, and west).

car·di·nal sin n. 1 another name for DEADLY SIN.

2 CHIEFLY HUMOROUS a serious error of judgment: the program was canceled for the biggest cardinal sin of them allit dared to be intelligent.

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DEADLY SIN ■

car·di·nal vir·tue n. each of the chief natural virtues of justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude, as defined by Plato and Aristotle and adopted by the Church Fathers. Compare with THEOLOGICAL VIRTUE.

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THEOLOGICAL VIRTUE ■

card in·dex n. a catalog or similar collection of information in which each item is entered on a separate card, and the cards are arranged in a particular order, typically alphabetical.

card·ing wool n. short-stapled pieces of wool that result from the carding process, spun and woven to make standard-quality fabrics. Compare with COMBING WOOL.

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COMBING WOOL ■

cardio- comb. form of or relating to the heart: cardiograph; cardiopulmonary.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kardia 'heart'.

car·di·o·dyn·i·a n. pain in the region of the heart.

car·di·o·gram n. a record of muscle activity within the heart made by a cardiograph.

car·di·o·graph n. an instrument for recording heart muscle activity, such as an electrocardiograph.

<DERIVATIVES> car·di·og·ra·pher n. car·di·og·ra·phy n.

car·di·oid n. [MATHEMATICS] a heart-shaped curve traced by a point on the circumference of a circle as it rolls around another identical circle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also cardioid microphone) a directional microphone with a pattern of sensitivity of this shape.

■ adj. of the shape of a cardioid.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Greek 'heart-shaped', from kardia 'heart' + eidos 'form'.

car·di·ol·o·gy n. the branch of medicine that deals with diseases and abnormalities of the heart.

<DERIVATIVES> car·di·o·log·i·cal adj. car·di·ol·o·gist n.

car·di·o·meg·a·ly n. [MEDICINE] abnormal enlargement of the heart.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from CARDIO- + Greek megas, megal- 'great'.

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CARDIO- ■

car·di·o·my·op·a·thy n. [MEDICINE] chronic disease of the heart muscle.

car·di·op·a·thy n. heart disease.

car·di·o·pul·mo·nar·y adj. [MEDICINE] of or relating to the heart and the lungs.

car·di·o·pul·mo·nar·y re·sus·ci·ta·tion n. emergency medical procedures for restoring normal heartbeat and breathing to victims of heart failure, drowning, etc.

car·di·o·res·pi·ra·to·ry adj. [MEDICINE] relating to the action of both heart and lungs.

car·di·o·vas·cu·lar adj. [MEDICINE] of or relating to the heart and blood vessels.

car·di·o·vas·cu·lar sys·tem n. another term for CIRCULATORY SYSTEM.

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CIRCULATORY SYSTEM ■

car·di·tis n. [MEDICINE] inflammation of the heart.

card key n. another term for KEY CARD.

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KEY CARD ■

card·mem·ber n. a holder of a particular credit or charge card.

car·doon n. a tall thistlelike southern European plant related to the globe artichoke, with leaves and roots that may be used as vegetables.
<INFO>  Cynara cardunculus, family Compositae.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French cardon, from carde 'edible part of an artichoke', from modern Provençal cardo, based on Latin carduus, cardus 'thistle, artichoke'.

Car·do·zo Benjamin Nathan (1870-1938), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1932-38. Considered a liberal, he championed court involvement in the making of public policy.

card read·er n. 1 an electronic sensor that reads a magnetic strip or bar code on a credit card, membership card, etc.

2 an electronic device that reads and transfers data from various portable memory storage devices.

3 a reader of tarot cards or other cards in fortune telling.

card sharp (also card sharper or card shark) n. a person who cheats at cards in order to win money.

card ta·ble n. a square table for playing cards on, typically having legs that fold flat for storage.

CARE abbr. Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere, a large private organization that provides emergency and long-term assistance to people in need throughout the world.

care n. 1 the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something: the care of the elderly; the child is safe in the care of her grandparents; health care.

2 serious attention or consideration applied to doing something correctly or to avoid damage or risk: he planned his departure with great care.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an object of concern or attention: the cares of family life.

- a feeling of or occasion for anxiety: she was driving along without a care in the world.

■ v. [intrans.] 1 [often with negative] feel concern or interest; attach importance to something: they don't care about human life | [with clause] I don't care what she says.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- feel affection or liking: you care very deeply for him.

- (care for something/care to do something) like or be willing to do or have something: would you care for some tea?; I don't care to listen to him.

2 (care for) look after and provide for the needs of: he has numerous animals to care for.

<PHRASES>
□ care of at the address of: write to me care of Anne.

□ I (or he, she, etc.) couldn't (or INFORMAL also could) care less INFORMAL used to express complete indifference: he couldn't care less about football.

□ for all you care (or he, she, etc., cares) INFORMAL used to indicate that someone feels no interest or concern: I could drown for all you care.

□ have a care [often in imperative] DATED be cautious: “Have a care!” she warned.

□ take care
1 [often in imperative] be cautious; keep oneself safe: take care if you're planning to go out tonight.
- said to someone on leaving them: take care, see you soon.

2 [with infinitive] make sure of doing something: he would take care to provide himself with an escape clause.

□ take care of
1 keep (someone or something) safe and provided for: I can take care of myself.

2 deal with (something): he has the tools to take care of the electrical problem.

<ORIGIN> Old English caru (noun), carian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Old High German chara 'grief, lament', charon 'grieve', and Old Norse 'sickbed'.

ca·reen v. 1 [trans.] turn (a ship) on its side for cleaning, caulking, or repair.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (of a ship) tilt; lean over: a heavy flood tide caused my vessel to careen dizzily.

2 [intrans.] move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction: an electric golf cart careened around the corner. <ORIGIN> influenced by the verb CAREER.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (as a noun denoting the position of a careened ship): from French carène, from Italian carena, from Latin carina 'a keel'.

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CAREER ■

ca·reer n. an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the time spent by a person in such an occupation or profession: the end of a distinguished career in the navy.

- the progress through history of an institution or organization: the court has had a checkered career.

- [as adj.] working permanently in or committed to a particular profession: a career diplomat.

- [as adj.] (of a woman) interested in pursuing a profession rather than devoting all her time to child care and housekeeping.

■ v. [intrans.] move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction: the car careered across the road and went through a hedge.

<PHRASES> in full career ARCHAIC at full speed.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting a road or racecourse): from French carrière, from Italian carriera, based on Latin carrus 'wheeled vehicle'.

ca·reer·ist n. a person whose main concern is for professional advancement, esp. one willing to achieve this by any means: [as adj.] a careerist politician.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·reer·ism n.

care·free adj. free from anxiety or responsibility: she changed from a carefree girl into a woman; the carefree days of summer.

<DERIVATIVES> care·free·ness n.

care·ful adj. 1 making sure of avoiding potential danger, mishap, or harm; cautious: I begged him to be more careful; | be careful not to lose her address | [as exclam.] Careful! That stuff's worth a fortune!
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (careful of/about) anxious to protect (something) from harm or loss; solicitous: he was very careful of his reputation.
See note at VIGILANT.
- prudent in the use of something, esp. money: Ali had always been careful with money.

2 done with or showing thought and attention: a careful consideration of the facts.

<DERIVATIVES> care·ful·ly adv. care·ful·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English carful (see CARE, -FUL).

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CARE ■

-FUL ■

care·giv·er n. a family member or paid helper who regularly looks after a child or a sick, elderly, or disabled person.

<DERIVATIVES> care·giv·ing n. & adj.

care·less adj. not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors: she had been careless and had left the window unlocked.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an action or its result) showing or caused by a lack of attention: he admitted careless driving; a careless error.

- [predic.] (careless of/about) not concerned or worried about: he was careless about his own safety.

- showing no interest or effort; casual: she gave a careless shrug.

<DERIVATIVES> care·less·ly adv. care·less·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'free from care' (see CARE, -LESS).

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CARE ■

-LESS ■

ca·ress v. [trans.] touch or stroke gently or lovingly: she caressed the girl's forehead | FIGURATIVE [as adj.] (caressing) the caressing warmth of the sun.

■ n. a gentle or loving touch.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·ress·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French caresser (verb), caresse (noun), from Italian carezza, based on Latin carus 'dear'.

car·et n. a mark (^, ) placed below the line to indicate a proposed insertion in a printed or written text.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin, 'is lacking'.

care·tak·er n. 1 a person employed to look after a public building or a house in the owner's absence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] holding power temporarily: his was a caretaker regime.

2 a person employed to look after people or animals.

<DERIVATIVES> care·take v.

Ca·rew Rod(ney Cline) (1945- ), U.S. baseball player; born in Panama. A baseman for the Minnesota Twins 1967-79 and the California Angels 1979-85, he was a seven-time American League batting champion 1969, 1972-75, 1977-78. Baseball Hall of Fame (1991).

care work·er n. BRIT. a person employed to support and supervise vulnerable, infirm, or disadvantaged people, or those under the care of the state.

care·worn adj. tired and unhappy because of prolonged worry: a careworn expression.

Car·ey 1 George (Leonard) (1935- ), English Anglican churchman; archbishop of Canterbury 1991-2002.

Car·ey 2 Mariah (1970- ), U.S. singer and songwriter. Noted for her wide vocal range, her albums include Mariah Carey (1990), Merry Christmas (1994), Daydream (1995), and Butterfly (1997).

car·fare n. the fare for travel on a bus, subway, or similar mode of public transportation.

car·go n. (pl. -goes or -gos) goods carried on a ship, aircraft, or motor vehicle: transportation of bulk cargo | a cargo of oil.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Spanish cargo, carga, from late Latin carricare, carcare 'to load', from Latin carrus 'wheeled vehicle'.

car·go cult n. (in the Melanesian Islands) a system of belief based around the expected arrival of ancestral spirits in ships bringing cargoes of food and other goods.

car·go pants n. loose-fitting casual slacks with large patch pockets on the thighs.

car·hop n. INFORMAL, DATED a waiter or waitress at a drive-in restaurant.

Car·i·a an ancient region of southwestern Asia Minor, south of the Maeander River and northwest of Lycia.

<DERIVATIVES> Car·i·an adj. & n.

car·i·am·a n. former term for SERIEMA.

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SERIEMA ■

Car·ib n. 1 a member of an indigenous South American people living mainly in coastal regions of French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and Venezuela.

2 the Cariban language of this people. Also called GALIBI.

The Caribs were in the process of colonizing the Lesser Antilles from the mainland, displacing Arawak peoples, when their expansion was halted by the arrival of the Spaniards, who all but wiped them out; a few hundred remain on Dominica. Carib is now spoken by around 20,000 people in parts of northern South America. Island Carib is an extinct language of the entirely distinct Arawakan group, formerly used in the Lesser Antilles; Black Carib, spoken in parts of Central America, is derived from this.

■ adj. of or relating to the Caribs or their language.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to Island Carib or Black Carib.

<ORIGIN> from Spanish caribe, from Haitian Creole. Compare with CANNIBAL.

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GALIBI ■

CANNIBAL ■

Car·i·ban adj. of, belonging to, or denoting a family of South American languages scattered widely throughout Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, and Colombia. With the exception of Carib, they are all extinct or nearly so.

■ n. this family of languages.

Car·ib·be·an n. (the Caribbean) the region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (including the West Indies), and the surrounding coasts.

■ adj. of or relating to this region.

<USAGE>
There are two possible pronunciations of the word Caribbean, and both are used widely and acceptably in the U.S. In the Caribbean itself, the preferred pronunciation puts the stress on the -rib-. In Britain, speakers more often put the stress on the -be-, although in recent years, the other pronunciation has gained ground in Britain as the more 'up-to-date' and, to some, the more 'correct' pronunciation.

Car·ib·be·an Sea the part of the Atlantic Ocean that lies between the Antilles and the mainland of Central and South America.

ca·ri·be n. another term for PIRANHA.

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PIRANHA ■

Car·i·boo Moun·tains a range in east central British Columbia, part of the Rocky Mountains, scene of an 1860s gold rush.

car·i·bou n. (pl. same or -bous) a large North American reindeer.
<INFO>  Genus Rangifer: several species, in particular the woodland caribou (R. caribou) and the barren ground caribou (R. tarandus).

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Canadian French, from Micmac , literally 'snowshoveler' (because the caribou scrapes away snow to feed on the vegetation underneath).

car·i·ca·ture n. a picture, description, or imitation of a person or thing in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the art or style of such exaggerated representation: there are elements of caricature in the portrayal of the hero.

- a ludicrous or grotesque version of someone or something: he looked like a caricature of his normal self.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be caricatured) make or give a comically or grotesquely exaggerated representation of (someone or something): he was caricatured on the cover of TV Guide; a play that caricatures the legal profession.

<DERIVATIVES> car·i·ca·tur·al adj. car·i·ca·tur·ist n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French, from Italian caricatura, from caricare 'load, exaggerate', from Latin carricare (see CHARGE).

<THE RIGHT WORD>
burlesque, caricature, lampoon, mimicry, parody, travesty

Skilled writers and artists who want to poke fun at someone or something have a number of weapons at their disposal.

An artist might come up with a caricature, which is a drawing or written piece that exaggerates its subject's distinguishing features or peculiarities (the cartoonist's caricature of the presidential candidate).

A parody is similar to a caricature in purpose, but is used of written work or performances that ridicule an author or performer's work by imitating its language and style for comic effect (a parody of the scene between Romeo and Juliet). While a parody concentrates on distorting the content of the original work, a travesty retains the subject matter but imitates the style in a grotesque or absurd way (their version of the Greek tragedy was a travesty).

A lampoon is a strongly satirical piece of writing that attacks or ridicules a person or an institution; it is more commonly used as a verb (to lampoon the government in a local newspaper).

While a caricature, a parody, and a travesty must have a specific original to imitate, a burlesque can be an independent creation or composition; it is a broad comic or satiric imitation, often a theatrical one, that treats a serious subject lightly or a trivial subject with mock seriousness (the play was a burlesque of ancient Rome).

Mimicry is something you don't have to be an artist, a writer, or an actor to be good at. Anyone who successfully imitates another person's speech or gestures is a good mimic or impressionist, whether the intent is playful or mocking (he showed an early talent for mimicry, entertaining his parents with imitations of their friends).

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CHARGE ■

car·ies n. decay and crumbling of a tooth or bone.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin.

car·il·lon n. a set of bells in a tower, played using a keyboard or by an automatic mechanism similar to a piano roll.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a tune played on such bells.

<DERIVATIVES> car·il·lon·neur n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, from Old French quarregnon 'peal of four bells', based on Latin quattuor 'four'.

Ca·ri·na [ASTRONOMY] a southern constellation (the Keel) partly in the Milky Way, originally part of Argo. It contains the second brightest star in the sky, Canopus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Ca·ri·nae ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Beta Carinae.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

ca·ri·na n. (pl. -nae or -nas) [CHIEFLY BIOLOGY] a keel-shaped structure, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ZOOLOGY] the ridge of a bird's breastbone, to which the main flight muscles are attached.

- [ANATOMY] cartilage situated at the point where the trachea divides into the two bronchi.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·ri·nal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Latin, 'keel'.

car·i·nate adj. having a keellike ridge.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a bird) having a deep ridge on the breastbone for the attachment of flight muscles. Contrasted with RATITE.

<DERIVATIVES> car·i·nat·ed adj. car·i·na·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin carinatus 'having a keel', from carina 'keel'.

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RATITE ■

car·ing adj. displaying kindness and concern for others: a caring and invaluable friend.

■ n. the work or practice of looking after those unable to care for themselves, esp. the sick and the elderly: [as adj.] the caring professions.

Car·i·o·ca n. 1 a native of Rio de Janeiro.

2 (carioca) a Brazilian dance resembling the samba.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Portuguese, from Tupi kari'oka 'house of the white man'.

car·i·o·gen·ic adj. TECHNICAL causing tooth decay.

car·i·ole n. variant spelling of CARRIOLE.

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CARRIOLE ■

car·i·ous adj. (of bones or teeth) decayed.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin cariosus (see CARIES).

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CARIES ■

ca·ri·tas n. Christian love of humankind; charity.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Latin.

car·jack·ing n. the action of violently stealing an occupied car.

<DERIVATIVES> car·jack v. car·jack·er n.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: blend of CAR and hijacking (see HIJACK).

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CAR ■

HIJACK ■

cark·ing adj. [attrib.] ARCHAIC causing distress or worry: her carking doubts.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: present participle of Middle English cark 'worry, burden', from Old Northern French carkier, based on late Latin carcare (see CHARGE).

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CHARGE ■

carl n. ARCHAIC a peasant or man of low birth.

<ORIGIN> Old English (denoting a peasant or villein): from Old Norse karl 'man, freeman', of Germanic origin; related to CHURL.

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CHURL ■

car·line (also carline thistle) n. a thistlelike European plant with flowerheads that bear shiny persistent straw-colored bracts.
<INFO>  Genus Carlina, family Compositae: several species, in particular C. vulgaris.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, from medieval Latin carlina, perhaps an alteration of cardina (from Latin carduus 'thistle'), by association with Carolus Magnus (see CHARLEMAGNE), to whom its medicinal properties were said to have been revealed.

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CHARLEMAGNE ■

Car·lisle a historic borough in southern Pennsylvania, southwest of Harrisburg; pop. 18,419. It is home to the Army War College.

Car·lism n. HISTORICAL a Spanish conservative political movement originating in support of Don Carlos, brother of Fernando VII (died 1833), who claimed the throne in place of Fernando's daughter Isabella. The movement supported the Catholic Church and opposed centralized government; it was revived in support of the Nationalist side during the Spanish Civil War.

<DERIVATIVES> Car·list adj. & n.

car·load n. the number of people that can travel in an automobile: a carload of passengers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the quantity of goods that can be carried in a railroad freight car.

Car·lo·vin·gi·an adj. & n. another term for CAROLINGIAN.

<ORIGIN> from French carlovingien, from Karl 'Charles', on the pattern of mérovingien 'Merovingian'.

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CAROLINGIAN ■

Car·low a county in the Republic of Ireland, in the province of Leinster.

Carls·bad 1 a city in southwestern California, on the Pacific coast, north of San Diego; pop. 63,126.

2 a city in southeastern New Mexico, on the Pecos River; pop. 25,625. To the southwest is Carlsbad Caverns, a vast cave complex.

Carls·bad plum n. a dessert plum of a blue-black variety, that is often crystallized.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after Karlsbad (now Karlovy Vary).

Carl·ton Steve (1944- ), U.S. baseball player; born Steven Norman Carlton; nicknamed Lefty. He was the first pitcher to win four Cy Young awards 1972, 1977, 1980, 1982. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals 1965-72 and the Philadelphia Phillies 1972-88. Baseball Hall of Fame (1994).

Car·lyle Thomas (1795-1881), Scottish historian and political philosopher. He wrote History of the French Revolution (1837).

car·mak·er n. a manufacturer of automobiles.

car·man n. (pl. -men ) DATED a driver of a streetcar or horse-drawn carriage.

Car·mel a city in west central California, a resort on the Pacific Ocean, south of Monterey; pop. 4,239.

Car·mel, Mount a group of mountains near the Mediterranean coast in northwestern Israel that shelter the port of Haifa. In the Bible it is the site of the defeat of the priests of Baal by the prophet Elijah (I Kings 18).

Car·mel·ite n. a friar or nun of a contemplative Catholic order founded at Mount Carmel during the Crusades.

■ adj. of or relating to the Carmelites.

Car·mi·chael 1 a community in north central California, northeast of Sacramento; pop. 48,702.

Car·mi·chael 2 Hoagy (1899-1981), U.S. jazz pianist, composer, and singer; born Howard Hoagland Carmichael. His best-known songs include “Stardust” (1929), “Georgia on My Mind” (1930), and “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening” (1951).

car·min·a·tive adj. [MEDICINE] (chiefly of a drug) relieving flatulence.

■ n. a drug of this kind.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French carminatif, -ive, or medieval Latin carminat- 'healed (by incantation)', from the verb carminare, from Latin carmen (see CHARM).

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CHARM ■

car·mine n. a vivid crimson color: [as adj.] carmine roses.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a vivid crimson pigment made from cochineal.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French carmin, based on Arabic (see KERMES). Compare with CRIMSON.

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KERMES ■

CRIMSON ■

Car·nac the site in Brittany of nearly 3,000 megalithic stones dating from the Neolithic period.

car·nage n. the killing of a large number of people.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French, from Italian carnaggio, from medieval Latin carnaticum, from Latin caro, carn- 'flesh'.

car·nal adj. relating to physical, esp. sexual, needs and activities: carnal desire.

<DERIVATIVES> car·nal·i·ty n. car·nal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Christian Latin carnalis, from caro, carn- 'flesh'.

car·nal know·ledge n. DATED, [CHIEFLY LAW] sexual intercourse.

car·nall·ite n. a white or reddish mineral consisting of a hydrated chloride of potassium and magnesium.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Rudolf von Carnall (1804-74), German mining engineer, + -ITE^1 .

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-ITE ■

Car·nap Rudolf (1891-1970), U.S. philosopher; born in Germany; a founding member of the logical positivist Vienna Circle. Notable works: The Logical Structure of the World (1928) and The Logical Foundations of Probability (1950).

car·nas·si·al adj. [ZOOLOGY] denoting the large upper premolar and lower molar teeth of a carnivore, adapted for shearing flesh.

■ n. a tooth of this type.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French carnassier 'carnivorous', based on Latin caro, carn- 'flesh'.

Car·nat·ic adj. of or denoting the main style of classical music in southern India, as distinct from the Hindustani music of the north: Carnatic music.

<ORIGIN> Anglicization of KARNATAKA in southwestern India.

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KARNATAKA ■

car·na·tion 1 n. a double-flowered cultivated variety of clove pink, with gray-green leaves and showy pink, white, or red flowers.
<INFO>  Dianthus caryophyllus, family Caryophyllaceae: many cultivars.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: perhaps based on a misreading of Arabic 'clove or clove pink', from Greek karyophullon. The early forms suggest confusion with carnation 'rosy pink color', with incarnation, and with coronation.

car·na·tion 2 adj. of a rosy pink color: sage and carnation throw pillows.

■ n. a rosy pink color.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from French carnation 'color of one's flesh', based on Latin carn- 'flesh'.

car·nau·ba n. a northeastern Brazilian fan palm, the leaves of which exude a yellowish wax. Also called WAX PALM.
<INFO>  Copernicia cerifera, family Palmae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (also carnauba wax) wax from this palm, formerly used as a polish and for making candles.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Portuguese, from Tupi.

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WAX PALM ■

Car·ne·gie Andrew (1835-1919), U.S. industrialist and philanthropist; born in Scotland. After building up a fortune in the steel industry, he retired in 1901 and devoted his wealth to charitable purposes, in particular to libraries, education, and the arts. He established the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1900.

car·nel·ian (also cor·nel·ian ) n. a semiprecious stone consisting of an orange or orange-red variety of chalcedony.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French corneline; the prefix car- being suggested by Latin caro, carn- 'flesh'.

car·net n. a permit, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a permit allowing use of certain campsites while traveling abroad.

- a customs permit allowing a motor vehicle to be taken across an international border for a limited period.

- a book of tickets for use on public transport in some countries.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from French, 'notebook'.

Car·ney Art (1918-2003), U.S. actor; born Arthur William Matthew Carney. Best known for his role as Ed Norton in the 1950s TV comedy "The Honeymooners," he also appeared in numerous films, winning an Academy Award for his performance in Harry and Tonto (1974). He also invented the role of Felix Unger in the stage production of The Odd Couple (1974).

Car·nic Alps (German name Karnische Alpen) a range of the Alps on the border of southern Austria and northeastern Italy that reaches 9,124 feet (2,781 m) at Monte Coglians (Hohe Warte).

car·ni·val n. 1 a period of public revelry at a regular time each year, typically during the week before Lent in Roman Catholic countries, involving processions, music, dancing, and the use of masquerade: the culmination of the week-long carnival; | Mardi Gras is the last day of carnival | [as adj.] a carnival parade.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE an exciting or riotous mixture of something: the whole evening was a carnival of fun.

2 a traveling amusement show or circus.

<DERIVATIVES> car·ni·val·esque adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Italian carnevale, carnovale, from medieval Latin carnelevamen, carnelevarium 'Shrovetide', from Latin caro, carn- 'flesh' + levare 'put away'.

Car·niv·o·ra [ZOOLOGY] an order of mammals that comprises the cats, dogs, bears, hyenas, weasels, civets, raccoons, and mongooses. They are distinguished by having powerful jaws and teeth adapted for stabbing, tearing, and eating flesh.

car·ni·vore n. an animal that feeds on flesh.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ZOOLOGY] a mammal of the order Carnivora.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from Latin carnivorus (see CARNIVOROUS).

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CARNIVOROUS ■

car·niv·o·rous adj. (of an animal) feeding on other animals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a plant) able to trap and digest small animals, esp. insects.

<DERIVATIVES> car·niv·o·rous·ly adv. car·niv·o·rous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin carnivorus, from caro, carn- 'flesh' + -vorus (see -VOROUS).

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-VOROUS ■

car·no·saur (also car·no·sau·rus ) n. a large bipedal carnivorous dinosaur, typically one with greatly reduced forelimbs.
<INFO>  Infraorder Carnosauria, suborder Theropoda, order Saurischia; includes tyrannosaurus, allosaurus, and megalosaurus.

<DERIVATIVES> car·no·sau·ri·an adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from modern Latin, from Latin caro, carn- 'flesh' + Greek sauros 'lizard'.

Car·not Nicolas Léonard Sadi (1796-1832), French scientist. His work in analyzing the efficiency of steam engines was of crucial importance to the theory of thermodynamics.

car·no·tite n. a lemon-yellow radioactive mineral consisting of hydrated vanadate of uranium and potassium, often found near petrified trees.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after Marie Adolphe Carnot (1839-1920), French inspector of mines, + -ITE^1 .

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-ITE ■

car·ny 1 (also car·nie or car·ney) n. [usu. as adj.] INFORMAL a carnival or amusement show: a carny atmosphere.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who works in a carnival or amusement show.

car·ny 2 (also car·ney) adj. (-ni·er, -ni·est) BRIT., INFORMAL artful; sly: Finley's carny approach to baseball.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

car·ob n. 1 a brown floury powder extracted from the carob bean, used as a substitute for chocolate.

2 (also carob tree) a small evergreen Arabian tree that bears long brownish-purple edible pods. Also called LOCUST TREE (see LOCUST sense3)
<INFO>  Ceratonia siliqua, family Leguminosae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (also carob bean) the edible pod of this tree. Also called LOCUST BEAN (see LOCUST sense2)

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the carob bean): from Old French carobe, from medieval Latin carrubia, from Arabic .

car·ol n. a religious folk song or popular hymn, particularly one associated with Christmas: singing Christmas carols around the tree | [as adj.] a carol service.

■ v. (car·oled, car·ol·ing; CHIEFLY BRIT. car·ol·led, car·ol·ling) [intrans.] sing Christmas songs or hymns, esp. in a group: we caroled from door to door.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] sing or say (something) happily: she was cheerfully caroling the words of the song.

<DERIVATIVES> car·ol·er n. car·ol·ing n. a night of Christmas caroling was traditional.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French carole (noun), caroler (verb), of unknown origin.

Car·ol Cit·y a suburban community in southeastern Florida, north of Miami; pop. 53,331.

Car·o·li·na a commercial and residential suburb in Puerto Rico, east of San Juan; pop. 162,404.

Car·o·li·na all·spice n. see ALLSPICE.

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ALLSPICE ■

Car·o·li·na duck n. another term for WOOD DUCK.

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WOOD DUCK ■

Car·o·li·na par·a·keet n. a small long-tailed parakeet with mainly green plumage and a yellow and orange head. It was formerly common in the eastern U.S. but was exterminated by about 1920.
<INFO>  Conuropsis (or Aratinga) carolinensis, family Psittacidae.

Car·o·li·na rose n. another term for PASTURE ROSE.

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PASTURE ROSE ■

Car·o·line adj. 1 (also Car·o·le·an ) of or relating to the reigns of Charles I and II of England: a Caroline poet.

2 another term for CAROLINGIAN.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin Carolus 'Charles'.

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CAROLINGIAN ■

Car·o·line Is·lands (also the Car·o·lines) a group of islands in the western Pacific Ocean, north of the equator, that form the Federated States of Micronesia.

Car·o·lin·gi·an (also Car·lo·vin·gi·an) adj. of or relating to the Frankish dynasty, founded by Charlemagne's father (Pepin III), that ruled in western Europe from 750 to 987.
<SPECIAL USAGE> denoting or relating to a style of minuscule script developed in France during the time of Charlemagne, on which modern lower-case letters are largely based.

■ n. a member of the Carolingian dynasty.

<ORIGIN> alteration of earlier CARLOVINGIAN, by association with medieval Latin Carolus 'Charles'.

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CARLOVINGIAN ■

Car·o·lin·gi·an Ren·ais·sance a period during the reign of Charlemagne and his successors that was marked by achievements in art, architecture, learning, and music.

Car·ol Stream a village in northeastern Illinois, west of Chicago; pop. 31,716.

car·om n. [BILLIARDS] another term for BILLIARD (sense 2).
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also carom billiards) any of the billiard games played on a table without pockets.

■ v. [intrans.] make a carom; strike and rebound.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: abbreviation of carambole, from Spanish carambola, apparently from bola 'ball'.

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BILLIARD ■

car·o·tene n. [CHEMISTRY] an orange or red plant pigment found in carrots and many other plant structures. It is a terpenoid hydrocarbon with several isomers, of which one ( beta carotene) is important in the diet as a precursor of vitamin A.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: coined in German from Latin carota (see CARROT).

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CARROT ■

ca·rot·e·noid n. [CHEMISTRY] any of a class of mainly yellow, orange, or red fat-soluble pigments, including carotene, which give color to plant parts such as ripe tomatoes and autumn leaves. They are terpenoids based on a structure having the formula C_40H_56.

Ca·roth·ers Wallace Hume (1896-1937), U.S. industrial chemist. He developed neoprene, the first successful synthetic rubber and also Nylon 6.6, a synthetic fiber.

ca·rot·id adj. of, relating to, or denoting the two main arteries that carry blood to the head and neck, and their two main branches.

■ n. each of these arteries.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French carotide or modern Latin carotides, from Greek , plural of 'drowsiness', from karoun 'stupefy' (because compression of these arteries was thought to cause stupor).

ca·rot·id bod·y n. a small mass of receptors in the carotid artery sensitive to chemical change in the blood.

ca·rouse v. [intrans.] drink plentiful amounts of alcohol and enjoy oneself with others in a noisy, lively way: they danced and caroused until the drink ran out | [as n.] (carousing) a night of carousing.

■ n. a noisy, lively drinking party: corporate carouses.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·rous·al n. ca·rous·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: originally as an adverb meaning 'all out, completely' in the phrase drink carouse, from German gar aus trinken; hence 'drink heavily, have a drinking bout'.

car·ou·sel (also car·rou·sel) n. 1 a merry-go-round.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a rotating machine or device, in particular a conveyor system at an airport from which arriving passengers collect their luggage.

2 HISTORICAL a tournament in which groups of knights took part in chariot races and other demonstrations of equestrian skills.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French carrousel, from Italian carosello.

carp 1 n. (pl. same) a deep-bodied freshwater fish, typically with barbels around the mouth. Carp are farmed for food in some parts of the world and are widely kept in large ponds.
<INFO>  Family Cyprinidae (the minnow family): several genera and species, including the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). The family includes the majority of freshwater fishes in Eurasia, Africa, and North and Central America.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French carpe, from late Latin carpa.

carp 2 v. [intrans.] complain or find fault continually, typically about trivial matters: I don't want to carp about the way you did it; he was constantly carping at me.

<DERIVATIVES> carp·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'talk, chatter'): from Old Norse karpa 'brag'; later influenced by Latin carpere 'pluck at, slander'.

Car·pac·cio Vittore (c.1455-1525), Italian painter.

car·pac·cio n. an Italian hors d'oeuvre consisting of thin slices of raw beef or fish served with a sauce.

<ORIGIN> Italian, named after Vittore CARPACCIO (from his use of red pigments, resembling raw meat).

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CARPACCIO ■

car·pal n. any of the eight small bones forming the wrist. See CARPUS.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any of the equivalent bones in an animal's forelimb.

■ adj. of or relating to these bones.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from CARPUS + -AL.

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CARPUS ■

CARPUS ■

-AL ■

car·pal tun·nel syn·drome n. a painful condition of the hand and fingers caused by compression of a major nerve where it passes over the carpal bones through a passage at the front of the wrist, alongside the flexor tendons of the hand. It may be caused by repetitive movements over a long period, or by fluid retention, and is characterized by sensations of tingling, numbness, or burning.

car park n. BRIT. a parking lot or parking garage.

Car·pa·thi·an Moun·tains (also the Car·p·ath·ians) a mountain system that extends southeast from southern Poland and the Czech Republic into Romania.

car·pe di·em exclam. used to urge someone to make the most of the present time and give little thought to the future.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: Latin, 'seize the day!', a quotation from Horace (Odes I.xi).

car·pel n. [BOTANY] the female reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of an ovary, a stigma, and usually a style. It may occur singly or as one of a group.

<DERIVATIVES> car·pel·lar·y adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French carpelle or modern Latin carpellum, from Greek karpos 'fruit'.

Car·pen·tar·i·a, Gulf of a large bay on the northern coast of Australia, between Arnhem Land and the Cape York Peninsula.

car·pen·ter n. a person who makes and repairs wooden objects and structures.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be carpentered) make by shaping wood: the rails were carpentered very skillfully.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] do the work of a carpenter.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, from Old French carpentier, charpentier, from late Latin carpentarius (artifex) 'carriage (maker)', from carpentum 'wagon', of Gaulish origin; related to CAR.

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CAR ■

car·pen·ter ant n. a large ant that burrows into wood to nest.
<INFO>  Genus Camponotus, family Formicidae: numerous species.

car·pen·ter bee n. a large solitary bee with purplish wings that nests in tunnels bored in dead wood or plant stems.
<INFO>  Genus Xylocopa, family Apidae: several species.

car·pen·ter pants plural n. loose-fitting pants with many pockets of various sizes and loops for tools at the tops or sides of the legs.

car·pen·try n. the activity or occupation of making or repairing things in wood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the work made or done by a carpenter: the superb carpentry of the mahogany desk.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French carpentrie, Old French charpenterie, from charpentier (see CARPENTER).

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CARPENTER ■

car·pet n. a floor or stair covering made from thick woven fabric, typically shaped to fit a particular room: the house has fitted carpets throughout;| the floor was covered with carpet.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a large rug, typically an oriental one: priceless Persian carpets.

- FIGURATIVE a thick or soft expanse or layer of something: carpets of snowdrops and crocuses.

- INFORMAL a carpetlike artificial playing surface on a tennis court or an athletic field.

■ v. (-pet·ed, -pet·ing) [trans.] 1 (usu. be carpeted) cover (a floor or stairs) with a carpet: the stairs were carpeted in a lovely shade of red.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE cover with a thick or soft expanse or layer of something: the meadows are carpeted with flowers.

2 BRIT., INFORMAL reprimand severely.

<PHRASES> call someone on the carpet INFORMAL severely reprimand someone below one in authority: she might have called the accused person on the carpet. <ORIGIN> from carpet in the sense 'table covering', referring to ‘the carpet of the council table,’ before which one would be summoned for reprimand.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a thick fabric used as a cover for a table or bed): from Old French carpite or medieval Latin carpita, from obsolete Italian carpita 'woolen bedspread', based on Latin carpere 'pluck, pull to pieces'.

car·pet·bag n. a traveling bag of a kind originally made of carpeting or carpetlike material.

■ v. [intrans.] act as a carpetbagger: [as adj.] (carpetbagging) rich, carpetbagging developers.

car·pet·bag·ger n. DEROGATORY a political candidate who seeks election in an area where they have no local connections.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- HISTORICAL (in the U.S.) a person from the northern states who went to the South after the Civil War to profit from the Reconstruction.

- a person perceived as an unscrupulous opportunist: the organization is rife with carpetbaggers.

car·pet bee·tle n. a small beetle whose larva (a woolly bear) is destructive to carpets, fabrics, and other materials.
<INFO>  Genus Anthrenus, family Dermestidae.

car·pet-bomb v. [trans.] [often as n.] (carpet-bombing) bomb (an area) intensively.

car·pet·ing n. carpets collectively: offices with wall-to-wall carpeting.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the fabric from which carpets are made.

car·pet moth n. a drab moth related to the clothes moth, the larvae of which feed on coarse textiles and animal hair.
<INFO>  Trichophaga tapetzella, family Tineidae.

car·pet shark n. a relatively small shallow-water shark with barbels around the nose or mouth and typically with a conspicuous color pattern. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region and the Red Sea.
<INFO>  Family Orectolobidae: Orectolobus and other genera, and several species.

car·pet shell n. a burrowing bivalve mollusk of temperate and warm seas, with concentric growth rings and irregular colored markings.
<INFO>  Genus Venerupis, family Veneriidae.

car·pet slip·per n. a soft slipper whose upper part is made of wool or thick cloth.

car·pet sweep·er n. a manual household implement used for sweeping carpets, having a revolving brush or brushes and a receptacle for dust and dirt.

car·pet·weed n. any of various dicotyledonous, usually succulent plants that typically grow in warm, sandy regions.
<INFO>  Family Aizoaceae, order Caryophyllales: several genera and species, in particular Mollugo verticillata, a North American weed with small whitish flowers; like many of the carpetweeds, it is prostrate and forms a dense mat on the ground.

car·phol·o·gy n. RARE plucking at the bedclothes by a delirious patient.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek karphologia, from karphos 'straw' + legein 'collect'.

car phone n. a cellular phone designed for use in a motor vehicle.

carpo- comb. form fruit: carpology; carpophore.

car·pol·o·gy n. RARE the study of fruits and seeds.

<DERIVATIVES> car·po·log·i·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek karpos 'fruit' + -LOGY.

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-LOGY ■

car·pool n. an arrangement between people to make a regular journey in a single vehicle, typically with each person taking turns to drive the others.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a group of people with such an arrangement.

■ v. [intrans.] form or participate in a carpool.

<DERIVATIVES> car·pool·er n.

car·po·phore n. [BOTANY] (in a flower) an elongated axis that raises the stem of the pistil above the stamens.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in a fungus) the stem of the fruiting body.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek karpos 'fruit' + -PHORE.

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-PHORE ■

car·port n. a shelter for a car consisting of a roof supported on posts, built beside a house.

car·pus n. (pl. -pi ) the group of small bones between the main part of the forelimb and the metacarpus in terrestrial vertebrates. The eight bones of the human carpus form the wrist and part of the hand, and are arranged in two rows.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from modern Latin, from Greek karpos 'wrist'.

Car·rac·ci the name of a family of Italian painters comprised of brothers Annibale (1560-1609) and Agostino (1557-1602) and of their cousin Ludovico (1555-1619). Together they established a teaching academy at Bologna; while Annibale became famed for his frescoes on the ceiling of the Farnese Gallery in Rome and for his invention of the caricature.

car·rack n. a large merchant ship of a kind operating in European waters in the 14th to the 17th century.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French caraque; perhaps from Spanish carraca, from Arabic, perhaps from , plural of , a type of merchant ship.

car·ra·geen (also car·ra·gheen or car·ra·geen moss) n. an edible red shoreline seaweed with flattened branching fronds, found in both Eurasia and North America and used to produce carrageenan. Also called IRISH MOSS.
<INFO>  Chondrus crispus, phylum Rhodophyta.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Irish carraigín.

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IRISH MOSS ■

car·ra·gee·nan n. a substance extracted from red and purple seaweeds, consisting of a mixture of polysaccharides. It is used as a thickening or emulsifying agent in food products.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from CARRAGEEN + -AN.

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CARRAGEEN ■

-AN ■

Car·ra·ra a town in northwestern Italy, in Tuscany, known for the white marble quarried here since Roman times; pop. 68,480.

car·re·four n. a crossroads.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a public square, plaza, or marketplace where roads converge.

Car·rel Alexis (1873-1944), French surgeon and biologist. He developed improved techniques for suturing arteries and veins and carried out some of the first organ transplants. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1912).

car·rel n. a small cubicle with a desk for the use of a reader or student in a library.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a small enclosure or study in a cloister.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: apparently related to CAROL in the old sense 'ring'.

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CAROL ■

Car·re·ras José (1946- ), Spanish opera singer.

car·riage n. 1 a means of conveyance, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a four-wheeled passenger vehicle pulled by two or more horses: a horse-drawn carriage.

- a baby carriage.

- a shopping cart.

- a wheeled support for moving a heavy object such as a gun.

- BRIT. a passenger car of a train: the first-class carriages.

2 the transporting of items or merchandise from one place to another.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the cost of such a procedure.

3 a moving part of a machine that carries other parts into the required position: a typewriter carriage.

4 [in sing.] a person's bearing or deportment: her carriage was graceful, her movements quick and deft.

5 the harboring of a potentially disease-causing organism by a person or animal that does not contract the disease.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old Northern French cariage, from carier (see CARRY).

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CARRY ■

car·riage bolt n. a large bolt with a round head, used chiefly for fixing wooden panels to masonry or to one another.

car·riage dog n. archaic term for DALMATIAN.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: because Dalmatians were formerly trained to run behind a carriage as a guard dog.

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DALMATIAN ■

car·riage house n. a building for housing a horse-drawn carriage, typically such a building that has been converted into a dwelling.

car·riage re·lease n. a function or lever that enables the carriage on a manual or electric typewriter to move freely, instead of only in one direction when the keys are pressed.

car·riage re·turn n. another term for RETURN (sense 5).

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RETURN ■

car·riage trade n. ARCHAIC those of sufficient wealth or social standing, esp. clientele who arrive by private carriage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL or HUMOROUS elite clientele.

car·riage·way n. BRIT. each of the two sides of a divided highway or expressway, each of which usually have two or more lanes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the part of a road intended for vehicles rather than pedestrians.

car·rick bend n. a kind of knot used to join ropes, esp. hawsers, end to end, esp. so that they can go around a capstan without jamming.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from BEND^2 : carrick perhaps an alteration of CARRACK.

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BEND ■

CARRACK ■

car·ri·er n. 1 a person or thing that carries, holds, or conveys something: water carriers.

2 a person or company that undertakes the professional conveyance of goods or people: Pan Am was the third U.S. carrier to cease operations in 1991.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a vessel or vehicle for transporting people or things, esp. goods in bulk: the largest timber carrier ever to dock at a Malaysian port.

- an aircraft carrier.

- a company that provides facilities for conveying telecommunications messages.

3 a person or animal that transmits a disease-causing organism to others. Typically, the carrier suffers no symptoms of the disease: the black rat, best known as carrier of bubonic plague.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person or other organism that possesses a particular gene, esp. as a single copy whose effect is masked by a dominant allele, so that the associated characteristic (such as a hereditary disease) is not displayed but may be passed to offspring.

4 a substance used to support or convey another substance such as a pigment, catalyst, or radioactive material.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [PHYSICS] short for CHARGE CARRIER.

- [BIOCHEMISTRY] a molecule that transfers a specified molecule or ion within the body, esp. across a cell membrane.

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CHARGE CARRIER ■

car·ri·er pig·eon n. a homing pigeon trained to carry messages tied to its neck or leg.

car·ri·er wave n. a high-frequency electromagnetic wave modulated in amplitude or frequency to convey a signal.

car·ri·ole (also car·i·ole) n. 1 HISTORICAL a small open horse-drawn carriage for one person.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a light covered cart.

2 (in Canada) a kind of sledge pulled by a horse or dogs and with space for one or more passengers.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French, from Italian carriuola, diminutive of carro, from Latin carrum (see CAR).

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CAR ■

car·ri·on n. the decaying flesh of dead animals.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French caroine, caroigne, Old French charoigne, based on Latin caro 'flesh'.

car·ri·on bee·tle n. a beetle that feeds on decaying animal and plant matter and insect larvae.
<INFO>  Silphidae

car·ri·on crow n. 1 a medium-sized, typically all-black crow that is common throughout much of Eurasia.
<INFO>  Corvus corone, family Corvidae. See also HOODED CROW.

2 another name for BLACK VULTURE (sense 1).

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HOODED CROW ■

BLACK VULTURE ■

car·ri·on flow·er n. 1 a North American climbing plant with small white flowers that smell of decaying flesh.
<INFO>  Genus Smilax: several species, in particular S. herbacea.

2 another term for STAPELIA.

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STAPELIA ■

Car·roll Lewis (1832-98), English writer; pseudonym of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. He wrote the children's classics Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking Glass (1871), which were inspired by Alice Liddell, the young daughter of the dean at the Oxford college where Carroll was a mathematics lecturer.

Car·roll·ton a city in northeastern Texas, north of Dallas; pop. 82,169.

car·ron·ade n. HISTORICAL a short large-caliber cannon, formerly in naval use.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Carron, Scotland, where this kind of cannon was first made.

car·rot n. 1 a tapering orange-colored root eaten as a vegetable.

2 a cultivated plant of the parsley family with feathery leaves, which yields this vegetable.
<INFO>  Daucus carota, family Umbelliferae: two subspecies and many varieties; wild forms lack the swollen root.

3 an offer of something enticing as a means of persuasion (often contrasted with the threat of something punitive or unwelcome): carrots will promote cooperation over the environment far more effectively than sticks. <ORIGIN> with allusion to the proverbial encouragement of a donkey to move by enticing it with a carrot.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French carotte, from Latin carota, from Greek .

car·rot-and-stick adj. INFORMAL (of a method, esp. for social change) characterized by both the offer of reward and the threat of punishment: carrot-and-stick reforms intended to break long-term dependency on state and federal handouts.

car·rot·wood n. a tree of the soapberry family, native to southeast Asia, that threatens mangrove swamps and other habitats in the U.S. because of its invasive habit.
<INFO>  Cupaniopsis anacardioides, family Sapindaceae.

car·rot·y adj. (of a person's hair or whiskers) orange-red in color.

car·rou·sel n. variant spelling of CAROUSEL.

Linked entries:

CAROUSEL ■

car·ry v. (-ries, -ried) [trans.] 1 support and move (someone or something) from one place to another: medics were carrying a wounded man on a stretcher.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- transport: the train service carries 20,000 passengers daily.

- have on one's person and take with one wherever one goes: the money he was carrying was not enough to pay the fine | FIGURATIVE she had carried the secret all her life.

- conduct; transmit: nerves carry visual information from the eyes.

- be infected with (a disease) and liable to transmit it to others: ticks can carry Lyme disease.

- transfer (a figure) to an adjacent column during an arithmetical operation (e.g., when a column of digits adds up to more than ten).

2 support the weight of: the bridge is capable of carrying even the heaviest loads.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- be pregnant with: she was carrying twins.

- (carry oneself) stand and move in a specified way: she carried herself straight and with assurance.

- assume or accept (responsibility or blame): they must carry the responsibility for the mess they have gotten the company into.

- be responsible for the effectiveness or success of: they relied on dialogue to carry the plot.

3 have as a feature or consequence: being a combat sport, karate carries with it the risk of injury; each bike carries a ten-year guarantee.

4 take or develop (an idea or activity) to a specified point: he carried the criticism much further.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a gun or similar weapon) propel (a missile) to a specified distance.

- (of a ball) move or be hit a specified distance: the balls seem to carry well in that ballpark.

- [GOLF] hit the ball over and beyond (a particular point).

5 (often be carried) approve (a proposed measure) by a majority of votes: the resolution was carried by a two-to-one majority.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- persuade (colleagues or followers) to support one's policy: he could not carry the cabinet.

- gain (a state or district) in an election.

6 (of a newspaper or a television or radio station) publish or broadcast: the paper carried a detailed account of the current crisis.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a retail outlet) keep a regular stock of (particular goods for sale): this store no longer carries phonograph equipment.

- have visible on the surface: the product does not carry the “UL” symbol.

- be known by (a name): some products carry the same names as overseas beers.

7 [intrans.] (of a sound or a person's voice) be audible at a distance: his voice carried clearly across the room.

■ n. (pl. -ries) [usu. in sing.] 1 an act of lifting and transporting something from one place to another: we did a carry of equipment from the camp.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [FOOTBALL] an act of running with the ball from scrimmage.

- the action of keeping something, esp. a gun, on one's person: this pistol is the right choice for on-duty or off-duty carry.

- HISTORICAL a place or route between navigable waters over which boats or supplies had to be carried.

- the transfer of a figure into an adjacent column (or the equivalent part of a computer memory) during an arithmetical operation.

- [FINANCE] the maintenance of an investment position in a securities market, esp. with regard to the costs or profits accruing.

2 (in golf) the distance a ball travels before reaching the ground.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in golf) the distance a ball must travel to reach a certain destination.

- the range of a gun or similar weapon.

<PHRASES>
□ carry conviction be convincing.

□ carry the day be victorious or successful.

□ carry something into effect act on a plan or proposal.

□ carry weight be influential or important: the report is expected to carry considerable weight with the administration.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  be/get carried away lose self-control: I got a bit carried away when describing the final game.

□  carry something away [NAUTICAL] lose (a mast or other part of a ship) through breakage.

□  carry something forward transfer figures to a new page or account.
- keep something to use or deal with at a later time: we carried forward a reserve, which allowed us to meet demands.

□  carry someone/something off take someone or something away by force: bandits carried off his mule.
- (of a disease) kill someone: Parkinson's disease carried him off in September.

□  carry something off win a prize: she failed to carry off the gold medal.
- succeed in doing something difficult: he could not have carried it off without government help.

□  carry on 1 continue an activity or task: carry on with what you were doing.
- BRIT. continue to move in the same direction: I knew I was going the wrong way, but I just carried on.

2 INFORMAL behave in an extreme way: she carries on about television programming.

3 INFORMAL be engaged in a love affair, typically one of which the speaker disapproves: she was carrying on with young Adam.

□  carry something on engage in an activity: he could not carry on a logical conversation.

□  carry something out perform a task or planned operation: we're carrying out a market-research survey.

□  carry over extend beyond the normal or original area of application: his artistic practice is clearly carrying over into his social thought.

□  carry something over retain something and apply or deal with it in a new context: much of the wartime economic planning was carried over into the next decade.
- postpone an event: the match had to be carried over till Sunday.

- another way of saying CARRY SOMETHING FORWARD.

□  carry something through bring a project to completion: policy blueprints are rarely carried through perfectly.
- bring something safely out of difficulties: he was the only person who could carry the country through.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French carier, based on Latin carrus 'wheeled vehicle'.

car·ry·all n. 1 a large bag or case.

2 HISTORICAL a light carriage. <ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: apparently altered by folk etymology from French carriole, denoting a small covered carriage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a large car or truck with seats facing each other along the sides.

car·ry·back note n. [FINANCE] a negotiable promissory note representing the value of real estate when the seller has provided the financing.

car·ry·ing ca·pac·i·ty n. the number or quantity of people or things that can be conveyed or held by a vehicle or container.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ECOLOGY] the number of people, other living organisms, or crops that a region can support without environmental degradation.

car·ry·ing charge n. 1 [FINANCE] an expense or effective cost arising from unproductive assets such as stored goods or unoccupied premises.

2 a sum payable for the conveying of goods.

car·ry·ing-on n. (pl. car·ry·ings-on) excited or overwrought behavior: I'm fed up with your incessant carrying-on.
<SPECIAL USAGE> salacious, improper, or immoral behavior: the couple's public carrying-on embarrassed passersby.

car·ry-on n. a bag or suitcase suitable for taking onto an aircraft as hand-held luggage.

car·ry-out adj. & n. another term for TAKEOUT (sense 1).

Linked entries:

TAKEOUT ■

car·ry·o·ver (also car·ry-o·ver) n. [usu. in sing.] something transferred or resulting from a previous situation or context: the slow trading was a carryover from the big losses of last week.

car·sick adj. affected with nausea caused by the motion of a car or other vehicle in which one is traveling.

<DERIVATIVES> car·sick·ness n.

Car·son 1 a city in southwestern California, south of Los Angeles; pop. 83,995.

Car·son 2 Johnny (1925-2005), U.S. television personality and comedian; full name John William Carson. He hosted The Tonight Show 1962-92.

Car·son 3 Kit (1809-68), U.S. frontiersman and scout; full name Christopher Carson. He was a U.S. Indian agent in the Southwest 1853-61 and organized Union scouts in the West during the Civil War.

Car·son 4 Rachel Louise (1907-64), U.S. biologist and environmentalist. Her works include The Sea Around Us (1951) and Silent Spring (1962).

Car·son Cit·y the capital of Nevada, in the western part of the state, southeast of Reno; pop. 52,457.

cart n. a strong open vehicle with two or four wheels, typically used for carrying loads and pulled by a horse.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a light two-wheeled open vehicle pulled by a single horse and used as a means of transport: he drove them in a pony and cart.

- a shallow open container on wheels that may be pulled or pushed by hand.

- a shopping cart.

■ v. [trans.] 1 (often be carted) convey or put in a cart or similar vehicle: the produce was packed in crates and carted to Kansas City.

2 [trans.] INFORMAL carry (a heavy or cumbersome object) somewhere with difficulty: they carted the piano down three flights of stairs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> remove or convey (someone) somewhere unceremoniously: they carted off the refugees in the middle of the night.

<PHRASES> put the cart before the horse reverse the proper order or procedure of something.

<DERIVATIVES> cart·er n.; cart·ful n. (pl. -fuls).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse kartr, probably influenced by Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French carete, diminutive of carre (see CAR).

Linked entries:

CAR ■

cart·age n. the transporting of something in a cart or other vehicle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the cost of such a procedure.

Car·ta·ge·na 1 a port in southeastern Spain; pop. 172,150. Originally named Mastia, it was refounded as Carthago Nova (New Carthage) in c.225 BC as a base for the Carthaginian conquest of Spain.

2 a port, resort, and oil-refining center in northwestern Colombia, on the Caribbean Sea; pop. 688,300.

carte blanche n. complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best: we were given carte blanche.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: French, literally 'blank paper' (i.e., a blank sheet on which to write whatever one wishes, particularly one's own terms for an agreement).

carte de vi·site n. (pl. cartes de vi·site pronunc. same) HISTORICAL a small photographic portrait of someone, mounted on a piece of card.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, 'visiting card'.

car·tel n. an association of manufacturers or suppliers with the purpose of maintaining prices at a high level and restricting competition: the Colombian drug cartels.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a coalition or cooperative arrangement between political parties intended to promote a mutual interest.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from German Kartell, from French cartel, from Italian cartello, diminutive of carta, from Latin carta (see CARD^1 ). It was originally used to refer to the coalition of the Conservatives and National Liberal parties in Germany (1887), and hence any political combination; later to denote a trade agreement (early 20th cent.).

Linked entries:

CARD ■

car·tel·ize v. [trans.] (of manufacturers or suppliers) form a cartel in (an industry or trade).

Car·ter 1 Angela (1940-92), English novelist and short-story writer. Notable works: The Magic Toyshop (1967) and Nights at the Circus (1984).

Car·ter 2 Elliott (Cook) (1908- ), U.S. composer. He is noted for his innovative approach to meter and his choice of sources, which are as diverse as modern jazz and Renaissance madrigals.

Car·ter 3 Howard (1874-1939), English archaeologist. In 1922, while excavating in the Valley of the Kings at Thebes, he discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen.

Car·ter 4 Jimmy (1924- ), 39th president of the U.S. 1977-81; full name James Earl Carter, Jr.. A Georgia Democrat, he served as a state senator 1962-66 and as governor 1971-74. As president, he hosted the talks that led to the Camp David agreements of 1978. The accomplishments of his administration were marred by the crisis caused by the seizure of 52 American hostages in Iran in 1979. After losing a bid for reelection, Carter remained politically active in world affairs, dedicated to the causes of peace and human rights. Nobel Peace Prize (2002).

Car·te·sian adj. of or relating to Descartes and his ideas.

■ n. a follower of Descartes.

<DERIVATIVES> Car·te·sian·ism n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin Cartesianus, from Cartesius, Latinized form of the name of Descartes.

Car·te·sian co·or·di·nates plural n. [MATHEMATICS] numbers that indicate the location of a point relative to a fixed reference point (the origin), being its shortest (perpendicular) distances from two fixed axes (or three planes defined by three fixed axes) that intersect at right angles at the origin.

Car·te·sian prod·uct n. [MATHEMATICS] the product of two sets: the product of set X and set Y is the set that contains all ordered pairs (x, y) for which x belongs to X and y belongs to Y.

Car·thage an ancient city on the coast of North Africa near present-day Tunis. Founded by the Phoenicians c.814 BC, it became a major force in the Mediterranean Sea area and fought with Rome during the Punic Wars. It was finally destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC.

<DERIVATIVES> Car·tha·gin·i·an n. & adj.

cart horse n. BRIT. a large, strong horse suitable for heavy work.

Car·thu·sian n. a monk or nun of an austere contemplative order founded by St. Bruno in 1084.

■ adj. of or relating to this order.

<ORIGIN> from medieval Latin Carthusianus, from Cart(h)usia, Latin name of Chartreuse, near Grenoble, France, where the order was founded.

Car·tier Jacques (1491-1557), French explorer. The first to establish France's claim to North America, he made three voyages to Canada between 1534 and 1541.

Car·tier-Bres·son Henri (1908-2004 ), French photographer and movie director. He is known for his collection of photographs, The Decisive Moment (1952), and for his documentary about the Spanish Civil War, Return to Life (1937).

Car·tier Is·lands see ASHMORE AND CARTIER ISLANDS.

Linked entries:

ASHMORE AND CARTIER ISLANDS ■

car·ti·lage n. firm, whitish, flexible connective tissue found in various forms in the larynx and respiratory tract, in structures such as the external ear, and in the articulating surfaces of joints. It is more widespread in the infant skeleton, being replaced by bone during growth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a particular structure made of this tissue.

<DERIVATIVES> car·ti·lag·i·noid adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French, from Latin cartilago, cartilagin-.

car·ti·lag·i·nous adj. [ANATOMY] (of a structure) made of cartilage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ZOOLOGY] (of a vertebrate animal) having a skeleton of cartilage.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin cartilaginosus, from cartilago, cartilagin- 'cartilage'.

car·ti·lag·i·nous fish n. a fish of a class distinguished by having a skeleton of cartilage rather than bone, including the sharks, rays, and chimeras. Compare with BONY FISH.
<INFO>  Class Chondrichthyes: subclasses Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays) and Hoplocephali (chimeras).

Linked entries:

BONY FISH ■

Cart·land Dame Barbara (1901-2000), English author of light romantic fiction; full name Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland McCorquodale.

cart·load n. the amount held by a cart.

car·to·gram n. a map on which statistical information is shown in diagrammatic form.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French cartogramme, from carte 'map or card' + -gramme (from Greek gramma 'thing written').

car·tog·ra·phy n. the science or practice of drawing maps.

<DERIVATIVES> car·tog·ra·pher n. car·to·graph·ic adj. car·to·graph·i·cal adj. car·to·graph·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French cartographie, from carte 'map, card' (see CARD^1 ) + -graphie (see -GRAPHY).

Linked entries:

CARD ■

-GRAPHY ■

car·to·man·cy n. fortune-telling by interpreting a random selection of playing cards.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French cartomancie, from carte 'card' + -mancie (see -MANCY).

Linked entries:

-MANCY ■

car·ton n. a light box or container, typically one made of waxed cardboard or plastic in which drinks or foodstuffs are packaged.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, from Italian cartone (see CARTOON).

Linked entries:

CARTOON ■

car·toon n. 1 a simple drawing showing the features of its subjects in a humorously exaggerated way, esp. a satirical one in a newspaper or magazine.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a comic strip.

- FIGURATIVE a simplified or exaggerated version or interpretation of something: this movie is a cartoon of rural life in America | [as adj.] Dolores becomes a cartoon housewife, reading glossy magazines in a bathrobe.

2 a motion picture using animation techniques to photograph a sequence of drawings rather than real people or objects.

3 a full-size drawing made by an artist as a preliminary design for a painting or other work of art.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be cartooned) make a drawing of (someone) in a simplified or exaggerated way: she has a face with enough character to be cartooned.

<DERIVATIVES> car·toon·ish adj. car·toon·ist n. car·toon·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (sense 3): from Italian cartone, from carta, from Latin carta, charta (see CARD^1 ). Sense 1 dates from the mid 19th cent.

Linked entries:

CARD ■

car·toon·ing n. the activity or occupation of drawing cartoons for newspapers or magazines.

car·top adj. designed to be used or carried on the top of an automobile.

car·touche n. a carved tablet or drawing representing a scroll with rolled-up ends, used ornamentally or bearing an inscription.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ARCHAEOLOGY] an oval or oblong enclosing a group of Egyptian hieroglyphs, typically representing the name and title of a monarch.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French cartouche (masculine noun), earlier cartoche, from Italian cartoccio, from carta, from Latin carta, charta (see CARD^1 ).

Linked entries:

CARD ■

car·tridge n. a container holding a spool of photographic film, a quantity of ink, or other item or substance, designed for insertion into a mechanism.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a casing containing a charge and a bullet or shot for small arms or an explosive charge for blasting.

- a component carrying the stylus on the pickup head of a record player.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French cartouche (feminine noun), from Italian cartoccio (see CARTOUCHE).

Linked entries:

CARTOUCHE ■

car·tridge belt n. a belt with pockets or loops for cartridges of ammunition, typically worn over the shoulder.

car·tridge clip n. a metal frame or container that holds cartridges for loading into an automatic rifle or pistol.

cart·wheel n. 1 the wheel of a cart.

2 a circular sideways handspring with the arms and legs extended.

■ v. [intrans.] perform such a handspring or handsprings: he cartwheeled across the room.

Cart·wright Edmund (1743-1823), English engineer. He invented the power loom.

car·un·cle n. a fleshy outgrowth, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a wattle of a bird such as a turkey.

- the red prominence at the inner corner of the eye.

- any outgrowth from a seed near the micropyle, attractive to ants that aid the seed's dispersal.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·run·cu·lar adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: obsolete French, from Latin caruncula, from caro, carn- 'flesh'.

Ca·ru·so Enrico (1873-1921), Italian opera singer. He was the first major tenor to be recorded on phonograph records.

carve v. [trans.] 1 (often be carved) cut (a hard material) in order to produce an aesthetically pleasing object or design: the wood was carved with runes | [as adj.] (carved) bookcases of carved oak.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- produce (an object) by cutting and shaping a hard material: the altar was carved from a block of solid jade.

- produce (an inscription or design) by cutting into hard material: an inscription was carved over the doorway | FIGURATIVE the river carved a series of gorges into the plain.

2 cut (cooked meat) into slices for eating.
<SPECIAL USAGE> cut (a slice of meat) from a larger piece.

3 [SKIING] make (a turn) by tilting one's skis on to their edges and using one's weight to bend them so that they slide into an arc.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  carve something out 1 take something from a larger whole, esp. with difficulty: carving out a 5 percent share of the overall vote.

2 establish or create something through painstaking effort: he managed to carve out a successful photographic career for himself.

□  carve someone up INFORMAL slash someone with a knife or other sharp object.

□  carve something up divide something ruthlessly into separate areas or domains: West Africa was carved up by the Europeans.

<ORIGIN> Old English ceorfan 'cut, carve'; related to Dutch kerven.

car·vel n. variant spelling of CARAVEL.

Linked entries:

CARAVEL ■

car·vel-built adj. (of a boat or ship) having hull planks that do not overlap. Compare with LAPSTRAKE.

Linked entries:

LAPSTRAKE ■

carv·en archaic past participle of CARVE.

Linked entries:

CARVE ■

carve·out n. 1 an entity separated from a larger one and given separate treatment, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE> a small company created from a larger one: companies that are breaking upthrough spin-offs, split-offs, and carveouts.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a class of medical procedures treated separately with regard to insurance coverage.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a class of employees treated separately with regard to benefits.

2 the activity of effecting such a separation.

Car·ver George Washington (c.1864-1943), U.S. botanist. Born into slavery, he later became the director of agricultural research at Tuskegee Institute in 1896 and developed many products from soybeans, sweet potatoes, and peanuts.

car·ver n. 1 a person who carves wood, stone, ivory, coral, etc., esp. professionally: we watched a decoy carver at work.

2 a knife designed for slicing meat.

3 a person who cuts and serves the meat at a meal.

carv·ing n. an object or design cut from a hard material as an artistic work.

carv·ing knife n. a knife with a long blade used for carving cooked meat into slices.

car wash n. 1 a building containing equipment for washing motor vehicles automatically.

2 an event, typically a fund-raiser, in which motor vehicles are washed: the Teen Center will hold its third annual car wash on Saturday.

Cary a town in east central North Carolina, a commercial and research center; pop. 94,536.

car·y·at·id n. (pl. car·y·at·ids or car·y·at·i·des ) [ARCHITECTURE] a stone carving of a draped female figure, used as a pillar to support the entablature of a Greek or Greek-style building.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via French and Italian from Latin caryatides, from Greek karuatides, plural of karuatis 'priestess of Artemis at Caryae', from Karuai (Caryae) in Laconia.

car·y·o·phyl·la·ceous adj. [BOTANY] of, relating to, or denoting plants of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Caryophyllaceae (plural), based on Greek karuophullon 'clove pink', + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

car·y·op·sis n. (pl. -ses ) [BOTANY] a dry one-seeded fruit in which the ovary wall is united with the seed coat, typical of grasses and cereals.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from modern Latin, from Greek karuon 'nut' + opsis 'appearance'.

ca·sa·ba (also cas·sa·ba) n. a winter melon of a variety with a wrinkled yellow rind and sweet flesh.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after Kasaba (now Turgutlu) in Turkey, from which the melons were first exported.

Ca·sa·blan·ca the largest city in Morocco, a seaport on the Atlantic coast; pop. 2,943,000.

Ca·sals Pablo (1876-1973), Spanish cellist, conductor, and composer.

Cas·a·no·va Giovanni Jacopo (1725-98), Italian adventurer; full name Giovanni Jacopo Casanova de Seingalt. He is known for his memoirs that describe his sexual encounters and other exploits.

cas·bah (also kas·bah) n. the citadel of a North African city.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the casbah) the area surrounding such a citadel, typically the old part of a city.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, from Arabic 'citadel'.

cas·ca·bel n. a small red chile pepper of a mild-flavored variety.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Spanish, from Catalan cascavel, from medieval Latin cascabellus 'little bell'.

cas·cade n. 1 a small waterfall, typically one of several that fall in stages down a steep rocky slope.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a mass of something that falls or hangs in copious or luxuriant quantities: a cascade of pink bougainvillea.

- a large number or amount of something occurring or arriving in rapid succession: a cascade of antiwar literature.

2 a process whereby something, typically information or knowledge, is successively passed on: [as adj.] the greater the number of people who are well briefed, the wider the cascade effect.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a succession of devices or stages in a process, each of which triggers or initiates the next.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] (of water) pour downward rapidly and in large quantities: water was cascading down the stairs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fall or hang in copious or luxuriant quantities: blonde hair cascaded down her back.

2 [trans.] arrange (a number of devices or objects) in a series or sequence.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian cascata, from cascare 'to fall', based on Latin casus (see CASE^1 ).

Linked entries:

CASE ■

Cas·cade Range a range of volcanic mountains in western North America that extends from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to northern California. Its highest peak is Mount Rainier. The range also includes an active volcano, Mount St. Helens.

cas·car·a (also cascara sa·gra·da ) n. 1 a purgative made from the dried bark of an American buckthorn.

2 (also cascara buckthorn) the tree from which this bark is obtained, native to the Pacific Northwest.
<INFO>  Rhamnus purshiana, family Rhamnaceae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Spanish cáscara (sagrada), literally '(sacred) bark'.

Cas·co Bay an inlet of the Atlantic in southern Maine, known for its hundreds of islands and protected anchorages. Portland lies on it.

case 1 n. 1 an instance of a particular situation; an example of something occurring: a case of mistaken identity; in many cases, valid statistics are not available.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [usu. in sing.] the situation affecting or relating to a particular person or thing; one's circumstances or position: I'll make an exception in your case.

- an incident or set of circumstances under police investigation: a murder case.

2 an instance of a disease, or problem: 200,000 cases of hepatitis B.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person suffering from a disease or injury: most breast cancer cases were older women.

- the circumstances or particular problem of a person who requires or receives professional attention: the welfare office discussed Gerald's case

- [with adj.] INFORMAL a person whose situation is regarded as pitiable or as having no chance of improvement: Vicky was a very sad case.

- INFORMAL, DATED an amusing or eccentric person.

3 a legal action, esp. one to be decided in a court of law: a libel case; a former employee brought the case against the council.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a set of facts or arguments supporting one side in such a legal action: the case for the defense.

- a legal action that has been decided and may be cited as a precedent.

- a set of facts or arguments supporting one side of a debate or controversy: the case against tobacco advertising.

4 [GRAMMAR] any of the inflected forms of a noun, adjective, or pronoun that express the semantic relation of the word to other words in the sentence: the accusative case.
<SPECIAL USAGE> such a relation whether indicated by inflection or not: English normally expresses case by the use of prepositions.

<PHRASES>
□ as the case may be according to the circumstances (used when referring to two or more possible alternatives): the authorities will decide if they are satisfied or not satisfied, as the case may be.

□ be the case be so.

□ in any case whatever happens or may have happened.
- used to confirm or support a point or idea just mentioned: he wasn't allowed out yet, and in any case he wasn't well enough.

□ (just) in case
1 as a provision against something happening or being true: we put on thick sweaters, in case it was cold.

2 if it is true that: in case you haven't figured it out, let me explain.

□ in case of in the event of (a particular situation): instructions about what to do in case of fire.

□ in no case under no circumstances.

□ in that case if that happens or has happened; if that is the situation: “I'm free this evening.” “In that case, why not have dinner with me?”

□ on (or off) someone's case INFORMAL continually (or no longer) criticizing or harassing someone: the teacher will get on your case if you keep forgetting your homework.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cas, from Latin casus 'fall', related to cadere 'to fall'; in sense 4 directly from Latin, translating Greek , literally 'fall'.

case 2 n. a container designed to hold or protect something: he placed the trumpet safely in its velvet-lined case.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the outer protective covering of a natural or manufactured object: a seed case.

- BRIT. an item of luggage; a suitcase.

- a box containing bottles or cans of a beverage, sold as a unit: there are twelve bottles of champagne in a case.

- [PRINTING] a partitioned container for loose metal type.

- each of the two forms, capital or minuscule, in which a letter of the alphabet may be written or printed. See also UPPERCASE, LOWERCASE.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be cased) 1 surround in a material or substance: the towers are of steel cased in granite.
<SPECIAL USAGE> enclose in a protective container: [as adj.] (cased) a cased pair of pistols.

2 INFORMAL reconnoiter (a place) before carrying out a robbery: I was casing the joint.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French casse, chasse (modern caisse 'trunk, chest', châsse 'reliquary, frame'), from Latin capsa, related to capere 'to hold'.

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UPPERCASE ■

LOWERCASE ■

ca·se·a·tion n. [MEDICINE] a form of necrosis characteristic of tuberculosis, in which diseased tissue forms a firm, dry mass like cheese in appearance.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·se·ate v.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from medieval Latin caseatio(n-), from Latin caseus 'cheese'.

case·book n. a book containing a selection of source materials on a particular subject, esp. one used as a reference work or in teaching.

case·bound adj. TECHNICAL (of a book) in a hard cover.

case gram·mar n. [LINGUISTICS] a form of grammar in which the structure of sentences is analyzed in terms of the semantic roles of nouns in relation to predicates.

case-hard·en v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (case-hardened) harden the surface of (a material): case-hardened sandstones.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- give a hard surface to (iron or steel) by carburizing it: a case-hardened steel anvil.

- FIGURATIVE make (someone) callous or tough: a case-hardened politician.

case his·to·ry n. a record of a person's background or medical history kept by a doctor or social worker.

ca·sein n. the main protein present in milk and (in coagulated form) in cheese. It is used in processed foods and in adhesives, paints, and other industrial products.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin caseus 'cheese'.

case knife n. a type of dagger carried in a sheath.

case law n. (also caselaw) the law as established by the outcome of former cases. Compare with COMMON LAW, STATUTORY LAW.

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COMMON LAW ■

case·load n. the amount of work (in terms of number of cases) with which a doctor, lawyer, or social worker is concerned at one time.

case·mate n. HISTORICAL a small room in the thickness of the wall of a fortress, with embrasures from which guns or missiles can be fired.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an armored enclosure for guns on a warship.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian casamatta, perhaps from Greek khasma, khasmat- (see CHASM).

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CHASM ■

case·ment n. a window or part of a window set on a hinge so that it opens like a door: [as adj.] casement windows.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY a window.

- the sash of a sash window.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an architectural term denoting a hollow molding): from Anglo-Latin cassimentum, from cassa, from Latin capsa (see CASE^2 ).

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CASE ■

case mod n. [COMPUTING] another term for MOD^3 .

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MOD ■

ca·se·ous adj. [MEDICINE] characterized by caseation.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin caseus 'cheese' + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

case-sen·si·tive adj. [COMPUTING] (of a program or function) differentiating between capital and lowercase letters.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of input) treated differently depending on whether it is in capitals or lowercase text.

case shot n. HISTORICAL bullets or pieces of metal in an iron case fired from a cannon.

case stud·y n. 1 a process or record of research in which detailed consideration is given to the development of a particular person, group, or situation over a period of time.

2 a particular instance of something used or analyzed in order to illustrate a thesis or principle: airline deregulation provides a case study of the effects of the internal market.

case sys·tem n. a method of teaching or studying law that emphasizes the analysis and discussion of selected cases.

case·work 1 n. social work directly concerned with individuals, esp. that involving a study of a person's family history and personal circumstances.

<DERIVATIVES> case·work·er n.

case·work 2 n. the decorative outer case protecting the workings of a complex mechanism such as an organ or harpsichord.

Cash Johnny (1932-2003 ), U.S. country music singer and songwriter. Notable songs: “I Walk the Line” (1956) and “A Boy Named Sue” (1969).

cash 1 n. money in coins or notes, as distinct from checks, money orders, or credit: the staff were paid in cash; a discount for cash.
<SPECIAL USAGE> money in any form, esp. that which is immediately available: she was always short of cash.

■ v. [trans.] give or obtain notes or coins for (a check or money order).
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BRIDGE] lead (a high card) so as to take the opportunity to win a trick.

<PHRASES> cash in one's chips INFORMAL die. <ORIGIN> with reference to gambling in a casino.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  cash in INFORMAL take advantage of or exploit (a situation): the breweries were cashing in on the rediscovered taste for real ales.

□  cash something in convert an insurance policy, savings account, or other investment into money.

□  cash out cost: juicy baked chicken cashed out at $7.

□  cash something out another way of saying CASH SOMETHING IN.

<DERIVATIVES> cash·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a box for money): from Old French casse or Italian cassa 'box', from Latin capsa (see CASE^2 ).

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CASE ■

cash 2 n. (pl. same) HISTORICAL a coin of low value from China, southern India, or Southeast Asia.

<ORIGIN>  late 16th cent.: from Portuguese caixa, from Tamil , influenced by CASH^1 .

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CASH ■

cash and car·ry n. a system of wholesale trading whereby goods are paid for in full at the time of purchase and taken away by the purchaser.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a wholesale store operating this system.

cash-back adj. denoting a form of incentive offered to buyers of certain products whereby they receive a cash refund after making their purchase.

cash bar n. a bar at a social function at which guests buy drinks rather than having them provided free.

cash·box n. a lockable metal box for keeping cash in.

cash cow n. INFORMAL a business, investment, or product that provides a steady income or profit: traditional cash cows like cars and VCRs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person or organization that is a source of easy profit: for the past 12 years, he's been nothing but her cash cow.

cash crop n. a crop produced for its commercial value rather than for use by the grower.

<DERIVATIVES> cash crop·ping n.

cash·ew n. 1 (also cashew nut) an edible kidney-shaped nut, rich in oil and protein, which is roasted and shelled before it can be eaten. Oil is extracted from the shells and used as a lubricant and insecticide and in the production of plastics.

2 (also cashew tree) a bushy tropical American tree related to the mango, bearing cashew nuts singly at the tip of each swollen fruit. Also called ACAJOU.
<INFO>  Anacardium occidentale, family Anacardiaceae (the cashew family).

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Portuguese, from Tupi acajú, cajú.

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ACAJOU ■

cash·ew ap·ple n. the swollen edible fruit of the cashew tree, from which the cashew nut hangs, sometimes used to make wine.

cash flow n. the total amount of money being transferred into and out of a business, esp. as affecting liquidity.

cash·ier 1 n. a person handling payments and receipts in a store, bank, or other business.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Dutch cassier or French caissier, from caisse 'cash'.

cash·ier 2 v. [trans.] (usu. be cashiered) dismiss someone from the armed forces in disgrace because of a serious misdemeanor: he was found guilty and cashiered | [as adj.] (cashiered) a cashiered National Guard major.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL suspend or dismiss someone from an office, position, or membership: the team owner had been cashiered for consorting with a gambler.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'dismiss or disband troops'): from Flemish kasseren 'disband (troops)' or 'revoke (a will)', from French casser 'revoke, dismiss', from Latin quassare (see QUASH).

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QUASH ■

cash·less adj. characterized by the exchange of funds by check, debit or credit card, or various electronic methods rather than the use of cash: the cashless society.

cash ma·chine n. another term for ATM.

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ATM ■

cash·mere n. fine soft wool, originally that from the Kashmir goat.
<SPECIAL USAGE> woolen material made from or resembling such wool: [as adj.] a cashmere sweater.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: an early spelling of KASHMIR.

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KASHMIR ■

cash·mere goat n. variant spelling of KASHMIR GOAT.

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KASHMIR GOAT ■

cash nex·us n. the relationship constituted by monetary transactions.

cash on de·liv·er·y (abbr.: COD) n. the system of paying for goods when they are delivered.

cash·point n. BRIT. another term for AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE.

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AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE ■

cash reg·is·ter n. a machine used in places of business for regulating money transactions with customers. It typically has a compartmental drawer for cash and totals, displays, and records the amount of each sale.

cas·ing n. 1 a cover or shell that protects or encloses something: a waterproof casing.

2 the frame around a door or window.

ca·si·no n. (pl. -nos) a public room or building where gambling games are played.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Italian, diminutive of casa 'house', from Latin casa 'cottage'.

ca·si·ta n. (especially in the U.S. Southwest) a small house or other building.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Spanish, diminutive of casa 'house'.

cask n. a large barrellike container made of wood, metal, or plastic, used for storing liquids, typically alcoholic drinks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the quantity of liquid held in such a container: a cask of cider.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from French casque or Spanish casco 'helmet'. The current senses appear only in English; from the late 16th to the late 18th centuries the word also denoted a helmet (compare with CASQUE).

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CASQUE ■

cas·ket n. a small ornamental box or chest for holding jewels, letters, or other valuable objects.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a coffin.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: perhaps an Anglo-Norman French form of Old French cassette, diminutive of casse (see CASE^2 ).

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CASE ■

Cas·lon n. a kind of roman typeface first introduced in the 18th century.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after William Caslon (1692-1766), English type founder.

Cas·ne·wydd Welsh name for NEWPORT.

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NEWPORT ■

Cas·par one of the three Magi.

Cas·per 1 a city in east central Wyoming, on the North Platte River; pop. 49,644. Oil is central to its economy.

Cas·per 2 Billy (1931- ), U.S. golfer. He won the U.S. Open twice, in 1959 and in 1966.

Cas·pi·an Sea a large landlocked salt lake, bounded by Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Iran. The world's largest body of inland water, its surface lies 92 feet (28 m) below sea level.

casque n. 1 HISTORICAL a helmet.

2 [ZOOLOGY] a helmetlike structure, such as that on the bill of a hornbill or the head of a cassowary.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, from Spanish casco. Compare with CASK.

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CASK ■

cas·sa·ba n. variant spelling of CASABA.

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CASABA ■

Cas·san·dra [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a daughter of the Trojan king Priam, who was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo. When she cheated him, however, he turned this into a curse by causing her prophecies, though true, to be disbelieved.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (a Cassandra) a prophet of disaster, esp. one who is disregarded.

cas·sa·reep (also cas·a·reep) n. W. INDIAN a thick brown syrup made by boiling down the juice of grated cassava with sugar and spices, and typically used as a flavoring for pepper pot (see PEPPER POT sense 2).

<ORIGIN> from Arawak casiripe.

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PEPPER POT ■

cas·sa·ta n. a Neapolitan ice cream containing candied fruit and nuts.

<ORIGIN> from Italian, literally 'little case'.

cas·sa·tion n. [MUSIC] an informal instrumental composition of the 18th century, similar to a divertimento and originally often for outdoor performance.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from German Kassation 'serenade', from Italian cassazione.

Cas·satt Mary (1844-1926), U.S. painter. Known for her draftmanship, etching, and dry-point studies, she was persuaded by Edgar Degas to exhibit with the Impressionists. She worked mostly in Paris, and her paintings, including Lady at the Tea Table (1885), display a close interest in everyday subject matter.

cas·sa·va n. 1 the starchy tuberous root of a tropical tree, used as food in tropical countries but requiring careful preparation to remove traces of cyanide from the flesh. Also called MANIOC.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a starch or flour obtained from such a root.

2 the shrubby tree from which this root is obtained, native to tropical America and cultivated throughout the tropics.
<INFO>  Genus Manihot, family Euphorbiaceae: several species, in particular bitter cassava (M. esculenta) and sweet cassava (M. dulcis).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Taino casávi, cazábbi, influenced by French cassave.

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MANIOC ■

Cas·se·grain tel·e·scope n. a reflecting telescope in which light reflected from a convex secondary mirror passes through a hole in the primary mirror.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after N. Cassegrain (1625-1712), the French astronomer who devised it.

cas·se·role n. a kind of stew that is cooked slowly in an oven: a chicken casserole.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a large covered dish, typically of earthenware or glass, used for cooking such stews.

■ v. [trans.] cook (food) slowly in such a dish: [as adj.] (casseroled) casseroled chicken.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, diminutive of casse 'spoonlike container', from Old Provençal casa, from late Latin cattia 'ladle, pan', from Greek kuathion, diminutive of kuathos 'cup'.

cas·sette n. a sealed plastic unit containing a length of audiotape wound on a pair of spools, for insertion into a recorder or playback device.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar unit containing videotape, film, or other material for insertion into a machine.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, diminutive of casse (see CASE^2 ).

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CASE ■

cas·sette deck n. a unit in hi-fi equipment for playing or recording audiocassettes.

cas·sette play·er n. a machine for playing audiocassettes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for CASSETTE RECORDER.

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CASSETTE RECORDER ■

cas·sette re·cord·er n. a machine for recording and playing back audiocassettes.

cas·sette tape n. a cassette of audiotape or videotape.

cas·sia n. 1 a tree, shrub, or herbaceous plant of the pea family, native to warm climates. Cassias yield a variety of products, including fodder, timber, and medicinal drugs, and many are cultivated as ornamentals. <ORIGIN> modern Latin.
<INFO>  Genus Cassia, family Leguminosae: many species, including C. fistula, which provides much of the commercially produced senna.

2 (also cassia bark) the aromatic bark of an eastern Asian tree, yielding an inferior kind of cinnamon that is sometimes used to adulterate true cinnamon. <ORIGIN> from Latin, probably denoting the wild cinnamon, via Greek from Hebrew .
<INFO>  Cinnamomum aromaticum, family Lauraceae.

cas·sin·gle n. an audiocassette with a single piece of music, esp. popular music, on each side.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: blend of CASSETTE and SINGLE.

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CASSETTE ■

SINGLE ■

Cas·si·ni Giovanni Domenico (1625-1712), French astronomer; born in Italy. He discovered the gap in the rings of Saturn known as Cassini's division.

Cas·si·o·pe·ia 1 [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the wife of Cepheus, king of Ethiopia, and mother of Andromeda.

2 [ASTRONOMY] a constellation near the north celestial pole, recognizable by the conspicuous “W” pattern of its brightest stars.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Cas·si·o·pe·iae ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Delta Cassiopeiae.

cas·sis 1 (also crème de cas·sis ) n. a syrupy liqueur flavored with black currants and produced mainly in Burgundy.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, literally 'black currant', apparently from Latin cassia (see CASSIA).

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CASSIA ■

cas·sis 2 n. a wine produced in the region of Cassis, a small town near Marseilles.

cas·sit·er·ite n. a reddish, brownish, or yellowish mineral consisting of tin dioxide. It is the main ore of tin.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek kassiteros 'tin' + -ITE^1 .

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-ITE ■

Cas·sius Gaius (died 42 BC), Roman general; full name Gaius Cassius Longinus. He was one of the leaders of the conspiracy in 44 BC to assassinate Julius Caesar.

cas·sock n. a full-length garment of a single color worn by certain Christian clergy, members of church choirs, acolytes, and others having some particular office or role in a church.

<DERIVATIVES> cas·socked adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French casaque 'long coat', from Italian casacca 'riding coat', probably from Turkic kazak 'vagabond'. Compare with COSSACK.

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COSSACK ■

cas·sou·let n. a stew made with meat and beans.

<ORIGIN> French, diminutive of dialect cassolo 'stewpan', from Old Provençal cassa 'pan'; related to CASSEROLE.

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CASSEROLE ■

cas·so·war·y n. (pl. -war·ies) a very large flightless bird related to the emu, with a bare head and neck, a tall horny crest, and one or two colored wattles. It is native mainly to the forests of New Guinea.
<INFO>  Family Casuariidae and genus Casuarius: three species, in particular the double-wattled (or Australian) cassowary (C. casuarius).

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Malay kesuari.

cast 1 v. (past cast ) 1 [trans.] throw (something) forcefully in a specified direction: lemmings cast themselves off the cliff | FIGURATIVE individuals who do not accept the norms are cast out from the group.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- throw (something) so as to cause it to spread over an area: the fishermen cast a large net around a school of tuna | FIGURATIVE he cast his net far and wide in search of evidence.

- direct (one's eyes or a look) at something: she cast down her eyes | [with two objs.] she cast him a desperate glance.

- [trans.] throw the hooked and baited end of (a fishing line) out into the water.

- [trans.] register (a vote): residents turned out in record numbers to cast their votes.

- [trans.] [HUNTING] let loose (hounds) on a scent.

- [intrans.] [HUNTING] (of a dog) search in different directions for a lost scent: the dog cast furiously for the vanished rabbit.

- [trans.] let down (an anchor or sounding line).

2 [trans.] cause (light or shadow) to appear on a surface: the moon cast a pale light over the cottages | FIGURATIVE running costs were already casting a shadow over the program.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- cause (uncertainty or disparagement) to be associated with something: journalists cast doubt on the government's version of events; I do not wish to cast aspersions on your honesty.

- cause (a magic spell) to take effect: the witch cast a spell on her to turn her into a beast | FIGURATIVE the city casts a spell on the visitor.

3 [trans.] discard: the issue was cast from the list of concerns.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- shed (skin or horns) in the process of growth: the antlers are cast each year.

- (of a horse) lose (a shoe).

4 [trans.] shape (metal or other material) by pouring it into a mold while molten.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make (a molded object) in this way: a bell was cast for the church.

- arrange and present in a specified form or style: he issued statements cast in tones of reason.

- calculate and record details of (a horoscope).

5 [intrans.] (in country dancing) change one's position by moving a certain number of places in a certain direction along the outside of the line in which one is dancing.

■ n. 1 an object made by shaping molten metal or similar material in a mold: bronze casts of the sculpture.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also plaster cast) a mold used to make such an object.

- (also plaster cast) a bandage stiffened with plaster of Paris, molded to the shape of a limb that is broken and used to support and protect it.

2 an act of throwing something forcefully: he grabbed a spear for a third cast.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ARCHAIC at dice, a throw or a number thrown.

- [FISHING] a throw of a fishing line.

3 [in sing.] [with adj.] the form or appearance of something, esp. someone's features: she had a somewhat masculine cast of countenance.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the character of something: this question is for minds of a more philosophical cast than mine.

- the overall appearance of someone's skin or hair as determined by a tinge of a particular color: the colors he wore emphasized the olive cast of his skin.

4 a slight squint: he had a cast in one eye.

5 a convoluted mass of earth or sand ejected onto the surface by a burrowing worm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a pellet regurgitated by a hawk or owl.

6 a search made by a hound or pack of hounds over a wide area to find a trail.

<PHRASES>
□ be cast in a mold be of the type specified: he was cast in a cautious mold.

□ cast adrift see ADRIFT.

□ cast one's bread upon the waters see BREAD.

□ cast one's eyes over have a quick appraising look at: he was invited to cast his eyes over the exhibition.

□ cast light on see LIGHT^1 .

□ cast lots see LOT.

□ cast one's mind back think back to a particular event or time: he cast his mind back to the fatal evening.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  cast about (or around) search far and wide (physically or mentally): he is restlessly casting about for novelties. <ORIGIN> from a hunting term meaning '(of a hound) go in all directions looking for game or a lost scent'.

□  cast aside discard or reject: they cast aside the principles of their youth.

□  be cast away be stranded after a shipwreck.

□  be cast down feel depressed: she was greatly cast down by abusive criticism of her novels.

□  cast off (or cast something off) 1 [KNITTING] take the stitches off the needle by looping each over the next to finish the edge.

2 set a boat or ship free from its moorings: the boatmen cast off and rowed downriver; Jack cast off our moorings.
- (cast off) (of a boat or ship) be set free from its moorings: the ferry cast off and made a beeline for the pier.

3 let loose a hunting hound or hawk.

4 [PRINTING] estimate the space that will be taken in print by manuscript copy.

□  cast someone off exclude someone from a relationship.

□  cast on (or cast something on) [KNITTING] make the first row of a specified number of loops on the needle: cast on and knit a few rows of stockinette stitch.

□  cast something up 1 (of the sea) deposit something on the shore.

2 DATED add up figures.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse kasta 'to cast or throw'.

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ADRIFT ■

BREAD ■

LIGHT ■

LOT ■

cast 2 n. the actors taking part in a play, movie, or other production: he draws sensitive performances from his inexperienced cast.

■ v. (past and past part. cast) [trans.] assign a part in a play, movie, or other production to (an actor): he was cast as the Spanish dancer | FIGURATIVE a campaign for good nutrition, in which red meat is cast as the enemy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> allocate parts in (a play, movie, or other production): assembling a great baseball team is as tricky as casting a play.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: a special use of CAST^1 .

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CAST ■

cas·ta·nets plural n. small concave pieces of wood, ivory, or plastic, joined in pairs by a cord and clicked together by the fingers as a rhythmic accompaniment to Spanish dancing.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Spanish castañeta, diminutive of castaña, from Latin castanea 'chestnut'.

cast·a·way n. a person who has been shipwrecked and stranded in an isolated place.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an outcast: streets haunted by the city's castaways, layabouts, and panhandlers.

caste n. each of the hereditary classes of Hindu society, distinguished by relative degrees of ritual purity or pollution and of social status: members of the lower castes | a man of high caste.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the system of dividing society into such classes.

- any class or group of people who inherit exclusive privileges or are perceived as socially distinct: those educated in private schools belong to a privileged caste.

- [ENTOMOLOGY] (in some social insects) a physically distinct individual with a particular function in the society.

There are four basic classes, or varnas, in Hindu society: Brahman (priest), Kshatriya (warrior), Vaishya (merchant or farmer), and Shudra (laborer).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the general sense 'race, breed'): from Spanish and Portuguese casta 'lineage, race, breed', feminine of casto 'pure, unmixed', from Latin castus 'chaste'.

caste Hin·du n. a Hindu who belongs to one of the four main castes.

Cas·tel Gan·dol·fo the summer residence of the pope, located on the edge of Lake Albano near Rome.

cas·tel·lan n. HISTORICAL the governor of a castle.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old Northern French castelain, from medieval Latin castellanus, from Latin castellum (see CASTLE).

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CASTLE ■

cas·tel·lat·ed adj. 1 having battlements: a castellated tower.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a nut or other mechanical part) having grooves or slots on its upper face.

2 having a castle or several castles: the castellated hills along the east bank.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from medieval Latin castellatus, from Latin castellum (see CASTLE).

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CASTLE ■

cas·tel·la·tions plural n. defensive or decorative parapets with regularly spaced notches; battlements.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (castellation) the use or building of such parapets.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: based on medieval Latin castellare 'to build castles', from castellum (see CASTLE).

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CASTLE ■

caste mark n. a symbol on the forehead denoting membership of a particular Hindu caste.

cast·er n. 1 a person who casts something or a machine for casting something.

2 [FISHING] a fly pupa used as bait.

3 each of a set of small wheels, free to swivel in any direction, fixed to the legs or base of a heavy piece of furniture so that it can be moved easily.

4 the angular inclination of a steering pivot or kingpin, esp. that of the front wheel of a vehicle.

5 a small container with holes in the top, esp. one used for sprinkling sugar or pepper.

cas·ti·gate v. [trans.] FORMAL reprimand (someone) severely: he was castigated for not setting a good example.

<DERIVATIVES> cas·ti·ga·tion n. cas·ti·ga·tor n. cas·ti·ga·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin castigare 'reprove', from castus 'pure, chaste'.

Cas·tile a region in central Spain, on the central plateau of the Iberian peninsula, formerly an independent Spanish kingdom.

<ORIGIN> from French Castille, from Spanish Castilla.

Cas·tile soap n. fine, hard white or mottled soap made with olive oil and sodium hydroxide.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: named after CASTILE in Spain, where it was originally made.

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CASTILE ■

Cas·til·ian n. 1 a native of Castile.

2 the dialect of Spanish spoken in Castile, which is standard Spanish.

■ adj. of or relating to Castile, Castilians, or the Castilian form of Spanish.

Cas·til·la-La Man·cha an autonomous region in central Spain; capital, Toledo.

Cas·til·la-Le·ón an autonomous region in northern Spain; capital, Valladolid.

cast·ing n. an object made by pouring molten metal or other material into a mold.

cast·ing couch n. INFORMAL used in reference to the supposed practice whereby actors or actresses are awarded parts in movies, plays, or other productions in return for granting sexual favors to the casting director: she was no stranger to the casting couch.

cast·ing di·rec·tor n. the person responsible for assigning roles in a movie, play, or other production.

cast·ing vote n. an extra vote given by a chairperson to decide an issue when the votes on each side are equal.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from an obsolete sense of cast 'turn the scale'.

cast i·ron n. a hard, relatively brittle alloy of iron and carbon that can be readily cast in a mold and contains a higher proportion of carbon than steel (typically 2.0-4.3 percent).
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] FIGURATIVE firm and unchangeable: there are no cast-iron guarantees.

Cas·tle Vernon Blythe (1887-1918), British dancer; born Vernon Blythe. With his wife Irene (1893-1969), he originated the one-step, the turkey trot, the Castle walk, and the hesitation waltz. He also served as an aviator 1916-18 during World War I.

cas·tle n. a large building or group of buildings fortified against attack with thick walls, battlements, towers, and in many cases a moat.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a magnificent and imposing mansion, esp. one that is the home or former home of a member of the nobility. [in names] Castle Howard.

- INFORMAL [CHESS] old-fashioned term for ROOK^2 .

■ v. [intrans.] [often as n.] (castling) [CHESS] make a special move (no more than once in a game by each player) in which the king is transferred from its original square two squares along the back rank toward the corner square of a rook, which is then transferred to the square passed over by the king.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] move (the king) in this way.

<PHRASES> castles in the air (or in Spain) visionary unattainable schemes; daydreams: my father built castles in the air about owning a boat.

<DERIVATIVES> cas·tled adj. (ARCHAIC).

<ORIGIN> late Old English: from Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French castel, from Latin castellum, diminutive of castrum 'fort'.

Linked entries:

ROOK ■

cast net n. [FISHING] a net that is thrown out and immediately drawn in again, as opposed to one that is set up and left.

cast·off adj. no longer wanted; abandoned or discarded: a pile of castoff clothes.

■ n. (usu. castoffs) something, esp. a garment, that is no longer wanted: I'm not going out in her castoffs!

Cas·tor 1 [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the twin brother of Pollux. See DIOSCURI.

2 [ASTRONOMY] the second brightest star in the constellation Gemini, close to Pollux. It is a multiple star system, the three components visible in a moderate telescope being close binaries.

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DIOSCURI ■

cas·tor n. a reddish-brown oily substance secreted by beavers, used in medicine and perfumes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'beaver'): from Old French or Latin, from Greek .

cas·tor bean n. the seed of the castor-oil plant. It contains a number of poisonous compounds, esp. ricin, as well as castor oil.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the castor-oil plant.

cas·tor oil n. a pale yellow oil obtained from castor beans, used as a purgative and a lubricant and in manufacturing oil-based products.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: perhaps so named because it succeeded CASTOR in medicinal use.

Linked entries:

CASTOR ■

cas·tor-oil plant n. an African shrub with lobed serrated leaves, yielding the seeds from which castor oil is obtained and widely naturalized in warm countries.
<INFO>  Ricinus communis, family Euphorbiaceae.

cas·trate v. [trans.] remove the testicles of (a male animal or man).
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE deprive of power, vitality, or vigor: [as adj.] (castrated) the nation is a castrated giant, afraid to really punish subversives.

■ n. a man or male animal whose testicles have been removed.

<DERIVATIVES> cas·tra·tion n. cas·tra·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin castrare.

cas·tra·tion com·plex n. [PSYCHOANALYSIS] (in Freudian theory) an unconscious anxiety arising during psychosexual development, represented in males as a fear that the penis will be removed by the father in response to sexual interest in the mother, and in females as a compulsion to demonstrate that they have an adequate symbolic equivalent to the penis, whose absence is blamed on the mother.

cas·tra·to n. (pl. -ti ) HISTORICAL a male singer castrated in boyhood so as to retain a soprano or alto voice. The practice of castration was banned in 1903.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Italian, past participle of castrare (see CASTRATE).

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CASTRATE ■

Cas·tries the capital of the Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia, a seaport on the northwestern coast; pop. 14,055.

Cas·tro Fidel (1927- ), Cuban statesman; prime minister 1959-76 and president from 1976. After overthrowing President Batista he set up a communist regime that survived the abortive Bay of Pigs invasion, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the collapse of the Soviet bloc.

Cas·tro·ism n. the political principles or actions of Fidel Castro or his adherents or imitators.

<DERIVATIVES> Cas·tro·ist n. & adj. Cas·tro·ite n. & adj.

ca·su·al adj. 1 relaxed and unconcerned: she regarded his affairs with a casual indulgence; he tried to make his voice sound casual.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- made or done without much thought or premeditation: a casual remark.

- done or acting in a desultory way: to the casual observer, rugby looks something like soccer.

- done or acting without sufficient care or thoroughness: the casual way in which victims were treated.

2 not regular or permanent: the tent is ideal for casual outdoor use; casual jobs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a worker) employed on a temporary or irregular basis: casual staff.

- (of a sexual relationship or encounter) occurring between people who are not regular or established sexual partners.

3 [attrib.] happening by chance; accidental: he pretended it was a casual meeting. See note at ACCIDENTAL.

4 without formality of style, manner, or procedure, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of clothes or a style of dress) suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions.

- (of a social event) not characterized by particular social conventions.

- (of a place or environment) relaxed and friendly: the inn's casual atmosphere.

■ n. 1 a person who does something irregularly: a number of casuals became regular customers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a worker employed on an irregular or temporary basis.

2 (casuals) clothes or shoes suitable for everyday wear rather than formal occasions.

<DERIVATIVES> cas·u·al·ly adv. cas·u·al·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in senses 2 and 3 of the adjective): from Old French casuel and Latin casualis, from casus 'fall' (compare with CASE^1 ).

Linked entries:

CASE ■

cas·u·al Fri·day n. Friday as a day when office workers are allowed to dress more casually than usual.

cas·u·al·ty n. (pl. -ties) a person killed or injured in a war or accident.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE a person or thing badly affected by an event or situation: the building industry has been one of the casualties of the recession.

- (chiefly in insurance) an accident, mishap, or disaster.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'chance, a chance occurrence'): from medieval Latin casualitas, from casualis (see CASUAL), on the pattern of words such as penalty.

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CASUAL ■

ca·su·al wa·ter n. [GOLF] water that has accumulated temporarily and does not constitute a recognized hazard of the course. A player may move a ball from casual water without penalty.

ca·su·a·ri·na n. a tree with slender, jointed, drooping twigs that resemble horsetails and bear tiny scalelike leaves. It is native to Australia and Southeast Asia, and is a valuable source of timber and firewood.
<INFO>  Genus Casuarina, family Casuarinaceae.

<ORIGIN> from modern Latin casuarius 'cassowary' (from the resemblance of the branches to the bird's feathers).

cas·u·ist n. a person who uses clever but unsound reasoning, esp. in relation to moral questions; a sophist.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who resolves moral problems by the application of theoretical rules to particular instances.

<DERIVATIVES> cas·u·is·tic adj. cas·u·is·ti·cal adj. cas·u·is·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French casuiste, from Spanish casuista, from Latin casus (see CASE^1 ).

Linked entries:

CASE ■

cas·u·ist·ry n. the use of clever but unsound reasoning, esp. in relation to moral questions; sophistry.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the resolving of moral problems by the application of theoretical rules to particular instances.

ca·sus bel·li n. (pl. same) an act or situation provoking or justifying war.

<ORIGIN> Latin, from casus (see CASE^1 ) and belli, genitive of bellum 'war'.

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CASE ■

CAT abbr.
- clear air turbulence.

- computer-assisted (or -aided) testing.

- [MEDICINE] computerized axial tomography: [as adj.] a CAT scan.

cat 1 n. 1 a small domesticated carnivorous mammal with soft fur, a short snout, and retractile claws. It is widely kept as a pet or for catching mice, and many breeds have been developed.
<INFO>  Felis catus, family Felidae (the cat family); probably domesticated in ancient Egypt from the local race of wildcat, and held in great reverence there. The cat family also includes the ocelot, serval, margay, lynx, and the big cats.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a wild animal of the cat family: a marbled cat. See also BIG CAT.

- used in names of catlike animals of other families, e.g., ring-tailed cat.

- HISTORICAL short for CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS.

- short for CATFISH.

- short for CATHEAD.

- short for CATBOAT.

2 INFORMAL (particularly among jazz enthusiasts) a person, esp. a man.

■ v. (cat·ted, cat·ting) [trans.] [NAUTICAL] raise (an anchor) from the surface of the water to the cathead.

<PHRASES>
□ cat and mouse a series of cunning maneuvers designed to thwart an opponent: their elite fighters are playing cat and mouse with U.S. troops.

□ a cat may look at a king PROVERB even a person of low status or importance has rights.

□ fight like cats and dogs INFORMAL (of two people) be continually arguing with one another.

□ has the cat got your tongue? said to someone who, when expected to speak, remains silent.

□ let the cat out of the bag INFORMAL reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake.

□ like a cat on a hot tin roof INFORMAL very agitated or anxious.

□ look like something the cat dragged in (or brought in) INFORMAL (of a person) look very dirty or disheveled.

□ when (or while) the cat's away, the mice will play PROVERB people will naturally take advantage of the absence of someone in authority to do as they like.

<ORIGIN> Old English catt, catte, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kat and German Katze; reinforced in Middle English by forms from late Latin cattus.

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BIG CAT ■

CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS ■

CATFISH ■

CATHEAD ■

CATBOAT ■

cat 2 n. short for CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

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CATALYTIC CONVERTER ■

cat 3 n. short for CATAMARAN.

Linked entries:

CATAMARAN ■

cata- (also cat-) prefix 1 down; downward: catadromous; | cataract.

2 wrongly; badly: catachresis; | catastrophe

3 completely; thoroughly: catechize.

4 against: catapult.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kata 'down'.

ca·tab·o·lism n. [BIOLOGY] the breakdown of complex molecules in living organisms to form simpler ones, together with the release of energy; destructive metabolism.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·a·bol·ic adj. ca·tab·o·lize v.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'throwing down', from kata- 'down' + ballein 'to throw'.

ca·tab·o·lite n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a product of catabolism.

cat·a·chre·sis n. (pl. -ses ) the use of a word in a way that is not correct, for example, the use of mitigate for militate.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·a·chres·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin, from Greek , from 'misuse', from kata- 'down' (expressing the sense ‘wrongly’) + 'use'.

cat·a·clysm n. a large-scale and violent event in the natural world.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sudden violent upheaval, esp. in a political or social context: the cataclysm of the First World War.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (originally denoting the biblical Flood described in Genesis): from French cataclysme, via Latin from Greek kataklusmos 'deluge', from kata- 'down' + kluzein 'to wash'.

cat·a·clys·mic adj. relating to or denoting a violent natural event.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL denoting something unpleasant or unsuccessful on an enormous scale: the concert was a cataclysmic failure.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·a·clys·mi·cal·ly adv.

cat·a·comb n. (usu. catacombs) an underground cemetery consisting of a subterranean gallery with recesses for tombs, as constructed by the ancient Romans.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an underground construction resembling or compared to such a cemetery.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from late Latin catacumbas, the name of the subterranean cemetery of St. Sebastian near Rome.

cat·a·di·op·tric adj. [OPTICS] denoting an optical system that involves both the reflecting and refracting of light, in order to reduce aberration.

ca·tad·ro·mous adj. [ZOOLOGY] (of a fish such as the eel) migrating down rivers to the sea to spawn. The opposite of ANADROMOUS.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CATA- 'down' + Greek dromos 'running', on the pattern of anadromous.

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ANADROMOUS ■

CATA- ■

cat·a·falque n. a decorated wooden framework supporting the coffin of a distinguished person during a funeral or while lying in state.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian catafalco, of unknown origin. Compare with SCAFFOLD.

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SCAFFOLD ■

Cat·a·lan n. 1 a native of Catalonia.

2 a Romance language closely related to Castilian Spanish and Provençal, widely spoken in Catalonia (where it has official status alongside Castilian Spanish) and in Andorra, the Balearic Islands, and parts of southern France.

■ adj. of or relating to Catalonia, its people, or its language.

<ORIGIN> from French, from Spanish catalán, related to Catalan català 'Catalan', Catalunya 'Catalonia'.

cat·a·lase n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] an enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of hydrogen peroxide.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from CATALYSIS + -ASE.

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CATALYSIS ■

-ASE ■

cat·a·lec·tic [PROSODY] adj. (of a metrical line of verse) lacking one syllable in the last foot.

■ n. a line lacking a syllable in the last foot.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from late Latin catalecticus, from Greek , from 'leave off'.

cat·a·lep·sy n. a medical condition characterized by a trance or seizure with a loss of sensation and consciousness accompanied by rigidity of the body.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·a·lep·tic adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French catalepsie or late Latin catalepsia, from Greek , from katalambanein 'seize upon'.

cat·a·lex·is n. the absence of a syllable in the last foot of a line or verse.

Cat·a·li·na Another name for SANTA CATALINA.

cat·a·log (also cat·a·logue) n. a complete list of items, typically one in alphabetical or other systematic order, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a list of all the books or resources in a library.

- a publication containing details and often photographs of items for sale, esp. one produced by a mail-order company.

- a descriptive list of works of art in an exhibition or collection giving detailed comments and explanations.

- a list of courses offered by a university or college.

- [in sing.] a series of unfortunate or bad things: his life was a catalog of dismal failures.

■ v. (-logs, -loged, -log·ing; also -logues, -logued, -logu·ing) [trans.] make a systematic list of (items of the same type).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- enter (an item) in such a list: the picture was withdrawn before being cataloged.

- list (similar situations, qualities, or events) in succession: the report catalogs dangerous work practices in the company.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·a·log·er (also cat·a·logu·er) n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin catalogus, from Greek katalogos, from katalegein 'pick out or enroll'.

cat·a·logue rai·son·né n. (pl. cat·a·logues rai·son·nés ) a descriptive catalog of works of art with explanations and scholarly comments.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, literally 'explained catalog'.

Cat·a·lo·ni·a an autonomous region in northeastern Spain; capital, Barcelona. The region has a strong separatist tradition; the normal language for everyday purposes is Catalan, which has also won acceptance in recent years for various official purposes. Catalan name CATALUNYA; Spanish name CATALUÑA.

ca·tal·pa n. a tree with large heart-shaped leaves, clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers, and long, slender beanlike seedpods, native to North America and eastern Asia and cultivated as an ornamental.
<INFO>  Genus Catalpa, family Bignoniaceae: several species, including the southern (or common) catalpa (C. bignonioides).

<ORIGIN> from Creek.

cat·a·lu·fa n. another term for BIGEYE (sense 2).

<ORIGIN> from Spanish.

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BIGEYE ■

ca·tal·y·sis n. [CHEMISTRY] & [BIOCHEMISTRY] the acceleration of a chemical reaction by a catalyst.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin, from Greek katalusis, from kataluein 'dissolve', from kata- 'down' + luein 'loosen'.

cat·a·lyst n. a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a person or thing that precipitates an event: the governor's speech acted as a catalyst for debate.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from CATALYSIS, on the pattern of analyst.

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CATALYSIS ■

cat·a·lyt·ic adj. relating to or involving the action of a catalyst.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·a·lyt·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CATALYSIS, on the pattern of pairs such as analysis, analytic.

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CATALYSIS ■

cat·a·lyt·ic con·vert·er n. a device incorporated in the exhaust system of a motor vehicle, containing a catalyst for converting pollutant gases into less harmful ones.

cat·a·lyze (BRIT. cat·a·lyse) v. [trans.] cause or accelerate (a reaction) by acting as a catalyst.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE cause (an action or process) to begin: the bank was set up to catalyze investment in the former communist countries.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CATALYSIS, on the pattern of analyze.

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CATALYSIS ■

cat·a·ma·ran n. a yacht or other boat with twin hulls in parallel.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Tamil , literally 'tied wood'.

Cat·a·mar·ca a mining and commercial town in northwestern Argentina, the capital of Catamarca province; pop. 110,000.

cat·a·mite n. ARCHAIC a boy kept for homosexual practices.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin catamitus, via Etruscan from Greek (see GANYMEDE).

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GANYMEDE ■

cat·a·mount (also cat·a·moun·tain ) n. a medium-sized or large wild cat, esp. a cougar.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as catamountain): from the phrase cat of the mountain.

Ca·ta·nia a seaport on the east coast of Sicily, in southern Italy, at the foot of Mount Etna; pop. 364,180.

Ca·tan·za·ro the chief town of the Calabria region of southern Italy; pop. 104,000.

cat·a·phat·ic adj. [THEOLOGY] (of knowledge of God) obtained through affirmation. The opposite of APOPHATIC.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek kataphatikos 'affirmative', from kataphasis 'affirmation', from kata- (as an intensifier) + phanai 'speak'.

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APOPHATIC ■

cat·a·phor n. [GRAMMAR] a word or phrase that refers to or stands for a later word or phrase (e.g., in when they saw Ruth, the men looked slightly abashed, the word they is used as a cataphor for the men).

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: back-formation from CATAPHORA.

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CATAPHORA ■

ca·taph·o·ra n. [GRAMMAR] the use of a word or phrase that refers to or stands for a later word or phrase (e.g., the pronoun he in he may be 37, but Jeff behaves like a teenager). Compare with ANAPHORA.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·a·phor·ic adj. cat·a·phor·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from CATA- on the pattern of anaphora.

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ANAPHORA ■

CATA- ■

cat·a·pho·re·sis n. another term for ELECTROPHORESIS.

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ELECTROPHORESIS ■

cat·a·phract n. ARCHAIC a soldier in full armor.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek kataphraktos 'clothed in full armor'.

cat·a·plasm n. another term for POULTICE.

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POULTICE ■

cat·a·plex·y n. a medical condition in which strong emotion or laughter causes a person to suffer sudden physical collapse though remaining conscious.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·a·plec·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'stupefaction', from kataplessein, from kata- 'down' + 'strike'.

cat·a·pult n. a device in which accumulated tension is suddenly released to hurl an object some distance, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- HISTORICAL a military machine worked by a lever and ropes for hurling large stones or other missiles.

- a mechanical device for launching a glider or other aircraft, esp. from the deck of a ship.

- CHIEFLY BRIT. a slingshot.

■ v. [trans.] hurl or launch (something) in a specified direction with or as if with a catapult: the plane was refueled and catapulted back into the air again; the explosion catapulted the car 30 yards along the road | FIGURATIVE their music catapulted them to the top of the charts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] move suddenly or at great speed as though hurled by a catapult: the horse catapulted away from the fence.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French catapulte or Latin catapulta, from Greek , from kata- 'down' + pallein 'hurl'.

cat·a·ract n. 1 a large waterfall.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sudden rush of water; a downpour: the rain enveloped us in a deafening cataract.

2 a medical condition in which the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque, resulting in blurred vision: she had cataracts in both eyes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin cataracta 'waterfall, floodgate', also 'portcullis' (medical sense 2 probably being a figurative use of this), from Greek 'down-rushing', from katarassein, from kata- 'down' + arassein 'strike, smash'.

ca·tarrh n. excessive discharge or buildup of mucus in the nose or throat, associated with inflammation of the mucous membrane.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·tarrh·al adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from French catarrhe, from late Latin catarrhus, from Greek katarrhous, from katarrhein 'flow down', from kata- 'down' + rhein 'flow'.

cat·ar·rhine [ZOOLOGY] adj. of or relating to primates of a group that comprises the Old World monkeys, gibbons, great apes, and humans. They are distinguished by having nostrils that are close together and directed downward. Compare with PLATYRRHINE.

■ n. a catarrhine primate.
<INFO>  Infraorder Catarrhini, order Primates: four families.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CATA- 'down' + Greek rhis, rhin- 'nose'.

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PLATYRRHINE ■

CATA- ■

ca·tas·ta·sis n. (pl. -ses ) the third part of the ancient drama, in which the action is heightened for the catastrophe.

ca·tas·tro·phe n. an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster: a national economic catastrophe | leading the world to catastrophe.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the denouement of a drama, esp. a classical tragedy.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'denouement'): from Latin catastropha, from Greek 'overturning, sudden turn', from kata- 'down' + 'turning' (from strephein 'to turn').

ca·tas·tro·phe the·o·ry n. a branch of mathematics concerned with systems displaying abrupt discontinuous change.

cat·a·stroph·ic adj. 1 involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering: a catastrophic earthquake.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- involving a sudden and large-scale alteration in the state of something: the body undergoes catastrophic collapse toward the state of a black hole.

- of or relating to geological catastrophism.

2 extremely unfortunate or unsuccessful: catastrophic mismanagement of the economy.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·a·stroph·i·cal·ly adv.

ca·tas·tro·phism n. [GEOLOGY] the theory that changes in the earth's crust during geological history have resulted chiefly from sudden violent and unusual events. Often contrasted with UNIFORMITARIANISM.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·tas·tro·phist n. & adj.

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UNIFORMITARIANISM ■

cat·a·to·ni·a n. [PSYCHIATRY] abnormality of movement and behavior arising from a disturbed mental state (typically schizophrenia). It may involve repetitive or purposeless overactivity, or catalepsy, resistance to passive movement, and negativism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a state of immobility and stupor.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CATA- 'badly' + Greek tonos 'tone or tension'.

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CATA- ■

cat·a·ton·ic adj. [PSYCHIATRY] of, relating to, or characterized by catatonia: catatonic schizophrenia.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL of or in an immobile or unresponsive stupor.

Ca·taw·ba n. a North American variety of grape.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a white wine made from this grape.

<ORIGIN> named after the Catawba River in North and South Carolina.

Ca·taw·ba Riv·er a river that flows for 300 miles (480 km) from the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina across much of South Carolina.

cat·bird n. 1 a long-tailed American songbird of the mockingbird family, with mainly dark gray or black plumage and catlike calls.
<INFO>  Two genera and species, family Mimidae, in particular the gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) of North America.

2 a thickset Australasian bird of the bowerbird family, typically with a loud call like a yowling cat. It does not generally construct bowers.
<INFO>  Genus Ailuroedus (and Scenopoeetes), family Ptilonorhynchidae: several species, in particular the green catbird (A. crassirostris).

<PHRASES> in the catbird seat INFORMAL in a superior or advantageous position. <ORIGIN> said to be an allusion to a baseball player in the fortunate position of having no strikes and therefore three balls still to play (a reference made in James Thurber's short story The Catbird Seat).

cat·boat n. a sailboat with a single mast placed well forward and carrying only one sail.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: perhaps from cat (denoting a type of merchant ship formerly used in the coal and timber trades in northeastern England) + BOAT.

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BOAT ■

cat·bri·er (also cat·bri·ar) n. another term for GREENBRIER.

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GREENBRIER ■

cat bur·glar n. a thief who enters a building by climbing to an upper story.

cat·call n. a shrill whistle or shout of disapproval, typically one made at a public meeting or performance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a loud whistle or a comment of a sexual nature made by a man to a passing woman.

■ v. [intrans.] make such a whistle, shout, or comment: they were fired for catcalling at women.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from CAT^1 + CALL, originally denoting a kind of whistle or squeaking instrument used to express disapproval at a theater.

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CAT ■

CALL ■

catch v. (past caught ) [trans.] 1 intercept and hold (something that has been thrown, propelled, or dropped): she threw the bottle into the air and caught it again.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- intercept the fall of (someone).

- seize or take hold of: he caught hold of her arm as she tried to push past him.

- [intrans.] (catch at) grasp or try to grasp: his hands caught at her arms as she tried to turn away.

2 capture (a person or animal that tries or would try to escape): we hadn't caught a single rabbit.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of an object) accidentally become entangled or trapped in something: the charm bracelet always caught on her clothing.

- [trans.] (of a person) have (a part of one's body or clothing) become entangled or trapped in something: she caught her foot in the bedspread | FIGURATIVE companies face increased risks of being caught in a downward spiral.

- [trans.] (usu. be caught) fix or fasten in place: her hair was caught back in a scrunchie.

3 reach in time and board (a train, bus, or aircraft): they caught the 12:15 from Chicago.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- reach or be in a place in time to see (a person, performance, program, etc.): she was hurrying downstairs to catch the news.

- come upon (someone) unexpectedly: unexpected snow caught us by surprise.

- (be caught in) (of a person) unexpectedly find oneself in (an unwelcome situation): my sister was caught in a thunderstorm.

- (catch it) INFORMAL be punished or told off.

- (often be caught) surprise (someone) in an incriminating situation or in the act of doing something wrong: he was caught with bomb-making equipment in his home.

4 engage (a person's interest or imagination).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- perceive fleetingly: she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

- hear or understand (something said), esp. with effort: he bellowed something Jess couldn't catch.

- succeed in evoking or representing: the program caught something of the flavor of Minoan culture.

5 [trans.] strike (someone) on a part of the body: Ben caught him on the chin with an uppercut.
<SPECIAL USAGE> accidentally strike (a part of one's body) against something: she fell and caught her head on the corner of the hearth.

6 contract (an illness) through infection or contagion.

7 [intrans.] become ignited, due to contact with flame, and start burning: the rafters have caught.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an engine) fire and start running.

■ n. 1 an act of catching something, typically a ball.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an amount of fish caught: a record catch of 6.9 billion pounds of fish.

- [in sing.] INFORMAL a person considered attractive, successful, or prestigious and so desirable as a partner or spouse: I mistakenly thought he would be a good catch.

2 a device for securing something such as a door, window, or box: the window catch was rusty.

3 a hidden problem or disadvantage in an apparently ideal situation: there's a catch in it somewhere.

4 [in sing.] an unevenness in a person's voice caused by emotion: there was a catch in Anne's voice.

5 [MUSIC] a round, typically one with words arranged to produce a humorous effect.

<PHRASES>
□ catch someone napping see NAP^1 .

□ be caught short see SHORT.

□ catch at straws see STRAW.

□ catch one's breath
1 draw one's breath in sharply as a reaction to an emotion.

2 recover one's breath after exertion.

□ catch one's death (of cold) see DEATH.

□ catch someone's eye
1 be noticed by someone: a vase on a side table caught his eye.

2 attract someone's attention by making eye contact: I caught Rhoda's eye and gave her a friendly wave.

□ catch fire become ignited and burn.

□ catch someone in the act see ACT.

□ catch the light shine or glint in the light.

□ catch sight of suddenly notice; glimpse.

□ you wouldn't catch doing something INFORMAL used to indicate that there is no possibility of the person mentioned doing what is specified: you wouldn't catch me walking back to the house alone at night.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  catch on INFORMAL 1 (of a practice or fashion) become popular: his music never caught on in the South.

2 understand what is meant or how to do something: I caught on to what it was the guy was saying.

□  catch up succeed in reaching a person who is ahead of one: O'Hara caught up with Stella at the bottom of the hill.
- do work or other tasks that one should have done earlier: he normally used the afternoons to catch up on paperwork.

□  catch up with 1 talk to (someone) whom one has not seen for some time in order to find out what he or she has been doing in the interim: a chance to catch up with old friends.

2 begin to have a damaging effect on: the physical exertions began to catch up with Sue.

3 succeed in reaching a person who is ahead of one: you go with Stasia and Katie, and I'll catch up with you.

□  be/get caught up in become involved in (something that one had not intended to become involved in): he had no desire to be caught up in political activities.

<DERIVATIVES> catch·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (also in the sense 'chase'): from Anglo-Norman French and Old Northern French cachier, variant of Old French chacier, based on Latin captare 'try to catch', from capere 'take'.

Linked entries:

NAP ■

SHORT ■

STRAW ■

DEATH ■

ACT ■

catch-22 n. a dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions: [as adj.] a catch-22 situation.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: title of a novel by Joseph Heller (1961), in which the main character feigns madness in order to avoid dangerous combat missions, but his desire to avoid them is taken to prove his sanity.

catch-all n. [usu. as adj.] a term or category that includes a variety of different possibilities: the stigmatizing catch-all term “schizophrenia.”

catch-as-catch-can n. ARCHAIC wrestling in which all holds are permitted.

■ adj. [attrib.] using whatever methods or materials are available: our catch-as-catch-can repair of fences.

catch·er n. a person or thing that catches something.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BASEBALL] a fielder positioned behind home plate to catch pitches not hit by the batter and to execute other defensive plays.

catch·fly n. (pl. -flies) a campion or similar plant of the pink family, with a sticky stem.
<INFO>  Silene, Lychnis, and other genera, family Caryophyllaceae.

catch·ing adj. [predic.] INFORMAL (of a disease) infectious: Huntington's chorea isn't catching | FIGURATIVE her enthusiasm is catching.

catch·light n. a gleam of reflected light in the eye of a person or animal in a photograph.

catch·line n. [PRINTING] a short, eye-catching line of type, typically one at the top of a page such as a running head.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an advertising slogan.

catch·ment n. the action of collecting water, esp. the collection of rainfall over a natural drainage area.

catch·ment ar·e·a n. 1 (also catch·ment) the area of a city, town, etc., from which a hospital's patients or school's students are drawn.

2 the area from which rainfall flows into a river, lake, or reservoir.

catch·pen·ny adj. [attrib.] having a cheap superficial attractiveness designed to encourage quick sales.

catch·phrase n. a well-known sentence or phrase, typically one that is associated with a particular famous person.

catch-up (also catch·up) n. INFORMAL an act of catching someone up in a particular activity.

<PHRASES> play catch-up
1 fall behind continually with work or financial matters: I'm always playing catch-up with my homework.

2 try to equal a competitor in a sport or game.

catch·weight n. [usu. as adj.] CHIEFLY HISTORICAL unrestricted weight in a wrestling match or other sporting contest: a catchweight contest.

catch·word n. 1 a briefly popular or fashionable word or phrase used to encapsulate a particular concept: “motivation” is a great catchword.

2 a word printed or placed so as to attract attention.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY HISTORICAL [PRINTING] the first word of a page given at the foot of the previous one.

catch·y adj. (catch·i·er, catch·i·est) (of a tune or phrase) instantly appealing and memorable: a catchy recruiting slogan.

<DERIVATIVES> catch·i·ly adv. catch·i·ness n.

cate n. (usu. cates) ARCHAIC a choice food; a delicacy.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'selling, a bargain'): from obsolete acate 'purchasing, things purchased', from Old French acat, achat, from acater, achater 'buy', based on Latin captare 'seize', from capere 'take'.

cat·e·che·sis n. religious instruction given to a person in preparation for Christian baptism or confirmation, typically using a catechism.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek 'oral instruction'.

cat·e·chet·i·cal adj. of or relating to religious instruction given to a person in preparation for Christian baptism or confirmation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to religious teaching by means of questions and answers.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·e·chet·ic adj. cat·e·chet·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Greek , from 'catechist', from 'instruct orally' (see CATECHIZE).

Linked entries:

CATECHIZE ■

cat·e·chet·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the branch of theology that deals with the instruction given to Christians before baptism or confirmation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> religious teaching in general, typically that given to children in the Roman Catholic Church.

cat·e·chin n. [CHEMISTRY] a crystalline compound that is the major constituent of catechu.
<INFO>  A phenol; chem. formula: C_15H_14O_6; several isomers.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CATECHU + -IN^1 .

Linked entries:

CATECHU ■

-IN ■

cat·e·chism n. a summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of questions and answers, used for the instruction of Christians.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a series of fixed questions, answers, or precepts used for instruction in other situations.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·e·chis·mal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin catechismus, from ecclesiastical Greek, from (see CATECHIZE).

Linked entries:

CATECHIZE ■

cat·e·chist n. a teacher of the principles of Christian religion, esp. one using a catechism.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiasical Greek , from 'instruct orally'.

cat·e·chize v. [trans.] instruct (someone) in the principles of Christian religion by means of question and answer, typically by using a catechism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE put questions to or interrogate (someone).

<DERIVATIVES> cat·e·chiz·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via late Latin from ecclesiastical Greek , from 'instruct orally, make hear'.

cat·e·chol n. [CHEMISTRY] a crystalline compound obtained by distilling catechu.
<INFO>  Alternative name: benzene-1,2-diol; chem. formula: C_6H_4(OH)2.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CATECHU + -OL.

Linked entries:

CATECHU ■

-OL ■

cat·e·chol·a·mine n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] any of a class of aromatic amines that includes a number of neurotransmitters such as epinephrine and dopamine.

cat·e·chu (also ca·chou) n. a vegetable extract containing tannin, esp. one (also called CUTCH) obtained from the heartwood of an Indian acacia tree, used chiefly for tanning and dyeing.
<INFO>  The chief source of this is Acacia catechu, family Leguminosae.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Malay kacu. Compare with CACHOU.

Linked entries:

CUTCH ■

CACHOU ■

cat·e·chu·men n. a Christian convert under instruction before baptism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a young Christian preparing for confirmation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek 'being instructed', present participle of 'instruct orally' (see CATECHIZE).

Linked entries:

CATECHIZE ■

cat·e·go·ri·cal adj. unambiguously explicit and direct: a categorical assurance.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·e·gor·ic adj. cat·e·gor·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from late Latin categoricus (from Greek , from 'statement': see CATEGORY) + -AL.

Linked entries:

CATEGORY ■

-AL ■

cat·e·go·ri·cal im·per·a·tive n. [PHILOSOPHY] (in Kantian ethics) an unconditional moral obligation that is binding in all circumstances and is not dependent on a person's inclination or purpose.

cat·e·go·rize v. [trans.] (often be categorized) place in a particular class or group: odors have been categorized into only seven basic groups.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·e·go·ri·za·tion n.

cat·e·go·ry n. (pl. -ries) 1 a class or division of people or things regarded as having particular shared characteristics: five categories of intelligence.

2 [PHILOSOPHY] one of a possibly exhaustive set of classes among which all things might be distributed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- one of the a priori conceptions applied by the mind to sense impressions.

- a relatively fundamental philosophical concept.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·e·go·ri·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from French catégorie or late Latin categoria, from Greek 'statement, accusation', from 'accuser'.

cat·e·go·ry kill·er n. a large store, typically one of a chain, that specializes in a particular type of discounted merchandise and becomes the dominant retailer in that category.

cat·e·go·ry mis·take n. [LOGIC] the error of assigning to something a quality or action that can properly be assigned to things only of another category, for example, treating abstract concepts as though they had a physical location.

ca·te·na n. (pl. -nae or -nas) TECHNICAL a connected series or chain.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a connected series of texts written by early Christian theologians.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin, 'chain', originally in catena patrum 'chain of the (Church) Fathers'.

cat·e·nar·y n. (pl. -nar·ies) a curve formed by a wire, rope, or chain hanging freely from two points that are on the same horizontal level.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a wire, rope, or chain forming such a curve.

■ adj. [attrib.] having the form of, involving, or denoting a curve of this type.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin catenarius 'relating to a chain', from catena 'chain'.

cat·e·nat·ed adj. TECHNICAL connected in a chain or series: catenated molecules.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·e·na·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: past participle of the rare verb catenate, from Latin catenat- 'chained, fettered', from the verb catenare, from catena 'chain'.

cat·e·na·tive [GRAMMAR] adj. denoting a verb that governs a nonfinite form of another verb, for example, like in I like swimming.

■ n. a catenative verb.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: from Latin catena 'chain' + -ATIVE.

Linked entries:

-ATIVE ■

cat·e·noid n. [GEOMETRY] the surface generated by rotating a catenary about its axis of symmetry.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin catena 'chain' + -OID.

Linked entries:

-OID ■

ca·ter v. [trans.] provide (food and drink), typically at social events and in a professional capacity: he catered a lunch for 20 people | [as adj.] (catered) planning another catered affair.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (cater for) CHIEFLY BRIT. provide with food and drink, in this way: my mother helped to cater for the party.

- (cater to) provide with what is needed or required: the school caters to children with learning difficulties.

- (cater to) try to satisfy (a particular need or demand): he catered to her every whim.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·ter·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from obsolete cater 'caterer', from Old French acateor 'buyer', from acater 'buy' (see CATE).

Linked entries:

CATE ■

cat·er·an n. HISTORICAL a warrior or raider from the Scottish Highlands.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally in the plural or as a collective singular denoting the peasantry as fighters): from Scottish Gaelic ceathairne 'peasantry'.

cat·er-cor·nered (also cat·er-cor·ner or cat·ty-cor·nered or kit·ty-cor·ner) adj. & adv. situated diagonally opposite someone or something: [as adj.] a restaurant cater-cornered from the movie theater | [as adv.] motorcyclists cut cater-cornered across his yard.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from dialect cater 'diagonally', from cater denoting the four on dice, from French quatre 'four', from Latin quattuor.

cat·er·pil·lar n. 1 the larva of a butterfly or moth, having a segmented wormlike body with three pairs of true legs and several pairs of leglike appendages. Caterpillars may be hairy, have warning coloration, or be colored to resemble their surroundings.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in general use) any similar larva of various insects, esp. sawflies.

2 (also caterpillar track or tread) TRADEMARK an articulated steel band passing around the wheels of a vehicle for travel on rough ground.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a vehicle with such tracks.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: perhaps from a variant of Old French chatepelose, literally 'hairy cat', influenced by obsolete piller 'ravager'. The association with “cat”is found in other languages, e.g., Swiss German Teufelskatz (literally 'devil's cat'), Lombard gatta (literally 'cat'). Compare with French chaton, English CATKIN, resembling hairy caterpillars.

Linked entries:

CATKIN ■

cat·er·waul v. [intrans.] [often as n.] (caterwauling) (of a cat) make a shrill howling or wailing noise: the caterwauling of a pair of bobcats | [as adj.] (caterwauling) FIGURATIVE a caterwauling guitar.

■ n. a shrill howling or wailing noise.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from CAT^1 + imitative WAUL.

Linked entries:

CAT ■

WAUL ■

cat·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) 1 a freshwater or marine fish with whiskerlike barbels around the mouth, typically bottom-dwelling.
<INFO>  Order Siluriformes: many families, including the Eurasian family Siluridae and the large North American family Ictaluridae.

2 another term for WOLFFISH.

Linked entries:

WOLFFISH ■

cat·gut n. a material used for the strings of musical instruments and for surgical sutures, made of the dried twisted intestines of sheep or horses, but not cats.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: the association with CAT^1 remains unexplained.

Linked entries:

CAT ■

Cath. abbr.
- Cathedral.

- Catholic.

Cath·ar n. (pl. Cath·ars or Cath·a·ri ) a member of a heretical medieval Christian sect which professed a form of Manichaean dualism and sought to achieve great spiritual purity.

<DERIVATIVES> Cath·a·rism n. Cath·a·rist n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin Cathari (plural), from Greek katharoi 'the pure'.

ca·thar·sis n. 1 the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

2 RARE [MEDICINE] purgation.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (sense 2): from Greek katharsis, from kathairein 'cleanse', from katharos 'pure'. The notion of “release” through drama (sense 1) derives from Aristotle's Poetics.

ca·thar·tic adj. 1 providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions; causing catharsis: crying is a cathartic release.

2 [MEDICINE] (chiefly of a drug) purgative.

■ n. [MEDICINE] a purgative drug.

<DERIVATIVES> ca·thar·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in medical use): via late Latin from Greek kathartikos, from katharsis ‘cleansing’ (see CATHARSIS).

Linked entries:

CATHARSIS ■

Ca·thay the name by which China was known to medieval Europe. Also called KHITAI.

<ORIGIN> from medieval Latin Cataya, Cathaya, from Turkic .

Linked entries:

KHITAI ■

cat·head n. a horizontal beam extending from each side of a ship's bow, used for raising and carrying an anchor.

ca·thec·tic adj. [PSYCHOANALYSIS] of or relating to cathexis.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Greek kathektikos 'capable of holding'.

ca·the·dra n. (pl. -drae ) 1 a seat, specifically the chair of a bishop in his church.

2 a bishop's see. See also EX CATHEDRA.

Linked entries:

EX CATHEDRA ■

ca·the·dral n. the principal church of a diocese, with which the bishop is officially associated: [in names] St. Paul's Cathedral.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as an adjective, the noun being short for cathedral church 'the church that contains the bishop's throne'): from late Latin cathedralis, from Latin cathedra 'seat', from Greek kathedra.

ca·the·dral ceil·ing n. a pointed or slanting ceiling of a room that rises through more than one floor.

Ca·the·dral Cit·y a city in southern California, southeast of Palm Springs; pop. 30,085.

Cath·er Willa (Sibert) (1876-1974), U.S. novelist and short-story writer. Her home state of Nebraska provides the setting for some of her best writing. Notable works: O Pioneers! (1913), My Antonia (1918), and Death Comes for the Archbishop (1927).

Cath·er·ine, St. (died c.307), early Christian martyr; known as St. Catherine of Alexandria. According to tradition, she opposed the persecution of Christians under the emperor Maxentius and refused to recant or to marry the emperor. Feast day, November 25.

Cath·er·ine II (1729-96), empress of Russia; reigned 1762-96; known as Catherine the Great. She became empress after her husband, Peter III, was deposed. She formed alliances with Prussia and Austria and made territorial advances at the expense of the Turks and Tartars.

Cath·er·ine de Mé·di·cis (1519-89), queen of France; wife of Henry II; Italian name Catherine de' Medici. She ruled as regent 1560-74 during the minority reigns of her three sons: Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III.

Cath·er·ine of Ar·a·gon (1485-1536), first wife of Henry VIII; youngest daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Castile; mother of Mary I. Henry's wish to annul his marriage to Catherine (due to her failure to produce a male heir) led eventually to England's break with the Roman Catholic Church.

Cath·er·ine wheel n. a firework in the form of a flat coil that spins when fixed to something solid and lit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [HERALDRY] a wheel with curved spikes projecting around the circumference.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (as a heraldic term): named after St. Catherine (see CATHERINE, ST.), with reference to her martyrdom.

Linked entries:

CATHERINE, ST. ■

cath·e·ter n. [MEDICINE] a flexible tube inserted through a narrow opening into a body cavity, particularly the bladder, for removing fluid.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from late Latin, from Greek , from kathienai 'send or let down'.

cath·e·ter·ize v. [trans.] [MEDICINE] insert a catheter into (a patient or body cavity).

<DERIVATIVES> cath·e·ter·i·za·tion n.

ca·thex·is n. [PSYCHOANALYSIS] the concentration of mental energy on one particular person, idea, or object (esp. to an unhealthy degree).

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Greek kathexis 'retention', translating German Libidobesetzung, coined by Freud.

cath·ode n. the negatively charged electrode by which electrons enter an electrical device. The opposite of ANODE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the positively charged electrode of an electrical device, such as a primary cell, that supplies current.

<DERIVATIVES> cath·o·dal adj. ca·thod·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek kathodos 'way down', from kata- 'down'+ hodos 'way'.

Linked entries:

ANODE ■

cath·ode ray n. a beam of electrons emitted from the cathode of a high-vacuum tube.

cath·ode-ray tube (abbr.: CRT) (also cath·ode ray tube) n. a high-vacuum tube in which cathode rays produce a luminous image on a fluorescent screen, used chiefly in televisions and computer terminals.

cath·o·lic adj. 1 (esp. of a person's tastes) including a wide variety of things; all-embracing. See note at UNIVERSAL.

2 (Catholic) of the Roman Catholic faith.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of or including all Christians.

- of or relating to the historic doctrine and practice of the Western Church.

■ n. (Catholic) a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

<DERIVATIVES> cath·o·lic·i·ty n. ca·thol·ic·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from Old French catholique or late Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos 'universal', from kata 'with respect to' + holos 'whole'.

Cath·o·lic Church n. short for ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Linked entries:

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ■

Ca·thol·i·cism n. the faith, practice, and church order of the Roman Catholic Church.
<SPECIAL USAGE> adherence to the forms of Christian doctrine and practice which are generally regarded as Catholic rather than Protestant or Eastern Orthodox.

Ca·thol·i·cize v. [trans.] make Roman Catholic; convert to Catholicism.

Cath·o·lic League see HOLY LEAGUE.

Linked entries:

HOLY LEAGUE ■

ca·thol·i·con n. 1 a comprehensive treatise.

2 a universal remedy; a panacea.

Ca·thol·i·cos n. (pl. Ca·thol·i·cos·es or Ca·thol·i·coi ) the Patriarch of the Armenian or the Nestorian Church.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from medieval Greek katholikos 'universal' (see CATHOLIC).

Linked entries:

CATHOLIC ■

cat·house n. INFORMAL a brothel.

cat·i·on n. [CHEMISTRY] a positively charged ion, i.e., one that would be attracted to the cathode in electrolysis. The opposite of ANION.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·i·on·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CATA- 'alongside' or from CATHODE, + ION.

Linked entries:

ANION ■

CATA- ■

CATHODE ■

ION ■

cat·kin n. a flowering spike of trees such as willow and hazel. Catkins are typically downy, pendulous, composed of flowers of a single sex, and wind-pollinated.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from obsolete Dutch katteken 'kitten'.

cat·like adj. resembling a cat in appearance, action, or character, esp. by moving gracefully or stealthily.

cat·lin·ite n. a red clay of the Upper Missouri region, the sacred pipestone of the American Indians.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the name of George Catlin (1796-1872), American artist, + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ITE ■

cat lit·ter n. see LITTER (sense 3).

Linked entries:

LITTER ■

cat·mint n. another term for CATNIP.

Linked entries:

CATNIP ■

cat·nap n. a short, light sleep; a doze.

■ v. (-napped, -nap·ping) [intrans.] have such a sleep.

cat·nip n. a plant of the mint family, with downy leaves, purple-spotted white flowers, and a pungent smell attractive to cats. Also called CATMINT.
<INFO>  Genus Nepeta, family Labiatae: several species, including the Eurasian N. cataria.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (originally U.S.): from CAT^1 + nip, variant of dialect nep, nept, from medieval Latin nepta, from Latin nepeta 'catmint'.

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CATMINT ■

CAT ■

Ca·to Marcus Porcius (234-149 BC), Roman statesman, orator, and writer; known as Cato the Elder or Cato the Censor. As censor, he initiated a vigorous program of reform and attempted to stem the growing influence of Greek culture.

cat-o'-nine-tails n. HISTORICAL a rope whip with nine knotted cords, formerly used (esp. at sea) to flog offenders.

Ca·tons·ville a community in central Maryland, southwest of Baltimore; pop. 35,233.

ca·top·tric adj. [PHYSICS] of or relating to a mirror, a reflector, or reflection.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Greek katoptrikos, from katoptron 'mirror'.

ca·top·trics plural n. [treated as sing.] [PHYSICS] the branch of optics that deals with reflection.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally catoptric): from Greek katoptrikos 'reflecting', from katoptron 'mirror'.

cat rig n. the rig of a catboat with the single mast placed far forward.

Ca·tron John (c.1786-1865), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1837-65. Appointed to the Court by President Jackson, he was an advocate of states' rights.

CAT scan n. an X-ray image made using computerized axial tomography.

<DERIVATIVES> CAT scan·ner n.

cat's cra·dle n. a child's game in which a loop of string is put around and between the fingers and complex patterns are formed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] a complex pattern made of string in such a game.

cat scratch fe·ver (also cat scratch disease) n. an infectious disease occurring after a scratch by a cat's claw, a splinter, or a thorn. Symptoms include mild fever and inflammation of the injury site and of the lymph glands.

cat's ear (also cat's ears) n. a plant that resembles the dandelion, with yellow flowers and rosettes of leaves.
<INFO>  Genus Hypochaeris, family Compositae: several species, in particular the Old World H. radicata, naturalized in North America.

cat's-eye n. a semiprecious stone, esp. chalcedony or chrysoberyl, with a chatoyant luster.

cat shark n. a small bottom-dwelling shark that has catlike eyes and small dorsal fins set well back. It is typically strikingly marked and lives in warmer waters.
<INFO>  Apristurus and other genera, family Scyliorhinidae: several species, including the brown cat shark (A. brunneus).

Cats·kill Moun·tains (also the Cats·kills) a range of mountains in the state of New York, part of the Appalachian system.

cat's me·ow n. (the cat's meow) another term for THE CAT'S PAJAMAS (see CAT'S PAJAMAS).

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CAT'S PAJAMAS ■

cat's pa·ja·mas n. (the cat's pajamas) INFORMAL, DATED an excellent person or thing: this car is the cat's pajamas.

cat's-paw n. a person who is used by another, typically to carry out an unpleasant or dangerous task.

cat·suit n. a woman's jumpsuit, typically close-fitting and covering the body from the neck to the feet.

cat·sup n. variant spelling of KETCHUP.

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KETCHUP ■

cat's whisk·er n. a fine adjustable wire in a crystal radio receiver.

<PHRASES> the cat's whiskers INFORMAL another term for THE CAT'S PAJAMAS (see CAT'S PAJAMAS).

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CAT'S PAJAMAS ■

Catt Carrie Clinton Chapman Lane (1859-1947), U.S. suffragist. As president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association 1900-04, 1915-47 and of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance 1904-23, she was instrumental in the adoption of the 19th amendment to the Constitution in 1920.

cat·tail n. a tall, reedlike marsh plant with straplike leaves and a dark brown, velvety cylindrical head of numerous tiny flowers. Also called REED MACE, BULRUSH.
<INFO>  Genus Typha, family Typhaceae: several species, in particular the common cattail (T. latifolia).

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REED MACEBULRUSH ■

cat·te·ry n. (pl. -ries) a boarding or breeding establishment for cats.

cat·tish adj. another term for CATTY.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·tish·ly adv. cat·tish·ness n.

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CATTY ■

cat·tle plural n. 1 large ruminant animals with horns and cloven hoofs, domesticated for meat or milk, or as beasts of burden; cows.
<INFO>  Bos taurus (including the zebu, B. indicus), family Bovidae; descended from the extinct aurochs.

2 similar animals of a group related to domestic cattle, including yak, bison, and buffalo.
<INFO>  Tribe Bovini, family Bovidae (the cattle family): four genera, in particular Bos. The cattle family also includes the sheep, goats, goat-antelopes, and antelopes.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (also denoting personal property or wealth): from Anglo-Norman French catel, variant of Old French chatel (see CHATTEL).

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CHATTEL ■

cat·tle call n. INFORMAL an open audition for parts in a play, movie, or other production.

cat·tle e·gret n. a small white heron with long buff feathers on the head, back, and chest in the breeding season, and normally feeding around grazing cattle and game herds. It is native to southern Eurasia and Africa, and has colonized North and South America and Australasia in the 20th century.
<INFO>  Bubulcus (or Ardeola) ibis, family Ardeidae.

cat·tle guard n. a metal grid covering a ditch, allowing vehicles and pedestrians to pass over but not cattle and other animals.

cat·tle·man n. (pl. -men) a person who tends or rears cattle.

catt·ley·a n. a tropical American orchid with brightly colored showy flowers and thick leaves, typically growing as an epiphyte. It is a popular greenhouse plant, with many hybrids.
<INFO>  Genus Cattleya, family Orchidaceae.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: modern Latin, named after William Cattley (died 1832), English patron of botany.

cat-train n. CANADIAN a crawler tractor pulling a train of sleighs across snow or ice.

<ORIGIN> cat from CATERPILLAR.

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CATERPILLAR ■

cat·ty adj. (cat·ti·er, cat·ti·est) 1 deliberately hurtful in one's remarks; spiteful.

2 of or relating to cats; catlike.

<DERIVATIVES> cat·ti·ly adv. cat·ti·ness n.

cat·ty-cor·nered adj. another term for CATER-CORNERED.

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CATER-CORNERED ■

Ca·tul·lus Gaius Valerius (c.84-c.54 BC), Roman poet, known for his love poems.

CATV abbr. community antenna television (i.e., cable television).

cat·walk n. a narrow walkway or platform extending into an auditorium, esp. in an industrial installation, along which models walk to display clothes in fashion shows.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a narrow platform or stage.

Cau·ca Riv·er a river in western Colombia that flows north for 800 miles (1,300 km) from the Andes to the Magdalena River.

Cau·ca·sian adj. 1 OFTEN OFFENSIVE of or relating to one of the traditional divisions of humankind, covering a broad group of peoples from Europe, western Asia, and parts of India and North Africa. <ORIGIN> so named because the German physiologist Blumenbach believed that it originated in the Caucasus region of southeastern Europe.
<SPECIAL USAGE> white-skinned; of European origin.

2 of or relating to the Caucasus.

3 of or relating to a group of languages spoken in the region of the Caucasus, of which thirty-eight are known, many not committed to writing. The most widely spoken is Georgian, of the small South Caucasian family, not related to the three North Caucasian families.

■ n. OFTEN OFFENSIVE a Caucasian person.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a white person; a person of European origin.

<USAGE>
In the racial classification as developed by anthropologists in the 19th century, Caucasian (or Caucasoid) included peoples whose skin color ranged from light (in northern Europe) to dark (in parts of North Africa and India). Although the classification is outdated and the categories are now not generally accepted as scientific (see usage at AUSTRALOID and MONGOLOID), the term Caucasian has acquired a more restricted meaning. It is now used, esp. in the U.S., as a synonym for ‘white or of European origin,’ as in the following citation: the police are looking for a Caucasian male in his forties.

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AUSTRALOID ■

MONGOLOID ■

Cau·ca·soid adj. SOMETIMES OFFENSIVE of or relating to the Caucasian division of humankind.

<USAGE>
See usage at CAUCASIAN.

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CAUCASIAN ■

Cau·ca·sus (also Cau·ca·sia ) a mountainous region in southeastern Europe that lies between the Black and Caspian seas in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and southeastern Russia.

Cau·chy Augustin Louis, Baron (1789-1857), French mathematician. He transformed the theory of complex functions, founded the modern theory of elasticity, and contributed substantially to the founding of group theory and analysis.

cau·cus n. (pl. -cus·es) 1 a meeting of the members of a legislative body who are members of a particular political party, to select candidates or decide policy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the members of such a body.

2 a group of people with shared concerns within a political party or larger organization.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a meeting of such a group.

■ v. (-cused, -cus·ing) [intrans.] hold or form such a group or meeting.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (originally U.S.): perhaps from Algonquian cau'-cau'-as'u 'adviser'.

cau·dal adj. of or like a tail.
<SPECIAL USAGE> at or near the tail or the posterior part of the body.

<DERIVATIVES> cau·dal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin caudalis, from Latin cauda 'tail'.

cau·dal fin n. [ZOOLOGY] another term for TAIL FIN.

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TAIL FIN ■

Cau·da·ta [ZOOLOGY] another term for URODELA.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Latin cauda 'tail'.

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URODELA ■

cau·date adj. 1 [ANATOMY] relating to or denoting the caudate nucleus.

2 [ZOOLOGY] (of an animal) having a tail.

■ n. short for CAUDATE NUCLEUS.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin caudatus, from cauda 'tail'.

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CAUDATE NUCLEUS ■

cau·date nu·cle·us n. [ANATOMY] the upper of the two gray nuclei of the corpus striatum in the cerebrum of the brain.

cau·dex n. (pl. -di·ces or -dex·es) [BOTANY] the axis of a woody plant, esp. a palm or tree fern, comprising the stem and root.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin, earlier form of CODEX.

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CODEX ■

cau·dil·lo n. (pl. -los) (in Spanish-speaking regions) a military or political leader.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, from late Latin capitellum, diminutive of caput 'head'. The title El Caudillo 'the leader' was assumed by General Franco of Spain in 1938.

caught past and past participle of CATCH.

Linked entries:

CATCH ■

caul n. 1 the amniotic membrane enclosing a fetus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> part of this membrane occasionally found on a child's head at birth, thought to bring good luck.

2 HISTORICAL a woman's close-fitting indoor headdress or hairnet.

3 [ANATOMY] the omentum.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: perhaps from Old French cale 'head covering', but recorded earlier.

caul·dron (also cal·dron) n. a large metal pot with a lid and handle, used for cooking over an open fire.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a situation characterized by instability and strong emotions: a cauldron of repressed anger.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French caudron, based on Latin caldarium, calidarium 'cooking pot', from calidus 'hot'.

cau·li·flow·er n. a cabbage of a variety that bears a large immature flowerhead of small creamy-white flower buds.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the flowerhead of this plant eaten as a vegetable.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from obsolete French chou fleuri 'flowered cabbage', probably from Italian cavolfiore or modern Latin cauliflora. The original English form colieflorie or cole-flory had its first element influenced by COLE; the second element was influenced by FLOWER during the 17th cent.

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COLE ■

FLOWER ■

cau·li·flow·er ear n. an ear that has become thickened or deformed as a result of repeated blows, typically in boxing.

cau·li·flow·er fun·gus (also cauliflower mushroom) n. an edible fungus that forms a distinctive fruiting body with a yellowish lobed surface, growing on wood and other plant debris in both Eurasia and North America.
<INFO>  Genus Sparassis and family Sparassidaceae, class Basidiomycetes: several species, in particular S. crispa.

caulk (also calk) n. (also caulk·ing) a waterproof filler and sealant, used in building work and repairs.

■ v. [trans.] seal (a gap or seam) with such a substance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> stop up (the seams of a boat) with oakum and waterproofing material, or by driving plate-junctions together; make (a boat) watertight by this method.

<DERIVATIVES> caulk·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'copulate', used of birds): from Old Northern French cauquer, caukier, variant of cauchier 'tread, press with force', from Latin calcare 'tread', from calx, calc- 'heel'.

caus·al adj. of, relating to, or acting as a cause: the causal factors associated with illness.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GRAMMAR] & [LOGIC] expressing or indicating a cause: a causal conjunction.

<DERIVATIVES> caus·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a noun denoting a causal conjunction or particle): from late Latin causalis, from Latin causa 'cause'.

cau·sal·gi·a n. severe burning pain in a limb caused by injury to a peripheral nerve.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek kausos 'heat, fever' + -ALGIA.

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-ALGIA ■

cau·sal·i·ty n. 1 the relationship between cause and effect.

2 the principle that everything has a cause.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French causalité or medieval Latin causalitas, from Latin causa 'cause'.

cau·sa·tion n. the action of causing something: investigating the role of nitrate in the causation of cancer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the relationship between cause and effect; causality.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin causatio(n-) 'pretext' (in medieval Latin 'the action of causing'), from causare 'to cause'.

caus·a·tive adj. acting as a cause: a causative factor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GRAMMAR] expressing causation: a causative verb.

■ n. a causative verb.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French causatif, -ive, or late Latin causativus, from causare 'to cause'.

cause n. 1 a person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition: the cause of the accident is not clear.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reasonable grounds for doing, thinking, or feeling something: Faye's condition had given no cause for concern | [with infinitive] the government had good cause to avoid war | class size is a cause for complaint in some schools.

2 a principle, aim, or movement that, because of a deep commitment, one is prepared to defend or advocate: she devoted her life to the cause of deaf people.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] something deserving of one's support, typically a charity: I'm raising money for a good cause.

3 a matter to be resolved in a court of law.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an individual's case offered at law.

■ v. [trans.] make (something) happen: this disease can cause blindness | [trans.] we have no idea what has happened to cause people to stay away.

<PHRASES>
□ cause and effect the principle of causation.
- the operation or relation of a cause and its effect.

□ cause of action [LAW] a fact or facts that enable a person to bring an action against another.

□ in the cause of so as to support, promote, or defend something.

□ make common cause unite in order to achieve a shared aim: nationalist movements made common cause with the reformers.

□ a rebel without a cause a person who is dissatisfied with society but does not have a specific aim to fight for. <ORIGIN> from the title of a U.S. film, released in 1955.

<DERIVATIVES> cause·less adj. caus·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from Latin causa (noun), causare (verb).

’cause conj. INFORMAL short for BECAUSE.

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BECAUSE ■

cause cé·lè·bre n. (pl. causes cé·lè·bres pronunc. same) a controversial issue that attracts a great deal of public attention.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, literally 'famous case'.

cau·se·rie n. (pl. -ries pronunc. same) an informal article or talk, typically one on a literary subject.

<ORIGIN> French, from causer 'to talk'.

cause·way n. a raised road or track across low or wet ground.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from causey (from Anglo-Norman French causee, based on Latin calx 'lime, limestone' (used for paving roads)) + WAY.

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WAY ■

caus·tic adj. 1 able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action: a caustic cleaner.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE sarcastic in a scathing and bitter way: the players were making caustic comments about the refereeing.

- FIGURATIVE (of an expression or sound) expressive of such sarcasm: a caustic smile.

2 [PHYSICS] formed by the intersection of reflected or refracted parallel rays from a curved surface.

■ n. 1 a caustic substance.

2 [PHYSICS] a caustic surface or curve.

<DERIVATIVES> caus·ti·cal·ly adv. caus·tic·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek kaustikos, from kaustos 'combustible', from kaiein 'to burn'.

caus·tic pot·ash n. another term for POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE.

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POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE ■

caus·tic so·da n. another term for SODIUM HYDROXIDE.

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SODIUM HYDROXIDE ■

cau·ter·ize v. [trans.] [MEDICINE] burn the skin or flesh of (a wound) with a heated instrument or caustic substance, typically to stop bleeding or prevent the wound from becoming infected.

<DERIVATIVES> cau·ter·i·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cauteriser, from late Latin cauterizare, from Greek , from 'branding iron', from kaiein 'to burn'.

cau·ter·y n. (pl. -ter·ies) [MEDICINE] an instrument or a caustic substance used for cauterizing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of cauterizing something.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek 'branding iron' (see CAUTERIZE).

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CAUTERIZE ■

Cau·then Steve (1960- ), U.S. jockey. In 1978, riding Affirmed, he became the youngest jockey to win the Triple Crown. He retired in 1992 with a total of 2,794 career victories. Horse Racing Hall of Fame (1994).

cau·tion n. 1 care taken to avoid danger or mistakes: anyone receiving a suspect package should exercise extreme caution.
<SPECIAL USAGE> warning: business advisers have sounded a note of caution.

2 INFORMAL, DATED an amusing or surprising person.

■ v. [reporting verb] say something as a warning: [with clause] the secretary cautioned that economic uncertainties remained | [with direct speech] “Be careful now,” I cautioned.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (caution against) warn or advise against (doing something): advisers have cautioned against tax increases

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting bail or a guarantee): from Latin caution-, from cavere 'take heed'.

cau·tion·ar·y adj. serving as a warning: a cautionary tale.

cau·tious adj. attentive to potential problems or dangers: a cautious driver. See note at VIGILANT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an action) characterized by such an attitude: the plan received a cautious welcome.

<DERIVATIVES> cau·tious·ly adv. cau·tious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from CAUTION, on the pattern of pairs such as ambition, ambitious.

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CAUTION ■

Cau·ver·y (also Ka·ver·i pronunc. same or ) a river in southern India that rises in northern Kerala and flows east for 475 miles (765 km) to the Bay of Bengal, south of Pondicherry. It is held sacred by Hindus.

ca·va n. a Spanish sparkling wine made in the same way as champagne.

<ORIGIN> Spanish.

cav·al·cade n. a formal procession of people walking, on horseback, or riding in vehicles.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a ride or raid on horseback): from French, from Italian cavalcata, from cavalcare 'to ride', based on Latin caballus 'horse'.

cav·a·lier n. 1 (Cavalier) HISTORICAL a supporter of King Charles I in the English Civil War.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY a courtly gentleman, esp. one acting as a lady's escort.

- ARCHAIC a horseman, esp. a cavalryman.

2 (also Cavalier King Charles) a small spaniel of a breed with a moderately long, noncurly, silky coat.

■ adj. showing a lack of proper concern; offhand: Anne was irritated by his cavalier attitude.

<DERIVATIVES> cav·a·lier·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, from Italian cavaliere, based on Latin caballus 'horse': Compare with CABALLERO and CHEVALIER.

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CABALLERO ■

CHEVALIER ■

cav·al·ry n. (pl. -ries) [usu. treated as pl.] HISTORICAL soldiers who fought on horseback.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- HISTORICAL a branch of an army made up of such soldiers.

- modern soldiers who fight in armored vehicles.

<DERIVATIVES> cav·al·ry·man n. (pl. -men).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French cavallerie, from Italian cavalleria, from cavallo 'horse', from Latin caballus.

cav·al·ry twill n. strong woolen twill used typically for making pants and sportswear.

Cav·an a county in the Republic of Ireland, part of the old province of Ulster.

ca·va·quin·ho n. (pl. -hos) a small, four-stringed guitar resembling a ukulele, popular in Brazil and Portugal.

<ORIGIN> Portuguese.

cav·a·ti·na n. (pl. -ti·ne ) [MUSIC] a short operatic aria in simple style without repeated sections.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar piece of lyrical instrumental music.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Italian.

cave n. a large underground chamber, typically of natural origin, in a hillside or cliff.

■ v. [intrans.] 1 explore caves as a sport.

2 short for CAVE IN below.

<PHRASAL VERB> cave in (or cave something in) (with reference to a roof or similar structure) subside or collapse or cause something to do this: the tunnel walls caved in mudstorms caved the roof in.
- FIGURATIVE yield or submit under pressure: the manager caved in to his demands.

<DERIVATIVES> cave·like adj. cav·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from Latin cava, from cavus 'hollow' (compare with CAVERN). The usage cave in may be from the synonymous dialect expression calve in, influenced by obsolete cave 'excavate, hollow out'.

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CAVERN ■

ca·ve·at n. a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] a notice, esp. in a probate, that certain actions may not be taken without informing the person who gave the notice.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin, literally 'let a person beware'.

ca·ve·at emp·tor n. the principle that the buyer alone is responsible for checking the quality and suitability of goods before a purchase is made.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: Latin, literally 'let the buyer beware'.

cave bear n. a large extinct bear of the Pleistocene epoch, whose remains are found commonly in caves throughout Europe.
<INFO>  Ursus spelaeus, family Ursidae.

cave crick·et n. another term for CAMEL CRICKET.

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CAMEL CRICKET ■

cave dwell·er n. a caveman or cavewoman.

cave·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a small colorless fish that lives only in limestone caves in North America. It has reduced or absent eyes, and the head and body are covered with papillae that are sensitive to vibration. Also called BLINDFISH.
<INFO>  Family Amblyopsidae: four genera, in particular Amblyopsis and Typhlichthys.

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BLINDFISH ■

cave-in n. a collapse of a roof or similar structure, typically underground: a mine cave-in.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] FIGURATIVE an instance of yielding or submitting under pressure: the government's cave-in to industry pressure.

cave·man n. (pl. -men) a prehistoric man who lived in caves.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a man whose behavior is uncivilized or violent: [as adj.] you can't change my mind by caveman tactics.

Cav·en·dish Henry (1731-1810), English chemist and physicist. He identified hydrogen, studied carbon dioxide, and determined their densities relative to atmospheric air.

cav·en·dish n. tobacco softened, sweetened, and formed into cakes.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: probably from the surname Cavendish.

cave paint·ing n. a prehistoric picture on the interior of a cave, often depicting animals.

cav·ern n. a cave, or a chamber in a cave, typically a large one.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used in similes and comparisons to refer to a vast, dark space: the dark cavern of the main performance hall; | rouses me from the cavern of sleep.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French caverne or from Latin caverna, from cavus 'hollow'. Compare with CAVE.

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CAVE ■

cav·ern·ous adj. like a cavern in size, shape, or atmosphere: a cavernous warehouse.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE giving the impression of vast, dark depths: his cavernous eyes.

<DERIVATIVES> cav·ern·ous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French caverneux or Latin cavernosus (from caverna 'cavern').

cave sal·a·man·der n. a cave-dwelling salamander with pinkish to brown skin.
<INFO>  Several genera and species in the family Plethodontidae, including the North American Eurycea lucifuga and the European genus Hydromantes.

cav·es·son n. (also lunging cavesson) a type of heavy bridle, which lacks a bit and has a thick noseband fitted with rings to which a lunge rein may be attached.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French caveçon, Italian cavezzone, based on Latin caput 'head'.

cave·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en) a prehistoric woman who lived in caves.

cav·i·ar (also caviare) n. the pickled roe of sturgeon or other large fish, eaten as a delicacy.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Italian caviale (earlier caviaro) or French caviar, probably from medieval Greek khaviari.

cav·il v. [intrans.] make petty or unnecessary objections: they caviled at the cost.

■ n. an objection of this kind.

<DERIVATIVES> cav·il·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French caviller, from Latin cavillari, from cavilla 'mockery'.

cav·ing n. another term for SPELUNKING.

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SPELUNKING ■

cav·i·ta·tion n. [PHYSICS] the formation of an empty space within a solid object or body.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the formation of bubbles in a liquid, typically by the movement of a propeller through it.

cav·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) an empty space within a solid object, in particular the human body: the abdominal cavity; a body cavity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a decayed part of a tooth.

<DERIVATIVES> cav·i·tar·y adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French cavité or late Latin cavitas, from Latin cavus 'hollow'.

cav·i·ty wall n. a wall formed from two thicknesses of masonry with a space between them.

cav·o·lo ne·ro n. an Italian variety of kale with very dark-colored leaves.

<ORIGIN> Italian, from cavolo 'cabbage' + nero 'black'.

cav·ort v. [intrans.] jump or dance around excitedly: spider monkeys leap and cavort in the branches.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL apply oneself enthusiastically to sexual or disreputable pursuits: he spent his nights cavorting with the glitterati.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (originally U.S.): perhaps an alteration of CURVET.

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CURVET ■

Ca·vou·ki·an Raffi see RAFFI.

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RAFFI ■

Ca·vour Camillo Benso, Conte di (1810-61), Italian statesman. In 1861, he became the first premier of a unified Italy.

ca·vy n. (pl. -vies) a South American rodent with a sturdy body and vestigial tail.
<INFO>  Caviidae

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from modern Latin cavia, from Galibi cabiai.

caw n. the harsh cry of a crow or similar bird.

■ v. [intrans.] utter such a cry.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: imitative.

Caw·ley Evonne (1951- ), Australian tennis player; born Evonne Fay Goolagong. She won two Wimbledon 1971, 1980, four Australian 1974-77, and one French 1971 singles titles.

Cawn·pore variant spelling of KANPUR.

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KANPUR ■

Cax·ton William (c.1422-91), English printer. He printed the first book in English in 1474.

cay n. a low bank or reef of coral, rock, or sand. Compare with KEY^2 .

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Spanish cayo 'shoal, reef', from French quai 'quay'.

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KEY ■

Cay·enne the capital and chief port of French Guiana; pop. 41,600.

cay·enne (also cayenne pepper) n. a pungent hot-tasting red powder prepared from ground dried chili peppers.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Tupi kyynha, quiynha, later associated with CAYENNE.

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CAYENNE ■

Cay·ley Arthur (1821-95), English mathematician and attorney. The Cayley numbers, a generalization of complex numbers, are named after him.

cay·man n. variant spelling of CAIMAN.

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CAIMAN ■

Cay·man Is·lands (also the Cay·mans) a group of three islands in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba; pop. 31,930; capital, George Town. The Cayman Islands are a British dependency.

Ca·yu·ga n. (pl. same or -gas) 1 a member of an American Indian people, one of the Five Nations, formerly inhabiting New York.

2 the Iroquoian language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> from an Iroquoian place name.

Cay·u·ga, Lake one of the Finger Lakes, in west central New York. Ithaca lies at its southern end.

Cay·use n. (pl. same or -us·es) 1 a member of an American Indian people of Washington State and Oregon.

2 the language of this people, of unknown affinity.

3 (cayuse) an American Indian pony.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a horse.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> probably from Chinook Jargon from Spanish caballos, 'horses', for which the Cayuse were especially known.

CB abbr. Citizens' Band (radio frequencies).

CBC abbr. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

CBS abbr. Columbia Broadcasting System.

CC abbr.
- closed-captioned.

- Cape Cod.

cc (also c.c.) abbr.
- carbon copy (used as an indication that a duplicate has been or should be sent to another person).

- cubic centimeter(s).

CCD abbr.
- [ELECTRONICS] charge-coupled device, a high-speed semiconductor used chiefly in image detection.

- Confraternity of Christian Doctrine.

CCK abbr. [BIOCHEMISTRY] cholecystokinin.

C clef n. the soprano, alto, or tenor clef.

CCTV abbr. closed-circuit television.

CCU abbr.
- cardiac care unit.

- coronary care unit.

- critical care unit.

CD abbr.
- certificate of deposit.

- civil defense.

- compact disc.

- corps diplomatique.

Cd symbol the chemical element cadmium.

cd abbr.
- candela.

- cord.

CD burn·er n. a device for producing a compact disc by copying from an original or master copy.

CDC abbr. Centers for Disease Control.

CD-I abbr. compact disc (interactive).

CDM abbr. cold dark matter.

CDMA abbr. [ELECTRONICS] Code Division Multiple Access, a generic term denoting a wireless interface based on code division multiple access technology.

cDNA abbr. complementary DNA.

Cdr. (also CDR) abbr. Commander.

Cdre. abbr. Commodore.

CD-ROM n. a compact disc used as a read-only optical memory device for a computer system.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: acronym from compact disc read-only memory.

CD-RW abbr. compact disc rewritable, a blank CD that can be recorded, erased, and rerecorded many times
<SPECIAL USAGE> a disk drive that can read and record CDs

CDT abbr. Central Daylight Time (see CENTRAL TIME).

Linked entries:

CENTRAL TIME ■

CD vid·e·o (abbr.: CDV) n. a video system in which both sound and picture are recorded on compact disc.

CE abbr.
- Chemical Engineer.

- Church of England.

- civil engineer.

- Common Era.

- Corps of Engineers.

Ce symbol the chemical element cerium.

ce·a·no·thus n. a North American shrub of the buckthorn family, cultivated for its dense clusters of small blue or white flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Ceanothus, family Rhamnaceae: numerous species, esp. in the western U.S., including the blueblossom ceanothus of the Pacific coast.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek , denoting a kind of thistle.

Ce·a·rá a state in northeastern Brazil, on the Atlantic coast; capital, Fortaleza.

cease v. [intrans.] come to an end: the hostilities had ceased and normal life was resumed | [with infinitive] on his retirement the job will cease to exist.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] bring (a specified action) to an end: they were asked to cease all military activity.

<PHRASES>
□ never cease to (in hyperbolic use) do something very frequently: her exploits never cease to amaze me.

□ without cease without stopping.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cesser, from Latin cessare 'stop', from cedere 'to yield'.

cease-fire n. a temporary suspension of fighting, typically one during which peace talks take place; a truce.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an order or signal to stop fighting.

cease·less adj. constant and unending: the fort was subjected to ceaseless bombardment.

<DERIVATIVES> cease·less·ly adv.

Ceau·es·cu Nicolae (1918-89), Romanian communist statesman; first president of the Socialist Republic of Romania 1974-89. His regime became increasingly totalitarian and corrupt; a popular uprising in December 1989 resulted in its downfall and in his execution.

Ce·bu an island in southern central Philippines.
<SPECIAL USAGE> its chief city and port; pop. 610,000.

Ce·cil·ia, St. (2nd or 3rd century), Roman martyr. According to legend, she took a vow of celibacy but, when forced to marry, converted her husband to Christianity and both were martyred. She is the patron saint of church music. Feast day, November 22.

ce·cro·pi·a n. 1 a fast-growing tropical American tree, typically among the first to colonize a cleared area. Many cecropias have a symbiotic relationship with ants.
<INFO>  Genus Cecropia, family Cecropiaceae.

2 (also cecropia moth) a very large North American silkworm moth with boldly marked reddish-brown wings. The caterpillars feed on a variety of forest trees.
<INFO>  Hyalophora cecropia, family Saturniidae.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: modern Latin, from the name Cecrops, a king of Attica.

ce·cum (BRIT. cae·cum) n. (pl. -ca ) [ANATOMY] a pouch connected to the junction of the small and large intestines.

<DERIVATIVES> ce·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin (intestinum) caecum 'blind (gut)', translation of Greek tuphlon enteron.

ce·dar n. any of a number of conifers that typically yield fragrant, durable timber, in particular:
<INFO>
- a large tree of the pine family (genus Cedrus, family Pinaceae), in particular the cedar of Lebanon (C. libani), with spreading branches, and the deodar.

- a tall slender North American or Asian tree (genus Thuja, family Cupressaceae), in particular the western red cedar (T. plicata) and the northern white cedar (T. occidentalis).

<DERIVATIVES> ce·darn adj. (POETIC/LITERARY).

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Old French cedre or Latin cedrus, from Greek kedros.

Ce·dar Falls a city in northeastern Iowa, on the Cedar River; pop. 36,145.

Ce·dar Ra·pids an industrial and commercial city in east central Iowa, on the Cedar River; pop. 120,758.

ce·dar wax·wing n. a North American waxwing.
<INFO>  Bombycilla cedrorum

cede v. [trans.] give up (power or territory): they have had to cede control of the schools to the government. See note at RELINQUISH.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from French céder or Latin cedere 'to yield'.

ce·di n. (pl. same or -dis) the basic monetary unit of Ghana, equal to 100 pesewas.

<ORIGIN> of Ghanaian origin, perhaps an alteration of SHILLING.

Linked entries:

SHILLING ■

ce·dil·la n. a mark (¸) written under the letter c, esp. in French, to show that it is pronounced like an s rather than a k (e.g., façade).
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar mark under s in Turkish and other oriental languages.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from obsolete Spanish, earlier form of zedilla, diminutive of zeda (the letter Z), from Greek .

cei·ba n. a very tall tropical American tree from which kapok is obtained, with lightweight yellowish or pinkish timber. It is pollinated by bats and was held sacred by the Maya. Also called KAPOK.
<INFO>  Ceiba pentandra, family Bombacaceae.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: via Spanish from Taino, literally 'giant tree'.

Linked entries:

KAPOK ■

ceil v. [trans.] (usu. be ceiled) ARCHAIC line or plaster the roof of (a building).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'line (the interior of a room) with plaster or paneling': perhaps related to Latin celare, French céler 'conceal'.

cei·lidh n. a social event at which there is Scottish or Irish folk music and singing, traditional dancing, and storytelling.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic ceilidh and Irish célidhe (earlier form of céilí), from Old Irish céilide 'visit, visiting', from céile 'companion'.

ceil·ing n. 1 the upper interior surface of a room or other similar compartment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE an upper limit, typically one set on prices, wages, or expenditure. See also GLASS CEILING.

- the maximum altitude that a particular aircraft can reach.

- the altitude of the base of a cloud layer.

2 the inside planking of a ship's bottom and sides.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting the action of lining the interior of a room with plaster or paneling): from CEIL + -ING^1 . Sense 1 dates from the mid 16th cent.

Linked entries:

GLASS CEILING ■

CEIL ■

-ING ■

ceil·om·e·ter n. a device for measuring and recording the height of clouds.

cel n. a transparent sheet of celluloid or similar film material that can be drawn on, used in the production of cartoons.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: abbreviation of CELLULOID.

Linked entries:

CELLULOID ■

cel·a·don n. a willow-green color: [as adj.] paneling painted in celadon green.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a gray-green glaze used on pottery, esp. that from China.

- pottery made with this glaze.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French céladon, a color named after the hero in d'Urfé's pastoral romance L'Astrée (1607-27).

cel·an·dine (also lesser celandine) n. a common plant of the buttercup family that produces yellow flowers in the early spring, reproducing either by seed or by bulbils at the base of the stems. See also GREATER CELANDINE.
<INFO>  Ranunculus ficaria, family Ranunculaceae.

<ORIGIN> Middle English, from Old French celidoine, from medieval Latin celidonia, based on Greek 'swallow' (the flowering of the plant being associated with the arrival of swallows).

Linked entries:

GREATER CELANDINE ■

-cele comb. form variant spelling of -COELE.

Linked entries:

-COELE ■

ce·leb n. INFORMAL a celebrity: a TV celeb.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent. (originally U.S.): abbreviation.

Cel·e·bes former name of SULAWESI.

Linked entries:

SULAWESI ■

Cel·e·bes sail·fish n. see SAILFISH.

Linked entries:

SAILFISH ■

Cel·e·bes Sea a part of the western Pacific Ocean between the Philippines and the island of Sulawesi and is bounded on the west by Borneo. It is linked to the Java Sea by the Makassar Strait.

Ce·leb·ra n. TRADEMARK a synthetic drug (a COX-2 inhibitor) used in the management of arthritic pain.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: an invented word.

cel·e·brant n. 1 a person who performs a rite, esp. a priest at the Eucharist.

2 a person who celebrates something.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French célébrant or Latin celebrant- 'celebrating', from the verb celebrare (see CELEBRATE).

Linked entries:

CELEBRATE ■

cel·e·brate v. [trans.] 1 mark (a significant or happy day or event), typically with a social gathering.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] do something enjoyable to mark such an occasion: she celebrated with a glass of champagne.

- reach (a birthday or anniversary).

2 perform (a religious ceremony) publicly and duly, in particular officiate at (the Eucharist): he celebrated holy communion.

3 honor or praise publicly: a film celebrating the actor's career | [as adj.] (celebrated) a celebrated mathematician.

<DERIVATIVES> cel·e·bra·tor n. cel·e·bra·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from Latin celebrat- 'celebrated', from the verb celebrare, from celeber, celebr- 'frequented or honored'.

cel·e·bra·tion n. the action of marking one's pleasure at an important event or occasion by engaging in enjoyable, typically social, activity: the birth of his son was a cause for celebration | a birthday celebration.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Latin celebratio(n-), from the verb celebrare (see CELEBRATE).

Linked entries:

CELEBRATE ■

ce·leb·ri·ty n. (pl. -ties) a famous person.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the state of being well known: his prestige and celebrity grew.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'solemn ceremony'): from Old French celebrite or Latin celebritas, from celeber, celebr- 'frequented or honored'.

ce·leb·u·tante n. a celebrity who is well known in fashionable society.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: blend of CELEBRITY and DEBUTANTE.

ce·ler·i·ac n. celery of a variety that forms a large swollen turniplike root that can be eaten cooked or raw. Also called CELERY ROOT.
<INFO>  Apium graveolens rapaceum

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from CELERY + an arbitrary use of -AC.

Linked entries:

CELERY ROOT ■

CELERY ■

-AC ■

ce·ler·i·ty n. ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY swiftness of movement.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French celerite, from Latin celeritas, from celer 'swift'.

cel·er·y n. a cultivated plant of the parsley family, with closely packed succulent leafstalks that are eaten raw or cooked.
<INFO>  Apium graveolens var. dulce, family Umbelliferae.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French céleri, from Italian dialect selleri, based on Greek selinon 'parsley'.

cel·er·y root n. another term for CELERIAC.

Linked entries:

CELERIAC ■

cel·er·y salt n. a mixture of salt and ground celery seed used for seasoning.

cel·er·y seed n. the seed of a plant related to the celery plant, with a celerylike flavor and aroma.

ce·les·ta n. (also ce·leste) a small keyboard instrument in which felted hammers strike a row of steel plates suspended over wooden resonators, giving an ethereal bell-like sound.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: pseudo-Latin, based on French céleste ‘heavenly.’

ce·les·tial adj. [attrib.] positioned in or relating to the sky, or outer space as observed in astronomy: a celestial body.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- belonging or relating to heaven: the celestial city.

- supremely good: the celestial beauty of music.

<DERIVATIVES> ce·les·tial·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin caelestialis, from Latin caelestis, from caelum 'heaven'.

ce·les·tial bam·boo n. another term for NANDINA.

Linked entries:

NANDINA ■

ce·les·tial e·qua·tor n. the projection into space of the earth's equator; an imaginary circle equidistant from the celestial poles.

ce·les·tial globe n. a spherical representation of the sky showing the constellations.

ce·les·tial ho·ri·zon n. see HORIZON (sense 1).

Linked entries:

HORIZON ■

ce·les·tial lat·i·tude n. [ASTRONOMY] the angular distance of a point north or south of the ecliptic. Compare with DECLINATION (sense 1).

Linked entries:

DECLINATION ■

ce·les·tial lon·gi·tude n. [ASTRONOMY] the angular distance of a point east of the vernal equinox, measured along the ecliptic. Compare with RIGHT ASCENSION.

Linked entries:

RIGHT ASCENSION ■

ce·les·tial me·chan·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the branch of theoretical astronomy that deals with the calculation of the motions of celestial objects such as planets.

ce·les·ti·al me·rid·i·an n. see MEDRIDIAN sense 1.

ce·les·tial nav·i·ga·tion n. the action of finding one's way by observing the sun, moon, and stars.

ce·les·tial pole n. [ASTRONOMY] the point on the celestial sphere directly above either of the earth's geographic poles, around which the stars and planets appear to rotate during the course of the night. The north celestial pole is currently within one degree of the star Polaris.

ce·les·tial sphere n. an imaginary sphere of which the observer is the center and on which all celestial objects are considered to lie.

ce·li·ac (BRIT. coe·li·ac) adj. 1 [ANATOMY] of or relating to the abdomen.

2 [MEDICINE] of, relating to, or affected by celiac disease: a celiac child.

■ n. a person with celiac disease.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin coeliacus, from Greek koiliakos, from koilia 'belly'.

ce·li·ac dis·ease n. a disease in which chronic failure to digest food is triggered by hypersensitivity of the small intestine to gluten.

cel·i·bate adj. abstaining from marriage and sexual relations, typically for religious reasons: a celibate priest.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having or involving no sexual relations: I'd rather stay single and celibate.

■ n. a person who abstains from marriage and sexual relations.

<DERIVATIVES> cel·i·ba·cy n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from celibacy, on the pattern of pairs such as magistracy, magistrate.

cell n. 1 a small room in which a prisoner is locked up or in which a monk or nun sleeps.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a small compartment in a larger structure such as a honeycomb.

- HISTORICAL a small monastery or nunnery dependent on a larger one.

2 [BIOLOGY] the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, typically microscopic and consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane. Microscopic organisms typically consist of a single cell, which is either eukaryotic or prokaryotic.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an enclosed cavity in an organism.

- FIGURATIVE a small group forming a nucleus of political activity, typically a secret, subversive one: the weapons may be used to arm terrorist cells.

- the local area covered by one of the short-range transmitters in a cellular telephone system.

3 a device containing electrodes immersed in an electrolyte, used for current-generation or electrolysis.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a unit in a device for converting chemical or solar energy into electricity.

<DERIVATIVES> celled adj. [in combination] a single-celled organism. cell-like adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Old French celle or Latin cella 'storeroom or chamber'.

cel·la n. (pl. cel·lae ) the inner area of an ancient temple, esp. one housing the hidden cult image in a Greek or Roman temple.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: Latin, literally 'storeroom, shrine', from celare 'hide'. (See CONCEAL).

Linked entries:

CONCEAL ■

cel·lar n. a room below ground level in a house, typically one used for storing wine or coal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a stock of wine.

■ v. [trans.] store (wine) in a cellar.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the general sense 'storeroom'): from Old French celier, from late Latin cellarium 'storehouse', from cella 'storeroom or chamber'.

cel·lar·age n. cellars collectively.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- cellar space.

- money charged for the use of a cellar or storehouse.

cel·lar·er n. the person in a monastery who is responsible for the provisioning of food and drink.

cel·lar·et (also cel·lar·ette) n. HISTORICAL a cabinet for keeping bottles of wine and liquor.

cell block n. a large single building or part of a complex subdivided into separate prison cells.

cell di·vi·sion n. [BIOLOGY] the division of a cell into two daughter cells with the same genetic material.

Cel·li·ni Benvenuto (1500-71), Italian goldsmith and sculptor.

cell line n. [BIOLOGY] a cell culture developed from a single cell and therefore consisting of cells with a uniform genetic makeup.

cell-me·di·at·ed adj. [PHYSIOLOGY] denoting the aspect of an immune response involving the action of white blood cells, rather than that of circulating antibodies. Often contrasted with HUMORAL.

Linked entries:

HUMORAL ■

cell mem·brane n. the semipermeable membrane surrounding the cytoplasm of a cell. Also called CYTOMEMBRANE.

Linked entries:

CYTOMEMBRANE ■

cel·lo n. (pl. -los) a bass instrument of the violin family, held upright on the floor between the legs of the seated player.

<DERIVATIVES> cel·list n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: shortening of VIOLONCELLO.

Linked entries:

VIOLONCELLO ■

cel·lo·phane n. a thin transparent wrapping material made from viscose.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: originally a trademark.

cell phone n. (also cell·phone) short for CELLULAR PHONE.

Linked entries:

CELLULAR PHONE ■

cel·lu·lar adj. 1 of, relating to, or consisting of living cells: cellular proliferation.

2 denoting or relating to a mobile telephone system that uses a number of short-range radio stations to cover the area that it serves, the signal being automatically switched from one station to another as the user travels about.

3 (of a fabric item, such as a blanket or vest) knitted so as to form holes or hollows that trap air and provide extra insulation.

4 consisting of small compartments or rooms: cellular accommodations.

<DERIVATIVES> cel·lu·lar·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French cellulaire, from modern Latin cellularis, from cellula 'little chamber', diminutive of cella.

cel·lu·lar au·tom·a·ton n. (pl. cel·lu·lar au·tom·a·ta) [COMPUTING] one of a set of units in a mathematical model that have simple rules governing their replication and destruction. They are used to model complex systems composed of simple units such as living things or parallel processors.

cel·lu·lar blind n. a window blind with a single or double layer of collapsible voids that provide insulation when the blind is extended.

cel·lu·lar phone (also cellular telephone) n. a telephone with access to a cellular radio system so it can be used over a wide area, without a physical connection to a network.

cel·lu·lase n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] an enzyme that converts cellulose into glucose or a disaccharide.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from CELLULOSE + -ASE.

Linked entries:

CELLULOSE ■

-ASE ■

cel·lu·lite n. persistent subcutaneous fat causing dimpling of the skin, esp. on women's hips and thighs. Not in technical use.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from French, from cellule ‘small cell.’

cel·lu·li·tis n. [MEDICINE] inflammation of subcutaneous connective tissue.

cel·lu·loid n. a transparent flammable plastic made in sheets from camphor and nitrocellulose, formerly used for cinematographic film.
<SPECIAL USAGE> motion pictures as a genre: having made the leap from theater to celluloid, she can now make more money.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CELLULOSE + -OID.

Linked entries:

CELLULOSE ■

-OID ■

cel·lu·lose n. 1 an insoluble substance that is the main constituent of plant cell walls and of vegetable fibers such as cotton. It is a polysaccharide consisting of chains of glucose monomers.

2 paint or lacquer consisting principally of cellulose acetate or nitrate in solution.

<DERIVATIVES> cel·lu·lo·sic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from cellule ‘small cell’ + -OSE^2 .

Linked entries:

-OSE ■

cel·lu·lose ac·e·tate n. [CHEMISTRY] a nonflammable thermoplastic polymer made by acetylating cellulose, used as the basis of artificial fibers and plastic.

cel·lu·lose ni·trate n. another term for NITROCELLULOSE.

Linked entries:

NITROCELLULOSE ■

cel·lu·lose tri·ac·e·tate n. see TRIACETATE.

Linked entries:

TRIACETATE ■

cell wall n. [BIOLOGY] a rigid layer of polysaccharides lying outside the plasma membrane of the cells of plants, fungi, and bacteria. In the algae and higher plants, it consists mainly of cellulose.

cell·y (also cell·ie) n. (pl. cell·ies) INFORMAL 1 a cellular phone: Timmy whips out his celly to beep White Mike.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who uses a cellular phone.

2 (among prisoners) cellmate.

<ORIGIN> by shortening and alteration.

ce·lom n. variant spelling of COELOM.

Linked entries:

COELOM ■

ce·lo·sia n. a plant of a genus that includes cockscomb.
<INFO>  Genus Celosia, family Amarantaceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek 'burned or dry' (from the burned appearance of the flowers in some species).

Cel·si·us 1 Anders (1701-44), Swedish astronomer; best known for his temperature scale.

Cel·si·us 2 (abbr.: C) adj. [postpositive when used with a numeral] of or denoting a scale of temperature on which water freezes at 0° and boils at 100° under standard conditions.

■ n. (also Celsius scale) this scale of temperature.

<USAGE>
Celsius, rather than centigrade, is the standard accepted term when giving temperatures: use 25° Celsius rather than 25° centigrade.

Celt n. a member of a group of peoples inhabiting much of Europe and Asia Minor in pre-Roman times. Their culture developed in the late Bronze Age around the upper Danube, and reached its height in the La Tène culture (5th to 1st centuries BC) before being overrun by the Romans and various Germanic peoples.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a native of any of the modern nations or regions in which Celtic languages are (or were until recently) spoken; a person of Irish, Highland Scottish, Manx, Welsh, or Cornish descent.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Celtae (plural), from Greek Keltoi; in later use from French Celte 'Breton' (taken as representing the ancient Gauls).

<USAGE>
See usage at CELTIC.

Linked entries:

CELTIC ■

celt n. [ARCHAEOLOGY] a prehistoric stone or metal implement with a beveled cutting edge, probably used as a tool or weapon.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from medieval Latin celtis 'chisel'.

Celt·i·ber·i·an n. another term for IBERIAN (sense 3).

Linked entries:

IBERIAN ■

Celt·ic adj. of or relating to the Celts or their languages, which constitute a branch of the Indo-European family and include Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, Manx, Cornish, and several extinct pre-Roman languages such as Gaulish.

■ n. the Celtic language group. See also P-CELTIC, Q-CELTIC.

<DERIVATIVES> Celt·i·cism n. Celt·i·cist n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin Celticus (from Celtae 'Celts'), or from French Celtique (from Celte ‘Breton’).

<USAGE>
Celt and Celtic can be pronounced either with an initial k- or s- sound. In standard English, the normal pronunciation is with a k- sound, except in the name of the Boston basketball team.

Linked entries:

P-CELTIC ■

Q-CELTIC ■

Celt·ic Church the Christian Church in the British Isles from its foundation in the 2nd or 3rd century until its assimilation into the Roman Catholic Church (664 in England; 12th century in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland).

Celt·ic cross n. a Latin cross with a circle around the center.

Celt·ic fringe n. the Highland Scots, Irish, Welsh, and Cornish in relation to the rest of Britain.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the land inhabited by these peoples.

Celt·ic harp n. a small harp with wire strings, used in the folk and early music of Scotland and Ireland.

Celt·ic Sea the part of the Atlantic Ocean that is between southern Ireland and southwestern England.

cem·ba·lo n. (pl. -los) another term for HARPSICHORD.

<DERIVATIVES> cem·ba·list n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Italian, shortening of clavicembalo, from medieval Latin clavicymbalum, from Latin clavis 'key' + cymbalum 'cymbal'.

Linked entries:

HARPSICHORD ■

ce·ment n. a powdery substance made by calcining lime and clay, mixed with water to form mortar or mixed with sand, gravel, and water to make concrete.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a soft glue that hardens on setting: rubber cement.

- FIGURATIVE an element that unites a group of people: traditional entertainment was a form of community cement.

- another term for CONCRETE.

- a substance for filling cavities in teeth.

- (also cementum) [ANATOMY] a thin layer of bony material that fixes teeth to the jaw.

- [GEOLOGY] the material that binds particles together in sedimentary rock.

■ v. [trans.] attach with cement: wooden posts were cemented into the ground.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE settle or establish firmly: the two firms are expected to cement an agreement soon.

- [GEOLOGY] (of a material) bind (particles) together in sedimentary rock.

<DERIVATIVES> ce·ment·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French ciment (noun), cimenter (verb), from Latin caementum 'quarry stone', from caedere 'hew'.

Linked entries:

CONCRETE ■

ce·men·ta·tion n. 1 [CHIEFLY GEOLOGY] the binding together of particles or other things by cement.

2 [METALLURGY] a process of altering a metal by heating it in contact with a powdered solid, esp. a former method of making steel by heating iron in contact with charcoal.

ce·ment·ite n. [METALLURGY] a hard, brittle iron carbide present in cast iron and most steels.
<INFO>  3

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CEMENT + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

CEMENT ■

-ITE ■

ce·men·ti·tious adj. of the nature of cement.

ce·ment mix·er (also concrete mixer) n. a machine with a revolving drum used for mixing cement with sand, gravel, and water to make concrete.

cem·e·ter·y n. (pl. -ter·ies) a burial ground; a graveyard.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via late Latin from Greek 'dormitory', from koiman 'put to sleep'.

cen·a·cle n. 1 a group of people, such as a discussion group or literary clique.

2 the room in which the Last Supper was held.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cenacle, from Latin cenaculum, from cena 'dinner'.

ce·no·bite (also coe·no·bite) n. a member of a monastic community.

<DERIVATIVES> ce·no·bit·ic adj. ce·no·bit·i·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cenobite or ecclesiastical Latin coenobita, via late Latin from Greek koinobion 'convent', from koinos 'common' + bios 'life'.

ce·no·spe·cies n. a group of species whose members produce partially fertile hybrids when crossbred.

ce·no·taph n. a tomblike monument to someone buried elsewhere, esp. one commemorating people who died in a war.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French cénotaphe, from late Latin cenotaphium, from Greek kenos 'empty' + taphos 'tomb'.

Ce·no·zo·ic (also Cai·no·zo·ic ) adj. [GEOLOGY] relating to or denoting the most recent era, following the Mesozoic era and comprising the Tertiary and Quaternary periods.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (the Cenozoic) the Cenozoic era, or the system of rocks deposited during it.

The Cenozoic has lasted from about 65 million years ago to the present day. It has seen the rapid evolution and rise to dominance of mammals, birds, and flowering plants.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek kainos 'new' + 'animal' + -IC.

Linked entries:

-IC ■

cense v. [trans.] perfume (something) ritually with the odor of burning incense.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French encenser.

cen·ser n. a container in which incense is burned, typically during a religious ceremony.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French censier, from encensier, from encens (see INCENSE^1 ).

Linked entries:

INCENSE ■

cen·sor n. 1 an official who examines material that is about to be released, such as books, movies, news, and art, and suppresses any parts that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PSYCHOANALYSIS] an aspect of the superego that is said to prevent certain ideas and memories from emerging into consciousness. <ORIGIN> from a mistranslation of German Zensur 'censorship', coined by Freud.

2 (in ancient Rome) either of two magistrates who held censuses and supervised public morals.

■ v. [trans.] (often be censored) examine (a book, movie, etc.) officially and suppress unacceptable parts of it: my mail was being censored.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·so·ri·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in sense 2): from Latin, from censere 'assess'.

<USAGE>
Both censor and censure are both verbs and nouns, but censor means ' scrutinize, revise, or cut unacceptable parts (from a book, movie, etc.)' or 'a person who does this,' while censure means 'criticize harshly' or 'harsh criticism:' the inmates received their mail only after prison officials had censored all the contents; some senators considered a resolution of censure to express strong disapproval of the president’s behavior.

cen·so·ri·ous adj. severely critical of others: modest, charitable in his judgments, never censorious, Jim carried tolerance almost too far.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·so·ri·ous·ly adv. cen·so·ri·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin censorius (from censor ‘magistrate’) + -IOUS.

Linked entries:

-IOUS ■

cen·sor·ship n. the practice of officially examining books, movies, etc., and suppressing unacceptable parts: details of the visit were subject to military censorship.

cen·sure v. [trans.] (often be censured) express severe disapproval of (someone or something), typically in a formal statement: a judge was censured in 1983 for a variety of types of injudicious conduct. See note at REBUKE.

■ n. the expression of formal disapproval: angry delegates offered a resolution of censure against the offenders they paid the price in social ostracism and family censure.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·sur·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'judicial sentence'): from Old French censurer (verb), censure (noun), from Latin censura 'judgment, assessment', from censere 'assess'.

<USAGE>
On the difference in meaning between censure and censor, see usage at CENSOR.

Linked entries:

CENSOR ■

cen·sus n. (pl. -sus·es) an official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals: population estimates extrapolated from the 1981 census | [as adj.] census data.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting a poll tax): from Latin, applied to the registration of citizens and property in ancient Rome, usually for taxation, from censere 'assess'. The current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.

cent n. 1 a monetary unit of the U.S., Canada, and various other countries, equal to one hundredth of a dollar.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a coin of this value.

- INFORMAL a small sum of money: she saved every cent possible.

- [in sing.] [with negative] INFORMAL used for emphasis to denote any money at all: he hadn't yet earned a cent.

2 a monetary unit of some states of the European Union, equal to one hundredth of a euro.

3 [MUSIC] one hundredth of a half step.

<PHRASES> one’s two cents’ worth one’s opinion.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'a hundred'): from French cent, Italian cento, or Latin centum 'hundred'.

cent. abbr.
- centigrade.

- century.

cen·tas n. (pl. same) a monetary unit of Lithuania, equal to one hundredth of a litas.

<ORIGIN> Lithuanian.

cen·taur n. [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a creature with the head, arms, and torso of a man and the body and legs of a horse.

<ORIGIN> via Latin from Greek kentauros, the Greek name for a Thessalonian tribe of expert horsemen; of unknown ultimate origin.

cen·tau·re·a n. a plant of a Eurasian genus that includes the cornflower and knapweed. Several kinds are cultivated for their bright flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Centaurea, family Compositae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin based on Greek kentauros ‘centaur’ (see CENTAURY).

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CENTAURY ■

Cen·tau·rus [ASTRONOMY] a large southern constellation (the Centaur). It lies in the Milky Way and contains the stars Alpha and Proxima Centauri.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Cen·tau·ri ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Lambda Centauri.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

cen·tau·ry n. (pl. -ries) a widely distributed herbaceous plant of the gentian family, typically having pink petals atop long calyx tubes.
<INFO>  Centaurium and related genera, family Gentianaceae: many species, including the wild C. pulchellum and the cultivated ornamental C. scilloides.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin centaurea, based on Greek kentauros 'centaur' (because its medicinal properties were said to have been discovered by the centaur Chiron).

cen·ta·vo n. (pl. -vos) a monetary unit of Mexico, Brazil, and certain other countries (including Portugal until the introduction of the euro), equal to one hundredth of the basic unit.

<ORIGIN> Spanish and Portuguese, from Latin centum 'a hundred'.

CENTCOM (also CentCom) abbr. the unified armed forces command organization that oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

<ORIGIN> acronym from Central Command.

cen·te·nar·i·an n. a person who is one hundred or more years old.

■ adj. [attrib.] one hundred or more years old.

cen·ten·ar·y CHIEFLY BRIT. n. (pl. -ar·ies) the hundredth anniversary of a significant event; a centennial.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a celebration of such an anniversary.

■ adj. of or relating to a hundredth anniversary; centennial.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting a century): from Latin centenarius 'containing a hundred', based on Latin centum 'a hundred'.

cen·ten·ni·al adj. of or relating to a hundredth anniversary: centennial celebrations.

■ n. a hundredth anniversary: the museum's centennial.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a celebration of such an anniversary.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin centum 'a hundred', on the pattern of biennial.

Cen·ten·ni·al State a nickname for the state of COLORADO.

Linked entries:

COLORADO ■

cen·ter (BRIT. cen·tre) n. 1 the middle point of a circle or sphere, equidistant from every point on the circumference or surface.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a point or part that is equally distant from all sides, ends, or surfaces of something; the middle: the center of the ceiling; | the center of a vast territory.

- a pivot or axis of rotation: the galactic rotation of the solar system around the galactic center.

- a political party or group holding moderate opinions.

- [SPORTS] the middle player in a line or group in many games: Terry played center on the basketball team.

- [BASEBALL] short for CENTER FIELD: he flied out to center.

- a core, such as the filling in a piece of chocolate: truffles with liqueur centers.

- a conical adjustable support for a workpiece in a lathe or similar machine.

2 a place or group of buildings where a specified activity is concentrated: a center for medical research; | a shopping center.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a point at which an activity or quality is at its most intense and from which it spreads: the city was a center of discontent.

- the point on which an activity or process is focused: two issues at the center of the health-care debate.

- the most important place in the respect specified: Geneva was then the center of the international world.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] (center around/on) have (something) as a major concern or theme: the case centers around the couple's adopted children; the plot centers on two young men.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] (center something around/on) cause an argument or discussion to focus on (a specified issue): he is centering his discussion on an analysis of patterns of mortality.

- (be centered in) (of an activity) occur mainly in or around (a specified place): the mercantile association was centered in northern Germany.

2 [trans.] place in the middle: to center the needle, turn the knob.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [FOOTBALL] pass the ball back from the ground to another player to begin a down; snap.

<PHRASES> the center of attention a person or thing that draws general attention.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·ter·most adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English centre, from Old French, or from Latin centrum, from Greek kentron 'sharp point, stationary point of a pair of compasses', related to kentein 'to prick'.

<USAGE>
The construction center around (as opposed to center on, or revolve around) has been denounced as incorrect and illogical since it first appeared in the mid 19th century. Although the phrase is common, it defies geometry by confusing the orbit with the fixed point: the earth revolves around (or its revolution centers on) the sun. A careful writer will use a precise expression, such as centers on, revolves around, concerns, or involves.

Linked entries:

CENTER FIELD ■

cen·ter back n. [SPORTS] a player in the middle of the back line in some sports, such as volleyball.

cen·ter bit n. a tool for boring cylindrical holes.

cen·ter·board n. a pivoted board that can be lowered through the keel of a sailboat to reduce sideways movement. Compare with DAGGERBOARD.

Linked entries:

DAGGERBOARD ■

cen·tered (BRIT. cen·tred) adj. 1 in the center: a centered oval window.

2 [in combination] having the specified subject as the focal element: a computer-centered industry.

3 (of a person) well balanced and confident or serene.

4 [in combination] having a center or filling of a specified type: a soft-centered chocolate.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·tered·ness n.

cen·ter field (also cen·ter·field) n. [BASEBALL] the central part of the outfield, behind second base: a single to center field.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the position of an outfielder in this area: Amaro played some center field when Dykstra went on the disabled list.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·ter field·er n.

cen·ter·fire adj. [attrib.] (of a gun cartridge) having the primer in the center of the base.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a gun) using such cartridges.

■ n. a gun using such a cartridge.

cen·ter·fold n. the two middle pages of a magazine, typically taken up by a single illustration or feature.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an illustration on such pages, typically a picture of a naked or scantily clad model.

cen·ter for·ward n. [SOCCER] an attacker who plays in the middle of the field.

cen·ter half·back n. [SOCCER] another term for CENTER BACK.

Linked entries:

CENTER BACK ■

cen·ter·ing n. [ARCHITECTURE] framing used to support an arch or dome while it is under construction.

cen·ter·line (also center line) n. a real or imaginary line through the center of something, esp. one following an axis of symmetry.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a painted line running down the middle of a road, dividing traffic traveling in opposite directions.

cen·ter of buoy·an·cy n. [PHYSICS] the centroid of the immersed part of a ship or other floating body.

cen·ter of cur·va·ture n. [MATHEMATICS] the center of a circle that passes through a curve at a given point and has the same tangent and curvature at that point.

cen·ter of grav·i·ty n. a point from which the weight of a body or system may be considered to act. In uniform gravity it is the same as the center of mass.

cen·ter of mass n. a point representing the mean position of the matter in a body or system.

cen·ter·piece n. a decorative piece or display placed in the middle of a dining or serving table.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an item or issue intended to be a focus of attention: the tower is the centerpiece of the park.

cen·ter punch n. a tool with a conical point for making an indentation in an object, to allow a drill to make a hole at the same spot without slipping.

cen·ter spread n. the two facing middle pages of a newspaper or magazine.

cen·ter stage n. [in sing.] the center of a stage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the most prominent position: oil remains at center stage, with demands for expanded drilling.

■ adv. at or toward the middle of a stage: at the play's opening she stands center stage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in or toward a prominent position: Asian countries have moved center stage for world business.

cen·ter-weight·ed me·ter·ing n. [PHOTOGRAPHY] a mode of automatic light metering in a camera that compensates for differences in the brightness of the central and peripheral portions of the image.

cen·tes·i·mal adj. of or relating to division into hundredths.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·tes·i·mal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin centesimus 'hundredth', from centum 'a hundred'.

cen·tes·i·mo n. (pl. -mos or -mi ) a monetary unit of Italy until the introduction of the euro, worth one hundredth of a lira (used only in calculations).

<ORIGIN> Italian.

cen·té·si·mo n. (pl. -mos) a monetary unit of Uruguay and Panama, equal to one hundredth of a peso in Uruguay and one hundredth of a balboa in Panama.

<ORIGIN> Spanish.

centi- comb. form used commonly in units of measurement: 1 one hundredth: centiliter.

2 hundred: centigrade; centipede.

<ORIGIN> from Latin centum 'hundred'.

cen·ti·grade adj. [postpositive when used with a numeral] another term for CELSIUS^2 .
<SPECIAL USAGE> having a scale of a hundred degrees.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, from Latin centum 'a hundred' + gradus 'step'.

<USAGE>
See usage at CELSIUS.

Linked entries:

CELSIUS ■

cen·ti·gram (abbr.: cg) n. a metric unit of mass, equal to one hundredth of a gram.

cen·ti·li·ter (BRIT. cen·ti·li·tre) (abbr.: cl) n. a metric unit of capacity, equal to one hundredth of a liter.

cen·time n. a monetary unit of Switzerland and certain other countries (including France, Belgium, and Luxembourg until the introduction of the euro), equal to one hundredth of a franc or other decimal currency unit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a coin of this value.

<ORIGIN> French, from Latin centesimus 'hundredth', from centum 'a hundred'.

cen·ti·me·ter (BRIT. cen·ti·me·tre) (abbr.: cm) n. a metric unit of length, equal to one hundredth of a meter.

cen·ti·me·ter-gram-sec·ond sys·tem n. a system of measurement using the centimeter, the gram, and the second as basic units of length, mass, and time.

cen·ti·mo n. (pl. -mos) a monetary unit of Spain (until the introduction of the euro) and a number of Latin American countries, equal to one hundredth of the basic unit.

<ORIGIN> Spanish.

cen·ti·pede n. a predatory myriapod invertebrate with a flattened elongated body composed of many segments. Most segments bear a single pair of legs.
<INFO>  Chilopoda

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French centipède or Latin centipeda, from centum 'a hundred' + pes, ped- 'foot'.

cen·to n. (pl. -tos) RARE a literary work made up of quotations from other authors.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: Latin, 'patchwork garment', the original sense in English.

cen·tra a plural form of CENTRUM.

Linked entries:

CENTRUM ■

cen·tral adj. 1 of, at, or forming the center: the station has a central courtyard.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- accessible from a variety of places: coaches met at a central location.

- [PHONETICS] (of a vowel) articulated in the center of the mouth.

2 of the greatest importance; principal or essential: his preoccupation with American history is central to his work; the rising crime rate remained the central campaign issue.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [attrib.] (of a group or organization) having controlling power over a country or another organization: central government; the central office.

- [attrib.] (of power or authority) in the hands of such a group: local councils are increasingly subject to central control.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·tral·i·ty n. cen·tral·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, or from Latin centralis, from centrum (see CENTER).

Linked entries:

CENTER ■

Cen·tral Af·ri·can Re·pub·lic a country in central Africa; pop. 3,742,000; capital, Bangui; languages, French (official) and Sango. Former name (until 1958) UBANGHI SHARI.

Formerly a French colony, it became a republic within the French Community in 1958 and a fully independent state in 1960. Some stability was achieved when a civilian government was elected in 1993.

Linked entries:

UBANGHI SHARI ■

Cen·tral A·mer·i·ca the southernmost part of North America that links the continent to South America and consists of the countries of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

<DERIVATIVES> Cen·tral A·mer·i·can adj. & n.

cen·tral bank n. a national bank that provides financial and banking services for its country's government and commercial banking system, as well as implementing the government's monetary policy and issuing currency.

cen·tral cast·ing n. a department at a movie or television studio that hires actors for smaller parts.

cen·tral cit·y n. a heavily populated city at the center of a large metropolitan area.

Cen·tral Com·mand (abbr.: Centcom) a military strike force consisting of units from the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Navy, established in 1979 (as the Rapid Deployment Force) to operate in the Middle East and North Africa.

cen·tral heat·ing n. a system for warming a building by heating water or air in one place and circulating it through pipes and radiators or vents.

Cen·tral In·tel·li·gence A·gen·cy (abbr.: CIA) a U.S. federal agency responsible for coordinating government intelligence activities.

cen·tral·ism n. a system that centralizes, esp. an administration.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·tral·ist n. & adj.

cen·tral·ize v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (centralized) concentrate (control of an activity or organization) under a single authority: a vast superstructure of centralized control.
<SPECIAL USAGE> bring (activities) together in one place: the ultimate goal is to centralize boxing under one umbrella.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·tral·i·za·tion n.

cen·tral lock·ing n. a locking system in a motor vehicle that enables the locks of all doors to be operated simultaneously by a single person.

cen·tral nerv·ous sys·tem n. [ANATOMY] the complex of nerve tissues that controls the activities of the body. In vertebrates it comprises the brain and spinal cord.

Cen·tral Park a large public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City.

Cen·tral Pow·ers the alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria during World War I.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy between 1882 and 1914.

cen·tral proc·ess·ing u·nit (also cen·tral proc·es·sor) (abbr.: CPU) n. [COMPUTING] the part of a computer in which operations are controlled and executed.

Cen·tral time the standard time in a zone that includes the central states of the U.S. and parts of central Canada, specifically:
<INFO>
- (Central Standard Time abbrev.: CST) standard time based on the mean solar time at longitude 90° W., six hours behind GMT.

- (Central Daylight Time abbrev.: CDT) Central time during daylight saving, five hours behind GMT.

Cen·tral Val·ley a lowland in central California that is drained in the north by the Sacramento River and also is called the Sacramento Valley. In the south, it is called the San Joaquin Valley.

cen·tre n. British spelling of CENTER.

Linked entries:

CENTER ■

cen·trex (TRADEMARK Cen·trex) n. a telephone service in which a group of phone lines can be joined by part of the local exchange acting as a private exchange.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: blend of CENTRAL and EXCHANGE.

Linked entries:

CENTRAL ■

EXCHANGE ■

cen·tric adj. 1 in or at the center; central: centric and peripheral forces.

2 [BOTANY] (of a diatom) radially symmetrical. Compare with PENNATE.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·tri·cal adj. cen·tric·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Greek kentrikos, from kentron 'sharp point' (see CENTER).

Linked entries:

PENNATE ■

CENTER ■

-centric comb. form having a specified center: geocentric.
<SPECIAL USAGE> forming an opinion or evaluation originating from a specified viewpoint: Eurocentric; ethnocentric.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kentrikos, on the pattern of words such as (con)centric.

-centricity comb. form in nouns corresponding to adjectives ending in -centric (such as ethnocentricity corresponding to ethnocentric).

cen·trif·u·gal adj. [PHYSICS] moving or tending to move away from a center. The opposite of CENTRIPETAL.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·trif·u·gal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from modern Latin centrifugus, from Latin centrum (see CENTER) + -fugus 'fleeing' (from fugere 'flee').

Linked entries:

CENTRIPETAL ■

CENTER ■

cen·trif·u·gal force n. [PHYSICS] an apparent force that acts outward on a body moving around a center, arising from the body's inertia.

cen·trif·u·gal pump n. a pump that uses an impeller to move water or other fluids.

cen·tri·fuge n. a machine with a rapidly rotating container that applies centrifugal force to its contents, typically to separate fluids of different densities (e.g., cream from milk) or liquids from solids.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be centrifuged) subject to the action of a centrifuge.
<SPECIAL USAGE> separate by centrifuge: the black liquid is centrifuged into oil and water.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·trif·u·ga·tion n.

cen·tri·ole n. [BIOLOGY] a minute cylindrical organelle near the nucleus in animal cells, occurring in pairs and involved in the development of spindle fibers in cell division.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin centriolum, diminutive of centrum (see CENTER).

Linked entries:

CENTER ■

cen·trip·e·tal adj. [PHYSICS] moving or tending to move toward a center. The opposite of CENTRIFUGAL.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·trip·e·tal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from modern Latin centripetus, from Latin centrum (see CENTER) + -petus 'seeking' (from petere 'seek').

Linked entries:

CENTRIFUGAL ■

CENTER ■

cen·trip·e·tal force n. [PHYSICS] a force that acts on a body moving in a circular path and is directed toward the center around which the body is moving.

cen·trist adj. having moderate political views or policies.

■ n. a person who holds moderate political views.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·trism n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French centriste, from Latin centrum (see CENTER).

Linked entries:

CENTER ■

cen·troid n. [MATHEMATICS] the center of mass of a geometric object of uniform density.

cen·tro·mere n. [BIOLOGY] the point on a chromosome by which it is attached to a spindle fiber during cell division.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·tro·mer·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Latin centrum (see CENTER) + Greek meros 'part'.

Linked entries:

CENTER ■

cen·tro·some n. [BIOLOGY] an organelle near the nucleus of a cell that contains the centrioles (in animal cells) and from which the spindle fibers develop in cell division.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin centrum (see CENTER) + Greek 'body'.

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CENTER ■

cen·tro·sphere n. 1 [BIOLOGY] a region of clear, differentiated cytoplasm from which the asters extend during cell division and containing the centriole(s) if present.

2 [GEOLOGY] the central or inner part of the earth.

cen·trum n. (pl. -trums or -tra ) [ANATOMY] the solid central part of a vertebra, to which the arches and processes are attached.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin.

cen·tu·ple v. [trans.] multiply by a hundred or by a large amount: they were centupling the national debt.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French, or from ecclesiastical Latin centuplus, alteration of Latin centuplex, from centum 'hundred'.

cen·tu·ri·on n. the commander of a century in the ancient Roman army.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin centurion-, from centuria (see CENTURY).

Linked entries:

CENTURY ■

cen·tu·ry n. (pl. -ries) 1 a period of one hundred years: a century ago most people walked to work.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a period of one hundred years reckoned from the traditional date of the birth of Jesus Christ: the fifteenth century | [as adj., in combination] (-century) a twentieth-century lifestyle.

2 a group of one hundred things.

3 a company in the ancient Roman army, originally of one hundred men.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an ancient Roman political division for voting.

4 a bicycle race of one hundred miles: [as adj.] the nation's largest single-day century ride.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a score of one hundred in a sporting event.

<DERIVATIVES> cen·tu·ri·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 3): from Latin centuria, from centum 'hundred'. Sense 1 dates from the early 17th cent.

<USAGE>
1 In contemporary use, a century is popularly calculated as beginning in a year that ends with ‘00,’ whereas the traditional system designates the ‘00’ year as the final year of a century. This discrepancy was particularly apparent on January 1, 2000, which was commercially celebrated worldwide as the first day of the 21st century, even though January 1, 2001, was regarded as the more proper date for this milestone.

2 Since the 1st century ran from the year 1 to the year 100, the ordinal number (i.e., second, third, fourth, etc.) used to denote the century will always be one digit higher than the corresponding cardinal digit(s). Thus, 1492 is a date in the 15th century, 1776 is n the 18th century, and so on.

cen·tu·ry plant n. a stemless agave with long spiny leaves, which produces a tall flowering stem after many years of growth and then dies. Also called AMERICAN ALOE.
<INFO>  Agave americana, family Agavaceae.

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AMERICAN ALOE ■

CEO abbr. chief executive officer.

cep (also cèpe) n. an edible European and North American mushroom with a smooth brown cap, a stout white stalk, and pores rather than gills, growing in dry woodland and much sought after as a delicacy. Also called KING BOLETE, PORCINI.
<INFO>  Boletus edulis, family Boletaceae, class Basidiomycetes.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French cèpe, from Gascon cep 'tree trunk, mushroom', from Latin cippus 'stake'.

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KING BOLETE ■

PORCINI ■

cèpe n. another term for CEP.

ce·phal·ic adj. TECHNICAL of, in, or relating to the head.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cephalique, from Latin cephalicus, from Greek kephalikos, from 'head'.

-cephalic comb. form equivalent to -CEPHALOUS.

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-CEPHALOUS ■

ce·phal·ic in·dex n. [ANTHROPOLOGY] a number expressing the ratio of the maximum breadth of a skull to its maximum length.

ceph·a·lin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] any of a group of phospholipids present in cell membranes, esp. in the brain.

<ORIGIN>  late 19th cent.: from Greek 'brain' + -IN^1 .

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-IN ■

ceph·a·li·za·tion n. [ZOOLOGY] the concentration of sense organs, nervous control, etc., at the anterior end of the body, forming a head and brain, both during evolution and in the course of an embryo's development.

cephalo- comb. form relating to the head or skull: cephalometry.

<ORIGIN> from Greek 'head'.

Ceph·a·lo·chor·da·ta [ZOOLOGY] a small group of marine invertebrates comprising the lancelets.
<INFO>  Subphylum Cephalochordata, phylum Chordata.

<DERIVATIVES> ceph·a·lo·chor·date n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from CEPHALO- 'head' + Latin khorda 'cord'.

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CEPHALO- ■

ceph·a·lom·e·ter n. a device for measuring the human head.

ceph·a·lom·e·try n. [MEDICINE] measurement and study of the proportions of the head and face, esp. during development and growth.

<DERIVATIVES> ceph·a·lo·met·ric adj.

ceph·a·lon n. [ZOOLOGY] (in some arthropods, esp. trilobites) the region of the head, composed of fused segments.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'head'.

Ceph·a·lop·o·da [ZOOLOGY] a class of active predatory mollusks comprising octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish. They have a distinct head with large eyes and a ring of tentacles around a beaked mouth and are able to release a cloud of inky fluid to confuse predators.

<DERIVATIVES> ceph·a·lo·pod n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek 'head' + pous, pod- 'foot'.

ceph·a·lo·spo·rin n. any of a group of semisynthetic broad-spectrum antibiotics resembling penicillin.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from modern Latin Cephalosporium (genus providing molds for this) + -IN^1 .

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-IN ■

ceph·a·lo·tho·rax n. (pl. -tho·ra·ces or -tho·rax·es) [ZOOLOGY] the fused head and thorax of spiders and other chelicerate arthropods.

-cephalous comb. form -headed (used commonly in medical, zoological, and botanical terms): macrocephalous.

<ORIGIN> based on Greek 'head' + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

ce·pheid (also cepheid variable) n. [ASTRONOMY] a variable star having a regular cycle of brightness with a frequency related to its luminosity, so allowing estimation of its distance from the earth.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from the name of the variable star Delta Cephei, which typifies this class of stars.

Ce·phe·us [ASTRONOMY] a constellation near the north celestial pole.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Ce·phe·i ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Beta Cephei.

<ORIGIN> from the name of a king of Ethiopia, the husband of Cassiopeia.

’cept prep., conj., & v. nonstandard contraction of EXCEPT used in representing speech: everyone else had visitors’cept for Captain.

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EXCEPT ■

ce·ram·ic adj. made of clay and hardened by heat: a ceramic bowl.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to the manufacture of such articles.

■ n. (ceramics) pots and other articles made from clay hardened by heat: handmade pottery and imaginative ceramics for the table.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [usu. treated as sing.] the art of making such articles: sculpting, drawing, ceramics, and fiber art.

- (ceramic) the material from which such articles are made: tableware in ceramic.

- (ceramic) any nonmetallic solid that remains hard when heated.

<DERIVATIVES> ce·ram·i·cist n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek keramikos, from keramos 'pottery'.

Ce·ram Sea (also Se·ram Sea) the part of the western Pacific Ocean that is at the center of the Molucca Islands in Indonesia.

ce·ras·tes n. a North African viper that has a spike over each eye.
<INFO>  Genus Cerastes, family Viperidae: two species, in particular the horned viper.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, from Greek 'horned', from keras 'horn'.

ce·rat·ed adj. 1 covered with wax or resin.

2 [ORNITHOLOGY] having a cere.

cer·a·tite n. an ammonoid fossil of an intermediate type found chiefly in the Permian and Triassic periods, typically with partly frilled and partly lobed suture lines. Compare with AMMONITE and GONIATITE.
<INFO>  Typified by the genus Ceratites, order Ceratida.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Ceratites (from Greek keras, kerat- 'horn') + -ITE^1 .

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AMMONITE ■

GONIATITE ■

-ITE ■

cer·a·top·si·an [PALEONTOLOGY] n. a gregarious quadrupedal herbivorous dinosaur of a group found in the Cretaceous period, including triceratops. It had a large beaked and horned head and a bony frill protecting the neck.
<INFO>  Infraorder Ceratopsia, order Ornithischia.

■ adj. of or relating to the ceratopsians.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from modern Latin Ceratopsia (plural) (from Greek keras, kerat- 'horn' + ops 'face') + -AN.

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-AN ■

Cer·ber·us [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a monstrous watchdog with three (or in some accounts fifty) heads that guarded the entrance to Hades.

cer·car·i·a n. (pl. -car·i·ae ) [ZOOLOGY] a free-swimming larval stage in which a parasitic fluke passes from an intermediate host (typically a snail) to another intermediate host or to the final vertebrate host.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, formed irregularly from Greek kerkos 'tail'.

cer·clage n. [MEDICINE] the use of a ring or loop to bind together the ends of an obliquely fractured bone or to encircle the opening of a malfunctioning cervix.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French, literally 'encirclement'.

cer·co·pi·the·cine n. [ZOOLOGY] an Old World monkey of a group that includes the macaques, mangabeys, baboons, and guenons.
<INFO>  Subfamily Cercopithecinae, family Cercopithecidae.

<ORIGIN> from modern Latin Cercopithecinae (plural), based on Greek 'long-tailed monkey', from kerkos 'tail' + 'ape'.

cer·co·pi·the·coid [ZOOLOGY] n. a primate of a group that comprises the Old World monkeys.
<INFO>  Superfamily Cercopithecoidea and family Cercopithecidae.

■ adj. of or relating to monkeys of this group.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cercopithecoidea, based on Greek , a long-tailed monkey (from kerkos 'tail' + 'ape').

cer·cus n. (pl. cer·ci ) [ZOOLOGY] a small appendage at the end of the abdomen of some insects and other arthropods, occurring in pairs.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from modern Latin, from Greek kerkos 'tail'.

cere n. [ORNITHOLOGY] a waxy, fleshy covering at the base of the upper beak in some birds.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin cera 'wax'.

ce·re·al n. a grain used for food, such as wheat, oats, or corn.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. cereals) a grass producing such grain, grown as an agricultural crop: [as adj.] low yields for cereal crops.

- a breakfast food made from roasted grain, typically eaten with milk: a bowl of cereal | [as adj.] a cereal box.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin cerealis, from Ceres, the name of the Roman goddess of agriculture.

cer·e·bel·lum n. (pl. -bel·lums or -bel·la ) [ANATOMY] the part of the brain at the back of the skull in vertebrates. Its function is to coordinate and regulate muscular activity.

<DERIVATIVES> cer·e·bel·lar adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin, diminutive of CEREBRUM.

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CEREBRUM ■

ce·re·bral adj. 1 of the cerebrum of the brain: a cerebral hemorrhage; the cerebral cortex.
<SPECIAL USAGE> intellectual rather than emotional or physical: photography is a cerebral process.

2 [PHONETICS] another term for RETROFLEX.

<DERIVATIVES> ce·re·bral·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin cerebrum 'brain' + -AL.

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RETROFLEX ■

-AL ■

ce·re·bral aq·ue·duct n. [ANATOMY] a fluid-filled canal that runs through the midbrain connecting the third and fourth ventricles.

ce·re·bral dom·i·nance n. the normal tendency for one side of the brain to control particular functions, such as handedness and speech.

ce·re·bral e·de·ma n. [MEDICINE] a swelling in the brain caused by the presence of excessive fluid. See ALTITUDE SICKNESS.

ce·re·bral pal·sy n. a condition marked by impaired muscle coordination (spastic paralysis) and/or other disabilities, typically caused by damage to the brain before or at birth. See also SPASTIC.

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SPASTIC ■

cer·e·bra·tion n. TECHNICAL or FORMAL the working of the brain; thinking.

<DERIVATIVES> cer·e·brate v.

cerebro- comb. form of or relating to the brain: cerebrospinal.

<ORIGIN> from Latin cerebrum 'brain'.

ce·re·bro·side n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] any of a group of complex lipids present in the sheaths of nerve fibers.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin cerebrum 'brain' + -OSE^2 + -IDE.

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-OSE ■

-IDE ■

ce·re·bro·spi·nal adj. [ANATOMY] of or relating to the brain and spine.

ce·re·bro·spi·nal flu·id n. [ANATOMY] clear watery fluid that fills the space between the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater.

ce·re·bro·vas·cu·lar adj. [ANATOMY] of or relating to the brain and its blood vessels.

ce·re·brum n. (pl. -bra ) [ANATOMY] the principal and most anterior part of the brain in vertebrates, located in the front area of the skull and consisting of two hemispheres, left and right, separated by a fissure. It is responsible for the integration of complex sensory and neural functions and the initiation and coordination of voluntary activity in the body. See also TELENCEPHALON.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin, 'brain'.

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TELENCEPHALON ■

cere·cloth n. HISTORICAL waxed cloth typically used for wrapping a corpse.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from earlier cered cloth, from cere 'to wax', from Latin cerare, from cera 'wax'.

cere·ment n. (usu. cerements) HISTORICAL waxed cloth for wrapping a corpse.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (first used by Shakespeare in Hamlet, 1602): from cere (see CERECLOTH).

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CERECLOTH ■

cer·e·mo·ni·al adj. 1 relating to or used for formal events of a religious or public nature: a ceremonial Buddhist headpiece; the solemn, ceremonial air of a procession of monks; presented at ceremonial occasions. See note at FORMAL.

2 (of a position or role) involving only nominal authority or power: originally a ceremonial post, it is now a position with executive power.

■ n. the system of rules and procedures to be observed at a formal or religious occasion: the procedure was conducted with all due ceremonial.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a rite or ceremony: a ceremonial called the ghost dance.

<DERIVATIVES> cer·e·mo·ni·al·ism n. cer·e·mo·ni·al·ist n. cer·e·mo·ni·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin caerimonialis, from caerimonia 'religious worship' (see CEREMONY).

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CEREMONY ■

cer·e·mo·ni·ous adj. relating or appropriate to grand and formal occasions: a Great Hall where ceremonious and public appearances were made. See note at FORMAL.
<SPECIAL USAGE> excessively polite; punctilious: he accepted the gifts with ceremonious dignity.

<DERIVATIVES> cer·e·mo·ni·ous·ly adv. cer·e·mo·ni·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French cérémonieux or late Latin caerimoniosus, from caerimonia (see CEREMONY).

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CEREMONY ■

cer·e·mo·ny n. (pl. -nies) 1 a formal religious or public occasion, typically one celebrating a particular event or anniversary.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an act or series of acts performed according to a traditional or prescribed form.

2 the ritual observances and procedures performed at grand and formal occasions: the new Queen was proclaimed with due ceremony.
<SPECIAL USAGE> formal polite behavior: he showed them to their table with great ceremony.

<PHRASES>
□ stand on ceremony [usu. with negative] insist on the observance of formalities: we don't stand on ceremony in this house.

□ without ceremony without preamble or politeness: he was pushed without ceremony into the bathroom.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French ceremonie or Latin caerimonia 'religious worship', (plural) 'ritual observances'.

Ce·ren·kov , Pavel, see CHERENKOV.

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CHERENKOV ■

Ce·ren·kov ra·di·a·tion (also Che·ren·kov ra·di·a·tion) n. [PHYSICS] electromagnetic radiation emitted by particles moving through a medium at speeds greater than that of light in the same medium.

ce·re·ol·o·gy n. the study or investigation of crop circles.

<DERIVATIVES> ce·re·ol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: from CERES + -LOGY.

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CERES ■

-LOGY ■

ce·re·op·sis goose n. another term for CAPE BARREN GOOSE.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cereopsis (genus name), from Greek kerinos 'waxen' + opsis 'face' (because of its cere).

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CAPE BARREN GOOSE ■

Ce·res 1 [ROMAN MYTHOLOGY] the goddess of grain and agriculture. Greek equivalent DEMETER.

2 [ASTRONOMY] the first asteroid to be discovered, found by G. Piazzi of Palermo in 1801. It is also the largest, with a diameter of 567 miles (913 km).

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DEMETER ■

cer·e·sin n. a hard whitish paraffin wax used with or instead of beeswax.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin ceres (from Latin cera 'wax') + -IN^1 .

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-IN ■

ce·re·us n. one of numerous neotropical cacti now or formerly included in the genus Cereus.

ce·ric adj. of cerium in its higher valency (4).

cer·i·man n. a large monstera with perforated leaves, popularly grown as a houseplant while young, and with creamy arumlike spathes followed by pineapple-flavored fruit when mature.
<INFO>  Monstera deliciosa, family Araceae.

ce·rise n. a bright or deep red color: a shade of vivid cerise.

■ adj. of a bright or deep red color.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, literally 'cherry'.

ce·ri·um n. the chemical element of atomic number 58, a silvery white metal. It is the most abundant of the lanthanide elements and is the main component of the alloy misch metal. (Symbol: Ce)

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after the asteroid CERES, discovered shortly before.

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CERES ■

cer·met n. any of a class of heat-resistant materials made of ceramic and sintered metal.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: blend of CERAMIC and METAL.

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CERAMIC ■

METAL ■

CERN abbr. European Organization for Nuclear Research.

<ORIGIN> initial letters of French Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire, its former title.

ce·ro n. (pl. same or -ros) a large fish of the mackerel family, serving as an important food fish in the tropical western Atlantic.
<INFO>  Scomberomorus regalis, family Scombridae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Spanish sierra 'saw or sawfish'.

cero- comb. form of or relating to wax: ceroplastic.

<ORIGIN> from Latin cera or Greek 'wax'.

ce·roc n. CHIEFLY BRIT. a type of modern social dance having elements of rock and roll, jive, and salsa.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: invented word, apparently coined in English from French ce 'this' + roc 'rock'.

ce·ro·plas·tic adj. of or relating to modeling in wax.

ce·rous adj. of cerium in its lower valency (3).

Cer·ri·tos a city in southwestern California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 53,240.

Cer·ro Gor·do a mountain pass in eastern Mexico, between Veracruz and Jalapa, scene of an 1847 victory by U.S. forces in the Mexican War.

cert. abbr.
- certificate.

- certified.

cer·tain adj. 1 known for sure; established beyond doubt: it's certain that more changes are in the offing she looks certain to win an Oscar.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having complete conviction about something; confident: are you absolutely certain about this? | true and certain knowledge of the essence of existence.

2 [attrib.] specific but not explicitly named or stated: he raised certain personal problems with me; the exercise was causing him a certain amount of pain.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used when mentioning the name of someone not known to the reader or hearer: a certain General Percy captured the town.

■ pron. (certain of) some but not all: certain of his works have been edited.

<PHRASES>
□ for certain without any doubt: I don't know for certain.

□ make certain [with clause] take action to ensure that something happens or is the case: I made certain that our paths would never cross again.
- establish whether something is definitely correct or true: he probably knew her, but it didn't do any harm to make certain.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin certus 'settled, sure'.

cer·tain·ly adv. [sentence adverb] undoubtedly; definitely; surely: the prestigious address certainly adds to the firm's appeal; it certainly isn't worth risking your life.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in answer to a question or command) yes; by all means: “A good idea,” she agreed. “Certainly!”

cer·tain·ty n. (pl. -ties) firm conviction that something is the case: she knew with absolute certainty that they were dead.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the quality of being reliably true: there is a bewildering lack of certainty and clarity in the law.

- a fact that is definitely true or an event that is definitely going to take place: an immediate transfer would be a certainty.

- a person or thing that may be relied on: he was expected to be a certainty for a gold medal.

<PHRASES> for a certainty beyond the possibility of doubt.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French certainete, from certain (see CERTAIN).

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CERTAIN ■

cer·tes adv. ARCHAIC assuredly; I assure you.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin certus 'settled, sure'.

cer·ti·fi·a·ble adj. 1 able or needing to be certified: encephalitis was a certifiable condition; little hope for certifiable progress.

2 officially recognized as needing treatment for a mental disorder.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL crazy: the world of fashion is almost entirely insane, the people who work in it mainly certifiable.

<DERIVATIVES> cer·ti·fi·a·bly adj.

cer·tif·i·cate n. an official document attesting a certain fact, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a document recording a person's birth, marriage, or death.

- a document describing a medical condition: certificate of immunization.

- a document attesting a level of achievement in a course of study or training: graduate certificate in information technology.

- a document attesting ownership of a certain item: a stock certificate.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be certificated) provide with or attest in an official document.

<DERIVATIVES> cer·ti·fi·ca·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'certification, attestation'): from French certificat or medieval Latin certificatum, from certificare (see CERTIFY).

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CERTIFY ■

cer·tif·i·cate of de·pos·it (abbr.: CD) n. a certificate issued by a bank to a person depositing money for a specified length of time.

cer·ti·fied check n. a check that is guaranteed by a bank.

cer·ti·fied mail n. a postal service in which the sending and receipt of a letter or package are recorded.

cer·ti·fied milk n. HISTORICAL milk guaranteed free from the tubercle bacillus.

cer·ti·fied pub·lic ac·count·ant (abbr.: CPA) n. a member of an officially accredited professional body of accountants.

cer·ti·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] (often be certified) attest or confirm in a formal statement: the profits for the year had been certified by the auditors | [with clause] the medical witness certified that death was due to cerebral hemorrhage. See note at APPROVE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [often as adj.] (certified) officially recognize (someone or something) as possessing certain qualifications or meeting certain standards: a certified scuba instructor; board certified in obstetrics and gynecology.

- officially declare insane.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French certifier, from late Latin certificare, from Latin certus 'certain'.

cer·ti·o·ra·ri n. [LAW] a writ or order by which a higher court reviews a decision of a lower court: an order of certiorari.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Law Latin, 'to be informed', a phrase originally occurring at the start of the writ, from certiorare 'inform', from certior, comparative of certus 'certain'.

cer·ti·tude n. absolute certainty or conviction that something is the case: the question may never be answered with certitude.
<SPECIAL USAGE> something that someone firmly believes is true: his certitude that “we're number one.”

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin certitudo, from certus 'certain'.

ce·ru·le·an POETIC/LITERARY adj. deep blue in color like a clear sky: cerulean waters and golden sands.

■ n. a deep sky-blue color.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin caeruleus 'sky blue', from caelum 'sky'.

ce·ru·men n. technical term for EARWAX.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin cera 'wax'.

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EARWAX ■

ce·ruse n. archaic term for WHITE LEAD.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin cerussa, perhaps from Greek 'wax'.

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WHITE LEAD ■

Cer·van·tes Miguel de (1547-1616), Spanish novelist and playwright; full name Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. His most well-known work is Don Quixote (1605-15), a satire on chivalric romances that greatly influenced the development of the novel.

cer·vi·cal adj. [ANATOMY] 1 of or relating to the narrow necklike passage forming the lower end of the uterus: cervical cancer.

2 of or relating to the neck: the fifth cervical vertebra.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, or from modern Latin cervicalis, from Latin cervix, cervic- 'neck'.

cer·vi·ci·tis n. [MEDICINE] inflammation of the cervix.

cer·vid n. [ZOOLOGY] a mammal of the deer family (Cervidae).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cervidae (plural), from Latin cervus 'deer'.

cer·vine adj. of or relating to deer; deerlike.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin cervinus, from cervus 'deer'.

cer·vix n. (pl. -vices ) the narrow necklike passage forming the lower end of the uterus.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- TECHNICAL the neck.

- a part of other bodily organs resembling a neck.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: Latin.

ce·sar·e·an (also cae·sar·e·an, Cae·sar·e·an, or CHIEFLY BRIT. Cae·sar·i·an) adj. of or effected by cesarean section: a cesarean delivery.

■ n. a cesarean section: I had to have a cesarean | two sons both born by cesarean.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (as a noun denoting a supporter of an emperor or imperial system): from Latin Caesareus 'of Caesar' + -AN

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-AN ■

ce·sar·e·an sec·tion n. a surgical operation for delivering a child by cutting through the wall of the mother's abdomen.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: cesarean from the story that Julius Caesar was delivered by this method.

ce·si·um (BRIT. cae·si·um) n. the chemical element of atomic number 55, a soft, silvery, extremely reactive metal. It belongs to the alkali metal group and occurs as a trace element in some rocks and minerals. (Symbol: Cs)

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin caesius 'grayish-blue' (because it has characteristic lines in the blue part of the spectrum).

es·ké Bu·d·jo·vi·ce a city in the southern Czech Republic, on the Vltava River; pop. 173,400. It is noted for the production of lager. German name BUDWEIS.

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BUDWEIS ■

ces·pi·tose adj. [BOTANY] forming mats or growing in dense tufts or clumps.

cess 1 (also sess) n. (in Scotland, Ireland, and India) a tax or levy.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (denoting the obligation placed on the Irish to supply the Lord Deputy's household and garrison with provisions at prices “assessed” by the government): shortened from the obsolete noun assess 'assessment'.

cess 2 n. (in phrase bad cess to) CHIEFLY IRISH a curse on: bad cess to the day I joined that band!

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (originally Anglo-Irish): perhaps from CESS^1 .

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CESS ■

ces·sa·tion n. a ceasing; an end: the cessation of hostilities | a cessation of animal testing of cosmetics.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a pause or interruption: a cessation of respiration requiring resuscitation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin cessatio(n-), from cessare 'cease'.

ces·ser n. [LAW] termination or cessation, esp. of a period of tenure or legal liability.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Old French cesser 'cease', used as a noun.

ces·sion n. the formal giving up of rights, property, or territory, esp. by a state: the cession of twenty important towns.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin cession-, from cedere 'cede'.

cess·pit n. a pit for the disposal of liquid waste and sewage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a disgusting or corrupt place or situation: the affair threatened to be a cesspit of scandal.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from cess (the supposed base of CESSPOOL) + PIT^1 .

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CESSPOOL ■

PIT ■

cess·pool n. an underground container for the temporary storage of liquid waste and sewage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a disgusting or corrupt place: they should clean out their own political cesspool.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (denoting a trap under a drain to catch solids): probably an alteration, influenced by POOL^1 , of archaic suspiral 'vent, water pipe, settling tank', from Old French souspirail 'air hole', based on Latin sub- 'from below' + spirare 'breathe'.

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POOL ■

ces·ta a wicker basket used in jai alai to catch and throw the ball.

c'est la vie exclam. that's life; such is life: if you get thwarted, c'est la vie.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French.

Ces·to·da (also Ces·toi·de·a ) [ZOOLOGY] a class of parasitic flatworms that comprises the tapeworms.

<DERIVATIVES> ces·tode n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Latin cestus, from Greek kestos, literally 'stitched', used as a noun in the sense 'girdle'.

Ce·ta·cea [ZOOLOGY] an order of marine mammals that comprises the whales, dolphins, and porpoises. These have a streamlined hairless body, no hind limbs, a horizontal tail fin, and a blowhole on top of the head for breathing. See also MYSTICETI, ODONTOCETI.

<DERIVATIVES> ce·ta·cean n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Latin cetus, from Greek 'whale'.

Linked entries:

MYSTICETI ■

ODONTOCETI ■

ce·tane n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless liquid hydrocarbon of the alkane series, used as a solvent.
<INFO>  Alternative name: n-hexadecane; chem. formula: C_16H_34.

<ORIGIN>  late 19th cent.: from Latin cetus 'whale', from Greek (because related compounds were first derived from spermaceti) + -ANE^2 .

Linked entries:

-ANE ■

ce·tane num·ber n. a measure of the ignition properties of diesel fuel relative to cetane as a standard.

ce·te·ris pa·ri·bus adv. FORMAL with other conditions remaining the same: shorter hours of labor will, ceteris paribus, reduce the volume of output.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: modern Latin.

ce·tol·o·gy n. the branch of zoology that deals with whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

Cetsh·wa·yo (also Cet·e·wa·yo ) (c.1826-84), Zulu king. He became ruler of Zululand in 1873 and was involved in a series of battles with the Afrikaners and British; he was deposed as leader after the capture of his capital by the British in 1879.

Ce·tus [ASTRONOMY] a large northern constellation (the Whale), said to represent the sea monster that threatened Andromeda. It contains the variable star Mira.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Ce·ti ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Tau Ceti.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

ce·tyl al·co·hol n. a waxy alcohol occurring in feces and esterified in spermaceti and wool wax. It is used in cosmetics and as an emulsifier.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: CH_3(CH_2)15OH.

Ceu·ta a Spanish enclave, consisting of a port and a military post, on the coast of Morocco in northern Africa; pop. 67,615. It overlooks the Mediterranean approach to the Strait of Gibraltar and with Melilla forms a community of Spain.

Cé·vennes a mountain range in France, on the southeastern edge of the Massif Central.

ce·vi·che (also se·viche) n. a South American dish of marinated raw fish or seafood, typically garnished and served as an appetizer.

<ORIGIN> South American Spanish.

Cey·lon former name (until 1972) of SRI LANKA.

Linked entries:

SRI LANKA ■

Cey·lon moss n. a red seaweed of the Indian subcontinent, the main source of agar.
<INFO>  Gracilaria lichenoides, phylum Rhodophyta.

Cey·lon sat·in·wood n. see SATINWOOD (sense 2).

Linked entries:

SATINWOOD ■

Cé·zanne Paul (1839-1906), French painter. He is closely identified with post-Impressionism, and his later work had an important influence on cubism. Notable works: Still Life with Cupid (1895) and Bathers (sequence of paintings, 1890-1905).

CF abbr.
- carried forward.

- cost and freight.

- cystic fibrosis.

Cf symbol the chemical element californium.

cf. abbr. compare with (used to refer a reader to another written work or another part of the same written work).

<ORIGIN> from Latin confer 'compare'.

c.f. abbr. carried forward (used to refer to figures transferred to a new page or account).

CFA 1 (also CFA franc) n. the basic monetary unit of Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, and the Central African Republic, equal to 100 centimes.

<ORIGIN> CFA from French Communauté Financière Africaine 'African Financial Community'.

CFA 2 abbr. chartered financial analyst.

CFC abbr. [CHEMISTRY] chlorofluorocarbon.

cfm abbr. cubic feet per minute.

CFO abbr. chief financial officer.

CFS abbr. chronic fatigue syndrome.

cfs abbr. cubic feet per second.

CG abbr.
- Coast Guard.

- commanding general.

cg abbr. centigram(s).

cgi abbr. [COMPUTING] common gateway interface, a script standard for writing interactive programs (such as forms and searches) generated by visitors to Web pages.

cgi-bin n. [COMPUTING] a server directory where cgi programs are stored: [as modifier] cgi-bin files.

cGMP abbr. cyclic GMP.

cgs abbr. centimeter-gram-second.

CGT abbr. capital gains tax.

CH abbr.
- courthouse.

- custom house.

ch. abbr.
- chaplain.

- chapter.

- (of a horse) chestnut in color.

- church.

c.h. (also C.H.) abbr. clearinghouse.

chab·a·zite n. a colorless, pink, or yellow zeolite mineral, typically occurring as rhombohedral crystals.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French chabazie, from Greek khabazie, a misreading of khalazie, vocative form of khalazios 'hailstone' (from khalaza 'hail', because of its form and color), + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ITE ■

Cha·blis n. a dry white burgundy wine from Chablis in eastern France.

Cha·brol Claude (1930- ), French movie director; a member of the nouvelle vague.

cha-cha (also cha-cha-cha ) n. a ballroom dance with small steps and swaying hip movements, performed to a Latin American rhythm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> music for or in the rhythm of such a dance.

■ v. (cha-chas, cha-chaed or cha-cha'd, cha-cha·ing) [intrans.] dance the cha-cha.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: Latin American Spanish.

cha·cha·la·ca n. a pheasantlike tree-dwelling bird of the guan family, with a loud harsh call. It is found mainly in the forests of tropical America.
<INFO>  Genus Ortalis, family Cracidae: several species, in particular the plain chachalaca (O. vetula).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: via South American Spanish from Nahuatl, of imitative origin.

cha·cham (also ha·ham) n. a spiritual leader among Sephardic Jews, or, more generally, a person learned in Jewish law.

<ORIGIN> from Hebrew 'wise'.

chac·ma ba·boon n. a dark gray baboon that lives on the savanna of southern Africa.
<INFO>  Papio ursinus, family Cercopithecidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Khoikhoi.

Cha·co another name for GRAN CHACO.

Linked entries:

GRAN CHACO ■

cha·conne n. [MUSIC] a composition in a series of varying sections in slow triple time, typically over a short repeated bass theme. Compare with PASSACAGLIA.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a stately dance performed to such music, popular in the 18th century.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, from Spanish chacona.

Linked entries:

PASSACAGLIA ■

Cha·co War a boundary dispute in 1932-35 between Bolivia and Paraguay, in which Paraguay eventually gained most of the disputed territory.

cha·cun à son goût exclam. each to one's own taste.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French.

Chad a landlocked country in northern central Africa; pop. 9,538,000; capital, N'Djamena; official languages, French and Arabic.

Much of the country lies in the Sahel, as well as the Sahara Desert in the north. A French colony from 1913, Chad became autonomous within the French Community in 1958 and fully independent as a republic in 1960. The country has been troubled by rebellions in the north since 1998.

<DERIVATIVES> Chad·i·an adj. & n.

Chad, Lake a shallow lake on the borders of Chad, Niger, and Nigeria in north central Africa. Its size varies seasonally from about 4,000 square miles (10,360 sq km) to about 10,000 square miles (25,900 sq km).

chad n. a piece of waste material created by punching cards or tape.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a small piece of paper punched out of a ballot.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: possibly from Scots chad 'gravel; small stones' or dialect chat 'chip of wood'. It is not, as suggested, from the name of Mr. Chadless, inventor of a Chadless Keypunch, no such person has been found. Nor is it formed as an acronym from 'card hole aggregate debris'.

Chad·ic n. a group of Afro-Asiatic languages spoken in the region of Lake Chad, of which the most important is Hausa.

■ adj. of or relating to this group of languages.

chad·or (also chad·ar or chud·dar) n. a large piece of dark-colored cloth, typically worn by Muslim women, wrapped around the head and upper body to leave only the face exposed.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Urdu , chaddar, from Persian 'sheet or veil'.

Chad·wick Sir James (1891-1974), English physicist who discovered the neutron. Nobel Prize for Physics (1935).

chae·bol n. (pl. same or -bols) (in South Korea) a large business conglomerate, typically a family-owned one.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: Korean, literally 'money clan'.

chae·ta n. (pl. -tae ) [ZOOLOGY] a stiff bristle made of chitin, esp. in an annelid worm.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek 'long hair'.

Chae·tog·na·tha [ZOOLOGY] a small phylum of marine invertebrates that comprises the arrow worms.

<DERIVATIVES> chae·tog·nath n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek 'long hair' + gnathos 'jaw'.

chafe v. 1 [trans.] (of something restrictive or too tight) make (a part of the body) sore by rubbing against it: the collar chafed his neck.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of a part of the body) be or become sore as a result of such rubbing.

- [intrans.] (of an object) rub abrasively against another object: the grommet stops the cable from chafing on the metal.

2 [trans.] rub (a part of the body) to restore warmth or sensation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> restore (warmth or sensation) in this way: he chafed some feeling into his frozen hands.

3 become or make annoyed or impatient because of a restriction or inconvenience: [intrans.] the bank chafed at the restrictions imposed upon it | [trans.] it chafed him to be confined like this.

■ n. 1 wear or damage caused by rubbing: to prevent chafe the ropes should lie flat.

2 ARCHAIC a state of annoyance.

<PHRASES> chafe at the bit see CHOMP AT THE BIT at CHOMP.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'make warm'): from Old French chaufer 'make hot', based on Latin calefacere, from calere 'be hot' + facere 'make'.

chaf·er n. a flying beetle, the adult and larva of which can be very destructive to foliage and plant roots respectively.
<INFO>  Several subfamilies of the family Scarabaeidae. See also COCKCHAFER.

<ORIGIN> Old English ceafor, cefer, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kever.

Linked entries:

COCKCHAFER ■

chaff 1 n. the husks of corn or other seed separated by winnowing or threshing.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- chopped hay and straw used as fodder.

- FIGURATIVE worthless things; trash.

- strips of metal foil or metal filings released in the atmosphere from aircraft, or deployed as missiles, to obstruct radar detection or confuse radar-tracking missiles.

<PHRASES> separate the wheat from the chaff distinguish valuable people or things from worthless ones.

<DERIVATIVES> chaff·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English cæf, ceaf, probably from a Germanic base meaning 'gnaw'; related to Dutch kaf, also to CHAFER.

Linked entries:

CHAFER ■

chaff 2 n. lighthearted joking; banter.

■ v. [trans.] tease.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: perhaps from CHAFE.

Linked entries:

CHAFE ■

chaff-cut·ter n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a machine for chopping hay and straw for use as fodder.

Chaf·fee Roger B., see GRISSOM.

Linked entries:

GRISSOM ■

chaf·fer v. [intrans.] haggle about the terms of an agreement or price of something.

■ n. ARCHAIC haggling about the price of something.

<DERIVATIVES> chaff·er·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'trade or trading'): from Old English 'a bargain' + faru 'journey'; probably influenced by Old Norse .

chaf·finch n. a Eurasian and North African finch, typically with a bluish top to the head and dark wings and tail.
<INFO>  Genus Fringilla, family Fringillidae: two species, in particular F. coelebs, which (in the male of the typical European form) has a pinkish face and breast.

<ORIGIN> Old English ceaffinc 'chaff finch' (because it forages around barns, picking seeds out of the chaff).

chaff·weed n. a tiny European pimpernel with pink or white flowers.
<INFO>  Anagallis minima, family Primulaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: probably from the verb CHAFE + WEED.

Linked entries:

CHAFE ■

WEED ■

chaf·ing dish n. a metal pan with an outer pan of hot water, used for keeping food warm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a metal pan, typically one containing an alcohol lamp, used for cooking at the table.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from the original (now obsolete) sense of CHAFE 'become warm, warm up'.

Linked entries:

CHAFE ■

Cha·gall Marc (1887-1985), French painter and graphic artist; born in Russia. His work was characterized by the use of rich emotive color and dream imagery and had a significant influence on surrealism.

Cha·gas' dis·ease n. a disease caused by trypanosomes transmitted by bloodsucking bugs, endemic in South America and causing damage to the heart and central nervous system.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after Carlos Chagas (1879-1934), the Brazilian physician who first described it.

Cha·gos Ar·chi·pel·a·go an island group in the Indian Ocean that forms the British Indian Ocean Territory.

cha·grin n. distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated: Jeff, much to his chagrin, wasn't invited.

■ v. (be chagrined) feel distressed or humiliated: he was chagrined when his friend poured scorn on him.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'melancholy'): from French chagrin (noun), literally 'rough skin, shagreen', chagriner (verb), of unknown origin.

chai n. INDIAN tea, esp. when made by boiling the tea leaves with milk, sugar, and cardamom.

<ORIGIN> a term in various Indian languages.

Chain Sir Ernst Boris (1906-79), British biochemist; born in Germany. With Howard Florey he isolated and purified penicillin. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1945, shared with Florey and Alexander Fleming).

chain n. 1 a connected flexible series of metal links used for fastening or securing objects and pulling or supporting loads.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (chains) such a series of links, or a set of them, used to confine a prisoner: the drug dealer is being kept in chains.

- such a series of links worn as a decoration; a necklace.

- CHIEFLY BRIT. such a series of links worn as a badge of office.

- (chains) FIGURATIVE a force or factor that binds or restricts someone: the chains of illness.

- (chains) short for SNOW CHAINS.

2 a sequence of items of the same type forming a line: he kept the chain of buckets supplied with water.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a sequence or series of connected elements: a chain of events; the food chain.

- a group of establishments, such as hotels, stores, or restaurants, owned by the same company: the nation's largest hotel chain.

- a range of mountains: a chain of volcanic ridges.

- a part of a molecule consisting of a number of atoms (typically carbon) bonded together in a linear sequence.

- a figure in a quadrille or similar dance, in which dancers meet and pass each other in a continuous sequence.

3 a jointed measuring line consisting of linked metal rods.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the length of such a measuring line (66 ft.).

- [FOOTBALL] a measuring chain of ten yards, used in the determination of first downs.

4 (chains) a structure of planks projecting horizontally from a sailing ship's sides abreast of the masts, used to widen the basis for the shrouds. <ORIGIN> formed earlier of iron plates.

■ v. [trans.] fasten or secure with a chain: she chained her bicycle to the railing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> confine with a chain: he had been chained up | FIGURATIVE as an actuary you will not be chained to a desk.

<PHRASES> pull (or yank) someone's chain INFORMAL tease someone, typically by leading them to believe something untrue.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chaine, chaeine, from Latin catena 'a chain'.

Linked entries:

SNOW CHAINS ■

chain bridge n. a suspension bridge supported by chains rather than cables.

chain drive n. a mechanism in which power is transmitted from an engine, typically to the wheels of a vehicle or a boat's propeller, by means of a moving endless chain.

<DERIVATIVES> chain-driv·en adj.

chain gang n. a group of convicts chained together while working outside the prison.

chain gear n. a gear transmitting motion by means of a moving endless chain, esp. on a bicycle.

chain har·row n. a harrow consisting of a net made of chains in a metal frame.

chain let·ter n. one of a sequence of letters, each recipient in the sequence being requested to send copies to a specific number of other people.

chain-link adj. [attrib.] made of wire in a diamond-shaped mesh: a chain-link fence.

chain mail n. HISTORICAL armor made of small metal rings linked together.

chain·plate n. a strong link or plate on a sailing ship's side, to which the shrouds are secured.

chain re·ac·tion n. a chemical reaction or other process in which the products themselves promote or spread the reaction, which under certain conditions may accelerate dramatically.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the self-sustaining fission reaction spread by neutrons that occurs in nuclear reactors and bombs.

- FIGURATIVE a series of events, each caused by the previous one: an article in one publication sets off a chain reaction in the media.

chain·ring n. a large cog carrying the chain on a bicycle, which is attached to the crank.

chain·saw n. a mechanical power-driven cutting tool with teeth set on a chain that moves around the edge of a blade.

chain shot n. HISTORICAL pairs of cannonballs or half balls joined by a chain, fired from cannons in sea battles in order to damage masts and rigging.

chain-smoke v. [intrans.] smoke continually, esp. by lighting a new cigarette from the butt of the last one smoked.

<DERIVATIVES> chain-smok·er n.

chain stitch n. an ornamental stitch in which loops are crocheted or embroidered in a chain.

chain store n. one of a series of stores owned by one company and selling the same merchandise.

chain wheel n. a toothed wheel transmitting power by means of a chain fitted to its edges.

chair n. 1 a separate seat for one person, typically with a back and four legs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- HISTORICAL a sedan chair.

- short for CHAIRLIFT.

2 the person in charge of a meeting or organization (used as a neutral alternative to chairman or chairwoman): the deputy chair of the Supreme Soviet.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an official position of authority, for example on a board of directors: the editorial chair.

- (also chair umpire) [TENNIS] another term for UMPIRE.

3 a professorship: he held a chair in physics.

4 a particular seat in an orchestra: [as adj., in combination] she was fourth-chair trumpet.

5 (the chair) short for ELECTRIC CHAIR.

6 CHIEFLY BRIT. a metal socket holding a railroad rail in place.

■ v. [trans.] 1 act as chairperson of or preside over (an organization, meeting, or public event).

2 BRIT. carry (someone) aloft in a chair or in a sitting position to celebrate a victory.

<PHRASES> take the chair act as chairperson.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chaiere (modern chaire 'bishop's throne, etc.', chaise 'chair'), from Latin cathedra 'seat', from Greek kathedra. Compare with CATHEDRAL.

Linked entries:

CHAIRLIFT ■

UMPIRE ■

ELECTRIC CHAIR ■

CATHEDRAL ■

chair·borne adj. MILITARY SLANG assigned to a desk job rather than field duty.

chair car n. a railroad car with individual seats instead of long benches; a parlor car.

chair·la·dy n. (pl. -dies) another term for CHAIRWOMAN.

Linked entries:

CHAIRWOMAN ■

chair·lift n. 1 a series of chairs hung from a moving cable, typically used for carrying passengers up and down a mountain.

2 a device for carrying people in wheelchairs from one floor of a building to another.

chair·man n. (pl. -men) 1 a person, esp. a man, designated to preside over a meeting.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the permanent or long-term president of a committee, company, or other organization.

- (Chairman) (since 1949) the leading figure in the Chinese Communist Party.

2 a person, esp. a man, who is the administrative head of a department of instruction at a college or university.

3 HISTORICAL a sedan-bearer.

<DERIVATIVES> chair·man·ship n.

chair·per·son n. a chairman or chairwoman (used as a neutral alternative).

chair·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en) 1 a woman designated to preside over committee or board meetings.

2 a woman who is the administrative head of a department of instruction at a college or university.

chaise n. 1 CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a horse-drawn carriage for one or two people, typically one with an open top and two wheels.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for POST-CHAISE.

2 short for CHAISE LONGUE.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, variant of chaire (see CHAIR).

Linked entries:

POST-CHAISE ■

CHAISE LONGUE ■

CHAIR ■

chaise longue n. (pl. chaises longues ) a reclining chair with a lengthened seat forming a leg rest.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, literally 'long chair'.

chaise lounge n. variant of CHAISE LONGUE.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: alteration by association with LOUNGE.

Linked entries:

CHAISE LONGUE ■

LOUNGE ■

Cha·ka variant spelling of SHAKA.

Linked entries:

SHAKA ■

chak·ra n. (in Indian thought) each of the centers of spiritual power in the human body, usually considered to be seven in number.

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit cakra 'wheel or circle', from an Indo-European base meaning 'turn', shared by WHEEL.

Linked entries:

WHEEL ■

cha·la·za n. (pl. -la·zae ) [ZOOLOGY] (in a bird's egg) each of two twisted membranous strips joining the yolk to the ends of the shell.

<DERIVATIVES> cha·la·zal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek khalaza 'small knot'.

Chal·ce·don a former city on the Bosporus in Asia Minor, now part of Istanbul. Turkish name KADIKÖY.

Linked entries:

KADIKÖY ■

Chal·ce·don, Coun·cil of the fourth ecumenical council of the Christian Church, held at Chalcedon in 451. It condemned the Monophysite position and affirmed the dual but united nature of Christ as god and man.

<DERIVATIVES> Chal·ce·do·ni·an n. & adj.

chal·ced·o·ny n. (pl. -nies) a microcrystalline type of quartz occurring in several different forms, including onyx, agate, and jasper.

<DERIVATIVES> chal·ce·don·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin calcedonius, chalcedonius (often believed to mean 'stone of Chalcedon', but this is doubtful), from Greek .

chal·cid (also chalcid wasp) n. a minute parasitic wasp of a large group whose members lay eggs inside the eggs of other insects. They typically have bright metallic coloration.
<INFO>  Superfamily Chalcidoidea, order Hymenoptera.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Chalcis (genus name), from Greek khalkos 'copper, brass', + -ID^3 .

Linked entries:

-ID ■

chal·co·cite n. cuprous sulfide, an ore of copper, usu. occurring as black, fine-grained masses.
<INFO>  2

chal·co·py·rite n. a yellow crystalline mineral consisting of a sulfide of copper and iron. It is the principal ore of copper.
<INFO>  2

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin chalcopyrites, from Greek khalkos 'copper' + (see PYRITE).

Linked entries:

PYRITE ■

Chal·de·a an ancient country in what is now southern Iraq, inhabited by the Chaldeans.

<ORIGIN> from Greek Khaldaia, from Akkadian Kaldû, the name of a Babylonian tribal group.

Chal·de·an n. 1 a member of an ancient people who lived in Chaldea c.800 BC and ruled Babylonia 625-539 BC. They were renowned as astronomers and astrologers.

2 the Semitic language of the ancient Chaldeans.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a language related to Aramaic and spoken in parts of Iraq.

3 a member of a Syrian Uniate (formerly Nestorian) Church based mainly in Iran and Iraq.

■ adj. 1 of or relating to ancient Chaldea or its people or language.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY of or relating to astrology.

2 of or relating to the East Syrian Uniate Church.

Chal·dee n. 1 the Semitic language of the ancient Chaldeans.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED the Aramaic language as used in some books of the Old Testament.

2 a native of ancient Chaldea.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Chaldaei 'Chaldeans', from Greek Khaldaioi, from Khaldaia (see CHALDEA).

Linked entries:

CHALDEA ■

chal·dron n. a chiefly British unit of dry measure, esp. a unit of approximately 36 bushels (of coal).

cha·let n. a wooden house or cottage with overhanging eaves, typically found in the Swiss Alps.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar building used as a ski lodge.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Swiss French, diminutive of Old French chasel 'farmstead', based on Latin casa 'hut, cottage'.

chal·ice n. HISTORICAL a large cup or goblet, typically used for drinking wine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the wine cup used in the Christian Eucharist.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin calix, calic- 'cup'.

chal·i·co·there n. a horselike fossil mammal of the late Tertiary period, with stout claws on the toes instead of hooves.
<INFO>  Family Chalicotheriidae, order Perissodactyla: several genera, in particular Moropus.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from modern Latin Chalicotherium (genus name), from Greek khalix, khalik- 'gravel' + 'wild animal'.

chalk n. 1 a soft white limestone (calcium carbonate) formed from the skeletal remains of sea creatures.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a similar substance (calcium sulfate), made into white or colored sticks used for drawing or writing.

- [GEOLOGY] a series of strata consisting mainly of chalk.

2 short for FRENCH CHALK.

■ v. [trans.] 1 draw or write with chalk.
<SPECIAL USAGE> draw or write on (a surface) with chalk: blackboards chalked with Japanese phrases.

2 rub (something, esp. a pool cue) with chalk.

3 BRIT. charge (drinks bought in a bar) to a person's account.

<PHRASES>
□ as different as (or like) chalk and cheese BRIT. fundamentally different or incompatible.

□ by a long chalk BRIT. by far.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  chalk something out sketch or plan something.

□  chalk something up 1 achieve something noteworthy: he has chalked up a box-office success.

2 ascribe something to a particular cause: I chalked my sleeplessness up to nerves.

<ORIGIN> Old English cealc (also denoting lime), related to Dutch kalk and German Kalk, from Latin calx (see CALX).

Linked entries:

FRENCH CHALK ■

CALX ■

chalk·board n. another term for BLACKBOARD.

Linked entries:

BLACKBOARD ■

chalk·face n. [in sing.] BRIT. the day-to-day work of teaching in a school: teachers at the chalkface.

chalk·stone n. DATED [MEDICINE] a chalky deposit of sodium urate formed in the hands and feet of sufferers from severe gout.

chalk-stripe adj. [attrib.] (of a garment or material) having a pattern of thin white stripes on a dark background.

■ n. (chalk stripe) a pattern of this kind.

<DERIVATIVES> chalk-striped adj.

chalk talk n. a talk or lecture in which the speaker uses blackboard and chalk.

chalk·y adj. (chalk·i·er, chalk·i·est) 1 consisting of or rich in chalk: a chalky, powdery soil.

2 resembling chalk in texture or paleness of color: patches of creamy or chalky white.

<DERIVATIVES> chalk·i·ness n.

chal·lah n. (pl. chal·lahs or cha·lot(h) ) a loaf of white leavened bread, typically plaited in form, traditionally baked to celebrate the Jewish sabbath.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Hebrew .

chal·lenge n. 1 a call to take part in a contest or competition, esp. a duel: he accepted the challenge.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a task or situation that tests someone's abilities: the ridge is a challenge for experienced climbers.

- an attempt to win a contest or championship in a sport: a world title challenge.

2 an objection or query as to the truth of something, often with an implicit demand for proof: a challenge to the legality of the order.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a sentry's call for a password or other proof of identity.

- [LAW] an objection regarding the eligibility or suitability of a jury member.

3 [MEDICINE] exposure of the immune system to pathogenic organisms or antigens: recently vaccinated calves should be protected from challenge.

■ v. [trans.] 1 invite (someone) to engage in a contest: he challenged one of my men to a duel.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- enter into competition with or opposition against:
incumbent Democrats are being challenged in the 29th district.
- make a rival claim to or threaten someone's hold on (a position): they were challenging his leadership.

- [trans.] invite (someone) to do something that one thinks will be difficult or impossible; dare: I challenged them to make up their own minds.

- [usu. as adj.] (challenging) test the abilities of: challenging and rewarding employment.

2 dispute the truth or validity of: employees challenged the company's requirement.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [LAW] object to (a jury member).

- (of a sentry) call on (someone) for proof of identity.

3 [MEDICINE] expose (the immune system) to pathogenic organisms or antigens.

<DERIVATIVES> chal·lenge·a·ble adj. chal·leng·er n. chal·leng·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the senses 'accusation' and 'accuse'): from Old French chalenge (noun), chalenger (verb), from Latin calumnia 'calumny', calumniari 'calumniate'.

chal·lenged adj. [with submodifier or in combination] (used euphemistically) impaired or disabled in a specified respect: physically challenged.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL lacking or deficient in a specified respect: vertically challenged; today's attention-challenged teens.

<USAGE>
The use with a preceding adverb, e.g., physically challenged, originally intended to give a more positive tone than such terms as disabled or handicapped, arose in the U.S. in the 1980s. Despite the originally serious intention, the term rapidly became stalled by uses whose intention was to make fun of the attempts at euphemism and whose tone was usually clearly ironic: examples include cerebrally challenged, follicularly challenged, etc.

Chal·leng·er n. a U.S. space shuttle that exploded 1.5 minutes after launch on January 28, 1986, killing its crew of seven.

Chal·leng·er Deep the deepest part (36,201 feet, 11,034 m) of the Mariana Trench in the North Pacific, discovered by HMS Challenger II in 1948.

chal·lis n. a soft lightweight clothing fabric made from silk and worsted.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: origin uncertain; perhaps from the surname Challis.

chal·u·meau n. (pl. -meaux ) a reed instrument of the early 18th century from which the clarinet was developed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also chalumeau register) the lowest octave of the clarinet's range.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, from Latin calamellus 'little reed', diminutive of calamus.

cha·lu·pa n. a fried tortilla in the shape of a boat, with a spicy filling.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Spanish, ultimately related to Dutch sloep 'sloop'.

cha·lyb·e·ate adj. [attrib.] of or denoting natural mineral springs containing iron salts.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin chalybeatus, from Latin chalybs, from Greek khalups, khalub- 'steel'.

Cham n. (pl. same or Chams) 1 a member of an indigenous people of Vietnam and Cambodia, who formed an independent kingdom from the 2nd to 17th centuries AD, and whose culture is strongly influenced by that of India.

2 either of two Austronesian languages of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people, their culture, or their language.

Cha·mae·le·on [ASTRONOMY] a small and faint southern constellation (the Chameleon), close to the south celestial pole.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Cha·mae·le·on·tis ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Delta Chamaeleontis.

<ORIGIN> from Greek.

cha·mae·le·on n. CHIEFLY BRIT. variant spelling of CHAMELEON.

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CHAMELEON ■

cham·ae·phyte n. [BOTANY] a woody plant whose resting buds are on or near the ground.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek khamai 'on the ground' + -PHYTE.

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-PHYTE ■

cham·ber n. 1 a hall used by a legislative or judicial body.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the body that meets in such a hall.

- any of the houses of a legislature: the Senate chamber.

2 POETIC/LITERARY or ARCHAIC a private room, typically a bedroom: he had his meals brought to his chamber.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (chambers) [LAW] a judge's room used for official proceedings not required to be held in open court.

- (chambers) BRIT. [LAW] rooms used by a lawyer or lawyers.

3 an enclosed space or cavity: an echo chamber.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a large underground cavern.

- the part of a gun bore that contains the charge or bullet.

- [BIOLOGY] a cavity in a plant, animal body, or organ: the four chambers of the heart.

4 [as adj.] [MUSIC] of or for a small group of instruments: a chamber concert.

■ v. [trans.] place (a bullet) into the chamber of a gun.

<DERIVATIVES> cham·bered adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'private room'): from Old French chambre, from Latin camera 'vault, arched chamber', from Greek kamara 'object with an arched cover'.

cham·bered nau·ti·lus n. see NAUTILUS.

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NAUTILUS ■

Cham·ber·lain 1 (Arthur) Neville (1869-1940), British statesman; prime minister 1937-40. He pursued a policy of appeasement with Nazi Germany and signed the Munich Agreement in 1938, but was forced to abandon this policy following Hitler's invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1939.

Cham·ber·lain 2 Sir Austin, see DAWES.

Cham·ber·lain 3 Owen (1920- ), U.S. physicist. He investigated subatomic particles and in 1955 discovered the antiproton with E. G. Segrè (1905-89). Nobel Prize for Physics (1959, shared with Segrè).

Cham·ber·lain 4 Richard (1934-), U.S. actor; born George Richard Chamberlain. Most famous for his starring role in the TV series "Dr. Kildare" (1961-66), he also played leading roles in numerous other Hollywood and TV productions, including the miniseries "Shogun" (1980) and "The Thorn Birds" (1983). He has appeared on the stage in Britain and in the U.S.

Cham·ber·lain 5 Wilt (1936-99), U.S. basketball player; full name Wilton Norman Chamberlain; known as Wilt the Stilt. He played for the Philadelphia Warriors (later the Golden State Warriors), the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers from 1959 until 1973. Basketball Hall of Fame (1978).

cham·ber·lain n. HISTORICAL an officer who manages the household of a monarch or noble.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT. the treasurer of a corporation or public body.

<DERIVATIVES> cham·ber·lain·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a servant in a bedchamber): via Old French from Old Saxon kamera, from Latin camera 'vault'(see CHAMBER).

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CHAMBER ■

cham·ber·maid n. a maid who cleans bedrooms and bathrooms, esp. in a hotel.

cham·ber mu·sic n. instrumental music played by a small ensemble, with one player to a part, the most important form being the string quartet which developed in the 18th century.

cham·ber of com·merce (abbr.: C. of C.) n. a local association to promote and protect the interests of the business community in a particular place.

Cham·ber of Dep·u·ties n. the lower legislative assembly in some parliaments.

cham·ber of hor·rors n. an exhibit containing instruments or scenes of torture or execution.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the name given to a room in Madame Tussaud's waxworks exhibition in London.

cham·ber or·ches·tra n. a small orchestra.

cham·ber pot n. a bowl kept in a bedroom and used as a toilet, esp. at night.

Cham·bers Whittaker (1901-61), U.S. journalist; full name Jay Vivian Chambers. In 1948, he accused Alger Hiss of Communist party membership and of passing State Department documents to Soviet agents.

Cham·ber·tin n. a dry red burgundy wine of high quality from Gevrey Chambertin in eastern France.

cham·bray n. a linen-finished gingham cloth with a white weft and a colored warp, producing a mottled appearance.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (originally U.S.): formed irregularly from Cambrai, the name of a town in northern France, where it was originally made. Compare with CAMBRIC.

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CAMBRIC ■

cham·bré adj. [predic.] (of red wine) at room temperature: Cabernet tastes best chambré.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: French, past participle of chambrer 'bring to room temperature', from chambre 'room' (see CHAMBER).

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CHAMBER ■

cha·me·le·on (CHIEFLY BRIT. also cha·mae·le·on) n. a small slow-moving Old World lizard with a prehensile tail, long extensible tongue, protruding eyes that rotate independently, and a highly developed ability to change color.
<INFO>  Family Chamaeleonidae: four genera, in particular Chamaeleo, and numerous species, including the European chameleon (C. vulgaris) and the common chameleon (C. chamaeleon).

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also American chameleon) an anole.

- FIGURATIVE a changeable or inconstant person.

<DERIVATIVES> cha·me·le·on·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Latin chamaeleon from Greek , from khamai 'on the ground' + 'lion'.

cha·metz (also cho·metz) n. [JUDAISM] leaven, or food mixed with leaven, prohibited during Passover.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Hebrew .

cham·fer v. [trans.] in carpentry, cut away (a right-angled edge or corner) to make a symmetrical sloping edge.

■ n. a symmetrical sloping surface at an edge or corner.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'flute or furrow'): back-formation from chamfering, from French chamfrain, from chant 'edge' (see CANT^2 ) + fraint 'broken' (from Old French fraindre 'break', from Latin frangere).

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CANT ■

cha·mise n. an evergreen shrub with small narrow leaves, common in the chaparral of California. Also called GREASEWOOD.
<INFO>  Adenostoma fasciculatum, family Rosaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Mexican Spanish chamiso.

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GREASEWOOD ■

cham·ois n. (pl. same ) 1  an agile goat-antelope with short hooked horns, found in mountainous areas of Europe from Spain to the Caucasus.
<INFO>  Genus Rupicapra, family Bovidae: R. rupicapra (of the Alps, East, and southeastern Europe), and R. pyrenaica (of the Pyrenees and Apennines, also called IZARD).

2 (also chamois leather) soft pliable leather made from the skin of sheep, goats, or deer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a piece of such leather, used typically for washing windows or cars.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, of unknown ultimate origin.

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IZARD ■

cham·o·mile (also cam·o·mile) n. an aromatic European plant of the daisy family, with white and yellow daisylike flowers.
<INFO>  The perennial sweet (or Roman) chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile (or Anthemis nobilis), family Compositae), used, esp. formerly, for lawns and herbal medicine, the annual German chamomile (Matricaria recutita), used medicinally, and the yellow-flowered dyer's chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria), used to produce a yellow-brown dye.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French camomille, from late Latin chamomilla, from Greek 'earth apple' (because of the applelike smell of its flowers).

cham·o·mile tea (also cam·o·mile) n. an infusion of dried flowers of sweet chamomile.

Cha·mor·ro n. 1 a member of the native people of the Mariana Islands (including Guam).

2 the Austronesian language of this people.

champ 1 v. another term for CHOMP.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: imitative.

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CHOMP ■

champ 2 n. INFORMAL a champion.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: abbreviation.

Cham·pagne a region and former province in northeastern France that now corresponds to the Champagne-Ardenne administrative region. It is noted for the white sparkling wine first produced here in about 1700.

cham·pagne n. a white sparkling wine associated with celebration and regarded as a symbol of luxury, typically that made in the Champagne region of France.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a pale cream or straw color.

Cham·pagne-Ar·denne a region of northeastern France that consists of part of the Ardennes forest and the vine-growing area of Champagne.

cham·pagne so·cial·ist n. BRIT., DEROGATORY a person who espouses socialist ideals while enjoying a wealthy and luxurious lifestyle.

<DERIVATIVES> cham·pagne so·cial·ism n.

Cham·paign a city in east central Illinois, home to the University of Illinois; pop. 67,518.

cham·paign n. POETIC/LITERARY open level countryside.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French champagne, from late Latin campania, based on Latin campus 'level ground'. Compare with CAMPAIGN.

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CAMPAIGN ■

cham·pak n. an Asian evergreen tree of the magnolia family, bearing fragrant orange flowers and sacred to Hindus and Buddhists.
<INFO>  Michelia champaca, family Magnoliaceae.

<ORIGIN> from Sanskrit campaka.

cham·per·ty n. [LAW] an illegal agreement in which a person with no previous interest in a lawsuit finances it with a view to sharing the disputed property if the suit succeeds.

<DERIVATIVES> cham·per·tous adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French champartie, from Old French champart 'feudal lord's share of produce', from Latin campus 'field' + pars 'part'.

cham·pi·gnon n. a small edible mushroom with a light brown cap, growing in short grass in both Eurasia and North America and widely grown commercially. Also called MEADOW MUSHROOM, FIELD MUSHROOM.
<INFO>  Agaricus campestris, family Agaricaceae, class Basidiomycetes.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, diminutive of Old French champagne 'open country' (see CHAMPAIGN).

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MEADOW MUSHROOM ■

FIELD MUSHROOM ■

CHAMPAIGN ■

Cham·pi·on Gower (1921-80), U.S. choreographer, dancer, and director. He danced with his wife Marge (1923- ) on stage and in movies such as Jupiter's Darling (1955), and he choreographed Broadway musicals such as 42nd Street (1980).

cham·pi·on n. 1 a person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition, esp. in sports: [as adj.] a champion hurdler.

2 a person who fights or argues for a cause or on behalf of someone else: a champion of women's rights.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a knight who fought in single combat on behalf of the monarch.

■ v. [trans.] support the cause of; defend: priests who championed human rights.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a fighting man): from Old French, from medieval Latin campio(n-) 'fighter', from Latin campus (see CAMP^1 ).

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CAMP ■

cham·pi·on·ship n. 1 a contest for the position of champion in a sport, often involving a series of games or matches.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the position or title of the winner of such a contest.

2 the vigorous support or defense of someone or something: Alan’s championship of his estranged wife.

Cham·plain Samuel de (1567-1635), French explorer and colonial statesman. He established a settlement at Quebec in Canada in 1608 and developed alliances with the native peoples. He was appointed lieutenant governor in 1612.

Cham·plain, Lake a lake in North America, east of the Adirondack Mountains. It forms part of the border between the states of New York and Vermont, and its northern tip extends into Quebec, Canada.

<ORIGIN> named after Samuel de CHAMPLAIN, who reached it in 1609.

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CHAMPLAIN ■

champ·le·vé n. enamelwork in which hollows made in a metal surface are filled with colored enamel.

<ORIGIN> French, from champ 'field' + levé 'raised'.

Cham·pol·lion Jean-François (1790-1832), French Egyptologist. He is noted for his success in deciphering some of the hieroglyphic inscriptions on the Rosetta Stone in 1822.

Champs É·ly·sées an avenue in Paris, France, that extends from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe.

chance n. 1 a possibility of something happening: a chance of victory | there is little chance of his finding a job.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (chances) the probability of something happening: he played down his chances of becoming chairman.

- [in sing.] an opportunity to do or achieve something: I gave her a chance to answer.

- a ticket in a raffle or lottery.

- [BASEBALL] an opportunity to make a defensive play, which if missed counts as an error: 541 straight chances without an error.

2 the occurrence and development of events in the absence of any obvious design: he met his brother by chance | what a lucky chance that you are here.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the unplanned and unpredictable course of events regarded as a power: chance was offering me success.

■ adj. fortuitous; accidental: a chance meeting.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] do something by accident or without design: if they chanced to meet. See note at HAPPEN.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (chance upon/on) find or see by accident: he chanced upon an interesting advertisement.

2 [trans.] INFORMAL do (something) despite its being dangerous or of uncertain outcome: she waited a few seconds and chanced another look.

<PHRASES>
□ by any chance possibly (used in tentative inquiries or suggestions): were you looking for me by any chance?

□ no chance INFORMAL there is no possibility of that: I asked if we could leave early and she said, “No chance.”

□ on the (off) chance just in case: Joan phoned at noon on the off chance that he’d be home.

□ stand a chance [usu. with negative] have a prospect of success or survival: his rivals don't stand a chance.

□ take a chance (or chances) behave in a way that leaves one vulnerable to danger or failure.
- (take a chance on) put one's trust in (something or someone) knowing that it may not be safe or certain.

□ take one's chances do something risky with the hope of success.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cheance, from cheoir 'fall, befall', based on Latin cadere.

chan·cel n. the part of a church near the altar, reserved for the clergy and choir, and typically separated from the nave by steps or a screen.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from Latin cancelli 'crossbars'.

chan·cel·ler·y n. (pl. -ler·ies) 1 the position, office, or department of a chancellor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the official residence of a chancellor.

2 an office attached to an embassy or consulate.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chancellerie, from chancelier 'secretary' (see CHANCELLOR).

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CHANCELLOR ■

chan·cel·lor n. a senior state or legal official.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the head of the government in some European countries, such as Germany.

- the presiding judge of a chancery court.

- the president or chief administrative officer of a college or university.

- CHIEFLY BRIT. the nonresident honorary head of a college or university.

- a bishop's law officer.

- (Chancellor) short for CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER.

<DERIVATIVES> chan·cel·lor·ship n.

<ORIGIN> late Old English, from Old French cancelier, from late Latin cancellarius 'porter, secretary' (originally a court official stationed at the grating separating public from judges), from cancelli 'crossbars'.

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CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER ■

Chan·cel·lor of the Ex·cheq·uer n. the finance minister of the United Kingdom, responsible for preparing the nation's annual budgets.

Chan·cel·lors·ville a historic locality in east central Virginia, west of Fredericksburg, site of a Civil War battle in May 1863.

chance-med·ley n. RARE [LAW] the killing of a person accidentally in self-defense in a fight.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Anglo-Norman French chance medlee, literally 'mixed chance', from chance 'luck' + medlee, feminine past participle of medler 'to mix' (based on Latin miscere).

chan·cer·y n. (pl. -cer·ies) 1 a court of equity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- equity.

- HISTORICAL the court of a bishop's chancellor.

- (Chancery) BRIT. [LAW] the Lord Chancellor's court, a division of the High Court of Justice.

2 (in the Roman Catholic Church) the office of a diocese.

3 CHIEFLY BRIT. an office attached to an embassy or consulate.

4 a public records office.

<PHRASES> in chancery INFORMAL (of a boxer or wrestler) with their head held, contrary to the rules, between the opponent's arm and body and unable to avoid blows.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: contraction of CHANCELLERY.

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CHANCELLERY ■

Chan-chi·ang variant of ZHANJIANG.

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ZHANJIANG ■

chan·cre n. [MEDICINE] a painless ulcer, particularly one developing on the genitals as a result of venereal disease.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, from Latin cancer 'creeping ulcer'.

chan·croid n. a venereal infection causing ulceration of the lymph nodes in the groin. Also called SOFT CHANCRE.

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SOFT CHANCRE ■

chanc·y adj. (chanc·i·er, chanc·i·est) INFORMAL subject to unpredictable changes and circumstances: the screening process was likely to be chancy and unreliable.

<DERIVATIVES> chanc·i·ly adv. chanc·i·ness n.

chan·de·lier n. a decorative hanging light with branches for several light bulbs or candles.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French, from chandelle 'candle', from Latin candela, from candere 'be white, glisten'.

chan·delle n. a steep climbing turn executed in an aircraft to gain height while changing the direction of flight.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from French, literally 'candle'.

Chan·di·garh 1 a Union Territory in northwestern India, created in 1966.

2 a city in this territory; pop. 503,000. The present city was designed in 1950 by Le Corbusier as a new capital for the Punjab and is now the capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana.

Chan·dler 1 a city in south central Arizona, a suburb and resort southeast of Phoenix; pop. 176,581.

Chan·dler 2 Raymond (Thornton) (1888-1959), U.S. novelist; the creator of private detective Philip Marlowe. Many of his novels, written in a tough and realistic style, were made into movies. Notable novels: The Big Sleep (1939), Farewell, My Lovely (1940), and The Long Goodbye (1953).

chan·dler n. 1 (also ship chandler) a dealer in supplies and equipment for ships and boats.

2 HISTORICAL a dealer in household items such as oil, soap, paint, and groceries.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who makes and sells candles.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a candlemaker or candle seller): from Old French chandelier, from chandelle 'candle' (see CHANDELIER).

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CHANDELIER ■

chan·dler·y n. (pl. -dler·ies) the warehouse or store of a chandler.
<SPECIAL USAGE> goods sold by a chandler.

Chan·dra·gup·ta Mau·ry·a (c.325-297 BC), Indian emperor. He founded the Mauryan empire and annexed provinces in Afghanistan from Alexander's Greek successors.

Chan·dra·se·khar Subrahmanyan (1910-95), U.S. astronomer; born in India. He suggested that some stars could eventually collapse to form a dense white dwarf, provided that their mass does not exceed an upper limit (the Chandrasekhar limit).

Cha·nel Coco (1883-1971), French couturière; born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel. Her simple but sophisticated garments were a radical departure from the stiff corseted styles of the day.

Cha·ney Lon (1883-1930), U.S. actor; born Alonso Chaney. He played a wide variety of deformed villains and macabre characters in more than 150 movies, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925). He became known as “the Man of a Thousand Faces.”

Chang·an former name of XIAN.

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XIAN ■

Chang-chia·kow variant of ZHANGJIAKOU.

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ZHANGJIAKOU ■

Chang·chun an industrial city in northeastern China, capital of Jilin province; pop. 2,070,000.

change v. 1 make or become different: [trans.] a proposal to change the law | [intrans.] a Virginia creeper just beginning to change from green to gold.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make or become a different substance entirely; transform: [trans.] filters change the ammonia into nitrate; | [intrans.] computer graphics can show cars changing into cheetahs.

- [intrans.] alter in terms of: the ferns began to change shape.

- [intrans.] (of traffic lights) move from one color of signal to another.

- (of a boy's voice) become deeper with the onset of puberty.

- [intrans.] (of the moon) arrive at a fresh phase; become new.

2 [trans.] take or use another instead of: she decided to change her name.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- move from one to another: she changed jobs incessantly; change sides.

- exchange; trade: the sun and moon changed places.

- [intrans.] move to a different train, airplane, or subway line.

- give up (something) in exchange for something else: we changed the shades for vertical blinds.

- remove (something dirty or faulty) and replace it with another of the same kind: change a light bulb.

- put a clean diaper on (a baby or young child).

- engage a different gear in a motor vehicle: [trans.] wait for a gap and then change gears | FIGURATIVE with business concluded, the convention changes gear and a gigantic circus takes over the town.

- exchange (a sum of money) for the same amount in smaller denominations or in coins, or for different currency.

- [intrans.] put different clothes on: he changed for dinner.

■ n. 1 the act or instance of making or becoming different: the change from a nomadic to an agricultural society | environmental change.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the substitution of one thing for another: a change of venue.

- an alteration or modification: a change came over Eddie's face.

- a new or refreshingly different experience: couscous makes an interesting change from rice.

- [in sing.] a clean garment or garments as a replacement for clothes one is wearing: a change of socks.

- (the change or the change of life) INFORMAL menopause.

- the moon's arrival at a fresh phase, typically at the new moon.

- [BASEBALL] another term for CHANGE-UP.

2 coins as opposed to paper currency: a handful of loose change.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- money given in exchange for the same amount in larger denominations.

- money returned to someone as the balance of the amount paid for something: I watched him pocket the change.

3 (usu. changes) an order in which a peal of bells can be rung.

4 (Change or 'Change) BRIT., HISTORICAL a place where merchants met to do business.

<PHRASES>
□ change color blanch or flush.

□ change hands (of a business or building) pass to a different owner.
- (of money or a marketable commodity) pass to another person during a business transaction: no money has changed hands.

□ change one's mind adopt a different opinion or plan.

□ change off take turns.

□ a change of heart a move to a different opinion or attitude.

□ change step (in marching) alter one's step so that the opposite leg marks time.

□ change the subject begin talking about something different, esp. to avoid embarrassment or the divulgence of confidences.

□ change one's tune
1 express a different opinion or behave in a different way.

2 change one's style of language or manner, esp. from an insolent to a respectful tone.

□ for a change contrary to how things usually happen; for variety: it's nice to be pampered for a change.

□ ring the changes vary the ways of expressing, arranging, or doing something. <ORIGIN> with allusion to bell-ringing and the different orders in which a peal of bells may be rung.

<PHRASAL VERB> change over move from one system or situation to another: crop farmers have to change over to dairy farming.

<DERIVATIVES> change·ful adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French change (noun), changer (verb), from late Latin cambiare, from Latin cambire 'barter', probably of Celtic origin.

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CHANGE-UP ■

change·a·ble adj. 1 irregular; inconstant: the weather will be changeable, with rain at times.

2 able to change or be changed.

<DERIVATIVES> change·a·bil·i·ty n. change·a·ble·ness n. change·a·bly adv.

change·less adj. remaining the same.

<DERIVATIVES> change·less·ly adv. change·less·ness n.

change·ling n. a child believed to have been secretly substituted by fairies for the parents' real child in infancy.

change·out n. the replacement of a spent, used, dysfunctional or otherwise inferior part or object with a new one.

change·o·ver n. a change from one system or situation to another.

change purse n. a small strapless purse used for carrying money.

chang·er n. a person or thing that changes something.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a device that holds several computer disks or compact disks and is able to switch between them.

change-ring·ing n. the ringing of sets of church bells or handbells in a constantly varying order.

<DERIVATIVES> change-ring·er n.

change-up n. [BASEBALL] a deceptively slow pitch intended to throw off the batter's timing.

Chang Jiang another name for YANGTZE.

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YANGTZE ■

Chang·sha the capital of Hunan province in eastern central China; pop. 1,300,000.

Chang·zhou a city in Jiangsu province in eastern China, on the Grand Canal, north of Shanghai; pop. 670,000.

chan·nel n. 1 a length of water wider than a strait, joining two larger areas of water, esp. two seas.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the navigable part of a waterway: buoys marked the safe limits of the channel.

- a hollow bed for a natural or artificial waterway.

- (the Channel) the English Channel.

- a narrow gap or passage: a channel opened up between two lines of cars.

- a tubular passage or duct for liquid.

- an electric circuit that acts as a path for a signal: an audio channel.

- a groove or flute, esp. in a column.

- [ELECTRONICS] the semiconductor region in a field-effect transistor that forms the main current path between the source and the drain.

2 a band of frequencies used in radio and television transmission, esp. as used by a particular station.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a service or station using such a band: a shopping channel.

3 a medium for communication or the passage of information: they didn't apply through the proper channels.

■ v. (-neled, -nel·ing; BRIT. -nelled, -nel·ling) [trans.] 1 direct toward a particular end or object: advertisers channel money into radio.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- guide along a particular route or through a specified medium: many countries channel their aid through charities.

- (of a person) serve as a medium for (a spirit).

2 [usu. as adj.] (channeled) form channels or grooves in: the lower jawbone is deeply channeled.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chanel, from Latin canalis 'pipe, groove, channel', from canna 'reed' (see CANE). Compare with CANAL.

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CANE ■

CANAL ■

chan·nel cat (also channel catfish) n. a common North American freshwater catfish that has a pale blue to olive back with dark spots.
<INFO>  Ictalurus punctatus, family Ictaluridae.

chan·nel-hop v. [intrans.] INFORMAL 1 another term for CHANNEL-SURF.

2 travel across the English Channel and back frequently or for only a brief trip.

<DERIVATIVES> chan·nel-hop·per n.

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CHANNEL-SURF ■

Chan·nel Is·lands 1 a group of islands in the English Channel off the northwestern coast of France; pop. 146,000. The largest are Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney.

2 another name for the SANTA BARBARA ISLANDS in California.

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SANTA BARBARA ISLANDS ■

chan·nel·ize v. [trans.] another term for CHANNEL (senses 1 and 2).

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CHANNEL ■

chan·nel-surf v. INFORMAL change frequently from one television channel to another, using a remote control device.

<DERIVATIVES> chan·nel-surf·er n. chan·nel-surf·ing n.

Chan·nel Tun·nel a railroad tunnel under the English Channel that extends for 31 miles (49 km) and links England and France. The tunnel (popularly called the Chunnel) opened in 1994 after eight years of construction to link Holywell, near Folkestone, England, and Sangatte, near Calais, France.

chan·son n. a French song.

<ORIGIN> French, from Latin cantio(n-) 'singing', from canere 'sing'.

chan·son de geste n. (pl. chan·sons de geste ) a medieval historical romance in French verse, typically one connected with Charlemagne.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, literally 'song of heroic deeds', from chanson 'song' (see CHANSON) and geste from Latin gesta 'actions, exploits'.

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CHANSON ■

chant n. 1 a repeated rhythmic phrase, typically one shouted or sung in unison by a crowd.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a monotonous or repetitive song, typically an incantation or part of a ritual.

2 [MUSIC] a short musical passage in two or more phrases used for singing unmetrical words; a psalm or canticle sung to such music.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the style of music consisting of such passages: Gregorian chant.

■ v. [trans.] say or shout repeatedly in a sing-song tone: protesters were chanting slogans | [with direct speech] the crowd chanted “No violence!”
<SPECIAL USAGE> sing or intone (a psalm, canticle, or sacred text).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'sing'): from Old French chanter 'sing', from Latin cantare, frequentative of canere 'sing'.

chant·er n. 1 a person who chants something.

2 [MUSIC] the pipe of a bagpipe with finger holes, on which the melody is played.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French chanteor, from Latin cantator, from cantare (see CHANT).

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CHANT ■

chan·te·relle n. an edible woodland mushroom with a yellow funnel-shaped cap and a faint smell of apricots, found in both Eurasia and North America.
<INFO>  Cantharellus cibarius, family Cantharellaceae, class Basidiomycetes.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, from modern Latin cantharellus, diminutive of cantharus, from Greek kantharos, denoting a kind of drinking container.

chan·teuse n. a female singer of popular songs, esp. in a nightclub.

<ORIGIN> French, from chanter 'sing'.

chant·ey (also chant·y, shant·y, or sea chant·ey) n. a song with alternating solo and chorus, of a kind originally sung by sailors while performing physical labor together.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th. cent.: probably from French chantez! 'sing!', imperative plural of chanter.

chan·ti·cleer n. POETIC/LITERARY a name given to a rooster, esp. in fairy tales.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French Chantecler, the name of the cock in the fable Reynard the Fox, from chanter 'sing, crow' (see CHANT) + cler 'clear'.

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CHANT ■

Chan·til·ly lace n. a delicate kind of bobbin lace.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Chantilly, a town near Paris.

chant·ing gos·hawk n. a long-legged African hawk with pale gray upper parts, throat, and breast, noted for its prolonged musical fluting call delivered from a treetop perch.
<INFO>  Genus Melierax, family Accipitridae: three species.

chan·try n. (pl. -tries) an endowment for a priest or priests to celebrate masses for the founder's soul.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a chapel, altar, or other part of a church endowed for such a purpose.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French chanterie, from chanter 'to sing'.

chant·y n. (pl. chant·ies) variant spelling of CHANTEY.

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CHANTEY ■

Cha·nu·kah n. variant spelling of HANUKKAH.

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HANUKKAH ■

Cha·nute Octave (1832-1910), U.S. aviation pioneer; born in France. From 1898, he produced a number of gliders, including a biplane that made over 700 flights. He assisted the Wright brothers in making the world's first controlled powered flight.

Chao Phra·ya a major waterway in central Thailand that is formed by the junction of the Ping and Nan rivers.

cha·os n. complete disorder and confusion: snow caused chaos in the region.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [PHYSICS] behavior so unpredictable as to appear random, owing to great sensitivity to small changes in conditions.

- the formless matter supposed to have existed before the creation of the universe.

- (Chaos) [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the first created being, from which came the primeval deities Gaia, Tartarus, Erebus, and Nyx.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (denoting a gaping void or chasm, later formless primordial matter): via French and Latin from Greek khaos 'vast chasm, void'.

cha·os the·o·ry n. the branch of mathematics that deals with complex systems whose behavior is highly sensitive to slight changes in conditions, so that small alterations can give rise to strikingly great consequences.

cha·ot·ic adj. in a state of complete confusion and disorder: a chaotic jumble of spools, tapes, and books.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHYSICS] of or relating to systems that exhibit chaos.

<DERIVATIVES> cha·ot·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from CHAOS, on the pattern of words such as hypnotic.

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CHAOS ■

cha·ot·ic at·trac·tor n. [MATHEMATICS] another term for STRANGE ATTRACTOR.

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STRANGE ATTRACTOR ■

chap 1 v. (chapped, chap·ping) [intrans.] (of the skin) become cracked, rough, or sore, typically through exposure to cold weather:
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (chapped) (of the wind or cold) cause (skin) to crack in this way: chapped lips.

■ n. a cracked or sore patch on the skin.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin.

chap 2 n. INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. a man or a boy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED a friendly form of address between men and boys: best of luck, old chap.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a buyer or customer): abbreviation of CHAPMAN. The current sense dates from the early 18th cent.

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CHAPMAN ■

chap. abbr. chapter.

cha·pa·ra·jos (also cha·pa·re·jos) plural n. full form of CHAPS.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Mexican Spanish chaparreras, from chaparra (with reference to protection from thorny vegetation: see CHAPARRAL); probably influenced by Spanish aparejo 'equipment'.

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CHAPS ■

CHAPARRAL ■

chap·ar·ral n. vegetation consisting chiefly of tangled shrubs and thorny bushes.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, from chaparra 'dwarf evergreen oak'.

cha·pa·ti (also cha·pat·ti) n. (pl. -tis) (in Indian cooking) a thin pancake of unleavened whole-grain bread cooked on a griddle.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi , from 'flatten, roll out'.

chap·book n. HISTORICAL a small pamphlet containing tales, ballads, or tracts, sold by peddlers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a small paperback booklet, typically containing poems or fiction.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from CHAPMAN + BOOK.

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CHAPMAN ■

BOOK ■

chape n. 1 HISTORICAL the metal point of a scabbard.

2 the metal pin of a buckle.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the general sense 'plate of metal overlaying or trimming something'): from Old French, literally 'cape, hood', from late Latin cappa 'cap'.

cha·peau n. (pl. -peaux ) a hat.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French, from Latin cappellum, diminutive of cappa 'cap'.

chap·el n. 1 a small building for Christian worship, typically one attached to an institution or private house.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- regular services held in such a building: attendance at chapel was compulsory.

- a part of a large church or cathedral with its own altar and dedication.

- a room or building in which funeral services are held.

- BRIT. a place of worship for certain Protestant denominations.

2 BRIT. [PRINTING] the members or branch of a labor union at a particular place of work.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chapele, from medieval Latin cappella, diminutive of cappa 'cap or cape' (the first chapel being a sanctuary in which St. Martin's cloak was preserved).

Chap·el Hill a town in north central North Carolina, home to the University of North Carolina as well as many research facilities; pop. 38,719.

chap·el of ease n. a chapel situated for the convenience of parishioners living a long distance from the parish church.

chap·er·one (also chap·er·on ) n. a person who accompanies and looks after another person or group of people, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- DATED an older woman responsible for the decorous behavior of a young unmarried girl at social occasions.

- a person who takes charge of a child or group of children in public.

■ v. [trans.] accompany and look after or supervise.

<DERIVATIVES> chap·er·on·age n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a hood or cap, regarded as giving protection): from French, feminine of chaperon 'hood', diminutive of chape (see CHAPE). The current sense dates from the early 18th cent.

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CHAPE ■

chap·er·o·nin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a protein that aids the assembly and folding of other protein molecules in living cells.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: from CHAPERONE + -IN^1 .

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CHAPERONE ■

-IN ■

chap·fall·en (also chop·fall·en ) adj. ARCHAIC with one's lower jaw hanging due to extreme exhaustion or dejection.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from CHAP^3 .

chap·lain n. a member of the clergy attached to a private chapel, institution, ship, branch of the armed forces, etc.

<DERIVATIVES> chap·lain·cy n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chapelain, from medieval Latin cappellanus, originally denoting a custodian of the cloak of St. Martin, from cappella, originally 'little cloak' (see CHAPEL).

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CHAPEL ■

chap·let n. 1 a garland or wreath for a person's head.

2 a string of 55 beads (one third of the rosary number) for counting prayers, or as a necklace.

3 a metal support for the core of a hollow casting mold.

<DERIVATIVES> chap·let·ed adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French chapelet, diminutive of chapel 'hat', based on late Latin cappa 'cap'.

Chap·lin Charlie (1889-1977), English movie actor and director; full name Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin. He directed and starred in many short silent comedies, mostly playing a bowler-hatted tramp, a character that was his trademark for more than 25 years. Notable movies: The Kid (1921) and The Gold Rush (1925).

Chap·man John, see APPLESEED.

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APPLESEED ■

chap·man n. (pl. -men) ARCHAIC a peddler.

<ORIGIN> Old English , from 'bargaining, trade' (see CHEAP) + MAN.

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CHEAP ■

MAN ■

Chap·pa·quid·dick Is·land a small island in southern Massachusetts, just off the southeastern coast of Martha’s Vineyard, the scene of a car accident in 1969 that involved Senator Edward Kennedy in which his assistant Mary Jo Kopechne drowned.

chap·pie n. (pl. -pies) BRIT., INFORMAL another term for CHAP^2 .

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CHAP ■

chaps plural n. leather pants without a seat, worn by a cowboy over ordinary pants to protect the legs.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: short for CHAPARAJOS.

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CHAPARAJOS ■

Chap Stick n. TRADEMARK a small stick of a cosmetic substance used to prevent chapping of the lips.

chap·tal·i·za·tion n. (in winemaking) the correction or improvement of must by the addition of calcium carbonate to neutralize acid, or of sugar to increase alcoholic strength.

<DERIVATIVES> chap·tal·ize v.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from the name of Jean A. Chaptal (1756-1832), the French chemist who invented the process, + -ization (see -IZE).

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-IZE ■

chap·ter n. 1 a main division of a book, typically with a number or title.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a period of time or an episode in a person's life, a nation's history, etc.: a tragic chapter in European history.

2 a local branch of a society: the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

3 the governing body of a religious community, esp. a cathedral or a knightly order.

4 a series or sequence: the latest episode in a chapter of problems.

<PHRASES> chapter and verse an exact reference or authority: she can give chapter and verse on current legislation.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chapitre, from Latin capitulum, diminutive of caput 'head'.

Chap·ter 7 n. protection from creditors granted to individuals or companies who legally file for bankruptcy, providing for liquidation of certain assets to pay debts.

<ORIGIN> with allusion to chapter 7 of the U.S. bankruptcy code.

Chap·ter 11 n. protection from creditors given to a company in financial difficulties for a limited period to allow it to reorganize.

<ORIGIN> with allusion to chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy code.

Chap·ter 13 n. protection from creditors granted to individuals who legally file for bankruptcy, providing for repayment of debts by a court-approved plan.

<ORIGIN> with allusion to chapter 13 of the U.S. bankruptcy code.

chap·ter house n. a building used for the meetings of the canons of a cathedral or other religious community.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a place where a college fraternity or sorority meets.

Cha·pul·te·pec a hill (“Grasshopper Hill”) in the major park of Mexico City in Mexico. It is the ancient seat of Aztec emperors and is surmounted by a castle that was captured by U.S. forces in September 1847.

char 1 v. (charred, char·ring) [trans.] (usu. be charred) partially burn (an object) so as to blacken its surface: their bodies were badly charred in the fire | [as adj.] (charred) charred remains. See note at BURN.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (of an object) become burned and discolored in such a way.

■ n. material that has been charred.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: apparently a back-formation from CHARCOAL.

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CHARCOAL ■

char 2 BRIT., INFORMAL n. a charwoman.

■ v. (charred, char·ring) [intrans.] work as a charwoman.

char 3 (also cha or chai ) n. BRIT., INFORMAL tea.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (as cha; rare before the early 20th cent.): from Chinese (Mandarin dialect) chá.

char 4 (also charr) n. (pl. same) a troutlike freshwater or marine fish of northern countries, widely valued as a food and game fish.
<INFO>  Genus Salvelinus, family Salmonidae: several species, in particular the North American brook trout (S. fontinalis), which has been introduced widely elsewhere, and the red-bellied Arctic char (S. alpinus), which occurs in Arctic waters as well as landlocked lakes.

char·a·banc n. BRIT. an early form of bus, used typically for pleasure trips.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French char-à-bancs 'carriage with benches' (the original horse-drawn charabancs having rows of bench seats).

char·a·cin n. a small and brightly colored freshwater fish native to Africa and tropical America.
<INFO>  Characidae

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Characinus (genus name), from Greek kharax, literally 'pointed stake', denoting a kind of fish.

char·ac·ter n. 1 the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual: running away was not in keeping with her character.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the distinctive nature of something: gas lamps give the area its character.

- the quality of being individual, typically in an interesting or unusual way: the island is full of character.

- strength and originality in a person's nature: she had character as well as beauty.

- a person's good reputation: to what do I owe this attack on my character?

- DATED a written statement of someone's good qualities; a recommendation.

2 a person in a novel, play, or movie.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a part played by an actor.

- [with adj.] a person seen in terms of a particular aspect of character: he was a larger-than-life character; shady characters.

- INFORMAL an interesting or amusing individual: he's a real character.

3 a printed or written letter or symbol.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [COMPUTING] a symbol representing a letter or number.

- [COMPUTING] the bit pattern used to store such a symbol.

4 [CHIEFLY BIOLOGY] a characteristic, esp. one that assists in the identification of a species.

■ v. [trans.] ARCHAIC inscribe; engrave.
<SPECIAL USAGE> describe; characterize: you have well charactered him.

<PHRASES> in (or out of) character in keeping (or not in keeping) with someone's usual pattern of behavior.

<DERIVATIVES> char·ac·ter·ful adj. char·ac·ter·ful·ly adv. char·ac·ter·less adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French caractere, via Latin from Greek 'a stamping tool'. From the early sense 'distinctive mark' arose 'token, feature, or trait' (early 16th cent.), and from this 'a description, esp. of a person's qualities', giving rise to 'distinguishing qualities'.

char·ac·ter ac·tor n. an actor who specializes in playing eccentric or unusual people rather than leading roles.

char·ac·ter as·sas·si·na·tion n. the malicious and unjustified harming of a person's good reputation.

char·ac·ter code n. [COMPUTING] the binary code used to represent a letter or number.

char·ac·ter dance n. a style of ballet deriving inspiration from national or folk dances, or interpreting and representing a particular profession, mode of living, or personality. The movements used tend to be less stylized than in classical ballet, allowing greater individual expression and diversity.

<DERIVATIVES> char·ac·ter danc·er n.

char·ac·ter·is·tic adj. typical of a particular person, place, or thing: large farms are characteristic of this area.

■ n. 1 a feature or quality belonging typically to a person, place, or thing and serving to identify it: inherited characteristics such as blood groups.

2 [MATHEMATICS] the whole number or integral part of a logarithm, which gives the order of magnitude of the original number.

<DERIVATIVES> char·ac·ter·is·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French caractéristique or medieval Latin characteristicus, from Greek , from 'a stamping tool'.

char·ac·ter·is·tic curve n. a graph showing the relationship between two variable but interdependent quantities.

char·ac·ter·is·tic func·tion n. [MATHEMATICS] a function whose result is one for the members of a given set and zero for all nonmembers.

char·ac·ter·ize v. [trans.] 1 describe the distinctive nature or features of: the historian characterized the period as the decade of revolution.

2 (often be characterized) (of a feature or quality) be typical or characteristic of: the disease is characterized by weakening of the immune system.

<DERIVATIVES> char·ac·ter·i·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'engrave, inscribe'): from French caractériser or medieval Latin characterizare, from Greek , from 'a stamping tool'.

char·ac·ter part n. a part played by a character actor.

char·ac·ter rec·og·ni·tion n. the identification by electronic means of printed or written characters.

char·ac·ter string n. a linear sequence of characters, typically one stored in or processed by a computer.

char·ac·ter wit·ness n. a person who attests to another's moral conduct and good reputation in a court of law.

char·ac·ter·y n. POETIC/LITERARY the expression of thought by symbols or characters; the symbols or characters collectively.

cha·rade n. an absurd pretense intended to create a pleasant or respectable appearance: talk of unity was nothing more than a charade.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (charades) a game in which players guess a word or phrase from pantomimed clues.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, from modern Provençal charrado 'conversation', from charra 'chatter', perhaps of imitative origin.

cha·ran·go n. a small Andean guitar, traditionally made from an armadillo shell.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from South American Spanish.

cha·ras n. a psychoactive resin from the flowerheads of hemp; cannabis resin.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi caras.

char·broil v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (charbroiled) grill (food, esp. meat) on a rack over charcoal: charbroiled steak.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: blend of CHARCOAL and BROIL^1 .

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CHARCOAL ■

BROIL ■

char·coal n. a porous black solid, consisting of an amorphous form of carbon, obtained as a residue when wood, bone, or other organic matter is heated in the absence of air.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- briquettes of charcoal used for barbecueing: lamb grilled on charcoal.

- a crayon made of charcoal and used for drawing.

- a drawing made using charcoal.

- a dark gray color: his charcoal sweater | [as adj.] charcoal gray.

■ v. [usu. as adj.] (charcoaled) cook over charcoal: charcoaled lobster.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE darken or blacken as if with charcoal: drifts of snow charcoaled from soot.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: probably related to COAL in the early sense 'charcoal'.

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COAL ■

char·coal burn·er n. 1 a small stove using charcoal as fuel.

2 a person who makes charcoal.

char·coal fil·ter n. a filter containing charcoal to absorb impurities.

Char·cot Jean-Martin (1825-93), French neurologist; regarded as one of the founders of modern neurology. His work on hysteria was adopted by his student Sigmund Freud.

char·cu·te·rie n. (pl. -ries) cold cooked meats collectively.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a store selling such meats.

<ORIGIN> French, from obsolete char (earlier form of chair) 'flesh' + cuite 'cooked'.

chard n. (also Swiss chard) a beet of a variety with broad white leaf stalks that may be prepared and eaten separately from the green parts of the leaf.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the blanched shoots of other plants, eaten as a vegetable, e.g., globe artichoke.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French carde, perhaps influenced by chardon 'thistle'.

Char·don·nay n. a variety of white wine grape used for making champagne and other wines.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a wine made from this grape.

<ORIGIN> French.

Char·en·tais (also Charentais melon) n. a small melon with a pale green rind and orange flesh.

<ORIGIN> French, literally 'from the Charentes region'.

Cha·rente a river in western France that rises in the Massif Central and flows west for 225 miles (360 km) to the Bay of Biscay at Rochefort.

charge v. [trans.] 1 demand (an amount) as a price from someone for a service rendered or goods supplied: the restaurant charged $15 for dinner | [with two objs.] he charged me 20,000 lire for the postcard | [intrans.] museums should charge for admission.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (charge something to) record the cost of something as an amount payable by (someone) or on (an account): they charge the calls to their credit-card accounts.

2 accuse (someone) of something, esp. an offense under law: they were charged with assault.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with clause] make an accusation or assertion that: opponents charged that below-cost pricing would reduce safety.

- [LAW] accuse someone of (an offense).

3 entrust (someone) with a task as a duty or responsibility: the committee was charged with reshaping the educational system.

4 store electrical energy in (a battery or battery-operated device): the shaver can be charged up and used while traveling.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of a battery or battery-operated device) receive and store electrical energy.

- TECHNICAL or FORMAL load or fill (a container, gun, etc.) to the full or proper extent: will you see to it that your glasses are charged?

- (usu. be charged with) FIGURATIVE fill or pervade (something) with a quality or emotion: the air was charged with menace.

5 [intrans.] rush forward in attack: the plan is to charge headlong at the enemy. See note at ATTACK.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] rush aggressively toward (someone or something) in attack.

- [with adverbial of direction] move quickly and with impetus: Henry charged up the staircase.

6 (usu. be charged with) [HERALDRY] place a heraldic bearing on: a pennant argent, charged with a cross gules.

■ n. 1 a price asked for goods or services: an admission charge.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a financial liability or commitment: an asset of $550,000 should have been taken as a charge on earnings.

2 an accusation, typically one formally made against a prisoner brought to trial: he appeared in court on a charge of attempted murder | three people were arrested but released without charge.

3 the responsibility of taking care or control of someone or something: the people in her charge are pupils and not experimental subjects.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person or thing entrusted to the care of someone: the babysitter watched over her charges.

- DATED a responsibility or onerous duty assigned to someone.

- an official instruction, esp. one given by a judge to a jury regarding points of law.

4 the property of matter that is responsible for electrical phenomena, existing in a positive or negative form.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the quantity of this carried by a body.

- energy stored chemically for conversion into electricity.

- the process of storing electrical energy in a battery.

- [in sing.] INFORMAL a thrill: I get a real charge out of working hard.

5 a quantity of explosive to be detonated, typically in order to fire a gun or similar weapon.

6 a headlong rush forward, typically one made by attacking soldiers in battle: a cavalry charge.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the signal or call for such a rush: he yelled to his bugler to sound the charge.

7 [HERALDRY] a device or bearing placed on a shield or crest.

<PHRASES>
□ free of charge without any payment due.

□ in charge in control or with overall responsibility: he was in charge of civil aviation matters.

□ press (or prefer) charges accuse someone formally of a crime so that they can be brought to trial.

□ take charge assume control or responsibility: the candidate must take charge of an actual flight.

<DERIVATIVES> charge·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the general senses 'to load' and 'a load'): from Old French charger (verb), charge (noun), from late Latin carricare, carcare 'to load', from Latin carrus 'wheeled vehicle'.

charge ac·count n. an account to which goods and services may be charged on credit.

charge·back n. a demand by a credit-card provider for a retailer to make good the loss on a fraudulent or disputed transaction.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in business use) an act or policy of allocating the cost of an organization's centrally located resources to the individuals or departments that use them.

charge card n. a credit card for use with an account that must be paid when a statement is issued.

charge car·ri·er n. [PHYSICS] a particle that carries an electric charge.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a mobile electron or hole by which an electric charge passes through a semiconductor.

charge con·ju·ga·tion n. [PHYSICS] the operation of changing every particle into its antiparticle.

charge-cou·pled de·vice n. see CCD.

Linked entries:

CCD ■

charged adj. having an electric charge.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE filled with excitement, tension, or emotion: the highly charged atmosphere created by the boycott.

char·gé d'af·faires (also char·gé) n. (pl. char·gés d’af·faires ) a diplomatic official who temporarily takes the place of an ambassador.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a state's diplomatic representative in a minor country.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, '(a person) in charge of affairs'.

charge den·si·ty n. [PHYSICS] the electric charge per unit area of a surface, or per unit volume of a field or body.

charge nurse n. BRIT. a nurse in charge of a ward in a hospital.

Charge of the Light Bri·gade a British cavalry charge in 1854 during the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War. A misunderstanding between the commander of the Light Brigade and his superiors led to the British cavalry being destroyed. The charge was immortalized in verse by Alfred Tennyson.

charg·er 1 n. 1 a horse trained for battle; a cavalry horse.

2 a device for charging a battery or battery-powered equipment.

3 a person who charges forward.

charg·er 2 (also charger plate) n. a large, flat dish; a platter.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a large plate placed under a dinner plate in some formal table settings.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French chargeour, from chargier 'to load', from late Latin carricare, carcare 'to load' (see CHARGE).

Linked entries:

CHARGE ■

charge sheet n. BRIT. a record made in a police station of the charges against a person.

char·grill v. [usu. as adj.] (chargrilled) grill (food, typically meat or fish) quickly at a high heat.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: on the pattern of charbroil.

Cha·ri Riv·er (also Shari) a river that flows for 660 miles (1,060 km) through the Central African Republic, Chad, and Cameroon. Emptying into Lake Chad, it is the longest river in the African continent that drains internally.

char·i·ot n. HISTORICAL a two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle used in ancient warfare and racing.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- HISTORICAL a four-wheeled carriage with back seats and a coachman's seat.

- POETIC/LITERARY a stately or triumphal carriage.

■ v. [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY convey in or as in a chariot.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, augmentative of char 'cart', based on Latin carrus 'wheeled vehicle'.

char·i·ot·eer n. a chariot driver.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Charioteer) the constellation Auriga.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French charieter, from chariot 'large cart' (see CHARIOT). The sense in astronomy dates from the early 20th cent.

Linked entries:

CHARIOT ■

char·ism n. [THEOLOGY] another term for CHARISMA (sense 2).

Linked entries:

CHARISMA ■

cha·ris·ma n. 1 compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others: she enchanted guests with her charisma.

2 (pl. -ma·ta ) (also char·ism ) a divinely conferred power or talent.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (sense 2): via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek kharisma, from kharis 'favor, grace'.

char·is·mat·ic adj. 1 exercising a compelling charm that inspires devotion in others: a charismatic leader.

2 of or relating to the charismatic movement in the Christian Church.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a power or talent) divinely conferred: charismatic prophecy.

■ n. an adherent of the charismatic movement.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who claims divine inspiration.

<DERIVATIVES> char·is·mat·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek kharisma, kharismat- 'charisma' + -IC.

Linked entries:

-IC ■

char·is·mat·ic move·ment n. a movement within some Christian churches that emphasizes gifts believed to be conferred by the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and healing of the sick.

char·i·ta·ble adj. 1 of or relating to the assistance of those in need: charitable works such as care of the sick.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an organization or activity) officially recognized as devoted to the assistance of those in need.

- generous in giving to those in need.

2 apt to judge others leniently or favorably: those who were less charitable called for his resignation.

<DERIVATIVES> char·i·ta·ble·ness n. char·i·ta·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'showing Christian love to God and man'): from Old French, from charite (see CHARITY).

Linked entries:

CHARITY ■

char·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) 1 the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need.
<SPECIAL USAGE> help or money given in this way: an unemployed teacher living on charity.

2 an organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need.
<SPECIAL USAGE> such organizations viewed collectively as the object of fund-raising or donations: the proceeds of the sale will go to charity.

3 kindness and tolerance in judging others: she found it hard to look on her mother with much charity. See note at MERCY.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC love of humankind, typically in a Christian context: faith, hope, and charity.

<PHRASES> charity begins at home PROVERB one's first responsibility is for the needs of one's own family and friends.

<ORIGIN> late Old English (in the sense 'Christian love of one's fellows'): from Old French charite, from Latin caritas, from carus 'dear'.

char·i·ty school n. HISTORICAL a school supported by charitable contributions.

chari·va·ri (also shiv·a·ree ) n. (pl. -va·ris) CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a cacophonous mock serenade, typically performed by a group of people in derision of an unpopular person or in celebration of a marriage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a series of discordant noises.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, of unknown origin.

char·kha (also char·ka) n. (in the Indian subcontinent) a domestic spinning wheel used chiefly for cotton.

<ORIGIN> from Urdu charka 'spinning wheel', from Persian; related to Sanskrit cakra 'wheel'.

char·la·dy n. (pl. -dies) BRIT. a charwoman.

char·la·tan n. a person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill; a fraud. See note at QUACK.

<DERIVATIVES> char·la·tan·ism n. char·la·tan·ry n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting an itinerant seller of supposed remedies): from French, from Italian ciarlatano, from ciarlare 'to babble'.

Char·le·magne (742-814), king of the Franks 768-814 and Holy Roman Emperor (as Charles I) 800-814; Latin name Carolus Magnus; known as Charles the Great. As the first Holy Roman emperor, Charlemagne promoted the arts and education, and his court became the cultural center of the Carolingian Renaissance.

Char·le·roi an industrial city in southwestern Belgium; pop. 206,200.

Charles 1 the name of two kings of England, Scotland, and Ireland:
<SPECIAL USAGE> Charles I (1600-49), son of James I; reigned 1625-49. His reign was dominated by the deepening religious and constitutional crisis that resulted in the English Civil War 1642-49. After the battle of Naseby, Charles tried to regain power in alliance with the Scots, but his forces were defeated in 1648; he was tried by a special Parliamentary court and beheaded.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Charles II (1630-85), son of Charles I; reigned 1660-85. Charles was restored to the throne after the collapse of Oliver Cromwell's regime. Although he displayed considerable adroitness in handling the difficult constitutional situation, religious and political strife continued during his reign.

Charles 2 the name of four kings of Spain:
<SPECIAL USAGE> Charles I (1500-58), son of Philip I; reigned 1516-56; Holy Roman Emperor (as Charles V) 1519-56. His reign was characterized by the struggle against Protestantism in Germany, rebellion in Castile, and war with France 1521-44. Exhausted by these struggles, Charles handed Naples, the Netherlands, and Spain over to his son Philip II and the imperial Crown to his brother Ferdinand before retiring to a monastery.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Charles II (1661-1700), reigned 1665-1700. He inherited a kingdom already in a decline that he was unable to halt. His choice of Philip of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV of France, as his successor gave rise to the War of the Spanish Succession.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Charles III (1716-88), reigned 1759-88. He improved Spain's position as an international power by increasing foreign trade, and he brought a brief cultural and economic revival to Spain.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Charles IV (1748-1819), reigned 1788-1808. During the Napoleonic Wars he suffered the loss of the Spanish fleet, destroyed along with that of France at Trafalgar in 1805. Following the French invasion of Spain in 1807, he was forced to abdicate.

Charles 3 the name of two European kings:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- Charles VII (1403-61), king of France 1422-61. At the time of his accession, much of northern France was under English occupation. After the intervention of Joan of Arc, however, the French experienced a dramatic military revival, and the defeat of the English ended the Hundred Years War.

- Charles XII (also Karl XII ) (1682-1718), king of Sweden 1697-1718. In 1700, he initiated a war against Denmark, Poland-Saxony, and Russia. Initially successful, he embarked on an expedition into Russia in 1709 that ended in the destruction of his army and his internment.

Charles 4 the name of seven Holy Roman Emperors:
<SPECIAL USAGE> Charles I see CHARLEMAGNE.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Charles II (823-877), reigned 875-877.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Charles III (839-888), reigned 881-887.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Charles IV (1316-78), reigned 1355-78.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Charles V Charles I of Spain (see CHARLES^2 ).

<SPECIAL USAGE> Charles VI (1685-1740), reigned 1711-40. His claim to the Spanish throne instigated the War of the Spanish Succession, but he was ultimately unsuccessful. He drafted the Pragmatic Sanction in an attempt to ensure that his daughter Maria Theresa succeeded to the Habsburg dominions; this triggered the War of the Austrian Succession after his death.

<SPECIAL USAGE> Charles VII (1697-1745), reigned 1742-45.

Linked entries:

CHARLEMAGNE ■

CHARLES ■

Charles 5 , Prince (1948- ), son of Elizabeth II; full name Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales; heir apparent to Elizabeth II. He married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981; the couple had two children, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis (1982- ) and Prince Henry Charles Albert David (known as Prince Harry) (1984- ), and were divorced in 1996.

Charles 6 Ray (1930-2004), U.S. pianist and singer; born Ray Charles Robinson. Totally blind from the age of six, he drew on blues, jazz, and country music for songs such as “What'd I Say” (1959), “Georgia On My Mind” (1960), and “Busted” (1963).

Charles' law (also Charles's law ) [CHEMISTRY] a law stating that the volume of an ideal gas at constant pressure is directly proportional to the absolute temperature.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after Jacques A. C. Charles (1746-1823), the French physicist who first formulated it.

Charles Mar·tel (c.688-741), Frankish ruler of the eastern part of the Frankish kingdom from 715 and the whole kingdom from 719; grandfather of Charlemagne. His rule marked the beginning of Carolingian power.

Charles Riv·er a river that flows for 60 miles (100 km) through eastern Massachusetts, between Cambridge and Boston, to Boston Harbor.

Charles's Wain ARCHAIC, CHIEFLY BRIT. the Big Dipper.

<ORIGIN> Old English Carles wægn 'the wain of Carl (Charlemagne)', perhaps because the star Arcturus was associated with King Arthur, with whom Charlemagne was connected in legend.

Charles·ton 1 1 the capital of West Virginia, in the southwestern part of the state; pop. 53,421.

2 a city and port in South Carolina; pop. 96,650. The bombardment of Fort Sumter in 1861 by Confederate troops marked the beginning of the Civil War.

Charles·ton 2 (also charles·ton) n. a lively dance of the 1920s that involved turning the knees inward and kicking out the lower legs.

■ v. [intrans.] dance the Charleston.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: named after CHARLESTON^1 in South Carolina.

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CHARLESTON ■

Charles·town a neighborhood in northern Boston in Massachusetts, north of the Charles River. Bunker Hill is here.

char·ley horse n. [in sing.] INFORMAL a cramp or feeling of stiffness in an arm or leg.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

Char·lie n. 1 a code word representing the letter C, used in radio communication.

2 INFORMAL cocaine.

3 HISTORICAL MILITARY SLANG a member of the Vietcong or the Vietcong collectively. <ORIGIN> shortening of Victor Charlie, radio code for VC, representing Vietcong.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: diminutive of the male given name Charles.

Char·lie Hust·le see ROSE.

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ROSE ■

char·lock n. a wild mustard with yellow flowers, commonly found as a weed in fields and along roadsides.
<INFO>  Brassica kaber (or Sinapis arvensis), family Brassicaceae.

<ORIGIN> Old English cerlic, cyrlic, of unknown origin.

Char·lotte a commercial city and transportation center in southern North Carolina; pop. 540,828.

char·lotte n. a dessert made of stewed fruit or mousse with a casing or covering of bread, sponge cake, ladyfingers, or breadcrumbs.

<ORIGIN> French, from the female given name Charlotte.

Char·lotte A·ma·li·e the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands, a resort on the island of St. Thomas; pop. 52,660.

<ORIGIN> named after the wife of King Christian V of Denmark.

char·lotte russe n. a dessert consisting of custard enclosed in sponge cake or a casing of ladyfingers.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, literally 'Russian charlotte'.

Char·lottes·ville a city in central Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, home to the University of Virginia; pop. 45,049. Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, is nearby.

Char·lotte·town the capital and chief port of Prince Edward Island, in eastern Canada; pop. 33,150.

charm n. 1 the power or quality of giving delight or arousing admiration: he was captivated by her youthful charm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (usu. charms) an attractive or alluring characteristic: the hidden charms of the city.

2 a small ornament worn on a necklace or bracelet.

3 an object, act, or saying believed to have magic power: the dreamcatcher is a charm used to prevent bad dreams.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an object kept or worn to ward off evil and bring good luck: a good luck charm.

4 [PHYSICS] one of six flavors of quark.

■ v. [trans.] 1 delight greatly: the books have charmed children the world over.
<SPECIAL USAGE> gain or influence by charm: he charmed her into going out.

2 control or achieve by or as if by magic: pretending to charm a cobra | [with adverbial] she will charm your warts away.

<PHRASES>
□ turn on the charm use one's ability to charm in order to influence someone.

□ work like a charm be completely successful or effective.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the senses 'incantation or magic spell' and 'to use spells'): from Old French charme (noun), charmer (verb), from Latin carmen 'song, verse, incantation'.

charm brace·let n. a bracelet hung with small trinkets or ornaments.

charmed adj. 1 (of a person's life) unusually lucky or happy as though protected by magic: I felt that I had a charmed life.

2 [PHYSICS] (of a particle) possessing the property charm: a charmed quark.

■ exclam. DATED expressing polite pleasure at an introduction: charmed, I'm sure.

charm·er n. a person with an attractive, engaging personality.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who habitually seeks to impress or manipulate others by exploiting an ability to charm.

char·meuse n. a soft, silky dress fabric.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French, feminine of charmeur 'charmer', from charmer 'to charm'.

charm·ing adj. pleasant or attractive: a charming country cottage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person or manner) polite, friendly, and likable: he was a charming, affectionate colleague.

<DERIVATIVES> charm·ing·ly adv.

charm·less adj. unattractive or unpleasant.

<DERIVATIVES> charm·less·ly adv. charm·less·ness n.

charm of·fen·sive n. a campaign of flattery and friendliness designed to achieve the support or agreement of others: a charm offensive aimed at winning the confidence of Russia.

char·mo·ni·um n. (pl. -ni·a ) [PHYSICS] a combination of a charmed quark and an antiquark.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from CHARM (sense 4).

Linked entries:

CHARM ■

charm school n. a school where young women are taught social graces such as etiquette.

char·nel n. short for CHARNEL HOUSE.

■ adj. associated with death: I gagged on the charnel stench of the place.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from medieval Latin carnale, neuter (used as a noun) of carnalis 'relating to flesh' (see CARNAL).

Linked entries:

CHARNEL HOUSE ■

CARNAL ■

char·nel house n. HISTORICAL a building or vault in which corpses or bones are piled.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a place associated with violent death: Europe in the immediate postwar period had become a charnel house.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Middle English charnel 'burying place', from Old French, from medieval Latin carnale, from late Latin carnalis 'relating to flesh', from caro, carn- 'flesh'.

Cha·ro·lais n. (pl. same) one of a breed of large white beef cattle.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after the Monts du Charollais, hills in eastern France where the breed originated.

Char·on 1 [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] an old man who ferried the souls of the dead across the Styx and Acheron rivers to Hades.

2 [ASTRONOMY] the only satellite of Pluto, discovered in 1978. Its diameter of 789 miles (1,270 km) is more than half that of Pluto.

Cha·roph·y·ta [BOTANY] a phylum that includes the stoneworts, which are frequently treated as a class (Charophyceae) of the green algae.

<DERIVATIVES> char·o·phyte n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), former name of the family Characeae, from Chara (genus name) + Greek phuton 'a plant'.

charr (also char) n. variant spelling of CHAR 4 .

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: perhaps of Celtic origin.

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CHAR ■

char·rette n. a meeting in which all stakeholders in a project attempt to resolve conflicts and map solutions: going into the charrette, I wanted to alert you to some of the architectural, engineering, and other design issues that we need to think about.

char·ro n. (pl. -ros) a Mexican horseman or cowboy, typically one in elaborate traditional dress.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: Mexican Spanish, from Spanish, literally 'rustic'.

chart n. a sheet of information in the form of a table, graph, or diagram: a chart showing how much do-it-yourself costs compared with retail.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. the charts) a weekly listing of the current best-selling pop records: she topped the charts for eight weeks.

- a geographical map or plan, esp. one used for navigation by sea or air.

- [MEDICINE ] a written record of information about a patient: scribbled on a patient's chart.

- (also birth chart or natal chart) [ASTROLOGY] a map, typically circular, showing the positions of the planets at the time of someone's birth, from which astrologers are said to be able to deduce character or potential.

■ v. 1 [trans.] make a map of (an area).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- plot (a course) on a chart: the pilot found his craft taking a route he had not charted | FIGURATIVE the poems chart his descent into madness.

- (usu. be charted) record on a chart.

2 [intrans.] (of a record) enter the weekly music charts at a particular position: the record will probably chart at about No. 74.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French charte, from Latin charta 'paper, papyrus leaf' (see CARD^1 ).

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CARD ■

chart·bust·er n. INFORMAL a popular singer or group that makes a best-selling recording.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a best-selling recording.

char·ter n. 1 a written grant by a country’s legislative or sovereign power, by which an institution such as a company, college, or city is created and its rights and privileges defined.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a written constitution or description of an organization's functions.

2 the reservation of an aircraft, boat, or bus for private use: a plane on charter to a multinational company.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an aircraft, boat, or bus that is reserved for private use.

- a trip made by an aircraft, boat, or bus under charter: he liked to see the boat sparkling clean before each charter.

■ v. [trans.] 1 grant a charter to (a city, college, or other institution): the company was chartered in 1553.

2 reserve (an aircraft, boat, or bus) for private use: he chartered a plane to take him to Paris.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chartre, from Latin chartula, diminutive of charta 'paper' (see CARD^1 ).

Linked entries:

CARD ■

char·tered adj. [attrib.] BRIT. (of an accountant, engineer, librarian, etc.) qualified as a member of a professional body that has a royal charter.

char·ter·er n. a person or organization that charters an aircraft, boat, or bus.

char·ter flight n. a flight by an aircraft chartered for a specific trip, not part of an airline's regular schedule.

char·ter mem·ber n. an original or founding member of an organization.

char·ter school n. (in North America) a publicly funded independent school established by teachers, parents, or community groups under the terms of a charter with a local or national authority.

Chart·ism n. a UK parliamentary reform movement of 1837-48, the principles of which were set out in a manifesto called The People's Charter .

<DERIVATIVES> Chart·ist n. & adj.

char·tist n. a person who uses charts of financial data to predict future trends and to guide investment strategies.

<DERIVATIVES> char·tism n.

chart·let n. a small chart, as for navigation, highlighting a particular feature.

Char·tres a city in northern France, noted for its Gothic cathedral; pop. 41,850.

char·treuse n. 1 a pale green or yellow liqueur made from brandy and aromatic herbs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a pale yellow or green color resembling this liqueur.

2 a dish made in a mold using pieces of meat, vegetables, or (now most often) fruit in jelly.

<ORIGIN> named after La Grande Chartreuse, the Carthusian monastery near Grenoble, France, where the liqueur (sense 1) was first made; sense 2 is an extended use.

chart-top·ping adj. INFORMAL (of a popular singer, group, or recording) having reached the top of the music charts.

<DERIVATIVES> chart-top·per n.

char·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en) BRIT., DATED a woman employed to clean houses or offices.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from obsolete char or chare 'a turn of work, an odd job, chore' (obscurely related to CHORE) + WOMAN.

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CHORE ■

WOMAN ■

char·y adj. (char·i·er, char·i·est) cautious; wary: most people are chary of allowing themselves to be photographed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> cautious about the amount one gives or reveals: he was chary with specifics about the script.

<DERIVATIVES> char·i·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Old English cearig 'sorrowful, anxious'; related to CARE. The current sense arose in the mid 16th cent.

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CARE ■

Cha·ryb·dis [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a dangerous whirlpool in a narrow channel of the sea, opposite the cave of the sea monster Scylla.

Chas. abbr. Charles.

Chase 1 Salmon Portland (1808-73), U.S. chief justice 1864-73. He served in the U.S. Senate 1849-55, as governor of Ohio 1855-59, and as U.S. secretary of the treasury 1861-64 during which time he established the national banking system and issued the first "greenbacks."

Chase 2 Samuel (1741-1811), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1796-1811. A delegate to the Continental Congresses 1774-78, 1784, 1785 and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, he stressed national supremacy.

chase 1 v. [trans.] 1 pursue in order to catch or catch up with: police chased the stolen car through the city | [intrans.] the dog chased after the stick.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- seek to attain: seventy candidates chasing a single job.

- seek the company of (a member of the opposite sex) in an obvious way: playing football by day and chasing women by night.

- [trans.] drive or cause to go in a specified direction: she chased him out of the house.

2 try to make contact with (someone) in order to get something owed or required: chasing customers who had not paid their bills.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make further investigation of (an unresolved matter): investigators got a warrant, but they didn't have time to chase down the case.

■ n. an act of pursuing someone or something: they captured the youths after a brief chase; a chase for limited supplies of hard currency | [with adj.] a car chase.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the chase) hunting as a sport: she was an ardent follower of the chase.

- short for STEEPLECHASE.

- BRIT. an area of unenclosed land formerly reserved for hunting.

- ARCHAIC a hunted animal.

<PHRASES> give chase go in pursuit: a patrol car gave chase and finally overtook him.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chacier (verb), chace (noun), based on Latin captare 'continue to take', from capere 'take'.

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STEEPLECHASE ■

chase 2 v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (chased) engrave (metal, or a design on metal): a miniature container with a delicately chased floral design.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: apparently from earlier enchase, from Old French enchasser.

chase 3 n. (in letterpress printing) a metal frame for holding the composed type and blocks being printed at one time.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French châsse, from Latin capsa 'box' (see CASE^2 ).

Linked entries:

CASE ■

chase 4 n. 1 the part of a gun enclosing the bore.

2 a groove or furrow cut in the face of a wall or other surface to receive a pipe.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French chas 'enclosed space', from Provençal cas, caus, from medieval Latin capsum 'thorax or nave of a church'.

chas·er n. 1 a person or thing that chases: [in combination] promotion-chasers.

2 INFORMAL a drink taken after another of a different kind, typically a weak alcoholic drink after a stronger one: bourbon on the rocks with a beer chaser.

3 a horse for steeplechasing.

Cha·sid n. variant spelling of HASID.

Linked entries:

HASID ■

Cha·sid·ism n. variant spelling of HASIDISM.

Linked entries:

HASIDISM ■

chasm n. a deep fissure in the earth, rock, or another surface.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a profound difference between people, viewpoints, feelings, etc.: the chasm between rich and poor.

<DERIVATIVES> chas·mic adj. (RARE).

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting an opening up of the sea or land, as in an earthquake): from Latin chasma, from Greek khasma 'gaping hollow'.

chas·sé n. a gliding step in dancing in which one foot displaces the other.

■ v. (chas·séd, chas·sé·ing) [intrans.] make such a step.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, literally 'chased'.

chasse·pot n. a type of bolt-action breech-loading rifle used by the French army between 1866 and 1874.

<ORIGIN> named for Antoine A. Chassepot (1833-1905), its French designer.

chas·seur n. (pl. same) HISTORICAL a soldier, usually in the light cavalry, equipped and trained for rapid movement, esp. in the French army.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, from chasser 'to chase'.

Chas·sid n. variant spelling of HASID.

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HASID ■

Chas·sid·ism n. variant spelling of HASIDISM.

Linked entries:

HASIDISM ■

chas·sis n. (pl. same ) the base frame of a motor vehicle or other wheeled conveyance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the outer structural framework of a piece of audio, radio, or computer equipment.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French châssis 'frame', based on Latin capsa 'box' (see CASE^2 ).

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CASE ■

chaste adj. abstaining from extramarital, or from all, sexual intercourse.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- not having any sexual nature or intention: a chaste, consoling embrace.

- without unnecessary ornamentation; simple or restrained: the dark, chaste interior was lightened by tilework.

<DERIVATIVES> chaste·ly adv. chaste·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from Latin castus.

chas·ten v. [trans.] (usu. be chastened) (of a reproof or misfortune) have a restraining or moderating effect on: the director was somewhat chastened by his recent flops | [as adj.] (chastening) a chastening experience.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC (esp. of God) discipline; punish.

<DERIVATIVES> chas·ten·er n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from an obsolete verb chaste, from Old French chastier, from Latin castigare 'castigate', from castus 'morally pure, chaste'.

chaste tree n. a southern European shrub with blue or white flowers, grown as an ornamental. It is also highly valued for its dark purple berries, which yield medicinal preparations used to treat gynecological conditions. Also called VITEX.
<INFO>  Vitex agnus-castus, family Verbenaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: so named because of its association with chastity in sacrifices to Ceres.

Linked entries:

VITEX ■

chas·tise v. [trans.] rebuke or reprimand severely: he chastised his colleagues for their laziness.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED punish, esp. by beating.

<DERIVATIVES> chas·tise·ment n. chas·tis·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: apparently formed irregularly from the obsolete verb chaste (see CHASTEN).

Linked entries:

CHASTEN ■

chas·ti·ty n. the state or practice of refraining from extramarital, or esp. from all, sexual intercourse: vows of chastity.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chastete, from Latin castitas, from castus 'morally pure' (see CHASTE).

Linked entries:

CHASTE ■

chas·ti·ty belt n. HISTORICAL a garment or device designed to prevent a woman from having sexual intercourse.

chas·u·ble n. a sleeveless outer vestment worn by a Catholic or High Anglican priest when celebrating Mass, typically ornate and having a simple hole for the head.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chesible, later chasuble, from late Latin casubla, alteration of Latin casula 'hooded cloak or little cottage', diminutive of casa 'house'.

chat 1 v. (chat·ted, chat·ting) [intrans.] talk in a friendly and informal way: she chatted to her mother on the phone every day.

■ n. an informal conversation: he dropped in for a chat. See note at CONVERSATION.

<PHRASAL VERB> chat someone up INFORMAL engage someone in flirtatious conversation.
- talk persuasively to someone, esp. with a particular motive: I chatted up the editor at the press club.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: shortening of CHATTER.

Linked entries:

CHATTER ■

chat 2 n. 1 [often in combination] a small Old World songbird of the thrush subfamily, with a harsh call and typically with bold black, white, and buff or chestnut coloration.
<INFO>  Saxicola and other genera, subfamily Turdinae, family Muscicapidae: numerous species. See also STONECHAT, WHINCHAT.

2 [with adj.] any of a number of small songbirds with harsh calls:
<INFO>
- a New World warbler that typically has a yellow or pink breast (genera Icteria and Granatellus, subfamily Parulinae, family Emberizidae).

- an Australian songbird related to the honeyeaters, the male of which is either mainly yellow or boldly marked (genera Ephthianura and Ashbyia, family Ephthianuridae).

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: probably imitative of its call.

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STONECHAT ■

WHINCHAT ■

cha·teau (also châ·teau) n. (pl. -teaux ) a large French country house or castle often giving its name to wine made in its neighborhood: [in names] Château Margaux.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, from Old French chastel (see CASTLE).

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CASTLE ■

Cha·teau·bri·and François-René, Vicomte de (1768-1848), French writer and diplomat. Notable works: Le Génie du Christianisme (1802) and Mémoires d'outre-tombe (autobiography, 1849-50).

cha·teau·bri·and n. a thick tenderloin of beef, typically served with Béarnaise sauce.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after François-René, Vicomte de CHATEAUBRIAND, whose chef is said to have created the dish.

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CHATEAUBRIAND ■

Cha·teau-Thierr·y a town in the Picardy region of northern France, on the Marne River; pop. 15,000. It was a major battlefield during World War I; there is a monument to the U.S. soldiers who took the town from German occupiers in 1918 and a military cemetery.

chat·e·lain n. another term for CASTELLAN.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French chastelain, from medieval Latin castellanus 'castellan', from Latin castellum (see CASTLE).

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CASTELLAN ■

CASTLE ■

chat·e·laine n. DATED a woman in charge of a large house.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a set of short chains attached to a woman's belt, used for carrying keys or other items.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French châtelaine, feminine of châtelain 'castellan', from medieval Latin castellanus (see CHATELAIN).

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CHATELAIN ■

chat group n. a group of people who communicate regularly via the Internet, usually in real time but also by e-mail.

Chat·ham , 1st Earl of, see PITT.

Chat·ham Is·lands two islands, Pitt and Chatham, in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand.

chat line (also chat·line) n. a telephone service that allows conversation among a number of people who call into it separately.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the access to, or connection with, a chat room.

cha·toy·ant adj. (of a gem, esp. when cut en cabochon) showing a band of bright reflected light caused by aligned inclusions in the stone.

<DERIVATIVES> cha·toy·ance n. cha·toy·an·cy n..

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, present participle of chatoyer 'to shimmer'.

chat room n. an area on the Internet or other computer network where users can communicate, typically limiting communication to a particular topic.

chat show n. British term for TALK SHOW.

Linked entries:

TALK SHOW ■

Chat·ta·hoo·chee Riv·er a river that flows for 435 miles (700 km) through Georgia to the Florida border, where it continues as the Apalachicola River into the Gulf of Mexico.

Chat·ta·noo·ga a city in southeastern Tennessee, on the Tennessee River, near the Georgia border, a rail and industrial center; pop. 155,554.

chat·tel n. (in general use) a personal possession.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] an item of property other than real estate. See also GOODS AND CHATTELS.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chatel, from medieval Latin capitale, from Latin capitalis, from caput 'head'. Compare with CAPITAL^1 and CATTLE.

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GOODS AND CHATTELS ■

CAPITAL ■

CATTLE ■

chat·ter v. [intrans.] talk rapidly or incessantly about trivial matters: the kids chattered and splashed at the edge of the lagoon.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a bird, monkey, or machine) make a series of quick high-pitched sounds.

- (of a person's teeth) click repeatedly together, typically from cold or fear.

■ n. incessant trivial talk: a stream of idle chatter.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a series of quick high-pitched sounds: the chatter of a typewriter.

- undesirable vibration in a mechanism: the wipers should operate without chatter.

<PHRASES> the chattering classes DEROGATORY educated people, esp. those in academic, artistic, or media circles.

<DERIVATIVES> chat·ter·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: imitative.

chat·ter·bot n. a computer program designed to interact with people by simulating human conversation.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: blend of chatter and (ro)bot.

chat·ter·box n. INFORMAL a person who talks at length about trivial matters.

chat·ter·er n. 1  another term for CHATTERBOX.

2 INFORMAL any of a number of birds with chattering calls, esp. a babbler, a waxwing, or a cotinga.

Linked entries:

CHATTERBOX ■

Chat·tis·garh a state in central India, formed in 2000 from the southeastern part of Madhya Pradesh; capital, Raipur.

chat·ty adj. (chat·ti·er, chat·ti·est) (of a person) fond of talking in an easy, informal way.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a conversation, letter, etc.) informal and lively.

<DERIVATIVES> chat·ti·ly adv. chat·ti·ness n.

Chau·bu·na·gun·ga·maug, Lake a small lake in southern Massachusetts, south of Worcester, in the town of Webster. The full form of its name, Chargoggagoggmanchaugagoggchaubunagungamaugg, is said to be the longest American place name.

Chau·cer Geoffrey (c.1342-1400), English poet. His Canterbury Tales (c.1387-1400) is a cycle of linked tales told by a group of pilgrims. His skills of characterization, humor, and versatility established him as the first great English poet. Chaucer also wrote Troilus and Criseyde (1385).

Chau·ce·ri·an adj. of or relating to Chaucer or his style.

■ n. an admirer, imitator, or student of Chaucer or his writing.

Chau·diere Riv·er a river that flows north for 120 miles (190 km) from the Maine border through Quebec and empties into the St. Lawrence River opposite Quebec City.

chauf·feur n. a person employed to drive a private or rented automobile.

■ v. [trans.] drive (a car or a passenger in a car), typically as part of one's job: she insisted on being chauffeured around.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (in the general sense 'motorist'): from French, literally 'stoker' (by association with steam engines), from chauffer 'to heat'.

chauf·feuse n. RARE a female chauffeur.

chaul·moo·gra n. a tropical Asian evergreen tree with narrow leathery leaves and oil-rich seeds.
<INFO>  Genus Hydnocarpus, family Flacourtiaceae: several species, in particular H. kurzii, a principal source of the oil.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (also chaulmoogra oil) the oil obtained from the seeds of this tree. It is used medically and as a preservative, and was formerly used in the treatment of leprosy.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Bengali .

chausses plural n. HISTORICAL pantaloons or close-fitting coverings for the legs and feet, in particular those forming part of a knight's armor.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: French, literally 'clothing for the legs'.

Chau·tau·qua n. a resort town in southwestern New York, on Chautauqua Lake, noted as the birthplace of a 19th-century popular education movement; pop. 4,554.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also chautauqua) an institution offering popular adult education courses and entertainment, typically held outdoors in the summer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries: some sophisticate who had attended Chautauquas in other parts of the country.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after Chautauqua, a county in New York State, where such an institution was first set up.

chau·vin·ism n. exaggerated or aggressive patriotism: public opinion was easily moved to chauvinism and nationalism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> excessive or prejudiced loyalty or support for one's own cause, group, or gender: a bastion of male chauvinism.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after Nicolas Chauvin, a Napoleonic veteran noted for his extreme patriotism, popularized as a character by the Cogniard brothers in Cocarde Tricolore (1831).

chau·vin·ist n. a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person displaying excessive or prejudiced loyalty or support for a particular cause, group, or gender: what a male chauvinist that man is.

■ adj. showing or relating to such excessive or prejudiced support or loyalty: a chauvinist slur.

<DERIVATIVES> chau·vin·is·tic adj. chau·vin·is·ti·cal·ly adv.

Cha·vez Cesar Estrata (1927-93), U.S. labor leader. In 1962, he founded the organization that became the United Farm Workers, and he used nonviolent tactics to gain union contracts with California vineyard owners in 1970.

chaw INFORMAL n. an act of chewing something, esp. something not intended to be swallowed: enjoying a good chaw.
<SPECIAL USAGE> something chewed, esp. a wad of tobacco: a chaw of tobacco.

■ v. [trans.] chew (something, esp. tobacco).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a verb): variant of CHEW.

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CHEW ■

Cha·yef·sky Paddy (1923-81), U.S. writer; real name Sidney Chayefsky. He wrote television dramas, movie screenplays, stage plays, and a science fiction novel, Altered States (1978). He received three Academy Awards for his screenplays for Marty (1955), Hospital (1971), and Network (1976).

cha·yo·te n. 1 a green pear-shaped tropical fruit that resembles cucumber in flavor.

2 the tropical American vine that yields this fruit, also producing an edible yamlike tuberous root.
<INFO>  Sechium edule, family Cucurbitaceae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Spanish, from Nahuatl chayotli.

CHD abbr. coronary heart disease.

Ch.E abbr. Chemical Engineer.

cheap adj. (of an item for sale) low in price; worth more than its cost: they bought some cheap fruit; local buses were reliable and cheap.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- charging low prices: a cheap restaurant.

- (of prices or other charges) low: my rent was pretty cheap.

- inexpensive because of inferior quality: cheap, shoddy goods.

- INFORMAL miserly; stingy: she's too cheap to send me a postcard.

- of little worth because achieved in a discreditable way requiring little effort: her moment of cheap triumph.

- deserving of contempt: a cheap trick.

■ adv. at or for a low price: a house that was going cheap .

<PHRASES>
□ dirt cheap very cheap or cheaply: the auctioneers let us have it dirt cheap.

□ on the cheap INFORMAL at a low cost: in search of symbols of prestige, but on the cheap.

<DERIVATIVES> cheap·ish adj. cheap·ly adv. cheap·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from an obsolete phrase good cheap 'a good bargain', from Old English 'bargaining, trade', based on Latin caupo 'small trader, innkeeper'.

cheap·en v. [trans.] reduce the price of: the depreciation of the dollar would cheapen U.S. exports.
<SPECIAL USAGE> degrade: the mass media simplify and cheapen the experience of art.

cheap·jack n. a seller of cheap inferior goods, typically a hawker at a fair or market.

■ adj. of inferior quality.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CHEAP + JACK^1 .

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CHEAP ■

JACK ■

cheap·o (also cheap·ie) adj. [attrib.] INFORMAL inexpensive and of poor quality: a cheapo guitar.

■ n. (pl. -os) an inexpensive thing of poor quality.

cheap·skate n. INFORMAL a stingy person.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (originally U.S.): from CHEAP + skate 'a worn-out horse' or 'a mean, contemptible, or dishonest person', of unknown origin.

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CHEAP ■

cheat v. 1 [intrans.] act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage, esp. in a game or examination: she always cheats at cards.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] deceive or trick: he had cheated her out of everything she had.

- use inferior materials or methods unobtrusively in order to save time or money: they cheat by photographing mashed potatoes instead of ice cream.

- INFORMAL be sexually unfaithful: his wife was cheating on him.

2 [trans.] avoid (something undesirable) by luck or skill: she cheated death in a spectacular crash.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC help (time) pass: the tuneless rhyme with which the warder cheats the time.

■ n. a person who behaves dishonestly in order to gain an advantage: a liar and a cheat.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an act of cheating; a fraud or deception.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: shortening of ESCHEAT (the original sense).

Linked entries:

ESCHEAT ■

cheat·er n. 1 a person who acts dishonestly in order to gain an advantage.

2 (cheaters) INFORMAL a pair of glasses or sunglasses.

cheat grass (also cheat·grass) n. a tough wild grass of open land, sometimes growing as a weed among cereal crops and in pasture.
<INFO>  Genus Bromus, family Gramineae: several species, in particular B. tectorum.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: a local word for various wild plants, perhaps from their resemblance to the cereals among which they grew.

cheat sheet n. INFORMAL a piece of paper bearing written notes intended to aid one's memory, typically one used surreptitiously in an examination.

Che·bo·ksa·ry a city in western central Russia, on the Volga River, west of Kazan, capital of the autonomous republic of Chuvashia; pop. 429,000.

Che·chen n. (pl. same or -chens) 1 a member of the largely Muslim people inhabiting Chechnya.

2 the North Caucasian language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> from obsolete Russian chechen (earlier form of chechenets).

Chech·ny·a (also Che·che·nia ) an autonomous republic in the Caucasus in southwestern Russia, on the border with Georgia; pop. 1,290,000; capital, Grozny. The republic declared itself independent of Russia in 1991; Russian troops invaded the republic in 1994, but withdrew after the signing of a peace treaty in 1996. Also called CHECHEN REPUBLIC.

check 1 v. [trans.] 1 examine (something) in order to determine its accuracy, quality, or condition, or to detect the presence of something: customs officers have the right to check all luggage | [intrans.] a simple blood test to check for anemia.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- verify or establish to one's satisfaction: check the expiration date on your passport; |[with clause] she glanced over her shoulder to check that the door was shut.

- examine with a view to rectifying any fault or problem discovered: check the oil and fluid levels again.

- (check against) verify the accuracy of something by comparing it with (something else): keep your receipt to check against your statement.

- another way of saying CHECK SOMETHING OFF.

- another way of saying CHECK SOMETHING IN.

- [intrans.] agree or correspond when compared.

2 stop or slow down the progress of (something undesirable): efforts were made to check the disease.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- curb or restrain (a feeling or emotion): he learned to check his excitement.

- (check oneself) master an involuntary reaction: Chris took one step backward then checked himself.

- [HOCKEY] hamper or neutralize (an opponent) with one's body or stick.

- [intrans.] (check against) provide a means of preventing: processes to check against deterioration in the quality of the data held.

- [intrans.] (of a hound) pause to make sure of or regain a scent.

- [intrans.] (of a trained hawk) abandon the intended quarry and fly after other prey.

3 [trans.] [CHESS] move a piece or pawn so that (the opposing king) is under attack.

4 [intrans.] (in poker) choose not to make a bet when called upon, allowing the action to move to another player.

■ n. 1 an examination to test or ascertain accuracy, quality, or satisfactory condition: a campaign calling for regular checks on gas appliances; a health check.

2 a stopping or slowing of progress: there was no check to the expansion of the market.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a means of control or restraint: a permanent check upon the growth or abuse of central authority.

- [HOCKEY] an act of hampering or neutralizing an opponent with one's body or stick.

- a temporary loss of the scent in hunting.

- [FALCONRY] a false stoop when a hawk abandons its intended quarry and pursues other prey.

- a part of a piano that catches the hammer and prevents it from retouching the strings.

3 [CHESS] a move by which a piece or pawn directly attacks the opponent's king. If the defending player cannot counter the attack, the king is checkmated.

4 the bill in a restaurant.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also baggage/luggage check) a token of identification for left luggage.

- a counter used as a stake in a gambling game.

5 short for CHECK MARK.

6 a crack or flaw in timber.

■ exclam. 1 INFORMAL expressing assent or agreement.

2 used by a chess player to announce that the opponent's king has been placed in check.

<PHRASES>
□ in check
1 under control: a way of keeping inflation in check.

2 [CHESS] (of a king) directly attacked by an opponent's piece or pawn; (of a player) having the king in this position.

□ keep a check on monitor: keep a regular check on your score.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  check in (or check someone in) arrive and register at a hotel or airport: you must check in at least one hour before takeoff they check in the passengers.

□  check something in have one's baggage weighed and put aside for consignment to the hold of an aircraft on which one is booked to travel.
- register and leave baggage in a left-luggage department.

□  check into register one's arrival at (a hotel).

□  check something off tick or otherwise mark an item on a list to show that it has been dealt with.

□  check on 1 verify, ascertain, or monitor the state or condition of: the doctor had come to check on his patient.

2 another way of saying CHECK UP ON.

□  check out settle one's hotel bill before leaving.
- INFORMAL die.

□  check someone/something out 1 establish the truth or inform oneself about someone or something: they decided to go and check out a local restaurant.

2 (check something out) enter the price of goods in a supermarket into a cash machine for addition and payment by a customer.
- register something as having been borrowed.

□  check something over inspect or examine something thoroughly.

□  check through inspect or examine thoroughly.

□  check up on investigate in order to establish the truth about or accuracy of.

<DERIVATIVES> check·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally as used in the game of chess): the noun and exclamation from Old French eschec, from medieval Latin scaccus, via Arabic from Persian 'king'; the verb from Old French eschequier 'play chess, put in check'. The sense 'stop, restrain, or control' arose from the use in chess, and led (in the late 17th cent.) to 'examine the accuracy of, verify'.

Linked entries:

CHECK MARK ■

check 2 (BRIT. cheque) n. a written order to a bank to pay a stated sum from the drawer's account: awarded a check for $1,000.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the printed form on which such an order is written.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (originally denoting a check stub): variant of CHECK^1 , in the sense 'device for checking the amount of an item'.

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CHECK ■

check 3 n. a pattern of small squares: a fine black-and-white check.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a garment or fabric with such a pattern.

■ adj. [attrib.] having such a pattern: a blue check T-shirt.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: probably from CHECKER^2 .

Linked entries:

CHECKER ■

check·book n. a book of blank checks with a register for recording checks written.

check·book jour·nal·ism n. CHIEFLY DEROGATORY the practice of paying large amounts of money for exclusive rights to material for newspaper stories, esp. personal ones.

check·box n. [COMPUTING] a small box on a computer screen that, when selected by the user, is filled with an X to show that the feature described alongside it has been enabled.

checked adj. 1 (of clothes or fabric) having a pattern of small squares: a checked shirt.

2 [PHONETICS] (of a vowel) followed by one or more consonants in the same syllable.

Check·er Chubby (1941- ), U.S. singer; born Ernest Evans. He popularized dance crazes such as "The Twist" 1960.

check·er 1 n. 1 a person or thing that verifies or examines something: a spelling checker.

2 a cashier in a supermarket.

check·er 2 (BRIT. cheq·uer) n. 1 (often checkers) a pattern of squares, typically alternately colored: a geometric shape bordered by checkers | [as adj.] (checker) a checker design.

2 (checkers) [treated as sing.] a game for two players, with twelve pieces each, played on a checkerboard.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (checker) a round flat piece, usually red or black, used to play checkers.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from EXCHEQUER. The original sense 'chessboard' gave rise to checkered meaning 'marked like a chessboard'; hence sense 1 (early 16th cent.).

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EXCHEQUER ■

check·er·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) a creeping evergreen North American shrub of the heath family, with spiny scented leaves and waxy white flowers. Also called WINTERGREEN.
<INFO>  Gaultheria procumbens, family Ericaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the edible red fruit of this plant.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from checkers or chequers 'berries of the service tree' (so named from their color) + BERRY.

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WINTERGREEN ■

BERRY ■

check·er·board n. a board for playing checkers and certain other games, with a regular pattern of squares in alternating colors, typically black and white.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a pattern resembling such a board.

check·ered adj. having a pattern of alternating squares of different colors.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE marked by periods of varied fortune or discreditable incidents: his checkered past might hurt his electability.

check·ered flag n. 1 [AUTO RACING] a flag with a black-and-white checkered pattern, displayed to drivers as they finish a race.

2 victory in a race: Unser took the checkered flag four times this spring.

check·er·spot n. a North American butterfly with pale markings on the wings that typically form a checkered pattern.
<INFO>  Euphydryas and other genera, subfamily Melitaeinae, family Nymphalidae: several species, in particular the Baltimore checkerspot (E. phaeton).

check-in n. [often as adj.] the act of reporting one's presence and registering, typically at an airport or hotel: the check-in counter.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the point at which such registration takes place.

check·ing ac·count (CANADIAN cheq·uing ac·count) n. an account at a bank against which checks can be drawn by the account depositor.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from CHECK^3 .

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CHECK ■

check·list n. a list of items required, things to be done, or points to be considered, used as a reminder.

check mark n. a mark () used to indicate that a textual item is correct or has been chosen or verified.

check·mate n. [CHESS] a check from which a king cannot escape.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [as exclam.] (by a player) announcing that the opponent's king is in such a position.

- FIGURATIVE a final defeat or deadlock: if the rebel forces succeed in cutting off the road, they will have achieved checkmate.

■ v. [trans.] [CHESS] put into checkmate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE defeat or frustrate totally: U.S. aid would help them to checkmate communist invasion.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French eschec mat, from Arabic , from Persian 'the king is helpless'.

check·out n. 1 a point at which goods are paid for in a supermarket or other store: [as adj.] packaging that is scanned at the checkout counter.

2 the administrative procedure followed when a guest leaves a hotel at the end of a stay: [as adj.] checkout time.

check·point n. a barrier or manned entrance, typically at a border, where travelers are subject to security checks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a place along the route of a long-distance race where the time for each competitor is recorded.

- a location whose exact position can be verified visually or electronically, used by pilots to aid navigation.

check rein n. a bearing rein.

check·room n. a room in a public building where coats, hats, luggage, etc., may be left temporarily.

checks and bal·anc·es plural n. counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is regulated, typically those ensuring that political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals or groups.

check·sum n. a digit representing the sum of the correct digits in a piece of stored or transmitted digital data, against which later comparisons can be made to detect errors in the data.

check·up n. a thorough examination, esp. a medical or dental one.

check valve n. a valve that closes to prevent backward flow of liquid.

ched·dar n. a kind of firm smooth cheese, originally made in Cheddar in southern England.

che·der (also he·der) n. (pl. che·da·rim , che·ders) a school for Jewish children in which Hebrew and religious knowledge are taught.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Hebrew 'room'.

chee·cha·ko n. (pl. -kos) INFORMAL a person newly arrived in the mining districts of Alaska or northwestern Canada.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Chinook Jargon, 'newcomer'.

cheek n. 1 either side of the face below the eye: tears rolled down her cheeks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- either of the inner sides of the mouth: Sam had to bite his cheeks to keep from laughing.

- INFORMAL either of the buttocks.

- either of two side pieces or parts in a structure.

2 [in sing.] impertinent talk or behavior: he had the cheek to complain; that's enough of your cheek!

<PHRASES>
□ cheek by jowl close together; side by side: the houses were packed cheek by jowl along the coast. <ORIGIN> from a use of jowl in the sense 'cheek'; the phrase was originally cheek by cheek.

□ cheek to cheek (of two people dancing) with their heads close together in an intimate way.

□ turn the other cheek refrain from retaliating when one has been attacked or insulted. <ORIGIN> with biblical allusion to Matt. 5:39.

<DERIVATIVES> cheeked adj. [in combination] rosy-cheeked.

<ORIGIN> Old English , 'cheek, jaw'; related to Dutch kaak.

cheek·bone n. the bone below the eye.

cheek·piece n. a part of an object that covers or rests on the cheek, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the portion of the stock of a rifle or shotgun that rests against the face when aiming from the shoulder.

- either of the two straps of a horse's bridle joining the bit and the headpiece.

- a bar on a horse's bit that lies outside the mouth.

cheek pouch n. a saclike fold of skin on either side of the mouth, esp. in squirrels, monkeys, and gophers, used for carrying food.

Cheek·to·wa·ga a town in western New York, an industrial suburb east of Buffalo; pop. 99,314.

cheek·y adj. (cheek·i·er, cheek·i·est) impudent or irreverent, typically in an endearing or amusing way: a cheeky grin.

<DERIVATIVES> cheek·i·ly adv. cheek·i·ness n.

cheep n. a shrill squeaky cry made by a bird, typically a young one.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sound resembling such a cry: an electronic cheep from the alarm.

■ v. [intrans.] make a shrill squeaky sound.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (originally Scots): imitative (compare with PEEP^2 ).

Linked entries:

PEEP ■

cheer v. 1 [intrans.] shout for joy or in praise or encouragement: she cheered from the sidelines.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] praise or encourage with shouts: they cheered his emotional speech; | the cyclists were cheered on by the crowds.

2 [trans.] give comfort or support to: he seemed greatly cheered by my arrival.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (cheer someone up or cheer up) make or become less miserable: [trans.] I asked her out to lunch to cheer her up | [intrans.] he cheered up at the sight of the food.

■ n. 1 a shout of encouragement, praise, or joy: a tremendous cheer from the audience.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a brief phrase shouted in unison by a crowd, typically led by cheerleaders, in support of an athletic team.

2 (also good cheer) cheerfulness, optimism, or confidence: an attempt to inject a little cheer into this gloomy season.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- something that causes such feelings: the sunset provided some cheer for rush-hour motorists.

- food and drink provided for a festive occasion: they had partaken heartily of the Christmas cheer.

<PHRASES>
□ of good cheer ARCHAIC cheerful; optimistic.

□ three cheers three successive hurrahs shouted to express appreciation or congratulation: three cheers for the winners!

□ what cheer? ARCHAIC how are you?

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chiere 'face', from late Latin cara, from Greek kara 'head'. The original sense was 'face', hence 'expression, mood', later specifically 'a good mood'.

cheer·ful adj. noticeably happy and optimistic: how can she be so cheerful at six o'clock in the morning?; a cheerful voice.
<SPECIAL USAGE> causing happiness by its nature or appearance: a chatty, cheerful letter; the room was painted in cheerful colors.

<DERIVATIVES> cheer·ful·ness n.

cheer·ful·ly adv. in a way that displays happiness or optimism: he was whistling cheerfully.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- in a way that inspires feelings of happiness: cheerfully decorated rooms.

- readily and willingly: I could cheerfully have strangled her.

cheer·i·o exclam. BRIT., INFORMAL used as an expression of good wishes on parting; goodbye.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED used as a toast.

cheer·lead·er n. a person who leads cheers and applause, esp. at a sports event.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an enthusiastic and vocal supporter: he was a cheerleader for individual initiative.

<DERIVATIVES> cheer·lead v. (past and past part. -led)

cheer·less adj. gloomy; depressing: the corridors were ill-lit and cheerless.

<DERIVATIVES> cheer·less·ly adv. cheer·less·ness n.

cheer·ly adv. ARCHAIC heartily (used as a cry of encouragement among sailors).

cheers exclam. INFORMAL expressing good wishes, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- good wishes before drinking: “Cheers,” she said, raising her glass.

- BRIT. good wishes on parting or ending a conversation: “Cheers, Jack, see you later.”

- CHIEFLY BRIT. gratitude or acknowledgment for something: Billy tossed him the key. “Cheers, pal.”

cheer·y adj. (cheer·i·er, cheer·i·est) happy and optimistic: a cheery smile.

<DERIVATIVES> cheer·i·ly adv. cheer·i·ness n.

cheese 1 n. 1 a food made from the pressed curds of milk: grated cheese | a slice of cheese | [as adj.] a cheese sandwich.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a molded mass of such food with its rind, often in a round flat shape: a 50-pound, muslin-wrapped cheese.

- a round flat object resembling a cheese.

2 INFORMAL the quality of being too obviously sentimental: the conversations tend too far toward cheese.

<PHRASES>
□ hard cheese BRIT., INFORMAL used to express sympathy over a petty matter.

□ say cheese said by a photographer to encourage the subject to smile.

<ORIGIN> Old English , ; related to Dutch kaas and German Käse; from Latin caseus.

cheese 2 (also big cheese) n. INFORMAL an important person: he was a big cheese in the business world.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (originally in the sense 'the right thing or something excellent'): probably from Urdu, from Persian 'thing'. The current sense dates from the 1920s.

cheese 3 v. INFORMAL CHIEFLY BRIT., exasperate, frustrate, or bore: that really cheesed off Ricky.

<PHRASES> cheese it
1 BRIT., ARCHAIC look out.

2 DATED run away: cheese it, here comes Mr. Madigan!

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (in sense 1 of cheese it): of unknown origin.

cheese·board n. a board on which cheese is served and cut.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a selection of cheeses.

cheese·burg·er n. a hamburger with a slice of cheese on it.

cheese·cake n. 1 a kind of rich dessert cake made with cream and soft cheese on a graham cracker, cookie, or pastry crust, typically topped with a fruit sauce.

2 INFORMAL photography, a movie, or art that portrays women in a manner emphasizing stereotypical sexual attractiveness: [as adj.] a cheesecake photo of herself wearing a silly hat and little else.

cheese·cloth n. thin, loosely woven cloth of cotton, used originally for making and wrapping cheese.

cheese-cut·ter n. 1 an implement for cutting cheese, esp. by means of a wire that can be pulled through the cheese.

2 (also cheese-cutter cap) INFORMAL a cap with a broad, square brim.

cheese fly n. another term for CHEESE-SKIPPER.

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CHEESE-SKIPPER ■

cheese·head n. 1 INFORMAL a resident of Wisconsin, esp. a fan of the Green Bay Packers football team. <ORIGIN> so called because Wisconsin is noted for the production of cheese.

2 INFORMAL a blockhead; an idiot.

cheese·mon·ger n. BRIT. a person who sells cheese, butter, and other dairy products.

cheese·par·ing adj. careful or stingy with money.

■ n. stinginess.

cheese-skip·per n. a small shiny black fly whose larvae frequently infest cheese. Also called CHEESE FLY.
<INFO>  Piophila casei, family Piophilidae.

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CHEESE FLY ■

cheese·steak n. (also Philly cheesesteak) a sandwich containing thin-sliced sautéed beef, melted cheese, and typically sautéed onions, served in a long roll.

cheese straw n. a thin strip of pastry, flavored with cheese and eaten as a snack.

chees·y adj. (chees·i·er, chees·i·est) 1 like cheese in taste, smell, or consistency: a pungent, cheesy sauce.

2 INFORMAL cheap, unpleasant, or blatantly inauthentic: a big cheesy grin; cheesy motel rooms.

<DERIVATIVES> chees·i·ness n.

chee·tah n. a large spotted cat found in Africa and parts of Asia. It is the fastest animal on land.
<INFO>  Acinonyx jubatus, family Felidae.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Hindi , perhaps from Sanskrit citraka 'leopard'.

Chee·ver John (1912-82), U.S. novelist and short-story writer. His stories frequently satirize affluent residents of the suburbs of Westchester County and New England. Notable works: The Wapshot Chronicle (1957), The Wapshot Scandal (1964), Bullet Park (1969), and The Stories of John Cheever (1978).

chef n. a professional cook, typically the chief cook in a restaurant or hotel.

■ v. (cheffed, chef·fing) [intrans.] INFORMAL work as a chef: when they finish cheffing, they gather themselves together and they drink their owners' best wines.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, literally 'head'.

chef-d'œu·vre n. (pl. chefs-d'œu·vre ) a masterpiece.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: French, literally 'chief work'.

Che·foo former name of YANTAI.

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YANTAI ■

chef's sal·ad n. a large salad of lettuce topped with strips of meat (usu. turkey and ham) and cheese, and large pieces of tomato and hard-boiled egg, typically served as a main course.

cheiro- comb. form variant spelling of CHIRO-.

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CHIRO- ■

Che·ka an organization under the Soviet regime for the investigation of counterrevolutionary activities. It executed many real and alleged enemies of Lenin's regime from its formation in 1917 until 1922 when it was replaced by the OGPU.

<ORIGIN> Russian, from che, ka, the initial letters of 'Extraordinary Commission (for combating Counterrevolution, Sabotage, and Speculation)'.

Che·khov Anton (Pavlovich) (1860-1904), Russian playwright and short-story writer. His work, which portrays upper-class life in prerevolutionary Russia with a blend of naturalism and symbolism, had a considerable influence on 20th-century drama. Notable plays: The Seagull (1895), Uncle Vanya (1900), The Three Sisters (1901), and The Cherry Orchard (1904).

Che·kiang variant of ZHEJIANG.

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ZHEJIANG ■

che·la 1 n. (pl. -lae ) [ZOOLOGY] a pincerlike claw, esp. of a crab or other crustacean. Compare with CHELICERA.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin chele or Greek 'claw'.

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CHELICERA ■

che·la 2 n. a follower and student of a guru.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi .

che·late n. [CHEMISTRY] a compound containing a ligand (typically organic) bonded to a central metal atom at two or more points.

■ adj. [ZOOLOGY] (of an appendage) bearing chelae.

■ v. [trans.] [CHEMISTRY] form a chelate with.

<DERIVATIVES> che·la·tion n. che·la·tor n.

che·la·tion ther·a·py n. a therapy for mercury or lead poisoning that binds the toxins in the bloodstream by circulating a chelating solution.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a therapy that attempts to remove calcium deposits from the arteries on the same principle.

che·lic·er·a n. (pl. -lic·er·ae ) [ZOOLOGY] either of a pair of appendages in front of the mouth in arachnids and some other arthropods, usually modified as pincerlike claws. Compare with CHELA^1 .

<DERIVATIVES> che·lic·er·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek 'claw' + keras 'horn'.

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CHELA ■

Che·lic·er·at·a [ZOOLOGY] a large group of arthropods that comprises the arachnids, sea spiders, and horseshoe crabs. They lack antennae, but possess a pair of chelicerae, a pair of pedipalps, and (typically) four pairs of legs.
<INFO>  Subphylum Chelicerata, phylum Arthropoda.

<DERIVATIVES> che·lic·er·ate n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek 'claw' + keras 'horn'.

Chel·le·an adj. & n. former term for ABBEVILLIAN.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French Chelléen, from Chelles, near Paris, where tools from this period were discovered.

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ABBEVILLIAN ■

Chelms·ford a city in southeastern England, noted for its cathedral; the county town of Essex; pop. 152,418.

Che·lo·ni·a [ZOOLOGY] former term for TESTUDINES.

<DERIVATIVES> che·lo·ni·an n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek 'tortoise'.

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TESTUDINES ■

Chel·sea 1 an industrial and commercial city in northeastern Massachusetts, just north of Boston; pop. 28,710.

2 a residential district of London, on the northern bank of the Thames River.

3 a fashionable residential section of southern Manhattan in New York City, on the west side of the city.

Chel·sea boot n. an elastic-sided boot, typically with a high heel.

Chel·ya·binsk an industrial city in southern Russia, on the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains; pop. 1,148,000.

chem. abbr.
- chemical.

- chemist.

- chemistry.

chemi- comb. form representing CHEMICAL. See also CHEMO-.

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CHEMICAL ■

CHEMO- ■

chem·i·cal (abbr.: chem.) adj. of or relating to chemistry or the interactions of substances as studied in chemistry: the chemical composition of the atmosphere.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of or relating to chemicals: chemical treatments for killing fungi.

- relating to, involving, or denoting the use of poison gas or other chemicals as weapons of war: the manufacture of chemical weapons.

■ n. a compound or substance that has been purified or prepared, esp. artificially: never mix disinfectant with other chemicals; controversy arose over treatment of apples with this chemical.

<DERIVATIVES> chem·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French chimique or modern Latin chimicus, chymicus, from medieval Latin alchymicus, from alchimia (see ALCHEMY).

chem·i·cal a·buse n. another term for SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

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SUBSTANCE ABUSE ■

chem·i·cal bond n. see BOND (sense 3).

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BOND ■

chem·i·cal com·pound n. see COMPOUND^1 .

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COMPOUND ■

chem·i·cal de·pend·en·cy n. addiction to a mood- or mind-altering drug, such as alcohol or cocaine.

chem·i·cal el·e·ment n. see ELEMENT sense 2.

chem·i·cal en·gi·neer·ing n. the branch of engineering concerned with the design and operation of industrial chemical plants.

<DERIVATIVES> chem·i·cal en·gi·neer n.

chem·i·cal for·mu·la n. see FORMULA (sense 1).

Linked entries:

FORMULA ■

chem·i·cal po·ten·tial n. the change in Gibbs free energy with respect to change in amount of the component, with pressure, temperature, and amounts of other components being constant. Components are in equilibrium if their chemical potentials are equal.

chem·i·cal re·ac·tion n. a process that involves rearrangement of the molecular or ionic structure of a substance, as opposed to a change in physical form or a nuclear reaction.

chem·i·cal weath·er·ing n. the erosion or disintegration of rocks, building materials, etc., caused by chemical reactions (chiefly with water and substances dissolved in it) rather than by mechanical processes.

chemico- comb. form representing CHEMICAL.

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CHEMICAL ■

chem·i·lum·i·nes·cence n. the emission of light during a chemical reaction that does not produce significant quantities of heat.

<DERIVATIVES> chem·i·lum·i·nes·cent adj.

chem·in de fer n. a form of the card game baccarat.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, literally 'railroad'.

che·mise n. a dress hanging straight from the shoulders and giving the figure a uniform shape, popular in the 1920s.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a woman's loose-fitting undergarment or nightdress, typically of silk or satin with a lace trim.

- a priest's alb or surplice.

- HISTORICAL a smock.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from late Latin camisia 'shirt or nightgown'.

chem·i·sette n. a woman's undergarment similar to a camisole, typically worn so as to be visible beneath an open-necked blouse or dress.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, diminutive of chemise.

chem·i·sorp·tion n. [CHEMISTRY] adsorption in which the adsorbed substance is held by chemical bonds.

<DERIVATIVES> chem·i·sorbed adj..

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from CHEMI- + a shortened form of ADSORPTION (see ADSORB).

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CHEMI- ■

chem·ist (abbr.: chem.) n. 1 an expert in chemistry; a person engaged in chemical research or experiments.

2 BRIT. a drugstore.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a pharmacist.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting an alchemist): from French chimiste, from modern Latin chimista, from alchimista 'alchemist', from alchimia (see ALCHEMY).

chem·is·try (abbr.: chem.) n. (pl. -tries) 1 the branch of science that deals with the identification of the substances of which matter is composed; the investigation of their properties and the ways in which they interact, combine, and change; and the use of these processes to form new substances.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the chemical composition and properties of a substance or body: the chemistry of soil | [count noun] the chemistries of other galaxies.

- FIGURATIVE a complex entity or process: the chemistry of politics.

2 the emotional or psychological interaction between two people, esp. when experienced as a powerful mutual attraction: their affair was triggered by intense sexual chemistry.

Chem·nitz an industrial city in eastern Germany, on the Chemnitz River; pop. 310,000. Former name (from 1953) KARL-MARX-STADT.

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KARL-MARX-STADT ■

che·mo n. INFORMAL chemotherapy.

chemo- comb. form representing CHEMICAL. See also CHEMI-.

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CHEMICAL ■

CHEMI- ■

che·mo·at·tract·ant n. [BIOLOGY] a substance that attracts motile cells of a particular type: a fibroblast chemoattractant.

che·mo·au·to·troph n. [BIOLOGY] an organism, typically a bacterium, that derives energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds.

<DERIVATIVES> che·mo·au·to·tro·phic adj. che·mo·au·tot·ro·phy n.

che·mo·kine n. any of a class of cytokines with various immunoregulatory functions, including attracting white blood cells to sites of infection.

che·mo·pro·phy·lax·is n. the use of drugs to prevent disease.

<DERIVATIVES> che·mo·pro·phy·lac·tic adj.

che·mo·re·cep·tor n. [PHYSIOLOGY] a sensory cell or organ responsive to chemical stimuli.

<DERIVATIVES> che·mo·re·cep·tion n.

che·mo·stat n. a system in which the chemical composition is kept at a controlled level, esp. for the culture of microorganisms.

che·mo·syn·the·sis n. [BIOLOGY] the synthesis of organic compounds by bacteria or other living organisms using energy derived from reactions involving inorganic chemicals, typically in the absence of sunlight. Compare with PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

<DERIVATIVES> che·mo·syn·thet·ic adj.

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PHOTOSYNTHESIS ■

che·mo·tax·is n. [BIOLOGY] movement of a motile cell or organism, or part of one, in a direction corresponding to a gradient of increasing or decreasing concentration of a particular substance.

<DERIVATIVES> che·mo·tac·tic adj.

che·mo·ther·a·py n. the treatment of disease by the use of chemical substances, esp. the treatment of cancer by cytotoxic and other drugs.

<DERIVATIVES> che·mo·ther·a·pist n.

che·mot·ro·pism n. a tropism, esp. of a plant, in response to a particular substance.

<DERIVATIVES> che·mo·trop·ic adj. che·mo·trop·i·cal·ly adv.

chempaka n. variant spelling of CHAMPAK.

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CHAMPAK ■

chem·ur·gy n. the chemical and industrial use of organic raw materials.

<DERIVATIVES> chem·ur·gic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from CHEMO-, on the pattern of metallurgy.

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CHEMO- ■

Che·nab a river in northern India and Pakistan that rises in the Himalayas and flows through Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir to join the Sutlej River in Punjab. It is one of the five rivers that gave Punjab its name.

Chenai official name (since 1995) for MADRAS.

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MADRAS ■

che·nar n. variant spelling of CHINAR.

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CHINAR ■

Chen-chiang variant of ZHENJIANG.

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ZHENJIANG ■

Che·ney Dick (1941- ), U.S. vice president 2001- ; full name Richard Bruce Cheney. A conservative Republican from Wyoming, he served as President Ford's chief of staff 1975-76, in the U.S. House of Representatives 1979-89, and as secretary of defense under President George H. W. Bush 1989-93 before assuming the duties of vice president under President George W. Bush. He was a major proponent of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Cheng·chow variant of ZHENGZHOU.

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ZHENGZHOU ■

Cheng·du the capital of Sichuan province in western central China; pop. 2,780,000.

che·nille n. a tufted velvety cord or yarn, used for trimming furniture and making carpets and clothing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fabric made from such yarn.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, literally 'hairy caterpillar'.

Chen·nault Claire Lee (1890-1958), U.S. military pilot and officer. During World War II, he formed the "Flying Tigers," a U.S. volunteer group, to aid China.

cheong·sam n. a straight, close-fitting silk dress with a high neck, short sleeves, and a slit skirt, worn traditionally by Chinese and Indonesian women.

<ORIGIN> Chinese (Cantonese dialect).

Che·ops (fl. early 26th century BC), Egyptian pharaoh of the 4th dynasty; Egyptian name Khufu. He commissioned the building of the Great Pyramid at Giza.

cheque n. British spelling of CHECK^3 .

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CHECK ■

cheq·uer n. & v. British spelling of CHECKER^2 .

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CHECKER ■

cheq·uer·board n. British spelling of CHECKERBOARD.

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CHECKERBOARD ■

Cher 1 a river in central France that rises in the Massif Central and flows north for 220 miles (350 km) to meet the Loire River near Tours.

Cher 2 (1946- ), U.S. actress and singer; born Cherilyn LaPiere Sarkisian. She was married to Sonny Bono, with whom she starred on a television show 1971-74, and to musician Gregg Allman. Her notable movies include Silkwood (1983), Moonstruck (1987), for which she won an Academy Award, and Tea With Mussolini (1999).

Cher·bourg a seaport and naval base in Normandy, in northern France; pop. 28,770.

Che·ren·kov Pavel (Alekseevich) (also Ce·ren·kov) (1904-90), Soviet physicist. He investigated the effects of high-energy particles and discovered the cause of blue light (now called CERENKOV RADIATION) emitted by radioactive substances underwater. Nobel Prize for Physics (1958, shared with Ilja Mikhailovich Frank 1908-90 and Igor Yevgenyevich Tamm 1895-1971)

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CERENKOV RADIATION ■

Che·ren·kov ra·di·a·tion n. variant spelling of CERENKOV RADIATION.

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CERENKOV RADIATION ■

Che·re·po·vets a city in northwestern Russia, on the Rybinsk Reservoir; pop. 313,000.

cher·i·moy·a (also chir·i·moy·a) n. 1 a tropical American fruit with a flavor like pineapple and scaly green skin.

2 the small tree that bears this fruit, native to the Andes of Peru and Ecuador.
<INFO>  Annona cherimola, family Annonaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Spanish, from Quechua, from chiri 'cold or refreshing' + muya 'circle'.

cher·ish v. [trans.] protect and care for (someone) lovingly: he cared for me beyond measure and cherished me in his heart.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- hold (something) dear: I cherish the letters she wrote | [as adj.] (cherished) cherished possessions.

- (of a hope, idea, or memory) think of longingly or lovingly: we will cherish your memory.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'treat with affection'): from Old French cheriss-, lengthened stem of cherir, from cher 'dear', from Latin carus.

Cher·kas·sy Russian for CHERKASY.

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CHERKASY ■

Cher·ka·sy a port in central Ukraine, on the Dnieper River; pop. 297,000. Russian name CHERKASSY.

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CHERKASSY ■

Cher·kessk a city in the Caucasus in southern Russia, capital of the republic of Karachai-Cherkessia; pop 113,000.

Cher·nen·ko Konstantin (Ustinovich) (1911-85), Soviet statesman, general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and president 1984-85. He died after only thirteen months in office and was succeeded by Mikhail Gorbachev.

Cher·ni·gov Russian for CHERNIHIV.

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CHERNIHIV ■

Cher·ni·hiv a port in northern Ukraine, on the Desna River; pop. 301,000. Russian name CHERNIGOV.

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CHERNIGOV ■

Cher·niv·tsi a city in western Ukraine, in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, close to the border with Romania; pop. 257,000. It was part of Romania between 1918 and 1940. Russian name CHERNOVTSY .

Cher·no·byl a town near Kiev in Ukraine where an accident at a nuclear power station in April 1986 resulted in serious radioactive contamination in Ukraine, Belarus, and other parts of Europe.

Cher·no·rech·ye former name (until 1919) for DZERZHINSK.

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DZERZHINSK ■

cher·no·zem n. [SOIL SCIENCE] a fertile black soil rich in humus, with a lighter lime-rich layer beneath. Such soils typically occur in temperate grasslands such as the Russian steppes and North American prairies.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Russian, from 'black' + zemlya 'earth'.

Cher·o·kee n. (pl. same or -kees) 1 a member of an American Indian people of the southeastern U.S., now living on reservations in Oklahoma and North Carolina.

2 the Iroquoian language of this people, which has had its own script since 1820.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> from Cherokee tsaraki.

Cher·o·kee rose n. a climbing rose with fragrant white flowers, native to China and naturalized in the southern U.S.
<INFO>  Rosa laevigata, family Rosaceae.

che·root n. a cigar with both ends open and untapered.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French cheroute, from Tamil 'roll of tobacco'.

cher·ry n. (pl. -ries) 1 a small, round stone fruit that is typically bright or dark red. See also MARASCHINO CHERRY.

2 (also cherry tree) the tree that bears such fruit.
<INFO>  Genus Prunus, family Rosaceae: several species, the edible fruits being derived from the mazzard (or sweet) cherry (P. avium) and the morello (or sour) cherry (P. cerasus).

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the wood of this tree.

- used in names of unrelated plants with similar fruits, e.g., cornelian cherry.

3 a bright or deep red color: [as adj.] her mouth was a bright cherry red.

4 [in sing.] VULGAR SLANG the hymen, as representing a woman's virginity.

<PHRASES>
□ a bowl of cherries [usu. with negative] a pleasant or enjoyable situation or experience: being in the band isn't a bowl of cherries.

□ pop someone's cherry VULGAR SLANG have sexual intercourse with a girl or woman who is a virgin.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Northern French cherise, from medieval Latin ceresia, based on Greek kerasos 'cherry tree, cherry'. The final -s was lost because cherise was interpreted as plural (compare with CAPER^2 and PEA).

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MARASCHINO CHERRY ■

CAPER ■

PEA ■

Cher·ry Hill a township in southwestern New Jersey, southeast of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; pop. 69,965.

cher·ry lau·rel n. an evergreen shrub or small tree of the rose family, with leathery leaves, white flowers, and cherrylike fruits, native to the Balkans and widely cultivated.
<INFO>  Prunus laurocerasus, family Rosaceae.

cher·ry-pick v. 1 [trans.] selectively choose (the most beneficial items) from what is available: the company should buy the whole airline and not just cherry-pick its best assets.

2 [intrans.] [SPORTS] in a game such as basketball, wait near the goal for a pass, which can be converted to an easy score.

<DERIVATIVES> cher·ry-pick·ing n.

cher·ry pick·er n. INFORMAL 1 a hydraulic crane with a railed platform at the end for raising and lowering people, for instance to work on overhead cables.

2 a person who cherry-picks.

cher·ry to·ma·to n. a spherical miniature tomato. The fruit is glossy red, or occasionally yellow, and typically eaten in salad.
<INFO>  Lycopersicon lycopersicum cerasiforme

Cher·so·nese ancient name for the Gallipoli peninsula.

<ORIGIN> from Latin chersonesus, from Greek , from khersos 'dry' + 'island'.

chert n. a hard, dark, opaque rock composed of silica (chalcedony) with an amorphous or microscopically fine-grained texture. It occurs as nodules (flint) or, less often, in massive beds.

<DERIVATIVES> chert·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (originally dialect): of unknown origin.

cher·ub n. (pl. cher·u·bim) a winged angelic being described in biblical tradition as attending on God. It is represented in ancient Middle Eastern art as a lion or bull with eagles' wings and a human face, and regarded in traditional Christian angelology as an angel of the second highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (pl. cher·u·bim or cher·ubs) a representation of a cherub in art, depicted as a chubby, healthy-looking child with wings.

- (pl. cher·ubs) a beautiful or innocent-looking child.

<ORIGIN> Old English cherubin, ultimately (via Latin and Greek) from Hebrew , plural . A rabbinic folk etymology, which explains the Hebrew singular form as representing Aramaic 'like a child', led to the representation of the cherub as a child.

che·ru·bic adj. having the childlike innocence or plump prettiness of a cherub: a round, cherubic face.

<DERIVATIVES> che·ru·bi·cal·ly adv.

Che·ru·bi·ni (Maria) Luigi (Carlo Zenobio Salvatore) (1760-1842), Italian composer. He is principally known for his church music and operas.

cher·vil n. a plant of the parsley family, with small white flowers and delicate fernlike leaves that are used as a culinary herb.
<INFO>  Anthriscus cerefolium, family Umbelliferae.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Latin chaerephylla, from Greek khairephullon.

Ches·a·peake a port city in central Virginia, in the Hampton Roads area; pop. 199,184.

Ches·a·peake Bay a large inlet of the North Atlantic Ocean on the U.S. coast that extends north for 200 miles (320 km) through the states of Virginia and Maryland.

Chesh·ire 1 a county in western central England; county town, Chester.

Chesh·ire 2 (also Cheshire cheese) n. a kind of firm crumbly cheese, originally made in Cheshire, England.

Chesh·ire cat n. a cat depicted with a broad fixed grin, as popularized through Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865).

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: of unknown origin, but it is said that cheeses made in Cheshire, England, used to be marked with the face of a smiling cat.

chess n. a board game of strategic skill for two players, played on a checkered board. Each player begins the game with sixteen pieces that are moved and used to capture opposing pieces according to precise rules. The object is to put the opponent's king under a direct attack from which escape is impossible (checkmate).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French esches, plural of eschec 'a check' (see CHECK^1 ).

Linked entries:

CHECK ■

chess·board n. a square board divided into sixty-four alternating dark and light squares, used for playing chess or checkers.

chess·man n. (pl. -men) a solid figure used as a chess piece.

chess pie n. a type of pie filled with a mixture of eggs, butter, and sugar, to which nuts and fruits may be added.

chess set n. a chessboard and a set of chessmen.

chest n. 1 the front surface of a person's or animal's body between the neck and the abdomen.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the whole of a person's upper trunk, esp. with reference to physical size: a 42-inch chest.

- INFORMAL a woman's breasts.

2 a large strong box, typically made of wood and used for storage or shipping: an oak chest.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a small cabinet for medicines, toiletries, etc.: the medicine chest.

- short for CHEST OF DRAWERS.

- BRIT. the treasury or financial resources of some institutions: the university chest.

<PHRASES>
□ get something off one's chest INFORMAL say something that one has wanted to say for a long time, resulting in a feeling of relief.

□ play (or keep) one's cards close to one's chest (or vest) INFORMAL be secretive and cautious about one's intentions.

<DERIVATIVES> chest·ed adj. [in combination] a bare-chested youth.

<ORIGIN> Old English cest, cyst, related to Dutch kist and German Kiste, based on Greek 'box'.

Linked entries:

CHEST OF DRAWERS ■

Ches·ter 1 a town in western England, the county town of Cheshire; pop. 115,000.

2 a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River, southwest of Philadelphia; pop. 41,856.

Ches·ter·field a city in eastern Missouri, on the Missouri River, a suburb of St. Louis; pop. 46,802.

ches·ter·field n. 1 a sofa with padded arms and back of the same height and curved outward at the top.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY CANADIAN any sofa or couch.

2 a man's plain straight overcoat, typically with a velvet collar.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (sense 2): named after a 19th-cent. Earl of Chesterfield.

Ches·ter·ton G. K. (1874-1936), English essayist, novelist, and critic; full name Gilbert Keith Chesterton. His novels include The Napoleon of Notting Hill (1904) and a series of detective stories featuring Father Brown, a priest with a talent for crime detection.

Ches·ter White n. a pig of a prolific white breed with drooping ears, developed in Pennsylvania.

chest freez·er n. a freezer with a hinged lid that opens from the top, rather than a front-opening door.

chest·nut n. 1 (also sweet chestnut) a glossy brown nut that may be roasted and eaten.

2 (also chestnut tree, sweet chestnut, or Spanish chestnut) the large European tree that produces the edible chestnut, which develops within a bristly case, with serrated leaves and heavy timber.
<INFO>  Castanea sativa, family Fagaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also American chestnut) a related tree (C. dentata), which succumbed to a fungus bark disease in the early 1900s. Once prolific in the eastern U.S., very few large specimens survived.

- (also Chinese chestnut) a related tree (C. mollissima) native to China and Korea, cultivated elsewhere for its edible nut. The flowers have a putrid odor.

- short for HORSE CHESTNUT.

- used in names of trees and plants that are related to the sweet chestnut or that produce similar nuts, e.g., water chestnut.

3 a deep reddish-brown color: [as adj.] chestnut hair.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a horse of a reddish-brown color, with a brown mane and tail.

4 a small horny patch on the inside of each of a horse's legs.

<PHRASES>
□ an old chestnut a joke or story that has become tedious because of its age and constant repetition.

□ pull someone's chestnuts out of the fire succeed in a hazardous undertaking for someone else's benefit. <ORIGIN> with reference to the fable of a monkey using a cat's paw to extract roasting chestnuts from a fire.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Old English chesten (from Old French chastaine, via Latin from Greek kastanea) + NUT.

Linked entries:

HORSE CHESTNUT ■

NUT ■

Chest·nut Hill 1 an affluent suburban area west of Boston in Massachusetts, partly in Brookline and partly in Newton.

2 an affluent residential section in northern Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.

chest·nut oak n. a North American oak that has leaves resembling those of the chestnut.
<INFO>  Genus Quercus, family Fagaceae: several species, in particular Q. montana (or Q. prinus) of the eastern U.S.

chest of drawers n. a piece of furniture consisting of a set of drawers in a frame, typically used for storing clothes.

chest pro·tec·tor n. [BASEBALL] a padded covering worn over the chest by a catcher or umpire as protection against fouled-off or errant pitches.

chest voice n. [in sing.] the lowest register of the voice in singing or speaking.

chest·y adj. INFORMAL 1 (of a sound) produced deep in the chest: a chesty chuckle; a chesty growl.

2 (of a woman) having large or prominent breasts.

3 conceited and arrogant.

4 BRIT. having a lot of mucus in the lungs: a chesty cough.

<DERIVATIVES> chest·i·ly adv. chest·i·ness n.

Ches·van variant spelling of HESVAN.

Linked entries:

HESVAN ■

Chet·nik n. a member of a Slavic nationalist guerrilla force in the Balkans, esp. one active during World War II.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Serbo-Croat , from 'band, troop'.

che·trum n. (pl. same or -trums) a monetary unit of Bhutan, equal to one hundredth of a ngultrum.

<ORIGIN> Dzongkha.

che·val-de-frise n. 1 a portable obstacle, consisting of a wooden frame covered with spikes or barbed wire, used by the military to close off a passage or block enemy advancement.

2 shards of glass or spikes set into masonry along the top of a wall.

che·val glass (also cheval mirror) n. a tall mirror fitted at its middle to an upright frame so that it can be tilted.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: cheval from French, in the sense 'frame'.

Chev·a·lier Maurice (1888-1972), French singer and actor. Notable movies: Innocents of Paris (1929), Love Me Tonight (1932), and Gigi (1958).

chev·a·lier n. HISTORICAL a knight.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a chivalrous man.

- a member of certain orders of knighthood or of modern French orders such as the Legion of Honor.

- (Chevalier) BRIT., HISTORICAL the title of James and Charles Stuart, pretenders to the British throne.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a horseman or mounted knight): from Old French, from medieval Latin caballarius, from Latin caballus 'horse'. Compare with CABALLERO and CAVALIER.

Linked entries:

CABALLERO ■

CAVALIER ■

Chev·i·ot n. a sheep of a breed with short thick wool.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (cheviot) the wool or tweed cloth obtained from this breed.

Chev·i·ot Hills (also the Chev·i·ots) a range of hills on the border between England and Scotland.

chev·on n. the flesh of goats as food; goat meat: the entree was crisp-on-the-outside, succulent-inside haunch of spring chevon.

<ORIGIN> from French chèvre, 'goat', on the pattern of mutton.

chè·vre n. cheese made with goat's milk.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: French, literally 'goat, she-goat', from Latin capra.

chev·ron n. a line or stripe in the shape of a V or an inverted V, esp. one on the sleeve of a uniform indicating rank or length of service.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [HERALDRY] an ordinary in the form of a broad inverted V-shape.

- [ARCHITECTURE] a molding of continuous V-shaped patterns, common in Norman architecture.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in heraldic use): from Old French, based on Latin caper 'goat'; compare with Latin capreoli (diminutive of caper) used to mean 'pair of rafters'.

chev·ro·tain n. a small deerlike mammal with short tusks, typically nocturnal and found in the tropical rain forests of Africa and South Asia. Also called MOUSE DEER.
<INFO>  Family Tragulidae: genera Moschiola (one Asian species), Tragulus (two Asian species) and Hyemoschus (one African species).

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, diminutive of Old French chevrot, diminutive of chèvre 'goat'.

Linked entries:

MOUSE DEER ■

Chev·y n. (pl. chev·ys) INFORMAL a Chevrolet car.

chev·y v. variant spelling of CHIVVY.

Linked entries:

CHIVVY ■

Chevy Chase a fashionable suburb north of Washington, DC, in Montgomery County in Maryland; pop. 8,559.

chew v. [trans.] bite and work (food) in the mouth with the teeth, esp. to make it easier to swallow: he was chewing a mouthful of toast | [intrans.] he chewed for a moment, then swallowed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> gnaw at (something) persistently, typically as a result of worry or anxiety: he chewed his lip reflectively | [intrans.] she chewed at a fingernail.

■ n. a repeated biting or gnawing of something.
<SPECIAL USAGE> something other than food that is meant for chewing: a dog chew; | a chew of tobacco.

<PHRASES>
□ chew the cud see CUD.

□ chew the fat (or rag) INFORMAL chat in a leisurely way, esp. at length.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  chew someone out INFORMAL reprimand someone severely: he chewed me out for being late.

□  chew something over discuss or consider something at length: executives met to chew over the company's future.

□  chew something up chew food until it is soft or in small pieces.
- damage or destroy something as if by chewing: the bikes were chewing up the paths.

<DERIVATIVES> chew·a·ble adj. chew·er n. [usu. in combination] a tobacco-chewer.

<ORIGIN> Old English ; related to Dutch kauwen and German kauen.

Linked entries:

CUD ■

chew·ing gum n. flavored gum for chewing, typically sold in packets of individually wrapped thin strips.

chew·y 1 adj. (chew·i·er, chew·i·est) (of food) needing to be chewed hard or for some time: the bread was never quite fresh, always pretty chewy.

2 suitable for chewing: pasta should be chewy, never soft.

<DERIVATIVES> chew·i·ness n.

Chey·enne 1 the capital of Wyoming, in the southeastern part of the state; pop. 53,011.

Chey·enne 2 n. (pl. same or -ennes) 1 a member of an American Indian people formerly living between the Missouri and Arkansas rivers but now on reservations in Montana and Oklahoma.

2 the Algonquian language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to the Cheyenne or their language.

<ORIGIN> Canadian French, from Dakota , 'little Cree'.

Chey·enne Riv·er a river that flows for 530 miles (850 km) from northeastern Wyoming into western South Dakota to join the Missouri River at Lake Oahe.

Chey·ne-Stokes breath·ing n. [MEDICINE] a cyclical pattern of breathing in which movement gradually decreases to a complete stop and then returns to normal. It occurs in various medical conditions, and at high altitudes.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after John Cheyne (1777-1836), Scottish physician, and William Stokes (1804-78), Irish physician.

chez prep. at the home of (used in imitation of French, often humorously): I spent one summer chez Grandma.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, from Old French chiese, from Latin casa 'cottage'.

chi 1 n. the twenty-second letter of the Greek alphabet (, ), transliterated in the traditional Latin style as ‘ch’ (as in Christ) or in the modern style as ‘kh’ (as in Khaniá and in the etymologies of this dictionary).
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Chi) [followed by Latin genitive] [ASTRONOMY] the twenty-second star in a constellation: Chi Ophiuchi.

chi 2 (also qi or ki) n. variant spelling of QI.

Linked entries:

QI ■

chi·a n. a plant of the mint family with clusters of small two-lipped purple flowers. Chia is common throughout California and the Great Basin.
<INFO>  Salvia columbariae, family Labiatae.

Chiang Kai-shek (also Jiang Jie Shi ) (1887-1975), Chinese statesman and general; president of China 1928-31 and 1943-49 and of Taiwan 1950-75. He tried to unite China by military means in the 1930s but was defeated by the Communists. Forced to abandon mainland China in 1949, he set up a separate Nationalist Chinese State in Taiwan.

Chiang·mai a city in northwestern Thailand; pop. 164,900.

Chi·a·ni·na n. an animal of a large white breed of cattle, raised for its lean meat.

<ORIGIN> from Italian.

Chi·an·ti (also chi·an·ti) n. (pl. -tis) a dry red wine, originally produced in Tuscany, Italy.

<ORIGIN> named after the Chianti Mountains, Italy.

Chi·a·pas a state in southern Mexico that borders on Guatemala; capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

chi·a·ro·scu·ro n. the treatment of light and shade in drawing and painting.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an effect of contrasted light and shadow created by light falling unevenly or from a particular direction on something: the chiaroscuro of cobbled streets.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Italian, from chiaro 'clear, bright' (from Latin clarus) + oscuro 'dark, obscure' (from Latin obscurus).

chi·as·ma n. (pl. -ma·ta ) [BIOLOGY] a point at which paired chromosomes remain in contact during the first metaphase of meiosis, and at which crossing over and exchange of genetic material occur between the strands. See also OPTIC CHIASMA.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek chiasma 'crosspiece, cross-shaped mark', from khiazein 'mark with the letter chi'.

Linked entries:

OPTIC CHIASMA ■

chi·as·mus n. a rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form; e.g. 'Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds.’

<DERIVATIVES> chi·as·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the general sense 'crosswise arrangement'): modern Latin, from Greek khiasmos 'crosswise arrangement', from khiazein 'mark with the letter chi', from khi 'chi'.

chi·as·to·lite n. a form of the mineral andalusite containing carbonaceous inclusions that cause some sections of the mineral to show the figure of a cross.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek khiastos 'arranged crosswise' + -LITE.

Linked entries:

-LITE ■

Chi·ba a city in Japan, on the island of Honshu, east of Tokyo; pop. 829,470.

Chib·cha n. (pl. same) 1 a member of a native people of Colombia whose well-developed political structure was destroyed by Europeans.

2 the Chibchan language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to the Chibcha or their language.

<ORIGIN> American Spanish, from Chibcha zipa 'chief, hereditary leader'.

Chib·chan n. a language family of Colombia and Central America, most members of which are extinct or nearly so.

■ adj. of or relating to this language family.

chi·bouk (also chi·bouque) n. a long Turkish tobacco pipe.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French chibouque, from Turkish ç ubuk, literally 'tube'.

chic adj. (chic·er, chic·est) elegantly and stylishly fashionable.

■ n. stylishness and elegance, typically of a specified kind: French chic; biker chic.

<DERIVATIVES> chic·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, probably from German Schick 'skill'.

Chi·ca·go a city in northeastern Illinois, on Lake Michigan; pop. 2,896,016. Chicago developed during the 19th century as a major grain market and food-processing center.

<DERIVATIVES> Chi·ca·go·an n. & adj.

Chi·ca·go Board of Trade n. see BOARD OF TRADE (sense 1).

Linked entries:

BOARD OF TRADE ■

Chi·ca·go·land n. Chicago and its suburbs, considered as a unit: [often as modifier] a thoughtful unpretentious matchmaking service for Chicagoland singles.

Chi·ca·na n. (in North America) a girl or woman of Mexican origin or descent.

<ORIGIN> Mexican Spanish, alteration of Spanish mejicana (feminine) 'Mexican'.

<USAGE>
See usage at CHICANO.

Linked entries:

CHICANO ■

chi·cane n. 1 an artificial narrowing or turn on a road or auto-racing course.

2 DATED (in card games) a hand without cards of one particular suit; a void.

3 ARCHAIC chicanery.

■ v. ARCHAIC employ trickery or chicanery.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] deceive or trick (someone).

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (in the senses 'chicanery' and 'use chicanery'): from French chicane (noun), chicaner (verb) 'quibble', of unknown origin.

chi·can·er·y n. the use of trickery to achieve a political, financial, or legal purpose: an underhanded person who schemes corruption and political chicanery behind closed doors.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French chicanerie, from chicaner 'to quibble' (see CHICANE).

Linked entries:

CHICANE ■

Chi·ca·no n. (pl. -nos) (in North America) a person of Mexican origin or descent. See also CHICANA.

<ORIGIN> Mexican Spanish, alteration of Spanish mejicano (masculine) 'Mexican'.

<USAGE>
The term Chicano (derived from Mexican Spanish), and the feminine form Chicana, became current in the early 1960s, first used by politically active groups. Chicano and Chicana are still in frequent use and have become less politicized. However, Mexican-Americans with less militant political views might find the terms offensive. Hispanic is a more generic term denoting persons in the U.S. of Latin-American or Spanish descent.

See also usage at HISPANIC.

Linked entries:

CHICANA ■

HISPANIC ■

chi·cha·rron n. (pl. -rron·es ) (in Mexican cooking) a piece of fried pork crackling.

<ORIGIN> from American Spanish chicharrón.

Chi·chén It·zá a site in northern Yucatán, Mexico, the center of the Mayan empire after AD 918 until about 1200. Its pyramids, temples, and other structures have been partly restored.

Chi·ches·ter Sir Francis (Charles) (1901-72), English sailor. He was the first person to sail alone around the world 1966-67 with only one stop.

Chi·che·wa n. another term for NYANJA (the language).

Linked entries:

NYANJA ■

chi·chi 1 adj. attempting stylish elegance but achieving only an overelaborate affectedness: the chichi world of Manhattan cultural privilege.

■ n. pretentious and overelaborate refinement: the relentless chichi of late-eighties dining.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent. (in the sense 'showiness or pretentious object'): from French, of imitative origin.

chi·chi 2 n. INFORMAL a woman's breast.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: military slang, of Japanese origin.

Chi·chi·mec n. (pl. same or -mecs) 1 a member of a group of native peoples, including the Toltecs and the Aztecs, dominant in central Mexico from the 10th to the 16th centuries.

2 the Uto-Aztecan language of these peoples.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, from Nahuatl.

chick n. 1 a young bird, esp. one newly hatched.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a newly hatched domestic fowl.

2 INFORMAL, CHIEFLY DEROGATORY a young woman: she's a great-looking chick.

<PHRASES> neither chick nor child DIALECT no children at all.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: abbreviation of CHICKEN.

Linked entries:

CHICKEN ■

chick·a·dee n. a North American titmouse, in particular: the black-capped chickadee (Parus atricapillus), with distinctive black cap and throat, and the similar but smaller Carolina chickadee (P. carolinensis).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: imitative of its call.

Chick·a·mau·ga Creek a stream that flows from northwestern Georgia into the Tennessee River, near Chattanooga in Tennessee. A brutal Civil War battle was fought along it in September 1863.

chick·a·ree n. a squirrel with red fur, found in the coniferous forests of North America.
<INFO>  Genus Tamiasciurus, family Sciuridae: three species, including the American red squirrel (T. hudsonicus).

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: imitative of its call.

Chick·a·saw n. (pl. same or -saws) 1 a member of an American Indian people formerly resident in Mississippi and Alabama, and now in Oklahoma.

2 the Muskogean language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> the name in Chickasaw.

chick·ee n. a rough, open structure consisting of palm or palmetto thatching on a log frame with a raised floor, adapted for beach use from the original Seminole design.

chick·en n. 1 a domestic fowl kept for its eggs or meat, esp. a young one.
<SPECIAL USAGE> meat from such a bird: roast chicken.

2 INFORMAL a game in which the first person to lose nerve and withdraw from a dangerous situation is the loser.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a coward.

3 INFORMAL (among homosexuals) an adolescent male.

■ adj. [predic.] INFORMAL cowardly: they were too chicken to follow the murderers into the mountains.

■ v. [intrans.] (chicken out) INFORMAL withdraw from or fail in something through lack of nerve: the referee chickened out of giving a penalty.

<PHRASES> don't count your chickens before they're hatched see COUNT^1 .

<ORIGIN>  Old English , , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kieken and German Küchlein, and probably also to COCK^1 .

Linked entries:

COUNT ■

COCK ■

chick·en à la king n. cooked breast of chicken in a cream sauce with mushrooms and peppers.

<ORIGIN> said to be named after E. Clark King, proprietor of a New York hotel.

chick·en-and-egg adj. [attrib.] denoting a situation in which each of two things appears to be necessary to the other, making it impossible to say which came first.

chick·en breast n. [MEDICINE] another term for PIGEON BREAST.

<DERIVATIVES> chick·en-breast·ed (also chick·en-chest·ed) adj.

Linked entries:

PIGEON BREAST ■

chick·en feed n. food for poultry.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE, INFORMAL an insignificant amount of money: the pay was chicken feed for the work I put in.

chick·en-fried steak n. a thin piece of beef that is lightly battered and fried until crisp.

chick·en hawk n. a hawk of a type that is reputed to prey on domestic fowl.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also chicken queen) INFORMAL, FIGURATIVE an older man who seeks young boys as sexual partners.

chick·en-heart·ed (also chick·en-liv·ered) adj. easily frightened; cowardly.

Chick·en Lit·tle n. an alarmist or doomsayer. my beloved capital sounds more and more these days like a barnyard filled with Chicken Littles.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: from the name of a character in a children's story who repeatedly warns that the sky is falling.

chick·en pox (also chick·en·pox) n. an infectious disease causing a mild fever and a rash of itchy inflamed blisters. It is caused by the herpes zoster virus and mainly affects children, who are afterward usually immune. Also called VARICELLA.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: probably so named because of its mildness, as compared to smallpox.

Linked entries:

VARICELLA ■

chick·en·shit VULGAR SLANG adj. worthless or contemptible (used as a general term of deprecation): no more chickenshit excuses.
<SPECIAL USAGE> cowardly.

■ n. a worthless or contemptible person.
<SPECIAL USAGE> something worthless or petty: names are chickenshit; they didn't need any names.

chick·en wire n. light wire netting with a hexagonal mesh.

chick flick n. INFORMAL a movie that appeals mainly to women.

chick·ling pea (also chickling vetch) n. another term for GRASS PEA.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: based on obsolete chich 'chickpea'.

Linked entries:

GRASS PEA ■

chick lit n. INFORMAL, CHIEFLY DEROGATORY literature that appeals mainly to women.

chick·pea n. 1 a round yellowish seed, used widely as food. Also called GARBANZO.

2 the leguminous Old World plant that bears these seeds.
<INFO>  Cicer arietinum, family Leguminosae.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (earlier as chiche-pease): from late Middle English chiche (from Old French chiche, cice, from Latin cicer 'chickpea') + PEASE.

Linked entries:

GARBANZO ■

PEASE ■

chick·weed n. a small plant of the pink family with deeply cleft white petals, often growing as a garden weed and sometimes eaten by poultry.
<INFO>  Stellaria, Cerastium, and other genera, family Caryophyllaceae: several species, including common chickweed (S. media), with smooth leaves and stems, and mouse-ear chickweed (C. vulgatum), with hairy leaves and stems.

chic·le n. the milky latex of the sapodilla tree, used to make chewing gum.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for SAPODILLA.

<ORIGIN> via Latin American Spanish, from Nahuatl tzictli.

Linked entries:

SAPODILLA ■

Chi·co a city in northern California, at the north end of the Sacramento Valley; pop. 40,079.

Chic·o·pee a city in south central Massachusetts, an industrial center on the northern side of Springfield; pop. 56,632.

chic·o·ry n. (pl. -ries) 1 a blue-flowered Mediterranean plant of the daisy family, cultivated for its edible salad leaves and carrot-shaped root.
<INFO>  Cichorium intybus, family Compositae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the root of this plant, which is roasted and ground for use as an additive to or substitute for coffee.

2 another term for ENDIVE.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from obsolete French cicorée (earlier form of chicorée) 'endive', via Latin from Greek kikhorion.

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ENDIVE ■

chide v. (past chid·ed or ARCHAIC chid ; past part. chid·ed or ARCHAIC chid·den ) [trans.] scold or rebuke: she chided him for not replying to her letters | [with direct speech] “You mustn't speak like that,” she chided gently. See note at SCOLD.

<DERIVATIVES> chid·er n. chid·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of unknown origin.

chief n. 1 a leader or ruler of a people or clan: the chief of the village; the Tlingit chief | [as title] an island where Chief Seattle was born.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the person with the highest rank in an organization: a bureau chief; the chief of police.

- an informal form of address, esp. to someone of superior rank or status: it's quite simple, chief.

2 [HERALDRY] an ordinary consisting of a broad horizontal band across the top of the shield.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the upper third of the field.

■ adj. most important: the chief reason for the spending cuts; chief among her concerns is working alone at night.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having or denoting the highest rank or authority: the government's chief adviser.

<PHRASES>
□ chief cook and bottle-washer INFORMAL a person who performs a variety of important but routine tasks.

□ in chief [HERALDRY] at the top; in the upper part.

□ too many chiefs and not enough Indians too many people giving orders and not enough people to carry them out.

<DERIVATIVES> chief·dom n. chief·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chief, chef, based on Latin caput 'head'.

chief jus·tice n. (the title of) the presiding judge in a supreme court.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Chief Justice of the United States) (the formal title of) the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

chief·ly adv. above all; mainly: he is remembered chiefly for his sonatas.
<SPECIAL USAGE> for the most part; mostly: a faction that consisted chiefly of communists.

chief mas·ter ser·geant n. a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force ranking above senior master sergeant and below warrant officer.

chief of staff n. the senior staff officer of a service or command.

chief of state n. the titular head of a nation as distinct from the head of the government.

chief pet·ty of·fi·cer n. a senior noncommissioned officer in a navy, in particular an NCO in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard ranking above petty officer and below senior chief petty officer.

chief rab·bi n. (in the UK and some other countries) the preeminent rabbi of a national Jewish community.

chief·tain n. the leader of a people or clan.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a powerful member of an organization.

<DERIVATIVES> chief·tain·cy n. (pl. -cies) chief·tain·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English and Old French chevetaine, from late Latin capitaneus (see CAPTAIN). The spelling was altered by association with CHIEF.

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CAPTAIN ■

CHIEF ■

chief war·rant of·fi·cer n. a member of the U.S. armed forces ranking above warrant officer and below the lowest-ranking commissioned officer.

chiff·chaff n. a migratory Eurasian and North African leaf warbler with drab plumage.
<INFO>  Genus Phylloscopus, family Sylviidae: two species, in particular the common P. collybita.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: imitative of its call.

chif·fon n. a light, sheer fabric typically made of silk or nylon: [as adj.] a chiffon blouse.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] (of a cake or dessert) made with beaten egg whites to give a light consistency: chiffon cake.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (originally plural, denoting trimmings or ornaments on a woman's dress): from French, from chiffe 'rag'.

chif·fo·nade (also chif·fon·nade) n. (pl. same) a preparation of shredded or finely cut leaf vegetables, used as a garnish for soup.

<ORIGIN> French, from chiffonner 'to crumple'.

chif·fo·nier n. 1 a tall chest of drawers, often with a mirror on top.

2 BRIT. a low cupboard, sometimes with a raised bookshelf on top.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French chiffonnier, chiffonnière, literally 'ragpicker', also denoting a chest of drawers for odds and ends.

chif·fo·robe n. a piece of furniture with drawers on one side and hanging space on the other.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: blend of CHIFFONIER and WARDROBE.

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CHIFFONIER ■

WARDROBE ■

chig·ger (also jig·ger) n. 1 a tiny mite whose parasitic larvae live on or under the skin of warm-blooded animals, where they cause irritation and dermatitis and sometimes transmit scrub typhus. Also called HARVEST MITE.
<INFO>  Genus Trombicula, family Trombiculidae: many species.

2 another term for CHIGOE.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: variant of CHIGOE.

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HARVEST MITE ■

CHIGOE ■

CHIGOE ■

chi·gnon n. a knot or coil of hair arranged on the back of a woman's head.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, originally 'nape of the neck', based on Latin catena 'chain'.

chig·oe n. a tropical flea, the female of which burrows and lays eggs beneath the host's skin, causing painful sores. Also called CHIGGER, SAND FLEA.
<INFO>  Tunga penetrans, family Tungidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French chique, from a West African language.

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CHIGGER ■

SAND FLEA ■

Chih·li, Gulf of another name for BO HAI.

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BO HAI ■

Chi·hua·hua a state in northern Mexico.
<SPECIAL USAGE> its capital, the principal city of northern central Mexico; pop. 530,490.

chi·hua·hua n. a small dog of a smooth-haired, large-eyed breed originating in Mexico.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after CHIHUAHUA.

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CHIHUAHUA ■

chi·la·qui·les n. (in Mexican cooking) a dish of fried tortilla strips typically topped with a spicy tomato sauce and cheese.

<ORIGIN> from Nahuatl.

chil·blain n. a painful, itching swelling on the skin, typically on a hand or foot, caused by poor circulation in the skin when exposed to cold.

<DERIVATIVES> chil·blained adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from CHILL + BLAIN.

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CHILL ■

BLAIN ■

Child 1 Julia (1912-2004), U.S. chef and cookbook author. Her cookbooks, beginning with Mastering the Art of French Cooking (written in 1961 with Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle), and her television cooking show "The French Chef," which began on PBS in 1963, revolutionized American cooking.

Child 2 Lydia Marie (1802-80), U.S. abolitionist and writer; born Lydia Marie Francis. She was editor of the National Anti-Slavery Standard 1841-43 and the author of novels, children's books, and the poem "Thanksgiving Day" that begins "Over the river and through the woods."

child n. (pl. chil·dren ) a young human being below the age of full physical development or below the legal age of majority.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a son or daughter of any age.

- an immature or irresponsible person: she's such a child!

- a person who has little or no experience in a particular area: he's a child in financial matters.

- (children) the descendants of a family or people: the children of Abraham.

- (child of) a person or thing influenced by a specified environment: a child of the sixties; OPEC was in a sense a child of the Cold War.

<PHRASES>
□ child's play a task that is easily accomplished.

□ from a child since childhood.

□ with child FORMAL pregnant.

<DERIVATIVES> child·less adj. child·less·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English cild, of Germanic origin. The Middle English plural childer or childre became childeren or children by association with plurals ending in -en, such as brethren.

child a·buse n. physical maltreatment or sexual molestation of a child.

child·bear·ing n. the process of giving birth to children: [as adj.] women of childbearing age.

child·bed n. archaic term for CHILDBIRTH.

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CHILDBIRTH ■

child·bed fe·ver n. another term for PUERPERAL FEVER.

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PUERPERAL FEVER ■

child·birth n. the action of giving birth to a child: she died in childbirth.

child care n. the action or skill of looking after children.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the care of children by a day-care center, babysitter, or other provider while parents are working.

child-cen·tered adj. giving priority to the interests and needs of children: child-centered teaching methods.

Childe n. [in names] ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY a youth of noble birth: Childe Harold.

<ORIGIN> late Old English, variant of CHILD.

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CHILD ■

Chil·der·mas n. ARCHAIC the feast of the Holy Innocents, December 28.

<ORIGIN> Old English cildramæsse, from cildra 'of children', genitive plural of cild (see CHILD) + mæsse (see MASS).

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CHILD ■

MASS ■

child·free adj. pertaining to adults who do not have or live with children: I'm interested in finding a childfree computer geek-girl with a worldview similar to mine.

child·hood n. the state of being a child: the idealized world of childhood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the period during which a person is a child: she spent her childhood in Pennsylvania | [as adj.] a childhood friend.

<ORIGIN> Old English (see CHILD, -HOOD).

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CHILD ■

-HOOD ■

child·ish adj. of, like, or appropriate to a child: childish enthusiasm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> silly and immature: a childish outburst.

<DERIVATIVES> child·ish·ly adv. child·ish·ness n.

child la·bor n. the use of children in industry or business, esp. when illegal or considered inhumane.

child·like adj. (of an adult) having good qualities associated with a child: she speaks with a childlike directness.

child·mind·er n. BRIT. a child-care worker or babysitter.

<DERIVATIVES> child-mind·ing n.

child·proof adj. designed to prevent children from injuring themselves or doing damage: disinfectants that are fitted with childproof caps.

■ v. [trans.] make inaccessible to children: childproof those cabinets with safety latches.

chil·dren plural form of CHILD.

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CHILD ■

chil·dren of Is·ra·el see ISRAEL^1 (sense 1).

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ISRAEL ■

Chil·dren's Cru·sade a crusade to the Holy Land in 1212 by tens of thousands of children, chiefly from France and Germany. Most of the children never reached their destination, and were sold into slavery.

child re·straint n. a device used to control and protect a child in a motor vehicle.

child sup·port n. court-ordered payments, typically made by a noncustodial divorced parent, to support one's minor child or children.

Chil·e a country in South America that occupies a long coastal strip that runs down the western coast of Bolivia and Argentina, on the Pacific Ocean; pop. 15,823,000; capital, Santiago; official language, Spanish.

Most of Chile was part of the Inca empire and became part of Spanish Peru after Pizarro's conquest. Independence was achieved in 1818 with help from Argentina. After the overthrow of the Marxist democrat Salvador Allende in 1973, Chile was ruled by the right-wing military dictatorship of General Pinochet until a democratically elected president took office in 1990. The economy grew through the 1990s.

<DERIVATIVES> Chil·e·an adj. & n.

chil·e 1 n. variant spelling of CHILI.

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CHILI ■

chile 2 n. nonstandard spelling of CHILD, used in representing chiefly southern U.S. dialect: where you been, honey chile?

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CHILD ■

Chil·e·an sea bass n. see PATAGONIAN TOOTHFISH.

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PATAGONIAN TOOTHFISH ■

Chil·e·an wine palm n. another term for COQUITO.

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COQUITO ■

chil·e re·lle·no n. (pl. chil·es re·lle·nos) (in Mexican cuisine) a stuffed chili pepper, typically battered and deep-fried.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: Spanish, literally 'stuffed chili'.

Chil·e salt·pe·ter n. another term for SODIUM NITRATE, esp. as a commercial product mined in Chile and other arid parts of the world.

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SODIUM NITRATE ■

chil·i (also chil·i pep·per or chil·e or BRIT. chil·li) n. (pl. chil·ies or chil·es or BRIT. chil·lies) a small hot-tasting pod of a variety of capsicum, used chopped (and often dried) in sauces, relishes, and spice powders. There are various forms with pods of differing size, color, and strength of flavor, such as cascabels and jalapeños.
<INFO>  Capsicum annuum var. annuum, ‘longum’ group (or var. longum).

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- short for CHILI POWDER.

- short for CHILI CON CARNE.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Spanish chile, from Nahuatl chilli.

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CHILI POWDER ■

CHILI CON CARNE ■

chil·i·ast n. another term for MILLENARIAN.

<DERIVATIVES> chil·i·asm n. chil·i·as·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek , from khilias 'a thousand years', from khilioi 'thousand'.

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MILLENARIAN ■

chil·i·burg·er n. a hamburger with a topping of chili con carne.

chil·i con car·ne n. a spicy stew of beef and red chilies or chili powder, often with beans and tomatoes.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish chile con carne, literally 'chili pepper with meat'.

chil·i dog n. a hot dog garnished with chili con carne.

chil·i pow·der n. a hot-tasting mixture of ground dried red chilies and other spices.

chil·i sauce n. a hot sauce made with tomatoes, chilies, and spices.

chill n. [in sing.] a moderate but unpleasant coldness: there was a chill in the air.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (often chills) a lowered body temperature, often accompanied by shivering: the disease begins abruptly with chills, headaches, and dizziness.

- a feverish cold.

- FIGURATIVE a coldness of manner: the sudden chill in China's relations with the West.

- FIGURATIVE a depressing influence: his statements have cast a chill over this whole country.

- a sudden and powerful unpleasant feeling, esp. of fear: his words sent a chill of apprehension down my spine.

- a metal mold or part of a mold, often cooled, designed to ensure rapid or even cooling of metal during casting.

■ v. [trans.] 1 (often be chilled) make (someone) cold: I'm chilled to the bone.
<SPECIAL USAGE> cool (food or drink) in a refrigerator: [as adj.] (chilled) chilled white wine.

2 (often be chilled) horrify or frighten (someone): the city was chilled by the violence | [as adj.] (chilling) a chilling account of the prisoners' fate.

3 (also chill out) [intrans.] INFORMAL calm down and relax: I can lean back and chill; chill out, okay?
<SPECIAL USAGE> pass time without a particular aim or purpose, esp. with other people: we had a week at home and we chilled out.

■ adj. chilly: the chill gray dawn | FIGURATIVE the chill winds of public censure.

<PHRASES>
□ chill someone's blood horrify or terrify someone.

□ take the chill off warm slightly.

<DERIVATIVES> chill·ing·ly adv. chill·ness n. chill·some adj. (POETIC/LITERARY).

<ORIGIN> Old English cele, ciele 'cold, coldness', of Germanic origin; related to COLD.

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COLD ■

chill·er n. 1 a machine for cooling something, esp. a cold cabinet or refrigerator for keeping stored food a few degrees above freezing.

2 short for SPINE-CHILLER.

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SPINE-CHILLER ■

chill fac·tor n. another term for WINDCHILL.

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WINDCHILL ■

chil·li n. (pl. chil·lies) British spelling of CHILI.

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CHILI ■

Chil·li·cothe a historic city in south central Ohio, an early capital of the state; pop. 21,921.

chil·lum n. (pl. -lums) a hookah.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a pipe used for smoking marijuana.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi cilam.

chill·y adj. (chill·i·er, chill·i·est) uncomfortably cool or cold: it had turned chilly; a chilly day.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) feeling cold: I felt a bit chilly.

- unfriendly: a chilly reception.

<DERIVATIVES> chill·i·ness n.

Chi·lop·o·da [ZOOLOGY] a class of myriapod arthropods that comprises the centipedes.

<DERIVATIVES> chi·lo·pod n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek kheilos 'lip' + pous, pod- 'foot'.

Chil·pan·cin·go a city in southwestern Mexico, capital of the state of Guerrero; pop. 120,000.

Chil·tern Hun·dreds (in the UK) a Crown manor, whose administration is a nominal office for which a member of Parliament applies as a way of resigning from the House of Commons.

<ORIGIN> from CHILTERN HILLS and Hundreds (see the noun HUNDRED).

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HUNDRED ■

Chi·lu·ba n. another term for LUBA (the language).

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LUBA ■

Chi·lung (also Chi-lung, Kee·lung) a chief port and naval base in Taiwan, at the northern tip of the island; pop. 357,000.

chi·mae·ra n. variant spelling of CHIMERA.

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CHIMERA ■

chim·bley n. (pl. -bleys) dialect form of CHIMNEY.

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CHIMNEY ■

Chim·bo·ra·zo the highest peak in the Andes in Ecuador. It rises to 20,487 ft. (6,310 m.).

Chim·bo·te an industrial port city in west central Peru, on the Pacific Ocean north of Lima; pop. 297,000.

chime 1 n. (often chimes) a bell or a metal bar or tube, typically one of a set tuned to produce a melodious series of ringing sounds when struck.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a sound made by such an instrument: I hear the chimes of the hour from the courthouse.

- (chimes) a set of tuned metal rods used as an orchestral instrument.

- (chimes) a set of tuned bells used as a doorbell.

- [BELL-RINGING] a stroke of the clapper against one or both sides of a scarcely moving bell.

■ v. [intrans.] 1 (of a bell or clock) make melodious ringing sounds, typically to indicate the time.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] (of a clock) make such sounds in order to indicate (the time): the clock chimed eight.

2 be in agreement; harmonize: his poem chimes with our modern experience of loss.

<PHRASAL VERB> chime in 1 interject a remark: “Yes, you do that,” Doreen chimed in eagerly.

2 join in harmoniously.

<DERIVATIVES> chim·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the senses 'cymbal' and 'ring out'): probably from Old English cimbal (see CYMBAL), later interpreted as chime bell.

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CYMBAL ■

chime 2 (also chimb) n. the projecting rim at the end of a cask.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: probably from an Old English word related to Dutch kim and German Kimme. Compare with CHINE^3 .

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CHINE ■

chi·me·ra (also chi·mae·ra) n. 1 (Chimera) (in Greek mythology) a fire-breathing female monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any mythical animal with parts taken from various animals.

2 a thing that is hoped or wished for but in fact is illusory or impossible to achieve: the economic sovereignty you claim to defend is a chimera.

3 [BIOLOGY] an organism containing a mixture of genetically different tissues, formed by processes such as fusion of early embryos, grafting, or mutation: the sheeplike goat chimera.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a DNA molecule with sequences derived from two or more different organisms, formed by laboratory manipulation.

4 (usu. chimaera) a cartilaginous marine fish with a long tail, an erect spine before the first dorsal fin, and typically a forward projection from the snout.
<INFO>  Subclass Hoplocephali: three families, in particular Chimaeridae. See also RABBITFISH, RATFISH.

<DERIVATIVES> chi·mer·ic adj. chi·mer·i·cal adj. chi·mer·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek khimaira 'she-goat or chimera'.

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RATFISH ■

chi·mer·ism n. [BIOLOGY] the state of being a genetic chimera.

chi·mi·chan·ga n. a tortilla wrapped around a filling, typically of meat, and deep-fried.

<ORIGIN> Mexican Spanish, literally 'trinket'.

chi·mi·ne·a (also chi·me·ne·a) n. an earthenware outdoor fireplace shaped like a lightbulb, with the bulbous end housing the fire and typically supported by a wrought-iron stand.

chim·ney n. (pl. -neys) a vertical channel or pipe that conducts smoke and combustion gases up from a fire or furnace and typically through the roof of a building.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the part of such a structure that extends above the roof.

- a glass tube that protects the flame of a lamp.

- a steep narrow cleft by which a rock face may be climbed.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a fireplace or furnace): from Old French cheminee 'chimney, fireplace', from late Latin caminata, perhaps from camera caminata 'room with a fireplace', from Latin caminus 'forge, furnace', from Greek kaminos 'oven'.

chim·ney breast n. a part of an interior wall that projects to surround a chimney.

chim·ney cor·ner n. a warm seat at the side of an old-fashioned fireplace.

chim·ney piece n. BRIT. a mantelpiece.

chim·ney pot n. an earthenware or metal pipe at the top of a chimney, narrowing the aperture and increasing the updraft.

chim·ney stack n. the part of a chimney that projects above a roof.

chim·ney sweep n. a person whose job is cleaning out the soot from chimneys.

chim·ney swift n. the common swift found over the eastern part of North America, with mainly dark gray plumage.
<INFO>  Chaetura pelagica, family Apodidae.

chimp n. informal term for CHIMPANZEE.

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CHIMPANZEE ■

chim·pan·zee n. a great ape with large ears, mainly black coloration, and lighter skin on the face, native to the forests of western and central Africa. Chimpanzees show advanced behavior such as the making and using of tools.
<INFO>  Genus Pan, family Pongidae: the common chimpanzee (P. troglodytes) and the bonobo.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French chimpanzé, from Kikongo.

Chin variant spelling of JIN.

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JIN ■

Ch'in variant spelling of QIN.

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QIN ■

chin n. the protruding part of the face below the mouth, formed by the apex of the lower jaw.

■ v. [trans.] draw one's body up so as to bring one's chin level with or above (a horizontal bar) with one's feet off the ground, as an exercise.

<PHRASES>
□ keep one's chin up INFORMAL remain cheerful in difficult circumstances: keep your chin up, we're not lost yet.

□ take it on the chin endure or accept misfortune courageously or stoically.

<DERIVATIVES> chinned adj. [in combination] square-chinned.

<ORIGIN> Old English cin, cinn, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kin, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin gena 'cheek' and Greek genus 'jaw'.

Chi·na a country in eastern Asia, the third largest and most populous in the world; pop. 1,298,847,000; capital, Beijing; language, Chinese (Mandarin is the official form). Official name PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

Chinese civilization stretches back until at least the 3rd millennium BC, the country being ruled by a series of dynasties until the Qing (or Manchu) dynasty was overthrown by Sun Yat-sen in 1911; China was proclaimed a republic the following year. After World War II, the Kuomintang government of Chiang Kai-shek was overthrown by the Communists under Mao Zedong, and the People's Republic of China was declared in 1949. Market-oriented reforms were introduced in the last quarter of the twentieth century.

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PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ■

Chi·na, Republic of official name for TAIWAN.

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TAIWAN ■

chi·na n. a fine white or translucent vitrified ceramic material: a plate made of china | [as adj.] a china cup. Also called PORCELAIN.
<SPECIAL USAGE> household tableware or other objects made from this or a similar material: the breakfast china.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (as an adjective): from Persian used attributively relating to China, where it was originally made.

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PORCELAIN ■

Chi·na as·ter n. a Chinese plant of the daisy family, cultivated for its bright showy flowers.
<INFO>  Callistephus chinensis, family Compositae.

chi·na·ber·ry (also Chi·na·ber·ry) n. (pl. -ries) (also chinaberry tree) a tall tree of the mahogany family native to Asia and Australasia, bearing fragrant lilac flowers and yellow berries. It has become naturalized in parts of North America.
<INFO>  Melia azedarach, family Meliaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the fruit of this tree, used as beads and to make insecticides: a rosary made of chinaberries.

chi·na blue n. a pale grayish blue.

chi·na clay n. another term for KAOLIN.

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KAOLIN ■

Chi·na·man n. (pl. -men) INFORMAL, DATED, OFFENSIVE a native of China.

chi·na mark·er n. a waxy pencil used to write on china, glass, or other hard surfaces.

chi·nar (also chinar tree) n. the oriental plane tree, native from southeastern Europe to northern Iran.
<INFO>  Platanus orientalis, family Platanaceae.

<ORIGIN> from Persian .

Chi·na rose n. 1 a Chinese rose that was introduced into Europe in the 19th century.
<INFO>  Rosa chinensis, family Rosaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> any of a number of garden rose varieties derived from crosses of this plant.

2 a tropical shrubby evergreen hibiscus, cultivated for its large showy flowers.
<INFO>  Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, family Malvaceae.

Chi·na Sea the part of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of China, divided by the island of Taiwan into the East China Sea in the north and the South China Sea in the south.

chi·na stone n. partly kaolinized granite containing plagioclase feldspar, ground and mixed with kaolin to make porcelain.

Chi·na syn·drome n. a hypothetical sequence of events following the meltdown of a nuclear reactor, in which the core melts through its containment structure and deep into the earth.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from CHINA (as being on the opposite side of the earth from a reactor in the U.S.).

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CHINA ■

Chi·na tea n. tea made from a small-leaved type of tea plant grown in China, typically flavored by smoke curing or the addition of flower petals.

Chi·na·town n. a district of any non-Chinese town, esp. a city or seaport, in which the population is predominantly of Chinese origin.

chi·na tree (also Chi·na tree) n. another term for CHINABERRY.

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CHINABERRY ■

chi·na·ware n. dishes made of china.

chinch (also chinch bug ) n. a plant-eating ground bug that forms large swarms on grasses and rushes.
<INFO>  Two species in the family Lygaeidae, suborder Heteroptera: the American Blissus leucopterus, which is a major pest of cereal crops, and the European Ischnodemus sabuleti.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'bedbug'): from Spanish chinche, from Latin cimex, cimic-.

chin·che·rin·chee n. a white-flowered South African lily.
<INFO>  Ornithogalum thyrsoides, family Liliaceae.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: imitative of the squeaky sound made by rubbing its stalks together.

chin·chil·la n. a small South American rodent with soft gray fur and a long bushy tail.
<INFO>  Genus Chinchilla, family Chinchillidae: two species, in particular C. lanigera.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a cat or rabbit of a breed with silver-gray or gray fur.

- the highly valued fur of the chinchilla, or of the chinchilla rabbit.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Spanish, from Aymara or Quechua.

Chin·co·teague Is·land an island in eastern Virginia, west of Assateague Island, noted for its wild horses.

Chin·co·teague po·ny n. a small, hardy horse found running wild on the islands of Chincoteague and Assateague off the Virginia and Maryland coasts.

Chin·dit n. a member of the Allied forces behind the Japanese lines in Burma (now Myanmar) in 1943-45.

<ORIGIN> World War II: from Burmese chinthé, a mythical creature.

Chin·dwin a river that rises in northern Myanmar (Burma) and flows south for 550 miles (885 km) to meet the Irrawaddy River.

chine 1 n. a backbone, esp. that of an animal as it appears in a cut of meat.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a cut of meat containing all or part of this.

- a mountain ridge or arête.

■ v. [trans.] cut (meat) across or along the backbone.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French eschine, based on a blend of Latin spina 'spine' and a Germanic word meaning 'narrow piece', related to SHIN.

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SHIN ■

chine 2 n. BRIT. a deep, narrow ravine formed by running water.

<ORIGIN> Old English cinu 'cleft, chink', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch keen, also to CHINK^1 .

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CHINK ■

chine 3 n. the angle where the bottom of a boat or ship meets the side.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: variant of CHIME^2 (the original sense).

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CHIME ■

Chi·nese adj. of or relating to China or its language, culture, or people.
<SPECIAL USAGE> belonging to or relating to the people forming the dominant ethnic group of China and widely dispersed elsewhere. Also called HAN.

■ n. (pl. same) 1 the Chinese language.

2 a native or national of China, or a person of Chinese descent.

Chinese, a member of the Sino-Tibetan language family, is the world's most commonly spoken first language, with an estimated 1.2 billion native speakers worldwide. The script is logographic, using characters that originated as stylized pictographs but now also represent abstract concepts and the sounds of syllables. Though complex, it permits written communication between speakers of the many dialects, most of which are mutually incomprehensible in speech. About 8,000 characters are in everyday use, some having been simplified during the 20th century. For transliteration into the Roman alphabet, the Pinyin system is now usually used.

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HAN ■

Chi·nese an·ise n. another term for STAR ANISE.

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STAR ANISE ■

Chi·nese ar·ti·choke n. an Asian plant of the mint family, cultivated for its edible tubers.
<INFO>  Genus Stachys, family Labiatae: several species, esp. S. sieboldii and S. affinis.

Chi·nese black mush·room n. another term for SHIITAKE MUSHROOM

Chi·nese box n. each of a series of nested boxes.

Chi·nese cab·bage n. an oriental cabbage that does not form a firm heart.
<INFO>  Genus Brassica, family Brassicaceae: two species, bok choy (B. chinensis), which has smooth tapering leaves, and pe-tsai (B. pekinenis), which resembles lettuce; they are often treated as varieties of B. rapa.

Chi·nese check·ers plural n. [usu. treated as sing.] a board game for two to six players who attempt to move marbles or counters from one corner to the opposite one on a star-shaped board.

Chi·nese chest·nut n. see CHESTNUT.

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CHESTNUT ■

Chi·nese chives plural n. an Asian relative of chives, with a garliclike flavor. Also called GARLIC CHIVES.
<INFO>  Allium tuberosum, family Liliaceae (or Alliaceae).

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GARLIC CHIVES ■

Chi·nese date n. another term for JUJUBE.

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JUJUBE ■

Chi·nese fire drill n. INFORMAL, OFTEN OFFENSIVE a state of disorder or confusion.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a game in which the passengers of a motor vehicle that is stopped at an intersection get out of the vehicle, circle it, and return to their seats.

Chi·nese goose·ber·ry n. another term for KIWI FRUIT.

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KIWI FRUIT ■

Chi·nese kale n. a leafy green Asian plant of the cabbage family, closely related to broccoli but with more leaf and stem and much smaller florettes. It is commonly used in Asian cooking.
<INFO>  Brassica alboglabra, family Brassicaceae.

Chi·nese lan·tern n. 1 a collapsible paper lantern.

2 a Eurasian plant with white flowers and globular orange fruits enclosed in an orange-red papery calyx. The stems bearing these are dried and used for decoration.
<INFO>  Physalis alkekengi, family Solanaceae.

Chi·nese pars·ley n. another term for CORIANDER.

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CORIANDER ■

Chi·nese pear n. another term for ASIAN PEAR.

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ASIAN PEAR ■

Chi·nese puz·zle n. an intricate puzzle consisting of many interlocking pieces.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a very complicated or perplexing situation: it's turning out to be a regular Chinese puzzle.

Chi·nese rad·ish n. another term for DAIKON.

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DAIKON ■

Chi·nese red n. a vivid orange-red.

Chi·nese res·tau·rant syn·drome n. an illness marked by short attacks of weakness, numbness, palpitations, and headaches, often attributed to overconsumption of monosodium glutamate (commonly used as a seasoning in Chinese cooking).

Chi·nese rhu·barb n. a tall perennial plant with palmate leaves, whitish flowers, and winged fruits. The dried rhizomes and roots are used medicinally.
<INFO>  Rheum longifolia, family Polygonaceae.

Chi·nese wall n. an insurmountable barrier, esp. to the passage of information or communication: she'd built a Chinese wall between them.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: with allusion to the GREAT WALL OF CHINA.

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GREAT WALL OF CHINA ■

Chi·nese whis·pers plural n. [treated as sing.] another term for TELEPHONE (sense2).

Chi·nese white n. white pigment made from zinc oxide.

Chi·nese wind·lass n. another term for DIFFERENTIAL WINDLASS.

Ch'ing variant spelling of QING.

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QING ■

ching n. an abrupt high-pitched ringing sound, typically one made by a cash register.

<ORIGIN> imitative.

Chink n. INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE a Chinese person.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: irregular formation from CHINA.

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CHINA ■

chink 1 n. a narrow opening or crack, typically one that admits light: a chink in the curtains.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a narrow beam or patch of light admitted by such an opening: I noticed a chink of light under the door.

<PHRASES> a chink in someone's armor a weak point in someone's character, arguments, or ideas, making them vulnerable to attack or criticism.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: related to CHINE^2 .

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CHINE ■

chink 2 v. make or cause to make a light and high-pitched ringing sound, as of glasses or coins striking together: [intrans.] the chain joining the handcuffs chinked | [trans.] they chinked glasses and kissed.

■ n. a high-pitched ringing sound: the chink of glasses.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: imitative.

chin·ka·pin n. variant spelling of CHINQUAPIN.

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CHINQUAPIN ■

chin·ka·ra n. (pl. same) (in the Indian subcontinent) the Indian gazelle, which occurs from Iran to central India.
<INFO>  Gazella bennettii, family Bovidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Hindi , from Sanskrit .

Chin·kiang variant of ZHENJIANG.

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ZHENJIANG ■

Chink·y INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE n. (pl. Chink·ies) a Chinese person.

■ adj. Chinese.

chin·less adj. (of a person) lacking a well-defined chin.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL lacking strength of character; ineffectual.

chin mu·sic n. INFORMAL 1 idle chatter.

2 [BASEBALL] used to refer to a pitched ball that passes very close to the batter's chin: Clemens delivered some wicked chin music to Hernandez.

Chi·no a city in southwestern California, east of Los Angeles; pop. 59,682.

chi·no n. (pl. -nos) a cotton twill fabric, typically khaki-colored.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (chinos) casual pants made from such fabric.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Latin American Spanish, literally 'toasted' (referring to the typical color).

Chino- comb. form equivalent to SINO-.

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SINO- ■

chi·nois n. a cone-shaped sieve with a closely woven mesh for straining sauces.

chi·noi·se·rie n. (pl. -ries) the imitation or evocation of Chinese motifs and techniques in Western art, furniture, and architecture, esp. in the 18th century.
<SPECIAL USAGE> objects or decorations in this style: a piece of chinoiserie | one room has red velvet and chinoiseries.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, from chinois 'Chinese'.

Chi·nook n. (pl. same or -nooks) 1 a member of an American Indian people originally inhabiting the region around the lower Columbia River in Oregon and Washington.

2 the language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to the Chinook or their language.

<ORIGIN> from , a Salishan word for the name of a Chinook village.

chi·nook n. 1 (also chinook wind) a warm dry wind that blows down the east side of the Rocky Mountains at the end of winter.

2 (also chinook salmon) a large North Pacific salmon that is an important commercial food fish.
<INFO>  Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, family Salmonidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from attributive use of CHINOOK.

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CHINOOK ■

Chi·nook Jar·gon n. an extinct pidgin composed of elements from Chinook, Nootka, English, French, and other languages, formerly used in the Pacific Northwest.

chin·qua·pin (also chin·ka·pin) n. a North American chestnut tree.
<INFO>  Several species in the family Fagaceae, in particular the Allegheny (or eastern) chinquapin (Castanea pumila).

<SPECIAL USAGE> the edible nut of one of these trees.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Virginia Algonquian.

chin·strap n. a strap attached to a hat, helmet, or other headgear, designed to hold it in place by fitting under the wearer's chin.

chintz n. printed multicolored cotton fabric with a glazed finish, used esp. for curtains and upholstery: a sofa upholstered in chintz | [as adj.] floral chintz curtains.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as chints, plural of chint, denoting a stained or painted calico cloth imported from India): from Hindi 'spattering, stain'.

chintz·y adj. (chintz·i·er, chintz·i·est) 1 of, like, or decorated with chintz: brighten the room with fresh paint and chintzy fabrics.
<SPECIAL USAGE> brightly colorful but gaudy and tasteless.

2 INFORMAL miserly: a chintzy salary increase.

<DERIVATIVES> chintz·i·ly adv. chintz·i·ness n.

chin-up n. another term for PULL-UP (sense 1).

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PULL-UP ■

chin·wag (also chin wag) INFORMAL n. a chat.

■ v. (-wagged, -wag·ging) [intrans.] have a chat.

Chi·os a Greek island in the Aegean Sea; pop. 52,690. Greek name KHIOS.

<DERIVATIVES> Chi·an n. & adj.

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KHIOS ■

chip n. 1 a small piece of something removed in the course of chopping, cutting, or breaking something, esp. a hard material such as wood or stone: mulch the shrubs with cedar chips.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a hole or flaw left by the removal of such a piece: a chip on his tooth.

- BRIT. wood or woody fiber split into thin strips and used for weaving hats or baskets.

2 a thin slice of food made crisp by being fried, baked, or dried and typically eaten as a snack: tortilla chips dipped in salsa; banana chips.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a small chunk of candy added to desserts or sweet snacks, esp. of chocolate.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (chips) CHIEFLY BRIT. French fries: an order of fish and chips.

3 short for MICROCHIP.

4 a counter used in certain gambling games to represent money: a poker chip.

5 (in golf, soccer, and other sports) a short lofted kick or shot with the ball.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [TENNIS] a softly sliced return intended to land between the net and the opponent’s service line.

■ v. (chipped, chip·ping) [trans.] 1 cut or break (a small piece) from the edge or surface of a hard material: we had to chip ice off the upper deck.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of a material or object) break at the edge or on the surface: the paint had chipped off the gate.

- cut pieces off (a hard material) to alter its shape or break it up: it required a craftsman to chip the blocks of flint to the required shape | [intrans.] she chipped away at the ground outside the door.

2 (in golf, soccer, and other sports) kick or strike (a ball or shot) to produce a short lobbed shot or pass: he chipped a superb shot.

<PHRASES>
□ a chip off the old block INFORMAL someone who resembles his or her parent, esp. in character.

□ a chip on one's shoulder INFORMAL a deeply ingrained grievance, typically about a particular thing.

□ when the chips are down INFORMAL when a very serious and difficult situation arises.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  chip away gradually and relentlessly make something smaller or weaker: rivals may chip away at one's profits by undercutting product prices.

□  chip in (or chip something in) contribute something as one's share of a joint activity, cost, etc.: the rookie pitcher chipped in with nine saves and five wins the council will chip in a further $30,000 a year.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: related to Old English forcippian 'cut off'.

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MICROCHIP ■

chip·board n. another term for PARTICLEBOARD.

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PARTICLEBOARD ■

Chip·e·wy·an n. (pl. same or -ans) 1 a member of a Dene people of northwestern Canada. Do not confuse with CHIPPEWA.

2 the Athabaskan language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> from Cree , literally '(wearing) pointed-skin (garments)'.

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CHIPPEWA ■

chip·mak·er n. a company that manufactures microchips.

chip·munk n. a burrowing ground squirrel with cheek pouches and light and dark stripes running down the body, found in North America and northern Eurasia.
<INFO>  Genus Tamias, family Sciuridae: many species, including the eastern chipmunk (T. striatus), common in the eastern U.S.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Ojibwa.

chi·pot·le n. a smoked hot chili pepper used esp. in Mexican cooking.

<ORIGIN> Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl.

Chip·pen·dale 1 Thomas (1718-79), English furniture-maker and designer. He produced furniture in a neoclassical vein, with elements of the French rococo, chinoiserie, and Gothic revival styles.

Chip·pen·dale 2 adj. (of furniture) designed, made by, or in the style of Thomas Chippendale.

chip·per 1 adj. INFORMAL cheerful and lively.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: perhaps from northern English dialect kipper 'lively'.

chip·per 2 n. a person or thing that turns something into chips.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a machine for chipping the trunks and limbs of trees.

Chip·pe·wa (also Chip·pe·way ) n. (pl. same) another term for OJIBWA. Do not confuse with CHIPEWYAN.

<ORIGIN> alteration of OJIBWA.

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OJIBWA ■

CHIPEWYAN ■

OJIBWA ■

chip·pie n. (pl. -pies) variant spelling of CHIPPY.

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CHIPPY ■

chip·ping spar·row n. a common American songbird related to the buntings, with a chestnut crown and a white stripe over the eye.
<INFO>  Spizella passerina, family Emberizidae (subfamily Emberizinae).

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: chipping from chip 'chirp', with reference to the bird's repetitive chirping song.

chip·py INFORMAL n. (also chip·pie) (pl. -pies) 1 a promiscuous young woman, esp. a prostitute.

2 BRIT. a fish-and-chip shop.

3 BRIT. a carpenter.

■ adj. touchy and irritable.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an ice-hockey game or player) rough and belligerent, with or incurring numerous penalties.

chip·set n. a collection of integrated circuits that form the set needed to make an electronic device such as a computer motherboard or portable telephone.

chip shot n. [GOLF] a stroke at which the ball is or must be chipped into the air.

Chi·rac Jacques (René) (1932- ), French statesman; prime minister 1974-76 and 1986-88; president (1995- ).

chi·ral adj. [CHEMISTRY] asymmetric in such a way that the structure and its mirror image are not superimposable. Chiral compounds are typically optically active; large organic molecules often have one or more chiral centers where four different groups are attached to a carbon atom.

<DERIVATIVES> chi·ral·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek kheir 'hand' + -AL.

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-AL ■

chi-rho n. a monogram of chi () and rho () as the first two letters of Greek Khristos Christ, used as a Christian symbol.

Chir·i·ca·hua n. 1 a member of an Apache people, formerly located in southern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, and northern Mexico, now living primarily in Oklahoma and New Mexico.

2 the Athabaskan language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

Chi·ri·ca·hua Moun·tains a range in southeastern Arizona, on the Mexican border, controlled by Cochise and other Apache leaders during the 19th century.

chir·i·moy·a n. variant spelling of CHERIMOYA.

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CHERIMOYA ■

chiro- (also cheiro-) comb. form of the hand or hands: chiromancy.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kheir 'hand'.

chi·rog·ra·phy n. handwriting, esp. as distinct from typography.

<DERIVATIVES> chi·ro·graph·ic adj.

chi·ro·man·cy n. the prediction of a person's future from the lines on the palms of his or her hands; palmistry.

Chi·ron 1 [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a learned centaur who acted as teacher to Jason, Achilles, and many other heroes.

2 [ASTRONOMY] asteroid 2060, discovered in 1977, which is unique in having an orbit lying mainly between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus. It is believed to have a diameter of 370 km.

chi·ron·o·mid n. [ENTOMOLOGY] an insect of a family (Chironomidae) that comprises the nonbiting midges.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Chironomidae (plural), from the genus name Chironomus, from Greek kheironomos 'pantomime dancer'.

chi·rop·o·dy n. another term for PODIATRY.

<DERIVATIVES> chi·rop·o·dist n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CHIRO- 'hand' + Greek pous, pod- 'foot'.

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PODIATRY ■

CHIRO- ■

chi·ro·prac·tic n. a system of complementary medicine based on the diagnosis and manipulative treatment of misalignments of the joints, esp. those of the spinal column, which are held to cause other disorders by affecting the nerves, muscles, and organs.

<DERIVATIVES> chi·ro·prac·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CHIRO- 'hand' + Greek praktikos 'practical', from prattein 'do'.

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CHIRO- ■

Chi·rop·ter·a [ZOOLOGY] an order of mammals that comprises the bats. There are over 900 living species of bats, and they are found on every continent except Antarctica. See also MEGACHIROPTERA, MICROCHIROPTERA.

<DERIVATIVES> chi·rop·ter·an n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from CHIRO- 'hand' + Greek pteron 'wing'.

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MEGACHIROPTERA ■

MICROCHIROPTERA ■

CHIRO- ■

chirp v. [intrans.] (typically of a small bird or an insect) utter a short, sharp, high-pitched sound: outside, the crickets chirped monotonously.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with direct speech] (of a person) say something in a lively and cheerful way: “Good morning!” chirped Alex.

■ n. a short, sharp, high-pitched sound.

<DERIVATIVES> chirp·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: imitative.

chirp·y adj. (chirp·i·er, chirp·i·est) INFORMAL cheerful and lively.

<DERIVATIVES> chirp·i·ly adv. chirp·i·ness n.

chirr (also churr) v. [intrans.] (esp. of an insect) make a prolonged low trilling sound.

■ n. a low trilling sound.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: imitative.

chir·rup v. (-ruped, -ruping) [intrans.] (esp. of a small bird) make repeated short high-pitched sounds; twitter.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with direct speech] (of a person) say something in a high-pitched voice: “Yes, Miss Honey,” chirruped eighteen voices.

■ n. a short, high-pitched sound.

<DERIVATIVES> chir·rup·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: alteration of CHIRP, by trilling the -r-.

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CHIRP ■

chir·u n. (pl. same) a sandy-colored gazelle with black horns, found on the Tibetan plateau. Also called TIBETAN ANTELOPE.
<INFO>  Pantholops hodgsoni, family Bovidae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: probably from Tibetan.

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TIBETAN ANTELOPE ■

chis·el n. a long-bladed hand tool with a beveled cutting edge and a plain handle that is struck with a hammer or mallet, used to cut or shape wood, stone, metal, or other hard materials.

■ v. (-eled, -el·ing; BRIT. -elled, -el·ling ) [trans.] 1 cut or shape (something) with a chisel: carefully chisel out a groove for the hinge.

2 INFORMAL cheat or swindle (someone) out of something: he's chiseled me out of my dues.

<DERIVATIVES> chis·el·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old Northern French, based on Latin cis- (as in late Latin cisorium), variant of caes-, stem of caedere 'to cut'. Compare with SCISSORS.

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SCISSORS ■

chis·eled adj. (of wood or stone) shaped or cut with a chisel.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a facial feature, typically a man's) strongly and clearly defined: the chiseled features of a male model.

Chis·holm Shirley Anita St. Hill (1924-2005), U.S. politician, social activist, and educator. The first African-American woman elected to Congress, she was a member of the House of Representatives from New York 1968-83.

Chis·holm Trail a historic route over which 19th-century cowboys drove cattle for 1,500 miles (2,400 km) north from Texas to Abilene and other Kansas cities that had been reached by developing railroads.

Chi·i·n·u the capital of Moldova; pop. 665,000. Russian name KISHINYOV.

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KISHINYOV ■

chi-square n. [as adj.] relating to or denoting a statistical method assessing the goodness of fit between observed values and those expected theoretically. (Symbol: 2)

chit 1 n. a short official note, memorandum, or voucher, typically recording a sum owed.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: Anglo-Indian, from Hindi 'note, pass'.

chit 2 n. a young woman regarded with disapproval for her immaturity or lack of respect: a mere chit of a girl.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a whelp, cub, or kitten): perhaps related to dialect chit 'sprout'.

Chi·ta a city in southeastern Siberia in Russia, on the Trans-Siberian Railway; pop. 349,000.

chi·tal n. (pl. same) another term for AXIS DEER.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Hindi , from Sanskrit citrala 'spotted', from citra 'spot, mark'.

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AXIS DEER ■

chit·chat (also chit-chat) INFORMAL n. inconsequential conversation.

■ v. [intrans.] talk about trivial matters: I can't stand around chitchatting.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: reduplication of CHAT^1 .

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CHAT ■

chi·tin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a fibrous substance consisting of polysaccharides and forming the major constituent in the exoskeleton of arthropods and the cell walls of fungi.

<DERIVATIVES> chi·tin·ous adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French chitine, formed irregularly from Greek (see CHITON).

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CHITON ■

chi·ton n. 1 a long woolen tunic worn in ancient Greece. <ORIGIN> from Greek 'tunic'.

2 a marine mollusk that has an oval flattened body with a shell of overlapping plates. <ORIGIN> modern Latin (genus name).
<INFO>  Polyplacophora

Chit·ta·gong a seaport in southeastern Bangladesh, on the Bay of Bengal; pop. 1,566,070.

chit·ter v. [intrans.] make a twittering or chattering sound.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: imitative; compare with CHATTER.

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CHATTER ■

chit·ter·lings plural n. the smaller intestines of a pig, cooked for food.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: perhaps related to synonymous German Kutteln.

Chi·tun·gwi·za a city in northeastern Zimbabwe, southeast of Harare; pop. 274,000.

chiv·al·rous adj. (of a man or his behavior) courteous and gallant, esp. toward women.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to the historical notion of chivalry.

<DERIVATIVES> chiv·al·rous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'characteristic of a medieval knight'): from Old French chevalerous, from chevalier (see CHEVALIER).

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CHEVALIER ■

chiv·al·ry n. the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- HISTORICAL knights, noblemen, and horsemen collectively: I fought against the cream of French chivalry.

- the combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight, esp. courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help the weak.

- courteous behavior, esp. that of a man toward women: their relations with women were models of chivalry and restraint.

<DERIVATIVES> chi·val·ric adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chevalerie, from medieval Latin caballerius, from late Latin caballarius 'horseman' (see CHEVALIER).

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CHEVALIER ■

chives plural n. a widely cultivated small Eurasian plant related to the onion, with purple-pink flowers and dense tufts of long tubular leaves that are used as a culinary herb.
<INFO>  Allium schoenoprasum, family Liliaceae (or Alliaceae).

<SPECIAL USAGE> the leaves from this plant: freshly chopped chives | [as adj.] (chive) chive and garlic dressing.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, dialect variant of cive, from Latin cepa 'onion'.

chiv·vy (also chiv·y or chev·y ) v. (-vies, -vied) [trans.] tell (someone) repeatedly to do something: an association that chivvies government into action.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: probably from the ballad Chevy Chase, celebrating a skirmish (probably the battle of Otterburn, 1388) on the Scottish border (but often mistakenly thought to be a place name). Originally a noun denoting a hunting cry, the term later meant 'a pursuit', hence the verb 'to chase, worry' (mid 19th cent.).

Chka·lov former name (1938-57) for ORENBURG.

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ORENBURG ■

Chlad·ni fig·ures (also Chlad·ni pat·terns or Chlad·ni's fig·ures) plural n. the patterns formed when a sand-covered surface is made to vibrate. The sand collects in the regions of least motion.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after Ernst Chladni (1756-1827), German physicist.

chlam·y·date adj. [ZOOLOGY] having a mantle or pallium like that of a mollusk.

chla·myd·e·ous klmids adj. [BOTANY] having or pertaining to a perianth or floral envelope.

chla·myd·i·a n. (pl. same or -myd·i·ae ) a very small parasitic bacterium that, like a virus, requires the biochemical mechanisms of another cell in order to reproduce. Bacteria of this type cause various diseases including trachoma, psittacosis, and nonspecific urethritis.
<INFO>  Genus Chlamydia and order Chlamydiales.

<DERIVATIVES> chla·myd·i·al adj..

<ORIGIN> 1960s: modern Latin (plural), from Greek khlamus, khlamud- 'cloak'.

chlam·y·dom·o·nas n. [BIOLOGY] a common single-celled green alga that lives in water and moist soil and typically has two flagella for swimming.
<INFO>  Genus Chlamydomonas, phylum Chlorophyta, kingdom or Plantae (or Protista).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek khlamus, khlamud- 'cloak' + monas (see MONAD).

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MONAD ■

chla·myd·o·spore n. [BOTANY] (in certain fungi) a thick-walled hyphal cell that functions as a spore.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek khlamus, khlamud- 'mantle' + SPORE.

Linked entries:

SPORE ■

chla·mys n. (pl. chla·mys·es or chla·my·des ) a short cloak worn by men in ancient Greece.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Greek khlamus 'mantle'.

chlo·as·ma n. a temporary condition, typically caused by hormonal changes, in which large brown patches form on the skin, mainly on the face.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek khloazein 'become green'.

chlor- comb. form variant spelling of CHLORO- before a vowel (as in chloracne).

Linked entries:

CHLORO- ■

chlor·ac·ne n. [MEDICINE] a skin disease resembling severe acne, caused by exposure to chlorinated chemicals.

chlo·ral n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless, viscous liquid made by chlorinating acetaldehyde.
<INFO>  Alternative name: trichloroethanal; chem. formula: CCl_3CHO.

<SPECIAL USAGE> short for CHLORAL HYDRATE.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, blend of chlore 'chlorine' and alcool 'alcohol'.

Linked entries:

CHLORAL HYDRATE ■

chlo·ral hy·drate n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless crystalline solid made from chloral and used as a sedative.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: CCl_3CH(OH)2.

chlo·ram·bu·cil n. [MEDICINE] a cytotoxic drug used in the treatment of cancer. It belongs to the class of nitrogen mustards.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from chlor(oethyl)am(inophenyl)bu(tyric acid), the systematic name, + -cil.

chlo·ra·mine n. [CHEMISTRY] an organic compound containing a chlorine atom bonded to nitrogen, esp. any of a group of sulfonamide derivatives used as antiseptics and disinfectants.

chlo·ram·phen·i·col n. [MEDICINE] an antibiotic used against serious infections such as typhoid fever.
<INFO>  Streptomyces venezuelae

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from CHLORO- (representing CHLORINE) + am(ide) + PHENO- + ni(tro-) + (gly)col.

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CHLORO- ■

CHLORINE ■

PHENO- ■

chlor·dane n. a synthetic viscous toxic compound used as an insecticide.
<INFO>  A chlorinated derivative of indene; chem. formula: C_10H_6Cl_8.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from CHLOR- (representing CHLORINE) + (in)dene + -ANE^2 .

Linked entries:

CHLOR- ■

CHLORINE ■

-ANE ■

chlor·di·az·e·pox·ide n. [MEDICINE] a tranquilizer of the benzodiazepine group, used chiefly to treat anxiety and alcoholism. Also called LIBRIUM (TRADEMARK).

Linked entries:

LIBRIUM ■

chlo·rel·la n. [BIOLOGY] a common single-celled green alga of both terrestrial and aquatic habitats, frequently turning stagnant water an opaque green.
<INFO>  Genus Chlorella, phylum Chlorophyta, kingdom Plantae (or Protista).

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, diminutive of Greek 'green'.

chlo·ric adj. of, relating to, or containing chlorine in the pentavalent state.

chlo·ric ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless liquid acid with strong oxidizing properties.
<INFO>  3

<SPECIAL USAGE> any acid containing chlorine and oxygen.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: chloric from CHLORINE + -IC.

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CHLORINE ■

-IC ■

chlo·ride n. [CHEMISTRY] a compound of chlorine with another element or group, esp. a salt of the anion Cl or an organic compound with chlorine bonded to an alkyl group.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from CHLORINE + -IDE.

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CHLORINE ■

-IDE ■

chlo·ri·nate v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (chlorinated) impregnate or treat with chlorine: chlorinated water.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHEMISTRY] introduce chlorine into (a compound).

<DERIVATIVES> chlo·ri·na·tion n. chlo·ri·na·tor n.

chlo·rine n. the chemical element of atomic number 17, a toxic, irritant, pale green gas. (Symbol: Cl)

A member of the halogen group, chlorine occurs in nature mainly as sodium chloride in seawater and salt deposits. The gas was used as a poison gas in World War I. Chlorine is added to water supplies as a disinfectant.

<ORIGIN>  early 19th cent.: named by Sir Humphrey Davy, from Greek 'green' + -INE^4 .

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-INE ■

chlo·rite 1 n. a dark green mineral consisting of a basic hydrated aluminosilicate of magnesium and iron. It occurs as a constituent of many metamorphic rocks, typically forming flat crystals resembling mica.

<DERIVATIVES> chlo·rit·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: via Latin from Greek , a green precious stone.

chlo·rite 2 n. [CHEMISTRY] a salt of chlorous acid, containing the anion ClO_2.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CHLORINE + -ITE^1 .

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CHLORINE ■

-ITE ■

chlo·ri·toid n. a greenish-gray or black mineral resembling chlorite, found in metamorphosed clay sediments. It consists of a basic aluminosilicate of iron, often with magnesium.

chloro- (usu. chlor- before a vowel) comb. form 1 [BIOLOGY] & [MINERALOGY] green.

2 [CHEMISTRY] representing CHLORINE: chloroquine.

<ORIGIN> from Greek 'green'.

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CHLORINE ■

chlo·ro·car·bon n. a chemical compound that contains carbon and chlorine or carbon, chlorine, and hydrogen.

chlo·ro·fluor·o·car·bon (abbr.: CFC) n. any of a class of compounds of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine, typically gases used chiefly in refrigerants and aerosol propellants. They are harmful to the ozone layer in the earth's atmosphere owing to the release of chlorine atoms upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

chlo·ro·form n. a colorless, volatile, sweet-smelling liquid used as a solvent and formerly as a general anesthetic.
<INFO>  Alternative name: trichloromethane; chem. formula: CHCl_3.

■ v. [trans.] render (someone) unconscious with this substance.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CHLORO- (representing CHLORINE) + form- from FORMIC ACID.

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CHLORO- ■

CHLORINE ■

FORMIC ACID ■

chlo·ro·mel·a·nite n. a greenish-black variety of jadeite containing a high proportion of iron.

chlo·ro·my·ce·tin n. trademark for CHLORAMPHENICOL.

<ORIGIN>  1940s: from CHLORO- 'green' + Greek , 'fungus' + -IN^1 .

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CHLORAMPHENICOL ■

CHLORO- ■

-IN ■

chlo·ro·phyll n. a green pigment, present in all green plants and in cyanobacteria, responsible for the absorption of light to provide energy for photosynthesis. Its molecule contains a magnesium atom held in a porphyrin ring.

<DERIVATIVES> chlo·ro·phyl·lous adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: coined in French from Greek 'green' + phullon 'leaf'.

Chlo·roph·y·ta [BOTANY] a phylum that comprises the green algae. They are more recently treated as a phylum of the kingdom Protista.

<DERIVATIVES> chlo·ro·phyte n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek 'green' + phuton 'plant'.

chlo·ro·plast n. [BOTANY] (in green plant cells) a plastid that contains chlorophyll and in which photosynthesis takes place.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek 'green' + plastos 'formed'.

chlo·ro·prene n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless liquid made from acetylene and hydrochloric acid and polymerized to form neoprene.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: CH_2=CClCH=CH_2.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from CHLORO- + a shortened form of ISOPRENE.

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CHLORO- ■

ISOPRENE ■

chlo·ro·quine n. [MEDICINE] a synthetic drug related to quinoline, chiefly used against malaria.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from CHLORO- + quin(olin)e.

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CHLORO- ■

chlo·ro·sis n. 1 [BOTANY] abnormal reduction or loss of the normal green coloration of leaves of plants, typically caused by iron deficiency in lime-rich soils, or by disease or lack of light.

2 [MEDICINE] anemia caused by iron deficiency, esp. in adolescent girls, causing a pale, faintly greenish complexion. It was a common diagnosis in the 19th century.

<DERIVATIVES> chlo·rot·ic adj.

chlo·ro·thi·a·zide n. [MEDICINE] a synthetic drug used to treat fluid retention and high blood pressure. It is one of the thiazide diuretics.

chlo·rous ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a weak acid with oxidizing properties, formed when chlorine dioxide dissolves in water.
<INFO>  2

chlor·prom·a·zine n. [MEDICINE] a synthetic drug used as a tranquilizer, sedative, and antiemetic. It is a phenothiazine derivative.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from CHLORO- + prom(eth)azine.

Linked entries:

CHLORO- ■

chlor·pyr·i·fos n. a broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide, widely used in food crop agriculture and as a termiticide.

chlor·tet·ra·cy·cline n. [MEDICINE] an antibiotic of the tetracycline group, active against many bacterial and fungal infections.
<INFO>  Streptomyces aureofaciens

cho·a·no·cyte n. [ZOOLOGY] a flagellated cell with a collar of protoplasm at the base of the flagellum, numbers of which line the internal chambers of sponges.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'funnel' + -CYTE.

Linked entries:

-CYTE ■

choc·a·hol·ic n. variant spelling of CHOCOHOLIC.

Linked entries:

CHOCOHOLIC ■

chock n. 1 a wedge or block placed against a wheel or rounded object, to prevent it from moving.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a support on which a rounded structure, such as a cask or the hull of a boat, may be placed to keep it steady.

2 a fitting with a gap at the top, through which a rope or line is run.

■ v. [trans.] (often be chocked) prevent the forward movement of (a wheel or vehicle) with a chock.
<SPECIAL USAGE> support (a boat, cask, etc.) on chocks.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably from an Old Northern French variant of Old French çouche, çoche 'block, log', of unknown ultimate origin.

chock·a·block (also chock-a-block) adj. [predic.] INFORMAL crammed full of people or things: the manual is chockablock with information.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (originally in nautical use, with reference to tackle having the two blocks run close together): from chock (in CHOCK-FULL) and BLOCK.

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CHOCK-FULL ■

BLOCK ■

chock-full adj. [predic.] INFORMAL filled to overflowing: my briefcase is chock-full of notes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin; later associated with CHOCK.

Linked entries:

CHOCK ■

chock·stone n. [CLIMBING] a stone that has become wedged in a vertical cleft.

choc·o·hol·ic (also choc·a·hol·ic) n. INFORMAL a person who is addicted to or excessively fond of chocolate.

choc·o·late n. a food preparation in the form of a paste or solid block made from roasted and ground cacao seeds, typically sweetened: a bar of chocolate | [as adj.] a chocolate cookie.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a candy made of or covered with this: a box of chocolates.

- a drink made by mixing milk with chocolate: sipping on hot chocolate.

- a deep brown color: [as adj.] huge spiders, yellow and chocolate brown.

<DERIVATIVES> choc·o·lat·y (also choc·o·lat·ey) adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'a drink made with chocolate'): from French chocolat or Spanish chocolate, from Nahuatl chocolatl 'food made from cacao seeds', influenced by unrelated cacaua-atl 'drink made from cacao'.

choc·o·late chip n. [usu. as adj.] a small piece of chocolate used in making cookies and other sweet foods: chocolate-chip ice cream.

choc·o·late mousse n. see MOUSSE.

Linked entries:

MOUSSE ■

choc·o·late spot n. a fungal disease affecting field and broad beans, characterized by dark brown spots on all parts of the plant.
<INFO>  This is caused by the fungus Botrytis fabae (sometimes the gray mold B. cinerea), phylum Ascomycota.

choc·o·late vine n. a fast-growing, shade-tolerant woody twining vine, native to Asia and introduced as an ornamental in the U.S. It has escaped cultivation and threatens native plants in some woodland habitats.
<INFO>  Akebia quinata, family Lardizabalaceae.

cho·co·la·tier n. a maker or seller of chocolate.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French.

Choc·taw n. (pl. same or -taws) 1 a member of a native people now living mainly in Mississippi.

2 the Muskogean language of this people, closely related to Chickasaw.

3 [FIGURE SKATING] a step from one edge of a skate to the other edge of the other skate in the opposite direction.

■ adj. of or relating to the Choctaw or their language.

<ORIGIN> from Choctaw .

choice n. an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities: the choice between good and evil.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the right or ability to make, or possibility of making, such a selection: I had to do it, I had no choice.

- a range of possibilities from which one or more may be selected: you can have a sofa made to order in a choice of over forty fabrics.

- a course of action, thing, or person that is selected or decided upon: this CD drive is the perfect choice for your computer.

■ adj. 1 (esp. of food) of very good quality: he picked some choice early plums.

2 (of words, phrases, or language) rude and abusive: he had a few choice words at his command.

<PHRASES>
□ by choice of one's own volition.

□ of choice selected as one's favorite or the best: champagne was his drink of choice.

□ of one's choice that one chooses or has chosen: the college of her choice.

<DERIVATIVES> choice·ly adv. choice·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French chois, from choisir 'choose', of Germanic origin and related to CHOOSE.

Linked entries:

CHOOSE ■

choil n. the end of a knife's cutting edge that is nearer to the handle.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

choir n. an organized group of singers, typically one that takes part in church services or performs regularly in public: a church choir.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- one of two or more subdivisions of such a group performing together: his famous Spem in alium for eight five-part choirs.

- the part of a cathedral or large church between the altar and the nave, used by the choir and clergy.

- a group of instruments of one family playing together: a clarinet choir.

<ORIGIN> Middle English quer, quere, from Old French quer, from Latin chorus (see CHORUS). The spelling change in the 17th cent. was due to association with Latin chorus and modern French choeur.

Linked entries:

CHORUS ■

choir·boy n. a boy who sings in a church or cathedral choir.

choir·girl n. a girl who sings in a church or cathedral choir.

choir·mas·ter n. the conductor of a choir.

choir or·gan n. a separate division of many large organs, played using a third manual (keyboard), and typically having distinctively toned stops.

choir stall n. (usu. choir stalls) a fixed seat for one or more people in the choir of a church or chapel.

choi·sy·a n. an evergreen Mexican shrub with sweet-scented white flowers, widely grown as an ornamental.
<INFO>  Choisya ternata, family Rutaceae.

<ORIGIN> named after Jacques D. Choisy (1799-1859), Swiss botanist.

choke 1 v. 1 [intrans.] (of a person or animal) have severe difficulty in breathing because of a constricted or obstructed throat or a lack of air: Willie choked on a mouthful of soda.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] hinder or obstruct the breathing of (a person or animal) in such a way.

- [trans.] retard the growth of or kill (a plant) by depriving it of light, air, or nourishment: the bracken will choke the wild gladiolus.

- [trans.] (often be choked with) fill (a passage or space), esp. so as to make movement difficult or impossible: the roads were choked with traffic.

- [trans.] prevent or suppress (the occurrence of something): higher rates of interest choke off investment demand.

2 [trans.] (often be choked) overwhelm and make (someone) speechless with a strong and typically negative feeling or emotion: she was choked with angry emotion | [intrans.] I just choked up reading it.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] INFORMAL (in sports) fail to perform at a crucial point of a game or contest owing to a failure of nerve: we were the only team not to choke when it came to the crunch.

3 [trans.] enrich the fuel mixture in (a gasoline engine) by reducing the intake of air.

■ n. 1 a valve in the carburetor of a gasoline engine that is used to reduce the amount of air in the fuel mixture when the engine is started.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a knob that controls such a valve.

- a narrowed part of a shotgun bore, typically near the muzzle and serving to restrict the spread of the shot.

- INFORMAL an electrical inductor, esp. an inductance coil used to smooth the variations of an alternating current or to alter its phase.

2 an action or sound of a person or animal having or seeming to have difficulty in breathing: a little choke of laughter.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  choke something back suppress a strong emotion or the expression of such an emotion: Liz was choking back her anger.

□  choke something down swallow something with difficulty: I attempted to choke down supper.

□  choke up (in sports) grip (a bat, racket, etc.) further from the narrow end than is usual: he choked up on the bat a few inches.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old English (verb), from (see CHEEK).

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CHEEK ■

choke 2 n. the inedible mass of silky fibers at the center of a globe artichoke.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: probably a confusion of the ending of artichoke with CHOKE^1 .

Linked entries:

CHOKE ■

choke·ber·ry n. a North American shrub of the rose family, with white flowers and red autumn foliage, cultivated as an ornamental.
<INFO>  Genus Aronia, family Rosaceae: several species, esp. the red chokeberry (A. arbutifolia), purple chokeberry (A. floribunda), and black chokeberry (A. melanocarpa), each named for the color of its fruits.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the berrylike fruit of this shrub, which is bitter and unpalatable.

choke chain n. a chain formed into a loop by passing one end through a ring on the other, placed around a dog's neck to exert control by causing pressure on the windpipe when the dog pulls.

choke·cher·ry n. a North American cherry with an edible astringent fruit that is more palatable when cooked.
<INFO>  Prunus virginiana, family Rosaceae.

choke·damp n. another term for BLACKDAMP.

Linked entries:

BLACKDAMP ■

choke·hold n. a tight grip around a person's neck, used to restrain him or her by restricting breathing: the police have banned chokeholds | FIGURATIVE the southern delegates had the convention in a chokehold.

choke point n. a point of congestion or blockage: the tunnel is a choke point at rush hour.

chok·er n. 1 a close-fitting necklace or ornamental neckband.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a clerical or other high collar.

2 a cable looped around a log to drag it.

cho·ki·dar n. variant spelling of CHOWKIDAR.

Linked entries:

CHOWKIDAR ■

Chok·we n. (pl. same) 1 a member of a people living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) and northern Angola.

2 the Bantu language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

chok·y adj. (chok·i·er, chok·i·est) having or causing difficulty in breathing: the whole place was choky with tear gas.
<SPECIAL USAGE> breathless and overwhelmed with emotion: “Nick,” she said, suddenly choky.

cho·la n. a Latin American woman or girl with Indian blood; a mestiza: [as adj.] a couple of chola girls.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the girlfriend of a cholo.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: American Spanish (see CHOLO).

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CHOLO ■

cho·lan·gi·og·ra·phy n. [MEDICINE] X-ray examination of the bile ducts, used to locate and identify an obstruction.

<DERIVATIVES> cho·lan·gi·o·gram n..

<ORIGIN> 1930s: coined in Spanish from Greek 'bile' + angeion 'vessel' + -graphia (see -GRAPHY).

Linked entries:

-GRAPHY ■

chole- (also chol- before a vowel) comb. form [MEDICINE] & [CHEMISTRY] relating to bile or the bile ducts: cholelithiasis; cholesterol.

<ORIGIN> from Greek 'gall, bile'.

cho·le·cal·cif·er·ol n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] one of the D vitamins, a sterol that is formed by the action of sunlight on dehydrocholesterol in the skin. Deficiency of this vitamin affects calcium levels, causing rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Also called VITAMIN D_3 (see VITAMIN D).

cholecyst- comb. form relating to the gallbladder: cholecystectomy.

<ORIGIN> from modern Latin cholecystis 'gallbladder'.

cho·le·cys·tec·to·my n. (pl. -mies) surgical removal of the gallbladder.

cho·le·cys·ti·tis n. [MEDICINE] inflammation of the gallbladder.

cho·le·cys·tog·ra·phy n. [MEDICINE] X-ray examination of the gallbladder, esp. used to detect the presence of gallstones.

cho·le·cys·to·ki·nin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a hormone that is secreted by cells in the duodenum and stimulates the release of bile into the intestine and the secretion of enzymes by the pancreas.

cho·le·li·thi·a·sis n. [MEDICINE] the formation of gallstones.

cho·lent n. a Jewish Sabbath dish of slowly baked meat and vegetables, prepared on a Friday and cooked overnight.

<ORIGIN> from Yiddish tsholnt.

chol·er n. (in medieval science and medicine) one of the four bodily humors, identified with bile, believed to be associated with a peevish or irascible temperament. Also called YELLOW BILE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY or ARCHAIC anger or irascibility.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also denoting diarrhea): from Old French colere 'bile, anger', from Latin cholera 'diarrhea' (from Greek kholera), which in late Latin acquired the senses 'bile or anger', from Greek 'bile'.

Linked entries:

YELLOW BILE ■

chol·er·a n. an infectious and often fatal bacterial disease of the small intestine, typically contracted from infected water supplies and causing severe vomiting and diarrhea.
<INFO>  The disease is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. See VIBRIO.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally denoting bile and later applied to various ailments involving vomiting and diarrhea): from Latin (see CHOLER). The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.

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VIBRIO ■

CHOLER ■

chol·e·ra·ic adj. ARCHAIC infected with cholera.

chol·er·ic adj. bad-tempered or irritable.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL influenced by or predominating in the humor called choler: a choleric disposition.

<DERIVATIVES> chol·er·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'bilious'): from Old French cholerique, via Latin from Greek kholerikos, from kholera (see CHOLER).

Linked entries:

CHOLER ■

cho·les·ter·ol n. a compound of the sterol type found in most body tissues, including the blood and the nerves. Cholesterol and its derivatives are important constituents of cell membranes and precursors of other steroid compounds, but high concentrations in the blood (mainly derived from animal fats in the diet) are thought to promote atherosclerosis.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_27H_45OH.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'bile' + stereos 'stiff' + -OL.

Linked entries:

-OL ■

cho·lic ac·id n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a compound produced by oxidation of cholesterol. It is a steroidal fatty acid and its salts are present in bile.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek kholikos, from 'bile'.

cho·line n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a strongly basic compound occurring widely in living tissues and important in the synthesis and transport of lipids.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: HON(CH_3)3CH_2CH_2OH.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek 'bile'.

cho·lin·er·gic adj. [PHYSIOLOGY] 1 relating to or denoting nerve cells in which acetylcholine acts as a neurotransmitter. Contrasted with ADRENERGIC.

2 releasing or responding to acetylcholine.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from CHOLINE + Greek ergon 'work' + -IC.

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ADRENERGIC ■

CHOLINE ■

-IC ■

cho·lin·es·ter·ase n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] an enzyme, esp. acetylcholinesterase, that hydrolyzes esters of choline.

chol·la n. a cactus with a cylindrical stem, native to Mexico and the southwestern U.S.
<INFO>  Genus Opuntia, family Cactaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Mexican Spanish use of Spanish cholla 'skull, head', of unknown origin.

cho·lo n. (pl. -los) a Latin American with Indian blood; a mestizo.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE a lower-class Mexican, esp. in an urban area.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a teenage boy, esp. in a Mexican-American community, who is a member of a street gang.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: American Spanish, from Cholollán (now Cholula), in Mexico.

cho·metz n. variant spelling of CHAMETZ.

Linked entries:

CHAMETZ ■

chomp v. [intrans.] 1 munch or chew vigorously and noisily: he chomped on his sandwich.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a horse) make a noisy biting or chewing action.

2 fret impatiently: he waited, chomping at her nonappearance.

■ n. [in sing.] a chewing noise or action.

<PHRASES> chomp (or champ or chafe) at the bit be restless and impatient to start doing something.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: probably imitative.

Chom·sky (Avram) Noam (1928- ), U.S. theoretical linguist, noted for expounding the theory of generative grammar. He also theorized that linguistic behavior is innate, not learned, and that all languages share the same underlying grammatical base. Chomsky opposed U.S. involvement in the Vietnam and Gulf Wars. Notable works: Syntactic Structures (1957) and Aspects of the Theory of Syntax (1965).

Chon·drich·thy·es [ZOOLOGY] a class of fishes that includes those with a cartilaginous skeleton. Compare with OSTEICHTHYES.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek khondros 'cartilage' + ikhthus 'fish'.

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OSTEICHTHYES ■

chon·drite n. a stony meteorite containing small mineral granules (chondrules).

<DERIVATIVES> chon·drit·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek khondros 'granule' + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ITE ■

chondro- comb. form of or relating to cartilage: chondrocyte.

<ORIGIN> from Greek khondros 'grain or cartilage'.

chon·dro·cra·ni·um n. [ZOOLOGY] & [EMBRYOLOGY] the primary skull of vertebrates, composed of cartilage, which in humans and most other vertebrates is replaced by bone during development.

chon·dro·cyte n. [BIOLOGY] a cell that has secreted the matrix of cartilage and become embedded in it.

chon·dro·i·tin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a compound that is a major constituent of cartilage and other connective tissue. It is a glycosaminoglycan and occurs mainly in the form of sulfate esters.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CHONDRO- + -ITE^1 + -IN^1 .

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CHONDRO- ■

-ITE ■

-IN ■

chon·drule n. a spheroidal mineral grain present in large numbers in some stony meteorites.

Chong·jin a port on the northeastern coast of North Korea; pop. 754,100.

Chong·qing (also Chung·king) a city in Sichuan province, in central China, on the Yangtze River; pop. 2,960,000. It was the capital of China from 1938 to 1946.

choo-choo (also choo-choo train) n. a child's word for a railroad train or locomotive, esp. a steam engine.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: imitative.

choose v. (past chose ; past part. cho·sen ) [trans.] pick out or select (someone or something) as being the best or most appropriate of two or more alternatives: he chose a seat facing the door | [intrans.] now it's my turn to choose.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] decide on a course of action, typically after rejecting alternatives: [with infinitive] he chose to go I'll stay as long as I choose.

<PHRASES>
□ cannot choose but do something FORMAL have no alternative to doing something.

□ there is little (or nothing) to choose between there is little or no difference between.

<DERIVATIVES> choos·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kiezen.

choos·y adj. (choos·i·er, choos·i·est) INFORMAL overly fastidious in making a choice.

<DERIVATIVES> choos·i·ly adv. choos·i·ness n.

chop v. (chopped, chop·ping) [trans.] cut (something) into small pieces with repeated sharp blows using an ax or knife: they chopped up the pulpit for firewood; finely chop the parsley.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (chop something off) remove by cutting: they chopped off all her hair.

- cut through the base of (something, esp. a tree) with blows from an ax or similar implement, in order to fell it: the boy chopped down eight trees | [intrans.] the men were chopping at the undergrowth with machetes.

- strike (a ball) with a short heavy blow, as if cutting at something.

- (usu. be chopped) abolish or reduce the size or extent of (something) in a way regarded as brutally sudden: their training courses are to be chopped.

■ n. 1 a downward cutting blow or movement, typically with the hand: an effective chop to the back of the neck.

2 a thick slice of meat, esp. pork or lamb, adjacent to, and typically including, a rib.

3 crushed or ground grain used as animal feed.

4 [in sing.] the broken motion of water, typically due to the action of the wind against the tide: we started our run into a two-foot chop.

<PHRASES> chop logic argue in a tiresomely pedantic way; quibble. <ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from a dialect use of chop meaning 'bandy words'.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: variant of CHAP^1 .

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chop-chop adv. & exclam. quickly; quick: “Two beers, chop-chop,” Jimmy called.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: pidgin English, based on Chinese dialect kuaì-kuaì. Compare with CHOPSTICK.

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chop·fall·en adj. variant spelling of CHAPFALLEN.

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CHAPFALLEN ■

chop·house n. a restaurant that specializes in steaks, chops, and similar fare.

Cho·pin 1 Frédéric (François) (1810-49), French composer and pianist; born in Poland; Polish name Fryderyk Franciszek Szopen. Writing almost exclusively for the piano, he composed numerous mazurkas and polonaises inspired by Polish folk music, as well as nocturnes, preludes, and two piano concertos (1829; 1830).

Cho·pin 2 Kate (O'Flaherty) (1851-1904), U.S. novelist and short-story writer. Notable works: Bayou Folk (1894), A Night in Acidie (1897), and The Awakening (1899).

chop·per n. 1 a person, tool, or machine that chops.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a butcher's cleaver.

- a device for regularly interrupting an electric current or a beam of light or particles.

- (choppers) INFORMAL teeth.

2 INFORMAL a helicopter.

3 INFORMAL a motorcycle, esp. one with high handlebars and the front-wheel fork extended forward.

4 [BASEBALL] a batted ball that makes a high bounce after hitting the ground in fair territory: Bell followed with a high chopper to the third baseman.

chop·ping block n. a block for chopping something on, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a block for chopping wood.

- a block for chopping food such as meat, vegetables, and herbs.

- HISTORICAL an executioner's block.

<PHRASES> on the chopping block likely to be abolished or drastically reduced.

chop·py adj. (chop·pi·er, chop·pi·est) (of a sea or river) having many small waves.

<DERIVATIVES> chop·pi·ly adv. chop·pi·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'full of chaps or clefts'): from CHOP + -Y^1 .

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CHOP ■

-Y ■

chops plural n. INFORMAL 1 a person's or animal's mouth or jaws: a smack in the chops.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person's cheeks; jowls.

2 the technical skill of a musician, esp. one who plays jazz: when I'm on tour, my chops go down.

<PHRASES>
□ bust one's chops INFORMAL exert oneself.

□ bust someone's chops INFORMAL nag or criticize someone.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: variant of CHAP^3 .

chop shop n. INFORMAL a place where stolen vehicles are dismantled so that the parts can be sold or used to repair other stolen vehicles.

chop·sock·y n. [usu. as adj.] INFORMAL kung fu or a similar martial art, esp. as depicted in violent action movies: chopsocky epics from Hong Kong.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: perhaps humorously, suggested by CHOP SUEY.

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chop·stick n. (usu. chopsticks) each of a pair of small, thin, tapered sticks of wood, ivory, or plastic, held together in one hand and used as eating utensils, esp. by the Chinese, the Japanese, and other people in eastern Asia.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: pidgin English, from chop 'quick' + STICK^1 , translating Chinese dialect kuaìzi, literally 'nimble ones'. Compare with CHOP-CHOP.

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CHOP-CHOP ■

chop su·ey n. a Chinese-style dish of meat stewed and fried with bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, and onions, and often served with rice.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Chinese (Cantonese dialect) tsaâp suì 'mixed bits'.

cho·ral adj. composed for or sung by a choir or chorus: a choral work; choral singing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> engaged in or concerned with singing: a choral scholar.

<DERIVATIVES> cho·ral·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin choralis, from Latin chorus (see CHORUS).

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cho·rale n. 1 a musical composition (or part of one) consisting of or resembling a harmonized version of a simple, stately hymn tune.

2 a choir or choral society.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from German Choral(gesang), translating medieval Latin cantus choralis.

cho·rale pre·lude n. an organ piece based on a chorale.

cho·ral speak·ing n. the recitation of poetry or prose by a chorus or ensemble.

chord 1 n. a group of (typically three or more) notes sounded together, as a basis of harmony: the triumphal opening chords; a G major chord.

■ v. [intrans.] [usu. as n.] (chording) play, sing, or arrange notes in chords.

<DERIVATIVES> chord·al adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English cord, from ACCORD. The spelling change in the 18th cent. was due to confusion with CHORD^2 . The original sense was 'agreement, reconciliation', later 'a musical concord or harmonious sound'; the current sense dates from the mid 18th cent.

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CHORD ■

chord 2 n. 1 [MATHEMATICS] a straight line joining the ends of an arc.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [AERONAUTICS] the width of an airfoil from leading to trailing edge.

- [ENGINEERING] each of the two principal members of a truss.

2 [ANATOMY] variant spelling of CORD: spinal chord.

3 POETIC/LITERARY a string on a harp or other instrument.

<PHRASES>
□ strike (or touch) a chord affect or stir someone's emotions: the issue of food safety strikes a chord with almost everyone. <ORIGIN> with figurative reference to the emotions being the ‘strings’ of the mind visualized as a musical instrument.

□ strike (or touch) the right chord skillfully appeal to or arouse a particular emotion in others: Dickens knew how to strike the right chord in the hearts of his readers.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the anatomical sense): a later spelling (influenced by Latin chorda 'rope') of CORD.

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CORD ■

Chor·da·ta [ZOOLOGY] a large phylum of animals that includes the vertebrates together with the sea squirts and lancelets. They are distinguished by the possession of a notochord at some stage during their development.

<DERIVATIVES> chor·date n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Latin chorda (see CHORD^2 ), on the pattern of words such as Vertebrata.

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chor·do·phone n. TECHNICAL [MUSIC] a stringed instrument.

chor·do·to·nal adj. [ENTOMOLOGY] (in insects) denoting sense organs that are responsive to mechanical and sound vibrations.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CHORD^2 + TONAL.

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TONAL ■

chore n. a routine task, esp. a household one.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an unpleasant but necessary task: he sees interviews as a chore.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (originally dialect and U.S.): variant of obsolete char or chare (see CHARWOMAN).

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cho·re·a n. [MEDICINE] a neurological disorder characterized by jerky involuntary movements affecting esp. the shoulders, hips, and face. See also HUNTINGTON'S CHOREA, SYDENHAM'S CHOREA.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek khoreia 'dancing in unison', from khoros 'chorus'.

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SYDENHAM'S CHOREA ■

cho·re·o·graph v. [trans.] compose the sequence of steps and moves for (a performance of dance or ice skating): he is now choreographing a ballet.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE plan and control (an event or operation): the committee choreographs the movement of troops.

<DERIVATIVES> cho·re·og·ra·pher n.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: back-formation from CHOREOGRAPHY.

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CHOREOGRAPHY ■

cho·re·og·ra·phy n. the sequence of steps and movements in dance or figure skating, esp. in a ballet or other staged dance: the lively choreography reflects the themes of the original play.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the art or practice of designing such sequences.

- the written notation for such a sequence.

<DERIVATIVES> cho·re·o·graph·ic adj. cho·re·o·graph·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (in the sense 'written notation of dancing'): from Greek khoreia 'dancing in unison' (from khoros 'chorus') + -GRAPHY.

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cho·re·ol·o·gy n. the notation of dance movement.

<DERIVATIVES> cho·re·ol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from Greek khoreia 'dancing in unison' (from khoros 'chorus') + -LOGY.

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-LOGY ■

cho·ri·am·bus (also cho·ri·amb ) n. (pl. -bi ) a metrical foot consisting of two short (or unstressed) syllables between two long (or stressed) ones.

<DERIVATIVES> cho·ri·am·bic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: via late Latin from Greek khoriambos, from khoreios 'of the dance' + iambos (see IAMBUS).

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cho·ric adj. belonging to, spoken by, or resembling a chorus in drama or recitation.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: via late Latin from Greek khorikos, from khoros 'chorus'.

cho·rine n. a chorus girl.

<ORIGIN> 1920s (originally U.S.): from CHORUS + -INE^3 .

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-INE ■

chorio- comb. form representing CHORION or CHOROID.

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CHORION ■

CHOROID ■

cho·ri·o·al·lan·to·ic adj. [EMBRYOLOGY] relating to or denoting fused chorionic and allantoic membranes around a fetus.

cho·ri·o·car·ci·no·ma n. (pl. -no·mas or -no·ma·ta ) [MEDICINE] a malignant tumor of the uterus that originates in the cells of the chorion of a fetus.

cho·ri·oid adj. another term for CHOROID.

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cho·ri·on n. [EMBRYOLOGY] the outermost membrane surrounding an embryo of a reptile, bird, or mammal. In mammals (including humans), it contributes to the formation of the placenta.

<DERIVATIVES> cho·ri·on·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Greek khorion.

cho·ri·on·ic vil·lus sam·pling (abbr.: CVS) n. [MEDICINE] a test made in early pregnancy to detect congenital abnormalities in the fetus. A tiny tissue sample is taken from the villi of the chorion, which forms the fetal part of the placenta.

chor·is·ter n. 1 a member of a choir, esp. a child or young person singing the treble part in a church choir.

2 a person who leads the singing of a church choir or congregation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English queristre, from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French cueriste, from quer (see CHOIR). The change in the first syllable in the 16th cent. was due to association with obsolete chorist 'member of a choir or chorus',but the older form quirister long survived.

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CHOIR ■

cho·ri·zo n. (pl. -zos) a spicy Spanish pork sausage.

<ORIGIN> Spanish.

cho·rog·ra·phy n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL the systematic description and mapping of regions or districts.

<DERIVATIVES> cho·rog·ra·pher n. cho·ro·graph·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek , from or 'region'.

cho·roid (also cho·ri·oid ) adj. resembling the chorion, particularly in containing many blood vessels.

■ n. (also choroid coat) the pigmented vascular layer of the eyeball between the retina and the sclera.

<DERIVATIVES> cho·roi·dal adj..

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Greek (adjective), alteration of , from khorion (see CHORION).

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cho·roid plex·us n. (pl. same or plex·uses) a network of blood vessels in each ventricle of the brain. It is derived from the pia mater and produces the cerebrospinal fluid.

chor·o·pleth map n. a map that uses differences in shading, coloring, or the placing of symbols within predefined areas to indicate the average values of a property or quantity in those areas. Compare with ISOPLETH.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: choropleth from Greek 'region' + 'multitude'.

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Chor·ril·los a town in west central Peru, a resort and suburb south of Lima; pop. 213,000.

chor·tle v. [intrans.] laugh in a breathy, gleeful way; chuckle: he chortled at his own pun.

■ n. a breathy, gleeful laugh: Thomas gave a chortle.

<ORIGIN> 1871: coined by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass; probably a blend of CHUCKLE and SNORT.

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SNORT ■

cho·rus n. (pl. -rus·es) 1 a large organized group of singers, esp. one that performs together with an orchestra or opera company.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a group of singers or dancers performing together in a supporting role in a stage musical or opera.

- a piece of choral music, esp. one forming part of a larger work such as an opera or oratorio.

- a part of a song that is repeated after each verse, typically by more than one singer.

- a simple song for group singing, esp. in informal Christian worship.

2 (in ancient Greek tragedy) a group of performers who comment on the main action, typically speaking and moving together.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a simultaneous utterance of something by many people: a growing chorus of complaint; “Good morning,” we replied in chorus.

- a single character who speaks the prologue and other linking parts of the play, esp. in Elizabethan drama.

- a section of text spoken by the chorus in drama.

- a device used with an amplified musical instrument to give the impression that more than one instrument is being played: [as adj.] a chorus pedal.

■ v. (-rused, -rus·ing) [trans.] (of a group of people) say the same thing at the same time: they chorused a noisy amen | [with direct speech] “Morning, Father,” the children chorused.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting a character speaking the prologue and epilogue in a play and serving to comment on events): from Latin, from Greek khoros.

cho·rus girl n. a young woman who sings or dances in the chorus of a musical.

Cho·rzów a transportation and industrial center in southern Poland; pop. 133,000.

chose past of CHOOSE.

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CHOOSE ■

cho·sen past participle of CHOOSE.

■ adj. [attrib.] having been selected as the best or most appropriate: music is his chosen vocation.

<PHRASES>
□ chosen few a group of people who are special or different, typically in a way thought to be unfair: why have they kept this secret to themselves, the chosen few?

□ chosen people those selected by God for a special relationship with him, esp. the people of Israel; the Jews.
- those destined to be saved by God; believing Christians.

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CHOOSE ■

Chou variant spelling of ZHOU.

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ZHOU ■

chou·croute n. pickled cabbage; sauerkraut.

<ORIGIN> French, from German dialect Surkrut 'sauerkraut', influenced by French chou 'cabbage'.

chou·croute gar·ni n. a French dish consisting of sauerkraut flavored with juniper and served with assorted meats.

<ORIGIN> French, literally 'garnished sauerkraut'.

Chou En-lai variant of ZHOU ENLAI.

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ZHOU ENLAI ■

chough n. a black Eurasian and North African bird of the crow family, with a down-curved bill and broad rounded wings, typically frequenting mountains and sea cliffs.
<INFO>  Genus Pyrrhocorax, family Corvidae: three species, esp. the red-billed chough (P. pyrrhocorax), with a long red bill, and the alpine chough (P. graculus), with a shorter yellow bill.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally denoting the jackdaw): probably imitative.

choux pastry n. very light pastry made with egg, typically used for eclairs and profiteroles.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from choux or chou, denoting a round cream-filled pastry cake (from French chou (plural choux) 'cabbage, rosette', from Latin caulis) + PASTRY.

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PASTRY ■

chow n. 1 INFORMAL food.

2 (also chow chow) a dog of a sturdy Chinese breed with a broad muzzle, a tail curled over the back, a bluish-black tongue, and typically a dense thick coat.

<PHRASAL VERB> chow down (or chow something down) INFORMAL eat: he chowed down on lobster | lions chow down their kills.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: shortened from CHOW CHOW.

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chow chow n. 1 another term for CHOW (sense 2).

2 (also chow-chow) a Chinese preserve of ginger, orange peel, and other ingredients, in syrup.

3 (also chow-chow) a mixed vegetable pickle.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: pidgin English, of unknown ultimate origin.

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chow·der n. a rich soup typically containing fish, clams, or corn with potatoes and onions: clam chowder.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: perhaps from French chaudière 'stew pot', related to Old Northern French caudron (see CAULDRON).

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chow·der·head n. INFORMAL a stupid person.

<DERIVATIVES> chow·der·head·ed adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: probably a variant form of early 17th-cent. jolter-head 'thick-headed person'.

chow·ki·dar (also cho·ki·dar) n. (in India) a watchman or gatekeeper.

<ORIGIN> from Urdu , from 'toll house' + 'keeper'.

chow mein n. a Chinese-style dish of fried noodles with shredded meat or seafood and vegetables.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Chinese 'fried noodles'.

CHP abbr. combined heat and power, a system in which steam produced in a power station as a byproduct of electricity generation is used to heat nearby buildings.

Chr. abbr. [BIBLE] Chronicles.

chres·tom·a·thy n. (pl. -thies) FORMAL a selection of passages from an author or authors, designed to help in learning a language.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek , from 'useful' + -matheia 'learning'.

Chré·tien (Joseph-Jacques) Jean (1934- ), Canadian statesman; prime minister 1993-2003.

Chré·tien de Troyes (12th century), French poet. His courtly romances on Arthurian themes include Lancelot (c.1177-81) and Perceval (1181-90, unfinished).

chrism n. a mixture of oil and balsam, consecrated and used for anointing at baptism and in other rites of Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican Churches.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from medieval Latin crisma, ecclesiastical Latin chrisma, from Greek khrisma 'anointing', from khriein 'anoint'.

Chris·ma·tion n. a rite in the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches that is comparable and similar to confirmation in the Roman Catholic Church.

<ORIGIN> chrism (holy oil) + -ation

chris·om n. HISTORICAL a white robe put on a child at baptism.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: alteration of CHRISM, representing a popular pronunciation with two syllables.

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CHRISM ■

Chris·sake (also chris·sake,Chris·sakes,chris·sakes) n. (in phrase for Chrissake) INFORMAL for Christ's sake (used as an exclamation, typically of annoyance or exasperation): for Chrissake, listen to me!

<ORIGIN> 1920s: representing a pronunciation.

Christ n. the title, also treated as a name, given to Jesus of Nazareth (see JESUS).

■ exclam. an oath used to express irritation, dismay, or surprise.

<PHRASES> before Christ full form of BC.

<DERIVATIVES> Christ·hood n. Christ·like adj. Christ·ly adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English , from Latin Christus, from Greek Khristos, noun use of an adjective meaning 'anointed', from khriein 'anoint', translating Hebrew 'Messiah'.

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BC ■

Chris·ta·del·phi·an n. a member of a Christian sect, founded in the U.S. in 1848, that claims to return to the beliefs and practices of the earliest disciples and holds that Christ will return in power to set up a worldwide theocracy beginning at Jerusalem.

■ adj. of or adhering to this sect and its beliefs.

<ORIGIN> from late Greek Khristadelphos 'in brotherhood with Christ' (from Khristos 'Christ' + adelphos 'brother') + -IAN.

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Christ·church a city in New Zealand, on the eastern coast of South Island; pop. 303,400.

chris·ten v. [trans.] (often be christened) give (a baby) a Christian name at baptism as a sign of admission to a Christian Church: [trans.] their second daughter was christened Jeanette.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- give to (someone or something) a name that reflects a notable quality or characteristic: [trans.] a person so creepy that his colleagues christened him “Millipede.”

- dedicate (a vessel, building, etc.) ceremonially: their first garbage truck was christened with a bottle of champagne.

- INFORMAL use for the first time: let's get steaks and christen the new grill.

<DERIVATIVES> chris·ten·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'make Christian', from 'Christian', from Latin Christianus, from Christus 'Christ'.

Chris·ten·dom n. DATED the worldwide body or society of Christians.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the Christian world: the greatest church in Christendom.

<ORIGIN> Old English , from (see CHRISTEN) + (see -DOM).

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-DOM ■

Christ·er n. INFORMAL a sanctimonious or ostentatiously pious Christian.

Chris·tian 1 adj. of, relating to, or professing Christianity or its teachings: the Christian Church.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL having or showing qualities associated with Christians, esp. those of decency, kindness, and fairness.

■ n. a person who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Jesus Christ and his teachings.

<DERIVATIVES> Chris·tian·i·za·tion n. Chris·tian·ize v. Chris·tian·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin Christianus, from Greek Christianos (see CHRIST).

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Chris·tian 2 Fletcher (c.1764-93), English seaman and mutineer. In April 1789, as first mate under Captain Bligh on the HMS Bounty, he seized the ship and cast Bligh and others adrift. In 1790, the mutineers settled on Pitcairn Island, where Christian was probably killed by Tahitians.

Chris·tian Broth·ers a Roman Catholic lay teaching order founded in France in 1684.

Chris·tian e·ra n. (the Christian era) the period of time that begins with the traditional date of Christ's birth.

Chris·ti·an·i·a (also Kris·ti·an·i·a) former name (1624-1924) of OSLO.

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Chris·ti·an·i·ty n. the religion based on the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, or its beliefs and practices.
<SPECIAL USAGE> Christian quality or character: you may know a man by his Christianity.

Christianity is today the world's most widespread religion, with more than a billion members, mainly divided between the Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox Churches. It originated among the Jewish followers of Jesus of Nazareth, who believed that he was the promised Messiah (or ‘Christ’), but the Christian Church soon became an independent organization, largely through the missionary efforts of St. Paul. In 313 Constantine ended official persecution in the Roman Empire and in 380 Theodosius I recognized it as the state religion. Most Christians believe in one God in three Persons (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) and that Jesus is the Son of God who rose from the dead after being crucified; a Christian hopes to attain eternal life after death through faith in Jesus Christ and tries to live by his teachings as recorded in the New Testament.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French crestiente, from crestien 'Christian', influenced by late Latin christianitas, from Latin Christianus, from Christus 'Christ'.

Chris·tian name n. a name given to an individual that distinguishes him or her from other members of the same family and is used as an address of familiarity; a forename, esp. one given at baptism.

<USAGE>
In recognition of the fact that English-speaking societies have many religions and cultures, not just Christian ones, the term Christian name has largely given way, at least in official contexts, to alternative terms such as given name, first name, or forename.

Chris·tian Sci·ence n. the beliefs and practices of the Church of Christ Scientist, a Christian sect founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879. Members hold that only God and the mind have ultimate reality, and that sin and illness are illusions that can be overcome by prayer and faith.

<DERIVATIVES> Chris·tian Sci·en·tist n.

Chris·tian·sted a resort town on Saint Croix Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, once the capital of the Danish West Indies; pop. 2,555.

Chris·tie 1 Dame Agatha (1890-1976), English writer of detective fiction and plays. Many of her novels feature the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot or the resourceful Miss Marple. Her play The Mousetrap (1952) has had a run of more than 40 years on the London stage. Other notable works: Murder on the Orient Express (1934) and Death on the Nile (1937).

Chris·tie 2 Linford (b.1960), Jamaican-born British sprinter who won the Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters in 1992 and the world championship title at this distance in 1993.

Chris·tie 3 (also chris·tie) n. (pl. -ties) DATED [SKIING] a sudden turn in which the skis are kept parallel, used for changing direction fast or stopping short.

<ORIGIN> 1920s (earlier as Christiania): named after CHRISTIANIA in Norway.

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Chris·tin·gle n. a lighted candle symbolizing Christ as the light of the world, held by children esp. at a special Advent service originating in the Moravian Church.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: probably from German dialect Christkindl 'Christ child, Christmas gift'.

Christ·mas n. (pl. -mas·es) the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth, held on December 25.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the period immediately before and after December 25: we had guests over Christmas.

■ exclam. INFORMAL expressing surprise, dismay, or despair.

<DERIVATIVES> Christ·mas·sy adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English (see CHRIST, MASS).

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MASS ■

Christ·mas cac·tus n. a Brazilian cactus with branching stems of glossy green, flat, broad, tooth-edged sections, the tips of which bear long flowers, typically red or pink, with recurved outer petals. Christmas cacti are widely cultivated as houseplants.
<INFO>  Schlumbergera bridgesii (or Zygocactus bridgesii), family Cactaceae.

Christ·mas card n. a greeting card sent at Christmas.

Christ·mas Day n. the day on which the festival of Christmas is celebrated, December 25.

Christ·mas Eve the day or the evening before Christmas Day, December 24.

Christ·mas fern n. an evergreen fern with dark green leathery fronds that grow in circular clumps from a central rootstock.
<INFO>  Polystichum acrostichoides, family Polypodiaceae.

Christ·mas Is·land 1 an island in the Indian Ocean, 200 miles (350 km) south of Java, administered as an external territory of Australia since 1958; pop. 1,275.

2 former name (until 1981) of KIRITIMATI.

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KIRITIMATI ■

Christ·mas stock·ing n. a real or ornamental stocking hung up by children on Christmas Eve for Santa Claus to fill with presents.

Christ·mas tree n. a real or artificial evergreen tree set up and decorated with lights and ornaments as part of Christmas celebrations.

Christo- comb. form of or relating to Christ: Christocentric; Christology.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Christus or Greek Khristos 'Christ'.

Chris·to·cen·tric adj. having Christ as its center: a thoroughly Christocentric theology.

Chris·to·gram n. a symbol for Christ, consisting of the Greek letters chi ( ) and rho ().

Chris·tol·o·gy n. the branch of Christian theology relating to the person, nature, and role of Christ.

<DERIVATIVES> Chris·to·log·i·cal adj. Chris·to·log·i·cal·ly adv.

Chris·to·pher Warren (1925- ), U.S. statesman and lawyer. He served as secretary of state 1993-97 in President Bill Clinton's administration.

Chris·to·pher, St. a legendary Christian martyr, adopted as the patron saint of travelers, since it is said that he once carried Christ in the form of a child across a river.

chris·to·phine (also chris·to·phene) n. another term for CHAYOTE (sense 1).

<ORIGIN> probably based on the French given name Christophe.

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CHAYOTE ■

Christ's thorn n. a thorny shrub popularly supposed to have formed Christ's crown of thorns, in particular:
<INFO>  either of two shrubs related to the buckthorn: Paliurus spina-christi (also called JERUSALEM THORN) and Ziziphus spina-christi (also called CROWN OF THORNS), family Rhamnaceae.

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JERUSALEM THORN ■

CROWN OF THORNS ■

chro·ma n. purity or intensity of color.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'color'.

chro·maf·fin adj. [attrib.] [PHYSIOLOGY] denoting granules or vesicles containing epinephrine and norepinephrine, and the secretory cells of the adrenal medulla in which they are found.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from CHROMO-1 'chromium' + Latin affinis 'akin' (because readily stained brown by chromates).

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CHROMO- ■

chro·ma·key n. a technique by which a block of a particular color in a video image can be replaced either by another color or by a separate image, enabling, for example, a weather forecaster to appear against a background of a computer-generated weather map.

■ v. (-keys, -keyed) [trans.] manipulate (an image) using this technique.

chro·mate n. [CHEMISTRY] a salt in which the anion contains both chromium and oxygen, esp. one of the anion CrO_4^2.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from CHROMIC + -ATE^1 .

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CHROMIC ■

-ATE ■

chro·mat·ic adj. 1 [MUSIC] relating to or using notes not belonging to the diatonic scale of the key in which a passage is written.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a scale) ascending or descending by semitones.

- (of an instrument) able to play all the notes of the chromatic scale.

2 of, relating to, or produced by color.

<DERIVATIVES> chro·mat·i·cal·ly adv. chro·mat·i·cism n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French chromatique or Latin chromaticus, from Greek , from , 'color, chromatic scale'.

chro·mat·ic ab·er·ra·tion n. [OPTICS] the material effect produced by the refraction of different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation through slightly different angles, resulting in a failure to focus. It causes colored fringes in the images produced by uncorrected lenses.

chro·ma·tic·i·ty n. the quality of color, independent of brightness.

chro·ma·tid n. [BIOLOGY] each of the two threadlike strands into which a chromosome divides longitudinally during cell division. Each contains a double helix of DNA.

<ORIGIN>  early 20th cent.: from Greek , 'color' + -ID^2 .

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-ID ■

chro·ma·tin n. [BIOLOGY] the material of which the chromosomes of organisms other than bacteria (i.e., eukaryotes) are composed. It consists of protein, RNA, and DNA.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek , 'color'.

chromato- (also chromo-) comb. form color; of or in colors: chromatopsia; chromosome.

<ORIGIN> from Greek , 'color'.

chro·mat·o·gram n. a visible record (such as a series of colored bands, or a graph) showing the result of separation of the components of a mixture by chromatography.

chro·mat·o·graph n. an apparatus for performing chromatography.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for CHROMATOGRAM.

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CHROMATOGRAM ■

chro·ma·tog·ra·phy n. [CHEMISTRY] the separation of a mixture by passing it in solution or suspension or as a vapor (as in gas chromatography) through a medium in which the components move at different rates.

<DERIVATIVES> chro·mat·o·graph·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from German Chromatographie (see CHROMATO-, -GRAPHY). The name alludes to the earliest separations when the result was displayed as a number of colored bands or spots.

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CHROMATO- ■

-GRAPHY ■

chro·mat·o·phore n. a cell or plastid that contains pigment.

<DERIVATIVES> chro·mat·o·phor·ic adj.

chro·ma·top·si·a n. [MEDICINE] abnormally colored vision, a rare symptom of varied cause.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CHROMATO- 'color' + Greek -opsia 'seeing'.

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CHROMATO- ■

chrome n. chromium plate as a decorative or protective finish on motor-vehicle fittings and other objects: [as adj.] a chrome bumper.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [as adj.] denoting compounds or alloys of chromium: chrome dyes.

- short for CHROME YELLOW.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, from Greek 'color' (because of the brilliant colors of chromium compounds).

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CHROME YELLOW ■

chrome al·um n. a reddish-purple crystalline compound used in solution in photographic processing and as a mordant in dyeing.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: K_2SO_4Cr_2(SO_4)3.24H_2O.

chromed adj. chromium-plated.

chrome leath·er n. leather tanned with chromium salts.

chrome-mol·y (also chro·mol·y) n. a strong steel alloy made principally of chromium and molybdenum: the bicycle is made lighter and stronger with chrome-moly tubing.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: blend of CHROMIUM and MOLYBDENUM.

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CHROMIUM ■

MOLYBDENUM ■

chrome red n. a bright red pigment consisting of lead chromate with varying amounts of lead oxide.

chrome steel n. a hard fine-grained steel containing chromium, used for making tools.

chrome yel·low n. a bright yellow pigment made from lead chromate, now little used.

chro·mic adj. [CHEMISTRY] of chromium with a higher valence, usually three. Compare with CHROMOUS.

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CHROMOUS ■

chro·mic ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a corrosive and strongly oxidizing acid existing only in solutions of chromium trioxide.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: H_2CrO_4.

chro·mi·nance n. the colorimetric difference between a given color in a television picture and a standard color of equal luminance.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Greek 'color', on the pattern of luminance.

chro·mite n. a brownish-black mineral that consists of a mixed oxide of chromium and iron and is the principal ore of chromium.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CHROME or CHROMIUM + -ITE^1 .

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CHROME ■

CHROMIUM ■

-ITE ■

chro·mi·um n. the chemical element of atomic number 24, a hard white metal used in stainless steel and other alloys. (Symbol: Cr)

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from CHROME + -IUM.

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CHROME ■

-IUM ■

chro·mi·um plate n. a decorative or protective coating of metallic chromium.
<SPECIAL USAGE> metal with such a coating.

■ v. (chro·mi·um-plate) [trans.] coat with chromium, typically by electrolytic deposition.

chro·mi·um steel n. another term for CHROME STEEL.

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CHROME STEEL ■

chro·mo n. (pl. -mos) 1  shortened form of CHROMOLITHOGRAPH.

2 INFORMAL chrome-moly.

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CHROMOLITHOGRAPH ■

chromo- 1 comb. form [CHEMISTRY] representing CHROMIUM.

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CHROMIUM ■

chromo- 2 comb. form variant spelling of CHROMATO-.

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CHROMATO- ■

chro·mo·dy·nam·ics plural n. see QUANTUM CHROMODYNAMICS.

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QUANTUM CHROMODYNAMICS ■

chro·mo·gen n. a substance that can be readily converted into a dye or other colored compound.

chro·mo·gen·ic adj. involving the production of color or pigments, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [PHOTOGRAPHY] denoting a modern process of film developing that uses couplers to produce black-and-white or color images of very high definition.

- [PHOTOGRAPHY] denoting any of a number of similar developing processes.

- [MICROBIOLOGY] (of a bacterium) producing a pigment.

chro·mo·lith·o·graph HISTORICAL n. a colored picture printed by lithography, esp. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

■ v. [trans.] print or produce (a picture) by this process.

<DERIVATIVES> chro·mo·li·thog·ra·pher n. chro·mo·lith·o·graph·ic adj. chro·mo·li·thog·ra·phy n.

chro·mo·ly variant spelling of CHROME-MOLY.

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CHROME-MOLY ■

chro·mo·phore n. [CHEMISTRY] an atom or group whose presence is responsible for the color of a compound.

<DERIVATIVES> chro·mo·phor·ic adj.

chro·mo·plast n. [BOTANY] a colored plastid other than a chloroplast, typically containing a yellow or orange pigment.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CHROMO-2 'color' + Greek plastos 'formed'.

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CHROMO- ■

chro·mo·some n. [BIOLOGY] a threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.

Each chromosome consists of a DNA double helix bearing a linear sequence of genes, coiled and recoiled around aggregated proteins (histones). Their number varies from species to species: humans have 22 pairs plus the two sex chromosomes (two X chromosomes in females, one X and one Y in males). During cell division, each DNA strand is duplicated, and the chromosomes condense to become visible as distinct pairs of chromatids joined at the centromere. Bacteria and viruses lack a nucleus and have a single chromosome without histones.

<DERIVATIVES> chro·mo·so·mal adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek 'color' + 'body'.

chro·mo·some map n. [GENETICS] a diagram showing the relative positions of genes along the length of a chromosome.

chro·mo·some num·ber n. [GENETICS] the characteristic number of chromosomes found in the cell nuclei of organisms of a particular species.

chro·mo·sphere n. [ASTRONOMY] a reddish gaseous layer immediately above the photosphere of the sun or another star. Together with the corona, it constitutes the star's outer atmosphere.

<DERIVATIVES> chro·mo·spher·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CHROMO-2 'color' + SPHERE.

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CHROMO- ■

SPHERE ■

chro·mo·ther·a·py n. another term for COLOR THERAPY.

<DERIVATIVES> chro·mo·ther·a·pist n.

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COLOR THERAPY ■

chro·mous adj. [CHEMISTRY] of chromium with a valence of two; of chromium(II). Compare with CHROMIC.

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CHROMIC ■

Chron. abbr. [BIBLE] Chronicles.

chro·nax·ie n. [PHYSIOLOGY] the minimum amount of time needed to stimulate a muscle or nerve fiber, using an electric current twice the strength required to elicit a threshold response.

chron·ic adj. (of an illness) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring: chronic bronchitis. Often contrasted with ACUTE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) having such an illness: a chronic asthmatic.

- (of a problem) long-lasting and difficult to eradicate: the school suffers from chronic overcrowding.

- (of a person) having a particular bad habit: a chronic liar.

<DERIVATIVES> chron·i·cal·ly adv. chro·nic·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French chronique, via Latin from Greek khronikos 'of time', from khronos 'time'.

<USAGE>
Chronic is often used to mean 'habitual, inveterate,' e.g., a chronic liar. Some consider this use incorrect. The precise meaning of chronic is 'persisting for a long time,' and it is used chiefly of illnesses or other problems: more than one million people in the U.S. have chronic bronchitis.

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ACUTE ■

chron·ic fa·tigue syn·drome (abbr.: CFS) n. a medical condition of unknown cause, with fever, aching, and prolonged tiredness and depression, typically occurring after a viral infection.

chron·i·cle n. a factual written account of important or historical events in the order of their occurrence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a work of fiction or nonfiction that describes a particular series of events.

■ v. [trans.] record (a related series of events) in a factual and detailed way: his work chronicles 20th-century displacement and migration.

<DERIVATIVES> chron·i·cler n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French cronicle, variant of Old French cronique, via Latin from Greek khronika 'annals', from khronikos (see CHRONIC).

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CHRONIC ■

chron·i·cle play n. a historical drama consisting of a series of short episodes arranged chronologically. Also called chronicle history.

Chron·i·cles the name of two books of the Bible, recording the history of Israel and Judah until the return from Exile (536 BC). See also PARALIPOMENA.

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PARALIPOMENA ■

chrono- comb. form relating to time: chronometry.

<ORIGIN> from Greek khronos 'time'.

chron·o·bi·ol·o·gy n. the branch of biology concerned with natural physiological rhythms and other cyclical phenomena.

<DERIVATIVES> chron·o·bi·ol·o·gist n.

chron·o·graph n. an instrument for recording time with great accuracy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a stopwatch.

<DERIVATIVES> chron·o·graph·ic adj.

chron·o·log·i·cal adj. relating to the establishment of dates and time sequences: the diary provided a chronological framework for the events.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a record of several events) starting with the earliest and following the order in which they occurred: the entries are in chronological order.

- calculated in terms of the passage of time rather than some other criterion: ratings are calculated by dividing a child's mental age by his or her chronological age.

<DERIVATIVES> chron·o·log·i·cal·ly adv.

chro·nol·o·gy n. (pl. -gies) the study of historical records to establish the dates of past events.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the arrangement of events or dates in the order of their occurrence: the novel abandons the conventions of normal chronology | a diary recording a chronology of events.

- a table or document displaying such an arrangement.

<DERIVATIVES> chro·nol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from modern Latin chronologia, from Greek khronos 'time' + -logia (see -LOGY).

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-LOGY ■

chro·nom·e·ter n. an instrument for measuring time, esp. one designed to keep accurate time in spite of motion or variations in temperature, humidity, and air pressure. Chronometers were first developed for marine navigation, being used in conjunction with astronomical observation to determine longitude.

chro·nom·e·try n. the science of accurate time measurement.

<DERIVATIVES> chron·o·met·ric adj. chron·o·met·ri·cal adj. chron·o·met·ri·cal·ly adv.

chron·o·scope n. a device for measuring short time intervals, esp. in determining the velocity of projectiles, or a person's reaction time.

chron·o·stra·tig·ra·phy n. the branch of geology concerned with establishing the absolute ages of strata.

<DERIVATIVES> chron·o·strat·i·graph·ic adj.

chron·o·ther·a·py n. treatment of an illness or disorder that takes into account the body's natural rhythms and cycles.

chrys·a·lis (also chrys·a·lid ) n. (pl. -lis·es) a quiescent insect pupa, esp. of a butterfly or moth.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the hard outer case of this, esp. after being discarded.

- FIGURATIVE a preparatory or transitional state: she emerged from the chrysalis of self-conscious adolescence.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin chrysal(l)is, chrysal(l)id-, from Greek khrusallis, from khrusos 'gold' (because of the gold color or metallic sheen of the pupae of some species).

chry·san·the·mum n. (pl. -mums) a popular plant of the daisy family, having brightly colored ornamental flowers and existing in many cultivated varieties.
<INFO>  Genera Chrysanthemum or (most cultivated species) Dendranthema, family Compositae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a flower or flowering stem of this plant.

<ORIGIN> (originally denoting the corn marigold): from Latin, from Greek khrusanthemon, from khrusos 'gold' + anthemon 'flower'.

chrys·el·e·phan·tine adj. (of ancient Greek sculpture) overlaid with gold and ivory.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek khruselephantinos, from khrusos 'gold' + elephas, elephant- 'elephant' or 'ivory'.

Chrys·ler Walter Percy (1875-1940), U.S. automobile manufacturer. He was president and general manager of Buick Motor Co. 1916-21 and introduced the Chrysler automobile in 1924.

chrys·o·ber·yl n. a greenish or yellowish-green mineral consisting of an oxide of beryllium and aluminum. It occurs as tabular crystals, sometimes of gem quality.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin chrysoberyllus, from Greek khrusos 'gold' + 'beryl'.

chrys·o·col·la n. a greenish-blue mineral consisting of hydrated copper silicate, typically occurring as opaline crusts and masses.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the Greek sense): from Latin, from Greek khrusokolla, denoting a mineral used in ancient times for soldering gold.

chrys·o·lite n. a yellowish-green or brownish variety of olivine, used as a gemstone.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French crisolite, from medieval Latin crisolitus, from Latin chrysolithus, based on Greek khrusos 'gold' + lithos 'stone'.

chrys·o·mel·id n. [ENTOMOLOGY] a beetle of a family (Chrysomelidae) that comprises the leaf beetles and their relatives.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Chrysomelidae (plural), from Chrysomela (genus name), from Greek , literally 'golden apple', influenced by 'little golden chafer'.

chrys·o·prase n. an apple-green variety of chalcedony containing nickel, used as a gemstone.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in the New Testament) a golden-green precious stone, perhaps a variety of beryl.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the New Testament sense): from Old French crisopace, via Latin from Greek khrusoprasos, from khrusos 'gold' + prason 'leek'.

Chrys·os·tom, St. John (c.347-407), doctor of the Church; bishop of Constantinople. His attempts to reform the corrupt state of the court, clergy, and people caused him to be banished in 403. Feast day, January 27.

chrys·o·tile n. a fibrous form of the mineral serpentine. Also called WHITE ASBESTOS (see ASBESTOS).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek khrusos 'gold' + tilos 'fiber'.

chthon·ic (also chtho·ni·an ) adj. concerning, belonging to, or inhabiting the underworld: a chthonic deity.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'earth' + -IC.

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-IC ■

chub n. a thick-bodied European river fish with a gray-green back and white underparts, popular with anglers.
<INFO>  Leuciscus cephalus, family Cyprinidae.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin.

chub·by adj. (-bi·er, -bi·est) plump and rounded: a pretty child with chubby cheeks.

<DERIVATIVES> chub·bi·ly adv. chub·bi·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'short and thickset, like a chub'): from CHUB.

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CHUB ■

chuck 1 INFORMAL v. [trans.] throw (something) carelessly or casually: someone chucked a brick through the window | FIGURATIVE he was chucking his money around.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- throw (something) away: they make a living out of stuff people chuck out.

- give up (a job or activity) suddenly: Richard chucked his cultural studies course.

- break off a relationship with (a partner): Mary chucked him for another guy.

<PHRASES> chuck it all in abandon a course of action or way of life, esp. for another that is radically different.

<PHRASAL VERB> chuck someone out force someone to leave a building: the tenants have been chucked out of the cottages.

<DERIVATIVES> chuck·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (as a verb): from CHUCK^2 .

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CHUCK ■

chuck 2 v. [trans.] touch (someone) playfully or gently under the chin.

■ n. a playful touch under the chin.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as a noun): probably from Old French chuquer, later choquer 'to knock, bump', of unknown ultimate origin.

chuck 3 n. 1 a device for holding a workpiece in a lathe or a tool in a drill, typically having three or four jaws that move radially in and out.

2 a cut of beef that extends from the neck to the ribs, typically used for stewing.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent., as a variant of CHOCK; see also CHUNK^1 .

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CHOCK ■

CHUNK ■

chuck 4 n. INFORMAL food or provisions.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: perhaps the same word as CHUCK^3 .

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CHUCK ■

chuck 5 n. short for WOODCHUCK.

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WOODCHUCK ■

chuck-a-luck n. a gambling game played with three dice.

chuck·hole n. a hole or rut in a road or track.

chuck key n. a small metal device for tightening the chuck of a drill so that it holds the drill bit securely.

chuck·le v. [intrans.] laugh quietly or inwardly: I chuckled at the astonishment on her face | [with direct speech] “That's a bit strong, isn't it?” he chuckled.

■ n. [in sing.] a quiet or suppressed laugh.

<DERIVATIVES> chuck·ler n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'laugh convulsively'): from chuck meaning 'to cluck' in late Middle English.

chuck·le·head n. INFORMAL a stupid person.

<DERIVATIVES> chuck·le·head·ed adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from early 18th-cent. chuckle 'big and clumsy', probably related to CHUCK^3 .

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CHUCK ■

chuck wag·on n. a wagon with cooking facilities providing food on a ranch, worksite, or campsite.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: chuck, colloquial in the sense 'food, provisions'.

chuck·wal·la n. a large dark-bodied lizard, the male of which has a light yellow tail, native to the deserts of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. When threatened, it inflates itself with air to wedge itself into a crevice.
<INFO>  Sauromalus obesus, family Iguanidae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Mexican Spanish chacahuala, from American Indian.

chuck-will's-wid·ow n. a large nightjar native to eastern North America.
<INFO>  Caprimulgus carolinensis, family Caprimulgidae.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: imitative of its call.

chud·dar n. variant spelling of CHADOR.

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CHADOR ■

chu·fa n. an Old World sedge that yields an edible tuber. It is cultivated on a small scale, particularly in some marshy regions of Spain and Italy. Also called EARTH ALMOND.
<INFO>  Cyperus esculentus var. sativus, family Cyperaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the tuber of this plant, which may be roasted, made into flour, or turned into juice.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish.

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EARTH ALMOND ■

chuff v. [intrans.] (of a steam engine) move with a regular sharp puffing sound.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: imitative.

chuffed adj. [predic.] BRIT., INFORMAL very pleased: I'm dead chuffed to have won.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from dialect chuff 'plump or pleased'.

chug 1 v. (chugged, chug·ging) [intrans.] emit a series of regular muffled explosive sounds, as of an engine running slowly: he could hear the pipes chugging.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (of a vehicle or boat) move slowly making such sounds: a cabin cruiser was chugging down the river.

■ n. a muffled explosive sound or a series of such sounds: the chug of a motorboat.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (as a noun): imitative.

chug 2 (also chug·a·lug or chug-a-lug ) v. (chugged, chug·ging) [trans.] INFORMAL consume (a drink) in large gulps without pausing: Avery chugged a cup of coffee.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: imitative.

Chu·gach Moun·tains a range of mountains, part of the Coast Ranges, in southern Alaska. Anchorage lies at its base, and it is noted for glaciers that flow south into the Gulf of Alaska.

chu·kar (also chukar partridge) n. a Eurasian partridge similar to the red-legged partridge, but with a call like a clucking domestic hen.
<INFO>  Genus Alectoris, family Phasianidae: two species, in particular A. chukar.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Sanskrit cakora.

Chuk·chi (also Chuk·chee) n. (pl. same or -chis) 1 a member of an indigenous people of extreme northeastern Siberia.

2 the language of this people, which belongs to a small, isolated language family.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> Russian (plural).

Chuk·chi Sea part of the Arctic Ocean that lies between North America and Asia and north of the Bering Strait.

chuk·ker (also chuk·ka) n. each of a number of periods (typically six) into which play in a game of polo is divided. A chukker lasts 7^1/2/ minutes.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Hindi cakkar, from Sanskrit cakra 'circle or wheel'.

Chu·la Vis·ta a city in southwestern California, south of San Diego, near the Mexican border; pop. 135,163.

chum 1 INFORMAL, DATED n. a close friend.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a form of address expressing familiarity or friendliness: it's your own fault, chum.

■ v. (chummed, chum·ming) [intrans.] be friendly to or form a friendship with someone: they started chumming around in high school.

<DERIVATIVES> chum·mi·ly adv. chum·mi·ness n. chum·my adj.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (originally Oxford University slang, denoting a roommate): probably short for chamber-fellow. Compare with COMRADE and CRONY.

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COMRADE ■

CRONY ■

chum 2 n. chopped fish, fish fluids, and other material thrown overboard as angling bait.
<SPECIAL USAGE> refuse from fish, esp. that remaining after expressing oil.

■ v. [intrans.] use chum as bait when fishing.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

chum 3 (also chum salmon) n. (pl. same or chums) a large North Pacific salmon that is commercially important as a food fish.
<INFO>  Oncorhyncus keta, family Salmonidae.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Chinook Jargon tzum (samun), literally 'spotted (salmon)'.

Chu·mash n. (pl. same or -mash·es) 1 a member of an American Indian people inhabiting coastal parts of southern California.

2 the Hokan language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> Chumash, literally 'islander'.

chump n. INFORMAL a foolish person: how can this chump be a detective?
<SPECIAL USAGE> an easily deceived person; a sucker.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (in the sense 'thick lump of wood'): probably a blend of CHUNK^1 and LUMP^1 or STUMP.

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CHUNK ■

LUMP ■

STUMP ■

chump change n. INFORMAL a small or insignificant amount of money.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: originally black English.

Chün n. a type of thickly glazed, typically bluish or purplish gray stoneware originally made at Chün Chou in Honan province, China, during the Song dynasty.

Chun·chon an industrial city in northeastern South Korea, the capital of Kangwon province; pop. 179,000.

Chung·king variant of CHONGQING.

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CHONGQING ■

Chung-shan variant of ZHONGSHAN.

Linked entries:

ZHONGSHAN ■

chunk 1 n. a thick, solid piece of something: huge chunks of masonry littered the street.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] an amount or part of something: fuel takes a large chunk of their small income.

■ v. [trans.] divide (something) into chunks: chunk four pounds of pears.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in psychology or linguistic analysis) group together (connected items or words) so that they can be stored or processed as single concepts.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: apparently an alteration of CHUCK^3 .

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CHUCK ■

chunk 2 v. [intrans.] move with or make a muffled, metallic sound: the door chunked behind them.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: imitative.

chunk·y adj. (chunk·i·er, chunk·i·est) 1 (of a person) short and sturdy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- bulky and solid: a chunky bracelet.

- (of wool or a woolen garment) thick and bulky.

2 (of food) containing chunks: fresh chunky salsa; a chunky soup.

<DERIVATIVES> chunk·i·ly adv. chunk·i·ness n.

Chun·nel n. INFORMAL short for CHANNEL TUNNEL.

<ORIGIN> 1920s (but rare before the 1950s): blend.

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CHANNEL TUNNEL ■

chu·pa·ca·bra (also chu·pa·ca·bras ) n. a mythical beast said to kill young animals by sucking their blood.

chup·pah (also chup·pa) n. (pl. chup·pot ) a canopy beneath which Jewish marriage ceremonies are performed.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Hebrew 'cover, canopy'.

Chu·qui·sa·ca former name (1539-1840) of SUCRE^1 .

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SUCRE ■

Church Frederick Edwin (1826-1900), U.S. painter. A student of Thomas Cole and a leader of the Hudson River School, he was known for his landscapes.

church n. a building used for public Christian worship: they came to church with me.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. Church) a particular Christian organization, typically one with its own clergy, buildings, and distinctive doctrines: the Church of England.

- (the Church) the hierarchy of clergy of such an organization, esp. the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England.

- institutionalized religion as a political or social force: the separation of church and state.

- the body of all Christians.

■ v. [trans.] ARCHAIC take (a woman who has recently given birth) to church for a service of thanksgiving.

<ORIGIN> Old English cir(i)ce, cyr(i)ce, related to Dutch kerk and German Kirche, based on medieval Greek kurikon, from Greek 'Lord's (house)', from kurios 'master or lord'. Compare with KIRK.

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KIRK ■

Church·es of Christ a number of Protestant denominations, chiefly in the U.S., originating in the Disciples of Christ but later separated over doctrinal issues.

Church Fa·thers n. see FATHER (sense 3).

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FATHER ■

church·go·er n. a person who goes to church, esp. one who does so regularly.

<DERIVATIVES> church·go·ing n. & adj.

Church·ill Sir Winston (Leonard Spencer) (1874-1965), British statesman; prime minister 1940-45 and 1951-55. A consistent opponent of appeasement during the 1930s, he replaced Neville Chamberlain as British prime minister in 1940 and led Britain throughout World War II. Notable works: The Second World War (1948-53) and A History of the English-Speaking Peoples (1956-58). Nobel Prize for Literature (1953).

Church·ill Downs a horse-racing facility in Louisville in Kentucky, the site of the annual Kentucky Derby.

Church·ill Riv·er 1 a river that flows for 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from northern Saskatchewan across Manitoba to Hudson Bay at Churchill.

Church·ill Riv·er 2 a river that flows for 600 miles (1,000 km) from the Canadian Shield across eastern Labrador to the Labrador Sea. Its high falls generate hydroelectric power. Formerly called the HAMILTON RIVER.

church·man n. (pl. -men) a male member of the Christian clergy or of a church.

Church Mil·i·tant n. (the Church Militant) the whole body of living Christian believers.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: contrasted with the Church Triumphant in heaven.

Church of Christ, Sci·en·tist n. the Christian Science Church.

Church of Eng·land the English branch of the Western Christian Church, which combines Catholic and Protestant traditions, rejects the pope's authority, and has the monarch as its titular head.

Church of Je·sus Christ of Lat·ter-Day Saints n. the church of the Mormons.

Church of Rome n. another term for ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

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ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH ■

Church of Scot·land the national Christian Church in Scotland, established as Presbyterian in 1690.

church plant·ing n. the practice of establishing a core of Christian worshipers in a parish, with the intention that they should develop into a thriving congregation.

Church Slav·ic (also Church Sla·von·ic) n. the liturgical language used in the Orthodox Church in Russia, Serbia, and some other countries. It is a modified form of Old Church Slavic.

church·ward·en n. 1 either of the two elected lay representatives in an Anglican parish, formally responsible for movable church property and for keeping order in church.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a church administrator.

2 CHIEFLY BRIT. a long-stemmed clay pipe.

church·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en) a female member of the Christian clergy or of a church.

church·y adj. 1 (of a person) excessively pious and consequently narrow-minded or intolerant.

2 resembling a church: Gothic design looks too churchy.

<DERIVATIVES> church·i·ness n.

church·yard n. an enclosed area surrounding a church, esp. as used for burials.

churl n. an impolite and mean-spirited person.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ARCHAIC a miser.

- ARCHAIC a person of low birth; a peasant.

<ORIGIN> Old English ceorl; related to Dutch kerel and German Kerl 'fellow', also to CARL.

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CARL ■

churl·ish adj. rude in a mean-spirited and surly way: it seems churlish to complain.

<DERIVATIVES> churl·ish·ly adv. churl·ish·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English cierlisc, ceorlisc (see CHURL, -ISH^1 ).

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CHURL ■

-ISH ■

churn n. a machine or container in which butter is made by agitating milk or cream.

■ v. 1 [trans.] (often be churned) agitate or turn (milk or cream) in a machine in order to produce butter: the cream is ripened before it is churned.
<SPECIAL USAGE> produce (butter) in such a way.

2 [intrans.] (of liquid) move about vigorously: the seas churned | FIGURATIVE her stomach was churning at the thought of the ordeal.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] (often be churned) cause (liquid) to move in this way: in high winds most of the lake is churned up.

- [trans.] break up the surface of (an area of ground): the earth had been churned up where vehicles had passed through.

3 [trans.] (of a broker) encourage frequent turnover of (investments) in order to generate commission.

<PHRASAL VERB> churn something out produce something routinely or mechanically, esp. in large quantities: artists continued to churn out insipid works.

<ORIGIN> Old English cyrin, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Low German kerne and Old Norse kirna.

churn rate n. the annual percentage rate at which customers discontinue using a service, in particular cable and satellite television.

churr v. & n. variant spelling of CHIRR.

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CHIRR ■

chur·ri·gue·resque (also Chur·ri·gue·resque) adj. [ARCHITECTURE] of or relating to the lavishly ornamented late Spanish baroque style: a Churrigueresque church.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the name José Benito de Churriguera (1665-1725), a Spanish architect who worked in this style.

chur·ro n. (pl. chur·ros) a Latin American fried pastry in ridged cigar shapes, very similar to funnel cake.

chute 1 (also shoot) n. a sloping channel or slide for conveying things to a lower level.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a water slide into a swimming pool.

- short for CHUTE-THE-CHUTE.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, 'fall' (of water or rocks), from Old French cheoite, feminine past participle of cheoir 'to fall', from Latin cadere; influenced by SHOOT.

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CHUTE-THE-CHUTE ■

SHOOT ■

chute 2 n. INFORMAL a parachute.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [SAILING] informal term for SPINNAKER.

<DERIVATIVES> chut·ist n.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: shortened form.

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SPINNAKER ■

chute-the-chute (also chute-the-chutes) n. a steep slide or roller coaster, esp. with water at the foot.

■ v. (chute the chute or chute the chutes) slide down or ride on a chute-the-chute.

chut·ney n. (pl. -neys) a spicy condiment made of fruits or vegetables with vinegar, spices, and sugar, originating in India.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Hindi .

chutz·pah (also chutz·pa or hutz·pah or hutz·pa) n. INFORMAL shameless audacity; impudence.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Yiddish, from Aramaic .

Chu·vash n. (pl. same) 1 a member of a people living mainly in Chuvashia.

2 the language of this people, usually classified as Turkic.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

Chu·vash·ia an autonomous republic in Russia, in Europe east of Nizhni Novgorod; pop. 1,340,000; capital, Cheboksary.

chyle n. [PHYSIOLOGY] a milky fluid consisting of fat droplets and lymph. It drains from the lacteals of the small intestine into the lymphatic system during digestion.

<DERIVATIVES> chy·lous adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin chylus, from Greek 'juice' (see CHYME).

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CHYME ■

chy·lo·mi·cron n. [PHYSIOLOGY] a droplet of fat present in the blood or lymph after absorption from the small intestine.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from chylo- (combining form of CHYLE) + MICRON.

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CHYLE ■

MICRON ■

chyme n. [PHYSIOLOGY] the pulpy acidic fluid that passes from the stomach to the small intestine, consisting of gastric juices and partly digested food.

<DERIVATIVES> chy·mous adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin chymus, from Greek 'juice' (compare with CHYLE). The Greek words and are from the same root and more or less identical in sense; however, came to be used for juice in a raw or natural state, for juice produced by decoction or digestion.

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CHYLE ■

chy·mo·tryp·sin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a digestive enzyme that breaks down proteins in the small intestine. It is secreted by the pancreas and converted into an active form by trypsin.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from chymo- (combining form of CHYME) + TRYPSIN.

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CHYME ■

TRYPSIN ■

chy·ron n. TRADEMARK an electronically generated caption superimposed on a television or movie screen.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from Chyron Corporation, its manufacturer.

CI abbr.
- certificate of insurance.

- Channel Islands.

- cost and insurance.

Ci abbr.
- cirrus.

- curie.

CIA abbr. Central Intelligence Agency.

cia·bat·ta (also ciabatta bread) n. a type of flattish, open-textured Italian bread with a floury crust, made with olive oil.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'slipper' (from its shape).

ciao exclam. INFORMAL used as a greeting at meeting or parting.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: Italian, dialect alteration of schiavo '(I am your) slave', from medieval Latin sclavus 'slave'.

ci·bo·ri·um n. (pl. -bo·ri·a ) 1 a receptacle shaped like a shrine or a cup with an arched cover, used in the Christian Church for the reservation of the Eucharist.

2 a canopy over an altar in a church, standing on four pillars.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek 'seed vessel of the water lily or a cup made from it'. Sense 1 is probably influenced by Latin cibus 'food'.

ci·ca·da n. a large homopterous insect with long transparent wings, occurring chiefly in warm countries. The male cicada makes a loud shrill droning noise after dark by vibrating two membranes on its abdomen.
<INFO>  Family Cicadidae, suborder Homoptera: many genera.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin cicada, cicala.

cic·a·trix (also cic·a·trice ) n. (pl. cic·a·tri·ces ) the scar of a healed wound.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a scar on the bark of a tree.

- [BOTANY] a mark on a stem left after a leaf or other part has become detached.

<DERIVATIVES> cic·a·tri·cial adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as cicatrice): from Latin cicatrix or Old French cicatrice.

cic·a·trize v. (with reference to a wound) heal by scar formation: [trans.] it was used to cicatrize certain types of wounds | [intrans.] his wound had cicatrized.

<DERIVATIVES> cic·a·tri·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cicatriser, from cicatrice 'scar' (see CICATRIX).

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CICATRIX ■

cic·e·ly (also sweet cicely) n. (pl. -lies) an aromatic white-flowered plant of the parsley family, with fernlike leaves.
<INFO>  Genera Myrrhis and Osmorhiza, family Umbelliferae: several species, in particular the European M. odorata, grown as a pot herb and used in herbal medicine, and the North American O. claytoni.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin seselis, from Greek. The spelling change was due to association with the given name Cicely.

Cic·e·ro 1 a town in northeastern Illinois, just west of Chicago; pop. 85,616.

Cic·e·ro 2 Marcus Tullius (106-43 BC), Roman statesman, orator, and writer. He established a model for Latin prose. A supporter of Pompey against Julius Caesar, he attacked Mark Antony in the Philippics (43 BC). For this offense, Mark Antony had him put to death.

cic·e·ro·ne n. (pl. -ro·ni pronunc. same) a guide who gives information about antiquities and places of interest to sightseers.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Italian, from Latin Cicero, Ciceron- (see CICERO^2 ), apparently alluding humorously to his eloquence and learning.

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CICERO ■

Cic·e·ro·ni·an adj. characteristic of the work and thought of Cicero.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a piece of speech or writing) in an eloquent and rhythmic style similar to that of Cicero.

cich·lid n. [ZOOLOGY] a perchlike freshwater fish of a family (Cichlidae) that is widely distributed in tropical countries. Cichlids provide a valuable source of food in some areas, and many are popular in aquariums.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cichlidae (plural), from Greek , denoting a kind of fish.

CID abbr. (in the UK) Criminal Investigation Department.

Cid (El Cid) (also the Cid) Count of Bivar (c.1043-99), Spanish soldier; born Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar. A champion of Christianity against the Moors, he captured Valencia in 1094 and went on to rule it. He is immortalized in Poema del Cid (12th century) and in Pierre Corneille's play, Le Cid (1637).

-cide comb. form 1 denoting a person or substance that kills: insecticide; regicide.

2 denoting an act of killing: homicide; suicide.

<ORIGIN> via French; sense 1 from Latin -cida; sense 2 from Latin -cidium, both from caedere 'kill'.

ci·der n. (also sweet cider) an unfermented drink made by crushing fruit, typically apples.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also hard cider) an alcoholic drink made from fermented crushed fruit, typically apples.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French sidre, via ecclesiastical Latin from ecclesiastical Greek sikera, from Hebrew 'strong drink'.

ci·der press n. a press for crushing fruit, typically apples, to make cider.

ci·der vin·e·gar n. a vinegar made from fermented cider.

ci-de·vant adj. [attrib.] from or in an earlier time (used to indicate that someone or something once possessed a specified characteristic but no longer does so): her ci-devant student, now her lover.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: French, literally 'heretofore'.

Cien·fue·gos a port city in south central Cuba, on Cienfuegos Bay in the Caribbean Sea, the capital of Cienfuegos province; pop. 124,000.

CIF (also C.I.F.) abbr. cost, insurance, freight (as included in a price).

cig n. INFORMAL a cigarette.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

ci·gar n. a cylinder of tobacco rolled in tobacco leaves for smoking.

<PHRASES> close, but no cigar INFORMAL (of an attempt) almost, but not quite successful. <ORIGIN> referring to a cigar received in congratulation.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French cigare, or from Spanish cigarro, probably from Mayan sik'ar 'smoking'.

cig·a·rette (also cig·a·ret) n. a thin cylinder of finely cut tobacco rolled in paper for smoking.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar cylinder containing a narcotic, herbs, or a medicated substance.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, diminutive of cigare (see CIGAR).

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CIGAR ■

cig·a·rette pants plural n. women's pants with straight, very narrow legs.

cig·a·rette pa·per n. a piece of thin paper with a gummed edge in which tobacco can be rolled to make a cigarette.

cig·a·ril·lo n. (pl. -los) a small cigar.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, diminutive of cigarro (see CIGAR).

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CIGAR ■

ci·gua·te·ra n. poisoning by neurotoxins as a result of eating the flesh of a tropical marine fish that carries a toxic dinoflagellate.
<INFO>  This is caused by Gambierdiscus toxicus, phylum Dinophyta.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from American Spanish, from cigua 'sea snail'.

ci·lan·tro n. another term for CORIANDER (esp. the leaves).

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Spanish, from Latin coliandrum 'coriander'.

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CORIANDER ■

cil·i·a plural form of CILIUM.

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CILIUM ■

cil·i·ar·y adj. 1 [BIOLOGY] of, relating to, or involving cilia: ciliary action.

2 [ANATOMY] of or relating to the eyelashes or eyelids.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to the ciliary body of the eye.

cil·i·ar·y bod·y n. [ANATOMY] the part of the eye that connects the iris to the choroid. It consists of the ciliary muscle (which alters the curvature of the lens), a series of radial ciliary processes (from which the lens is suspended by ligaments), and the ciliary ring (which adjoins the choroid).

cil·i·ate n. [ZOOLOGY] a single-celled animal of a phylum distinguished by the possession of cilia or ciliary structures. The ciliates are a large and diverse group of advanced protozoans.
<INFO>  Phylum Ciliophora, kingdom Protista (formerly class Ciliata, phylum Protozoa).

■ adj. [ZOOLOGY] (of an organism, cell, or surface) bearing cilia.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BOTANY] (of a margin) having a fringe of hairs.

<DERIVATIVES> cil·i·at·ed adj.

cil·ice n. haircloth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a garment made of such cloth.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, from Latin cilicium, from Greek kilikion, from Kilikia, the Greek name for CILICIA in Asia Minor (because the cloth was originally made of Cilician goats' hair).

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CILICIA ■

Ci·li·cia an ancient region on the coast of southeastern Asia Minor.

<DERIVATIVES> Ci·li·cian adj. & n.

Ci·li·cian Gates a mountain pass in the Taurus Mountains in southern Turkey. Historically, it forms part of a route that linked Anatolia with the Mediterranean coast.

cil·i·o·late adj. having cilia.

cil·i·um n. (usu. in pl. cil·i·a ) [BIOLOGY] & [ANATOMY] a short, microscopic, hairlike vibrating structure. Cilia occur in large numbers on the surface of certain cells, either causing currents in the surrounding fluid, or, in some protozoans and other small organisms, providing propulsion.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an eyelash, or a delicate hairlike structure that resembles one.

<DERIVATIVES> cil·i·at·ed adj. cil·i·a·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (in the sense 'eyelash'): from Latin.

Cim·ar·ron Riv·er a river that flows for 600 miles (1,000 km) from New Mexico across Oklahoma to the Arkansas River near Tulsa. The western part of Oklahoma's panhandle was once known as the Territory of Cimarron.

ci·met·i·dine n. [MEDICINE] an antihistamine drug used to treat stomach acidity and peptic ulcers. It is a sulfur-containing derivative of imidazole.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from ci- (alteration of cy- in cyano-) + met(hyl) + -IDE + -INE^4 .

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-IDE ■

-INE ■

Cim·me·ri·an adj. 1 relating to or denoting members of an ancient nomadic people who overran Asia Minor in the 7th century BC.

2 [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] relating to or denoting members of a mythical people who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the land of the dead.

■ n. a member of the historical or mythological Cimmerian people.

<ORIGIN> via Latin from Greek Kimmerios + -AN.

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-AN ■

CINC abbr. Commander in Chief.

cinch n. 1 INFORMAL an extremely easy task: the program was a cinch to use.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sure thing; a certainty: he was a cinch to take a prize.

2 a girth for a Western saddle or pack.

■ v. [trans.] 1 secure (a garment) with a belt.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fix (a saddle) securely by means of a girth; girth up (a horse).

2 INFORMAL make certain of: his advice cinched her decision to accept the offer.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (sense 2 of the noun): from Spanish cincha 'girth'.

cinch bug n. another term for CHINCH.

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CHINCH ■

cin·cho·na n. an evergreen South American tree or shrub of the bedstraw family, with fragrant flowers and cultivated for its bark.
<INFO>  Genus Cinchona, family Rubiaceae: several species.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also cinchona bark) the dried bark of this tree, which is a source of quinine and other medicinal alkaloids.

- a drug made from this bark, formerly used as a tonic and to stimulate the appetite.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: modern Latin, named after the Countess of Chinchón (died 1641), who introduced the drug into Spain.

cin·cho·nine n. [CHEMISTRY] a compound with antipyretic properties, derived from cinchona bark and used as a substitute for quinine.
<INFO>  An alkaloid; chem. formula: C_19H_22ON_2.

cin·chon·ism n. poisoning due to excessive ingestion of cinchona alkaloids.

Cin·cin·nat·i an industrial city in southwestern Ohio, on the Ohio River; pop. 331,285.

cinc·ture n. 1 POETIC/LITERARY a girdle or belt.

2 [ARCHITECTURE] a ring at either end of a column shaft.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'encircling or enclosure'): from Latin cinctura, from cinct- 'encircled', from the verb cingere.

cin·der n. a small piece of partly burned coal or wood that has stopped giving off flames but still has combustible matter in it.

<DERIVATIVES> cin·der·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English sinder 'slag', of Germanic origin; related to German Sinter. The similar but unconnected French cendre (from Latin cinis 'ashes') has influenced both the sense development and the spelling. Compare with SINTER.

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SINTER ■

cin·der block n. a lightweight building brick made from small cinders mixed with sand and cement.

cin·der cone n. a cone formed around a volcanic vent by fragments of lava thrown out during eruptions.

Cin·der·el·la a girl in various traditional European fairy tales. In the version by Charles Perrault she is exploited as a servant by her family but enabled by a fairy godmother to attend a royal ball. She meets and captivates Prince Charming but has to flee at midnight, leaving the prince to identify her by the glass slipper that she leaves behind.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [as n.] a person or thing of unrecognized or disregarded merit or beauty.

- [as n.] a neglected aspect of something: is research into breast cancer to remain the Cinderella of medicine?

- [PHILATELY] any stamplike label that is not valid as postage.

<ORIGIN> from CINDER + the diminutive suffix -ella, on the pattern of French Cendrillon, from cendre 'cinders'.

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CINDER ■

cin·der track (also cinder path) n. a footpath or running track laid with fine cinders.

cin·e adj. CHIEFLY BRIT. cinematographic: a cine camera.

cine- comb. form representing CINEMATOGRAPHIC (see CINEMATOGRAPHY).

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CINEMATOGRAPHY ■

cin·e·ast (also cin·é·aste or cin·e·aste) n. a filmmaker.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an enthusiast for or devotee of movies or filmmaking.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from French cinéaste, from ciné (from cinéma), on the pattern of enthousiaste 'enthusiast'.

cin·e·ma n. CHIEFLY BRIT. a movie theater.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the production of movies as an art or industry: the history of American cinema.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French cinéma, abbreviation of cinématographe (see CINEMATOGRAPH).

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CINEMATOGRAPH ■

Cin·e·ma·Scope n. TRADEMARK a cinematographic process in which special lenses are used to compress a wide image into a standard frame and then expand it again during projection. It results in an image that is almost two and a half times as wide as it is high.

<DERIVATIVES> Cin·e·ma·Scop·ic adv.

cin·e·ma·theque n. 1 a motion-picture library or archive.

2 a small movie theater, esp. one that shows avant-garde or classic movies.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from French cinémathèque, from cinéma 'cinema', on the pattern of bibliothèque 'library'.

cin·e·mat·ic adj. of or relating to motion pictures: cinematic output.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having qualities characteristic of motion pictures: the cinematic feel of their video.

<DERIVATIVES> cin·e·mat·i·cal·ly adv.

cin·e·ma·tize v. [trans.] adapt (a play, story, etc.) to the cinema; make a movie of.

cin·e·mat·o·graph (also kin·e·mat·o·graph ) n. CHIEFLY BRIT., HISTORICAL an early motion-picture projector.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French cinématographe, from Greek , 'movement', from kinein 'to move'.

cin·e·ma·tog·ra·phy n. the art of making motion pictures.

<DERIVATIVES> cin·e·ma·tog·ra·pher n. cin·e·mat·o·graph·ic adj. cin·e·mat·o·graph·i·cal·ly adv.

ci·né·ma-vé·ri·té n. a style of filmmaking characterized by realistic, typically documentary motion pictures that avoid artificiality and artistic effect and are generally made with simple equipment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> motion pictures of this style collectively.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: French, literally 'cinema truth'.

cin·e·phile n. a person who is fond of motion pictures.

cin·e·plex (also Cin·e·plex) n. TRADEMARK a movie theater with several separate screens; a multiplex.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: blend of CINEMA and COMPLEX.

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CINEMA ■

COMPLEX ■

cin·e·rar·i·a n. a plant of the daisy family with compact masses of bright flowers, often cultivated as a houseplant.
<INFO>  Genus Pericallis (formerly Senecio or Cineraria), family Compositae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, feminine of Latin cinerarius 'of ashes', from cinis, ciner- 'ashes' (because of the ash-colored down on the leaves).

cin·e·rar·i·um n. (pl. -ums) a place where the ashes of the cremated dead are kept.

<DERIVATIVES> cin·e·rar·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from late Latin, neuter (used as a noun) of cinerarius 'of ashes'.

ci·ne·re·ous adj. (esp. of hair or feathers) ash-gray.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin cinereus 'similar to ashes' (from cinis, ciner- 'ashes') + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

ci·ne·re·ous vul·ture n. another term for BLACK VULTURE (sense 2).

Linked entries:

BLACK VULTURE ■

ci·né-vé·ri·té n. another term for CINÉMA-VÉRITÉ.

Linked entries:

CINÉMA-VÉRITÉ ■

cin·gu·lum n. (pl. -la ) [ANATOMY] an encircling structure, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a curved bundle of nerve fibers in each hemisphere of the brain.

- a ridge of enamel on the base or margin of the crown of a tooth.

<DERIVATIVES> cin·gu·late adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin, 'belt', from cingere 'gird'.

cin·na·bar n. a bright red mineral consisting of mercury sulfide. It is the only important ore of mercury and is sometimes used as a pigment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the bright red color of this; vermilion: [as adj.] the blood coagulated in cinnabar threads.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin cinnabaris, from Greek kinnabari, of obscure origin.

cin·nam·ic adj. of cinnamon.
<SPECIAL USAGE> denoting an acidic crystalline powder (cinnamic acid), C_9H_8O_2, derived from cinnamon or produced synthetically and used in medicine and perfumery.

cin·na·mon n. 1 an aromatic spice made from the peeled, dried, and rolled bark of a Southeast Asian tree.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- flavored with cinnamon, or having a similar flavor: cinnamon candy.

- a reddish- or yellowish-brown color resembling that of cinnamon.

2 (also cinnamon tree) the tree that yields this spice.
<INFO>  Genus Cinnamomum, family Lauraceae: several species, in particular C. zeylanicum, native to southern India and Sri Lanka.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cinnamome (from Greek ), and Latin cinnamon (from Greek kinnamon), both from a Semitic language and perhaps based on Malay.

cin·na·mon stick n. a piece, typically several inches long, of the peeled, dried, and rolled bark of a cinnamon tree, used decoratively or to flavor mulled drinks.

cin·na·mon bear n. a North American black bear of a variety with reddish-brown hair.

cin·na·mon fern n. a large North American fern whose fertile fronds are cinnamon-colored in spring.
<INFO>  Osmunda cinnamomea, family Osmundaceae.

cinque (also cinq) n. the five on dice.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cinc, cink, from Latin quinque 'five'.

cin·que·cen·to n. (the cinquecento) the 16th century as a period of Italian art, architecture, or literature, with a reversion to classical forms.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally '500' (shortened from milcinquecento '1500') used with reference to the years 1500-99.

cinque·foil n. 1 a widely distributed herbaceous plant of the rose family, with compound leaves of five leaflets and five-petaled yellow flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Potentilla, family Rosaceae: numerous species, including the small-flowered creeping common cinquefoil (P. simplex) and the larger-flowered erect rough-fruited cinquefoil (P. recta).

2 [ART] an ornamental design of five lobes arranged in a circle, e.g., in architectural tracery or heraldry.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin quinquefolium, from quinque 'five' + folium 'leaf'.

Cin·za·no n. TRADEMARK a type of vermouth produced in Italy.

<ORIGIN> from the name of the producers.

CIO abbr. Congress of Industrial Organizations.

ci·on n. variant spelling of SCION (sense 1).

Linked entries:

SCION ■

ci·pher (also cy·pher) n. 1 a secret or disguised way of writing; a code: he was writing cryptic notes in a cipher | the information may be given in cipher.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a thing written in such a code.

- a key to such a code.

2 DATED a zero; a figure 0.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a person or thing of no importance, esp. a person who does the bidding of others and seems to have no will of their own.

3 a monogram.

4 a continuous sounding of an organ pipe, caused by a mechanical defect.

■ v. 1 [trans.] put (a message) into secret writing; encode.

2 [intrans.] ARCHAIC do arithmetic.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the senses 'symbol for zero' and 'Arabic numeral'): from Old French cifre, based on Arabic 'zero'. Sense 4 is perhaps a different word.

cir. (also circ.) abbr.
- circle.

- circuit.

- circular.

- circulation.

- circumference.

cir·ca prep. (often preceding a date) approximately: built circa 1935.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Latin.

cir·ca·di·an adj. [PHYSIOLOGY] (of biological processes) recurring naturally on a twenty-four-hour cycle, even in the absence of light fluctuations: a circadian rhythm.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: formed irregularly from Latin circa 'around' + dies 'day'.

Cir·cas·sian adj. relating to or denoting a group of mainly Sunni Muslim peoples of the northwest Caucasus.

■ n. 1 a member of this people.

2 either of two North Caucasian languages of these peoples.

<ORIGIN> from Circassia, Latinized form of Russian Cherkes, denoting a district in the northern Caucasus.

Cir·ce [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] an enchantress who lived with her wild animals on the island of Aeaea. When Odysseus visited the island, his companions were changed into pigs by her potions, but he protected himself with the mythical herb moly and forced her to restore his men into human form.

<ORIGIN> via Latin from Greek .

cir·ci·nate adj. [BOTANY] rolled up with the tip in the center, for example the young frond of a fern.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MEDICINE] circular in appearance.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin circinatus, past participle of circinare 'make round', from circinus 'pair of compasses'.

Cir·ci·nus [ASTRONOMY] a small and faint southern constellation (the Compasses), in the Milky Way next to Centaurus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Cir·ci·ni ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Alpha Circini.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

cir·cle (abbr.: cir. or circ.) n. 1 a round plane figure whose boundary (the circumference) consists of points equidistant from a fixed point (the center).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the line enclosing such a figure.

- something in the shape of such a figure: the lamp spread a circle of light.

- a group of people or things arranged to form such a figure: they all sat around in a circle.

- a movement or series of movements that follows the approximate circumference of such a figure: the astrological houses rotate in a circle.

- a dark circular mark below each eye, typically caused by illness or tiredness.

- a curved upper tier of seats in a theater. See also DRESS CIRCLE.

2 a group of people with a shared profession, interests, or acquaintances: she did not normally move in such exalted circles.

■ v. [trans.] move all the way around (someone or something), esp. more than once: the two dogs circle each other with hackles raised | [intrans.] we circled around the island.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] (from the air) move in a ring-shaped path above (someone or something), esp. more than once: they were circling the airport | [as adj.] (circling) a circling helicopter.

- [intrans.] (circle back) move in a wide loop back toward one's starting point.

- (often be circled) form a ring around: the monastery was circled by a huge wall.

- draw a line around: circle the correct answers.

<PHRASES>
□ circle the wagons INFORMAL (of a group) unite in defense of a common interest. <ORIGIN> with reference to the defensive position of a wagon train under attack.

□ come (or turn) full circle return to a past position or situation, esp. in a way considered to be inevitable.

□ go around (or around and around) in circles INFORMAL do something for a long time without achieving anything but purposeless repetition: the discussion went around and around in circles.

□ run around in circles INFORMAL be fussily busy with little result.

□ the wheel has turned (or come) full circle the situation has returned to what it was in the past, as if completing a cycle. <ORIGIN> with reference to Shakespeare's King Lear, by association with the wheel fabled to be turned by Fortune and representing mutability.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Old French cercle, from Latin circulus 'small ring', diminutive of circus 'ring'.

Linked entries:

DRESS CIRCLE ■

cir·cle dance n. a country dance or folk dance, typically following a traditional set of steps, in which dancers form a circle.

cir·cle graph n. another term for PIE CHART.

Linked entries:

PIE CHART ■

cir·clet n. a circular band, typically one made of precious metal, worn on the head as an ornament.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a small circular arrangement or object.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from CIRCLE + -ET^1 , perhaps reinforced by archaic French cerclet.

Linked entries:

CIRCLE ■

-ET ■

cir·cuit (abbr.: cir. or circ.) n. 1 a roughly circular line, route, or movement that starts and finishes at the same place: I ran a circuit of the village.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a complete and closed path around which a circulating electric current can flow.

- a system of electrical conductors and components forming such a path.

2 an established itinerary of events or venues used for a particular activity, typically involving public performance: the alternative cabaret circuit.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a series of sporting events in which the same players regularly take part: his first season on the professional circuit.

- a series of athletic exercises performed consecutively in one training session: [as adj.] circuit training.

- a regular journey made by a judge around a particular district to hear cases in court: [as adj.] a circuit judge.

- a district of this type.

- a judicial region formerly administered by traveling judges.

- a group of local Methodist churches forming an administrative unit.

- a chain of theaters or nightclubs under a single management.

■ v. [trans.] move all the way around (a place or thing): the trains will follow the northern line, circuiting the capital.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin circuitus, from circuire, variant of circumire 'go around', from circum 'around' + ire 'go'.

cir·cuit board n. a thin rigid board containing an electric circuit; a printed circuit.

cir·cuit break·er n. an automatic device for stopping the flow of current in an electric circuit as a safety measure.

cir·cu·i·tous adj. (of a route or journey) longer than the most direct way: the canal followed a circuitous route | FIGURATIVE a circuitous line of reasoning.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cu·i·tous·ly adv. cir·cu·i·tous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin circuitosus, from circuitus 'a way around'(see CIRCUIT).

Linked entries:

CIRCUIT ■

cir·cuit rid·er n. HISTORICAL a clergyman who traveled on horseback from church to church, esp. within a rural Methodist circuit.

cir·cuit·ry n. (pl. -ries) electric circuits collectively: solid state circuitry.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a circuit or system of circuits performing a particular function in an electronic device: switching circuitry.

cir·cu·lar (abbr.: cir. or circ.) adj. 1 having the form of a circle: the building features a circular atrium. See note at ROUND.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a movement or journey) starting and finishing at the same place and often following roughly the circumference of an imaginary circle: a circular walk.

2 [LOGIC] (of an argument) already containing an assumption of what is to be proved, and therefore fallacious.

3 [attrib.] (of a letter or advertisement) for distribution to a large number of people.

■ n. a letter or advertisement that is distributed to a large number of people.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cu·lar·i·ty n. cir·cu·lar·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French circulier, from late Latin circularis, from Latin circulus 'small ring' (see CIRCLE).

Linked entries:

CIRCLE ■

cir·cu·lar breath·ing n. a technique of inhaling through the nose while blowing air through the lips from the cheeks, used to maintain constant exhalation esp. by players of certain wind instruments.

cir·cu·lar func·tion n. [MATHEMATICS] another term for TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTION.

Linked entries:

TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTION ■

cir·cu·lar·ize v. [trans.] 1 distribute a large number of letters, leaflets, or questionnaires to (a group of people) in order to advertise something or canvas opinion.

2 [BIOCHEMISTRY] make (a stretch of DNA) into a circular loop.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cu·lar·i·za·tion n.

cir·cu·lar po·lar·i·za·tion n. [PHYSICS] polarization of an electromagnetic wave in which either the electric or the magnetic vector executes a circle perpendicular to the path of propagation with a frequency equal to that of the wave. It is frequently used in satellite communications.

cir·cu·lar saw n. a power saw with a rapidly rotating toothed disk.

cir·cu·late v. 1 move or cause to move continuously or freely through a closed system or area: [intrans.] antibodies circulate in the bloodstream | [trans.] the fan circulates hot air around the oven.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] move around a social function in order to talk to many different people.

2 pass or cause to pass from place to place or person to person: [intrans.] rumors of his arrest circulated | [trans.] they were circulating the list to conservation groups.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cu·la·tive adj. cir·cu·la·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (as an alchemical term meaning 'distill something in a closed container, allowing condensed vapor to return to the original liquid'): from Latin circulat- 'moved in a circular path', from the verb circulare, from circulus 'small ring' (see CIRCLE). Sense 1 dates from the mid 17th cent.

Linked entries:

CIRCLE ■

cir·cu·lat·ing dec·i·mal n. another term for REPEATING DECIMAL.

Linked entries:

REPEATING DECIMAL ■

cir·cu·lat·ing li·brar·y n. HISTORICAL a small library with books lent for a small fee to subscribers.

cir·cu·la·tion (abbr.: cir. or circ.) n. 1 movement to and fro or around something, esp. that of fluid in a closed system: an extra pump for good water circulation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the continuous motion by which the blood travels through all parts of the body under the action of the heart.

- the movement of sap through a plant.

2 the public availability or knowledge of something: his music has achieved wide circulation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the movement, exchange, or availability of money in a country: the new coins go into circulation today.

- [in sing.] the number of copies sold of a newspaper or magazine: the magazine had a large circulation.

<PHRASES> in (or out of) circulation available (or unavailable) to the public; in (or not in) general use: there is a huge volume of video material in circulation.
- used of a person who is seen (or not seen) in public: Anne had made a good recovery and was back in circulation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting continuous distillation of a liquid): from Latin circulatio(n-), from the verb circulare (see CIRCULATE).

Linked entries:

CIRCULATE ■

cir·cu·la·to·ry adj. of or relating to the circulation of blood or sap.

cir·cu·la·to·ry sys·tem n. [BIOLOGY] the system that circulates blood and lymph through the body, consisting of the heart, blood vessels, blood, lymph, and the lymphatic vessels and glands. Also called CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM.

Linked entries:

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM ■

circum. abbr. circumference.

circum- prefix about; around: circumambulate; | circumpolar.

<ORIGIN> from Latin circum 'around'.

cir·cum·am·bi·ent adj. CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY surrounding: he could not see them clearly by reason of the circumambient water.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cum·am·bi·ence n. cir·cum·am·bi·en·cy n.

cir·cum·am·bu·late v. [trans.] FORMAL walk all the way around (something): they used to circumambulate the perimeter wall.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cum·am·bu·la·tion n. cir·cum·am·bu·la·to·ry adj.

cir·cum·cise v. [trans.] cut off the foreskin of (a young boy or man, esp. a baby) as a religious rite, esp. in Judaism and Islam, or as a medical treatment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> cut off the clitoris, and sometimes the labia, of (a girl or young woman) as a traditional practice among some peoples.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French circonciser, or from Latin circumcis- 'cut around', from the verb circumcidere, from circum 'around, about' + caedere 'to cut'.

cir·cum·ci·sion n. the action or practice of circumcising a young boy or man. See also FEMALE CIRCUMCISION.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Circumcision) (in church use) the feast of the Circumcision of Jesus, January 1.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from late Latin circumcisio(n-), from the verb circumcidere (see CIRCUMCISE).

Linked entries:

FEMALE CIRCUMCISION ■

CIRCUMCISE ■

cir·cum·fer·ence (abbr.: cir., circ., or circum.) n. the enclosing boundary of a curved geometric figure, esp. a circle.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the distance around something: babies who have small head circumferences | two inches in circumference.

- the edge or region that entirely surrounds something: petals on the circumference are larger than those in the center.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cum·fer·en·tial adj. cir·cum·fer·en·tial·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French circonference, from Latin circumferentia, from circum 'around, about' + ferre 'carry, bear'.

cir·cum·flex n. (also circumflex accent) a mark (^) placed over a vowel in some languages to indicate contraction, length, or pitch or tone.

■ adj. [ANATOMY] bending around something else; curved: circumflex coronary arteries.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin circumflexus (from circum 'around, about' + flectere 'to bend'), translating Greek 'drawn around'.

cir·cum·flu·ent adj. flowing around; surrounding.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cum·flu·ence n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin circumfluent- 'flowing around', from the verb circumfluere, from circum 'around, about' + fluere 'to flow'.

cir·cum·fuse v. [trans.] (usu. be circumfused) ARCHAIC pour (a liquid) so as to cause it to surround something: Earth with her nether Ocean circumfused.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin circumfus- 'poured around', from the verb circumfundere, from circum 'around' + fundere 'pour'.

cir·cum·ja·cent adj. ARCHAIC surrounding: the circumjacent parts of the mouth.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin circumjacent- 'lying around, bordering upon', from the verb circumjacere, from circum 'around' + jacere 'to lie'.

cir·cum·lo·cu·tion n. the use of many words where fewer would do, esp. in a deliberate attempt to be vague or evasive: his admission came after years of circumlocution | he used a number of poetic circumlocutions.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cum·loc·u·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin circumlocutio(n-) (translating Greek periphrasis), from circum 'around' + locutio(n-) from loqui 'speak'.

cir·cum·lu·nar adj. moving or situated around the moon: a circumlunar flight.

cir·cum·nav·i·gate v. [trans.] sail all the way around (something, esp. the world).
<SPECIAL USAGE> HUMOROUS go around or across (something): he helped her to circumnavigate a frozen puddle.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cum·nav·i·ga·tion n. cir·cum·nav·i·ga·tor n.

cir·cum·po·lar adj. situated around or inhabiting one of the earth's poles: the eight circumpolar countries met in 1991.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ASTRONOMY] (of a star or motion) above the horizon at all times in a given latitude: the Big Dipper is circumpolar at Mediterranean latitudes.

cir·cum·ro·tate v. [intrans.] to revolve or turn like a wheel.

cir·cum·scribe v. [trans.] (often be circumscribed) 1 restrict (something) within limits: their movements were strictly monitored and circumscribed.

2 [GEOMETRY] draw (a figure) around another, touching it at points but not cutting it. Compare with INSCRIBE.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cum·scrib·er n. cir·cum·scrip·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin circumscribere, from circum 'around' + scribere 'write'.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
circumscribe, encircle, enclose, encompass, envelop, surround

Strictly speaking, to circumscribe is to draw a line around something to mark its limits or boundary (a square circumscribed by a circle).

Beyond the realm of geometry, however, it suggests something that is hemmed in on all sides (a lake circumscribed by mountains).

Encompass is used when something is set within a circle or within limits (a road that encompassed the grounds of the estate; a view that encompassed the harbor).

Surround is a less formal word for circumscribe, but it can also refer to an undesirable, threatening, or dangerous situation (surrounded by angry demonstrators; surrounded by skyscrapers).

Encircle is similar to surround in meaning, but it suggests a tight or quite circular clustering around a central object (a bowl of fruit encircled by flowers) or a deliberate attempt to surround someone or something for a definite reason (to encircle the enemy camp).

Envelop is the right word if something is surrounded to the point where it can barely be seen (a lonely figure enveloped in fog) or if it is surrounded by layers or folds of an amorphous material (enveloped in soft cotton to prevent breakage).

Enclose is very similar to envelop, but it suggests that something has been especially designed to fit around something else for protection or containment (a ship model enclosed in a glass case).

Linked entries:

INSCRIBE ■

cir·cum·so·lar adj. moving or situated around the sun.

cir·cum·spect adj. wary and unwilling to take risks: the officials were very circumspect in their statements. See note at VIGILANT.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cum·spec·tion n. cir·cum·spect·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin circumspectus, from circumspicere 'look around', from circum 'around, about' + specere 'look'.

cir·cum·stance n. 1 (usu. circumstances) a fact or condition connected with or relevant to an event or action: we wanted to marry but circumstances didn't permit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an event or fact that causes or helps to cause something to happen, typically something undesirable: he was found dead but there were no suspicious circumstances | they were thrown together by circumstance.

2 one's state of financial or material welfare: the artists are living in reduced circumstances.

<PHRASES>
□ under no circumstances never, whatever the situation is or might be: under no circumstances may the child be identified.

□ under (or in) the circumstances given the difficult nature of the situation: she had every right to be angry under the circumstances.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cum·stanced adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French circonstance or Latin circumstantia, from circumstare 'encircle, encompass', from circum 'around' + stare 'stand'.

cir·cum·stan·tial adj. 1 (of evidence or a legal case) pointing indirectly toward someone's guilt but not conclusively proving it.

2 (of a description) containing full details: the picture was circumstantial and therefore convincing.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cum·stan·ti·al·i·ty n. cir·cum·stan·tial·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin circumstantia (see CIRCUMSTANCE) + -AL.

Linked entries:

CIRCUMSTANCE ■

-AL ■

cir·cum·stan·ti·ate v. [trans.] RARE set forth or support with circumstances or details.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cum·stan·ti·a·tion n.

cir·cum·ter·res·tri·al adj. moving or situated around the earth: circumterrestrial space.

cir·cum·val·late v. [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY surround with or as if with a rampart: the walls were circumvallated with a ditch.

■ adj. POETIC/LITERARY surrounded as if by a rampart: we looked at the circumvallate mountains.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ANATOMY] denoting certain papillae near the back of the tongue, surrounded by taste receptors.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin circumvallat- 'surrounded with a rampart', from the verb circumvallare, from circum 'around' + vallare, from vallum 'rampart'. The verb dates from the early 19th cent.

cir·cum·vent v. [trans.] find a way around (an obstacle).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- overcome (a problem or difficulty), typically in a clever and surreptitious way: terrorists found the airport checks easy to circumvent.

- ARCHAIC deceive; outwit: he's circumvented her with some of his stories.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·cum·ven·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin circumvent- 'skirted around', from the verb circumvenire, from circum 'around' + venire 'come'.

cir·cum·vo·lu·tion n. a winding movement, esp. of one thing around another.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin circumvolut- 'rolled around', from the verb circumvolvere, from circum 'around' + volvere 'roll'.

cir·cum·volve v. RARE rotate; revolve.
<SPECIAL USAGE> wind, fold, or twist around; enwrap.

cir·cus n. (pl. -cus·es) 1 a traveling company of acrobats, trained animals, and clowns that gives performances, typically in a large tent, in a series of different places: [as adj.] a circus elephant.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in ancient Rome) a rounded or oblong arena lined with tiers of seats, used for equestrian and other sports and games.

- INFORMAL a group of people involved in a particular sport who travel around to compete against one another in a series of different places: the Formula One circus.

- INFORMAL a public scene of frenetic and noisily intrusive activity: a media circus.

2 [in place names] BRIT. a rounded open space in a city where several streets converge: Piccadilly Circus.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (with reference to the arena of Roman antiquity): from Latin, 'ring or circus'. The sense 'traveling company of performers' dates from the late 18th cent.

ci·ré (also ci·re ) n. a fabric with a smooth shiny surface obtained by waxing and heating.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: French, literally 'waxed'.

cire per·due n. another term for LOST WAX.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, literally 'lost wax'.

Linked entries:

LOST WAX ■

cirque n. 1 [GEOLOGY] a half-open steep-sided hollow at the head of a valley or on a mountainside, formed by glacial erosion. Also called CORRIE, CWM.

2 POETIC/LITERARY a ring, circlet, or circle.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (sense 2): from French, from Latin circus.

Linked entries:

CORRIE ■

CWM ■

cir·rho·sis n. a chronic disease of the liver marked by degeneration of cells, inflammation, and fibrous thickening of tissue. It is typically a result of alcoholism or hepatitis.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·rhot·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek kirrhos 'tawny' (because this is the color of the liver in many cases).

Cir·ri·pe·di·a [ZOOLOGY] a class of crustaceans that comprises the barnacles.

<DERIVATIVES> cir·ri·ped n. cir·ri·pede n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Latin cirrus 'a curl' (because of the form of the legs) + pes, ped- 'foot'.

cir·ro·cu·mu·lus n. cloud forming a broken layer of small fleecy clouds at high altitude, usually 16,500-45,000 feet (5-13 km), typically with a rippled or granulated appearance (as in a mackerel sky).

cir·ro·stra·tus n. cloud forming a thin, more or less uniform, semitranslucent layer at high altitude, usually 16,500-45,000 feet (5-13 km).

cir·rus n. (pl. cir·ri ) 1 cloud forming wispy filamentous tufted streaks (“mare's tails”) at high altitude, usually 16,500-45,000 feet (5-13 km).

2 [ZOOLOGY] a slender tendril or hairlike filament, such as the appendage of a barnacle, the barbel of a fish, or the intromittent organ of an earthworm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BOTANY] a tendril.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (in the sense 'tendril'): from Latin, literally 'a curl'.

CIS abbr. Commonwealth of Independent States.

cis adj. [CHEMISTRY] denoting or relating to a molecular structure in which two particular atoms or groups lie on the same side of a given plane in the molecule, in particular denoting an isomer in which substituents at opposite ends of a carbon-carbon double bond are on the same side of the bond: the cis isomer of stilbene. Compare with TRANS.

<ORIGIN> independent usage of CIS-.

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TRANS ■

CIS- ■

cis- prefix 1 on this side of; on the side nearer to the speaker: cisatlantic; cislunar.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- HISTORICAL on the side nearer to Rome: cisalpine.

- (of time) closer to the present: cis-Elizabethan.
Often contrasted with TRANS- or ULTRA-.

2 [CHEMISTRY] (usu. cis-) denoting molecules with cis arrangements of substituents: cis-1,2-dichloroethylene.

<ORIGIN> from Latin cis 'on this side of';

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TRANS- ■

ULTRA- ■

cis·al·pine adj. on the southern side of the Alps.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin cisalpinus.

Cis·al·pine Gaul see GAUL^1 .

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GAUL ■

cis·at·lan·tic adj. on the same side of the Atlantic as the speaker.

cis·co n. (pl. -coes) a freshwater whitefish of northern countries. Most species are migratory and are important food fishes.
<INFO>  Genus Coregonus, family Salmonidae: several species, including the lake cisco (C. artedii) of North America, and the Arctic cisco (C. autumnalis) of northern Eurasia and northern North America.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

cis·lu·nar adj. between the earth and the moon: the darkness of cislunar space.

cis·mon·tane adj. on this side of the mountains, esp. the Alps. Compare with CISALPINE.

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CISALPINE ■

cis·plat·in n. [MEDICINE] a cytotoxic drug used in cancer chemotherapy.
<INFO>  A coordination compound of platinum; chem. formula: Pt(NH_3)2Cl_2.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: from CIS- + PLATINUM.

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CIS- ■

PLATINUM ■

cis·sus n. a woody climbing vine of the grape family, with trifoliate leaves that are sometimes evergreen.
<INFO>  Genus Cissus, family Vitaceae: several species, esp. C. incisa of the central and southeastern U.S.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin: from Greek kissos 'ivy'.

cist (also kist) n. [ARCHAEOLOGY] a coffin or burial chamber made from stone or a hollowed tree.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: Welsh, literally 'chest', from Latin cista, from Greek 'basket'.

Cis·ter·cian n. a monk or nun of an order founded in 1098 as a stricter branch of the Benedictines. The monks are now divided into two observances, the strict observance, whose adherents are known popularly as Trappists, and the common observance, which has certain relaxations.

■ adj. of or relating to this order: a Cistercian abbey.

<ORIGIN> from French cistercien, from Cistercium, the Latin name of Cîteaux near Dijon in France, where the order was founded.

cis·tern n. a tank for storing water, esp. one supplying taps or as part of a flushing toilet.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an underground reservoir for rainwater.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cisterne, from Latin cisterna, from cista 'box'.

cis·tron n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a section of a DNA or RNA molecule that codes for a specific polypeptide in protein synthesis.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from CIS- + TRANS- (because of the possibility of two genes being on the same or different chromosomes) + -ON.

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CIS- ■

TRANS- ■

-ON ■

cit. abbr.
- citation.

- cited.

- citizen.

cit·a·del n. a fortress, typically on high ground, protecting or dominating a city.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French citadelle, or from Italian cittadella, based on Latin civitas 'city' (see CITY).

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CITY ■

ci·ta·tion (abbr.: cit.) n. 1 a quotation from or reference to a book, paper, or author, esp. in a scholarly work: there were dozens of citations from the works of Byron | recognition through citation is one of the principal rewards in science.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a mention of a praiseworthy act or achievement in an official report, esp. that of a member of the armed forces in wartime.

- a note accompanying an award, describing the reasons for it: the Nobel citation noted that his discovery would be useful for energy conversion technology.

- [LAW] a reference to a former tried case, used as guidance in the trying of comparable cases or in support of an argument.

2 [LAW] a summons: a traffic citation.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (sense 2): from Old French, from Latin citation-, from citare 'cite'.

cite v. [trans.] (often be cited) 1 quote (a passage, book, or author) as evidence for or justification of an argument or statement, esp. in a scholarly work.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- mention as an example: medics have been cited as a key example of a modern breed of technical expert.

- praise (someone, typically a member of the armed forces) for a courageous act in an official dispatch.

- [LAW] adduce a former tried case as a guide to deciding a comparable case or in support of an argument.

2 [LAW] summon (someone) to appear in a court of law: the summons cited four of defendants.

■ n. a citation.

<DERIVATIVES> cit·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2, originally with reference to a court of ecclesiastical law): from Old French citer, from Latin citare, from ciere, cire 'to call'.

CITES abbr. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

cith·a·ra (also kith·a·ra ) n. an ancient Greek and Roman stringed musical instrument similar to the lyre, having two arms rising vertically from the soundbox.

cith·ern n. variant spelling of CITTERN.

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CITTERN ■

cit·ied adj. made into or like a city; occupied by a city or cities.

cit·i·fied (also cit·y·fied) adj. OFTEN DEROGATORY characteristic of or adjusted to an urban environment: black-hatted, citified cowboys.

<DERIVATIVES> cit·i·fi·ca·tion n. cit·i·fy (-fies, -fied) v.

cit·i·zen (abbr.: cit.) n. a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalized: a Polish citizen; the rights of every citizen.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an inhabitant of a particular town or city: the citizens of Los Angeles.

<PHRASES> citizen of the world a person who is at home in any country.

<DERIVATIVES> cit·i·zen·ry n. cit·i·zen·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French citezein, alteration (probably influenced by deinzein 'denizen') of Old French citeain, based on Latin civitas 'city' (see CITY).

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CITY ■

cit·i·zen's ar·rest n. an arrest by an ordinary person without a warrant, allowable in certain cases.

Cit·i·zens' Band (abbr.: CB) n. a range of radio frequencies that are allocated for local communication by private individuals, esp. by hand-held or vehicle radio.

Ci·tlal·té·petl the highest peak in Mexico, in the eastern part of the country, north of Orizaba. It is 18,503 feet (5,699 m) high and is an extinct volcano. Spanish name PICO DE ORIZABA.

<ORIGIN> Aztec, literally 'star mountain'.

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PICO DE ORIZABA ■

cit·ral n. [CHEMISTRY] a fragrant liquid occurring in citrus and lemongrass oils and used in flavorings and perfumes.
<INFO>  A terpene; chem. formula: C_10H_16O.

cit·rate n. a salt or ester of citric acid.

cit·ric adj. derived from or related to citrus fruit: lemongrass gives a slightly sweet citric flavor.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin citrus 'citron tree' + -IC.

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-IC ■

cit·ric ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a sharp-tasting crystalline acid present in the juice of lemons and other sour fruits. It is made commercially by the fermentation of sugar and used as a flavoring and setting agent.
<INFO>  A tribasic acid; chem. formula: C_6H_8O_7.

cit·ric ac·id cy·cle n. another term for KREBS CYCLE.

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KREBS CYCLE ■

cit·ri·cul·ture n. the cultivation of citrus fruit trees.

cit·rin n. another term for BIOFLAVONOID.

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BIOFLAVONOID ■

cit·rine n. (also citrine quartz) a glassy yellow variety of quartz. Also called FALSE TOPAZ.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a light greenish-yellow.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French citrin 'lemon-colored', from medieval Latin citrinus, from Latin citrus 'citron tree'.

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FALSE TOPAZ ■

cit·ron n. a shrubby Asian tree that bears large fruits similar to lemons, but with flesh that is less acid and peels that are thicker and more fragrant.
<INFO>  Citrus medica, family Rutaceae; one of the ancestors of modern commercial citrus fruits.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the fruit of this tree.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (denoting the fruit): from French, from Latin citrus 'citron tree', on the pattern of limon 'lemon'.

cit·ron·el·la n. 1 (also citronella oil) a fragrant natural oil used as an insect repellent and in perfume and soap manufacture.

2 the South Asian grass from which this oil is obtained.
<INFO>  Cymbopogon nardus, family Gramineae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from CITRON + the diminutive suffix -ella.

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CITRON ■

cit·ron·el·lal n. a terpenoid aldehyde found esp. in citronella, rose, and geranium oils.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_10H_18O.

cit·rus n. (pl. -rus·es) a tree of a genus that includes citron, lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit. Native to Asia, citrus trees are widely cultivated in warm countries for their fruit, which has juicy flesh and a pulpy rind.
<INFO>  Genus Citrus, family Rutaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (also citrus fruit) a fruit from such a tree.

■ adj. (also cit·rous) of or relating to these trees or their fruits: citrus extracts.

<DERIVATIVES> cit·rus·y adj..

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: Latin, literally 'citron tree, thuja'.

Cit·rus Heights a community in north central California, northeast of Sacramento; pop. 107,439.

cit·tern (also cith·ern ) n. a stringed instrument similar to a lute, with a flattened back and wire strings, used in 16th- and 17th-century Europe.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin cithara, from Greek kithara, denoting a kind of harp. The spelling has been influenced by GITTERN.

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GITTERN ■

cit·y n. (pl. cit·ies) 1 a large town: [as adj.] the city center.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an incorporated municipal center.

2 [with modifier] INFORMAL a place or situation characterized by a specified attribute: panic city.

3 (the City) the financial and commercial district of London, England.

<DERIVATIVES> cit·y·ward adj. & adv. cit·y·wards adv. cit·y·wide adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cite, from Latin civitas, from civis 'citizen'. Originally denoting a town, and often used as a Latin equivalent to Old English burh 'borough', the term was later applied to foreign and ancient cities and to the more important English boroughs.

cit·y desk n. the department of a newspaper dealing with local news.

cit·y ed·i·tor n. an editor dealing with local news in a newspaper or magazine.

cit·y fa·ther n. (usu. city fathers) a person concerned with or experienced in the administration of a city: the city fathers decided to build a museum.

cit·y·fied adj. variant spelling of CITIFIED.

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CITIFIED ■

cit·y hall (often City Hall) n. the administration building of a municipal government.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [treated as sing.] municipal offices or officers collectively: they cultivated close ties with City Hall.

cit·y man·ag·er n. an appointed official who directs the administration of a city.

Cit·y of God Paradise, perceived as an ideal community in Heaven.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the Christian Church. <ORIGIN> from The City of God by St. Augustine.

Cit·y of Lon·don the part of London that is within the ancient boundaries and governed by the Lord Mayor and the Corporation.

cit·y plan·ning n. the planning and control of the construction, growth, and development of a city or town. Also called TOWN PLANNING.

<DERIVATIVES> cit·y plan·ner n.

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TOWN PLANNING ■

cit·y·scape n. the visual appearance of a city or urban area; a city landscape: shades of red brick which once colored the cityscape.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a picture of a city.

cit·y slick·er n. CHIEFLY DEROGATORY a person with the sophistication and tastes or values generally associated with urban dwellers, typically regarded as unprincipled and untrustworthy.

cit·y-state n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a city that with its surrounding territory forms an independent state.

Ciu·dad Bo·lí·var a city in southeastern Venezuela, on the Orinoco River; pop. 225,850. Formerly called Angostura, its name was changed in 1846 to honor Simón Bolívar, the country's liberator.

Ciu·dad del Es·te a port city in southeastern Paraguay, on the Paraná River, near the Itaipu Dam; pop. 134,000. Called (before 1989) Puerto Presidente Stroessner.

Ciu·dad Gua·ya·na (also Santo Tomé; de Guayana) an industrial city in eastern Venezuela, at the junction of the Caroní and Orinoco rivers; pop. 543,000.

Ciu·dad Juá·rez (also Juárez) a commercial and industrial city in Chihuahua state, in northern Mexico, across the Rio Grande from El Paso in Texas; pop. 790,000.

Ciu·dad Re·al an agricultural market town in central Spain, between the Guadiana and Jablón rivers, capital of Ciudad Real province; pop. 475,000.

Ciu·dad Tru·jil·lo former name (1936-61) for SANTO DOMINGO.

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SANTO DOMINGO ■

Ciu·dad Vic·to·ri·a a city in northeastern Mexico, capital of the state of Tamaulipas; pop. 207,830.

civ·et n. (also civet cat) 1 a slender nocturnal carnivorous mammal with a barred and spotted coat and well-developed anal scent glands, native to Africa and Asia.
<INFO>  Family Viverridae (the civet family): several genera and species, in particular the African civet (Viverra civetta). The civet family also includes the genets, linsang, and fossa, and formerly included the mongooses.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a strong musky perfume obtained from the secretions of the civet's scent glands.

2 another term for CACOMISTLE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the fur of the cacomistle.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French civette, from Italian zibetto, from medieval Latin zibethum, from Arabic , denoting the perfume.

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CACOMISTLE ■

civ·ic adj. [attrib.] of or relating to a city or town, esp. its administration; municipal: civic and business leaders.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to the duties or activities of people in relation to their town, city, or local area: they could not be denied access to education, the vote, and other civic rights.

<DERIVATIVES> civ·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French civique or Latin civicus, from civis 'citizen'. The original use was in civic garland, crown, etc., translating Latin corona civica, denoting a garland of oak leaves and acorns given in ancient Rome to a person who saved a fellow citizen's life.

civ·ic cen·ter n. a municipal building or building complex, often publicly financed, with space for conventions, sports events, and theatrical entertainment.

civ·ics plural n. [usu. treated as sing.] the study of the rights and duties of citizenship.

civ·ies plural n. variant spelling of CIVVIES.

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CIVVIES ■

civ·il adj. 1 [attrib.] of or relating to ordinary citizens and their concerns, as distinct from military or ecclesiastical matters: civil aviation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of disorder or conflict) occurring between citizens of the same country.

- [LAW] relating to private relations between members of a community; noncriminal: a civil action.

- [LAW] of or relating to aspects the civil (or code) law derived from European systems.

2 courteous and polite: we tried to be civil to him.

3 (of time measurement or a point in time) fixed by custom or law rather than being natural or astronomical: civil twilight starts at sunset.

<DERIVATIVES> civ·il·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin civilis, from civis 'citizen'.

civ·il com·mit·ment n. post-sentence institutional detention of a sex offender with the intention of preventing a reoffense: a 75-year-old convicted sex offender being held in civil commitment.

civ·il con·vic·tion n. (in military use) a current or former criminal conviction, under civil law, of an enlisted person.

civ·il court n. a court dealing with noncriminal cases.

civ·il death n. RARE or CHIEFLY HISTORICAL the loss of a citizen's privileges through life imprisonment, banishment, etc.

civ·il de·fense n. the organization and training of civilians for the protection of lives and property during and after attacks in wartime.

civ·il dis·o·be·di·ence n. the refusal to comply with certain laws or to pay taxes and fines, as a peaceful form of political protest.

civ·il en·gi·neer n. an engineer who designs and maintains roads, bridges, dams, and similar structures.

<DERIVATIVES> civ·il en·gi·neer·ing n.

ci·vil·ian n. a person not in the armed services or the police force.

■ adj. of, denoting, or relating to a person not belonging to the armed services or police: military agents in civilian clothes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a practitioner of civil law): from Old French civilien, in the phrase droit civilien 'civil law'. The current sense arose in the early 19th cent.

ci·vil·ian·ize v. [trans.] make (something) nonmilitary in character or function.

<DERIVATIVES> ci·vil·ian·i·za·tion n.

ci·vil·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech: I hope we can treat each other with civility and respect.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (civilities) polite remarks used in formal conversation: she was exchanging civilities with his mother.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French civilite, from Latin civilitas, from civilis 'relating to citizens' (see CIVIL). In early use the term denoted the state of being a citizen and hence good citizenship or orderly behavior. The sense 'politeness' arose in the mid 16th cent.

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CIVIL ■

civ·i·li·za·tion n. the stage of human social development and organization that is considered most advanced: they equated the railroad with progress and civilization.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the process by which a society or place reaches this stage.

- the society, culture, and way of life of a particular area: the great books of Western civilization | the early civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt.

- the comfort and convenience of modern life, regarded as available only in towns and cities: the fur traders moved further and further from civilization.

civ·i·lize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (civilized) bring (a place or people) to a stage of social, cultural, and moral development considered to be more advanced: a civilized society.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] (civilized) polite and well-mannered: such an affront to civilized behavior will no longer be tolerated.

<DERIVATIVES> civ·i·liz·a·ble adj. civ·i·liz·er n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French civiliser, from civil 'civil'.

civ·il law n. the system of law concerned with private relations between members of a community rather than criminal, military, or religious affairs. Contrasted with CRIMINAL LAW.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the system of law predominant on the European continent and of which a form is in force in Louisiana, historically influenced by the codes of ancient Rome. Compare with COMMON LAW.

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CRIMINAL LAW ■

COMMON LAW ■

civ·il lib·er·ty n. the state of being subject only to laws established for the good of the community, esp. with regard to freedom of action and speech.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (civil liberties) individual rights protected by law from unjust governmental or other interference.

<DERIVATIVES> civ·il lib·er·tar·i·an n.

civ·il mar·riage n. a marriage solemnized as a civil contract without religious ceremony.

civ·il rights plural n. the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

civ·il serv·ant n. a member of the civil service.

civ·il serv·ice n. the permanent professional branches of a government's administration, excluding military and judicial branches and elected politicians.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: originally applied to the part of the service of the British East India Company conducted by staff who did not belong to the army or navy.

civil un·ion n. a legally recognized union of a same-sex couple, with rights similar to those of marriage.

civ·il war n. a war between citizens of the same country. See also AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, ENGLISH CIVIL WAR, SPANISH CIVIL WAR.

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AMERICAN CIVIL WAR ■

ENGLISH CIVIL WAR ■

SPANISH CIVIL WAR ■

civ·il wrong n. [LAW] an infringement of a person's rights, such as a tort or breach of contract.

civ·il year n. see YEAR (sense 2).

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YEAR ■

civ·vies INFORMAL plural n. civilian clothes, as opposed to a uniform: he showered and changed into civvies.

■ adj. [attrib.] (civvy) of or relating to civilians: I learned a good trade for civvy life.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

CJ abbr. chief justice.

CJD abbr. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

CL abbr. chemiluminescence.

Cl symbol the chemical element chlorine.

cl abbr. centiliter: 70 cl bottles.

clab·ber n. milk that has naturally clotted on souring.

■ v. curdle or cause to curdle.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: shortening of BONNY CLABBER.

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BONNY CLABBER ■

cla·chan n. (in Scotland or Northern Ireland) a small village or hamlet.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Scottish Gaelic and Irish clachán.

clack v. make or cause to make a sharp sound or series of such sounds as a result of a hard object striking another: [intrans.] he heard the sound of her heels clacking across flagstones | [trans.] he clacked the castanets in fine syncopation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] ARCHAIC chatter loudly: he will sit clacking for hours.

■ n. a sharp sound or series of sounds made in such a way: the clack of her high heels.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC loud chatter: her clack would go all day.

<DERIVATIVES> clack·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: imitative.

Clac·to·ni·an adj. [ARCHAEOLOGY] of, relating to, or denoting a Lower Paleolithic culture represented by flint implements found at Clacton-on-Sea in southeastern England, dated to about 250,000-200,000 years ago.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (the Clactonian) the Clactonian culture or period.

clad 1 past participle of CLOTHE.

■ adj. 1 clothed: they were clad in T-shirts and shorts;[in combination] a leotard-clad instructor.

2 provided with cladding: [in combination] copper-clad boards.

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CLOTHE ■

clad 2 v. (clad·ding; past and past part. clad·ded or clad) [trans.] provide or encase with a covering or coating: he cladded the concrete-frame structure in stainless steel.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'clothe'): apparently from CLAD^1 .

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CLAD ■

clad·ding n. a covering or coating on a structure or material: [as adj.] a range of roofing and cladding products.

clade n. [BIOLOGY] a group of organisms believed to have evolved from a common ancestor, according to the principles of cladistics.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Greek klados 'branch'.

cla·dis·tics plural n. [treated as sing.] [BIOLOGY] a method of classification of animals and plants according to the proportion of measurable characteristics that they have in common. It is assumed that the higher the proportion of characteristics that two organisms share, the more recently they diverged from a common ancestor.

<DERIVATIVES> clad·ism n. cla·dis·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from CLADE + -IST + -ICS.

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CLADE ■

-IST ■

-ICS ■

clado- comb. form relating to a branch or branching: cladogram.

<ORIGIN> from Greek klados 'branch or shoot'.

Cla·doc·er·a [ZOOLOGY] an order of minute branchiopod crustaceans that includes the water fleas. They typically have a transparent shell enclosing the trunk, and large antennae that are used for swimming.

<DERIVATIVES> cla·doc·er·an n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek klados 'branch or root' + keras 'horn' (because of the branched antennae).

clad·ode (also clad·o·phyll ) n. [BOTANY] a flattened leaflike stem.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'with many shoots', from klados 'shoot'.

clad·o·gen·e·sis n. [BIOLOGY] the formation of a new group of organisms or higher taxon by evolutionary divergence from an ancestral form. Compare with ANAGENESIS.

<DERIVATIVES> clad·o·ge·net·ic adj.

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ANAGENESIS ■

clad·o·gram n. [BIOLOGY] a branching diagram showing the cladistic relationship between a number of species.

cla·fou·tis n. (pl. same) a tart made of fruit, typically cherries, baked in a sweet batter.

<ORIGIN> French, from dialect clafir 'to stuff'.

Clai·borne Craig (1920-2000), U.S. food editor and critic. He was the food editor for the New York Times 1957-70, 1974-88. He wrote The New York Times Cookbook (1961), Classic French Cuisine (1970), and Elements of Etiquette (1992).

claim v. [reporting verb] state or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof: [with clause] he claimed that he came from a wealthy, educated family | [with direct speech] “I'm entitled to be conceited,” he claimed | [trans.] these sunblocks claim protection factors as high as 34.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] assert that one has gained or achieved (something): his supporters claimed victory in the presidential elections.

- [trans.] formally request or demand; say that one owns or has earned (something): if no one claims the items, they will become government property.

- [trans.] make a demand for (money) under the terms of an insurance policy: she could have claimed the cost through her insurance.

- call for (someone's notice and thought): a most unwelcome event claimed his attention.

- cause the loss of (someone's life).

■ n. 1 an assertion of the truth of something, typically one that is disputed or in doubt: [with clause] he was dogged by the claim that he had CIA links history belies statesmen's claims to be in charge of events.

2 a demand or request for something considered one's due: the court had denied their claims to asylum.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an application for compensation under the terms of an insurance policy.

- a right or title to something: they have first claim on the assets of the trust.

- (also mining claim) a piece of land allotted to or taken by someone in order to be mined.

<PHRASES> claim to fame a reason for being regarded as unusual or noteworthy: his claim to fame was bringing Garbo to Hollywood.

<DERIVATIVES> claim·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French claime (noun), clamer (verb), from Latin clamare 'call out'.

claim·ant n. a person making a claim, esp. in a lawsuit or for a government-sponsored benefit.

clair·au·di·ence n. the supposed faculty of perceiving, as if by hearing, what is inaudible.

<DERIVATIVES> clair·au·di·ent adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French clair 'clear' + AUDIENCE, on the pattern of clairvoyance.

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AUDIENCE ■

clair de lune n. a pale blue-gray or pale green color.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a Chinese porcelain glaze of this color.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, literally 'moonlight'.

clair·voy·ance n. the supposed faculty of perceiving things or events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact: she stared at the card as if she could contact its writer by clairvoyance.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from clair 'clear' + voir 'to see'.

clair·voy·ant n. a person who claims to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact.

■ adj. having or exhibiting such an ability: he didn't tell me about it and I'm not clairvoyant.

<DERIVATIVES> clair·voy·ant·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (in the sense 'clear-sighted, perceptive'): from French, from clair 'clear' + voyant 'seeing' (from voir 'to see'). The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

clam n. 1 a marine bivalve mollusk with shells of equal size.
<INFO>  Subclass Heterodonta: several families and numerous species, including the edible North American hard-shell clam (see QUAHOG) and soft-shell clam. See also GIANT CLAM.

<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL any of a number of edible bivalve mollusks, e.g., a scallop.

2 INFORMAL a dollar: all I got for the job was 50 lousy clams.

3 INFORMAL a shy or withdrawn person.

■ v. (clammed, clamming) [intrans.] 1 dig for or collect clams: [as n.] (clamming) it was one of the worst times for clamming.

2 (clam up) INFORMAL abruptly stop talking, either for fear of revealing a secret or from shyness.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: apparently from earlier clam 'a clamp', from Old English clam, clamm 'a bond or bondage', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch klemme, German Klemme, also to CLAMP.

Linked entries:

QUAHOG ■

GIANT CLAM ■

CLAMP ■

cla·mant adj. forcing itself urgently on the attention: the proper use of biotechnology has become a clamant question.

<DERIVATIVES> cla·mant·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin clamant- 'crying out', from the verb clamare.

clam·bake n. an outdoor social gathering at which clams and other seafood (and often chicken, potatoes, and sweet corn) are baked or steamed, traditionally in a pit, over heated stones and under a bed of seaweed.

clam·ber v. [intrans.] climb, move, or get in or out of something in an awkward and laborious way, typically using both hands and feet: I clambered out of the trench.

■ n. [in sing.] a difficult climb or movement of this sort: a clamber up the cliff path.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably from clamb, obsolete past tense of CLIMB.

Linked entries:

CLIMB ■

clam·dig·gers n. close-fitting women's casual pants hemmed at mid-calf.

clam·my adj. (clam·mi·er, clam·mi·est) unpleasantly damp and sticky or slimy to touch: his skin felt cold and clammy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of air or atmosphere) damp and unpleasant: the clammy atmosphere of the cave.

<DERIVATIVES> clam·mi·ly adv. clam·mi·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from dialect clam 'to be sticky or adhere', of Germanic origin; related to CLAY.

Linked entries:

CLAY ■

clam·or (BRIT. clam·our) n. [in sing.] a loud and confused noise, esp. that of people shouting vehemently: the questions rose to a clamor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a strongly expressed protest or demand, typically from a large number of people: the growing public clamor for more policemen on the beat.

■ v. [intrans.] (of a group of people) shout loudly and insistently: the surging crowds clamored for attention.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make a vehement protest or demand: scientists are clamoring for a ban on all chlorine substances.

<DERIVATIVES> clam·or·ous adj. clam·or·ous·ly adv. clam·or·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin clamor, from clamare 'cry out'.

clamp n. a brace, band, or clasp used for strengthening or holding things together.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an electric circuit that serves to maintain the voltage limits of a signal at prescribed levels.

■ v. [trans.] (often be clamped) fasten (something) in place with a clamp: the sander is clamped onto the edge of a workbench.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- fasten (two things) firmly together: the two frames are clamped together.

- hold (something) tightly against or in another thing: Maggie had to clamp a hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

- [trans.] maintain the voltage limits of (an electrical signal) at prescribed values.

<PHRASAL VERB> clamp down suppress or prevent something, typically in an oppressive or harsh manner: police clamped down on a pro-democracy demonstration.

<DERIVATIVES> clamp·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably of Dutch or Low German origin and related to CLAM.

Linked entries:

CLAM ■

clamp·down n. INFORMAL a severe or concerted attempt to suppress something: a clampdown on crime.

clam·shell n. the shell of a clam, formed of two roughly equal valves with a hinge.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thing with hinged parts that open and shut in a manner resembling the parts of such a shell, such as a kind of mechanical digger, a portable computer, or a box for takeout food: some clamshells offer full desktop power | [as adj.] a clamshell lid.

clan n. a group of close-knit and interrelated families (esp. associated with families in the Scottish Highlands).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- OFTEN INFORMAL a family, esp. a large one: the Kennedy clan gathered for the celebration.

- a group of people with a strong common interest: New York's garrulous clan of artists.

- INFORMAL a family or group of plants or animals: the lily family is a clan noted for its spectacular springtime emergences.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Scottish Gaelic clann 'offspring, family', from Old Irish cland, from Latin planta 'sprout'.

Clan·cy Tom (1947- ), U.S. novelist. His works, usually techno-military thrillers, include Hunt for Red October (1985), Patriot Games (1987), Rainbow Six (1998), and The Bear and the Dragon (2000).

clan·des·tine adj. kept secret or done secretively, esp. because illicit: she deserved better than these clandestine meetings. See note at SECRET.

<DERIVATIVES> clan·des·tine·ly adv. clan·des·tin·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French clandestin or Latin clandestinus, from clam 'secretly'.

clang n. a loud, resonant metallic sound or series of sounds: the steel door slammed shut with a clang.

■ v. make or cause to make such a sound: [intrans.] she turned the faucet on and the plumbing clanged | [trans.] the belfry still clangs its bell at 9 p.m.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: imitative, influenced by Latin clangere 'resound'.

clang·or (BRIT. clang·our) n. [in sing.] a continuous loud banging or ringing sound: he went deaf because of the clangor of the steam hammers.

<DERIVATIVES> clang·or·ous adj. clang·or·ous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin clangor, from clangere 'resound'.

clank n. a loud, sharp sound or series of sounds, typically made by pieces of metal meeting or being struck together: the groan and clank of a winch.

■ v. make or cause to make such a sound: [intrans.] I could hear the chain clanking | [trans.] Cassie bounced on the bed, clanking the springs.

<DERIVATIVES> clank·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (but rare before the mid 17th cent.): imitative.

clan·nish adj. CHIEFLY DEROGATORY (of a group or their activities) tending to exclude others outside the group.

<DERIVATIVES> clan·nish·ly adv. clan·nish·ness n.

clans·man n. (pl. -men) a member of a clan, esp. a male member.

clans·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en) a female member of a clan.

clap 1 v. (clapped, clap·ping) [trans.] strike the palms of (one's hands) together repeatedly, typically in order to applaud: Agnes clapped her hands in glee | [intrans.] the crowd was clapping and cheering.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- show approval of (a person or action) in this way.

- strike the palms of (one's hands) together once, esp. as a signal: the designer clapped his hands and the other girls exited the room.

- slap (someone) encouragingly on the back or shoulder: as they parted, he clapped Owen on the back.

- place (a hand) briefly against or over one's mouth or forehead as a gesture of dismay or regret: he swore and clapped a hand to his forehead.

- (of a bird) flap (its wings) audibly.

■ n. 1 an act of striking together the palms of the hands, either once or repeatedly.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a friendly slap or pat on the back or shoulder.

2 an explosive sound, esp. of thunder: a clap of thunder echoed through the valley.

<PHRASES>
□ clap eyes on see EYE.

□ clap (someone) in jail (or irons) put (someone) in prison (or in chains).

<PHRASAL VERB> clap (something) on abruptly impose (a restrictive or punitive measure): most countries clapped on tariffs to protect their farmers.

<ORIGIN> Old English clappan 'throb, beat', of imitative origin. Sense 1 dates from late Middle English.

Linked entries:

EYE ■

clap 2 n. (usu. the clap) INFORMAL a venereal disease, esp. gonorrhea.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Old French clapoir 'venereal bubo'.

clap·board n. a long, thin, flat piece of wood with edges horizontally overlapping in series, used to cover the outer walls of buildings: [as adj.] neat clapboard houses.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a house with outer walls covered in such pieces of wood.

<DERIVATIVES> clap·board·ed adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (denoting a piece of oak used for barrel staves or wainscot): partial translation of Low German klappholt 'barrel stave', from klappen 'to crack' + holt 'wood'.

clapped-out adj. INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. (of a vehicle, machine, or person) worn out from age or heavy use and unable to work or operate: a clapped-out old van.

clap·per n. the free-swinging metal piece inside a bell that is made to strike the bell to produce the sound.

clap·per·board n. a device of hinged boards that are struck together before filming as a signal to synchronize the starting of picture and sound machinery.

clap·per rail n. a large grayish rail of American coastal marshes. It has a distinctive clattering rattlelike call.
<INFO>  Rallus longirostris, family Rallidae.

<ORIGIN> from clapper, denoting a device for making a loud clattering sound, with reference to the bird's cry.

Clap·ton Eric (1945- ), English blues and rock guitarist, singer, and composer.

clap·trap (also clap-trap) n. absurd or nonsensical talk or ideas: such sentiments are just pious claptrap.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (denoting something designed to elicit applause): from CLAP^1 + TRAP^1 .

Linked entries:

CLAP ■

TRAP ■

claque n. a group of people hired to applaud (or heckle) a performer or public speaker.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a group of sycophantic followers: the president was surrounded by a claque of scheming bureaucrats.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, from claquer 'to clap'. The practice of paying members of an audience for their support originated at the Paris opera.

cla·queur n. a member of a claque.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, from claquer 'to clap'.

clar·a·bel·la n. an organ stop with the quality of a flute.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the feminine forms of Latin clarus 'clear' and bellus 'pretty'.

Clare a county in the Republic of Ireland, on the western coast in the province of Munster; county town, Ennis.

Clare·mont a city in southwestern California, east of Los Angeles; pop. 32,503.

clar·ence (also Clar·ence) n. HISTORICAL a closed horse-drawn carriage with four wheels, seating four inside and two outside next to the coachman.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named in honor of the Duke of Clarence, later William IV.

Clar·en·don Edward Hyde, Earl of (1609-74), English statesman and historian; chief adviser to Charles II and chancellor of Oxford University 1660-67.

Clare of As·si·si, St. (1194-1253), Italian saint and abbess. With St. Francis, she founded the order of Poor Ladies of San Damiano (“Poor Clares”). Feast day, August 11 (formerly 12).

clar·et n. a red wine from Bordeaux, or wine of a similar character made elsewhere.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a deep purplish-red color.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally denoting a light red or yellowish wine, as distinct from a red or white): from Old French (vin) claret and medieval Latin claratum (vinum) 'clarified (wine)', from Latin clarus 'clear'.

clar·i·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] 1 make (a statement or situation) less confused and more clearly comprehensible: the report managed to clarify the government's position.

2 [often as adj.] (clarified) melt (butter) in order to separate out the impurities.

<DERIVATIVES> clar·i·fi·ca·tion n. clar·i·fi·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the senses 'set forth clearly' and 'make pure and clean'): from Old French clarifier, from late Latin clarificare, from Latin clarus 'clear'.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
clarify, construe, elucidate, explain, explicate, interpret

When a biology teacher gets up in front of a class and tries to explain how two brown-eyed parents can produce a blue-eyed child, the purpose is to make an entire process or sequence of events understandable. In a less formal sense, to explain is to make a verbal attempt to justify certain actions or to make them understood (she tried to explain why she was so late).

That same teacher might clarify a particular exam question that almost everyone in the class got wronga word that means to make an earlier event, situation, or statement clear.

Elucidate is a more formal word meaning to clarify, but where the root of the latter refers to clearness, the root of the former refers to light. To elucidate is to shed light on something through explanation, illustration, etc. (the principal's comments were an attempt to elucidate the school's policy on cheating).

A teacher who explicates something discusses a complex subject in a point-by-point manner (to explicate a poem).

If a personal judgment is inserted in making such an explication, the correct word is interpret (to interpret a poem's symbolic meanings).

To construe is to make a careful interpretation of something, especially where the meaning is ambiguous. For example, when a class misbehaves in front of a visitor, the teacher is likely to construe that behavior as an attempt to cause embarrassment or ridicule.

clar·i·net n. a woodwind instrument with a single-reed mouthpiece, a cylindrical tube of dark wood with a flared end, and holes stopped by keys. The most common forms are tuned in B flat, A, and E flat.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an organ stop with a tone resembling that of a clarinet.

<DERIVATIVES> clar·i·net·ist (BRIT. clar·i·net·tist) n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French clarinette, diminutive of clarine, denoting a kind of bell; related to CLARION.

Linked entries:

CLARION ■

clar·i·on n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a shrill, narrow-tubed war trumpet.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an organ stop with a quality resembling that of such a trumpet.

■ adj. loud and clear: clarion trumpeters.

<PHRASES> clarion call a strongly expressed demand or request for action: he issued a clarion call to young people to join the party.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from medieval Latin clario(n-), from Latin clarus 'clear'.

clar·i·ty n. the quality of being clear, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the quality of coherence and intelligibility: for the sake of clarity, each of these strategies is dealt with separately.

- the quality of being easy to see or hear; sharpness of image or sound: the clarity of the picture.

- the quality of being certain or definite: it was clarity of purpose that he needed.

- the quality of transparency or purity: the crystal clarity of water.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'glory, divine splendor'): from Latin claritas, from clarus 'clear'. The current sense dates from the early 17th cent.

Clark 1 George Rogers (1752-1818), American Revolution war leader and frontiersman. He defended the Illinois frontier against the British.

Clark 2 Mark Wayne (1896-1984), U.S. army officer. He served as chief of staff of the U.S. Army ground forces in 1942 and as UN commander and commander in chief of the U.S. Far East command 1952-53. He signed the Korean armistice.

Clark 3 Tom Campbell (1899-1977), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1949-67. He was U.S. attorney general 1945-49 before being appointed to the Court by President Truman. Considered somewhat conservative, he tended to be more liberal regarding civil rights issues.

Clark 4 Wesley (1944-), U.S. Army general and politician. A commander in the Vietnam War and the first Gulf War, he served as Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe 1997-2000 during the Kosovo conflict. In 2004 he ran for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Clark 5 William (1770-1838), U.S. explorer. With Meriwether Lewis, he commanded an expedition 1804-06 across the North American continent.

Clarke 1 Sir Arthur C. (1917- ), English science fiction writer; full name Arthur Charles Clarke. He wrote, with Stanley Kubrick, the screenplay for the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).

Clarke 2 John Hessin (1857-1945), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1916-22. Appointed to the Court by President Wilson, he was considered a liberal. He later headed the League of Nations Non-Partisan Committee 1922-28.

Clark Fork Riv·er a river that flows for 360 miles (580 km) from western Montana into eastern Idaho into the Columbia River.

clark·i·a n. a North American plant with showy white, pink, or purple flowers, cultivated as a border plant in gardens.
<INFO>  Genus Clarkia, family Onagraceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, named after W. CLARK, who discovered it.

Clarks·ville an industrial and commercial city in north central Tennessee, on the Cumberland River; pop. 103,445.

clar·y n. an aromatic herbaceous plant of the mint family, some kinds of which are used as culinary and medicinal herbs.
<INFO>  Genus Salvia, family Labiatae: several species, in particular the southern European S. sclarea, which is used in perfumery and from which an essential oil (clary sage) is obtained.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from obsolete French clarie, from medieval Latin sclarea.

clash n. 1 a violent confrontation: there have been minor clashes with security forces.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an incompatibility leading to disagreement: a personality clash.

2 a mismatch of colors: a clash of tweeds and a striped shirt.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an inconvenient coincidence of the timing of events or activities: it is hoped that clashes of dates will be avoided.

3 a loud jarring sound made by or resembling that made by metal objects being struck together: a clash of cymbals.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] meet and come into violent conflict: protesters demanding self-rule clashed with police.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- have a forceful disagreement: Clarke has frequently clashed with his colleagues.

- be incompatible or at odds: his thriftiness clashed with Ross's largesse.

2 [intrans.] (of colors) appear discordant or ugly when placed close to each other: [as adj.] (clashing) suits in clashing colors.
<SPECIAL USAGE> inconveniently occur at the same time: the date of the wedding clashes with Sean's graduation.

3 [trans.] strike (cymbals) together, producing a loud discordant sound.

<DERIVATIVES> clash·er n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: imitative.

clasp v. [trans.] 1 grasp (something) tightly with one's hand: he clasped her arm.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- place (one's arms) around something so as to hold it tightly: Kate's arms were clasped around her knees.

- hold (someone) tightly: he clasped Joanne in his arms.

- (clasp one's hands) press one's hands together with the fingers interlaced: he lay on his back with his hands clasped behind his head.

2 ARCHAIC fasten (something) with a small device, typically a metal one: one modest emerald clasped her robe.

■ n. 1 a device with interlocking parts used for fastening things together: a handbag with a golden clasp.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a silver bar on a medal ribbon, inscribed with the name of the battle at which the wearer was present.

2 [in sing.] an embrace.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a grasp or handshake: he took her hand in a firm clasp.

<PHRASES> clasp hands shake hands with fervor or affection.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: of unknown origin.

clasp·ers plural n. [ZOOLOGY] a pair of appendages under the abdomen of a male shark or ray, or at the end of the abdomen of a male insect, used to hold the female during copulation.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CLASP.

Linked entries:

CLASP ■

clasp knife n. a knife with a blade that folds into the handle.

class n. 1 a set or category of things having some property or attribute in common and differentiated from others by kind, type, or quality: the accommodations were good for a hotel of this class; a new class of heart drug.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BIOLOGY] a principal taxonomic grouping that ranks above order and below phylum or division, such as Mammalia or Insecta.

2 the system of ordering a society in which people are divided into sets based on perceived social or economic status: people who are socially disenfranchised by class | [as adj.] the class system.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a set in a society ordered in such a way: the ruling class.

- (the classes) ARCHAIC the rich or educated.

- INFORMAL impressive stylishness in appearance or behavior: she's got classshe looks like a princess.

3 a group of students who are taught together.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an occasion when students meet with their teacher for instruction; a lesson: I was late for a class.

- a course of instruction: I took classes in Indian music.

- all those graduating from a school or college in a particular year: the class of 1907.

■ v. [trans.] (often be classed as) assign or regard as belonging to a particular category: conduct that is classed as criminal.

■ adj. [attrib.] INFORMAL showing stylish excellence: he's a class player.

<PHRASES>
□ class act a person or thing displaying impressive and stylish excellence.

□ in a class of (or on) its (or one's) own unequaled, esp. in excellence or performance: the delicacy of English roses puts them in a class of their own.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (sense 3): from Latin classis 'a division of the Roman people, a grade, or a class of pupils'.

class ac·tion n. [LAW] a lawsuit filed or defended by an individual or small group acting on behalf of a large group.

class con·scious·ness n. awareness of one's place in a system of social classes, esp. (in Marxist terms) as it relates to the class struggle.

<DERIVATIVES> class-con·scious adj.

clas·sic adj. judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind: a classic novel; a classic car.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a garment or design) of a simple elegant style not greatly subject to changes in fashion: this classic navy blazer.

- remarkably and instructively typical: I had all the classic symptoms of flu.

■ n. 1 a work of art of recognized and established value: his books have become classics.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a garment of a simple, elegant, and long-lasting style.

- a thing that is memorable and a very good example of its kind: he's hoping that tomorrow's game will be a classic.

2 (usu. Classics) a school subject that involves the study of ancient Greek and Latin literature, philosophy, and history.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. the classics) the works of ancient Greek and Latin writers and philosophers.

- DATED a scholar of ancient Greek and Latin.

3 a major sports tournament or competition, as in golf or tennis: dozens of celebrity golfers attended the Bob Hope Desert Classic.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French classique or Latin classicus 'belonging to a class or division', later 'of the highest class', from classis (see CLASS).

<USAGE>
Traditionally, classic means 'typical, excellent as an example, timeless,' and classical means 'of (esp. Greek or Roman) antiquity.' Thus: John Ford directed many classic Westerns; the museum was built in the classical style. Great art is considered classic, not classical, unless it is created in the forms of antiquity. Classical music is formal and sophisticated music adhering to certain stylistic principles, esp. those of the late 18th century, but a classic folk song is one that well expresses its culture. A classical education exposes a student to classical literature, history, and languages (esp. Latin and Greek), but the study of Greek and Latin languages and their literatures is also referred to as classics, as in he majored in classics at college.

Linked entries:

CLASS ■

clas·si·cal adj. 1 of or relating to ancient Greek or Latin literature, art, or culture: classical mythology.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of art or architecture) influenced by ancient Greek or Roman forms or principles.

- (of language) having the form used by the ancient standard authors: classical Latin.

- based on the study of ancient Greek and Latin: a classical education.

2 (typically of a form of art) regarded as representing an exemplary standard; traditional and long-established in form or style: a classical ballet.

3 of or relating to the first significant period of an area of study: classical Marxism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHYSICS] relating to or based upon concepts and theories that preceded the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics; Newtonian: classical physics.

<DERIVATIVES> clas·si·cal·ism n. clas·si·cal·i·ty n. clas·si·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'outstanding for its kind'): from Latin classicus 'belonging to a class' (see CLASSIC) + -AL.

<USAGE>
See usage at CLASSIC.

Linked entries:

CLASSIC ■

-AL ■

clas·si·cal con·di·tion·ing n. [PSYCHOLOGY] a learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired: a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.

clas·si·cal mu·sic n. serious or conventional music following long-established principles rather than a folk, jazz, or popular tradition.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (more specifically) music written in the European tradition during a period lasting approximately from 1750 to 1830, when forms such as the symphony, concerto, and sonata were standardized. Often contrasted with BAROQUE and ROMANTIC.

Linked entries:

BAROQUE ■

ROMANTIC ■

clas·si·cism n. the following of ancient Greek or Roman principles and style in art and literature, generally associated with harmony, restraint, and adherence to recognized standards of form and craftsmanship, esp. from the Renaissance to the 18th century. Often contrasted with ROMANTICISM.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the following of traditional and long-established theories or styles.

Linked entries:

ROMANTICISM ■

clas·si·cist n. 1 a person who studies Classics (ancient Greek and Latin).

2 a follower of classicism in the arts.

clas·si·cize v. [intrans.] [usu. as adj.] (classicizing) imitate a classical style: the classicizing strains in Guercino's art.

Clas·si·co adj. [postpositive] used in the classification of Italian wines to designate a wine produced in the region from which the type takes its name: Chianti Classico.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

clas·si·fi·ca·tion n. the action or process of classifying something according to shared qualities or characteristics: the classification of disease according to symptoms.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BIOLOGY] the arrangement of animals and plants in taxonomic groups according to their observed similarities (including at least kingdom and phylum in animals, division in plants, and class, order, family, genus, and species).

- another term for TAXONOMY.

- a category into which something is put.

Linked entries:

TAXONOMY ■

clas·si·fied adj. arranged in classes or categories: a classified catalog of books.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [attrib.] (of newspaper or magazine advertisements or the pages on which these appear) organized in categories according to what is being advertised.

- (of information or documents) designated as officially secret and to which only authorized people may have access: classified information on nuclear experiments.

■ n. (classifieds) small advertisements placed in a newspaper and organized in categories.

clas·si·fi·er n. a person or thing that classifies something.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LINGUISTICS] an affix or word that indicates the semantic class to which a noun belongs, typically used in numerals or other expressions of counting, esp. in Chinese and Japanese, e.g. head in two head of cattle.

clas·si·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] (often be classified) arrange (a group of people or things) in classes or categories according to shared qualities or characteristics: mountain peaks are classified according to their shape.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- assign (someone or something) to a particular class or category: elements are usually classified as metals or nonmetals.

- designate (documents or information) as officially secret or to which only authorized people may have access: government officials classified 6.3 million documents in 1992.

<DERIVATIVES> clas·si·fi·a·ble adj. clas·si·fi·ca·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: back-formation from CLASSIFICATION, from French, from classe 'class', from Latin classis 'division'.

Linked entries:

CLASSIFICATION ■

clas·si·fy·ing adj. [GRAMMAR] denoting an adjective that describes the class that a head noun belongs to and characterized by not having a comparative or superlative (for example American, mortal). Contrasted with GRADABLE, QUALITATIVE.

Linked entries:

GRADABLE ■

QUALITATIVE ■

class in·ter·val n. [STATISTICS] the size of each class into which a range of a variable is divided, as represented by the divisions of a histogram or bar chart.

class·ism n. prejudice against or in favor of people belonging to a particular social class.

<DERIVATIVES> class·ist adj. & n.

class·less adj. (of a society) not divided into social classes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> not showing obvious signs of belonging to a particular social class: his voice was classless.

<DERIVATIVES> class·less·ness n.

class·mate n. a fellow member of a class at school or college.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a schoolmate.

class·room n. a room, typically in a school, in which a class of students is taught.

class strug·gle n. (in Marxist ideology) the conflict of interests between the workers and the ruling class in a capitalist society, regarded as inevitably violent.

class war (also class war·fare) n. another term for CLASS STRUGGLE.

Linked entries:

CLASS STRUGGLE ■

class·y adj. (class·i·er, class·i·est) INFORMAL stylish and sophisticated: the hotel is classy but relaxed.

<DERIVATIVES> class·i·ly adv. class·i·ness n.

clast n. [GEOLOGY] a constituent fragment of a clastic rock.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: back-formation from CLASTIC.

Linked entries:

CLASTIC ■

clas·tic adj. [GEOLOGY] denoting rocks composed of broken pieces of older rocks.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French clastique, from Greek klastos 'broken in pieces'.

clath·rate n. [CHEMISTRY] a compound in which molecules of one component are physically trapped within the crystal structure of another.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Latin clathratus, from clathri 'lattice bars', from Greek .

clat·ter n. [in sing.] a continuous rattling sound as of hard objects falling or striking each other: the horse spun around with a clatter of hooves; she dropped her knife and fork with a clatter.
<SPECIAL USAGE> noisy rapid talk: I could hear the clatter from the next table.

■ v. make or cause to make a continuous rattling sound: [intrans.] her coffee cup clattered in the saucer | [trans.] she clattered cups and saucers onto a tray.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] fall or move with such a sound: the knife clattered to the floor.

<ORIGIN> Old English (as a verb), of imitative origin.

Claude glass n. a convex dark or colored glass that reflects a small image in subdued colors, used by landscape painters to show the tonal values of a scene.

Claude Lor·raine (also Lor·rain) (1600-82), French painter; born Claude Gellée. He is noted for the use of light in his landscapes. His works include Ascanius and the Stag (1682).

clau·di·ca·tion n. [MEDICINE] limping.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also intermittent claudication) a condition in which cramping pain in the leg is induced by exercise, typically caused by obstruction of the arteries.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin claudicatio(n-), from the verb claudicare 'to limp', from claudus 'lame'.

Clau·di·us (10 BC-AD 54), Roman emperor 41-54; full name Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus. He restored order after Caligula's decadence and expanded the empire, in particular by invading Britain in AD 43.

clause n. 1 a unit of grammatical organization next below the sentence in rank and in traditional grammar said to consist of a subject and predicate. See also MAIN CLAUSE, SUBORDINATE CLAUSE.

2 a particular and separate article, stipulation, or proviso in a treaty, bill, or contract.

<DERIVATIVES> claus·al adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French clause, based on Latin claus- 'shut, closed', from the verb claudere.

Linked entries:

MAIN CLAUSE ■

SUBORDINATE CLAUSE ■

Clau·se·witz Karl von (1780-1831), Prussian general and military theorist. He wrote On War (1833), which had a marked influence on strategic studies in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Clau·si·us Rudolf (1822-88), German physicist. He was one of the founders of modern thermodynamics.

claus·tral adj. of or relating to a cloister or religious house: claustral buildings.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE enveloping; confining: this claustral heat.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin claustralis, from Latin claustrum 'lock, enclosed place' (see CLOISTER).

Linked entries:

CLOISTER ■

claus·tra·tion n. confinement as if in a cloister.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin claustrum 'lock, bolt' + -ATION.

Linked entries:

-ATION ■

claus·tro·pho·bi·a n. extreme or irrational fear of confined places.

<DERIVATIVES> claus·tro·phobe n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin claustrum 'lock, bolt' + -PHOBIA.

Linked entries:

-PHOBIA ■

claus·tro·pho·bic adj. (of a person) suffering from claustrophobia: crowds made him feel claustrophobic.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a place or situation) inducing claustrophobia: the claustrophobic interior of the cruiser.

■ n. a person who suffers from claustrophobia.

<DERIVATIVES> claus·tro·pho·bi·cal·ly adv.

claus·trum n. (pl. -tra ) [ANATOMY] a thin layer of gray matter in each cerebral hemisphere between the lentiform nucleus and the insula.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Latin.

cla·vate adj. [BOTANY] & [ZOOLOGY] club-shaped; thicker at the apex than at the base.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin clavatus, from Latin clava 'club'.

clave 1 n. (usu. claves) [MUSIC] one of a pair of hardwood sticks used to make a hollow sound when struck together.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from Latin American Spanish, from Spanish clave 'keystone', from Latin clavis 'key'.

clave 2 archaic past of CLEAVE^2 .

Linked entries:

CLEAVE ■

clav·i·chord n. a small, rectangular keyboard instrument producing a soft sound by means of metal blades attached to the ends of key levers that gently press the strings, popular from the early 15th to early 19th centuries.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin clavichordium, from Latin clavis 'key' + chorda 'string'.

clav·i·cle n. [ANATOMY] technical term for COLLARBONE.

<DERIVATIVES> cla·vic·u·lar adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin clavicula 'small key', diminutive of clavis (because of its shape).

Linked entries:

COLLARBONE ■

cla·vier n. 1 the keyboard of a musical instrument.

2 a keyboard instrument, esp. one with strings, such as the harpsichord.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from German Klavier, from French clavier, from medieval Latin claviarius 'key bearer', from Latin clavis 'key'.

clav·i·form adj. TECHNICAL another term for CLAVATE.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin clava 'club' + -IFORM.

Linked entries:

CLAVATE ■

-IFORM ■

claw n. a curved pointed horny nail on each digit of the foot in birds, lizards, and some mammals.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- either of a pair of small hooked appendages on an insect's leg.

- the pincer of a crab, scorpion, or other arthropod.

- a mechanical device resembling a claw, used for gripping or lifting.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] (of an animal or person) scratch or tear something with the claws or the fingernails: the kitten was clawing at Lowell's trouser leg | FIGURATIVE bitter jealousy clawed at her | [trans.] her hands clawed his shoulders.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- clutch at something with the hands: his fingers clawed at the air.

- (claw one's way) make one's way with difficulty by hauling oneself forward with one's hands: he clawed his way over a pile of bricks.

- [trans.] (claw something away) try desperately to move or remove something with the hands: rescuers clawed away rubble with their bare hands.

2 [intrans.] (of a sailing ship) beat to windward: the ability to claw off a lee shore.

<PHRASES> get one's claws into INFORMAL enter into a possessive relationship with.

<DERIVATIVES> clawed adj. [often in combination] a short-clawed otter. claw·less adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English clawu (noun), clawian (verb); related to Dutch klauw and German Klaue.

claw·back n. the recovery of money already disbursed: funds that are not subject to any clawback by the government.

■ v. [trans.] retrieve or recover (funds) already allocated or dispersed: all three plans would clawback benefits at retirement.

clawed toad n. an aquatic toad with a flattened body and claws on the hind toes, related to the Surinam toad.
<INFO>  Xenopus and other genera, family Pipidae: several species. See also XENOPUS.

Linked entries:

XENOPUS ■

claw foot n. (pl. claw feet) 1 a foot on a piece of furniture or a standing fixture, shaped to resemble a claw.

2 [MEDICINE] an excessively arched foot with an unnaturally high instep.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a disease causing such a distortion of the foot.

<DERIVATIVES> claw-foot·ed adj.

claw ham·mer n. 1 a hammer with one side of the head split and curved, used for extracting nails.

2 (clawhammer) a style of banjo playing in which the thumb and fingers strum or pluck the strings in a downward motion.

Clay 1 , Cassius, see ALI^2 .

Linked entries:

ALI ■

Clay 2 Henry (1777-1852), U.S. politician, statesman, and orator; nicknamed the Great Pacificator and the Great Compromiser. He was a leader of the "War Hawks" 1811 and championed the Missouri Compromise 1820. He served as secretary of state 1825-29 and as a senator from Kentucky 1831-42.

clay n. a stiff, sticky fine-grained earth, typically yellow, red, or bluish-gray in color and often forming an impermeable layer in the soil. It can be molded when wet, and is dried and baked to make bricks, pottery, and ceramics.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- TECHNICAL sediment with particles smaller than silt, typically less than 0.00016 inch (0.004 mm).

- a hardened clay surface for a tennis court.

- POETIC/LITERARY the substance of the human body: this lifeless clay.

<PHRASES> feet of clay see FOOT.

<DERIVATIVES> clay·ey adj. clay·ish adj. clay·like adj.

<ORIGIN>  Old English ; related to Dutch klei, also to CLEAVE^2 and CLIMB.

Linked entries:

FOOT ■

CLEAVE ■

CLIMB ■

clay·ma·tion (also Clay·ma·tion) n. a method of animation in which clay figures are filmed using stop-motion photography.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: from CLAY + ANIMATION.

Linked entries:

CLAY ■

ANIMATION ■

clay min·er·al n. any of a group of minerals that occur as minute sheetlike or fibrous crystals in clay. They are all hydrated aluminosilicates having layered crystal structures.

clay·more n. 1 HISTORICAL a two-edged broadsword used by Scottish Highlanders.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a single-edged broadsword having a hilt with a basketwork design, introduced in Scotland in the 16th century.

2 a type of antipersonnel mine.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic claidheamh 'sword' + mór 'great'.

clay pig·eon n. a saucer-shaped piece of baked clay or other material thrown up in the air from a trap as a target for shooting.

-cle suffix forming nouns such as article, particle, which were originally diminutives.

<ORIGIN> via French from Latin -culus, -cula, -culum.

clean adj. 1 free from dirt, marks, or stains: the room was spotlessly clean; keep the wound clean.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- having been washed since last worn or used: a clean blouse.

- [attrib.] (of paper) not yet marked by writing or drawing: he copied the directions onto a clean sheet of paper.

- (of a person) attentive to personal hygiene: by nature he was clean and neat.

- free from pollutants or unpleasant substances: we will create a cleaner, safer environment.

- free from or producing relatively little radioactive contamination.

2 morally uncontaminated; pure; innocent: clean living.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- not sexually offensive or obscene: it's all good clean fun; even when clean, his verses are very funny.

- showing or having no record of offenses or crimes: a clean driving license is essential for the job.

- played or done according to the rules: it was a good clean fight.

- [predic.] INFORMAL not possessing or containing anything illegal, esp. drugs or stolen goods: I searched him and his luggage, and he was clean.

- [predic.] INFORMAL (of a person) not taking or having taken drugs or alcohol.

- free from ceremonial defilement, according to Mosaic Law and similar religious codes.

- (of an animal) not prohibited under such codes and fit to be used for food.

3 free from irregularities; having a smooth edge or surface: a clean fracture of the leg.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- having a simple, well-defined, and pleasing shape: the clean lines and pared-down planes of modernism.

- (of an action) smoothly and skillfully done: I still hadn't made a clean takeoff.

- (of a taste, sound, or smell) giving a clear and distinctive impression to the senses; sharp and fresh: clean, fresh, natural flavors.

- (of timber) free from knots.

■ adv. 1 so as to be free from dirt, marks, or unwanted matter: the room had been washed clean.

2 INFORMAL used to emphasize the completeness of a reported action, condition, or experience: he was knocked clean off his feet; I clean forgot her birthday.

■ v. [trans.] make (something or someone) free of dirt, marks, or mess, esp. by washing, wiping, or brushing: clean your teeth properly after meals; | chair covers should be easy to clean; we cleaned Uncle Jim up and made him presentable | [intrans.] he always expected other people to clean up after him | [as n.] (cleaning) Anne will help with the cleaning.
<SPECIAL USAGE> remove the innards of (fish or poultry) prior to cooking.

<PHRASES>
□ (as) clean as a whistle see WHISTLE.

□ clean bill of health see BILL OF HEALTH.

□ clean someone's clock INFORMAL give someone a beating: he went wild and cleaned everybody's clock down there in the dugout.
- defeat or surpass someone decisively.

□ clean house do housework.
- eliminate corruption or inefficiency: unless our organization cleans house, it will be difficult to raise funds.

□ clean one's plate eat up all the food put on one's plate.

□ a clean sweep
1 the removal of all unwanted people or things in order to start afresh: the new leaders wanted to make a clean sweep of the discredited old order.

2 the winning of all of a group of similar or related competitions, events, or matches: he was in reach of the nomination after a clean sweep of Tuesday's primaries.

□ clean up one's act INFORMAL begin to behave in a better way, esp. by giving up alcohol, drugs, or illegal activities: the casino industry is bent on cleaning up its act.

□ come clean INFORMAL be completely honest; keep nothing hidden: the company has refused to come clean about its pollution record.

□ have clean hands be uninvolved and blameless with regard to an immoral act: no one involved in the conflict has clean hands.

□ keep one's hands clean not involve oneself in an immoral act.

□ keep one's nose clean see NOSE.

□ make a clean breast of something (or make a clean breast of it) confess fully one's mistakes or wrongdoings.

□ make a clean job of something INFORMAL do something thoroughly.

□ wipe the slate clean see WIPE.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  clean someone out INFORMAL use up or take all someone's money: they were cleaned out by the Englishman at the baccarat table.

□  clean up
- make things or an area clean or neat: he was in the kitchen, cleaning up.

- INFORMAL make a substantial gain or profit.

- win all the prizes available in a sporting competition or series of events: the Germans cleaned up at Wimbledon.

□  clean something up restore order or morality to: the police chief was given the job of cleaning up a notorious district.

<DERIVATIVES> clean·a·ble adj. clean·ish adj. clean·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English ; related to Dutch and German klein 'small'.

Linked entries:

WHISTLE ■

BILL OF HEALTH ■

NOSE ■

WIPE ■

clean and jerk n. [in sing.] a two-movement weightlifting exercise in which a weight is raised above the head following an initial lift to shoulder level.

clean-cut adj. sharply outlined: the normally clean-cut edge between sea and land has become blurred.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- giving the appearance of neatness and respectability: the ad featured two clean-cut teenagers.

- evoking or suggesting such respectability: a scandal that threatens her clean-cut image.

clean·er n. a person or thing that cleans something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person employed to clean the interior of a building.

- (the cleaners) a place of business where clothes and fabrics are dry-cleaned: my suit's at the cleaners.

- a device for cleaning, such as a vacuum cleaner.

- a chemical substance used for cleaning: an oven cleaner.

<PHRASES> take someone to the cleaners INFORMAL take all someone's money or possessions in a dishonest or unfair way.
- inflict a crushing defeat on someone: the Blue Jays went home and were taken to the cleaners by the Red Sox.

clean·er fish n. a small fish, esp. a striped wrasse, that is permitted to remove parasites from the skin, gills, and mouth of larger fishes, to their mutual benefit.
<INFO>  Genus Labroides, family Labridae: several species, in particular L. dimidiatus.

clean-limbed adj. (esp. of the human figure) slim; well formed and shapely.

clean·ly adv. 1 in a way that produces no dirt, noxious gases, or other pollutants: the engine burns very cleanly.

2 without difficulty or impediment; smoothly and efficiently: he vaulted cleanly through the open window. <ORIGIN> Old English (see CLEAN, -LY^2 ).

■ adj. (-li·er, -li·est) ARCHAIC (of a person or animal) habitually clean and careful to avoid dirt. <ORIGIN> Old English (see CLEAN, -LY^1 ).

<DERIVATIVES> clean·li·ness n.

Linked entries:

CLEAN ■

-LY ■

CLEAN ■

-LY ■

clean room n. an environment free from dust and other contaminants, used chiefly for the manufacture of electronic components.

cleanse v. [trans.] make (something, esp. the skin) thoroughly clean: this preparation will cleanse and tighten the skin | [as adj.] (cleansing) a cleansing cream.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- rid (a person, place, or thing) of something seen as unpleasant, unwanted, or defiling: the mission to cleanse the nation of subversives.

- free (someone) from sin or guilt.

- ARCHAIC (in biblical translations) cure (a leper).

<ORIGIN> Old English , from (see CLEAN).

Linked entries:

CLEAN ■

cleans·er n. [often with adj.] a substance that cleanses, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a powder or liquid for scouring sinks, toilets, and bathtubs: harsh cleansers will scratch the basin.

- a cosmetic product for cleansing the skin.

clean-shav·en adj. (of a man) without a beard or mustache.

clean slate n. an absence of existing restraints or commitments: no government starts with a clean slate.

clean·up (also clean-up) n. 1 an act of making a place clean or tidy: an environmental cleanup.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an act of removing or putting an end to disorder, immorality, or crime.

2 [usu. as adj.] [BASEBALL] the fourth position in a team's batting order, typically reserved for a power hitter likely to clear the bases by enabling any runners to score: L.A.'s cleanup hitter smacked a fastball over the left-field fence | [as adverb] he garnered a certain amount of attention while playing right field and batting cleanup.

clear adj. 1 easy to perceive, understand, or interpret: the voice on the telephone was clear and strong; clear and precise directions; her handwriting was clear; am I making myself clear?
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- leaving no doubt; obvious or unambiguous: it was clear that they were in a trap; | a clear case of poisoning.

- having or feeling no doubt or confusion: every student must be clear about what is expected.

2 free of anything that marks or darkens something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a substance) transparent: the clear glass of the French windows; | a stream of clear water.

- free of cloud, mist, or rain: the day was fine and clear.

- (of a person's skin) free from blemishes.

- (of a person's eyes) unclouded; shining: I looked into her clear gray eyes.

- (of a color) pure and intense: clear blue delphiniums.

- ARCHAIC (of a fire) burning with little smoke: a bright, clear flame.

3 free of any obstructions or unwanted objects: with a clear road ahead, he shifted into high gear; I had a clear view in both directions; his desktop was almost clear.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a period of time) free of any appointments or commitments: the following Saturday Mattie had a clear day.

- [predic.] (of a person) free of something undesirable or unpleasant: after 18 months of treatment he was clear of TB.

- (of a person's mind) free of something that impairs logical thought: in the morning, with a clear head, she would tackle all her problems.

- (of a person's conscience) free of guilt.

4 [predic.] (clear of) not touching; away from: the truck was wedged in the ditch, one wheel clear of the ground.

5 [attrib.] (of a sum of money) net: a clear profit of $1,100.

6 [PHONETICS] denoting a palatalized form of l (as in salad or willing) in some southern U.S. accents or as in leaf in Irish accents. Often contrasted with DARK.

■ adv. 1 so as to be out of the way of or away from: he leapt clear of the car; stand clear, I'll start the plane up.
<SPECIAL USAGE> so as not to be obstructed or cluttered: the floor had been swept clear of litter.

2 with clarity; distinctly: she had to toss her head to see the lake clear again.

3 completely: he had time to get clear away.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (clear to) all the way to: you could see clear to the bottom of the lagoon.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] become free of something that marks, darkens, obstructs, or covers something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of the sky or weather) become free of cloud or rain: we'll go out if the weather clears.

- (of a liquid) become transparent: a wine that refuses to clear.

- become free of obstructions: the boy's lungs cleared and he began to breathe more easily.

- gradually go away or disappear: the fever clears in two to four weeks; the mist had cleared away.

- (of a person's face or expression) assume a happier aspect following previous confusion or distress: for a moment, Sam was confused; then his expression cleared.

- (of a person's mind) regain the capacity for logical thought; become free of confusion: his mind cleared and he began to reflect.

2 [trans.] make (something) free of marks, obstructions, or unwanted items, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- remove an obstruction or unwanted item or items from: the driveway had been cleared of snow; Carolyn cleared the table.

- free (land) for cultivation or building by removing vegetation or existing structures.

- free (one's mind) of unpleasantness or confusion: even the final clue failed to clear his mind.

- cause people to leave (a building or place): the police shouted a warning and cleared the streets.

3 [trans.] remove (an obstruction or unwanted item) from somewhere: snow was cleared from the storm drains; park staff cleared away dead trees.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [CHIEFLY SOCCER] send (the ball) away from the area near one's goal.

- discharge (a debt).

4 [trans.] get past or over (something) safely or without touching it: the plane rose high enough to clear the trees.
<SPECIAL USAGE> jump (a specified height) in a competition: she cleared 1.50 meters in the high jump.

5 [trans.] show or declare (someone) officially to be innocent: the commission had cleared the weightlifter of cheating.

6 [trans.] give official approval or authorization to: I cleared him to return to his squadron.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- get official approval for (something): the press releases had to be cleared with the White House.

- (of a person or goods) satisfy the necessary requirements to pass through (customs): I can help her to clear customs quickly.

- pass (a check) through a clearinghouse so that the money goes into the payee's account: the check could not be cleared until Monday.

- [intrans.] (of a check) pass through a clearinghouse in such a way.

7 [trans.] earn or gain (an amount of money) as a net profit: I would hope to clear $50,000 profit.

<PHRASES>
□ as clear as mud see MUD.

□ clear the air make the air less sultry.
- defuse or clarify an angry, tense, or confused situation by frank discussion: it's time a few things were said to clear the air.

□ (as) clear as a bell see BELL^1 .

□ (as) clear as day very easy to see or understand.

□ clear the decks prepare for a particular event or goal by dealing with anything beforehand that might hinder progress.

□ clear the name of show to be innocent: the spokesman released a statement attempting to clear his client's name.

□ clear one's throat cough slightly so as to speak more clearly, attract attention, or to express hesitancy before saying something awkward.

□ clear the way remove an obstacle or hindrance to allow progress: the ruling could be enough to clear the way for impeachment proceedings.
- [in imperative] stand aside: Stand back, there! Clear the way!

□ in clear not encrypted; not in code: the Russian staff practice of sending radio messages and orders in clear.

□ in the clear no longer in danger or suspected of something: the latest information put her in the clear.

□ out of a (or the) clear blue sky as a complete surprise: his moods blew up suddenly out of a clear blue sky.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  clear off [usu. in imperative] INFORMAL go away: “Clear off!” he yelled.

□  clear out INFORMAL leave quickly.

□  clear something out remove the contents from something so as to tidy it or free it for alternative use: they told her to clear out her desk by the next day.

□  clear up 1 (of an illness or other medical condition) become cured: all my health problems cleared up.

2 (of the weather) become brighter.
- (of rain) stop.

□  clear something up 1 (also clear up) tidy something up by removing trash or other unwanted items: he decided to clear up his garage; I keep meaning to come down here and clear up.
- remove trash or other unwanted items to leave something tidy: he asked the boys to clear up their mess.

2 solve or explain something: he wanted to clear up some misconceptions.

3 cure an illness or other medical condition: folk customs prescribed sage tea to clear up measles.

<DERIVATIVES> clear·a·ble adj. clear·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cler, from Latin clarus.

Linked entries:

DARK ■

MUD ■

BELL ■

clear·ance n. 1 the action or process of removing or getting rid of something or of something's dispersing: cleaning of the machine should include clearance of blockages; there will be sunny intervals after clearance of any early mist.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [often with adj.] the removal of buildings, people, or trees from land so as to free it for alternative uses: slum clearance accelerated during the 1960s | forest clearances.

- (in soccer and other games) a kick or hit that sends the ball out of a defensive zone.

2 official authorization for something to proceed or take place: there was a delay in obtaining diplomatic clearance to overfly Israel.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also security clearance) official permission for someone to have access to classified information: these people don't have clearance.

- permission for an aircraft to take off or land at an airport: he took off without air traffic clearance.

- the clearing of a person or ship by customs.

- a certificate showing that such clearance has been granted.

- the process of clearing checks through a clearinghouse.

3 clear space allowed for a thing to move past or under another: always give cyclists plenty of clearance.

clear·ance sale n. a sale of goods at reduced prices to get rid of superfluous stock or because the store is closing down.

clear-cut adj. 1 sharply defined; easy to perceive or understand: we now had a clear-cut objective.

2 (of an area) from which every tree has been cut down and removed.

■ v. [trans.] cut down and remove every tree from (an area): colonizers who clear-cut large jungle tracts.

clear-eyed adj. having unclouded, bright eyes: a handsome, clear-eyed young man.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE having a shrewd understanding and no illusions: clear-eyed about human nature.

Clear·field a city in northern Utah, southwest of Ogden and of Hill Air Force Base, which is central to its economy; pop. 21,435.

clear·head·ed (also clear-head·ed) adj. alert and thinking logically and coherently.

<DERIVATIVES> clear·head·ed·ly adv. clear·head·ed·ness n.

clear·ing n. an open space in a forest, esp. one cleared for cultivation.

clear·ing·house (also clear·ing house) (abbr.: c.h. or C.H.) n. a bankers' establishment where checks and bills from member banks are exchanged, so that only the balances need be paid in cash.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an agency or organization that collects and distributes something, esp. information.

clear·ly adv. in such a way as to allow easy and accurate perception or interpretation: the ability to write clearly | [as submodifier] on white paper, the seeds are clearly visible.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [sentence adverb] without doubt; obviously: clearly, there have been disasters and reversals here.

clear-sight·ed adj. thinking clearly and sensibly; perspicacious and discerning: a clear-sighted sense of what is possible and appropriate.

<DERIVATIVES> clear-sight·ed·ly adv. clear-sight·ed·ness n.

clear·sto·ry n. (pl. -ries) variant spelling of CLERESTORY.

Linked entries:

CLERESTORY ■

Clear·wa·ter a city in west central Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico, west of Tampa; pop. 108,787.

Clear·wa·ter Moun·tains a range in northern Idaho, part of the Rocky Mountains.

clear·wing (also clearwing moth) n. a day-flying moth that has narrow mainly transparent wings and mimics a wasp or bee in appearance.
<INFO>  Sesiidae

cleat n. a T-shaped piece of metal or wood, esp. on a boat or ship, to which ropes are attached.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- one of a number of projecting pieces of metal, rubber, or other material on the sole of a shoe, designed to prevent the wearer from losing their footing.

- (cleats) athletic shoes with a cleated sole, typically used when playing football.

- a projection on a spar or other part of a ship, to prevent slipping.

- a small wedge, esp. one on a plow or scythe.

<DERIVATIVES> cleat·ed adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'wedge'); related to Dutch kloot 'ball, sphere' and German Kloss 'clod, dumpling', also to CLOT and CLOUT.

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CLOT ■

CLOUT ■

cleav·age n. a sharp division; a split: a system dominated by the class cleavage.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the hollow between a woman's breasts when supported, esp. as exposed by a low-cut garment.

- [BIOLOGY] cell division, esp. of a fertilized egg cell.

- the splitting of rocks or crystals in a preferred plane or direction.

cleave 1 v. (past clove or cleft or cleaved ; past part. clo·ven or cleft or cleaved) [trans.] split or sever (something), esp. along a natural line or grain: the large ax his father used to cleave wood for the fire.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- split (a molecule) by breaking a particular chemical bond.

- make a way through (something) forcefully, as if by splitting it apart: they watched a coot cleave the smooth water; Stan was off, cleaving a path through the traffic | [intrans.] an unstoppable warrior clove through their ranks.

- [intrans.] [BIOLOGY] (of a cell) divide: the egg cleaves to form a mulberry-shaped cluster of cells.

<DERIVATIVES> cleav·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch klieven and German klieben.

cleave 2 v. [intrans.] (cleave to) POETIC/LITERARY stick fast to: Rose's mouth was dry, her tongue cleaving to the roof of her mouth.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- adhere strongly to (a particular pursuit or belief): part of why we cleave to sports is that excellence is so measurable.

- become very strongly involved with or emotionally attached to (someone): it was his choice to cleave to the Brownings.

<ORIGIN> Old English cleofian, clifian, ; related to Dutch kleven and German kleben, also to CLAY and CLIMB.

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CLAY ■

CLIMB ■

Clea·ver Eldridge (1935-98), U.S. civil rights activist. He converted to the Nation of Islam and wrote Soul on Ice (1968) about the black experience.

cleav·er n. a tool with a heavy broad blade, used by butchers for chopping meat.

cleav·ers plural n. [treated as sing. or pl.] a widely distributed scrambling plant related to bedstraws, with hooked bristles on the stem, leaves, and seeds that cling to fur and clothing. Also called GOOSEGRASS.
<INFO>  Galium aparine, family Rubiaceae.

<ORIGIN>  Old English , related to CLEAVE^2 .

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GOOSEGRASS ■

CLEAVE ■

Cleese John (Marwood) (1939- ), English comic actor and writer, noted for "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969-74) and for the situation comedy "Fawlty Towers" (1975-79).

clef n. [MUSIC] any of several symbols placed at the left-hand end of a staff, indicating the pitch of the notes written on it.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, from Latin clavis 'key'.

cleft 1 past and past participle of CLEAVE^1 .

■ adj. split, divided, or partially divided into two: a cleft chin.

Linked entries:

CLEAVE ■

cleft 2 n. a fissure or split, esp. one in rock or the ground.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a vertical indentation in the middle of a person's forehead or chin.

- a deep division between two parts of the body.

<ORIGIN> Middle English clift: of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kluft and German Kluft, also to CLEAVE^1 . The form of the word was altered in the 16th cent. by association with CLEFT^1 .

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CLEAVE ■

CLEFT ■

cleft lip n. a congenital split in the upper lip on one or both sides of the center, often associated with a cleft palate.

<USAGE>
Cleft lip is the standard, accepted term and should be used instead of harelip, which can cause offense.

cleft pal·ate n. a congenital split in the roof of the mouth.

cleft sen·tence n. [GRAMMAR] a sentence in which an element is emphasized by being put in a separate clause with the use of an empty introductory word such as it or that, e.g., it's money we want; it was today that I saw him; that was the King you were talking to.

cleg n. BRIT. another term for HORSEFLY.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old Norse kleggi.

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HORSEFLY ■

cleis·tog·a·my n. [BOTANY] self-fertilization that occurs within a permanently closed flower.

<DERIVATIVES> cleis·tog·a·mous adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek kleistos 'closed' + -gamy (from gamos 'marriage').

clem·a·tis n. a climbing plant of the buttercup family that bears white, pink, or purple flowers and feathery seeds. Several kinds are cultivated as ornamentals.
<INFO>  Genus Clematis, family Ranunculaceae.

<ORIGIN> Latin (also denoting the periwinkle), from Greek , from 'vine branch'.

Cle·men·ceau Georges (Eugène Benjamin) (1841-1929), French statesman, prime minister 1906-09 and 1917-20. At the Versailles peace talks he pushed hard for a punitive settlement with Germany, but failed to obtain all that he demanded.

clem·en·cy n. mercy; lenience: an appeal for clemency. See note at MERCY.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin clementia, from clemens, clement- 'clement'.

Clem·ens 1 (William) Roger (1962- ), U.S. baseball player; known as the Rocket. In 2004, he became the first pitcher to have won seven Cy Young awards (1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004). He had previously set another major league record by twice (1986, 1996) striking out 20 batters during a nine-inning game. He played for the Boston Red Sox 1983-96, the Toronto Blue Jays 1997-98, the New York Yankees 1999-2003, and the Houston Astros from 2004.

Clem·ens 2 , Samuel Langhorne, see TWAIN.

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TWAIN ■

Clem·ent, St. (1st century AD), pope (bishop of Rome) c.88-c.97, probably the third after St. Peter; known as St. Clement of Rome. Feast day, November 23.

clem·ent adj. 1 (of weather) mild.

2 (of a person or a person's actions) merciful.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from Latin clemens, clement-.

Cle·men·te Roberto Walker (1934-72), U.S. baseball player; born in Puerto Rico. An outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates 1955-72, he was a four-time National League batting champion. He was killed in an airplane crash. Baseball Hall of Fame (1973).

clem·en·tine n. a tangerine of a deep orange-red North African variety that is grown around the Mediterranean and in South Africa.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from French clémentine, from the male given name Clément.

Clem·ent of Al·ex·an·dri·a, St. (c.150-c.215), Greek theologian; Latin name Titus Flavius Clemens. He related the ideas of Greek philosophy to the Christian faith. Feast day, December 5.

Clem·son a city in northwestern South Carolina, home to Clemson University; pop. 11,096.

clen·bu·te·rol n. [MEDICINE] a synthetic drug used in the treatment of asthma and other respiratory diseases and also in veterinary obstetrics. It also promotes the growth of muscle and has been used illegally by athletes to enhance performance.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from c(h)l(oro-) + (ph)en(yl) + but(yl) + er + -OL.

Linked entries:

-OL ■

clench v. (with reference to the fingers or hand) close into a tight ball, esp. when feeling extreme anger: [trans.] she clenched her fists, struggling for control | [intrans.] John's right hand clenched into a fist | [as adj.] (clenched) he struck the wall with his clenched fist.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (with reference to the teeth) press or be pressed tightly together, esp. with anger or determination or so as to suppress a strong emotion: [intrans.] her teeth clenched in anger.

- [trans.] grasp (something) tightly, esp. with the hands or between the teeth: he clenched the steering wheel so hard that the car wobbled.

- [intrans.] (of a muscular part of the body) tighten or contract sharply, esp. with strong emotion: Mark felt his stomach clench in alarm.

■ n. [in sing.] a contraction or tightening of part of the body: she saw the anger rise, saw the clench of his fists.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the state of being tightly closed or contracted.

<ORIGIN> Old English (in the sense of clinch 'fix securely'): of Germanic origin; related to CLING.

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CLING ■

cle·o·me n. a plant of a chiefly tropical genus that includes the spider flower. Cleomes are noted for their long stamens.
<INFO>  Genus Cleome, family Capparidaceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek, denoting a different plant.

Cle·o·pa·tra (69-30 BC), queen of Egypt 47-30; the last Ptolemaic (Macedonian dynasty) ruler; also known as Cleopatra VII. After a brief liaison with Julius Caesar, she formed a political and romantic alliance with Mark Antony. Their ambitions ultimately brought them into conflict with Rome, and they were defeated at the battle of Actium in 31. She is reputed to have committed suicide by allowing herself to be bitten by an asp.

cle·o·pa·tra n. a European butterfly related to the brimstone, with wings that vary from pale cream to orange-yellow.
<INFO>  Gonepteryx cleopatra, family Pieridae.

Cle·o·pa·tra's Needle a popular name for either of two ancient Egyptian obelisks, one on the Victoria Embankment in London, England; the other in Central Park, New York City.

Cle·o·pa·tra's Nee·dles a pair of granite obelisks erected at Heliopolis by Tuthmosis III c.1475 BC. They were taken from Egypt in 1878, one being set up on the Thames Embankment in London and the other in Central Park, New York. They have no known historical connection with Cleopatra.

clep·sy·dra n. (pl. -dras or -drae ) an ancient time-measuring device worked by a flow of water.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek klepsudra, based on kleptein 'steal' + 'water'.

clere·sto·ry (also clear·sto·ry) n. (pl. -ries) the upper part of the nave, choir, and transepts of a large church, containing a series of windows. It is clear of the roofs of the aisles and admits light to the central parts of the building.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- such a series of windows in a church or similar windows in another building.

- a raised section of roof running down the center of a railroad car, with small windows or ventilators.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from CLEAR + STORY^2 .

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CLEAR ■

STORY ■

cler·gy n. (pl. -gies) [usu. treated as pl.] the body of all people ordained for religious duties, esp. in the Christian Church: all marriages were to be solemnized by the clergy.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, based on ecclesiastical Latin clericus 'clergyman' (see CLERIC).

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CLERIC ■

cler·gy·man n. (pl. -men) a male priest or minister of a Christian church.

cler·gy·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en) a female priest or minister of a Christian church.

cler·ic n. a priest or minister of a Christian church.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a priest or religious leader in any religion.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin clericus 'clergyman', from Greek 'belonging to the Christian clergy', from 'lot, heritage' (Acts 1:26).

cler·i·cal adj. 1 (of a job or person) concerned with or relating to work in an office, esp. routine documentation and administrative tasks: temps are always needed for clerical work.

2 of or relating to the clergy: he was still attired in his clerical outfit.

<DERIVATIVES> cler·i·cal·ism n. (in sense 2). cler·i·cal·ist n. (in sense 2). cler·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (sense 2): from ecclesiastical Latin clericalis, from clericus 'clergyman' (see CLERIC).

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CLERIC ■

cler·i·cal col·lar n. a stiff upright white collar that fastens at the back, worn by the clergy in some churches.

cler·i·hew n. a short comic or nonsensical verse, typically in two rhyming couplets with lines of unequal length and referring to a famous person.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: named after Edmund Clerihew Bentley (1875-1956), the English writer who invented it.

cler·i·sy n. [usu. treated as pl.] a distinct class of learned or literary people: the clerisy are those who read for pleasure.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: apparently influenced by German Klerisei, based on Greek 'heritage' (see CLERIC).

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CLERIC ■

clerk n. 1 a person employed in an office or bank to keep records and accounts and to undertake other routine administrative duties: a bank clerk.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an official in charge of the records of a local council or court: a clerk to the court.

- a person employed by a judge, or being trained by a lawyer, who does legal research, etc.

- a lay officer of a cathedral, parish church, college chapel, etc.: a chapter clerk.

2 (also desk clerk) a receptionist in a hotel.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an assistant in a store; a salesclerk.

3 (also clerk in holy orders) FORMAL a member of the clergy.

■ v. [intrans.] work as a clerk: eleven of those who left college this year are clerking in auction houses.

<DERIVATIVES> clerk·ish adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English cleric, clerc (in the sense 'ordained minister, literate person'), from ecclesiastical Latin clericus 'clergyman' (see CLERIC); reinforced by Old French clerc, from the same source. Sense 1 dates from the early 16th cent.

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CLERIC ■

clerk·ly adj. ARCHAIC of, relating to, or appropriate to a clerk: a list drawn up in a clerkly hand.
<SPECIAL USAGE> scholarly; learned.

clerk·ship n. the position or status of a clerk, esp. in the legal profession.

Cler·mont-Fer·rand an industrial city in central France, capital of the Auvergne region, at the center of the Massif Central; pop. 140,170.

C-lev·el (also c-lev·el) adj. denoting the executive level of a corporation: a c-level corporate officer.

<ORIGIN> early 2000s: from the fact that initialisms for jobs at this level begin with C (for chief).

Cleve·land 1 1 a major port and industrial city in northeastern Ohio, on Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River; pop. 478,403.

2 a city in southeastern Tennessee, northeast of Chattanooga; pop. 37,192.

Cleve·land 2 (Stephen) Grover (1837-1908), 22nd and 24th president of the U.S. 1885-89 and 1893-97. A New York Democrat, he served as governor of his state 1883-85 before being elected to the presidency. During his first term, he championed civil service reform and revision of the tariff system. Although he was defeated for reelection by Benjamin Harrison in 1888, he was again elected in 1892. His second term was marked by his application of the Monroe Doctrine to Britain's border dispute with Venezuela in 1895.

Cleve·land Heights a city in northeastern Ohio, northeast of Cleveland; pop. 54,052.

clev·er adj. (clev·er·er, clev·er·est) quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent: a clever and studious young woman; how clever of him to think of this!
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- skilled at doing or achieving something; talented: he was clever at getting what he wanted; she is clever with her hands.

- (of a thing, action, or idea) showing intelligence or skill; ingenious: a simple but clever idea for helping people learn computing.

- superficially ingenious or witty: a story too clever and tidy to be real.

- DATED [usu. with negative] INFORMAL sensible; well-advised: it wasn't too clever, leaving Dolly alone.

<PHRASES> too clever by half INFORMAL annoyingly proud of one's intelligence or skill and in danger of overreaching oneself.

<DERIVATIVES> clev·er·ly adv. clev·er·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'quick to catch hold', only recorded in this period): perhaps of Dutch or Low German origin, and related to CLEAVE^2 . In the late 16th cent. the term came to mean (probably through dialect use) 'manually skillful'; the sense 'possessing mental agility' dates from the early 18th cent.

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CLEAVE ■

clev·is n. a U-shaped or forked metal connector within which another part can be fastened by means of a bolt or pin passing through the ends of the connector.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: perhaps related to CLEAVE^1 .

Linked entries:

CLEAVE ■

clew n. 1 the lower or after corner of a sail.

2 (clews) [NAUTICAL] the cords by which a hammock is suspended.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (clew) a ball of thread (used esp. with reference to the thread supposedly used by Theseus to mark his way out of the Cretan labyrinth).

3 archaic variant of CLUE.

■ v. [trans.] (clew a sail up) [SAILING] haul up the clews of a sail to the yard or into the mast ready for furling.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (clew a sail down) lower an upper square sail by hauling down on the clew lines while slacking away on the halyard.

<ORIGIN> Old English cliwen, cleowen (denoting a rounded mass, also a ball of thread), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kluwen. All senses are also recorded for the form CLUE.

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CLUE ■

CLUE ■

CLI abbr. COST-OF-LIVING INDEX.

cli·ché (also cli·che) n. 1 a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought: the old cliché “one man's meat is another man's poison.”
<SPECIAL USAGE> a very predictable or unoriginal thing or person: each building is a mishmash of tired clichés.

2 [PRINTING] CHIEFLY BRIT. a stereotype or electrotype.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, past participle (used as a noun) of clicher 'to stereotype'.

cli·chéd (also cli·ched) adj. showing a lack of originality; based on frequently repeated phrases or opinions: people have a clichéd view of the Middle East.

click n. a short, sharp sound as of a switch being operated or of two hard objects coming quickly into contact: she heard the click of the door.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [PHONETICS] an ingressive consonantal stop produced by sudden withdrawal of the tongue from the soft palate, front teeth, or back teeth and hard palate, occurring in some southern African and other languages.

- [COMPUTING] an act of pressing a mouse button.

■ v. 1 make or cause to make a short, sharp sound: [intrans.] the key clicked in the lock and the door opened | [trans.] she clicked off the light; Martha clicked her tongue | [as adj.] (clicking) the clicking cameras outside the church.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] move with such a sound: Louise turned on her three-inch heels and clicked away.

- [trans.] [COMPUTING] press (a mouse button): click the left mouse button twice.

- [intrans.] (click on) [COMPUTING] select (an item represented on the screen or a particular function) by pressing one of the buttons on the mouse when the cursor is over the appropriate symbol.

2 [intrans.] INFORMAL become suddenly clear or understandable: finally it clicked what all the fuss had been about.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- become very comfortable with someone at the first meeting: we just clicked, and I found myself falling in love.

- become successful or popular: I don't think this issue has clicked with the voters.

<PHRASES> click into place (of an object, esp. part of a mechanism) fall smoothly into its allotted position.
- FIGURATIVE become suddenly clear and understandable: everything has clicked into place for the organization.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (as a verb): imitative.

click·a·ble adj. [COMPUTING] (of text or images on a computer screen) such that clicking on them with a mouse will produce a reaction.

click bee·tle n. a long, narrow beetle that can spring up with a click as a means of startling predators and escaping. Its larva is the wireworm. Also called SKIPJACK.
<INFO>  Elateridae

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SKIPJACK ■

click·er n. a device that clicks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a remote control keypad.

click·e·ty-clack (also clickety-click) n. a repeated clicking sound as of shoe heels on a hard surface.

■ v. [intrans., with adverbial of direction] move with such a sound: the train clickety-clacked along the tracks.

click lan·guage n. a language in which clicks are used.

click rate (also click-through rate) n. [COMPUTING] the percentage of people visiting a Web page who access a hypertext link to a particular advertisement.

clicks and mor·tar n. used to refer to a traditional business that has expanded its activities to operate also on the Internet: [as modifier] a clicks-and-mortar strategy. Compare with BRICKS AND MORTAR.

click stop n. a control for the aperture of a camera lens that clicks into position at certain standard settings.

click·stream n. a series of mouse clicks made while using a Web site or in linking to multiple Web sites.

click·wrap adj. denoting a legal agreement for which acceptance is confirmed by clicking on a screen icon, such as for software use: do the clickwrap contracts adequately advise me of what the adware and spyware does?

cli·ent n. 1 a person or organization using the services of a lawyer or other professional person or company: insurance tailor-made to a client's specific requirements.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person receiving social or medical services: a client referred for counseling.

- (also client state) a nation that is dependent on another, more powerful nation.

2 [COMPUTING] (in a network) a desktop computer or workstation that is capable of obtaining information and applications from a server.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also client application or program) a program that is capable of obtaining a service provided by another program.

3 (in ancient Rome) a plebeian under the protection of a patrician.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC a dependent; a hanger-on.

<DERIVATIVES> cli·ent·ship n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin cliens, client-, variant of cluens 'heeding', from cluere 'hear or obey'. The term originally denoted a person under the protection and patronage of another, hence a person “protected” by a legal adviser (sense 1).

cli·en·tele n. [treated as sing. or pl.] clients collectively: an upscale clientele.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the customers of a shop, bar, or place of entertainment: the dancers don't mix with the clientele.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'clientship, patronage'): via French from Latin clientela 'clientship', from cliens, client- (see CLIENT).

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CLIENT ■

cli·en·tel·ism (also cli·ent·ism ) n. a social order that depends upon relations of patronage; in particular, a political approach that emphasizes or exploits such relations.

<DERIVATIVES> cli·en·tel·is·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from Italian clientelismo 'patronage system'.

cli·ent-serv·er adj. [COMPUTING] denoting a computer system in which a central server provides data to a number of networked workstations.

cliff n. a steep rock face, esp. at the edge of the sea: a path along the top of rugged cliffs | [as adj.] the cliff face.

<DERIVATIVES> cliff·like adj. cliff·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English clif, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch klif.

cliff·hang·er n. an ending to an episode of a serial drama that leaves the audience in suspense.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a story or event with a strong element of suspense: the game was a cliffhanger right up to the final buzzer.

<DERIVATIVES> cliff·hang·ing adj.

Clif·ford 1 Clark M. (1906-98), U.S. attorney and public official. A key adviser to four Democratic presidents, he helped draft the legislation that established the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Clif·ford 2 Nathan (1803-81), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1858-81. He was the U.S. attorney general 1846-48 before being appointed to the Court by President Buchanan. He was an advocate of states' rights.

CliffsNotes n. TRADEMARK a brand name for a series of prepared notes used as study guides for literary works and other school and college subject matter.

<ORIGIN> for Cliff Hillegass (1918-2001), U.S. developer of the series.

Clift (Edward) Montgomery (1920-66), U.S. actor. He received four Academy Award nominations for movies that included From Here to Eternity (1953) and Judgment at Nuremberg (1961).

Clif·ton an industrial city in northeastern New Jersey, immediately west of Passaic; pop. 78,672.

cli·mac·ter·ic n. a critical period or event: the first major climacteric in twentieth-century poetry.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MEDICINE] the period of life when fertility and sexual activity are in decline; (in women) menopause.

- [BOTANY] the ripening period of certain fruits such as apples, involving increased metabolism and only possible while still on the tree.

■ adj. having extreme and far-reaching implications or results; critical: Britain must possess so climacteric a weapon in order to deter an atomically armed enemy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MEDICINE] occurring at, characteristic of, or undergoing the climacteric; (in women) menopausal.

- [BOTANY] (of a fruit) undergoing a climacteric.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'constituting a critical period in life'): from French climactérique or via Latin from Greek , from 'critical period', from klimax 'ladder, climax'.

cli·mac·tic adj. (of an action, event, or scene) exciting or thrilling and acting as a climax to a series of events: the film's climactic scenes.

<DERIVATIVES> cli·mac·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: formed irregularly from CLIMAX + -IC, probably influenced by CLIMACTERIC.

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CLIMAX ■

-IC ■

CLIMACTERIC ■

cli·mate n. the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period: our cold, wet climate | agricultural development is constrained by climate.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a region with particular prevailing weather conditions: vacationing in a warm climate.

- the prevailing trend of public opinion or of another aspect of public life: the current economic climate.

<DERIVATIVES> cli·mat·ic adj. cli·mat·i·cal adj. cli·mat·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French climat or late Latin clima, climat-, from Greek klima 'slope, zone', from klinein 'to slope'. The term originally denoted a zone of the earth between two lines of latitude, then any region of the earth, and later, a region considered with reference to its atmospheric conditions. Compare with CLIME.

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CLIME ■

cli·mate change n. long-term, significant change in the climate of an area or of the earth, usually seen as resulting from human activity. Often used as a synonym for GLOBAL WARMING.

cli·mate con·trol n. another term for AIR CONDITIONING.

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AIR CONDITIONING ■

cli·ma·tol·o·gy n. the scientific study of climate.

<DERIVATIVES> cli·ma·to·log·i·cal adj. cli·ma·tol·o·gist n.

cli·max n. the most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination or apex: the climax of her speech; a thrilling climax to the game.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an orgasm.

- [ECOLOGY] the final stage in a succession in a given environment, at which a plant community reaches a state of equilibrium: [as adj.] a mixed hardwood climax forest.

- [RHETORIC] a sequence of propositions or ideas in order of increasing importance, force, or effectiveness of expression.

■ v. [intrans.] culminate in an exciting or impressive event; reach a climax: the day climaxed with a gala concert.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] bring (something) to a climax: the sentencing climaxed a seven-month trial.

- have an orgasm.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in rhetoric): from late Latin, from Greek klimax 'ladder, climax'. The sense 'culmination' arose in the late 18th cent.

climb v. 1 [trans.] go or come up (a slope, incline, or staircase), esp. by using the feet and sometimes the hands; ascend: we began to climb the hill | [intrans.] the air became colder as they climbed higher; he climbed up the steps slowly.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of an aircraft or the sun) go upward: we decided to climb to 6,000 feet.

- [intrans.] (of a road or track) slope upward or up: the track climbed steeply up a narrow, twisting valley.

- (of a plant) grow up (a wall, tree, or trellis) by clinging with tendrils or by twining: when ivy climbs a wall, it infiltrates any crack | [intrans.] there were roses climbing up the walls.

- [intrans.] grow in scale, value, or power: the stock market climbed 24 points; he climbed from a job as office messenger to president of the bank.

- move to a higher position in (a chart or table): the song is climbing the adult-contemporary chart.

2 [intrans., with adverbial of direction] move with effort, esp. into or out of a confined space; clamber: Howard started to climb out of the front seat; I climbed down a narrow ladder; he climbed to a high bough.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (climb into) put on (clothes): he climbed into his suit.

■ n. an ascent, esp. of a mountain or hill, by climbing: the rigorous climb up the mountain | FIGURATIVE his long climb from poverty.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a mountain, hill, or slope that is climbed or is to be climbed: the mountain is no easy climb.

- a recognized route up a mountain or cliff: this may be the hardest rock climb in the world.

- an aircraft's flight upward: we leveled out from the climb at 600 feet | rate of climb.

- a rise or increase in value, rank, or power: an above-average climb in prices.

<PHRASES> be climbing the walls INFORMAL feel frustrated, helpless, and trapped: his job soon had him climbing the walls.

<DERIVATIVES> climb·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English climban; related to Dutch and German klimmen, also to CLAY and CLEAVE^2 .

Linked entries:

CLAY ■

CLEAVE ■

climb·er n. a person or animal that climbs: leopards are great tree climbers.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a mountaineer.

- a climbing plant.

- see SOCIAL CLIMBER.

Linked entries:

SOCIAL CLIMBER ■

climb·ing n. the sport or activity of ascending mountains or cliffs.

climb·ing eu·on·y·mus n. another name for WINTER CREEPER.

Linked entries:

WINTER CREEPER ■

climb·ing i·rons plural n. a set of spikes attached to boots for climbing trees or ice slopes.

climb·ing perch n. a small, edible freshwater fish that is able to breathe air and move over land, native to Africa and Asia.
<INFO>  Family Anabantidae: three genera and several species, including Anabas testudinens.

climb·ing wall n. a wall at a sports center or in a gymnasium fitted with attachments to simulate a rock face for climbing practice.

climb-out n. the part of a flight of an aircraft after takeoff and before it reaches a level altitude.

clime n. (usu. climes) CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY a region considered with reference to its climate: the Continent and its sunnier climes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin clima 'zone' (see CLIMATE).

Linked entries:

CLIMATE ■

clin- comb. form variant spelling of CLINO- shortened before a vowel.

Linked entries:

CLINO- ■

clinch v. [trans.] 1 confirm or settle (a contract or bargain): to clinch a business deal.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- conclusively settle (an argument or debate): these findings clinched the matter.

- confirm the winning or achievement of (a game, competition, or victory): his team clinched the title.

- secure (a nail or rivet) by driving the point sideways when it has penetrated.

- fasten (a rope or fishing line) with a clinch knot.

2 [intrans.] grapple at close quarters, esp. (of boxers) so as to be too closely engaged for full-arm blows.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of two people) embrace.

■ n. 1 a struggle or scuffle at close quarters, esp. (in boxing) one in which the fighters become too closely engaged for full-arm blows.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an embrace, esp. an amorous one: we went into a passionate clinch on the sofa.

2 a knot used to fasten a rope to a ring or cringle, using a half hitch with the end seized back on its own part.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the senses 'something that grips' and 'fix securely'): variant of CLENCH.

Linked entries:

CLENCH ■

clinch·er n. 1 a fact, argument, or event that settles a matter conclusively: his two-run double was the clincher.

2 (in full clincher tire) a bicycle or automobile tire that has flange beads that fit into the wheel rim.

Clinch Riv·er a river that flows for 300 miles (480 km) from southwestern Virginia into Tennessee where it passes the Norris Dam and Oak Ridge before joining the Tennessee River.

Cline Patsy (1932-63), U.S. country singer; born Virginia Petterson Hensley. She had hits with “Crazy” (1961) and “Sweet Dreams of You” (1963) before dying in an air crash.

cline n. a continuum with an infinite number of gradations from one extreme to the other: a point along a cline of activity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BIOLOGY] a gradation in one or more characteristics within a species or other taxon, esp. between different populations. See also ECOCLINE.

<DERIVATIVES> clin·al adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from Greek klinein 'to slope'.

Linked entries:

ECOCLINE ■

cling v. (past and past part. clung ) [intrans.] (cling to/onto/on) (of a person or animal) hold on tightly to: she clung to Joe's arm; they clung together | FIGURATIVE she clung onto life.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (cling to) adhere or stick firmly or closely to; be hard to part or remove from: the smell of smoke clung to their clothes; the fabric clung to her smooth skin.

- (cling to) remain very close to: the fish cling to the line of the weed.

- remain persistently or stubbornly faithful to something: she clung resolutely to her convictions.

- be overly dependent on someone emotionally: you are clinging to him for security.

■ n. (also cling peach) a clingstone peach.

<DERIVATIVES> cling·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English clingan 'stick together', of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch klingen 'adhere', Middle High German klingen 'climb', also to CLENCH.

Linked entries:

CLENCH ■

cling film n. British term for PLASTIC WRAP.

Linked entries:

PLASTIC WRAP ■

cling·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a small fish occurring mainly in shallow or intertidal water, with a sucker for attachment to rocks and other surfaces.
<INFO>  Family Gobiesocidae: several genera and species, including the shore clingfish (Lepadogaster lepadogaster) of Europe and West Africa.

cling·ing adj. 1 (of a garment) fitting closely to the body and showing its shape: she was wearing a clinging black dress.

2 overly dependent on someone emotionally: she wasn't the clinging type.

<PHRASES> clinging vine a person who is submissively dependent on another.

cling·stone n. a peach or nectarine of a variety in which the flesh adheres to the stone. Contrasted with FREESTONE (sense 2).

Linked entries:

FREESTONE ■

cling·y adj. (cling·i·er, cling·i·est) (of a person or garment) liable to cling; clinging: at about 18 months my son became very clingy; clingy leggings.

<DERIVATIVES> cling·i·ness n.

clin·ic n. 1 a place or hospital department where outpatients are given medical treatment or advice, esp. of a specialist nature: a mental health clinic.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an occasion or time when such treatment or advice is given: we're now holding regular clinics.

- a gathering at a hospital bedside for the teaching of medicine or surgery.

2 a conference or short course on a particular subject: a ski clinic.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (in the sense 'teaching of medicine at the bedside'): from French clinique, from Greek 'bedside (art)', from 'bed'.

clin·i·cal adj. 1 of or relating to a clinic: an annual clinical examination
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of or relating to the observation and treatment of actual patients rather than theoretical or laboratory studies: clinical medicine; clinical drug trials.

- (of a disease or condition) causing observable and recognizable symptoms: clinical depression.

2 efficient and unemotional; coldly detached: the clinical detail of a textbook.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a room or building) bare, functional, and clean.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Greek 'bedside' (see CLINIC) + -AL.

Linked entries:

CLINIC ■

-AL ■

clin·i·cal death n. death as judged by the medical observation of cessation of vital functions. It is typically identified with the cessation of heartbeat and respiration, though modern resuscitation methods and life-support systems have required the introduction of the alternative concept of brain death.

clin·i·cal e·col·o·gy n. an earlier name for ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE.

Linked entries:

ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE ■

clin·i·cal·ly adv. 1 as regards clinical medicine; in clinical terms: the first clinically useful antibiotics; clinically dead.

2 efficiently and without emotion: he scrutinized her clinically.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. as submodifier] in a very functional and clean manner: a clinically clean kitchen.

clin·i·cal psy·chol·o·gy n. the branch of psychology concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness and disability.

<DERIVATIVES> clin·i·cal psy·chol·o·gist n.

clin·i·cal ther·mom·e·ter n. a small medical thermometer with a short but finely calibrated range, for taking a person's temperature.

cli·ni·cian n. a doctor having direct contact with and responsibility for patients, rather than one involved with theoretical or laboratory studies.

clink 1 n. a sharp ringing sound, such as that made when metal or glass are struck: a clink of keys; | the clink of ice in tall glasses.

■ v. [intrans.] make such a sound: his ring clinked against the crystal | [as n.] (clinking) the clinking of glasses | [as adj.] (clinking) clinking chains.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause (something) to make such a sound: I heard Suzie clink a piece of crockery.

- [trans.] strike (a glass or glasses) with another to express friendly feelings toward one's companions before drinking: she clinked her glass on mine.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a verb): probably from Middle Dutch klinken.

clink 2 n. [in sing.] INFORMAL prison: he was put in the clink for six days.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (originally denoting a prison in Southwark, London): of unknown origin.

clink·er 1 n. the stony residue from burned coal or from a furnace.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also clinker brick) a brick with a vitrified surface.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from obsolete Dutch klinckaerd (earlier form of klinker), from klinken 'to clink'.

clink·er 2 n. INFORMAL something that is unsatisfactory, of poor quality, or a failure: marketing couldn't save such clinkers as these films.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a wrong musical note.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (denoting a person or thing that clinks): from CLINK^1 + -ER^1 . The current sense (with depreciatory reference) dates from the 1930s.

Linked entries:

CLINK ■

-ER ■

clink·er-built adj. (of a boat) having external planks secured with clinched nails such that the bottom edge of an upper plank overlaps the upper edge of a lower plank. Compare with CARVEL-BUILT.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: clinker from clink (northern English variant of CLINCH).

Linked entries:

CARVEL-BUILT ■

CLINCH ■

clino- (usu. clin- before a vowel) comb. form slant; slope: clinometer.

cli·nom·e·ter n. [SURVEYING] an instrument used for measuring the angle or elevation of slopes.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek klinein 'to slope' + -METER.

Linked entries:

-METER ■

cli·no·py·rox·ene n. a mineral of the pyroxene group crystallizing in the monoclinic system.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from clino- in the sense 'monoclinic' + PYROXENE.

Linked entries:

PYROXENE ■

clin·quant adj. glittering with gold and silver; tinseled.

■ n. imitation gold leaf.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE literary or artistic tinsel; false glitter.

Clin·ton 1 1 a city in east central Iowa, on the Mississippi River; pop. 27,772.

2 a city in southwest central Mississippi, west of Jackson; pop. 23,347

Clin·ton 2 Bill (1946- ), 42nd President of the U.S. 1993-2001; full name William Jefferson Blythe Clinton. An Arkansas Democrat, he served as governor of his state 1979-81, 1983-93 before becoming president. During his first term, he worked with a Republican-controlled Congress to balance the budget. His second term brought economic prosperity as well as international crises in the Middle East and Yugoslavia. Problems that included contested allegations of financial and sexual misconduct escalated, and in 1998 he became the second president ever to be impeached, in his case, on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. He was acquitted by the Senate in 1999.

Clin·ton 3 DeWitt (1769-1828), U.S. politician. Among his political positions, he was a member of the New York legislature 1798-1802, a U.S. senator 1802-03, and mayor of New York City 1803-07, 1808-10, 1811-15. As governor of New York 1817-23, 1825-28, he was a champion of the Erie Canal.

Clin·ton 4 George (1739-1812), U.S. politician. He was governor of New York 1777-95, 1801-04 and vice president of the U.S. 1805-12.

Clin·ton 5 Hillary Rodham (1947- ), U.S. lawyer, first lady 1993-2001, and senator 2001- . As first lady during Bill Clinton's administration, she worked on health care reform and wrote It Takes a Village (1996) about raising the children of the world. In 2000, she was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat from the state of New York.

Cli·o 1 [GREEK & ROMAN MYTHOLOGY] the Muse of history.

2 an award given annually for advertising achievement in television, radio, billboards, and other media.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kleiein 'celebrate'.

cli·o·met·rics plural n. [treated as sing.] a technique for the interpretation of economic history, based on the statistical analysis of large-scale numerical data from population censuses, parish registers, and similar sources.

<DERIVATIVES> cli·o·met·ric adj. cli·o·me·tri·cian n.

<ORIGIN> 1960s (originally U.S.): from CLIO, on the pattern of words such as econometrics.

Linked entries:

CLIO ■

clip 1 n. a device, typically flexible or worked by a spring, for holding an object or objects together or in place.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a device such as this used to hold paper currency.

- a piece of jewelry fastened by a clip.

- a metal holder containing cartridges for an automatic firearm.

■ v. (clipped, clip·ping) [with adverbial of place] fasten or be fastened with a clip or clips: [trans.] she clipped on a pair of diamond earrings | [intrans.] the panels simply clip on to the framework.

<ORIGIN> Old English clyppan (verb). The noun use dates from the late 15th cent.

clip 2 v. (clipped, clip·ping) [trans.] 1 cut short or trim (hair, wool, nails, or vegetation) with shears or scissors: clipping the hedge.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- trim or remove the hair or wool of (an animal): how to clip your horse.

- (clip something off) cut off a thing or part of a thing with shears or scissors: he clipped off a piece of wire | FIGURATIVE she clipped nearly two seconds off the old record.

- cut (a section) from a newspaper or magazine: a photograph clipped from a magazine.

- pare the edge of (a coin), esp. illicitly: they clipped the edges of gold coins and melted the clippings down.

- speak (words) in a quick, precise, staccato manner: “Yes?” The word was clipped short | [as adj.] (clipped) cold, clipped tones.

- [COMPUTING] process (an image) so as to remove the parts outside a certain area.

- [ELECTRONICS] truncate the amplitude of (a signal) above or below predetermined levels.

2 strike briskly or with a glancing blow: the steamroller clipped some parked cars; branches clipped his face.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] strike or kick (something, esp. a ball) briskly in a specified direction: he clipped a right-field double.

3 INFORMAL swindle or rob (someone): in all the years he ran the place, he was clipped only three times.

4 [intrans.] INFORMAL move quickly in a specified direction: we clip down the track.

■ n. 1 an act of clipping or trimming something: I gave him a full clip.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a short sequence taken from a movie or broadcast: clips from earlier shows.

- (also wool clip) the quantity of wool clipped from a sheep or flock.

2 INFORMAL a quick or glancing blow: you need a clip on the jaw.

3 [in sing.] INFORMAL a specified speed or rate of movement, esp. when rapid: we crossed the dance floor at a fast clip.

<PHRASES>
□ at a clip INFORMAL at a time; all at once: I spent several days with him, eight hours at a clip.

□ clip the wings of trim the feathers of (a bird) so as to disable it from flight.
- prevent (someone) from acting freely; check the aspirations of: he finally clipped the wings of his high-flying chief of staff.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse klippa, probably imitative.

clip art n. [COMPUTING] predrawn pictures and symbols that computer users can add to their documents, often provided with word-processing software and drawing packages.

clip·board n. a small board with a spring clip at the top, used for holding papers and providing support for writing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [COMPUTING] a temporary storage area where text or other data cut or copied from a file is kept until it is pasted into another file.

clip-clop (also clippety-clop) n. [in sing.] the sound as of a horse's hoofs beating on a hard surface.

■ v. [intrans.] move with such a sound: the horses clip-clopped slowly along the street.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: imitative.

clip joint n. INFORMAL a nightclub or bar that charges exorbitant prices.

clip-on adj. attached by a clip so as to be easy to fasten or remove: a clip-on bow tie.

■ n. (usu. clip-ons) things, esp. sunglasses or earrings, that are attached by clips.

clip·per n. 1 (usu. clippers) an instrument for cutting or trimming small pieces off things: hedge clippers.

2 a person who clips or cuts: a coupon clipper.

3 [ELECTRONICS] another term for LIMITER.

4 (also clip·per chip) a microchip that inserts an identifying code into encrypted transmissions, allowing them to be deciphered by a third party having access to a government-held key.

5 (also clip·per ship) a fast sailing ship, esp. one of 19th-century design with concave bows and raked masts.

Linked entries:

LIMITER ■

clip·ping n. (often clippings) a small piece trimmed from something: hedge clippings and grass cuttings.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an article cut from a newspaper or magazine.

clique n. a small group of people, with shared interests or other features in common, who spend time together and do not readily allow others to join them.

<DERIVATIVES> cli·quish adj. cli·quish·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, from Old French cliquer 'make a noise'; the modern sense is related to CLAQUE.

Linked entries:

CLAQUE ■

cli·quey adj. (cli·qui·er, cli·qui·est) (of a group or place) tending to form or hold exclusive groups and so not welcoming to outsiders: a cliquey school.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of music or art) appealing only to a small group or minority: the music was very cliquey.

clit n. VULGAR SLANG short for CLITORIS.

Linked entries:

CLITORIS ■

cli·tel·lum n. (pl. -tel·la ) a raised band encircling the body of oligochaete worms and some leeches, made up of reproductive segments.

clit·ic n. [GRAMMAR] an unstressed word that normally occurs only in combination with another word, for example in I'm.

<DERIVATIVES> clit·i·ci·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from (en)clitic and (pro)clitic.

clit·o·ri·dec·to·my n. (pl. -mies) excision of the clitoris; female circumcision.

clit·o·ris n. a small sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals at the anterior end of the vulva.

<DERIVATIVES> clit·o·ral adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek kleitoris.

clit·ter v. [intrans.] make a thin, vibratory, rattling sound: a coded message clittered over the radio speakers.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: imitative.

Clive Robert, 1st Baron Clive of Plassey (1725-74), British general and colonial administrator; known as Clive of India. He served as governor of Bengal, India, 1765-67, but was implicated in the East India Company's corruption scandals and committed suicide.

cli·vi·a n. a southern African plant of the lily family, with dark green, straplike leaves and trumpet-shaped orange, red, or yellow flowers. Also called KAFFIR LILY.
<INFO>  Genus Clivia, family Liliaceae (or Amaryllidaceae).

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Clive, the maiden name of Charlotte, Duchess of Northumberland (1787-1866).

Linked entries:

KAFFIR LILY ■

clo·a·ca n. (pl. -cae ) [ZOOLOGY] a common cavity at the end of the digestive tract for the release of both excretory and genital products in vertebrates (except most mammals) and certain invertebrates. Specifically, the cloaca is present in birds, reptiles, amphibians, most fish, and monotremes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC a sewer.

<DERIVATIVES> clo·a·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'sewer'): from Latin, related to cluere 'cleanse'. The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

cloak n. an outdoor overgarment, typically sleeveless, that hangs loosely from the shoulders.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE something serving to hide or disguise something: lifting the cloak of secrecy on the arms trade.

■ v. [trans.] dress in a cloak: she cloaked herself in black.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE hide, cover, or disguise (something): the horror of war was cloaked in the trappings of chivalry.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cloke, dialect variant of cloche 'bell, cloak' (from its bell shape), from medieval Latin clocca 'bell'. Compare with CLOCK^1 .

Linked entries:

CLOCK ■

cloak-and-dag·ger adj. involving or characteristic of mystery, intrigue, or espionage: a cloak-and-dagger operation.

cloak·room n. a room in a public building where coats and other belongings may be left temporarily.

clob·ber 1 v. [trans.] INFORMAL hit (someone) hard: if he does that I'll clobber him!
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- treat or deal with harshly: the recession clobbered other parts of the business.

- defeat heavily: [trans.] the Braves clobbered the Cubs 23-10.

<ORIGIN> World War II (apparently British air-force slang): of unknown origin.

clob·ber 2 v. [trans.] add enameled decoration to (porcelain).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

clo·chard n. (pl. same) (in France) a beggar; a vagrant.

<ORIGIN> French, from clocher 'to limp'.

cloche n. a small translucent cover for protecting or forcing outdoor plants.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also cloche hat) a woman's close-fitting, bell-shaped hat.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, literally 'bell' (see CLOAK).

Linked entries:

CLOAK ■

clock 1 n. a mechanical or electrical device for measuring time, indicating hours, minutes, and sometimes seconds, typically by hands on a round dial or by displayed figures.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the clock) time taken as a factor in an activity, esp. in competitive sports: they play against the clock; her life is ruled by the clock.

- INFORMAL a measuring device resembling a clock for recording things other than time, such as a speedometer, taximeter, or odometer.

- see TIME CLOCK.

■ v. [trans.] INFORMAL 1 attain or register (a specified time, distance, or speed): Thomas has clocked up forty years service | [intrans.] the book clocks in at 989 pages.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- achieve (a victory): he clocked up his first win of the year.

- record as attaining a specified time or rate: the tower operators clocked a gust of 185 mph.

2 INFORMAL hit (someone), esp. on the head: someone clocked him for no good reason.

<PHRASES>
□ around (or round) the clock all day and all night: working around the clock.

□ run out the clock [SPORTS] deliberately use as much time as possible in order to preserve one's own team's advantage: facing a tie, he decided to run out the clock in the final moments.

□ stop the clock allow extra time by temporarily ceasing to count the time left before a deadline arrives: he agreed to stop the clock as negotiations continued.

□ turn (or put) back the clock return to the past or to a previous way of doing things.

□ watch the clock (of an employee) be overly strict or zealous about not working more than one's required hours.

<PHRASAL VERB> clock in (or out) (of an employee) punch in (or out).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch klocke, based on medieval Latin clocca 'bell'.

Linked entries:

TIME CLOCK ■

clock 2 n. DATED an ornamental pattern woven or embroidered on the side of a stocking or sock near the ankle.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

clock·er n. INFORMAL a drug dealer, esp. one who sells cocaine or crack.

clock·mak·er n. a person who makes and repairs clocks and watches.

<DERIVATIVES> clock·mak·ing n.

clock ra·di·o n. a combined radio and alarm clock that can be set so that the radio will come on at the desired time.

clock speed n. the operating speed of a computer or its microprocessor, defined as the rate at which it performs internal operations and expressed in cycles per second (megahertz).

clock tow·er n. a tower typically forming part of a church or civic building, with a large clock at the top.

clock-watch·er (also clock watch·er) n. an employee who is overly strict or zealous about not working more than the required hours: his lamp burned throughout the night; he was no clock-watcher.

<DERIVATIVES> clock-watch v.

clock·wise adv. & adj. in a curve corresponding in direction to the movement of the hands of a clock: [as adv.] turn the knob clockwise [as adj.] a clockwise direction.

clock·work n. a mechanism with a spring and toothed gearwheels, used to drive a mechanical clock, toy, or other device.

■ adj. [attrib.] driven by clockwork: a clockwork motor;a clockwork toy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- very smooth and regular: the clockwork precision of the galaxy.

- repetitive and predictable: it was a clockwork existence for the children.

<PHRASES>
□ as regular as clockwork very regularly; repeatedly and predictably.

□ like clockwork very smoothly and easily: the event ran like clockwork.
- with mechanical regularity: these hens lay like clockwork.

clod n. 1 a lump of earth or clay.

2 INFORMAL a stupid person (often used as a general term of abuse).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: variant of CLOT.

Linked entries:

CLOT ■

clod·dish adj. foolish, awkward, or clumsy.

<DERIVATIVES> clod·dish·ly adv. clod·dish·ness n.

clod·hop·per n. 1 a large, heavy shoe.

2 INFORMAL a foolish, awkward, or clumsy person.

clod·hop·ping adj. INFORMAL foolish, awkward, or clumsy.

clog n. 1 a shoe with a thick wooden sole.

2 an encumbrance or impediment: a clog in the system.

■ v. (clogged, clog·ging) [trans.] fill or block with an accumulation of thick, wet matter: the gutters were clogged up with leaves | [as adj.] (clogged) clogged drains.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] become blocked in this way: too much fatty food makes your arteries clog up.

- fill up or crowd (something) so as to obstruct passage: tourists clog the roads in summer.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'block of wood to impede an animal's movement'): of unknown origin.

clog dance n. a dance performed in clogs with rhythmic beating of the feet, esp. as a traditional dance in Ireland, Scotland, and the north of England.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a North American country tap dance of similar style.

<DERIVATIVES> clog danc·er n. clog danc·ing n.

clog·ger n. 1 a person who performs a clog dance.

2 someone or something that clogs: pore-cloggers.

clog·ging n. clog dancing.

cloi·son·né (also cloisonné enamel) n. enamel work in which the different colors are separated by strips of flattened wire placed edgeways on a metal backing.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, literally 'partitioned', past participle of cloisonner, from cloison 'a partition or division'.

clois·ter n. a covered walk in a convent, monastery, college, or cathedral, typically with a wall on one side and a colonnade open to a quadrangle on the other.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the cloister) monastic life: he was inclined more to the cloister than the sword.

- a convent or monastery.

- any place or position of seclusion: college is a cloister apart from the cares of the world.

■ v. [trans.] seclude or shut up in or as if in a convent or monastery: the monastery was where the Brothers would cloister themselves to meditate; she cloisters herself at home.

<DERIVATIVES> clois·tral adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'place of religious seclusion'): from Old French cloistre, from Latin claustrum, clostrum 'lock, enclosed place', from claudere 'to close'.

clois·tered adj. 1 kept away from the outside world; sheltered: a cloistered upbringing.

2 having or enclosed by a cloister, as in a monastery: a cloistered walkway bordered the courtyard.

clomb archaic past and past participle of CLIMB.

Linked entries:

CLIMB ■

clom·i·phene n. [MEDICINE] a synthetic nonsteroidal drug used to treat infertility in women by stimulating ovulation.

clomp v. [intrans.] walk with a heavy tread: she clomped down the steps.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: imitative; compare with CLUMP.

Linked entries:

CLUMP ■

clon·al·i·ty n. the fact or condition of being genetically identical, as to a parent, sibling, or other biological source: the lack of genetic diversity may be a combination of both isolation and clonality.

clone n. [BIOLOGY] a group of organisms or cells produced asexually from one ancestor or stock, to which they are genetically identical.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an individual organism or cell so produced.

- a person or thing regarded as identical to another: successful women don't want to be male clones.

- a microcomputer designed to simulate exactly the operation of another, typically more expensive, model: an IBM PC clone.

■ v. [trans.] propagate (an organism or cell) as a clone: of the hundreds of new plants cloned, the best ones are selected.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make an identical copy of.

- [BIOCHEMISTRY] replicate (a fragment of DNA placed in an organism) so that there is enough to analyze or use in protein production.

- illegally copy the security codes from (a mobile phone) to one or more others as a way of obtaining free calls.

<DERIVATIVES> clon·al adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek 'twig'.

clonk another term for CLUNK. v. 1 [intrans.] move with or make such a sound: the horses clonked and snorted softly.

2 [trans.] INFORMAL hit: I'll clonk you on the head.

<DERIVATIVES> clonk·y adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: imitative.

Linked entries:

CLUNK ■

clo·nus n. [MEDICINE] muscular spasm involving repeated, often rhythmic, contractions.

<DERIVATIVES> clon·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek klonos 'turmoil'.

clop n. [in sing.] a sound or series of sounds made by a horse's hooves on a hard surface.

■ v. (clopped, clop·ping) [intrans.] (of a horse) move with such a sound: the animal clopped on at a steady pace.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: imitative.

clo·qué n. a fabric with an irregularly raised or embossed surface.

<ORIGIN> French, literally 'blistered'. It was first recorded (1920s) in the anglicized form cloky; use of the French form dates from the 1950s.

Close Glenn (1947-), U.S. actress. She received Academy Award nominations for her roles in The Big Chill (1983), Fatal Attraction (1987), and Dangerous Liaisons (1988). She has also received three Tony Awards for her stage performances.

close 1 adj. 1 a short distance away or apart in space or time: the hotel is close to the sea; her birthday and her wedding date were close together; why don't we go straight to the shops, as we're so close?; the months of living in close proximity to her were taking their toll.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- with very little or no space in between; dense: cloth with a closer weave; this work occupies over 1,300 pages of close print.

- [predic.] (close to) very near to (being or doing something): on a good day the climate in LA is close to perfection; she was close to tears.

- (of a competitive situation) won or likely to be won by only a small amount or distance: the race will be a close contest.

- [attrib.] (of a final position in a competition) very near to the competitor immediately in front: she finished a close second.

- narrowly enclosed: animals in close confinement.

- (of hair or grass) very short or near the surface: the ground will need to be level enough to allow close mowing.

- [PHONETICS] another term for HIGH (sense 7).

2 [attrib.] denoting a family member who is part of a person's immediate family, typically a parent or sibling: the family history of cancer in close relatives.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person or relationship) on very affectionate or intimate terms: they had always been very close, with no secrets at all.

- (of a connection or resemblance) strong: the college has close links with many other institutions.

3 (of observation, examination, etc.) done in a careful and thorough way: we need to keep a close eye on this project; pay close attention to what your body is telling you about yourself.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- carefully guarded: his whereabouts are a close secret.

- not willing to give away money or information; secretive: you're very close about your work, aren't you?

- following faithfully an original or model: the debate about close or free translation.

4 uncomfortably humid or airless: a close, hazy day; it was very close in the dressing room.

■ adv. in a position so as to be very near to someone or something; with very little space between: they stood close to the door; he was holding her close.

<PHRASES>
□ close by very near; nearby: her father lives quite close by.

□ close to (or close on) (of an amount) almost; very nearly: he spent close to 30 years in jail.

□ close to the bone see BONE.

□ close to one's heart see HEART.

□ close to home see HOME.

□ close up very near: close up she was no less pretty.

□ close to the wind [SAILING] (of a sailing vessel) pointed as near as possible to the direction from which the wind is blowing while still making headway.

□ come close almost achieve or do: he came close to calling the President a liar.

□ too close for comfort dangerously or uncomfortably near: the friendly stranger who suddenly comes too close for comfort.

<DERIVATIVES> close·ly adv. close·ness n. clos·ish adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French clos (as noun and adjective), from Latin clausum 'enclosure' and clausus 'closed', past participle of claudere.

Linked entries:

HIGH ■

BONE ■

HEART ■

HOME ■

close 2 v. 1 move or cause to move so as to cover an opening: [intrans.] she jumped into the train just as the doors were closing | [trans.] they had to close the window because of the insects.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] block up (a hole or opening): glass doors close off the living room from the hall | FIGURATIVE Stephen closed his ears to the sound.

- [trans.] bring two parts of (something) together so as to block its opening or bring it into a folded state: Loretta closed her mouth; Ron closed the book.

- [intrans.] gradually get nearer to someone or something: they plotted a large group of aircraft about 130 miles away and closing fast.

- [intrans.] (close around/over) come into contact with (something) so as to encircle and hold it: my fist closed around the weapon.

- [trans.] make (an electric circuit) continuous: this will cause a relay to operate and close the circuit.

2 bring or come to an end: [trans.] the members were thanked for attending, and the meeting was closed | [intrans.] the concert closed with “Silent Night” | [as adj.] (closing) the closing stages of the election campaign.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of a business, organization, or institution) cease to be in operation or accessible to the public, either permanently or at the end of a working day or other period of time: the factory is to close with the loss of 150 jobs | [trans.] the country has been closed to outsiders for almost 50 years.

- [intrans.] finish speaking or writing: we close with a point about truth | [as adj.] (closing) Nellie's closing words.

- [trans.] bring (a business transaction) to a satisfactory conclusion: he closed a deal with a metal dealer.

- [trans.] remove all the funds from (a bank account) and cease to use it.

- [trans.] [COMPUTING] make (a data file) inaccessible after use, so that it is securely stored until required again.

■ n. [in sing.] 1 the end of an event or of a period of time or activity: the afternoon drew to a close.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the close) the end of a day's trading on a stock market: at the close the Dow Jones average was down 13.52 points.

- [MUSIC] the conclusion of a phrase; a cadence.

2 the shutting of something, esp. a door: the door jerked to a close behind them.

<PHRASES>
□ close the door on (or to) see DOOR.

□ close one's eyes to see EYE.

□ close one's mind to see MIND.

□ close ranks see RANK^1 .

□ close up shop see SHOP.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  close something down (or close down) cause to cease or cease business or operation, esp. permanently: the government promised to close down the nuclear plants within twenty years.

□  close in (on) come nearer to someone being pursued: the police were closing in on them.
- gradually surround, esp. with the effect of hindering movement or vision: the weather has now closed in, so an attempt on the summit is unlikely.

- (of days) get successively shorter with the approach of the winter solstice: November was closing in.

□  close something out bring something to an end: Steve tried to close out the conversation.

□  close up (of a person's face) become blank and emotionless or hostile: he didn't like her laughter and his face closed up angrily.

□  close something up (or close up) 1 cause to cease or cease operation or being used: the broker advised me to close the house up for the time being.

2 (close up) (of an opening) grow smaller or become blocked by something: she felt her throat close up.

□  close with come near, esp. so as to engage with (an enemy force).

<DERIVATIVES> clos·a·ble adj. clos·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French clos-, stem of clore, from Latin claudere 'to shut'.

Linked entries:

DOOR ■

EYE ■

MIND ■

RANK ■

SHOP ■

close call n. a narrow escape from danger or disaster.

close-cropped (also close·ly cropped) adj. (typically of hair or grass) cut very short.

closed adj. not open: rooms with closed doors lined the hallway; he sat with his eyes closed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a business) having ceased trading, esp. for a short period: he put the “Closed” sign up on the door.

- no longer under discussion or investigation; concluded: closed cases of alleged contract irregularities.

- (of a society or system) not communicating with or influenced by others; independent: the perception of the Soviet Union as a closed society; a closed system in which income and expenditure must balance.

- limited to certain people; not open or available to all: the UN Security Council met in closed session.

- unwilling to accept new ideas: you're facing the situation with a closed mind.

- [MATHEMATICS] (of a set) having the property that the result of a specified operation on any element of the set is itself a member of the set.

- [MATHEMATICS] (of a set) containing all its limit points.

- [GEOMETRY] of or pertaining to a curve whose ends are joined.

<PHRASES>
□ behind closed doors taking place secretly or without public knowledge.

□ closed book a subject or person about which one knows nothing: accounting has always been a closed book to me.

closed cap·tion n. one of a series of subtitles to a television program, accessible through a decoder.

■ v. (closed-cap·tion) [trans.] [usually as noun closed-captioning] provide (a program) with closed captions.

closed chain n. [CHEMISTRY] a number of atoms bonded together to form a closed loop in a molecule.

closed-cir·cuit tel·e·vi·sion (abbr.: CCTV) n. a television system in which the video signals are transmitted from one or more cameras by cable to a restricted set of monitors.

closed cou·plet n. a rhyming couplet with end-stopped lines that is logically or grammatically complete: Instruct the planets in what orbs to run,/Correct old Time, and regulate the Sun.

closed-door adj. restricted; obstructive; secret: the senior staff went into closed-door sessions.

closed-end adj. having a predetermined and fixed extent: a closed-end contract.
<SPECIAL USAGE> denoting an investment trust or company that issues a fixed number of shares.

closed sea·son n. a period between specified dates when fishing or the killing of particular game is officially forbidden.

closed shop n. a place of work where membership in a union is a condition for being hired and for continued employment. Compare with OPEN SHOP, UNION SHOP.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] a system whereby such an arrangement applies: the outlawing of the closed shop.

Linked entries:

UNION SHOP ■

closed u·ni·verse n. [ASTRONOMY] the condition in which there is sufficient matter in the universe to halt the expansion driven by the big bang and cause eventual recollapse. The amount of visible matter is only a tenth of the total required for closure, but there may be large quantities of dark matter.

close en·coun·ter n. a supposed encounter with a UFO or with aliens.

<PHRASES> close encounter of the first (or second, etc.) kind used to describe encounters involving increasing degrees of complexity and apparent exposure of the witness to aliens, with the first kind being a mere sighting and the fourth kind being abduction.

close-fist·ed adj. unwilling to spend money; stingy.

close-fit·ting adj. (of a garment) fitting tightly and showing the contours of the body.

close-grained adj. (of wood, stone, or other material) having tightly packed fibers, crystals, or other structural elements.

close har·mo·ny n. [MUSIC] harmony in which the notes of the chord are close together, typically in vocal music.

close-hauled adj. & adv. [SAILING] (of a ship) close to the wind.

close-in adj. only a short distance away: a close-in shot.
<SPECIAL USAGE> near to the center of a town or city: close-in parking.

close-knit adj. (of a group of people) united or bound together by strong relationships and common interests: a close-knit community.

close-mouthed adj. reticent; discreet: the candidates have been close-mouthed about their fund-raising goals.

close quar·ters plural n. a situation of being very or uncomfortably close to someone or something: living in close quarters with people; engaging the enemy at close quarters.

clos·er n. [BASEBALL] a relief pitcher who specializes in pitching to the final batters of a game if the pitcher's team has the lead.

close range n. a short distance between someone or something and a target: two bullets fired at close range; watching a bird at close range.

close-ra·tio adj. (of a vehicle's gearbox) having gear ratios that are set at values not very different from each other.

close reach [SAILING] n. a point of sailing in which the wind blows from slightly forward of the beam: we sailed on a close reach directly for Sharp's Island.

■ v. (close-reach) [intrans.] sail with the wind in this position.

close sea·son n. British term for CLOSED SEASON.

Linked entries:

CLOSED SEASON ■

close-set adj. (of two or more things) placed or occurring with little space in between: her eyes were too close-set for beauty.

close shave n. 1 a shave in which the hair is cut very short.

2 INFORMAL another term for CLOSE CALL.

Linked entries:

CLOSE CALL ■

clos·et n. 1 a small room or cupboard used for storing things.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC a small, private room used for prayer or study.

2 ARCHAIC a toilet.

3 (the closet) a state of secrecy or concealment, esp. about one's homosexuality: lesbians who had come out of the closet.

■ adj. [attrib.] secret; covert: a closet socialist.

■ v. (clos·et·ed, clos·et·ing) [trans.] (often be closeted) shut (someone) away, esp. in private conference or study: he was closeted with the king; he returned home and closeted himself in his room.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in a state of concealment, esp. about one's homosexuality.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a private or small room): from Old French, diminutive of clos 'closed' (see CLOSE^1 ).

Linked entries:

CLOSE ■

clos·et dra·ma (also closet play) n. a play to be read rather than acted.

close-up n. a photograph, movie, or video taken at close range and showing the subject on a large scale: a close-up of her face; they see themselves in close-up | [as adj.] a close-up view.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an intimate and detailed description or study: [as adj.] the book's close-up account of the violence.

clos·ing date n. the last date by which something must be submitted for consideration, esp. a job application.

clos·ing price n. the price of a security at the end of the day's business in a financial market.

clos·ing time n. the regular time at which a restaurant, store, or other place closes to the public each day.

clos·trid·i·um n. (pl. clos·trid·i·a ) [BIOLOGY] an anaerobic bacterium of a large genus that includes many pathogenic species, e.g., those causing tetanus, gas gangrene, botulism, and other forms of food poisoning.
<INFO>  Clostridium

<DERIVATIVES> clos·trid·i·al adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, based on Greek 'spindle'.

clo·sure n. an act or process of closing something, esp. an institution, thoroughfare, or frontier, or of being closed: road closures | hospitals that face closure.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a thing that closes or seals something, such as a cap or zipper.

- a resolution or conclusion to a work or process: he brings modernistic closure to his narrative.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from late Latin clausura, from claus- 'closed', from the verb claudere.

clot n. 1 a thick mass of coagulated liquid, esp. blood, or of material stuck together: a flat, wet clot of dead leaves | FIGURATIVE a clot of people arguing in the doorway.

2 BRIT., INFORMAL a foolish or clumsy person: “Watch where you're going, you clot!”

■ v. (clot·ted, clot·ting) form or cause to form into clots: [intrans.] drugs that help blood to clot | [trans.] a blood protein known as factor VIII clots blood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] cover (something) with sticky matter: its nostrils were clotted with blood.

<ORIGIN> Old English clott, clot, of Germanic origin; related to German Klotz.

clot·bur n. a herbaceous plant of the daisy family, with burred fruits. It originated in tropical America but is now cosmopolitan. See also COCKLEBUR.
<INFO>  Genus Xanthium, family Compositae: two or three species, in particular spiny clotbur (X. spinosum).

<SPECIAL USAGE> a burdock.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from dialect clote 'burdock' + BURR.

Linked entries:

COCKLEBUR ■

BURR ■

cloth n. (pl. cloths ) 1 woven or felted fabric made from wool, cotton, or a similar fiber: shelves covered with bright red cloth | [as adj.] a cloth bag.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a piece of cloth for a particular purpose, such as a dishcloth or a tablecloth: wipe clean with a damp cloth.

- a variety of cloth.

2 (the cloth) the clergy; the clerical profession: a man of the cloth.

<ORIGIN> Old English , related to Dutch kleed and German Kleid, of unknown ultimate origin.

clothe v. (past and past part. clothed or clad ) [trans.] (often be clothed in) put clothes on (oneself or someone); dress: she was clothed all in white; she lay down fully clothed | [as adj., with submodifier] (clothed) a partially clothed body.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- provide (someone) with clothes: they already had eight children to feed and clothe.

- FIGURATIVE cover (something) as if with clothes: luxuriant tropical forests clothed the islands.

- FIGURATIVE endow (someone) with a particular quality: he is clothed with the personality and character of Jesus.

<ORIGIN> Old English (only recorded in the past participle ), from (see CLOTH).

Linked entries:

CLOTH ■

clothes plural n. 1 items worn to cover the body: he stripped off his clothes; baby clothes [as adj.] a clothes shop.

2 bedclothes.

<ORIGIN> Old English , plural of (see CLOTH).

Linked entries:

CLOTH ■

clothes horse n. a frame on which washed clothes are hung to air indoors.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL, OFTEN DEROGATORY a determinedly fashionable person.

clothes·line n. a rope or wire on which washed clothes are hung to dry.

■ v. [trans.] (chiefly in football and other games) knock down (a runner) by placing one's outstretched arm in the runner's path at neck level.

clothes moth n. a small, drab moth whose larvae feed on a range of animal fibers and can be destructive to clothing and other domestic textiles.
<INFO>  Family Tineidae: several species, in particular the common clothes moth (Tineola biselliella).

clothes·pin (BRIT. also clothes peg) n. a wooden or plastic clip for securing clothes to a clothes line.

cloth·ier n. a person or company that makes, sells, or deals in clothes or cloth.

<ORIGIN> Middle English clother, from CLOTH. The change in the ending was due to association with -IER.

Linked entries:

CLOTH ■

-IER ■

cloth·ing n. clothes collectively: an item of clothing | [as adj.] the clothing trade.

Clo·tho [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] one of the three Fates.

<ORIGIN> Greek, literally 'she who spins'.

cloth of gold n. fabric made of gold threads interwoven with silk or wool.

cloth yard n. a unit for measuring cloth, formerly 37 inches but now equivalent to a standard yard (36 inches).

clot·ted cream n. CHIEFLY BRIT. thick cream obtained by heating milk slowly and then allowing it to cool while the cream content rises to the top in coagulated lumps.

clot·ting fac·tor n. [PHYSIOLOGY] any of a number of substances in blood plasma that are involved in the clotting process, such as factor VIII.

clo·ture n. (in a legislative assembly) a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote: [as adj.] a cloture motion.

■ v. [trans.] apply the cloture to (a debate or speaker) in a legislative assembly.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French clôture, from Old French closure (see CLOSURE).

Linked entries:

CLOSURE ■

cloud n. 1 a visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the ground: the sun had disappeared behind a cloud | the full moon, hidden by veils of cloud.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an indistinct or billowing mass, esp. of smoke or dust: a cloud of dust.

- a large number of insects or birds moving together: clouds of orange butterflies.

- a vague patch of color in or on a liquid or transparent surface.

2 FIGURATIVE a state or cause of gloom, suspicion, trouble, or worry: the only cloud to appear on the horizon was Leopold's unexpected illness; | a black cloud hung over their lives.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a frowning or depressed look: a cloud passed over Jessica's face.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] (of the sky) become overcast with clouds: the blue skies clouded over abruptly.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] (usu. be clouded) darken (the sky) with clouds: the western sky was still clouded.

- make or become less clear or transparent: [trans.] blood pumped out, clouding the water | [intrans.] her eyes clouded with tears.

2 FIGURATIVE make or become darkened or overshadowed, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of someone's face or eyes) show worry, sorrow, or anger: his expression clouded over.

- [trans.] (of such an emotion) show in (someone's face): suspicion clouded her face.

- [trans.] make (a matter or mental process) unclear or uncertain; confuse: don't allow your personal feelings to cloud your judgment.

- [trans.] spoil or mar (something): the general election was clouded by violence.

<PHRASES>
□ every cloud has a silver lining see SILVER.

□ have one's head in the clouds (of a person) be out of touch with reality; be daydreaming.

□ in the clouds out of touch with reality: this clergyman was in the clouds.

□ on cloud nine extremely happy. <ORIGIN> with reference to a ten-part classification of clouds in which “nine” was next to the highest.

□ under a cloud under suspicion; discredited: he left under something of a cloud, accused of misappropriating funds.

<DERIVATIVES> cloud·less adj. cloud·less·ly adv. cloud·let n.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'mass of rock or earth'; probably related to CLOT. Sense 1 dates from Middle English.

Linked entries:

SILVER ■

CLOT ■

cloud base n. [in sing.] the level or altitude of the lowest part of a general mass of clouds.

cloud·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) a dwarf bramble that has white flowers and edible orange fruit and that grows on the mountains and moorlands of northern Eurasia and northern North America.
<INFO>  Rubus chamaemorus, family Rosaceae.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: apparently from the noun CLOUD in the obsolete sense 'hill' + BERRY.

Linked entries:

CLOUD ■

BERRY ■

cloud·burst n. a sudden, violent rainstorm.

cloud cham·ber n. [PHYSICS] a device that contains air or gas supersaturated with water vapor and that is used to detect charged particles, X-rays, and gamma rays by the condensation trails that they produce.

cloud cov·er n. [in sing.] a mass of cloud covering all or most of the sky.

cloud deck n. [METEOROLOGY] a bank of clouds of a particular type forming a layer at a certain altitude.

cloud·ed leop·ard n. a large spotted cat that hunts in trees at twilight and is found in forests in Southeast Asia.
<INFO>  Neofelis nebulosa, family Felidae.

cloud hop·ping n. the flying of an aircraft from cloud to cloud, typically for concealment.

cloud·scape n. a large cloud formation considered in terms of its visual effect.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the noun CLOUD, on the pattern of words such as landscape.

Linked entries:

CLOUD ■

cloud seed·ing n. the dropping of crystals into clouds to cause rain.

cloud·y adj. (cloud·i·er, cloud·i·est) 1 (of the sky or weather) covered with or characterized by clouds; overcast: next morning was cloudy.

2 (of a liquid) not transparent or clear: the pond water is slightly cloudy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a color) opaque; having white as a constituent: cloudy reds and blues and greens.

- (of marble) variegated with cloudlike markings.

- (of someone's eyes) misted with tears: she stared at him, her eyes cloudy.

- uncertain; unclear: the issue becomes more cloudy.

<DERIVATIVES> cloud·i·ly adv. cloud·i·ness n.

Clou·et two French court portrait painters, Jean (c.1485-1541) and his son François (c.1516-72).

clout n. 1 INFORMAL a heavy blow with the hand or a hard object: a clout on the ear.

2 INFORMAL influence or power, esp. in politics or business: I knew he carried a lot of clout.

3 ARCHAIC a piece of cloth or clothing, esp. one used as a patch.

4 [ARCHERY] a target used in long-distance shooting, placed flat on the ground with a flag marking its center.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a shot that hits such a target.

■ v. [trans.] 1 INFORMAL hit hard with the hand or a hard object: I clouted him on the head.

2 ARCHAIC mend with a patch.

<ORIGIN> Old English (in the sense 'a patch or metal plate'); related to Dutch kluit 'lump, clod', also to CLEAT and CLOT. The shift of sense to 'heavy blow', which dates from late Middle English, is difficult to explain; possibly the change occurred first in the verb (from 'put a patch on' to 'hit hard').

Linked entries:

CLEAT ■

CLOT ■

clove 1 n. 1 the dried flower bud of a tropical tree, used as a pungent aromatic spice: a teaspoon of ground cloves.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (oil of cloves) aromatic analgesic oil extracted from these buds and used medicinally, esp. for the relief of dental pain.

2 the Indonesian tree from which these buds are obtained.
<INFO>  Syzygium aromaticum (also called Eugenia caryophyllus), family Myrtaceae.

3 (also clove pink) a clove-scented pink that is the original type from which the carnation and other double pinks have been bred.
<INFO>  Dianthus caryophyllus, family Caryophyllaceae.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French clou de girofle, literally 'nail of gillyflower' (from its shape), GILLYFLOWER being originally the name of the spice and later applied to the similarly scented pink.

Linked entries:

GILLYFLOWER ■

clove 2 n. any of the small bulbs making up a compound bulb of garlic, shallot, etc.

<ORIGIN> Old English clufu, of Germanic origin, corresponding to the first element of German Knoblauch (altered from Old High German klovolouh), and the base of CLEAVE^1 .

Linked entries:

CLEAVE ■

clove 3 past of CLEAVE^1 .

Linked entries:

CLEAVE ■

clove hitch n. a knot by which a rope is secured by passing it twice around a spar or another rope that it crosses at right angles in such a way that both ends pass under the loop of rope at the front.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: clove, past tense of CLEAVE^1 (because the rope appears as separate parallel lines at the back of the knot).

Linked entries:

CLEAVE ■

clo·ven past participle of CLEAVE^1 .

■ adj. split or divided in two.

Linked entries:

CLEAVE ■

clo·ven hoof (also cloven foot) n. the divided hoof or foot of ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats, antelopes, and deer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar foot ascribed to a satyr, the god Pan, or to the Devil, sometimes used as a symbol or mark of the Devil.

<DERIVATIVES> clo·ven-hoofed adj. clo·ven-foot·ed adj.

clove pink n. see CLOVE^1 (sense 3).

Linked entries:

CLOVE ■

clo·ver n. a herbaceous plant of the pea family that has dense, globular flowerheads and leaves that are typically three-lobed. It is an important and widely grown fodder and rotational crop.
<INFO>  Genus Trifolium, family Leguminosae: many species, in particular red clover (T. pratense) and the creeping white clover (T. repens).

<PHRASES> in clover in ease and luxury: if your sister married the old codger, we could be in clover.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch klaver and German Klee.

clo·ver·leaf n. a junction of roads intersecting at different levels with connecting sections forming the pattern of a four-leaf clover.

■ adj. having a shape or pattern resembling a leaf of clover, esp. a four-leaf clover: cloverleaf rolls.

Clo·vis 1 1 a city in central California, in the San Joaquin Valley, northeast of Fresno; pop. 50,323.

2 an agricultural city in eastern New Mexico; pop. 32,667. The Clovis culture of 11,000 years ago is named for artifacts found nearby.

Clo·vis 2 (465-511), king of the Franks 481-511. He extended Merovingian rule to Gaul and Germany, making Paris his capital. After his conversion to Christianity, he championed orthodoxy against the Arian Visigoths, finally defeating them in the battle of Poitiers 507.

Clo·vis 3 n. [usu. as adj.] [ARCHAEOLOGY] a Paleo-Indian culture of Central and North America, dated to about 11,500-11,000 years ago and earlier. The culture is distinguished by heavy, leaf-shaped stone spearheads. Compare with FOLSOM.

<ORIGIN> first found near CLOVIS^1 , New Mexico.

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CLOVIS ■

clown n. 1 a comic entertainer, esp. one in a circus, wearing a traditional costume and exaggerated makeup.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a comical, silly, playful person: I was always the class clown.

- a foolish or incompetent person: we need a serious government, not a bunch of clowns.

2 ARCHAIC an unsophisticated country person; a rustic.

■ v. [intrans.] behave in a comical way; act playfully: Harvey clowned around pretending to be a dog.

<DERIVATIVES> clown·ish adj. clown·ish·ly adv. clown·ish·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (sense 2): perhaps of Low German origin.

clown·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a small, tropical marine fish with bold vertical stripes or other bright coloration. It lives in close association with anemones and is protected from their stings by mucus. Also called ANEMONE FISH.
<INFO>  Genera Amphiprion and Premnas, family Pomacentridae: several species, including A. percula.

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ANEMONE FISH ■

cloy v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (cloying) disgust or sicken (someone) with an excess of sweetness, richness, or sentiment: a romantic, rather cloying story; a curious bittersweetness that cloyed her senses | [intrans.] the first long sip gives a malty taste that never cloys.

<DERIVATIVES> cloy·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: shortening of obsolete accloy 'stop up, choke', from Old French encloyer 'drive a nail into', from medieval Latin inclavare, from clavus 'a nail'.

clo·za·pine n. [MEDICINE] a sedative drug of the benzodiazepine group, used to treat schizophrenia.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: from c(h)lo(ro)- + elements of BENZODIAZEPINE.

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BENZODIAZEPINE ■

cloze test n. a test in which one is asked to supply words that have been removed from a passage in order to measure one's ability to comprehend text.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: cloze representing a spoken abbreviation of CLOSURE.

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CLOSURE ■

CLU abbr. Civil Liberties Union.

club 1 n. [treated as sing. or pl.] an association or organization dedicated to a particular interest or activity: a photography club | [as adj.] the club secretary.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the building or facilities used by such an association.

- an organization or facility offering members social amenities, meals, and temporary residence: dinner at his club.

- a nightclub, esp. one playing fashionable dance music.

- [treated as sing. or pl.] an organization constituted to play games in a particular sport: a football club | [as adj.] the club captain.

- [usu. with adj.] a commercial organization offering subscribers special benefits: a shopping club.

- [usu. with adj.] a group of people, organizations, or nations having something in common: in cocktail lounges all over town convenes the daily meeting of the ain't-it-awful club.

■ v. (clubbed, club·bing) [intrans.] INFORMAL go out to nightclubs: she enjoys going clubbing in Orlando.

<PHRASES> join the club [in imperative] INFORMAL OFTEN HUMOROUS used as an observation that someone else is in a difficult or unwelcome situation to one's own: if you're confused, join the club!

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as a verb): formed obscurely from CLUB^2 .

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CLUB ■

club 2 n. 1 a heavy stick with a thick end, esp. one used as a weapon.
<SPECIAL USAGE> short for GOLF CLUB.

2 (clubs) one of the four suits in a conventional pack of playing cards, denoted by a black trefoil.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a card of such a suit.

■ v. (clubbed, club·bing) [trans.] beat (a person or animal) with a club or similar implement: the islanders clubbed whales to death.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old Norse clubba, variant of klumba; related to CLUMP.

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GOLF CLUB ■

CLUMP ■

club·ba·ble adj. suitable for membership of a club because of one's sociability or popularity.

<DERIVATIVES> club·ba·bil·i·ty n.

club·by adj. (-bi·er, -bi·est) INFORMAL friendly and sociable with fellow members of a group or organization but not with outsiders.

club car n. a railroad car equipped with a lounge and other amenities.

club chair n. a thickly upholstered armchair of the type often found in clubs.

club face n. the side of the head of a golf club that strikes the ball.

club foot n. 1 a deformed foot that is twisted so that the sole cannot be placed flat on the ground. It is typically congenital or a result of polio. Also called TALIPES.

2 a woodland toadstool with a grayish-brown cap, primrose-yellow gills, and a stem with a swollen woolly base, found in both Eurasia and North America.
<INFO>  Clitocybe clavipes, family Tricholomataceae, class Basidiomycetes.

<DERIVATIVES> club-foot·ed adj.

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TALIPES ■

club·house n. 1 a building or part of a building used by a sports team, esp. a baseball team, as a locker room.

2 a building or room used by a club.

3 a building in a sporting area, esp. a golf course, used for socializing and recreation.

club·land n. the world of nightclubs and of people who frequent them.

club·man n. (pl. -men) a man who is a member of one or more clubs, esp. a member of a gentleman's club.

club moss (also club·moss) n. a low-growing green plant that resembles a large moss, having branching stems with undivided leaves. Relatives of the club mosses were the first plants to colonize the land during the Silurian period.
<INFO>  Class Lycopodiopsida, phylum Lycopodiophyta: one living family, Lycopodiaceae.

club·root n. a fungal disease of cabbages, turnips, and related plants, in which the root becomes swollen and distorted by a single large gall or groups of smaller galls.
<INFO>  The fungus is Plasmodiophora brassicae, phylum Plasmodiophoromycota.

club sand·wich n. a sandwich of meat (usually chicken and bacon), tomato, lettuce, and mayonnaise, with two layers of filling between three slices of toast or bread.

club so·da n. TRADEMARK another term for SODA (sense 1).

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SODA ■

club steak n. another term for DELMONICO STEAK.

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DELMONICO STEAK ■

cluck n. 1 the characteristic short, guttural sound made by a hen.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar sound made by a person to express annoyance: Loretta gave a cluck of impatience.

2 INFORMAL a stupid or foolish person: a cluck too lazy to put up a clothesline.

■ v. (also cluck-cluck) [intrans.] (of a hen) make a short, guttural sound.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] (of a person) make such a sound with (one's tongue) to express concern or disapproval: Michael clucked his tongue irritably.

- [intrans.] (cluck over/at/about) express fussy concern about: they were cluck-clucking over the dishonor he brought to the office.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (as a verb): imitative, corresponding to Danish klukke, Swedish klucka.

clue n. 1 a piece of evidence or information used in the detection of a crime or solving of a mystery: police officers are still searching for clues.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a fact or idea that serves as a guide or aid in a task or problem: archaeological evidence can give clues about the past.

2 a verbal formula giving an indication as to what is to be inserted in a particular space in a crossword or other puzzle.

■ v. (clues, clued, clue·ing) [trans.] (clue someone in) INFORMAL inform someone about a particular matter: Stella had clued her in about Peter.

<PHRASES> not have a clue INFORMAL know nothing about something or about how to do something.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: variant of CLEW. The original sense was 'a ball of thread'; hence one used to guide a person out of a labyrinth (literally or figuratively). Sense 1 dates from the early 17th cent.

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CLEW ■

clued-in adj. INFORMAL well-informed about a particular subject.

clue·ful adj. INFORMAL well-informed; competently intelligent: clueful implementors are aware of the issues and are looking out for you.

clue·less adj. INFORMAL having no knowledge, understanding, or ability: you're clueless about how to deal with the world.

<DERIVATIVES> clue·less·ly adv. clue·less·ness n.

Cluj-Na·po·ca a city in western central Romania; pop. 321,850. The name was changed from Cluj in the mid 1970s to incorporate the name of a nearby ancient settlement. Also called CLUJ; Hungarian name KOLOZSVÁR; original name KLAUSENBURG.

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KOLOZSVÁR ■

KLAUSENBURG ■

Clum·ber span·iel n. a spaniel of a slow, heavily built breed.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the name of Clumber Park, an estate in Nottinghamshire, England.

clump n. 1 a compacted mass or lump of something: clumps of earth.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a small, compact group of people: they sat on the wall in clumps of two and three.

- a small group of trees or plants growing closely together: a clump of ferns.

- [PHYSIOLOGY] an agglutinated mass of blood cells or bacteria, esp. as an indicator of the presence of an antibody to them.

2 a thick extra sole on a boot or shoe.

3 the sound of heavy footsteps.

■ v. [intrans.] 1 form into a clump or mass: the particles tend to clump together.

2 (also clomp) walk with a heavy tread.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a heap or lump): partly imitative, reinforced by Middle Low German klumpe and Middle Dutch klompe; related to CLUB^2 .

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CLUB ■

clump·y adj. (clump·i·er, clump·i·est) 1 (of shoes or boots) heavy and inelegant.

2 forming or showing a tendency to form clumps.

clum·sy adj. (-si·er, -si·est) awkward in movement or in handling things: a terribly clumsy fellow; the cold made his fingers clumsy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- done awkwardly or without skill or elegance: a clumsy attempt to park; a clumsy remake of an old movie.

- difficult to handle or use; unwieldy: chairs with clumsy wooden armrests; the legal procedure is far too clumsy.

- lacking social skills and graces: his choice of words was clumsy.

<DERIVATIVES> clum·si·ly adv. clum·si·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from obsolete clumse 'make numb, be numb', probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish klumsig.

clung past and past participle of CLING.

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CLING ■

Clu·ni·ac adj. of or relating to a reformed Benedictine monastic order founded at Cluny in eastern France in 910.

■ n. a monk of this order.

clunk n. 1 a heavy, dull sound such as that made by thick pieces of metal striking together.

2 INFORMAL a stupid or foolish person.

■ v. [intrans.] move with or make such a sound: the machinery clunked into life.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (originally Scots, as a verb): imitative; compare with CLANK, CLINK^1 , and CLONK.

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CLANK ■

CLINK ■

CLONK ■

clunk·er n. INFORMAL an old, run-down vehicle or machine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thing that is totally unsuccessful: novel after novel and not a clunker among them.

clunk·y adj. (clunk·i·er, clunk·i·est) INFORMAL 1 awkwardly solid, heavy, and outdated: even last year's laptops look clunky; clunky brown shoes | FIGURATIVE surprisingly clunky comedy.

2 making a clunking sound: clunky conveyor belts.

clu·pe·oid [ZOOLOGY] n. a marine fish of a group that includes the herring family together with the anchovies and related fish.
<INFO>  Order Clupeiformes or suborder Clupeoidei.

■ adj. of or relating to fish of this group.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Clupeoidei (plural), from Latin clupea, the name of a river fish.

clus·ter n. a group of similar objects growing closely together: clusters of creamy-white flowers.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a group of people or similar objects positioned or occurring close together: a cluster of antique shops.

- [ASTRONOMY] a group of stars or galaxies forming a relatively close association.

- [LINGUISTICS] (also consonant cluster) a group of consonants pronounced in immediate succession, as str in strong.

- a natural subgroup of a population, used for statistical sampling or analysis.

- [CHEMISTRY] a group of atoms of the same element, typically a metal, bonded closely together in a molecule.

■ v. [intrans.] be or come into a cluster or close group; congregate: the children clustered around her skirts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [STATISTICS] (of data points) have similar numerical values: students tended to have scores clustering around 70 percent.

<ORIGIN> Old English clyster; probably related to CLOT.

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CLOT ■

clus·ter bean n. another term for GUAR.

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GUAR ■

clus·ter bomb n. a bomb that releases a number of projectiles on impact to injure or damage personnel and vehicles.

clus·tered adj. [attrib.] growing or situated in a group: the spires and clustered roofs of the old town.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ARCHITECTURE] (of pillars, columns, or shafts) positioned close together, or disposed around or half-detached from a pier.

clus·ter fly n. a fly that often enters buildings in large numbers during the autumn while looking for a place to overwinter.
<INFO>  Pollenia rudis (family Calliphoridae), whose larvae parasitize earthworms, and the smaller Thaumatomyia notata (family Chloropidae).

clus·ter head·ache n. a type of severe headache that tends to recur over a period of several weeks and in which the pain is usually limited to one side of the head.

clutch 1 v. [trans.] grasp or seize (something) tightly or eagerly: he stood clutching a microphone | [intrans.] FIGURATIVE Mrs. Longhill clutched at the idea.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also BRIT. clutch up) become nervous and panicked: doctors could clutch up and lose control as easily as anyone.

■ n. 1 a tight grasp or an act of grasping something: she made a clutch at his body.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (someone's clutches) a person's power or control, esp. when perceived as cruel or inescapable: he had narrowly escaped the clutches of the Nazis.

2 a slim, flat handbag without handles or a strap.

3 (the clutch) an emergency or critical moment: he came through for us in the clutch; | [as adj.] they were among the best clutch hitters in baseball.

4 a mechanism for connecting and disconnecting a vehicle engine from its transmission system.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the pedal operating such a mechanism.

- an arrangement for connecting and disconnecting the working parts of any machine.

<PHRASES> clutch at straws see STRAW.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'bend, crook'): variant of obsolete clitch 'close the hand', from Old English clyccan 'crook, clench', of Germanic origin.

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STRAW ■

clutch 2 n. a group of eggs fertilized at the same time, typically laid in a single session and (in birds) incubated together.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a brood of chicks.

- a small group of people or things: a clutch of young girls on roller skates.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: probably a southern variant of northern English dialect cletch, related to Middle English cleck 'to hatch', from Old Norse klekja.

Clu·tha a gold-bearing river at the southern end of South Island, in New Zealand. It flows for 213 miles (338 km) to the Pacific Ocean.

clut·ter n. a collection of things lying about in an untidy mass: the attic is full of clutter.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] an untidy state: the room was in a clutter of smelly untidiness.

■ v. [trans.] crowd (something) untidily; fill with clutter: his apartment was cluttered with paintings and antiques; luggage cluttered up the hallway.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a verb): variant of dialect clotter 'to clot', influenced by CLUSTER and CLATTER.

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CLUSTER ■

CLATTER ■

Clyde a river in western central Scotland that flows for 106 miles (170 km) from the southern uplands to the Firth of Clyde.

Clyde, Firth of the estuary of the Clyde River in western Scotland that separates southern Scotland on the east from the southern end of the Highlands on the northwest.

Clydes·dale n. 1 a horse of a heavy, powerful breed, used for pulling heavy loads.

2 a dog of a small breed of terrier.

<ORIGIN> from the name of the area around the river CLYDE in Scotland, where they were originally bred.

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CLYDE ■

clyp·e·us n. (pl. clyp·e·i ) [ENTOMOLOGY] a broad plate at the front of an insect's head.

<DERIVATIVES> clyp·e·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin, literally 'round shield'.

clys·ter n. archaic term for ENEMA.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French clystere or Latin clyster, from Greek 'syringe', from kluzein 'wash out'.

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ENEMA ■

Cly·tem·nes·tra [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] wife of Agamemnon. She conspired with her lover Aegisthus to murder Agamemnon on his return from the Trojan War and was murdered in retribution by her son Orestes and her daughter Electra.

CM abbr.
- command module.

- common meter or measure.

Cm symbol the chemical element curium.

cm abbr. centimeter(s).

Cmdr. abbr. Commander.

Cmdre. abbr. Commodore.

CMEA abbr. Council for Mutual Economic Assistance.

c'mon contraction of come on: C'mon, it'll be fun!

CMOS n. [often as adj.] [ELECTRONICS] a technology for making low power integrated circuits.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a chip built using such technology.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: from Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor.

CMSgt abbr. chief master sergeant.

CMV abbr. cytomegalovirus.

CMYK abbr. cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, the four colors used in most color printers, usually in two ink cartridges, one of black ink and the other containing cyan, magenta, and yellow inks in separate reservoirs.

<ORIGIN> the final 'k' in black is used to differentiate black from blue; the color scheme RGB (red, green, blue) is used for color computer display screens.

cne·mi·al crest n. [ZOOLOGY] (in the legs of many mammals, birds, and dinosaurs) a ridge at the front of the head of the tibia or tibiotarsus to which the main extensor muscle of the thigh is attached. It is particularly well developed in running species.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: cnemial, from Greek 'tibia' + -AL.

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-AL ■

CNG abbr. compressed natural gas.

Cni·dar·i·a [ZOOLOGY] a phylum of aquatic invertebrate animals that comprises the coelenterates.

<DERIVATIVES> cni·dar·i·an n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek 'nettle'.

CNN abbr. Cable News Network.

CNR HISTORICAL abbr. Canadian National Railways.

CNS abbr. central nervous system.

Cnut variant of CANUTE.

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CANUTE ■

CO abbr.
- Colorado (in official postal use).

- Commanding Officer.

- conscientious objector.

Co symbol the chemical element cobalt.

Co. abbr.
- company: the Consett Iron Co.

- county: Hudson Co.

<PHRASES> and Co. used as part of the titles of commercial businesses to designate the partner or partners not named.
- (also and co.) INFORMAL and the rest of them: I got there at 12.30 and waited for Mark and Co. to arrive.

c/o abbr.
- care of.

- carried over.

co- prefix 1 (forming nouns) joint; mutual; common: coeducation.

2 (forming adjectives) jointly; mutually: coequal.

3 (forming verbs) together with another or others: coproduce; co-own.

4 [MATHEMATICS] of the complement of an angle: cosine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the complement of: colatitude; coset.

<ORIGIN> from Latin, originally a form of COM-.

<USAGE>
1 In modern American English, the tendency increasingly is to write compound words beginning with co- without hyphenation, as in costar, cosignatory, and coproduce. British usage generally tends more often to show a preference for the older, hyphenated, spelling, but even in Britain the trend seems to be in favor of less hyphenation than in the past. In both the U.S. and the UK, for example, the spellings of coordinate and coed are encountered with or without hyphenation, but the more common choice for either word in either country is without the hyphen.

2 Co- with the hyphen is often used in compounds that are not yet standard (co-golfer), or to prevent ambiguity (co-driverbecause codriver could be mistaken for cod river), or simply to avoid an awkward spelling (co-own is clearly preferable to coown). There are also some relatively less common terms, such as co-respondent (in a divorce suit), where the hyphenated spelling distinguishes the word's meaning and pronunciation from that of the more common correspondent.

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COM- ■

CoA [BIOCHEMISTRY] abbr. coenzyme A.

co·ac·er·vate n. [CHEMISTRY] a colloid-rich viscous liquid phase that may separate from a colloidal solution on addition of a third component.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: back-formation from coacervation, based on Latin cum '(together) with' + acervus 'heap'.

coach 1 n. 1 a horse-drawn carriage, esp. a closed one.

2 a railroad car.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] denoting economy class seating in an aircraft or train: the cheapest coach-class fare.

3 a bus, esp. one that is comfortably equipped and used for longer journeys. [as adj.]

■ v. [intrans.] travel by coach: they coached to Claude's dwelling.

■ adv. in economy class accommodations in an aircraft or train: flying coach.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (sense 1): from French coche, from Hungarian kocsi (szekér) '(wagon) from Kocs,' a town in Hungary.

coach 2 n. an athletic instructor or trainer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a tutor who gives private or specialized teaching.

■ v. [trans.] train or instruct (a team or player): he has coached Little League baseball.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- give (someone) extra or private teaching: he was coached to speak more slowly and curb his hand gestures.

- teach (a subject or sport) as a coach: a Washington realtor who coaches soccer.

- prompt or urge (someone) with instructions: he had improperly coached the witness to testify more credibly.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (as a verb): figuratively from COACH^1 .

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COACH ■

coach house n. an outbuilding in which a carriage is or was kept.

coach·man n. (pl. -men) a driver of a horse-drawn carriage.

coach·roof n. a raised part of the cabin roof of a yacht.

coach screw n. another term for LAG SCREW.

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LAG SCREW ■

coach·whip n. (also coachwhip snake) a harmless, fast-moving North American snake. The pattern of scales on its slender body is said to resemble a braided whip.
<INFO>  Masticophis flagellum, family Colubridae.

coach·wood n. a slender tree of the rain forests of Australia and New Guinea, with close-grained timber that has a characteristic caramel scent and is used for cabinetmaking and veneers.
<INFO>  Ceratopetalum apetalum, family Cunoniaceae.

co·ac·tion n. 1 compulsion; restraint; coercion.

2 concerted action; acting together.

co·a·dapt·ed adj. [BIOLOGY] mutually adapted; mutually accommodating.

<DERIVATIVES> co·a·dap·ta·tion n.

co·ad·ju·tant adj. helping another or others, or with another or others.

■ n. a person who thus helps.

co·ad·ju·tor n. a bishop appointed to assist a diocesan bishop, and often also designated as his successor.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin coadjutor, from co- (from Latin cum 'together with') + adjutor 'assistant' (from adjuvare 'to help').

co·ag·u·lant n. a substance that causes blood or another liquid to coagulate.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin coagulant- 'curdling', from the verb coagulare (see COAGULATE).

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COAGULATE ■

co·ag·u·lase n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a bacterial enzyme that brings about the coagulation of blood or plasma and is produced by disease-causing forms of staphylococcus.

co·ag·u·late v. [intrans.] (of a fluid, esp. blood) change to a solid or semisolid state: blood had coagulated around the edges of the wound.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] cause (a fluid) to change to a solid or semisolid state: epinephrine coagulates the blood.

<DERIVATIVES> co·ag·u·la·ble adj. co·ag·u·la·tion n. co·ag·u·la·tive adj. co·ag·u·la·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin coagulat- 'curdled', from the verb coagulare, from coagulum 'rennet'.

co·ag·u·lum n. (pl. -u·la ) a mass of coagulated matter.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting a coagulant): from Latin, literally 'rennet'.

Co·a·hui·la a state in northern Mexico, on the U.S. border; capital, Saltillo.

coal n. a combustible black or dark brown rock consisting mainly of carbonized plant matter, found mainly in underground deposits and widely used as fuel: [as adj.] a coal fire.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a red-hot piece of coal or other material in a fire: the glowing coals.

■ v. [trans.] provide with a supply of coal: [as n.] (coaling) the coaling and watering of the engine.

<PHRASES>
□ coals to Newcastle something brought or sent to a place where it is already plentiful.

□ rake (or haul) someone over the coals reprimand someone severely.

<DERIVATIVES> coal·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English col (in the senses 'glowing ember' and 'charred remnant'), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kool and German Kohle. The sense 'combustible mineral used as fuel' dates from Middle English.

coal-black adj. as black as coal; utterly black.

coal·er n. 1 a ship that transports coal.

2 a large mechanized structure for loading coal on to a ship, railroad car, or steam locomotive.

co·a·lesce v. [intrans.] come together and form one mass or whole: the puddles had coalesced into shallow streams | the separate details coalesce to form a single body of scientific thought.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] combine (elements) in a mass or whole: to help coalesce the community, they established an office.

<DERIVATIVES> co·a·les·cence n. co·a·les·cent adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'bring together, unite'): from Latin coalescere, from co- (from cum 'with') + alescere 'grow up' (from alere 'nourish').

coal·field n. an extensive area containing a number of underground coal deposits.

coal-fired adj. heated, driven, or produced by the burning of coal: a coal-fired power station.

coal gas n. a mixture of gases (chiefly hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide) obtained by the destructive distillation of coal and formerly used for lighting and heating.
- gas given off when coal is burned

coal·i·fi·ca·tion n. the process by which plant remains become coal.

co·a·li·tion n. an alliance for combined action, especially a temporary alliance of political parties forming a government or of states: a coalition of conservatives and disaffected Democrats | he governed in coalition with the socialist Labor Party | [as adj.] a coalition government.

<DERIVATIVES> co·a·li·tion·ist n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'fusion'): from medieval Latin coalitio(n-), from the verb coalescere (see COALESCE). Usage in politics dates from the late 18th cent.

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COALESCE ■

coal meas·ures plural n. [GEOLOGY] a series of strata of the Carboniferous period, including coal seams.

coal oil n. another term for KEROSENE.

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KEROSENE ■

Coal·port n. a kind of porcelain, frequently decorated with floral designs, produced at Coalport, England, from the late 18th century.

Coal·sack (the Coalsack) [ASTRONOMY] a dark nebula of dust near the Southern Cross that gives the appearance of a gap in the stars of the Milky Way.

coal tar n. a thick black liquid produced by the destructive distillation of bituminous coal. It contains benzene, naphthalene, phenols, aniline, and many other organic chemicals.

coam·ing (also coam·ings) n. a raised border around a ship’s hatch serving to support the hatch covers and to keep out water.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar structure around the cockpit of a boat.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

co·ap·ta·tion n. the adaptation or adjustment of things, parts, or people to each other.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MEDICINE] the drawing together of the separated tissue in a wound or fracture.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from late Latin coaptatio(n-), from the verb coaptare, from co- (from Latin cum 'with, together') + aptare (from aptus 'apt').

co·arc·tate adj. [CHIEFLY ANATOMY] [BIOLOGY] pressed close together; contracted; confined.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ENTOMOLOGY] (of the pupa of certain flies) formed within and remaining concealed by the larval cuticle or puparium.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin coarctatus, past participle of coarctare 'press or draw together'.

co·arc·ta·tion n. [MEDICINE] congenital narrowing of a short section of the aorta.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin coarctatio(n-), from the verb coarctare (see COARCTATE).

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COARCTATE ■

coarse adj. 1 rough or loose in texture or grain: a coarse woolen cloth.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- made of large grains or particles: dry, coarse sand.

- (of grains or particles) large.

- (of a person's features) not elegantly formed or proportioned.

- (of food or drink) of inferior quality.

2 (of a person or a person's speech) rude, crude, or vulgar.

<DERIVATIVES> coarse·ness n. coars·ish adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'ordinary or inferior'): origin uncertain; until the 17th cent. identical in spelling with COURSE, and possibly derived from the latter in the sense 'habitual or ordinary manner'.

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COURSE ■

coarse-grained adj. 1 coarse in texture or grain: a coarse-grained flour.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of photographic film) having a noticeably grainy appearance.

2 coarse in manner or speech: a coarse-grained man.

coars·en v. make or become rough: [trans.] her hands were coarsened by outside work | [intrans.] his facial features appeared to coarsen with age.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make or become crude, vulgar, or unpleasant: [trans.] [as adj.] people with coarsened characters | [intrans.] the voice coarsened.

co·ar·tic·u·la·tion n. [PHONETICS] the articulation of two or more speech sounds together, so that one influences the other.

coast n. 1 the part of the land near the sea; the edge of the land: the west coast of Africa; they sailed further up the coast | [as adj.] the coast road.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Coast) the Pacific coast of North America.

2 a run or movement in or on a vehicle without the use of power.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] (of a person or vehicle) move easily without using power: the engines stopped, and the craft coasted along.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- act or make progress without making much effort: he coasted to victory.

- slide down a snowy hill on a sled.

2 [intrans.] sail along the coast, esp. in order to carry cargo: [as adj.] (coasting) a coasting schooner.

<PHRASES> the coast is clear there is no danger of being observed or caught.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'side of the body'), from Old French coste (noun), costeier (verb), from Latin costa 'rib, flank, side'. Sense 1 arose from the phrase coast of the sea 'side of the sea'.

coast·al adj. of, relating to, or near a coast: coastal erosion; | coastal waters.

coast·eer·ing n. CHIEFLY BRIT.the sport of exploring a shoreline that does not have a continuous pedestrian route.

coast·er n. 1 a ship used to carry cargo along the coast.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adj.] a person who inhabits a specified coast: a West coaster.

2 a small tray or mat placed under a bottle or glass to protect the table underneath.

3 a toboggan.
<SPECIAL USAGE> short for ROLLER COASTER.

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ROLLER COASTER ■

coast guard (also coast·guard) n. (Coast Guard) a branch of the U.S. armed forces, under the Department of Transportation since 1967, responsible for the enforcement of maritime law and for the protection of life and property at sea. In time of war, or at the direction of the president, the Coast Guard serves as part of the U.S. Navy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the coastguard) a civilian or volunteer organization keeping watch on the sea near a coast in order to assist people or ships in danger and to prevent smuggling.

- a member of a federal or civilian organization.

coast·guards·man n. a member of a coastguard, esp. the U.S. Coast Guard.

coast·land n. (usu. coastlands) an expanse of land near the sea.

coast·line n. the outline of a coast, esp. with regard to its shape and appearance: the hotel has wonderful views of the rugged coastline.

Coast Moun·tains a range that curves northwest for 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from British Columbia to Alaska and extends the line of the Cascade Mountains. Mount Waddington at 13,104 feet (3,994 m) is the high point.

Coast Rang·es the name for various ranges that extend from southern California along the Pacific coast to Alaska. Parallel to and west of the Coast Mountains, they reach 19,524 feet (5,951 m) at Mount Logan in the Yukon Territory.

coast to coast adj. & adv. all the way across an island or continent: [as adv.] retail stores from coast to coast | [as adj.] (coast-to-coast) a coast-to-coast journey.

coast·ward (also coast·wards) adv. & adj. toward the coast.

coast·wise adj. & adv. along, following, or connected with the coast: [as adj.] a small coastwise steamer | [as adv.] the cargo was ferried coastwise.

coat n. 1 an outer garment worn outdoors, having sleeves and typically extending below the hips: a winter coat | [as adj.] his coat pocket.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a similar item worn indoors as a protective garment: a laboratory coat.

- a man's jacket or tunic, esp. as worn when hunting or by soldiers.

- a man's or woman's tailored jacket.

2 an animal's covering of fur or hair.

3 a structure, esp. a membrane, enclosing or lining an organ.
- a skin, rind, or husk.

- a layer of a plant bulb.

- an outer layer or covering of a specified kind: the protein coat of the virus.

4 a covering of paint or similar material laid on a surface at one time: a protective coat of varnish.

■ v. [trans.] (often be coated) provide with a layer or covering of something; apply a coat to: his boots were coated with mud; coat each part with a thin oil
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a substance) form a covering to: a film of dust coated the floor.

<DERIVATIVES> coat·ed adj. [in combination] plastic-coated wire.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cote, of unknown ultimate origin.

coat ar·mor n. heraldic arms.

coat check n. a cloakroom with an attendant.

coat check·er n. a cloakroom attendant.

coat dress n. a woman's tailored dress, typically fastening down the front and resembling a coat.

coat hang·er n. see HANGER (sense 2).

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HANGER ■

co·a·ti n. (pl. -tis) a raccoonlike animal found mainly in Central and South America, with a long, flexible snout and a ringed tail. Also called COATIMUNDI.
<INFO>  Genera Nasua and Nasuella, family Procyonidae: three or four species, in particular Nasua nasua, whose range reaches the southern U.S.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Spanish and Portuguese, from Tupi kua'ti, from cua 'belt' + tim 'nose'.

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COATIMUNDI ■

co·a·ti·mun·di n. (pl. -dis) another term for COATI.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Portuguese, from Tupi kuatimu'ne, from kua'ti (see COATI) + mu'ne 'snare or trick'. The coatimundi was originally thought to be a different species from the coati, but then discovered to be the male of the same species.

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COATI ■

COATI ■

coat·ing n. a thin layer or covering of something: a coating of paint.
<SPECIAL USAGE> material used for making coats.

coat of arms n. the distinctive heraldic bearings or shield of a person, family, corporation, or country.

coat of mail n. HISTORICAL a jacket covered with or composed of metal rings or plates, serving as armor.

coat·rack n. a rack or stand with hooks on which to hang coats, hats, etc.

coat·room n. another term for CLOAKROOM.

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CLOAKROOM ■

Coats Land a region of Antarctica, east of the Antarctic Peninsula.

coat stand n. another term for COAT RACK.

coat·tail n. (usu. coattails) each of the flaps formed by the lower back of a coat, esp. a tailcoat.

<PHRASES> on someone's coattails benefiting from another's success, sometimes undeservedly: he was elected on the coattails of his predecessor.

co·au·thor n. a joint author.

■ v. [trans.] be a joint author of (a book, paper, or report).

coax 1 v. [trans.] [trans.] persuade (someone) gradually or by flattery to do something: the trainees were coaxed into doing hard, boring work;| “Come on now,” I coaxed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (coax something from/out of) use such persuasion to obtain something from: we coaxed money out of my father | FIGURATIVE coaxing more speed from the car.

- manipulate (something) carefully into a particular shape or position: her lovely hair had been coaxed into ringlets.

<DERIVATIVES> coax·er n. coax·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from obsolete cokes 'simpleton', of unknown origin. The original sense was 'pet, fondle', hence 'persuade by caresses or flattery', the underlying sense being 'make a simpleton of'.

coax 2 INFORMAL n. coaxial cable.

■ adj. coaxial: coax connectors.

co·ax·i·al adj. having a common axis.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a cable or line) consisting of two concentric conductors separated by an insulator.

<DERIVATIVES> co·ax·i·al·ly adv.

COB abbr. close of business: you have until COB today to show us why you should not be disconnected.

cob 1 n. 1 (also corn·cob) the central, cylindrical, woody part of the corn ear to which the grains, or kernels, are attached.

2 (also cob·nut) a hazelnut or filbert, esp. one of a large variety.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a hazel or filbert bush.

3 a powerfully built, short-legged horse.

4 a male swan.

5 BRIT. a roundish lump of coal.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a strong man or leader): of unknown origin. The underlying general sense appears to be 'stout, rounded, sturdy'.

cob 2 n. BRIT. a mixture of compressed clay and straw used, esp. in former times, for building walls: [as adj.] cob and thatch cottages.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

Co·bain Kurt (Donald) (1967-94), U.S. rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. As leader of the Seattle band Nirvana, his style helped characterize the alternative music scene. His notoriety reached cult status, undiminished by his suicide in April 1994.

co·bal·a·min n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] any of a group of cobalt-containing substances including cyanocobalamin (vitamin B_12).

<ORIGIN> 1950s: blend of COBALT and VITAMIN.

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COBALT ■

VITAMIN ■

co·balt n. the chemical element of atomic number 27, a hard silvery-white magnetic metal. (Symbol: Co)
<SPECIAL USAGE> short for COBALT BLUE: [as adj.] a cobalt sky.

Cobalt is chiefly obtained as a byproduct from nickel and copper ores. It is a transition metal similar in many respects to nickel. Its main use is as a component of magnetic alloys and those designed for use at high temperatures.

<DERIVATIVES> co·bal·tic adj. co·bal·tous adj.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from German Kobalt 'imp, demon' (from the belief that cobalt was harmful to the ores with which it occurred).

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COBALT BLUE ■

co·balt blue n. a deep blue pigment containing cobalt and aluminum oxides.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the deep blue color of this.

Cobb Ty (1886-1961), U.S. baseball player; full name Tyrus Raymond Cobb; also known as the Georgia Peach. His lifetime batting average (.367) is the highest in baseball history. An outfielder, he played for the Detroit Tigers 1905-26 and the Philadelphia Athletics 1927-28. Baseball Hall of Fame (1936).

Cobb Coun·ty a county in northwestern Georgia that contains many northwestern suburbs of Atlanta; pop. 447,745. Its seat is Marietta.

cob·ble 1 n. (usu. cobbles) a cobblestone.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (cobbles) BRIT. coal in lumps of such a size.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from COB^1 + -LE^2 .

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COB ■

-LE ■

cob·ble 2 v. [trans.] 1 DATED repair (shoes).

2 (cobble something together) roughly assemble or put together something from available parts or elements: the mayor cobbled together a budget.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: back-formation from COBBLER.

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COBBLER ■

cob·bled adj. (of an area or roadway) paved with cobbles: a cobbled courtyard.

cob·bler n. 1 a person who mends shoes as a job.

2 an iced drink made with wine or sherry, sugar, and lemon.

3 a fruit pie with a rich crust on top.

<PHRASES> let the cobbler stick to his last PROVERB people should only concern themselves with things they know something about. <ORIGIN> translating Latin ne sutor ultra crepidam.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: of unknown origin.

cob·ble·stone n. a small, round stone of a kind formerly used to cover road surfaces.

cob·by adj. (of horses, dogs, and other animals) shortish and thickset; stocky.

cob coal n. see COB^1 (sense 5).

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COB ■

Cob·den Richard (1804-65), English political reformer. From 1838, with John Bright, he led the Anti-Corn Law League in its successful campaign for the repeal of the Corn Laws 1846.

COBE a NASA satellite launched in 1989 to map the background microwave radiation from space in a search for evidence of the big bang.

<ORIGIN> abbreviation of Cosmic Background Explorer.

co-bel·lig·er·ent n. any of two or more nations engaged in war as allies.

<DERIVATIVES> co-bel·lig·er·ence n.

co·bi·a n. (pl. same) a large, edible game fish that lives in open waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and western Pacific oceans. Also called SERGEANT FISH.
<INFO>  Rachycentron canadum, family Rachycentridae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

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SERGEANT FISH ■

cob·nut n. see COB^1 (sense 2).

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COB ■

COBOL n. a computer programming language designed for use in commerce.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from co(mmon) b(usiness) o(riented) l(anguage).

co·bot n. a computer-controlled robotic device designed to assist a person: a cobot and a UAW member working together to install a large truck instrument panel.

<ORIGIN> blend of collaborative and robot.

co·bra n. a highly venomous snake native to Africa and Asia that spreads the skin of its neck into a hood when disturbed.
<INFO>  Naja and two other genera, family Elapidae: several species, in particular the king cobra and the spectacled cobra.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Portuguese cobra de capello, literally 'snake with hood', based on Latin colubra 'snake'.

co-brand v. [trans.] designate (a product or service) with the brands of joint manufacturers or sponsors: E-Truck Leasing co-brands services with Truck Wash Guys.

■ n. a product or service jointly offered by two manufacturers or sponsors: [as modifier] we can easily set up a co-brand version of Small Business IS Here with your logo in the top right hand corner of every page.

<DERIVATIVES> co-brand·ing n.

cob·web n. (usu. cobwebs) a spider's web, esp. when old and covered with dust.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ZOOLOGY] a tangled three-dimensional spider's web.

- something resembling a cobweb in delicacy or intricacy: white cobwebs of frost.

<PHRASES> blow (or clear) away the cobwebs banish a state of sluggishness; enliven or refresh oneself.

<DERIVATIVES> cob·webbed adj. cob·web·by adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English coppeweb, copweb, from obsolete coppe 'spider' + WEB.

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WEB ■

cob·web spi·der n. a spider that builds tangled three-dimensional webs.
<INFO>  Family Theridiidae: many species, class Arachnida.

co·ca n. a tropical American shrub that is widely grown for its leaves, which are the source of cocaine.
<INFO>  Erythroxylum coca, family Erythroxylaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the dried leaves of this shrub, which are mixed with lime and chewed as a stimulant by the native people of western South America.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Spanish, from Aymara kuka or Quechua koka.

co·caine n. an addictive drug derived from coca or prepared synthetically, used as an illegal stimulant and sometimes medicinally as a local anesthetic.
<INFO>  An alkaloid; chem. formula: C_17H_21NO_4.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from COCA + -INE^4 .

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COCA ■

-INE ■

co·cain·ism n. (the condition due to) excessive use of or addiction to cocaine.

co·cain·ize v. [trans.] treat or anesthetize with cocaine.

coc·cid n. a homopteran insect of the family Coccidae; a scale insect.

coc·cid·i·a plural n. (sing. -cid·i·um ) [BIOLOGY] parasitic protozoa of a group that includes those that cause diseases such as coccidiosis and toxoplasmosis.
<INFO>  Suborder Eimeriorina (formerly order or subclass Coccidia), phylum Sporozoa.

<DERIVATIVES> coc·cid·i·an adj. & n.

coc·cid·i·oi·do·my·co·sis n. a serious fungal disease of the lungs and other tissues, endemic in the warmer, arid regions of America.
<INFO>  The fungus is Coccidioides immitis, phylum Ascomycota.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from modern Latin Coccidioides (part of the binomial of the fungus) + MYCOSIS.

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MYCOSIS ■

coc·cid·i·o·sis n. a disease of birds and mammals that chiefly affects the intestines, caused by coccidia.
<INFO>  The coccidia belong to the genera Eimeria, Isopora, and others.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from coccidium (singular of modern Latin Coccidia, from Greek kokkis, diminutive of kokkos 'berry') + -OSIS.

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-OSIS ■

coc·cid·i·o·stat n. [VETERINARY MEDICINE] a substance administered to poultry, cattle, puppies, and kittens to retard the growth and reproduction of coccidian parasites.

coc·cid·i·um n. singular form of COCCIDIA.

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COCCIDIA ■

coc·ci·nel·lid n. [ENTOMOLOGY] a beetle of a family (Coccinellidae) that includes the ladybugs.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Coccinellidae (plural), from the genus name Coccinella, from Latin coccineus 'scarlet'.

coc·co·lith n. [BIOLOGY] a minute, rounded, calcareous platelet, numbers of which form the spherical shells of coccolithophores.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek kokkos 'grain or berry' + lithos 'stone'.

coc·co·lith·o·phore n. [BIOLOGY] a single-celled marine flagellate that secretes a calcareous shell, forming an important constituent of the phytoplankton.
<INFO>  Order Coccolithophorida, phylum Haptophyta.

<DERIVATIVES> coc·co·lith·o·phor·id n. & adj.

coc·cus n. (pl. coc·ci ) [BIOLOGY] any spherical or roughly spherical bacterium.

<DERIVATIVES> coc·cal adj. coc·coid adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (denoting a scale insect): modern Latin, from Greek kokkos 'berry'. Compare with COCHINEAL.

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COCHINEAL ■

coc·cyx n. (pl. coc·cy·ges or coc·cyx·es ) a small, triangular bone at the base of the spinal column in humans and some apes, formed of fused vestigial vertebrae.

<DERIVATIVES> coc·cyg·e·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek kokkux 'cuckoo' (because the shape of the human bone resembles the cuckoo's bill).

Co·cha·bam·ba a city in western central Bolivia, at the center of a rich agricultural region; pop. 404,100.

co·chair n. a person who is in charge of a meeting or organization jointly with another or others.

■ v. [trans.] chair (a meeting) in this way.

Co·chin 1 a seaport and naval base on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India, in the state of Kerala; pop. 504,000.

Co·chin 2 (also Cochin China) n. a chicken of an Asian breed with feathery legs.

Co·chin-Chi·na the former name for the southern region of what is now Vietnam. Part of French Indo-China from 1862, it became a French overseas territory in 1946 and then merged officially with Vietnam in 1949.

coch·i·neal n. 1 a scarlet dye used chiefly for coloring food.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the dried bodies of a female scale insect, which are crushed to yield this dye.

- a similar dye or preparation made from the oak kermes insect (see KERMES).

2 (cochineal insect) the scale insect that is used for cochineal, native to Mexico and formerly widely cultivated on cacti.
<INFO>  Dactylopius coccus, family Dactylopiidae, suborder Homoptera.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French cochenille or Spanish cochinilla, from Latin coccinus 'scarlet', from Greek kokkos 'berry' (because the insect bodies were originally mistaken for grains or berries). Compare with COCCUS and KERMES.

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KERMES ■

COCCUS ■

KERMES ■

Co·chise (c.1812-74), American Indian leader, chief of the Apache Indians. With a band of followers, he resisted white encroachment on Indian lands.

coch·le·a n. (pl. -le·ae ) the spiral cavity of the inner ear containing the organ of Corti, which produces nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations.

<DERIVATIVES> coch·le·ar adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (used to denote spiral objects such as a spiral staircase and an Archimedean screw): from Latin, 'snail shell or screw', from Greek kokhlias. The current sense dates from the late 17th cent.

coch·le·ate (also coch·le·at·ed) adj. [CHIEFLY BOTANY] formed like a spiral shell; twisted.

Coch·ran 1 Eddie (1938-60), U.S. rock-and-roll singer and songwriter; born Edward Cochrane. Notable songs: “Summertime Blues” (1958), “C'mon Everybody” (1959), and “Three Steps to Heaven” (1960).

Coch·ran 2 Jacqueline (c.1910-80), U.S. aviator. The first woman to break the sound barrier 1953, she set many speed and altitude records.

Coch·ran 3 Margaret, see CORBIN.

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CORBIN ■

cock 1 n. 1 a male bird, esp. a rooster.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in combination] used in names of birds, esp. game birds, e.g., moorcock.

- BRIT. a male lobster, crab, or salmon.

2 VULGAR SLANG a penis.

3 BRIT., INFORMAL nonsense: that's all a lot of cock.

4 a firing lever in a gun which can be raised to be released by the trigger.

5 a stopcock.

■ v. [trans.] 1 tilt (something) in a particular direction: she cocked her head slightly to one side.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- bend a (limb or joint) at an angle: [as adj.] (cocked) she listened, her little finger cocked as she held her coffee cup.

- (of a male dog) lift (a back leg) in order to urinate.

2 raise the cock of (a gun) in order to make it ready for firing.

<PHRASES>
□ at full cock (of a gun) with the cock lifted to the position at which the trigger will act.

□ cock one's ear (of a dog) raise its ears to an erect position.
- (of a person) listen attentively to or for something.

□ cock one's eye (or eyebrow) glance in a quizzical or knowing manner with a raised eyebrow.

□ cock of the walk someone who dominates others within a group.

□ cock a snook see SNOOK^2 .

<ORIGIN> Old English cocc, from medieval Latin coccus; reinforced in Middle English by Old French coq.

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SNOOK ■

cock 2 n. DATED a small pile of hay, straw, or other material, with vertical sides and a rounded top.

■ v. [trans.] ARCHAIC pile (hay, straw, or other material) into such a shape.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Norwegian kok 'heap, lump', Danish kok 'haycock', and Swedish koka 'clod'.

cock·ade n. a rosette or knot of ribbons worn in a hat as a badge of office or party, or as part of a livery.

<DERIVATIVES> cock·ad·ed adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French cocarde, originally in bonnet à la coquarde, from the feminine of obsolete coquard 'saucy'.

cock-a-doo·dle-doo n. used to represent the sound made by a cock when it crows.

cock-a-hoop adj. [predic.] extremely and obviously pleased, esp. about a triumph or success.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from the phrase set cock a hoop, of unknown origin, apparently denoting the action of turning on the tap and allowing liquor to flow (prior to a drinking session).

cock-a-leek·ie n. a Scottish soup traditionally made with chicken and leeks.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from COCK^1 and LEEK.

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LEEK ■

cock·a·lo·rum n. (pl. -rums) INFORMAL, DATED a self-important little man.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: an arbitrary formation from COCK^1 .

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COCK ■

cock·a·ma·mie (also cock·a·ma·my) adj. INFORMAL ridiculous; implausible: a cockamamie theory.

<ORIGIN> 1940s (originally denoting a design left by a transfer): probably an alteration of DECALCOMANIA.

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DECALCOMANIA ■

cock and bull sto·ry n. INFORMAL a ridiculous and implausible story.

cock·a·poo n. a dog resulting from a cross between a cocker spaniel and a miniature poodle.

cock·a·tiel n. a slender, long-crested Australian parrot related to the cockatoos, with a mainly gray body, white shoulders, and a yellow and orange face.
<INFO>  Nymphicus hollandicus, family Cacatuidae (or Psittacidae).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Dutch kaketielje, probably a diminutive of kaketoe 'cockatoo'.

cock·a·too n. a parrot with an erectile crest, found in Australia, eastern Indonesia, and neighboring islands.
<INFO>  Family Cacatuidae (or Psittacidae): several genera and numerous species, including the sulfur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita).

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Dutch kaketoe, from Malay kakatua, the spelling influenced by COCK^1 .

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COCK ■

cock·a·trice n. another term for BASILISK (sense 1).
<SPECIAL USAGE> [HERALDRY] a mythical animal depicted as a two-legged dragon (or wyvern) with a cock's head.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cocatris, from Latin calcatrix 'tracker' (from calcare 'to tread or track'), translating Greek (see ICHNEUMON).

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BASILISK ■

ICHNEUMON ■

cock·bead n. a projecting wooden molding used to decorate furniture.

<DERIVATIVES> cock·bead·ed adj. cock·bead·ing n.

cock·chaf·er n. a large brown European beetle that flies at dusk and often crashes into lighted windows. The adults are damaging to foliage and flowers, and the larvae are a pest of cereal and grass roots.
<INFO>  Melolontha melolontha, family Scarabaeidae.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from COCK^1 (expressing size or vigor) + CHAFER.

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CHAFER ■

Cock·croft Sir John Douglas (1897-1967), English physicist. In 1932, working with E. T. S. Walton, he succeeded in splitting the atom. Nobel Prize for Physics (1951, shared with Walton).

cock·crow (also cock-crow or cock crow) n. POETIC/LITERARY dawn: the hour of cockcrow was still far off.

cocked hat n. a brimless triangular hat pointed at the front, back, and top.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a hat with a wide brim permanently turned up toward the crown, such as a tricorne.

<PHRASES> knock something into a cocked hat utterly defeat or outdo something.

cock·er·el n. a young domestic cock.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: diminutive of COCK^1 .

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cock·er span·iel (also cock·er) n. a small spaniel of a breed with a silky coat.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from COCK^1 + -ER^1 (because the dog was bred to flush game birds such as woodcock, for shooting).

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-ER ■

cock·eye n. an eye that squints or is affected by strabismus.

cock·eyed adj. INFORMAL crooked or askew; not level: cockeyed camera angles.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- absurd; impractical: do you expect us to believe a cockeyed story like that?

- drunk: I got cockeyed.

- (of a person or a person's eyes) having a squint.

- cross-eyed.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: apparently from the verb COCK^1 and EYE. The sense 'drunk' (originally U.S.) dates from the 1920s.

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cock·fight·ing n. the sport (illegal in certain countries) of setting two cocks to fight each other. Fighting cocks often have had their legs fitted with metal spurs.

<DERIVATIVES> cock·fight n.

cock·le 1 n. 1 an edible, burrowing bivalve mollusk with a strong ribbed shell.
<INFO>  Genus Cardium, family Cardiidae.

2 (also cock·le·shell) POETIC/LITERARY a small shallow boat.

<PHRASES> warm the cockles of one's heart give one a comforting feeling of pleasure or contentment.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French coquille 'shell', based on Greek konkhulion, from 'conch'.

cock·le 2 v. [intrans.] (of paper) bulge out in certain places so as to present a wrinkled or creased surface; pucker.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French coquiller 'blister (bread in cooking)', from coquille 'shell' (see COCKLE^1 ).

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cock·le·bur n. a herbaceous plant of the daisy family, with broad leaves and burred fruits. It originated in tropical America but is now cosmopolitan. See also CLOTBUR.
<INFO>  Genus Xanthium, family Compositae: two or three species, in particular X. strumarium.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from COCKLE^2 + BURR.

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COCKLE ■

BURR ■

cock·loft n. a small loft or attic.

cock·ney n. (pl. -neys) a native of East London, traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the dialect or accent typical of such people.

■ adj. of or characteristic of cockneys or their dialect or accent: cockney humor.

<ORIGIN> early 17th century, originally in the sense 'a town dweller regarded as affected or puny'.

cock·ney·ism n. a feature or style of speech or idiom characteristic of cockneys.

cock-of-the-rock n. (pl. cocks-of-the-rock) a crested cotinga found in the tropical forests of South America. The male has brilliant orange or red plumage used in communal display.
<INFO>  Genus Rupicola, family Cotingidae: two species.

cock·pit n. 1 a compartment for the pilot and sometimes also the crew in an aircraft or spacecraft.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a similar compartment for the driver in a racing car.

- a sunken area in the after deck of a boat providing space for members of the crew.

2 a place where a battle or other conflict takes place: the cockpit of capitalist conflict in Europe.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a place where cockfights are held.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (sense 2): from COCK^1 + PIT^1 . In the early 18th cent. the term was in nautical use, denoting an area in the aft lower deck of a man-of-war where the wounded were taken, later coming to mean 'the “pit” or well in a sailing yacht from which it was steered'; hence the place housing the controls of other vehicles (sense 1, early 20th cent.).

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cock·roach n. a beetlelike insect with long antennae and legs, feeding by scavenging. Several tropical species have become established worldwide as pests in homes and food service establishments.
<INFO>  Suborder Blattodea, order Dictyoptera: many genera and species, including the oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) and the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana); some, esp. in the genus Ectobius, are small temperate species that live outdoors.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as cacaroch): from Spanish cucaracha. The spelling change was due to association with COCK^1 and ROACH^2 .

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cocks·comb n. 1 the crest or comb of a domestic cock.

2 a tropical plant with a crest or plume of tiny yellow, orange, or red flowers, widely cultivated as a garden annual or a houseplant.
<INFO>  Celosia cristata, family Amaranthaceae.

3 an orchid related to the coralroots but with more colorful flowers, native to southern North America. Also called CORALROOT.
<INFO>  Genus Hexalectris, family Orchidaceae.

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cocks·foot n. British term for ORCHARD GRASS.

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cock·shy n. (pl. -shies) BRIT.,DATED a target for throwing sticks or stones at as a game.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an act of throwing something at such a target.

- FIGURATIVE an object of ridicule or criticism.

<ORIGIN> from the original use of a cockerel, or a replica of a cockerel, as a target.

cocks·man n. (pl. -men) VULGAR SLANG a man reputed to be extremely virile or sexually accomplished.

<DERIVATIVES> cocks·man·ship n.

cock·spur thorn n. a North American hawthorn that is often cultivated for its rich orange autumn foliage.
<INFO>  Crataegus crus-galli, family Rosaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> any of a number of trees bearing long spiny thorns.

cock·suck·er n. VULGAR SLANG a fellator.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a generalized term of abuse.

cock·sure adj. presumptuously or arrogantly confident.

<DERIVATIVES> cock·sure·ly adv. cock·sure·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from archaic cock (a euphemism for God) + SURE; later associated with COCK^1 .

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COCK ■

cock·tail n. 1 an alcoholic drink consisting of a spirit or several spirits mixed with other ingredients, such as fruit juice, lemonade, or cream: [as adj.] cocktail parties; a cocktail bar.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a mixture of substances or factors, esp. when dangerous or unpleasant in its effects: financial pressure plus isolation can be a deadly cocktail for some people; a cocktail of drugs that inhibits replication of HIV.

2 a dish consisting of small pieces of seafood or fruits, typically served cold at the beginning of a meal as an hors d'oeuvre: a shrimp cocktail.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from COCK^1 + TAIL^1 . The original use was as an adjective describing a creature with a tail like that of a cock, specifically a horse with a docked tail; hence (because hunters and coach horses were generally docked) a racehorse that was not a thoroughbred, having a cock-tailed horse in its pedigree (early 19th cent.). Sense 1 (originally U.S., also early 19th cent.) is perhaps analogous, from the idea of an adulterated spirit.

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cock·tail dress n. an elegant dress suitable for semiformal social occasions.

cock·tail lounge n. a bar, typically in a hotel, restaurant, or airport, where alcoholic drinks are served.

cock·tail nap·kin n. a small napkin designed to be placed under a drink when it is served.

cock·tail ta·ble n. another term for COFFEE TABLE.

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cock·teas·er (also cock·tease) n. VULGAR SLANG a woman who leads a man to the mistaken belief that she is likely to have sexual intercourse with him.

cock-up n. BRIT.,INFORMAL something done badly or inefficiently: we've made a total cock-up of it.

cock·y adj. (cock·i·er, cock·i·est) conceited or arrogant, esp. in a bold or impudent way.

<DERIVATIVES> cock·i·ly adv. cock·i·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'lecherous'): from COCK^1 + -Y^1 .

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co·co n. (pl. -cos) 1 [usu. as adj.] coconut: coco matting; coco palm.

2 W. INDIAN the root of the taro.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally denoting the nut): from Spanish and Portuguese, literally 'grinning face' (because of the appearance of the base of the coconut).

co·coa n. 1 a chocolate powder made from roasted and ground cacao seeds.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a hot drink made from such a powder mixed with sugar and milk or water.

2 variant spelling of COCO, usu. regarded as a misspelling.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (denoting cacao seed): alteration of CACAO.

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CACAO ■

co·coa bean n. a cacao seed.

co·coa but·ter n. a fatty substance obtained from cocoa beans and used esp. in the manufacture of confectionery and cosmetics.

co·co·bo·lo n. (pl. -los) a tropical American tree with hard, reddish timber that is used chiefly to make cutlery handles.
<INFO>  Dalbergia retusa, family Leguminosae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: via Spanish from Arawak kakabali.

co·co de mer n. a tall palm tree that is native to the Seychelles and has an immense, seaborne nut in a hard, woody shell, which is the largest known seed.
<INFO>  Lodoicea maldivica, family Palmae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the large nut of this palm.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French coco-de-mer, literally 'coco from the sea' (because the tree was first known from nuts found floating in the sea).

co·co·nut (also co·coa·nut) n. 1 the large, oval, brown seed of a tropical palm, consisting of a hard shell lined with edible white flesh and containing a clear liquid. It grows inside a woody husk, surrounded by fiber.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the flesh of a coconut, esp. when used as food.

2 (also coconut palm or tree) the tall palm tree that yields this nut, which grows mainly by coastal beaches and has become naturalized throughout the tropics. Many tropical economies are dependent upon its products, which include copra and coir.
<INFO>  Cocos nucifera, family Palmae.

co·co·nut but·ter n. a solid fat obtained from the flesh of the coconut, and used in the manufacture of soap, candles, ointment, etc.

co·co·nut crab n. a large terrestrial crablike crustacean that climbs coconut palms to feed on the nuts, found on islands in the Indo-Pacific area. Also called ROBBER CRAB.
<INFO>  Birgus latro, family Paguridae.

<ORIGIN> so named because it climbs trees to reach coconuts.

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Co·co·nut Creek a city in southeastern Florida, northwest of Fort Lauderdale; pop. 27,485.

Co·co·nut Grove a district in southwestern Miami in Florida, noted as an arts colony and a thriving tourist destination.

co·co·nut mat·ting n. matting made of fiber from coconut husks.

co·co·nut milk n. the watery liquid found inside a coconut.

co·co·nut oil n. the fatty oil obtained from the coconut and used in candies and confections and in cosmetics.

co·co·nut palm n. see COCONUT (sense 2).

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COCONUT ■

co·coon n. a silky case spun by the larvae of many insects for protection as pupae.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a similar structure made by other animals.

- a covering that prevents the corrosion of metal equipment.

- something that envelops or surrounds, esp. in a protective or comforting way: the cocoon of her kimono | FIGURATIVE a warm cocoon of love.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be cocooned) envelop or surround in a protective or comforting way: we began to feel cold even though we were cocooned in our sleeping bags.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- spray with a protective coating.

- [intrans.] retreat from the stressful conditions of public life into the cozy private world of the family: the movers and shakers are now cocooning.

<DERIVATIVES> co·coon·er n. (in the last sense of the verb).

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French cocon, from medieval Provençal coucoun 'eggshell, cocoon', diminutive of coca 'shell'. The verb dates from the mid 19th cent.

Co·cos Is·lands a group of 27 small coral islands in the Indian Ocean, administered as an external territory of Australia since 1955; pop. 603. Also called KEELING ISLANDS.

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co·cotte n. 1 (usu. en cocotte) a covered, heatproof dish or casserole in which food can be both cooked and served; a Dutch oven. <ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French cocasse, from Latin cucuma 'cooking container'.

2 DATED a fashionable prostitute. <ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, from a child's name for a hen.

co-coun·sel·ing (also co·coun·sel·ing) n. a form of personal or psychological counseling in which two or more people alternate the roles of therapist and patient.

Coc·teau Jean (1889-1963), French playwright, novelist, and movie director. His films include Beauty and the Beast (1945) and Orpheus (1949).

co·cus wood n. hard, heavy timber that blackens with age and is used for musical instruments.
<INFO>  This timber is obtained from the Jamaican ebony (Brya ebenus, family Leguminosae).

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: cocus, of unknown origin.

COD abbr.
- cash on delivery.

- collect on delivery.

cod (also cod·fish ) n. (pl. same) a large marine fish with a small barbel on the chin.
<INFO>  Family Gadidae (the cod family): many genera and species, in particular the North Atlantic Gadus morhua, of great commercial importance as a food fish and as a source of cod liver oil. The cod family also includes the haddock, ling, pollack, whiting, and other food fishes.

<SPECIAL USAGE> used in names of similar or related fishes, e.g., rock cod, tomcod.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: of unknown origin; one suggestion is that the word is the same as Old English cod(d) 'bag', because of the fish's appearance.

co·da n. [MUSIC] the concluding passage of a piece or movement, typically forming an addition to the basic structure.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the concluding section of a dance, esp. of a pas de deux or the finale of a ballet in which the dancers parade before the audience.

- a concluding event, remark, or section: his new novel is a kind of coda to his previous books.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: Italian, from Latin cauda 'tail'.

cod·dle v. [trans.] 1 treat in an indulgent or overprotective way: I was coddled and cosseted.

2 cook (an egg) in water below the boiling point.

<DERIVATIVES> cod·dler n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'boil (fruit) gently'): origin uncertain; sense 1 is probably a dialect variant of obsolete caudle 'administer invalids' gruel', based on Latin caldum 'hot drink', from calidus 'warm'.

code n. 1 a system of words, letters, figures, or other symbols substituted for other words, letters, etc., esp. for the purposes of secrecy: the Americans cracked their diplomatic code | sending messages in code.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a system of signals, such as sounds, light flashes, or flags, used to send messages: Morse code.

- a series of letters, numbers, or symbols assigned to something for the purposes of classification or identification: the genetic code; calls with either code will work in the 201 area.

2 [COMPUTING] program instructions: hundreds of lines of code; assembly code.

3 a systematic collection of laws or regulations: the criminal code.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a set of conventions governing behavior or activity in a particular sphere a dress code.

- a set of rules and standards adhered to by a society, class, or individual: a stern code of honor.

■ v. 1 [trans.] (usu. be coded) convert (the words of a message) into a particular code in order to convey a secret meaning: only Mitch knew how to read the messageeven the name was coded.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- express the meaning of (a statement or communication) in an indirect or euphemistic way: [as adj.] (coded) a national campaign against “playing by ear,” a coded phrase that meant jazz.

- assign a code to (something) for purposes of classification, analysis, or identification: she coded the samples and sent them down for dissection.

2 [intrans.] (code for) [BIOCHEMISTRY] specify the genetic sequence for (an amino acid or protein): genes that code for human growth hormone.
<SPECIAL USAGE> be the genetic determiner of (a characteristic): one pair of homologous chromosomes that codes for eye color.

<PHRASES> bring something up to code renovate an old building or update its features in line with the latest building regulations.

<DERIVATIVES> cod·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin codex, codic- (see CODEX). The term originally denoted a systematic collection of statutes made by one of the later Roman emperors, particularly that of Justinian; compare with sense 3 (mid 18th cent.), the earliest modern sense.

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co·dec n. [ELECTRONICS] a microchip that compresses data to enable faster transmission or decompresses received data.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: blend of coder (see CODE) and DECODER.

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co·de·fend·ant n. a joint defendant.

co·deine n. [MEDICINE] a sleep-inducing and analgesic drug derived from morphine.
<INFO>  An alkaloid; chem. formula: C_18H_21N0_3.

<ORIGIN>  mid 19th cent.: from Greek 'poppy head' + -INE^4 .

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code mon·key n. INFORMAL a computer programmer, especially an inexperienced or plodding one.

code name n. a word used for secrecy or convenience instead of the usual name.

<DERIVATIVES> code-named adj.

co·de·pend·en·cy n. excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically a partner who requires support due to an illness or addiction.

<DERIVATIVES> co·de·pend·ence n. co·de·pend·ent adj. & n.

cod·er n. a computer programmer: flaws that could be used by malicious coders to create new worms.

code·share n. a marketing arrangement in which two airlines sell seats on a flight that one of them operates: [as adj.] Qantas is a codeshare partner with both American Airlines and Alaska Airlines in North America.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a flight or aircraft in which such an arrangement is in effect.

<DERIVATIVES> code-shar·ing n.

code-shar·ing n. agreement between two or more airlines to list certain flights in a reservation system under each other's names.

co·de·ter·mi·na·tion n. cooperation between management and workers in decision-making, esp. by the representation of workers on boards of directors.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from CO- 'together' + DETERMINATION (translating German Mitbestimmung).

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co·dex n. (pl. co·di·ces or co·dex·es) an ancient manuscript text in book form.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an official list of medicines, chemicals, etc.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a collection of statutes or set of rules): from Latin, literally 'block of wood', later denoting a block split into leaves or tablets for writing on, hence a book.

cod·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) another term for COD^1 .

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codg·er n. OFTEN DEROGATORY an elderly man, esp. one who is old-fashioned or eccentric: old codgers always harp on about yesteryear.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: perhaps a variant of cadger (see CADGE).

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co·di·ces plural form of CODEX.

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cod·i·cil n. an addition or supplement that explains, modifies, or revokes a will or part of one.

<DERIVATIVES> cod·i·cil·la·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin codicillus, diminutive of codex, codic- (see CODEX).

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cod·i·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] arrange (laws or rules) into a systematic code.
<SPECIAL USAGE> arrange according to a plan or system: Verdi helped codify an international operatic culture.

<DERIVATIVES> cod·i·fi·ca·tion n. cod·i·fi·er n.

cod·ing n. the process of assigning a code to something for the purposes of classification or identification.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a code assigned for such a purpose: text type codings.

- [BIOCHEMISTRY] the process of coding genetically for an amino acid, protein, or characteristic.

cod·ling n. an immature cod.

cod·ling moth (also cod·lin moth) n. a small, grayish moth whose larva feeds on apples.
<INFO>  Cydia pomonella, family Tortricidae.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: codling from Anglo-Norman French quer de lion 'lionheart'.

cod liv·er oil n. oil pressed from the fresh liver of cod, which is rich in vitamins D and A.

co·do·main n. [MATHEMATICS] a set that includes all the possible values of a given function.

co·don n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a sequence of three nucleotides which together form a unit of genetic code in a DNA or RNA molecule.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from CODE + -ON.

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cod·piece n. a pouch, esp. a conspicuous and decorative one, attached to a man's breeches or close-fitting hose to cover the genitals, worn in the 15th and 16th centuries.

<ORIGIN> from earlier cod 'scrotum' (from Old English codd 'bag, pod') + PIECE.

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cods·wal·lop n. BRIT., INFORMAL nonsense.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: sometimes said to be named after Hiram Codd, who invented a bottle for carbonated beverages (1875); the derivation remains unconfirmed.

Co·dy 1 a city in northwestern Wyoming, associated with Buffalo Bill Cody, who lived here; pop. 7,897.

Co·dy 2 , William Frederick, see BUFFALO BILL.

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Coe Sebastian (1956- ), British middle-distance runner and politician. He won an Olympic gold medal in the 1,500 meters in 1980 and in 1984. After his retirement from athletics, he became a member of Parliament in 1992.

coe·cil·i·an n. variant spelling of CAECILIAN.

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co·ed INFORMAL n. DATED a female student at a co-educational institution.

■ adj. (of an institution or system) co-educational.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

co-ed·u·ca·tion n. the education of students of both sexes together.

<DERIVATIVES> co·ed·u·ca·tion·al adj.

co·ef·fi·cient n. 1 [MATHEMATICS] a numerical or constant quantity placed before and multiplying the variable in an algebraic expression (e.g., 4 in 4xy).

2 [PHYSICS] a multiplier or factor that measures some property: coefficients of elasticity; the drag coefficient.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'cooperating to produce a result'): from modern Latin coefficient-, from com- 'together' + efficient- 'accomplishing' (see EFFICIENT).

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co·ef·fi·cient of fric·tion n. the ratio between the force necessary to move one surface horizontally over another and the pressure between the two surfaces.

co·ef·fi·cient of vis·cos·i·ty n. [PHYSICS] the degree to which a fluid resists flow under an applied force, expressed as the ratio of the shearing stress to the velocity gradient. The coefficient of viscosity of liquids decreases as temperature increases because the bonds between molecules are weakened.

coe·la·canth n. a large, bony marine fish with a three-lobed tail fin and fleshy pectoral fins, found chiefly around the Comoro Islands near Madagascar. It is thought to be related to the ancestors of land vertebrates and was known only from fossils until one was found alive in 1938.
<INFO>  Latimeria chalumnae, family Latimeriidae (or Coelacanthidae), subclass Crossopterygii.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Coelacanthus (genus name), from Greek koilos 'hollow' + akantha 'spine' (because its fins have hollow spines).

-coele (also -cele) comb. form [MEDICINE] denoting a swelling or hernia in a specified part: meningocele.

<ORIGIN> from Greek 'tumor'.

coe·len·ter·ate n. [ZOOLOGY] an aquatic invertebrate animal of a phylum that includes jellyfishes, corals, and sea anemones. They are distinguished by having a tube- or cup-shaped body and a single opening ringed with tentacles. Also called CNIDARIAN.
<INFO>  Phylum Cnidaria (formerly Coelenterata): four classes.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Coelenterata, from Greek koilos 'hollow' + enteron 'intestine'.

coe·len·ter·on n. (pl. -ter·a ) the central gastric cavity of a coelenterate.

coe·li·ac n. British spelling of CELIAC.

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coe·lom (also ce·lom) n. (pl. coe·loms or coe·lom·a·ta ) [ZOOLOGY] the body cavity in metazoans, located between the intestinal canal and the body wall.

<DERIVATIVES> coe·lo·mate adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'cavity'.

coe·lo·stat n. [ASTRONOMY] an advanced version of a heliostat, having a rotating mirror that continuously reflects the light from the same area of sky, allowing the path of a celestial object to be monitored.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: formed irregularly from Latin caelum 'sky' + -STAT.

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coe·lur·o·saur (also coe·lur·o·sau·rus ) n. a small, slender, bipedal, carnivorous dinosaur with long forelimbs, from which the birds are believed to have evolved.
<INFO>  Infraorder Coelurosauria, suborder Theropoda, order Saurischia: many genera.

<DERIVATIVES> coe·lur·o·sau·ri·an adj.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Greek koilos 'hollow' + oura 'tail' + sauros 'lizard'.

coe·no·bite n. CHIEFLY BRIT. variant spelling of CENOBITE.

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coe·no·cyte n. [BOTANY] a body of algal or fungal cytoplasm containing several nuclei enclosed in a single membrane.

<DERIVATIVES> coe·no·cyt·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek koinos 'common' + -CYTE.

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co·en·zyme n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a nonprotein compound that is necessary for the functioning of an enzyme.

co·en·zyme A n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a coenzyme derived from pantothenic acid, important in respiration and many other biochemical reactions.

<ORIGIN> A from acylation (see ACYLATE).

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ACYLATE ■

co·en·zyme Q n. another term for UBIQUINONE.

<ORIGIN> Q from QUINONE.

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UBIQUINONE ■

QUINONE ■

co·e·qual adj. equal with one another; having the same rank or importance: coequal partners.

■ n. a person or thing equal with another.

<DERIVATIVES> co·e·qual·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin coaequalis 'of the same age', from co- 'jointly' + aequalis (see EQUAL).

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EQUAL ■

co·erce v. [trans.] persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats: they were coerced into silence. See note at COMPEL.
<SPECIAL USAGE> obtain (something) by such means: their confessions were allegedly coerced by torture.

<DERIVATIVES> co·er·ci·ble adj. co·er·cion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin coercere 'restrain', from co- 'jointly, together' + arcere 'restrain'.

co·er·cive adj. relating to or using force or threats: coercive measures.

<DERIVATIVES> co·er·cive·ly adv. co·er·cive·ness n.

co·er·cive force n. [PHYSICS] another term for COERCIVITY.

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COERCIVITY ■

co·er·civ·i·ty n. [PHYSICS] the resistance of a magnetic material to changes in magnetization.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the field intensity necessary to demagnetize it when fully magnetized.

co·es·sen·tial adj. united or inseparable in essence or being.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having the same substance or essence.

<DERIVATIVES> co·es·sen·ti·al·i·ty n. co·es·sen·tial·ly adv. co·es·sen·tial·ness n.

co·e·ta·ne·ous adj. another term for COEVAL.

Linked entries:

COEVAL ■

co·e·ter·nal adj. equally eternal; existing with something else eternally: creation is not coeternal with God.

<DERIVATIVES> co·e·ter·nal·ly adv.

Coet·zee J. M. (1940- ), South African novelist; full name John Maxwell Coetzee. Notable works: In the Heart of the Country (1977), Life and Times of Michael K (1983), White Writing (1988), and Age of Iron (1990). Nobel Prize for Literature (2003).

Coeur d'Alene a commercial and resort city in northwestern Idaho, on Coeur d'Alene Lake, which is fed by the Coeur d'Alene River; pop. 34,514.

co·e·val adj. having the same age or date of origin; contemporary: these lavas were coeval with the volcanic activity.

■ n. a person of roughly the same age as oneself; a contemporary: like so many of his coevals, he yearned for stability.

<DERIVATIVES> co·e·val·i·ty n. co·e·val·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as a noun): from late Latin coaevus, from co- 'jointly, in common' + Latin aevum 'age'.

co·ev·o·lu·tion n. [BIOLOGY] the influence of closely associated species on each other in their evolution.

<DERIVATIVES> co·ev·o·lu·tion·ar·y adj. co·e·volve v.

co·ex·ist v. [intrans.] exist at the same time or in the same place: traditional and modern values coexist in Africa.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of nations or peoples) exist in mutual tolerance despite different ideologies or interests: the task of diplomacy was to help different states to coexist.

<DERIVATIVES> co·ex·ist·ence n. co·ex·ist·ent adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from late Latin coexistere, from co- 'together' + existere 'exist', from ex- 'out' + sister 'take a stand'.

co·ex·tend v. extend equally through the same space or period of time.

co·ex·ten·sive adj. extending over the same space or time; corresponding exactly in extent: the Caliphate, a Muslim state more or less coextensive with the Muslim world of its day.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a term) denoting the same referent as another.

co·fac·tor n. 1 a contributory cause of a disease.

2 [BIOCHEMISTRY] a substance (other than the substrate) whose presence is essential for the activity of an enzyme.

3 [MATHEMATICS] the quantity obtained from a determinant or a square matrix by removal of the row and column containing a specified element.

C. of C. abbr. Chamber of Commerce.

C. of E. abbr. Church of England.

cof·fee n. 1 a drink made from the roasted and ground beanlike seeds of a tropical shrub, served hot or iced: a cup of coffee | [as adj.] a coffee pot.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a cup of this drink: she'll buy you a coffee.

- these seeds raw, roasted and ground, or processed into a powder that dissolves in hot water: a jar of instant coffee.

- a pale brown color like that of coffee mixed with milk.

- a party or reception at which coffee is served: going to coffees and answering questions.

2 the shrub of the bedstraw family that yields these seeds, two of which are contained in each red berry. Native to the Old World tropics, most coffee is grown in tropical America.
<INFO>  Genus Coffea, family Rubiaceae: several species. See also ARABICA and ROBUSTA.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Turkish kahveh, from Arabic , probably via Dutch koffie.

Linked entries:

ARABICA ■

ROBUSTA ■

cof·fee bar n. a bar or cafe serving coffee and light refreshments.

cof·fee bean n. a beanlike seed of the coffee shrub.

cof·fee cake n. a cake often cinnamon-flavored, with a drizzled white icing or crumb topping, and usually eaten with coffee.

cof·fee grind·er n. a small machine for grinding roasted coffee beans.

cof·fee·house n. a place where coffee is served and people gather for conversation, music, poetry readings, and other informal entertainment.

cof·fee klatsch (also cof·fee klatch) n. variant spelling of KAFFEEKLATSCH.

Linked entries:

KAFFEEKLATSCH ■

cof·fee mak·er (also cof·fee·mak·er) n. a machine or pot for brewing coffee.

cof·fee mill n. another term for COFFEE GRINDER.

Linked entries:

COFFEE GRINDER ■

cof·fee pot n. a covered container with a spout, in which coffee is made or served.

cof·fee shop n. a small, informal restaurant, as may be found in a hotel.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a shop serving coffee and light refreshments.

cof·fee ta·ble n. a low table, typically placed in front of a sofa.

cof·fee-ta·ble book n. a large, expensive, lavishly illustrated book, esp. one intended only for casual reading.

cof·fer n. 1 a strongbox or small chest for holding valuables.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (coffers) the funds or financial reserves of a group or institution: the federal government's empty coffers.

2 a recessed panel in a ceiling.

<DERIVATIVES> cof·fered adj. (in sense 2).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French coffre 'chest', via Latin from Greek kophinos 'basket'.

cof·fer·dam n. a watertight enclosure pumped dry to permit construction work below the waterline, as when building bridges or repairing a ship.

Cof·fin William Sloan (1924- ), U.S. Presbyterian minister. As Yale University chaplain 1958-75, he was a leader of antiwar protests. He served as senior minister of Riverside Church in New York 1977-1987.

cof·fin n. a long, narrow box, typically of wood, in which a corpse is buried or cremated.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL an old and unsafe aircraft or vessel.

■ v. (-fined, -fin·ing) [trans.] put (a dead body) in a coffin.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the general sense 'box, chest, casket'): from Old French cofin 'little basket or case', from Latin cophinus (see COFFER).

Linked entries:

COFFER ■

cof·fin bone n. the terminal bone in a horse's hoof (the distal phalanx).

cof·fin joint n. the joint at the top of a horse's hoof.

cof·fin nail n. INFORMAL a cigarette.

cof·fle n. a line of animals or slaves fastened or driven along together.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Arabic 'caravan'.

co·found·er n. a joint founder.

<DERIVATIVES> co·found v.

co·func·tion n. [MATHEMATICS] the trigonometric function of the complement of an angle or arc.

cog n. a wheel or bar with a series of projections on its edge that transfers motion by engaging with projections on another wheel or bar: FIGURATIVE she was only a very small cog in a big machine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> each of such a series of projections.

<DERIVATIVES> cogged adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish kugge and Norwegian kug.

co·gen·e·ra·tion n. the generation of electricity and other energy jointly, esp. the utilization of the steam left over from electricity generation to produce heat.

co·gent adj. (of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing. See note at BELIEVABLE.

<DERIVATIVES> co·gen·cy n. co·gent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin cogent- 'compelling', from the verb cogere, from co- 'together' + agere 'drive'.

cog·i·ta·ble adj. RARE able to be grasped by the mind; conceivable.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin cogitabilis, from the verb cogitare (see COGITATE).

Linked entries:

COGITATE ■

cog·i·tate v. [intrans.] FORMAL or HUMOROUS think deeply about something; meditate or reflect: he stroked his beard and retired to cogitate.

<DERIVATIVES> cog·i·ta·tion n. cog·i·ta·tive adj. cog·i·ta·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin cogitat- 'considered', from the verb cogitare, from co- 'together' + agitare 'turn over, consider'.

co·gi·to n. (usu. the cogito) [PHILOSOPHY] the principle establishing the existence of a being from the fact of its thinking or awareness.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Latin, literally 'I think', in Descartes's formula (1641) cogito, ergo sum 'I think therefore I am'.

co·gnac n. a high-quality brandy, properly that distilled in Cognac in western France.

cog·nate adj. 1 [LINGUISTICS] (of a word) having the same linguistic derivation as another; from the same original word or root (e.g., English is, German ist, Latin est from Indo-European esti).

2 FORMAL related; connected: cognate subjects such as physics and chemistry.
<SPECIAL USAGE> related to or descended from a common ancestor. Compare with AGNATE.

■ n. 1 [LINGUISTICS] a cognate word.

2 [LAW] a blood relative.

<DERIVATIVES> cog·nate·ly adv. cog·nate·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin cognatus, from co- 'together with' + natus 'born'.

Linked entries:

AGNATE ■

cog·nate ob·ject n. [GRAMMAR] a direct object that has the same linguistic derivation as the verb that governs it, as in “sing a song,” “live a good life.”
<SPECIAL USAGE> a direct object that makes explicit a semantic concept that is already wholly present in the semantics of the verb which governs it, as in “ask a question,” “eat some food.”

cog·ni·tion n. the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a result of this; a perception, sensation, notion, or intuition.

<DERIVATIVES> cog·ni·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin cognitio(n-), from cognoscere 'get to know'.

cog·ni·tive adj. of or relating to cognition.

<DERIVATIVES> cog·ni·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin cognitivus, from cognit- 'known', from the verb cognoscere.

cog·ni·tive dis·so·nance n. [PSYCHOLOGY] the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, esp. as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change.

cog·ni·tive gram·mar n. a theory of language that seeks to characterize knowledge of grammar in terms of symbolic conceptual and semantic categories and general cognitive processes.

cog·ni·tive map n. a mental representation of one's physical environment.

cog·ni·tive pros·the·sis n. an electronic computational device that extends the capability of human cognition or sense perception.

cog·ni·tive sci·ence n. the study of thought, learning, and mental organization, which draws on aspects of psychology, linguistics, philosophy, and computer modeling.

<DERIVATIVES> cog·ni·tive sci·en·tist n.

cog·ni·tive ther·a·py n. a type of psychotherapy in which negative patterns of thought about the self and the world are challenged in order to alter unwanted behavior patterns or treat mood disorders such as depression.

cog·ni·tiv·ist n. a person who believes or works in cognitive grammar.

■ adj. of or relating to cognitive grammar.

<DERIVATIVES> cog·ni·tiv·ism n.

<ORIGIN> 1950s (in the sense 'believing that moral judgments are true or false statements about moral facts'): from COGNITIVE + -IST.

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COGNITIVE ■

-IST ■

cog·ni·za·ble adj. 1 FORMAL perceptible; clearly identifiable.

2 [LAW] within the jurisdiction of a court.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from COGNIZANCE + -ABLE.

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COGNIZANCE ■

-ABLE ■

cog·ni·zance (also cog·ni·sance ) n. 1 FORMAL knowledge, awareness, or notice: he was deputed to bring the affair to the cognizance of the court.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [LAW] the action of taking jurisdiction.

- the action of taking judicial notice (of a fact beyond dispute).

2 [HERALDRY] a distinctive device or mark, esp. an emblem or badge formerly worn by retainers of a noble house.

<PHRASES> take cognizance of FORMAL attend to; take account of.

<ORIGIN> Middle English conisance, from Old French conoisance, based on Latin cognoscere 'get to know'. The spelling with g, influenced by Latin, arose in the 15th cent. and gradually affected the pronunciation.

cog·ni·zant (also cog·ni·sant ) adj. [predic.] FORMAL having knowledge or being aware of: statesmen must be cognizant of the political boundaries within which they work

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: probably directly from COGNIZANCE.

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COGNIZANCE ■

cog·nize v. [trans.] FORMAL perceive, know, or become aware of: what the novel cognizes, discerns, knows.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from COGNIZANCE, on the pattern of words such as recognize.

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COGNIZANCE ■

cog·no·men n. an extra personal name given to an ancient Roman citizen, functioning rather like a nickname and typically passed down from father to son.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a name; a nickname.

<ORIGIN> Latin, from co- 'together with' + gnomen, nomen 'name'.

co·gno·scen·te n. (pl. -ti ) a connoisseur; a discerning expert.

co·gno·scen·ti plural n. people who are considered to be especially well informed about a particular subject: it was hailed by the cognoscenti as one of the best golf courses in Europe.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Italian conoscenti, literally 'people who know'.The g was added under the influence of Latin cognoscent- 'getting to know', from the verb cognoscere (Italian conoscere).

co·gon grass n. a perennial, rhizomatous grass of Asian origin, used for thatching and as a packing material; identified as a noxious weed in much of the southeastern U.S.
<INFO>  Imperata cylindrica , family Poaceae.

cog rail·way n. a railroad with a toothed central rail between the bearing rails that engages with a cogwheel under the locomotive, providing traction for ascending very steep slopes.

cog·wheel n. another term for COG.

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COG ■

co·hab·it v. (-hab·it·ed, -hab·it·ing) [intrans.] live together and have a sexual relationship without being married.
<SPECIAL USAGE> coexist: animals that can cohabit with humans thrive.

<DERIVATIVES> co·hab·it·ant n. co·hab·i·ta·tion n. co·hab·it·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin cohabitare, from co- 'together' + habitare 'dwell'.

Co·han George Michael (1878-1942), U.S. composer, playwright, actor, and producer. Among his most well-known songs are "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1904) and "Give My Regards to Broadway" (1904).

co·heir n. a joint heir.

co·heir·ess n. a joint heiress

co·hen n. variant spelling of KOHEN.

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KOHEN ■

co·here v. [intrans.] 1 be united; form a whole: our mixed physical and spiritual natures cohere and mature.

2 (of an argument or theory) be logically consistent: this view does not cohere with their other beliefs.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin cohaerere, from co- 'together' + haerere 'to stick'.

co·her·ent adj. 1 (of an argument, theory, or policy) logical and consistent: they failed to develop a coherent economic strategy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) able to speak clearly and logically: she was lucid and coherent and did not appear to be injured.

2 united as or forming a whole: divided into a number of geographically coherent kingdoms.

3 [PHYSICS] (of waves) having a constant phase relationship.

<DERIVATIVES> co·her·ence n. co·her·en·cy n. (RARE) co·her·ent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'logically related to'): from Latin cohaerent- 'sticking together', from the verb cohaerere (see COHERE).

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COHERE ■

co·he·sion n. the action or fact of forming a united whole: the work at present lacks cohesion.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHYSICS] the sticking together of particles of the same substance.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin cohaes- 'cleaved together', from the verb cohaerere (see COHERE), on the pattern of adhesion.

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COHERE ■

co·he·sive adj. characterized by or causing cohesion.

<DERIVATIVES> co·he·sive·ly adv. co·he·sive·ness n.

Cohn Ferdinand Julius (1828-98), German botanist. A founder of bacteriology, he was the first to devise a systematic classification of bacteria into genera and species.

co·ho (also co·ho salmon or co·hoe) n. (pl. same, -hos, or -hoes) a deep-bodied North Pacific salmon with small black spots. Also called SILVER SALMON.
<INFO>  Oncorhynchus kisutch, family Salmonidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: probably from Salish .

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SILVER SALMON ■

co·hort n. 1 [treated as sing. or pl.] an ancient Roman military unit, comprising six centuries, equal to one tenth of a legion.

2 [treated as sing. or pl.] a group of people banded together or treated as a group: a cohort of civil servants patiently drafting legislation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a group of people with a common statistical characteristic: the 1940-44 birth cohort of women.

3 a supporter or companion.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an accomplice or conspirator: his three cohorts each had pled guilty.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cohorte, or from Latin cohors, cohort- 'yard, retinue'. Compare with COURT.

<USAGE>
The co- in cohort is not a prefix signifying a joint or auxiliary relationship (as in coauthor or codependency). The word derives from the Latin cohors, an ancient Roman military unit, and also ‘band of people with a common interest.’ In the mid 20th century a new sense developed in the U.S., meaning ‘a companion or colleague,’ as in young Jack arrived with three of his cohorts. Although this use is well established, there are still some people who object to it on the grounds that cohort should only be used for groups of people, never for individuals. The use of cohort to refer to a group of people with a common characteristic, as in a demographic context ( the 1946-60 birth cohort), is generally considered acceptable.

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COURT ■

co·hosh n. either of two medicinal plants native to North America:
<INFO>
- (also black cohosh) a plant of the buttercup family, with small white flowers (Cimicifuga racemosa, family Ranunculaceae).

- (also blue cohosh) a plant of the barberry family (Caulophyllum thalictroides, family Berberidaceae).

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Eastern Abnaki.

co·host n. a joint host.

■ v. [trans.] act as a joint host.

co·hune (also ca·houn) n. a Central American palm that is a valuable source of oil.
<INFO>  Orbignya cohune, family Palmae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (also cohune nut) the oil-rich nut of this palm.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Miskito.

coif n. 1  a woman's close-fitting cap, now only worn under a veil by nuns.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a protective metal skullcap worn under armor.

2 INFORMAL short for COIFFURE.

■ v. (coiffed, coif·fing; also coifed, coif·ing) [trans.] style or arrange (someone's hair), typically in an elaborate way: [as adj.] (coiffed) her elaborately coiffed hair.
<SPECIAL USAGE> style or arrange the hair of (someone): she was sent to Paris to be groomed and coiffed.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French coife 'headdress', from late Latin cofia 'helmet'.

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COIFFURE ■

coif·feur n. a hairdresser.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, from coiffer 'arrange the hair', in Old French 'cover with a coif' (see COIF).

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COIF ■

coif·feuse n. a female hairdresser.

coif·fure n. a person's hairstyle, typically an elaborate one.

<DERIVATIVES> coif·fured adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: French, from coiffer 'arrange the hair', in Old French 'cover with a coif' (see COIF).

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COIF ■

coign n. a projecting corner or angle of a wall or building.

<PHRASES> coign of vantage a favorable position for observation or action.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: variant of COIN. The phrase coign of vantage was first used by Shakespeare (Macbeth I. iv. 7), and later popularized by Sir Walter Scott.

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COIN ■

coil 1 n. a length of something wound or arranged in a spiral or sequence of rings: a coil of rope.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a single ring or loop in such a sequence: the snake wrapped its coils around her.

- a roll of postage stamps, esp. one for use in a vending machine.

- a slow-burning spiral made with the dried paste of pyrethrum powder, which produces a smoke that inhibits mosquitoes from biting.

- (often the coil) an intrauterine contraceptive device in the form of a coil.

- an electrical device consisting of a length of wire arranged in a coil for converting the level of a voltage, producing a magnetic field, or adding inductance to a circuit: a relay coil.

- such a device used for transmitting high voltage to the spark plugs of an internal combustion engine.

- a length of wire or piping wound in circles or spirals.

■ v. [trans.] arrange or wind (something long and flexible) in a joined sequence of concentric circles or rings: he began to coil up the heavy ropes; he coiled a lock of her hair around his finger.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] move or twist into such an arrangement or shape: smoke coiled lazily toward the ceiling.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (as a verb): from Old French coillir, from Latin colligere 'gather together' (see COLLECT^1 ).

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COLLECT ■

coil 2 n. ARCHAIC or DIALECT a confusion or turmoil.

<PHRASES> shuffle off this mortal coil CHIEFLY HUMOROUS die. <ORIGIN> from Shakespeare's Hamlet (III. i. 67).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

coil spring n. a helical spring made from metal wire or a metal band.

Coim·ba·tore a city in southern India, in the state of Tamil Nadu; pop. 853,000.

coin n. a flat, typically round piece of metal with an official stamp, used as money.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- money in the form of coins: large amounts of coin and precious metal.

- INFORMAL money: he showed me how we could make a lot of coin.

- (coins) one of the suits in some tarot packs, corresponding to pentacles in others.

■ v. [trans.] 1 make (coins) by stamping metal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make (metal) into coins.

2 invent or devise (a new word or phrase): he coined the term “desktop publishing.”

<PHRASES>
□ the other side of the coin the opposite or contrasting aspect of a matter.

□ pay someone back in his or her own coin retaliate with similar behavior.

□ to coin a phrase said ironically when introducing a banal remark or cliché: I had to find out the hard wayto coin a phrase.
- said when introducing a new expression or a variation on a familiar one.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French coin 'wedge, corner, die', coigner 'to mint', from Latin cuneus 'wedge'. The original sense was 'cornerstone', later 'angle or wedge' (senses now spelled QUOIN); in late Middle English the term denoted a die for stamping money, or a piece of money produced by such a die.

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QUOIN ■

coin·age n. 1 coins collectively: the volume of coinage in circulation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action or process of producing coins from metal.

- a system or type of coins in use: decimal coinage.

2 the invention of a new word or phrase.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a newly invented word or phrase.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French coigniage, from coignier 'to mint' (see COIN).

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COIN ■

co·in·cide v. [intrans.] occur at or during the same time: publication is timed to coincide with a major exhibition; the two events coincided.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- correspond in nature; tally: the interests of employers and employees do not always coincide.

- correspond in position; meet or intersect: the two long-distance walks briefly coincide here.

- be in agreement: the members of the College coincide in this opinion.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (in the sense 'occupy the same space'): from medieval Latin coincidere, from co- 'together with' + incidere 'fall upon or into'.

co·in·ci·dence n. 1 a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection: it's no coincidence that this new burst of innovation has occurred in the free nations | they met by coincidence.

2 correspondence in nature or in time of occurrence: the coincidence of interest between the mining companies and certain politicians.

3 [PHYSICS] the presence of ionizing particles or other objects in two or more detectors simultaneously, or of two or more signals simultaneously in a circuit.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'occupation of the same space'): from medieval Latin coincidentia, from coincidere 'coincide, agree' (see COINCIDE). Sense 3 dates from the 1930s.

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COINCIDE ■

co·in·ci·dent adj. occurring together in space or time: liberty is an idea coincident with the spread of Christianity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in agreement or harmony: the stake of defense attorneys is not always coincident with that of their clients.

<DERIVATIVES> co·in·ci·dent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin coincident- 'coinciding, agreeing', from the verb coincidere (see COINCIDE).

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COINCIDE ■

co·in·ci·den·tal adj. 1 resulting from a coincidence; done or happening by chance: any resemblance between their reports is purely coincidental; it cannot be coincidental that these years were a time of important new developments.

2 happening or existing at the same time: it's convenient that his plan is coincidental with the group's closure.

<DERIVATIVES> co·in·ci·den·tal·ly adv. [sentence adverb] coincidentally, we had both left our previous jobs on the same day.

coin·er n. 1 HISTORICAL a person who coins money, in particular a maker of counterfeit coins.

2 a person who invents or devises a new word, sense, or phrase.

coin-op·er·at·ed (also coin-op) adj. operated by inserting coins in a slot: coin-operated telephones.

■ n. a machine that is coin-operated.

co-in·sur·ance n. a type of insurance in which the insured pays a share of the payment made against a claim.

Coin·treau n. TRADEMARK a colorless orange-flavored liqueur.

<ORIGIN> named after the Cointreau family, liqueur producers based in Angers, France.

coir n. fiber from the outer husk of the coconut, used for making ropes and matting.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Malayalam kayaru 'cord, coir'.

co·i·tion n. another term for COITUS.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'meeting or uniting'): from Latin coitio(n-), from the verb coire, from co- 'together' + ire 'go'.

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COITUS ■

co·i·tus n. FORMAL sexual intercourse.

<DERIVATIVES> co·i·tal adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin, from coire 'go together' (see COITION).

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COITION ■

co·i·tus in·ter·rup·tus n. sexual intercourse in which the penis is withdrawn before ejaculation.

<ORIGIN> from COITUS + Latin interruptus 'interrupted'.

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COITUS ■

co·i·tus re·ser·va·tus n. the postponement or avoidance of ejaculation, to prolong sexual intercourse.

<ORIGIN> from COITUS + Latin reservatus 'reserved, kept'.

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COITUS ■

co·jo·nes plural n. INFORMAL a man's testicles.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE courage; guts: he does not have the cojones to kill a flea.

<ORIGIN> Spanish.

coke 1 n. a solid fuel made by heating coal in the absence of air so that the volatile components are driven off.
<SPECIAL USAGE> carbon residue left after the incomplete combustion of gasoline or other fuels.

■ v. [trans.] [usu. as n.] (coking) convert (coal) into coke.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'charcoal'): of unknown origin. The current sense dates from the mid 17th cent.

coke 2 n. informal term for COCAINE.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: abbreviation.

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COCAINE ■

Coke-bot·tle n. [as adj.] INFORMAL denoting very thick lenses for glasses or glasses with such lenses.

coked adj. INFORMAL having taken a large amount of cocaine: a druggie coked so far out of his mind that he'd torn the furniture apart.

col n. the lowest point of a ridge or saddle between two peaks, typically affording a pass from one side of a mountain range to another.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [METEOROLOGY] a region of slightly elevated pressure between two anticyclones.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, literally 'neck', from Latin collum.

Col. abbr.
- colonel.

- [BIBLE] Colossians.

col. abbr.
- collected.

- college.

- colony.

- column.

col- prefix variant spelling of COM- assimilated before l (as in collocate, collude).

Linked entries:

COM- ■

COLA abbr. cost-of-living adjustment, an increase made to wages or Social Security benefits to keep them in line with inflation.

co·la n. 1 a brown carbonated drink that is flavored with an extract of cola nuts, or with a similar flavoring. <ORIGIN> shortening of COCA-COLA.

2 (also ko·la) a small evergreen African tree that is cultivated in the tropics for its seeds (cola nuts). <ORIGIN> from Temne k'ola 'cola nut'.
<INFO>  Genus Cola, family Sterculiaceae: several species, in particular C. acuminata.

col·an·der n. a perforated bowl used to strain off liquid from food, esp. after cooking.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: based on Latin colare 'to strain'.

co·la nut (also kola nut) n. the seed of the cola tree, which contains caffeine and is chewed or made into a drink.

co·lat·i·tude n. [ASTRONOMY] the complement of the latitude; the difference between latitude and 90°.

col·can·non n. an Irish and Scottish dish of cabbage and potatoes boiled and pounded.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from COLE; the origin of the second element is uncertain but it is said that cannonballs were used to pound such vegetables as spinach.

Linked entries:

COLE ■

col·chi·cine n. [CHEMISTRY] a yellow compound present in the corms of colchicums, used to relieve pain in cases of gout.
<INFO>  An alkaloid; chem. formula: C_22H_25NO_6.

col·chi·cum n. (pl. -cums) a plant of a genus that includes the autumn crocuses.
<INFO>  Genus Colchicum, family Liliaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the dried corm or seed of meadow saffron, which has analgesic properties and is used medicinally, esp. as a tincture.

<ORIGIN> from Latin, from Greek kolkhikon 'of Colchis' (see COLCHIS), alluding to the skills as a poisoner of the sorceress Medea of Colchis in classical mythology.

Linked entries:

COLCHIS ■

Col·chis an ancient region south of the Caucasus Mountains at the eastern end of the Black Sea. In classical mythology it was the goal of Jason's expedition for the Golden Fleece. Greek name KOLKHIS.

Linked entries:

KOLKHIS ■

cold adj. 1 of or at a low or relatively low temperature, esp. when compared with the human body: a freezing cold day; it's cold outside; a sharp, cold wind.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of food or drink) served or consumed without being heated or after cooling: a cold drink; | serve hot or cold.

- (of an engine) not having been warmed up properly.

- (of a person) feeling uncomfortably cold: she was cold, and I put some more wood on the fire.

- feeling or characterized by fear or horror: he suddenly went cold with a dreadful certainty; a cold shiver of fear.

- INFORMAL unconscious: she was out cold.

- dead: lying cold and stiff in a coffin.

2 lacking affection or warmth of feeling; unemotional: how cold and calculating he was; cold black eyes; cold politeness.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- not affected by emotion; objective: cold statistics.

- sexually unresponsive; frigid.

- depressing or dispiriting; not suggestive of warmth: the cold, impersonal barrack-room; a cold light streamed through the window.

- (of a color) containing pale blue or gray.

- ineffective in playing a game: Butler capitalized on Xavier's cold shooting.

3 (of the scent or trail of a hunted person or animal) no longer fresh and easy to follow: the trail went cold.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in children's games) far from finding or guessing what is sought, as opposed to warm or nearing success.

4 without preparation or rehearsal; unawares: going into the test cold.

■ n. 1 a low temperature, esp. in the atmosphere; cold weather; a cold environment: my teeth chattered with the cold; they nearly died of cold.

2 a common viral infection in which the mucous membrane of the nose and throat becomes inflamed, typically causing running at the nose, sneezing, a sore throat, and other similar symptoms.

■ adv. INFORMAL completely; entirely: she knew world capitals cold by age nine.

<PHRASES>
□ as cold as ice (or stone or the grave, etc.) very cold.

□ catch (or take) cold become infected with a cold.

□ cold comfort poor or inadequate consolation: another drop in the inflation rate was cold comfort for the 2.74 million jobless.

□ cold feet loss of nerve or confidence: some investors got cold feet and backed out.

□ the cold light of day the objective realities of a situation: in the cold light of day it all seemed so ridiculous.

□ the cold shoulder a show of intentional unfriendliness; rejection: why is even his own family giving him the cold shoulder?

□ cold-shoulder someone reject or be deliberately unfriendly to someone.

□ down cold see DOWN^1 .

□ in cold blood without feeling or mercy; ruthlessly: the government forces killed them in cold blood.

□ out in the cold ignored; neglected: the talks left the French out in the cold.

□ throw (or pour) cold water on be discouraging or negative about.

<DERIVATIVES> cold·ish adj. cold·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English cald, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch koud and German kalt, also to Latin gelu 'frost'.

Linked entries:

DOWN ■

cold-blood·ed adj. 1 (of a kind of animal) having a body temperature varying with that of the environment; poikilothermic.

2 without emotion or pity; deliberately cruel or callous: a cold-blooded murder.

<DERIVATIVES> cold-blood·ed·ly adv. cold-blood·ed·ness n.

cold-call v. [trans.] make an unsolicited call on (someone), by telephone or in person, in an attempt to sell goods or services: [as n.] (cold-calling) severe new regulations against cold-calling.

■ n. (cold call) an unsolicited call of this kind.

cold cash n. another term for HARD CASH.

Linked entries:

HARD CASH ■

cold cath·ode n. [ELECTRONICS] a cathode that emits electrons without being heated.

cold chis·el n. a chisel used for cutting metal.

cold cream n. a cosmetic preparation used for cleansing and softening the skin.

cold cuts plural n. slices of cold cooked or processed meats. See LUNCHMEAT.

cold dark mat·ter (abbr.: CDM) n. see DARK MATTER.

Linked entries:

DARK MATTER ■

cold deck n. 1 INFORMAL a deck of cards that has been dishonestly arranged beforehand.

2 a pile of logs stored away from the immediate area where logging is taking place.

cold-drawn adj. (of metal) drawn out into a wire or bar while cold.

<DERIVATIVES> cold-draw·ing n.

cold duck n. a type of sparkling wine made from burgundy and champagne.

cold frame n. a four-sided frame of boards with a removable glass or plastic top. The frame is placed on the ground and is used to house, protect, and harden off seedlings and small plants, without artificial heat.

cold front n. [METEOROLOGY] the boundary of an advancing mass of cold air, in particular the trailing edge of the warm sector of a low-pressure system.

cold fu·sion n. nuclear fusion occurring at or close to room temperature. Claims for its discovery in 1989 are generally held to have been mistaken.

cold-heart·ed adj. lacking affection or warmth; unfeeling.

<DERIVATIVES> cold-heart·ed·ly adv. cold-heart·ed·ness n.

cold light n. [PHYSICS] light accompanied by little or no heat; luminescence.

cold·ly adv. without affection or warmth of feeling; unemotionally: Derek looked at her coldly | a coldly contemptuous tone.

cold-mold·ed adj. (of an object) molded from a resin that hardens without being heated.

<DERIVATIVES> cold-mold·ing n.

cold-rolled adj. [METALLURGY] (of metal) having been rolled into sheets while cold, resulting in a smooth hard finish.

<DERIVATIVES> cold-roll·ing n.

cold snap n. a sudden, brief spell of cold weather.

cold sore n. an inflamed blister in or near the mouth, caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus.

Cold Spring Harbor a village on the north shore of Long Island in New York, in the town of Huntington, noted as a center for biological research; pop. 4,789.

cold stor·age n. the keeping of something in a refrigerator or other cold place for preservation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE the temporary postponement of something: the project went into cold storage.

cold store n. a large refrigerated room for preserving food stocks at very low temperatures.

cold sweat n. a state of sweating induced by fear, nervousness, or illness: he used to break into a cold sweat when he was called on in class.

cold tur·key INFORMAL n. the abrupt and complete cessation of taking a drug to which one is addicted: cold turkey, with no medication, is not recommended for those with medical conditions.

■ adv. in a sudden and abrupt manner: many banks have cut commercial builders off cold turkey.

cold war n. a state of political hostility existing between countries, characterized by threats, violent propaganda, subversive activities, and other measures short of open warfare, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Cold War) the state of political hostility that existed between the Soviet bloc countries and the U.S.-led Western powers from 1945 to 1990.

cold wave n. 1 a spell of cold weather over a wide area.

2 a kind of permanent wave for the hair created by applying chemicals at room temperature.

cold-weld v. [trans.] join (a piece of metal) to another without the use of heat, by forcing them together so hard that the surface oxide films are disrupted and adhesion occurs.

cold-work v. [trans.] shape (metal) while it is cold.

■ n. (cold work) the shaping of metal while it is cold.

Cole 1 Nat King (1919-65), U.S. singer and pianist; born Nathaniel Adams Coles. He became the first African American to have his own radio 1948-49 and television 1956-57 series. Notable songs: “Mona Lisa” (1950) and “Ramblin' Rose” (1962).

Cole 2 Thomas (1801-48), U.S. artist. He was one of the founders of the Hudson River School of painting.

cole n. CHIEFLY ARCHAIC a brassica, esp. cabbage, kale, or rape.

<ORIGIN> Old English , caul, related to Dutch kool and German Kohl, from Latin caulis 'stem, cabbage'; reinforced in Middle English by forms from Old Norse kál. Compare with KALE.

Linked entries:

KALE ■

co·lec·to·my n. (pl. -mies) surgical removal of all or part of the colon.

Cole·man Ornette (1930- ), U.S. jazz saxophonist, trumpeter, violinist, and composer. His music is noted for its lack of harmony and chordal structure.

cole·man·ite n. a white crystalline mineral, typically occurring as glassy prisms, consisting of hydrated calcium borate.

<ORIGIN> named after William T. Coleman (1824-93) + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ITE ■

Cole·man lan·tern (also Coleman lamp) n. TRADEMARK a type of bright gasoline lamp used by campers.

Co·le·op·ter·a [ENTOMOLOGY] an order of insects that comprises the beetles (including weevils), forming the largest order of animals on the earth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as plural n.] (coleoptera) insects of this order; beetles.

<DERIVATIVES> co·le·op·ter·an n. & adj. co·le·op·ter·ous adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek koleopteros, from koleos 'sheath' + pteron 'wing'.

co·le·op·ter·ist n. a person who studies or collects beetles.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from COLEOPTERA + -IST.

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COLEOPTERA ■

-IST ■

co·le·op·tile n. [BOTANY] a sheath protecting a young shoot tip in a grass or cereal.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek koleon 'sheath' + ptilon 'feather'.

co·le·o·rhi·za n. (pl. -zae ) [BOTANY] a sheath protecting the root of a germinating grass or cereal grain.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from koleos 'sheath' + rhiza 'root'.

Cole·ridge Samuel Taylor (1772-1834), English poet, critic, and philosopher. His Lyrical Ballads (1798), written with William Wordsworth, marked the start of English romanticism and included “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”Other notable poems: “Christabel” and “Kubla Khan” (both 1816).

cole·seed n. old-fashioned term for RAPE^2 .

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Dutch koolzaad 'cabbage or rape seed'.

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RAPE ■

cole·slaw n. sliced raw cabbage mixed with mayonnaise and other vegetables, eaten as a salad.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (originally U.S.): from Dutch koolsla, from kool 'cabbage' + sla (see SLAW).

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SLAW ■

Co·lette (1873-1954), French novelist; born Sidonie Gabrielle Claudine. Notable works Chéri (1920), La Fin de Chéri (1926), and Gigi (1945).

co·le·us n. a tropical Southeast Asian plant of the mint family that has brightly colored variegated leaves and is popular as a houseplant.
<INFO>  Genus Solenostemon (formerly Coleus), family Labiatae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek koleos 'sheath' (because of the way the stamens are joined together, resembling a sheath).

cole·wort n. CHIEFLY ARCHAIC another term for COLE.

Linked entries:

COLE ■

col·ic n. severe, often fluctuating pain in the abdomen caused by intestinal gas or obstruction in the intestines and suffered esp. by babies.

<DERIVATIVES> col·ick·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French colique, from late Latin colicus, from colon (see COLON^2 ).

Linked entries:

COLON ■

col·i·cin n. [BIOLOGY] a bacteriocin produced by a coliform bacterium.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from French colicine (from coli, denoting a bacterium) + IN.

Linked entries:

IN ■

col·ic·root n. a North American plant of the lily family, with a rosette of leaves and a spike of small goblet-shaped white or cream flowers. It was formerly used in the treatment of colic.
<INFO>  Aletris farinosa, family Liliaceae.

col·i·form bac·te·ri·um adj. a rod-shaped bacterium, esp. Escherichia coli and members of the genus Aerobacter, found in the intestinal tract of humans and other animals. Its presence in water indicates fecal contamination and can cause diarrhea and other dysenteric symptoms Also called COLON BACILLUS.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from modern Latin coli, specific epithet in the sense 'of the colon' + -IFORM + BACTERIUM.

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COLON BACILLUS ■

-IFORM ■

BACTERIUM ■

Co·li·ma 1 a state in southwestern Mexico, on the Pacific coast.

2 the capital city of this state; pop. 58,000.

co·lin·e·ar (also col·lin·e·ar) adj. lying in the same straight line or linear sequence.

col·i·se·um (also col·os·se·um ) n. [in names] a large theater or stadium: the Charlotte Coliseum.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from medieval Latin, alteration of Latin colosseum (see COLOSSEUM).

Linked entries:

COLOSSEUM ■

co·li·tis n. [MEDICINE] inflammation of the lining of the colon.

Coll an island in the Inner Hebrides, west of Mull.

Coll. abbr.
- Collateral.

- Collected or Collection (used in written references to published works or sources).

- College.

- Colloquial.

col·lab·o·rate v. [intrans.] work jointly on an activity, esp. to produce or create something: he collaborated with a distinguished painter on the designs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> cooperate traitorously with an enemy: during the last war they collaborated with the Nazis.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lab·o·ra·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin collaborat- 'worked with', from the verb collaborare, from col- 'together' + laborare 'to work'.

col·lab·o·ra·tion n. 1 the action of working with someone to produce or create something: he wrote on art and architecture in collaboration with John Betjeman.
<SPECIAL USAGE> something produced or created in this way: his recent opera was a collaboration with Lessing.

2 traitorous cooperation with an enemy: he faces charges of collaboration.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lab·o·ra·tion·ist n. & adj. (sense 2).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin collaboratio(n-), from collaborare 'work together'.

col·lab·o·ra·tive adj. produced or conducted by two or more parties working together: collaborative research.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lab·o·ra·tive·ly adv.

col·lage n. a form of art in which various materials such as photographs and pieces of paper or fabric are arranged and stuck to a backing.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a composition made in this way.

- a combination or collection of various things.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lag·ist n.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French, literally 'gluing'.

col·la·gen n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] the main structural protein found in animal connective tissue, yielding gelatin when boiled.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French collagène, from Greek kolla 'glue' + French -gène (see -GEN).

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-GEN ■

col·lap·sar n. [ASTRONOMY] an old star that has collapsed under its own gravity to form a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: from COLLAPSE, on the pattern of words such as pulsar.

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COLLAPSE ■

col·lapse v. [intrans.] 1 (of a structure) fall down or in; give way: the roof collapsed on top of me.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause (something) to fall in or give way: it feels as if the slightest pressure would collapse it | FIGURATIVE many people tend to collapse the distinction between the two concepts.

- (of a lung or blood vessel) fall inward and become flat and empty: [as adj.] (collapsed) a collapsed lung.

- [trans.] cause (a lung or blood vessel) to do this.

- fold or be folded to fit into a small space: [intrans.] some cots collapse down to fit into a bag.

2 (of a person) fall down and become unconscious, typically through illness or injury: he collapsed from loss of blood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL sit or lie down as a result of tiredness or prolonged exertion: exhausted, he collapsed on the bed.

3 (of an institution or undertaking) fail suddenly and completely: in the face of such resolve his opposition finally collapsed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a price or currency) drop suddenly in value.

■ n. an instance of a structure falling down or in: the collapse of a railroad bridge | the church roof is in danger of collapse.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a sudden failure of an institution or undertaking: the collapse of communism.

- a physical or mental breakdown: he suffered a collapse from overwork | she's lying there in a state of collapse.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as collapsed): from medical Latin collapsus, past participle of collabi, from col- 'together' + labi 'to slip'.

col·laps·i·ble adj. (of an object) able to be folded into a small space: a collapsible bed.

<DERIVATIVES> col·laps·i·bil·i·ty n.

col·lar n. 1 a band of material around the neck of a shirt, dress, coat, or jacket, either upright or turned over and generally an integral part of the garment: we turned our collars up against the chill.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- short for CLERICAL COLLAR.

- a band of leather or other material put around the neck of a domestic animal, esp. a dog or cat.

- a colored marking resembling a collar around the neck of a bird or other animal.

- a heavy rounded part of the harness worn by a draft animal, which rests at the base of its neck on the shoulders.

2 a restraining or connecting band, ring, or pipe in machinery.

3 BRIT. a piece of meat rolled up and tied.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a cut of bacon taken from the neck of a pig.

4 [BOTANY] the part of a plant where the stem joins the roots.

■ v. 1 [trans.] put a collar on: biologists who were collaring polar bears.

2 [trans.] INFORMAL seize, grasp, or apprehend (someone): police collared the culprit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> approach aggressively and talk to (someone who wishes to leave): he collared a departing guest for some last words.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lared adj. [in combination] a fur-collared jacket. col·lar·less adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French colier, from Latin collare 'band for the neck, collar', from collum 'neck'.

Linked entries:

CLERICAL COLLAR ■

col·lar beam n. a horizontal wooden joist or beam connecting two rafters and forming with them an A-shaped roof truss.

col·lar·bone n. either of the pair of bones joining the breastbone to the shoulder blades. Also called CLAVICLE.

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CLAVICLE ■

col·lards (also col·lard greens) n. a cabbage of a variety that does not develop a heart.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: reduced form of colewort, in the same sense, from COLE + WORT.

Linked entries:

COLE ■

WORT ■

col·lared dove n. an Old World dove related to the ringed turtle dove, with buff, gray, or brown plumage and a narrow black band around the back of the neck.
<INFO>  Genus Streptopelia, family Columbidae: several species, in particular the sandy gray S. decaocto, which originated in Asia, and has recently been found breeding widely in southeastern Florida.

col·lared liz·ard n. a lizard that is typically marked with spots and bands and has a distinctive black-and-white collar. It is found in dry rocky areas in the southern U.S. and Mexico.
<INFO>  Crotaphytus collaris, family Iguanidae.

col·lar stud n. a stud used to fasten a detachable collar to a shirt.

col·lar tie n. another term for COLLAR BEAM.

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COLLAR BEAM ■

col·late v. [trans.] 1 collect and combine (texts, information, or sets of figures) in proper order.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- compare and analyze (texts or other data): these accounts he collated with his own experience.

- [PRINTING] verify the order of (sheets of a book) by their signatures.

2 appoint (a clergyman) to a benefice.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'confer (a benefice) upon'): from Latin collat- 'brought together', from the verb conferre (see CONFER).

Linked entries:

CONFER ■

col·lat·er·al n. 1 something pledged as security for repayment of a loan, to be forfeited in the event of a default.

2 a person having the same descent in a family as another but by a different line.

■ adj. 1 descended from the same stock but by a different line: a collateral descendant of George Washington.

2 additional but subordinate; secondary: the collateral meanings of a word.
<SPECIAL USAGE> situated side by side; parallel: collateral veins.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lat·er·al·i·ty n. col·lat·er·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an adjective): from medieval Latin collateralis, from col- 'together with' + lateralis (from latus, later- 'side'). Sense 1 (originally U.S.) is from the phrase collateral security, denoting something pledged in addition to the main obligation of a contract.

col·lat·er·al con·tract n. [LAW] a subsidiary contract that induces a person to enter into a main contract or that depends upon the main contract for its existence.

col·lat·er·al dam·age n. used euphemistically to refer to inadvertent casualties among civilians and destruction in civilian areas in the course of military operations.

col·lat·er·al·ize v. [trans.] provide something as collateral for (a loan): these loans are collateralized by property.

col·la·tion n. 1 the action of collating something: data management and collation.

2 a light, informal meal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in the Roman Catholic Church) a light meal allowed during a fast.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin collation-, from conferre (see CONFER). Originally (in the plural) the term denoted John Cassian's Collationes Patrum in Scetica Eremo Commorantium 'Conferences of, or with, the Egyptian Hermits' (AD 415-20), from which a reading would be given in Benedictine communities prior to a light meal (see sense 2).

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CONFER ■

col·la·tor n. a person or machine that collates.

col·league n. a person with whom one works, esp. in a profession or business.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from French collègue, from Latin collega 'partner in office', from col- 'together with' + legare 'depute'.

col·lect 1 v. [trans.] 1 bring or gather together (things, typically when scattered or widespread): he went around the office collecting old coffee cups; he collected up all his clothing.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- accumulate and store over a period of time: collect rainwater to use on the garden.

- systematically seek and acquire (items of a particular kind) as a hobby: I've started collecting stamps.; | [intrans.] the urge to collect, to have the full set, is in us all.

- [intrans.] come together and form a group or mass: worshipers collected together in a stadium; dust and dirt collect so quickly.

See note at GATHER.

2 call for and take away; fetch: the children were collected from school.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- go somewhere and accept or receive (something), esp. as a right or due: she went to Oxford to collect her honorary degree.

- solicit and receive (donations), esp. for charity: collecting money for the war effort | [intrans.] we collected for the United Way.

- receive (money that is due); be paid: [trans.] they called to collect a debt; | [intrans.] he'd come to collect.

3 (collect oneself) regain control of oneself, typically after a shock.
<SPECIAL USAGE> bring together and concentrate (one's thoughts).

4 ARCHAIC conclude; infer: by all best conjectures, I collect Thou art to be my fatal enemy.

5 cause (a horse) to bring its hind legs further forward as it moves, thereby shortening the stride and increasing balance and impulsion.

■ adv. & adj. (with reference to a telephone call) to be paid for by the person receiving it: [as adv.] I called my mother collect | [as adj.] a collect call.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French collecter or medieval Latin collectare, from Latin collect- 'gathered together', from the verb colligere, from col- 'together' + legere 'choose or collect'.

col·lect 2 n. (in church use) a short prayer, esp. one assigned to a particular day or season.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French collecte, from Latin collecta 'gathering', feminine past participle of colligere 'gather together' (see COLLECT^1 ).

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COLLECT ■

col·lec·ta·ne·a plural n. [also treated as sing.] passages, remarks, and other pieces of text collected from various sources.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: Latin, neuter plural of collectaneus 'gathered together', used as an adjective in Caesar's Dicta collectanea and as a noun in Solinus' Collectanea.

col·lect·ed adj. 1 (of a person) not perturbed or distracted: outwardly they are cool, calm, and collected.

2 (of individual works) brought together in one volume or edition: Lenin's collected works.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a volume or edition) containing all the works of a particular person or category.

3 (of a horse) moving with a shortened stride and with its hind legs correctly placed to achieve balance and impulsion.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lect·ed·ly adv. (in sense 1).

col·lect·i·ble (also CHIEFLY BRIT. col·lect·a·ble) adj. 1 (of an item) worth collecting; of interest to a collector.

2 able to be collected: a surplus collectible as rent by the landowner.

■ n. (usu. collectibles) an item valued and sought by collectors.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lect·i·bil·i·ty n.

col·lec·tion n. 1 the action or process of collecting someone or something: the collection of maple sap; tax collection
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a regular removal of mail for dispatch or of trash for disposal.

- an instance of collecting money in a church service or for a charitable cause: when she died, they took up a collection for her burial.

- a sum collected in this way.

2 a group of things or people: a rambling collection of houses.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an assembly of items such as works of art, pieces of writing, or natural objects, esp. one systematically ordered: paintings from the permanent collection; a record collection.

- (collections) an art museum's holdings organized by medium, such as sculpture, painting, or photography.

- a book or recording containing various texts, poems, songs, etc.: a collection of essays.

- a range of new clothes produced by a fashion house: a preview of their autumn collection.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin collectio(n-), from colligere 'gather together' (see COLLECT^1 ).

Linked entries:

COLLECT ■

col·lec·tive adj. done by people acting as a group: a collective protest.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- belonging or relating to all the members of a group: ministers who share collective responsibility.

- (esp. of feelings or memories) common to the members of a group: a collective sigh of relief from parents.

- taken as a whole; aggregate: the collective power of the workforce.

■ n. a cooperative enterprise.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a collective farm.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lec·tive·ly adv. col·lec·tive·ness n. col·lec·tiv·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'representing many individuals'): from Old French collectif, -ive or Latin collectivus, from collect- 'gathered together', from the verb colligere (see COLLECT^1 ).

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COLLECT ■

col·lec·tive bar·gain·ing n. negotiation of wages and other conditions of employment by an organized body of employees.

col·lec·tive farm n. a jointly operated amalgamation of several small farms, esp. one owned by the government.

col·lec·tive mark n. a trademark or service mark that identifies members of a union, cooperative, or other collective organization.

col·lec·tive mem·o·ry n. the memory of a group of people, typically passed from one generation to the next.

col·lec·tive noun n. [GRAMMAR] a count noun that denotes a group of individuals (e.g., assembly, family, crew).

<USAGE>
Examples of collective nouns include group, crowd, family, committee, class, crew, and the like. In the U.S., collective nouns are usually followed by a singular verb (the crowd was nervous), while in Britain it is more common to follow a collective noun with a plural verb (the band were late for their own concert). Notice that if the verb is singular, any following pronouns must also be singular: the council is prepared to act, but not until it has taken a poll. When preceded by the definite article the, the collective noun number is usually treated as a singular ( the number of applicants was beyond belief), whereas it is treated as a plural when preceded by the indefinite article a ( a number of proposals were considered).

See also usage at NUMBER.

Linked entries:

NUMBER ■

col·lec·tive se·cu·ri·ty n. the cooperation of several countries in an alliance to strengthen the security of each.

col·lec·tive un·con·scious n. (in Jungian psychology) the part of the unconscious mind that is derived from ancestral memory and experience and is common to all humankind, as distinct from the individual's unconscious.

col·lec·tiv·ism n. the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the theory and practice of the ownership of land and the means of production by the people or the state.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lec·tiv·ist adj. & n. col·lec·tiv·is·tic adj.

col·lec·ti·vize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (collectivized) organize (something) on the basis of ownership by the people or the state, abolishing private ownership or involvement: collectivized agriculture.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lec·ti·vi·za·tion n.

col·lec·tor n. a person or thing that collects something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who collects things of a specified type, professionally or as a hobby: book collectors.

- an official who is responsible for collecting money owed to an organization or body: a tax collector.

- [ELECTRONICS] the region in a bipolar transistor that absorbs charge carriers.

col·lec·tor's i·tem n. an object of interest to collectors, esp. because it is rare, beautiful, or associated with someone famous.

col·leen n. an Irish term for a girl or young woman.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an Irish girl or young woman.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Irish cailin, diminutive of caile 'countrywoman'.

col·lege n. 1 an educational institution or establishment, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- one providing higher education or specialized professional or vocational training: my brother wanted to go to college; | I'm at college studying graphic design.

- (within a university) a school offering a general liberal arts curriculum leading only to a bachelor's degree.

- (in Britain) any of a number of independent institutions within certain universities, each having its own teaching staff, students, and buildings.

- BRIT. a private secondary school: [in names] Eton College.

- the teaching staff and students of a college considered collectively: the college was shocked by his death.

- the buildings and campus of a college.

2 an organized group of professional people with particular aims, duties, and privileges: [in names] the electoral college.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin collegium 'partnership, association', from collega 'partner in office', from col- 'together with' + legare 'depute'.

Col·lege Board n. an organization that prepares and administers standardized tests that are used in college admission and placement.

Col·lege of Arms (also College of Heralds) (in the UK) a corporation that officially records and grants armorial bearings. Formed in 1484, it comprises three Kings of Arms, six heralds, and four pursuivants. Also called HERALDS' COLLEGE.

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HERALDS' COLLEGE ■

Col·lege of Car·di·nals the body of cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church, founded in the 11th century and since 1179 responsible for the election of the pope. Also called SACRED COLLEGE.

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SACRED COLLEGE ■

Col·lege Park a city in central Maryland, just northeast of Washington, DC, home to the University of Maryland; pop. 24,657.

Col·lege Station a city in east central Texas, home to Texas A&M University; pop. 52,456.

col·lege try n. a sincere effort or attempt at performing a difficult, or seemingly impossible, task: the chances of overturning this decision are slim, but the Democrats will give it the old college try.

col·le·gi·a plural form of COLLEGIUM.

Linked entries:

COLLEGIUM ■

col·le·gi·al adj. 1 relating to or involving shared responsibility, as among a group of colleagues.

2 another term for COLLEGIATE (sense 1).

<DERIVATIVES> col·le·gi·al·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French collegial or late Latin collegialis, from collegium 'partnership, association' (see COLLEGE).

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COLLEGIATE ■

COLLEGE ■

col·le·gian n. a member of a college, esp. within a university.
- a college student

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin collegianus, from collegium 'partnership, association' (see COLLEGE).

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COLLEGE ■

col·le·giate adj. 1 belonging or relating to a college or its students: collegiate life.

2 (of a university) composed of different colleges.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin collegiatus, from collegium 'partnership, association' (see COLLEGE).

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COLLEGE ■

col·le·giate church n. a church endowed for a chapter of canons but without a bishop's see.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a church or group of churches established under two or more pastors.

col·le·giate Goth·ic n. a style of Gothic revival architecture used for many college and university buildings.

■ adj. of or built in such a style.

col·le·gi·um n. (pl. -le·gi·a ) 1 (in full col·le·gi·um mu·si·cum ) (pl. col·le·gi·a mu·si·ca ) a society of amateur musicians, esp. one attached to a German or U.S. college.

2 HISTORICAL an advisory or administrative board in Russia.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin, literally 'association'.

col le·gno adv. (of a passage of music for a bowed instrument) played by hitting the strings with the back of the bow.

<ORIGIN> Italian, 'with the wood (of the bow)'.

Col·lem·bo·la [ENTOMOLOGY] an order of insects that comprises the springtails.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as plural n.] (collembola) insects of this order; springtails.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lem·bo·lan n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek kolla 'glue' + embolon 'peg, stopper' (with reference to the sticky substance secreted by the ventral tube of the insects).

col·len·chy·ma n. [BOTANY] tissue strengthened by the thickening of cell walls, as in young shoots.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek kolla 'glue' + enkhuma 'infusion'.

Colles' frac·ture n. [MEDICINE] a fracture of the lower end of the radius in the wrist with a characteristic backward displacement of the hand.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after Abraham Colles (1773-1843), Irish surgeon.

col·let n. a ring or lining that holds something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a segmented band or sleeve put around a shaft or spindle and tightened so as to grip it.

- a small collar in a clock to which the inner end of a balance spring is attached.

- a flange or socket for setting a gem in jewelry.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a piece of armor to protect the neck): from Old French, diminutive of col 'neck', from Latin collum.

col·lic·u·lus n. (pl. -li ) [ANATOMY] a small protuberance, esp. one of two pairs in the roof of the midbrain, involved respectively in vision and hearing.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lic·u·lar adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin, diminutive of collis 'hill'.

col·lide v. [intrans.] hit with force when moving: she collided with someone; | two suburban trains collided.
<SPECIAL USAGE> come into conflict or opposition: in his work, politics and metaphysics collide.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'cause to collide'): from Latin collidere, from col- 'together' + laedere 'to strike or damage'.

col·lid·er n. [PHYSICS] an accelerator in which two beams of particles are made to collide.

col·lie n. (pl. -lies) a sheepdog of a breed originating in Scotland, having a long, pointed nose and thick, long hair.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: perhaps from COAL (the breed originally being black).

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COAL ■

col·lier n. CHIEFLY BRIT. 1 a coal miner.

2 a ship carrying coal.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from COAL + -IER. The original sense was 'maker of charcoal', who usually brought it to market, hence 'person selling charcoal', later 'person selling coal', whence current senses.

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COAL ■

-IER ■

col·lier·y n. (pl. -ler·ies) a coal mine and the buildings and equipment associated with it.

col·li·gate v. 1 [LINGUISTICS] be or cause to be juxtaposed or grouped in a syntactic relation: [intrans.] the two grammatical items are said to colligate | [trans.] pronouns are regularly colligated with verbal forms.

2 [trans.] connect; unite.
- [LOGIC] join or relate (apparently unrelated facts) into a pattern, esp. to reveal a general principle.

<DERIVATIVES> col·li·ga·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the literal Latin sense): from Latin colligat- 'bound together', from the verb colligare, from col- 'together' + ligare 'bind'. The current sense dates from the 1960s.

col·li·ga·tive adj. [CHEMISTRY] of or relating to the binding together of molecules: the colligative properties of dilute solutions.

col·li·mate v. [trans.] make (rays of light or particles) accurately parallel: [as adj.] (collimated) a collimated electron beam.
<SPECIAL USAGE> accurately align (an optical or other system).

<DERIVATIVES> col·li·ma·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin collimare, an erroneous reading (in some editions of Cicero) of collineare 'align or aim', from col- 'together with' + linea 'line'.

col·li·ma·tor n. a device for producing a parallel beam of rays or radiation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a small fixed telescope used for adjusting the line of sight of an astronomical telescope.

col·lin·e·ar adj. [GEOMETRY] (of points) lying in the same straight line.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lin·e·ar·i·ty n.

Col·lins 1 Joan (Henrietta) (1933- ), English actress, a sex symbol in movies such as Our Girl Friday (1953) and known for the television series Dynasty (1981-89).

Col·lins 2 Michael (1890-1922), Irish nationalist leader and politician. A member of Parliament for Sinn Fein, he was one of the negotiators of the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921. He commanded the Irish Free State forces in the civil war and became head of state but was assassinated ten days later.

Col·lins 3 Phil (1951- ), British rock musician and singer; full name Phillip David Charles Collins. His many hits include "You Can't Hurry Love" (1982) and "Sussudio" (1985).

Col·lins 4 (William) Wilkie (1824-89), English novelist. He is noted for his detective stories The Woman in White (1860) and The Moonstone (1868).

Col·lins 5 n. short for TOM COLLINS.

Linked entries:

TOM COLLINS ■

col·li·sion n. 1 an instance of one moving object or person striking violently against another: a midair collision between two aircraft | the device increases the chances of collision.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an instance of conflict between opposing ideas, interests, or factions: a collision between experience and theory; cultures in collision.

2 [COMPUTING] an event of two or more records being assigned the same location in memory.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an instance of simultaneous transmission by more than one node of a network.

<PHRASES> on (a) collision course going in a direction that will lead to a collision with another moving object or person.
- adopting an approach that is certain to lead to conflict with another person or group: the strikers are on a collision course with the government.

<DERIVATIVES> col·li·sion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin collisio(n-), from Latin collidere 'strike together' (see COLLIDE).

Linked entries:

COLLIDE ■

col·lo·cate v. 1 [intrans.] [LINGUISTICS] (of a word) be habitually juxtaposed with another with a frequency greater than chance: “maiden” collocates with “voyage.”

2 [trans.] RARE place side by side or in a particular relation: [as adj.] (collocated) McAndrew was a collocated facility with Argentia Naval Station.

■ n. [LINGUISTICS] a word that is habitually juxtaposed with another with a frequency greater than chance: collocates for the word “mortgage” include “lend” and “property.”

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (sense 2): from Latin collocat- 'placed together', from the verb collocare, from col- 'together' + locare 'to place'. Sense 1 dates from the 1950s.

col·lo·ca·tion n. 1 [LINGUISTICS] the habitual juxtaposition of a particular word with another word or words with a frequency greater than chance: the words have a similar range of collocation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a pair or group of words that are juxtaposed in such a way: “strong coffee” and “heavy drinker” are typical English collocations.

2 the action of placing things side by side or in position: the collocation of the two pieces.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin collocatio(n-), from collocare 'place together' (see COLLOCATE).

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COLLOCATE ■

col·lo·di·on n. a syrupy solution of nitrocellulose in a mixture of alcohol and ether, used for coating things, chiefly in surgery and in a former photographic process.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek 'gluelike', from kolla 'glue'.

col·logue v. (-logues, -logued, -logu·ing) [intrans.] ARCHAIC talk confidentially or conspiratorially.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'flatter, pretend to agree with or believe'): probably an alteration of obsolete colleague 'conspire', by association with Latin colloqui 'to converse'.

col·loid n. a homogeneous, noncrystalline substance consisting of large molecules or ultramicroscopic particles of one substance dispersed through a second substance. Colloids include gels, sols, and emulsions; the particles do not settle and cannot be separated out by ordinary filtering or centrifuging like those in a suspension.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ANATOMY] & [MEDICINE] a substance of gelatinous consistency.

■ adj. [attrib.] of the nature of, relating to, or characterized by a colloid or colloids.

<DERIVATIVES> col·loi·dal adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek kolla 'glue' + -OID.

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-OID ■

col·lop DIALECT n. a slice of meat: three collops of bacon.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish kalops 'meat stew'.

col·lo·qui·al adj. (of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lo·qui·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin colloquium 'conversation' + -AL.

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-AL ■

col·lo·qui·al·ism n. a word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the use of such words or phrases.

col·lo·qui·um n. (pl. -qui·ums or -qui·a ) an academic conference or seminar.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a conversation or dialogue): from Latin, from colloqui 'to converse', from col- 'together' + loqui 'to talk'.

col·lo·quy n. (pl. -quies) 1 FORMAL a conversation: they broke off their colloquy at once | an evening of sophisticated colloquy. See note at CONVERSATION.

2 a gathering for discussion of theological questions.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin colloquium 'conversation'.

col·lo·type n. [PRINTING] a process for making high-quality prints from a sheet of light-sensitive gelatin exposed photographically to the image without using a screen: [as adj.] collotype printing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a print made by such a process.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek kolla 'glue' + TYPE.

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TYPE ■

col·lude v. [intrans.] come to a secret understanding for a harmful purpose; conspire: university leaders colluded in price-rigging; the president accused his opponents of colluding with foreigners.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lud·er n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Latin colludere 'have a secret agreement', from col- 'together' + ludere 'to play'.

col·lu·sion n. secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy, esp. in order to cheat or deceive others: the armed forces were working in collusion with drug traffickers; collusion between media owners and political leaders.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] such cooperation or conspiracy, esp. between ostensible opponents in a lawsuit.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lu·sive adj. col·lu·sive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin collusion-, from colludere 'have a secret agreement' (see COLLUDE).

Linked entries:

COLLUDE ■

col·lu·vi·um n. [GEOLOGY] material that accumulates at the foot of a steep slope.

<DERIVATIVES> col·lu·vi·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: from Latin colluvies 'confluence or collection of matter', from colluere 'to rinse', from col- 'together' + luere 'to wash'.

col·lyr·i·um n. (pl. -i·a ) a medicated eyewash.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a kind of dark eyeshadow, used esp. in Eastern countries.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: Latin, from Greek kollurion 'poultice', from kollura 'coarse bread roll'.

col·ly·wob·bles plural n. INFORMAL, CHIEFLY HUMOROUS stomach pain or queasiness: an attack of collywobbles.
<SPECIAL USAGE> intense anxiety or nervousness, esp. with such symptoms: such organizations give him the collywobbles.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: fanciful formation from COLIC and WOBBLE.

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COLIC ■

WOBBLE ■

Col·man Ronald (1891-1958), British actor. Among his notable movies were A Tale of Two Cities (1935), The Prisoner of Zenda (1937), and Random Harvest (1942).

Colo. abbr. Colorado.

col·o·bine n. [ZOOLOGY] an Old World monkey of a mainly leaf-eating group that includes the colobus monkeys, langurs, and leaf monkeys.
<INFO>  Subfamily Colobinae, family Cercopithecidae.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from modern Latin Colobinae, based on Greek kolobos 'curtailed'.

col·o·bo·ma n. [MEDICINE] a congenital malformation of the eye causing defects in the lens, iris, or retina.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek 'part removed in mutilation', from kolobos 'cut short'.

col·o·bus (also colobus monkey) n. (pl. same) a slender, leaf-eating African monkey with silky fur, a long tail, and very small or absent thumbs.
<INFO>  Genera Colobus and Procolobus, family Cercopithecidae: several species.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek kolobos 'curtailed'.

co·lo·cate (also co-lo·cate) v. (be colocated) share a location or facility with someone (or something) else: a woman officer can often be colocated with her husband.

col·o·cynth n. a tropical Old World climbing plant of the gourd family, which bears a pulpy fruit and has long been cultivated. Also called BITTER APPLE.
<INFO>  Citrullus colocynthis, family Curcurbitaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the fruit of this plant.

- a bitter purgative drug obtained from this fruit.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek kolokunthis.

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BITTER APPLE ■

Co·logne an industrial and university city in western Germany, in North Rhine-Westphalia, on the Rhine River; pop. 956,690. German name KÖLN.

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KÖLN ■

co·logne n. eau de cologne or scented toilet water.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after COLOGNE in Germany.

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COLOGNE ■

Co·lo·ma a historic locality in northeastern California, on the American River, northeast of Sacramento, where gold was discovered in 1848 on John (Johann) Sutter's mill site that led to the California gold rush.

Co·lom·bi·a a country in extreme northwestern South America that has a coastline on both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans; pop. 42,310,000; capital, Bogotá; official language, Spanish.

Colombia was conquered by the Spanish in the early 16th century and achieved independence in the early 19th century, although the resulting Republic of Great Colombia lasted only until 1830, when first Venezuela and then Ecuador broke away to become independent states in their own right. Since the civil war of 1949-53, the country has struggled with poverty and social problems. During the 1990s, guerrilla warfare, partly funded by the growing drug trade, dominated Colombia’s countryside.

<DERIVATIVES> Co·lom·bi·an adj. & n.

Co·lom·bo the capital and chief port of Sri Lanka, on the southwestern coast of the country; pop. 615,000.

Co·lón the chief port of Panama, at the Caribbean Sea end of the Panama Canal; pop. 140,900.

co·lon 1 n. a punctuation mark (:) indicating:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- that a writer is introducing a quotation or a list of items.

- that a writer is separating two clauses of which the second expands or illustrates the first.

- a statement of proportion between two numbers: a ratio of 10:1.

- the separation of hours from minutes (and minutes from seconds) in a statement of time given in numbers: 4:30 p.m.

- the number of the chapter and verse respectively in biblical references: Exodus 3:2.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as a term in rhetoric denoting a section of a complex sentence, or a pause before it): via Latin from Greek 'limb, clause'.

co·lon 2 n. [ANATOMY] the main part of the large intestine, which passes from the cecum to the rectum and absorbs water and electrolytes from food that has remained undigested. Its parts are called the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek kolon.

co·lón n. (pl. -lo·nes ) the basic monetary unit of Costa Rica and El Salvador, equal to 100 centimos in Costa Rica and 100 centavos in El Salvador.

<ORIGIN> from Cristóbal Colón, the Spanish name of Christopher Columbus (see COLUMBUS^2 ).

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COLUMBUS ■

co·lon ba·cil·lus n. another term for COLIFORM BACTERIUM.

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COLIFORM BACTERIUM ■

colo·nel n. an army officer of high rank, in particular (in the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps) an officer above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL short for LIEUTENANT COLONEL.

<DERIVATIVES> colo·nel·cy n. (pl. -cies).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from obsolete French coronel (earlier form of colonel), from Italian colonnello 'column of soldiers', from colonna 'column', from Latin columna. The form coronel, source of the modern pronunciation, was usual until the mid 17th cent.

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LIEUTENANT COLONEL ■

Colo·nel Blimp n. another term for BLIMP (sense 2).

Linked entries:

BLIMP ■

colo·nel-in-chief n. (pl. colo·nels-in-chief) a title given to the honorary head of a regiment in the British army.

co·lo·ni·al adj. 1 of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony or colonies: British colonial rule; colonial expansion.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- relating to the period of the British colonies in America before independence.

- (esp. of architecture or furniture) made during or in the style of this period.

2 (of animals or plants) living in colonies.

■ n. 1 a native or inhabitant of a colony.

2 a house built in colonial style.

<DERIVATIVES> co·lo·ni·al·ly adv.

co·lo·ni·al·ism n. the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

<DERIVATIVES> co·lo·ni·al·ist n. & adj.

co·lon·ic adj. [ANATOMY] of, relating to, or affecting the colon.

■ n. INFORMAL an act or instance of colonic irrigation, performed for its supposed therapeutic benefits.

co·lon·ic ir·ri·ga·tion n. a water enema given to flush out the colon.

col·o·nist n. a settler in or inhabitant of a colony.

col·o·nize v. [trans.] (of a country or its citizens) send a group of settlers to (a place) and establish political control over it: the Greeks colonized Sicily and southern Italy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- come to settle among and establish political control over (the indigenous people of an area): a white family that tries to colonize a Caribbean island.

- appropriate (a place or domain) for one's own use.

- [ECOLOGY] (of a plant or animal) establish itself in an area: mussels can colonize even the most inhospitable rock surfaces; | [intrans.] insect borers colonize in rotted shoreline deadfalls.

<DERIVATIVES> col·o·ni·za·tion n. col·o·niz·er n.

col·on·nade n. a row of columns supporting a roof, an entablature, or arcade.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a row of trees or other tall objects.

<DERIVATIVES> col·on·nad·ed adj.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, from colonne 'column', from Latin columna.

co·lon·o·scope n. [MEDICINE] a flexible fiber-optic instrument inserted through the anus in order to examine the colon.

<DERIVATIVES> co·lon·os·co·py n.

co·lon ther·a·py n. another term for COLONIC IRRIGATION.

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COLONIC IRRIGATION ■

col·o·ny n. (pl. -nies) 1 a country or area under the full or partial political control of another country, typically a distant one, and occupied by settlers from that country.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a group of people living in such a country or area, consisting of the original settlers and their descendants and successors.

- (the Colonies) chiefly British term for THIRTEEN COLONIES.

- (the colonies) all the foreign countries or areas formerly under British political control.

2 a group of people of one nationality or ethnic group living in a foreign city or country: the British colony in New York.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a place where a group of people with similar interests live together: an artists' colony.

3 [BIOLOGY] a community of animals or plants of one kind living close together or forming a physically connected structure: a colony of seals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a group of fungi or bacteria grown from a single spore or cell on a culture medium.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a settlement formed mainly of retired soldiers, acting as a garrison in newly conquered territory in the Roman Empire): from Latin colonia 'settlement, farm', from colonus 'settler, farmer', from colere 'cultivate'.

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THIRTEEN COLONIES ■

col·o·ny-stim·u·lat·ing fac·tor n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a substance secreted by bone marrow that promotes the growth and differentiation of stem cells into colonies of specific blood cells.

col·o·phon n. a publisher's emblem or imprint, esp. one on the title page or spine of a book.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a statement at the end of a book, typically with a printer's emblem, giving information about its authorship and printing.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting a finishing touch): via late Latin from Greek 'summit or finishing touch'.

col·o·pho·ny n. another term for ROSIN.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin colophonia (resina) '(resin) from Colophon,' a town in Lydia, Asia Minor.

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ROSIN ■

col·or (BRIT. col·our) n. 1 the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way the object reflects or emits light: the lights flickered and changed color.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- one, or any mixture, of the constituents into which light can be separated in a spectrum or rainbow, sometimes including (loosely) black and white: a rich brown color; a range of bright colors.

- the use of all colors, not only black, white, and gray, in photography or television: he has shot the whole film in color | [as adj.] color television.

- a substance used to give something a particular color: lip color.

- FIGURATIVE a shade of meaning: many events in her past had taken on a different color.

- FIGURATIVE character or general nature: the hospitable color of his family.

- [HERALDRY] any of the major conventional colors used in coats of arms (gules, vert, sable, azure, purpure), esp. as opposed to the metals, furs, and stains.

2 the appearance of someone's skin; in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- pigmentation of the skin, esp. as an indication of someone's race: discrimination on the basis of color.

- a group of people considered as being distinguished by skin pigmentation: all colors and nationalities.

- rosiness of the complexion, esp. as an indication of someone's health: there was some color back in his face.

- redness of the face as a manifestation of an emotion, esp. embarrassment or anger: color flooded her skin as she realized what he meant.

3 vividness of visual appearance resulting from the presence of brightly colored things: for color, plant groups of winter-flowering pansies.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE picturesque or exciting features that lend a particularly interesting quality to something: a town full of color and character.

- FIGURATIVE variety of musical tone or expression: orchestral color.

4 (colors) an item or items of a particular color or combination of colors worn to identify an individual or a member of a school, group, or organization; in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the clothes or accoutrements worn by a jockey or racehorse to indicate the horse's owner.

- the flag of a regiment or ship.

- a national flag.

- the armed forces of a country, as symbolized by its flag: he was called to the colors during the war.

5 [PHYSICS] a quantized property of quarks which can take three values (designated blue, green, and red) for each flavor.

6 [MINING] a particle of gold remaining in a mining pan after most of the mud and gravel have been washed away.

■ v. 1 [trans.] change the color of (something) by painting or dyeing it with crayons, paints, or dyes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] take on a different color: the foliage will not color well if the soil is too rich.

- use crayons to fill (a particular shape or outline) with color: color the head, eyes, and bill with crayons.

- FIGURATIVE make vivid or picturesque: he has colored the dance with gestures from cabaret and vaudeville.

2 [intrans.] (of a person or their skin) show embarrassment or shame by becoming red; blush: everyone stared at him, and he colored slightly.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause (a person or their skin) to change in color: rage colored his pale complexion.

- [trans.] (of a particular color) imbue (a person's skin): a faint pink flush colored her cheeks.

- [trans.] FIGURATIVE (of an emotion) imbue (a person's voice) with a particular tone: surprise colored her voice.

3 [trans.] influence, esp. in a negative way; distort: the experiences had colored her whole existence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> misrepresent by distortion or exaggeration: witnesses might color evidence to make a story saleable.

<PHRASES>
□ lend (or give) color to make something seem true or probable: this lent color and credibility to his defense.

□ person of color see PERSON OF COLOR.

□ show one's true colors reveal one's real character or intentions, esp. when these are disreputable or dishonorable.

□ under color of under the pretext of.

□ with flying colors see FLYING.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as colo(u)r): from Old French colour (noun), colourer (verb), from Latin color (noun), colorare (verb).

Linked entries:

PERSON OF COLOR ■

FLYING ■

col·or·a·ble (BRIT. col·our·able) adj. 1 apparently correct or justified: a colorable legal claim.
<SPECIAL USAGE> counterfeit.

2 capable of being colored: colorable illustrations.

Col·o·rad·o 1 a river that rises in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado and flows southwest for 1,468 miles (2,333 km) to the Gulf of California. It passes through the Grand Canyon.

2 a river that flows east for 900 miles (1,450 km) across Texas, from the Llano Estacado to the Gulf of Mexico. Austin is situated on it.

3 a state in the central U.S.; pop. 4,301,261; capital, Denver; statehood, Aug. 1, 1876 (38). Part of Colorado was acquired by the U.S. with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and the rest was ceded by Mexico in 1848.

<DERIVATIVES> Col·o·rad·an n. & adj.

Col·o·rad·o blue spruce n. another term for BLUE SPRUCE.

Linked entries:

BLUE SPRUCE ■

Col·o·ra·do Desert a region in southern California and northern Baja California in Mexico. The Salton Sea, the Imperial Valley, and the city of Palm Springs are here.

Col·o·ra·do Plateau a region of arid uplands in the southwestern U.S.; along the Colorado River in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona; noted for its scenery.

Col·o·rad·o po·ta·to bee·tle n. a yellow- and black-striped leaf beetle native to North America. The larvae are highly destructive to potato plants and have occurred in many countries.
<INFO>  Leptinotarsa decemlineata, family Chrysomelidae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after the state of COLORADO.

Linked entries:

COLORADO ■

Col·o·ra·do Springs a city in central Colorado, south of Denver, at the foot of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, home to the U.S. Air Force Academy; pop. 360,890.

Col·o·rad·o spruce n. another term for BLUE SPRUCE.

Linked entries:

BLUE SPRUCE ■

col·or·ant (BRIT. col·our·ant) n. a dye, pigment, or other substance that colors something.

col·or·a·tion n. 1 a visual appearance with regard to color: some bacterial structures take on a purple coloration.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the natural color or variegated markings of animals or plants: the red coloration of many maples

- a scheme or method of applying color: the coloration of the drawing.

2 a specified pervading character or tone of something: the movement has taken on a fundamentalist coloration.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a variety of musical or vocal expression: the subtle colorations of big-box speakers | a skillful singer can do much with coloration.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from late Latin coloratio(n-), from colorare 'to color'.

col·o·ra·tu·ra n. elaborate ornamentation of a vocal melody, esp. in operatic singing by a soprano.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also coloratura soprano) a soprano skilled in such singing.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'coloring', from Latin colorare 'to color'.

col·or bar n. 1 a social system in which a group of people (typically nonwhite) are denied access to the same rights, opportunities, and facilities as other people (typically white) on the basis of skin color.

2 a strip on printed material or a screen display showing a range of colors, used to ensure that all colors are printed or displayed correctly.

col·or-blind (also col·or·blind) adj. 1 unable to distinguish certain colors, or (rarely in humans) any colors at all. See PROTANOPIA.

2 not influenced by racial prejudice: a color-blind society.

<DERIVATIVES> col·or-blind·ness n.

Linked entries:

PROTANOPIA ■

col·or code n. a system of marking things with different colors as a means of identification.

■ v. (col·or-code) [trans.] (usu. be color-coded) mark (things) with different colors as a means of identification: each unit is color-coded for clarity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> mark different features of (something) with different colors: the map is color-coded.

co·lo·rec·tal adj. relating to or affecting the colon and the rectum.

col·ored (BRIT. col·oured) adj. 1 having or having been given a color or colors, esp. as opposed to being black, white, or neutral: brightly colored birds are easier to see | [in combination] a peach-colored sofa.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE imbued with an emotive or exaggerated quality: highly colored examples were used by both sides.

2 (also Colored) wholly or partly of nonwhite descent (now usually offensive in the U.S.).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also Coloured) S. AFRICAN used as an ethnic label for people of mixed ethnic origin, including African slave, Malay, Chinese, and white.

- relating to people who are wholly or partly of nonwhite descent: a colored club.

■ n. 1 (also Colored) DATED, CHIEFLY OFFENSIVE a person who is wholly or partly of nonwhite descent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> S. AFRICAN a person of mixed ethnic origin speaking Afrikaans or English as their mother tongue.

2 (coloreds) clothes, sheets, etc., that are any color but white (used esp. in the context of washing and color fastness).

<USAGE>
Colored referring to skin color is first recorded in the early 17th century and was adopted in the U.S. by emancipated slaves as a term of racial pride after the end of the Civil War. The word is still used in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), but otherwise colored sounds old-fashioned at best, and is usually offensive.

In South Africa, the term colored (normally written Coloured) has a different history. It is used to refer to people of mixed-race parentage rather than, as elsewhere, to refer to African peoples and their descendants, i.e., as a synonym for black. In modern use in this context, the term is not considered offensive or derogatory.

See also usage at BLACK and PERSON OF COLOR.

Linked entries:

BLACK ■

PERSON OF COLOR ■

col·or·fast adj. dyed in colors that will not fade or be washed out.

<DERIVATIVES> col·or·fast·ness n.

col·or-field paint·ing (also col·or·field) n. a style of American abstract painting prominent from the late 1940s to the 1960s that features large expanses of unmodulated color covering the greater part of the canvas. Barnett Newman and Mark Rothko were considered its chief exponents.

col·or fil·ter n. a photographic filter that absorbs light of certain colors.

col·or·ful (BRIT. col·our·ful) adj. 1 having much or varied color; bright: a colorful array of fruit.

2 full of interest; lively and exciting: a controversial and colorful character; a colorful account of the meeting.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person's life or background) involving variously disreputable activities: he gained a playboy reputation during a colorful bachelorhood.

- (of language) vulgar or rude: colorful words usually impolite in public meetings.

<DERIVATIVES> col·or·ful·ly adv. col·or·ful·ness n.

col·or guard n. a uniformed group, esp. of soldiers, police officers, or school representatives, who parade or present their institution's flag (and sometimes their national flag) on ceremonial occasions.

col·or·if·ic adj. RARE having much color: the colorific radiance of costume.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French colorifique or modern Latin colorificus, from Latin color 'color'.

col·or·im·e·ter n. an instrument for measuring the intensity of color.

<DERIVATIVES> col·or·i·met·ric adj. col·or·im·e·try n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin color 'color' + -METER.

Linked entries:

-METER ■

col·or·ing (BRIT. col·our·ing) n. 1 the process or skill of applying a substance to something so as to change its original color.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the process of filling in a particular shape or outline with crayons: [as adj.] a coloring book.

- a drawing produced in this way.

2 visual appearance with regard to color, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the arrangement of colors and markings on an animal.

- the natural hues of a person's skin, hair, and eyes: her fair coloring.

- FIGURATIVE the pervading character or tone of something: the chorus is given oriental coloring by the use of exotic instruments.

3 a substance used to give a particular color to something, esp. food.

col·or·ist (BRIT. col·our·ist) n. an artist or designer who uses color in a special or skillful way.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who tints black-and-white prints, photographs, or movies.

- a hairdresser who specializes in dyeing people's hair.

col·or·is·tic (BRIT. col·our·is·tic) adj. showing or relating to a special use of color: his great coloristic wallpapers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having or showing a variety of musical or vocal expression: the choir's coloristic resources.

<DERIVATIVES> col·or·is·ti·cal·ly adv.

col·or·ize (BRIT. also col·our·ize) v. [trans.] add color to (a black-and-white movie) by means of computer technology.

<DERIVATIVES> col·or·i·za·tion n. TRADEMARK col·or·iz·er n. TRADEMARK.

col·or·less (BRIT. col·our·less) adj. 1 (esp. of a gas or liquid) without color.
<SPECIAL USAGE> dull or pale in hue: colorless cheeks.

2 lacking distinctive character or interest; dull: the book is rather colorless, like its author.

<DERIVATIVES> col·or·less·ly adv.

color line n. another term for COLOR BAR (sense 1).

Linked entries:

COLOR BAR ■

col·or phase n. a genetic or seasonal variation in the color of the skin, pelt, or feathers of an animal.

col·or·point (also col·our·point) n. chiefly British term for HIMALAYAN.

Linked entries:

HIMALAYAN ■

col·or re·ver·sal n. [usu. as adj.] [PHOTOGRAPHY] the process of producing a positive image directly from another positive: color reversal films.

col·or sat·u·ra·tion n. see SATURATION.

Linked entries:

SATURATION ■

col·or scheme n. an arrangement or combination of colors, esp. as used in interior decoration: a cool, simple color scheme.

col·or sep·a·ra·tion n. [PHOTOGRAPHY] & [PRINTING] any of three negative images of the same subject taken through green, red, and blue filters and combined to reproduce the full color of the original.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the production of such images.

col·or tem·per·a·ture n. [ASTRONOMY] & [PHYSICS] the temperature at which a black body would emit radiation of the same color as a given object.

col·or ther·a·py n. a system of alternative medicine based on the use of color, esp. projected colored light.

col·or wash n. colored calcimine or tempera.

■ v. (col·or-wash) [trans.] paint (something) with colored calcimine or tempera.

col·or·way (BRIT. col·our·way) n. any of a range of combinations of colors in which a style or design is available: wallpaper books show coordinating patterns and colorways.

col·or wheel n. a circle with different colored sectors used to show the relationship between colors.

co·los·sal adj. extremely large: a colossal amount of mail; a colossal mistake.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ARCHITECTURE] (of a giant order) having more than one story of columns.

- [SCULPTURE] (of a statue) at least twice life size.

<DERIVATIVES> co·los·sal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, from colosse, from Latin colossus (see COLOSSUS).

Linked entries:

COLOSSUS ■

Col·os·se·um n. the name since medieval times of the Amphitheatrum Flavium, a vast amphitheater in Rome, begun by Vespasian c.AD 75. It held 50,000 spectators, its sections connected by an elaborate network of stairs, and was the scene of various kinds of combat.

<ORIGIN> from Latin, neuter of colosseus 'gigantic', from colossus (see COLOSSUS).

Linked entries:

COLOSSUS ■

Co·los·sians a book of the New Testament, an epistle of St. Paul to the Church at Colossae in Phrygia.

co·los·sus n. (pl. -los·si or -los·sus·es) a statue that is much bigger than life size.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a person or thing of enormous size, importance, or ability: the Russian Empire was the colossus of European politics.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek kolossos (applied by Herodotus to the statues of Egyptian temples).

Co·los·sus of Rhodes a huge bronze statue of the sun god Helios, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Built c.292-280 BC, it stood beside the harbor entrance at Rhodes for about fifty years.

co·los·to·my n. (pl. -mies) a surgical operation in which a piece of the colon is diverted to an artificial opening in the abdominal wall so as to bypass a damaged part of the colon.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an opening so formed: [as adj.] a colostomy bag.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from COLON^2 + Greek stoma 'mouth'.

Linked entries:

COLON ■

co·los·trum n. the first secretion from the mammary glands after giving birth, rich in antibodies.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin.

col·our n. & v. British spelling of COLOR.

Linked entries:

COLOR ■

col·por·teur n. a peddler of books, newspapers, and similar literature.
<SPECIAL USAGE> someone employed by a religious society to distribute Bibles and other religious tracts.

<DERIVATIVES> col·por·tage n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, from the verb colporter, probably an alteration of comporter, from Latin comportare 'carry with one'.

col·po·scope n. a surgical instrument used to examine the vagina and the cervix of the uterus.

<DERIVATIVES> col·pos·co·py n.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: from Greek kolpos 'womb, uterus' + -SCOPE.

Linked entries:

-SCOPE ■

Colt 1 Samuel (1814-62), U.S. inventor. He is remembered chiefly for the revolver named after him, which he originally patented in 1836. It was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1846. His armory at Hartford, Connecticut, advanced the manufacturing techniques of interchangeable parts and the production line.

Colt 2 n. TRADEMARK a type of revolver.

colt n. a young, uncastrated male horse, in particular one less than four years old.
<SPECIAL USAGE>

<ORIGIN> Old English; perhaps related to Swedish kult, applied to boys or half-grown animals.

col·tan n. a dull metallic mineral composed of columbite and tantalite, and refined to produce tantalum.

<ORIGIN> early 21st cent.: from col(umbite) + tan(talite).

col·ter n. variant spelling of COULTER.

Linked entries:

COULTER ■

colt·ish adj. energetic but awkward in one's movements or behavior.

<DERIVATIVES> colt·ish·ly adv. colt·ish·ness n.

Col·ton a city in southwestern California, just southwest of San Bernardino; pop. 40,213.

Col·trane John (William) (1926-67), U.S. jazz saxophonist. He was a leading figure in avant-garde jazz, bridging the gap between the harmonically dense jazz of the 1950s and the free jazz that evolved in the 1960s.

colts·foot n. (pl. -foots) a Eurasian plant of the daisy family, with yellow flowers that appear in early spring, followed by large, heart-shaped leaves. It is used in herbal medicine for the treatment of coughs and respiratory disorders.
<INFO>  Tussilago farfara, family Compositae.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: translating medieval Latin pes pulli 'foal's foot', with reference to the shape of the leaves.

col·u·brid n. [ZOOLOGY] a snake of a very large family (Colubridae) that includes the majority of harmless species, such as grass snakes and garter snakes. The few venomous species have grooved fangs in the rear of the upper jaw.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Colubridae (plural), from Latin coluber 'snake'.

col·u·brine adj. RARE, CHIEFLY FIGURATIVE of or belonging to a snake; snakelike: he had played a game of subtle, colubrine misdirection.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Latin colubrinus, from coluber 'snake'.

co·lu·go n. (pl. -gos) another term for FLYING LEMUR.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

Linked entries:

FLYING LEMUR ■

Co·lum·ba [ASTRONOMY] a small and faint southern constellation (the Dove), near Canis Major. It is sometimes said to represent the dove that Noah sent out from the Ark.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Co·lum·bae ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Beta Columbae.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

Co·lum·ba, St. (c.521-597), Irish abbot and missionary. He established a monastery at Iona c.563 and converted the Picts to Christianity. Feast day, June 9.

col·um·bar·i·um n. (pl. -bar·i·a ) a room or building with niches for funeral urns to be stored.
- a niche to hold a funeral urn.

- a stone wall or walk within a garden for burial of funeral urns, esp. attached to a church.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin, literally 'pigeon house'.

Co·lum·bi·a 1 a river in northwestern North America that rises in the Rocky Mountains of southeastern British Columbia, Canada, and flows for 1,230 miles (1,953 km), first south into the U.S. and then west to enter the Pacific Ocean south of Seattle.

2 a residential community in central Maryland, between Baltimore and Washington, DC, planned and established in the 1960s; pop. 75,883.

3 a city in central Missouri, home to the University of Missouri; pop. 84,531.

4 the capital of South Carolina, in the central part of the state; pop. 116,278.

5 a city in west central Tennessee, on the Tennessee River, southwest of Nashville; pop. 33,055

Co·lum·bi·a, District of see DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Linked entries:

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ■

Co·lum·bine a character in Italian commedia dell'arte, the mistress of Harlequin.

<ORIGIN> from French Colombine, from Italian Colombina, feminine of colombino 'dovelike', from colombo 'dove'.

co·lum·bine n. an aquilegia with long-spurred flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Aquilegia, family Ranunculaceae: several species, including the white-flowered Colorado blue columbine (A. coerulea) with blue sepals, and the red-flowered A. canadensis.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French colombine, from medieval Latin colombina (herba) 'dovelike (plant)', from Latin columba 'dove' (from the supposed resemblance of the flower to a cluster of five doves).

co·lum·bite n. a black mineral, typically occurring as dense, tabular crystals, consisting of an oxide of iron, manganese, niobium, and tantalum. It is the chief ore of niobium.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from COLUMBIUM + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

COLUMBIUM ■

-ITE ■

co·lum·bi·um n. old-fashioned term for NIOBIUM.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Columbia, a poetic name for America from the name of Christopher Columbus (see COLUMBUS^2 ).

Linked entries:

NIOBIUM ■

COLUMBUS ■

Co·lum·bus 1 1 an industrial city in western Georgia, on the Chattahoochee River, noted as a textile center; pop. 188,291.

2 an industrial city in south central Indiana; pop. 31,802.

3 a city in eastern Mississippi, on the Tombigbee River; pop. 25,944.

4 a city in eastern Nebraska, southwest of Lincoln, where the Loup and Platte rivers meet; pop: 20,971.

5 the capital of Ohio, in the central part of the state; pop. 711,470.

Co·lum·bus 2 Christopher (1451-1506), Spanish explorer; born in Italy; Italian name Cristoforo Colombo; Spanish name Cristóbal Colón. Columbus persuaded the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, to sponsor an expedition to sail across the Atlantic in search of Asia and to prove that the world was round. In 1492, he set sail with three small ships (the Niña, the Pinta, the Santa Maria) and discovered the New World (in fact, various Caribbean islands). He made three further voyages between 1493 and 1504, landing on the South American mainland in 1498.

Co·lum·bus Day n. a legal holiday commemorating the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492. It is observed by most states on the second Monday of October.

col·u·mel·la n. (pl. -mel·lae ) [BIOLOGY] a structure resembling a small column and typically forming a central axis; in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ZOOLOGY] the axis of a spiral shell.

- [ZOOLOGY] an ossicle of the middle ear of birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

- [ANATOMY] the pillar around which the cochlea spirals.

- [BOTANY] the axis of the spore-producing body of some lower plants.

<DERIVATIVES> col·u·mel·lar adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin, 'small column'.

col·umn n. 1 an upright pillar, typically cylindrical and made of stone or concrete, supporting an entablature, arch, or other structure or standing alone as a monument.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a similar vertical, roughly cylindrical thing: a great column of smoke.

- an upright shaft forming part of a machine and typically used for controlling it: a Spitfire control column.

2 a vertical division of a page or text.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a vertical arrangement of figures or other information.

- a section of a newspaper or magazine regularly devoted to a particular subject or written by a particular person.

3 one or more lines of people or vehicles moving in the same direction: a column of tanks moved northwest; we walked in a column.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MILITARY] a narrow-fronted deep formation of troops in successive lines.

- a military force deployed in such a formation.

- a similar formation of ships in a fleet or convoy.

<DERIVATIVES> co·lum·nar adj. col·umned adj. [often in combination] a four-columned portico.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: partly from Old French columpne, reinforced by its source, Latin columna 'pillar'.

col·um·nat·ed adj. [ARCHITECTURE] supported on or having columns: a columnated church interior.

co·lum·ni·a·tion n. [ARCHITECTURE] the use or arrangement of columns.

col·umn inch n. a one-inch length of a column in a newspaper or magazine.

col·um·nist n. a journalist contributing regularly to a newspaper or magazine.

co·lure n. [ASTRONOMY] either of two great circles intersecting at right angles at the celestial poles and passing through the ecliptic at either the equinoxes or the solstices.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin coluri (plural), from Greek kolourai (grammai) 'truncated (lines)', from kolouros 'truncated', so named because the lower part is permanently cut off from view.

co·ly n. (pl. -lies) another term for MOUSEBIRD.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Colius, from Greek kolios, denoting a type of woodpecker.

Linked entries:

MOUSEBIRD ■

col·za n. another term for RAPE^2 .

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Walloon French kolza, from Low German , Dutch koolzaad, from kool 'cole' + zaad 'seed'.

Linked entries:

RAPE ■

COM abbr.
- computer output on microfilm or microfiche.

- (also Com.) Commodore.

com- (also co-, col-, con-, or cor-) prefix with; together; jointly; altogether: combine; command; collude.

<ORIGIN> from Latin cum 'with'.

<USAGE>
Com- is used before b, m, p, also occasionally before vowels and f. The following variant forms occur: co- esp. before vowels, h, and gn; col- before l; cor- before r; and con- before other consonants.

co·ma 1 n. a state of deep unconsciousness that lasts for a prolonged or indefinite period, caused esp. by severe injury or illness: a road crash left him in a coma | FIGURATIVE a victim of a legislative coma.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek 'deep sleep'; related to 'bed' and keisthai 'lie down'.

co·ma 2 n. (pl. co·mae ) [ASTRONOMY] a diffuse cloud of gas and dust surrounding the nucleus of a comet.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [OPTICS] aberration that causes the image of an off-axis point to be flared like a comet.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as a botanical term): via Latin from Greek 'hair of the head'.

Co·ma Ber·e·ni·ces [ASTRONOMY] an inconspicuous northern constellation (Berenice's Hair), said to represent the tresses of Queen Berenice. It contains a large number of galaxies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Co·mae Ber·e·ni·ces ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Beta Comae Berenices.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

Co·man·che n. (pl. same or -ches) 1 a member of an American Indian people of the southwestern U.S. The Comanche were among the first to acquire horses (from the Spanish) and resisted white settlers fiercely.

2 the Uto-Aztecan language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, from Ute 'strangers'.

Co·ma·ne·ci Nadia (1961- ), Romanian gymnast; emigrated to the U.S. in 1989. In 1976, she became the first Olympic gymnast to be awarded the maximum score of 10.00.

com·a·tose adj. of or in a state of deep unconsciousness for a prolonged or indefinite period, esp. as a result of severe injury or illness: she had been comatose for seven months; lying in a comatose state.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HUMOROUS (of a person or thing) extremely exhausted, lethargic, or sleepy: the economy remains almost comatose.

<ORIGIN>  late 17th cent.: from Greek , 'deep sleep' + -OSE^1 .

Linked entries:

-OSE ■

comb n. 1 a strip of plastic, metal, or wood with a row of narrow teeth, used for untangling or arranging the hair.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in sing.] an instance of untangling or arranging the hair with such a device: she gave her hair a comb.

- a short curved device of this type, worn by women to hold hair in place or as an ornament.

2 something resembling a comb in function or structure, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a device for removing loose hair from an animal, esp. a dog or cat.

- a device for separating and dressing textile fibers.

- a row of brass points for collecting the electricity in an electrostatic generator.

3 the red fleshy crest on the head of a domestic fowl, esp. a rooster.

4 short for HONEYCOMB (sense 1).

■ v. [trans.] 1 untangle or arrange (the hair) by drawing a comb through it: [as adj.] (combed) neatly combed hair.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (comb something out) remove something from the hair by drawing a comb through it: she combed the burrs out of the dog's coat.

- curry (a horse).

2 prepare (wool, flax, or cotton) for manufacture with a comb.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. as adj.] (combed) treat (a fabric) in such a way: the socks are made of soft combed cotton.

3 search carefully and systematically: police combed the area for the murder weapon | [intrans.] his mother combed through the cardboard boxes.

<DERIVATIVES> comb·like adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English camb, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kam and German Kamm.

Linked entries:

HONEYCOMB ■

com·bat n. fighting between armed forces: killed in combat | pilots reenacted the aerial combats of yesteryear | [as adj.] a combat zone.
<SPECIAL USAGE> nonviolent conflict or opposition: intellectual combat.

■ v. (-bat·ed or -bat·ted, -bat·ing or -bat·ting) [trans.] take action to reduce, destroy, or prevent (something undesirable): an effort to combat drug trafficking.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC engage in a fight with; oppose in battle: [intrans.] your men combated against the first of ours.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally denoting a fight between two persons or parties): from French combattre (verb), from late Latin combattere, from com- 'together with' + battere, variant of Latin batuere 'to fight'.

com·bat·ant n. a person engaged in fighting during a war.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a nation at war with another.

- a person engaged in conflict or competition with another.

■ adj. engaged in fighting during a war: all the combatant armies went to war with machine guns.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an adjective used in heraldry to describe two lions facing one another with raised forepaws): from Old French, present participle of combatre 'to fight' (see COMBAT).

Linked entries:

COMBAT ■

com·bat boots plural n. boots of a type worn by soldiers in combat, typically black with laces and thick rubber soles.

com·bat fa·tigue n. 1 psychological disturbance caused by prolonged exposure to active warfare, esp. being under bombardment.

2 (combat fatigues) a uniform of a type to be worn into combat.

com·bat·ive adj. ready or eager to fight; pugnacious: he made some enemies with his combative style.

<DERIVATIVES> com·bat·ive·ly adv. com·bat·ive·ness n.

comb-back n. a high-backed Windsor chair with a straight top rail: [as adj.] a comb-back rocker.

combe (also coomb or coombe) n. BRIT. a short valley or hollow on a hillside or coastline.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GEOLOGY] a dry valley in a limestone or chalk escarpment.

<ORIGIN> Old English cumb, occurring in charters in the names of places in southern England, many of which survive; of Celtic origin, related to CWM. The current general use dates from the late 16th cent.

Linked entries:

CWM ■

comb·er n. 1 a long curling sea wave.

2 a person or machine that separates and straightens the fibers of cotton or wool.

comb·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a fish of the northeastern Pacific, with small rough scales and long spines in the comblike dorsal fin.
<INFO>  Family Zaniolepididae and genus Zaniolepis: several species.

com·bi·na·tion n. 1 the act or an instance of combining; the process of being combined: the combination of hot water and cold air can produce heart attacks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [as adj.] uniting different uses, functions, or ingredients: a combination garment bag and backpack.

- the state of being joined or united in such a way: these four factors work together in combination.

- [CHEMISTRY] the joining of substances in a compound with new properties.

- [CHEMISTRY] the state of being in a compound.

2 a set of people or things that have been combined: a combination of blackberries, raspberries, and rhubarb; a combination of beauty and utility.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an arrangement of elements: the canvases may be arranged in any number of combinations.

- a sequence of numbers or letters used to open a combination lock: [as adj.] a combination briefcase.

- (in various sports and games) a coordinated and effective sequence of moves: a good uppercut/hook combination.

- (in equestrian sports) a jump consisting of two or more elements.

3 [MATHEMATICS] a selection of a given number of elements from a larger number without regard to their arrangement.

<DERIVATIVES> com·bi·na·tion·al adj. com·bi·na·tive adj. com·bi·na·to·ri·al adj. ([MATHEMATICS]) com·bi·na·to·ri·al·ly adv. ([MATHEMATICS]) com·bi·na·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin combinatio(n-), from the verb combinare 'join two by two' (see COMBINE^1 ).

Linked entries:

COMBINE ■

com·bi·na·tion lock n. a lock that is opened by rotating a dial or set of dials, marked with letters or numbers, through a specific sequence.

com·bi·na·tion ov·en n. an oven operating by both conventional heating and microwaves.

com·bi·na·tion ther·a·py n. treatment in which a patient is given two or more drugs (or other therapeutic agents) for a single disease.

com·bi·na·tor·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the branch of mathematics dealing with combinations of objects belonging to a finite set in accordance with certain constraints, such as those of graph theory.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from combinatorial (see COMBINATION), influenced by German Kombinatorik.

Linked entries:

COMBINATION ■

com·bine 1 v. [trans.] unite; merge: the band combines a variety of musical influences; combine the flour with the margarine and salt | [intrans.] high tides and winds combined to bring chaos to the East Coast.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] [CHEMISTRY] unite to form a compound: oxygen and hydrogen do not combine at room temperatures.

- [intrans.] unite for a common purpose: groups of teachers combined to tackle a variety of problems.

- engage in simultaneously: combine shopping and sightseeing.

See note at JOIN.

■ n. a group of people or companies acting together for a commercial purpose: a powerful industrial combine.

<DERIVATIVES> com·bin·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French combiner or late Latin combinare 'join two by two', from com- 'together' + Latin bini 'two together'.

com·bine 2 n. (in full combine harvester) an agricultural machine that cuts, threshes, and cleans a grain crop in one operation.

■ v. [trans.] harvest (a crop) by means of a combine.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent..

com·bin·er 1 n. any of various electronic devices that combine signals, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a device that couples different frequencies to a single antenna.

- a component of a cipher that combines two data sources to encrypt text.

- an electrical transformer comprising several smaller ones.

com·bin·er 2 n. an operator of a combine harvester.

comb·ings plural n. hairs or other material removed with a comb.

comb·ing wool n. long-stapled wool with straight, parallel fibers, suitable for combing and making into high-quality fabrics, in particular worsted. Compare with CARDING WOOL.

Linked entries:

CARDING WOOL ■

com·bin·ing form n. [GRAMMAR] a linguistic element used in combination with another element to form a word (e.g., Anglo- ‘English’ in Anglo-American, bio- ‘life’ in biology, -graphy ‘writing’ in biography).

<USAGE>
In this dictionary, combining form is used to denote an element that contributes to the particular sense of words (as with bio- and -graphy in biography), as distinct from a prefix or suffix that adjusts the sense of or determines the function of words (as with un-, -able, and -ation).

comb jel·ly n. a marine animal with a jellyfishlike body bearing rows of fused cilia for propulsion. They are typically small planktonic animals and are noted for their luminescence.
<INFO>  Ctenophora

com·bo n. (pl. -bos) INFORMAL 1 a small jazz, rock, or pop band.

2 a combination, typically of different foods: [as adj.] the combo platter.

<ORIGIN> 1920s (originally U.S.): abbreviation of COMBINATION + -O.

Linked entries:

COMBINATION ■

-O ■

com·bo box n. INFORMAL [COMPUTING] a type of dialogue box containing a combination of controls, such as sliders, text boxes, and drop-down lists.

com·bo drive n. [COMPUTING] an optical disk drive that can read and record CDs and can also read DVDs.

comb·over (also comb-o·ver) n. hair that is combed over a bald spot in an attempt to cover it.

com·bust v. [trans.] consume by fire.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] be consumed by fire.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from obsolete combust 'burned, calcined', from Latin combustus, past participle of comburere 'burn up'.

com·bus·ti·ble adj. able to catch fire and burn easily: highly combustible paint thinner.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE excitable; easily annoyed: two combustible personalities.

■ n. a combustible substance.

<DERIVATIVES> com·bus·ti·bil·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Old French, from late Latin combustibilis, from Latin combust- 'burned up', from the verb comburere.

com·bus·tion n. the process of burning something: the combustion of fossil fuels.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHEMISTRY] rapid chemical combination of a substance with oxygen, involving the production of heat and light.

<DERIVATIVES> com·bus·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin combustio(n-), from Latin comburere 'burn up'.

com·bus·tion cham·ber n. an enclosed space in which combustion takes place, esp. in an engine or furnace.

Comdr. abbr. commander.

come v. (past came ; past part. come ) [intrans.] 1 move or travel toward or into a place thought of as near or familiar to the speaker: Jessica came into the kitchen; they came here as immigrants; he came rushing out.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- arrive at a specified place: we walked along till we came to a stream; it was very late when she came back; my trunk hasn't come yet.

- (of a thing) reach or extend to a specified point: women in slim dresses that came all the way to their shoes; the path comes straight down.

- (be coming) approach: someone was coming; she heard the train coming.

- travel in order to be with a specified person, to do a specified thing, or to be present at an event: the police came; come and live with me | the electrician came to fix the stove | FIGURATIVE we have certainly come a long way since Aristotle.

- join someone in participating in a specified activity or course of action: do you want to come fishing tomorrow?

- (come along/on) make progress; develop: he's coming along nicely; she asked them how their garden was coming on.

- [in imperative] (also come, come!) said to someone when correcting, reassuring, or urging them on: “Come, come, child, no need to thank me.”

2 occur; happen; take place: twilight had not yet come; waiting for a crash that never came; a chance like this doesn't come along every day.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- be heard, perceived, or experienced: a voice came from the kitchen; “No,” came the reply; it came as a great shock.

- (of a quality) become apparent or noticeable through actions or performance: as an actor your style and personality must come through.

- (come across or off or BRIT. over) (of a person) appear or sound in a specified way; give a specified impression: he'd always come across as a decent guy.

- (of a thought or memory) enter one's mind: the basic idea came to me while reading an article; a passage from a novel came back to Adam.

3 take or occupy a specified position in space, order, or priority: prisons come far down the list of priorities; I make sure my kids come first.
<SPECIAL USAGE> achieve a specified place in a race or contest: she came second among sixty contestants.

4 pass into a specified state, esp. one of separation or disunion: his shirt had come undone.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (come to/into) reach or be brought to a specified situation or result: you will come to no harm; staff who come into contact with the public.

- reach eventually a certain condition or state of mind: he had come to realize she was no puppet.

5 be sold, available, or found in a specified form: the cars come with a variety of extras; they come in three sizes.

6 INFORMAL have an orgasm.

■ prep. INFORMAL when a specified time is reached or event happens: I don't think that they'll be far away from honors come the new season.

■ n. INFORMAL semen ejaculated at orgasm.

<PHRASES>
□ as as they come used to describe someone or something that is a supreme example of the quality specified: Smith is as tough as they come.

□ come again? INFORMAL used to ask someone to repeat or explain something they have said.

□ come and go arrive and then depart again; move around freely.
- exist or be present for a limited time; be transitory: health fads come and go.

□ come from behind win after lagging.

□ come off it [in imperative] INFORMAL said when vigorously expressing disbelief.

□ come to nothing have no significant or successful result in the end.

□ come to pass CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY happen; occur: it came to pass that she had two sons.

□ come to rest eventually cease moving.

□ come to that (or if it comes to that) INFORMAL in fact (said to introduce an additional point): there isn't a clock on the mantelpiececome to that, there isn't a mantelpiece!

□ come to think of it on reflection (said when an idea or point occurs to one while one is speaking).

□ come what may no matter what happens.

□ have it coming (to one) INFORMAL be due for retribution on account of something bad that one has done: his uppity sister-in-law had it coming to her.

□ how come? INFORMAL said when asking how or why something happened or is the case: how come you never married, Jimmy?

□ to come (following a noun) in the future: films that would inspire generations to come in years to come.

□ where someone is coming from INFORMAL someone's meaning, motivation, or personality.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  come about 1 happen; take place: the relative speed with which emancipation came about.

2 (of a ship) change direction.

□  come across 1 meet or find by chance: I came across these old photos recently.

2 INFORMAL hand over or provide what is wanted: she has come across with some details.
- (of a woman) agree to have sexual intercourse with a man.

□  come along [in imperative] said when encouraging someone or telling them to hurry up.

□  come around (CHIEFLY BRIT. also round) 1 recover consciousness: I'd just come around from a drunken stupor.

2 be converted to another person's opinion: I came around to her point of view.

3 (of a date or regular occurrence) recur; be imminent again: Friday had come around so quickly.

□  come at launch oneself at (someone); attack.

□  come away be left with a specified feeling, impression, or result after doing something: she came away feeling upset.

□  come back 1 (in sports) recover from a deficit: the Mets came back from a 3-0 deficit.

2 reply or respond to someone, esp. vigorously: he came back at Judy with a vengeance.

□  come before be dealt with by (a judge or court): it is the most controversial issue to come before the Supreme Court.

□  come between interfere with or disturb the relationship of (two people): I let my stupid pride come between us.

□  come by 1 call casually and briefly as a visitor: his friends came by; she came by the house.

2 manage to acquire or obtain (something).

□  come down 1 (of a building or other structure) collapse or be demolished.
- (of an aircraft) crash or crash-land.

2 be handed down by tradition or inheritance: the name has come down from the last century.

3 reach a decision or recommendation in favor of one side or another: advisers and inspectors came down on our side.

4 BRIT. leave a university, esp. Oxford or Cambridge, after finishing one's studies.

5 INFORMAL experience the lessening of an excited or euphoric feeling, esp. one produced by a narcotic drug.

□  come down on criticize or punish (someone) harshly: she came down on me like a ton of bricks.

□  come down to (of a situation or outcome) be dependent on (a specified factor): it came down to her word against Guy's.

□  come down with begin to suffer from (a specified illness): I came down with influenza.

□  come for (of police or other officials) arrive to arrest or detain (someone).

□  come forward volunteer oneself for a task or post or to give evidence about a crime.

□  come from originate in; have as its source: the word caviar comes from the Italian caviale.
- be the result of: a dignity that comes from being in control.

- have as one's place of birth or residence: I come from the Bronx.

- be descended from: she comes from a family of Muslim scholars.

□  come in 1 join or become involved in an enterprise: that's where Jack comes in; I agreed to come in on the project.
- have a useful role or function: this is where grammar comes in.

- prove to have a specified good quality: the money came in handy for treating his cronies at the tavern.

2 finish a race in a specified position: the favorite came in first.

3 (of money) be earned or received regularly.

4 [in imperative] begin speaking or make contact, esp. in radio communication: come in, London.

5 (of a tide) rise; flow.

□  come in for receive or be the object of (a reaction), typically a negative one: he has come in for a lot of criticism.

□  come into suddenly receive (money or property), esp. by inheriting it.

□  come of result from: no good will come of it.
- be descended from: she came of Neapolitan stock.

□  come off 1 (of an action) succeed; be accomplished.
- fare in a specified way in a contest: Jeff always came off worse in an argument.

2 become detached or be detachable from something.

□  come on 1 (of a state or condition) start to arrive or happen: she felt a mild case of the sniffles coming on;| it was coming on to rain.

2 (also come upon) meet or find by chance.

3 [in imperative] said when encouraging someone to do something or to hurry up or when one feels that someone is wrong or foolish: Come on! We must hurry!
- said or shouted to express support, for example for a sports team.

□  come on to INFORMAL make sexual advances toward.

□  come out 1 (of a fact) emerge; become known: it came out that the accused had illegally registered to vote.
- happen as a result: something good can come out of something that went wrong.

- (of a photograph) be produced satisfactorily or in a specified way: I hope my photographs come out all right.

- (of the result of a calculation or measurement) emerge at a specified figure: rough cider usually comes out at about eight percent alcohol.

2 (of a book or other work) appear; be released or published.

3 declare oneself as being for or against something: residents have come out against the proposals.

4 achieve a specified placing in an examination or contest: he deservedly came out the winner on points; she came out victorious.
- acquit oneself in a specified way: surprisingly, it's Penn who comes out best.

5 (of a stain) be removed or able to be removed.

6 INFORMAL openly declare that one is homosexual. <ORIGIN> from the phrase come out of the closet (see CLOSET (sense 3)).

7 DATED (of a young upper-class woman) make one's debut in society.

□  come out in BRIT. (of a person's skin) break out in (pimples or a similar condition).

□  come out with say (something) in a sudden, rude, or incautious way.

□  come over 1 (of a feeling or manner) begin to affect (someone).

2 change to another side or point of view.

□  come round see COME AROUND above.

□  come through 1 succeed in surviving or dealing with (an illness or ordeal): she's come through the operation very well.

2 (of a message) be sent and received.
- (of an official decree) be processed and notified.

□  come to 1 (also come to oneself) recover consciousness.

2 (of an expense) reach in total; amount to: he hasn't the least idea of how much it will come to.

3 (of a ship) come to a stop.

□  come under 1 be classified as or among: they all come under the general heading of opinion polls.

2 be subject to (an influence or authority).
- be subjected to (pressure or aggression): his vehicle came under mortar fire.

□  come up 1 (of an issue, situation, or problem) occur or present itself, esp. unexpectedly.
- (of a specified time or event) approach or draw near: she's got exams coming up.

- (of a legal case) reach the time when it is scheduled to be dealt with.

2 BRIT. begin one's studies at a university, esp. Oxford or Cambridge.

□  come up against be faced with or opposed by (something such as an enemy or problem).

□  come up with produce (something), esp. when pressured or challenged.

□ come upon 1 attack by surprise.

2 see COME ON (sense 2).

<ORIGIN> Old English cuman, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch komen and German kommen.

<USAGE>
The use of come followed by and, as in come and see for yourself, dates back to Old English, but is seen by some as incorrect or only suitable for informal English.

For more details see usage at AND.

Linked entries:

CLOSET ■

AND ■

come-a·long n. INFORMAL a hand-operated winch.

come·back n. 1 a return by a well-known person, esp. an entertainer or sports player, to the activity in which they have formerly been successful: the heavyweight champion is set to make his comeback | [as adj.] his career died after a couple of comeback attempts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a return to fashion of an item, activity, or style: stirrup pants have made a comeback.

2 INFORMAL a quick reply to a critical remark.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the opportunity to seek redress: there's no comeback if he messes up your case.

Com·e·con an economic association of eastern European countries founded in 1949 and analogous to the European Economic Community. With the collapse of communism in eastern Europe, the association was dissolved in 1991.

<ORIGIN> contraction of COUNCIL FOR MUTUAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE.

Linked entries:

COUNCIL FOR MUTUAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE ■

co·me·di·an n. an entertainer whose act is designed to make an audience laugh.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- OFTEN IRONIC an amusing or entertaining person.

- a comic actor.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting a comic playwright): from French comédien, from Old French comedie (see COMEDY). The sense 'entertainer' dates from the late 19th cent.

Linked entries:

COMEDY ■

Co·mé·die Fran·çaise the French national theater (used for both comedy and tragedy), in Paris, founded in 1680 by Louis XIV.

co·me·di·enne n. a female comedian.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French comédienne, feminine of comédien (see COMEDIAN).

Linked entries:

COMEDIAN ■

com·e·do n. (pl. com·e·do·nes ) technical term for BLACKHEAD (sense 1).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin, literally 'glutton', from comedere 'eat up', from com- 'altogether' + edere 'eat'. Used formerly as a name for parasitic worms, the term here alludes to the wormlike matter that can be squeezed from a blackhead.

Linked entries:

BLACKHEAD ■

com·e·do·gen·ic adj. tending to cause blackheads by blocking the pores of the skin.

come·down n. INFORMAL 1 a loss of status or importance: patrol duty? A comedown for a sergeant.

2 a feeling of disappointment or depression: it's such a comedown after Christmas is over.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] a lessening of the sensations generated by a narcotic drug as its effects wear off.

com·e·dy n. (pl. -dies) professional entertainment consisting of jokes and satirical sketches, intended to make an audience laugh.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a movie, play, or broadcast program intended to make an audience laugh: a rollicking new comedy.

- the style or genre of such types of entertainment.

- the humorous or amusing aspects of something: advertising people see the comedy in their work.

- a play characterized by its humorous or satirical tone and its depiction of amusing people or incidents, in which the characters ultimately triumph over adversity: Shakespeare's comedies.

- the dramatic genre represented by such plays: satiric comedy. Compare with TRAGEDY (sense 2).

<PHRASES> comedy of errors a situation made amusing by bungling and incompetence: the comedy of errors that is Medicare’s physician payment schedule.

<DERIVATIVES> co·me·dic adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a genre of drama, also denoting a narrative poem with a happy ending, as in Dante's Divine Comedy): from Old French comedie, via Latin from Greek , from 'comic poet', from 'revel' + aoidos 'singer'.

Linked entries:

TRAGEDY ■

com·e·dy of man·ners n. a comedy that satirizes behavior in a particular social group, esp. the upper classes.

come-hith·er INFORMAL, DATED adj. flirtatious; sexually inviting: nymphs with come-hither looks.

■ n. [in sing.] a flirtatious or enticing manner.

come·ly adj. (-li·er, -li·est) (typically of a woman) pleasant to look at; attractive.
<SPECIAL USAGE> agreeable; suitable.

<DERIVATIVES> come·li·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably shortened from becomely 'fitting, becoming', from BECOME.

Linked entries:

BECOME ■

come-on n. INFORMAL a thing that is intended to lure or entice.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a gesture or remark that is intended to attract someone sexually: she was giving me the come-on.

- a marketing ploy, such as a free or cheap offer: [as adj.] introductory come-on rates.

come-out·er n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a person who dissociates himself or herself from an organization.

com·er n. 1 a person who arrives somewhere: feeding every comer is still a sacred duty. See also ALL COMERS at ALL; LATECOMER; NEWCOMER.

2 [in sing.] INFORMAL a person or thing likely to succeed: many in the party see tax relief as a comer.

Linked entries:

ALL ■

LATECOMER ■

NEWCOMER ■

co·mes·ti·ble n. (usu. comestibles) an item of food: a fridge groaning with comestibles.

■ adj. edible: comestible plants.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French, from medieval Latin comestibilis, from Latin comest- 'eaten up', from the verb comedere, from com- 'altogether' + edere 'eat'.

com·et n. a celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles pointing away from the sun.

Originating in the remotest regions of the solar system, most comets follow regular eccentric orbits and appear in the inner solar system as periodic comets, some of which break up and can be the origin of annual meteor showers. They were formerly considered to be supernatural omens.

<DERIVATIVES> com·et·ar·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late Old English, from Latin cometa, from Greek 'long-haired (star)', from 'hair'; reinforced by Old French comete.

come·up·pance n. [usu. in sing.] INFORMAL a punishment or fate that someone deserves: he got his comeuppance.

com·fit n. DATED a candy consisting of a nut, seed, or other center coated in sugar.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French confit, from Latin confectum 'something prepared', neuter past participle of conficere 'put together' (see CONFECT).

Linked entries:

CONFECT ■

com·fort n. 1 a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint: room for four people to travel in comfort.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (comforts) things that contribute to physical ease and well-being: the low upholstered chair was one of the room's few comforts.

- prosperity and the pleasant lifestyle secured by it: my father left us enough to live in comfort.

2 consolation for grief or anxiety: a few words of comfort.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- reassurance: they should take comfort that help is available.

- [in sing.] a person or thing that gives consolation: his friendship was a great comfort.

- a person or thing that gives satisfaction: I felt a great comfort in the relationship of the moon to my astrological sign.

3 DIALECT a warm quilt.

■ v. [trans.] soothe in grief; console: she broke down in tears and her friend tried to comfort her.
<SPECIAL USAGE> help (someone) feel at ease; reassure: her strength comforted and protected me | [as adj.] (comforting) his comforting presence.

<PHRASES> too — for comfort causing physical or mental unease by an excess of the specified quality: it can be too hot for comfort in July and August.

<DERIVATIVES> com·fort·ing adj. com·fort·ing·ly adv. com·fort·less adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a noun, in the senses 'strengthening, support, consolation'; as a verb, in the senses 'strengthen, give support, console'): from Old French confort (noun), conforter (verb), from late Latin confortare 'strengthen', from com- (expressing intensive force) + Latin fortis 'strong'. The sense 'something producing physical ease' arose in the mid 17th cent.

com·fort·a·ble adj. 1 (esp. of clothes or furnishings) providing physical ease and relaxation: invitingly comfortable beds.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) physically relaxed and free from constraint: he would not be comfortable in any other clothes.

- not in pain (used esp. of a hospital patient).

- free from stress or fear: they appear very comfortable in each other's company; few of us are comfortable with confrontations.

- free from financial worry; having an adequate standard of living.

2 as large as is needed or wanted: a comfortable income.
<SPECIAL USAGE> with a wide margin: a comfortable victory.

■ n. DIALECT a warm quilt.

<DERIVATIVES> com·fort·a·ble·ness n. com·fort·a·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'pleasant, pleasing'): from Anglo-Norman French confortable, from conforter 'to comfort' (see COMFORT).

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COMFORT ■

com·fort·er n. 1 a warm quilt.

2 a person or thing that provides consolation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Comforter) the Holy Spirit.

3 DATED a woolen scarf.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French comforteor, from conforter 'to comfort' (see COMFORT).

Linked entries:

COMFORT ■

com·fort food n. food that provides consolation or a feeling of well-being, typically any with a high sugar or other carbohydrate content and associated with childhood or home cooking.

com·fort sta·tion n. a public restroom for travelers or campers.

com·fort zone n. a place or situation where one feels safe or at ease and without stress: times when we must act beyond our comfort zones; if you stay within your comfort zone, you will never improve.

com·frey n. (pl. -freys) a Eurasian plant of the borage family, with large hairy leaves and clusters of purplish or white bell-shaped flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Symphytum, family Boraginaceae: several species, in particular the common comfrey (S. officinale), which is used in herbal medicine (see BONESET).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French cumfirie, based on Latin conferva, from confervere 'heal' (literally 'boil together', referring to the plant's medicinal use).

Linked entries:

BONESET ■

com·fy adj. (-fi·er, -fi·est) INFORMAL comfortable.

<DERIVATIVES> com·fi·ly adv. com·fi·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: abbreviation.

com·ic adj. causing or meant to cause laughter: comic and fantastic exaggeration.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or in the style of comedy: a comic actor; | comic drama.

■ n. 1 a comedian, esp. a professional one: a stand-up comic.

2 (comics) comic strips.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek , from 'revel'.

com·i·cal adj. amusing: a series of comical misunderstandings.

<DERIVATIVES> com·i·cal·i·ty n. com·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'relating to or in the style of comedy'): from Latin comicus (see COMIC) + -AL.

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COMIC ■

-AL ■

Co·mice (in full Doyenne du Comice) n. a large yellow dessert pear.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, literally 'association, cooperative', referring to the Comice Horticole of Angers, France, where this variety was developed.

com·ic op·er·a n. an opera that portrays humorous situations and characters, enhanced by spoken dialogue.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the genre of such opera.

com·ic re·lief n. comic episodes in a dramatic or literary work that offset more serious sections.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a character or characters providing this.

- comical episodes that serve to release tension in real life.

com·ic strip n. a sequence of drawings in boxes that tell an amusing story, typically printed in a newspaper or comic book.

com·ing adj. 1 due to happen or just beginning: work is due to start in the coming year.

2 likely to be important or successful in the future: he was the coming man of French racing.

■ n. [in sing.] an arrival or an approach: the coming of a new age.

<PHRASES>
□ comings and goings the busy movements of a person or group of people, esp. in and out of a place.

□ not know if one is coming or going INFORMAL be confused, esp. as a result of being very busy.

Co·mi·no the smallest of the three main islands of Malta.

COMINT abbr. communications intelligence.

Com·in·tern the Third International, a communist organization (1919-43). See INTERNATIONAL (sense 2).

<ORIGIN> from Russian Komintern, blend of 'communist' and intern(atsional) 'international'.

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INTERNATIONAL ■

com·i·tal adj. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL of or relating to a count or earl.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from medieval Latin comitalis, from comes, comit- 'a count'.

com·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) 1 courtesy and considerate behavior toward others.

2 an association of nations for their mutual benefit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also comity of nations) the mutual recognition by nations of the laws and customs of others.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (sense 1): from Latin comitas, from comis 'courteous'.

com·ix plural n. comic books and comic strips, esp. ones written for adults or of an underground or alternative nature.

<ORIGIN> alteration of comics.

comm n. short for COMMUNICATION: [as adj.] a comm link.

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COMMUNICATION ■

comm. abbr.
- commerce.

- commercial.

- commission.

- commissioner.

- committee.

- common.

com·ma n. 1 a punctuation mark (,) indicating a pause between parts of a sentence. It is also used to separate items in a list and to mark the place of thousands in a large numeral.

2 [MUSIC] a minute interval or difference of pitch.

3 (also comma butterfly) a butterfly that has wings with irregular, ragged edges and typically a white or silver comma-shaped mark on the underside of each hind wing.
<INFO>  Genus Polygonia, subfamily Nymphalinae, family Nymphalidae: numerous species, in particular the common eastern comma (P. comma) of eastern North America.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (originally as a term in rhetoric denoting a group of words shorter than a colon; see COLON^1 ): via Latin from Greek komma 'piece cut off, short clause', from koptein 'cut'.

Linked entries:

COLON ■

Com·ma·ger Henry Steele (1902-98), U.S. educator and writer. Among his notable works are The Growth of the American Republic (co-authored with Samuel Eliot Morison, 1931), The American Mind (1951), and The Empire of Reason (1977).

com·mand v. 1 [reporting verb] give an authoritative order: [trans.] a gruff voice commanded us to enter | [with direct speech] “Stop arguing!” he commanded | [with clause] he commanded that work should cease | [trans.] my mother commands my presence.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] give orders: she commands and we obey.

- [intrans.] have authority: someone born to command.

- [trans.] [MILITARY] have authority over; be in charge of (a unit): he commanded a battalion at Normandy.

- [trans.] dominate (a strategic position) from a superior height: the two castles commanded the harbor.

- [trans.] ARCHAIC control or restrain (oneself or one's feelings): he commanded himself with an effort.

2 [trans.] be in a strong enough position to secure: no party commanded a majority.
<SPECIAL USAGE> deserve and receive: a moral force that commanded respect.

■ n. an authoritative order: it's unlikely they'll obey your commands.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [COMPUTING] an instruction or signal that causes a computer to perform one of its basic functions.

- authority, esp. over armed forces: an officer took command; who's in command?; we will have nearly thirty thousand people under our command.

- [in sing.] the ability to use or control something: he had a brilliant command of English.

- [treated as sing. or pl.] [MILITARY] a group of officers exercising control over a particular group or operation.

- [MILITARY] a body of troops or a district under the control of a particular officer.

See note at JURISDICTION.

<PHRASES> at someone's command at someone's disposal; available: he had at his command a vast number of ready-made phrases.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French comander 'to command', from late Latin commandare, from com- (expressing intensive force) + mandare 'commit, command'. Compare with COMMEND.

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COMMEND ■

com·mand and con·trol n. [usu. as adj.] [CHIEFLY MILITARY] the running of an armed force or other organization: a command-and-control bunker.

com·man·dant n. an officer in charge of a particular force or institution: the West Point commandant of cadets.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French commandant, or Italian or Spanish commandante, all from late Latin commandare 'to command' (see COMMAND).

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COMMAND ■

com·mand-driv·en adj. [COMPUTING] (of a program or computer) operated by means of commands keyed in by the user or issued by another program or computer.

com·mand e·con·o·my n. an economy in which production, investment, prices, and incomes are determined centrally by a government.

com·man·deer v. [trans.] officially take possession or control of (something), esp. for military purposes: telegraph and telephone lines were commandeered by the generals.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- take possession of (something) without authority: he hoisted himself onto a table, commandeering it as a speaker's platform.

- enlist (someone) to help in a task, typically against the person's will: he commandeered the men to find a table.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Afrikaans kommandeer, from Dutch commanderen, from French commander 'to command' (see COMMAND).

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COMMAND ■

com·mand·er (abbr.: Comdr.) n. 1 a person in authority, esp. over a body of troops or a military operation: the commander of a paratroop regiment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a naval officer of high rank, in particular (in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard) an officer ranking above lieutenant commander and below captain.

- (in certain metropolitan police departments) the officer in charge of a division, district, precinct, or squad.

2 a member of a higher class in some orders of knighthood.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mand·er·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French comandeor, from late Latin commandare 'to command' (see COMMAND).

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COMMAND ■

com·mand·er in chief (also Com·mand·er in Chief) n. (pl. com·mand·ers in chief) a head of state or officer in supreme command of a country's armed forces.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an officer in charge of a major subdivision of a country's armed forces, or of its forces in a particular area.

Com·mand·er of the Faith·ful n. one of the titles of a caliph.

com·mand·ing adj. [attrib.] (in military contexts) having a position of authority: a commanding officer.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an advantage or position) controlling; superior: a commanding 13-6 lead.

- indicating or expressing authority; imposing: a man of commanding presence; her style is commanding.

- (of a place or position) dominating physically; giving a wide view: a commanding position looking out over the sea.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mand·ing·ly adv.

com·mand lan·guage n. [COMPUTING] a computer programming language composed chiefly of a set of commands or operators, used esp. for communicating with the operating system of a computer.

com·mand·ment n. a divine rule, esp. one of the Ten Commandments.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a rule to be observed as strictly as one of the Ten Commandments.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French comandement, from comander 'to command' (see COMMAND).

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COMMAND ■

com·mand mod·ule (abbr.: CM) n. the detachable control portion of a manned spacecraft.

com·man·do n. (pl. -dos) a soldier specially trained to carry out raids.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a unit of such troops.

- a group forming part of a larger organization, typically an illegal or secret one, and carrying out attacks on its behalf.

<PHRASES> go commando HUMOROUS wear no underpants.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (denoting a militia, originally consisting of Boers in South Africa): from Portuguese (earlier form of comando), from commandar 'to command', from late Latin commandare (see COMMAND).

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COMMAND ■

com·mand per·for·mance n. a presentation of a play, concert, opera, or other show at the request of royalty.

com·mand post n. the place from which a military unit is commanded.

com·mand ser·geant ma·jor n. a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army ranking above first sergeant.

comme ci, comme ça adv. (in answer to a question) neither very good nor very bad; so-so.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: French, literally 'like this, like that'.

com·me·dia dell'ar·te n. an improvised kind of popular comedy in Italian theaters in the 16th-18th centuries, based on stock characters. Actors adapted their comic dialogue and action according to a few basic plots (commonly love intrigues) and to topical issues.

<ORIGIN> Italian, 'comedy of art'.

comme il faut adj. [predic.] correct in behavior or etiquette.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, literally 'as is necessary'.

com·mem·o·ra·to·ry adj. serving to commemorate; commemorative.

com·mem·o·rate v. [trans.] recall and show respect for (someone or something) in a ceremony: a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the war dead.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- serve as a memorial to: a stone commemorating a boy who died at sea.

- mark (a significant event): the City of Boston commemorated the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America.

- (often be commemorated) celebrate (an event, a person, or a situation) by doing or building something: it was a night commemorated in a song.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mem·o·ra·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin commemorat- 'brought to remembrance', from the verb commemorare, from com- 'altogether' + memorare 'relate' (from memor 'mindful').

com·mem·o·ra·tion n. remembrance, typically expressed in a ceremony: solemn ceremonies of commemoration.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a ceremony or celebration in which a person or event is remembered: VJ-Day commemorations in August.

<PHRASES> in commemoration as a reminder, esp. a ritual or official one: the window was ordered by the duchess in commemoration of her son.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin commemoratio(n-), from the verb commemorare 'bring to remembrance' (see COMMEMORATE).

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COMMEMORATE ■

com·mem·o·ra·tive adj. acting as a memorial or mark of an event or person: a commemorative plaque.

■ n. an object such as a stamp or coin made to mark an event or honor a person. Compare with DEFINITIVE.

Linked entries:

DEFINITIVE ■

com·mence v. begin; start: [trans.] his design team commenced work | [intrans.] a public inquiry is due to commence on the 16th.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French commencier, comencier, based on Latin com- (expressing intensive force) + initiare 'begin'.

com·mence·ment n. 1 [usu. in sing.] a beginning or start: at the commencement of training.

2 a ceremony in which degrees or diplomas are conferred on graduating students: [as adj.] a commencement address.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from the verb commencier (see COMMENCE).

Linked entries:

COMMENCE ■

com·mend v. [trans.] 1 (often be commended) praise formally or officially: he was commended by the judge for his courageous actions. See notes at APPROVE, PRAISE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- present as suitable for approval or acceptance; recommend: I commend her to you without reservation.

- cause to be acceptable or pleasing: this recording has a lot to commend it.

2 (commend someone/something to) entrust someone or something to: I commend them to your care.

<PHRASES> commend me to ARCHAIC remember me kindly to (someone): commend me to my son, and bid him rule better than I.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin commendare, from com- (expressing intensive force) + mandare 'commit, entrust'. Compare with COMMAND.

Linked entries:

COMMAND ■

com·mend·a·ble adj. deserving praise: commendable restraint.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mend·a·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin commendabilis, from commendare (see COMMEND).

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COMMEND ■

com·men·da·tion n. praise: the film deserved the highest commendation | commendations for their kindness.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an award involving special praise: the detectives received commendations for bravery.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from Latin commendatio(n-), from commendare 'commit to the care of' (see COMMEND). Originally (in the plural) the term denoted a liturgical office ending with a prayer commending the souls of the dead to God.

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COMMEND ■

com·mend·a·to·ry adj. ARCHAIC serving to commend; recommending.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from late Latin commendatorius, from Latin commendare 'commit to the care of' (see COMMEND).

Linked entries:

COMMEND ■

com·men·sal adj. [BIOLOGY] of, relating to, or exhibiting commensalism.

■ n. [BIOLOGY] a commensal organism, such as many bacteria.

<DERIVATIVES> com·men·sal·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from medieval Latin commensalis, from com- 'sharing' + mensa 'a table'.

com·men·sal·ism n. [BIOLOGY] an association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm.

com·men·su·ra·ble adj. 1 measurable by the same standard: the finite is not commensurable with the infinite.

2 (commensurable to) RARE proportionate to.

3 [MATHEMATICS] (of numbers) in a ratio equal to a ratio of integers.

<DERIVATIVES> com·men·su·ra·bil·i·ty n. com·men·su·ra·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from late Latin commensurabilis, from com- 'together' + mensurabilis, from mensurare 'to measure'.

com·men·su·rate adj. corresponding in size or degree; in proportion: salary will be commensurate with experience; such heavy responsibility must receive commensurate reward.

<DERIVATIVES> com·men·su·rate·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from late Latin commensuratus, from com- 'together' + mensuratus, past participle of mensurare 'to measure'.

com·ment n. a remark expressing an opinion or reaction: you asked for comments on the new proposals.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- discussion, esp. of a critical nature, of an issue or event: the plans were not sent to the council for comment.

- an indirect expression of the views of the creator of an artistic work: their second single is a comment on the commercial nature of raves.

- an explanatory note in a book or other written text.

- ARCHAIC a written explanation or commentary.

- [COMPUTING] a piece of specially tagged text placed within a program to help other users to understand it, which the computer ignores when running the program.

■ v. [trans.] express (an opinion or reaction): the review commented that the book was agreeably written; | [intrans.] the company would not comment on the venture | “He's an independent soul,” she commented.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] [COMPUTING] place a piece of specially tagged explanatory text within (a program) to assist other users.

- [COMPUTING] turn (part of a program) into a comment so that the computer ignores it when running the program: you could try commenting out that line.

<PHRASES> no comment used in refusing to answer a question, esp. in a sensitive situation.

<DERIVATIVES> com·ment·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the senses 'expository treatise' and 'explanatory note'): from Latin commentum 'contrivance' (in late Latin also 'interpretation'), neuter past participle of comminisci 'devise'.

com·men·tar·i·at n. members of the news media considered as a class.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: blend of commentary and proletariat.

com·men·tar·y n. (pl. -tar·ies) the expression of opinions or explanations about an event or situation: an editorial commentary | narrative overlaid with commentary.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- opinion, either written or spoken.

- a descriptive spoken account (esp. on radio or television) of an event or a performance as it happens.

- a set of explanatory or critical notes on a text: a commentary on the Old Testament.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin commentarius, commentarium (adjective, used as a noun), from commentari, frequentative of comminisci 'devise'.

com·men·tate v. [intrans.] report on an event as it occurs, esp. for a news or sports broadcast; provide a commentary.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: back-formation from COMMENTATOR.

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COMMENTATOR ■

com·men·ta·tor n. a person who comments on events, esp. on television or radio.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who writes a commentary on a text.

com·merce (abbr.: comm.) n. 1 the activity of buying and selling, esp. on a large scale: the possible increase of commerce by a great railroad.

2 DATED social dealings between people: outside the normal commerce of civilized life.

3 ARCHAIC sexual intercourse.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (sense 2): from French, or from Latin commercium 'trade, trading', from com- 'together' + mercium (from merx, merc- 'merchandise').

com·mer·cial (abbr.: comm.) adj. 1 concerned with or engaged in commerce: a commercial agreement.

2 making or intended to make a profit: commercial products.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having profit, rather than artistic or other value, as a primary aim: their work is too commercial.

3 (of television or radio) funded by the revenue from broadcast advertisements.

4 (of chemicals) supplied in bulk and not of the highest purity.

■ n. a television or radio advertisement.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mer·ci·al·i·ty n. com·mer·cial·ly adv.

com·mer·cial art n. art used in advertising and selling.

com·mer·cial bank n. a bank that offers services to the general public and to companies.

com·mer·cial break n. an interruption in the transmission of broadcast programming during which advertisements are broadcast.

com·mer·cial·ism n. emphasis on the maximizing of profit: deficits prompted efforts for greater commercialism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DEROGATORY practices and attitudes that are concerned with the making of profit at the expense of quality: the issue of creeping commercialism in schools.

com·mer·cial·ize v. [trans.] (usu. be commercialized) make (an organization or activity) commercial: the museum has been commercialized.
<SPECIAL USAGE> exploit or spoil for the purpose of gaining profit: [as adj.] (commercialized) commercialized resort areas.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mer·cial·i·za·tion n.

com·mer·cial pa·per n. short-term unsecured promissory notes issued by companies.

com·mer·cial space n. see SPACE (sense 1).

Linked entries:

SPACE ■

com·mer·cial trav·el·er n. DATED a traveling sales representative.

com·mer·cial ve·hi·cle n. a vehicle used for carrying goods or fare-paying passengers.

com·mie (also Com·mie) INFORMAL, DEROGATORY n. (pl. -mies) a communist.

■ adj. communist.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: abbreviation.

com·mi·na·tion n. the action of threatening divine vengeance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the recital of divine threats against sinners in the Anglican Liturgy for Ash Wednesday.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin comminatio(n-), from the verb comminari, from com- (expressing intensive force) + minari 'threaten'.

com·min·a·to·ry adj. threatening, punitive, or vengeful.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from medieval Latin comminatorius, from comminat- 'threatened', from the verb comminari (see COMMINATION).

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COMMINATION ■

com·min·gle v. mix; blend: [intrans.] the dust had commingled with the rain | [trans.] publicly reproved for commingling funds.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from COM- 'together' + MINGLE.

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COM- ■

MINGLE ■

com·mi·nut·ed adj. TECHNICAL reduced to minute particles or fragments.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MEDICINE] (of a fracture) producing multiple bone splinters.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: past participle of comminute, from Latin comminut- 'broken into pieces', from the verb comminuere, from com- 'together' + minuere 'lessen'.

com·mi·nu·tion n. TECHNICAL the action of reducing a material, an ore, to minute particles or fragments.

com·mis (also commis chef) n. (pl. same ) a junior chef.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from French, 'deputy, clerk', past participle of commettre 'entrust', from Latin committere (see COMMIT).

Linked entries:

COMMIT ■

com·mis·er·ate v. [intrans.] express or feel sympathy or pity; sympathize: she went over to commiserate with Rose on her unfortunate circumstances.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] ARCHAIC feel, show, or express pity for (someone): she did not exult in her rival's fall, but, on the contrary, commiserated her.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mis·er·a·tion n. com·mis·er·a·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin commiserat- 'commiserated', from the verb commiserari, from com- 'with' + miserari 'to lament' (from miser 'wretched').

com·mish n. INFORMAL 1 short for COMMISSIONER.

2 short for COMMISSION: out of commish.

Linked entries:

COMMISSIONER ■

COMMISSION ■

com·mis·saire n. a senior police officer in France.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an official at a bicycle race or other sporting event.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French.

com·mis·sar n. an official of the Communist Party, esp. in the former Soviet Union or present-day China, responsible for political education and organization.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a head of a government department in the former Soviet Union before 1946.

- FIGURATIVE a strict or prescriptive figure of authority: our academic commissars.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent. (Russian Revolution): from Russian komissar, from French commissaire, from medieval Latin commissarius (see COMMISSARY).

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COMMISSARY ■

com·mis·sar·i·at n. 1 [CHIEFLY MILITARY] a department for the supply of food and equipment.

2 a government department of the USSR before 1946.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (as a Scots legal term denoting the jurisdiction of a commissary, often spelled commissariot): from French commissariat, reinforced by medieval Latin commissariatus, both from medieval Latin commissarius 'person in charge', from Latin committere 'entrust'.

com·mis·sar·y n. (pl. -sar·ies) 1 a restaurant in a movie studio, military base, prison, or other institution.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a store that sells food and drink to members of an organization, esp. a large grocery store on a military base.

2 a deputy or delegate.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mis·sar·i·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin commissarius 'person in charge', from Latin commiss- 'joined, entrusted', from the verb committere (see COMMIT).

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COMMIT ■

com·mis·sion (abbr.: comm.) n. 1 the authority to perform a task or certain duties.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an instruction, command, or duty given to a person or group of people: his commission to redesign the building; | he received a commission to act as an informer.

- an order for something, esp. a work of art, to be produced: Mozart at last received a commission to write an opera.

- a work produced in response to such an order.

2 a group of people officially charged with a particular function: the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

3 an amount of money, typically a set percentage of the value involved, paid to an agent in a commercial transaction: foreign banks may charge a commission | he sold cosmetics on commission.

4 a warrant conferring the rank of officer in an army, navy, or air force: he has resigned his commission.

5 the action of committing a crime or offense: use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

■ v. [trans.] 1 give an order for or authorize the production of (something such as a building, piece of equipment, or work of art).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- order or authorize (a person or organization) to do or produce something: they commissioned an architect to manage the building project.

- give (an artist) an order for a piece of work: he was commissioned to do a series of drawings.

2 bring (something newly produced, such as a factory or machine) into working condition: we had a few hiccups getting the heating equipment commissioned.
<SPECIAL USAGE> bring (a warship) into readiness for active service: the aircraft carrier Midway was commissioned in 1945.

3 (usu. be commissioned) appoint (someone) to the rank of officer in the armed services: he was commissioned after attending midshipman school | [as adj.] (commissioned) a commissioned officer.

<PHRASES>
□ in commission (of a ship, vehicle, machine, etc.) in use or in service.

□ out of commission not in service; not in working order.
- (of a person) unable to work or function normally, esp. through illness or injury.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mis·sion·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin commissio(n-), from committere 'entrust' (see COMMIT).

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COMMIT ■

com·mis·sion·aire n. CHIEFLY BRIT. a uniformed door attendant at a hotel, theater, or other building.
- a retired member of the armed services.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from medieval Latin commissarius 'person in charge', from Latin committere 'entrust' (see COMMIT).

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COMMIT ■

com·mis·sion·er (abbr.: comm.) n. a person appointed by a commission to perform a specific task: the traffic commissioner.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person appointed as a member of a government commission: the New York State Health Commissioner.

- a person appointed to regulate a particular sport: the baseball commissioner.

- a representative of the supreme authority in an area.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mis·sion·er·ship n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin commissionarius, from Latin commissio (see COMMISSION).

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COMMISSION ■

com·mis·sure n. TECHNICAL a junction, joint, or seam, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ANATOMY] the joint between two bones.

- [ANATOMY] a band of nerve tissue connecting the hemispheres of the brain, the two sides of the spinal cord, etc.

- [ANATOMY] the line where the upper and lower lips or eyelids meet.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mis·su·ral adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin commissura 'junction', from committere 'join' (see COMMIT).

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COMMIT ■

com·mit v. (-mit·ted, -mit·ting) [trans.] 1 carry out or perpetrate (a mistake, crime, or immoral act): he committed an uncharacteristic error.

2 pledge or bind (a person or an organization) to a certain course or policy: they were reluctant to commit themselves to an opinion; | the treaty commits each party to defend the other; | try it out before you commit to a purchase.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- pledge or set aside (resources) for future use: manufacturers will have to commit substantial funds to developing new engines.

- (be committed to) be in a long-term emotional relationship with (someone).

- (be committed to) be dedicated to (something): it is a modern Marxist party committed to democratic socialism.

3 send, entrust, or consign, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- consign (someone) officially to prison, esp. on remand: he was committed to prison for contempt of court.

- send (a person or case) for trial.

- send (someone) to be confined in a psychiatric hospital: he had been committed for treatment.

- (commit something to) transfer something to (a state or place): he composed a letter but didn't commit it to paper; she committed each tiny feature to memory; committed to the flames.

- refer (a legislative bill) to a committee.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mit·ta·ble adj. com·mit·ter n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin committere 'join, entrust' (in medieval Latin 'put into custody'), from com- 'with' + mittere 'put or send'.

com·mit·ment n. 1 the act of committing or the state of being committed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- dedication; application: the company's commitment to quality.

- a pledge or undertaking: I cannot make such a commitment at the moment.

- an act of pledging or setting aside something: there must be a major commitment of money and time.

2 (usu. commitments) an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action: business commitments; young people delay major commitments including marriage and children.

com·mit·ment cer·e·mo·ny n. a ceremony to mark the spousal union of two people who are not legally allowed to marry, such as gay people.

com·mit·ment or·der n. an order authorizing the admission and detention of a patient in a psychiatric hospital.

com·mit·tal n. 1 the action of sending a person to an institution, esp. prison or a psychiatric hospital: his committal to prison | [as adj.] committal proceedings.

2 the burial of a corpse.

com·mit·ted adj. feeling dedication and loyalty to a cause, activity, or job; wholeheartedly dedicated: a committed Christian.

com·mit·tee n. 1 [treated as sing. or pl.] a group of people appointed for a specific function, typically consisting of members of a larger group: the housing committee | [as adj.] a committee meeting.
<SPECIAL USAGE> such a body appointed by a legislature to consider the details of proposed legislation: there was much scrutiny in committee.

2 [LAW] a person who has been judicially committed to the charge of another because of insanity or mental retardation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT. a person entrusted with the charge of another person or another person's property.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the general sense 'person to whom something has been entrusted'): from COMMIT + -EE.

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COMMIT ■

-EE ■

com·mit·tee·man n. (pl. -men) (in the U.S.) a male local political party leader.

com·mit·tee of the whole the entire membership of a legislative body when sitting as a committee.

com·mit·tee·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en) (in the U.S.) a female local political party leader.

com·mix v. [trans.] ARCHAIC mix; mingle: beat them till they be thoroughly commixed.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mix·ture n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as the past participle commixt): from Latin commixtus, from com- 'together with' + mixtus 'mixed'.

com·mo n. INFORMAL communication, esp. as a departmental function in an organization.

com·mode n. 1 a piece of furniture containing a concealed chamber pot.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a toilet.

- HISTORICAL a movable washstand.

2 a chest of drawers or chiffonier of a decorative type popular in the 18th century.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (sense 2): from French, literally 'convenient, suitable', from Latin commodus. Sense 1 dates from the early 19th cent.

com·mod·i·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] turn into or treat as a commodity: [as adj.] (commodified) art has become commodified.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mod·i·fi·ca·tion n.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: from COMMODITY + -FY.

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COMMODITY ■

-FY ■

com·mo·di·ous adj. 1 FORMAL (esp. of furniture or a building) roomy and comfortable.

2 ARCHAIC convenient.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mo·di·ous·ly adv. com·mo·di·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'beneficial, useful'): from French commodieux or medieval Latin commodiosus, based on Latin commodus 'convenient'.

com·mod·i·tize v. another term for COMMODIFY.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mod·i·ti·za·tion n.

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COMMODIFY ■

com·mod·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) a raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a useful or valuable thing, such as water or time.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French commodite or Latin commoditas, from commodus (see COMMODIOUS).

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COMMODIOUS ■

com·mo·dore n. a naval officer of high rank, in particular an officer in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard ranking above captain and below rear admiral.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the president of a yacht club.

- the senior captain of a shipping line.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: probably from Dutch komandeur, from French commandeur 'commander'.

com·mon adj. (-mon·er, -mon·est) 1 occurring, found, or done often; prevalent: salt and pepper are the two most common seasonings; it's common for a woman to be depressed after giving birth. See notes at PREVALENT, UNIVERSAL.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an animal or plant) found or living in relatively large numbers; not rare.

- ordinary; of ordinary qualities; without special rank or position: the dwellings of common people; a common soldier.

- (of a quality) of a sort or level to be generally expected: common decency.

- of the most familiar type: the common or vernacular name.

- denoting the most widespread or typical species of an animal or plant: the common blue spruce.

2 showing a lack of taste and refinement; vulgar.

3 shared by, coming from, or done by more than one: the two republics' common border; problems common to both communities.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- belonging to, open to, or affecting the whole of a community or the public: common land.

- [MATHEMATICS] belonging to two or more quantities.

4 [GRAMMAR] (in Latin and certain other languages) of or denoting a gender of nouns that are conventionally regarded as masculine or feminine, contrasting with neuter.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in English) denoting a noun that refers to individuals of either sex (e.g., teacher).

5 [PROSODY] (of a syllable) able to be either short or long.

6 [LAW] (of a crime) of relatively minor importance: common assault.

■ n. 1 a piece of open land for public use, esp. in a village or town.

2 (in the Christian Church) a form of service used for each of a group of occasions.

<PHRASES>
□ the common good the benefit or interests of all: it is time our elected officials stood up for the common good.

□ common ground a point or argument accepted by both sides in a dispute.
- ideas or interests shared by different people: artists from different cultural backgrounds found common ground.

□ common knowledge something known by most people.

□ common or garden BRIT., INFORMAL of the usual or ordinary type: a yak is your basic common or garden cow, only bigger, hairier, and wilder.

□ common property a thing or things held jointly.
- something known by most people.

□ the common touch the ability to get along with or appeal to ordinary people.

□ in common
1 in joint use or possession; shared: car engines have nothing in common with aircraft engines.

2 of joint interest: the two men had little in common. See also TENANCY IN COMMON.

□ in common with in the same way as: in common with other officers, I had to undertake guard duties.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mon·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French comun (adjective), from Latin communis.

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TENANCY IN COMMON ■

com·mon·a·ble adj. BRIT., CHIEFLY HISTORICAL (of land) allowed to be jointly used or owned.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an animal) allowed to be pastured on public land: these Acts exclude the deer and commonable cattle.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from obsolete common 'to exercise right of common' + -ABLE.

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-ABLE ■

com·mon·age n. 1 CHIEFLY BRIT. the right of pasturing animals on common land.
<SPECIAL USAGE> land held in common.

2 the common people; the commonalty.

Com·mon Ag·ri·cul·tur·al Pol·i·cy (abbr.: CAP) the system in the EU for establishing common prices for most agricultural products within the European Union, a single fund for price supports, and levies on imports.

com·mon·al·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) 1 [in sing.] the state of sharing features or attributes: a commonality of interest ensures cooperation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a shared feature or attribute: we discern the commonalities between these writers.

2 (the commonality) another term for COMMONALTY.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): variant of COMMONALTY. Sense 1 dates from the mid 16th cent., but was rarely used before the 1950s.

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COMMONALTY ■

COMMONALTY ■

com·mon·al·ty n. [treated as pl.] (the commonalty) CHIEFLY HISTORICAL people without special rank or position; common people: a petition by the earls, barons, and commonalty of the realm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the general body of a group.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French comunalte, from medieval Latin communalitas, from Latin communis 'common, general' (see COMMON).

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COMMON ■

com·mon car·ri·er n. a person or company that transports goods or passengers on regular routes at set rates.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a company providing public telecommunications facilities.

com·mon chord n. [MUSIC] a triad containing a root, a major or minor third, and a perfect fifth.

com·mon cold n. (the common cold) another term for COLD (sense 2).

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COLD ■

com·mon coun·cil n. a town or city council in some parts of the U.S. and Canada, and in London.

com·mon de·nom·i·na·tor n. [MATHEMATICS] a shared multiple of the denominators of several fractions. See also LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a feature shared by all members of a group: the common denominator for the fevers was the bite of a tick.

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LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR ■

com·mon di·vi·sor n. [MATHEMATICS] a number that can be divided into all of the other numbers of a given set without any remainder. Also called common factor.

com·mon·er n. 1 an ordinary person, without rank or title.

2 a person who has the right of common (commonage).

3 (at some British universities) an undergraduate who does not have a scholarship.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a citizen or burgess): from medieval Latin communarius, from communa, communia 'community', based on Latin communis (see COMMON).

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COMMON ■

Com·mon E·ra n. (the Common Era) another term for CHRISTIAN ERA.

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CHRISTIAN ERA ■

com·mon frac·tion n. a fraction expressed by a numerator and a denominator, not decimally.

com·mon gen·der n. 1 the gender of those nouns in English that are not limited to either sex, such as cousin or spouse.

2 in some languages, such as Latin, the gender of those nouns that may be either masculine or feminine but not neuter.

3 in some languages, such as modern Danish, the gender of those nouns derived from the earlier masculine and feminine genders that do not belong to the neuter gender.

com·mon law n. the part of English law that is derived from custom and judicial precedent rather than statutes. Often contrasted with STATUTORY LAW.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the body of English law as adopted and modified separately by the different states of the U.S. and by the federal government. Compare with CIVIL LAW.

- [as adj.] denoting a partner in a marriage by common law (which recognized unions created by mutual agreement and public behavior), not by a civil or ecclesiastical ceremony: a common-law husband.

- [as adj.] denoting a partner in a long-term relationship of cohabitation.

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CIVIL LAW ■

com·mon log·a·rithm n. a logarithm to the base 10.

com·mon·ly adv. very often; frequently: BSE, commonly called mad cow disease; a commonly used industrial chemical.

com·mon mar·ket n. a group of countries imposing few or no duties on trade with one another and a common tariff on trade with other countries.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Common Market) a name for the European Economic Community or European Union, used esp. in the 1960s and 1970s.

com·mon me·ter (also common measure) (abbr.: CM) n. a metrical pattern for hymns in which the stanzas have four lines containing eight and six syllables alternately rhyming abcb or abab.

com·mon mul·ti·ple n. [MATHEMATICS] a number into which each number in a given set may be evenly divided.

com·mon noun n. [GRAMMAR] a noun denoting a class of objects or a concept as opposed to a particular individual. Often contrasted with PROPER NOUN.

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PROPER NOUN ■

com·mon·place adj. not unusual; ordinary: unemployment was commonplace in his profession.
<SPECIAL USAGE> not interesting or original; trite: the usual commonplace remarks.

■ n. 1 a usual or ordinary thing: bombing has become almost a commonplace of public life there.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a trite saying or topic; a platitude: it is a commonplace to talk of the young being alienated.

2 a notable quotation copied into a commonplace book.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mon·place·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally common place): translation of Latin locus communis, rendering Greek koinos topos 'general theme'.

com·mon·place book n. a book into which notable extracts from other works are copied for personal use.

Com·mon Pleas (in full Court of Common Pleas) [LAW] (in some jurisdictions) a court for hearing civil cases between citizens.

com·mon por·poise another term for HARBOR PORPOISE.

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HARBOR PORPOISE ■

Com·mon Prayer the liturgy of the Anglican Communion, originally set forth in the Book of Common Prayer of Edward VI (1549).

com·mon rat n. another term for BROWN RAT.

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BROWN RAT ■

com·mon room n. a room in a school, college, or other educational institution for use of students or staff outside teaching hours.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a room in a residential facility for the recreational use of all residents.

com·mons plural n. 1 a dining hall in a residential school or college.

2 [treated as sing.] land or resources belonging to or affecting the whole of a community.
- a public park of a town or city.

3 (the Commons) short for HOUSE OF COMMONS.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL the common people regarded as a part of a political system, esp. in Britain.

4 ARCHAIC provisions shared in common; rations.

<PHRASES> short commons ARCHAIC insufficient allocation of food: for two weeks we have been on short commons.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: plural of COMMON.

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HOUSE OF COMMONS ■

COMMON ■

com·mon salt n. see SALT (sense 1).

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SALT ■

com·mon sense n. good sense and sound judgment in practical matters: use your common sense | [as adj.] a common-sense approach.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mon·sen·si·cal adj.

com·mon sol·dier n. see SOLDIER (sense 1).

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SOLDIER ■

com·mon stock plural n. (also com·mon stocks) shares entitling their holder to dividends that vary in amount and may even be missed, depending on the fortunes of the company: the company announced a public offering of 3.5 million shares of common stock. Compare with PREFERRED STOCK.

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PREFERRED STOCK ■

com·mon time n. [MUSIC] a rhythmic pattern in which there are four beats, esp. four quarter notes, in a measure. This pattern occurs often in classical music and is the norm in rock, jazz, country, and bluegrass.

com·mon·weal n. (the commonweal) the welfare of the public.

com·mon·wealth n. 1 an independent country or community, esp. a democratic republic.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an aggregate or grouping of countries or other bodies.

- a community or organization of shared interests in a nonpolitical field: the Christian commonwealth; the commonwealth of letters.

- a self-governing unit voluntarily grouped with the U.S., such as Puerto Rico.

- a formal title of some of the states of the U.S., esp. Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

- the title of the federated Australian states.

- (the Commonwealth) the republican period of government in Britain between the execution of Charles I in 1649 and the Restoration of Charles II in 1660.

2 (the Commonwealth) (in full the Commonwealth of Nations) an international association consisting of the UK together with states that were previously part of the British Empire, and dependencies. The British monarch is the symbolic head of the Commonwealth.

3 (the commonwealth) ARCHAIC the general good.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally as two words, denoting public welfare; compare with COMMONWEAL): from COMMON + WEALTH.

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COMMONWEAL ■

COMMON ■

WEALTH ■

Com·mon·wealth Games an amateur sports competition held every four years between member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Com·mon·wealth of In·de·pend·ent States (abbr.: CIS) a confederation of independent states that were formerly constituent republics of the Soviet Union, established in 1991. Member states are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

com·mo·tion n. a state of confused and noisy disturbance: she was distracted by a commotion across the street | figure out what all the commotion is about.
<SPECIAL USAGE> civil insurrection: damage caused by civil commotion.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin commotio(n-), from com- 'altogether' + motio (see MOTION).

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MOTION ■

com·move v. [trans.] move violently; agitate or excite.

com·mu·nal adj. 1 shared by all members of a community; for common use: a communal bathroom and kitchen.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of, relating to, or done by a community: communal achievement.

- involving the sharing of work and property: communal living.

2 (of conflict) between different communities, esp. those having different religions or ethnic origins: violent communal riots.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mu·nal·i·ty n. com·mu·nal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (in the sense 'relating to a commune, esp. the Paris Commune'): from French, from late Latin communalis, from communis (see COMMON).

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COMMON ■

com·mu·nal·ism n. 1 a principle of political organization based on federated communes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the principle or practice of living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities.

2 allegiance to one's own ethnic group rather than to the wider society.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mu·nal·ist adj. & n. com·mu·nal·is·tic adj.

com·mu·nal·ize v. [trans.] RARE organize (something) on the basis of shared ownership: attempts to communalize farming.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mu·nal·i·za·tion n.

com·mu·nard n. a member of a commune.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Communard) HISTORICAL a supporter of the Paris Commune.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, from COMMUNE^1 .

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COMMUNE ■

com·mune 1 n. 1 a group of people living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a communal settlement in a communist country.

2 the smallest French territorial division for administrative purposes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar division elsewhere.

3 (the Commune) the group that seized the municipal government of Paris in the French Revolution and played a leading part in the Reign of Terror until suppressed in 1794.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also the Paris Commune) the municipal government organized on communalistic principles elected in Paris in 1871. It was soon brutally suppressed by government troops.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (sense 2): from French, from medieval Latin communia, neuter plural of Latin communis (see COMMON).

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COMMON ■

com·mune 2 v. [intrans.] 1 (commune with) share one's intimate thoughts or feelings with (someone or something), esp. when the exchange is on a spiritual level: the purpose of praying is to commune with God.
<SPECIAL USAGE> feel in close spiritual contact with: he spent an hour communing with nature on the bank of a stream.

2 [CHRISTIAN CHURCH] receive Holy Communion.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French comuner 'to share', from comun (see COMMON).

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COMMON ■

com·mu·ni·ca·ble adj. able to be communicated to others: the value of the product must be communicable to the potential consumers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a disease) able to be transmitted from one sufferer to another; contagious or infectious.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mu·ni·ca·bil·i·ty n. com·mu·ni·ca·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'communicating, having communication'): from Old French, from late Latin communicabilis, from the verb communicare 'to share' (see COMMUNICATE).

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COMMUNICATE ■

com·mu·ni·cant n. 1 [CHRISTIAN CHURCH] a person who receives Holy Communion.

2 ARCHAIC a person who imparts information.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin communicant- 'sharing', from the verb communicare (see COMMUNICATE).

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COMMUNICATE ■

com·mu·ni·cate v. 1 [intrans.] share or exchange information, news, or ideas: the prisoner was forbidden to communicate with his family.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] impart or pass on (information, news, or ideas): he communicated his findings to the inspector.

- [trans.] convey or transmit (an emotion or feeling) in a nonverbal way: the ability of good teachers to communicate their own enthusiasm; his sudden fear communicated itself.

- succeed in conveying one's ideas or in evoking understanding in others: a politician must have the ability to communicate.

- (of two people) be able to share and understand each other's thoughts and feelings.

- [trans.] (usu. be communicated) pass on (an infectious disease) to another person or animal.

- [trans.] transmit (heat or motion): the heat is communicated through a small brass grating.

- [often as adj.] (communicating) (of two rooms) have a common connecting door: he went into the communicating room to pick up the phone.

2 [intrans.] [CHRISTIAN CHURCH] receive Holy Communion.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mu·ni·ca·tor n. com·mu·ni·ca·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Latin communicat- 'shared', from the verb communicare, from communis (see COMMON).

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COMMON ■

com·mu·ni·ca·tion n. 1 the imparting or exchanging of information or news: direct communication between the two countries will produce greater understanding; at the moment I am in communication with London.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a letter or message containing such information or news.

- the successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings: there was a lack of communication between Pamela and her parents.

- social contact: she gave him some hope of her return, or at least of their future communication.

2 (communications) means of connection between people or places, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the means of sending or receiving information, such as telephone lines or computers: satellite communications | [as adj.] a communications network.

- the means of traveling or of transporting goods, such as roads or railroads: a city providing excellent road and rail communications.

- [treated as sing.] the field of study concerned with the transmission of information by various means.

<PHRASES> lines of communication the connections between an army in the field and its bases.
- any system for communicating information or ideas: bureaucracies are characterized by established lines of communication.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mu·ni·ca·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French comunicacion, from Latin communicatio(n-), from the verb communicare 'to share' (see COMMUNICATE).

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COMMUNICATE ■

com·mu·ni·ca·tions sat·el·lite (also com·mu·ni·ca·tion sat·el·lite) n. a satellite placed in orbit around the earth in order to relay television, radio, and telephone signals.

com·mu·ni·ca·tion the·o·ry (also com·mu·ni·ca·tions the·o·ry) n. the branch of knowledge dealing with the principles and methods by which information is conveyed.

com·mu·ni·ca·tive adj. ready to talk or impart information: the patient was alert and communicative.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to the conveyance or exchange of information: the communicative process in literary texts.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mu·ni·ca·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin communicativus, from communicat- 'shared', from the verb communicare (see COMMUNICATE).

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COMMUNICATE ■

com·mun·ion n. 1 the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, esp. when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level: in this churchyard communion with the dead was almost palpable. See note at CONVERSATION.
<SPECIAL USAGE> common participation in a mental or emotional experience: popular festivals where all take part in joyous communion.

2 (often Communion or Holy Communion) the service of Christian worship at which bread and wine are consecrated and shared. See EUCHARIST.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the consecrated bread and wine so administered and received: the priests gave him Holy Communion.

- reception of the consecrated bread and wine at such a service.

3 a relationship of recognition and acceptance between Christian churches or denominations, or between individual Christians or Christian communities and a church (signified by a willingness to give or receive the Eucharist): the Eastern Churches are not in communion with Rome.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a group of Christian communities or churches that recognize one another's ministries or that of a central authority: the Anglican communion.

<PHRASES> make one's communion receive bread and wine that has been consecrated at a Eucharist, as a sacramental, spiritual, or symbolic act of receiving the presence of Christ.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin communio(n-), from communis (see COMMON).

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EUCHARIST ■

COMMON ■

com·mun·ion of saints n. [in sing.] a fellowship between Christians living and dead.

com·mu·ni·qué (also com·mu·ni·que) n. an official announcement or statement, esp. one made to the media.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, past participle of communiquer 'communicate'.

com·mu·nism (often Communism) n. a political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. See also MARXISM.

The most familiar form of communism is that established by the Bolsheviks after the Russian Revolution of 1917, and it has generally been understood in terms of the system practiced by the former USSR and its allies in eastern Europe, in China since 1949, and in some developing countries such as Cuba, Vietnam, and North Korea. Communism embraced a revolutionary ideology in which the state would wither away after the overthrow of the capitalist system. In practice, however, the state grew to control all aspects of communist society. Communism in eastern Europe collapsed in the late 1980s and early 1990s against a background of failure to meet people's economic expectations, a shift to more democracy in political life, and increasing nationalism such as that which led to the breakup of the USSR.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mu·nist n. & adj. com·mu·nis·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French communisme, from commun (see COMMON).

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MARXISM ■

COMMON ■

Com·mu·nism Peak one of the principal peaks in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan, rising to 24,590 feet (7,495 m). It was the highest mountain in the former Soviet Union. Former names MOUNT GARMO (until 1933) and STALIN PEAK (until 1962).

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STALIN PEAK ■

com·mu·ni·tar·i·an·ism n. a theory or system of social organization based on small self-governing communities.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an ideology that emphasizes the responsibility of the individual to the community and the social importance of the family unit.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mu·ni·tar·i·an adj. & n..

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from COMMUNITY + -ARIAN, on the pattern of words such as unitarian.

Linked entries:

COMMUNITY ■

-ARIAN ■

com·mu·ni·ty n. (pl. -ties) 1 a group of people living together in one place, esp. one practicing common ownership: a community of nuns.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- all the people living in a particular area or place: local communities.

- a particular area or place considered together with its inhabitants: a rural community.

- (the community) the people of a district or country considered collectively, esp. in the context of social values and responsibilities; society: preparing prisoners for life back in the community.

- [as adj.] denoting a worker or resource designed to serve the people of a particular area: community health services.

2 [usu. with adj.] a group of people having a religion, race, profession, or other particular characteristic in common: Rhode Island's Japanese community; the scientific community.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a body of nations or states unified by common interests: [in names] the European Community; the African Economic Community.

3 a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals: the sense of community that organized religion can provide.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in sing.] a similarity or identity: writers who shared a community of interests.

- joint ownership or liability: a commitment to the community of goods.

4 [ECOLOGY] a group of interdependent organisms of different species growing or living together in a specified habitat: communities of insectivorous birds.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a set of species found in the same habitat or ecosystem at the same time.

<PHRASES> the international community the countries of the world considered collectively.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French comunete, reinforced by its source, Latin communitas, from communis (see COMMON).

Linked entries:

COMMON ■

com·mu·ni·ty an·ten·na tel·e·vi·sion (abbr.: CATV) n. another term for CABLE TELEVISION.

Linked entries:

CABLE TELEVISION ■

com·mu·ni·ty ar·chi·tect n. an architect working in consultation with local inhabitants in designing housing and other amenities.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mu·ni·ty ar·chi·tec·ture n.

com·mu·ni·ty bank n. a commercial bank that derives funds from and lends to the community where it operates, and is not affiliated with a multibank holding company.

com·mu·ni·ty cen·ter n. a place where people from a particular community can meet for social, educational, or recreational activities.

com·mu·ni·ty chest n. a fund for charitable activities among the people in a particular area.

com·mu·ni·ty col·lege n. a nonresidential junior college offering courses to people living in a particular area.

com·mu·ni·ty po·lic·ing n. the system of allocating police officers to particular areas so that they become familiar with the local inhabitants.

com·mu·ni·ty pro·per·ty n. property owned jointly by a husband and wife.

com·mu·ni·ty serv·ice n. voluntary work intended to help people in a particular area.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] unpaid work, intended to be of social use, that an offender is required to do instead of going to prison: sentenced to 600 hours of community service.

com·mu·ni·ver·si·ty n. an organization representing a liaison between a college or university and the community where it is located: [as modifier] a communiversity theater.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: blend of community and university.

com·mu·nize v. [trans.] cause (a country, people, or economic activity) to be organized on the principles of communism.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mu·ni·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin communis (see COMMON) + -IZE.

Linked entries:

COMMON ■

-IZE ■

com·mut·a·ble adj. 1 (of a place or home) sufficiently close to one's place of work that one can travel between the two on a regular basis.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a distance) sufficiently short that it can be traveled on a regular basis. <ORIGIN> 1970s from sense 1 of COMMUTE.

2 RARE capable of being exchanged or converted.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mut·a·bil·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin commutabilis, from commutare 'exchange, interchange' (see COMMUTE).

Linked entries:

COMMUTE ■

COMMUTE ■

com·mu·tate v. [trans.] regulate or reverse the direction of (an alternating electric current), esp. to make it a direct current.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin commutat- 'changed altogether, exchanged, interchanged', from the verb commutare (see COMMUTE).

Linked entries:

COMMUTE ■

com·mu·ta·tion n. 1 action or the process of commuting a judicial sentence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the conversion of a legal obligation or entitlement into another form, e.g., the replacement of an annuity or series of payments by a single payment.

2 the process of commutating an electric current.

3 [MATHEMATICS] the property of having a commutative relation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'exchange, barter', later 'alteration'): from Latin commutatio(n-), from commutare 'exchange, interchange' (see COMMUTE). Sense 1 dates from the late 16th cent.

Linked entries:

COMMUTE ■

com·mu·ta·tion tick·et n. a ticket issued at a reduced rate by a railroad or bus company, entitling the holder to travel a given route a fixed number of times or during a specified period.

com·mu·ta·tive adj. [MATHEMATICS] involving the condition that a group of quantities connected by operators gives the same result whatever the order of the quantities involved, e.g., a × b = b × a.
<SPECIAL USAGE> RARE relating to or involving substitution or exchange.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'relating to transactions between people'): from French commutatif, -ive or medieval Latin commutativus, from commutat- 'exchanged', from the verb commutare (see COMMUTE).

Linked entries:

COMMUTE ■

com·mu·ta·tor n. an attachment, connected to the armature of a motor or generator, through which electrical connection is made and which ensures that the current flows as direct current.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a device for reversing the direction of flow of electric current.

com·mute v. 1 [intrans.] travel some distance between one's home and place of work on a regular basis: she commuted from Westport in to Grand Central Station.

2 [trans.] reduce (a judicial sentence, esp. a sentence of death) to one less severe: the governor recently commuted the sentences of dozens of women convicted of killing their husbands.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (commute something for/into) change one kind of payment or obligation for (another).

- replace (an annuity or other series of payments) with a single payment: if he had commuted some of his pension, he would have received $330,000.

3 [intrans.] [MATHEMATICS] (of two operations or quantities) have a commutative relationship.

■ n. a regular journey of some distance to and from one's place of work.

<DERIVATIVES> com·mut·er n. (in sense 1).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'interchange (two things)'): from Latin commutare, from com- 'altogether' + mutare 'to change'. Sense 1 originally meant to buy and use a commutation ticket , a dated term for 'a season ticket' (because the daily fare is commuted to a single payment).

com·mut·er belt n. the area surrounding a city from which a large number of people travel to work each day.

Co·mo, Lake a lake in the foothills of the Alps in northern Italy.

Co·mo·do·ro Ri·va·da·vi·a a port in southeastern Argentina, on the Atlantic coast of Patagonia; pop. 124,000.

co·mon·o·mer n. [CHEMISTRY] one of the monomers that constitutes a copolymer.

co·mor·bid·i·ty n. the simultaneous presence of two chronic diseases or conditions in a patient: the comorbidity of anxiety and depression in Parkinson's disease.

Com·o·ros a country in Africa that consists of a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, north of Madagascar; pop. 651,000; capital, Moroni; languages, French (official), Arabic (official), and Shikomore (a blend of Swahili and Arabic).

The islands were first visited by the English at the end of the 16th century. At that time and for long afterward, Arab influence was dominant. In the mid 19th century they came under French protection until 1974 when all but one of the four major islands voted for independence.

<DERIVATIVES> Com·o·ran adj. & n.

comp INFORMAL n. short for:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a composition.

- a complimentary ticket or voucher.

- compensation.

- (also comp time) compensatory time.

- a musical accompaniment.

- a comprehensive examination.

■ v. [trans.] 1 play (music) as an accompaniment, esp. in jazz or blues: if someone is comping chord changes, there are more textured harmonies | [intrans.] he comps with an open, jangly sound.

2 give (something) away free, esp. as part of a promotion: the management did graciously comp our wine selection.

3 short for COMPOSITE.

■ adj. [attrib.] 1 complimentary; free: the average fan was unable to get comp press tickets.

2 short for COMPENSATORY.

Linked entries:

COMPOSITE ■

COMPENSATORY ■

comp. abbr.
- companion.

- comparative.

- compensation.

- compilation.

- compiled.

- compiler.

- complete.

- composite.

- composition.

- compositor.

- comprehensive.

com·pact 1 adj. 1 closely and neatly packed together; dense: a compact cluster of houses.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- having all the necessary components or features neatly fitted into a small space: a compact car.

- (of a person or animal) small, solid, and well-proportioned.

- (of speech or writing) concise in expression: a compact summary of the play.

2 [predic.] (compact of) ARCHAIC composed or made up of: towns compact of wooden houses.

■ v. [trans.] (often be compacted) exert force on (something) to make it more dense; compress: the soil may be compacted by iron oxide | [as adj.] (compacted) compacted paper waste.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of a substance) become compressed in this way: the snow hardened and compacted.

- ARCHAIC form (something) by pressing its component parts firmly together.

- express in fewer words; condense: the ideas are compacted into two sentences.

■ n. 1 a small flat case containing face powder, a mirror, and a powder puff.

2 something that is a small and conveniently shaped example of its kind, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE> short for COMPACT CAR.

3 [METALLURGY] a mass of powdered metal compacted together in preparation for sintering.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pac·tion n. com·pact·ly adv. com·pact·ness n. com·pac·tor (also com·pact·er) n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin compact- 'closely put together, joined', from the verb compingere, from com- 'together' + pangere 'fasten'.

Linked entries:

COMPACT CAR ■

com·pact 2 n. a formal agreement or contract between two or more parties.

■ v. [trans.] make or enter into (a formal agreement) with another party or parties: the Democratic Party compacted an alliance with dissident groups.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin compactum, past participle of compacisci, from com- 'with' + pacisci 'make a covenant'. Compare with PACT.

Linked entries:

PACT ■

com·pact car n. a medium-sized car.

com·pact disc (also com·pact disk) (abbr.: CD) n. a small plastic disc on which music or other digital information is stored, and from which the information can be read using reflected laser light. See also CD-ROM.

Linked entries:

CD-ROM ■

com·pa·dre n. (pl. -pa·dres) INFORMAL a way of addressing or referring to a friend or companion.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Spanish, literally 'godfather', hence 'benefactor, friend'. Compare with COMPÈRE and GOSSIP.

Linked entries:

COMPÈRE ■

GOSSIP ■

com·pand v. [trans.] reduce the signal-to-noise ratio of (a signal) using a compander.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: back-formation from COMPANDER.

Linked entries:

COMPANDER ■

com·pand·er (also com·pan·dor) n. a device that improves the signal-to-noise ratio of an electrical signal by compressing the range of amplitudes of the signal before transmission, and then expanding it on reproduction or reception.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: blend of COMPRESSOR and expander (see EXPAND).

Linked entries:

COMPRESSOR ■

EXPAND ■

com·pan·ion 1 n. 1 a person or animal with whom one spends a lot of time or with whom one travels: his traveling companion | FIGURATIVE fear became my constant companion.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who shares the experiences of another, esp. when these are unpleasant or unwelcome: my companions in misfortune.

- a person with similar tastes and interests to one's own and with whom one has a friendly relationship: drinking companions.

- a person's long-term sexual partner outside marriage.

- a person, esp. an unmarried or widowed woman, employed to live with and assist another.

- [ASTRONOMY] a star, galaxy, or other celestial object that is close to or associated with another.

2 one of a pair of things intended to complement or match each other: [as adj.] a companion volume.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [usu. in names] a book that provides information about a particular subject: the Oxford Companion to English Literature.

- BRIT., DATED a piece of equipment containing objects used in a particular activity: a traveler's companion.

3 (Companion) a member of the lowest grade of certain orders of knighthood.

■ v. [trans.] FORMAL accompany: he is companioned by a pageboy.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French compaignon, literally 'one who breaks bread with another', based on Latin com- 'together with' + panis 'bread'.

com·pan·ion 2 n. [NAUTICAL] a covering over the hatchway leading below decks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ARCHAIC a raised frame with windows on the quarterdeck of a ship to allow light into the decks below.

- short for COMPANIONWAY.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from obsolete Dutch kompanje (earlier form of kampanje) 'quarterdeck', from Old French compagne, from Italian (camera della) compagna '(storeroom for) provisions'.

Linked entries:

COMPANIONWAY ■

com·pan·ion·a·ble adj. (of a person) friendly and sociable: a companionable young man.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a shared situation) relaxed and pleasant: they walked in companionable silence.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pan·ion·a·ble·ness n. com·pan·ion·a·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: alteration of obsolete companiable, influenced by COMPANION^1 .

Linked entries:

COMPANION ■

com·pan·ion an·i·mal n. a pet or other domestic animal.

<USAGE>
Companion animal is a somewhat more formal term for pet and is generally restricted to larger animals such as dogs and cats.

com·pan·ion·ate adj. FORMAL (of a marriage or relationship) between partners or spouses as equal companions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) acting as a companion.

com·pan·ion plant·ing n. the close planting of different plants that enhance each other's growth or protect each other from pests.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pan·ion plant n. com·pan·ion-plant v.

com·pan·ion·ship n. a feeling of fellowship or friendship.

com·pan·ion·way n. a set of steps leading from a ship's deck down to a cabin or lower deck.

com·pa·ny n. (pl. -nies) 1 a commercial business: a shipping company | [in names] the Ford Motor Company | [as adj.] a company director.

2 the fact or condition of being with another or others, esp. in a way that provides friendship and enjoyment: I could do with some company.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person or people seen as a source of such friendship and enjoyment: she is excellent company.

- the person or group of people whose society someone is currently sharing: he was silent among such distinguished company.

- a visiting person or group of people: I'm expecting company.

3 a number of individuals gathered together, esp. for a particular purpose: the mayor addressed the assembled company.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a body of soldiers, esp. the smallest subdivision of an infantry battalion, typically commanded by a major or captain: the troops of C Company.

- a group of actors, singers, or dancers who perform together: a touring opera company.

4 (the Company) INFORMAL the Central Intelligence Agency.

■ v. (-nies, -nied) [intrans.] (company with) POETIC/LITERARY associate with; keep company with: these men which have companied with us all this time.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] ARCHAIC accompany (someone): the fair dame, companied by Statius and myself.

<PHRASES>
□ and company used after a person's name to denote those people usually associated with them: the psycholinguistics of Jacques Lacan and company.
- used in the name of a business to denote other unspecified partners: Little, Brown and Company.

□ be in good company be in the same situation as someone important or respected: if you spot the ghost, you are in good company: King George V saw it too.

□ in company with another person or a group of people: you were never to mention in company your father's uncle.

□ in company with together with: the U.S. dollar went through a bad patch in 1986, in company with the oil market.

□ keep someone company accompany or spend time with someone in order to prevent them from feeling lonely or bored.
- engage in the same activity as someone else in order to be sociable: I'll have a drink myself, just to keep you company.

□ keep company with associate with habitually: we don't especially care for the people he's been keeping company with.
- have a social or romantic relationship with; date: are you keeping company with anyone special these days?

□ part company see PART.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in senses 2 and 3): from Old French compainie; related to compaignon (see COMPANION^1 ).

Linked entries:

PART ■

COMPANION ■

com·pa·ny car n. a car provided by a company for the business and sometimes private use of an employee.

com·pa·ny of·fi·cer n. an army officer serving within an infantry company.

com·pa·ra·ble adj. (of a person or thing) able to be likened to another; similar: flaked stone and bone tools comparable to Neanderthal man's tools.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of equivalent quality; worthy of comparison: nobody is comparable with this athlete.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pa·ra·bil·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin comparabilis, from the verb comparare (see COMPARABLE).

<USAGE>
The correct pronunciation in standard English is with the stress on the first syllable rather than the second: comparable, not comparable.

Linked entries:

COMPARABLE ■

com·pa·ra·bly adv. in a similar way or to a similar degree: a comparably priced CD player.

com·par·a·tist n. a person who carries out comparative study, esp. of language or literature.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from COMPARATIVE + -IST.

Linked entries:

COMPARATIVE ■

-IST ■

com·par·a·tive adj. 1 perceptible by comparison; relative: he returned to the comparative comfort of his own home.

2 of or involving comparison between two or more branches of science or subjects of study: comparative religion.

3 [GRAMMAR] (of an adjective or adverb) expressing a higher degree of a quality, but not the highest possible (e.g., braver; more fiercely). Contrasted with POSITIVE, SUPERLATIVE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a clause) involving comparison (e.g., their memory is not as good as it used to be).

■ n. [GRAMMAR] a comparative adjective or adverb.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the comparative) the middle degree of comparison.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 3): from Latin comparativus, from comparare 'to pair, match' (see COMPARE).

Linked entries:

POSITIVE ■

SUPERLATIVE ■

COMPARE ■

com·par·a·tive ad·van·tage n. the ability of an individual or group to carry out a particular economic activity (such as making a specific product) more efficiently than another activity.

com·par·a·tive lin·guis·tics plural n. [treated as sing.] the study of similarities and differences between languages, in particular the comparison of related languages with a view to reconstructing forms in their lost parent languages.

com·par·a·tive·ly adv. [as submodifier] to a moderate degree as compared to something else; relatively: inflation was comparatively low.

com·par·a·tor n. a device for comparing a measurable property or thing with a reference or standard.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an electronic circuit for comparing two electrical signals.

- something used as a standard for comparison.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin comparat- 'paired, matched', from the verb comparare (see COMPARE), + -OR^1 .

Linked entries:

COMPARE ■

-OR ■

com·pare v. [trans.] 1 estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between: individual schools compared their facilities with those of others in the area; the survey compares prices in different countries; total attendance figures were 28,000, compared to 40,000 at last year's event.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (compare something to) point out the resemblances to; liken to: her novel was compared to the work of Daniel Defoe.

- (compare something to) draw an analogy between one thing and (another) for the purposes of explanation or clarification: he compared the religions to different paths toward the peak of the same mountain.

- [intrans.] have a specified relationship with another thing or person in terms of nature or quality: salaries compare favorably with those of other professions.

- [intrans.] be of an equal or similar nature or quality: sales were modest and cannot compare with the glory days of 1989.

2 (usu. be compared) [GRAMMAR] form the comparative and superlative degrees of (an adjective or an adverb): words of one syllable are usually compared by “-er” and “-est.”

<PHRASES>
□ beyond (or without) compare of a quality or nature surpassing all others of the same kind: a diamond beyond compare.

□ compare notes (of two or more people) exchange ideas, opinions, or information about a particular subject.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French comparer, from Latin comparare, from compar 'like, equal', from com- 'with' + par 'equal'.

<USAGE>
Traditionally, compare to is used when similarities are noted in dissimilar things: shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? To compare with is to look for either differences or similarities, usually in similar things: compare the candidate’s claims with his actual performance. In practice, however, this distinction is rarely maintained.

See also usage at CONTRAST.

Linked entries:

CONTRAST ■

com·par·i·son n. 1 the act or instance of comparing: they drew a comparison between Gandhi's teaching and that of other teachers | the two books invite comparison with one another.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an analogy: perhaps the best comparison is that of seasickness.

- the quality of being similar or equivalent: if you want a thrill, there's no comparison to climbing on a truck and going out there on the expressway.

2 [GRAMMAR] the formation of the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs.

<PHRASES>
□ bear (or stand) comparison be of sufficient quality to be likened favorably to someone or something of the same kind: it can stand comparison with any publishing house.

□ beyond comparison another way of saying BEYOND COMPARE (see COMPARE).

□ by/in comparison when compared: computer-based communication is extremely fast in comparison with telephone or postal services.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French comparesoun, from Latin comparatio(n-), from comparare 'to pair, match' (see COMPARE).

Linked entries:

COMPARE ■

COMPARE ■

com·part·ment n. 1 a separate section or part of something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a division of a railroad car marked by partitions: a first-class compartment.

- a section of a container in which certain items can be kept separate from others: there's some ice cream in the freezer compartment.

- a watertight section of a ship: the aft cargo compartment.

- FIGURATIVE an area in which something can be considered in isolation from other things: religion and politics should be kept in different compartments.

2 [HERALDRY] a grassy mound or other support depicted below a shield.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be compartmented) divide (something) into separate parts or sections: the buildings are to be compartmented by fire walls.

<DERIVATIVES> com·part·men·ta·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French compartiment, from Italian compartimento, from compartire, from late Latin compartiri 'divide'.

com·part·men·tal adj. characterized by division into separate sections: the compartmental interior of the church.

<DERIVATIVES> com·art·men·tal·ly adv.

com·part·men·tal·ize v. [trans.] divide into sections or categories: he had the ability to compartmentalize his life.

<DERIVATIVES> com·part·men·tal·ism n. com·part·men·tal·i·za·tion n.

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

The use of the compass for navigation at sea was reported from China c.1100, western Europe 1187, Arabia c.1220, and Scandinavia c.1300, although it probably dates from much earlier. Since the early 20th century the magnetic compass has been superseded by the gyrocompass as primary equipment for ships and aircraft.

2 (also pair of compasses) an instrument for drawing circles and arcs and measuring distances between points, consisting of two arms linked by a movable joint, one arm ending in a point and the other usually carrying a pencil or pen.

3 [in sing.] the range or scope of something: the event had political repercussions that are beyond the compass of this book. See note at RANGE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the enclosing limits of an area: this region had within its compass many types of agriculture.

- the range of notes that can be produced by a voice or a musical instrument: the cellos were playing in a rather somber part of their compass.

■ v. [trans.] ARCHAIC 1 go around (something) in a circular course: the ship wherein Magellan compassed the world.
<SPECIAL USAGE> surround or enclose on all sides: they were compassed with numerous fierce and cruel tribes.

2 contrive to accomplish (something): he compassed his end only by the exercise of violence.

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

com·pass card n. a circular rotating card showing the 32 principal bearings, forming the indicator of a magnetic compass.

com·pas·sion n. sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others: the victims should be treated with compassion. See note at MERCY.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin compassio(n-), from compati 'suffer with'.

com·pas·sion·ate adj. feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pas·sion·ate·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from COMPASSION + -ATE^2 , influenced by archaic French compassioné 'feeling pity'.

Linked entries:

COMPASSION ■

-ATE ■

com·pas·sion·ate leave n. a period of absence from work granted to someone as the result of particular personal circumstances, esp. the death of a close relative.

com·pas·sion fa·tigue n. indifference to charitable appeals on behalf of those who are suffering, experienced as a result of the frequency or number of such appeals.

com·pass rose n. a circle showing the principal directions printed on a map or chart.

com·pass saw n. a handsaw with a narrow blade for cutting curves.

com·pat·i·ble adj. (of two things) able to exist or occur together without conflict: the fruitiness of Beaujolais is compatible with a number of meat dishes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of two people) able to have a harmonious relationship: well-suited: it's a pity we're not compatible.

- (of one thing) consistent with another: the symptoms were compatible with gastritis or a peptic ulcer.

- (of a computer, a piece of software, or other device) able to be used with a specified piece of equipment or software without special adaptation or modification: the printer is fully compatible with all leading software.

■ n. a computer that can use software designed for another make or type.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pat·i·bil·i·ty n. com·pat·i·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French, from medieval Latin compatibilis, from compati 'suffer with'.

com·pa·tri·ot n. a fellow citizen or national of a country: Stich defeated his compatriot Boris Becker in the quarterfinals.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French compatriote, from late Latin compatriota (translating Greek ), from com- 'together with' + patriota (see PATRIOT).

Linked entries:

PATRIOT ■

com·peer n. FORMAL a person of equal rank, status, or ability: he was better versed in his profession than his compeers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC a companion or associate.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French comper, from com- 'with' + per, from Latin par 'equal' (compare with PEER^2 ).

Linked entries:

PEER ■

com·pel v. (-pelled, -pel·ling) [trans.] force or oblige (someone) to do something: a sense of duty compelled Harry to answer her questions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- bring about (something) by the use of force or pressure: they may compel a witness's attendance at court by issue of a summons.

- POETIC/LITERARY drive forcibly: by heav'n's high will compell'd from shore to shore.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin compellere, from com- 'together' + pellere 'drive'.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
coerce, compel, constrain, force, necessitate, oblige

A parent faced with a rebellious teenager may try to compel him to do his homework by threatening to take away his allowance. Compel commonly implies the exercise of authority, the exertion of great effort, or the impossibility of doing anything else (compelled to graduate from high school by her eagerness to leave home). It typically requires a personal object, although it is possible to compel a reaction or response (she compels admiration).

Force is a little stronger, suggesting the exertion of power, energy, or physical strength to accomplish something or to subdue resistance (his mother forced him to confess that he'd broken the window).

Coerce can imply the use of force, but often stops short of using it (she was coerced into obedience by the threat of losing her telephone privileges).

Constrain means compel, but by means of restriction, confinement, or limitation (constrained from dating by his parents' strictness).

Necessitate and oblige make an action necessary by imposing certain conditions that demand a response (her mother's illness obliged her to be more cooperative; it also necessitated her giving up her social life).

com·pel·la·ble adj. [LAW] (of a witness) able to be made to attend court or testify.

com·pel·ling adj. evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way: his eyes were strangely compelling; a compelling film.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- not able to be refuted; inspiring conviction: compelling evidence; a compelling argument.

- not able to be resisted; overwhelming: the temptation to give up was compelling.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pel·ling·ly adv.

com·pen·di·ous adj. FORMAL containing or presenting the essential facts of something in a comprehensive but concise way: a compendious study.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pen·di·ous·ly adv. com·pen·di·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French compendieux, from Latin compendiosus 'advantageous, brief', from compendium 'profit, saving, abbreviation'.

com·pen·di·um n. (pl. -di·ums or -di·a ) a collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject, esp. in a book or other publication.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a collection of things, esp. one systematically gathered: the program is a compendium of outtakes from our archives.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin, 'profit, saving' (literally 'what is weighed together'), from compendere, from com- 'together' + pendere 'weigh'.

com·pen·sa·ble adj. (of a loss or hardship) for which compensation can be obtained.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: French, from compenser, from Latin compensare 'weigh (something) against (another)'.

com·pen·sate v. 1 [trans.] recompense (someone) for loss, suffering, or injury, typically by the award of a sum of money: payments were made to farmers to compensate them for cuts in subsidies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> pay (someone) for work performed: he will be richly compensated for his efforts.

2 [intrans.] (compensate for) make up for (something unwelcome or unpleasant) by exerting an opposite force or effect: officials have boosted levies to compensate for huge deficits.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- act to neutralize or correct (a deficiency or abnormality in a physical property or effect): the output voltage rises, compensating for the original fall.

- [PSYCHOLOGY ] attempt to conceal or offset (a disability or frustration) by development in another direction: they identified with radical movements to compensate for their inability to relate to individual human beings.

3 [trans.] [MECHANICS] provide (a pendulum) with extra or less weight to neutralize the effects of temperature, etc.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pen·sa·tive adj. com·pen·sa·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'counterbalance'): from Latin compensat- 'weighed against', from the verb compensare, from com- 'together' + pensare (frequentative of pendere 'weigh').

com·pen·sa·tion n. something, typically money, awarded to someone as a recompense for loss, injury, or suffering: seeking compensation for injuries suffered at work | [as adj.] a compensation claim.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action or process of making such an award: the compensation of victims.

- the money received by an employee from an employer as a salary or wages.

- something that counterbalances or makes up for an undesirable or unwelcome state of affairs: the gray streets of London were small compensation for the loss of her beloved Africa | getting older has some compensations.

- [PSYCHOLOGY ] the process of concealing or offsetting a psychological difficulty by developing in another direction.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pen·sa·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin compensatio(n-), from the verb compensare 'weigh against' (see COMPENSATE).

Linked entries:

COMPENSATE ■

com·pen·sa·tion pen·du·lum n. [PHYSICS] a pendulum constructed from metals with differing coefficients of expansion in order to neutralize the effects of temperature variation.

com·pen·sa·to·ry adj. providing, effecting, or aiming at compensation, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a payment) intended to recompense someone who has experienced loss, suffering, or injury: $50 million in compensatory damages.

- reducing or offsetting the unpleasant or unwelcome effects of something: the government is taking compensatory actions to keep the interest rate constant.

com·pen·sa·to·ry time n. an arrangement by which eligible employees are entitled to time off in lieu of overtime pay.

com·père BRIT. n. a person who introduces the performers or contestants in a variety show; host.

■ v. [trans.] act as a compère for (such a show).

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally 'godfather'.

com·pete v. [intrans.] strive to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others who are trying to do the same: universities are competing for applicants; he competed with a number of other candidates | [as adj.] (competing) competing political ideologies.
- take part in a contest: he competed in numerous track meets as a child.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin competere, in its late sense 'strive or contend for (something)', from com- 'together' + petere 'aim at, seek'.

com·pe·tence (also com·pe·ten·cy ) n. 1 the ability to do something successfully or efficiently: the players displayed varying degrees of competence.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the scope of a person's or group's knowledge or ability: the music is within the competence of an average choir.

- a skill or ability.

- the legal authority of a court or other body to deal with a particular matter: the court's competence has been accepted.

- the ability of a criminal defendant to stand trial, as gauged by their mental ability to understand the proceedings and to assist defense lawyers.

- (also linguistic or language competence) [LINGUISTICS] a speaker’s subconscious, intuitive knowledge of the rules of their language. Often contrasted with PERFORMANCE.

- [BIOLOGY] & [MEDICINE] effective performance of the normal function.

2 DATED an income large enough to live on, typically unearned: he found himself with an ample competence and no obligations.

Linked entries:

PERFORMANCE ■

com·pe·tent adj. having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully: a highly competent surgeon; make sure the firm is competent to carry out the work.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) efficient and capable: an infinitely competent mother of three.

- acceptable and satisfactory, though not outstanding: she spoke quite competent French.

- (chiefly of a court or other body) accepted as having legal authority to deal with a particular matter: the governor was not the competent authority to deal with the matter.

- (of a criminal defendant) able to understand the charges and to aid in defending themselves.

- [BIOLOGY] & [MEDICINE] capable of performing the normal function effectively.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pe·tent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'suitable, adequate'): from Latin competent-, from the verb competere in its earlier sense 'be fit or proper' (see COMPETE).

Linked entries:

COMPETE ■

com·pe·ti·tion n. the activity or condition of competing: there is fierce competition between banks; at this conservatory, competition for admissions is stiff.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an event or contest in which people compete: a beauty competition.

- the action of participating in such an event or contest: in the heat of competition.

- [in sing.] the person or people with whom one is competing, esp. in a commercial or sporting arena; the opposition: I walked around to check out the competition.

- [ECOLOGY] interaction between organisms, populations, or species, in which birth, growth and death depend on gaining a share of a limited environmental resource.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from late Latin competitio(n-) 'rivalry', from competere 'strive for' (see COMPETE).

Linked entries:

COMPETE ■

com·pet·i·tive adj. 1 of, relating to, or characterized by competition: a competitive sport; the intensely competitive newspaper industry.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having or displaying a strong desire to be more successful than others: she had a competitive streak.

2 as good as or better than others of a comparable nature: a car industry competitive with any in the world.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of prices) low enough to compare well with those of rival merchants: we offer prompt service at competitive rates.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pet·i·tive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin competit- 'striven for', from the verb competere (see COMPETE), + -IVE.

Linked entries:

COMPETE ■

-IVE ■

com·pet·i·tive ex·clu·sion n. [ECOLOGY] the inevitable elimination from a habitat of one of two different species with identical needs for resources.

com·pet·i·tive·ly adv. in a competitive way, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- in a way that strives to gain or win something by defeating others engaged in the same attempt: their father rowed competitively.

- (of a product) priced in a way that compares favorably with others of the same nature: our exports remained competitively priced.

com·pet·i·tor n. an organization or country that is engaged in commercial or economic competition with others: our main industrial competitors.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who takes part in an athletic contest.

com·pi·la·tion n. 1 the action or process of producing something, esp. a list, book, or report, by assembling information collected from other sources: great care has been taken in the compilation of this guidebook.

2 a thing, esp. a book, record, or broadcast program, that is put together by assembling previously separate items: there are thirty-three stories in this compilation | [as adj.] a compilation album.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin compilatio(n-), from compilare 'to plunder' (see COMPILE).

Linked entries:

COMPILE ■

com·pile v. [trans.] 1 produce (something, esp. a list, report, or book) by assembling information collected from other sources: the local authority must compile a list of taxpayers.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- collect (information) in order to produce something: the figures were compiled from a survey of 2,000 schoolchildren.

- accumulate (a specified score): the 49ers have compiled a league-leading 14-2 record.

2 [COMPUTING] (of a computer) convert (a program) into a machine-code or lower-level form in which the program can be executed.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pil·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French compiler or its apparent source, Latin compilare 'plunder or plagiarize'.

comp·ing n. 1 the process of making composite images, esp. electronically.

2 the action of playing a musical accompaniment, esp. in jazz or blues.

3 BRIT., INFORMAL the practice of entering competitions, esp. those promoting consumer products.

<DERIVATIVES> comp·er n. BRIT. (in sense 3).

com·pla·cen·cy (also com·pla·cence) n. a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements: the figures are better, but there are no grounds for complacency.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin complacentia, from Latin complacere 'to please'.

com·pla·cent adj. showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements: you can't afford to be complacent about security.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pla·cent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'pleasant'): from Latin complacent- 'pleasing', from the verb complacere.

<USAGE>
Complacent and complaisant are two words that are similar in pronunciation and that both come from the Latin verb complacere ‘to please’, but which in English do not mean the same thing. Complacent is the more common word and means ‘smug and self-satisfied’: after four consecutive championships, the team became complacent. Complaisant, on the other hand, means ‘willing to please’: the local people proved complaisant and cordial.

com·plain v. [trans.] express dissatisfaction or annoyance about a state of affairs or an event: local authorities complained that they lacked sufficient resources | [intrans.] “You never listen to me,” Larry complained. | [intrans.] we all complained bitterly about the food.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (complain of) state that one is suffering from (a pain or other symptom of illness): her husband began to complain of headaches.

- [intrans.] state a grievance: they complained to the French government.

- [intrans.] POETIC/LITERARY make a mournful sound: let the warbling flute complain.

- [intrans.] (of a structure or mechanism) groan or creak under strain.

<DERIVATIVES> com·plain·er n. com·plain·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French complaindre, from medieval Latin complangere 'bewail', from com- (expressing intensive force) + plangere 'to lament'.

com·plain·ant n. [LAW] a plaintiff in certain lawsuits.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French complaignant, present participle of complaindre 'to lament' (see COMPLAIN).

Linked entries:

COMPLAIN ■

com·plaint n. 1 a statement that a situation is unsatisfactory or unacceptable: I intend to make an official complaint | there were complaints that the building was an eyesore.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a reason for dissatisfaction: I have no complaints about the hotel.

- the expression of dissatisfaction: a letter of complaint; he hasn't any cause for complaint.

- [LAW] the plaintiff's reasons for proceeding in a civil action.

2 an illness or medical condition, esp. a relatively minor one: she is receiving treatment for her skin complaint.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French complainte, feminine past participle of complaindre 'to lament' (see COMPLAIN).

Linked entries:

COMPLAIN ■

com·plai·sant adj. willing to please others; obliging; agreeable: when unharnessed, Northern dogs are peaceful and complaisant.

<DERIVATIVES> com·plai·sance n. com·plai·sant·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: French, from complaire 'acquiesce in order to please', from Latin complacere 'to please'.

<USAGE>
See usage at COMPLACENT.

Linked entries:

COMPLACENT ■

com·pleat adj. & v. archaic spelling of COMPLETE.

Linked entries:

COMPLETE ■

com·plect·ed adj. [in combination] having a specified complexion: lighter-complected invaders from the north.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: apparently from COMPLEXION.

Linked entries:

COMPLEXION ■

com·ple·ment n. 1 a thing that completes or brings to perfection: the libretto proved a perfect complement to the music.

2 [in sing.] a number or quantity of something required to make a group complete: at the moment we have a full complement of staff.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the number of people required to crew a ship: almost half the ship's complement of 322 were wounded.

- [GEOMETRY] the amount in degrees by which a given angle is less than 90°.

- [MATHEMATICS] the members of a set that are not members of a given subset.

3 [GRAMMAR] one or more words, phrases, or clauses governed by a verb (or by a nominalization or a predicative adjective) that complete the meaning of the predicate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in systemic grammar) an adjective or noun that has the same reference as either the subject (as mad in he is mad) or the object (as mad in he drove her mad).

4 [PHYSIOLOGY] a group of proteins present in blood plasma and tissue fluid that combine with an antigen-antibody complex to bring about the lysis of foreign cells.

■ v. [trans.] add to (something) in a way that enhances or improves it; make perfect: a classic blazer complements a look that's stylish or casual.
<SPECIAL USAGE> add to or make complete: the proposals complement the incentives already available.

<DERIVATIVES> com·ple·men·tal adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'completion'): from Latin complementum, from complere 'fill up' (see COMPLETE). Compare with COMPLIMENT.

<USAGE>
Complement and compliment (and the related words complementary and complimentary) are frequently confused. Although pronounced alike, they have quite different meanings. As a verb, complement means 'add to (something) in a way that completes, enhances, or improves,' as in Janet’s new necklace complemented her pearl earrings nicely. Compliment means 'admire and praise (someone) for something,' as in they complimented Janet on her new necklace. Complementary means 'forming a complement or addition, completing,' as in I purchased a suit with a complementary tie and handkerchief. This can be confused with complimentary, for which one sense is 'given freely, as a courtesy': you must pay for the suit, but the tie and handkerchief are complimentary.

Linked entries:

COMPLETE ■

COMPLIMENT ■

com·ple·men·tar·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) a complementary relationship or situation: a culture based on the complementarity of men and women.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [PHYSICS] the concept that two contrasted theories, such as the wave and particle theories of light, may be able to explain a set of phenomena, although each separately only accounts for some aspects.

- [LAW] the principle that jurisdictions will not overlap in legislation, administration, or prosecution of crime.

com·ple·men·ta·ry adj. 1 completing; forming a complement: backyard satellite dishes and the complementary electronic components.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of two or more different things) combining in such a way as to enhance or emphasize each other's qualities: three guitarists playing interlocking, complementary parts.

- [BIOCHEMISTRY] (of gene sequences, nucleotides, etc.) related by the rules of base pairing.

2 [attrib.] of or relating to complementary medicine.

<DERIVATIVES> com·ple·men·ta·ri·ly adv. com·ple·men·ta·ri·ness n.

com·ple·men·ta·ry an·gle n. either of two angles whose sum is 90°.

com·ple·men·ta·ry col·ors plural n. colors directly opposite each other in the color spectrum, such as red and green or blue and orange, that when combined in the right proportions, produce white light. The effect is not the same when mixing paints.

com·ple·men·ta·ry dis·tri·bu·tion n. [LINGUISTICS] the occurrence of speech sounds in mutually exclusive contexts.

com·ple·men·ta·ry DNA n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] synthetic DNA in which the sequence of bases is complementary to that of a given example of DNA.

com·ple·men·ta·ry func·tion n. [MATHEMATICS] the part of the general solution of a linear differential equation that is the general solution of the associated homogeneous equation obtained by substituting zero for the terms not containing the dependent variable.

com·ple·men·ta·ry med·i·cine n. any of a range of medical therapies that fall beyond the scope of scientific medicine but may be used alongside it in the treatment of disease and ill health. Examples include acupuncture and osteopathy. See also ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE.

Linked entries:

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ■

com·ple·men·ta·tion n. the action of complementing something.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GRAMMAR] all the clause constituents that are governed by a verb, nominalization, or adjective.

- [GENETICS] the phenomenon by which the effects of two different nonallelic mutations in a gene are partly or entirely canceled out when they occur together.

com·ple·ment fix·a·tion test n. [MEDICINE] a test for infection with a microorganism that involves measuring the amount of complement available in serum to bind with an antibody-antigen complex.

com·ple·men·tiz·er n. [GRAMMAR] a word or morpheme that marks an embedded clause as functioning as a complement, typically a subordinating conjunction or infinitival to.

com·plete adj. 1 having all the necessary or appropriate parts: a complete list of courses offered by the college; no wardrobe is complete this year without culottes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of all the works of a particular author) collected together in one volume or edition: the complete works of Shakespeare.

- entire; full: I only managed one complete term at school.

- having run its full course; finished: the restoration of the chapel is complete.

2 (often used for emphasis) to the greatest extent or degree; total: a complete ban on smoking; their marriage came as a complete surprise to me.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also com·pleat) CHIEFLY HUMOROUS skilled at every aspect of a particular activity; consummate: these articles are for the compleat mathematician. <ORIGIN> the spelling compleat is a revival of the 17th cent. use as in Walton's The Compleat Angler.

■ v. [trans.] 1 finish making or doing: he completed his Ph.D. in 1983.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [FOOTBALL] (esp. of a quarterback) successfully throw (a forward pass) to a receiver: he completed 12 of 16 passes for 128 yards.

- [intrans.] BRIT. conclude the sale of a property.

2 make (something) whole or perfect: he only needed one thing to complete his happiness; more recent box cameras complete the collection.
- write the required information on (a form or questionnaire): please complete the attached forms.

<PHRASES> complete with having something as an additional part or feature: the detachable keyboard comes complete with numeric keypad.

<DERIVATIVES> com·plete·ness n. com·plet·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French complet or Latin completus, past participle of complere 'fill up, finish, fulfill', from com- (expressing intensive force) + plere 'fill'.

<USAGE>
On the use of adjectives like complete, equal, and unique with submodifiers such as very or more, see usage at UNIQUE.

Linked entries:

UNIQUE ■

com·plete game n. [BASEBALL] a game in which one pitcher pitches all innings without relief.

com·plete·ly adv. totally; utterly: the fire completely destroyed the building | [as submodifier] no code can be completely secure.

com·ple·tion n. the action or process of finishing something: funds for the completion of the new building.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the state of being finished: work on the new golf course is nearing completion | [as adj.] the completion date is early next year.

- [FOOTBALL] a successful forward pass: 21 completions in 26 attempts for 233 yards.

- [LAW] the final stage in the sale of a property, at which point it legally changes ownership: the risk stays with the seller until completion.

- the action of writing the required information on a form.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin completion-, from complere 'fill up' (see COMPLETE).

Linked entries:

COMPLETE ■

com·ple·tist n. an obsessive, typically indiscriminate, collector or fan of something.

com·ple·tive n. [GRAMMAR] a word or morpheme that adds a sense of completeness to a word or phrase (e.g., up in the phrase break up).

com·plex adj. 1 consisting of many different and connected parts: a complex network of water channels.
<SPECIAL USAGE> not easy to analyze or understand; complicated or intricate: a complex personality; the situation is more complex than it appears.

2 [MATHEMATICS] denoting or involving numbers or quantities containing both a real and an imaginary part.

3 [CHEMISTRY] denoting an ion or molecule in which one or more groups are linked to a metal atom by coordinate bonds.

■ n. 1 a group of similar buildings or facilities on the same site: a new apartment complex; a complex of hotels.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a group or system of different things that are linked in a close or complicated way; a network: a complex of mountain roads.

2 [PSYCHOANALYSIS] a related group of emotionally significant ideas that are completely or partly repressed and that cause psychic conflict leading to abnormal mental states or behavior.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a disproportionate concern or anxiety about something: there's no point having a complex about losing your hair.

3 [CHEMISTRY] an ion or molecule in which one or more groups are linked to a metal atom by coordinate bonds.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any loosely bonded species formed by the association of two molecules: cross-linked proteinDNA complexes.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be complexed) [CHEMISTRY] make (an atom or compound) form a complex with another: the DNA was complexed with the nuclear extract | [as adj.] (complexed) the complexed metal ion.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] form a complex: these proteins are capable of complexing with VP16.

<DERIVATIVES> com·plex·a·tion n. ([CHEMISTRY]) com·plex·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'group of related elements'): from Latin complexus, past participle (used as a noun) of complectere 'embrace, comprise', later associated with complexus 'plaited'; the adjective is partly via French complexe.

com·plex plane n. an infinite two-dimensional space representing the set of complex numbers, esp. one in which Cartesian coordinates represent the real and imaginary parts of the complex numbers.

com·plex con·ju·gate n. [MATHEMATICS] each of two complex numbers having their real parts identical and their imaginary parts of equal magnitude but opposite sign.

com·plex·ion n. 1 the natural color, texture, and appearance of a person's skin, esp. of the face: an attractive girl with a pale complexion.

2 the general aspect or character of something: Congress's new complexion became boldly apparent last summer; wind, rain, and road construction have gradually changed Baja's complexion.

<DERIVATIVES> com·plex·ioned adj. [often in combination] they were both fair-complexioned.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin complexio(n-) 'combination' (in late Latin 'physical constitution'), from complectere 'embrace, comprise'. The term originally denoted physical constitution or temperament determined by the combination of the four bodily humors, hence sense 1 (late 16th cent.) as a visible sign of this.

com·plex·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) the state or quality of being intricate or complicated: an issue of great complexity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (usu. complexities) a factor involved in a complicated process or situation: the complexities of family life.

com·plex sen·tence n. [GRAMMAR] a sentence containing a subordinate clause or clauses.

com·pli·ance (also com·pli·an·cy ) n. 1 the action or fact of complying with a wish or command: they must secure each other's cooperation or compliance.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (compliance with) the state or fact of according with or meeting rules or standards: all imports of timber are in compliance with regulations.

- unworthy or excessive acquiescence: the appalling compliance with government views shown by the commission.

2 [PHYSICS] the property of a material of undergoing elastic deformation or (of a gas) change in volume when subjected to an applied force. It is equal to the reciprocal of stiffness.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MEDICINE] the ability of an organ to distend in response to applied pressure.

■ adj. undertaken or existing mainly in order to comply with an earlier treaty, order, or law: WTO compliance legislation that ignores skyrocketing drug costs.

com·pli·ant adj. 1 inclined to agree with others or obey rules, esp. to an excessive degree; acquiescent: good-humored, eagerly compliant girls. See note at OBEDIENT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> meeting or in accordance with rules or standards: the systems are Y2K compliant.

2 [PHYSICS] & [MEDICINE] having the property of compliance.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pli·ant·ly adv.

com·pli·cate v. [trans.] make (something) more difficult or confusing by causing it to be more complex: middlemen can complicate the process | [as adj.] (complicating) a complicating factor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MEDICINE] introduce complications in (an existing condition): smoking may complicate pregnancy.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'combine, entangle, intertwine'): from Latin complicat- 'folded together', from the verb complicare, from com- 'together' + plicare 'to fold'.

com·pli·cat·ed adj. 1 consisting of many interconnecting parts or elements; intricate: a complicated stereo system.
<SPECIAL USAGE> involving many different and confusing aspects: a long and complicated saga.

2 [MEDICINE] involving complications: complicated appendicitis.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pli·cat·ed·ly adv.

com·pli·ca·tion n. 1 a circumstance that complicates something; a difficulty: there is a complication concerning ownership of the site.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an involved or confused condition or state: to add further complication, English speakers use a different name.

2 [MEDICINE] a secondary disease or condition aggravating an already existing one: she developed complications after the surgery.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin complicatio(n-), from Latin complicare 'fold together' (see COMPLICATE).

Linked entries:

COMPLICATE ■

com·plic·it n. involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing: all of these people are complicit in some criminal conspiracy.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: back-formation from COMPLICITY.

Linked entries:

COMPLICITY ■

com·plic·i·ty n. the state of being involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing: they were accused of complicity in the attempt to overthrow the government.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Middle English complice 'an associate', from Old French, from late Latin complex, complic- 'allied', from Latin complicare 'fold together' (see COMPLICATE). Compare with ACCOMPLICE.

Linked entries:

COMPLICATE ■

ACCOMPLICE ■

com·pli·ment n. a polite expression of praise or admiration: she paid me an enormous compliment..
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an act or circumstance that implies praise or respect: it's a compliment to the bride to dress up on her special day.

- (compliments) congratulations or praise expressed to someone: my compliments on your cooking.

- (compliments) greetings or regards, esp. when sent as a message: carry my compliments to your kinsmen.

■ v. [trans.] politely congratulate or praise (someone) for something: he complimented Erica on her appearance.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- praise (something) politely: complimenting the other team's good play.

- (compliment someone with) ARCHAIC present someone with (something) as a mark of courtesy: Prince George expected to be complimented with a seat in the royal coach.

<PHRASES>
□ compliments of the season used as a seasonal greeting at Christmas or the New Year.

□ pay one's compliments send or express formal greetings.

□ return the compliment give a compliment in return for another.
- retaliate or respond in kind.

□ with someone's compliments (or the compliments of) used to express the fact that what one is giving is free: all drinks will be supplied with our compliments.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French compliment (noun), complimenter (verb), from Italian complimento 'fulfillment of the requirements of courtesy', from Latin complementum 'completion, fulfillment' (reflected in the earlier English spelling complement, gradually replaced by the French form between 1655 and 1715).

<USAGE>
Compliment (together with complimentary) is quite different in meaning from complement (and complementary). See usage at COMPLEMENT.

Linked entries:

COMPLEMENT ■

com·pli·men·ta·ry adj. 1 expressing a compliment; praising or approving: Jennie was very complimentary about Kathy's riding; complimentary remarks.

2 given or supplied free of charge: a complimentary bottle of wine.

com·pli·men·tary close (also complimentary closing) n. the part of a letter that immediately precedes the writer's signature, consisting of words such as Sincerely, Cordially, Very truly yours, etc.

com·pline n. a service of evening prayers forming part of the Divine Office of the Western Christian Church, traditionally said (or chanted) before retiring for the night.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French complie, feminine past participle of obsolete complir 'to complete', from Latin complere 'fill up' (see COMPLETE). The ending -ine was probably influenced by Old French matines 'matins'.

Linked entries:

COMPLETE ■

com·ply v. (-plies, -plied) [intrans.] (of a person or group) act in accordance with a wish or command: we are unable to comply with your request.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an article) meet specified standards: all secondhand furniture must comply with the new standards.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Italian complire, Catalan complir, Spanish cumplir, from Latin complere 'fill up, fulfill' (see COMPLETE). The original sense was 'fulfill, accomplish', later 'fulfill the requirements of courtesy', hence 'to be agreeable, to oblige or obey'. Compare with COMPLIMENT.

Linked entries:

COMPLETE ■

COMPLIMENT ■

com·po·nent n. a part or element of a larger whole, esp. a part of a machine or vehicle: stereo components.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHYSICS] each of two or more forces, velocities, or other vectors acting in different directions that are together equivalent to a given vector.

■ adj. constituting part of a larger whole; constituent: light passed through a prism breaks up into its component colors.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin component- 'putting together', from the verb componere, from com- 'together' + ponere 'put'. Compare with COMPOUND^1 .

Linked entries:

COMPOUND ■

com·po·nen·tial a·nal·y·sis n. [LINGUISTICS] the analysis of the meaning of an expression into discrete semantic components.

com·po·ny adj. [usu. postpositive] [HERALDRY] divided into a single row of squares in alternating tinctures: a bordure compony.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French componé, from Old French compondre, from Latin componere 'put together'.

com·port 1 v. 1 (comport oneself) FORMAL conduct oneself; behave: articulate students who comported themselves well in television interviews.

2 [intrans.] (comport with) accord with; agree with: the actions that comport with her own liberal views

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'tolerate'): from Latin comportare, from com- 'together' + portare 'carry, bear'.

com·port 2 n. another term for COMPOTE (sense 2).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: apparently an abbreviation of French comportier, variant of compotier 'dessert dish'.

Linked entries:

COMPOTE ■

com·port·ment n. behavior; bearing: he displayed the comportment expected of the rightful king.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French comportement, from the verb comporter, from Latin comportare (see COMPORT^1 ).

Linked entries:

COMPORT ■

com·pose v. [trans.] 1 write or create (a work of art, esp. music or poetry): he composed the First Violin Sonata four years earlier.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- write or phrase (a letter or piece of writing) with care and thought: the first sentence is so hard to compose.

- form (a whole) by ordering or arranging the parts, esp. in an artistic way: compose and draw a still life.

- order or arrange (parts) to form a whole, esp. in an artistic way: make an attempt to compose your images.

2 (usu. be composed) (of elements) constitute or make up (a whole): the system is composed of a group of machines.
<SPECIAL USAGE> be (a specified number or amount) of a whole: Christians compose 40 percent of the state's population.

3 calm or settle (oneself or one's features or thoughts): she tried to compose herself.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC settle (a dispute): the king, with some difficulty, composed this difference.

4 prepare (a text) for printing by manually, mechanically, or electronically setting up the letters and other characters in the order to be printed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> set up (letters and characters) in this way.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'put together, construct'): from Old French composer, from Latin componere (see COMPONENT), but influenced by Latin compositus 'composed' and Old French poser 'to place'.

<USAGE>
On the differences between comprise and compose, see usage at COMPRISE.

Linked entries:

COMPONENT ■

COMPRISE ■

com·posed adj. having one's feelings and expression under control; calm.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pos·ed·ly adv.

com·pos·er n. a person who writes music, esp. as a professional occupation.

com·pos·ite adj. 1 made up of various parts or elements.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (esp. of a constructional material) made up of recognizable constituents: a new composite materiala blend of plastic and ceramic resins.

- (of a railroad car) having compartments of more than one class or function.

- [MATHEMATICS] (of an integer) being the product of two or more factors greater than one; not prime.

2 (Composite) relating to or denoting a classical order of architecture consisting of elements of the Ionic and Corinthian orders.

3 [BOTANY] relating to or denoting plants of the daisy family (Compositae).

■ n. 1 a thing made up of several parts or elements: the English legal system is a composite of legislation and judicial precedent.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a composite photograph.

- a composite constructional material.

2 [BOTANY] a plant of the daisy family (Compositae).

3 (Composite) the Composite order of architecture.

■ v. [trans.] [usu. as n.] (compositing) combine (two or more images) to make a single picture, esp. electronically: photographic compositing by computer.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
-

- amalgamate (two or more similar resolutions).

<DERIVATIVES> com·pos·ite·ly adv. com·pos·ite·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (describing a number having more than one digit): via French from Latin compositus, past participle of componere 'put together'.

com·pos·ite pho·to·graph n. a photograph made by overlapping or juxtaposing two or more separate images.

com·po·si·tion n. 1 the nature of something's ingredients or constituents; the way in which a whole or mixture is made up: the social composition of villages.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of putting things together; formation or construction: the composition of a new government was announced.

- a thing composed of various elements: a theory is a composition of interrelated facts.

- ARCHAIC mental constitution; character: persons who have a touch of madness in their composition.

- [often as adj.] a compound artificial substance, esp. one serving the purpose of a natural one: composition flooring.

- [LINGUISTICS] the formation of words into a compound word.

- [MATHEMATICS] the successive application of functions to a variable, the value of the first function being the argument of the second, and so on: composition of functions, when defined, is associative.

- [PHYSICS] the process of finding the resultant of a number of forces.

2 a work of music, literature, or art: Chopin's most romantic compositions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action or art of producing such a work: the technical aspects of composition.

- an essay, esp. one written by a school or college student.

- the artistic arrangement of the parts of a picture: spoiling the composition of many of the pictures.

3 the preparing of text for printing by setting up the characters in order. See COMPOSE (sense 4).

4 a legal agreement to pay an amount of money in lieu of a larger debt or other obligation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an amount of money paid in this way.

<DERIVATIVES> com·po·si·tion·al adj. com·po·si·tion·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin composition-, from componere 'put together'.

Linked entries:

COMPOSE ■

com·pos·i·tor n. [PRINTING] a person who arranges type for printing or keys text into a composing machine.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally Scots, denoting an umpire or arbiter): from Anglo-Norman French compositour, from Latin compositor, from composit- 'put together', from the verb componere (see COMPOSITION).

Linked entries:

COMPOSITION ■

com·pos men·tis adj. [predic.] having full control of one's mind; sane: are you sure he was totally compos mentis?

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: Latin.

com·pos·si·ble adj. RARE (of one thing) compatible or possible in conjunction with another.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Old French, from medieval Latin compossibilis, from com- 'together with' + possibilis (see POSSIBLE).

Linked entries:

POSSIBLE ■

com·post n. decayed organic material used as a plant fertilizer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a mixture of this with loam and/or other ingredients, used as a growing medium.

■ v. [trans.] make (vegetable matter or manure) into compost: don't compost heavily infested plants.
<SPECIAL USAGE> treat (soil) with compost: we turned clay soil into almost workable soil by composting it.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French composte, from Latin composita, compositum 'something put together', feminine and neuter past participle of componere.

com·post heap (also compost pile) n. a pile of garden and organic kitchen refuse that decomposes to produce compost.

com·po·sure n. the state or feeling of being calm and in control of oneself: she was struggling to regain her composure.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'composing, composition'): from COMPOSE + -URE.

Linked entries:

COMPOSE ■

-URE ■

com·pote n. 1 fruit preserved or cooked in syrup.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a dish consisting of fruit salad or stewed fruit, often with syrup.

2 a bowl-shaped dessert dish with a stem.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French, from Old French composte 'mixture' (see COMPOST).

Linked entries:

COMPOST ■

com·pound 1 n. a thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; a mixture: the air smelled like a compound of diesel and gasoline fumes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also chemical compound) a substance formed from two or more elements chemically united in fixed proportions: a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.

- a word made up of two or more existing words, such as steamship.

■ adj. [attrib.] made up or consisting of several parts or elements, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a word) made up of two or more existing words or elements: a compound noun.

- (of interest) payable on both capital and the accumulated interest: compound interest. Compare with SIMPLE.

- [BIOLOGY] (esp. of a leaf, flower, or eye) consisting of two or more simple parts or individuals in combination.

■ v. [trans.] 1 (often be compounded) make up (a composite whole); constitute: a dialect compounded of Spanish and Dutch.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- mix or combine (ingredients or constituents): yellow pastas compounded with lemon zest or saffron.

- calculate (interest) on previously accumulated interest: the yield at which the interest is compounded.

- (of a sum of money invested) increase by compound interest: let your money compound for five years.

2 make (something bad) worse; intensify the negative aspects of: I compounded the problem by trying to make wrong things right.

3 [LAW] forbear from prosecuting (a felony) in exchange for money or other consideration.
<SPECIAL USAGE> settle (a debt or other matter) in this way: he compounded the case with the defendant for a cash payment.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pound·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English compoune (verb), from Old French compoun-, present tense stem of compondre, from Latin componere 'put together'. The final -d was added in the 16th cent. on the pattern of expound and propound.

<USAGE>
The sense of the verb compound that means ‘worsen,’ as in this compounds their problems, has an interesting history. It arose through a misinterpretation of the phrase compound a felony, which, strictly speaking, means ‘forbear from prosecuting a felony in exchange for money or other consideration.’ The ‘incorrect’ sense has become the usual one in legal uses and, by extension, in general senses too, and is now accepted as part of standard English.

Linked entries:

SIMPLE ■

com·pound 2 n. an area enclosed by a fence, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an open area in which a factory or large house stands.

- an open area in a prison, prison camp, or work camp.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (referring to such an area in Southeast Asia): from Portuguese campon or Dutch kampoeng, from Malay kampong 'enclosure, hamlet'; compare with KAMPONG.

Linked entries:

KAMPONG ■

com·pound-com·plex sen·tence n. a sentence having two or more coordinate independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

com·pound·er n. a person who mixes or combines ingredients in order to produce an animal feed, medicine, or other substance.

com·pound eye n. an eye consisting of an array of numerous small visual units, as found in insects and crustaceans. Contrasted with SIMPLE EYE.

Linked entries:

SIMPLE EYE ■

com·pound frac·tion n. a fraction in which either the numerator or the denominator, or both, contain one or more fractions. Also called COMPLEX FRACTION.

com·pound frac·ture n. an injury in which a broken bone pierces the skin, causing a risk of infection. Compare with SIMPLE FRACTURE.

com·pound in·ter·val n. [MUSIC] an interval greater than an octave.

com·pound leaf n. a leaf of a plant consisting of several or many distinct parts (leaflets) joined to a single stem.

com·pound num·ber n. a quantity expressed in terms of more than one unit or denomination, such as 5 feet 7 inches or 2 pounds 3 ounces.

com·pound sen·tence n. a sentence with more than one subject or predicate.

com·pound time n. [MUSIC] musical rhythm or meter in which each beat in a bar is subdivided into three smaller units, so having the value of a dotted note. Compare with SIMPLE TIME.

Linked entries:

SIMPLE TIME ■

com·pra·dor (also com·pra·dore) n. a person within a country who acts as an agent for foreign organizations engaged in investment, trade, or economic or political exploitation.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting a local person employed in a European household in Southeast Asia or India to make small purchases and keep the household accounts): from Portuguese, 'buyer', from late Latin comparator, from Latin comparare 'to purchase', from com- 'with' + parare 'provide'.

com·pre·hend v. [trans.] 1 grasp mentally; understand: he couldn't comprehend her reasons for marrying Lovat; | I simply couldn't comprehend what had happened.

2 FORMAL include, comprise, or encompass: a divine order comprehending all men.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pre·hend·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French comprehender, or Latin comprehendere, from com- 'together' + prehendere 'grasp'.

com·pre·hen·si·ble adj. able to be understood; intelligible: clear and comprehensible English.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pre·hen·si·bil·i·ty n. com·pre·hen·si·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French compréhensible or Latin comprehensibilis, from comprehens- 'seized, comprised', from the verb comprehendere (see COMPREHEND).

Linked entries:

COMPREHEND ■

com·pre·hen·sion n. 1 the action or capability of understanding something: some won't have the least comprehension of what I'm trying to do; the comprehension of spoken language.

2 ARCHAIC inclusion.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French compréhension or Latin comprehensio(n-), from the verb comprehendere 'seize, comprise' (see COMPREHEND).

Linked entries:

COMPREHEND ■

com·pre·hen·sive adj. 1 complete; including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something: a comprehensive list of sources.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of large content or scope; wide-ranging: a comprehensive collection of photographs.

- (of automobile insurance) providing coverage for most risks, including damage to the policyholder's own vehicle: comprehensive and collision insurance.

- (also comprehensive examination or comp) an examination testing a student’s command of a special field of knowledge.

2 ARCHAIC of or relating to understanding.

■ n. (in full comprehensive school) BRIT. a secondary school catering to children of all abilities from a given area.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pre·hen·sive·ly adv. com·pre·hen·sive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French compréhensif, -ive, from late Latin comprehensivus, from the verb comprehendere 'grasp mentally'.

com·press v. [trans.] (often be compressed) flatten by pressure; squeeze; press: the skirt can be folded and compressed into a small bag | [as adj.] (compressed) compressed gas.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] be squeezed or pressed together or into a smaller space: the land is sinking as the soil compresses.

- squeeze or press (two things) together: Violet compressed her lips together grimly.

- express in a shorter form; abridge: in this chapter we compress into summary form the main findings.

- [COMPUTING] alter the form of (data) to reduce the amount of storage necessary.

- [as adj.] (compressed) [CHIEFLY BIOLOGY] having a narrow shape as if flattened, esp. sideways: most sea snakes have a compressed tail.

■ n. a pad of absorbent material pressed onto part of the body to relieve inflammation or stop bleeding: a cold compress.

<DERIVATIVES> com·press·i·bil·i·ty n. com·press·i·ble adj. com·pres·sive adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French compresser or late Latin compressare, frequentative of Latin comprimere, from com- 'together' + premere 'to press'; or directly from compress- 'pressed together', from the verb comprimere.

com·pressed air n. air that has been compressed to a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure.

com·pres·sion n. the action of compressing or being compressed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the reduction in volume (causing an increase in pressure) of the fuel mixture in an internal combustion engine before ignition.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pres·sion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin compressio(n-), from comprimere 'press together' (see COMPRESS).

Linked entries:

COMPRESS ■

com·pres·sion ra·tio n. the ratio of the maximum to minimum volume in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine.

com·pres·sive strength n. the resistance of a material to breaking under compression. Compare with TENSILE STRENGTH.

Linked entries:

TENSILE STRENGTH ■

com·pres·sor n. an instrument or device for compressing something.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a machine used to supply air or other gas at increased pressure, e.g., to power a gas turbine.

- an electrical amplifier that reduces the dynamic range of a signal.

com·prise v. [trans.] consist of; be made up of: the country comprises twenty states.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make up; constitute: this single breed comprises 50 percent of the Swiss cattle population | (be comprised of) documents are comprised of words.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French, 'comprised', feminine past participle of comprendre, from Old French comprehender (see COMPREHEND).

<USAGE>
1 According to traditional usage, comprise means ‘consist of,’ as in the country comprises twenty states, and should not be used to mean ‘constitute or make up (a whole),’ as in this single breed comprises 50 percent of the Swiss cattle population. But confusion has arisen because of uses in the passive, which have been formed by analogy with words like compose: when comprise is used in the active (as in the country comprises twenty states) it is, oddly, more or less synonymous with the passive use of the second sense (as in the country is comprised of twenty states). Such passive uses of comprise are common and are fast becoming part of standard English.

2 On the differences between comprise and include, see usage at INCLUDE.

Linked entries:

COMPREHEND ■

INCLUDE ■

com·pro·mise n. an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions: an ability to listen to two sides in a dispute, and devise a compromise acceptable to both;| the secret of a happy marriage is compromise.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a middle state between conflicting opinions or actions reached by mutual concession or modification: a compromise between communism and private enterprise.

- the acceptance of standards that are lower than is desirable: sexism should be tackled without compromise.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] settle a dispute by mutual concession: in the end we compromised and deferred the issue.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] ARCHAIC settle (a dispute) by mutual concession: I should compromise the matter with my father.

2 [trans.] weaken (a reputation or principle) by accepting standards that are lower than is desirable: commercial pressures could compromise safety.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] accept standards that are lower than is desirable: we were not prepared to compromise on safety.

- bring into disrepute or danger by indiscreet, foolish, or reckless behavior: situations in which his troops could be compromised.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pro·mis·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting mutual consent to arbitration): from Old French compromis, from late Latin compromissum 'a consent to arbitration', neuter past participle of compromittere, from com- 'together' + promittere (see PROMISE).

Linked entries:

PROMISE ■

com·pro·mis·ing adj. (of information or a situation) revealing an embarrassing or incriminating secret about someone: to cover up compromising evidence of malpractice.

compte ren·du n. (pl. comptes ren·dus pronunc. same) a formal report or review.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, literally 'account rendered'.

Comp·ton 1 an industrial city in southwestern California, just south of Los Angeles; pop. 90,454.

Comp·ton 2 Arthur Holly (1892-1962), U.S. physicist. He observed the Compton effect and thus demonstrated the dual particle and wave properties of electromagnetic radiation and matter, as predicted by quantum theory. Nobel Prize for Physics (1927, shared with C. Wilson).

Comp·ton ef·fect n. [PHYSICS] an increase in wavelength of X-rays or gamma rays that occurs when they are scattered.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after A. H. Compton (see COMPTON^2 ).

Linked entries:

COMPTON ■

comp·trol·ler n. a controller (used in the title of some financial officers).

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: variant of CONTROLLER, by erroneous association with French compte 'calculation' or its source, late Latin computus.

Linked entries:

CONTROLLER ■

com·pul·sion n. 1 the action or state of forcing or being forced to do something; constraint: the payment was made under compulsion.

2 an irresistible urge to behave in a certain way, esp. against one's conscious wishes: he felt a compulsion to babble on about what had happened.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin compulsio(n-), from compellere 'to drive, force' (see COMPEL).

Linked entries:

COMPEL ■

com·pul·sive adj. 1 resulting from or relating to an irresistible urge, esp. one that is against one's conscious wishes: compulsive eating.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) acting as a result of such an urge: a compulsive liar.

2 irresistibly interesting or exciting; compelling: this play is compulsive viewing.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pul·sive·ly adv. com·pul·sive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'compulsory'): from medieval Latin compulsivus, from compuls- 'driven, forced', from the verb compellere (see COMPEL). Sense 1 (originally a term in psychology) dates from the early 20th cent.

Linked entries:

COMPEL ■

com·pul·so·ry adj. required by law or a rule; obligatory: compulsory military service; | it was compulsory to attend Mass.
<SPECIAL USAGE> involving or exercising compulsion; coercive: the abuse of compulsory powers.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pul·so·ri·ly adv. com·pul·so·ri·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (as a noun denoting a legal mandate that had to be obeyed): from medieval Latin compulsorius, from compuls- 'driven, forced', from the verb compellere (see COMPEL).

Linked entries:

COMPEL ■

com·punc·tion n. [usu. with negative] a feeling of guilt or moral scruple that follows the doing of something bad: spend the money without compunction. See note at QUALM.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a pricking of the conscience: he had no compunction about behaving blasphemously.

<DERIVATIVES> com·punc·tion·less adj. com·punc·tious adj. com·punc·tious·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French componction, from ecclesiastical Latin compunctio(n-), from Latin compungere 'prick sharply', from com- (expressing intensive force) + pungere 'to prick'.

com·pur·ga·tion n. HISTORICAL [LAW] acquittal from a charge or accusation, obtained by statements of innocence given by witnesses under oath.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin compurgation-, from Latin compurgare, from com- (expressing intensive force) + purgare 'purify' (from purus 'pure').

com·pur·ga·tor n. HISTORICAL [LAW] a sworn witness to the innocence or good character of an accused person.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: medieval Latin, from Latin com- 'together with' + purgator, from purgare 'purify' (see COMPURGATION).

Linked entries:

COMPURGATION ■

com·pu·ta·tion n. the action of mathematical calculation: months of computation carried out on 200 computers | statistical computations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the use of computers, esp. as a subject of research or study.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin computatio(n-), from the verb computare (see COMPUTE).

Linked entries:

COMPUTE ■

com·pu·ta·tion·al adj. using computers: the computational analysis of English.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of or relating to computers: computational power.

- of or relating to the process of mathematical calculation.

<DERIVATIVES> com·pu·ta·tion·al·ly adv.

com·pu·ta·tion·al lin·guis·tics plural n. [treated as sing.] the branch of linguistics in which the techniques of computer science are applied to the analysis and synthesis of language and speech.

com·pute v. [trans.] (often be computed) calculate or reckon (a figure or amount): we can compute the exact increase; depreciation is computed by applying the straight-line method.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] make a calculation, esp. using a computer: modern circuitry can compute faster than any chess player.

- [intrans., with negative] INFORMAL seem reasonable; make sense: the idea just doesn't compute. <ORIGIN> from the phrase does not compute, once used as an error message in computing.

<DERIVATIVES> com·put·a·bil·i·ty n. com·put·a·ble adj. com·put·a·bly adv. com·put·ist n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French computer or Latin computare, from com- 'together' + putare 'to settle (an account)'.

com·put·er n. an electronic device for storing and processing data, typically in binary form, according to instructions given to it in a variable program.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who makes calculations, esp. with a calculating machine.

com·put·er an·i·ma·tion n. see ANIMATION.

Linked entries:

ANIMATION ■

com·put·er con·fer·enc·ing n. the use of computer and telecommunications technology to hold discussions between three or more people operating computers in separate locations.

com·put·er dat·ing n. the use of computer databases to identify potentially compatible partners for people.

com·put·er·ese n. CHIEFLY DEROGATORY the jargon associated with computers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the symbols and rules of a computer programming language.

com·put·er-friend·ly adj. 1 suitable for use with computers; compatible with computers: present the data in computer-friendly form.

2 (of a person) well disposed toward computers: a computer-friendly politician.

com·put·er game n. a game played using a computer, typically a video game.

com·put·er graph·ics plural n. another term for GRAPHICS (sense 3).

Linked entries:

GRAPHICS ■

com·put·er·ist n. a (frequent) user of computers.

com·put·er·ize v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (computerized) convert to a system that is operated or controlled by computer: the advantages of computerized accounting.
<SPECIAL USAGE> convert (information) to a form that is stored or processed by computer: a computerized register of dogs.

<DERIVATIVES> com·put·er·i·za·tion n.

com·pu·ter·ized ax·i·al to·mog·ra·phy (abbr.: CAT) n. a form of tomography in which a computer controls the motion of the X-ray source and detectors, processes the data, and produces the image.

com·put·er-lit·er·ate adj. (of a person) having sufficient knowledge and skill to be able to use computers; familiar with the operation of computers.

<DERIVATIVES> com·put·er lit·er·a·cy n.

com·put·er pro·gram·mer n. a person who writes programs for the operation of computers, esp. as an occupation.

com·put·er sci·ence n. the study of the principles and use of computers.

com·put·er vi·rus n. see VIRUS.

Linked entries:

VIRUS ■

com·put·ing n. the use or operation of computers: developments in mathematics and computing | [as adj.] computing facilities.

com·rade n. a companion who shares one's activities or is a fellow member of an organization.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also com·rade-in-arms) a fellow soldier or serviceman.

- a fellow socialist or communist (often as a form of address): [as title] Comrade Lenin.

<DERIVATIVES> com·rade·ly adj. com·rade·ship n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally also camerade): from French camerade, camarade (originally feminine), from Spanish camarada 'roommate', from Latin camera 'chamber'. Compare with CHUM^1 .

Linked entries:

CHUM ■

Com·sat n. TRADEMARK the Communications Satellite Corporation, a private corporation authorized by Congress to develop commercial communications satellite systems.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (comsat) INFORMAL a communications satellite.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: blend.

Com·stock·er·y n. excessive opposition to supposed immorality in the arts; prudery.

<ORIGIN> named for Anthony Comstock (1844-1915), U.S. author and reformer.

Com·stock Lode a historic gold and silver source in the Virginia Mountains of western Nevada, south of Reno, the basis of a boom that lasted from the 1850s through the late-19th century.

Comte Auguste (1798-1857), French philosopher; one of the founders of sociology. His positivist philosophy attempted to define the laws of social evolution and to found a genuine social science that could be used for social reconstruction.

<DERIVATIVES> Comt·ism n.

con 1 INFORMAL v. (conned, con·ning) [trans.] persuade (someone) to do or believe something, typically by use of a deception: I conned him into giving me your home number; she was jailed for conning her aunt out of $500,000.

■ n. an instance of deceiving or tricking someone: when depositors, realizing that the whole thing is a con, demand repayment | [as adj.] a con artist.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (originally U.S.): abbreviation of CONFIDENCE, as in confidence trick.

Linked entries:

CONFIDENCE ■

con 2 n. a disadvantage: borrowers have to weigh up the pros and cons of each mortgage offer.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin contra 'against'.

con 3 n. INFORMAL a convict.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

con 4 variant spelling of CONN.

Linked entries:

CONN ■

con 5 v. (conned, con·ning) [trans.] ARCHAIC study attentively or learn by heart (a piece of writing): the girls conned their pages with a great show of industry.

<ORIGIN> Middle English cunne, conne, con, variants of CAN^1 .

Linked entries:

CAN ■

con 6 n. INFORMAL a convention, esp. one for science-fiction enthusiasts.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: abbreviation.

con- prefix variant spelling of COM- assimilated before c, d, f, g, j, n, q, s, t, v, and sometimes before vowels (as in concord, condescend, confide, etc.).

<ORIGIN> Latin variant of com-.

Linked entries:

COM- ■

Co·na·kry the capital and chief port of Guinea, in the western part of the county, on the Atlantic coast; pop. 950,000.

con a·mo·re adv. [MUSIC] (esp. as a direction) with tenderness.

<ORIGIN> Italian, 'with love'.

Co·nan Doyle see DOYLE.

Linked entries:

DOYLE ■

co·na·tion n. [PHILOSOPHY] & [PSYCHOLOGY] the mental faculty of purpose, desire, or will to perform an action; volition.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting an attempt or endeavor): from Latin conatio(n-), from conari 'to try'.

con bri·o adv. [MUSIC] (esp. as a direction) with vigor.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

con·cat·e·nate v. [trans.] FORMAL or TECHNICAL link (things) together in a chain or series: some words may be concatenated, such that certain sounds are omitted.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (as an adjective): from late Latin concatenat- 'linked together', from the verb concatenare, from con- 'together' + catenare, from catena 'chain'.

con·cat·e·na·tion n. a series of interconnected things or events: a singular concatenation of events unlikely to recur.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of linking things together in a series.

- the condition of being linked in such a way.

con·cave adj. having an outline or surface that curves inward like the interior of a circle or sphere. Compare with CONVEX (sense 1).

<DERIVATIVES> con·cave·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin concavus, from con- 'together' + cavus 'hollow'.

Linked entries:

CONVEX ■

con·cav·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) the state or quality of being concave.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a concave surface or thing.

con·ca·vo-con·cave adj. another term for BICONCAVE.

Linked entries:

BICONCAVE ■

con·ca·vo-con·vex adj. (of a lens) concave on one side and convex on the other and thickest at the periphery.

con·ceal v. [trans.] keep from sight; hide: a line of sand dunes concealed the distant sea | [as adj.] (concealed) he pressed a concealed button.
<SPECIAL USAGE> keep (something) secret; prevent from being known or noticed: love that they had to conceal from others.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ceal·a·ble adj. con·ceal·ment n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French conceler, from Latin concelare, from con- 'completely' + celare 'hide'.

con·ceal·er n. a flesh-toned cosmetic used to cover facial blemishes and dark circles under the eyes.

con·cede v. 1 [reporting verb] admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it: [with clause] I had to concede that I'd overreacted | [trans.] that principle now seems to have been conceded.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] admit (defeat) in a contest: he conceded defeat.

- [trans.] admit defeat in (a contest): ready to concede the gold medal.

2 [trans.] surrender or yield (something that one possesses): to concede all the territory he'd won.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- grant (a right, privilege, or demand): their rights to redress of grievances were conceded once more.

- (in sports) fail to prevent the scoring of (a goal or point) by an opponent: the coach conceded three safeties rather than kick into the wind.

- allow (a lead or advantage) to slip: he took an early lead that he never conceded.

- [intrans.] make a concession: Zoie conceded with a grin and went with Jay.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ced·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French concéder or Latin concedere, from con- 'completely' + cedere 'yield'.

con·ceit n. 1 excessive pride in oneself: he was puffed up with conceit. See notes at EGOTISM, PRIDE.

2 a fanciful expression in writing or speech; an elaborate metaphor: the idea of the wind's singing is a prime romantic conceit.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an artistic effect or device: the director's brilliant conceit was to film this tale in black and white.

- a fanciful notion: he is alarmed by the widespread conceit that he spent most of the 1980s drunk.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'idea or notion', also 'quaintly decorative article'): from CONCEIVE, on the pattern of pairs such as deceive, deceit.

Linked entries:

CONCEIVE ■

con·ceit·ed adj. excessively proud of oneself; vain.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ceit·ed·ly adv. con·ceit·ed·ness n.

con·ceiv·a·ble adj. capable of being imagined or grasped mentally: a mass uprising was entirely conceivable; it was photographed from every conceivable angle.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ceiv·a·bil·i·ty n.

con·ceiv·a·bly adv. [sentence adverb] it is conceivable or imaginable that: it may conceivably cause liver disease.

con·ceive v. [trans.] (often be conceived) 1 become pregnant with (a child): she was conceived when her father was 49.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (of a woman) become pregnant: five months ago Wendy conceived.

2 form or devise (a plan or idea) in the mind: the dam project was originally conceived in 1977 | [as adj.] (conceived) a brilliantly conceived and executed robbery.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- form a mental representation of; imagine: without society an individual cannot be conceived as having rights | [intrans.] we could not conceive of such things happening to us.

- become affected by (a feeling): he conceived a passion for football.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French concevoir, from Latin concipere, from com- 'together' + capere 'take'.

con·cel·e·brate v. [trans.] [CHRISTIAN CHURCH] officiate jointly at (a Mass): to concelebrate a Mass with other priests.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cel·e·brant n. con·cel·e·bra·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin concelebrat- 'celebrated together', from the verb concelebrare, from con- 'together' + celebrare (see CELEBRATE).

Linked entries:

CELEBRATE ■

con·cen·ter v. [trans.] concentrate (something) in a small space or area.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] come together or collect at a common center: his thoughts concenter there monotonously.

- ARCHAIC bring or draw (two or more things) toward a common center.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French concentrer, from Latin con- 'together' + centrum 'center'.

con·cen·trate v. 1 [intrans.] focus one's attention or mental effort on a particular object or activity: she couldn't concentrate on the movie.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (concentrate on/upon) do or deal with (one particular thing) above all others: Luke wants to concentrate on his film career.

2 [trans.] (often be concentrated) gather (people or things) together in numbers or in a mass to one point: power was concentrated in the hands of the ruling Politburo.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] come together in this way: troops were concentrating at the western front.

- increase the strength or proportion of (a substance or solution) by removing or reducing the water or any other diluting agent or by selective accumulation of atoms or molecules.

■ n. a substance made by removing water or other diluting agent; a concentrated form of something, esp. food: apple juice concentrate.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cen·tra·tive adj. con·cen·tra·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'bring toward a center'): Latinized form of CONCENTER or from French concentrer 'to concentrate'. Sense 1 dates from the early 20th cent.

Linked entries:

CONCENTER ■

con·cen·trat·ed adj. 1 wholly directed to one thing; intense: a concentrated campaign.

2 gathered in one place: concentrated accumulations of fossilized remains; the remains of Antony's defeated fleet concentrated 2 miles off the coast of Greece.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a substance or solution) present in a high proportion relative to other substances; having had water or other diluting agent removed or reduced: concentrated fruit juice.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cen·trat·ed·ly adv.

con·cen·tra·tion n. 1 the action or power of focusing one's attention or mental effort: frowning in concentration; the worker needs total concentration.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (concentration on/upon) dealing with one particular thing above all others: concentration on the needs of the young can mean that the elderly are forgotten.

2 a close gathering of people or things: the largest concentration of Canada geese on earth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of gathering together closely: the concentration of power .

3 the relative amount of a given substance contained within a solution or in a particular volume of space; the amount of solute per unit volume of solution: the gas can collect in dangerous concentrations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of strengthening a solution by the removal of water or other diluting agent or by the selective accumulation of atoms or molecules.

con·cen·tra·tion camp n. a place where large numbers of people, esp. political prisoners or members of persecuted minorities, are deliberately imprisoned in a relatively small area with inadequate facilities, sometimes to provide forced labor or to await mass execution. The term is most strongly associated with the several hundred camps established by the Nazis in Germany and occupied Europe in 1933-45, among the most infamous being Dachau, Belsen, and Auschwitz.

con·cen·tric adj. of or denoting circles, arcs, or other shapes that share the same center, the larger often completely surrounding the smaller: concentric circles indicate distances of 1 km, 2 km, and 3 km from the center.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cen·tri·cal·ly adv. con·cen·tric·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French concentrique or medieval Latin concentricus, from con- 'together' + centrum 'center'.

Con·cep·ción an industrial city in southern central Chile; pop. 294,000.

con·cept n. an abstract idea; a general notion: structuralism is a difficult concept; the concept of justice. See note at IDEA.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a plan or intention; a conception: the center has kept firmly to its original concept.

- an idea or invention to help sell or publicize a commodity: a new concept in corporate hospitality.

- [PHILOSOPHY] an idea or mental picture of a group or class of objects formed by combining all their aspects.

- [as adj.] (of a car or other vehicle) produced as an experimental model to test the viability of new design features.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'thought, frame of mind, imagination'): from Latin conceptum 'something conceived', from concept- 'conceived', from concipere (see CONCEIVE).

Linked entries:

CONCEIVE ■

con·cept al·bum n. a rock album featuring a cycle of songs expressing a particular theme or idea.

con·cep·tion n. 1 the action of conceiving a child or of a child being conceived: an unfertilized egg before conception | a rise in premarital conceptions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the forming or devising of a plan or idea: the time between a product's conception and its launch.

2 the way in which something is perceived or regarded: our conception of how language relates to reality.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a general notion; an abstract idea: the conception of a balance of power.
See note at IDEA.
- a plan or intention: reconstructing Bach's original conceptions.

- understanding; ability to imagine: he had no conception of politics.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cep·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin conceptio(n-), from the verb concipere (see CONCEIVE).

Linked entries:

CONCEIVE ■

con·cep·tu·al adj. of, relating to, or based on mental concepts: philosophy deals with conceptual difficulties.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin conceptualis, from Latin concept- 'conceived', from the verb concipere (see CONCEPT).

Linked entries:

CONCEPT ■

con·cep·tu·al art (also con·cept art) n. art in which the idea presented by the artist is considered more important than the finished product, if there is one.

con·cep·tu·al·ism n. [PHILOSOPHY] the theory that universals can be said to exist, but only as concepts in the mind.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cep·tu·al·ist n.

con·cep·tu·al·ize v. [trans.] form a concept or idea of (something): we can more easily conceptualize speed in miles per hour.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cep·tu·al·i·za·tion n. con·cep·tu·al·iz·er n.

con·cep·tu·al·ly adv. in terms of a concept or abstract idea: a conceptually simple task; | conceptually, this is a complex process.

con·cep·tus n. (pl. -tus·es) TECHNICAL the embryo in the uterus, esp. during the early stages of pregnancy.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin, literally 'conception, embryo'.

con·cern v. [trans.] 1 relate to; be about: the story concerns a friend of mine; | (be concerned with) this fable is concerned with forgiveness and redemption.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- be relevant or important to; affect or involve: they should not pry into what does not concern them; many thanks to all concerned.

- (be concerned with) regard it as important or interesting to do something: I was mainly concerned with making something that children could enjoy.

- (be concerned in) FORMAL have a specific connection with or responsibility for: the organs concerned in digestion and in blood-making.

- (concern oneself with) interest or involve oneself in: we need not concern ourselves with the semantics of this language.

2 worry (someone); make anxious: the roof of the barn concerns me because eventually it will fall in; you must not concern yourself about me.

■ n. 1 anxiety; worry: such unsatisfactory work gives cause for concern.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a cause of anxiety or worry: the new techniques raise some safety concerns.

2 a matter of interest or importance to someone: oil reserves are the concern of the Energy Department | the survival of an endangered species is of concern to wildlife biologists.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (concerns) affairs; issues: public awareness of Aboriginal concerns.

3 a business; a firm: a small, debt-ridden concern.

4 INFORMAL, DATED a complicated or awkward object or structure.

<PHRASES>
□ as (or so) far as is concerned as regards the interests or case of : the measures are irrelevant as far as inflation is concerned.

□ have no concern with FORMAL have nothing to do with: drama seemed to have no concern with “truth” at all.

□ to whom it may concern a formula placed at the beginning of a letter or document when the identity of the reader or readers is unknown.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French concerner or late Latin concernere (in medieval Latin 'be relevant to'), from con- (expressing intensive force) + cernere 'sift, discern'.

con·cerned adj. worried, troubled, or anxious: the villagers are concerned about burglaries.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cern·ed·ly adv.

con·cern·ing prep. on the subject of or in connection with; about: dreadful stories concerning a horrible beast.

con·cern·ment n. ARCHAIC importance: matters of great public concernment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a matter of interest or importance to someone; a concern: a family or any absorbing concernment of that sort.

con·cert n. 1 a musical performance given in public, typically by several performers or of several separate compositions: symphony concerts | [as adj.] a concert pianist.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] of, relating to, or denoting the performance of music written for opera, ballet, or theater on its own without the accompanying dramatic action: the concert version of the fourth interlude from the opera. See also CONCERT PERFORMANCE.

2 FORMAL agreement, accordance, or harmony: critics' inability to describe with any precision and concert the characteristics of literature.

■ v. [trans.] FORMAL arrange (something) by mutual agreement or coordination: they started meeting regularly to concert their tactics.

<PHRASES> in concert
1 acting jointly: he made his decision in concert with his son and son-in-law.

2 (of music or a performer) giving a public performance; live: they saw Pink Floyd in concert.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'unite, cause to agree'): from French concerter, from Italian concertare 'harmonize'. The noun use, dating from the early 17th cent. (in the sense 'a combination of voices or sounds'), is from French concert, from Italian concerto, from concertare.

Linked entries:

CONCERT PERFORMANCE ■

con·cer·tan·te adj. 1 denoting a piece of music containing one or more solo parts, typically of less prominence or weight than in a concerto. See also SINFONIA CONCERTANTE.

2 CHIEFLY HISTORICAL denoting prominent instrumental parts present throughout a piece of music, esp. in baroque and early classical compositions.

<ORIGIN> Italian, 'harmonizing', from concertare 'harmonize'.

Linked entries:

SINFONIA CONCERTANTE ■

con·cert band n. a relatively large group of brass, woodwind, and percussion players that performs in a concert hall, as distinguished from a marching band.

con·cert·ed adj. 1 jointly arranged, planned, or carried out; coordinated: determined to begin a concerted action against them.
<SPECIAL USAGE> strenuously carried out; done with great effort: it would take a concerted effort for a burglar to break into my home.

2 (of music) arranged in several parts of equal importance: concerted secular music for voices.

con·cert·go·er n. a person who attends a concert, esp. one who does so regularly.

con·cert grand n. the largest size of grand piano, up to 12 feet (2.75 m) long, that produces enough sound to be used for concerts in large halls.

con·cer·ti·na n. a small musical instrument, typically polygonal in form, played by stretching and squeezing between the hands, to work a central bellows that blows air over reeds, each note being sounded by a button. Compare with ACCORDION.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] opening or closing in multiple folds: concertina doors.

■ v. (-ti·nas, -ti·naed ) [trans.] extend, compress, or collapse in folds like those of a concertina: [as adj.] (concertinaed) big rolls of concertinaed wire | FIGURATIVE a request that the negotiations be concertinaed into a week-long session.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CONCERT + -INA.

Linked entries:

ACCORDION ■

CONCERT ■

-INA ■

con·cer·ti·no n. (pl. -nos) 1 a simple or short concerto.

2 a solo instrument or solo instruments playing with an orchestra.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: Italian, diminutive of concerto (see CONCERTO).

Linked entries:

CONCERTO ■

con·cert·ize v. [intrans.] give a concert or concerts.

con·cert·mas·ter n. (fem. con·cert·mis·tress) the leading first-violin player in some orchestras.

con·cer·to n. (pl. -tos or -ti ) a musical composition for a solo instrument or instruments accompanied by an orchestra, esp. one conceived on a relatively large scale.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: Italian, from concertare 'harmonize'.

con·cer·to gros·so n. (pl. con·cer·ti gros·si ) a musical composition for a group of solo instruments accompanied by an orchestra. The term is used mainly of baroque works.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: Italian, literally 'big concerto'.

con·cert o·ver·ture n. a piece of music in the style of an overture but intended for independent performance.

con·cert per·for·mance n. 1 a performance of a piece of music written for an opera, ballet, religious service, etc., at a concert without the accompanying dramatic action, dance, or liturgy.

2 a performance of a piece of music at a live concert.

con·cert pitch n. [MUSIC] a standard for the tuning of musical instruments, internationally agreed upon in 1960, in which the note A above middle C has a frequency of 440 Hz.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a state of readiness, efficiency, and keenness: slightly unnerved by the contretemps, I was not at concert pitch.

con·ces·sion n. 1 a thing that is granted, esp. in response to demands; a thing conceded: the strikers returned to work having won some concessions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of conceding, granting, or yielding something.

- (a concession to) a gesture, esp. a token one, made in recognition of a demand or prevailing standard: her only concession to fashion was her ornate silver ring.

2 a preferential allowance or rate given by an organization: tax concessions.

3 the right to use land or other property for a specified purpose, granted by a government, company, or other controlling body: new logging concessions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a commercial operation within the premises of a larger concern, typically selling refreshments: operates the concessions at the stadium | [as adj.] public restrooms and concession stands.

- CANADIAN a piece of land into which surveyed land is divided, itself further divided into lots.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin concessio(n-), from the verb concedere (see CONCEDE).

Linked entries:

CONCEDE ■

con·ces·sion·aire (also con·ces·sion·er) n. the holder of a concession or grant, esp. for the use of land or commercial premises.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French concessionnaire, from Latin concessio (see CONCESSION).

Linked entries:

CONCESSION ■

con·ces·sion·al adj. [attrib.] (of a rate or allowance) constituting a concession: concessional and commercial types of loans.

con·ces·sion road (also concession line) n. CANADIAN a rural road separating concessions.

con·ces·sive adj. 1 characterized by, or tending to concession: we must look for a more concessive approach.

2 [GRAMMAR] (of a preposition or conjunction) introducing a phrase or clause denoting a circumstance that might be expected to preclude the action of the main clause, but does not (e.g., in spite of, although).
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a phrase or clause) introduced by a concessive preposition or conjunction.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (sense 2): from late Latin concessivus, from concess- 'withdrawn, yielded' (see CONCESSION).

Linked entries:

CONCESSION ■

conch n. (pl. conchs or conches ) 1 (also conch shell) a tropical marine mollusk with a spiral shell that may bear long projections and have a flared lip.
<INFO>  Strombus and other genera, family Strombidae, class Gastropoda.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a shell of this kind blown like a trumpet to produce a musical note, often depicted as played by Tritons and other mythological figures.

2 [ARCHITECTURE] the roof of a semicircular apse, shaped like half a dome.

3 another term for CONCHA.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin concha 'shellfish, shell', from Greek 'mussel, cockle, or shell-like cavity'.

Linked entries:

CONCHA ■

con·cha n. (pl. -chae ) [ANATOMY] & [ZOOLOGY] 1 a body part that resembles a spiral shell, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the depression in the external ear leading to its central opening.

- (also nasal concha) any of several thin, scroll-like (turbinate) bones in the sides of the nasal cavity.

2 a round or oval hammered metal disk used as decoration on jewelry, belts, harnesses, etc.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin (see CONCH).

Linked entries:

CONCH ■

con·chie n. (pl. -chies) BRIT., INFORMAL or DEROGATORY a conscientious objector.

<ORIGIN> World War I: abbreviation.

con·chif·er·ous adj. producing, bearing, or characterized by the presence of shells.

con·chi·o·lin n. [ZOOLOGY] a tough, insoluble protein secreted by mollusks, forming the organic matrix of the shell within which calcium carbonate is deposited.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin concha 'shell' + the diminutive suffix -iola + -IN^1 .

Linked entries:

-IN ■

conch·o belt n. a belt decorated with conchas or representations of them.

con·choid n. [MATHEMATICS] a plane quartic curve consisting of two separate branches either side of and asymptotic to a central straight line (the asymptote), such that if a line is drawn from a fixed point (the pole) to intersect both branches, the part of the line falling between the two branches is of constant length and is exactly bisected by the asymptote.
<INFO>  Such curves are represented by the general equation (x a)2(x^2 + y^2) = b^2x^2, where a is the distance between the pole and the asymptote, and b is the constant length. The branch on the same side of the asymptote as the pole typically has a cusp or loop.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from CONCH + -OID.

Linked entries:

CONCH ■

-OID ■

con·choi·dal adj. [CHIEFLY MINERALOGY] denoting a type of fracture in a solid (such as flint or quartz) that results in a smooth rounded surface resembling the shape of a scallop shell.

con·chol·o·gy n. the scientific study or collection of mollusk shells. Compare with MALACOLOGY.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cho·log·i·cal adj. con·chol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Greek 'shell' + -LOGY.

Linked entries:

MALACOLOGY ■

-LOGY ■

con·cierge n. 1 (esp. in France) a caretaker of an apartment complex or a small hotel, typically one living on the premises.

2 a hotel employee whose job is to assist guests by arranging tours, making theater and restaurant reservations, etc.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting the warden of a house, castle, prison, or royal palace): French, probably based on Latin conservus 'fellow slave'.

con·cil·i·ar adj. of, relating to, or proceeding from a council, esp. an ecclesiastical one: conciliar decrees.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from medieval Latin consiliarius 'counselor', from Latin concilium (see COUNCIL).

Linked entries:

COUNCIL ■

con·cil·i·ate v. [trans.] 1 stop (someone) from being angry or discontented; placate; pacify: concessions were made to conciliate the peasantry. See note at PACIFY.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] act as a mediator: he sought to conciliate in the dispute.

- FORMAL reconcile; make compatible: all complaints about charges will be conciliated if possible.

2 ARCHAIC gain (esteem or goodwill).: the arts which conciliate popularity.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cil·i·a·tion n. con·cil·i·a·tive adj. con·cil·i·a·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (sense 2): from Latin conciliat- 'combined, gained', from the verb conciliare, from concilium (see COUNCIL).

Linked entries:

COUNCIL ■

con·cil·i·a·to·ry adj. intended or likely to placate or pacify: a conciliatory approach.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cil·i·a·to·ri·ness n.

con·cin·ni·ty n. RARE the skillful and harmonious arrangement or fitting together of the different parts of something.
<SPECIAL USAGE> studied elegance of literary or artistic style.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin concinnitas, from concinnus 'skillfully put together'.

con·cise adj. giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words; brief but comprehensive: a concise account of the country's history. See note at TERSE.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cise·ly adv. con·cise·ness n. con·ci·sion n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French concis or Latin concisus, past participle of concidere 'cut up, cut down', from con- 'completely' + caedere 'to cut'.

con·clave n. a private meeting.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in the Roman Catholic Church) the assembly of cardinals for the election of a pope.

- the meeting place for such an assembly.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a private room): via French from Latin conclave 'lockable room', from con- 'with' + clavis 'key'.

con·clude v. 1 [trans.] bring (something) to an end: they conclude their study with these words | [intrans.] we concluded by singing carols.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] come to an end: the talk concluded with slides.

- formally and finally settle or arrange (a treaty or agreement): an attempt to conclude a cease-fire.

2 arrive at a judgment or opinion by reasoning: the doctors concluded that Esther had suffered a stroke; what do you conclude from all this?
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- say in conclusion: “It's a wicked old world,” she concluded.

- with DATED decide to do something: I concluded to go without his knowledge.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'convince'): from Latin concludere, from con- 'completely' + claudere 'to shut'.

con·clu·sion n. 1 the end or finish of an event or process: the conclusion of World War Two.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the summing-up of an argument or text.

- the settling or arrangement of a treaty or agreement: the conclusion of a free-trade accord.

2 a judgment or decision reached by reasoning: each research group came to a similar conclusion.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LOGIC] a proposition that is reached from given premises.

<PHRASES>
□ in conclusion lastly; to sum up: in conclusion it is clear that the market is maturing.

□ jump (or leap) to conclusions make a hasty judgment before learning or considering all the facts.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin conclusio(n-), from the verb concludere (see CONCLUDE).

Linked entries:

CONCLUDE ■

con·clu·sive adj. (of evidence or argument) serving to prove a case; decisive or convincing: conclusive evidence; the findings were by no means conclusive.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a victory) achieved easily or by a large margin.

<DERIVATIVES> con·clu·sive·ly adv. con·clu·sive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'summing up, concluding'): from late Latin conclusivus, from Latin conclus- 'closed up', from the verb concludere (see CONCLUSION).

Linked entries:

CONCLUSION ■

con·coct v. [trans.] make (a dish or meal) by combining various ingredients: they concoct relish from corn that is so naturally sweet no extra sugar is needed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> create or devise (said esp. of a story or plan): they concocted a preposterous but entertaining story.

<DERIVATIVES> con·coct·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin concoct-, literally 'cooked together', from concoquere. The original sense was 'refine or purify metals or minerals by heating', later 'cook'.

con·coc·tion n. a mixture of various ingredients or elements: a concoction of gables, shingles, stained glass, and towers inspired by English medieval houses.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an elaborate story, esp. a fabrication: her story is an improbable concoction.

con·com·i·tance n. (also con·com·i·tan·cy ) the fact of existing or occurring together with something else.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [THEOLOGY] the doctrine that the body and blood of Christ are each present in both the bread and the wine of the Eucharist.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin concomitantia, from the verb concomitari 'accompany' (see CONCOMITANT).

Linked entries:

CONCOMITANT ■

con·com·i·tant FORMAL adj. naturally accompanying or associated: she loved travel, with all its concomitant worries; concomitant with his obsession with dirt was a desire for order.

■ n. a phenomenon that naturally accompanies or follows something: some of us look on pain and illness as concomitants of the stresses of living.

<DERIVATIVES> con·com·i·tant·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from late Latin concomitant- 'accompanying', from concomitari, from con- 'together with' + comitari, from Latin comes 'companion'.

Con·cord 1 1 a city in north central California, northeast of Oakland; pop. 111,348.

2 a town in northeastern Massachusetts; pop. 17,080. Battles here and at Lexington in April 1775 marked the start of the American Revolution.

3 the capital of New Hampshire, in the southern part of the state, on the Merrimack River; pop. 40,687.

4 an industrial city in south central North Carolina, a textile center; pop. 55,977.

Con·cord 2 n. a variety of dessert grape developed at Concord, Massachusetts.

con·cord n. 1 FORMAL agreement or harmony between people or groups: a pact of peace and concord.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a treaty.

2 [GRAMMAR] agreement between words in gender, number, case, person, or any other grammatical category that affects the forms of the words.

3 [MUSIC] a chord that is pleasing or satisfactory in itself.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French concorde, from Latin concordia, from concors 'of one mind', from con- 'together' + cor, cord- 'heart'.

con·cord·ance n. 1 an alphabetical list of the words (esp. the important ones) present in a text, usually with citations of the passages concerned: a concordance to the Bible.

2 FORMAL agreement: the concordance between the teams' research results.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MEDICINE] the inheritance by two related individuals (esp. twins) of the same genetic characteristic, such as susceptibility to a disease.

■ v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (concordanced) make a concordance of: the value of concordanced information.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from medieval Latin concordantia, from concordant- 'being of one mind' (see CONCORDANT).

Linked entries:

CONCORDANT ■

con·cord·ant adj. in agreement; consistent: the answers were roughly concordant.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GEOLOGY] corresponding in direction with the planes of adjacent or underlying strata.

- [MEDICINE] (of twins) inheriting the same genetic characteristic, such as susceptibility to a disease.

- [MUSIC] in harmony.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cord·ant·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: via Old French from Latin concordant- 'being of one mind', from the verb concordare (see CONCORD).

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CONCORD ■

con·cor·dat n. an agreement or treaty, esp. one between the Vatican and a secular government relating to matters of mutual interest.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French, or from Latin concordatum 'something agreed upon', neuter past participle of concordare 'be of one mind' (see CONCORD).

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CONCORD ■

Con·corde a supersonic airliner able to cruise at twice the speed of sound. Produced through Anglo-French cooperation, it made its maiden flight in 1969 and its last in 2003.

Con·cord grape n. a cultivated variety of fox grape, used to make wine, juice, and jellies.

Con·cor·di·a a port city in northeastern Argentina, in a farming region of Entre Ríos province, on the Uruguay River and the border with Uruguay; pop. 139,000.

con·cours (also con·cours d'é·lé·gance ) n. (pl. same) an exhibition or contest, esp. a parade of vintage or classic motor vehicles in which prizes are awarded for those in the best original condition.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: French, literally 'contest (of elegance)'.

con·course n. 1 a large open area inside or in front of a public building, as in an airport or train station: the domestic arrivals concourse.

2 FORMAL a crowd or assembly of people: a vast concourse of learned men.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of coming together or meeting: the attracted concourse of the beauty and wealth of modern civilization.

- another term for CONCOURS.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from Old French concours, from Latin concursus, from concurs- 'run together, met', from the verb concurrere (see CONCUR). Sense 1 (originally U.S.) dates from the mid 19th cent.

Linked entries:

CONCOURS ■

CONCUR ■

con·cres·cence n. [BIOLOGY] the coalescence or growing together of parts originally separate.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cres·cent adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the senses 'growth by assimilation' and 'a concretion'): from CON- 'together' + -crescence, on the pattern of words such as excrescence. The current sense dates from the late 19th cent.

Linked entries:

CON- ■

con·crete adj. existing in a material or physical form; real or solid; not abstract: concrete objects like stones; it exists as a physically concrete form.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- specific; definite: I haven't got any concrete proof.

- (of a noun) denoting a material object as opposed to an abstract quality, state, or action.

■ n. a heavy, rough building material made from a mixture of broken stone or gravel, sand, cement, and water, that can be spread or poured into molds and that forms a stonelike mass on hardening: slabs of concrete | [as adj.] the concrete sidewalk.

■ v. [trans.] (often be concreted) 1  cover (an area) with concrete: the precious English countryside may soon be concreted over.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] fix in position with concrete: the post is concreted into the ground.

2 ARCHAIC form (something) into a mass; solidify: the juices of the plants are concreted upon the surface.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make real or concrete instead of abstract: concreting God into actual form of man.

<PHRASES> be set in concrete (of a policy or idea) be fixed and unalterable: I do not regard the Constitution as set in concrete.

<DERIVATIVES> con·crete·ly adv. con·crete·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'formed by cohesion, solidified'): from French concret or Latin concretus, past participle of concrescere 'grow together'. Early use was also as a grammatical term designating a quality belonging to a substance (usually expressed by an adjective such as white in white paper) as opposed to the quality itself (expressed by an abstract noun such as whiteness); later concrete came to be used to refer to nouns embodying attributes (e.g., fool, hero), as opposed to the attributes themselves (e.g., foolishness, heroism), and this is the basis of the modern use as the opposite of 'abstract'. The noun sense 'building material' dates from the mid 19th cent.

con·crete jun·gle n. a city or area of a city that has a high density of large, unattractive, modern buildings and that is perceived as an unpleasant living environment.

con·crete mix·er n. a cement mixer.

con·crete mu·sic n. another term for MUSIQUE CONCRÈTE.

Linked entries:

MUSIQUE CONCRÈTE ■

con·crete po·et·ry n. poetry in which the meaning or effect is conveyed partly or wholly by visual means, using patterns of words or letters and other typographical devices.

con·crete u·ni·ver·sal n. (in idealist philosophy) an abstraction that is manifest in a developing or organized set of instances, so having the qualities of both the universal and the particular.

con·cre·tion n. a hard solid mass formed by the local accumulation of matter, esp. within the body or within a mass of sediment: a mass of small concretions, each built up layer upon layer around some small nucleus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the formation of such a mass.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cre·tion·ar·y adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin concretio(n-), from concrescere 'grow together'.

con·cret·ism n. the theory or practice of concrete poetry, in which the visual arrangement of words in patterns or forms on the page takes precedence over the semantic or phonetic elements involved.

con·cre·tize v. [trans.] make (an idea or concept) real; give specific or definite form to: the theme park is an attempt to concretize our fantasies.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cret·i·za·tion n.

con·cu·bi·nage n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL the practice of keeping a concubine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the state of being a concubine.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French, from Old French concubine (see CONCUBINE).

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CONCUBINE ■

con·cu·bine n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL (in polygamous societies) a woman who lives with a man but has lower status than his wife or wives.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC a mistress.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cu·bi·nar·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from Latin concubina, from con- 'with' + cubare 'to lie'.

con·cu·pis·cence n. FORMAL strong sexual desire; lust.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from late Latin concupiscentia, from Latin concupiscent- 'beginning to desire', from the verb concupiscere, from con- (expressing intensive force) + cupere 'to desire'.

con·cu·pis·cent adj. FORMAL filled with sexual desire; lustful: concupiscent dreams.

con·cur v. (-curred, -cur·ring) [intrans.] 1 be of the same opinion; agree: the authors concurred with the majority; they concurred in the creation of the disciplinary procedures;| “That's right,” the chairman concurred.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (concur with) agree with (a decision, opinion, or finding): we strongly concur with this recommendation.

2 happen or occur at the same time; coincide: in tests, cytogenetic determination has been found to concur with enzymatic determination.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cur·rence n. con·cur·ren·cy n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also in the senses 'collide' and 'act in combination'): from Latin concurrere 'run together, assemble in crowds', from con- 'together with' + currere 'to run'.

con·cur·rent adj. existing, happening, or done at the same time: there are three concurrent art fairs around the city.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of two or more prison sentences) to be served at the same time.

- [MATHEMATICS] (of three or more lines) meeting at or tending toward one point.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cur·rent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin concurrent- 'running together, meeting', from the verb concurrere (see CONCUR).

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CONCUR ■

con·cur·rent res·o·lu·tion n. a resolution adopted by both houses of a legislative assembly that does not require the signature of the chief executive and that does not have the force of law.

con·cuss v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (concussed) hit the head of (a person or animal), causing temporary unconsciousness or confusion: she was shaken, slightly concussed, and in no state to carry on.

<DERIVATIVES> con·cus·sive adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'shake violently'): from Latin concuss- 'dashed together, violently shaken', from the verb concutere, from con- 'together' + quatere 'shake'.

con·cus·sion n. 1 temporary unconsciousness caused by a blow to the head. The term is also used loosely of the aftereffects such as confusion or temporary incapacity.

2 a violent shock as from a heavy blow: the ground shuddered with the concussion of the blast.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin concussio(n-), from the verb concutere 'dash together, shake' (see CONCUSS).

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CONCUSS ■

con·demn v. [trans.] 1 express complete disapproval of, typically in public; censure: fair-minded people declined to condemn her on mere suspicion.

2 find (someone) guilty of a criminal act or wrong.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- sentence (someone) to a particular punishment, esp. death: the rebels had been condemned to death | [as adj.] (condemned) the condemned men.

- (usu. be condemned) officially declare (something, esp. a building) to be unfit for use: the pool has been condemned as a health hazard.

- prove or show the guilt of: she could see in his eyes that her stumble had condemned her.

- (of circumstances) force (someone) to endure something unpleasant or undesirable: the physical ailments that condemned him to a lonely childhood.

<DERIVATIVES> con·dem·na·ble adj. con·dem·na·tion n. con·dem·na·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (sense 2): from Old French condemner, from Latin condemnare, from con- (expressing intensive force) + damnare 'inflict loss on' (see DAMN).

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DAMN ■

con·den·sate n. liquid formed by condensation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHEMISTRY] a compound produced by a condensation reaction.

con·den·sa·tion n. 1 water that collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it.

2 the process of becoming more dense, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the conversion of a vapor or gas to a liquid.

- (also condensation reaction) [CHEMISTRY] a reaction in which two molecules combine to form a larger molecule, producing a small molecule such as H_2O as a byproduct.

- [PSYCHOLOGY] the fusion of two or more images, ideas, or symbolic meanings into a single composite or new image, as a primary process in unconscious thought exemplified in dreams.

3 a concise version of something, esp. a text: a readable condensation of the recent literature.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from late Latin condensatio(n-), from condensare 'press close together' (see CONDENSE).

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CONDENSE ■

con·dense v. 1 [trans.] make (something) denser or more concentrated: the limestones of the Jurassic age are condensed into a mere 11 feet | [as adj.] (condensed) check that your printer can cope with wide text or condensed characters.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [usu. as adj.] (condensed) thicken (a liquid) by reducing the water content, typically by heating: condensed soup.

- express (a piece of writing or speech) in fewer words; make concise: he condensed the three plays into a three-hour drama.

- (in word processing) (of character spacing) reduced.

2 [intrans.] be changed from a gas or vapor to a liquid: the moisture vapor in the air condenses into droplets of water.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] cause (a gas or vapor) to be changed to a liquid: the cold air was condensing his breath.

<DERIVATIVES> con·den·sa·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French condenser or Latin condensare, from condensus 'very thick', from con- 'completely' + densus 'dense'.

con·densed milk n. canned milk that has been thickened by evaporation and sweetened.

con·densed tan·nin n. any of various tannins with antioxidant properties occuring naturally in plants, comprising polymers of flavonoids linked by a carbon-to-carbon bond.

con·dens·er n. a person or thing that condenses something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an apparatus or container for condensing vapor.

- a lens or system of lenses for collecting and directing light.

- another term for CAPACITOR.

Linked entries:

CAPACITOR ■

con·de·scend v. [intrans.] show feelings of superiority; patronize: take care not to condescend to your reader.
<SPECIAL USAGE> do something in a haughty way, as though it is below one's dignity or level of importance: we'll be waiting for twenty minutes before she condescends to appear.

<DERIVATIVES> con·de·scend·ence n. (RARE). con·de·scen·sion n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'give way, defer'): from Old French condescendre, from ecclesiastical Latin condescendere, from con- 'together' + descendere 'descend'.

con·de·scend·ing adj. acting in a way that betrays a feeling of patronizing superiority: she thought the teachers were arrogant and condescending.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an action) demonstrating such an attitude: a condescending smile.

<DERIVATIVES> con·de·scend·ing·ly adv.

con·dign adj. FORMAL (of punishment or retribution) appropriate to the crime or wrongdoing; fitting and deserved.

<DERIVATIVES> con·dign·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'worthy, appropriate'): from Old French condigne, from Latin condignus, from con- 'altogether' + dignus 'worthy'.

con·di·ment n. a substance such as salt or ketchup that is used to add flavor to food.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin condimentum, from condire 'to pickle'.

con·di·tion n. 1 the state of something, esp. with regard to its appearance, quality, or working order: the wiring is in good condition | [in sing.] the bridge is in an extremely dangerous condition.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person's or animal’s state of health or physical fitness: he is in fairly good condition considering what he has has been through | [in sing.] she was in a serious condition.

- an illness or other medical problem: a heart condition.

- [in sing.] a particular state of existence: a condition of misery.

- ARCHAIC social position or rank: those of humbler condition.

2 (conditions) the circumstances affecting the way in which people live or work, esp. with regard to their safety or well-being: harsh working and living conditions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the factors or prevailing situation influencing the performance or the outcome of a process: present market conditions.

- the prevailing state of the weather, ground, sea, or atmosphere at a particular time, esp. as it affects a sporting event: the appalling conditions determined the style of play.

3 a state of affairs that must exist or be brought about before something else is possible or permitted: for a member to borrow money, three conditions have to be met; all personnel should comply with this policy as a condition of employment; I'll accept your offer on one condition.

■ v. [trans.] 1 (often be conditioned) have a significant influence on or determine (the manner or outcome of something): national choices are conditioned by the international political economy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> train or accustom (someone or something) to behave in a certain way or to accept certain circumstances: we have all been conditioned to the conventional format of TV; | the child is conditioned to dislike food | [as n.] (conditioning) the program examines aspects of social conditioning.

2 bring (something) into the desired state for use: a product for conditioning leather.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [often as adj.] (conditioned) make (a person or animal) fit and healthy: he was six feet two of perfectly conditioned muscle and bone.

- apply something to (the skin or hair) to give it a healthy or attractive look or feel: I condition my hair regularly.

- [often as adj.] (conditioned) bring (beer or stout) to maturation after fermentation while the yeast is still present: cask-conditioned real ales.

- [intrans.] (of a beer or stout) undergo such a process: brews that are allowed to condition in the bottle.

3 set prior requirements on (something) before it can occur or be done: Congressmen have sought to limit and condition military and economic aid.

<PHRASES>
□ in (or out of) condition in a fit (or unfit) physical state.

□ in no condition to do something certainly not fit or well enough to do something: you're in no condition to tackle the stairs.

□ on condition that with the stipulation that: he proposed deep cuts in offensive forces, on condition that an agreement be reached.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French condicion (noun), condicionner (verb), from Latin condicio(n-) 'agreement', from condicere 'agree upon', from con- 'with' + dicere 'say'.

con·di·tion·al adj. 1 subject to one or more conditions or requirements being met; made or granted on certain terms: Western aid was only granted conditional on further reform; the consortium has made a conditional offer.

2 [GRAMMAR] (of a clause, phrase, conjunction, or verb form) expressing a condition.

■ n. 1 [GRAMMAR] & [PHILOSOPHY] a conditional clause or conjunction.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a statement or sentence containing a conditional clause.

2 [GRAMMAR] the conditional mood of a verb, for example should die in if I should die.

<DERIVATIVES> con·di·tion·al·i·ty n. con·di·tion·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French condicionel or late Latin condicionalis, from condicio(n-) 'agreement' (see CONDITION).

Linked entries:

CONDITION ■

con·di·tion·al prob·a·bil·i·ty n. [STATISTICS] the probability of an event (A), given that another (B) has already occurred.

con·di·tion·al sale n. the sale of goods according to a contract containing conditions, typically that ownership does not pass to the buyer until after a set time, usually after payment of the last installment of the purchase price, although the buyer has possession and is committed to acquiring ownership.

con·di·tioned re·sponse (also conditioned reflex) n. [PSYCHOLOGY] an automatic response established by training to an ordinarily neutral stimulus. See also CLASSICAL CONDITIONING.

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CLASSICAL CONDITIONING ■

con·di·tion·er n. a substance or appliance used to improve or maintain something's condition: add a water conditioner to neutralize chlorine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a liquid applied to the hair after shampooing to improve its condition: conditioner will protect your hair from damage.

con·do n. (pl. -dos) INFORMAL short for CONDOMINIUM (sense 1): a high-rise condo.

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CONDOMINIUM ■

con·dole v. [intrans.] (condole with) express sympathy for (someone); grieve with: the priest came to condole with Madeleine.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Christian Latin condolere, from con- 'with' + dolere 'grieve, suffer'.

con·do·lence n. (usu. condolences) an expression of sympathy, esp. on the occasion of a death: we offer our sincere condolences to his widow | letters of condolence.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from CONDOLE, influenced by French condoléance.

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CONDOLE ■

con·dom n. a thin rubber sheath worn on a man's penis during sexual intercourse as a contraceptive or as protection against infection.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: of unknown origin; often said to be named after a physician who invented it, but no such person has been traced.

con·do·min·i·um n. (pl. -ums) 1 a building or complex of buildings containing a number of individually owned apartments or houses.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- each of the individual apartments or houses in such a building or complex.

- the system of ownership by which these operate, in which owners have full title to the individual apartment or house and an undivided interest in the shared parts of the property.

2 the joint control of a country's or territory's affairs by other countries.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a state so governed.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: modern Latin, from con- 'together with' + dominium 'right of ownership' (see DOMINION). Sense 1 dates from the 1960s.

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DOMINION ■

con·done v. [trans.] accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue: the college cannot condone any behavior that involves illicit drugs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> approve or sanction (something), esp. with reluctance: the practice is not officially condoned by any airline.

<DERIVATIVES> con·don·a·ble adj. con·do·na·tion n. con·don·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin condonare 'refrain from punishing', from con- 'altogether' + donare 'give'.

con·dor n. a large New World vulture with a bare head and mainly black plumage, living in mountainous country and spending much time soaring.
<INFO>  Two species in the family Cathartidae: the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) of South America, and the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), which is close to extinction in the wild.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Spanish cóndor, from Quechua kuntur.

con·dot·tie·re n. (pl. -tie·ri pronunc. same) HISTORICAL a leader or a member of a troop of mercenaries, esp. in Italy.

<ORIGIN> Italian, from condotto 'troop under contract', from condotta 'a contract', from condurre 'conduct', from Latin conducere (see CONDUCT).

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CONDUCT ■

con·duce v. [intrans.] (conduce to) FORMAL help to bring about (a particular situation or outcome): every possible care was taken that could conduce to their health and comfort.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'lead or bring'): from Latin conducere 'bring together' (see CONDUCT).

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CONDUCT ■

con·du·cive adj. making a certain situation or outcome likely or possible: the harsh lights and cameras were hardly conducive to a relaxed atmosphere.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from CONDUCE, on the pattern of words such as conductive.

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CONDUCE ■

con·duct n. 1 the manner in which a person behaves, esp. on a particular occasion or in a particular context: the conduct of the police during the riot; members are bound by a code of conduct.

2 the action or manner of managing an activity or organization: his conduct of the campaign.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC the action of leading; guidance: traveling through the world under the conduct of chance.

■ v. [trans.] 1 organize and carry out: in the second trial he conducted his own defense; surveys conducted among students.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- direct the performance of (a piece of music or a musical ensemble): my first attempt to conduct a great work | [intrans.] Toscanini is coming to conduct.

- lead or guide (someone) to or around a particular place: he conducted us through his personal gallery of the Civil War.

- [PHYSICS] transmit (a form of energy such as heat or electricity) by conduction: heat is conducted to the surface.

2 (conduct oneself) behave in a specified way: he conducted himself with the utmost propriety.

<DERIVATIVES> con·duct·i·ble adj. con·duct·i·bil·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from Latin conduct- 'brought together', from the verb conducere. The term originally denoted some provision for safe passage, such as an escort or pass, surviving in SAFE CONDUCT; later the verb sense 'lead, guide' arose, hence 'manage' and 'management' (late Middle English), later 'management of oneself, behavior' (mid 16th cent.). The original form of the word was conduit, which was preserved only in the sense 'channel' (see CONDUIT); in all other uses the spelling was influenced by Latin.

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SAFE CONDUCT ■

CONDUIT ■

con·duct·ance n. the degree to which an object conducts electricity, calculated as the ratio of the current that flows to the potential difference present. This is the reciprocal of the resistance, and is measured in siemens or mhos. (Symbol: G)

con·duct dis·or·der n. a range of antisocial types of behavior displayed in childhood or adolescence.

con·duc·tion n. the process by which heat or electricity is directly transmitted through a substance when there is a difference of temperature or of electrical potential between adjoining regions, without movement of the material.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the process by which sound waves travel through a medium.

- the transmission of impulses along nerves.

- the conveying of fluid through a pipe or other channel.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the senses 'provision for safe passage' and 'leadership'): from Latin conductio(n-), from the verb conducere (see CONDUCT).

Linked entries:

CONDUCT ■

con·duc·tion band n. [PHYSICS] a delocalized band of energy partly filled with electrons in a crystalline solid. These electrons have great mobility and are responsible for electrical conductivity.

con·duc·tive adj. having the property of conducting something (esp. heat or electricity): to induce currents in conductive coils.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to conduction.

<DERIVATIVES> con·duc·tive·ly adv.

con·duc·tiv·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) (also electrical conductivity) the degree to which a specified material conducts electricity, calculated as the ratio of the current density in the material to the electric field that causes the flow of current. It is the reciprocal of the resistivity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also thermal conductivity) the rate at which heat passes through a specified material, expressed as the amount of heat that flows per unit time through a unit area with a temperature gradient of one degree per unit distance.

con·duc·tor n. 1 a person who directs the performance of an orchestra or choir: he was appointed principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

2 a person in charge of a train, streetcar, or other public conveyance, who collects fares and sells tickets.

3 [PHYSICS] a material or device that conducts or transmits heat, electricity, or sound, esp. when regarded in terms of its capacity to do this: graphite is a reasonably good conductor of electricity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for LIGHTNING ROD.

<DERIVATIVES> con·duc·to·ri·al adj. con·duc·tor·ship n. (in sense 1).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a military leader): via Old French from Latin conductor, from conducere 'bring together' (see CONDUCT).

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LIGHTNING ROD ■

CONDUCT ■

con·duc·tress n. a female conductor, esp. in a bus or other passenger vehicle.

con·duc·tus n. (pl. -ti ) a musical setting of a metrical Latin text, of the 12th or 13th century.

<ORIGIN> from medieval Latin, from Latin conducere 'bring together' (see CONDUCT).

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CONDUCT ■

con·duit n. a channel for conveying water or other fluid: a conduit for conveying water to the power plant | FIGURATIVE the office acts as a conduit for ideas to flow throughout the organization.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a tube or trough for protecting electric wiring: the gas pipe should not be close to any electrical conduit.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from medieval Latin conductus, from Latin conducere 'bring together' (see CONDUCT).

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CONDUCT ■

con·dy·larth n. a fossil herbivorous mammal of the early Tertiary period, ancestral to the ungulates.
<INFO>  Condylarthra

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Condylarthra (plural), from Greek kondulus 'knuckle' + arthron 'joint'.

con·dyle n. [ANATOMY] a rounded protuberance at the end of some bones, forming an articulation with another bone.

<DERIVATIVES> con·dy·lar adj. con·dy·loid adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from Latin condylus, from Greek kondulos 'knuckle'.

con·dy·lo·ma n. (pl. -mas or -ma·ta ) [MEDICINE] a raised growth on the skin resembling a wart, typically in the genital region, caused by viral infection or syphilis and transmissible by contact.

<DERIVATIVES> con·dy·lom·a·tous adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek 'callous lump', from kondulos 'knuckle'.

cone n. 1 a solid or hollow object that tapers from a circular or roughly circular base to a point.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MATHEMATICS] a surface or solid figure generated by the straight lines that pass from a circle or other closed curve to a single point (the vertex) not in the same plane as the curve. A cone with the vertex perpendicularly over the center of a circular base is a right circular cone.

- (also traffic cone) a plastic cone-shaped object that is used to separate off or close sections of a road.

- an edible wafer container shaped like a cone in which ice cream is served.

- a conical mountain or peak, esp. one of volcanic origin.

- (also pyrometric cone) a ceramic pyramid that melts at a known temperature and is used to indicate the temperature of a kiln.

- short for CONE SHELL.

2 the dry fruit of a conifer, typically tapering to a rounded end and formed of a tight array of overlapping scales on a central axis that separate to release the seeds.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a flower resembling a pine cone, esp. that of the hop plant.

3 [ANATOMY] a light-sensitive cell of one of the two types present in the retina of the eye, responding mainly to bright light and responsible for sharpness of vision and color perception. Compare with ROD (sense 5).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting an apex or vertex): from French cône, via Latin from Greek .

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CONE SHELL ■

ROD ■

coned adj. conical.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having cones: [in combination] the big-coned southern California pine.

cone·flow·er n. a North American plant of the daisy family that has flowers with conelike disks that appear to consist of soft spines.
<INFO>  Rudbeckia, Echinacea, and other genera, family Compositae: numerous species, including the yellow-flowered sweet coneflower (R. subtomentosa), the purple coneflower (E. purpurea) with swept-back reddish-purple petals, and the tall green-headed coneflower (R. laciniata) with yellow petals and greenish disks.

cone of si·lence n. 1 an imaginary device that prevents eavesdropping on a private conversation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an electronic device or isolatated room intended for the same purpose.

2 a directive that prohibits oral communication about a specified subject.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an agreement or conspiracy to maintain secrecy about a subject.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: originally a fantasy prop in the television series Get Smart.

cone shell n. shell a predatory mollusk of warm seas, with a conical shell that typically displays intricate patterns. It captures prey by injecting venom, which can be lethal to humans, and the shells are popular with collectors.
<INFO>  Genus Conus, family Conidae, class Gastropoda: numerous species.

Con·es·to·ga wag·on n. HISTORICAL a large covered wagon used for long-distance travel, typically carrying pioneers in the westward migration.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: named after Conestoga, a town in Pennsylvania.

con·ex n. a large, steel-reinforced reusable container for shipping military cargo or, when modified, for use as temporary accommodation: they told us we'd be staying in luxury air-conditioned conexes.

<ORIGIN> acronym from container express.

co·ney (also co·ny) n. (pl. -neys) 1 BRIT. & [HERALDRY] a pika.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a rabbit.

- rabbit fur.

- (in biblical use) a hyrax.

2 a small grouper (fish) found on the coasts of the tropical western Atlantic, with variable coloration.
<INFO>  Epinephelus fulvus, family Serranidae.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French conin, from Latin cuniculus.

Co·ney Is·land 1 a resort and amusement park in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, on the southern shore of Long Island.

Co·ney Is·land 2 n. INFORMAL a hot dog.

<ORIGIN> named after CONEY ISLAND, New York.

con·fab INFORMAL n. an informal private conversation or discussion: they wandered off to the woods for a private confab.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a meeting or conference of members of a particular group: this year's annual American Booksellers Association confab.

■ v. (-fabbed, -fab·bing) [intrans.] engage in informal private conversation: Peter was confabbing with a curly-haired guy.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: abbreviation of confabulation (see CONFABULATE).

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CONFABULATE ■

con·fab·u·late v. [intrans.] 1 FORMAL engage in conversation; talk: she could be heard on the telephone confabulating with someone.

2 [PSYCHIATRY] fabricate imaginary experiences as compensation for loss of memory.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fab·u·la·tion n. con·fab·u·la·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin confabulat- 'chatted together', from the verb confabulari, from con- 'together' + fabulari (from fabula 'fable').

con·fect v. [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY make (something) by putting together various elements: together they had confected a valiseful of show tunes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin confect- 'put together', from the verb conficere, from con- 'together' + facere 'make'.

con·fec·tion n. 1 a dish or delicacy made with sweet ingredients: a whipped chocolate and cream confection.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an elaborately constructed thing, esp. a frivolous one: the city is a classical confection of shimmering gold.

- a fashionable or elaborate article of women's dress: she was wearing some white confection with an enormous satin bow.

2 the action of mixing or compounding something.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fec·tion·ar·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the general sense 'something made by mixing', esp. a medicinal preparation): via Old French from Latin confectio(n-), from conficere 'put together' (see CONFECT).

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CONFECT ■

con·fec·tion·er n. a person whose occupation is making or selling candy and other sweets.

con·fec·tion·ers' sug·ar (also con·fec·tion·er's sug·ar) n. finely powdered sugar with cornstarch added, used for making icings and candy.

con·fec·tion·er·y n. (pl. -er·ies) candy and other sweets considered collectively.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a shop that sells such items.

con·fed·er·a·cy n. (pl. -cies) a league or alliance, esp. of confederate states.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the Confederacy) another term for CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA.

- an alliance formed for an unlawful purpose; a conspiracy.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French confederacie, based on Latin confoederare 'join together in league' (see CONFEDERATION).

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CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA ■

CONFEDERATION ■

con·fed·er·al adj. relating to or denoting a confederation.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from CONFEDERATION, on the pattern of federal.

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CONFEDERATION ■

con·fed·er·ate adj. joined by an agreement or treaty: some local groups united to form confederate councils.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Confederate) of or relating to the Confederate States of America: the Confederate flag.

■ n. 1 a person one works with, esp. in something secret or illegal; an accomplice: where was his confederate, the girl who had stolen Richard's wallet?

2 (Confederate) a supporter of the Confederate States of America.

■ v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (confederated) bring (states or groups of people) into an alliance: Switzerland is a model for the new confederated Europe.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late (ecclesiastical) Latin confoederatus, from con- 'together' + foederatus (see FEDERATE).

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FEDERATE ■

Con·fed·er·ate States of A·mer·i·ca (also the Con·fed·er·a·cy) the 11 Southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia) that seceded from the U.S. in 1860-61, thus precipitating the Civil War.

con·fed·er·a·tion n. an organization that consists of a number of parties or groups united in an alliance or league: a confederation of trade unions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a more or less permanent union of countries with some or most political power vested in a central authority: Canada became a confederation in 1867.

- the action of confederating or the state of being confederated: a referendum on confederation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French confederacion or late Latin confederatio(n-), from Latin confoederare, from con- 'together' + foederare 'join in league with' (from foedus 'league, treaty').

con·fer v. (-ferred, -fer·ring) 1 [trans.] grant or bestow (a title, degree, benefit, or right): moves were made to confer an honorary degree on her. See note at GIVE.

2 [intrans.] have discussions; exchange opinions: the officials were conferring with allies.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fer·ment n. (in sense 1). con·fer·ra·ble adj. con·fer·ral n. (in sense 1).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'bring together', also in sense 2): from Latin conferre, from con- 'together' + ferre 'bring'.

con·fer·ee n. 1 a person who attends a conference.

2 a person on whom something is conferred.

con·fer·ence n. 1 a formal meeting for discussion: he gathered all the men around the table for a conference.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a formal meeting that typically takes place over a number of days and involves people with a shared interest, esp. one held regularly by an association or organization: an international conference on the environment; the third annual National Wilderness Conference.

- [usu. as adj.] a linking of several telephones or computers, so that each user may communicate with the others simultaneously: a conference call.

2 an association of sports teams that play each other.

3 the governing body of some Christian churches, esp. the Methodist Church.

■ v. [intrans.] [usu. as n.] (conferencing) take part in a conference or conference call: video conferencing.

<PHRASES> in conference in a meeting; engaged in discussions.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (in the general sense 'conversation, talk'): from French conférence or medieval Latin conferentia, from Latin conferre 'bring together' (see CONFER).

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CONFER ■

Con·fer·ence on Dis·ar·ma·ment a committee with forty nations as members that seeks to negotiate multilateral disarmament.

con·fess v. [reporting verb] admit or state that one has committed a crime or is at fault in some way: [with clause] he confessed that he had attacked the old man | [intrans.] he wants to confess to Caroline's murder | [with direct speech] “I damaged your car,” she confessed | [trans.] once apprehended, they would confess their guilt.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- admit or acknowledge something reluctantly, typically because one feels slightly ashamed or embarrassed: [with clause] I must confess that I was slightly surprised | [intrans.] he confessed to a lifelong passion for food | [with direct speech] “I needed to see you, too,” he confessed.

- [trans.] declare (one's religious faith): 150 people confessed faith in Christ.

- declare one's sins formally to a priest: [trans.] I could not confess all my sins to the priest | [intrans.] he gave himself up after confessing to a priest.

- [trans.] (of a priest) hear the confession of (someone) in such a way: St. Ambrose would weep bitter tears when confessing a sinner.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French confesser, from Latin confessus, past participle of confiteri 'acknowledge', from con- (expressing intensive force) + fateri 'declare, avow'.

con·fes·sant n. a person who confesses to a priest; a penitent.

con·fess·ed·ly adv. by one's own admission: many therapists have had clients who, confessedly or otherwise, have fallen in love with them.

con·fes·sion n. 1 a formal statement admitting that one is guilty of a crime: he signed a confession to the murders.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an admission or acknowledgment that one has done something that one is ashamed or embarrassed about: by his own confession, he had strayed perilously close to alcoholism.

- a formal admission of one's sins with repentance and desire of absolution, esp. privately to a priest as a religious duty: she still had not been to confession. See also SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION.

- (confessions) OFTEN HUMOROUS intimate revelations about a person's private life or occupation, esp. as presented in a sensationalized form in a book, newspaper, or movie: confessions of a driving instructor.

2 (also confession of faith) a statement setting out essential religious doctrine.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also Confession) the religious body or church sharing a confession of faith.

- a statement of one's principles: his words are a political confession of faith.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fes·sion·ar·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin confessio(n-), from confiteri 'acknowledge' (see CONFESS).

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SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION ■

CONFESS ■

con·fes·sion·al n. 1 an enclosed stall in a church divided by a screen or curtain in which a priest sits to hear people confess their sins.

2 an admission or acknowledgment that one has done something that one is ashamed or embarrassed about; a confession.

■ adj. 1 (esp. of speech or writing) in which a person reveals or admits to private thoughts or past incidents, esp. ones that cause shame or embarrassment: the autobiography is remarkably confessional; his confessional outpourings.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to religious confession: the priest leaned forward in his best confessional manner.

2 of or relating to confessions of faith or doctrinal systems: the confessional approach to religious education.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an adjective): the adjective from CONFESSION + -AL; the noun via French from Italian confessionale, from medieval Latin, neuter of confessionalis, from Latin confessio(n-), from confiteri 'acknowledge' (see CONFESS).

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CONFESSION ■

-AL ■

CONFESS ■

con·fes·sor n. 1  a priest who hears confessions and gives absolution and spiritual counsel.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person to whom another confides personal problems.

2 a person who avows religious faith in the face of opposition, but does not suffer martyrdom.

3 a person who makes a confession.

<ORIGIN> Old English (sense 2): from Old French confessour, from ecclesiastical Latin confessor, from Latin confess- 'acknowledged' (see CONFESS).

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CONFESS ■

con·fet·ti n. small pieces of colored paper thrown during a celebration such as a wedding.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (originally denoting the real or imitation sweets thrown during Italian carnivals): from Italian, literally 'sweets', from Latin confectum 'something prepared', neuter past participle of conficere 'put together' (see CONFECT).

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CONFECT ■

con·fi·dant n. (fem. con·fi·dante pronunc. same) a person with whom one shares a secret or private matter, trusting them not to repeat it to others.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: alteration of CONFIDENT (as a noun in the same sense in the early 17th cent.), probably to represent the pronunciation of French confidente 'having full trust'.

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CONFIDENT ■

con·fide v. [trans.] tell someone about a secret or private matter while trusting them not to repeat it to others: he confided his fears to his mother; | “I have been afraid,” she confided; | the judge confided that he had been swayed by the sister of the accused.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (confide in) trust (someone) enough to tell them of such a secret or private matter: he confided in friends that he and his wife planned to separate.

- (confide something to) DATED entrust something to (someone) for safekeeping: the property of others confided to their care was unjustifiably risked.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fid·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'place trust (in)'): from Latin confidere 'have full trust'. The sense 'impart as a secret' dates from the mid 18th cent.

con·fi·dence n. the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust: we had every confidence in the staff; he had gained the young man's confidence.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the state of feeling certain about the truth of something: it is not possible to say with confidence how much of the increase in sea levels is due to melting glaciers.

- a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities: she's brimming with confidence | [in sing.] he would walk up those steps with a confidence he didn't feel.

- the telling of private matters or secrets with mutual trust: someone with whom you may raise your suspicions in confidence.

- (often confidences) a secret or private matter told to someone under such a condition of trust: the girls exchanged confidences about their parents.

<PHRASES>
□ in someone's confidence in a position of trust with someone.

□ take someone into one's confidence tell someone one's secrets.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin confidentia, from confidere 'have full trust' (see CONFIDENT).

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CONFIDENT ■

con·fi·dence game (BRIT. also confidence trick) n. a swindle in which the victim is persuaded to trust the swindler in some way.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fi·dence trick·ster n. BRIT.

con·fi·dence in·ter·val n. [STATISTICS] a range of values so defined that there is a specified probability that the value of a parameter lies within it.

con·fi·dence lev·el n. [STATISTICS] the probability that the value of a parameter falls within a specified range of values.

con·fi·dence lim·it n. [STATISTICS] either of the extreme values of a confidence interval.

con·fi·dence man n. old-fashioned term for CON MAN.

Linked entries:

CON MAN ■

con·fi·dent adj. feeling or showing confidence in oneself; self-assured: she was a confident, outgoing girl; a confident smile.
<SPECIAL USAGE> feeling or showing certainty about something: this time they're confident of a happy ending; I am not very confident about tonight's game.

■ n. ARCHAIC a confidant.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fi·dent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French confident(e), from Italian confidente, from Latin confident- 'having full trust', from the verb confidere, from con- (expressing intensive force) + fidere 'trust'.

con·fi·den·tial adj. intended to be kept secret: confidential information; knowledge that was privileged and confidential.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person's tone of voice) indicating that what one says is private or secret: he dropped his voice to a confidential whisper.

- entrusted with private or restricted information: a confidential secretary.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fi·den·ti·al·i·ty n. con·fi·den·tial·ly adv.

con·fig·u·ra·tion n. an arrangement of elements in a particular form, figure, or combination: the broad configuration of the economy remains capitalist; the arena is equipped to stage indoor sports with various configurations of seating.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [CHEMISTRY] the fixed three-dimensional relationship of the atoms in a molecule, defined by the bonds between them. Compare with CONFORMATION.

- [COMPUTING] the arrangement in which items of computer hardware or software are interconnected: it comes with a removable hard disk drive as part of the standard configuration.

- [PSYCHOLOGY] another term for GESTALT.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fig·u·ra·tion·al adj. con·fig·u·ra·tion·al·ly adv. con·fig·u·ra·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting the relative position of celestial objects): from late Latin configuratio(n-), from Latin configurare 'shape after a pattern' (see CONFIGURE).

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CONFORMATION ■

GESTALT ■

CONFIGURE ■

con·fig·ure v. [trans.] (often be configured) shape or put together in a particular form or configuration: two of the aircraft will be configured as VIP transports.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [COMPUTING] arrange or order (a computer system or an element of it) so as to fit it for a designated task: expanded memory can be configured as a virtual drive.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fig·ur·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the Latin sense): from Latin configurare 'shape after a pattern', from con- 'together' + figurare 'to shape' (from figura 'shape or figure').

con·fine v. [trans.] (confine someone/something to) keep or restrict someone or something within certain limits of (space, scope, quantity, or time): he does not confine his message to politics; your boating will mostly be confined to a few hours at weekends; you’ve confined yourself to what you know.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (confine someone to/in) restrain or forbid someone from leaving (a place): the troops were confined to their barracks.

- (be confined to) (of a person) be unable to leave (one's bed, home, or a wheelchair) because of illness or disability: he had been confined to a wheelchair for some time.

- (be confined) DATED (of a woman) remain in bed for a period before, during, and after the birth of a child: she was confined for nearly a month.

■ n. (confines) the borders or boundaries of a place, esp. with regard to their restricting freedom of movement: they were cramped within the confines of a little cabin.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE the limits or restrictions of something abstract, esp. a subject or sphere of activity: the narrow confines of political life.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fine·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a noun): from French confins (plural noun), from Latin confinia, from confinis 'bordering', from con- 'together' + finis 'end, limit' (plural fines 'territory'). The verb senses are from French confiner, based on Latin confinis.

con·fined adj. (of a space) restricted in area or volume; cramped: wear a dust mask and goggles when soldering in confined spaces.

con·firm v. [trans.] 1 establish the truth or correctness of (something previously believed, suspected, or feared to be the case): if these fears are confirmed, the outlook for the economy will be dire; | the report confirms that a diet rich in vitamin C can help to prevent cataracts.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- state with assurance that a report or fact is true: he confirmed that the general was in the hands of the rebels; | “It is indeed real coffee,” I confirmed.

- (confirm someone in) reinforce someone in (an opinion, belief, or feeling): he fueled his misogyny by cultivating women who confirmed him in this view.

- make (a provisional arrangement or appointment) definite: Mr. Baker's assistant telephoned to confirm his appointment with the chairman.

- make (something, esp. a person's appointment to a position or an agreement) formally valid; ratify: the organization has confirmed the appointment of Mr. Collins as managing director.

- formally declare (someone) to be appointed to a particular position: he was confirmed as the new peace envoy.

2 administer the religious rite of confirmation to: he had been baptized and confirmed.

<DERIVATIVES> con·firm·a·tive adj. con·firm·a·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French confermer, from Latin confirmare, from con- 'together' + firmare 'strengthen' (from firmus 'firm').

con·fir·mand n. a person who is to undergo the religious rite of confirmation.

con·fir·ma·tion n. 1 the action of confirming something or the state of being confirmed: Sylvia received official confirmation of the instructorship.

2 (in the Christian Church) the rite at which a baptized person, esp. one baptized as an infant, affirms Christian belief and is admitted as a full member of the church.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the Jewish ceremony of bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin confirmatio(n-), from confirmare 'make firm, establish' (see CONFIRM).

Linked entries:

CONFIRM ■

con·firmed adj. (of a person) firmly established in a particular habit, belief, or way of life and unlikely to change: a confirmed bachelor; a confirmed teetotaler.

con·fis·cate v. [trans.] take or seize (someone's property) with authority: the guards confiscated his camera | [as adj.] (confiscated) confiscated equipment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> take (a possession, esp. land) as a penalty and give it to the public treasury: the government confiscated his property.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fis·ca·tion n. con·fis·ca·tor n. con·fis·ca·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin confiscat- 'put away in a chest, consigned to the public treasury', from the verb confiscare, based on con- 'together' + fiscus 'chest, treasury'.

con·fit n. duck or other meat cooked slowly in its own fat.

<ORIGIN> French, 'conserved', from confire 'prepare'.

Con·fit·e·or n. a form of prayer confessing sins, used in the Roman Catholic Mass and some other sacraments.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: Latin, literally 'I confess', from the formula Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti 'I confess to Almighty God'.

con·fi·ture n. a preparation of preserved fruit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a confection.

con·fla·grant adj. on fire; blazing.

con·fla·gra·tion n. an extensive fire that destroys a great deal of land or property.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (denoting consumption by fire): from Latin conflagratio(n-), from the verb conflagrare, from con- (expressing intensive force) + flagrare 'to blaze'.

con·flate v. [trans.] combine (two or more texts, ideas, etc.) into one: the urban crisis conflates a number of different economic and social issues.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fla·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'fuse or melt down metal'): from Latin conflat- 'kindled, fused', from the verb conflare, from con- 'together' + flare 'to blow'.

con·flict n. a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one: the eternal conflict between the sexes | doctors often come into conflict with politicians.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a prolonged armed struggle: overseas conflicts.

- an incompatibility between two or more opinions, principles, or interests: there was a conflict between his business and domestic life.

- [PSYCHOLOGY] a condition in which a person experiences a clash of opposing wishes or needs.

■ v. [intrans.] be incompatible or at variance; clash: parents' and children's interests sometimes conflict; those tournament dates would have conflicted with Memorial Day | [as adj.] (conflicting) there are conflicting accounts of what occurred.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] (conflicted) having or showing confused and mutually inconsistent feelings: my feelings are so conflicted that I hardly know how to answer.

<DERIVATIVES> con·flic·tive adj. con·flic·tu·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin conflict- 'struck together, fought', from the verb confligere, from con- 'together' + fligere 'to strike'; the noun is via Latin conflictus 'a contest'.

con·flict dia·mond n. a rough diamond mined in an area controlled by insurgent forces whose sale is used to finance antigovernment military action.

con·flu·ence n. the junction of two rivers, esp. rivers of approximately equal width: here at the confluence of the Laramie and North Platte Rivers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an act or process of merging: a major confluence of the world's financial markets.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin confluentia, from Latin confluere 'flow together' (see CONFLUENT).

Linked entries:

CONFLUENT ■

con·flu·ent adj. flowing together or merging: warm confluent smells.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin confluent- 'flowing together', from confluere, from con- 'together' + fluere 'to flow'.

con·flux n. another term for CONFLUENCE.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from late Latin confluxus, from con- 'together' + fluxus (see FLUX).

Linked entries:

CONFLUENCE ■

FLUX ■

con·fo·cal adj. having a common focus or foci: confocal ellipses.
<SPECIAL USAGE> denoting or using a microscope whose imaging system only collects light from a small spot on the specimen, giving greater resolution.

con·form v. [intrans.] comply with rules, standards, or laws: the kitchen does not conform to hygiene regulations; the changes were introduced to conform with international classifications.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards: the pressure to conform.

- be similar in form or type; agree: the countryside should conform to a certain idea of the picturesque.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'make (something) like another thing'): from Old French conformer, from Latin conformare, from con- 'together' + formare 'to form'.

con·form·a·ble adj. (usu. conformable to) (of a person) disposed or accustomed to conform to what is acceptable or expected.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- similar in form or nature; consistent: this proposition might be conformable to the original conjecture.

- [GEOLOGY] (of strata in contact) deposited in a continuous sequence, and typically having the same direction of stratification.

<DERIVATIVES> con·form·a·bil·i·ty n. con·form·a·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the sense 'compliant (to) or tractable'): from medieval Latin conformabilis, from Latin conformare 'to form, fashion' (see CONFORM).

Linked entries:

CONFORM ■

con·for·mal adj. (of a map projection or a mathematical mapping) preserving the correct angles between directions within small areas, though distorting distances. Also called ORTHOMORPHIC.

<DERIVATIVES> con·for·mal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'conformable'): from late Latin conformalis, from con- 'together' + formalis 'formal'. The current sense was coined in German.

Linked entries:

ORTHOMORPHIC ■

con·form·ance n. another term for CONFORMITY.

Linked entries:

CONFORMITY ■

con·for·ma·tion n. the shape or structure of something, esp. an animal: the judges run their hands over the dog's body and legs, checking its conformation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHEMISTRY] any of the spatial arrangements that the atoms in a molecule may adopt and freely convert between, esp. by rotation about individual single bonds. Compare with CONFIGURATION.

<DERIVATIVES> con·for·ma·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (in the sense 'conforming, adaptation'): from Latin conformatio(n-), from conformare 'to shape, fashion' (see CONFORM).

Linked entries:

CONFIGURATION ■

CONFORM ■

con·form·er n. [CHEMISTRY] a form of a compound having a particular molecular conformation: changing the temperature alters the relative proportions of the conformers.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: blend of conformational (see CONFORMATION) and ISOMER.

Linked entries:

CONFORMATION ■

ISOMER ■

con·form·ist n. a person who conforms to accepted behavior or established practices.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT., CHIEFLY HISTORICAL a person who conforms to the practices of the Church of England.

■ adj. (of a person or activity) conforming to accepted behavior or established practices; conventional.

<DERIVATIVES> con·form·ism n.

con·form·i·ty n. compliance with standards, rules, or laws: conformity to regulations; the goods were in conformity with the contract.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- behavior in accordance with socially accepted conventions or standards: loyalty to one's party need not imply unquestioning conformity.

- BRIT., CHIEFLY HISTORICAL compliance with the practices of the Church of England.

- similarity in form or type; agreement in character: these changes are intended to ensure conformity between all schemes.

- [GEOLOGY] (of strata in contact) a continuous sequence of deposits, typically in parallel strata.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French conformite or late Latin conformitas, from conformare 'to form, fashion' (see CONFORM).

Linked entries:

CONFORM ■

con·found v. [trans.] 1 cause surprise or confusion in (someone), esp. by acting against their expectations: the inflation figure confounded economic analysts.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- prove (a theory, expectation, or prediction) wrong: the rise in prices confounded expectations.

- defeat (a plan, aim, or hope): we will confound these tactics by the pressure groups.

- ARCHAIC overthrow (an enemy).

2 (often be confounded with) mix up (something) with something else so that the individual elements become difficult to distinguish: 'nuke' is now a cooking technique, as microwave radiation is confounded with nuclear radiation.

■ exclam. DATED used to express anger or annoyance: oh, confound it, where is the thing?

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French confondre, from Latin confundere 'pour together, mix up'. Compare with CONFUSE.

Linked entries:

CONFUSE ■

con·found·ed adj. INFORMAL, DATED used for emphasis, esp. to express anger or annoyance: he was a confounded nuisance.

<DERIVATIVES> con·found·ed·ly adv.

con·fra·ter·ni·ty n. (pl. -ties) a brotherhood, esp. with a charitable or religious purpose.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French confraternite, from medieval Latin confraternitas, from confrater (see CONFRÈRE).

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CONFRÈRE ■

con·frère (also con·frere) n. a fellow member of a profession; a colleague: executives from the four broadcast television networks, along with their cable confreres.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, from medieval Latin confrater, from con- 'together with' + frater 'brother'.

con·front v. [trans.] meet (someone) face to face with hostile or argumentative intent: 300 policemen confronted an equal number of union supporters.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- face up to and deal with (a problem or difficult situation): we knew we couldn't ignore the race issue and decided we'd confront it head on.

- compel (someone) to face or consider something, esp. by way of accusation: Tricia confronted him with her suspicions.

- (often be confronted) (of a problem, difficulty, etc.) present itself to (someone) so that dealing with it cannot be avoided: post-czarist Russia was confronted with a Ukrainian national movement.

- (usu. be confronted) appear or be placed in front of (someone) so as to unsettle or threaten: we were confronted with pictures of moving skeletons.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French confronter, from medieval Latin confrontare, from Latin con- 'with' + frons, front- 'face'.

con·fron·ta·tion n. a hostile or argumentative meeting or situation between opposing parties: a confrontation with the legislature | four months of violent confrontation between government and opposition forces.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fron·ta·tion·al adj.

Con·fu·cian adj. of or relating to Confucius or Confucianism.

■ n. an adherent of Confucianism.

Con·fu·cian·ism n. a system of philosophical and ethical teachings founded by Confucius and developed by Mencius.

<DERIVATIVES> Con·fu·cian·ist n. & adj.

Con·fu·cius (551-479 BC), Chinese philosopher; Latinized name of Kongfuze (K'ung Fu-tzu) "Kong the master.” His ideas about the importance of practical moral values, collected by his disciples in the Analects, formed the basis of the philosophy known as Confucianism.

con·fus·a·ble adj. able or liable to be confused with something else.

■ n. a word or phrase that is easily confused with another in meaning or usage, such as mitigate, which is often confused with militate.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fus·a·bil·i·ty n.

con·fuse v. [trans.] cause (someone) to become bewildered or perplexed: past and present blurred together, confusing her still further.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make (something) more complex or less easy to understand: the points made by the authors confuse rather than clarify the issue.

- identify wrongly; mistake: a lot of people confuse a stroke with a heart attack; purchasers might confuse the two products.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fus·ing adj. con·fus·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'rout, bring to ruin'): from Old French confus, from Latin confusus, past participle of confundere 'mingle together' (see CONFOUND). Originally all senses of the verb were passive, and therefore appeared only as the past participle confused; the active voice occurred rarely until the 19th cent. when it began to replace confound.

Linked entries:

CONFOUND ■

con·fused adj. (of a person) unable to think clearly; bewildered: she was utterly confused about what had just happened; a very confused and unhappy boy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- showing bewilderment: a confused expression crossed her face.

- not in possession of all one's mental faculties, esp. because of old age: interviewing confused old people does take longer.

- lacking order and thus difficult to understand: the confused information supplied by authorities; reports about the incident were rather confused.

- lacking clear distinction of elements; jumbled: the sound of a sort of confused hammering and shouting.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fus·ed·ly adv.

con·fu·sion n. 1 lack of understanding; uncertainty: there seems to be some confusion about which system does what; he cleared up the confusion over the party's policy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a situation of panic; a breakdown of order: the shaken survivors retreated in confusion.

- a disorderly jumble: all I can see is a confusion of brown cardboard boxes.

See note at JUMBLE.

2 the state of being bewildered or unclear in one's mind about something: she looked about her in confusion.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the mistaking of one person or thing for another: there is some confusion between “unlawful” and “illegal” | most of the errors are reasonable confusions between similar words or sequences of words.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin confusio(n-), from the verb confundere 'mingle together' (see CONFUSE).

Linked entries:

CONFUSE ■

con·fute v. [trans.] FORMAL prove (a person or an assertion) to be wrong: restorers who sought to confute this view were accused of ignorance.

<DERIVATIVES> con·fu·ta·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Latin confutare 'restrain, answer conclusively', from con- 'altogether' + the base of refutare 'refute'.

Cong. abbr.
- Congress.

- Congressional.

- Congregational.

con·ga n. 1 a Latin American dance of African origin, usually with several people in a single line, one behind the other.

2 (also conga drum) a tall, narrow, low-toned drum beaten with the hands.

■ v. (-gas, -gaed or -ga'd, -ga·ing ) [intrans.] dance the conga.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from Latin American Spanish, from Spanish, feminine of congo 'Congolese'.

con game n. informal term for CONFIDENCE GAME.

Linked entries:

CONFIDENCE GAME ■

con·gé n. [in sing.] an unceremonious dismissal of someone; a leavetaking: the woman who gave you your congé when she wanted to marry Mr. Sugar.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'permission to do something'): from Old French congie, from Latin commeatus 'leave of absence', from commeare 'go and come'. The word is now usually treated as equivalent to modern French.

con·geal v. [intrans.] solidify or coagulate, esp. by cooling: the blood had congealed into blobs | [as adj.] (congealed) congealed egg white.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE take shape or coalesce, esp. to form a satisfying whole: the ballet failed to congeal as a single oeuvre.

<DERIVATIVES> con·geal·a·ble adj. con·geal·ment n. (ARCHAIC).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French congeler, from Latin congelare, from con- 'together' + gelare 'freeze' (from gelu 'frost').

con·gee n. (in Chinese cooking) broth or porridge made from rice.

<ORIGIN> from Tamil kañci.

con·ge·la·tion n. the process of congealing or the state of being congealed: the component of metals that causes their congelation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin congelatio(n-), from the verb congelare 'freeze together' (see CONGEAL).

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CONGEAL ■

con·ge·ner n. 1 a thing or person of the same kind or category as another.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an animal or plant of the same genus as another: these birds or their congeners may be found in East Africa.

2 a minor chemical constituent, esp. one that gives a distinctive character to a wine or liquor or is responsible for some of its physiological effects.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin, from con- 'together with' + genus, gener- 'race, stock'.

con·ge·ner·ic adj. [BIOLOGY] (of an animal or plant species) belonging to the same genus: this animal is congeneric with the later species.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of a related nature or origin: the two sets were congeneric.

<DERIVATIVES> con·gen·er·ous adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin congener (see CONGENER) + -IC.

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CONGENER ■

-IC ■

con·gen·ial adj. (of a person) pleasant because of a personality, qualities, or interests that are similar to one’s own: his need for some congenial company. See note at PLEASANT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a thing) pleasant or agreeable because suited to one’s taste or inclination: he went back to a climate more congenial to his cold stony soul.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ge·ni·al·i·ty n. con·gen·ial·ly adv.

con·gen·i·tal adj. (esp. of a disease or physical abnormality) present from birth: a congenital malformation of the heart.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) having a particular trait from birth or by firmly established habit: a congenital liar.
See note at INHERENT.

<DERIVATIVES> con·gen·i·tal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin congenitus, from con- 'together' + genitus (past participle of gignere 'beget') + -AL.

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-AL ■

con·ger (also conger eel) n. a large edible predatory eel of shallow coastal waters.
<INFO>  Conger and other genera, family Congridae: several species, in particular the European C. conger and the American C. oceanicus.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French congre, via Latin from Greek gongros.

con·ge·ries n. (pl. same) a disorderly collection; a jumble: whiffs of ground coffee and a congeries of smells.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin congeries 'heap, pile', from congerere 'heap up'.

con·gest·ed adj. blocked up with or too full of something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a road or place) so crowded with traffic or people as to hinder freedom of movement: one of the most congested airports in the world; the road was congested with refugees.

- (of the respiratory tract) blocked with mucus so as to hinder breathing: his nose was congested.

- (of a part of the body) abnormally full of blood: congested arteries.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: past participle of congest, from Latin congest- 'heaped up', from the verb congerere, from con- 'together' + gerere 'bring'.

con·ges·tion n. the state of being congested: the new bridge should ease congestion in the area.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin congestio(n-), from congere 'heap up', from con- 'together' + gerere 'bring'.

con·ges·tive adj. [MEDICINE] involving or produced by congestion of a part of the body.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from congest (see CONGESTED) + -IVE.

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CONGESTED ■

-IVE ■

con·ges·tive heart fail·ure n. a weakness of the heart that leads to a buildup of fluid in the lungs and surrounding body tissues.

con·gi·us n. (pl. -gi·i ) an ancient Roman liquid measure of one eighth of an amphora, equal in modern terms to about 6.4 pints (3.6 liters).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: Latin, from Greek . (See CONCH).

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CONCH ■

con·glob·u·late v. [intrans.] RARE join closely together: a group of tourists conglobulating in a close mass.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin globulus 'globule', on the pattern of earlier conglobate 'make into a ball'.

con·glom·er·ate n. 1 a number of different things or parts that are put or grouped together to form a whole but remain distinct entities: the Earth is a specialized conglomerate of organisms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a large corporation formed by the merging of separate and diverse firms: a media conglomerate.

2 [GEOLOGY] a coarse-grained sedimentary rock composed of rounded fragments (> 2 mm) within a matrix of finer grained material: the sediments vary from coarse conglomerate to fine silt and clay.

■ adj. of or relating to a conglomerate, esp. a large corporation: conglomerate businesses.

■ v. [intrans.] gather together into a compact mass: atoms that conglomerate at the center.
<SPECIAL USAGE> form a conglomerate by merging diverse businesses.

<DERIVATIVES> con·glom·er·a·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an adjective describing something gathered up into a rounded mass): from Latin conglomeratus, past participle of conglomerare, from con- 'together' + glomus, glomer- 'ball'. The geological sense dates from the early 19th cent.; the other noun senses are later.

Con·go a major river in central Africa that rises as the Lualaba River south of Kisangani in northern Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). It flows for 2,880 miles (4,630 km) in a great curve to the west and then turns southwest to form the border between the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. Also called ZAIRE RIVER.

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ZAIRE RIVER ■

Con·go, Democratic Republic of the a large country in central Africa with a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean; pop. 58,317,000; capital, Kinshasa; languages, French (official), Kongo, Lingala, Swahili, and others. Formerly called (until 1997) ZAIRE.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) was a Belgian colony known as the Congo Free State 1885-1908 and the Belgian Congo 1908-60. Independence in 1960 was followed by civil war and UN intervention. General Mobutu seized control in a coup in 1965, changed the name of the country from the Republic of the Congo to Zaire in 1971, and remained in power until he was overthrown in 1997 by Laurent Kabila, who changed the country's name againback to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.The country experienced a huge influx of refugees following the violence in Rwanda in 1994.

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ZAIRE ■

Con·go, Republic of the a country in western Africa, with a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean; pop. 2,998,000; capital, Brazzaville; languages, French (official), Kikongo, and other Bantu languages.

The region was colonized in the 19th century by France and, as Middle Congo, formed part of the larger territory of French Congo (later, French Equatorial Africa). After becoming independent in 1960, the Congo was the scene of civil war for nearly two decades. A peace accord was signed in 2003.

Con·go·lese adj. of or relating to the Congo or the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire).

■ n. (pl. same) 1 a native or inhabitant of the Congo or the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

2 any of the Bantu languages spoken in the Congo region, in particular Kikongo.

<ORIGIN> from French Congolais.

Con·go red n. a red-brown azo dye that becomes blue in acidic conditions, used as a chemical indicator and as a stain in histology.

con·grats plural n. INFORMAL congratulations: [as exclam.] “Congrats on your promotion, Cal!”

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

con·grat·u·late v. [trans.] give (someone) one's good wishes when something special or pleasant has happened to them: I went into the living room to congratulate Bill on his marriage.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- praise (someone) for a particular achievement: the operators are to be congratulated for the excellent service that they now provide.

- (congratulate oneself) feel pride or satisfaction: she congratulated herself on her powers of deduction; | the Director was congratulating himself that nothing could go wrong.

<DERIVATIVES> con·grat·u·la·tor n. con·grat·u·la·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin congratulat- 'congratulated', from the verb congratulari, from con- 'with' + gratulari 'show joy' (from gratus 'pleasing').

con·grat·u·la·tion n. an expression of praise for an achievement or good wishes on a special occasion; the act of congratulating: he began pumping the hand of his son in congratulation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (congratulations) words expressing congratulation: our congratulations to the winners | [as exclam.] congratulations on a job well done!

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin congratulatio(n-), from the verb congratulari (see CONGRATULATE).

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CONGRATULATE ■

con·gre·gant n. a member of a congregation, esp. that of a church or synagogue.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin congregant- 'collecting (into a flock), uniting', from the verb congregare (see CONGREGATE).

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CONGREGATE ■

con·gre·gate v. [intrans.] gather into a crowd or mass: some 4000 demonstrators had congregated at a border point. See note at GATHER.

■ adj. communal: nursing homes and adult congregate living facilities.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin congregat- 'collected (into a flock), united', from the verb congregare, from con- 'together' + gregare (from grex, greg- 'a flock').

con·gre·ga·tion n. 1 a group of people assembled for religious worship.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a group of people regularly attending a particular place of worship: that church took the place of the storefront the congregation had used before the war.

2 a gathering or collection of people, animals, or things: large congregations of birds may cause public harm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of gathering together in a crowd: drought conditions lead to congregation of animals around watering points.

3 (often Congregation) a council or deliberative body.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in the Roman Catholic Church) a permanent committee of the College of Cardinals: the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

- BRIT. (in some universities) a general assembly of resident senior members.

4 a group of people obeying a common religious rule but under less solemn vows than members of the older religious orders: the sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a group of communities within a religious order sharing particular historical or regional links.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in senses 2, 3, and 4): from Latin congregatio(n-), from congregare 'collect (into a flock)' (see CONGREGATE).

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CONGREGATE ■

con·gre·ga·tion·al adj. 1 of or relating to a congregation: congregational singing.

2 (Congregational) of or adhering to Congregationalism: the Congregational Church.

Con·gre·ga·tion·al·ism n. a system of organization among Christian churches whereby individual local churches are largely self-governing.

<DERIVATIVES> Con·gre·ga·tion·al·ist n. & adj.

con·gress n. 1 the national legislative body of a country.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (Congress) the national legislative body of the U.S., meeting at the Capitol in Washington, DC. It was established by the Constitution of 1787 and is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives: changes in taxation required the approval of Congress.

- a particular session of the U.S. Congress: the 104th Congress.

2 a formal meeting or series of meetings for discussion between delegates, esp. those from a political party or trade union or from within a particular discipline: an international congress of mathematicians.

3 a society or organization, esp. a political one: the National Congress of American Indians.

4 the action of coming together: sexual congress.

<DERIVATIVES> con·gres·sion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting an encounter during battle): from Latin congressus, from congredi 'meet', from con- 'together' + gradi 'walk'.

con·gress boot n. DATED a high boot with elastic sides.

Con·gres·sion·al Med·al of Hon·or n. see MEDAL OF HONOR.

Linked entries:

MEDAL OF HONOR ■

con·gress·man n. (pl. -men) a member of the U.S. Congress (also used as a form of address), usually specifically a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Con·gress of In·dus·tri·al Or·gan·i·za·tions (abbr.: CIO) a federation of North American trade unions, organized largely by industry rather than craft. In 1955 it merged with the American Federation of Labor to form the AFL-CIO.

con·gress·per·son (pl. con·gress·peo·ple or con·gress·per·sons) n. a member of a legislative congress, esp. the U.S. House of Representatives.

con·gress·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en) a female member of the U.S. Congress (also used as a form of address).

Con·greve William (1670-1729), English playwright. His plays, such as Love for Love (1695) and The Way of the World (1700), epitomize the wit and satire of Restoration comedy.

con·gru·ent adj. 1 in agreement or harmony: institutional and departmental objectives are largely congruent; the rules may not be congruent with the requirements of the law.

2 [GEOMETRY] (of figures) identical in form; coinciding exactly when superimposed.

<DERIVATIVES> con·gru·ence n. con·gru·en·cy n. con·gru·ent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin congruent- 'agreeing, meeting together', from the verb congruere, from con- 'together' + ruere 'fall or rush'.

con·gru·ous adj. in agreement or harmony: this explanation is congruous with earlier observations.

<DERIVATIVES> con·gru·i·ty n. con·gru·ous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin congruus, from congruere 'agree' (see CONGRUENT), + -OUS.

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CONGRUENT ■

-OUS ■

con·ic [CHIEFLY MATHEMATICS] adj. of or like a cone.

■ n. short for CONIC SECTION. See also CONICS.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from modern Latin conicus, from Greek , from 'cone'.

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CONIC SECTION ■

CONICS ■

con·i·cal adj. having the shape of a cone.

<DERIVATIVES> con·i·cal·ly adv.

con·i·cal pro·jec·tion (also con·ic pro·jec·tion) n. a map projection in which an area of the earth is projected onto a cone whose vertex is usually above one of the poles, then unrolled onto a flat surface.

con·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the branch of mathematics concerned with conic sections.

con·ic sec·tion n. a figure formed by the intersection of a plane and a right circular cone. Depending on the angle of the plane with respect to the cone, a conic section may be a circle, an ellipse, a parabola, or a hyperbola.

co·nid·i·o·phore n. [BOTANY] (in certain fungi) a conidium-bearing hypha or filament.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from conidio- (combining form of CONIDIUM) + -PHORE.

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CONIDIUM ■

-PHORE ■

co·nid·i·um n. (pl. -nid·i·a ) [BOTANY] a spore produced asexually by various fungi at the tip of a specialized hypha.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek konis 'dust' + the diminutive suffix -idium.

co·ni·fer n. a tree that bears cones and evergreen needlelike or scalelike leaves. Conifers are of major importance as the source of softwood, and also supply resins and turpentine.
<INFO>  Order Coniferales, class Coniferopsida, subdivision Gymnospermae: several families, including the pines and firs (Pinaceae) and the cypresses (Cupressaceae).

<DERIVATIVES> co·nif·er·ous adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin, literally 'cone-bearing', from conus (see CONE).

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CONE ■

co·ni·form adj. RARE having the shape of a cone.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin conus 'cone' + -IFORM.

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-IFORM ■

co·ni·ine n. [CHEMISTRY] a volatile poisonous compound found in hemlock and other plants. It affects the motor nerves, causing paralysis and asphyxia.
<INFO>  An alkaloid, 2-propylpiperidine; chem. formula: C_8H_17N.

<ORIGIN>  mid 19th cent.: from Latin conium (from Greek 'hemlock') + -INE^4 .

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-INE ■

conj. abbr. conjunction.

con·jec·tur·al adj. based on or involving conjecture: much of the racial history of Madagascar remains conjectural.

<DERIVATIVES> con·jec·tur·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via French from Latin conjecturalis, from conjectura 'inference' (see CONJECTURE).

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CONJECTURE ■

con·jec·ture n. an opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information: conjectures about the newcomer were many and varied; the purpose of the opening in the wall is open to conjecture.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an unproven mathematical or scientific theorem: the Goldbach conjecture.

- (in textual criticism) the suggestion or reconstruction of a reading of a text not present in the original source.

■ v. [trans.] form an opinion or supposition about (something) on the basis of incomplete information: he conjectured the existence of an otherwise unknown feature; | many conjectured that she had a second husband in mind.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in textual criticism) propose (a reading).

<DERIVATIVES> con·jec·tur·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the senses 'to divine' and 'divination'): from Old French, or from Latin conjectura, from conicere 'put together in thought', from con- 'together' + jacere 'throw'.

con·join v. [trans.] FORMAL join; combine: an approach that conjoins theory and method.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French conjoindre, from Latin conjungere, from con- 'together' + jungere 'to join'.

con·joined twin n. either of a pair of twins who are physically joined at birth, sometimes sharing organs, and sometimes separable by surgery (depending on the degree of fusion).

<USAGE>
This more accurate and correct term has supplanted the older term Siamese twin in all contexts other than informal conversation.

con·joint adj. [attrib.] combining all or both people or things involved: conjoint family therapy.

<DERIVATIVES> con·joint·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, past participle of conjoindre (see CONJOIN).

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CONJOIN ■

con·ju·gal adj. of or relating to marriage or the relationship between husband and wife: conjugal loyalty.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ju·gal·i·ty n. con·ju·gal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Latin conjugalis, from conjux, conjug- 'spouse', from con- 'together'+ jugum 'a yoke'.

con·ju·gal rights plural n. the rights, esp. to sexual relations, regarded as exercisable in law by each partner in a marriage.

con·ju·gal vis·it n. [LAW] a visit to a prisoner, by the spouse of the prisoner, especially for sexual relations.

con·ju·gate v. 1 [trans.] [GRAMMAR] give the different forms of (a verb in an inflected language) as they vary according to voice, mood, tense, number, and person.

2 [intrans.] [BIOLOGY] (of bacteria or unicellular organisms) become temporarily united in order to exchange genetic material: E. coli only conjugate when one of the cells possesses fertility genes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of gametes) become fused.

3 [trans.] [CHEMISTRY] be combined with or joined to reversibly: bilirubin is then conjugated by liver enzymes and excreted in the bile.

■ adj. coupled, connected, or related, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [CHEMISTRY] (of an acid or base) related to the corresponding base or acid by loss or gain of a proton.

- [MATHEMATICS] joined in a reciprocal relation, esp. having the same real parts and equal magnitudes but opposite signs of imaginary parts. Short for COMPLEX CONJUGATE.

- [GEOMETRY] (of angles) adding up to 360°; (of arcs) combining to form a complete circle.

- [BIOLOGY] (esp. of gametes) fused.

■ n. a thing that is conjugate or conjugated, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [CHIEFLY BIOCHEMISTRY] a substance formed by the reversible combination of two or more others.

- a mathematical value or entity having a reciprocal relation with another. See also COMPLEX CONJUGATE.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ju·ga·cy n. con·ju·ga·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin conjugat- 'yoked together', from the verb conjugare, from con- 'together' + jugum 'yoke'.

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COMPLEX CONJUGATE ■

COMPLEX CONJUGATE ■

con·ju·gat·ed adj. [attrib.] another term for CONJUGATE, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [CHEMISTRY] relating to or denoting double or triple bonds in a molecule that are separated by a single bond, across which some sharing of electrons occurs.

- (of a substance) reversibly combined with another: conjugated bile salts.

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CONJUGATE ■

con·ju·gate di·am·e·ter n. [ANATOMY] the distance between the front and rear of the pelvis.

con·ju·ga·ted pro·tein n. a complex protein, such as hemoglobin, consisting of amino acids combined with other substances.

con·ju·ga·tion n. 1 the formation or existence of a link or connection between things, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BIOLOGY] the temporary union of two bacteria or unicellular organisms for the exchange of genetic material.

- [BIOLOGY] the fusion of two gametes, esp. when they are of a similar size.

- [CHIEFLY BIOCHEMISTRY] the combination of two substances: toxic compounds eliminated from the body by conjugation with glutathione.

- [CHEMISTRY] the sharing of electron density between nearby multiple bonds in a molecule.

- [MATHEMATICS] the solution of a problem by transforming it into an equivalent problem of a different form, solving this, and then reversing the transformation.

2 [GRAMMAR] the variation of the form of a verb in an inflected language such as Latin, by which are identified the voice, mood, tense, number, and person.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the class in which a verb is put according to the manner of this variation: a past participle of the first conjugation.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ju·ga·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from Latin conjugatio(n-), from conjugare 'join together' (see CONJUGATE).

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CONJUGATE ■

con·junct adj. joined together, combined, or associated.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MUSIC] of or relating to the movement of a melody between adjacent notes of the scale.

- [ASTROLOGY] in conjunction with: Moon conjunct Jupiter.

■ n. each of two or more things that are joined or associated.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [LOGIC] each of the terms of a conjunctive proposition.

- [GRAMMAR] an adverbial whose function is to join two sentences or other discourse units (e.g., however, anyway, in the first place).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin conjunctus, past participle of conjungere 'join together' (see CONJOIN).

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CONJOIN ■

con·junc·tion n. 1 the act of joining or the condition of being joined: he postulated that the Americas were formed by the conjunction of floating islands.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an instance of two or more events or things occurring at the same point in time or space: a conjunction of favorable political and economic circumstances.

- [ASTRONOMY] & [ASTROLOGY] an alignment of two planets or other celestial objects so that they appear to be in the same, or nearly the same, place in the sky.

2 [GRAMMAR] a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause (e.g., and, but, if).

<PHRASES> in conjunction together: herbal medicine was used in conjunction with acupuncture and massage.

<DERIVATIVES> con·junc·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin conjunctio(n-), from the verb conjungere (see CONJOIN).

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CONJOIN ■

con·junc·ti·va n. [ANATOMY] the mucous membrane that covers the front of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids.

<DERIVATIVES> con·junc·ti·val adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin (membrana) conjunctiva 'conjunctive (membrane)', from late Latin conjunctivus, from conjungere 'join together' (see CONJOIN).

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CONJOIN ■

con·junc·tive adj. serving to join; connective: the conjunctive tissue.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- involving the combination or co-occurrence of two or more conditions or properties: conjunctive hypotheses are simpler to process than negative or disjunctive ones.

- [GRAMMAR] of the nature of or relating to a conjunction.

■ n. [GRAMMAR] a word or expression acting as a conjunction.

<DERIVATIVES> con·junc·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin conjunctivus, from conjungere 'join together' (see CONJUNCT).

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CONJUNCT ■

con·junc·ti·vi·tis n. [MEDICINE] inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye. Also called PINKEYE.

con·junc·ture n. a combination of events: the peculiar political conjunctures that led to war.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a state of affairs: the wider political conjuncture.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from CONJUNCTION, by substitution of the suffix; influenced by obsolete French conjuncture, from Italian congiuntura, based on Latin conjungere 'join together' (see CONJOIN).

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CONJUNCTION ■

CONJOIN ■

con·jun·to n. (pl. -tos) (in Latin America or Hispanic communities) a small musical group or band: [as modifier] Texas' leading female conjunto accordionist.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, literally 'an ensemble, group'.

con·jur·a·tion n. a magic incantation or spell.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the performance of something supernatural by means of a magic incantation or spell.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also in the sense 'conspiracy, the swearing of an oath together'): via Old French from Latin conjuratio(n-), from conjurare (see CONJURE).

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CONJURE ■

con·jure v. 1  [trans.] make (something) appear unexpectedly or seemingly from nowhere as if by magic: Anne conjured up a most delicious homemade stew.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- call (an image) to mind: she had forgotten how to conjure up the image of her mother's face.

- (of a word, sound, smell, etc.) cause someone to feel or think of (something): one scent can conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake.

- call upon (a spirit or ghost) to appear, by means of a magic ritual: they hoped to conjure up the spirit of their dead friend.

2 [trans.] ARCHAIC implore (someone) to do something.

<PHRASES> a name to conjure with the name of an important person within a particular sphere of activity: on the merger scene his is a name to conjure with.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (also in the sense 'oblige by oath'): from Old French conjurer 'to plot or exorcize', from Latin conjurare 'band together by an oath, conspire' (in medieval Latin 'invoke'), from con- 'together' + jurare 'swear'.

con·jure wom·an n. (masc. con·jure man) a sorceress, esp. one who practices voodoo.

con·jur·ing n. [often as adj.] the performance of tricks that are seemingly magical, typically involving sleight of hand: a conjuring trick.

con·ju·ror (also con·jur·er) n. a person who conjures.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY BRIT. a performer of conjuring tricks; a magician.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: partly from CONJURE, partly from Old French conjureor, conjurere, from medieval Latin conjurator, from Latin conjurare 'conspire' (see CONJURE).

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CONJURE ■

CONJURE ■

conk 1 v. [intrans.] (conk out) INFORMAL (of a machine) break down: my car conked out.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) faint or go to sleep: he conked out on the rear seat.

- die.

<ORIGIN> World War I: of unknown origin.

conk 2 INFORMAL v. [trans.] hit (someone) on the head: the clown conked him and sent him to the hospital with a concussion.

■ n. BRIT. a person's nose.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED a person's head.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: perhaps an alteration of CONCH.

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CONCH ■

conk 3 n. a hairstyle in which curly or kinky hair is straightened.

■ v. [trans.] straighten curly or kinky hair.

conk·er n. BRIT. the hard shiny dark brown nut of a horse chestnut tree.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (conkers) [treated as sing.] a children's game in which each child has a conker on the end of a string and takes turns trying to break another's with it.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (a dialect word denoting a snail shell, with which the game, or a similar form of it, was originally played): perhaps from CONCH, but associated with (and frequently spelled) CONQUER in the 19th and early 20th centuries: an alternative name was conquerors.

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CONCH ■

CONQUER ■

con man (also con artist) n. INFORMAL a man who cheats or tricks someone by means of a confidence game.

con mo·to adv. [MUSIC] (esp. as a direction) with movement: andante con moto.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

conn (also con) [NAUTICAL] v. [trans.] direct the steering of (a ship): he hadn't conned anything bigger than a Boston whaler.

■ n. (the conn) the action or post of conning a ship: I quickly took the conn and restored the channel course.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: apparently a weakened form of obsolete cond 'conduct, guide', from Old French conduire, from Latin conducere (see CONDUCE).

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CONDUCE ■

Conn. abbr. Connecticut.

Con·nacht (also Con·naught) a province in southwestern Republic of Ireland.

con·nate adj. 1 (esp. of ideas or principles) existing in a person or thing from birth; innate: are our ethical values connate?
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of the same or similar nature; allied; congenial:
the mother's role is not connate with death and absence.

2 [BIOLOGY] (of parts) united so as to form a single part.

3 [GEOLOGY] (of water) trapped in sedimentary rock during its deposition.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from late Latin connatus, past participle of connasci, from con- 'together' + nasci 'be born'.

con·nat·u·ral adj. belonging naturally; innate: religion is connatural with man.

<DERIVATIVES> con·nat·u·ral·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from late Latin connaturalis, from con- 'together'+ Latin naturalis 'natural'.

Con·naught variant spelling of CONNACHT.

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CONNACHT ■

con·nect v. [trans.] (often be connected) bring together or into contact so that a real or notional link is established: the electrodes were connected to a recording device; a modem connects computers over a telephone line. See note at JOIN.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- join together so as to provide access and communication: all the buildings are connected by underground passages | [intrans.] the highway connects with major routes from all parts of the country.

- link to a power or water supply: your house is connected to the main cable TV network.

- put (someone) into contact by telephone: I was quickly connected to the police.

- [intrans.] (of a train, bus, aircraft, etc.) be timed to arrive at its destination before another train, aircraft, etc., departs so that passengers can transfer from one to the other: the bus connects with trains from Union Station.

- associate or relate in some respect: employees are rewarded with bonuses connected to their firm's performance; a variety of physical complaints connected with stress.

- think of as being linked or related: I didn't connect the two incidents at the time.

- (of a thing) provide or have a link or relationship with (someone or something): there was no evidence to connect Jeff with the theft.

- [intrans.] form a relationship or feel an affinity: I taught in a reading program and I connected with kids individually.

- [intrans.] INFORMAL (of a blow) hit the intended target: the blow connected and he felt a burst of pain.

<DERIVATIVES> con·nect·a·ble adj. con·nect·ed·ly adv. con·nect·ed·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'be united physically'; rare before the 18th cent.): from Latin connectere, from con- 'together' + nectere 'bind'.

Con·nect·i·cut a state in the northeastern U.S., on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean’s Long Island Sound, one of the six New England states; pop. 3,405,565; capital, Hartford; statehood, Jan. 9, 1788 (5). One of the original thirteen states. The Fundamental Orders, adopted by the Connecticut Colony in 1639, is often considered the first democratic constitution in America.

Con·nect·i·cut Riv·er the longest river in New England, flows south for 407 miles (655 km), from northern New Hampshire on the Quebec border, between New Hampshire and Vermont, through western Massachusetts and central Connecticut to Long Island Sound.

con·nect·ing rod n. a rod connecting two moving parts in a mechanism, esp. that between the piston and the crankpin (or equivalent parts) in an engine or pump.

con·nec·tion (BRIT. also con·nex·ion) n. 1 a relationship in which a person, thing, or idea is linked or associated with something else: the connections between social attitudes and productivity; sufferers deny that their problems have any connection with drugs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of linking one thing with another: connection to the Internet.

- the placing of parts of an electric circuit in contact so that a current may flow.

- a link between pipes or electrical components: it is important to ensure that all connections between the wires are properly made.

- a link between two telephones: she replaced the receiver before the connection was made.

- an arrangement or opportunity for catching a connecting train, bus, aircraft, etc.: ferry connections are sporadic in the off season.

- such a train, bus, etc.: we had to wait for our connection to Frankfurt.

- (connections) people with whom one has social or professional contact or to whom one is related, esp. those with influence and able to offer one help: he had connections with the music industry.

2 INFORMAL a supplier of narcotics: she introduced Jean to a number of her male drug connections.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a narcotics sale or purchase.

3 CHIEFLY HISTORICAL an association of Methodist churches.

<PHRASES>
□ in connection with with reference to; concerning: detectives are questioning two men in connection with alleged criminal damage.

□ in this (or that) connection with reference to this (or that): of value in this connection was the work done by the state police.

<DERIVATIVES> con·nec·tion·al adj..

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin connexio(n-), from connectere (see CONNECT). The spelling -ct (18th cent.) is from connect, on the pattern of pairs such as collect, collection.

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CONNECT ■

con·nec·tion·ism n. an artificial intelligence approach to cognition in which multiple connections between nodes (equivalent to brain cells) form a massive interactive network in which many processes take place simultaneously. Certain processes in this network, operating in parallel, are grouped together in hierarchies that bring about results such as thought or action. Also called PARALLEL DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING.

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PARALLEL DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING ■

con·nec·tive adj. connecting: connective words and phrases.

■ n. something that connects, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GRAMMAR] a word or phrase whose function is to link linguistic units together.

- [ZOOLOGY] a bundle of nerve fibers connecting two nerve centers or ganglia, esp. in invertebrate animals.

con·nec·tive tis·sue n. [ANATOMY] tissue that connects, supports, binds, or separates other tissues or organs, typically having relatively few cells embedded in an amorphous matrix, often with collagen or other fibers, and including cartilaginous, fatty, and elastic tissues.

con·nec·tiv·i·ty n. the state or extent of being connected or interconnected.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [COMPUTING] capacity for the interconnection of platforms, systems, and applications: connectivity between Sun and Mac platforms.

con·nect·or n. [often with adj.] a thing that links two or more things together: a pipe connector.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a device for keeping two parts of an electric circuit in contact.

- a short road or highway that connects two longer roads or highways.

Con·ne·ma·ra a mountainous coastal region in Galway, in western Republic of Ireland.

Con·ne·ma·ra po·ny (also Con·ne·ma·ra) n. a pony of a hardy breed originally from Ireland, typically gray.

Con·ne·ry Sean (1930- ), Scottish movie actor; born Thomas Connery. He is best known for his portrayal of British agent James Bond in several movies. He won an Academy Award for his role in The Untouchables (1987).

con·nex·ion n. British spelling of CONNECTION.

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CONNECTION ■

conn·ing tow·er n. the superstructure of a submarine, from which it can be commanded when on the surface, and containing the periscope.

con·nip·tion n. INFORMAL a fit of rage or hysterics: the casting choice gave the writers a conniption.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: probably an invented word.

con·niv·ance n. willingness to secretly allow or be involved in wrongdoing, esp. an immoral or illegal act: this infringement of the law had taken place with the connivance of officials.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (also in the Latin sense 'winking'): from French connivence or Latin conniventia, from connivere 'shut the eyes (to)' (see CONNIVE).

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CONNIVE ■

con·nive v. [intrans.] (connive at/in) secretly allow (something considered immoral, illegal, wrong, or harmful) to occur: you have it in your power to connive at my escape.
<SPECIAL USAGE> conspire to do something considered immoral, illegal, or harmful: the government had connived with security forces in permitting murder | [as adj.] (conniving) a heartless and conniving woman.

<DERIVATIVES> con·niv·er n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French conniver or Latin connivere 'shut the eyes (to)', from con- 'together' + an unrecorded word related to nictare 'to wink'.

con·niv·ent adj. [BOTANY] coming into contact; converging and touching but not fused together.

con·nois·seur n. an expert judge in matters of taste: a connoisseur of music.

<DERIVATIVES> con·nois·seur·ship n.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from obsolete French, from conoistre 'know'.

Con·nol·ly Maureen Catherine (1934-69), U.S. tennis player; known as Little Mo. She was 16 when she first won the U.S. singles title and 17 when she took the Wimbledon title. In 1953, she became the first woman to win the tennis Grand Slam before being forced to retire in 1954 after a riding accident.

Con·nor Dennis (1942- ), U.S. yachtsman. Three-time winner of the America's Cup 1980, 1987, 1988, he is also the first U.S. skipper to lose the cup 1983.

Con·nors Jimmy (1952- ), U.S. tennis player; full name James Scott Connors. He won the men’s singles title at Wimbledon in 1974 and 1982, at the Australian Open in 1974, and at the U.S. Open five times: 1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, and 1983.

con·no·ta·tion n. an idea or feeling that a word invokes person in addition to its literal or primary meaning: the word “discipline” has unhappy connotations of punishment and repression.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the implication of such ideas or feelings: the work functions both by analogy and by connotation.

- [PHILOSOPHY] the abstract meaning or intension of a term, which forms a principle determining which objects or concepts it applies to. Often contrasted with DENOTATION.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin connotatio(n-), from connotare 'mark in addition' (see CONNOTE).

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DENOTATION ■

CONNOTE ■

con·note v. [trans.] (of a word) imply or suggest (an idea or feeling) in addition to the literal or primary meaning: the term “modern science” usually connotes a complete openness to empirical testing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a fact) imply as a consequence or condition: in that period a log cabin connoted hard luck.

<DERIVATIVES> con·no·ta·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin connotare 'mark in addition', from con- 'together with' + notare 'to note' (from nota 'a mark').

<USAGE>
Connote does not mean the same as denote. Denote refers to the literal, primary meaning of something; connote refers to other characteristics suggested or implied by that thing. Thus, one might say that the word 'mother' denotes ‘a woman who is a parent’ but connotes qualities such as 'protection' and 'affection.'

con·nu·bi·al adj. POETIC/LITERARY of or relating to marriage or the relationship of husband and wife; conjugal: their connubial bed.

<DERIVATIVES> con·nu·bi·al·i·ty n. con·nu·bi·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin connubialis, from connubium 'marriage', from con- 'with' + nubere 'marry'.

co·no·dont n. (also conodont animal) an extinct marine animal of the Cambrian to Triassic periods, having a long wormlike body, numerous small teeth, and a pair of eyes. It is now believed to be the earliest vertebrate.
<INFO>  Class Conodonta, phylum Chordata: numerous families.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (also conodont element) a tooth of this animal, often found as a fossil.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Conodonta (plural), from Greek 'cone' + odous, odont- 'tooth'.

co·noid adj. (also co·noi·dal ) [CHIEFLY ZOOLOGY] approximately conical in shape.

■ n. a conoid object.

con·quer v. [trans.] overcome and take control of (a place or people) by use of military force: the Magyars conquered Hungary in the Middle Ages.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- successfully overcome (a problem or weakness): a fear she never managed to conquer.

- climb (a mountain) successfully: the second American to conquer Everest.

- gain the love, admiration, or respect of (a person or group of people): the Beatles were to leave Liverpool and conquer the world.

<DERIVATIVES> con·quer·a·ble adj. con·quer·or n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (also in the general sense 'acquire, attain'): from Old French conquerre, based on Latin conquirere 'gain, win', from con- (expressing completion) + quaerere 'seek'.

con·quest n. the subjugation and assumption of control of a place or people by use of military force: the conquest of the Aztecs by the Spanish.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a territory that has been gained in such a way: colonial conquests.

- (the Conquest) the invasion and assumption of control of England by William of Normandy in 1066. See also NORMAN CONQUEST.

- the overcoming of a problem or weakness: the conquest of inflation.

- a person whose affection or favor has been won: someone he could display before his friends as his latest conquest.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French conquest(e), based on Latin conquirere (see CONQUER).

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NORMAN CONQUEST ■

CONQUER ■

con·quis·ta·dor n. (pl. -quis·ta·do·res or -quis·ta·dors) a conqueror, esp. one of the Spanish conquerors of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Spanish.

Con·rad 1 Charles, Jr. (1930-99), U.S. astronaut 1962-73; nickname Pete. He commanded the Apollo 12 lunar mission in 1969, becoming the third man to set foot on the Moon. He was one of a few astronauts that flew four space missions (Gemini V, 1965; Gemini XI, 1966; Apollo 12; and Skylab, 1973).

Con·rad 2 Joseph (1857-1924), British novelist; born in Poland; born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski. Much of his work, including his novella Heart of Darkness (1902) and the novel Nostromo (1904), explores the darkness within human nature. Other notable works include Lord Jim (1900) and Chance (1913).

Con·roe a city in eastern Texas, north of Houston; pop. 27,610.

con·san·guine adj. another term for CONSANGUINEOUS.

<DERIVATIVES> con·san·guin·e·al adj.

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CONSANGUINEOUS ■

con·san·guin·e·ous adj. relating to or denoting people descended from the same ancestor: consanguineous marriages.

<DERIVATIVES> con·san·guin·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin consanguineus 'of the same blood' (from con- 'together' + sanguis 'blood') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

con·science n. an inner feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one's behavior: he had a guilty conscience about his desires | Ben was suffering a pang of conscience.

<PHRASES>
□ in (good) conscience by any reasonable standard; by all that is fair: they have in conscience done all they could.

□ on one's conscience weighing heavily and guiltily on one's mind: an act of providence had prevented him from having a death on his conscience.

<DERIVATIVES> con·science·less adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (also in the sense 'inner thoughts or knowledge'): via Old French from Latin conscientia, from conscient- 'being privy to', from the verb conscire, from con- 'with' + scire 'know'.

con·science clause n. a clause that makes concessions to the consciences of those affected by a law: Congress passed a “conscience clause” bill, which permitted any individual opposed to abortion to refuse to perform the procedure.

con·science mon·ey n. money paid because of feelings of guilt, esp. about a payment that one has evaded.

con·science-strick·en adj. made uneasy by a guilty conscience: she was still conscience-stricken over her outburst.

con·sci·en·tious adj. (of a person) wishing to do what is right, esp. to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly: a conscientious and hardworking clerk.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of work or a person's manner) showing such an attitude: a conscientious and purposeful look on her face.

- relating to a person's conscience: the act does not provide exemption from service on the basis of personal conscientious beliefs.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sci·en·tious·ly adv. con·sci·en·tious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French consciencieux, from medieval Latin conscientiosus, from Latin conscientia (see CONSCIENCE).

Linked entries:

CONSCIENCE ■

con·sci·en·tious ob·jec·tor n. a person who for reasons of conscience objects to serving in the armed forces.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sci·en·tious ob·jec·tion n.

con·scious adj. aware of and responding to one's surroundings; awake.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- having knowledge of something; aware: we are conscious of the extent of the problem.

- (conscious of) painfully aware of; sensitive to: he was very conscious of his appearance.

- concerned with or worried about a particular matter: they were growing increasingly security-conscious.

- (of an action or feeling) deliberate and intentional: a conscious effort to walk properly.

- (of the mind or a thought) directly perceptible to and under the control of the person concerned.

<DERIVATIVES> con·scious·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'being aware of wrongdoing'): from Latin conscius 'knowing with others or in oneself' (from conscire 'be privy to') + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

con·scious·ness n. the state of being awake and aware of one's surroundings: she failed to regain consciousness and died two days later.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the awareness or perception of something by a person: her acute consciousness of Mike's presence.

- the fact of awareness by the mind of itself and the world: consciousness emerges from the operations of the brain.

con·scious·ness-rais·ing n. the activity of seeking to make people more aware of personal, social, or political issues: [as adj.] a consciousness-raising group.

con·script v. [trans.] (often be conscripted) enlist (someone) compulsorily, typically into the armed services: they were conscripted into the army.

■ n. a person enlisted compulsorily.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (as a noun): from French conscrit, from Latin conscriptus, past participle of conscribere 'enroll'. The verb is a back-formation from CONSCRIPTION.

Linked entries:

CONSCRIPTION ■

con·scrip·tion n. compulsory enlistment for state service, typically into the armed forces.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: via French (conscription was introduced in France in 1798), from late Latin conscriptio(n-) 'levying of troops', from Latin conscribere 'write down together, enroll', from con- 'together' + scribere 'write'.

con·se·crate v. [trans.] (usu be consecrated) make or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose: the present Holy Trinity church was consecrated in 1845 | [as adj.] (consecrated) consecrated ground.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in Christian belief) make (bread or wine) into the body or blood of Christ: [as adj.] (consecrated) they received the host but not the consecrated wine.

- ordain (someone) to a sacred office, typically that of bishop: in 1969 he was consecrated bishop of Northern Uganda.

- INFORMAL devote (something) exclusively to a particular purpose: they'd decided to consecrate all their energies to this purposeful act.

<DERIVATIVES> con·se·cra·tion n. con·se·cra·tor n. con·se·cra·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin consecrat- 'dedicated, devoted as sacred', from the verb consecrare, from con- (expressing intensive force) + sacrare 'dedicate', from sacer 'sacred'.

con·sec·u·tive adj. following continuously: five consecutive months of serious decline.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- in unbroken or logical sequence.

- [GRAMMAR] expressing consequence or result: a consecutive clause.

- [MUSIC] denoting intervals of the same kind (esp. fifths or octaves) occurring in succession between two parts or voices.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sec·u·tive·ly adv. con·sec·u·tive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French consécutif, -ive, from medieval Latin consecutivus, from Latin consecut- 'followed closely', from the verb consequi.

con·sen·su·al adj. relating to or involving consent, esp. mutual consent: he admitted to having consensual sex with two women.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or involving consensus: decision-making was consensual.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sen·su·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin consensus 'agreement' (from consens- 'felt together, agreed', from the verb consentire) + -AL.

Linked entries:

-AL ■

con·sen·sus n. [usu. in sing.] general agreement: a consensus of opinion among judges | [as adj.] a consensus view.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin, 'agreement', from consens- 'agreed', from the verb consentire.

con·sen·sus se·quence n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a sequence of DNA having similar structure and function in different organisms.

con·sent n. permission for something to happen or agreement to do something: no change may be made without the consent of all the partners.

■ v. [intrans.] give permission for something to happen: he consented to a search by a detective.
<SPECIAL USAGE> agree to do something: he had consented to serve on the panel.

<PHRASES>
□ by common consent with the agreement of all: it was, by common consent, our finest performance.

□ informed consent permission granted in the knowledge of the possible consequences, typically that which is given by a patient to a doctor for treatment with full knowledge of the possible risks and benefits.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French consente (noun), consentir (verb), from Latin consentire, from con- 'together' + sentire 'feel'.

con·sen·tient adj. ARCHAIC of the same opinion in a matter; in agreement.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin consentient- 'agreeing', from the verb consentire (see CONSENT).

Linked entries:

CONSENT ■

con·sent·ing a·dult n. an adult who willingly agrees to engage in an act, esp. a sexual act.

con·se·quence n. 1 a result or effect of an action or condition: many have been laid off from work as a consequence of the administration's policies.

2 [often with negative] importance or relevance: the past is of no consequence; he didn't say anything of great consequence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED social distinction: a woman of consequence.

<PHRASES>
□ in consequence as a result.

□ take the consequences accept responsibility for the negative results of one's action.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin consequentia, from consequent- 'following closely', from the verb consequi.

con·se·quent adj. following as a result or effect: labor shortages would be created with a consequent increase in wages.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GEOLOGY] (of a stream or valley) having a direction or character determined by the original slope of the land before erosion.

- ARCHAIC logically consistent.

■ n. a thing that follows another.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [LOGIC] the second part of a conditional proposition, whose truth is stated to be conditional upon that of the antecedent.

- [MATHEMATICS] the second term of a ratio.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin consequent- 'overtaking, following closely', from the verb consequi.

con·se·quen·tial adj. 1 following as a result or effect: a loss of confidence and a consequential withdrawal of funds.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] resulting from an act, but not immediately and directly: consequential damages.

2 important; significant: perhaps the most consequential discovery of the eighteenth century.

<DERIVATIVES> con·se·quen·ti·al·i·ty n. con·se·quen·tial·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin consequentia (see CONSEQUENCE) + -AL.

Linked entries:

CONSEQUENCE ■

-AL ■

con·se·quen·tial·ism n. [PHILOSOPHY] the doctrine that the morality of an action is to be judged solely by its consequences.

<DERIVATIVES> con·se·quen·tial·ist adj. & n.

con·se·quent·ly adv. as a result: flexible workers find themselves in great demand, and consequently earn high salaries.

con·serv·an·cy n. (pl. -cies) 1 [in names] a body concerned with the preservation of nature, specific species, or natural resources: the Nature Conservancy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT. a commission or group of officials controlling a port, river, or drainage basin.

2 the conservation of something, esp. wildlife and the environment.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: alteration of obsolete conservacy, from Anglo-Norman French conservacie, via Anglo-Latin from Latin conservation- (see CONSERVATION).

Linked entries:

CONSERVATION ■

con·ser·va·tion n. the action of conserving something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment, natural ecosystems, vegetation, and wildlife.

- preservation, repair, and prevention of deterioration of archaeological, historical, and cultural sites and artifacts.

- prevention of excessive or wasteful use of a resource.

- [PHYSICS] the principle by which the total value of a physical quantity (such as energy, mass, or linear or angular momentum) remains constant in a system.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ser·va·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'conserving, preservation'): from Latin conservatio(n-), from the verb conservare (see CONSERVE).

Linked entries:

CONSERVE ■

con·ser·va·tion·ist n. a person who advocates or acts for the protection and preservation of the environment and wildlife.

con·ser·va·tion of charge n. a principle stating that the total electric charge of an isolated system is fixed.

con·ser·va·tion of en·er·gy n. a principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can be altered from one form to another.

con·ser·va·tion of mass n. a principle stating that mass cannot be created or destroyed.

con·serv·a·tive adj. holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of dress or taste) sober and conventional: a conservative suit.

- (of an estimate) purposely low for the sake of caution: the film was not cheap$30,000 is a conservative estimate.

- (of surgery or medical treatment) intended to control rather than eliminate a condition, with existing tissue preserved as far as possible.

- (Conservative) of or relating to the Conservative Party of Great Britain or a similar party in another country.

■ n. a person who is averse to change and holds to traditional values and attitudes, typically in relation to politics.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Conservative) a supporter or member of the Conservative Party of Great Britain or a similar party in another country.

<DERIVATIVES> con·serv·a·tism n. con·serv·a·tive·ly adv. con·serv·a·tive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'aiming to preserve'): from late Latin conservativus, from conservat- 'conserved', from the verb conservare (see CONSERVE). Current senses date from the mid 19th century onward.

Linked entries:

CONSERVE ■

Con·serv·a·tive Ju·da·ism n. a form of Judaism, particularly prevalent in North America, that seeks to preserve Jewish tradition and ritual but has a more flexible approach to the interpretation of the law than Orthodox Judaism.

Con·serv·a·tive Par·ty n. a political party promoting free enterprise and private ownership, in particular a major British party that emerged from the old Tory Party in the 1830s and 1840s.

con·ser·va·toire n. another term for CONSERVATORY (sense 1).

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, from Italian conservatorio, from late Latin conservatorium, from conservare 'to preserve' (see CONSERVE). Compare with CONSERVATORY.

Linked entries:

CONSERVATORY ■

CONSERVE ■

CONSERVATORY ■

con·ser·va·tor n. a person responsible for the repair and preservation of works of art, buildings, or other things of cultural or environmental interest.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a guardian or protector: the court does not need to appoint a conservator to handle an incapacitated person's affairs.

con·serv·a·to·ry n. (pl. -ries) 1 a college for the study of classical music or other arts.

2 a room with a glass roof and walls, attached to a house at one side and used as a greenhouse or a sun parlor.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting something that preserves): from late Latin conservatorium, from conservare 'to preserve' (see CONSERVE).

Linked entries:

CONSERVE ■

con·serve v. [trans.] protect (something, esp. an environmentally or culturally important place or thing) from harm or destruction: the funds raised will help conserve endangered meadowlands.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- prevent the wasteful or harmful overuse of (a resource): industry should conserve more water.

- [PHYSICS] maintain (a quantity such as energy or mass) at a constant overall total.

- (usu. be conserved) [BIOCHEMISTRY] retain (a particular amino acid, nucleotide, or sequence of these) unchanged in different protein or DNA molecules.

- preserve (food, typically fruit) with sugar.

■ n. a sweet food made by preserving fruit with sugar; jam.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French conserver (verb), conserve (noun), from Latin conservare 'to preserve', from con- 'together' + servare 'to keep'.

con·sid·er v. [trans.] (often be considered) think carefully about (something), typically before making a decision: each application is considered on its merits | [as adj.] (considered) it is my considered opinion that we should await further developments.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- think about and be drawn toward (a course of action): he had considered giving up his job.

- regard (someone or something) as having a specified quality: I consider him irresponsible.

- believe; think: at first women were considered to be at low risk from HIV; | I don't consider that I'm to blame.

- take (something) into account when making an assessment or judgment: one service area is not enough when you consider the number of cars using this highway.

- look attentively at: he considered the women around the table with wariness.

<PHRASES> all things considered taking everything into account.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French considerer, from Latin considerare 'examine', perhaps based on sidus, sider- 'star'.

con·sid·er·a·ble adj. notably large in size, amount, or extent: a position of considerable influence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) having merit or distinction: he was a limited, but still considerable, novelist.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sid·er·a·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'capable of being considered'): from medieval Latin considerabilis 'worthy of consideration', from Latin considerare (see CONSIDER).

Linked entries:

CONSIDER ■

con·sid·er·ate adj. careful not to cause inconvenience or hurt to others: the quietest and most considerate tenants possible.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC showing careful thought: be considerate over your handwriting.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sid·er·ate·ly adv. con·sid·er·ate·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'showing careful thought'): from Latin consideratus, past participle of considerare 'examine' (see CONSIDER).

Linked entries:

CONSIDER ■

con·sid·er·a·tion n. 1 careful thought, typically over a period of time: a long process involving a great deal of careful consideration.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a fact or a motive taken into account in deciding or judging something: the idea was motivated by political considerations.

- thoughtfulness and sensitivity toward others: companies should show more consideration for their employees.

2 a payment or reward: you can buy the books for a small consideration.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] (in a contractual agreement) anything given or promised or forborne by one party in exchange for the promise or undertaking of another.

3 ARCHAIC importance; consequence.

<PHRASES>
□ in consideration of on account of: a nightlight burned in consideration of Ernie's phobia.
- in return for: he paid them in consideration of their services.

□ take into consideration take into account.

□ under consideration being thought about: a bird under consideration for being listed as endangered.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin consideration-, from considerare 'examine'.

con·sid·er·ing prep. & conj. taking into consideration: [as prep.] considering the conditions, it's very good | [as conj.] considering that he was the youngest on the field, he played well.

■ adv. INFORMAL taking everything into account: they weren't feeling too bad, considering.

con·si·glie·re n. (pl. -ri ) an adviser, esp. to a crime boss.

con·sign v. [trans.] deliver (something) to a person's custody, typically in order for it to be sold: he consigned three paintings to Sotheby's.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- send (goods) by a public carrier.

- (consign someone/something to) assign; commit decisively or permanently: she consigned the letter to the wastebasket.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sign·ee n. con·sign·or n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'mark with the sign of the cross', esp. at baptism or confirmation, as a sign of dedication to God): from French consigner or Latin consignare 'mark with a seal'.

con·sign·ment n. a batch of goods destined for or delivered to someone: a consignment of beef.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of consigning or delivering something.

- agreement to pay a supplier of goods after the goods are sold:
new and used children's clothing on consignment.

con·sign·ment shop (or consignment store) n. a store that sells secondhand items (typically clothing and accessories) on behalf of the original owner, who receives a percentage of the selling price.

con·sil·i·ence n. agreement between the approaches to a topic of different academic subjects, especially science and the humanities.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sil·i·ent adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from con(current) + Latin -silient-, -siliens 'jumping' (as in resilience).

<USAGE>
Though first attested in the 19th century, this word has been largely ignored by smaller dictionaries. The publication in 1998 of Edward O. Wilson's Consilience has given it new life.

con·sist v. [intrans.] 1 (consist of) be composed or made up of: the exhibition consists of 180 drawings.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (consist in) have as an essential feature: his duties consist in taking the condition of the barometer.

2 (consist with) ARCHAIC be consistent with: the information perfectly consists with our friend's account.

■ n. [RAILROAD]

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'be located or inherent in'): from Latin consistere 'stand firm or still, exist', from con- 'together' + sistere 'stand (still)'.

con·sist·ence n. another term for CONSISTENCY.

Linked entries:

CONSISTENCY ■

con·sist·en·cy (also con·sist·ence ) n. (pl. -cies) 1 conformity in the application of something, typically that which is necessary for the sake of logic, accuracy, or fairness: the grading system is to be streamlined to ensure greater consistency.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the achievement of a level of performance that does not vary greatly in quality over time: his principal problem in tennis has been consistency.

2 the way in which a substance, typically a liquid, holds together; thickness or viscosity: the sauce has the consistency of creamed butter.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting permanence of form): from late Latin consistentia, from consistent- 'standing firm' (see CONSISTENT).

Linked entries:

CONSISTENT ■

con·sist·ent adj. (of a person, behavior, or process) unchanging in achievement or effect over a period of time: manufacturing processes require a consistent approach.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- compatible or in agreement with something: the injuries are consistent with falling from a great height.

- (of an argument or set of ideas) not containing any logical contradictions: a consistent explanation.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sist·ent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'consisting or composed of'): from Latin consistent- 'standing firm or still, existing', from the verb consistere (see CONSIST).

Linked entries:

CONSIST ■

con·sis·to·ry n. (pl. -ries) a church council or court, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in the Roman Catholic Church) the council of cardinals, with or without the pope.

- (also consistory court) (in the Church of England) a court presided over by a bishop, for the administration of ecclesiastical law in a diocese.

- (in other churches) a local administrative body.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sis·to·ri·al adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally denoting a nonecclesiastical council): from Anglo-Norman French consistorie, from late Latin consistorium, from consistere 'stand firm' (see CONSIST).

Linked entries:

CONSIST ■

con·so·ci·a·tion n. 1 a group or association of a distinctive type, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a political system formed by the cooperation of different, esp. antagonistic, social groups on the basis of shared power.

- [ZOOLOGY] a group of animals of the same species that interact more or less equally with each other.

- DATED an association of Congregational Churches.

2 DATED close association or fellowship.

<DERIVATIVES> con·so·ci·a·tion·al adj. con·so·ci·a·tion·al·ism n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'associating, combination'): from Latin consociatio(n-), from the verb consociare, from con- 'together' + sociare 'to associate' (from socius 'fellow').

con·so·la·tion n. comfort received by a person after a loss or disappointment: there was consolation in knowing that others were worse off.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person or thing providing such comfort: the church was the main consolation in a short and hard life.

- [SPORTS] a round or contest for tournament entrants who have been eliminated before the finals, often to determine third and fourth place.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sol·a·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin consolatio(n-), from the verb consolari (see CONSOLE^1 ).

Linked entries:

CONSOLE ■

con·so·la·tion prize n. a prize given to a competitor who narrowly fails to win or who finishes last: two hundred runners-up will get a consolation prize.

con·sole 1 v. [trans.] comfort (someone) at a time of grief or disappointment: she tried to console him but he pushed her gently away; you can console yourself with the thought that you did your best.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sol·a·ble adj. con·sol·er n. con·sol·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (replacing earlier consolate): from French consoler, from Latin consolari, from con- 'with' + solari 'soothe'.

con·sole 2 n. 1 a panel or unit accommodating a set of controls for electronic or mechanical equipment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a cabinet for television or radio equipment.

- the cabinet or enclosure containing the keyboards, stops, pedals, etc., of an organ.

- a monitor and keyboard in a multiuser computer system.

2 an ornamented bracket with scrolls or corbel supporting a cornice, shelf, or tabletop.

3 a support between the seats of an automobile that has indentations for holding small items.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (sense 2): from French, perhaps from consolider, from Latin consolidare (see CONSOLIDATE).

Linked entries:

CONSOLIDATE ■

con·sole ta·ble n. a table supported by ornamented brackets, either movable or fixed against a wall.

con·sol·i·date v. 1 [trans.] make (something) physically stronger or more solid: the first phase of the project is to consolidate the outside walls.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- reinforce or strengthen (one's position or power): the company consolidated its position in the international market.

- combine (a number of things) into a single more effective or coherent whole: all manufacturing activities have been consolidated in new premises.
See note at JOIN.
- combine (a number of financial accounts or funds) into a single overall account or set of accounts.

- combine (two or more legal actions involving similar questions) into one for action by a court.

2 [intrans.] become stronger or more solid: the limy sands consolidate to sandy textured limestone.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sol·i·da·tion n. con·sol·i·da·tor n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (in the sense 'combine into a single whole'): from Latin consolidare, from con- 'together' + solidare 'make firm' (from solidus 'solid').

con·som·mé n. a clear soup made with concentrated stock.

<ORIGIN> French, past participle of consommer 'consume or consummate', from Latin consummare 'make complete' (see CONSUMMATE).

Linked entries:

CONSUMMATE ■

con·so·nance n. agreement or compatibility between opinions or actions: consonance between conservation measures and existing agricultural practice.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the recurrence of similar sounds, esp. consonants, in close proximity (chiefly as used in prosody).

- [MUSIC] the combination of notes that are in harmony with each other due to the relationship between their frequencies.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin consonantia, from consonant- 'sounding together', from the verb consonare (see CONSONANT).

Linked entries:

CONSONANT ■

con·so·nant n. a basic speech sound in which the breath is at least partly obstructed and which can be combined with a vowel to form a syllable. Contrasted with VOWEL.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a letter representing such a sound.

■ adj. 1 denoting or relating to such a sound or letter: a consonant phoneme.

2 (consonant with) in agreement or harmony with: the findings are consonant with other research.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MUSIC] making a harmonious interval or chord: the bass is consonant with all the upper notes.

<DERIVATIVES> con·so·nan·tal adj. con·so·nant·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'letter representing a consonantal sound'): via Old French from Latin consonare 'sound together', from con- 'with' + sonare 'to sound' (from sonus 'sound').

Linked entries:

VOWEL ■

con sor·di·no adv. [MUSIC] (esp. as a direction) with the use of a mute.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

con·sort 1 n. a wife, husband, or companion, in particular the spouse of a reigning monarch.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a ship sailing in company with another.

■ v. [intrans.] (consort with) habitually associate with (someone), typically with the disapproval of others: you chose to consort with the enemy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (consort with/to) ARCHAIC agree or be in harmony with.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a companion or colleague): via French from Latin consors 'sharing, partner', from con- 'together with' + sors, sort- 'lot, destiny'. The verb senses are probably influenced by similar senses (now obsolete) of the verb sort.

con·sort 2 n. a small group of musicians performing together, typically playing instrumental music of the Renaissance period: a consort of viols.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: earlier form of CONCERT.

Linked entries:

CONCERT ■

con·sor·ti·um n. (pl. -ti·a or -ti·ums) 1 an association, typically of several business companies.

2 [LAW] the right of association and companionship with one's husband or wife.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (in the sense 'partnership'): from Latin, from consors 'sharing, partner' (see CONSORT^1 ).

Linked entries:

CONSORT ■

con·spe·cif·ic [BIOLOGY] adj. (of animals or plants) belonging to the same species.

■ n. (usu. conspecifics) a member of the same species: the rabbit was isolated from male conspecifics.

<DERIVATIVES> con·spec·i·fic·i·ty n.

con·spec·tus n. a summary or overview of a subject: five of his works give a rich conspectus of his art.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin, past participle (used as a noun) of conspicere 'look at attentively'.

con·spic·u·ous adj. standing out so as to be clearly visible: he was very thin, with a conspicuous Adam's apple. See note at NOTICEABLE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> attracting notice or attention: he showed conspicuous bravery.

<PHRASES> conspicuous by one's absence obviously not present in a place where one should be. <ORIGIN> from a speech made by Lord John Russell in an address to electors (1859): taken from Tacitus (Annals iii. 76).

<DERIVATIVES> con·spi·cu·i·ty n. con·spic·u·ous·ly adv. con·spic·u·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin conspicuus (from conspicere 'look at attentively', from con- (expressing intensive force) + spicere 'look at') + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

con·spir·a·cist n. a person who supports a conspiracy theory.

con·spir·a·cy n. (pl. -cies) a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful: a conspiracy to destroy the government. See note at PLOT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of plotting or conspiring: they were cleared of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

<PHRASES> a conspiracy of silence an agreement to say nothing about an issue that should be generally known.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French conspiracie, alteration of Old French conspiration, based on Latin conspirare 'agree, plot' (see CONSPIRE).

Linked entries:

CONSPIRE ■

con·spir·a·cy the·o·ry n. a belief that some covert but influential organization is responsible for an unexplained event.

con·spir·a·tor n. a person who takes part in a conspiracy.

<DERIVATIVES> con·spir·a·to·ri·al adj. con·spir·a·to·ri·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French conspirateur, from Latin conspirator, from conspirat- 'agreed, plotted', from the verb conspirare (see CONSPIRE).

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CONSPIRE ■

con·spire v. [intrans.] make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act: they conspired against him; | they deny conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of events or circumstances) seem to be working together to bring about a particular result, typically to someone's detriment: everything conspires to exacerbate the situation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French conspirer, from Latin conspirare 'agree, plot', from con- 'together with' + spirare 'breathe'.

con spi·ri·to adv. [MUSIC] (as a direction) vigorously; in a spirited manner.

Con·sta·ble John (1776-1837), English painter. His early paintings were inspired by the landscape of his native Suffolk.

con·sta·ble n. 1 a peace officer with limited policing authority, typically in a small town.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT. a police officer.

2 the governor of a royal castle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL the highest-ranking official in a royal household.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (sense 2): from Old French conestable, from late Latin comes stabuli 'count (head officer) of the stable'.

con·stab·u·lar·y n. (pl. -lar·ies) the constables of a district, collectively.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an armed police force organized as a military unit.

- BRIT. a police force covering a particular area or city.

■ adj. of or relating to a constabulary.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (denoting the district under the charge of a constable): from medieval Latin constabularia (dignitas) '(rank) of constable', from constabulus, based on Latin comes stabuli (see CONSTABLE).

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CONSTABLE ■

Con·stance, Lake a lake in southeastern Germany, on the northern side of the Swiss Alps where Germany, Switzerland, and Austria meet. It forms part of the course of the Rhine River. German name BODENSEE.

Linked entries:

BODENSEE ■

con·stan·cy n. the quality of being faithful and dependable.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the quality of being enduring and unchanging: the trade winds are noted for constancy in speed and direction.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin constantia, from constant- 'standing firm' (see CONSTANT).

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CONSTANT ■

con·stant adj. occurring continuously over a period of time: the pain is constant.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- remaining the same over a period of time: the company has kept its prices fairly constant.

- (of a person) unchangingly faithful and dependable.

See note at RESOLUTE.

■ n. a situation or state of affairs that does not change: the condition of struggle remained a constant.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MATHEMATICS] a quantity or parameter that does not change its value whatever the value of the variables, under a given set of conditions.

- [PHYSICS] a number expressing a relation or property that remains the same in all circumstances, or for the same substance under the same conditions.

<DERIVATIVES> con·stant·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'staying resolute or faithful'): from Old French, from Latin constant- 'standing firm', from the verb constare, from con- 'with' + stare 'stand'. The noun senses date from the mid 19th cent.

Con·stan·a (also Con·stan·za) the chief port of Romania, in the southeastern part of the country, on the Black Sea; pop. 349,000. Formerly called Tomis, it was renamed for Constantine I in the 4th century.

con·stant·an n. a copper-nickel alloy used in electrical work for its high resistance.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from CONSTANT + -AN.

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CONSTANT ■

-AN ■

Con·stan·tine 1 a city in northeastern Algeria; pop. 449,000. The capital of the Roman province of Numidia, it was destroyed in 311 but was rebuilt by Constantine the Great and given his name.

Con·stan·tine 2 (c.274-337), Roman emperor; known as Constantine the Great. He was the first Roman emperor to be converted to Christianity and in 324 made Christianity the empire’s state religion. In 330, he moved his capital from Rome to Byzantium, renaming it Constantinopolis (Constantinople). He is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox Church.

Con·stan·ti·no·ple the former name of Istanbul from AD 330 (when it was given its name by Constantine the Great) until the capture of the city by the Turks in 1453.

con·sta·tive [LINGUISTICS] adj. denoting a speech act or sentence that is a statement declaring something to be the case. Often contrasted with PERFORMATIVE.

■ n. a constative speech act or sentence.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Latin constat- 'established' (from the verb constare) + -IVE.

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PERFORMATIVE ■

-IVE ■

con·stel·late v. POETIC/LITERARY form or cause to form into a cluster or group; gather together: [intrans.] the towns and valleys where people constellate | [trans.] their stories were never constellated.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from late Latin constellatus, from con- 'together' + stellatus 'arranged like a star'.

con·stel·la·tion n. a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure. Modern astronomers divide the sky into eighty-eight constellations with defined boundaries.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a group or cluster of related things: no two patients ever show exactly the same constellation of symptoms.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as an astrological term denoting the relative positions of the “stars” (planets), supposed to influence events): via Old French from late Latin constellatio(n-), based on Latin stella 'star'.

con·ster·nate v. [trans.] fill (someone) with anxiety: [as adj.] (consternated) you'll probably be consternated by all this talk.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin consternat- 'terrified, prostrated', from the verb consternare.

con·ster·na·tion n. feelings of anxiety or dismay, typically at something unexpected: I always welcomed clover, much to the consternation of the neighbors.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin consternatio(n-), from the verb consternare 'lay prostrate, terrify' (see CONSTERNATE).

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CONSTERNATE ■

con·sti·pat·ed adj. (of a person or animal) affected with constipation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE slow-moving; restricted or inhibited in some way: spontaneous girls like Ellen are never going to be intimate with constipated deadpan fellows like me.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sti·pate v.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin constipat- 'crowded or pressed together', from the verb constipare, from con- 'together' + stipare 'press, cram'.

con·sti·pa·tion n. a condition in which there is difficulty in emptying the bowels, usually associated with hardened feces.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a high level of constraint or restriction; a pronounced lack of ease: literary constipation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'contraction of body tissues'): from late Latin constipatio(n-), from the verb constipare (see CONSTIPATED).

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CONSTIPATED ■

con·stit·u·en·cy n. (pl. -cies) a body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body: the politician who wishes to remain in the good graces of his constituency.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- CHIEFLY BRIT. the area represented in this way.

- a body of customers or supporters: a constituency of racing fans.

con·stit·u·ent adj. 1 being a part of a whole: the constituent minerals of the rock.

2 being a voting member of a community or organization and having the power to appoint or elect: the constituent body has a right of veto.
<SPECIAL USAGE> able to make or change a political constitution: a constituent assembly.

■ n. 1 a member of a constituency.

2 a component part of something: the essential constituents of the human diet.
- [LINGUISTICS] the common part of two or several more complex forms, e.g., gentle in gentleman, gentlemanly, ungentlemanly.

- [LINGUISTICS] a word or construction that is part of a larger construction.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the legal sense of the noun): from Latin constituent- (partly via French constituant) 'establishing, appointing', from the verb constituere (see CONSTITUTE).

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CONSTITUTE ■

con·sti·tute v. [trans.] 1 be (a part) of a whole: single parents constitute a great proportion of the poor.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of people or things) combine to form (a whole): there were enough members present to constitute a quorum.

- be or be equivalent to (something): his failure to act constituted a breach of duty.

2 (usu. be constituted) give legal or constitutional form to (an institution); establish by law.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin constitut- 'established, appointed', from the verb constituere, from con- 'together' + statuere 'set up'.

con·sti·tu·tion n. 1 a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a written record of this: the preamble to the constitution of UNESCO.

- (the Constitution) the basic written set of principles and precedents of federal government in the U.S., which came into operation in 1789 and has since been modified by twenty-seven amendments.

2 the composition of something: the genetic constitution of a species.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the forming or establishing of something: the constitution of a police authority.

3 a person's physical state with regard to vitality, health, and strength: pregnancy had weakened her constitution.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person's mental or psychological makeup.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a law, or a body of laws or customs): from Latin constitutio(n-), from constituere 'establish, appoint' (see CONSTITUTE).

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CONSTITUTE ■

con·sti·tu·tion·al adj. 1 of or relating to an established set of principles governing a state: a constitutional amendment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in accordance with or allowed by such principles: a constitutional monarchy.

2 of or relating to someone's physical or mental condition: a constitutional weakness.

■ n. DATED a walk, typically one taken regularly to maintain or restore good health.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sti·tu·tion·al·i·ty n. con·sti·tu·tion·al·ly adv.

con·sti·tu·tion·al·ism n. constitutional government.
<SPECIAL USAGE> adherence to such a system of government.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sti·tu·tion·al·ist n.

con·sti·tu·tion·al·ize v. [trans.] make subject to explicit provisions of a country's constitution: divorce is not constitutionalized.

Con·sti·tu·tion State a nickname for the state of CONNECTICUT.

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CONNECTICUT ■

con·sti·tu·tive adj. 1 having the power to establish or give organized existence to something: the state began to exercise a new and constitutive function.

2 forming a part or constituent of something; component: poverty is a constitutive element of a particular form of economic growth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> forming an essential element of something: language is constitutive of thought.

3 [BIOCHEMISTRY] relating to an enzyme or enzyme system that is continuously produced in an organism, regardless of the needs of cells.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sti·tu·tive·ly adv.

con·strain v. [trans.] (often be constrained) severely restrict the scope, extent, or activity of: agricultural development is considerably constrained by climate; we can constrain data access.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- compel or force (someone) toward a particular course of action: children are constrained to work in the way the book dictates.

- [usu. as adj.] (constrained) cause to appear unnaturally forced, typically because of embarrassment: he was acting in a constrained manner.

- POETIC/LITERARY confine forcibly; imprison.

- ARCHAIC bring about (something) by compulsion: Calypso in her caves constrained his stay.

See note at COMPEL.

<DERIVATIVES> con·strain·ed·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French constraindre, from Latin constringere 'bind tightly together'.

con·straint n. a limitation or restriction: the availability of water is the main constraint on food production; time constraints make it impossible to do everything.
<SPECIAL USAGE> stiffness of manner and inhibition in relations between people: they would be able to talk without constraint.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'coercion'): from Old French constreinte, feminine past participle of constraindre (see CONSTRAIN).

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CONSTRAIN ■

con·strict v. [trans.] make narrower, esp. by encircling pressure: chemicals that constrict the blood vessels | [as adj.] (constricted) constricted air passages.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] become narrower: he felt his throat constrict.

- (of a snake) coil around (prey) in order to asphyxiate it.

- FIGURATIVE restrict: the fear and the reality of crime constrict many people's lives.

<DERIVATIVES> con·stric·tion n. con·stric·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin constrict- 'bound tightly together', from the verb constringere (see CONSTRAIN).

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CONSTRAIN ■

con·stric·tor n. 1 a snake that kills by coiling around its prey and asphyxiating it.
<INFO>  Families Boidae and Pythonidae, and some members of other families (in particular Colubridae).

2 (also constrictor muscle) [ANATOMY] a muscle whose contraction narrows a vessel or passage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> each of the muscles that constrict the pharynx.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: modern Latin, from constrict- 'bound tightly together', from the verb constringere (see CONSTRAIN).

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CONSTRAIN ■

con·struct v. [trans.] build or erect (something, typically a building, road, or machine): a company that constructs oil rigs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- form (an idea or theory) by bringing together various conceptual elements, typically over a period of time: Ptolemy combined his interests to construct a theory in support of Aristotle.

- [GRAMMAR] form (a sentence) according to grammatical rules.

- [GEOMETRY] draw or delineate (a geometric figure) accurately to given conditions.

■ n. an idea or theory containing various conceptual elements, typically one considered to be subjective and not based on empirical evidence: history is largely an ideological construct.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [LINGUISTICS] a group of words forming a phrase.

- a physical thing that is deliberately built or formed.

<DERIVATIVES> con·struct·i·ble adj. con·struc·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin construct- 'heaped together, built', from the verb construere, from con- 'together' + struere 'pile, build'.

con·struc·tion n. the building of something, typically a large structure: there was a skyscraper under construction.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- such activity considered as an industry.

- the style or method used in the building of something: the mill is of brick construction.

- a building or other structure.

- the creation or formation of an abstract entity: language plays a large part in our construction of reality.

- an interpretation or explanation: you could put an honest construction upon their conduct.

- [GRAMMAR] the arrangement of words according to syntactical rules: sentence construction.

<DERIVATIVES> con·struc·tion·al adj. con·struc·tion·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin constructio(n-), from construere 'heap together' (see CONSTRUCT).

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CONSTRUCT ■

con·struc·tion·ism n. another term for CONSTRUCTIVISM.

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CONSTRUCTIVISM ■

con·struc·tion·ist n. 1 another term for CONSTRUCTIVIST (see CONSTRUCTIVISM).

2 a person who puts a particular construction upon a legal document, esp. the U.S. Constitution.

<DERIVATIVES> con·struc·tion·ism n.

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CONSTRUCTIVISM ■

con·struc·tive adj. 1 serving a useful purpose; tending to build up: constructive criticism.

2 [LAW] derived by inference; implied by operation of law; not obvious or explicit: constructive liability.

3 [MATHEMATICS] relating to, based on, or denoting mathematical proofs that show how an entity may in principle be constructed or arrived at in a finite number of steps.

<DERIVATIVES> con·struc·tive·ly adv. con·struc·tive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (sense 2): from late Latin constructivus, from Latin construct- 'heaped together', from the verb construere (see CONSTRUCT).

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CONSTRUCT ■

con·struc·tiv·ism n. 1 [ART] a style or movement in which assorted mechanical objects are combined into abstract mobile structural forms. The movement originated in Russia in the 1920s and has influenced many aspects of modern architecture and design. <ORIGIN> transliterating Russian konstruktivizm.

2 [MATHEMATICS] a view which admits as valid only constructive proofs and entities demonstrable by them, implying that the latter have no independent existence.

<DERIVATIVES> con·struc·tiv·ist n.

con·strue v. (-strues, -strued, -stru·ing) [trans.] (often be construed) interpret (a word or action) in a particular way: his words could hardly be construed as an apology. See note at CLARIFY.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- DATED analyze the syntax of (a text, sentence, or word): both verbs can be construed with either infinitive.

- DATED translate (a passage or author) word for word, typically aloud.

<DERIVATIVES> con·stru·a·ble adj. con·stru·al n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin construere (see CONSTRUCT), in late Latin 'analyze the construction of a sentence'.

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CONSTRUCT ■

con·sub·stan·tial adj. of the same substance or essence (used esp. of the three persons of the Trinity in Christian theology): Christ is consubstantial with the Father.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sub·stan·ti·al·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin consubstantialis (translating Greek homoousios 'of one substance'), from con- 'with' + substantialis (see SUBSTANTIAL).

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SUBSTANTIAL ■

con·sub·stan·ti·a·tion n. [CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY] the doctrine, esp. in Lutheran belief, that the substance of the bread and wine coexists with the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Compare with TRANSUBSTANTIATION.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from modern Latin consubstantiatio(n-), from con- 'together', on the pattern of transubstantiation- 'transubstantiation'.

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TRANSUBSTANTIATION ■

con·sue·tude n. an established custom, esp. one having legal force.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sue·tu·di·nar·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin consuetudo (see CUSTOM).

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CUSTOM ■

con·sul n. 1 an official appointed by a government to live in a foreign city and protect and promote the government's citizens and interests there.

2 (in ancient Rome) one of the two annually elected chief magistrates who jointly ruled the republic.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any of the three chief magistrates of the first French republic (1799-1804).

<DERIVATIVES> con·su·lar adj. con·sul·ship n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting an ancient Roman magistrate): from Latin, related to consulere 'take counsel'.

con·su·late n. 1 the place or building in which a consul's duties are carried out.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the office, position, or period of office of a consul.

2 HISTORICAL the period of office of a Roman consul.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the consulate) the system of government by consuls in ancient Rome.

3 (the Consulate) the government of the first French republic (1799-1804) by three consuls.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the government of Rome by consuls, or their office or dignity): from Latin consulatus, from consul (see CONSUL).

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CONSUL ■

con·sul gen·er·al n. (pl. con·suls gen·er·al) a consul of the highest status, stationed in a major city and supervising other consuls in the district..

con·sult v. [trans.] seek information or advice from (someone with expertise in a particular area): you should consult a financial advisor.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- have discussions or confer with (someone), typically before undertaking a course of action: patients are entitled to be consulted about their treatment | [intrans.] they've got to consult with their board of directors.

- refer for information to (a book, watch, etc.) in order to ascertain something: consult the index at the back of the brochure.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sul·ta·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (in the sense 'deliberate together, confer'): from French consulter, from Latin consultare, frequentative of consulere 'take counsel'.

con·sult·an·cy n. (pl. -cies) a professional practice that gives expert advice within a particular field, esp. business: | a management consultancy firm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the work of giving such advice.

con·sult·ant n. 1 a person who provides expert advice professionally.

2 [usu. as adj.] BRIT. a hospital doctor of senior rank within a specific field: a consultant pediatrician.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (in the sense 'a person who consults'): probably from French, from Latin consultare (see CONSULT).

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CONSULT ■

con·sul·ta·tion n. the action or process of formally consulting or discussing: they improved standards in consultation with consumer representatives | consultations between the two governments.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a meeting with an expert or professional, such as a medical doctor, in order to seek advice.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin consultatio(n-), from the verb consultare (see CONSULT).

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CONSULT ■

con·sult·ing adj. (of a senior person in a professional or technical field) engaged in the business of giving advice to others working in the same field: a consulting engineer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a business or company) giving specialist advice: an environmental consulting company.

■ n. the business of giving specialist advice to other professionals, typically in financial and business matters.

con·sult·ing room n. a room in which a doctor or other therapeutic practitioner examines patients.

con·sum·a·ble adj. (of an item for sale) intended to be used up and then replaced.

■ n. (usu. consumables) a commodity that is intended to be used up relatively quickly: drugs and other medical consumables.

con·sume v. [trans.] eat, drink, or ingest (food or drink): people consume a good deal of sugar in drinks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- buy (goods or services).

- use up (a resource): these machines consume 5 percent of the natural gas in the U.S.

- (esp. of a fire) completely destroy: the fire spread rapidly, consuming many homes.

- (usu. be consumed) (of a feeling) absorb all of the attention and energy of (someone): Carolyn was consumed with guilt | [as adj.] (consuming) a consuming passion.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sum·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin consumere, from con- 'altogether' + sumere 'take up'; reinforced by French consumer.

con·sum·er n. a person who purchases goods and services for personal use: [as adj.] consumer demand.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person or thing that eats or uses something: Scandinavians are the largest consumers of rye.

con·sum·er goods plural n. goods bought and used by consumers, rather than by manufacturers for producing other goods. Often contrasted with CAPITAL GOODS.

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CAPITAL GOODS ■

con·sum·er·ism n. 1 the protection or promotion of the interests of consumers.

2 OFTEN DEROGATORY the preoccupation of society with the acquisition of consumer goods.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sum·er·ist adj. & n. con·sum·er·is·tic adj.

con·sum·er price in·dex (abbr.: CPI) n. an index of the variation in prices paid by typical consumers for retail goods and other items.

con·sum·er re·search n. the investigation of the needs and opinions of consumers, esp. with regard to a particular product or service.

con·sum·er so·ci·e·ty n. OFTEN DEROGATORY a society in which the buying and selling of goods and services is the most important social and economic activity.

con·sum·er sov·er·eign·ty n. [ECONOMICS] the situation in an economy where the desires and needs of consumers control the output of producers.

con·sum·mate v. [trans.] make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse: his first wife refused to consummate their marriage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> complete (a transaction or attempt); make perfect: his scheme of colonization was consummated through bloodshed.

■ adj. showing a high degree of skill and flair; complete or perfect: she dressed with consummate elegance.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sum·mate·ly adv. con·sum·ma·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an adjective in the sense 'completed, accomplished'): from Latin consummat- 'brought to completion', from the verb consummare, from con- 'altogether' + summa 'sum total', feminine of summus 'highest, supreme'.

con·sum·ma·tion n. the point at which something is complete or finalized: the consummation of a sale.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of making a marriage or relationship complete by having sexual intercourse: the eager consummation that follows a long and passionate seduction.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin consummatio(n-), from the verb consummare (see CONSUMMATE).

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CONSUMMATE ■

con·sump·tion n. 1 the using up of a resource: industrialized countries should reduce their energy consumption.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the eating, drinking, or ingesting of something: liquor is sold for consumption off the premises.

- an amount of something that is used up or ingested: a daily consumption of 15 cigarettes.

- the purchase and use of goods and services by the public: an article for mass consumption.

- the reception of information or entertainment, esp. by a mass audience: his confidential speech was not meant for public consumption.

2 DATED a wasting disease, esp. pulmonary tuberculosis.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin consumptio(n-), from the verb consumere (see CONSUME).

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CONSUME ■

con·sump·tive adj. 1 DATED affected with a wasting disease, esp. pulmonary tuberculosis: from birth he was sickly and consumptive.

2 CHIEFLY DEROGATORY of or relating to the using up of resources: tourism represents an insidious form of consumptive activity.

■ n. DATED a person with a wasting disease, esp. pulmonary tuberculosis.

<DERIVATIVES> con·sump·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin consumptivus, from Latin consumpt- 'consumed', from the verb consumere (see CONSUME).

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CONSUME ■

cont. abbr.
- contents.

- continued.

con·tact n. 1 the state or condition of physical touching: the tennis ball is in contact with the court surface for as little as 5 milliseconds.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the state or condition of communicating or meeting: Lewis and Clark came into contact with numerous river tribes; he had lost contact with his friends.

- [as adj.] activated by or operating through physical touch: contact dermatitis.

- a connection for the passage of an electric current from one thing to another, or a part or device by which such a connection is made: a one-way electrical contact between a metal and a semiconductor.

- (contacts) contact lenses.

2 a meeting, communication, or relationship with someone: they have forged contacts with key people in business.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who may be communicated with for information or assistance, esp. with regard to one's job: Francie had good contacts.

- a person who has associated with a patient with a contagious disease (and so may carry the infection).

■ v. [trans.] communicate with (someone), typically in order to give or receive specific information.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tact·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin contactus, from contact- 'touched, grasped, bordered on', from the verb contingere, from con- 'together with' + tangere 'to touch'.

con·tact cen·ter n. an integrated and usually automated communications system that coordinates all telephone and electronic contacts between an organization and the public.

con·tact·ee n. a person who claims to have been contacted by alien beings, esp. through an abduction.

con·tact flight (also contact flying) n. navigation of an aircraft by the observation of landmarks.

con·tact lens n. a thin plastic lens placed directly on the surface of the eye to correct visual defects.

con·tact met·a·mor·phism n. [GEOLOGY] metamorphism due to contact with or proximity to an igneous intrusion.

con·tac·tor n. a device for making and breaking an electric circuit.

con·tact per·son n. a person who provides a link for information or representation between two parties.

con·tact print n. a photographic print made by placing a negative directly onto sensitized paper, glass, or film and illuminating it.

■ v. (con·tact-print) [trans.] make a photograph from (a negative) in this way.

con·tact proc·ess n. the major industrial process used to make sulfuric acid, by oxidizing sulfur dioxide in the presence of a solid catalyst and absorbing the resulting sulfur trioxide in water.

con·tact sheet n. a piece of photographic paper onto which several or all of the negatives on a roll of film have been contact printed.

con·tact sport n. a sport in which the participants necessarily come into bodily contact with one another.

con·ta·di·na n. (pl. -di·ne or -di·nas) an Italian peasant girl or peasant woman.

<ORIGIN> Italian.

con·ta·di·no n. (pl. -di·ni or -di·nos) an Italian peasant or rustic.

<ORIGIN> Italian, from contado, denoting the peasant population around a city.

Con·ta·gem a city in Minas Gerais state in southeastern Brazil, west of Belo Horizonte; pop. 491,000.

con·ta·gion n. the communication of disease from one person to another by close contact: the rooms held no risk of contagion.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a disease spread in such a way.

- FIGURATIVE the spreading of a harmful idea or practice: the contagion of disgrace.

- a contagium.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a contagious disease): from Latin contagio(n-), from con- 'together with' + the base of tangere 'to touch'.

con·ta·gious adj. (of a disease) spread from one person or organism to another by direct or indirect contact: a contagious infection.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person or animal) likely to transmit a disease by contact with other people or animals.

- FIGURATIVE (of an emotion, feeling, or attitude) likely to spread to and affect others: her enthusiasm is contagious.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ta·gious·ly adv. con·ta·gious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin contagiosus, from contagio (see CONTAGION).

<USAGE>
In practice, there is little or no difference in meaning between contagious and infectious when applied to disease: both mean, roughly, ‘communicable.’ There is, however, a difference in emphasis or focus between the two words. Contagious tends to be focused on the person or animal affected by the disease ( precautions are taken with anyone who seems contagious), while infectious emphasizes the agent or organism that carries the disease. In figurative, nontechnical senses, contagious may describe the spread of things good or bad, such as laughter and merriment, or corruption, violence, panic, etc.: the chief’s paranoia had a contagious effect on the officers. Infectious, in figurative senses, usually refers to the spread of only pleasant, positive things, such as good humor or optimism: Sharon’s infectious enthusiasm for the project attracted many volunteers.

Linked entries:

CONTAGION ■

con·ta·gium n. (pl. -gi·a ) a substance or agent, such as a virus, by which a contagious disease is transmitted.

con·tain v. [trans.] 1 have or hold (someone or something) within: coffee cans that once contained a full pound of coffee.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- be made up of (a number of things); consist of: borscht can contain mainly beets or a number of vegetables.

- (of a number) be divisible by (a factor) without a remainder.

2 control or restrain (oneself or a feeling): she was scarcely able to contain herself as she waited to spill the beans.
<SPECIAL USAGE> prevent (a severe problem) from increasing in extent or intensity: a new western policy to contain the conflict in Bosnia.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tain·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French contenir, from Latin continere, from con- 'altogether' + tenere 'to hold'.

con·tain·er n. an object that can be used to hold or transport something: a microwaveable glass container.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a large metal box of a standard design and size used for the transportation of goods by road, rail, sea, or air: a container ship.

con·tain·er·ize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (containerized) pack into or transport by container: containerized cargo.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tain·er·i·za·tion n.

con·tain·er port n. a port that specializes in handling goods transported in containers.

con·tain·er ship n. a ship that is designed to carry goods stowed in containers.

con·tain·ment n. the action of keeping something harmful under control or within limits: the containment of the AIDS epidemic.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action or policy of preventing the expansion of a hostile country or influence: the U.S. government saw the containment of communism as a global task.

con·tam·i·nate v. [trans.] (often be contaminated) make (something) impure by exposure to or addition of a poisonous or polluting substance: the site was found to be contaminated by radioactivity | FIGURATIVE the entertainment industry is able to contaminate the mind of the public | [as adj.] (contaminated) contaminated blood products. See note at POLLUTE.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tam·i·nant n. con·tam·i·na·tion n. con·tam·i·na·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin contaminat- 'made impure', from the verb contaminare, from contamen 'contact, pollution', from con- 'together with' + the base of tangere 'to touch'.

con·te n. a short story as a form of literary composition.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a medieval narrative tale.

<ORIGIN> French, based on Latin computare 'reckon, sum up'.

con·té (also TRADEMARK Con·té) n. a kind of hard, grease-free crayon used as a medium for artwork: powerful drawings in rough red conté.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Nicolas J. Conté (1755-1805), the French inventor who developed it.

con·temn v. [trans.] ARCHAIC treat or regard with contempt.

<DERIVATIVES> con·temn·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin contemnere, from con- (expressing intensive force) + temnere 'despise'.

con·tem·plate v. [trans.] look thoughtfully for a long time at: he sat on the carpet contemplating his image in the mirrors.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- think about: the results of a trade war are too horrifying to contemplate.

- [intrans.] think profoundly and at length; meditate: he sat morosely contemplating.

- have in mind as a probable though not certain intention: she was contemplating a gold mining venture.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tem·pla·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin contemplat- 'surveyed, observed, contemplated', from the verb contemplari, based on templum 'place for observation'.

con·tem·pla·tion n. the action of looking thoughtfully at something for a long time: the road is too busy for leisurely contemplation of the scenery.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- deep reflective thought: he would retire to his room for study or contemplation.

- the state of being thought about or planned.

- religious meditation.

- (in Christian spirituality) a form of prayer or meditation in which a person seeks to pass beyond mental images and concepts to a direct experience of the divine.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from Latin contemplatio(n-), from the verb contemplari (see CONTEMPLATE).

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CONTEMPLATE ■

con·tem·pla·tive adj. expressing or involving prolonged thought: she regarded me with a contemplative eye.
<SPECIAL USAGE> involving or given to deep silent prayer or religious meditation: contemplative knowledge of God.

■ n. a person whose life is devoted primarily to prayer, esp. in a monastery or convent.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tem·pla·tive·ly adv.

con·tem·po·ra·ne·ous adj. existing or occurring in the same period of time: Pythagoras was contemporaneous with Buddha.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tem·po·ra·ne·i·ty n. con·tem·po·ra·ne·ous·ly adv. con·tem·po·ra·ne·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin, from con- 'together with' + temporaneus (from tempus, tempor- 'time') + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

con·tem·po·rar·y adj. 1 living or occurring at the same time: the event was recorded by a contemporary historian.
<SPECIAL USAGE> dating from the same time: this series of paintings is contemporary with other works in an early style.

2 belonging to or occurring in the present: the tension and complexities of our contemporary society.
<SPECIAL USAGE> following modern ideas or fashion in style or design: contemporary art.

■ n. (pl. -rar·ies) a person or thing living or existing at the same time as another: he was a contemporary of Darwin.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person of roughly the same age as another: my contemporaries at school.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tem·po·rar·i·ly adv. con·tem·po·rar·i·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin contemporarius, from con- 'together with' + tempus, tempor- 'time' (on the pattern of Latin contemporaneus and late Latin contemporalis).

con·tempt n. the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn: he showed his contempt for his job by doing it very badly.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- disregard for something that should be taken into account: this action displays an arrogant contempt for the wishes of the majority.

- (also contempt of court) the offense of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law and its officers: several unions were held to be in contempt and were fined.

- the offense of being similarly disobedient to or disrespectful of the lawful operation of a legislative body (e.g., its investigations).

<PHRASES>
□ beneath contempt utterly worthless or despicable.

□ hold someone/something in contempt consider someone or something to be unworthy of respect or attention: the speed limit is held in contempt by many drivers.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin contemptus, from contemnere (see CONTEMN).

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CONTEMN ■

con·tempt·i·ble adj. deserving contempt; despicable: a display of contemptible cowardice.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tempt·i·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin contemptibilis, from Latin contemnere (see CONTEMN).

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CONTEMN ■

con·temp·tu·ous adj. showing contempt; scornful: she was intolerant and contemptuous of the majority of the human race.

<DERIVATIVES> con·temp·tu·ous·ly adv. con·temp·tu·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'despising law and order'): from medieval Latin contemptuosus, from Latin contemptus 'contempt', from contemnere (see CONTEMN).

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CONTEMN ■

con·tend v. 1 [intrans.] (contend with/against) struggle to surmount (a difficulty or danger): she had to contend with his uncertain temper.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (contend for) engage in a competition or campaign in order to win or achieve (something): the local team should contend for a division championship | [as adj.] (contending) disputes continued between the contending parties.

2 assert something as a position in an argument: he contends that the judge was wrong.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tend·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'compete for (something)'): from Old French contendre or Latin contendere, from con- 'with' + tendere 'stretch, strive'.

con·tent 1 adj. in a state of peaceful happiness: he seemed more content, less bitter.
<SPECIAL USAGE> satisfied with a certain level of achievement, good fortune, etc., and not wishing for more: he had to be content with third place; | the duke was content to act as Regent.

■ v. [trans.] satisfy (someone): nothing would content her.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (content oneself with) accept as adequate despite wanting more or better: we contented ourselves with a few small purchases.

■ n. 1 a state of satisfaction: the greater part of the century was a time of content.

2 a member of the British House of Lords who votes for a particular motion.

<PHRASES> to one's heart's content to the full extent of one's desires: the children could run and play to their heart's content.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin contentus 'satisfied', past participle of continere (see CONTAIN).

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CONTAIN ■

con·tent 2 n. 1 (usu. contents) the things that are held or included in something: he unscrewed the top of the flask and drank the contents; he picked up the correspondence and scanned the contents.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [usu. in sing.] the amount of a particular constituent occurring in a substance: milk with a low-fat content.

- (contents or table of contents) a list of the titles of chapters or sections contained in a book or periodical: the contents page.

- information made available by a Web site or other electronic medium: online content providers.

2 the substance or material dealt with in a speech, literary work, etc., as distinct from its form or style: the outward form and precise content of the messages.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tent·less adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin contentum (plural contenta 'things contained'), neuter past part. of continere (see CONTAIN).

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CONTAIN ■

con·tent·ed adj. happy and at ease: I felt warm and contented.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- expressing happiness and satisfaction: she gave a contented little smile.

- willing to accept something; satisfied: I was never contented with half measures.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tent·ed·ly adv. con·tent·ed·ness n.

con·ten·tion n. 1 heated disagreement: the captured territory was one of the main areas of contention between the two countries.

2 an assertion, esp. one maintained in argument: statistics bear out his contention that many runners are undertrained for this event.

<PHRASES> in contention having a good chance of success in a contest: he was in contention for the batting title in September.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin contentio(n-), from contendere 'strive with' (see CONTEND).

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CONTEND ■

con·ten·tious adj. causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial: a contentious issue.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- involving heated argument: the socioeconomic plan had been the subject of contentious debate.

- (of a person) given to arguing or provoking argument: a contentious amateur politician who has offended minority groups.

- [LAW] relating to or involving differences between contending parties.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ten·tious·ly adv. con·ten·tious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French contentieux, from Latin contentiosus, from content- 'striven', from the verb contendere.

con·tent·ment n. a state of happiness and satisfaction: he found contentment in living a simple life in the country.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the payment of a claim): from French contentement, from Latin contentus (see CONTENT^1 ).

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CONTENT ■

con·tent pro·vid·er n. a person or organization who supplies information for use on a Web site: the content provider for short law and practice news updates; he worked for an Internet content provider.

con·ter·mi·nous adj. sharing a common boundary: the forty-eight conterminous United States.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having the same area, context, or meaning: a genealogy conterminous with the history of the USA.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ter·mi·nous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin conterminus (from con- 'with' + terminus 'boundary') + -OUS. Compare with COTERMINOUS.

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-OUS ■

COTERMINOUS ■

con·tes·sa n. an Italian countess.

<ORIGIN> Italian, from late Latin comitissa (see COUNTESS).

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COUNTESS ■

con·test n. an event in which people compete for supremacy in a sport, activity, or particular quality: a gigantic air rifle shooting contest; a beauty contest.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a competition for a political position: the presidential contest.

- a dispute or conflict: a contest between traditional and liberal views.

■ v. [trans.] 1 engage in competition to attain (a position of power): she declared her intention to contest the presidency.
<SPECIAL USAGE> take part in (a competition or election): a coalition was formed to contest the presidential elections.

2 oppose (an action, decision, or theory) as mistaken or wrong: the former chairman contests his dismissal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> engage in dispute about: the issues have been hotly contested.

<PHRASES> no contest
1 another term for NOLO CONTENDERE: he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts.

2 a competition, comparison, or choice of which the outcome is a foregone conclusion: when the two teams faced each other it was no contest.
- a decision by the referee to declare a boxing match invalid on the grounds that one or both of the boxers are not making serious efforts.

<DERIVATIVES> con·test·a·ble adj. con·test·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (as a verb in the sense 'swear to, attest'): from Latin contestari 'call upon to witness, initiate an action (by calling witnesses)', from con- 'together' + testare 'to witness'. The senses 'wrangle, strive, struggle for' arose in the early 17th cent., whence the current noun and verb senses.

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NOLO CONTENDERE ■

con·test·ant n. a person who takes part in a contest or competition.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, present participle of contester, from Latin contestari 'call upon to witness' (see CONTEST).

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CONTEST ■

con·tes·ta·tion n. FORMAL the action or process of disputing or arguing.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'solemn appeal or protest'): from Latin contestatio(n-), from contestari 'call upon to witness' (see CONTEST); reinforced by French contestation.

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CONTEST ■

con·text n. the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed: the decision was taken within the context of planned cuts in spending.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning: word processing is affected by the context in which words appear.

<PHRASES>
□ in context considered together with the surrounding words or circumstances: it is difficult now to view these masterpieces in context.

□ out of context without the surrounding words or circumstances and so not fully understandable: comments that aides have long insisted were taken out of context.

<DERIVATIVES> con·text·less adj. con·tex·tu·al adj. con·tex·tu·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the construction of a text): from Latin contextus, from con- 'together' + texere 'to weave'.

con·tex·tu·al·ism n. [PHILOSOPHY] a doctrine that emphasizes the importance of the context of inquiry in a particular question.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tex·tu·al·ist n.

con·tex·tu·al·ize v. [trans.] place or study in context: the book contextualizes Melville's short fiction and poetry.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tex·tu·al·i·za·tion n.

con·tex·ture n. the fact or manner of being woven or linked together to form a connected whole.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a mass of things interwoven together; a fabric.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the putting together of words and sentences in connected composition; the construction of a text.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a connected literary structure; a continuous text.

con·ti·gu·i·ty n. the state of bordering or being in direct contact with something: nations bound together by geographical contiguity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PSYCHOLOGY] the sequential occurrence or proximity of stimulus and response, causing their association in the mind.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from late Latin contiguitas, from Latin contiguus 'touching' (see CONTIGUOUS).

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CONTIGUOUS ■

con·tig·u·ous adj. sharing a common border; touching: the 48 contiguous states.
<SPECIAL USAGE> next or together in sequence: five hundred contiguous dictionary entries.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tig·u·ous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Latin contiguus 'touching', from the verb contingere 'be in contact, befall' (see CONTINGENT), + -OUS.

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CONTINGENT ■

-OUS ■

con·ti·nent 1 n. any of the world's main continuous expanses of land (Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also the Continent) the mainland of Europe as distinct from the British Isles.

- a mainland contrasted with islands: the maritime zone is richer in varieties of plant than the continent.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting a continuous tract of land): from Latin terra continens 'continuous land'.

con·ti·nent 2 adj. 1 able to control movements of the bowels and bladder.

2 exercising self-restraint, esp. sexually.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ti·nence n. con·ti·nent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'characterized by self-restraint'): from Latin continent- 'holding together, restraining oneself', from continere (see CONTAIN).

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CONTAIN ■

con·ti·nen·tal adj. 1 forming or belonging to a continent: continental Antarctica.

2 coming from or characteristic of mainland Europe: traditional continental cuisine.

3 (also Continental) pertaining to the 13 original colonies of the US: in 1783 the officers and men of the Continental forces had little to celebrate.

■ n. 1 an inhabitant of mainland Europe.

2 (Continental) a member of the colonial army in the American Revolution: 22 Continentals were killed and scalped.

3 (also Continental) a piece of paper currency used at the time of the American Revolution: the redemption of Continentals by the government.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ti·nen·tal·ly adv.

Con·ti·nen·tal Ar·my the army raised by the Continental Congress of 1775, with George Washington as commander.

con·ti·nen·tal break·fast n. a light breakfast, typically consisting of coffee and rolls with butter and jam.

con·ti·nen·tal cli·mate n. a relatively dry climate with very hot summers and very cold winters, characteristic of the central parts of Asia and North America.

Con·ti·nen·tal Con·gress each of the three congresses held by the American colonies (in 1774, 1775, and 1776, respectively) in revolt against British rule. The second Congress, convened in the wake of the battles at Lexington and Concord, created a Continental Army, which fought and eventually won the American Revolution.

con·ti·nen·tal crust n. [GEOLOGY] the relatively thick part of the earth's crust that forms the large landmasses. It is generally older and more complex than the oceanic crust.

Con·ti·nen·tal Di·vide the main series of mountain ridges in North America, chiefly the crests of the Rocky Mountains that form a watershed that separates the rivers flowing east into the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico from those flowing west into the Pacific Ocean. Also called GREAT DIVIDE.

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GREAT DIVIDE ■

con·ti·nen·tal drift n. the gradual movement of the continents across the earth's surface through geological time.

The theory of "continental drift," proposed in 1912, suggested that continents and continental crust drifted over denser oceanic crust. The mechanisms by which the original theory explained the drift, however, could not be substantiated and were proven wrong. The theory of continental drift has been replaced by the theory of plate tectonics. It is believed that a single supercontinent called Pangaea broke up to form Gondwana and Laurasia, which further split to form the present-day continents. South America and Africa, for example, are moving apart at a rate of a few centimeters per year.

See PLATE TECTONICS

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PLATE TECTONICS ■

con·ti·nen·tal shelf n. the area of seabed around a large landmass where the sea is relatively shallow compared with the open ocean. The continental shelf is geologically part of the continental crust.

con·ti·nen·tal slope n. the slope between the outer edge of the continental shelf and the deep ocean floor.

con·tin·gence n. touching; contact.
<SPECIAL USAGE> connection; affinity.

con·tin·gen·cy n. (pl. -cies) a future event or circumstance that is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty: a detailed contract that attempts to provide for all possible contingencies.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a provision for such an events or circumstance: a contingency reserve.

- an incidental expense: allow an extra fifteen percent in the budget for contingencies.

- the absence of certainty in events: the island's public affairs can be invaded by contingency.

- [PHILOSOPHY] the absence of necessity; the fact of being so without having to be so.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the philosophical sense): from late Latin contingentia (in its medieval Latin sense 'circumstance'), from contingere 'befall' (see CONTINGENT).

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CONTINGENT ■

con·tin·gen·cy fund n. a reserve of money set aside to cover possible unforeseen future expenses.

con·tin·gen·cy plan n. a plan designed to take a possible future event or circumstance into account: contingency plans for dealing with oil spills.

con·tin·gen·cy ta·ble n. [STATISTICS] a table showing the distribution of one variable in rows and another in columns, used to study the association between the two variables.

con·tin·gent adj. 1 subject to chance: the contingent nature of the job. See note at ACCIDENTAL.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of losses, liabilities, etc.) that can be anticipated to arise if a particular event occurs: businesses need to be aware of their liabilities, both actual and contingent.

- [PHILOSOPHY] true by virtue of the way things in fact are and not by logical necessity: that men are living creatures is a contingent fact.

2 (contingent on/upon) occurring or existing only if (certain other circumstances) are the case; dependent on: resolution of the conflict was contingent on the signing of a cease-fire agreement.

■ n. a group of people united by some common feature, forming part of a larger group: a contingent of Japanese businessmen attending a conference.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a body of troops or police sent to join a larger force in an operation: a contingent of 2,000 marines.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tin·gent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'of uncertain occurrence'): from Latin contingere 'befall', from con- 'together with' + tangere 'to touch'. The noun sense was originally 'something happening by chance', then 'a person's share resulting from a division, a quota'; the current sense dates from the early 18th cent.

con·tin·u·al adj. frequently recurring; always happening: his plane went down after continual attacks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having no interruptions: some patients need continual safeguarding.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tin·u·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French continuel, from continuer 'continue', from Latin continuare, from continuus (see CONTINUOUS).

<USAGE>
For an explanation of the difference between continual and continuous, see usage at CONTINUOUS.

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CONTINUOUS ■

CONTINUOUS ■

con·tin·u·ance n. 1 FORMAL the state of remaining in existence or operation: his interests encouraged him to favor the continuance of war.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the time for which a situation or action lasts: the trademarks shall be used only during the continuance of this agreement.

- the state of remaining in a particular position or condition: the king's ministers depended on his favor for their continuance in office.

2 [LAW] a postponement or adjournment: if this man's testimony is important, I will grant a continuance.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from continuer 'continue', from Latin continuare, from continuus (see CONTINUOUS).

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CONTINUOUS ■

con·tin·u·ant n. 1 [PHONETICS] a consonant that is sounded with the vocal tract only partly closed, allowing the breath to pass through and the sound to be prolonged (as with f, l, m, n, r, s, v).

2 [PHILOSOPHY] & [PSYCHOLOGY] a thing that retains its identity even though its states and relations may change.

■ adj. of, relating to, or denoting a continuant.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as an adjective in the general sense 'continuing'): from French, from continuer, reinforced by Latin continuant- 'continuing', from the verb continuare, from continuus (see CONTINUOUS). Current senses date from the 19th cent.

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CONTINUOUS ■

con·tin·u·a·tion n. [usu. in sing.] the action of carrying something on over a period of time or the process of being carried on: the continuation of discussions about a permanent peace.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the state of remaining in a particular position or condition: the administration's continuation in office.

- a part that is attached to and an extension of something else: once a separate village, it is now a continuation of the suburbs.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin continuatio(n-), from continuare 'continue', from continuus (see CONTINUOUS).

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CONTINUOUS ■

con·tin·u·a·tive [LINGUISTICS] adj. (of a word or phrase) having the function of moving a discourse or conversation forward.

■ n. a word or phrase of this type (e.g., yes, well, as I was saying).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as a noun denoting something that brings about continuity): from late Latin continuativus, from continuat- 'continued', from the verb continuare (see CONTINUE).

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CONTINUE ■

con·tin·u·a·tor n. a person or thing that continues something or maintains continuity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who writes a continuation of another's work.

con·tin·ue v. (-ues, -ued, -u·ing) 1 [intrans.] persist in an activity or process: he was unable to continue with his job; | prices continued to fall during April.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- remain in existence or operation: discussions continued throughout the year.

- [trans.] carry on with (something that one has begun): I continued my stroll;| [asadj.] (continued) he asked for their continued support.

- remain in a specified position or state: they have indicated their willingness to continue in office; | the weather continued warm and pleasant.; carry on traveling in the same direction: he hummed to himself as they continued northward.

- (of a road, river, etc.) extend farther in the same direction: the main path continued through a tunnel.

2 recommence or resume after interruption: [trans.] we continue the story from the point reached in Chapter 1 | [intrans.] the trial continues tomorrow.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] carry on speaking after a pause or interruption: I told him he was obstructing the inquiry and he let me continue.

- [trans.] [LAW] postpone or adjourn (a legal proceeding): the case was continued without a finding until August 2.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tin·u·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French continuer, from Latin continuare, from continuus (see CONTINUOUS).

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CONTINUOUS ■

con·tin·ued frac·tion n. [MATHEMATICS] a fraction of infinite length whose denominator is a quantity plus a fraction, which latter fraction has a similar denominator, and so on.

con·tin·u·ing ed·u·ca·tion n. education provided for adults after they have left the formal education system, consisting typically of short or part-time courses.

con·ti·nu·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) 1 the unbroken and consistent existence or operation of something over a period of time: pension rights accruing through continuity of employment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a state of stability and the absence of disruption: they have provided the country with a measure of continuity.

- (often continuity between/with) a connection or line of development with no sharp breaks: the Church stands in direct continuity with the Old Testament people of God.

2 the maintenance of continuous action and self-consistent detail in the various scenes of a movie or broadcast: [as adj.] a continuity error.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the linking of broadcast items, esp. by a spoken commentary.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French continuite, from Latin continuitas, from continuare 'continue', from continuus (see CONTINUOUS).

Linked entries:

CONTINUOUS ■

con·tin·u·o (also bas·so con·tin·u·o) n. (pl. -os) (in baroque music) an accompanying part that includes a bass line and harmonies, typically played on a keyboard instrument and with other instruments such as cello or bass viol.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: Italian basso continuo 'continuous bass'.

con·tin·u·ous adj. 1 forming an unbroken whole; without interruption: the whole performance is enacted in one continuous movement.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- forming a series with no exceptions or reversals: there are continuous advances in design and production.

- [MATHEMATICS] (of a function) of which the graph is a smooth unbroken curve, i.e., one such that as the value of x approaches any given value a, the value of f(x) approaches that of f(a) as a limit.

2 [GRAMMAR] another term for PROGRESSIVE (sense 3).

<DERIVATIVES> con·tin·u·ous·ly adv. con·tin·u·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin continuus 'uninterrupted', from continere 'hang together' (from con- 'together with' + tenere 'hold') + -OUS.

<USAGE>
In precise usage, continual means 'frequent, repeating at intervals' and continuous means 'going on without pause or interruption': we suffered from the continual attacks of mosquitoes; the waterfall’s continuous flow creates an endless roar. The most common error is the use of continuous where continual is meant: continual (that is, 'intermittent') rain or tantrums can be tolerated; continuous (that is, 'uninterrupted') rain or tantrums cannot be tolerated. To prevent misunderstanding, some careful writers use intermittent instead of continual, and uninterrupted in place of continuous. Continuous is the word to use in describing spatial relationships, as in a continuous series of rooms or a continuous plain of arable land. Avoid using continuous or continuously as a way of describing something that occurs at regular or seasonal intervals: in the sentence our synagogue’s Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony has been held continuously since 1925, the word continuously should be replaced with annually.

Linked entries:

PROGRESSIVE ■

-OUS ■

con·tin·u·ous cre·a·tion n. the creation of matter as a continuing process throughout time, esp. as postulated in steady state theories of the universe.

con·tin·u·ous spec·trum n. [PHYSICS] an emission spectrum that consists of a continuum of wavelengths.

con·tin·u·ous wave n. an electromagnetic wave, esp. a radio wave, having a constant amplitude.

con·tin·u·um n. (pl. -u·a ) [usu. in sing.] a continuous sequence in which adjacent elements are not perceptibly different from each other, although the extremes are quite distinct: at the fast end of the fast-slow continuum.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MATHEMATICS] the set of real numbers.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin, neuter of continuus (see CONTINUOUS).

Linked entries:

CONTINUOUS ■

con·tin·u·um hy·poth·e·sis n. [MATHEMATICS] the assertion that there is no transfinite cardinal between the cardinal of the set of positive integers and that of the set of real numbers.

con·tort v. twist or bend out of its normal shape: [trans.] a spasm of pain contorted his face | [intrans.] her face contorted with anger | [as adj.] (contorted) contorted limbs | FIGURATIVE a contorted version of the truth.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tor·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin contort- 'twisted around, brandished', from the verb contorquere, from con- 'together' + torquere 'twist'.

con·tor·tion·ist n. an entertainer who twists and bends their body into strange and unnatural positions.

con·tour n. (usu. contours) an outline, esp. one representing or bounding the shape or form of something: she traced the contours of his face with her finger. | FIGURATIVE the contours of American life.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an outline of a natural feature such as a hill or valley: cliffs with grassy rounded contours.

- short for CONTOUR LINE.

- a line joining points on a diagram at which some property has the same value: the map shows contours of every 10-foot difference in elevation.

- a way in which something varies, esp. the pitch of music or the pattern of tones in an utterance: the movement tends to place more emphasis on rhythm than melodic contour.

■ v. [trans.] 1 (usu. be contoured) mold into a specific shape, typically one designed to fit into something else: the compartment has been contoured with smooth rounded corners | [as adj.] (contoured) the contoured leather seats.

2 mark (a map or diagram) with contour lines: [as adj.] (contoured) a huge contoured map.

3 (of a road or railroad) follow the outline of (a topographical feature), esp. along a contour line: the road contours the hillside.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian contorno, from contornare 'draw in outline', from con- 'together'+ tornare 'to turn'.

Linked entries:

CONTOUR LINE ■

con·tour feath·er n. any of the mainly small feathers that form the outline of an adult bird's plumage.

con·tour line n. a line on a map joining points of equal height above or below sea level.

con·tour map n. a map marked with contour lines.

con·tour plow·ing n. plowing along the contours of the land in order to minimize soil erosion.

con·tra (also Con·tra) n. a member of a guerrilla force in Nicaragua that opposed the left-wing Sandinista government 1979-90, and was supported by the U.S. for much of that time. It was officially disbanded in 1990, after the Sandinistas' electoral defeat.

<ORIGIN> abbreviation of Spanish contrarevolucionario 'counterrevolutionary'.

contra- prefix 1 against; opposite; contrasting: contradict; | contraflow; contralateral.

2 [MUSIC] (of instruments or organ stops) pitched an octave below: contralto; contrabass.

<ORIGIN> from Latin contra 'against'.

con·tra·band n. goods that have been imported or exported illegally: the police looked for drugs, guns, and other contraband.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- trade in smuggled goods: the government has declared a nationwide war on contraband.

- (also contraband of war) goods forbidden to be supplied by neutrals to those engaged in war.

- during the U.S. Civil War, a black slave who escaped or was transported across Union lines.

■ adj. imported or exported illegally, either in defiance of a total ban or without payment of duty: contraband drug shipments.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to traffic in illegal goods: the contraband market.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tra·band·ist n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Spanish contrabanda, from Italian contrabando, from contra- 'against' + bando 'proclamation, ban'.

con·tra·bass n. another term for DOUBLE BASS.

■ adj. [attrib.] denoting a musical instrument with a range an octave lower than the normal bass range: a contrabass clarinet.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Italian contrabasso, from contra- 'pitched an octave below' + basso (see BASS^1 ).

Linked entries:

DOUBLE BASS ■

BASS ■

con·tra·bas·soon n. a bassoon that is larger and longer than the normal type and sounds an octave lower in pitch.

con·tra·cep·tion n. the deliberate use of artificial methods or other techniques to prevent pregnancy as a consequence of sexual intercourse. The major forms of artificial contraception are: barrier methods, of which the commonest is the condom; the contraceptive pill, which contains synthetic sex hormones that prevent ovulation in the female; intrauterine devices, such as the coil, which prevent the fertilized ovum from implanting in the uterus; and male or female sterilization.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CONTRA- 'against' + a shortened form of CONCEPTION.

Linked entries:

CONTRA- ■

CONCEPTION ■

con·tra·cep·tive adj. (of a method or device) serving to prevent pregnancy: the contraceptive pill.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to contraception: a book popularizing contraceptive knowledge.

■ n. a device or drug serving to prevent pregnancy.

con·tract n. a written or spoken agreement, esp. one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law: both parties must sign employment contracts | a network of doctors and hospitals under contract to provide services.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the branch of law concerned with the making and observation of such agreements.

- INFORMAL an arrangement for someone to be killed by a hired assassin: smuggling bosses routinely put out contracts on witnesses.

- [BRIDGE] the declarer's undertaking to win the number of tricks bid with a stated suit as trump: South can make the contract with correct play.

- DATED a formal agreement to marry.

■ v. 1  [intrans.] decrease in size, number, or range: glass contracts as it cools.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a muscle) become shorter or tighter in order to effect movement of part of the body: the heart is a muscle that contracts about seventy times a minute | [trans.] then contract your lower abdominal muscles.

- [trans.] shorten (a word or phrase) by combination or elision: “quasistellar objects” was soon contracted to “quasar.”

2 [intrans.] enter into a formal and legally binding agreement: the local authority will contract with a wide range of agencies to provide services.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- secure specified rights or undertake specified obligations in a formal and legally binding agreement: a buyer may contract for the right to withhold payment; | the paper had contracted to publish extracts from the diaries.

- impose an obligation on (someone) to do something by means of a formal agreement: health authorities contract a hospital to treat a specific number of patients.

- [trans.] (contract something out) arrange for work to be done by another organization: local authorities will have to contract out waste management.

- [trans.] DATED formally enter into (a marriage): before Fanny met him, he had contracted a disastrous liaison and marriage.

- [trans.] enter into (a friendship or other relationship): the patterns of social relationships contracted by men and women differ.

3 [trans.] catch or develop (a disease or infectious agent): three people contracted a killer virus.

4 [trans.] become liable to pay (a debt): he contracted a debt of $3,300.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tract·ee n. con·trac·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin contractus, from contract- 'drawn together, tightened', from the verb contrahere, from con- 'together' + trahere 'draw'.

con·tract·a·ble adj. (of a disease) able to be caught.

con·tract bridge n. the standard form of the card game bridge, in which only tricks bid and won count toward the game, as opposed to auction bridge.

con·tract·i·ble adj. able to be shrunk or capable of contracting.

con·trac·tile adj. [BIOLOGY] & [PHYSIOLOGY] capable of or producing contraction: the contractile activity of the human colon.

<DERIVATIVES> con·trac·til·i·ty n.

con·trac·tile vac·u·ole n. [ZOOLOGY] a vacuole in some protozoans that expels excess liquid on contraction.

con·trac·tion n. the process of becoming smaller: the general contraction of the industry did further damage to morale.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the process in which a muscle becomes or is made shorter and tighter: neurons control the contraction of muscles | repeat the exercise, holding each contraction for one second.

- (usu. contractions) a shortening of the uterine muscles occurring at intervals before and during childbirth.

- a word or group of words resulting from shortening an original form: “goodbye” is a contraction of “God be with you.”

- the process of shortening a word by combination or elision.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin contractio(n-), from contrahere 'draw together' (see CONTRACT).

Linked entries:

CONTRACT ■

con·trac·tor n. a person or company that undertakes a contract to provide materials or labor to perform a service or do a job.

con·trac·tu·al adj. agreed in a contract: a contractual obligation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having similar characteristics to a contract: the contractual nature of the shareholder's rights.

<DERIVATIVES> con·trac·tu·al·ly adv.

con·trac·ture n. [MEDICINE] a condition of shortening and hardening of muscles, tendons, or other tissue, often leading to deformity and rigidity of joints.

<DERIVATIVES> con·trac·tur·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, or from Latin contractura, from Latin contract- 'drawn together', from the verb contrahere.

con·tra·dance n. a country dance in which the couples form lines facing each other.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: variant of CONTREDANSE.

Linked entries:

CONTREDANSE ■

con·tra·dict v. [trans.] deny the truth of (a statement), esp. by asserting the opposite: the survey appears to contradict the industry's claims;| he did not contradict what he said last week.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- assert the opposite of a statement made by (someone): he did not contradict her but just said nothing; within five minutes he had contradicted himself twice.

- be in conflict with: that evaporation seems to contradict one of the most fundamental principles of physics.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tra·dic·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin contradict- 'spoken against', from the verb contradicere, originally contra dicere 'speak against'.

con·tra·dic·tion n. a combination of statements, ideas, or features of a situation that are opposed to one another: the proposed new system suffers from a set of internal contradictions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person, thing, or situation in which inconsistent elements are present: the paradox of using force to overcome force is a real contradiction.

- the statement of a position opposite to one already made: the second sentence appears to be in flat contradiction of the first | the experiment provides a contradiction of the hypothesis.

<PHRASES> contradiction in terms a statement or group of words associating objects or ideas that are incompatible: “true fiction” is a contradiction in terms.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin contradictio(n-), from the verb contradicere (see CONTRADICT).

Linked entries:

CONTRADICT ■

con·tra·dic·to·ry adj. mutually opposed or inconsistent: the two attitudes are contradictory. See note at OPPOSITE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- containing elements which are inconsistent or in conflict: the committee rejected the policy as too vague and internally contradictory.

- [LOGIC] (of two propositions) so related that one and only one must be true. Compare with CONTRARY.

■ n. (pl. -ries) [LOGIC] a contradictory proposition.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tra·dic·to·ri·ly adv. con·tra·dic·to·ri·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a term in logic denoting a proposition or principle that contradicts another): from late Latin contradictorius, from Latin contradict- 'spoken against', from the verb contradicere (see CONTRADICT).

Linked entries:

CONTRARY ■

CONTRADICT ■

con·tra·dis·tinc·tion n. distinction made by contrasting the different qualities of two things: the bacterium is termed “rough” in contradistinction to its ordinary smooth form.

con·tra·dis·tin·guish v. [trans.] (often be contradistinguished) ARCHAIC distinguish between (two things) by contrasting them.

con·tra·fac·tive adj. [LINGUISTICS] denoting a verb that assigns to its object (normally a clausal object) the status of not being true, e.g., pretend and wish. Contrasted with FACTIVE, NONFACTIVE.

Linked entries:

FACTIVE ■

NONFACTIVE ■

con·tra·fac·tu·al adj. another term for COUNTERFACTUAL.

Linked entries:

COUNTERFACTUAL ■

con·trail n. a trail of condensed water from an aircraft or rocket at high altitude, seen as a white streak against the sky.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: abbreviation of condensation trail.

con·tra·in·di·cate v. [trans.] (usu. be contraindicated) [MEDICINE] (of a condition or circumstance) suggest or indicate that (a particular technique or drug) should not be used in the case in question.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tra·in·di·ca·tion n.

con·tra·lat·er·al adj. [MEDICINE] relating to or denoting the side of the body opposite to that on which a particular structure or condition occurs: the symptom develops in the hand contralateral to the lesion.

con·tral·to n. (pl. -tos) the lowest female singing voice: she sang in a high contralto.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a singer with such a voice.

- a part written for such a voice.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: Italian, from contra- (in the sense 'counter to') + ALTO. Compare with COUNTERTENOR.

Linked entries:

ALTO ■

COUNTERTENOR ■

con·tra mun·dum adv. defying or opposing everyone else.

<ORIGIN> Latin, 'against the world'.

con·tra·po·si·tion n. [LOGIC] conversion of a proposition from all A is B to all not-B is not-A.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tra·pos·i·tive adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from late Latin contrapositio(n-), from the verb contraponere, from contra- 'against' + ponere 'to place'.

con·trap·pos·to n. (pl. -trap·pos·ti ) [SCULPTURE] an asymmetrical arrangement of the human figure in which the line of the arms and shoulders contrasts with while balancing those of the hips and legs.

<ORIGIN> Italian, past participle of contrapporre, from Latin contraponere 'place against'.

con·trap·tion n. a machine or device that appears strange or unnecessarily complicated, and often badly made or unsafe.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: perhaps from CONTRIVE (on the pattern of pairs such as conceive, conception), by association with TRAP^1 .

Linked entries:

CONTRIVE ■

TRAP ■

con·tra·pun·tal adj. [MUSIC] of or in counterpoint.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a piece of music) with two or more independent melodic lines.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tra·pun·tal·ly adv. con·tra·pun·tist n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Italian contrapunto (see COUNTERPOINT) + -AL.

Linked entries:

COUNTERPOINT ■

-AL ■

con·trar·i·an n. a person who opposes or rejects popular opinion, esp. in stock exchange dealing.

■ adj. opposing or rejecting popular opinion; going against current practice: the comment came more from a contrarian disposition than moral conviction.

<DERIVATIVES> con·trar·i·an·ism n.

con·tra·ri·e·ty n. 1 opposition or inconsistency between two or more things: questions that involved much contrariety of opinion.

2 [LOGIC] contrary opposition.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French contrariete, from late Latin contrarietas, from contrarius (see CONTRARY).

Linked entries:

CONTRARY ■

con·trar·i·ous adj. ARCHAIC 1 perverse; refractory.

2 opposed; unfavorable.

con·trar·i·wise adv. in the opposite way or order.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in contrast to something that has just been stated or mentioned: contrariwise, a registered person may vote, even if not entitled to be registered.

con·trar·y adj. 1 opposite in nature, direction, or meaning: he ignored contrary advice and agreed on the deal. See note at OPPOSITE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of two or more statements, beliefs, etc.) opposed to one another: his mother had given him contrary messages.

- (of a wind) blowing in the opposite direction to one's course; unfavorable.

- [LOGIC] (of two propositions) so related that one or neither but not both must be true. Compare with CONTRADICTORY.

2 perversely inclined to disagree or to do the opposite of what is expected or desired: she is sulky and contrary where her work is concerned.

■ n. (pl. -trar·ies) 1 (the contrary) the opposite: the magazine has proved that the contrary is true.

2 [LOGIC] a contrary proposition.

<PHRASES>
□ contrary to conflicting with; counter to: contrary to his expectations, he found the atmosphere exciting the restrictions were not contrary to the public interest.

□ on (or quite) the contrary used to intensify a denial of what has just been implied or stated: there was no malice in her; on the contrary, she was very kind.

□ to the contrary with the opposite meaning or implication: he continued to drink despite medical advice to the contrary.

<DERIVATIVES> con·trar·i·ly adv. con·trar·i·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French contrarie, from Latin contrarius, from contra 'against'.

Linked entries:

CONTRADICTORY ■

con·trast n. the state of being strikingly different from something else, typically something in juxtaposition or close association: the day began cold and blustery, in contrast to almost two weeks of uninterrupted sunshine | a contrast between rural and urban trends.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the degree of difference between tones in a television picture, photograph, or other image.

- enhancement of the apparent brightness or clarity of a design provided by the juxtaposition of different colors or textures.

- the action of calling attention to notable differences: use knowledge of other languages for contrast and comparison with English.

- [in sing.] a thing or person having qualities noticeably different from another: the castle is quite a contrast to other places where the singer has performed.

■ v. [intrans.] differ strikingly: his friend's success contrasted with his own failure | [as adj.] (contrasting) a contrasting view.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] compare in such a way as to emphasize differences: people contrasted her with her sister.

<DERIVATIVES> con·trast·ing·ly adv. con·tras·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (as a term in fine art, in the sense 'juxtapose so as to bring out differences in form and color'): from French contraste (noun), contraster (verb), via Italian from medieval Latin contrastare, from Latin contra- 'against' + stare 'stand'.

<USAGE>
Contrast means 'note the differences,’ whereas compare means 'note the similarities' (or, in some cases, inconsistencies).

See also usage at COMPARE.

Linked entries:

COMPARE ■

con·trast me·di·um n. [MEDICINE] a substance introduced into a part of the body in order to improve the visibility of internal structure during radiography.

con·trast·y adj. INFORMAL (of a photograph, movie, or television picture) showing a high degree of contrast.

con·tra-sug·gest·i·ble adj. [PSYCHOLOGY] tending to respond to a suggestion by believing or doing the contrary.

con·tra·vene v. [trans.] violate the prohibition or order of (a law, treaty, or code of conduct): this would contravene the rule against hearsay.
<SPECIAL USAGE> conflict with (a right, principle, etc.), esp. to its detriment: this contravened Washington's commitment to its own proposal.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tra·ven·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from late Latin contravenire, from Latin contra- 'against' + venire 'come'.

con·tra·ven·tion n. an action that violates a law, treaty, or other ruling: young persons who commit offenses bear responsibility for their contraventions.

<PHRASES> in contravention of in a manner contrary and disobedient to (a law or other ruling).

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via French from medieval Latin contraventio(n-), from late Latin contravenire (see CONTRAVENE).

Linked entries:

CONTRAVENE ■

con·tre·coup n. (pl. -coups ) a contusion resulting from the brain contacting the skull on the side opposite from where impact occurs. Compare with COUP.

con·tre·danse n. (pl. same) a French form of country dance, originating in the 18th century and related to the quadrille.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a piece of music for such a dance.

- another term for CONTRADANCE.

<ORIGIN> French, alteration of English COUNTRY DANCE, by association with contre 'against, opposite'.

Linked entries:

CONTRADANCE ■

COUNTRY DANCE ■

con·tre-jour adj. & adv. [PHOTOGRAPHY] having or involving the sun or other light source behind the subject: [as adj.] a glorious contre-jour effect | [as adv.] it is recommended not to use the film contre-jour.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, from contre 'against' + jour 'daylight'.

con·tre·temps n. (pl. same ) an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence: the hotel had to deal with more than one contretemps before the end of the night.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a minor dispute or disagreement: she had occasional contretemps with her staff.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (originally as a fencing term, denoting a thrust made at an inopportune moment): French, originally 'motion out of time', from contre- 'against' + temps 'time'.

con·trib·ute v. [trans.] give (something, esp. money) in order to help achieve or provide something: he contributed more than $500,000 to the center | [intrans.] she contributed to a private pension.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (contribute to) help to cause or bring about: gases that contribute to global warming.

- supply (an article) for publication: he contributed articles to the magazine | [intrans.] the staff who contribute to your sports pages are doing a splendid job.

- [intrans.] give one's views in a discussion: he did not contribute to the meetings.

<DERIVATIVES> con·trib·u·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin contribut- 'brought together, added', from the verb contribuere, from con- 'with' + tribuere 'bestow'.

con·tri·bu·tion n. a gift or payment to a common fund or collection: charitable contributions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the part played by a person or thing in bringing about a result or helping something to advance: he made a lasting contribution by designing the modern radio telescope.

- an article or other piece of writing submitted for publication in a collection.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a tax or levy): from late Latin contributio(n-), from Latin contribuere 'bring together, add' (see CONTRIBUTE).

Linked entries:

CONTRIBUTE ■

con·trib·u·tor n. a person or thing that contributes something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who writes articles for a magazine or newspaper.

- a person who donates money to a cause.

- a causal factor in the existence or occurrence of something: stress is a major contributor to most diseases.

con·trib·u·to·ry adj. 1 playing a part in bringing something about: smoking may be a contributory cause of lung cancer.

2 (of or relating to a pension or insurance plan) operated by means of a fund into which people pay: contributory benefits.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'contributing to a fund'): from medieval Latin contributorius, from Latin contribut- 'added' (see CONTRIBUTION).

Linked entries:

CONTRIBUTION ■

con·trib·u·to·ry neg·li·gence n. [LAW] failure of an injured plaintiff to act prudently, considered to be a contributory factor in the injury suffered, and sometimes reducing the amount recovered from the defendant.

con·trite adj. feeling or expressing remorse or penitence; affected by guilt: a broken and a contrite heart.

<DERIVATIVES> con·trite·ly adv. con·trite·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French contrit, from Latin contritus, past participle of conterere 'grind down, wear away', from con- 'together' + terere 'rub'.

con·tri·tion n. the state of feeling remorseful and penitent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in the Roman Catholic Church) the repentance of past sins during or after confession: prayers of contrition.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from late Latin contritio(n-), from contrit- 'ground down', from the verb conterere (see CONTRITE).

Linked entries:

CONTRITE ■

con·triv·ance n. a thing that is created skillfully and inventively to serve a particular purpose: an assortment of electronic equipment and mechanical contrivances.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the use of skill to bring something about or create something: the requirements of the system, by happy chance and some contrivance, can be summed up in an acronym.

- a device, esp. in literary or artistic composition, that gives a sense of artificiality.

con·trive v. [trans.] create or bring about (an object or a situation) by deliberate use of skill and artifice: his opponents contrived a crisis; | you contrived to be alone with me despite the supervision.
<SPECIAL USAGE> manage to do something foolish or create an undesirable situation: the poor guy in some way contrived to hang himself.

<DERIVATIVES> con·triv·a·ble adj. con·triv·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French contreuve-, stressed stem of controver 'imagine, invent', from medieval Latin contropare 'compare'.

con·trived adj. deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously: the carefully contrived image of party unity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> giving a sense of artificiality: the ending of the novel is too pat and contrived.

con·trol n. 1 the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events: the whole operation is under the control of a production manager; the situation was slipping out of her control.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the ability to manage a machine or other moving object: he lost control of his car; improve your ball control.

- the restriction of an activity, tendency, or phenomenon: pest control.

- the power to restrain something, esp. one's own emotions or actions: give children time to get control of their emotions.

- (often controls) a means of limiting or regulating something: growing controls on local spending.

- a switch or other device by which a machine is regulated: the volume control.

- the place where a particular item is verified: passport control.

- the base from which a system or activity is directed: communications could be established with central control; mission control.

- [BRIDGE] a high card that will prevent opponents from establishing a particular suit.

- [COMPUTING] short for CONTROL KEY.

2 [STATISTICS] a group or individual used as a standard of comparison for checking the results of a survey or experiment: they saw no difference between the cancer patients and the controls.

3 a member of an intelligence organization who personally directs the activities of a spy.

■ v. (-trolled, -trol·ling) 1 [trans.] determine the behavior or supervise the running of: he was appointed to control the company's marketing strategy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- maintain influence or authority over: you shouldn't have dogs if you can't control them.

- limit the level, intensity, or numbers of: he had to control his temper.

- (control oneself) remain calm and reasonable despite provocation: he made an effort to control himself.

- regulate (a mechanical or scientific process): the airflow is controlled by a fan.

- [as adj.] (controlled) (of a drug) restricted by law with respect to use and possession: a sentence for possessing controlled substances.

2 [STATISTICS] [intrans.] (control for) take into account (an extraneous factor that might affect results) when performing an experiment: no attempt was made to control for variations | [as adj.] (controlled) a controlled trial.
<SPECIAL USAGE> check; verify.

<PHRASES>
□ in control able to direct a situation, person, or activity: I felt calm and in control.

□ out of control no longer possible to manage: fires burning out of control.

□ under control (of a danger or emergency) being dealt with successfully and competently: it took two hours to bring the blaze under control.

<DERIVATIVES> con·trol·la·bil·i·ty n. con·trol·la·ble adj. con·trol·la·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a verb in the sense 'check or verify accounts', esp. by referring to a duplicate register): from Anglo-Norman French contreroller 'keep a copy of a roll of accounts', from medieval Latin contrarotulare, from contrarotulus 'copy of a roll', from contra- 'against' + rotulus 'a roll'. The noun is perhaps via French contrôle.

Linked entries:

CONTROL KEY ■

con·trol ac·count n. an account used to record the balances on a number of subsidiary accounts and to provide a cross-check on them.

con·trol char·ac·ter n. [COMPUTING] a character that does not represent a printable character but serves to initiate a particular action.

con·trol freak n. INFORMAL a person who feels an obsessive need to exercise control over themselves and others and to take command of any situation.

con·trol key n. [COMPUTING] a key that alters the function of another key if both are pressed at the same time.

con·trol·ler n. a person or thing that directs or regulates something: the power controller on a subway train.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person in charge of an organization's finances.

<DERIVATIVES> con·trol·ler·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a person who kept a duplicate register of accounts): from Anglo-Norman contrerollour, from contreroller 'keep a copy of a roll of accounts' (see CONTROL). Compare with COMPTROLLER.

Linked entries:

CONTROL ■

COMPTROLLER ■

con·trol·ling in·ter·est n. the holding by one person or group of a majority of the stock of a business, giving the holder a means of exercising control: the purchase of a controlling interest in a company in California.

con·trol rod n. a rod of a neutron-absorbing substance used to vary the output power of a nuclear reactor.

con·trol tow·er n. a tall building at an airport from which the movements of air and runway traffic are controlled.

con·tro·ver·sial adj. giving rise or likely to give rise to public disagreement: years of wrangling over a controversial bypass.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tro·ver·sial·ist n. con·tro·ver·sial·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from late Latin controversialis, from controversia (see CONTROVERSY).

Linked entries:

CONTROVERSY ■

con·tro·ver·sy n. (pl. -sies) disagreement, typically when prolonged, public, and heated: security laws passed to tackle terrorism caused controversy | the announcement ended a protracted controversy.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin controversia, from controversus 'turned against, disputed', from contro- (variant of contra- 'against') + versus, past participle of vertere 'to turn'.

<USAGE>
There are two possible pronunciations of the word controversy: one puts the stress on the con- and the other puts it on the -trov-. The second pronunciation, though common in Britain, is still held to be incorrect in standard American and British English.

con·tro·vert v. [trans.] deny the truth of (something): subsequent work from the same laboratory controverted these results.
<SPECIAL USAGE> argue about (something): the views in the article have been controverted.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tro·vert·i·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin controversus (see CONTROVERSY), on the pattern of pairs such as adversus (see ADVERSE), advertere (see ADVERT^2 ).

Linked entries:

CONTROVERSY ■

ADVERSE ■

ADVERT ■

con·tu·ma·cious adj. ARCHAIC or [LAW] (esp. of a defendant's behavior) stubbornly or willfully disobedient to authority.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tu·ma·cious·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin contumax, contumac- (perhaps from con- 'with' + tumere 'to swell') + -IOUS.

Linked entries:

-IOUS ■

con·tu·ma·cy n. ARCHAIC or [LAW] stubborn refusal to obey or comply with authority, esp. a court order or summons.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin contumacia 'inflexibility', from contumax (see CONTUMACIOUS).

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CONTUMACIOUS ■

con·tu·me·li·ous adj. ARCHAIC (of behavior) scornful and insulting; insolent.

<DERIVATIVES> con·tu·me·li·ous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French contumelieus, from Latin contumeliosus, from contumelia 'abuse, insult' (see CONTUMELY).

Linked entries:

CONTUMELY ■

con·tu·me·ly n. (pl. -lies) insolent or insulting language or treatment: the church should not be exposed to gossip and contumely.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French contumelie, from Latin contumelia, perhaps from con- 'with' + tumere 'to swell'.

con·tuse v. [trans.] (usu. be contused) injure (a part of the body) without breaking the skin, forming a bruise: the whole region beneath the rib cage was contused.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin contus- 'bruised, crushed', from the verb contundere, from con- 'together' + tundere 'beat, thump'.

con·tu·sion n. a region of injured tissue or skin in which blood capillaries have been ruptured; a bruise.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French, from Latin contusio(n-), from the verb contundere (see CONTUSE).

Linked entries:

CONTUSE ■

co·nun·drum n. (pl. -drums) a confusing and difficult problem or question: one of the most difficult conundrums for the experts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a question asked for amusement, typically one with a pun in its answer; a riddle.
See note at RIDDLE.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: of unknown origin, but first recorded in a work by Thomas Nashe, as a term of abuse for a crank or pedant, later coming to denote a whim or fancy, also a pun. Current senses date from the late 17th cent.

con·ur·ba·tion n. an extended urban area, typically consisting of several towns merging with the suburbs of one or more cities.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from CON- 'together' + Latin urbs, urb- 'city' + -ATION.

Linked entries:

CON- ■

-ATION ■

con·ure n. a Central and South American parakeet that typically has green plumage with patches of other colors.
<INFO>  Aratinga, Pyrrhura, and other genera, family Psittacidae: numerous species.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin conurus (former genus name), from Greek 'cone' + oura 'tail'.

co·nus n. (pl. co·ni ) [ANATOMY] 1 (in full co·nus ar·te·ri·o·sus ) the upper front part of the right ventricle of the heart.

2 (in full co·nus me·dul·lar·is ) the conical lower extremity of the spinal cord.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin, literally 'cone'.

con·va·lesce v. [intrans.] recover one's health and strength over a period of time after an illness or operation: he spent eight months convalescing after the stroke.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin convalescere, from con- 'altogether' + valescere 'grow strong' (from valere 'be well').

con·va·les·cent adj. (of a person) recovering from an illness or operation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to convalescence: a convalescent home.

■ n. a person who is recovering after an illness or operation.

<DERIVATIVES> con·va·les·cence n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin convalescent- 'growing strong, recovering', from the verb convalescere (see CONVALESCE).

Linked entries:

CONVALESCE ■

con·vect v. [trans.] transport (heat or material) by convection: this wood stove convects heat efficiently | [as adj.] (convected) convected warmth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (of a fluid or fluid body) undergo convection: the fluid starts to convect | [as adj.] (convecting) the convecting layer.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: back-formation from CONVECTION.

Linked entries:

CONVECTION ■

con·vec·tion n. the movement caused within a fluid by the tendency of hotter and therefore less dense material to rise, and colder, denser material to sink under the influence of gravity, which consequently results in transfer of heat.

<DERIVATIVES> con·vec·tion·al adj. con·vec·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from late Latin convectio(n-), from Latin convehere, from con- 'together' + vehere 'carry'.

con·vec·tion cell n. a self-contained convective zone in a fluid in which upward motion of warmer fluid in the center is balanced by downward motion of cooler fluid at the periphery.

con·vec·tion cur·rent n. a current in a fluid that results from convection.

con·vec·tion ov·en n. a cooking device that heats food by the circulation of hot air.

con·vec·tor n. a heating appliance that circulates warm air by convection.

con·ve·nance n. (also convenances) ARCHAIC conventional propriety.

<ORIGIN> French, from convenir 'be fitting', from Latin convenire (see CONVENE).

Linked entries:

CONVENE ■

con·vene v. [trans.] call people together for (a meeting): he had convened a secret meeting of military personnel.
<SPECIAL USAGE> assemble or cause to assemble for a common purpose: [trans.] he convened a group of well-known scientists and philosophers | [intrans.] the committee had convened for its final plenary session.
See note at GATHER.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ven·a·ble adj. con·ven·er n. con·ve·nor n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin convenire 'assemble, agree, fit', from con- 'together' + venire 'come'.

con·ven·ience n. 1 the state of being able to proceed with something with little effort or difficulty: the museum has a cafeteria for your convenience.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the quality of contributing to such a state: the convenience of a portable phone.

- a thing that contributes to an easy and effortless way of life: voice mail was seen as one of the desktop conveniences of the electronic office.

2 BRIT. a public toilet.

<PHRASES>
□ at one's convenience at a time or place that suits one.

□ at one's earliest convenience as soon as one can without difficulty.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin convenientia, from convenient- 'assembling, agreeing', from the verb convenire (see CONVENE).

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CONVENE ■

con·ven·ience food n. a food, typically a complete meal, that has been preprepared commercially and so requires little preparation by the consumer.

con·ven·ience store n. a store with extended opening hours and in a convenient location, stocking a limited range of household goods and groceries.

con·ven·ien·cy n. archaic term for CONVENIENCE (sense 1).

Linked entries:

CONVENIENCE ■

con·ven·ient adj. fitting in well with a person's needs, activities, and plans: I phoned your office to confirm that this date is convenient.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- involving little trouble or effort: the new parking lot will make shopping much more convenient.

- (convenient to) situated so as to allow easy access to: the 34-story building is convenient to downtown.

- occurring in a place or at a time that is useful: put the blame on a convenient scapegoat.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ven·ient·ly adv. [sentence adverb] he lived, conveniently, in Paris.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'befitting, becoming, suitable'): from Latin convenient- 'assembling, agreeing, fitting', from the verb convenire (see CONVENE).

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CONVENE ■

con·vent n. a Christian community under monastic vows, esp. one of nuns.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also convent school) a school, esp. one for girls, attached to and run by such a community.

- the building or buildings occupied by such a community.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from Latin conventus 'assembly, company', from the verb convenire (see CONVENE). The original spelling was covent (surviving in the place name Covent Garden); the modern form dates from the 16th cent.

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CONVENE ■

con·ven·ti·cle n. HISTORICAL a secret or unlawful religious meeting, typically of people with nonconformist views.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'assembly, meeting', particularly a clandestine or illegal one): from Latin conventiculum '(place of) assembly', diminutive of conventus 'assembly, company', from the verb convenire (see CONVENE).

Linked entries:

CONVENE ■

con·ven·tion n. 1 a way in which something is usually done, esp. within a particular area or activity: the woman who overturned so many conventions of children's literature.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- behavior that is considered acceptable or polite to most members of a society: he was an upholder of convention and correct form | social conventions.

- [BRIDGE] an artificial bid by which a bidder tries to convey specific information about the hand to their partner.

2 an agreement between countries covering particular matters, esp. one less formal than a treaty.

3 a large meeting or conference, esp. of members of a political party or a particular profession: a convention of retail merchants.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in the U.S.) an assembly of the delegates of a political party to select candidates for office.

- an organized meeting of enthusiasts for a television program, movie, or literary genre: a Star Trek convention.

- a body set up by agreement to deal with a particular issue: the convention is a UN body responsible for the regulation of sea dumping.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 3): via Old French from Latin conventio(n-) 'meeting, covenant', from the verb convenire (see CONVENE). Sense 1 dates from the late 18th cent.

Linked entries:

CONVENE ■

con·ven·tion·al adj. based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed: a conventional morality had dictated behavior.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) concerned with what is generally held to be acceptable at the expense of individuality and sincerity.

- (of a work of art or literature) following traditional forms and genres: conventional love poetry.

- (of weapons or power) nonnuclear: agreement on reducing conventional forces in Europe.

- [BRIDGE] (of a bid) intended to convey a particular meaning according to an agreed upon convention. Often contrasted with NATURAL.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ven·tion·al·ism n. con·ven·tion·al·ist n. con·ven·tion·al·i·ty n. con·ven·tion·al·ize v. con·ven·tion·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the sense 'relating to a formal agreement or convention'): from French conventionnel or late Latin conventionalis, from Latin conventio(n-) 'meeting, covenant', from the verb convenire (see CONVENE).

Linked entries:

NATURAL ■

CONVENE ■

con·ven·tion·al mem·o·ry n. [COMPUTING] (in a personal computer running DOS) the first 640k of memory where programs to be run must be loaded.

con·ven·tion·eer n. a person attending a convention.

con·ven·tu·al adj. relating or belonging to a convent: the conventual life.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to the less strict order of the Franciscans, living in large convents.

■ n. a person who lives in or is a member of a convent.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin conventualis, from Latin conventus 'assembly, company' (see CONVENT).

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CONVENT ■

con·verge v. [intrans.] (of several people or things) come together from different directions so as eventually to meet: convoys from America and the UK traversed thousands of miles to converge in the Atlantic | FIGURATIVE two separate people whose lives converge briefly from time to time.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (converge on/upon) come from different directions and meet at (a place): half a million sports fans will converge on the capital.

- (of a number of things) gradually change so as to become similar or develop something in common: two cultures converged as the French settled Vermont.

- (of lines) tend to meet at a point: a pair of lines of longitude are parallel at the equator but converge toward the poles.

- [MATHEMATICS] (of a series) approximate in the sum of its terms toward a definite limit: the powers of e therefore converge very slowly.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from late Latin convergere, from con- 'together' + Latin vergere 'incline'.

con·ver·gence (also con·ver·gen·cy ) n. the process or state of converging: the convergence of lines in the distance.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BIOLOGY] the tendency of unrelated animals and plants to evolve superficially similar characteristics under similar environmental conditions.

- (also convergence zone) a location where airflows or ocean currents meet, characteristically marked by upwelling (of air) or downwelling (of water).

con·ver·gent adj. coming closer together, esp. in characteristics or ideas: convergent changes in languages.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- relating to convergence: a convergent boundary.

- [MATHEMATICS] (of a series) approaching a definite limit as more of its terms are added.

- [BIOLOGY] relating to or denoting evolutionary convergence.

- (of thought) tending to follow well-established patterns.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from late Latin convergent- 'inclining together', from the verb convergere (see CONVERGE).

Linked entries:

CONVERGE ■

con·ver·sant adj. familiar with or knowledgeable about something: many ladies are conversant with the merits of drill-eyed needles.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ver·sance n. con·ver·san·cy n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, present participle of converser (see CONVERSE^1 ). The original sense was 'habitually spending time in a particular place or with a particular person'.

Linked entries:

CONVERSE ■

con·ver·sa·tion n. the informal exchange of ideas by spoken words: the two men were deep in conversation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an instance of this: she picked up the phone and held a conversation in French.

<PHRASES> make conversation talk for the sake of politeness without having anything to say.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'living among, familiarity, intimacy'): via Old French from Latin conversatio(n-), from the verb conversari (see CONVERSE^1 ).

<THE RIGHT WORD>
chat, colloquy, communion, conversation, dialogue, parley, tête-à-tête

It is nearly impossible for most people to get through a day without having a conversation with someone, even if it's only a chat with the mailman.

Although conversation can and does take place in all sorts of contexts, both formal and informal, the word usually implies a relaxed, casual exchange.

A chat is the least formal of all conversations, whether it's a father talking to his son about girls or two women having a tête-à-tête (French for “head to head,” meaning a confidential conversation) about their wayward husbands.

Both men and women often complain that their partners don't understand the meaning of dialogue, which is a two-way conversation that may involve opposing points of view.

Argument is even more likely to play a role in a parley, which formally is a discussion between enemies regarding the terms of a truce.

A colloquy is the most formal of all conversations (a colloquy on nuclear disarmament); it can also be used to jocularly describe a guarded exchange (a brief colloquy with the arresting officer).

Communion may be a form of conversation as well, but sometimes it takes place on such a profound level that no words are necessary (communion with nature).

Linked entries:

CONVERSE ■

con·ver·sa·tion·al adj. appropriate to an informal conversation: his tone was casual and conversational.
<SPECIAL USAGE> consisting of or relating to conversation: conversational skills.

<DERIVATIVES> con·ver·sa·tion·al·ly adv.

con·ver·sa·tion·al·ist n. a person who is good at or fond of engaging in conversation.

con·ver·sa·tion piece n. 1 a type of genre painting in which a group of figures are posed in a landscape or domestic setting, popular esp. in the 18th century.

2 an object whose unusual quality makes it a topic of conversation.

con·ver·sa·tion-stop·per n. INFORMAL an unexpected or outrageous remark that cannot easily be answered.

con·ver·sa·zi·o·ne n. (pl. -nes or -ni ) a scholarly social gathering held for discussion of literature and the arts.

<ORIGIN> Italian, from Latin conversatio (see CONVERSATION).

Linked entries:

CONVERSATION ■

con·verse 1 v. [intrans.] engage in conversation: he fell in beside her and they began to converse amicably.

■ n. ARCHAIC conversation.

<DERIVATIVES> con·vers·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'live among, be familiar with'): from Old French converser, from Latin conversari 'keep company (with)', from con- 'with' + versare, frequentative of vertere 'to turn'. The current sense of the verb dates from the early 17th cent.

con·verse 2 n. a situation, object, or statement that is the reverse of another, or that corresponds to it but with certain terms transposed: if spirituality is properly political, the converse is also true: politics is properly spiritual.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MATHEMATICS] a theorem whose hypothesis and conclusion are the conclusion and hypothesis of another.

■ adj. having characteristics that are the reverse of something else already mentioned: the slow process of growth and the converse process of decay.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin conversus 'turned around', past participle of convertere (see CONVERT).

Linked entries:

CONVERT ■

con·verse·ly adv. introducing a statement or idea that reverses one that has just been made or referred to: he would have preferred his wife not to work, although conversely he was also proud of what she did.

con·ver·sion n. 1 the act or an instance of converting or the process of being converted: the conversion of food into body tissues.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the fact of changing one's religion or beliefs or the action of persuading someone else to change theirs: my conversion to the Catholic faith.

- [CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY] repentance and change to a godly life.

- the adaptation of a building for a new purpose: the conversion of a house into apartments

- BRIT. a building or part of a building that has been adapted in this way.

- [LAW] the changing of real into personal property, or of joint into separate property, or vice versa.

- [PSYCHIATRY] the manifestation of a mental disturbance as a physical disorder or disease: [as adj.] conversion disorders.

- [LOGIC] the transposition of the subject and predicate of a proposition according to certain rules to form a new proposition by inference.

2 [FOOTBALL] the act of scoring an extra point or points after having scored a touchdown.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the act of gaining a first down.

3 [LAW] the action of wrongfully dealing with goods in a manner inconsistent with the owner's rights: he was found guilty of the fraudulent conversion of clients' monies.

4 [PHYSICS] the change in a quantity's numerical value as a result of using a different unit of measurement.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'turning of sinners to God'): via Old French from Latin conversio(n-), from convers- 'turned around', from the verb convertere (see CONVERT).

Linked entries:

CONVERT ■

con·ver·sion fac·tor n. 1 an arithmetical multiplier for converting a quantity expressed in one set of units into an equivalent expressed in another.

2 [ECONOMICS] the manufacturing cost of a product relative to the cost of raw materials.

con·ver·sion van n. a van in which the cargo space has been converted to a special purpose, such as a living space.

con·vert v. 1 [trans.] cause to change in form, character, or function: production processes that converted raw material into useful forms.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] change or be able to change from one form to another: the seating converts to a double or two single beds.

- [intrans.] change one's religious faith or other beliefs: at sixteen he converted to Catholicism.

- persuade (someone) to do this: he was converted in his later years to the socialist cause.

- change (money, stocks, or units in which a quantity is expressed) into others of a different kind: the figures have been converted at $0.545 to the Dutch guilder.

- adapt (a building) to make it suitable for a new purpose: the space can be easily converted into a home office | [as adj.] (converted) they lived in a converted chicken house.

- [LOGIC] transpose the subject and predicate of (a proposition) according to certain rules to form a new proposition by inference.

2 [trans.] score from (a penalty kick, pass, or other opportunity) in a sport or game.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] [FOOTBALL] score an extra point or points after having scored a touchdown by kicking a goal (one point) or running another play into the end zone (two points).

- [intrans.] [FOOTBALL] advance the ball far enough during a down to earn a first down: the Oilers converted on over half of their third downs.

■ n. a person who has been persuaded to change their religious faith or other beliefs: he is a recent convert to the church.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'turn around, send in a different direction'): from Old French convertir, based on Latin convertere 'turn around', from con- 'altogether' + vertere 'turn'.

con·ver·ted rice n. TRADEMARK white rice prepared from brown rice that has been soaked, steamed under pressure, and then dried and milled.

con·vert·er (also con·ver·tor) n. a person or thing that converts something: the converter of a building to domestic use.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a device for altering the nature of an electric current or signal, esp. from AC to DC or vice versa, or from analog to digital or vice versa.

- a retort used in steelmaking.

- short for CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

- [COMPUTING] a program that converts data from one format to another.

- a camera lens that changes the focal length of another lens by a set amount: a camera fitted with a x2 converter.

Linked entries:

CATALYTIC CONVERTER ■

con·vert·i·ble adj. able to be changed in form, function, or character: a living room that is miraculously convertible into a bedroom.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a car) having a folding or detachable roof: his white convertible Mercedes.

- (of currency) able to be converted into other forms, esp. into gold or U.S. dollars.

- (of a bond or stock) able to be converted into ordinary or preference shares.

- [LOGIC] (of terms) synonymous.

■ n. 1 a car with a folding or detachable roof.

2 (usu. convertibles) a convertible security.

<DERIVATIVES> con·vert·i·bil·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'interchangeable'): from Old French, from Latin convertibilis, from convertere 'turn around' (see CONVERT).

Linked entries:

CONVERT ■

con·vex adj. 1 having an outline or surface curved like the exterior of a circle or sphere. Compare with CONCAVE.

2 (of a polygon) having only interior angles measuring less than 180°.

<DERIVATIVES> con·vex·i·ty n. con·vex·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin convexus 'vaulted, arched'.

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CONCAVE ■

con·vex·o-con·cave adj. (of a lens) convex on one side and concave on the other and thickest in the center.

con·vex·o-con·vex adj. another term for BICONVEX.

Linked entries:

BICONVEX ■

con·vey v. [trans.] transport or carry to a place: pipes were laid to convey water to the house.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make (an idea, impression, or feeling) known or understandable to someone: the real virtues and diversity of America had never been conveyed in the movies; | it's impossible to convey how lost I felt.

- communicate (a message or information): Mr. Harvey and his daughter have asked me to convey their very kind regards.

- [LAW] transfer the title to (property).

<DERIVATIVES> con·vey·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'escort'; compare with CONVOY): from Old French conveier, from medieval Latin conviare, from con- 'together' + Latin via 'way'.

Linked entries:

CONVOY ■

con·vey·ance n. 1 the action or process of transporting someone or something from one place to another: he was building vessels for the conveyance of live cod.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a means of transportation; a vehicle: adventurers attempt the trail using all manner of conveyances, including mountain bikes and motorcycles.

- the action of making an idea, feeling, or impression known or understandable to someone: art's conveyance of meaning is complicated.

2 [LAW] the legal process of transferring property from one owner to another: protective measures that might be taken before the conveyance is concluded.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a legal document effecting such a process.

con·vey·anc·ing n. the branch of law concerned with the preparation of documents for the transferring of property.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of preparing documents for the transfer of property.

<DERIVATIVES> con·vey·anc·er n.

con·vey·or (also con·vey·er) n. a person or thing that transports or communicates something: a conveyor of information.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a conveyor belt.

con·vey·or belt n. a continuous moving band of fabric, rubber, or metal used for moving objects from one place to another.

con·vict v. [trans.] (often be convicted) declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law: her former boyfriend was convicted of assaulting her | [as adj.] (convicted) a convicted murderer.

■ n. a person found guilty of a criminal offense and serving a sentence of imprisonment.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin convict- 'demonstrated, refuted, convicted', from the verb convincere (see CONVINCE). The noun is from obsolete convict 'convicted'.

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CONVINCE ■

con·vic·tion n. 1 a formal declaration that someone is guilty of a criminal offense, made by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law: she had a previous conviction for a similar offense.

2 a firmly held belief or opinion: his conviction that the death was no accident; she takes pride in stating her political convictions. See note at OPINION.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the quality of showing that one is firmly convinced of what one believes or says: his voice lacked conviction.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin convictio(n-), from the verb convincere (see CONVINCE).

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CONVINCE ■

con·vince v. [trans.] cause (someone) to believe firmly in the truth of something: Robert's expression had obviously convinced her of his innocence; | you couldn't convince him that a floppy disk was as good as a manuscript.
<SPECIAL USAGE> persuade (someone) to do something: she convinced my father to branch out on his own.

<DERIVATIVES> con·vinc·er n. con·vin·ci·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'overcome, defeat in argument'): from Latin convincere, from con- 'with' + vincere 'conquer'. Compare with CONVICT.

<USAGE>
Although it is common to see convince and persuade used interchangeably, there are distinctions in meaning that careful writers and speakers try to preserve. Convince derives from a Latin word meaning 'conquer, overcome.' Persuade derives from a Latin word meaning 'advise, make appealing, sweeten.' One can convince or persuade someone with facts or arguments, but, in general, convincing is limited to the mind, while persuasion results in action (just as dissuasion results in nonaction): the prime minister convinced the council that delay was pointless; the senator persuaded her colleagues to pass the legislation.

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CONVICT ■

con·vinced adj. completely certain about something: she was not entirely convinced of the soundness of his motives; | I am convinced the war will be over in a matter of months.
<SPECIAL USAGE> firm in one's belief, esp. with regard to a particular cause or issue: a convinced pacifist.

con·vinc·ing adj. capable of causing someone to believe that something is true or real: there is no convincing evidence that advertising influences total alcohol consumption; to make the detective's character convincing, she did extensive research. See note at BELIEVABLE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a victory or a winner) leaving no margin of doubt; clear: the team cruised to a convincing win.

<DERIVATIVES> con·vinc·ing·ly adv.

con·viv·i·al adj. (of an atmosphere or event) friendly, lively, and enjoyable.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) cheerful and friendly; jovial.

<DERIVATIVES> con·viv·i·al·i·ty n. con·viv·i·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'fit for a feast, festive'): from Latin convivialis, from convivium 'a feast', from con- 'with' + vivere 'live'.

con·vo·ca·tion n. 1 a large formal assembly of people.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a formal ceremony at a college or university, as for the conferring of awards.

2 the action of calling people together for a large formal assembly.

<DERIVATIVES> con·vo·ca·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin convocatio(n-), from the verb convocare (see CONVOKE).

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CONVOKE ■

con·voke v. [trans.] FORMAL call together or summon (an assembly or meeting): she sent messages convoking a Council of Ministers.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin convocare, from con- 'together' + vocare 'call'.

con·vo·lute adj. [BIOLOGY] rolled longitudinally upon itself, as a leaf in the bud.

con·vo·lut·ed adj. (esp. of an argument, story, or sentence) extremely complex and difficult to follow: its convoluted narrative encompasses all manner of digressions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY TECHNICAL intricately folded, twisted, or coiled: walnuts come in hard and convoluted shells.

<DERIVATIVES> con·vo·lut·ed·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: past participle of convolute, from Latin convolutus, past participle of convolvere 'roll together, intertwine' (see CONVOLVE).

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CONVOLVE ■

con·vo·lu·tion n. 1 (often convolutions) a coil or twist, esp. one of many: crosses adorned with elaborate convolutions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a thing that is complex and difficult to follow: the convolutions of farm policy.

- a sinuous fold in the surface of the brain.

- the state of being coiled or twisted, or the process of becoming so: the flexibility of the polymer chain allows extensive convolution.

2 (also convolution integral) [MATHEMATICS] a function derived from two given functions by integration that expresses how the shape of one is modified by the other.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a method of determination of the sum of two random variables by integration or summation.

<DERIVATIVES> con·vo·lu·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin convolutio(n-), from convolvere 'roll together' (see CONVOLVE).

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CONVOLVE ■

con·volve v. [trans.] RARE roll or coil together; entwine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MATHEMATICS] combine (one function or series) with another by forming their convolution.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'enclose in folds'): from Latin convolvere 'roll together', from con- 'together' + volvere 'roll'.

con·vol·vu·lus n. (pl. -lus·es) a twining plant with trumpet-shaped flowers, some kinds of which are invasive weeds (see also BINDWEED), while others, esp. morning glories, are cultivated for their bright flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Convolvulus, family Convolvulaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: Latin, literally 'bindweed', from convolvere 'roll together' (see CONVOLVE).

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BINDWEED ■

CONVOLVE ■

con·voy n. a group of ships or vehicles traveling together, typically accompanied by armed troops, warships, or other vehicles for protection.

■ v. [trans.] (of a warship or armed troops) accompany (a group of ships or vehicles) for protection.

<PHRASES> in convoy (of traveling vehicles) as a group; together: the army trucks had passed through in convoy the previous evening.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally Scots, as a verb in the senses 'convey', 'conduct', and 'act as escort'): from French convoyer, from medieval Latin conviare (see CONVEY).

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CONVEY ■

con·vul·sant adj. (chiefly of drugs) producing sudden and involuntary muscle contractions.

■ n. a convulsant drug.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, from convulser, from Latin convuls- 'pulled violently, wrenched', from the verb convellere (see CONVULSE).

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CONVULSE ■

con·vulse v. [intrans.] (of a person) suffer violent involuntary contraction of the muscles, producing contortion of the body or limbs: she convulsed, collapsing to the floor with the pain.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] (usu. be convulsed) (of an emotion, laughter, or physical stimulus) cause (someone) to make sudden, violent, uncontrollable movements: Carlos was convulsed by a second bout of sneezing; she rocked backward and forward, convulsed with helpless mirth.

- [trans.] FIGURATIVE throw (a country) into violent social or political upheaval: a wave of mass strikes convulsed the Ruhr, Berlin, and central Germany.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin convuls- 'pulled violently, wrenched', from the verb convellere, from con- 'together' + vellere 'to pull'.

con·vul·sion n. (often convulsions) a sudden, violent, irregular movement of a limb or of the body, caused by involuntary contraction of muscles and associated esp. with brain disorders such as epilepsy, the presence of certain toxins or other agents in the blood, or fever in children.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (convulsions) uncontrollable laughter: the audience collapsed in convulsions.

- an earthquake or other violent or major movement of the earth's crust: the violent convulsions of tectonic plates.

- FIGURATIVE a violent social or political upheaval: the convulsions of 1939-45.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally in the sense 'cramp, spasm'): from Latin convulsio(n-), from the verb convellere (see CONVULSE).

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CONVULSE ■

con·vul·sive adj. producing or consisting of convulsions: a convulsive disease; she gave a convulsive sob.

<DERIVATIVES> con·vul·sive·ly adv.

Con·way a city in central Arkansas; pop. 43,167.

co·ny n. (pl. -nies) variant spelling of CONEY.

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CONEY ■

coo 1 v. (coos, cooed) [intrans.] (of a pigeon or dove) make a soft murmuring sound: ringdoves cooed among the branches.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a baby) make a soft murmuring sound similar to this, expressing contentment: he gurgled and cooed in her arms.

- (of a person) speak in a soft gentle voice, typically to express affection: I cruised the room, cooing at toddlers; | “I knew I could count on you,” she cooed.

■ n. [in sing.] a soft murmuring sound made by a dove or pigeon.

<PHRASES> bill and coo see BILL^2 .

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: imitative.

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BILL ■

coo 2 exclam. BRIT., INFORMAL used to express surprise: “Coo, ain't it high!” Mary squeaked.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: imitative.

co-oc·cur v. [intrans.] occur together or simultaneously.

<DERIVATIVES> co-oc·cur·rence n.

Cook 1 Captain James (1728-79), English explorer. On his first expedition to the Pacific 1768-71, he charted the coasts of New Zealand and New Guinea and explored the east coast of Australia, claiming it for Britain. He made two more voyages to the Pacific before being killed in a skirmish with the Hawaiians.

Cook 2 Thomas (1808-92), English founder of the travel agency, Thomas Cook. In 1841, he organized the first publicly advertised excursion train in England; the success of this venture led him to organize further excursions both in Britain and abroad, laying the foundations for the tourist and travel-agent industry.

Cook, Mount the highest peak in New Zealand, in the Southern Alps on South Island, that rises to a height of 12,349 feet (3,764 m). It is named after Captain James Cook. Maori name AORANGI.

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AORANGI ■

cook v. 1 [trans.] prepare (food, a dish, or a meal) by combining and heating the ingredients in various ways: shall I cook dinner tonight? | [intrans.] I told you I could cook | [as adj.] (cooked) a cooked breakfast.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of food) be heated so that the condition required for eating is reached: while the rice is cooking, add the saffron to the stock.

- (cook something down) heat food and cause it to thicken and reduce in volume: cooking down the chutney can take up to 45 minutes.

- [intrans.] (cook down) (of food being cooked) be reduced in volume in this way.

- (be cooking) INFORMAL be happening or planned: what's cooking on the alternative fuels front?

2 [trans.] INFORMAL alter dishonestly; falsify: a narcotics team who cooked the evidence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (be cooked) be in an inescapably bad situation: if I can't talk to him, I'm cooked.

3 [intrans.] INFORMAL perform or proceed vigorously or well: the band used to get up on the bandstand and really cook.

■ n. [often with adj.] a person who prepares and cooks food, esp. as a job or in a specified way: a short order cook; I'm a good cook.

<PHRASES>
□ cook the books INFORMAL alter facts or figures dishonestly or illegally.

□ cook someone's goose INFORMAL cause someone's downfall: I've got enough on you to cook your goose.

□ too many cooks spoil the broth PROVERB if too many people are involved in a task, it will not be done well.

<PHRASAL VERB> cook something up concoct a story, excuse, or plan, esp. an ingenious or devious one.

<DERIVATIVES> cook·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English (noun), from popular Latin cocus, from Latin coquus.

cook·book n. a book containing recipes and other information about the preparation and cooking of food.

Cook Coun·ty a county in northeastern Illinois that includes Chicago and most of its closer suburbs; pop. 5,105,067.

Cooke 1 Alastair (1908-2004), British journalist and broadcaster; in the U.S. from 1937. His BBC broadcasts of "Letter from America" began in 1946 and continued until shortly before his death. He hosted "Omnibus" on CBS 1952-60 and "Masterpiece Theater" on PBS 1971-92.

Cooke 2 Jay (1821-1905), U.S. financier. He was the founder of Jay Cooke and Co., a leading Philadelphia bank, in 1861; his sale of bonds helped to finance the Civil War, and his financing of western railroads precipitated the Panic of 1873.

cook·er n. CHIEFLY BRIT. an appliance used for cooking food.

cook·er·y n. (pl. -er·ies) 1 the practice or skill of preparing and cooking food.

2 a place in which food is cooked; a kitchen.

cook·house n. 1 a kitchen or dining hall in a military camp.

2 an outdoor kitchen in a warm country.

cook·ie n. (pl. -ies) 1 a small sweet cake, typically round, flat, and crisp.

2 INFORMAL a person of a specified kind: a tough cookie with one eye on her bank account.

3 [COMPUTING] a packet of data sent by an Internet server to a browser, which is returned by the browser each time it subsequently accesses the same server, used to identify the user or track their access to the server.

<PHRASES> that's the way the cookie crumbles INFORMAL that's how things turn out (often used of an undesirable but unalterable situation).

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Dutch koekje 'little cake', diminutive of koek.

cook·ie cut·ter n. a device with sharp edges for cutting cookie dough into a particular shape.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] denoting something mass-produced or lacking any distinguishing characteristics: a cookie-cutter apartment in a high-rise building.

cook·ie jar n. a jar to hold cookies.

<PHRASES> with one's hand in the cookie jar engaged in surreptitious theft from one's employer: they got caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

cook·ie sheet n. a flat metal tray on which cookies are baked.

cook·ing n. the process of preparing food by heating it: frozen food must be fully defrosted before cooking.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the practice or skill of preparing food: he developed an interest in cooking.

- food that has been prepared in a particular way: authentic Italian cooking.

- [as adj.] suitable for or used in cooking: cooking oil.

Cook In·let an inlet of the Gulf of Alaska, west of the Kenai Peninsula in southern Alaska. Anchorage lies at its northern end.

Cook Is·lands a group of 15 islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean between Tonga and French Polynesia that have the status of a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand; pop. 18,000; capital, Avarua, on Rarotonga.

<ORIGIN> named after Captain J. Cook (see COOK^1 ), who visited them in 1773.

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COOK ■

cook·out n. a party or gathering where a meal is cooked and eaten outdoors.

Cook·son Dame Catherine (Anne) (1906-98), English writer. A prolific author of light romantic fiction, she is best known for the Mary Ann series (1956-67), the Mallen trilogy (1973-74), and the Tilly Trotter series (1980-82).

Cook's tour n. INFORMAL a rapid tour of many places: FIGURATIVE he then took me on a Cook's tour of his neuroscientific theories.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from the name of the travel agent Thomas Cook (see COOK^2 ).

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COOK ■

Cook Strait the strait that separates North and South islands of New Zealand. It was named after Captain James Cook, who visited it in 1770.

cook·top n. a cooking unit, usually with hot plates or burners, built into or fixed on the top of a cabinet or other surface.

cook·ware n. pots, pans, or dishes for cooking food: cast-iron cookware.

cool adj. 1 of or at a fairly low temperature: it'll be a cool afternoon; the wind kept them cool.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- soothing or refreshing because of its low temperature: a cool drink in the leafy shade | FIGURATIVE the bathroom was all glass and cool, muted blues.

- (esp. of clothing) keeping one from becoming too hot: wear your cool, comfortable shirts.

- showing no friendliness toward a person or enthusiasm for an idea or project: he gave a cool reception to the suggestion for a research center.

- free from excitement or anxiety: he prided himself on keeping a cool head; she seems cool, calm, and collected.

- calmly audacious: such an expensive strategy requires cool nerves.

- (of jazz, esp. modern jazz) restrained and relaxed.

2 INFORMAL fashionably attractive or impressive: I always wore sunglasses to look cool.
<SPECIAL USAGE> excellent: [as exclam.] a computer you didn't even have to plug in. Cool!

3 (a cool ) INFORMAL used to emphasize a specified quantity or amount, esp. of money: a cool $15,000 to buy the franchise.

■ n. 1 (the cool) a fairly low temperature: the cool of the night air.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a time or place at which the temperature is pleasantly low: the cool of the evening.

- calmness; composure: he recovered his cool and then started laughing at us.

2 the quality of being fashionably attractive or impressive: all the cool of high fashion.

■ v. become or cause to become less hot: [intrans.] we dived into the river to cool off | FIGURATIVE his feelings for her took a long time to cool | [trans.] cool the pastry for five minutes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- become or cause to become calm or less excited: [intrans.] after I'd cooled off, I realized I was being irrational | [trans.] George was trying to cool him down.

- [usu. in imperative] (cool it) INFORMAL behave in a less excitable manner: “Cool it and tell me why you're so ecstatic.”

<PHRASES>
□ cool down recover from strenuous physical exertion by doing gentle stretches and exercises; warm down.

□ cool one's heels be kept waiting.

□ keep (or lose) one's cool INFORMAL maintain (or fail to maintain) a calm and controlled attitude.

□ play it cool see PLAY.

<DERIVATIVES> cooled adj. a water-cooled engine. cool·ish adj. cool·ly adv. cool·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English (noun), (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch koel, also to COLD.

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PLAY ■

COLD ■

coo·la·bah n. variant spelling of COOLIBAH.

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COOLIBAH ■

cool·ant n. a liquid or gas that is used to remove heat from something.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from COOL, on the pattern of lubricant.

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COOL ■

cool·er n. 1 a device or container for keeping things cool, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an insulated container for keeping food and drink cool.

- a refrigerated room.

2 a tall drink, esp. a mixture of wine, fruit juice, and soda water.

3 (the cooler) INFORMAL prison or a prison cell.

Coo·ley's a·ne·mi·a n. another term for THALASSEMIA.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: named after Thomas B. Cooley (1871-1945), American pediatrician.

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THALASSEMIA ■

cool·head·ed adj. not easily worried or excited.

coo·li·bah (also coo·la·bah) n. a northern Australian gum tree that typically grows near watercourses and yields strong, hard timber.
<INFO>  Eucalyptus microtheca, family Myrtaceae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Kamilaroi (and related languages) gulubaa.

Cool·idge (John) Calvin (1872-1933), 30th president of the U.S. 1923-29. A Republican, he served as Massachusetts's lieutenant governor 1916-18 and governor 1919-20. He became the U.S. vice president in 1921, succeeding to the presidency upon the death of President Harding in 1923. Elected in 1924 to serve a full term, Coolidge was committed to reducing income taxes and the national debt, and was noted for his policy of noninterference in foreign affairs, which culminated in the Kellogg Pact in 1928.

coo·lie n. (pl. -lies) OFFENSIVE an unskilled native laborer in India, China, and some other Asian countries.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Hindi and Telugu 'day-laborer', probably associated with Urdu 'slave'.

coo·lie hat n. a broad conical straw hat as worn by laborers in some Asian countries.

cool·ing-off pe·ri·od n. an interval during which two people or groups who are in disagreement can try to settle their differences before taking further action.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an interval after a sales contract is agreed upon during which the purchaser can decide to cancel without loss.

cool·ing tow·er n. a tall, open-topped, cylindrical concrete tower, used for cooling water or condensing steam from an industrial process.

Cool·Max n. TRADEMARK a polyester fabric that draws perspiration along its fibers away from the skin, used chiefly in sportswear.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: an invented name, probably from cool + max(imum).

coolth n. CHIEFLY HUMOROUS 1 pleasantly low temperature: the coolth of the evening.

2 articles, activities, or people perceived as fashionable: the pinnacle of 1960s coolth.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (but rare before the 20th cent.): from COOL + -TH^2 .

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COOL ■

-TH ■

coombe (also coomb) n. variant spelling of COMBE.

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COMBE ■

coon n. 1 short for RACCOON.

2 INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE a black person. <ORIGIN> slang use of sense 1, from an earlier sense ‘(sly) fellow’.

<PHRASES> a coon's age INFORMAL a long time: I haven't seen you in a coon's age!

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RACCOON ■

coon·can n. a card game for two players, originally from Mexico, similar to rummy.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: probably from Spanish con quién 'with whom?'

coon·hound n. a dog of an American breed, used to hunt raccoons. There are several breeds, including the black and tan coonhound and the bluetick coonhound.

Coon Rap·ids a city in southeastern Minnesota, on the Mississippi River, north of Minneapolis; pop. 61,607.

coon·skin n. the pelt of a raccoon: a coonskin hat.

coop n. a cage or pen for confining poultry: a chicken coop.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be cooped up) confine in a small space: being cooped up indoors all day makes him fidgety.
<SPECIAL USAGE> put or keep (a fowl) in a cage or pen.

<PHRASES> fly the coop see FLY^1 .

<ORIGIN> Middle English cowpe; related to Dutch kuip 'vat' and German Kufe 'cask', based on Latin cupa. Compare with COOPER.

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FLY ■

COOPER ■

co-op n. INFORMAL a cooperative society, business, or enterprise.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: abbreviation.

Coop·er 1 Gary (1901-61), U.S. actor; born Frank James Cooper. He is noted for his Academy-Award-winning performances in Sergeant York (1941) and High Noon (1952). Other notable movies: The Virginian (1929) and For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943).

Coop·er 2 James Fenimore (1789-1851), U.S. novelist. He is renowned for his tales of Native Americans and frontier life, in particular the Leatherstocking talesThe Pioneers (1823), The Last of the Mohicans (1826), and The Prairie (1827).

Coo·per 3 Leon N., see BARDEEN.

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BARDEEN ■

coop·er n. a maker or repairer of casks and barrels.

■ v. [trans.] make or repair (a cask or barrel).

<ORIGIN> Middle English cowper, from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German , from 'tub, vat', based on Latin cupa. Compare with COOP.

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COOP ■

coop·er·age n. a cooper's business or premises.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the making of barrels and casks.

co·op·er·ate (also co-op·er·ate) v. [intrans.] act jointly; work toward the same end: the leaders promised to cooperate in ending the civil war.
<SPECIAL USAGE> assist someone or comply with their requests: I was the villain for not cooperating with the FBI.

<DERIVATIVES> co·op·er·ant n. co·op·er·a·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin cooperat- 'worked together', from the verb cooperari, from co- 'together' + operari 'to work'.

co·op·er·a·tion (also co-op·er·a·tion) n. the process of working together to the same end: they worked in close cooperation with the AAA.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- assistance, esp. by ready compliance with requests: we would like to ask for your cooperation in the survey.

- [ECONOMICS] the formation and operation of cooperatives.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin cooperatio(n-), from the verb cooperari (see COOPERATE); later reinforced by French coopération.

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COOPERATE ■

co·op·er·a·tive (also co-op·er·a·tive) adj. involving mutual assistance in working toward a common goal: every member has clearly defined tasks in a cooperative enterprise.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- willing to be of assistance: they have been extremely considerate, polite, and cooperative.

- (of a farm, business, etc.) owned and run jointly by its members, with profits or benefits shared among them.

■ n. a farm, business, or other organization that is owned and run jointly by its members, who share the profits or benefits.

<DERIVATIVES> co·op·er·a·tive·ly adv. co·op·er·a·tive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from late Latin cooperativus, from Latin cooperat- 'worked together', from the verb cooperari (see COOPERATE).

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COOPERATE ■

Co·op·er·a·tive Re·pub·lic of Guy·a·na official name for GUYANA.

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GUYANA ■

Coo·per pair n. [PHYSICS] a loosely bound pair of electrons with opposite spins and moving with the same speed in opposite directions, held to be responsible for the phenomenon of superconductivity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar bound pair of atoms in a superfluid.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: named after Leon N. Cooper (born 1930), American physicist.

Coo·per's hawk n. a North American bird of prey resembling but smaller than the goshawk.
<INFO>  Accipiter cooperii, family Accipitridae.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after William Cooper (1798-1864), American naturalist.

Coo·pers·town a resort village in central New York, on Otsego Lake, site of the Baseball Hall of Fame; pop. 2,180.

coop·e·ry n. (pl. -ries) another term for COOPERAGE.

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COOPERAGE ■

co·op·e·ti·tion n. collaboration between business competitors, in the hope of mutually beneficial results.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: blend of cooperative and competition.

co-opt v. [trans.] (often be co-opted) appoint to membership of a committee or other body by invitation of the existing members.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- divert to or use in a role different from the usual or original one: social scientists were co-opted to work with the development agencies.

- adopt (an idea or policy) for one's own use: the green parties have had most of their ideas co-opted by bigger parties.

<DERIVATIVES> co-op·ta·tion n. co-op·tion n. co-op·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin cooptare, from co- 'together' + optare 'choose'.

co·or·di·nate (also co-or·di·nate) v. [trans.] 1 bring the different elements of (a complex activity or organization) into a relationship that will ensure efficiency or harmony: he had responsibility for coordinating Chicago's transportation services.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] negotiate with others in order to work together effectively: you will coordinate with consultants and other departments on a variety of projects.

- [intrans.] match or harmonize attractively: the stud fastenings are colored to coordinate with the shirt | [as adj.] (coordinating) a variety of coordinating colors.

2 [CHEMISTRY] form a coordinate bond to (an atom or molecule): the sodium atom is coordinated to two oxygen atoms.

■ adj. 1 equal in rank or importance: cross references in the catalog link subjects that may be coordinate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GRAMMAR] (of parts of a compound sentence) equal in rank and fulfilling identical functions.

2 [CHEMISTRY] denoting a type of covalent bond in which one atom provides both the shared electrons.

■ n. 1 [MATHEMATICS] each of a group of numbers used to indicate the position of a point, line, or plane.

2 (coordinates) matching items of clothing.

<DERIVATIVES> co·or·di·na·tive adj. co·or·di·na·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the senses 'of the same rank' and 'place in the same rank'): from CO- 'together' + Latin ordinare (from ordo 'order'), on the pattern of subordinate.

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CO- ■

Co·or·di·nat·ed U·ni·ver·sal Time (abbr.: UTC) another term for GREENWICH MEAN TIME.

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GREENWICH MEAN TIME ■

co·or·di·nat·ing con·junc·tion n. a conjunction placed between words, phrases, clauses, or sentences of equal rank, e.g., and, but, or. Contrasted with SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION.

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SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION ■

co·or·di·na·tion n. 1 the process or state of coordinating or being coordinated.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the organization of the different elements of a complex body or activity so as to enable them to work together effectively: both countries agreed to intensify efforts at economic policy coordination.

- cooperative effort resulting in an effective relationship: action groups work in coordination with local groups to end rain forest destruction.

- the ability to use different parts of the body together smoothly and efficiently: changing from one foot position to another requires coordination and balance.

2 [CHEMISTRY] the linking of atoms by coordinate bonds.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'placing in the same rank'): from French or from late Latin coordinatio(n-), based on Latin ordo, ordin- 'order'.

co·or·di·na·tion num·ber n. [CHEMISTRY] the number of atoms or ions immediately surrounding a central atom in a complex or crystal.

coot n. 1 (pl. same) an aquatic bird of the rail family, with blackish plumage, lobed feet, and a bill that extends back onto the forehead as a horny shield.
<INFO>  Genus Fulica, family Rallidae: several species, in particular the widespread F. atra, which has a white bill and frontal shield.

2 INFORMAL a foolish or eccentric person, typically an old man.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably of Dutch or Low German origin and related to Dutch koet.

coot·er n. a North American river turtle with a dull brown shell and typically having yellow stripes on the head.
<INFO>  Genus Pseudemys, family Emydidae: several species, in particular P. concinna, some races of which are known as sliders.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

coot·ie n. INFORMAL a body louse.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a children's term for an imaginary germ or repellent quality transmitted by bnoxious or slovenly people.

<ORIGIN> World War I: perhaps from Malay kutu, denoting a parasitic biting insect.

co-own v. [trans.] own (something) jointly.

<DERIVATIVES> co-own·er n. co-own·er·ship n.

cop 1 INFORMAL n. a police officer.

■ v. (copped, cop·ping) [trans.] 1 catch or arrest (an offender): he was copped for speeding.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- incur (something unwelcome): the team's captain copped most of the blame.

- obtain (an illegal drug): he copped some hash for me.

- steal: he watched her cop a pair of earrings and then nabbed her at the door.

- receive or attain (something welcome): she copped an award for her role in the film.

2 strike (an attitude or pose): I copped an attitudeI acted real tough.

<PHRASES>
□ cop a feel INFORMAL fondle someone sexually, esp. in a surreptitious way or without their permission.

□ cop hold of [usu. in imperative] BRIT. take hold of: cop hold of the suitcase, I'm off.

□ cop a plea engage in plea bargaining.

□ it's a fair cop see FAIR^1 .

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  cop out avoid doing something that one ought to do: he copped out at the last moment.

□  cop to accept or admit to: there are a lot of people who don't cop to their past.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (as a verb): perhaps from obsolete cap 'arrest', from Old French caper 'seize', from Latin capere. The noun is from COPPER^2 .

Linked entries:

FAIR ■

COPPER ■

cop 2 n. a conical or cylindrical roll of thread wound onto a spindle.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: possibly from Old English cop 'summit, top'.

Co·pa·ca·ba·na Beach a resort on the Atlantic coast of Brazil near Rio de Janeiro.

co·pa·cet·ic (also co·pa·set·ic) adj. INFORMAL in excellent order.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: of unknown origin.

co·pal n. resin from any of a number of tropical trees, used to make varnish.
<INFO>  The resin is obtained from trees in the families Leguminosae (genera Guibourtia, Copaifera, and Trachylobium) and Araucariaceae (genus Agathis).

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via Spanish from Nahuatl copalli 'incense'.

Co·pán an ancient Mayan city, the ruins of which are in western Honduras near the Guatemalan frontier.

co·part·ner n. a partner or associate, esp. an equal partner in a business.

<DERIVATIVES> co·part·ner·ship n.

co·pay n. short for COPAYMENT.

Linked entries:

COPAYMENT ■

co·pay·ment n. (also co·pay) (of insurance policies) a payment owed by the person insured at the time a covered service is rendered, covering part of the cost of the service.

COPD [MEDICINE] abbr. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, involving constriction of the airways and difficulty or discomfort in breathing.

cope 1 v. [intrans.] (of a person) deal effectively with something difficult: his ability to cope with stress; it all got too much for me and I couldn't cope.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a machine or system) have the capacity to deal successfully with: the roads are barely adequate to cope with the present traffic.

<DERIVATIVES> cop·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'meet in battle, come to blows'): from Old French coper, colper, from cop, colp 'a blow', via Latin from Greek kolaphos 'blow with the fist'.

cope 2 n. a long, loose cloak worn by a priest or bishop on ceremonial occasions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> TECHNICAL or POETIC/LITERARY a thing resembling or likened to a cloak: the bay and the square were a seamless cope.

■ v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (coped) (in building) cover (a joint or structure) with a coping.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a long outdoor cloak): from medieval Latin capa, variant of late Latin cappa (see CAP and CAPE^1 ).

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CAP ■

CAPE ■

co·peck n. chiefly British variant spelling of KOPEK.

Linked entries:

KOPEK ■

Co·pen·ha·gen the capital and chief port of Denmark, a city that occupies the eastern part of Zealand and northern part of the island of Amager; pop. 466,700. Danish name KØBENHAVN.

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KØBENHAVN ■

Co·pep·o·da [ZOOLOGY] a large class of small aquatic crustaceans, many of which occur in plankton and some of which are parasitic on larger aquatic animals.

<DERIVATIVES> co·pe·pod n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek 'handle, oar' + pous, pod- 'foot' (because of its paddlelike feet).

Co·per·ni·can sys·tem (also Copernican theory) n. [ASTRONOMY] the theory that the sun is the center of the solar system, with the planets (including the earth) orbiting around it. Compare with PTOLEMAIC SYSTEM.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: named after COPERNICUS.

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PTOLEMAIC SYSTEM ■

COPERNICUS ■

Co·per·ni·cus Nicolaus (1473-1543), Polish astronomer; Latinized name of Mikoaj Kopernik. He proposed a model of the solar system in which the planets orbit in perfect circles around the sun; his work ultimately led to rejection of the established geocentric cosmology.

cope·stone n. a flat stone forming part of a coping.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a finishing touch or crowning achievement.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from COPE^2 + STONE.

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COPE ■

STONE ■

cop·i·a·ble adj. able to be copied, esp. legitimately photocopied.

cop·i·er n. a machine that makes exact copies of something, esp. documents, video or audio recordings, or software.

co·pi·lot n. a second pilot in an aircraft.

■ v. [trans.] act as the copilot of (an aircraft).

cop·ing n. the top, typically sloping, course of a brick or stone wall.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from the verb COPE^2 , originally meaning 'dress in a cope', hence 'to cover'.

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COPE ■

cop·ing saw n. a saw with a very narrow blade stretched across a U-shaped frame, used for cutting curves in wood.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: coping from COPE^2 , used to describe likeness to a vault, arch, canopy, etc., based on Latin cappa 'cap or cape'.

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COPE ■

cop·ing stone n. chiefly British term for COPESTONE.

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COPESTONE ■

co·pi·ous adj. abundant in supply or quantity: she took copious notes. See note at PREVALENT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC profuse in speech or ideas: I had been a little too copious in talking of my country.

<DERIVATIVES> co·pi·ous·ly adv. co·pi·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French copieux or Latin copiosus, from copia 'plenty'.

co·pla·nar adj. [GEOMETRY] in the same plane.

<DERIVATIVES> co·pla·nar·i·ty n.

Cop·land Aaron (1900-90), U.S. composer, pianist, and conductor. He established a distinctive American style in his compositions, borrowing from jazz, folk, and other traditional music. Notable works: Music for the Theater (1925), Appalachian Spring (1944), and Fanfare for the Common Man (1942).

Cop·ley John Singleton (1738-1815), U.S. painter. He is noted for his portraits and for paintings such as The Death of Chatham (1779-80), one of the first large-scale paintings of contemporary events.

co·pol·y·mer n. [CHEMISTRY] a polymer made by reaction of two different monomers, with units of more than one kind.

co·pol·y·mer·ize v. [trans.] [CHEMISTRY] polymerize together to form a copolymer.

<DERIVATIVES> co·pol·y·mer·i·za·tion n.

cop-out n. INFORMAL an instance of avoiding a commitment or responsibility: being ‘average’ is the lazy person's cop-out.

cop·per 1 n. 1 a red-brown metal, the chemical element of atomic number 29. (Symbol: Cu)

Copper was the earliest metal to be used by humans, first by itself and then later alloyed with tin to form bronze. A ductile, easily worked metal, it is a very good conductor of heat and electricity and is used esp. for electrical wiring.

2 DATED a copper coin, esp. a penny: you could hire a raft for a few coppers.

3 a reddish-brown color like that of copper.

4 [with adj.] a small butterfly of North America and Eurasia. The upper surface of its wings is typically bright reddish-orange or purple.
<INFO>  Genus Lycaena, family Lycaenidae: numerous species, including the American copper (L. phlaeas) of the eastern U.S. and arctic North America.

■ v. [trans.] cover or coat (something) with copper.

<ORIGIN> Old English copor, coper (related to Dutch koper and German Kupfer), based on late Latin cuprum, from Latin cyprium aes 'Cyprus metal' (so named because Cyprus was the chief source).

cop·per 2 n. INFORMAL a police officer.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from COP^1 + -ER^1 .

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COP ■

-ER ■

cop·per·as n. green crystals of hydrated ferrous sulfate, esp. as an industrial product.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English coperose, from Old French couperose, from medieval Latin cuperosa, literally 'flower of copper', from late Latin cuprum (see COPPER^1 ) + rosa 'rose', translating Greek khalkanthon.

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COPPER ■

cop·per beech n. a variety of European beech tree with purplish-brown leaves.

Cop·per·belt a mining region in central Zambia that has rich deposits of copper, cobalt, and uranium; chief town, Ndola.

cop·per·head n. any of a number of stout-bodied venomous snakes with coppery-pink or reddish-brown coloration, in particular:
<INFO>
- a North American pit viper (Agkistrodon contortrix, family Viperidae). Also called HIGHLAND MOCCASIN.

- an Australian snake of the cobra family (genus Austrelaps, family Elapidae, in particular A. superbus).

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HIGHLAND MOCCASIN ■

cop·per·plate n. 1 a polished copper plate with a design engraved or etched into it.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a print made from such a plate.

2 a style of neat, round handwriting, usually slanted and looped, the thick and thin strokes being made by pressure with a flexible metal nib. <ORIGIN> the copybooks for this round hand were originally printed from copperplates.

■ adj. of or in copperplate writing.

cop·per·smith n. 1 a person who makes things out of copper.

2 (also coppersmith barbet) the crimson-breasted barbet of Southeast Asia, which has a red breast band, a streaked belly, and a repetitive metallic call.
<INFO>  Megalaima haemacephala, family Capitonidae.

cop·per sul·fate n. a blue crystalline solid used in electroplating and as a fungicide.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: CuSO_4.5H_2O.

cop·per·y adj. like copper, esp. in color: his hair was fine and coppery.

cop·pice CHIEFLY BRIT. n. an area of woodland in which the trees or shrubs are, or formerly were, periodically cut back to ground level to stimulate growth and provide firewood or timber.

■ v. [trans.] cut back (a tree or shrub) to ground level periodically to stimulate growth: [as adj.] (coppiced) coppiced timber.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French copeiz, based on medieval Latin colpus 'a blow' (see COPE^1 ). Compare with COPSE.

Linked entries:

COPE ■

COPSE ■

Cop·po·la Francis Ford (1939- ), U.S. movie director, writer, and producer. He is known for The Godfather (1972) and its two sequels, which chart the fortunes of a New York Mafia family over several generations; these movies earned him three Academy Awards. Other notable movies include Apocalypse Now (1979).

cop·ra n. dried coconut kernels, from which oil is obtained.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via Portuguese and Spanish from Malayalam koppara 'coconut'.

copro- comb. form of or relating to dung or feces: coprophagia; coprophilia.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kopros 'dung'.

co·proc·es·sor n. [COMPUTING] a microprocessor designed to supplement the capabilities of the primary processor.

co·pro·duce v. [trans.] produce (a theatrical work or a radio or television program) jointly.

<DERIVATIVES> co·pro·duc·er n. co·pro·duc·tion n.

cop·ro·la·li·a n. [PSYCHIATRY] the involuntary and repetitive use of obscene language, as a symptom of mental illness or organic brain disease.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek kopros 'dung' + lalia 'speech, chatter'.

cop·ro·lite n. [PALEONTOLOGY] a piece of fossilized dung.

cop·rol·o·gy n. another term for SCATOLOGY.

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SCATOLOGY ■

cop·roph·a·gy (also cop·ro·pha·gia ) n. [ZOOLOGY] the eating of feces or dung.

<DERIVATIVES> cop·ro·phag·ic adj. cop·roph·a·gous adj. ([CHIEFLY ZOOLOGY]).

cop·ro·phil·i·a n. abnormal interest and pleasure in feces and defecation.

cops and rob·bers plural n. a children's game of hiding and chasing, in which the participants pretend to be police and criminals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a simplistic polarization of the conflict between criminals and police, seen virtually as a game; a lifestyle centered around this: to him this could be a lark, a bit of cops and robbers.

copse n. a small group of trees.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: shortened from COPPICE.

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COPPICE ■

cop shop n. INFORMAL a police station.

Copt n. 1 a native Egyptian in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

2 a member of the Coptic Church.

<ORIGIN> from French Copte or modern Latin Coptus, from Arabic , 'Copts', from Coptic Gyptios, from Greek Aiguptios 'Egyptian'.

cop·ter n. informal term for HELICOPTER.

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HELICOPTER ■

Cop·tic n. the language of the Copts, which represents the final stage of ancient Egyptian. It now survives only as the liturgical language of the Coptic Church.

■ adj. of or relating to the Copts or their language.

Cop·tic Church the native Christian Church in Egypt, traditionally founded by St. Mark, and adhering to the Monophysite doctrine rejected by the Council of Chalcedon. Long persecuted after the Muslim Arab conquest of Egypt in the 7th century, the Coptic community now make up about 5 percent of Egypt's population.

cop·u·la n. [LOGIC] & [GRAMMAR] a connecting word, in particular a form of the verb be connecting a subject and complement.

<DERIVATIVES> cop·u·lar adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin, 'connection, linking of words', from co- 'together' + apere 'fasten'.

cop·u·late v. [intrans.] have sexual intercourse.

<DERIVATIVES> cop·u·la·tion n. cop·u·la·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'join'): from Latin copulat- 'fastened together', from the verb copulare, from copula (see COPULA).

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COPULA ■

cop·u·la·tive adj. 1 [GRAMMAR] (of a word) connecting words or clauses linked in sense. Compare with DISJUNCTIVE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> connecting a subject and predicate.

2 of or relating to sexual intercourse.

<DERIVATIVES> cop·u·la·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French copulatif, -ive or late Latin copulativus, from copulat- 'coupled', from the verb copulare (see COPULATE).

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DISJUNCTIVE ■

COPULATE ■

cop·y n. (pl. cop·ies) 1 a thing made to be similar or identical to another: the problem is telling which is the original document and which the copy.

2 a single specimen of a particular book, record, or other publication or issue: the record has sold more than a million copies.

3 matter to be printed: copy for the next issue must be submitted by the beginning of the month.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- material for a newspaper or magazine article: it is an unfortunate truth of today's media that bad news makes good copy.

- the text of an advertisement: “No more stubbleno more trouble,” trumpeted their ad copy.

■ v. (cop·ies, cop·ied) [trans.] make a similar or identical version of; reproduce: each form had to be copied and sent to a different department.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [COMPUTING] reproduce (data stored in one location) in another location: the command will copy a file from one disc to another.

- write out information that one has read or heard: he copied the details into his notebook; I began to copy out the addresses.

- behave in a similar way to; do the same as: she was such fun that everybody wanted to copy her.

- imitate or reproduce (an idea or style) rather than creating something original: lifestyles copied from Miami and Fifth Avenue | [intrans.] art students copied from approved old masters.
See note at IMITATE.
- (copy something to) send a copy of a letter to (a third party).

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a transcript or copy of a document): from Old French copie (noun), copier (verb), from Latin copia 'abundance' (in medieval Latin 'transcript', from such phrases as copiam describendi facere 'give permission to transcribe').

cop·y·book n. a book containing models of handwriting for learners to imitate.

■ adj. exactly in accordance with established criteria; perfect.
<SPECIAL USAGE> tritely conventional: out come the copybook maxims.

cop·y·cat n. INFORMAL, DEROGATORY (esp. in children's use) a person who copies another's behavior, dress, or ideas.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] denoting an action, typically a crime, carried out in imitation of another: copycat killings.

cop·y·desk n. a desk in a newspaper office at which copy is edited for printing.

cop·y·ed·it (also cop·y-ed·it) v. [trans.] edit (text to be printed) by checking its consistency and accuracy.

<DERIVATIVES> cop·y·ed·i·tor (also cop·y ed·i·tor) n.

cop·y·hold n. BRIT., HISTORICAL tenure of land based on manorial records.

cop·y·hold·er n. 1 (also cop·y hold·er) a clasp or stand for holding sheets of text while it is keyed or typed.

2 BRIT., HISTORICAL a person who holds land in copyhold.

cop·y·ist n. a person who makes copies, esp. of handwritten documents or music.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who imitates the styles of others, esp. in art.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from COPY + -IST; replacing earlier copist, from French copiste or medieval Latin copista, from copiare 'to copy', from copia (see COPY).

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COPY ■

-IST ■

COPY ■

cop·y·left n. an arrangement whereby software or artistic work may be used, modified, and distributed freely on condition that anything derived from it is bound by the same condition.

<DERIVATIVES> cop·y·left·ed adj.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: on the pattern of copyright.

cop·y·right n. the exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material, and to authorize others to do the same.

■ v. [trans.] secure copyright for (such material).

cop·y·right li·brar·y n. BRIT. a library entitled to receive one free copy of each book, pamphlet, map, music sheet or score, and periodical published in the UK. See also BODLEIAN LIBRARY.

cop·y·writ·er n. a person who writes the text of advertisements or publicity material.

<DERIVATIVES> cop·y·writ·ing n.

coq au vin n. a casserole of chicken pieces cooked in red wine.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: French, literally 'cock in wine'.

co·quet v. flirt, or flirt with.

■ n. DATED a man who flirts.

co·quet·ry n. flirtatious behavior or a flirtatious manner.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French coquetterie, from coqueter 'to flirt', from coquet 'wanton' (see COQUETTE).

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COQUETTE ■

co·quette n. 1 a woman who flirts.

2 a crested Central and South American hummingbird, typically with green plumage, a reddish crest, and elongated cheek feathers.
<INFO>  Lophornis and two other genera, family Trochilidae: several species.

<DERIVATIVES> co·quet·tish adj. co·quet·tish·ly adv. co·quet·tish·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: French, feminine of coquet 'wanton', diminutive of coq 'cock'.

co·qui n. a singing tree frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui), native to Puerto Rico, that has become an invasive pest in Hawaii.

<ORIGIN> imitative of the male's call.

co·qui·na n. 1 a soft limestone of broken shells, used in road-making in the Caribbean and Florida.

2 (also coquina clam) a small bivalve mollusk with a wedge-shaped shell that has a wide variety of colors and patterns.
<INFO>  Genus Donax, family Donacidae: several species, including the edible American coquina (D. variabilis).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, literally 'cockle', based on Latin concha (see CONCH).

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CONCH ■

co·qui·to n. (pl. -tos) a thick-trunked Chilean palm tree that yields large amounts of sweet sap (palm honey) and fiber. Also called CHILEAN WINE PALM.
<INFO>  Jubaea chilensis, family Palmae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Spanish, diminutive of coco 'coconut'.

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CHILEAN WINE PALM ■

Cor. abbr.
- coroner.

- [BIBLE] Corinthians.

cor exclam. BRIT., INFORMAL expressing surprise, excitement, admiration, or alarm: “Cor! That's a beautiful black eye you've got!”

<PHRASES> cor blimey see BLIMEY.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: alteration of GOD.

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BLIMEY ■

GOD ■

cor- prefix variant spelling of COM- assimilated before r (as in corrode, corrugate).

Linked entries:

COM- ■

Co·ra n. 1 a member of an American Indian people of western Mexico.

2 the Uto-Aztecan language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

cor·a·cle n. (esp. in Wales and Ireland) a small, round boat made of wickerwork covered with a watertight material, propelled with a paddle.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Welsh corwgl, cwrwgl, related to Scottish Gaelic and Irish curach 'small boat'; compare with CURRACH.

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CURRACH ■

cor·a·coid n. (also coracoid process) [ANATOMY] a short projection from the shoulder blade in mammals, to which part of the biceps is attached.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin coracoides, from Greek 'ravenlike', from korax 'raven' (because of the resemblance to a raven's beak).

cor·al n. 1 a hard stony substance secreted by certain marine coelenterates as an external skeleton, typically forming large reefs in warm seas: [as adj.] a coral reef.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- precious red coral, used in jewelry.

- the pinkish-red color of red coral.

2 a sedentary coelenterate of warm and tropical seas, with a calcareous, horny, or soft skeleton. Most corals are colonial and many rely on the presence of green algae in their tissues to obtain energy from sunlight.
<INFO>  Several orders in the class Anthozoa, including the ‘true’ or stony corals (order Scleractinia or Madreporaria), which form reefs, the soft corals (order Alcyonacea), and the horny corals (order Gorgonacea).

3 the unfertilized roe of a lobster or scallop, which is used as food and becomes reddish when cooked.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·al·loid adj. ([CHIEFLY BIOLOGY] [ZOOLOGY]).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin corallum, from Greek korallion, kouralion.

cor·al bells n. a red-flowered heuchera (Heuchera sanguinea) native to the southwestern U.S., but established elsewhere with many ornamental cultivars.

cor·al·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) an evergreen North American shrub of the honeysuckle family, which has fragrant white flowers followed by deep red berries.
<INFO>  Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, family Caprifoliaceae.

cor·al fun·gus n. a widely distributed fungus that produces a fruiting body composed of upright branching fingerlike projections that resemble coral, found in both Eurasia and North America.
<INFO>  Clavulina, Ramaria, and other genera, several families, class Basidiomycetes.

Cor·al Ga·bles a resort and commercial city in southeastern Florida, just southwest of Miami, on Biscayne Bay; pop. 40,091.

cor·al·i·ta n. a pink-flowered climbing vine native to Mexico and the Caribbean, grown as an ornamental.
<INFO>  Antigonon leptopus, family Polygonaceae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from American Spanish coralito, diminutive of Spanish coral 'coral'.

cor·al·line n. (also coralline alga or coralline seaweed) a branching reddish seaweed with a calcareous jointed stem.
<INFO>  Family Corallinaceae, phylum Rhodophyta, in particular Corallina officinalis, which is common on the coasts of the North Atlantic.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (in general use) a sedentary colonial marine animal, esp. a bryozoan.

■ adj. [CHIEFLY GEOLOGY] derived or formed from coral: the islands were volcanic rather than coralline in origin.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of the pinkish-red color of precious red coral.

- resembling coral: coralline sponges.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: the noun from Italian corallina, diminutive of corallo 'coral', the adjective (mid 17th cent.) from French corallin or late Latin corallinus, both based on Latin corallum 'coral'.

cor·al·lite n. [PALEONTOLOGY] the cuplike calcareous skeleton of a single coral polyp.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a fossil coral.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin corallum 'coral' + -ITE^1 .

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-ITE ■

cor·al·root n. (also coralroot orchid) a leafless orchid that has inconspicuous flowers and lacks chlorophyll. It has a pale knobbly rhizome that obtains nourishment from decaying organic matter.
<INFO>  Genus Corallorhiza, family Orchidaceae: several species, including the widespread C. trifida.

<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for COCKSCOMB (sense 3).

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COCKSCOMB ■

Cor·al Sea a part of the western Pacific Ocean that is surrounded by Australia, New Guinea, and Vanuatu, the scene of a naval battle between U.S. and Japanese carriers in 1942 during World War II.

cor·al snake n. a brightly colored venomous snake of the cobra family, typically having conspicuous bands of red, yellow, white, and black. Compare with FALSE CORAL SNAKE.
<INFO>  Micrurus and other genera in the family Elapidae: numerous species.

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FALSE CORAL SNAKE ■

cor·al spot (also coral spot disease) n. a common fungal disease of trees and shrubs, appearing as numerous minute pink or dark red cushionlike bodies on the twigs and branches and causing dieback.
<INFO>  Nectria cinnabarina, family Hypocreaceae, phylum Ascomycota.

Cor·al Springs a residential city in southeastern Florida; pop. 117,549.

cor·al tree n. a tropical or subtropical thorny shrub or tree with showy red or orange flowers that are pollinated by birds.
<INFO>  Genus Erythrina, family Leguminosae.

cor·beil n. [ARCHITECTURE] a representation in stone of a basket of flowers.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French corbeille 'basket', from late Latin corbicula 'small basket', diminutive of corbis.

cor·beille n. an elegant basket of flowers or fruit.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, 'basket' (see also CORBEIL).

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CORBEIL ■

cor·bel n. a projection jutting out from a wall to support a structure above it.

■ v. (-beled, -bel·ing; CHIEFLY BRIT. -belled, -bel·ling) [trans.] (often be corbeled out) support (a structure such as an arch or balcony) on corbels.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, diminutive of corp 'crow', from Latin corvus 'raven' (perhaps because of the shape of a corbel, resembling a crow's beak).

cor·bel ta·ble n. a projecting course of bricks or stones resting on corbels.

Cor·bett James John (1866-1933), U.S. boxer; known as Gentleman Jim. He won two world heavyweight championships 1892, 1897.

cor·bic·u·la n. (pl. -u·lae ) [ENTOMOLOGY] another term for POLLEN BASKET.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from late Latin.

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POLLEN BASKET ■

cor·bie n. (pl. -bies) SCOTTISH a raven, crow, or rook.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French corb, variant of corp 'crow' (see CORBEL).

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CORBEL ■

cor·bie·steps (also cor·bie steps) n. the steplike projections on the sloping part of a gable, common in Flemish architecture and 16- and 17th-century Scottish buildings. Also called CROW STEPS.

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CROW STEPS ■

Cor·bin Margaret (1751-1800 ), American Revolution heroine; born Margaret Cochran. After her husband's death in the attack on Fort Washington in 1776, she took his place at his cannon until becoming severely wounded. She was the first woman to be pensioned by the U.S. government.

Cor·co·va·do a peak that rises to 2,310 feet (711 m) on the south side of Rio de Janeiro. A statue of Jesus Christ (named “Christ the Redeemer”), 131 feet (40 m) high, stands on its summit.

Cor·cy·ra ancient Greek name for CORFU.

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CORFU ■

cord n. 1 long thin flexible string or rope made from several twisted strands: hang the picture from a rail on a length of cord.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a length of such material, typically one used to fasten or move a specified object: a dressing-gown cord.

- an anatomical structure resembling a length of cord (e.g., the spinal cord, the umbilical cord): the baby was still attached to its mother by the cord.

- a flexible insulated cable used for carrying electric current to an appliance.

2 ribbed fabric, esp. corduroy: [as adj.] cord jackets.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (cords) INFORMAL corduroy pants: he was dressed in faded black cords.

- a cordlike rib on fabric.

3 a measure of cut wood, usually 128 cubic feet (3.62 cu m).

■ v. [trans.] attach a cord to.

<PHRASES> cut the (umbilical) cord FIGURATIVE cease to rely on someone or something protective or supportive and begin to act independently.

<DERIVATIVES> cord·like adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French corde, from Latin chorda, from Greek 'gut, string of a musical instrument'.

cord·age n. cords or ropes, esp. in a ship's rigging.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French, from corde 'rope' (see CORD).

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CORD ■

cor·date adj. [BOTANY] & [ZOOLOGY] heart-shaped.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'wise, prudent'): from Latin cordatus 'wise' (in modern Latin 'heart-shaped'), from cor, cord- 'heart'.

Cor·day Charlotte (1768-93), French political assassin; full name Marie Anne Charlotte Corday d'Armont. In 1793, she assassinated revolutionary leader Jean Paul Marat in his bath; she was found guilty of treason and guillotined four days later.

cord blood n. blood from the human umbilical cord, a source of stem cells.

cord·ed adj. 1 (of cloth) ribbed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a tensed muscle) standing out so as to resemble a piece of cord.

2 equipped with a cord: a corded waistband; corded and cordless phones.

cord·grass n. a coarse wiry coastal grass that is sometimes used to stabilize mudflats.
<INFO>  Genus Spartina, family Gramineae.

cor·dial adj. warm and friendly: the atmosphere was cordial and relaxed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> strongly felt: I earned his cordial loathing.

■ n. 1 another term for LIQUEUR.

2 a comforting or pleasant-tasting medicine.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·dial·i·ty n. cor·dial·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (also in the sense 'belonging to the heart'): from medieval Latin cordialis, from Latin cor, cord- 'heart'.

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LIQUEUR ■

cor·di·er·ite n. a dark blue mineral occurring chiefly in metamorphic rocks. It consists of an aluminosilicate of magnesium, and also occurs as a dichroic gem variety.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after Pierre L. A. Cordier (1777-1861), French geologist, + -ITE^1 .

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-ITE ■

cor·di·form adj. heart-shaped.

cor·dil·le·ra n. a system or group of parallel mountain ranges together with the intervening plateaus and other features, esp. in the Andes or the Rockies.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Spanish, from cordilla, diminutive of cuerda 'cord', from Latin chorda (see CORD).

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CORD ■

cord·ing n. cord or braid, esp. that used as a decorative fabric trimming.

cord·ite n. a smokeless explosive made from nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, and petroleum jelly, used in ammunition.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CORD (because of its stringlike appearance) + -ITE^1 .

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CORD ■

-ITE ■

cord·less adj. (of an electrical appliance or telephone) working without connection to a main supply or central unit.

■ n. (usu. the cordless) a cordless telephone: I keep the cordless with me at all times.

Cor·do·ba (also Cor·do·va) 1 a city in Andalusia, in southern Spain; pop. 309,200. Founded by the Carthaginians, it was under Moorish rule from 711 to 1236 and was renowned for its architecture, particularly the Great Mosque. Spanish name CÓRDOBA.

2 a city in central Argentina; pop. 1,198,000.

cor·do·ba n. the basic monetary unit of Nicaragua, equal to 100 centavos.

<ORIGIN> named after F. Fernández de Córdoba, a 16th-cent. Spanish governor of Nicaragua.

cor·don n. 1 a line or circle of police, soldiers, or guards preventing access to or from an area or building: troops threw a cordon around the headquarters.

2 an ornamental cord or braid.

3 [ARCHITECTURE] another term for STRINGCOURSE.

■ v. [trans.] (cordon off) prevent access to or from (an area or building) by surrounding it with police or other guards: the city center was cordoned off after fires were discovered in two stores.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting an ornamental braid worn on the person): from Italian cordone, augmentative of corda, and French cordon, diminutive of corde, both from Latin chorda 'string, rope' (see CORD). Sense 3, the earliest of the current noun senses, dates from the early 18th cent.

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STRINGCOURSE ■

CORD ■

cor·don bleu adj. [COOKING] of the highest class: a cordon bleu chef.
<SPECIAL USAGE> denoting a dish consisting of an escalope of veal or chicken rolled, filled with cheese and ham, and then fried in breadcrumbs.

■ n. a cook of the highest class.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (as a noun, often specifically denoting a first-class cook): French, literally 'blue ribbon'. The blue ribbon once signified the highest order of chivalry in the reign of the Bourbon kings.

cor·don sa·ni·taire n. (pl. cor·dons sa·ni·taires pronunc. same) a guarded line preventing anyone from leaving an area infected by a disease and thus spreading it.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a measure designed to prevent communication or the spread of undesirable influences: these rules help to reinforce the cordon sanitaire around the Pentagon.

- a series or chain of small neutral buffer states around a larger, potentially dangerous or hostile state.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, from cordon 'line, border' (see CORDON) + sanitaire 'sanitary'.

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CORDON ■

Cor·do·va English name for CORDOBA.

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CORDOBA ■

cor·do·van n. a kind of soft leather made originally from goatskin and now from horsehide.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Spanish cordován, former spelling of cordobán 'of Cordoba' (see sense 1 of CORDOBA), where it was originally made.

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CORDOBA ■

Cor·du·ra n. TRADEMARK a durable synthetic fabric.

cor·du·roy n. a thick cotton fabric with velvety ribs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (corduroys) pants made of corduroy.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: probably from CORD 'ribbed fabric' + duroy, denoting a kind of lightweight worsted formerly made in the West of England; of unknown origin.

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CORD ■

cor·du·roy road n. HISTORICAL a road made of tree trunks laid across a swamp.

cord·wood n. wood that has been cut into uniform lengths, used esp. as firewood.

CORE abbr. Congress of Racial Equality.

core n. 1 the tough central part of various fruits, containing the seeds: an apple core.

2 the central or most important part of something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [often as adj.] the part of something that is central to its existence or character: managers can concentrate on their core activities; | the plan has the interests of children at its core.

- an important or unchanging group of people forming the central part of a larger body.

- the dense central region of a planet, esp. the nickel-iron inner part of the earth.

- the central part of a nuclear reactor, which contains the fissile material.

- a tiny ring of magnetic material used in a computer memory to store one bit of data, now superseded by semiconductor memories.

- the inner strand of an electrical cable or rope.

- a piece of soft iron forming the center of an electromagnet or an induction coil.

- an internal mold filling a space to be left hollow in a casting.

- a cylindrical sample of rock, ice, or other material obtained by boring with a hollow drill.

- [ARCHAEOLOGY] a piece of flint from which flakes or blades have been removed.

■ v. [trans.] remove the tough central part and seeds from (a fruit): peel and core the pears.

<PHRASES> to the core to the depths of one's being: she was shaken to the core by his words.
- used to indicate that someone possesses a characteristic to a very high degree: he is a politician to the core.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: of unknown origin.

-core comb. form (used as the second element of various compounds) denoting types of rock or dance music that have an aggressive presentation: queercore.

<ORIGIN> from CORE, on the pattern of hard-core.

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CORE ■

core as·set n. an asset of an enterprise considered to be essential to its success.

core com·pe·ten·cy n. a defining capability or advantage that distinguishes an enterprise from its competitors.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a defined level of competence in a particular job or academic program.

core dump n. [COMPUTING] a dump of the contents of main memory, carried out typically as an aid to debugging.

co·ref·er·en·tial adj. [LINGUISTICS] (of two elements or units) having the same reference.

<DERIVATIVES> co·ref·er·ence n.

co·re·li·gion·ist n. an adherent of the same religion as another person.

co·rel·la n. a white Australasian cockatoo with some pink feathers on the face, bare blue skin around the eye, and typically a long bill.
<INFO>  Genus Cacatua, family Cacatuidae (or Psittacidae): three species, in particular the widespread little corella (C. sanguinea).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Wiradhuri.

Co·rel·li Arcangelo (1653-1713), Italian violinist and composer, known for his Concerti grossi and sonatas for violin.

co·re·op·sis n. a plant of the daisy family, cultivated for its rayed, typically yellow, flowers. Also called TICKSEED.
<INFO>  Genus Coreopsis, family Compositae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek koris 'bug' + opsis 'appearance' (because of the shape of the seed).

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TICKSEED ■

co-re·spond·ent (also co·re·spond·ent) n. 1 a joint defendant in a lawsuit, esp. one on appeal.

2 a person cited in a divorce case as having committed adultery with the respondent.

Cor·fu a Greek island, one of the largest of the Ionian Islands, off the west coast of mainland Greece. It was known in ancient times as Corcyra; pop. 105,350. Greek name KÉRKIRA.

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KÉRKIRA ■

cor·gi n. (pl. cor·gis) short for WELSH CORGI.

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WELSH CORGI ■

co·ri·a·ceous adj. TECHNICAL resembling or having the texture of leather: coriaceous leaves.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from late Latin coriaceus (from Latin corium 'leather') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

co·ri·an·der n. an aromatic Mediterranean plant of the parsley family, the leaves and seeds of which are used as culinary herbs.
<INFO>  Coriandrum sativum, family Umbelliferae.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French coriandre, from Latin coriandrum, from Greek koriannon.

Cor·inth a city on the northern coast of the Peloponnese, in Greece; pop. 27,400. The modern city, built in 1858, is slightly northeast of the site of an ancient city of the same name that was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece. Greek name KÓRINTHOS.

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KÓRINTHOS ■

Cor·inth, Gulf of an inlet of the Ionian Sea that extends between the Peloponnese and central Greece. Also called GULF OF LEPANTO (see LEPANTO, GULF OF).

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GULF OF LEPANTOLEPANTO, GULF OF ■

Cor·inth, Isthmus of a narrow neck of land that links the Peloponnese with central Greece and separates the Gulf of Corinth from the Saronic Gulf.

Cor·inth Ca·nal a man-made shipping channel that crosses the narrowest part of the Isthmus of Corinth (a distance of 4 miles or 6.4 km). Opened in 1893, it links the Gulf of Corinth and the Saronic Gulf.

Co·rin·thi·an adj. 1 belonging or relating to Corinth, esp. the ancient city.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or denoting the lightest and most ornate of the classical orders of architecture (used esp. by the Romans), characterized by flared capitals with rows of acanthus leaves.

2 involving or displaying the highest standards of sportsmanship: a club embodying the Corinthian spirit.

■ n. 1 a native of Corinth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a wealthy amateur of sport.

2 the Corinthian order of architecture.

Co·rin·thi·ans either of two books of the New Testament, epistles of St. Paul to the Church at Corinth.

Cor·i·o·la·nus Gaius (or Gnaeus) Marcius (5th century BC), Roman general who acquired his name from the capture of the Volscian town of Corioli.

Co·ri·o·lis ef·fect n. [PHYSICS] an effect whereby a mass moving in a rotating system experiences a force (the Coriolis force) acting perpendicular to the direction of motion and to the axis of rotation. On the earth, the effect tends to deflect moving objects to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern and is important in the formation of cyclonic weather systems.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after Gaspard Coriolis (1792-1843), French engineer.

co·ri·um n. [CHIEFLY ZOOLOGY] another term for DERMIS.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin, 'skin'.

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DERMIS ■

Cork a county in the Republic of Ireland, in the province of Munster, on the Celtic Sea.
<SPECIAL USAGE> its county town, a port on the Lee River; pop. 127,000.

cork n. the buoyant, light brown substance obtained from the outer layer of the bark of the cork oak: [as adj.] cork tiles.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a bottle stopper, esp. one made of cork.

- a piece of cork used as a float for a fishing line or net.

- [BOTANY] a protective layer of dead cells immediately below the bark of woody plants.

■ v. [trans.] (often be corked) 1 close or seal (a bottle) with a cork.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] (corked) (of wine) spoiled by tannin from the cork.

2 draw with burnt cork.

3 illicitly hollow out (a baseball bat) and fill it with cork to make it lighter.

<DERIVATIVES> cork·like adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Dutch and Low German kork, from Spanish alcorque 'cork-soled sandal', from Arabic al- 'the' and (probably) Spanish Arabic , , based on Latin quercus 'oak, cork oak'.

cork·age n. a charge made by a restaurant or hotel for serving wine that has been brought in by a customer.

cork cam·bi·um n. [BOTANY] tissue in the stem of a plant that gives rise to cork on its outer surface and a layer of cells containing chlorophyll on its inner surface.

cork·er n. 1 an excellent or astonishing person or thing: it was the season's first goal, and a corker.

2 a device that places a cork into a bottle: it's a great wine corker.

cork oak n. an evergreen Mediterranean oak, the outer layer of the bark of which is the source of cork, which can be stripped without harming the tree.
<INFO>  Quercus suber, family Fagaceae.

cork·screw n. a device for pulling corks from bottles, consisting of a spiral metal rod that is inserted into the cork and a handle that extracts it.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. as adj.] a thing with a spiral shape or movement: a girl with corkscrew curls.

■ v. [intrans.] move or twist in a spiral motion: the plane was corkscrewing toward the earth.

cork tree (also cork·tree) n. 1 another term for CORK OAK.

2 an Asian citrus tree with a corky bark.
<INFO>  Genus Phellodendron, family Rutaceae: several species, including P. sachalinense, often cultivated as on ornamental.

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CORK OAK ■

cork·wood n. a shrub or tree that yields light porous timber, in particular:
<INFO>
- a small American tree that produces timber used for fishing floats (Leitneria floridana, family Leitneriaceae).

- a similar tree native to New Zealand (Entelea arborescens, family Tiliaceae).

cork·y adj. (cork·i·er, cork·i·est) 1 corklike.

2 (of wine) corked.

corm n. a rounded underground storage organ present in plants such as crocuses, gladioli, and cyclamens, consisting of a swollen stem base covered with scale leaves. Compare with BULB (sense 1), RHIZOME.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin cormus, from Greek kormos 'trunk stripped of its boughs'.

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BULB ■

RHIZOME ■

cor·mel n. a small corm growing at the side of a mature corm.

corm·let n. a small corm growing at the base of a mature corm.

cor·mo·rant n. a large diving bird with a long neck, long hooked bill, short legs, and mainly dark plumage. It typically breeds on coastal cliffs and is noted for its voracious appetite.
<INFO>  Genus Phalacrocorax (and Nannopterum), family Phalacrocoracidae: numerous species, in particular the widespread great (or European) cormorant (P. carbo) and the North American double-crested cormorant (P. auritus).

<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE an insatiably greedy person or thing.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cormaran, from medieval Latin corvus marinus 'sea raven'. The final -t is on the pattern of words such as peasant.

corn 1 n. 1 a North American cereal plant that yields large grains, or kernels, set in rows on a cob. Its many varieties yield numerous products, highly valued for both human and livestock consumption. Also called INDIAN CORN.
<INFO>  Zea mays, family Gramineae; it was domesticated before 5000 BC, although the wild ancestor is unidentified.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the grains of this: creamed corn; two ears of corn.

- BRIT. the chief cereal crop of a district, esp. (in England) wheat or (in Scotland) oats.

2 INFORMAL something banal or sentimental: the movie is pure corn.

<PHRASES> corn on the cob corn when cooked and eaten straight from the cob; an ear of corn.

<ORIGIN> Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch koren and German Korn.

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INDIAN CORN ■

corn 2 n. a small, painful area of thickened skin on the foot, esp. on the toes, caused by pressure.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Anglo-Norman French from Latin cornu 'horn'.

Cor·na·ro Pis·co·pi·a Elena Lucrezia (1646-1684), Venetian philosopher and mathematician. The first woman to be awarded a college degree, she received the doctorate of philosophy from the University of Padua on June 25, 1678.

corn·ball INFORMAL adj. trite and sentimental: a cornball movie.

■ n. a person with trite or sentimental ideas.

corn beef n. corned beef.

Corn Belt name for parts of the U.S. Midwest, esp. Illinois and Iowa, where corn is a major crop.

corn bor·er n. a moth whose larvae feed upon and bore into corn.
<INFO>  Several species in the family Pyralidae, in particular the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), which was accidentally introduced into North America, and Diatraea (or Zeadiatraea) grandiosella of the southern U.S.

corn·bread (also corn bread) n. a type of bread made from cornmeal and typically leavened without yeast.

corn cake (also corn·cake) n. cornbread made in the form of flat cakes.

corn·cob (also corn cob) n. see COB^1 (sense 1).

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COB ■

corn·cob pipe n. a tobacco pipe with a bowl made from a dried corncob.

corn cock·le (also corn·cock·le) n. a Mediterranean plant with bright pink or purple flowers and poisonous seeds, introduced into Britain and North America. If unchecked, it can be a prolific weed in fields of grain. It is often cultivated as a showy annual.
<INFO>  Agrostemma githago, family Caryophyllaceae.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from CORN^1 + cockle (from Old English coccul 'corn cockle', perhaps via Latin from Greek kokkos 'berry').

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CORN ■

corn crake (also corn·crake) n. a secretive Eurasian crake inhabiting coarse grasslands, with mainly brown streaked plumage and a distinctive double rasping call. Also called LAND RAIL.
<INFO>  Crex crex, family Rallidae.

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LAND RAIL ■

corn crib (also corn·crib) n. a bin or ventilated building for storing unhusked ears of corn.

corn dodg·er n. a small, hard fried or baked cornmeal cake.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a boiled cornmeal dumpling.

corn dog n. a hot dog covered in cornmeal batter, fried, and served on a stick.

cor·ne·a n. the transparent layer forming the front of the eye.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·ne·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin cornea tela 'horny tissue', from Latin cornu 'horn'.

corn ear·worm n. an American moth caterpillar that is a pest of corn, cotton, and tomatoes. Also called BOLLWORM, COTTON BOLLWORM, TOMATO FRUITWORM.
<INFO>  Heliothis zea, family Noctuidae.

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BOLLWORM ■

TOMATO FRUITWORM ■

corned adj. (of food) preserved in salt water: corned beef.

corned beef (also corn beef) n. beef brisket cured in brine and boiled, served hot typically with cabbage, or cold, sliced for sandwiches.

<ORIGIN> corned, in the sense 'preserved in salt water'.

Cor·neille Pierre (1606-84), French playwright; regarded as the founder of classical French tragedy. Notable plays: Le Cid (1637), Cinna (1641), and Polyeucte (1643).

cor·ne·i·tis n. [MEDICINE] inflammation of the cornea.

cor·nel n. a dogwood, esp. of a dwarf variety.
<INFO>  Genus Cornus, family Cornaceae: several species, including the dwarf C. suecica.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the wood of the cornelian cherry): from Old French corneille, from Latin cornus.

cor·nel·ian n. variant spelling of CARNELIAN.

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CARNELIAN ■

cor·nel·ian cher·ry n. a Eurasian flowering shrub or small tree of the dogwood family, cultivated as an ornamental.
<INFO>  Cornus mas, family Cornaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the edible oval red berry of this plant.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: cornelian from CORNEL + -IAN.

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CORNEL ■

-IAN ■

cor·ne·ous adj. FORMAL hornlike; horny: the skeleton is formed of a corneous substance.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin corneus (from cornu 'horn') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

cor·ner n. 1 a place or angle where two or more sides or edges meet: Jan sat at one corner of the table.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an area inside a room, box, or square-shaped space, near the place where two or more edges or surfaces meet: he drove the ball into the corner of the net.

- a place where two streets meet: an apartment on the corner of 199th Street and Amsterdam Avenue | [as adj.] the corner house.

- FIGURATIVE a difficult or awkward situation: he found himself backed into a corner.

- first or third base on a baseball diamond: two outs, with runners on the corners.

- a sharp bend in a road: serious racers want a car that is fast going into and out of the corners.

2 a part, region, or area, esp. one regarded as secluded or remote: they descended on the college from all corners of the world; his wisdom was disseminated to the four corners of the earth | FIGURATIVE she couldn't bear journalists prying into every corner of her life.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a position in which one dominates the supply of a particular commodity.

3 short for CORNER KICK.

4 [BOXING] & [WRESTLING] each of the diagonally opposite ends of the ring, where a contestant rests between rounds.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a contestant's supporters or seconds: Hodkinson was encouraged by his corner.

5 [BASEBALL] each of the two parallel sides of home plate, which are perceived as defining the vertical edges of the strike zone.

■ v. [trans.] 1 (often be cornered) force (a person or animal) into a place or situation from which it is hard to escape: the man was eventually cornered by police dogs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> detain (someone) in conversation, typically against their will: I managed to corner Gary for fifteen minutes.

2 control (a market) by dominating the supply of a particular commodity: whether they will corner the market in graphics software remains to be seen.
<SPECIAL USAGE> establish a corner in (a commodity): you cornered vanadium and made a killing.

3 [intrans.] (of a vehicle or driver) go around a bend in a road: no squeal is evident from the tires when cornering fast.

<PHRASES>
□ (just) around (or round) the corner very near: there's a pharmacy around the corner.

□ cut corners see CUT.

□ in someone's corner acting as a second, to a boxer.
- on someone's side; giving someone support and encouragement.

□ on (or at or in) every corner everywhere: there were saloons on every corner it's difficult to readjust when the past assaults you at every corner young executives sprouted in every corner.

□ see someone/something out of (or from) the corner of one's eye see someone or something at the edge of one's field of vision.

□ turn the corner see TURN.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, based on Latin cornu 'horn, tip, corner'.

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CORNER KICK ■

CUT ■

TURN ■

cor·ner·back n. [FOOTBALL] a defensive back positioned to the outside of the linebackers.

cor·nered adj. having a specified number of places or angles where the edges or sides meet: young boys in six-cornered hats.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having a specified number of parties involved: a three-cornered meeting was being arranged in Hong Kong.

cor·ner kick (also cor·ner) n. [SOCCER] a free kick taken by the attacking side from a corner of the field after the ball has been sent over the end line outside the goal by a defender: Kavanagh lofted a corner kick.

cor·ner·man n. (pl. -men) a person whose job is to assist a boxer or wrestler at the corner between rounds.

cor·ner·stone n. a stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two walls.
- a stone ceremonially laid usually at the corner of a foundation to mark the occasion of a building being erected.

<SPECIAL USAGE> an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based: a national minimum wage remained the cornerstone of policy.

cor·ner·wise adv. at an angle of approximately 45°; diagonally: he laid the cloth cornerwise on the polished table.

cor·net n. 1 [MUSIC] a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but shorter and wider, played chiefly in bands.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a compound organ stop with a powerful treble sound.

2 BRIT. a cone-shaped wafer, esp. one filled with ice cream.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·net·ist (also cor·net·tist) n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (originally denoting a wind instrument made of a horn): from Old French, diminutive of a variant of Latin cornu 'horn'.

cor·net·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a large marine fish with a long, narrow, flutelike snout, an elongated body, and a whiplike extension to the tail. It is common in shallow tropical waters of the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific region.
<INFO>  Family Fistularidae and genus Fistularia: several species.

cor·net·to (also cor·nett ) n. (pl. -net·ti or -netts) a woodwind instrument of the 16th and 17th centuries, typically curved, with finger holes and a cup-shaped mouthpiece.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Italian, diminutive of corno 'horn', from Latin cornu. Compare with CORNET.

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CORNET ■

corn-fed (also corn·fed) adj. fed on corn: corn-fed chickens.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL plump; well fed.

- INFORMAL provincial; unsophisticated: a backward, corn-fed Heartland city.

corn·field n. a field in which corn is grown.

corn·flakes plural n. a breakfast cereal consisting of toasted flakes made from corn.

corn flour n. flour made from corn: the fish were coated with corn flour and fried.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (usu. corn·flour) British term for CORNSTARCH.

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CORNSTARCH ■

corn·flow·er n. a slender Eurasian plant related to the knapweeds, with flowers that are typically a deep, vivid blue.
<INFO>  Genus Centaurea, family Compositae: several species, including the annual Centaurea cyanus (also called BLUEBOTTLE), formerly a common weed of cornfields, and the perennial C. montana, grown in gardens.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (also cornflower blue) a deep, vivid blue color.

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BLUEBOTTLE ■

Corn·husk·er State a nickname for the state of NEBRASKA.

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NEBRASKA ■

corn·husk·ing n. the removal of husks from ears of corn.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the husking of corn by several people as a social event. Also called HUSKING BEE.

<DERIVATIVES> corn·husk·er n.

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HUSKING BEE ■

cor·nice n. 1 an ornamental molding around the wall of a room just below the ceiling.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a horizontal molded projection crowning a building or structure, esp. the uppermost member of the entablature of an order, surmounting the frieze.

2 an overhanging mass of hardened snow at the edge of a mountain precipice.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·niced adj. cor·nic·ing n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French corniche, from Italian cornice, perhaps from Latin cornix 'crow' (compare with CORBEL), but influenced by Greek 'copestone'.

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CORBEL ■

cor·niche n. a road cut into the edge of a cliff, esp. one running along a coast.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French (see CORNICE).

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CORNICE ■

Cor·nish adj. of or relating to Cornwall, or its people or language.

■ n. 1 [as plural n.] (the Cornish) the people of Cornwall collectively.

2 the extinct Brythonic language of Cornwall

<DERIVATIVES> Cor·nish·man n. (pl. -men) Cor·nish·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from the first element of CORNWALL + -ISH^1 .

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CORNWALL ■

-ISH ■

Cor·nish hen (also Cornish game hen) n. another term for ROCK CORNISH.

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ROCK CORNISH ■

Corn Laws (in the UK) a series of 19th-century laws introduced to protect British farmers from foreign competition. They were repealed in 1846.

corn mar·i·gold n. a daisylike yellow-flowered Eurasian plant.
<INFO>  Chrysanthemum segetum, family Compositae.

corn·meal n. meal made from ground, dried corn.

corn oil n. an oil obtained from the germ of corn, used in cooking and salad dressings.

corn pone n. see PONE.

■ adj. (corn-pone) OFTEN DEROGATORY rustic; unsophisticated: corn-pone humor.

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PONE ■

corn roast n. CANADIAN an oudoor party at which fresh ears of sweet corn are roasted and eaten.

corn·rows plural n. a style of braiding and plaiting the hair in narrow strips to form geometric patterns on the scalp.

corn sal·ad n. a small blue-flowered herbaceous plant of dry soils, native to Europe and the Mediterranean. Widely cultivated in North America, its narrow leaves are used in salad. Also called LAMB'S LETTUCE, MACHE.
<INFO>  Valerianella locusta, family Valerianaceae.

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LAMB'S LETTUCE ■

MACHE ■

corn·silk n. each of the long silklike filiform styles of the female flower of corn.

corn snake n. a long North American rat snake with a spear-shaped mark between the eyes.
<INFO>  Elaphe guttata, family Colubridae.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: so named because often found in cornfields.

corn snow n. snow with a rough granular surface resulting from alternate thawing and freezing.

<ORIGIN> from corn in the dialect sense 'granule'.

corn spur·rey see SPURREY.

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SPURREY ■

corn·stalk n. the stem of a corn plant.

corn·starch n. finely ground corn flour, used as a thickener in cooking.

Corn State a nickname for the state of IOWA.

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IOWA ■

corn sug·ar n. dextrose, esp when made from cornstarch.

corn syr·up n. syrup made from cornstarch, consisting of dextrose, maltose, and dextrins.

cor·nu n. (pl. -nu·a ) [ANATOMY] a structure with a shape likened to a horn, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a horn-shaped projection of the thyroid cartilage or of certain bones (such as the hyoid and the coccyx).

- either of the two lateral cavities of the uterus, into which the Fallopian tubes pass.

- each of three elongated parts of the lateral ventricles of the brain.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·nu·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin, 'horn'.

cor·nu·co·pi·a n. a symbol of plenty consisting of a goat's horn overflowing with flowers, fruit, and corn.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an ornamental container shaped like such a horn.

- an abundant supply of good things of a specified kind: the festival offers a cornucopia of pleasures.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·nu·co·pi·an adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from late Latin, from Latin cornu copiae 'horn of plenty' (a mythical horn able to provide whatever is desired).

Corn·wall 1 a county occupying the extreme southwestern peninsula of England; county town, Truro.

2 a city in eastern Ontario in Canada, a port on the St. Lawrence River, across from Massena, New York; pop. 47,137.

Corn·wal·lis Charles, 1st Marquis (1738-1805), English soldier. He surrendered the British forces at Yorktown in 1781, ending the fighting in the American Revolution.

corn·y adj. (corn·i·er, corn·i·est) INFORMAL trite, banal, or mawkishly sentimental: it sounds corny, but as soon as I saw her I knew she was the one.

<DERIVATIVES> corn·i·ly adv. corn·i·ness n.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from an earlier sense 'rustic, appealing to country folk'.

co·rol·la n. [BOTANY] the petals of a flower, typically forming a whorl within the sepals and enclosing the reproductive organs. Compare with CALYX.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (in the sense 'little crown'): from Latin, diminutive of corona 'wreath, crown, chaplet'.

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CALYX ■

cor·ol·lar·y n. (pl. -lar·ies) a proposition that follows from (and is often appended to) one already proved.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a direct or natural consequence or result: the huge increases in unemployment were the corollary of expenditure cuts.

■ adj. forming a proposition that follows from one already proved.
<SPECIAL USAGE> associated; supplementary.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin corollarium 'money paid for a garland or chaplet; gratuity' (in late Latin 'deduction'), from corolla, diminutive of corona 'wreath, crown, chaplet'.

cor·o·man·del n. 1 (also coromandel wood or coromandel ebony) a fine-grained, grayish-brown wood streaked with black, used in furniture. Also called CALAMANDER.

2 the Sri Lankan tree that yields this wood.
<INFO>  Diospyros quaesita, family Ebenaceae.

■ adj. denoting a form of Asian lacquerware with intaglio designs.

<ORIGIN> from COROMANDEL COAST, from which Asian lacquerware was originally transshipped.

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CALAMANDER ■

COROMANDEL COAST ■

Cor·o·man·del Coast the southern part of the eastern coast of India, from Point Calimere to the mouth of the Krishna River.

Co·ro·na a city in southwestern California, southwest of Riverside; pop. 76,095.

co·ro·na 1 n. (pl. -nae ) 1 [ASTRONOMY] the rarefied gaseous envelope of the sun and other stars. The sun's corona is normally visible only during a total solar eclipse when it is seen as an irregularly shaped pearly glow surrounding the darkened disk of the moon.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also corona discharge) [PHYSICS] the glow around a conductor at high potential.

- a small circle of light seen around the sun or moon, due to diffraction by water droplets.

2 [ANATOMY] a crown or crownlike structure.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BOTANY] the cup-shaped or trumpet-shaped outgrowth at the center of a daffodil or narcissus flower.

3 a circular chandelier in a church.

4 [ARCHITECTURE] a part of a cornice having a broad vertical face.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (sense 4): from Latin, 'wreath, crown'.

co·ro·na 2 n. a long, straight-sided cigar.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Spanish La Corona, literally 'the crown', originally a proprietary name.

Co·ro·na Aus·tra·lis [ASTRONOMY] a small southern constellation (the Southern Crown), with no bright stars.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Co·ro·nae Aus·tra·lis ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Theta Coronae Australis.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

Co·ro·na Bo·re·al·is [ASTRONOMY] a northern constellation (the Northern Crown), in which the main stars form a small but prominent arc.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Co·ro·nae Bo·re·al·is ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star R Coronae Borealis.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

cor·o·nach n. (in Scotland or Ireland) a funeral song.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (originally Scots, denoting the outcry of a crowd): from Scottish Gaelic corranach (Irish coranach), from comh- 'together' + rànach 'outcry'.

co·ro·na dis·charge n. see CORONA^1 (sense 1).

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CORONA ■

Co·ro·na·do Francisco Vásquez de (c.1510-54), Spanish explorer. His explorations into Arizona and New Mexico from Mexico opened the Southwest to Spanish colonization.

co·ro·na·graph n. an instrument that blocks out light emitted by the sun's actual surface so that the corona can be observed.

cor·o·nal 1 adj. 1 of or relating to the crown or corona of something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ASTRONOMY] of or relating to the corona of the sun or another star.

- [ANATOMY] of or relating to the crown of the head.

2 [ANATOMY] of or in the coronal plane: coronal imaging.

3 [PHONETICS] (of a consonant) formed by raising the tip or blade of the tongue toward the hard palate.

■ n. [PHONETICS] a coronal consonant.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'relating to the crown of the head'): from Latin coronalis, from corona 'crown'.

cor·o·nal 2 n. a garland or wreath for the head: her eyes sparkled beneath a coronal of flowers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY a small crown; a coronet.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: apparently from Anglo-Norman French, from corune 'crown, wreath' (see CROWN).

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CROWN ■

cor·o·nal plane n. [ANATOMY] an imaginary plane dividing the body into dorsal and ventral parts.

cor·o·nal su·ture n. [ANATOMY] the transverse suture in the skull separating the frontal bone from the parietal bones.

cor·o·nar·y adj. [ANATOMY] relating to or denoting the arteries that surround and supply the heart.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or denoting a structure that encircles a part of the body.

■ n. (pl. -nar·ies) short for CORONARY THROMBOSIS.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'resembling a crown'): from Latin coronarius, from corona 'wreath, crown'.

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CORONARY THROMBOSIS ■

cor·o·nar·y ar·ter·y n. an artery supplying blood to the heart.

cor·o·nar·y care unit (abbr. CCU) n. a hospital department that provides special care and monitoring for heart patients.

cor·o·nar·y oc·clu·sion n. partial or total obstruction of a coronary artery, usually resulting in a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

cor·o·nar·y si·nus n. a wide venous channel about 2.25 centimeters in length that receives blood from the coronary veins and empties into the right atrium of the heart.

cor·o·nar·y throm·bo·sis n. a blockage of the flow of blood to the heart, caused by a blood clot in a coronary artery.

cor·o·nar·y vein n. any of several veins that drain blood from the heart wall and empty into the coronary sinus.

cor·o·na·tion n. the ceremony of crowning a sovereign or a sovereign's consort.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin coronatio(n-), from coronare 'to crown, adorn with a garland', from corona (see CROWN).

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CROWN ■

co·ro·na·vi·rus n. [MEDICINE] any of a group of RNA viruses that cause a variety of diseases in humans and other animals.

cor·o·ner n. an official who investigates violent, sudden, or suspicious deaths.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL in England, an official responsible for safeguarding the private property of the Crown.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·o·ner·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French coruner, from corune 'a crown' (see CROWN); reflecting the Latin title custos placitorum coronae 'guardian of the pleas of the crown'.

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CROWN ■

cor·o·net n. 1 a small or relatively simple crown, esp. as worn by lesser royalty and peers or peeresses.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a circular decoration for the head, esp. one made of flowers.

2 the band of tissue on the lowest part of a horse's pastern, containing the horn-producing cells from which the hoof grows.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for BURR sense 5.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·o·net·ed adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French coronete 'small crown or garland', diminutive of corone (see CROWN).

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CROWN ■

co·ro·ni·al adj. AUSTRAL. relating to a coroner: a coronial hearing.

cor·o·noid adj. [ANATOMY] relating to or denoting a hooked projection of bone. See CORONOID PROCESS.

■ n. (also coronoid bone) [ZOOLOGY] a slender bone forming part of the lower jaw in primitive vertebrates.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Greek , denoting something hooked, + -OID.

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CORONOID PROCESS ■

-OID ■

cor·o·noid proc·ess n. [ANATOMY] 1 a flattened triangular projection above the angle of the jaw where the temporalis muscle is attached.

2 a projection from the front of the ulna forming part of the articulation of the elbow.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: coronoid from Greek (denoting something hooked) + -OID.

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-OID ■

Corp. abbr.
- (Corp) INFORMAL corporal: been abroad before, Corp?

- corporation: IBM Corp.

cor·po·ra plural form of CORPUS.

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CORPUS ■

cor·po·ral 1 n. a low-ranking noncommissioned officer in the armed forces, in particular (in the U.S. Army) an NCO ranking above private first class and below sergeant or (in the U.S. Marine Corps) an NCO ranking above lance corporal and below sergeant.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, obsolete variant of caporal, from Italian caporale, probably based on Latin corpus, corpor- 'body (of troops)', with a change of spelling in Italian due to association with capo 'head'.

cor·po·ral 2 adj. of or relating to the human body.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·po·ral·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin corporalis, from corpus, corpor- 'body'.

cor·po·ral 3 n. a cloth on which the chalice and paten are placed during the celebration of the Eucharist.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from medieval Latin corporale (pallium) 'body (cloth)', from Latin corpus, corpor- 'body'.

cor·po·ral·i·ty n. RARE material or corporeal existence.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin corporalitas, from Latin corporalis 'relating to the body' (see CORPORAL^2 ).

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CORPORAL ■

cor·po·ral pun·ish·ment n. physical punishment, such as caning or flogging.
<SPECIAL USAGE> punishment under law that includes imprisonment and death.

cor·po·rate adj. of or relating to a corporation, esp. a large company or group: airlines are very keen on their corporate identity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [LAW] (of a company or group of people) authorized to act as a single entity and recognized as such in law.

- of or shared by all the members of a group: the service emphasizes the corporate responsibility of the congregation.

■ n. a corporate company or group.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·po·rate·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin corporatus, past participle of corporare 'form into a body', from corpus, corpor- 'body'.

cor·po·rate raid·er n. a financier who makes a practice of making hostile takeover bids for companies, either to control their policies or to resell them for a profit.

cor·po·rate wel·fare n. government support or subsidy of private business, such as by tax incentives.

cor·po·ra·tion n. a company or group of people authorized to act as a single entity (legally a person) and recognized as such in law.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also municipal corporation) a group of people elected to govern a city, town, or borough.

- DATED, HUMOROUS a paunch.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin corporatio(n-), from Latin corporare 'combine in one body' (see CORPORATE).

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CORPORATE ■

cor·po·rat·ism n. the control of a state or organization by large interest groups.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·po·rat·ist adj. & n.

cor·po·ra·tize v. [trans.] convert (a state organization) into an independent commercial company.

cor·po·re·al adj. of or relating to a person's body, esp. as opposed to their spirit: he was frank about his corporeal appetites.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- having a body: a corporeal God.

- [LAW] consisting of material objects; tangible: corporeal property.

See note at TANGIBLE.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·po·re·al·i·ty n. cor·po·re·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'material'): from late Latin corporealis, from Latin corporeus 'bodily, physical', from corpus, corpor- 'body'.

cor·po·re·i·ty n. RARE the quality of having a physical body or existence.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French corporéité or medieval Latin corporeitas, from Latin corporeus 'composed of flesh', from corpus, corpor- 'body'.

cor·po·sant n. ARCHAIC an appearance of St. Elmo's fire on a mast, rigging, or other structure.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Old Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian corpo santo 'holy body'.

corps n. (pl. corps ) a main subdivision of an armed force in the field, consisting of two or more divisions: the 5th Army Corps.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a branch of a military organization assigned to a particular kind of work: the U.S. Army Medical Corps.

- a body of people engaged in a particular activity: the press corps.

- short for CORPS DE BALLET.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, from Latin corpus 'body'.

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CORPS DE BALLET ■

corps de bal·let n. [treated as sing. or pl.] the members of a ballet company who dance together as a group.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the members of the lowest rank of dancers in a ballet company.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French.

corpse n. a dead body, esp. of a human being rather than an animal. See note at BODY.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting the living body of a person or animal): alteration of CORSE by association with Latin corpus, a change that also took place in French (Old French cors becoming corps). The p was originally silent, as in French; the final e was rare before the 19th cent., but now distinguishes corpse from corps.

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CORSE ■

corps·man n. an enlisted member of a military medical unit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a member of a civilian corps, esp. a paramedical corps.

cor·pu·lent adj. (of a person) fat.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·pu·lence n. cor·pu·len·cy n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin corpulentus, from corpus 'body'.

cor pul·mo·na·le n. [MEDICINE] abnormal enlargement of the right side of the heart as a result of disease of the lungs or the pulmonary blood vessels.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin cor 'heart' and modern Latin pulmonalis (from Latin pulmo(n-) 'lung').

cor·pus n. (pl. -po·ra or -pus·es) 1 a collection of written texts, esp. the entire works of a particular author or a body of writing on a particular subject: the Darwinian corpus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a collection of written or spoken material in machine-readable form, assembled for the purpose of studying linguistic structures, frequencies, etc.

2 [ANATOMY] the main body or mass of a structure.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the central part of the stomach, between the fundus and the antrum.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a human or animal body): from Latin, literally 'body'. Sense 1 dates from the early 18th cent.

cor·pus cal·lo·sum n. (pl. cor·po·ra cal·lo·sa ) [ANATOMY] a broad band of nerve fibers joining the two hemispheres of the brain.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from CORPUS and Latin callosum, neuter of callosus 'tough'.

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CORPUS ■

cor·pus ca·ver·no·sum n. (pl. cor·po·ra ca·ver·no·sa ) [ANATOMY] either of two masses of erectile tissue forming the bulk of the penis and the clitoris.

<ORIGIN> from CORPUS and Latin cavernosum, neuter of cavernosus 'containing hollows'.

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CORPUS ■

Cor·pus Chris·ti 1 a city and port in southern Texas, on Corpus Christi Bay; pop. 277,454.

Cor·pus Chris·ti 2 a feast of the Western Christian Church commemorating the institution of the Eucharist, observed on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.

<ORIGIN> Latin, literally 'body of Christ'.

cor·pus·cle n. [BIOLOGY] a minute body or cell in an organism, esp. a red or white cell in the blood of vertebrates.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a minute particle regarded as the basic constituent of matter or light.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·pus·cu·lar adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin corpusculum 'small body', diminutive of corpus.

cor·pus de·lic·ti n. [LAW] the facts and circumstances constituting a breach of a law.
<SPECIAL USAGE> concrete evidence of a crime, such as a corpse.

<ORIGIN> Latin, literally 'body of offense'.

cor·pus lu·te·um n. (pl. cor·po·ra lu·te·a ) [ANATOMY] a hormone-secreting structure that develops in an ovary after an ovum has been discharged but degenerates after a few days unless pregnancy has begun.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from CORPUS and Latin luteum, neuter of luteus 'yellow'.

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CORPUS ■

cor·pus spon·gi·o·sum n. (pl. cor·po·ra spon·gi·o·sa ) [ANATOMY] a mass of erectile tissue alongside the corpora cavernosa of the penis and terminating in the glans.

<ORIGIN> from CORPUS and Latin spongiosum, neuter of spongiosus 'porous'.

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CORPUS ■

cor·pus stri·a·tum n. (pl. cor·po·ra stri·a·ta ) [ANATOMY] part of the basal ganglia of the brain, comprising the caudate and lentiform nuclei.

<ORIGIN> from CORPUS and Latin striatum, neuter of striatus 'grooved'.

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CORPUS ■

corr. abbr.
- correction.

- correspondence.

cor·ral n. a pen for livestock, esp. cattle or horses, on a farm or ranch.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a defensive enclosure of wagons in an encampment.

■ v. (-ralled, -ral·ling) [trans.] put or keep (livestock) in a corral.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE gather (a group of people or things) together: the organizers were corralling the crowd into marching formation.

- HISTORICAL form (wagons) into a corral.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Spanish and Old Portuguese (now curral), perhaps based on Latin currere 'to run'. Compare with KRAAL.

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KRAAL ■

cor·rect adj. free from error; in accordance with fact or truth: make sure you have been given the correct information.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- not mistaken in one's opinion or judgment; right: the government was correct to follow a course of defeating inflation.

- (of a thing or course of action) meeting the requirements of or most appropriate for a particular situation or activity: cut the top and bottom tracks to the correct length with a hacksaw.

- (of a person or their appearance or behavior) conforming to accepted social standards; proper: he was a polite man, invariably correct and pleasant with Mrs. Collins.

- conforming to a particular political or ideological orthodoxy. See also POLITICALLY CORRECT.

■ v. [trans.] put right (an error or fault): the council issued a statement correcting some points in the press reports.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- mark the errors in (a written or printed text): he corrected Dixon's writing for publication.

- tell (someone) that they are mistaken: he had assumed she was married and she had not corrected him | [as adj.] (corrected) sorry, I stand corrected.

- counteract or rectify: the problem of diminished sight can be reduced or corrected by wearing eyeglasses.

- adjust (an instrument) to function accurately or in accord with a standard: motorists can have their headlights tested and corrected at a reduced price on Saturday.

- adjust (a numerical result or reading) to allow for departure from standard conditions: data were corrected for radionuclide decay.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·rect·a·ble adj. cor·rect·ly adv. cor·rect·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a verb): from Latin correct- 'made straight, amended', from the verb corrigere, from cor- 'together' + regere 'guide'. The adjective is via French.

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POLITICALLY CORRECT ■

cor·rec·tion n. the action or process of correcting something: I checked the typing for errors and sent it back for correction.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a change that rectifies an error or inaccuracy: he made a few corrections to my homework.

- used to introduce an amended version of something one has just said: after todaycorrection, she thought grimly, after tonightshe'd never see him again.

- a quantity adjusting a numerical result to allow for a departure from standard conditions.

- a temporary reversal in an overall trend of stock market prices, esp. a brief fall during an overall increase: they're still looking for the market to go up and believe we are just going through a correction.

- punishment, esp. that of criminals in prison intended to rectify their behavior.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin correctio(n-), from corrigere 'make straight, bring into order' (see CORRECT).

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CORRECT ■

cor·rec·tion·al adj. of or relating to the punishment of criminals in a way intended to rectify their behavior: a correctional institution.

cor·rec·tion flu·id n. an opaque liquid painted over a typed or written error so as to leave a blank space for the insertion of the correct character.

cor·rec·ti·tude n. correctness, esp. conscious correctness in one's behavior.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: blend of CORRECT and RECTITUDE.

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CORRECT ■

RECTITUDE ■

cor·rec·tive adj. designed to correct or counteract something harmful or undesirable: management was informed so that corrective action could be taken.

■ n. a thing intended to correct or counteract something else: the move might be a corrective to some inefficient practices within hospitals.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·rec·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French correctif, -ive or late Latin correctivus, from Latin correct- 'brought into order', from the verb corrigere (see CORRECT).

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CORRECT ■

cor·rec·tor n. a person or thing that corrects something, esp. a computer program or electronic device with a specified function: a spelling corrector.

Cor·reg·gio Antonio Allegri da (c.1494-1534), Italian painter; born Antonio Allegri. The soft, sensual style of his devotional and mythological paintings influenced the rococo style of the 18th century.

Cor·reg·i·dor an island in the Philippines, just south of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon Island, scene of World War II battles and now a national shrine.

cor·re·late v. [intrans.] have a mutual relationship or connection, in which one thing affects or depends on another: the study found that success in the educational system correlates highly with class.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] establish such a relationship or connection between: we should correlate general trends in public opinion with trends in the content of television news.

■ n. each of two or more related or complementary things: strategies to promote health should pay greater attention to financial hardship and other correlates of poverty.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (as a noun): back-formation from CORRELATION and CORRELATIVE.

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CORRELATION ■

CORRELATIVE ■

cor·re·la·tion n. a mutual relationship or connection between two or more things: research showed a clear correlation between recession and levels of property crime.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [STATISTICS] interdependence of variable quantities.

- [STATISTICS] a quantity measuring the extent of such interdependence.

- the process of establishing a relationship or connection between two or more measures.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·re·la·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin correlatio(n-), from cor- 'together' + relatio (see RELATION).

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RELATION ■

cor·re·la·tion co·ef·fi·cient n. [STATISTICS] a number between 1 and +1 calculated so as to represent the linear dependence of two variables or sets of data. (Symbol: r.)

cor·rel·a·tive adj. having a mutual relationship; corresponding: rights, whether moral or legal, can involve correlative duties.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GRAMMAR] (of words such as neither and nor) corresponding to each other and regularly used together.

■ n. a word or concept that has a mutual relationship with another word or concept: the child's right to education is a correlative of the parent's duty to send the child to school.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·rel·a·tive·ly adv. cor·rel·a·tiv·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin correlativus, from cor- 'together' + late Latin relativus (see RELATIVE).

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RELATIVE ■

cor·re·spond v. [intrans.] 1 have a close similarity; match or agree almost exactly: the carved heads described in the poem correspond to those in the drawing; | communication is successful when the ideas in the minds of the speaker and hearer correspond.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- be analogous or equivalent in character, form, or function: the Inuit month corresponding to December was called Aagjulirvik.

- represent: digits that correspond to certain letters of the alphabet.

2 communicate by exchanging letters: Margaret corresponded with him until his death; the doctor and I corresponded for more than two decades.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French correspondre, from medieval Latin correspondere, from cor- 'together' + Latin respondere (see RESPOND).

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RESPOND ■

cor·re·spond·ence n. 1 a close similarity, connection, or equivalence: there is a simple correspondence between the distance of a focused object from the eye and the size of its image on the retina.

2 communication by exchanging letters with someone: the organization engaged in detailed correspondence with local congressmen.
<SPECIAL USAGE> letters sent or received: his wife dealt with his private correspondence.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·re·spond·en·cy n. (RARE).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin correspondentia, from correspondent- 'corresponding' (see CORRESPONDENT).

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CORRESPONDENT ■

cor·re·spond·ence course n. a course of study in which student and teachers communicate by mail.

cor·re·spond·ence prin·ci·ple [PHYSICS] n. the principle that states that for very large quantum numbers the laws of quantum theory merge with those of classical physics.

cor·re·spond·ence school n. a school offering correspondence courses.

cor·re·spond·ence the·o·ry [PHILOSOPHY] n. the theory that states that the definition or criterion of truth is that true propositions correspond to the facts.

cor·re·spond·ent n. a person who writes letters to a person or a newspaper, esp. on a regular basis: she wasn't much of a correspondent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person employed to report for a newspaper or broadcasting organization, typically on a particular subject or from a particular country: a White House correspondent.

■ adj. corresponding.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an adjective): from Old French correspondant or medieval Latin correspondent- 'corresponding', from the verb correspondere (see CORRESPOND).

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CORRESPOND ■

cor·re·spond·ing adj. 1 similar in character, form, or function: we discussed our corresponding viewpoints.
<SPECIAL USAGE> able to be matched, joined, or interlocked: he dovetailed the corresponding pieces.

2 dealing with written communication; having this responsibility: the corresponding secretary.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having an honorary association with a group, esp. at a distance (from the group's headquarters): at the last meeting, 255 academicians and lesser-ranking corresponding members were elected.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·re·spond·ing·ly adv.

cor·re·spond·ing an·gles plural n. [MATHEMATICS] the angles that occupy the same relative position at each intersection where a straight line crosses two others. If the two lines are parallel, the corresponding angles are equal.

cor·ri·da n. a bullfight.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Spanish corrida de toros 'running of bulls'.

cor·ri·dor n. a long passage in a building from which doors lead into rooms.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- BRIT. a passage along the side of a railroad car, from which doors lead into compartments.

- a belt of land between two other areas, typically having a particular feature or giving access to a particular area: the valley provides the principal wildlife corridor between the uplands and the central urban area.

- a belt of land following a road, river, or other route of passage: the Boston-to-Washington corridor.

<PHRASES> the corridors of power the senior levels of government or administration, where covert influence is regarded as being exerted and significant decisions are made. <ORIGIN> from the name of C. P. Snow's novel The Corridors of Power (1964).

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (as a military term denoting a strip of land along the outer edge of a ditch, protected by a parapet): from French, from Italian corridore, alteration (by association with corridore 'runner') of corridoio 'running place', from correre 'to run', from Latin currere. The current sense dates from the early 19th cent.

cor·rie n. (pl. -ries) a cirque, esp. one in the mountains of Scotland.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic and Irish coire 'cauldron, hollow'.

Cor·rie·dale n. a sheep of a New Zealand breed kept for both wool and meat.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after an estate in New Zealand.

cor·ri·gen·dum n. (pl. -gen·da ) a thing to be corrected, typically an error in a printed book.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: Latin, neuter gerundive of corrigere 'bring into order' (see CORRECT).

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CORRECT ■

cor·ri·gi·ble adj. capable of being corrected, rectified, or reformed.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·ri·gi·bil·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'liable to or deserving punishment'): via French from medieval Latin corrigibilis, from Latin corrigere 'to correct'.

cor·rob·o·rant adj. 1 corroborating; confirming.

2 ARCHAIC (of a medicine) invigorating; producing strength.

■ n. 1 something that corroborates.

2 ARCHAIC an invigorating medicine.

cor·rob·o·rate v. [trans.] confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding): the witness had corroborated the boy's account of the attack.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·rob·o·ra·tion n. cor·rob·o·ra·tive adj. cor·rob·o·ra·tor n. cor·rob·o·ra·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'make physically stronger'): from Latin corroborat- 'strengthened', from the verb corroborare, from cor- 'together' + roborare, from robur 'strength'.

cor·rob·o·ree n. an Australian Aboriginal dance ceremony that may take the form of a sacred ritual or an informal gathering.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY AUSTRAL. a party or other social gathering, esp. a lively one.

<ORIGIN> from Dharuk garaabara, denoting a style of dancing.

cor·rode v. [trans.] destroy or damage (metal, stone, or other materials) slowly by chemical action: acid rain poisons fish and corrodes buildings.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of metal or other materials) be destroyed or damaged in this way: over the years copper tubing corrodes.

- FIGURATIVE destroy or weaken (something) gradually: the self-centered climate corrodes ideals and concerns about social justice.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·rod·i·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin corrodere, from cor- (expressing intensive force) + rodere 'gnaw'.

cor·ro·sion n. the process of corroding metal, stone, or other materials: each aircraft part is sprayed with oil to prevent corrosion.
<SPECIAL USAGE> damage caused by such a process: engineers found the corrosion when checking the bridge.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin corrosio(n-), from Latin corrodere 'gnaw through' (see CORRODE).

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CORRODE ■

cor·ro·sive adj. tending to cause corrosion.

■ n. a corrosive substance.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·ro·sive·ly adv. cor·ro·sive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French corosif, -ive, from medieval Latin corrosivus, from Latin corros- 'gnawed through', from the verb corrodere (see CORRODE).

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CORRODE ■

cor·ro·sive sub·li·mate n. RARE another term for MERCURIC CHLORIDE.

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MERCURIC CHLORIDE ■

cor·ru·gate v. contract or cause to contract into wrinkles or folds: [intrans.] Micky's brow corrugated in a simian frown.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin corrugat- 'wrinkled', from the verb corrugare, from cor- (expressing intensive force) + rugare (from ruga 'a wrinkle').

cor·ru·gat·ed adj. (of a material, surface, or structure) shaped into alternate ridges and grooves: the roof was made of corrugated iron.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·ru·ga·tion n.

cor·ru·gat·ed pa·per n. packaging material made from layers of thick paper, the top layer of which is alternately grooved and ridged for added strength and rigidity.

cor·rupt adj. 1 having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain: unscrupulous logging companies assisted by corrupt officials.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- evil or morally depraved: the play can do no harm since its audience is already corrupt.
See note at DEPRAVED.
- ARCHAIC (of organic or inorganic matter) in a state of decay; rotten or putrid: a corrupt and rotting corpse.

2 (of a text or manuscript) debased or made unreliable by errors or alterations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a computer database or program) having errors introduced.

■ v. [trans.] 1 cause to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain: there is a continuing fear of firms corrupting politicians in the search for contracts.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- cause to become morally depraved: he has corrupted the boy.

- ARCHAIC infect; contaminate: [as adj.] (corrupting) the corrupting smell of death.

2 (often be corrupted) change or debase by making errors or unintentional alterations: Epicurus's teachings have since been much corrupted.
<SPECIAL USAGE> cause errors to appear in (a computer program or database): a program that has somehow corrupted your system files.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·rupt·er n. cor·rupt·i·bil·i·ty n. cor·rupt·i·ble adj. cor·rup·tive adj. cor·rupt·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin corruptus, past participle of corrumpere 'mar, bribe, destroy', from cor- 'altogether' + rumpere 'to break'.

cor·rup·tion n. 1 dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery: the journalist who wants to expose corruption in high places.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of making someone or something morally depraved or the state of being so: the word “addict” conjures up evil and corruption.

- ARCHAIC decay; putrefaction: the potato turned black and rotten with corruption.

2 the process by which something, typically a word or expression, is changed from its original use or meaning to one that is regarded as erroneous or debased.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the process of causing errors to appear in a computer program or database.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin corruptio(n-), from corrumpere 'mar, bribe, destroy' (see CORRUPT).

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CORRUPT ■

cor·rup·tion·ist n. one who practices or endorses corruption, esp. in politics.

cor·rupt prac·tice n. (often corrupt practices) a fraudulent activity, esp. an attempt to rig an election.

cor·sage n. 1 a spray of flowers worn pinned to a woman's clothes.

2 the upper part of a woman's dress.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (sense 2): French, from Old French cors 'body', from Latin corpus.

cor·sair n. ARCHAIC 1 a pirate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a privateer, esp. one operating along the southern coast of the Mediterranean in the 17th century.

2 a pirate ship.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French corsaire, from medieval Latin cursarius, from cursus 'a raid, plunder', special use of Latin cursus 'course', from currere 'to run'.

Corse French name for CORSICA.

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CORSICA ■

corse n. ARCHAIC a corpse.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cors 'body', from Latin corpus. Compare with CORPSE.

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CORPSE ■

cor·se·let n. 1  HISTORICAL a piece of armor covering the trunk.

2 variant spelling of CORSELETTE.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French corslet, diminutive of cors 'body'.

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CORSELETTE ■

cor·se·lette (also cor·se·let) n. a woman's foundation garment combining corset and brassière.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from corselet (see CORSELET).

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CORSELET ■

cor·set n. a woman's tightly fitting undergarment extending from below the chest to the hips, worn to shape the figure.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a similar garment worn by men or women to support a weak or injured back.

- HISTORICAL a tightly fitting laced or stiffened outer bodice or dress.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·set·ed adj. cor·set·ry n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, diminutive of cors 'body', from Latin corpus. The sense 'close-fitting undergarment' dates from the late 18th cent., by which time the sense 'bodice' had mainly historical reference.

cor·se·tière n. a woman who makes or fits corsets.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, feminine of corsetier, from corset (see CORSET).

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Cor·si·ca a mountainous island off the western coast of Italy that forms an administrative region of France; pop. 249,740; chief towns, Bastia (northern department) and Ajaccio (southern department). It was the birthplace of Napoleon I. French name CORSE.

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CORSE ■

Cor·si·can adj. of or relating to Corsica, its people, or their language.

■ n. 1 a native of Corsica.

2 the language of Corsica, which originated as a dialect of Italian.

Cor·si·ca·na a city in east central Texas, an oil center; pop. 22,911.

cor·tège n. a solemn procession, esp. for a funeral.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person's entourage or retinue.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian corteggio, from corteggiare 'attend court', from corte 'court', from Latin cohors, cohort- 'retinue'.

Cor·tes the legislative assembly of Spain and formerly of Portugal.

<ORIGIN> Spanish and Portuguese, plural of corte 'court', from Latin cohors, cohort- 'yard, retinue'.

Cor·tés (also Cor·tez) Hernando (1485-1547), first of the Spanish conquistadors. He overthrew the Aztec empire by conquering its capital, Tenochtitlán, in 1519 and by deposing its emperor, Montezuma. In 1521, he destroyed Tenochtitlán completely, established Mexico City as the capital of New Spain (now Mexico), and served briefly as its governor.

cor·tex n. (pl. -ti·ces ) [ANATOMY] the outer layer of the cerebrum (the cerebral cortex), composed of folded gray matter and playing an important role in consciousness.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an outer layer of another organ or body part such as a kidney (the renal cortex), the cerebellum, or a hair.

- [BOTANY] an outer layer of tissue immediately below the epidermis of a stem or root.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·ti·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin, literally 'bark'.

cor·ti·cate adj. [BOTANY] having a cortex, bark, or rind.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·ti·ca·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin corticatus, from cortex, cortic- 'bark'.

cortico- comb. form representing CORTEX, used esp. with reference to the adrenal and cerebral cortices: corticosterone.

<ORIGIN> from Latin cortex, cortic- 'bark'.

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CORTEX ■

cor·ti·co·fu·gal (also cor·ti·cif·u·gal ) adj. [ANATOMY] (of a nerve fiber) originating in and running from the cerebral cortex.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CORTICO- 'cortex' + Latin fugere 'run from'.

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CORTICO- ■

cor·ti·coid n. another term for CORTICOSTEROID.

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CORTICOSTEROID ■

cor·ti·co·ster·oid n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] any of a group of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex or made synthetically. There are two kinds: glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids. They have various metabolic functions and some are used to treat inflammation.

cor·ti·cos·ter·one n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex, one of the glucocorticoids.

cor·ti·co·tro·pin (also cor·ti·co·troph·in ) n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] another term for ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE.

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ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE ■

cor·ti·le n. (pl. -ti·li or -ti·les ) (in Italy) an enclosed area, typically roofless and arcaded, within or attached to a building.

<ORIGIN> Italian, derivative of corte 'court'.

cor·ti·na n. (pl. -ti·nae ) [BOTANY] (in some toadstools) a thin weblike veil extending from the edge of the cap to the stalk.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·ti·nate adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from late Latin, literally 'curtain'.

cor·ti·sol n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] another term for HYDROCORTISONE.

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HYDROCORTISONE ■

cor·ti·sone n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. One of the glucocorticoids, it is also made synthetically for use as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy agent.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from elements of its chemical name 17-hydroxy-11-dehydrocorticosterone.

co·run·dum n. extremely hard aluminum oxide, used as an abrasive. Ruby and sapphire are varieties of corundum.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Tamil kuruntam and Telugu kuruvindam.

Co·run·na a port in northwestern Spain; pop. 251,300. It was the point of departure for the armada in 1588. Spanish name LA CORUÑA.

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LA CORUÑA ■

co·rus·cant adj. POETIC/LITERARY glittering; sparkling.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin coruscant- 'vibrating, glittering', from the verb coruscare.

cor·us·cate v. [intrans.] POETIC/LITERARY (of light) flash or sparkle: the light was coruscating from the walls.

<DERIVATIVES> cor·us·ca·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Latin coruscat- 'glittered', from the verb coruscare.

cor·us·cat·ing adj. flashing; sparkling: a coruscating kaleidoscope of colors.
<SPECIAL USAGE> brilliant or striking in content or style: the play's coruscating wit.

Cor·val·lis a city in western Oregon, on the Willamette River, home to Oregon State University; pop. 49,322.

cor·vée n. HISTORICAL a day's unpaid labor owed by a vassal to his feudal lord.
<SPECIAL USAGE> forced labor exacted in lieu of taxes, in particular that on public roads.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin corrogare 'ask for, collect'. Rare in English before the late 18th cent.

cor·vette n. a small warship designed for convoy escort duty.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a sailing warship with one tier of guns.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from Dutch korf, denoting a kind of ship, + the diminutive suffix -ette.

cor·vid n. [ORNITHOLOGY] a bird of the crow family (Corvidae); a crow.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: from modern Latin Corvidae (plural), from Latin corvus 'raven'.

cor·vi·na 1 n. a variety of wine grape native to the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, used to make Valpolicella and Bardolino.

<ORIGIN> Italian (feminine adjective), literally 'raven-black'.

cor·vi·na 2 n. a marine food and game fish of the drum family, found on the Pacific coasts of California and Mexico and sometimes living in fresh water.
<INFO>  Genus Cynoscion, family Sciaenidae: two species, in particular the shortfin corvina (C. parvipennis).

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Spanish and Portuguese.

cor·vine adj. of or like a raven or crow, esp. in color.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin corvinus, from corvus 'raven'.

Cor·vus [ASTRONOMY] a small southern constellation (the Crow or Raven), south of Virgo.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Corvi ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Gamma Corvi.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

cor·y·ban·tic adj. wild; frenzied.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Corybantes, Latin name of the priests of Cybele, a Phrygian goddess of nature who performed wild dances, from Greek Korubantes + -IC.

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-IC ■

co·ryd·a·lis n. a herbaceous plant of the poppy family with spurred tubular flowers, closely related to bleeding heart and found in north temperate regions.
<INFO>  Genus Corydalis, family Fumariaceae: many species, including yellow corydalis (C. flavula) of the eastern U.S.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek korudallis 'crested lark', alluding to a similarity between the flower and the bird's spur.

cor·ymb n. [BOTANY] a flower cluster whose lower stalks are proportionally longer so that the flowers form a flat or slightly convex head.

<DERIVATIVES> co·rym·bose adj.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French corymbe or Latin corymbus, from Greek korumbos 'cluster'.

cor·y·ne·bac·te·ri·um n. (pl. -te·ri·a ) a bacterium that sometimes causes disease in humans and other animals, including diphtheria.
<INFO>  Corynebacterium

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek 'club' + BACTERIUM.

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BACTERIUM ■

cor·y·phée n. a leading dancer in a corps de ballet.

<ORIGIN> French, via Latin from Greek koruphaios 'leader of a chorus', from 'head'.

co·ry·za n. [MEDICINE] catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose, caused esp. by a cold or by hay fever.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Latin, from Greek koruza 'nasal mucus'.

cos 1 (also cos lettuce) n. another term for ROMAINE.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: named after the Aegean island of Cos, where it originated.

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ROMAINE ■

cos 2 abbr. cosine.

Co·sa Nos·tra a U.S. criminal organization resembling and related to the Mafia.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'our affair'.

Cos·by Bill (1937- ), U.S. comedian, actor, and writer; full name William Henry Cosby, Jr. He was the first African American to star in a weekly television drama ("I Spy"; 1965-68). His comedy series “The Cosby Show” 1984-92 was one of the most successful programs in television history. He wrote Fatherhood (1987) and Love and Marriage (1989).

cos·co·ro·ba swan n. a small South American swan with white plumage and bright pink legs and feet.
<INFO>  Coscoroba coscoroba, family Anatidae.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: coscoroba from the modern Latin taxonomic name, of unknown origin.

co·sec abbr. cosecant.

co·se·cant n. [MATHEMATICS] the ratio of the hypotenuse (in a right-angled triangle) to the side opposite an acute angle; the reciprocal of sine.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from modern Latin cosecant-, from CO- 'mutually' + Latin secant- 'cutting' (from the verb secare). Compare with SECANT.

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SECANT ■

co·seis·mal adj. relating to points on the earth's surface affected by an earthquake simultaneously.

■ n. a line on a map connecting such points.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CO- 'jointly' + seismal (from Greek seismos 'earthquake', from seien 'to shake').

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CO- ■

co·set n. [MATHEMATICS] a set composed of all the products obtained by multiplying each element of a subgroup in turn by one particular element of the group containing the subgroup.

cosh 1 CHIEFLY BRIT., INFORMAL n. a thick heavy stick or bar used as a weapon; a bludgeon.

■ v. [trans.] hit (someone) on the head with a cosh.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

cosh 2 [MATHEMATICS] abbr. hyperbolic cosine.

<ORIGIN> from COS^2 + -h for hyperbolic. Compare with COTH.

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COTH ■

co-sign v. 1 sign (a document) in order to guarantee a loan or other obligation: [trans.] co-sign a loan;[intrans.] see if your parents will co-sign for you.

2 [trans.] designate with two different labels or signs: original interchange numbers will be co-signed with new numbers for two years after the conversion; |U.S. 400 is co-signed with U.S. 166 for about 8 miles.

co·sig·na·to·ry (also co-sig·na·to·ry) n. a person or state signing a treaty or other document jointly with others.

Cos·i·mo de' Me·di·ci (1389-1464), Italian statesman and banker; known as Cosimo the Elder. He laid the foundations for the Medici family's power in Florence, becoming the city's ruler in 1434 and using his considerable wealth to promote the arts and learning.

co·sine n. [MATHEMATICS] the trigonometric function that is equal to the ratio of the side adjacent to an acute angle (in a right-angled triangle) to the hypotenuse.

co-sleep·ing n.the practice of sleeping in the same bed with one’s infant or young child: co-sleeping often facilitates a good breastfeeding relationship.

<DERIVATIVES> co-sleep v. (-slept) [intrans.] a more contemporary approach would be to teach parents who choose to co-sleep to do it safely.

cos·me·ceu·ti·cal n. a cosmetic that has or is claimed to have medicinal properties, esp. anti-aging ones.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: blend of cosmetic and pharmaceutical.

cos·met·ic adj. involving or relating to treatment intended to restore or improve a person's appearance: cosmetic surgery.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- designed or serving to improve the appearance of the body, esp. the face: lens designs can improve the cosmetic effect of your glasses.

- affecting only the appearance of something rather than its substance: the reform package was merely a cosmetic exercise.

■ n. (usu. cosmetics) a product applied to the body, esp. the face, to improve its appearance.

<DERIVATIVES> cos·met·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as a noun denoting the art of beautifying the body): from French cosmétique, from Greek , from kosmein 'arrange or adorn', from kosmos 'order or adornment'.

cos·me·ti·cian n. a person who sells or applies cosmetics as an occupation.

cos·me·tol·o·gy n. the professional skill or practice of beautifying the face, hair, and skin.

<DERIVATIVES> cos·me·to·log·i·cal adj. cos·me·tol·o·gist n.

cos·mic adj. of or relating to the universe or cosmos, esp. as distinct from the earth: cosmic matter.
<SPECIAL USAGE> inconceivably vast.

<DERIVATIVES> cos·mi·cal adj. cos·mi·cal·ly adv.

cos·mic dust n. small particles of matter distributed throughout space.

cos·mic ra·di·a·tion n. radiation consisting of cosmic rays.

cos·mic ray n. a highly energetic atomic nucleus or other particle traveling through space at a speed approaching that of light.

cos·mic string n. another term for STRING (sense 5).

Linked entries:

STRING ■

cosmo- comb. form of or relating to the world or the universe: cosmodrome; cosmography.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kosmos 'order, world'.

cos·mo·drome n. (in the countries of the former USSR) a launching site for spacecraft.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from COSMO- + -DROME, on the pattern of aerodrome.

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COSMO- ■

-DROME ■

cos·mo·gen·e·sis n. the origin or evolution of the universe.

<DERIVATIVES> cos·mo·ge·net·ic adj. cos·mo·gen·ic adj.

cos·mog·o·ny n. (pl. -nies) the branch of science that deals with the origin of the universe, esp. the solar system.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a theory regarding this: in their cosmogony, the world was thought to be a square, flat surface.

<DERIVATIVES> cos·mo·gon·ic adj. cos·mo·gon·i·cal adj. cos·mog·o·nist n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Greek kosmogonia, from kosmos 'order or world' + -gonia '-begetting'.

cos·mog·ra·phy n. (pl. -phies) the science that deals with the general features of the universe, including the earth. The branches of cosmography include astronomy, geography, and geology.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a description or representation of the universe or the earth.

<DERIVATIVES> cos·mog·ra·pher n. cos·mo·graph·ic adj. cos·mo·graph·i·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French cosmographie, or via late Latin from Greek kosmographia, from kosmos (see COSMOS^1 ) + -graphia 'writing'.

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COSMOS ■

cos·mo·log·i·cal ar·gu·ment n. [PHILOSOPHY] an argument for the existence of God that claims that all things in nature depend on something else for their existence (i.e., are contingent), and that the whole cosmos must therefore itself depend on a being that exists independently or necessarily. Compare with ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT and TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT.

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ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT ■

TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT ■

cos·mo·log·i·cal con·stant n. [PHYSICS] an arbitrary constant in the field equations of general relativity.

cos·mol·o·gy n. (pl. -gies) the science of the origin and development of the universe. Modern astronomy is dominated by the big bang theory, which brings together observational astronomy and particle physics.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an account or theory of the origin of the universe.

<DERIVATIVES> cos·mo·log·i·cal adj. cos·mol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French cosmologie or modern Latin cosmologia, from Greek kosmos 'order or world' + -logia 'discourse'.

cos·mo·naut n. a Russian astronaut.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from COSMOS^1 , on the pattern of astronaut and Russian kosmonavt.

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COSMOS ■

cos·mop·o·lis n. a city inhabited by people from many different countries.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek kosmos 'world' + polis 'city'.

cos·mo·pol·i·tan adj. familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures: his knowledge of French, Italian, and Spanish made him genuinely cosmopolitan.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- including people from many different countries: immigration transformed the city into a cosmopolitan metropolis.

- having an exciting and glamorous character associated with travel and a mixture of cultures: their designs became a byword for cosmopolitan chic.
See note at URBANE.
- (of a plant or animal) found all over the world.

■ n. 1 a cosmopolitan person.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a cosmopolitan organism or species.

2 a cocktail typically made with vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and lime juice.

<DERIVATIVES> cos·mo·pol·i·tan·ism n. cos·mo·pol·i·tan·ize v.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (as a noun): from COSMOPOLITE + -AN.

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COSMOPOLITE ■

-AN ■

cos·mop·o·lite n. a cosmopolitan person.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French, from Greek , from kosmos 'world' + 'citizen'.

cos·mos 1 n. (the cosmos) the universe seen as a well-ordered whole: he sat staring deep into the void, reminding himself of his place in the cosmos.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a system of thought: the new gender-free intellectual cosmos.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Greek kosmos 'order or world'.

cos·mos 2 n. an ornamental plant of the daisy family with single dahlialike flowers. Native to tropical America, it is widely grown as an ornamental.
<INFO>  Genus Cosmos, family Compositae.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kosmos in the sense 'ornament'.

COSPAR abbr. Committee on Space Research.

Cos·sack n. a member of a people of southern Russia, Ukraine, and Siberia, noted for their horsemanship and military skill.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a member of a Cossack military unit.

The Cossacks had their origins in the 15th century when refugees from religious persecution, outlaws, adventurers, and escaped serfs banded together in settlements for protection. Under the tsars they were allowed considerable autonomy in return for protecting the frontiers; with the collapse of Soviet rule, Cossack groups have reasserted their identity in both Russia and Ukraine.

■ adj. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Cossacks.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Russian kazak from Turkic, 'vagabond, nomad'; later influenced by French Cosaque (see also KAZAKH).

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KAZAKH ■

cos·set v. (-set·ed, -set·ing) [trans.] care for and protect in an overindulgent way: all her life she'd been cosseted by her family.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as a noun denoting a lamb brought up by hand, later a spoiled child): probably from Anglo-Norman French coscet 'cottager', from Old English 'cottar'.

cost v. (past and past part. cost) [trans.] 1 (of an object or an action) require the payment of (a specified sum of money) before it can be acquired or done: each issue of the magazine costs $2.25.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- cause the loss of: driving at more than double the speed limit cost the woman her driving license.

- involve (someone) in (an effort or unpleasant action): the accident cost me a visit to the doctor.

- INFORMAL be expensive for (someone): if you want to own an island, it'll cost you.

2 (past and past part. cost·ed) estimate the price of: it is their job to plan and cost a media schedule for the campaign.

■ n. an amount that has to be paid or spent to buy or obtain something: we are able to cover the cost of the event; health care costs | the tunnel has been built at no cost to the state.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the effort, loss, or sacrifice necessary to achieve or obtain something: she averted a train accident at the cost of her life.

- (costs) legal expenses, esp. those allowed in favor of the winning party or against the losing party in a suit.

<PHRASES>
□ at all costs (or at any cost) regardless of the price to be paid or the effort needed: he was anxious to avoid war at all costs.

□ at cost at cost price; without profit to the seller.

□ cost an arm and a leg see ARM^1 .

□ cost someone dearly (or dear) involve someone in a serious loss or a heavy penalty: they were really bad mistakes on my part and they cost us dearly.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French coust (noun), couster (verb), based on Latin constare 'stand firm, stand at a price'.

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ARM ■

Cos·ta Lúcio (1902-63), Brazilian architect, town planner, and architectural historian; born in France. He designed Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, in 1956.

cos·ta n. (pl. -tae ) [BOTANY] & [ZOOLOGY] a rib, midrib, or riblike structure.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ENTOMOLOGY] the main vein running along the leading edge of an insect's wing.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin.

Cos·ta Blan·ca a resort region on the Mediterranean coast of southeastern Spain.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, literally 'white coast'.

Cos·ta Bra·va a resort region on the Mediterranean coast of northeastern Spain, north of Barcelona.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, literally 'wild coast'.

cost ac·count·ing n. the recording of all the costs incurred in a business in a way that can be used to improve its management.

<DERIVATIVES> cost ac·count·ant n.

Cos·ta del Sol a resort region on the Mediterranean coast of southern Spain.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, 'coast of the sun'.

cos·tal adj. of or relating to the ribs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ANATOMY] & [ZOOLOGY] of or relating to a costa.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from modern Latin costalis, from Latin costa 'rib'.

Cos·ta Mesa a city in southwestern California, on the Pacific Ocean, south of Los Angeles; pop. 96,357.

co·star (also co-star) n. a leading actor or actress appearing in a movie, on stage, etc., with another or others of equal importance.

■ v. [intrans.] appear in a production as a costar: she costarred with Robert De Niro in the movie version.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] (of a production) include as a costar: his latest movie costars Meryl Streep.

cos·tard (also Cos·tard) n. BRIT. a cooking apple of a large ribbed variety.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC, HUMOROUS a person's head.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, from coste 'rib', from Latin costa.

Cos·ta Ri·ca a republic in Central America on the Isthmus of Panama, with coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea; pop. 3,956,000; capital, San José; language, Spanish.

Colonized by Spain in the early 16th century, Costa Rica achieved independence in 1823 and emerged as a separate country in 1838.

<DERIVATIVES> Cos·ta Ri·can adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, 'rich coast'.

cos·tate adj. [BOTANY] & [ZOOLOGY] ribbed; possessing a costa.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin costatus, from costa 'rib'.

cost-ben·e·fit adj. relating to or denoting a process that assesses the relation between the cost of an undertaking and the value of the resulting benefits: a cost-benefit analysis.

cost cen·ter n. a department or other unit within an organization to which costs may be charged for accounting purposes.

cost-ef·fec·tive adj. effective or productive in relation to its cost: the most cost-effective way to invest in the stock market.

<DERIVATIVES> cost-ef·fec·tive·ly adv. cost-ef·fec·tive·ness n.

cost-ef·fi·cient adj. another term for COST-EFFECTIVE.

<DERIVATIVES> cost-ef·fi·cien·cy n.

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COST-EFFECTIVE ■

cos·ter·mon·ger n. BRIT., DATED a person who sells goods, esp. fruit and vegetables, from a handcart in the street.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (denoting an apple seller): from COSTARD + -MONGER.

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COSTARD ■

-MONGER ■

cos·tive adj. constipated.
<SPECIAL USAGE> slow or reluctant in speech or action; unforthcoming: if he did ask her she would become costive.

<DERIVATIVES> cos·tive·ly adv. cos·tive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin constipatus 'pressed together' (see CONSTIPATED).

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CONSTIPATED ■

cost·ly adj. (-li·er, -li·est) costing a lot; expensive: major problems requiring costly repairs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> causing suffering, loss, or disadvantage: the government's biggest and most costly mistake.

<DERIVATIVES> cost·li·ness n.

cost·mar·y n. (pl. -mar·ies) an aromatic plant of the daisy family, formerly used in medicine and for flavoring ale prior to the use of hops.
<INFO>  Balsamita major, family Compositae.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from obsolete cost (via Latin from Greek kostos, via Arabic from Sanskrit , denoting an aromatic plant) + Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ (with whom it was associated in medieval times because of its medicinal qualities).

Cost·ner Kevin (1955- ), U.S. actor, director, and producer. His movies include Field of Dreams (1989), Dances with Wolves (Academy Award, 1990), JFK (1991), and Message in a Bottle (1999).

cost of liv·ing n. the level of prices relating to a range of everyday items.

cost-of-liv·ing in·dex (abbr.: CLI) n. former term for CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.

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CONSUMER PRICE INDEX ■

cost-plus adj. relating to or denoting a method of pricing a service or product in which a fixed profit factor is added to the costs.

cos·tume n. a set of clothes in a style typical of a particular country or historical period: authentic Elizabethan costumes | a Chinese woman in national costume.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a set of clothes worn by an actor or other performer for a particular role or by someone attending a masquerade: a nun's costume.

- a set of clothes, esp. a woman's ensemble, for a particular occasion or purpose; an outfit.

■ v. [trans.] dress (someone) in a particular set of clothes: an all-woman troupe elaborately costumed in clinging silver lamé.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, from Italian custume 'custom, fashion, habit', from Latin consuetudo (see CUSTOM).

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CUSTOM ■

cos·tume dra·ma (also costume play) n. a television or film production set in a particular historical period, in which the actors wear costumes typical of that period.

cos·tume jew·el·ry n. jewelry made with inexpensive materials or imitation gems.

cos·tum·er (also CHIEFLY BRIT. cos·tu·mi·er) n. a person or company that makes or supplies theatrical or fancy-dress costumes.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French costumier, from costumer 'dress in a costume' (see COSTUME).

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COSTUME ■

co·sy adj. British spelling of COZY.

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COZY ■

cot 1 n. a type of bed, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a camp bed, particularly a portable, collapsible one.

- a plain narrow bed.

- BRIT. a baby’s crib.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (originally Anglo-Indian, denoting a light bedstead): from Hindi 'bedstead, hammock'.

cot 2 n. a small shelter for livestock.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC a small, simple cottage.

<ORIGIN> Old English, of Germanic origin; compare with Old Norse kytja 'hovel'; related to COTE.

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COTE ■

cot 3 [MATHEMATICS] abbr. cotangent.

co·tan·gent n. [MATHEMATICS] (in a right-angled triangle) the ratio of the side (other than the hypotenuse) adjacent to a particular acute angle to the side opposite the angle.

cot death n. BRIT. informal term for SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME.

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SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME ■

cote n. a shelter for mammals or birds, esp. pigeons.

<ORIGIN> Old English (in the sense 'cottage'), of Germanic origin; related to COT^2 .

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COT ■

Côte d'Azur a coastal area of southeastern France, along the Mediterranean Sea, roughly coterminous with the French Riviera. It includes the towns of Cannes, Saint Tropez, Juan-les-Pins, and Antibes and the city of Nice, as well as the principality of Monaco.

Côte d'I·voire a country in West Africa, on the Gulf of Guinea; pop. 17,327,000; capital, Yamoussoukro; languages, French (official) and West African languages.

The area was explored by the Portuguese in the late 15th century. Subsequently, it was disputed over by traders from various European countries, who mainly sought ivory and slaves. Made a French protectorate in 1842, it became a fully independent republic in 1960. There was a military coup in 1999; a peace accord was signed in 2003, but the country remained unstable.

cote-har·die n. (pl. cote-har·dies) HISTORICAL a medieval close-fitting tunic with sleeves, worn by both sexes.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from cote 'coat' + hardie (feminine) 'bold'.

co·te·rie n. (pl. -ries) a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, esp. one that is exclusive of other people: a coterie of friends and advisers.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, earlier denoting an association of tenants, based on Middle Low German kote 'cote'.

co·ter·mi·nous adj. having the same boundaries or extent in space, time, or meaning: the southern frontier was coterminous with the French Congo colony.

<DERIVATIVES> co·ter·mi·nous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: alteration of CONTERMINOUS.

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CONTERMINOUS ■

coth abbr. hyperbolic cotangent.

<ORIGIN> from COT^3 + -h for hyperbolic.

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COT ■

co·thur·nus n. 1 a thick-soled boot or buskin worn by actors in Greek tragedy.

2 an elevated style of acting in classical tragic drama.

co·tid·al line n. a line on a map connecting points at which a tidal level, esp. high tide, occurs simultaneously.

co·til·lion n. 1 a dance with elaborate steps and figures, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an 18th-century French dance based on the contredanse.

- a quadrille.

2 a formal ball, esp. one at which debutantes are presented.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French cotillon, literally 'petticoat dance', diminutive of cotte, from Old French cote.

co·tin·ga n. a perching bird found in the forests of Central and South America, the male of which is frequently brilliantly colored.
<INFO>  Family Cotingidae (the cotinga family): several genera, esp. Cotinga, and numerous species. The cotinga family also includes the bellbirds, umbrellabirds, and cocks-of-the-rock, and is sometimes placed within the family Tyrannidae.

<ORIGIN> via French from Tupi cutinga.

co·to·ne·as·ter n. a small-leaved shrub of the rose family, cultivated as a hedging plant or for its bright red berries, which often remain on the plant throughout the winter.
<INFO>  Genus Cotoneaster, family Rosaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin cotoneum (see QUINCE) + -ASTER.

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QUINCE ■

-ASTER ■

Co·to·nou the largest city, chief port, and commercial and political center of Benin, on the coast of West Africa; pop. 536,830.

Co·to·pax·i the highest active volcano in the world, in the Andes in central Ecuador, that rises to 19,142 feet (5,896 m). Its name is Quechuan and means "shining peak.”

co·tri·mox·a·zole n. [MEDICINE] a mixture of the drugs sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, used to treat bacterial infections synergistically.

Cots·wold n. a sheep of a breed with fine wool, often used to produce crossbred lambs.

■ adj. of or relating to the Cotswolds.

Cots·wold Hills (also the Cots·wolds) a range of limestone hills in southwestern England.

cot·ta n. a short garment resembling a surplice, worn typically by Catholic priests and servers.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Italian; ultimately related to COAT.

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COAT ■

cot·tage n. a small simple house, typically one near a lake or beach.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a dwelling forming part of a farm establishment, used by a worker: farm cottages.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French cotage and Anglo-Latin cotagium, from COT^2 or COTE.

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COTE ■

cot·tage cheese n. soft, lumpy white cheese made from the curds of slightly soured milk.

cot·tage in·dus·try n. a business or manufacturing activity carried on in a person's home.

cot·tag·er n. a person living in a cottage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person vacationing in a cottage.

cot·tar (also cot·ter) n. HISTORICAL (in Scotland and Ireland) a farm laborer or tenant occupying a cottage in return for labor.

<ORIGIN> late Old English, from COT^2 + -AR^4 .

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COT ■

-AR ■

Cott·bus an industrial city in southeastern Germany, in the state of Brandenburg, on the Spree River; pop. 123,320.

Cot·ten Joseph (1905-94), U.S. actor. A star of Broadway, Hollywood, and television, his credits include over 60 movies, which include Citizen Kane (1941), Gaslight (1944), The Third Man (1949), and Heaven's Gate (1980).

cot·ter pin (also cot·ter) n. a metal pin used to fasten two parts of a mechanism together.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a split pin that is opened out after being passed through a hole.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

cot·ti·er n. 1 BRIT., ARCHAIC a rural laborer living in a cottage.

2 HISTORICAL an Irish peasant holding land by cottier tenure.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cotier, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to COT^2 .

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cot·ti·er ten·ure n. HISTORICAL (in Ireland) the renting of land in small portions direct to the laborers, at a rent fixed by competition.

cot·tise (also cot·ise) n. [HERALDRY] a narrow band adjacent and parallel to an ordinary such as a bend or chevron.

<DERIVATIVES> cot·tised adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French cotice 'leather thong'.

cot·ton n. 1 a soft white fibrous substance that surrounds the seeds of a tropical and subtropical plant and is used as textile fiber and thread for sewing: a cargo of cotton and wheat; | a white cotton blouse | an Indian hammock woven in colored cottons.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a thread of this fiber.

- absorbent cotton.

2 (also cotton plant) the plant that is commercially grown for this product. Oil and a protein-rich flour are also obtained from the seeds.
<INFO>  Genus Gossypium, family Malvaceae: many species and forms, including G. barbadense, which is grown in the southern U.S.

■ v. [intrans.] INFORMAL 1 (cotton on) begin to understand: he cottoned on to what I was trying to say.

2 (cotton to) have a liking for: his rivals didn't cotton to all the attention he was getting.

<DERIVATIVES> cot·ton·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French coton, from Arabic .

cot·ton bat·ting n. light, soft cotton fibers formed into layers, used esp. for filling quilts, cushions, etc.

Cot·ton Belt n. (the Cotton Belt) INFORMAL a region of the U.S. South where cotton is the historic main crop, esp. in parts of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

cot·ton cake n. compressed cotton seed, used as food for cattle.

cot·ton can·dy n. a mass of fluffy spun sugar, usually pink or white, wrapped around a stick or a paper cone.

cot·ton gin n. a machine for separating cotton from its seeds.

cot·ton grass n. a sedge that typically grows on swampy land in the northern hemisphere, producing tufts of long white silky hairs, which aid in the dispersal of the seeds.
<INFO>  Genus Eriophorum, family Cyperaceae.

cot·ton lav·en·der n. chiefly British term for LAVENDER COTTON.

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LAVENDER COTTON ■

cot·ton-leaf worm n. the larva of a migratory tropical moth that feeds on the leaves of the cotton plant and was formerly a major pest in North America.
<INFO>  Alabama argillacea, family Noctuidae.

cot·ton·mouth n. a large, dangerous semiaquatic pit viper that inhabits lowland swamps and waterways of the southeastern U.S. When threatening, it opens its mouth wide to display the white interior. Also called WATER MOCCASIN.
<INFO>  Agkistrodon piscivorus, family Viperidae.

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WATER MOCCASIN ■

cot·ton-pick·ing (also cot·ton-pick·in') adj. INFORMAL used for emphasis, esp. with disapproval or reproach: just a cotton-picking minute!; he's a cotton-pickin' liar!

cot·ton rat n. a short-tailed rat found in grassland and scrub from North America to Guyana.
<INFO>  Genus Sigmodon, family Muridae: several species.

cot·ton·seed n. the seed of the cotton plant, yielding cottonseed oil.

cot·ton stain·er n. a North American bug that feeds on cotton bolls, causing reddish staining of the fibers.
<INFO>  Genus Dysdercus, family Pyrrhocoridae, suborder Heteroptera: several species, in particular D. suturellus.

Cot·ton State a nickname for the state of ALABAMA.

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ALABAMA ■

cot·ton swab n. a small wad of absorbent cotton on a short thin stick, used for cosmetic or hygienic purposes.

cot·ton·tail n. an American rabbit that has a speckled brownish coat and a white underside to the tail.
<INFO>  Genus Sylvilagus, family Leporidae: several species.

cot·ton·wood n. a North American poplar with seeds covered in white cottony hairs.
<INFO>  Genus Populus, family Salicaceae: several species, including P. deltoides.

cot·ton wool n. 1 raw cotton.

2 British term for ABSORBENT COTTON.

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ABSORBENT COTTON ■

cot·y·le·don n. [BOTANY] an embryonic leaf in seed-bearing plants, one or more of which are the first leaves to appear from a germinating seed.

<DERIVATIVES> cot·y·le·don·ar·y adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting a patch of villi on the placenta of mammals): from Latin, 'navelwort' (which has cup-shaped leaves), from Greek 'cup-shaped cavity', from 'cup'.

cou·cal n. an ungainly long-tailed Old World bird that is a large ground-dwelling member of the cuckoo family.
<INFO>  Genus Centropus (and Coua), family Cuculidae: numerous species, including the Australasian pheasant coucal (Centropus phasianinus).

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, perhaps a blend of coucou 'cuckoo' and alouette 'lark'.

couch n. a long upholstered piece of furniture for several people to sit on.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a reclining seat with a headrest at one end on which a psychoanalyst's subject or doctor's patient lies while undergoing treatment.

■ v. [trans.] 1 (usu. be couched in) express (something) in language of a specified style: many false claims are couched in scientific jargon.

2 [intrans.] POETIC/LITERARY lie down: two creatures, couched side by side in the deep grass.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] lay down; spread out: pieces of eel couched on a bed of steaming rice.

3 ARCHAIC lower (a spear) to the position for attack.

4 [usu. as n.] (couching) CHIEFLY HISTORICAL treat (a cataract) by pushing the lens of the eye downward and backward, out of line with the pupil.

5 (in embroidery) fix (a thread) to a fabric by stitching it down flat with another thread: gold and silver threads couched by hand.

<PHRASES> on the couch undergoing psychoanalysis or psychiatric treatment.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a noun denoting something to sleep on; as a verb in the sense 'lay something down'): from Old French couche (noun), coucher (verb), from Latin collocare 'place together' (see COLLOCATE).

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COLLOCATE ■

couch·ant adj. [usu. postpositive] [HERALDRY] (of an animal) lying with the body resting on the legs and the head raised: two lions couchant.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: French, 'lying', present participle of coucher (see COUCH).

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COUCH ■

cou·chette n. a European railroad car with seats convertible into sleeping berths.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a berth in such a car.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: French, literally 'little bed', diminutive of couche 'a couch'.

couch grass n. a coarse grass with long creeping roots, which can be troublesome in lawns and gardens.
<INFO>  Genera Elymus and Agropyron, family Gramineae: several species, in particular the common couch (A. repens).

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: variant of QUITCH.

Linked entries:

QUITCH ■

couch po·ta·to n. INFORMAL a person who spends little or no time exercising and a great deal of time watching television.

cou·dé adj. relating to or denoting a telescope in which the rays are bent to a focus at a fixed point off the axis.

■ n. a telescope constructed in this way.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, literally 'bent at right angles', past participle of couder, from coude 'elbow', from Latin cubitum.

cou·gar n. a large American wild cat with a plain tawny to grayish coat, found from Canada to Patagonia. Also called MOUNTAIN LION, PUMA, PANTHER, PAINTER, or CATAMOUNT.
<INFO>  Felis concolor, family Felidae.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French couguar, abbreviation of modern Latin cuguarcarana, from Guarani guaçuarana.

Linked entries:

MOUNTAIN LION ■

PUMA ■

PANTHER ■

PAINTER ■

CATAMOUNT ■

cough v. [intrans.] expel air from the lungs with a sudden sharp sound.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an engine) make a sudden harsh noise, esp. as a sign of malfunction.

- [trans.] force (something, esp. blood) out of the lungs or throat by coughing: he coughed up bloodstained fluid.

- [trans.] (cough something out) say something in a harsh, abrupt way: he coughed out his orders.

■ n. an act or sound of coughing: she gave a discreet cough.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a condition of the respiratory organs causing coughing: he looked feverish and had a bad cough.

<PHRASAL VERB> cough something up (or cough up) give something reluctantly, esp. money or information that is due or required.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: of imitative origin; related to Dutch kuchen 'to cough' and German keuchen 'to pant'.

cough drop n. a medicated lozenge sucked to relieve a cough or sore throat.

cough syr·up n. liquid medicine taken either to suppress or expectorate a cough.

could modal verb past of CAN^1 .
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used to indicate possibility: they could be right; | I would go if I could afford it.

- used in making polite requests: could I use the phone?

- used in making suggestions: you could always phone him.

- used to indicate annoyance because of something that has not been done: they could have told me!

- used to indicate a strong inclination to do something: he irritates me so much that I could scream.

Linked entries:

CAN ■

could·n't contraction of could not.

couldst (also could·est ) auxiliary v. ARCHAIC second person singular of COULD.

Linked entries:

COULD ■

cou·lee n. 1 a deep ravine.

2 a lava flow.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French coulée '(lava) flow', from couler 'to flow', from Latin colare 'to strain or flow', from colum 'strainer'.

cou·li·biac n. a Russian fish pie typically made with salmon or sturgeon, hard-boiled eggs, mushrooms, and herbs, in a puff pastry shell.

<ORIGIN> from Russian kulebyaka.

cou·lis n. (pl. same) a thin fruit or vegetable purée, used as a sauce.

<ORIGIN> French, from couler 'to flow'.

cou·lisse n. 1 a flat piece of scenery at the side of the stage in a theater.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the coulisses) the spaces between these pieces of scenery; the wings.

2 a groove, or a grooved timber, in which a movable partition slides up and down.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, feminine of coulis 'sliding', based on Latin colare 'to flow'.

cou·loir n. a steep, narrow gully on a mountainside.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, 'gully or corridor', from couler 'to flow'.

cou·lomb (abbr.: C) n. [PHYSICS] the SI unit of electric charge, equal to the quantity of electricity conveyed in one second by a current of one ampere.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736-1806), French military engineer.

Cou·lomb's law [PHYSICS] a law stating that like charges repel and opposite charges attract, with a force proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: named after C.-A. de Coulomb (see COULOMB).

Linked entries:

COULOMB ■

coul·ter (also col·ter) n. a vertical cutting blade fixed in front of a plowshare.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the part of a seed drill that makes the furrow for the seed.

cou·ma·rin n. [CHEMISTRY] a vanilla-scented compound found in many plants, formerly used for flavoring food.
<INFO>  A bicyclic ketone; chem. formula: C_9H_6O_2.

<SPECIAL USAGE> any derivative of this.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French coumarine, from coumarou, via Portuguese and Spanish from Tupi cumarú 'tonka bean'.

cou·ma·rone n. [CHEMISTRY] an organic compound present in coal tar, used to make thermoplastic resins chiefly for paints and varnishes.
<INFO>  A bicyclic compound with fused benzene and furan rings; chem. formula: C_8H_6O.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from COUMARIN + -ONE.

Linked entries:

COUMARIN ■

-ONE ■

coun·cil n. an advisory, deliberative, or legislative body of people formally constituted and meeting regularly: an official human rights council.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a body of people elected to manage the affairs of a city, county, or other municipal district.

- an ecclesiastical assembly.

- an assembly or meeting for consultation or advice: that evening, she held a family council.

<ORIGIN> Old English (in the sense 'ecclesiastical assembly'): from Anglo-Norman French cuncile, from Latin concilium 'convocation, assembly', from con- 'together' + calare 'summon'. Compare with COUNSEL.

Linked entries:

COUNSEL ■

Coun·cil Bluffs an industrial and commercial city in southwestern Iowa, on the Missouri River, opposite Omaha in Nebraska; pop. 58,268.

Coun·cil for Mu·tu·al Ec·o·nom·ic As·sis·tance HISTORICAL fuller form of COMECON.

<ORIGIN> translating Russian .

Linked entries:

COMECON ■

coun·cil·man n. (pl. -men) a person, esp. a man, who is a member of a council, esp. a municipal one.

Coun·cil of Chal·ce·don, Coun·cil of Eu·rope, etc. see CHALCEDON, COUNCIL OF; EUROPE, COUNCIL OF, etc.

Linked entries:

CHALCEDON, COUNCIL OF ■

EUROPE, COUNCIL OF ■

coun·cil of min·is·ters n. an administrative body that advises the chief executive or head of state.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (Council of Ministers) the policymaking body of the European Economic Community.

coun·cil of war n. a gathering of military officers in wartime.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a meeting held to plan a response to an emergency.

coun·ci·lor (also CHIEFLY BRIT. coun·cil·lor) n. a member of a council.

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ci·lor·ship n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: alteration of COUNSELOR, by association with COUNCIL.

<USAGE>
On the difference between councilor and counselor, see usage at COUNSELOR.

Linked entries:

COUNSELOR ■

COUNCIL ■

COUNSELOR ■

coun·cil·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en) a woman who is a member of a council, esp. a municipal one.

coun·sel n. 1 advice, esp. that given formally.
<SPECIAL USAGE> consultation, esp. to seek or give advice.

2 (pl. same) the lawyer or lawyers conducting a case: the counsel for the defense.

■ v. (-seled, -sel·ing; CHIEFLY BRIT. -selled, -sel·ling) [trans.] give advice to (someone): he was counseled by his supporters to return to Germany.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- give professional psychological help and advice to (someone): he was being counseled for depression.

- recommend (a course of action): the athlete's coach counseled caution.

<PHRASES>
□ keep one's own counsel say nothing about what one believes, knows, or plans: she doubted what he said but kept her own counsel.

□ take counsel discuss a problem: the party leader and chairman took counsel together.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French counseil (noun), conseiller (verb), from Latin consilium 'consultation, advice', related to consulere (see CONSULT). Compare with COUNCIL.

Linked entries:

CONSULT ■

COUNCIL ■

coun·sel·ing (also CHIEFLY BRIT. coun·sel·ling) n. the provision of assistance and guidance in resolving personal, social, or psychological problems and difficulties, esp. by a professional: bereavement counseling.

coun·se·lor (also CHIEFLY BRIT. coun·sel·lor) n. 1 a person trained to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems: a marriage counselor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [often with adj.] a person who gives advice on a specified subject: a debt counselor.

2 a person who supervises children at a camp.

3 a trial lawyer.

4 a senior officer in the diplomatic service.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the general sense 'adviser'): from Old French conseiller, from Latin consiliarius, and Old French conseillour, from Latin consiliator, both from consilium 'consultation or advice'.

<USAGE>
A counselor is someone who gives advice or counsel, esp. an attorney. A councilor is a member of a council, such as a town or city council. Confusion arises because many counselors sit on councils, and councilors are often called on to give counsel.

count 1 v. 1 [trans.] determine the total number of (a collection of items): I started to count the stars I could see; they counted up their change.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] recite numbers in ascending order, usually starting at the number one: hold the position as you count to five.

- [intrans.] (count down) recite or display numbers backward to zero to indicate the time remaining before the launch of a rocket or the start of an operation: the floor manager pointed at the camera and counted down.

- [intrans.] (count down) prepare for a significant event in the short time remaining before it: with more orders expected, the company is counting down to a bumper Christmas.

2 [trans.] take into account; include: the staff has shrunk to four, or five if you count the summer intern.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (count someone in) include someone in an activity or the plans for it: if the project gets started, count me in.

- consider (someone or something) to possess a specified quality or fulfill a specified role: she met some rebuffs from people she had counted as her friends; | I count myself fortunate to have known him.

- [intrans.] be regarded as possessing a specified quality or fulfilling a specified role: the rebate counts as taxable income.

3 [intrans.] be significant: it did not matter what the audience thoughtit was the critics that counted.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a factor) play a part in influencing opinion for or against someone or something: he hopes his sportsmanlike attitude will count in his favor.

- (count for) be worth (a specified amount): he has no power base and his views count for little.

- (count toward) be included in an assessment of (a final result or amount): reduced rate contributions do not count toward your pension.

- (count on/upon) rely on: whatever you're doing, you can count on me.

■ n. 1 an act of determining the total number of something: at the last count, fifteen applications were still outstanding; the party's only candidate was eliminated at the first count.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the total determined by such an action: there was a moderate increase in the white cell count in both patients.

2 an act of reciting numbers in ascending order, up to the specified number: hold the position for five counts; hold it for a count of seven.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BOXING] an act of reciting numbers up to ten by the referee when a boxer is knocked down, the boxer being considered knocked out if still down when ten is reached.

- [BASEBALL] the number of balls and strikes that have been charged to the batter, as recalculated with each pitch: the count on Gwynn is 1 ball and 2 strikes.

3 a point for discussion or consideration: the program remained vulnerable on a number of counts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] a separate charge in an indictment: he pleaded guilty to five counts of murder.

4 the measure of the fineness of a yarn expressed as the weight of a given length or the length of a given weight.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a measure of the fineness of a woven fabric expressed as the number of warp or weft threads in a given length.

<PHRASES>
□ beat the count (of a boxer who has been knocked down) get up before the referee counts to ten.

□ count one's blessings be grateful for what one has.

□ count the cost calculate the consequences of something, typically a careless or foolish action.

□ count the days (or hours) be impatient for time to pass: they counted the days until they came home on leave.

□ count (something) on the fingers of one hand used to emphasize the small number of a particular thing: I could count on the fingers of one hand the men I know who are desperate to experience fatherhood.

□ count (one's) pennies see PENNY.

□ count sheep see SHEEP.

□ don't count your chickens before they're hatched PROVERB don't be too confident in anticipating success or good fortune before it is certain: I wouldn't count your chickensI've agreed to sign the contract but that's all I've agreed to.

□ down (or BRIT. out) for the count [BOXING] defeated by being knocked to the canvas and unable to rise within ten seconds.
- unconscious or soundly asleep.

- defeated.

□ keep count (or a count) take note of the number or amount of something: you can protect yourself by keeping a count of what you drink.

□ lose count forget how many of something there are, esp. because the number is so high: I've lost count of the hundreds of miles I've covered.

□ take the count [BOXING] be knocked out.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  count someone out 1 complete a count of ten seconds over a fallen boxer to indicate defeat.

2 INFORMAL exclude someone from an activity or the plans for it: if this is a guessing game, you can count me out.

3 (in children's games) select a player for dismissal or a special role by using a counting rhyme.

□  count something out take items one by one from a stock of something, esp. money, keeping a note of how many one takes: opening the wallet, I counted out 19 dollars.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a noun): from Old French counte (noun), counter (verb), from the verb computare 'calculate' (see COMPUTE).

Linked entries:

PENNY ■

SHEEP ■

COMPUTE ■

count 2 n. a European nobleman whose rank corresponds to that of an English earl.

<DERIVATIVES> count·ship n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French conte, from Latin comes, comit- 'companion, overseer, attendant' (in late Latin 'person holding a state office'), from com- 'together with' + it- 'gone' (from the verb ire 'go').

count·a·ble adj. able to be counted.

count·down n. [usu. in sing.] an act of counting numerals in reverse order to zero, esp. to time the last seconds before the launching of a rocket or missile: the launch crews would begin their final countdown.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (often countdown to) the final moments before a significant event and the procedures carried out during this time: it is hard to imagine the countdown to war continuing without an intensification of diplomacy.

- a digital display that counts down.

coun·te·nance n. 1 a person's face or facial expression: his impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance give little away.

2 support: she was giving her specific countenance to the occasion.

■ v. [trans.] admit as acceptable or possible: he was reluctant to countenance the use of force.

<PHRASES>
□ keep one's countenance maintain one's composure, esp. by refraining from laughter.

□ keep someone in countenance help someone to remain calm and confident: to keep herself in countenance she opened her notebook.

□ out of countenance disconcerted or unpleasantly surprised: I put him clean out of countenance just by looking at him.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French contenance 'bearing, behavior', from contenir (see CONTAIN). The early sense was 'bearing, demeanor', also 'facial expression', hence 'the face'.

Linked entries:

CONTAIN ■

coun·ter 1 n. 1 a long flat-topped fixture in a store or bank across which business is conducted with customers.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a similar structure used for serving food and drinks in a cafeteria or bar.

- a countertop.

2 an apparatus used for counting: the counter tells you how many pictures you have taken.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who counts something, for example votes in an election.

- [PHYSICS] an apparatus used for counting individual ionizing particles or events.

3 a small disk used as a place marker or for keeping the score in board games.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a token representing a coin.

<PHRASES>
□ behind the counter serving in a store or bank: ask the young man behind the counter.

□ over the counter by ordinary retail purchase, with no need for a prescription or license: [as adj.] over-the-counter medicines.
- (of share transactions) taking place outside the stock exchange system.

□ under the counter (or table) (with reference to goods bought or sold) surreptitiously and typically illegally: certain labs have been peddling this drug under the counter | [as adj.] an under-the-counter deal.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (sense 3): from Old French conteor, from medieval Latin computatorium, from Latin computare (see COMPUTE).

Linked entries:

COMPUTE ■

coun·ter 2 v. [trans.] speak or act in opposition to: the second argument is more difficult to counter.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] respond to hostile speech or action: “What would you like me to do about it ?” she countered

- [intrans.] [BOXING] give a return blow while parrying: he countered with a left hook.

■ adv. (counter to) in the opposite direction to or in conflict with: some actions by the authorities ran counter to the call for leniency.

■ adj. responding to something of the same kind, esp. in opposition. See also COUNTER-.

■ n. 1 [usu. in sing.] a thing that opposes or prevents something else: the stimulus to employers' organization was partly a counter to growing union power.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an answer to an argument or criticism: he anticipates an objection and plans his counter.

- [BOXING] a blow given while parrying; a counterpunch.

2 the curved part of the stern of a ship projecting aft above the waterline.

3 [PRINTING] the white space enclosed by a letter such as O or c.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French contre, from Latin contra 'against', or directly from COUNTER-.

Linked entries:

COUNTER- ■

COUNTER- ■

coun·ter 3 n. the back part of a shoe or boot, enclosing the heel.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: abbreviation of counterfort 'buttress', from French contrefort.

coun·ter- prefix denoting opposition, retaliation, or rivalry: counterattack; counterespionage.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- denoting movement or effect in the opposite direction: counterbalance; counterpoise.

- denoting correspondence, duplication, or substitution: counterpart; counterpoint.

<ORIGIN> from Anglo-Norman French countre-, Old French contre, from Latin contra 'against'.

coun·ter·act v. [trans.] act against (something) in order to reduce its force or neutralize it: should we deliberately intervene in the climate system to counteract global warming?

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ter·ac·tion n. coun·ter·ac·tive adj.

coun·ter·at·tack n. an attack made in response to one by an enemy or opponent.

■ v. [intrans.] attack in response: as deputies tried to dislodge him, he counterattacked by forcing through elections.

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ter-at·tack·er n.

coun·ter·bal·ance n. a weight that balances another weight.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a factor having the opposite effect to that of another and so preventing it from exercising a disproportionate influence: his restoration to power was intended as a counterbalance to his rival's influence.

■ v. [trans.] (of a weight) balance (another weight).
<SPECIAL USAGE> neutralize or cancel by exerting an opposite influence: the extra cost of mail order may be counterbalanced by its convenience.

coun·ter·blow n. a blow given in return.

coun·ter·bore n. a drilled hole that has a flat-bottomed enlargement at its mouth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a drill whose bit has a uniform smaller diameter near the tip, for drilling counterbores in one operation.

■ v. [trans.] drill a counterbore in (an object).

coun·ter·change v. [trans.] 1 change (places or parts); interchange.

2 POETIC/LITERARY checker with contrasting colors.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [HERALDRY] interchange the tinctures of (a charge) with that of a divided field.

■ n. change that is equivalent in degree but opposite in effect to a previous change.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a heraldic term): from French contrechanger, from contre (expressing substitution) + changer 'to change'.

coun·ter·charge n. an accusation made in turn by someone against their accuser: charges and countercharges concerning producers, quotas, and affidavits.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a charge by police or an armed force in response to one made against them.

count·er·check n. 1 a second check for security or accuracy.

2 a restraint.

■ v. [trans.] ARCHAIC stop (something) by acting to cancel or counteract it: the king with his own hand wrote to countercheck his former decree.

coun·ter·claim n. a claim made to rebut a previous claim.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] a claim made by a defendant against the plaintiff.

■ v. [intrans.] [CHIEFLY LAW] make a counterclaim for something.

coun·ter·clock·wise adv. & adj. in the opposite direction to the way in which the hands of a clock move around.

coun·ter·con·di·tion·ing n. a technique employed in animal training, and in the treatment of phobias and similar conditions in humans, in which behavior incompatible with a habitual undesirable pattern is induced. Compare with DECONDITION (sense 2).

Linked entries:

DECONDITION ■

coun·ter·cul·ture n. a way of life and set of attitudes opposed to or at variance with the prevailing social norm: the idealists of the 60s counterculture.

coun·ter·cur·rent n. a current flowing in an opposite direction to another.

■ adv. in or with opposite directions of flow.

coun·ter·es·pi·o·nage n. activities designed to prevent or thwart spying by an enemy.

coun·ter·fac·tu·al [PHILOSOPHY] adj. relating to or expressing what has not happened or is not the case.

■ n. a counterfactual conditional statement (e.g., If kangaroos had no tails, they would topple over).

coun·ter·feit adj. made in exact imitation of something valuable or important with the intention to deceive or defraud: two men were remanded on bail on a charge of passing counterfeit $10 bills. See note at SPURIOUS.
<SPECIAL USAGE> pretended; sham: the filmmakers created a counterfeit world using smoke and mirrors.

■ n. a fraudulent imitation of something else; a forgery: he knew the tapes to be counterfeits.

■ v. [trans.] imitate fraudulently: my signature is extremely hard to counterfeit.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- pretend to feel or possess (an emotion or quality): no pretense could have counterfeited such terror.

- POETIC/LITERARY resemble closely: sleep counterfeited Death so well.

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ter·feit·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a verb): from Anglo-Norman French countrefeter, from Old French contrefait, past participle of contrefaire, from Latin contra- 'in opposition' + facere 'make'.

coun·ter·foil n. CHIEFLY BRIT. the part of a check, receipt, ticket, or other document that is torn off and kept as a record by the person issuing it.

coun·ter·in·sur·gen·cy n. [usu. as adj.] military or political action taken against the activities of guerrillas or revolutionaries: a counterinsurgency force.

coun·ter·in·tel·li·gence n. activities designed to prevent or thwart spying, intelligence gathering, and sabotage by an enemy or other foreign entity.

coun·ter·in·tu·i·tive adj. contrary to intuition or to common-sense expectation (but often nevertheless true).

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ter·in·tu·i·tive·ly adv.

coun·ter·ir·ri·tant n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL something such as heat or an ointment that is used to produce surface irritation of the skin, thereby counteracting underlying pain or discomfort.

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ter·ir·ri·ta·tion n.

coun·ter·mand v. [trans.] revoke (an order): an order to arrest the strike leaders had been countermanded.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- cancel an order for (goods): she decided she had been extravagant and countermanded the cream.

- revoke an order issued by (another person): he was already countermanding her.

- declare (voting) invalid: the election commission has countermanded voting on the grounds of intimidation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French contremander (verb), contremand (noun), from medieval Latin contramandare, from contra- 'against' + mandare 'to order'.

coun·ter·march v. [intrans.] march in the opposite direction or back along the same route.

■ n. an act or instance of marching in this way.

coun·ter·mark n. CHIEFLY BRIT. an additional mark placed on something already marked, typically for increased security.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a second watermark.

coun·ter·meas·ure n. an action taken to counteract a danger or threat.

coun·ter·mel·o·dy n. (pl. -dies) a subordinate melody accompanying a principal one.

coun·ter·mine [MILITARY] n. an excavation dug to intercept another dug by an enemy.

■ v. [trans.] dig a countermine against.

coun·ter·move n. a move or other action made in opposition to another.

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ter·move·ment n.

coun·ter·of·fen·sive n. an attack made in response to one from an enemy, typically on a large scale or for a prolonged period.

coun·ter·of·fer n. an offer made in response to another.

coun·ter·pane n. DATED a bedspread.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: alteration of COUNTERPOINT, from Old French contrepointe, based on medieval Latin culcitra puncta 'quilted mattress' (puncta, literally meaning 'pricked', from the verb pungere). The change in the ending was due to association with PANE in an obsolete sense 'cloth'.

Linked entries:

COUNTERPOINT ■

PANE ■

coun·ter·part n. 1 a person or thing holding a position or performing a function that corresponds to that of another person or thing in another place: the minister held talks with his French counterpart.

2 [LAW] one of two or more copies of a legal document.

coun·ter·plot n. a plot intended to thwart another plot.

■ v. (-plot·ted, -plot·ting) [intrans.] devise a counterplot.

coun·ter·point n. 1 [MUSIC] the art or technique of setting, writing, or playing a melody or melodies in conjunction with another, according to fixed rules.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a melody played in conjunction with another.

2 an argument, idea, or theme used to create a contrast with the main element: I have used my interviews with parents as a counterpoint to a professional judgment

■ v. [trans.] 1 [MUSIC] add counterpoint to (a melody): the orchestra counterpoints the vocal part.

2 (often be counterpointed) emphasize by contrast: the cream walls and maple floors are counterpointed by black accents.
<SPECIAL USAGE> compensate for: the story's fanciful excesses are counterpointed with some sharp and unsentimental dialogue.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French contrepoint, from medieval Latin contrapunctum '(song) pricked or marked over against (the original melody)', from contra- 'against' + punctum, from pungere 'to prick'.

coun·ter·poise n. a factor, force, or influence that balances or neutralizes another: money is a good counterpoise to beauty; they see the power of Brussels as a counterpoise to that of London.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ARCHAIC a state of equilibrium.

- a counterbalancing weight.

■ v. [trans.] have an opposing and balancing effect on: our ideal of what God can do in our lives is counterpoised by the actual human condition we are in.
<SPECIAL USAGE> bring into contrast: the stories counterpoise a young recruit with an old-timer.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French contrepois, from contre 'against' + pois from Latin pensum 'weight'. Compare with POISE^1 . The verb, originally counterpeise, from Old French contrepeser, was altered under the influence of the noun in the 16th cent.

Linked entries:

POISE ■

coun·ter·pose v. [trans.] set against or in opposition to.

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ter·po·si·tion n.

coun·ter·pro·duc·tive adj. having the opposite of the desired effect: they believe they are helping animals but their extremist behavior is actually counterproductive.

coun·ter·punch [BOXING] n. a punch thrown in return for one received.

■ v. [intrans.] throw a counterpunch.

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ter·punch·er n.

Coun·ter-Ref·or·ma·tion the reform of the Church of Rome in the 16th and 17th centuries that was stimulated by the Protestant Reformation.

Measures to oppose the spread of the Reformation were decided on at the Council of Trent (1545-63), and the Jesuit order became the spearhead of the Counter-Reformation, both within Europe and abroad. Although most of northern Europe remained Protestant, southern Germany and Poland were brought back to the Roman Catholic Church.

coun·ter·rev·o·lu·tion n. a revolution opposing a former one or reversing its results.

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ter·rev·o·lu·tion·ar·y adj. & n.

coun·ter·ro·tate v. [intrans.] rotate in opposite directions, esp. about the same axis.

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ter·ro·ta·tion n.

coun·ter·scarp n. the outer wall of a ditch in a fortification. Compare with SCARP.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French contrescarpe, from Italian controscarpa; compare with SCARP.

Linked entries:

SCARP ■

SCARP ■

coun·ter·shad·ing n. [ZOOLOGY] protective coloration of some animals in which parts normally in shadow are light and those exposed to the sky are dark.

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ter·shad·ed adj.

coun·ter·shaft n. a machine driveshaft that transmits motion from the main shaft to where it is required, such as the drive axle in a vehicle.

coun·ter·sign v. [trans.] add a signature to (a document already signed by another person): each check had to be signed and countersigned.

■ n. ARCHAIC a signal or password given in reply to a soldier on guard.

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ter·sig·na·ture n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (as a noun): from French contresigner (verb), contresigne (noun), from Italian contrassegno, based on Latin signum 'sign'.

coun·ter·sink v. (past and past part. -sunk ) [trans.] enlarge and bevel the rim of (a drilled hole) so that a screw, nail, or bolt can be inserted flush with the surface.
<SPECIAL USAGE> drive (a screw, nail, or bolt) into such a hole.

coun·ter·spy n. (pl. -spies) a spy engaged in counterespionage.

coun·ter·stain [BIOLOGY] n. an additional dye used in a microscopy specimen to produce a contrasting background or to make clearer the distinction between different kinds of tissue.

■ v. [trans.] treat (a specimen) with a counterstain.

coun·ter·sto·ry n. an alternative or opposing narrative or explanation.

coun·ter·sub·ject n. [MUSIC] a second or subsidiary subject, esp. accompanying the subject or its answer in a fugue.

coun·ter·ten·or n. [MUSIC] the highest male adult singing voice (sometimes distinguished from the male alto voice by its strong, pure tone).
<SPECIAL USAGE> a singer with such a voice.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French contre-teneur, from obsolete Italian contratenore, based on Latin tenor (see TENOR^1 ). Compare with CONTRALTO.

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TENOR ■

CONTRALTO ■

coun·ter·ter·ror·ism n. political or military activities designed to thwart terrorism.

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ter·ter·ror·ist n. & adj.

coun·ter·top n. a flat surface for working on, esp. in a kitchen.

coun·ter·trade n. international trade by exchange of goods rather than by currency purchase.

coun·ter·trans·fer·ence n. [PSYCHOANALYSIS] the emotional reaction of the analyst to the subject's contribution. Compare with TRANSFERENCE.

Linked entries:

TRANSFERENCE ■

coun·ter·vail v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (countervailing) offset the effect of (something) by countering it with something of equal force: the dominance of the party was mediated by a number of countervailing factors.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'be equivalent to in value, compensate for'): from Anglo-Norman French contrevaloir, from Latin contra valere 'be of worth against'.

coun·ter·vail·ing du·ty n. an import tax imposed on certain goods in order to prevent dumping or counter export subsidies.

coun·ter·weight n. another term for COUNTERBALANCE.

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COUNTERBALANCE ■

count·ess n. the wife or widow of a count or earl.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a woman holding the rank of count or earl in her own right.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French contesse, from late Latin comitissa, feminine of comes (see COUNT^2 ).

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COUNT ■

coun·ti·an n. an inhabitant of a particular county: a Sussex Countian.

count·ing prep. taking account of when reaching a total; including: there were three of us in the family, or four counting my pet rabbit; the college had 139 employees, not counting those engaged in routine clerical work.

count·ing·house n. HISTORICAL an office or building in which the accounts and money of a person or company were kept.

count·less adj. too many to be counted; very many: she'd apologized countless times before.

count noun n. [GRAMMAR] a noun that can form a plural and, in the singular, can be used with the indefinite article (e.g., books, a book). Contrasted with MASS NOUN.

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MASS NOUN ■

count pal·a·tine n. (pl. counts pal·a·tine) HISTORICAL a feudal lord having royal authority within a region of a kingdom.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a high official of the Holy Roman Empire with royal authority within his domain.

<ORIGIN> see PALATINE^1 .

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PALATINE ■

coun·tri·fied (also coun·try·fied) adj. reminiscent or characteristic of the country, esp. in being unsophisticated: a countrified cottage garden; her tweeds were far too countrified.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: past participle of countrify 'make rural'.

coun·try n. (pl. -tries) 1 a nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory: the country's increasingly precarious economic position.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the country) the people of a nation: the whole country took to the streets.

- the land of a person's birth or citizenship: both my native and adopted countries are at war with yours.

2 (often the country) districts and small settlements outside large towns, cities, or the capital: the airfield is right out in the country | [as adj.] a country lane.

3 an area or region with regard to its physical features: a tract of wild country.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a region associated with a particular person, esp. a writer, or with a particular work: Steinbeck country includes the Monterey Peninsula.

4 short for COUNTRY MUSIC.

<PHRASES> across country not keeping to roads: their route was across country, through fields of corn.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cuntree, from medieval Latin contrata (terra) '(land) lying opposite', from Latin contra 'against, opposite'.

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COUNTRY MUSIC ■

coun·try and west·ern n. another term for COUNTRY MUSIC [as adj.] country-and-western singer.

Linked entries:

COUNTRY MUSIC ■

coun·try blues n. a simple form of blues in which the singer is accompanied by an acoustic guitar.

coun·try club n. a club with sporting and social facilities, set in a suburban area.

coun·try cous·in n. a person with an unsophisticated and provincial appearance or manners.

coun·try dance n. a traditional type of social English dance, in particular one performed by couples facing each other in long lines.

coun·try·fied adj. variant spelling of COUNTRIFIED.

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COUNTRIFIED ■

coun·try gen·tle·man n. CHIEFLY BRIT. a rich man of good social standing who owns and lives on an estate in a rural area.
- an Englishman who owns land in the countryside and is considered a member of the gentry.

coun·try ham n. a ham that is dry-cured with salt before smoking.

coun·try house n. CHIEFLY BRIT. a large house in the country, typically the home of a wealthy or aristocratic family.

coun·try·man n. (pl. -men) 1 BRIT. a person living or born in a rural area, esp. one engaged in a typically rural occupation.

2 a person from the same country or region as someone else: she followed in the tradition of her countrymen; they trust a fellow countryman.

coun·try mile n. INFORMAL a very long way: he hit the ball a country mile.

coun·try mu·sic n. a form of popular music originating in the rural southern U.S. It is traditionally a mixture of ballads and dance tunes played characteristically on fiddle, guitar, steel guitar, drums, and keyboard. Also called COUNTRY AND WESTERN.

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COUNTRY AND WESTERN ■

coun·try·pol·i·tan (also Coun·try·pol·i·tan) n. a type of country music that resembles pop music, usually characterized by orchestrated arrangements: [usu. as modifier] a slick countrypolitan ballad.

■ adj. relating to or denoting an architectural style that combines country charm with sophistication.

<ORIGIN> on the pattern of cosmopolitan.

coun·try rock 1 n. [GEOLOGY] the rock that encloses a mineral deposit, igneous intrusion, or other feature.

coun·try rock 2 n. a type of popular music that is a blend of rock and country music.

coun·try seat n. BRIT. a large country house and estate belonging to an aristocratic family.

coun·try·side n. the land and scenery of a rural area: they explored the surrounding countryside.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the inhabitants of such an area: the political influence of the countryside remains strong.

coun·try·wide adj. & adv. extending throughout a nation: [as adj.] a countrywide tour | [as adv.] traveling countrywide.

coun·try·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en) 1 a woman living or born in a rural area, esp. one engaged in a typically rural occupation.

2 a woman from the same country or district as someone else: a fellow countrywoman from Ohio.

coun·ty n. (pl. -ties) (in the U.S.) a political and administrative division of a state, providing certain local governmental services.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a territorial division of some countries, forming the chief unit of local administration.

- [treated as sing. or pl.] the people of such a territorial division collectively.

-

<DERIVATIVES> coun·ty·wide adj. & adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French conte, from Latin comitatus, from comes, comit- (see COUNT^2 ). The word seems earliest to have denoted a meeting held periodically to transact the business of a shire.

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COUNT ■

coun·ty bor·ough n. (in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) a large town formerly having the administrative status of a county.

coun·ty court n. a court in some states with civil and criminal jurisdiction for a given county.

coun·ty crick·et n. first-class cricket played in the UK between the eighteen professional teams contesting the County Championship.

Coun·ty Pal·a·tine HISTORICAL (in England and Ireland) a county in which royal privileges and exclusive rights of jurisdiction were held by its earl or lord.

<ORIGIN> see PALATINE^1 .

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PALATINE ■

coun·ty seat n. the town that is the governmental center of a county.

coup n. (pl. coups ) 1 (also coup d'é·tat ) a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government: he was overthrown in an army coup.

2 a notable or successful stroke or move: it was a major coup to get such a prestigious contract.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an unusual or unexpected but successful tactic in card play.

3 a contusion caused by contact of the brain with the skull at the point of trauma. Compare with CONTRECOUP.

4 HISTORICAL (among North American Indians) an act of touching an armed enemy in battle as a deed of bravery, or an act of first touching an item of the enemy's in order to claim it.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French, from medieval Latin colpus 'blow' (see COPE^1 ).

Linked entries:

CONTRECOUP ■

COPE ■

coup de fou·dre n. (pl. coups de fou·dre pronunc. same) a sudden unforeseen event, in particular an instance of love at first sight.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, literally 'stroke of lightning'.

coup de grâce n. (pl. coups de grâce pronunc. same) a final blow or shot given to kill a wounded person or animal: he administered the coup de grâce with a knife | FIGURATIVE the party won another term and delivered the coup de grâce to socialism.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: French, literally 'stroke of grace'.

coup de main n. (pl. coups de main pronunc. same) a sudden surprise attack, esp. one made by an army during war.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, literally 'stroke of hand'.

coup de maî·tre n. (pl. coups de maî·tre pronunc. same) a master stroke.

<ORIGIN> French.

coup d'é·tat n. (pl. coups d'é·tat ) another term for COUP (sense 1).

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: French, literally 'blow of state'.

Linked entries:

COUP ■

coup de thé·â·tre n. (pl. coups de thé·â·tre pronunc. same) a sensational or dramatically sudden action or turn of events, esp. in a play.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, literally 'blow of theater'.

coup d'œil n. (pl. coups d'œil pronunc. same) a glance that takes in a comprehensive view.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, literally 'stroke of eye'.

coupe 1 (also cou·pé ) n. 1 a car with a fixed roof and two doors.

2 HISTORICAL a four-wheeled enclosed carriage for two passengers and a driver.

3 HISTORICAL an end compartment in a railroad car, with seats on only one side.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (sense 2): from French carrosse coupé, literally 'cut carriage'. Sense 1 dates from the early 20th cent.

coupe 2 n. a shallow glass or glass dish, typically with a stem, in which desserts or champagne are served.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a dessert served in such a dish.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, literally 'goblet'.

cou·ple n. 1 two individuals of the same sort considered together: a couple of girls were playing marbles.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL an indefinite small number: he hoped she'd be better in a couple of days; [as pron.] we got some eggswould you like a couple? | [as adj.] just a couple more questions | clean the stains with a couple squirts of dishwashing liquid.

2 [treated as sing. or pl.] two people who are married, engaged, or otherwise closely associated romantically or sexually.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a pair of partners in a dance or game.

- [MECHANICS] a pair of equal and parallel forces acting in opposite directions, and tending to cause rotation about an axis perpendicular to the plane containing them.

■ v. [trans.] (often be coupled to/with) combine: a sense of hope is coupled with a palpable sense of loss.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- connect (a railroad vehicle or a piece of equipment) to another: a cable is coupled up to one of the wheels.

- [intrans.] (couple up) join to form a pair.

- [intrans.] DATED have sexual intercourse.

- connect (two electrical components) using electromagnetic induction, electrostatic charge, or an optical link: [as adj.] (coupled) networks of coupled oscillators.

<DERIVATIVES> cou·ple·dom n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cople (noun), copler (verb), from Latin copula (noun), copulare (verb), from co- 'together' + apere 'fasten'. Compare with COPULA and COPULATE.

Linked entries:

COPULA ■

COPULATE ■

cou·pler n. something that connects two things, esp. mechanical components or systems: a hydraulic coupler | [as adj.] coupler rod.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MUSIC] a device in an organ for connecting two manuals, or a manual with pedals, so that they both sound when only one is played.

- [MUSIC] (also octave coupler) a similar device for connecting notes with their octaves above or below.

- [PHOTOGRAPHY] a compound in a developer or an emulsion that combines with the products of development to form an insoluble dye, part of the image.

- (also acoustic coupler) a modem that converts digital signals from a computer into audible sound signals and vice versa, so that the former can be transmitted and received over telephone lines.

cou·plet n. two lines of verse, usually in the same meter and joined by rhyme, that form a unit.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, diminutive of couple, from Old French cople (see COUPLE).

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COUPLE ■

cou·pling n. 1 a device for connecting parts of machinery.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a fitting on the end of a railroad vehicle for connecting it to another.

2 the pairing of two items: the coupling of Christian ideals with Marxist principles.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- sexual intercourse.

- the arrangement of items on a musical recording: this coupling of two of the greatest works of Haydn.

- each such item: one of the more interesting couplings for the B minor Sonata.

- an interaction between two electrical components by electromagnetic induction, electrostatic charge, or optical link.

cou·pling con·stant n. [PHYSICS] a measure of the strength of interaction between two particles, or between a particle and a field.

cou·pon n. 1 a voucher entitling the holder to a discount for a particular product.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a detachable portion of a bond that is given up in return for a payment of interest.

2 a form in a newspaper or magazine that may be filled in and sent as an application for a purchase or information.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (denoting a detachable portion of a bond to be given up in return for payment of interest): from French, literally 'piece cut off', from couper 'cut', from Old French colper (see COPE^1 ).

Linked entries:

COPE ■

cou·pon bond n. an investment bond on which interest is paid by presenting coupons.

cou·pon clip·per n. INFORMAL a person with a large number of coupon bonds.

coup stick n. (among North American Indians) a decorated stick recording coups attained by the warrior.

cour·age n. the ability to do something that frightens one: she called on all her courage to face the ordeal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> strength in the face of pain or grief: he fought his illness with great courage.

<PHRASES>
□ have the courage of one's convictions act on one's beliefs despite danger or disapproval.

□ pluck up (or screw up or take) courage make an effort to do something that frightens one.

□ take one's courage in both hands nerve oneself to do something that frightens one.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting the heart, as the seat of feelings): from Old French corage, from Latin cor 'heart'.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
courage, fortitude, guts, nerve, pluck, resolution, tenacity

Courage is what makes someone capable of facing extreme danger and difficulty without retreating (the courage to confront the enemy head-on). It implies not only bravery and a dauntless spirit but the ability to endure in times of adversity (a mother's courage in the face of her loss).

Someone who has guts, a slang word indicating an admirable display of courage when it really counts (having the guts to stand up to one's boss), might also be described as having “intestinal fortitude,” a cliché that is more formal and means the same thing.

Fortitude is the most formal of any of these words; it suggests firmness or strength of mind rather than physical bravery (the fortitude to stand up for his beliefs).

Resolution also implies firmness of mind rather than fearlessness, but the emphasis is on the determination to achieve a goal in spite of opposition or interference (a woman of strong resolution, not easily held back by her male superiors).

Tenacity goes one step beyond resolution, adding stubborn persistence and unwillingness to acknowledge defeat (the tenacity of a bulldog).

Nerve and pluck are informal words. Pluck connotes high spirits, conviction, and eagerness (the pluck to volunteer her time even after she'd been laid off), while nerve is the cool, unflappable daring with which someone takes a calculated risk (the nerve to take over the controls and land the plane safely).

Nerve can also refer to brashness or even rudeness in social situations (She had the nerve to go to his house without calling first).

cou·ra·geous adj. not deterred by danger or pain; brave: her courageous human rights work.

<DERIVATIVES> cou·ra·geous·ly adv. cou·ra·geous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French corageus, from corage (see COURAGE).

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COURAGE ■

cou·rant adj. [usu. postpositive] [HERALDRY] represented as running: white horse courant.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: French, 'running', present participle of courir.

cou·rante n. a 16th-century court dance consisting of short advances and retreats.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a piece of music written for or in the style of such a dance, typically one forming a movement of a suite.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: French, literally 'running', feminine present participle of courir.

Cour·bet Gustave (1819-77), French painter. A leader of the 19th-century realist school of painting, his works include Burial at Ornans (1850) and Painter in His Studio (1855).

cou·reur de bois n. (pl. cou·reurs de bois pronunc. same) HISTORICAL (in Canada and the northern U.S.) a woodsman or trader of French origin.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: French, literally 'wood runner'.

cour·gette n. BRIT. a zucchini.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from French, diminutive of courge 'gourd', from Latin cucurbita.

cour·i·er n. 1 a messenger who transports goods or documents, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a company or employee of a company that transports commercial packages and documents: the check was dispatched by courier | [as adj.] a courier service.

- a messenger for an underground or espionage organization.

2 a person employed to guide and assist a group of tourists.

■ v. [trans.] (often be couriered) send or transport (goods or documents) by courier.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a person sent to run with a message): originally from Old French coreor; later from French courier (now courrier), from Italian corriere; based on Latin currere 'to run'.

Cour·règes André (1923- ), French fashion designer. He is noted for his futuristic and youth-oriented styles, in particular, the use of plastic and metal, and for unisex fashion such as trouser suits for women.

course n. 1 [in sing.] the route or direction followed by a ship, aircraft, road, or river: the road adopts a tortuous course along the coast; the new fleet changed course to join the other ships.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the way in which something progresses or develops: the course of history.

- a procedure adopted to deal with a situation: the wisest course of action is to tackle the problem at its source.

- the route of a race or similar sporting event.

- an area of land set aside and prepared for racing, golf, or another sport.

2 a dish, or a set of dishes served together, forming one of the successive parts of a meal: guests are offered a choice of main course [in combination] a four-course meal.

3 a series, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a series of lectures or lessons in a particular subject, typically leading to a qualification: a business studies course.

- [MEDICINE] a series of repeated treatments or doses of medication: the doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics.

4 [ARCHITECTURE] a continuous horizontal layer of brick, stone, or other material in a building.

5 a pursuit of game (esp. hares) with greyhounds by sight rather than scent.

6 the lowest sail on a square-rigged mast.

7 a set of adjacent strings on a guitar, lute, etc., tuned to the same note.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] (of liquid) move without obstruction; flow: tears were coursing down her cheeks | FIGURATIVE exultation coursed through him.

2 [trans.] pursue (game, esp. hares) with greyhounds using sight rather than scent: many of the hares coursed escaped unharmed | [intrans.] she would course for hares with her greyhounds.

<PHRASES>
□ a matter of course see MATTER.

□ the course of nature events or processes that are normal and to be expected: each man would, in the course of nature, have his private opinions.

□ in the course of —
1 undergoing the specified process: a new text book was in the course of preparation.

2 during the specified period: he was a friend to many people in the course of his life.
- during and as a part of the specified activity: they became friends in the course of their long walks.

□ in the course of time as time goes by.

□ in due course see DUE.

□ of course used to introduce an idea or turn of events as being obvious or to be expected: the point is, of course, that the puzzle itself is misleading.
- used to give or emphasize agreement or permission: “Can I see you for a minute?” “Of course.”

- introducing a qualification or admission: of course we've been in touch by phone, but I wanted to see things for myself.

□ off course not following the intended route: the car went careering off course.

□ on course following the intended route: he battled to keep the ship on course | FIGURATIVE to get back on course, I relied on one of my stock questions.

□ run (or take) its course complete its natural development without interference: his illness had to run its course.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cours, from Latin cursus, from curs- 'run', from the verb currere.

Linked entries:

MATTER ■

DUE ■

cours·er 1 n. DATED or POETIC/LITERARY a swift horse.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French corsier, based on Latin cursus (see COURSE).

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COURSE ■

cours·er 2 n. a fast-running ploverlike bird related to the pratincoles, typically found in open country in Africa and Asia.
<INFO>  Genera Cursorius and Rhinoptilus, family Glareolidae: several species, in particular the desert-dwelling cream-colored courser (C. cursor).

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin Cursorius 'adapted for running', from cursor 'runner', from the verb currere (see COURSE).

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COURSE ■

cours·er 3 n. a person who hunts animals such as hares with greyhounds using sight rather than scent.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from COURSER^1 .

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COURSER ■

course·ware n. computer programs or other material designed for use in an educational or training course.

course·work (also course work) n. written or practical work done by a student during a course of study, usually assessed in order to count toward a final mark or grade: the graduate program combines coursework and internship.

cours·ing n. the sport of hunting game animals such as hares with greyhounds using sight rather than scent.

Court Margaret Smith (1942- ), Australian tennis player. She won more Grand Slam events (66) than any other player.

court n. 1 (also court of law) a tribunal presided over by a judge, judges, or a magistrate in civil and criminal cases: a settlement was reached during the first sitting of the court; she will take the matter to court | [as adj.] a court case.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- any of various other tribunals, such as military courts.

- the place where such a tribunal meets.

- (the court) the judge or judges presiding at such a tribunal.

2 a quadrangular area, either open or covered, marked out for ball games such as tennis or basketball: an indoor tennis court.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a quadrangular area surrounded by a building or group of buildings.

- a subdivision of a building, usually a large hall extending to the ceiling with galleries and staircases.

3 the establishment, retinue, and courtiers of a sovereign: the emperor is shown with his court.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a sovereign and his or her councilors, constituting a ruling power: relations between the king and the imperial court.

- a sovereign's residence.

■ v. [trans.] DATED be involved with romantically, typically with the intention of marrying: he was courting a girl from the neighboring farm | [intrans.] we went to the movies when we were courting.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a male bird or other animal) try to attract (a mate).

- pay special attention to (someone) in an attempt to win their support or favor: Western politicians courted the leaders of the newly independent states.

- go to great lengths to win (favorable attention): he never had to court the approval of the political elite.

- risk incurring (misfortune) because of the way one behaves: he has often courted controversy.

<PHRASES>
□ go to court take legal action.

□ hold court see HOLD^1 .

□ in court appearing as a party or an attorney in a court of law.

□ out of court
1 before a legal hearing can take place: they are trying to settle the squabble out of court | [as adj.] an out-of-court settlement.

2 treated as impossible or not worthy of consideration: the price would put it out of court for most private buyers.

□ pay court to pay flattering attention to someone in order to win favor.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cort, from Latin cohors, cohort- 'yard or retinue'. The verb is influenced by Old Italian corteare, Old French courtoyer. Compare with COHORT.

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HOLD ■

COHORT ■

court bouil·lon n. a stock made from wine and vegetables, typically used in fish dishes.

<ORIGIN> French, from court 'short' and BOUILLON.

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BOUILLON ■

court card n. British term for FACE CARD.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: alteration of 16th-cent. coat card, so named because of the decorative dress of the figures depicted.

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FACE CARD ■

court dress n. HISTORICAL formal clothing worn at a royal court.

cour·te·ous adj. polite, respectful, or considerate in manner.

<DERIVATIVES> cour·te·ous·ly adv. cour·te·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (meaning 'having manners fit for a royal court'): from Old French corteis, based on Latin cohors 'yard, retinue' (see COURT). The change in the ending in the 16th cent. was due to association with words ending in -EOUS.

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COURT ■

-EOUS ■

cour·te·san n. a prostitute, esp. one with wealthy or upper-class clients.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French courtisane, from obsolete Italian cortigiana, feminine of cortigiano 'courtier', from corte (see COURT).

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COURT ■

cour·te·sy n. (pl. -sies) the showing of politeness in one's attitude and behavior toward others: he had been treated with a degree of courtesy not far short of deference.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (often courtesies) a polite speech or action, esp. one required by convention: the superficial courtesies of diplomatic exchanges.

- [as adj.] (esp. of transport) supplied free of charge to people who are already paying for another service: he traveled from the hotel in a courtesy car.

- ARCHAIC a curtsy.

<PHRASES>
□ by courtesy as a favor rather than by right: he was not at the conference only by courtesy.

□ (by) courtesy of given or allowed by: photograph courtesy of the Evening Star.
- INFORMAL as a result of; thanks to.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cortesie, from corteis (see COURTEOUS).

Linked entries:

COURTEOUS ■

cour·te·sy light n. a small light in a car, automatically switched on when one of the doors is opened.

cour·te·sy ti·tle n. a title given to someone, esp. the son or daughter of a peer, that has no legal validity.

court hand n. BRIT. a notoriously illegible style of handwriting used in English courts of law until banned in 1731.

court·house n. 1 a building in which a judicial court is held.

2 a building containing the administrative offices of a county.

cour·ti·er n. a person who attends a royal court as a companion or adviser to the king or queen.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who fawns and flatters in order to gain favor or advantage.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Anglo-Norman French from Old French cortoyer 'be present at court', from cort (see COURT).

Linked entries:

COURT ■

court·ly adj. (-li·er, -li·est) 1 polished or refined, as befitting a royal court: he gave a courtly bow.

2 given to flattery; obsequious.

<DERIVATIVES> court·li·ness n.

court·ly love n. a highly conventionalized medieval tradition of love between a knight and a married noblewoman, first developed by the troubadours of Southern France and extensively employed in European literature of the time. The love of the knight for his lady was regarded as an ennobling passion and the relationship was typically unconsummated.

court-mar·tial n. (pl. courts-mar·tial or court-mar·tials) a judicial court for trying members of the armed services accused of offenses against military law: they appeared before a court-martial | he was found guilty by court-martial.

■ v. (-mar·tialed, -mar·tial·ing; BRIT. -mar·tialled, -mar·tial·ling) [trans.] try (someone) by such a court.

court of ap·peals n. a court to which appeals are taken in a federal circuit or a state.

court of claims n. a court in which claims against the government are adjudicated.

court of in·quir·y n. in the armed forces, a tribunal appointed to investigate a complaint against a member of the military to decide whether a court-martial is called for.

court of law n. see COURT (sense 1).

Linked entries:

COURT ■

court of rec·ord n. a court whose proceedings are recorded and available as evidence of fact.

Court of St. James's the British sovereign's court.

court or·der n. a direction issued by a court or a judge requiring a person to do or not do something.

court plas·ter n. HISTORICAL sticking plaster made of silk or other cloth with an adhesive such as isinglass.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: so named because it was formerly used by ladies at court for beauty spots.

court rec·ord n. see RECORD (sense 1).

Linked entries:

RECORD ■

court·room n. the place or room in which a court of law meets.

court·ship n. a period during which a couple develop a romantic relationship, esp. with a view to marriage.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- behavior designed to persuade someone to marry one.

- the behavior of male birds and other animals aimed at attracting a mate.

- the process of attempting to win a person's favor or support: the country's courtship of foreign investors.

court ten·nis n. the original form of tennis, played with a solid ball on an enclosed court divided into equal but dissimilar halves, the service side (from which service is always delivered) and the hazard side (on which service is received).

court·yard n. an unroofed area that is completely or mostly enclosed by the walls of a large building.

cous·cous n. a type of North African semolina in granules made from crushed durum wheat.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a spicy dish made by steaming or soaking such granules and adding meat, vegetables, or fruit.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French, from Arabic kuskus, from kaskasa 'to pound', probably of Berber origin.

cous·in n. (also first cousin) a child of one's uncle or aunt.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person belonging to the same extended family.

- a thing related or analogous to another: the new motorbikes are not proving as popular as their four-wheeled cousins.

- (usu. cousins) a person of a kindred culture, race, or nation: the Russians and their Slavic cousins.

- HISTORICAL a title formerly used by a sovereign in addressing another sovereign or a noble of their own country.

<PHRASES>
□ first cousin once removed
1 a child of one's first cousin.

2 one's parent's first cousin.

□ first cousin twice removed
1 a grandchild of one's first cousin.

2 one's grandparent's first cousin.

□ second cousin a child of one's parent's first cousin.

□ second cousin once removed
1 a child of one's second cousin.

2 one's parent's second cousin.

□ third cousin a child of one's parent's second cousin.

<DERIVATIVES> cous·in·hood n. cous·in·ly adj. cous·in·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cosin, from Latin consobrinus 'mother's sister's child', from con- 'with' + sobrinus 'second cousin' (from soror 'sister').

cous·in-ger·man n. (pl. cous·ins-ger·man) old-fashioned term for COUSIN.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from French cousin germain (see COUSIN, GERMAN).

Linked entries:

COUSIN ■

COUSIN ■

GERMAN ■

Cous·teau Jacques-Yves (1910-97), French oceanographer and documentary movie director. He devised the scuba apparatus, but is known primarily for several documentaries and popular television series on marine life.

Cou·sy Bob (1928- ), U.S. basketball player; full name Robert Joseph Cousy. He played for the Boston Celtics from 1950 until 1963. Basketball Hall of Fame (1970).

couth HUMOROUS adj. cultured, refined, and well mannered: it is more couth to hold your shrimp by the tail.

■ n. good manners; refinement: their hockey team had more talent but less couth.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: back-formation from UNCOUTH.

Linked entries:

UNCOUTH ■

cou·ture n. the design and manufacture of fashionable clothes to a client's specific requirements and measurements. See also HAUTE COUTURE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the business of designing and making such clothes.

- such clothes: they were dressed in size eight printed-silk couture.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: French, 'sewing, dressmaking'.

Linked entries:

HAUTE COUTURE ■

cou·tu·ri·er n. a fashion designer who manufactures and sells clothes that have been tailored to a client's specific requirements and measurements.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, from COUTURE.

Linked entries:

COUTURE ■

cou·tu·ri·ère n. a female couturier.

cou·vade n. the custom in some cultures in which a man takes to his bed and goes through certain rituals when his child is being born, as though he were physically affected by the birth.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, from couver 'to hatch', from Latin cubare 'lie down'. The adoption of the term in French was due to a misunderstanding of the phrase faire la couvade 'sit doing nothing', used by earlier writers.

cou·vert n. 1 another term for COVER (sense 4).

2 another term for COVER CHARGE: there is a $1.50 couvert weekdays and $2.00 Saturdays and holidays.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French, past participle (used as a noun) of couvrir 'to cover'.

Linked entries:

COVER ■

COVER CHARGE ■

cou·ver·ture n. chocolate made with extra cocoa butter to give a high gloss, used for covering sweets and cakes.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: French, literally 'covering'.

co·va·lent adj. [CHEMISTRY] of, relating to, or denoting chemical bonds formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms. Often contrasted with IONIC.

<DERIVATIVES> co·va·lence n. co·va·lent·ly adv.

Linked entries:

IONIC ■

co·var·i·ance n. 1 [MATHEMATICS] the property of a function of retaining its form when the variables are linearly transformed.

2 [STATISTICS] the mean value of the product of the deviations of two variates from their respective means.

co·var·i·ant [MATHEMATICS] n. a function of the coefficients and variables of a given function that is invariant under a linear transformation except for a factor equal to a power of the determinant of the transformation.

■ adj. changing in such a way that mathematical interrelations with another simultaneously changing quantity or set of quantities remain unchanged.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of, having the properties of, or relating to a covariant.

co·var·i·a·tion n. [MATHEMATICS] correlated variation.

cove 1 n. 1 a small sheltered bay.

2 a sheltered recess, esp. one in a mountain.

3 [ARCHITECTURE] a concave arched molding, esp. one formed at the junction of a wall with a ceiling.

■ v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (coved) [ARCHITECTURE] provide (a room, ceiling, etc.) with a cove.

<ORIGIN> Old English cofa 'chamber, cave', of Germanic origin; related to German Koben 'pigpen, pen'. Sense 1 dates from the late 16th cent.

cove 2 n. BRIT., INFORMAL, DATED a man: he is a perfectly amiable cove.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: perhaps from Romany kova 'thing or person'.

co·vel·lite n. a blue mineral consisting of copper sulfide, typically occurring as a coating on other copper minerals.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Nicolò Covelli (1790-1829), Italian chemist, + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ITE ■

cov·en n. a group or gathering of witches who meet regularly.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE, OFTEN DEROGATORY a secret or close-knit group of associates: covens of militants within the party.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: variant of COVIN.

Linked entries:

COVIN ■

cov·e·nant n. an agreement.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [LAW] a contract drawn up by deed.

- [LAW] a clause in a contract.

- [THEOLOGY] an agreement that brings about a relationship of commitment between God and his people. The Jewish faith is based on the biblical covenants made with Abraham, Moses, and David. See also ARK OF THE COVENANT.

■ v. [intrans.] agree, esp. by lease, deed, or other legal contract: the landlord covenants to repair the property.

<PHRASES>
□ Old Covenant [CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY] the covenant between God and Israel in the Old Testament.

□ New Covenant [CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY] the covenant between God and the followers of Jesus Christ.

<DERIVATIVES> cov·e·nan·tal adj. cov·e·nant·er (also [CHIEFLY LAW] cov·e·nan·tor) n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, present participle of covenir 'agree', from Latin convenire (see CONVENE).

Linked entries:

ARK OF THE COVENANT ■

CONVENE ■

cov·e·nan·tee n. [LAW] the person to whom a promise by covenant is made.

Cov·e·nant·er n. an adherent of the National Covenant (1638) or of the Solemn League and Covenant (1643), upholding the organization of the Scottish Presbyterian Church.

cov·e·nant of grace n. (in Calvinist theology) the covenant between God and humanity that was established by Jesus Christ at the Atonement.

cov·e·nant of works n. (in Calvinist theology) the covenant between God and humanity that was broken by Adam's sin at the Fall.

Cov·ent Gar·den a district in central London.

Cov·en·try 1 an industrial city in central England; pop. 292,600.

2 a city in central Rhode Island, a southwestern suburb of Providence; pop. 33,668.

cov·er v. [trans.] 1 (often be covered) put something such as a cloth or lid on top of or in front of (something) in order to protect or conceal it: the table had been covered with a checked tablecloth; she covered her face with a pillow.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- envelop in a layer of something, esp. dirt: he was covered in mud | FIGURATIVE she was covered in confusion.

- scatter a layer of loose material over (a surface, esp. a floor), leaving it completely obscured: the barn floor was covered in straw.

- lie over or adhere to (a surface), as decoration or to conceal something: masonry paint will cover hairline cracks.

- protect (someone) with a garment or hat: [as adj.] (covered) keep children covered with T-shirts.

- extend over (an area): the grounds covered eight acres.

- travel (a specified distance): it took them four days to cover 150 miles.

2 deal with (a subject) by describing or analyzing its most important aspects or events: a sequence of novels that will cover the period from 1968 to the present.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- investigate, report on, or publish or broadcast pictures of (an event): NBC is covering the Olympics.

- work in, have responsibility for, or provide services to (a particular area): development officers whose work would cover a large area.

- (of a rule or law) apply to (a person or situation).

3 (of a sum of money) be enough to pay (a bill or cost): there are grants to cover the cost of materials for loft insulation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of insurance) protect against a liability, loss, or accident involving financial consequences: your contents are now covered against accidental loss or damage in transit.

- (cover oneself) take precautionary measures so as to protect oneself against future blame or liability: one reason doctors take temperatures is to cover themselves against negligence claims.

4 disguise the sound or fact of (something) with another sound or action: Louise laughed to cover her embarrassment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (cover for) disguise the illicit absence or wrongdoing of (someone) in order to spare them punishment: if the sergeant wants to know where you are, I'll cover for you.

- [intrans.] (cover for) temporarily take over the job of (a colleague) in their absence: during August ministers cover for other ministers.

5 aim a gun at (someone) in order to prevent them from moving or escaping.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- protect (an exposed person) by shooting at an enemy: [as adj.] (covering) the jeeps retreated behind spurts of covering fire.

- (of a fortress, gun, or cannon) have (an area) within range.

- (in team games) take up a position ready to defend against (an opposing player).

- [BASEBALL] be in position at (a base) ready to catch a thrown ball.

6 [BRIDGE] play a higher card on (a high card) in a trick: the ploy will fail if the ten is covered | [intrans.] East covered with his queen.

7 record or perform a new version of (a song) originally performed by someone else: other artists who have covered the song include U2.

8 (of a male animal, esp. a stallion) copulate with (a female animal), esp. as part of a commercial transaction between the owners of the animals.

■ n. 1 a thing that lies on, over, or around something, esp. in order to protect or conceal it: a seat cover.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a thin solid object that seals a container or hole; a lid: a manhole cover.

- a thick protective outer part or page of a book or magazine: her life was captured between hard covers in her 1986 autobiography.

- [PHILATELY] a card or envelope that has traveled through the mail or that contains postal markings.

- (the covers) bedclothes: she burrowed down beneath the covers.

2 physical shelter or protection sought by people in danger: the sirens wailed and people ran for cover; store seats under cover before the bad weather sets in.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- undergrowth, trees, or other vegetation used as a shelter by hunted animals: the standing crops of game cover | a landscape bare of woodland except for neat little fox covers. See also COVERT (sense 1).

- an activity or organization used as a means of concealing an illegal or secret activity: the organizations often use their philanthropy as a cover for subsidies to terrorists.

- [in sing.] an identity or activity adopted by a person, typically a spy, to conceal their true activities: he was worried that their cover was blown.

- military support given when someone is in danger from or being attacked by an enemy: they agreed to provide additional naval cover.

- [ECOLOGY] the amount of ground covered by a vertical projection of the vegetation, usually expressed as a percentage.

3 short for COVER CHARGE.

4 a place setting at a table in a restaurant. <ORIGIN> rendering French couvert.

5 (also cover version) a recording or performance of a previously recorded song made esp. to take advantage of the original's success.

<PHRASES>
□ break cover suddenly leave a place of shelter, esp. vegetation, when being hunted or pursued.

□ cover one's ass (or back) INFORMAL foresee and avoid the possibility of attack or criticism.

□ cover all bases (or cover all the bases) include all relevant information: for the prospective homebuilder, this book covers all bases.
- prepare for all likely circumstances.

□ cover a multitude of sins conceal or gloss over many problems or defects: stucco could cover a multitude of sins, including poor brickwork.

□ cover one's position purchase securities in order to be able to fulfill a commitment to sell.

□ cover one's tracks conceal evidence of what one has done.

□ cover the waterfront INFORMAL include a wide range of things; cover every aspect of something: while half the dishes are Italian, the kitchen covers the waterfront from Greece to Morocco.

□ from cover to cover from beginning to end of a book or magazine.

□ take cover protect oneself from attack by ducking down into or under a shelter: if the bombing starts, take cover in the basement.

□ under cover of concealed by: the yacht made landfall under cover of darkness.
- while pretending to do something: Moran watched every move under cover of reading the newspaper.

□ under plain cover in an envelope or parcel without any marks to identify the sender.

□ under separate cover in a separate envelope.

<PHRASAL VERB> cover something up put something on, over, or around something, esp. in order to conceal or disguise it.
- try to hide or deny the fact of an illegal or illicit action or activity.

<DERIVATIVES> cov·er·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French covrir, from Latin cooperire, from co- (expressing intensive force) + operire 'to cover'. The noun is partly a variant of COVERT.

Linked entries:

COVERT ■

COVER CHARGE ■

COVERT ■

cov·er·age n. the extent to which something deals with or applies to something else: the grammar did not offer total coverage of the language.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the treatment of an issue by the media: the program won an award for its news coverage.

- the amount of protection given by an insurance policy.

- the area reached by a particular broadcasting station or advertising medium: a network of eighty transmitters would give nationwide coverage.

- [FOOTBALL] the manner in which a defender or a defensive team covers a player, an area, or a play.

cov·er·all n. (usu. coveralls) a full-length protective outer garment often zipped up the front.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] inclusive: a coverall term.

cov·er charge n. a flat fee paid for admission to a restaurant, bar, club, etc.

cov·er crop n. a crop grown for the protection and enrichment of the soil.

Cov·er·dale Miles (1488-1568), English biblical scholar. He translated the first complete printed English Bible in 1535.

cov·ered wag·on n. a horse- or mule-drawn wagon topped with a spacious. arched canvas-covered framework. Covered wagons were the common transport for the western-moving North American pioneers of the 19th century. See also CONESTOGA WAGON, PRAIRIE SCHOONER.

Linked entries:

CONESTOGA WAGON ■

PRAIRIE SCHOONER ■

cov·er girl n. a female model whose picture appears on magazine covers.

cov·er glass n. another term for COVERSLIP.

Linked entries:

COVERSLIP ■

cov·er·ing n. a thing used to cover something else, typically in order to protect or conceal it: a vinyl floor covering.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. in sing.] a layer of something that covers something else: the sky was obscured by a covering of cloud.

cov·er·ing let·ter n. British term for COVER LETTER.

Linked entries:

COVER LETTER ■

cov·er·let n. a bedspread, typically less than floor-length.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French covrelet, from Old French covrir 'to cover' + lit 'bed'.

cov·er let·ter n. a letter sent with, and explaining the contents of, another document or a parcel of goods.

cov·er sheet n. 1 a page sent as the first page of a fax transmission, identifying the sender, number of pages, etc.

2 a page placed before a manuscript or report, typically with the name of the author, title of the book or report, and date.

cov·er·slip (also cov·er slip) n. a small, thin piece of glass used to cover and protect a specimen on a microscope slide.

cov·er sto·ry n. 1 a magazine article that is illustrated or advertised on the front cover.

2 a fictitious account invented to conceal a person's identity or reasons for doing something.

co·vert adj. 1 not openly acknowledged or displayed: covert operations against the dictatorship. See note at SECRET.

2 [LAW] (of a woman) married and under the authority and protection of her husband.

■ n. 1 a shelter or hiding place.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thicket in which game can hide.

2 [ORNITHOLOGY] any of the feathers covering the bases of the main flight or tail feathers of a bird.

<DERIVATIVES> co·vert·ly adv. co·vert·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the general senses 'covered' and 'a cover'): from Old French, 'covered', past participle of covrir (see COVER).

Linked entries:

COVER ■

cov·er·ture n. 1 POETIC/LITERARY protective or concealing covering.

2 HISTORICAL [LAW] the legal status of a married woman, considered to be under her husband's protection and authority.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from covrir 'to cover'. It originally denoted a coverlet or a garment, later various kinds of covering or shelter.

cov·er-up (also cov·er·up) n. 1 an attempt to prevent people's discovering the truth about a serious mistake or crime.

2 a loose outer garment, typically worn over a swimsuit or exercise outfit.

cov·er ver·sion n. see COVER (sense 5).

Linked entries:

COVER ■

cov·et v. (cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing) [trans.] yearn to possess or have (something): the president-elect covets time for exercise and fishing | [as adj.] (coveted) he won the coveted Booker Prize for fiction.

<DERIVATIVES> cov·et·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cuveitier, based on Latin cupiditas (see CUPIDITY).

Linked entries:

CUPIDITY ■

cov·et·ous adj. having or showing a great desire to possess something, typically something belonging to someone else: she fingered the linen with covetous hands. See note at GREEDY.

<DERIVATIVES> cov·et·ous·ly adv. cov·et·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French coveitous, based on Latin cupiditas (see CUPIDITY).

Linked entries:

CUPIDITY ■

cov·ey n. (pl. -eys) a small party or flock of birds, esp. partridge.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a small group of people or things: coveys of actors rushed through the rooms.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French covee, feminine past participle of cover, from Latin cubare 'lie down'.

cov·in (also cov·ine) n. ARCHAIC fraud; deception.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a company or band): from Old French, from medieval Latin convenium, from Latin convenire (see CONVENE). Compare with COVEN.

Linked entries:

CONVENE ■

COVEN ■

Co·vi·na a city in southwestern California, east of Los Angeles; pop. 43,207.

Cov·ing·ton a city in northern Kentucky, where the Licking River flows into the Ohio River; pop. 43,370.

cow 1 n. a fully grown female animal of a domesticated breed of ox, used as a source of milk or beef: a dairy cow. See CATTLE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (loosely) a domestic bovine animal, regardless of sex or age.

- (in farming) a female domestic bovine animal that has borne more than one calf. Compare with HEIFER.

- the female of certain other large animals, for example elephant, rhinoceros, whale, seal, or reindeer.

- INFORMAL, DEROGATORY a woman, esp. a fat or stupid one: what does he see in that cow?

<PHRASES>
□ have a cow INFORMAL become angry, excited, or agitated: don't have a cowit's no big deal.

□ till the cows come home INFORMAL for an indefinitely long time: those two could talk till the cows came home.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch koe and German Kuh, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin bos and Greek bous.

Linked entries:

CATTLE ■

HEIFER ■

cow 2 v. [trans.] (usu. be cowed) cause (someone) to submit to one's wishes by intimidation: the intellectuals had been cowed into silence.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: probably from Old Norse kúga 'oppress'.

cow·a·bun·ga exclam. INFORMAL used to express delight or satisfaction: Cowabunga! It's an actor's dream.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: originally cowabonga, an exclamation frequently used by the character Chief Thunderthud on the "Howdy Doody Show.”

cow·age (also cow·hage) n. a leguminous climbing plant, Mucuna pruriens, with hairy pods that cause stinging and itching.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Hindi .

Cow·ard Sir Noel (Pierce) (1899-1973), English playwright, actor, and composer. He is remembered for witty, satirical plays, such as Hay Fever (1925) and Private Lives (1930), as well as for revues and musicals featuring songs such as “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” (1932).

cow·ard n. a person who lacks the courage to do or endure dangerous or unpleasant things.

■ adj. 1 POETIC/LITERARY excessively afraid of danger or pain.

2 [HERALDRY] (of an animal) depicted with the tail between the hind legs.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French couard, based on Latin cauda 'tail', possibly with reference to a frightened animal with its tail between its legs, reflected in sense 2 (early 16th cent.).

cow·ard·ice n. lack of bravery.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French couardise, from couard (see COWARD).

Linked entries:

COWARD ■

cow·ard·ly adj. lacking courage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an action) carried out against a person who is unable to retaliate: a cowardly attack on a helpless victim.

■ adv. ARCHAIC in a way that shows a lack of courage.

<DERIVATIVES> cow·ard·li·ness n.

cow·bane n. any of a number of tall poisonous plants of the parsley family, growing in swampy or wet habitats:
<INFO>
- another term for WATER HEMLOCK.

- a North American plant (Oxypolis rigidior, family Umbelliferae).

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from COW^1 + BANE, because it is poisonous to grazing cattle.

Linked entries:

WATER HEMLOCK ■

COW ■

BANE ■

cow·bell n. a bell hung around a cow's neck in order to help locate the animal by the noise it makes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar bell used as a percussion instrument, typically without a clapper and struck with a stick.

cow·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) another term for MOUNTAIN CRANBERRY.

Linked entries:

MOUNTAIN CRANBERRY ■

cow·bird n. a New World songbird with dark plumage and a relatively short bill, typically laying its eggs in other birds' nests.
<INFO>  Genus Molothrus (and Scaphidura), family Icteridae: several species, in particular the widespread brown-headed (or common) cowbird (M. ater).

cow·boy n. 1 a man, typically one on horseback, who herds and tends cattle, esp. in the western U.S. and as represented in westerns and novels: they are always playing cowboys and Indians.

2 INFORMAL a person who is reckless or careless, esp. when driving an automobile.

■ v. [intrans.] work as a cowboy: Sonora, Mexico, where he learned to cowboy.

<PHRASES> cowboy up INFORMAL mount a brave effort to overcome a formidable obstacle: Millar cowboyed up, but couldn't he have flipped the Enrique grounder to Pedro?

cow·boy boot n. a style of boot with a pointed toe and a moderately high heel, extending to mid-calf.

Cow·boy State a nickname for the state of WYOMING.

Linked entries:

WYOMING ■

cow camp n. a seasonal camp apart from the main buildings of a ranch, used during a cattle roundup.

cow·catch·er n. a metal frame at the front of a locomotive for pushing aside cattle or other obstacles on the line.

cow chip n. INFORMAL a dried cowpat.

cow·er v. [intrans.] crouch down in fear: children cowered in terror as the shoot-out erupted. See note at WINCE.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Middle Low German 'lie in wait', of unknown ultimate origin.

cow·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a boxfish with spines that resemble horns on the head, and typically with other spines on the back and sides.
<INFO>  Several genera and species in the family Ostraciontidae, in particular Lactoria diaphana.

cow flop (also cow·flop or CHIEFLY CANADIAN cow flap or cow·flap) n. INFORMAL a cowpat.

cow·girl n. a female equivalent of a cowboy, esp. as represented in westerns and novels.

cow·hage n. variant spelling of COWAGE.

Linked entries:

COWAGE ■

cow·hand n. a person employed to tend or ranch cattle; a cowboy or cowgirl.

cow·herd n. a person who tends grazing cattle.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from COW^1 + obsolete herd 'herdsman'.

Linked entries:

COW ■

cow·hide n. a cow's hide.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- leather made from such a hide.

- a whip made from such leather.

cowl n. a large loose hood, esp. one forming part of a monk's habit.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a monk's hooded, sleeveless habit.

- a cloak with wide sleeves worn by members of Benedictine orders.

- the hood-shaped covering of a chimney or ventilation shaft.

- the part of a motor vehicle that supports the windshield and houses the dashboard.

- another term for COWLING.

<DERIVATIVES> cowled adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English cugele, , from ecclesiastical Latin cuculla, from Latin cucullus 'hood of a cloak'.

Linked entries:

COWLING ■

cow·lick n. a lock of hair that grows in a direction different from the rest and that resists being combed flat: a little sprig of a cowlick stood up on the back of her head.

cowl·ing n. the removable cover of a vehicle or aircraft engine.

cowl neck n. a neckline on a woman's garment that hangs in draped folds: [as adj.] a cowl-neck sweater.

cow·man n. (pl. -men) a person who owns or is in charge of a cattle ranch.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a cowboy.

co·work·er n. a fellow worker.

cow pars·nip n. a very large, bad-smelling hogweed. Cow parsnips prefer moist ground and can reach a height of 10 feet (3 m).
<INFO>  Heracleum maximum, family Umbelliferae.

cow·pat n. a flat, round piece of cow dung.

cow·pea n. a plant of the pea family native to the Old World tropics. It is an important pulse for animal feed and human consumption, both the pod and the seed being edible.
<INFO>  Vigna unguiculata, family Leguminosae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the seed of this plant as food.

Cow·per William (1731-1800), English poet, noted for the poem The Task (1785) and for the comic ballad John Gilpin (1782).

Cow·per's gland n. [ANATOMY] either of a pair of small glands that open into the urethra at the base of the penis and secrete a constituent of seminal fluid.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: named after William Cowper (1666-1709), English anatomist.

cow·poke n. INFORMAL a cowboy.

cow po·ny n. a small horse trained for use in cattle ranching.

cow·pox n. a viral disease of cows' udders which, when contracted by humans through contact, resembles mild smallpox, and was the basis of the first smallpox vaccines.

cow·punch·er n. INFORMAL a cowboy.

cow·punk n. a type of popular music combining elements of country and western with those of punk rock.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a singer or musician who performs this type of music: she burst on to the scene as a cowpunk.

cow·rie (also cow·ry) n. (pl. -ries) a marine mollusk that has a smooth, glossy, domed shell with a long narrow opening, typically brightly patterned and popular with collectors.
<INFO>  Genus Cypraea, family Cypraeidae, class Gastropoda: numerous species, including the small money cowrie (C. moneta).

<SPECIAL USAGE> the flattened yellowish shell of the money cowrie, formerly used as money in parts of Africa and the Indo-Pacific area.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Hindi .

co·write v. [trans.] write (something) with another person: the movie is based on a story he cowrote with his wife.

<DERIVATIVES> co·writ·er n.

cow shark n. a dull gray or brown shark that lives mainly in deep water, esp. in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean.
<INFO>  Hexanchus griseus, family Hexanchidae.

cow·shed n. a farm building in which cattle are kept when not in a pasture, or in which they are milked.

cow·slip n. 1 a European primula with clusters of drooping fragrant yellow flowers in spring, growing on dry grassy banks and in pasture.
<INFO>  Primula veris, family Primulaceae.

2 any of a number of herbaceous plants, in particular:
<INFO>
- another term for MARSH MARIGOLD.

- (also Virginia bluebell) a North American plant with blue flowers (Mertensia virginica, family Boraginaceae).

<ORIGIN> Old English , from 'cow' + slipa, slyppe 'slime', i.e., cow slobber or dung.

Linked entries:

MARSH MARIGOLD ■

cow·town (also cow town) n. a town or city in a cattle-raising area of western North America.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a small, isolated, or unsophisticated town.

cow wheat n. a yellowish-flowered plant of the figwort family, partly parasitic on the roots of other plants and found in both Eurasia and North America.
<INFO>  Genus Melampyrum, family Scrophulariaceae: several species, including M. lineare.

cox n. a coxswain, esp. of a racing boat.

■ v. [trans.] act as a coxswain for (a racing boat or crew): the winning eight was coxed by a woman | [as adj.] (coxed) the coxed pairs | [intrans.] he once coxed for Harvard.

<DERIVATIVES> cox·less adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: abbreviation.

COX-2 in·hib·i·tor n. a painkiller that works by inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which triggers the release of prostaglandins.

cox·a n. (pl. cox·ae ) [ANATOMY] the hipbone or hip joint.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ENTOMOLOGY] the first or basal segment of the leg of an insect.

<DERIVATIVES> cox·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin, 'hip'.

cox·al·gi·a n. pain in the hip joint.

cox·comb n. 1 DATED a vain and conceited man; a dandy.

2 variant spelling of COCKSCOMB (sense 2).

<DERIVATIVES> cox·comb·ry n. (pl. -ries) (in sense 1). cox·comb·er·y n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting a simpleton): variant of COCKSCOMB, in the sense 'jester's cap' (resembling a cock's comb), hence 'a jester, a fool'.

Linked entries:

COCKSCOMB ■

COCKSCOMB ■

cox·op·o·dite n. [ZOOLOGY] the segment nearest the body in the leg of an arthropod, esp. a crustacean.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin coxa 'hip' + Greek pous, pod- 'foot' + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ITE ■

Cox·sack·ie vi·rus (also cox·sack·ie virus or cox·sack·ie·vi·rus) n. [MEDICINE] any of a group of enteroviruses that cause various respiratory, neurological, and muscular diseases in humans.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: named after Coxsackie, New York, where the first cases were diagnosed.

cox·swain n. the steersman of a ship's boat, lifeboat, racing boat, or other boat.

<DERIVATIVES> cox·swain·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from obsolete cock + SWAIN. Compare with BOATSWAIN.

Linked entries:

SWAIN ■

BOATSWAIN ■

coy adj. (coy·er, coy·est) (esp. of a woman) making a pretense of shyness or modesty that is intended to be alluring but is often regarded as irritating: she treated him to a coy smile of invitation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- reluctant to give details, esp. about something regarded as sensitive: he is coy about his age.

- DATED quiet and reserved; shy.

<DERIVATIVES> coy·ly adv. coy·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French coi, quei, from Latin quietus (see QUIET). The original sense was 'quiet, still' (esp. in behavior), later 'modestly retiring', and hence (of a woman) 'affecting to be unresponsive to advances'.

Linked entries:

QUIET ■

coy·dog n. the hybrid offspring of a coyote and a dog.

Co·yo·a·cán a municipality within the Federal District of Mexico, a suburb of Mexico City; pop. 640,000.

coy·o·te n. 1 (pl. same or -tes) a wolflike wild dog native to North America. Also called BRUSH WOLF or PRAIRIE WOLF.
<INFO>  Canis latrans, family Canidae.

2 INFORMAL a person who smuggles Latin Americans across the U.S. border, typically for a high fee: at the bus station, there were coyotes offering to drive us to Los Angeles.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl coyotl.

Linked entries:

BRUSH WOLF ■

PRAIRIE WOLF ■

Coy·o·te State a nickname for the state of SOUTH DAKOTA.

Linked entries:

SOUTH DAKOTA ■

coy·pu n. (pl. -pus) another term for NUTRIA.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Araucanian.

Linked entries:

NUTRIA ■

coz n. an informal word for ‘cousin,’ used esp. as a term of address.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: abbreviation.

coz·en v. [trans.] trick or deceive: do not think to cozen your contemporaries.
<SPECIAL USAGE> obtain by deception: he was able to cozen a profit.

<DERIVATIVES> coz·en·age n. coz·en·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: perhaps from obsolete Italian cozzonare 'to cheat', from cozzone 'middleman, broker', from Latin cocio 'dealer'.

Co·zu·mel a resort island in the Caribbean Sea, off the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico.

co·zy (BRIT. co·sy) adj. (-zi·er, -zi·est) giving a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxation: a cozy cabin tucked away in the trees.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a relationship or conversation) intimate and relaxed.

- avoiding or not offering challenge or difficulty; complacent: a rather cozy assumption among automakers that they would never actually go bust.

- (of a transaction or arrangement) working to the mutual advantage of those involved (used to convey a suspicion of corruption): a cozy deal.

■ n. (pl. -zies) a cover to keep a teapot hot.

■ v. (-zies, -zied) [trans.] INFORMAL impart a feeling or quality of comfort to (something): the wood stove really cozies up the house.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] INFORMAL give (someone) a feeling of comfort or complacency: she cozied him, pretending to find him irresistibly attractive.

- [intrans.] (cozy up to) snuggle up to: he cozied up to the heater.

- [intrans.] (cozy up to) ingratiate oneself with: he decided to resign rather than cozy up to hard-liners in the party.

<DERIVATIVES> co·zi·ly adv. co·zi·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (originally Scots): of unknown origin.

CP abbr.
- cerebral palsy.

- Command Post.

- [FINANCE] commercial paper.

- Common Pleas.

- Communist Party.

- (also cp) candlepower.

cp. abbr. compare.

CPA abbr. certified public accountant.

cpd. abbr. compound.

CPI abbr. consumer price index.

Cpl. abbr. corporal.

CPO abbr. Chief Petty Officer.

CPR abbr. cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

cps (also c.p.s.) abbr.
- [COMPUTING] characters per second.

- cycles per second.

Cpt. abbr. Captain.

CPU abbr. [COMPUTING] central processing unit.

CPUSA abbr. Communist Party USA.

CPVC abbr. chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, a plastic material used to make water pipes.

CR abbr.
- Conditioned reflex.

- Conditioned response.

Cr symbol the chemical element chromium.

cr abbr.
- credit.

- creditor.

crab 1 n. 1 a crustacean with a broad carapace, stalked eyes, and five pairs of legs, the first pair of which are modified as pincers. Crabs are abundant on many shores, esp. in the tropics, where some have become adapted to life on land.
<INFO>  Many families in the order Decapoda, class Malacostraca.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the flesh of a crab as food.

- (the Crab) the zodiacal sign or constellation Cancer.

2 (also crab louse) a louse that infests human body hair, esp. in the genital region, causing extreme irritation. Also called PUBIC LOUSE.
<INFO>  Phthirus pubis, family Pediculidae, order Anoplura.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (crabs) INFORMAL an infestation of crab lice.

3 a machine for picking up and lifting heavy weights.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] move sideways or obliquely: he began crabbing sideways across the roof.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] steer (an aircraft or ship) slightly sideways to compensate for a crosswind or current.

2 [intrans.] fish for crabs.

<PHRASES> catch a crab [ROWING] make a faulty stroke in which the oar is under water too long or misses the water altogether.

<DERIVATIVES> crab·ber n. crab·like adj. & adv.

<ORIGIN> Old English crabba, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch krabbe, and more distantly to Dutch kreeft and German Krebs; also to CRAB^3 .

Linked entries:

PUBIC LOUSE ■

CRAB ■

crab 2 n. short for CRAB APPLE.

Linked entries:

CRAB APPLE ■

crab 3 n. INFORMAL an irritable person.

■ v. (crabbed, crab·bing) INFORMAL 1 [intrans.] grumble, typically about something petty: on picnics, I would crab about sand in my food.

2 [trans.] act so as to spoil: you're trying to crab my act.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (referring to hawks, meaning 'claw or fight each other'): from Low German krabben; related to CRAB^1 .

Linked entries:

CRAB ■

crab ap·ple (also crab·ap·ple) n. (also crab) 1 a small, sour apple.

2 (also crab tree, crab-ap·ple tree, or crab·ap·ple tree) the small tree that bears this fruit.
<INFO>  Genus Malus, family Rosaceae: several species and hybrids, in particular the wild Eurasian crab apple (M. sylvestris), which is one of the possible ancestors of cultivated apples.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: crab perhaps an alteration (influenced by CRAB^1 or CRABBED) of Scots and northern English scrab, in the same sense, probably of Scandinavian origin.

Linked entries:

CRAB ■

CRABBED ■

crab·bed adj. 1 (of handwriting) ill-formed and hard to decipher.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of style) contorted and difficult to understand: crabbed legal language.

2 ill-humored: a crabbed, unhappy middle age.

<DERIVATIVES> crab·bed·ly adv. crab·bed·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'perverse, wayward'): from CRAB^1 , because of the crab's sideways gait and habit of snapping, thought to suggest a perverse or irritable disposition.

Linked entries:

CRAB ■

crab·by adj. (crab·bi·er, crab·bi·est) irritable.

<DERIVATIVES> crab·bi·ly adv. crab·bi·ness n.

crab can·on n. another term for CANON CANCRIZANS.

Linked entries:

CANON CANCRIZANS ■

crab·eat·er seal n. a slender, gray Antarctic seal that lives on the pack ice, feeding mainly on krill.
<INFO>  Lobodon carcinophagus, family Phocidae.

crab·grass n. a creeping grass that can become a serious weed.
<INFO>  Digitaria and other genera, family Gramineae: several species, in particular D. sanguinalis and D. ciliaris.

crab louse n. see CRAB^1 (sense 2).

Linked entries:

CRAB ■

crab·meat n. the flesh of a crab as food.

Crab Neb·u·la [ASTRONOMY] an irregular patch of luminous gas in the constellation Taurus, believed to be the remnant of a supernova explosion seen by Chinese astronomers in 1054. At its center is the first pulsar to be observed visually, and the nebula is a strong source of high-energy radiation.

crab pot n. a wicker trap for crabs.

crab spi·der n. a spider with long front legs, moving with a crablike sideways motion and typically lying in wait in vegetation and flowers for passing prey.
<INFO>  Thomisidae

crab stick n. a rectangular stick of mixed, compressed fish pieces flavored with crab.

crab tree n. see CRAB APPLE (sense 2).

Linked entries:

CRAB APPLE ■

crab·wise adv. & adj. (of movement) sideways, typically in an awkward way: [as adv.] supermarket carts that only go crabwise | [as adj.] crabwise steps.

crack n. 1 a line on the surface of something along which it has split without breaking into separate parts: a hairline crack down the middle of the glass.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a narrow space between two surfaces, esp. ones that have broken or been moved apart: he climbed into a crack between two rocks; the door opened a tiny crack.

- FIGURATIVE a vulnerable point; a flaw: the company spotted a crack in their rival's defenses.

2 a sudden sharp or explosive noise: a loud crack of thunder.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a sharp blow, esp. one that makes a noise: she gave the thief a crack over the head with her rolling pin.

- a sudden harshness or change in pitch in a person's voice: the boy's voice had an uncertain crack in it.

3 INFORMAL a joke, typically a critical or unkind one.

4 [in sing.] INFORMAL an attempt to gain or achieve something: I thought I had a crack at winning.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a chance to attack or compete with someone: he wanted to have a crack at the enemy.

5 (also crack cocaine) a hard, crystalline form of cocaine broken into small pieces and smoked.

■ v. 1 break or cause to break without a complete separation of the parts: [intrans.] the ice all over the lake had cracked | [trans.] a stone cracked the headlight glass on his car.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- break or cause to break open or apart: [intrans.] you can see how the landmasses have cracked up and moved around | FIGURATIVE [intrans.] his face cracked into a smile | [trans.] she cracked an egg into the frying pan.

- [trans.] break (wheat or corn) into coarse pieces.

- [trans.] open slightly: gingerly, he cracks open his door.

- FIGURATIVE give way or cause to give way under torture, pressure, or strain: [intrans.] the witnesses cracked and the truth came out | [trans.] no one can crack themthey believe their story.

- [intrans.] (crack up) INFORMAL suffer an emotional breakdown under pressure.

- (crack up) INFORMAL burst or cause to burst into laughter.

2 make or cause to make a sudden sharp or explosive sound: [intrans.] a shot cracked across the ridge | [trans.] he cracked his whip and galloped away.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] knock against something, making a noise on impact: she winced as her knees cracked against metal.

- [trans.] hit (someone or something) hard, making a sharp noise: she cracked him across the forehead.

- [intrans.] (of a person's voice, esp. that of an adolescent boy or a person under strain) suddenly change in pitch: “I want to get away,” she said, her voice cracking.

3 [trans.] INFORMAL find a solution to; decipher or interpret: a hacker cracked the codes used in Internet software.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- break into (a safe).

- succeed in achieving: he cracked a brilliant goal.

4 [trans.] tell (a joke): he cracked jokes which she didn't find very funny.

5 [trans.] decompose (hydrocarbons) by heat and pressure with or without a catalyst to produce lighter hydrocarbons, esp. in oil refining: [as n.] (cracking) catalytic cracking.

■ adj. [attrib.] very good, esp. at a specified activity or in a specified role: he is a crack shot; crack troops.

<PHRASES>
□ crack a book INFORMAL open a book and read it; study.

□ crack of dawn a time very early in the morning; daybreak.

□ crack of doom a thunder peal announcing the Day of Judgment.

□ cracked up to be [with negative] INFORMAL asserted to be (used to indicate that someone or something has been described too favorably): life on tour is not as glamorous as it's cracked up to be.

□ crack wise INFORMAL make jokes; wisecrack.

□ fall (or slip) through the cracks escape from or be missed by something organized to catch or deal with one: fatherless kids were not allowed to fall through the cracks.

□ get cracking INFORMAL act quickly and energetically: most tickets have been snapped up, so get cracking if you want one.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  crack down on INFORMAL take severe measures against: we need to crack down hard on workplaces that break safety regulations.

□  crack on (of a sailing vessel) sail in high winds with all sails unfurled.

<ORIGIN> Old English cracian 'make an explosive noise'; of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kraken and German krachen.

crack·a·jack adj. variant spelling of CRACKERJACK.

Linked entries:

CRACKERJACK ■

crack·brained adj. INFORMAL extremely foolish; crazy: a crackbrained idea.

crack·down n. [usu. in sing.] severe measures to restrict or discourage undesirable or illegal people or behavior: a crackdown on crime and corruption.

cracked adj. 1 damaged and showing lines on the surface from having split without coming apart: the old pipes were cracked and leaking.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person's voice) having an unusual harshness or pitch, often due to distress.

2 [predic.] INFORMAL crazy; insane: you must think my family is cracked.

cracked wheat n. grains of wheat that have been crushed into small pieces.

crack·er n. 1 a thin, crisp wafer often eaten with cheese or other savory toppings.

2 a person or thing that cracks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an installation for cracking hydrocarbons: a catalytic cracker.

- a person who breaks into a computer system, typically for an illegal purpose: computer crackers will push the outer limits of network security.

3 OFTEN OFFENSIVE another term for POOR WHITE.

4 BRIT., INFORMAL a fine example of something: don't miss this cracker of a CD.

5 CHIEFLY BRIT. a paper cylinder that is pulled apart at Christmas or other celebrations, making a sharp noise and releasing a small toy or other novelty.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a firework exploding with a sharp noise.

Linked entries:

POOR WHITE ■

crack·er-bar·rel adj. [attrib.] (esp. of a philosophy) plain, simple, and unsophisticated: his cracker-barrel fascism.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: with reference to the barrels of soda crackers once found in country stores, around which informal discussions would take place between customers.

crack·er·jack INFORMAL adj. exceptionally good: a crackerjack eye surgeon.

■ n. an exceptionally good person or thing.

crack·ers adj. INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. insane: if Luke wasn't here I'd go crackers.

crack·head n. INFORMAL a person who habitually takes crack cocaine.

crack house n. a place where crack cocaine is traded.

crack·ing BRIT., INFORMAL adj. excellent: he is in cracking form to win this race; | a cracking good war story.

crack·le v. [intrans.] make a rapid succession of slight cracking noises: the fire suddenly crackled and spat sparks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE give a sense of great tension or animation: attraction and antagonism were crackling between them.

■ n. 1 a sound made up of a rapid succession of slight cracking sounds: there was a crackle and a whine from the microphone.

2 a pattern of minute surface cracks on painted or varnished surfaces, glazed ceramics, or glass.

<DERIVATIVES> crack·ly adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from CRACK + -LE^4 .

Linked entries:

CRACK ■

-LE ■

crack·ling n. the crisp, fatty skin of roast pork.

crack·nel n. 1 a light, crisp, savory biscuit.

2 small pieces of crackling.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: alteration of Old French craquelin, from Middle Dutch , from 'to crack'.

crack·pot INFORMAL n. an eccentric or foolish person.

■ adj. eccentric; impractical: his head's full of crackpot ideas.

cracks·man n. (pl. -men) INFORMAL, DATED a burglar, esp. a safecracker.

crack-up (also crackup) n. [usu. in sing.] INFORMAL 1 a collapse under strain: he had a complete mental crack-up.

2 an act of breaking up or splitting apart: the crack-up of the Soviet Union.

3 a car crash: motorists were asked to report minor crack-ups later.

crack wil·low n. a large Eurasian willow with long, glossy leaves, growing typically in damp or riverside habitats. The brittle branches break off easily, often taking root and producing new growth.
<INFO>  Salix fragilis, family Salicaceae.

crack·y n. (in phrase by cracky) DATED, INFORMAL an exclamation used for emphasis.

Crac·ow an industrial and college city in southern Poland, on the Vistula River; pop 750,540. It was the capital of Poland from 1320 until it was replaced by Warsaw in 1609. Polish name KRAKÓW.

Linked entries:

KRAKÓW ■

-cracy comb. form denoting a particular form of government, rule, or influence: autocracy; democracy.

<ORIGIN> from French -cratie, via medieval Latin from Greek -kratia 'power, rule'.

cra·dle n. 1 an infant's bed or crib, typically one mounted on rockers.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE a place, process, or event in which something originates or flourishes: he saw Greek art as the cradle of European civilization.

- FIGURATIVE infancy; childhood: a society that would secure the welfare of its citizens from cradle to grave.

2 a framework resembling a cradle, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a framework on which a ship or boat rests during construction or repairs.

- the part of a telephone on which the receiver rests when not in use.

- a frame put over a hospital bed to prevent the bedclothes from touching a patient’s injury.

- [MINING] a trough on rockers in which auriferous earth or sand is shaken in water to separate the gold.

■ v. [trans.] 1 hold gently and protectively: she cradled his head in her arms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE be the place of origin of: the northeastern states cradled an American industrial revolution.

2 place (a telephone receiver) in its cradle.

<ORIGIN> Old English cradol, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to German Kratte 'basket'.

cra·dle·board n. (among North American Indians) a board to which an infant is strapped.

cra·dle cap n. a skin condition sometimes seen in babies caused by excessive production of sebum, characterized by areas of yellowish or brownish scales on the top of the head.

cra·dle-rob·ber n. DEROGATORY a person who marries or has a sexual relationship with a much younger person.

cra·dle song n. a lullaby.

cra·dling n. [ARCHITECTURE] a wooden or iron framework, typically one used as a structural support in a ceiling.

craft n. 1 an activity involving skill in making things by hand: the craft of bookbinding | pewter craft.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (crafts) work or objects made by hand: the shop sells local crafts | [as adj.] (craft) a craft fair.

- a skilled activity or profession: the historian's craft.

- skill in carrying out one's work: a player with plenty of craft.

- skill used in deceiving others: her cousin was not her equal in guile and evasive craft.

- the members of a skilled profession.

- (the Craft) the brotherhood of Freemasons.

2 (pl. same) a boat or ship: sailing craft.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an airplane or spaceship.

■ v. [trans.] exercise skill in making (something): he crafted the chair lovingly | [as adj.] (crafted) a beautifully crafted object.

<DERIVATIVES> craft·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English cræft 'strength, skill', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kracht, German Kraft, and Swedish kraft 'strength' (the change of sense to 'skill' occurring only in English). Sense 2, originally in the expression small craft 'small trading vessels or lighters', may be elliptical, referring to vessels requiring a small amount of “craft” or skill to handle, as opposed to large oceangoing ships.

craft brew (also craft beer) n. a beer with a distinctive flavor, produced in small quantities and distributed in a particular region.

<DERIVATIVES> craft-brewed adj. craft brew·er n. craft brew·ing n.

craft guild n. HISTORICAL an association of workers of the same trade for mutual benefit.

crafts·man n. (pl. -men) a person who is skilled in a particular craft.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an artist.

<DERIVATIVES> crafts·man·ship n.

crafts·per·son n. (pl. -peo·ple ) a person who is skilled in a particular craft (used as a neutral alternative).

crafts·wom·an n. (pl. -wom·en) a woman who is skilled in a particular craft.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a woman artist.

craft un·ion n. a labor union of people of the same skilled craft.

craft·work n. CHIEFLY BRIT. the making of things, esp. decorative objects, by hand as a profession or leisure activity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> work produced in such a way.

<DERIVATIVES> craft·work·er n.

craft·y adj. (craft·i·er, craft·i·est) 1 clever at achieving one's aims by indirect or deceitful methods: a crafty crook faked an injury to escape from prison.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of, involving, or relating to indirect or deceitful methods: a shameless and crafty trick to mislead public opinion.

2 INFORMAL of, involving, or relating to the making of decorative objects and other things by hand: a market full of crafty pots and interesting earrings.

<DERIVATIVES> craft·i·ly adv. craft·i·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English cræftig 'strong, powerful', later 'skillful' (see CRAFT, -Y^1 ).

Linked entries:

CRAFT ■

-Y ■

crag n. a steep or rugged cliff or rock face.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: of Celtic origin. Sense 2, dating from the mid 18th cent., may have been a different word originally.

crag·gy adj. (-gi·er, -gi·est) (of a landscape) having many crags: a craggy coastline.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a cliff or rock face) rough and uneven.

- (of a person's face, typically a man's) rugged and rough-textured in an attractive way.

<DERIVATIVES> crag·gi·ly adv. crag·gi·ness n.

crags·man n. (pl. -men) a skilled rock climber.

Cra·io·va a city in southwestern Romania; pop. 300,030.

crake n. a bird of the rail family, esp. one with a short bill like the corn crake.
<INFO>  Family Rallidae: several genera, in particular Porzana, and numerous species.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the rasping cry of the corn crake.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally denoting a crow or raven): from Old Norse kráka, krákr, of imitative origin.

cram v. (crammed, cram·ming) [trans.] (often be crammed) completely fill (a place or container) to the point that it appears to be overflowing: the ashtray by the bed was crammed with cigarette butts; it's amazing how you've managed to cram everyone in.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of a number of people) enter a place or space that is or seems to be too small to accommodate all of them: they all crammed into the car.

- put (something) quickly or roughly into something that is or appears to be too small to contain it: he crammed the sandwiches into his mouth | FIGURATIVE he had crammed so much into his short life.

- [intrans.] study intensively over a short period of time just before an examination: lectures were called off so students could cram for finals.

<ORIGIN> Old English crammian, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch krammen 'to cramp or clamp'.

cram·bo n. a game in which a player gives a word or line of verse to which each of the other players must find a rhyme.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting a particular fashion in drinking): from earlier crambe 'cabbage', used figuratively to denote something distasteful that is repeated, apparently from Latin crambe repetita 'cabbage served up again', applied by Juvenal to any distasteful repetition.

cram·mer n. BRIT. a person or institution that prepares pupils for an examination intensively over a short period of time.

cram·ming n. the fraudulent practice of adding unauthorized charges to a customer's phone bill.

cramp n. 1 a painful, involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles, typically caused by fatigue or strain: he suffered severe cramps in his foot.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (cramps) abdominal pain caused by menstruation.

2 a tool, typically shaped like a capital G, for clamping two objects together for gluing or other work.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also cramp-iron) a metal bar with bent ends for holding masonry together.

■ v. 1 [trans.] restrict or inhibit the development of: tighter rules will cramp economic growth.

2 [trans.] fasten with a cramp or cramps: cramp the gates to the posts.

3 [intrans.] suffer from sudden and painful contractions of a muscle or muscles.

<PHRASES> cramp someone's style INFORMAL prevent a person from acting freely or naturally.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch krampe; sense 1 of the noun is via Old French crampe.

cramped adj. 1 feeling or causing someone to feel uncomfortably confined or hemmed in by lack of space: the staff had to work in cramped conditions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- restricting or inhibiting the development of someone or something: he felt cramped in a large organization.

- (of handwriting) small and difficult to read.

2 suffering from a cramp: cramped muscles.

cram·pon n. (usu. crampons) 1 a metal plate with spikes fixed to a boot for walking on ice or rock climbing.

2 archaic term for GRAPPLING HOOK.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (sense 2): from Old French, of Germanic origin.

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GRAPPLING HOOK ■

Cra·nach two German painters. Lucas (1472-1553), known as Cranach the Elder, was a member of the Danube School, noted for his early religious pictures. His son Lucas (1515-86), known as Cranach the Younger, continued working in the same tradition as his father.

cran·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) 1 a small, red, acid berry used in cooking.

2 the evergreen dwarf shrub of the heath family that yields this fruit.
<INFO>  Genus Vaccinium, family Ericaceae: several species, in particular the North American V. macrocarpon, which thrives in boggy places and from which most commercial varieties originate.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (originally North American): from German Kranbeere or Low German kranebeere 'crane-berry'.

cran·ber·ry sauce n. a jellied sauce made from cranberries, a traditional accompaniment to turkey.

Crane 1 (Harold) Hart (1899-1932), U.S. poet. He published only two booksWhite Buildings (1926), a collection, and The Bridge (1930), a mystical epic poem concerned with American life and consciousnessbefore committing suicide by jumping from a ship.

Crane 2 Stephen (1871-1900), U.S. writer. He is well known for the novel, The Red Badge of Courage (1895), a study of an inexperienced soldier during the Civil War. It was hailed as a masterpiece of psychological realism, even though Crane himself had no personal war experience.

crane 1 n. a large, tall machine used for moving heavy objects, typically by suspending them from a projecting arm or beam.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a metal arm fastened inside a fireplace for holding cooking pots.

- a moving platform supporting a television or movie camera.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] stretch out one's neck in order to see something: she craned forward to look more clearly.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] stretch out (one's neck) in this way.

2 [trans.] move (a heavy object) with a crane: the wheelhouse module is craned into position on the hull.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: figuratively from CRANE^2 (the same sense development occurred in the related German Kran and Dutch kraan (see CRANE^2 ), and in French grue). The verb dates from the late 16th cent.

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CRANE ■

CRANE ■

crane 2 n. a tall, long-legged, long-necked bird, typically with white or gray plumage and often with tail plumes and patches of bare red skin on the head. Cranes are noted for their elaborate courtship dances.
<INFO>  Family Gruidae: four genera, in particular Grus, and several species, including the Eurasian common crane (G. grus).

<ORIGIN> Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kraan and German Kran, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin grus and Greek geranos.

crane fly n. a slender, two-winged fly with very long legs. The larva of some kinds is the leatherjacket.
<INFO>  Family Tipulidae: many genera and species, in particular the large and common Tipula maxima.

cranes·bill n. a herbaceous plant that typically has lobed leaves and purple, violet, or pink five-petaled flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Geranium, family Geraniaceae: several species, including the common meadow cranesbill (G. pratense), with deeply toothed leaves and bluish-purple flowers.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: so named because of the long spur on the fruit, thought to resemble a crane's beak.

cra·ni·al adj. [ANATOMY] of or relating to the skull or cranium.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from CRANIUM + -AL.

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CRANIUM ■

-AL ■

cra·ni·al in·dex n. another term for CEPHALIC INDEX.

Linked entries:

CEPHALIC INDEX ■

cra·ni·al nerve n. [ANATOMY] each of twelve pairs of nerves that arise directly from the brain, not from the spinal cord, and pass through separate apertures in the skull.

They are (with conventional roman numbering) the olfactory (I), optic (II), oculomotor (III), trochlear (IV), trigeminal (V), abducens (VI), facial (VII), vestibulocochlear (VIII), glossopharyngeal (IX), vagus (X), accessory (XI), and hypoglossal (XII) nerves.

cra·ni·ate [ZOOLOGY] n. an animal that possesses a skull. Compare with VERTEBRATE.
<INFO>  Subphylum Craniata, phylum Chordata; used instead of Vertebrata in some classification schemes.

■ adj. of or relating to the craniates.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin craniatus, from medieval Latin cranium (see CRANIUM).

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VERTEBRATE ■

CRANIUM ■

cranio- comb. form relating to the skull: craniotomy.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kranion 'skull'.

cra·ni·o·ce·re·bral adj. relating to or involving both the cranium and the cerebrum.

cra·ni·ol·o·gy n. HISTORICAL the scientific study of the shape and size of the skulls of different human races.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for PHRENOLOGY.

<DERIVATIVES> cra·ni·o·log·i·cal adj. cra·ni·ol·o·gist n.

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PHRENOLOGY ■

cra·ni·om·e·ter n. a device for measuring the external dimensions of the skull.

cra·ni·om·e·try n. HISTORICAL the scientific measurement of skulls, esp. in relation to craniology.

<DERIVATIVES> cra·ni·o·met·ric adj.

cra·ni·op·a·gus n. (of conjoined twins) the condition of being joined at the head: [as modifier] the first time that surgeons had tried to separate adult craniopagus twins.

<ORIGIN> based on cranio- 'skull' + Greek pagos'something that has become solid'.

cra·ni·o·sa·cral ther·a·py n. a system of alternative medicine intended to relieve pain and tension by gentle manipulations of the skull regarded as harmonizing with a natural rhythm in the central nervous system.

cra·ni·ot·o·my n. surgical opening into the skull.
<SPECIAL USAGE> surgical perforation of the skull of a dead fetus to ease delivery.

cra·ni·um n. (pl. -ni·ums or -ni·a ) [ANATOMY] the skull, esp. the part enclosing the brain.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via medieval Latin from Greek kranion 'skull'.

crank 1 v. [trans.] 1 turn the crankshaft of (an internal combustion engine), typically in order to start the engine.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- turn (a handle), typically in order to start an engine.

- (crank something up) INFORMAL increase the intensity of something: he cranked up the foghorn to full volume.

- (crank something out) INFORMAL produce something regularly and routinely: an army of researchers cranked out worthy studies.

2 [usu. as adj.] (cranked) give a bend to (a shaft, bar, etc.).

■ n. 1 a part of an axle or shaft bent out at right angles, for converting reciprocal to circular motion and vice versa.

2 INFORMAL methamphetamine.

<ORIGIN> Old English cranc (recorded in crancstæf, denoting a weaver's implement), related to crincan (see CRINGE).

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CRINGE ■

crank 2 n. 1 an eccentric person, esp. one who is obsessed by a particular subject or theory: when he first started to air his views, they labeled him a crank.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a bad-tempered person: she was so sweet and forbearing that I came off as a crank. <ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: back-formation from CRANKY.

2 POETIC/LITERARY a fanciful turn of speech. <ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: perhaps from a base meaning 'bent together, curled up', shared by Old English cranc (see CRANK^1 ).

■ adj. originating from or denoting a malicious or mischievous person: she was the target of a rash of crank calls.

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CRANKY ■

CRANK ■

crank 3 adj. ARCHAIC [NAUTICAL] (of a sailing ship) easily keeled over, esp. by wind or sea through improper design or loading.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: perhaps from dialect crank 'weak, shaky' (compare with CRANKY or CRANK^1 ).

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CRANKY ■

CRANK ■

crank·case n. a case or covering enclosing a crankshaft.

crank·pin n. a pin by which a connecting rod is attached to a crank.

crank·shaft n. a shaft driven by a crank.

crank·y adj. (crank·i·er, crank·i·est) INFORMAL ill-tempered; irritable: he was bored and cranky after eight hours of working.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- eccentric or strange, typically because highly unorthodox: a cranky scheme to pipe ground-level ozone into the stratosphere.

- (of a machine) working badly; shaky: the cranky elevator breaks down periodically.

<DERIVATIVES> crank·i·ly adv. crank·i·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (in the sense 'sickly, in poor health'): perhaps from obsolete (counterfeit) crank 'a rogue feigning sickness', from Dutch or German krank 'sick'.

Cran·mer Thomas (1489-1556), English cleric and martyr. A leader in the English Reformation, he was appointed the first Protestant archbishop of Canterbury in 1532 and was responsible for liturgical reform and the compilation of the Book of Common Prayer (1549).He was convicted of treason and heresy under Mary Tudor and burned at the stake.

cran·nog n. an ancient fortified dwelling constructed in a lake or marsh in Scotland or Ireland.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Irish crannóg, Scottish Gaelic crannag 'timber structure', from crann 'tree, beam'.

cran·ny n. (pl. -nies) a small, narrow space or opening.

<DERIVATIVES> cran·nied adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French crane 'notched', from cran, from popular Latin crena 'notch'.

Cran·ston an industrial city in central Rhode Island, south of Providence; pop. 79,269.

Cran·ston Alan (1914-2000), U.S. politician. A Democrat from California, he was a member of the U.S. Senate 1969-93. From 1993 he worked toward the abolishment of nuclear weapons.

crap 1 VULGAR SLANG n. 1 something that is of extremely poor quality.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- nonsense.

- rubbish; junk.

2 excrement.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] an act of defecation.

■ v. (crapped, crap·ping) [intrans.] defecate.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: related to Dutch krappe, from krappen 'pluck or cut off', and perhaps also to Old French crappe 'siftings', Anglo-Latin crappa 'chaff'. The original sense was 'chaff', later 'residue from rendering fat', also 'dregs of beer'. Current senses date from the late 19th cent.

crap 2 n. a losing throw of 2, 3, or 12 in craps.

■ v. [intrans.] (crap out) INFORMAL make a losing throw at craps.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- withdraw from or give up on a game or activity because of fear or fatigue: when entrepreneurs get to $1 billion they crap out and turn their companies over to others.

- fail in what one is attempting to do: the Rams almost crapped out late in the game.

- (of a machine) break down: his TelePrompTer crapped out.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from CRAPS.

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CRAPS ■

crape n. archaic spelling of CREPE.

<DERIVATIVES> crap·y adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from French crêpe (see CREPE).

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CREPE ■

CREPE ■

crape myr·tle (also crepe myr·tle) n. an ornamental Asian shrub or small tree with pink, white, or purplish crinkled petals.
<INFO>  Genus Lagerstroemia, family Lythraceae: several species, in particular common crape myrtle (L. indica) and queen's crape myrtle (L. speciosa).

crap game n. a game of craps.

crap·per n. VULGAR SLANG a toilet.

crap·pie n. (pl. -pies) a North American freshwater fish of the sunfish family, the male of which builds a nest and guards the eggs and young.
<INFO>  Genus Pomoxis, family Centrarchidae: several species, including the black crappie (P. nigromaculatus) and the white crappie (P. annularis).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

crap·py adj. (-pi·er, -pi·est) VULGAR SLANG of extremely poor quality: crappy wine.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- disgusting or unpleasant; worthless: Phil’s room is the crappiest.

- ill; in poor physical condition: I feel really crappy today.

craps plural n. [treated as sing.] a gambling game played with two dice, chiefly in North America. A throw of 7 or 11 is a winning throw, 2, 3, or 12 is a losing throw; any other throw must be repeated. See also CRAP^2 .

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: perhaps from CRAB^1 or crab's eyes, denoting the lowest throw (two ones) at dice.

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CRAP ■

CRAB ■

crap·shoot n. a crap game.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a risky or uncertain matter: predicting any extreme weather event is a scientific crapshoot.

<DERIVATIVES> crap·shoot·er n.

crap·u·lent adj. POETIC/LITERARY of or relating to the drinking of alcohol or drunkenness.

<DERIVATIVES> crap·u·lence n. crap·u·lous adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from late Latin crapulentus 'very drunk', from Latin crapula 'inebriation', from Greek 'drunken headache'.

cra·que·lure n. a network of fine cracks in the paint or varnish of a painting.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, from craqueler 'to crackle'.

crash 1 v. 1 [intrans.] (of a moving object) collide violently with an obstacle or another moving object: the coffin slipped out the back door, slid down the hill, and crashed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause (a moving object) to collide in this way.

- (of an aircraft) fall from the sky and violently hit the land or sea: a jet crashed 200 yards from the school.

- [trans.] cause (an aircraft) to fall from the sky in this way.

- INFORMAL (of a business, a market, or a price) fall suddenly and disastrously in value: silver prices crashed in early 1980.

- [COMPUTING] [intrans.] (of a machine, system, or software) fail suddenly: the project was postponed because the computer crashed.

- INFORMAL [intrans.] go to sleep, esp. suddenly or in an improvised setting: I'll crash in the back of the van for a couple of hours.

2 [intrans.] move with force, speed, and sudden loud noise: huge waves crashed down on us.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] move (something) in this way: she crashed down the telephone receiver.

- make a sudden loud, deep noise: the thunder crashed.

3 [trans.] INFORMAL enter (a party) without an invitation or permission.

■ n. 1 a violent collision, typically of one moving object with another or with an obstacle: a car crash.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an instance of an aircraft falling from the sky to hit the land or sea.

- a sudden loud noise as of something breaking or hitting another object: he slammed the phone down with a crash.

2 a sudden disastrous drop in the value or price of something, esp. shares of stock: a stock market crash; the crash of 1987.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the sudden collapse of a business.

- [COMPUTING] a sudden failure which puts a system out of action.

■ adj. done rapidly or urgently and involving a concentrated effort: a crash course in Italian; a crash diet.

■ adv. with a sudden loud sound: crash went the bolt.

<PHRASES> crash and burn INFORMAL come to grief or fail spectacularly.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: imitative, perhaps partly suggested by CRAZE and DASH.

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CRAZE ■

DASH ■

crash 2 n. DATED a coarse plain linen, woolen, or cotton fabric, used for curtains and towels.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Russian krashenina 'dyed coarse linen'.

crash-dive v. [intrans.] (of a submarine) dive rapidly and steeply to a deeper level in an emergency.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an aircraft) plunge steeply downward into a crash.

■ n. (crash dive) a steep dive of this kind by a submarine or aircraft.

crash hel·met n. a helmet worn by a motorcyclist or a race car driver to protect the head in case of a crash.

crash·ing adj. INFORMAL complete; total (used for emphasis): a crashing bore.

<DERIVATIVES> crash·ing·ly adv.

crash-land v. [intrans.] (of an aircraft) land roughly in an emergency, typically without lowering the landing gear: [as n.] (crash landing) a plane made a crash landing near the airport.

crash pad n. 1 INFORMAL a place to sleep, esp. for a single night or in an emergency.

2 a thick piece of shock-absorbing material for the protection of the occupants of an aircraft cockpit or motor vehicle.

crash-test v. [trans.] deliberately crash (a new vehicle) under controlled conditions in order to evaluate and improve its ability to withstand impact.

■ n. (crash test) a test of this kind.

crash·wor·thy adj. (of a vehicle or an aircraft) relatively well able to withstand a crash.

<DERIVATIVES> crash·wor·thi·ness n.

crass adj. lacking sensitivity, refinement, or intelligence: the crass assumptions that men make about women.

<DERIVATIVES> cras·si·tude n. crass·ly adv. crass·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the sense 'dense or coarse (in constitution or texture)'): from Latin crassus 'solid, thick'.

Cras·sus Marcus Licinius (c.115-53 BC), Roman politician. After defeating Spartacus in 71 BC, he joined Caesar and Pompey in the First Triumvirate in 60.

-crat comb. form denoting a member or supporter of a particular form of government or rule: plutocrat; technocrat.

<ORIGIN> from French -crate, from adjectives ending in -cratique (see -CRATIC).

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-CRATIC ■

crate n. 1 a slatted wooden case used for transporting or storing goods: a crate of bananas.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a square metal or plastic container divided into small individual units, used for transporting or storing bottles: a milk crate; a crate of beer.

2 INFORMAL, DATED an old and dilapidated vehicle.

■ v. [trans.] (often be crated) pack (something) in a crate for transportation.

<DERIVATIVES> crate·ful n. (pl. -fuls).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: perhaps related to Dutch krat 'tailboard of a wagon', earlier 'box of a coach', of unknown origin.

Cra·ter [ASTRONOMY] a small and faint southern constellation (the Cup), between Hydra and Leo, said to represent the goblet of Apollo.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Cra·te·ris ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Delta Crateris.

<ORIGIN> Latin, from Greek, 'mixing bowl'.

cra·ter n. 1 a large, bowl-shaped cavity in the ground or on the surface of a planet or the moon, typically one caused by an explosion or the impact of a meteorite or other celestial body.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a large pit or hollow forming the mouth of a volcano.

- a cavity or hole in any surface.

2 a large bowl used in ancient Greece for mixing wine.

■ v. [trans.] form a crater in (the ground or a planet): he has the offensive power to crater the enemy's runways | [as adj.] (cratered) the heavily cratered areas of the moon.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting the hollow forming the mouth of a volcano): via Latin from Greek 'mixing bowl', from krasis 'mixture'.

Cra·ter Lake a lake that fills a volcanic crater in the Cascade Mountains in southwestern Oregon. With a depth of more than 1,968 feet (600 m), it is the deepest lake in the U.S.

-cratic comb. form relating to a particular kind of government or rule: bureaucratic; democratic.

<ORIGIN> from French -cratique, from -cratie (see -CRACY).

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-CRACY ■

-cratically suffix forming adverbs corresponding to adjectives ending in -cratic: democratically.

<ORIGIN> from -CRATIC + -ALLY. (See -CRACY).

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-CRACY ■

C rations plural n. a type of canned food formerly used by U.S. soldiers.

<ORIGIN> C for combat.

cra·ton n. [GEOLOGY] a large, stable block of the earth's crust forming the nucleus of a continent.

<DERIVATIVES> cra·ton·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: alteration of kratogen in the same sense, from Greek kratos 'strength'.

cra·vat n. a short, wide strip of fabric worn by men around the neck and tucked inside an open-necked shirt.
- a necktie.

<DERIVATIVES> cra·vat·ted adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French cravate, from Cravate 'Croat' (from German Krabat, from Serbo-Croat Hrvat), because of the scarf worn by Croatian mercenaries in France.

crave v. [trans.] feel a powerful desire for (something): a program to give the infants the human touch they crave.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED beg for (something): I must crave your indulgence.

<DERIVATIVES> crav·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English crafian (in the sense 'demand, claim as a right'), of Germanic origin; related to Swedish kräva, Danish kræve 'demand'. The current sense dates from late Middle English.

cra·ven adj. contemptibly lacking in courage; cowardly: a craven abdication of his moral duty.

■ n. ARCHAIC a cowardly person.

<DERIVATIVES> cra·ven·ly adv. cra·ven·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English cravant 'defeated', perhaps via Anglo-Norman French from Old French cravante, past participle of cravanter 'crush, overwhelm', based on Latin crepare 'burst'. The change in the ending in the 17th cent. was due to association with past participles ending in -en (see -EN^3 ).

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-EN ■

crav·ing n. a powerful desire for something: a craving for chocolate.

craw n. DATED the crop of a bird or insect.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY HUMOROUS the stomach of a person or animal.

<PHRASES> stick in one's craw see STICK^2 .

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from or related to Middle Dutch or Middle Low German krage 'neck, throat'.

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STICK ■

craw·dad n. a freshwater crayfish.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: fanciful alteration of CRAWFISH.

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CRAWFISH ■

craw·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a freshwater crayfish.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for SPINY LOBSTER.

■ v. [intrans.] INFORMAL retreat from a position: the three networks, intimidated by the public outcry, had begun to crawfish.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: variant of CRAYFISH.

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SPINY LOBSTER ■

CRAYFISH ■

Craw·ford Joan (1908-77), U.S. actress; born Lucille Le Sueur. Her movie career lasted for over 40 years, during which time she played the female lead in movies such as Mildred Pierce (1945), for which she was awarded an Academy Award. She later appeared in mature roles, such as her part in the horror movie Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962).

crawl v. [intrans.] 1 (of a person) move forward on the hands and knees or by dragging the body close to the ground: they crawled out from under the table.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an insect or small animal) move slowly along a surface: the tiny spider was crawling up Nicky's arm.

- (of a vehicle) move at an unusually slow pace: the traffic was crawling along.

- swim using the crawl.

- INFORMAL behave obsequiously or ingratiatingly in the hope of gaining someone's favor: don't come crawling back to me later when you realize your mistake.

- TECHNICAL (of paint or other liquid) move after application to form an uneven layer over the surface below: glazes can crawl away from a crack in the piece.

2 (be crawling with) be covered or crowded with insects or people, to an extent that is disgusting or objectionable: the place was crawling with soldiers.

■ n. [in sing.] 1 an act of moving on one's hands and knees or dragging one's body along the ground: they began the crawl back to their own lines.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a slow rate of movement, typically that of a vehicle: he reduced his speed to a crawl.

2 a swimming stroke involving alternate overarm movements and rapid kicks of the legs.

<PHRASES> make someone's skin crawl see SKIN.

<DERIVATIVES> crawl·ing·ly adv. crawl·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: of unknown origin; possibly related to Swedish kravla and Danish kravle.

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SKIN ■

crawl·er n. a thing that crawls or moves at a slow pace, esp. an insect.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in full crawler tractor) a tractor or other vehicle moving on an endless caterpillar track.

- [COMPUTING] a program that searches the World Wide Web, typically in order to create an index of data.

crawl·ing peg n. a point on a scale of exchange rates in which a currency's value is allowed to go up or down frequently by small amounts within overall limits.

crawl space n. an area of limited height under a floor or roof, giving access to wiring and plumbing.

cray·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) (also freshwater crayfish) a nocturnal freshwater crustacean that resembles a small lobster and inhabits streams and rivers.
<INFO>  Several genera in the infraorder Astacidea, class Malacostraca, including Astacus of Europe and Cambarus of North America.

<SPECIAL USAGE> (also marine crayfish) another term for SPINY LOBSTER.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French crevice, of Germanic origin and related to German Krebs (see CRAB^1 ). In the 16th cent. or earlier the second syllable was altered by association with FISH^1 .

Linked entries:

SPINY LOBSTER ■

CRAB ■

FISH ■

cray·on n. a pencil or stick of colored chalk or wax, used for drawing.

■ v. [trans.] draw with a crayon or crayons: Jeff crayoned a picture on a legal pad | [intrans.] a child crayoning in a coloring book.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French, from craie 'chalk', from Latin creta.

craze n. an enthusiasm for a particular activity or object that typically appears suddenly and achieves widespread but short-lived popularity: the latest craze for bungee jumping.

■ v. [trans.] 1 [usu. as adj.] (crazed) wildly insane or excited: a crazed killer; |power-crazed tinpot dictators.

2 (often be crazed) produce a network of fine cracks on (a surface): the lake was frozen over but crazed with cracks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] develop such cracks.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'break, shatter, produce cracks'): perhaps of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish krasa 'crunch'.

cra·zy INFORMAL adj. (-zi·er, -zi·est) 1 mentally deranged, esp. as manifested in a wild or aggressive way: Stella went crazy and assaulted a visitor; a crazy grin.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- extremely annoyed or angry: the noise they made was driving me crazy.

- foolish: it was crazy to hope that good might come out of this mess.

2 extremely enthusiastic: I'm crazy about Cindy;| a football-crazy bunch of boys.

3 (of an angle) appearing absurdly out of place or in an unlikely position: the monument leaned at a crazy angle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC (of a ship or building) full of cracks or flaws; unsound or shaky.

■ n. (pl. -zies) a mentally deranged person.

<PHRASES> like crazy to a great degree: I was laughing like crazy.

<DERIVATIVES> cra·zi·ly adv. cra·zi·ness n.

cra·zy bone n. another term for FUNNY BONE.

Linked entries:

FUNNY BONE ■

Cra·zy Horse (c.1849-77), Sioux chief; Sioux name Ta-Sunko-Witko. A leading figure in the resistance to white settlement on Native-American land, he was at the center of the confederation that defeated General Custer at Little Bighorn in 1876. He surrendered in 1877 and was killed while in custody.

cra·zy quilt n. a patchwork quilt of a type traditionally made in North America, with patches of randomly varying sizes, shapes, colors, and fabrics.

CRC abbr.
- [PRINTING] camera-ready copy.

- Civil Rights Commission.

- [COMPUTING] cyclic redundancy check (or code).

creak v. [intrans.] (of an object, typically a wooden one) make a harsh, high-pitched sound when being moved or when pressure or weight is applied: the stairs creaked as she went up them; |the garden gate creaked open.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE show weakness or frailty under strain: stock prices creaked to a mixed finish today.

■ n. a harsh scraping or squeaking sound: the creak of a floorboard broke the silence.

<DERIVATIVES> creak·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a verb in the sense 'croak'): imitative.

creak·y adj. (creak·i·er, creak·i·est) (of an object, typically a wooden one) making or liable to make a harsh, high-pitched sound when being moved or when pressure or weight is applied: I climbed the creaky stairs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a voice) producing such a sound.

- FIGURATIVE appearing old-fashioned; decrepit: the country's creaky legal system.

<DERIVATIVES> creak·i·ly adv. creak·i·ness n.

cream n. 1 the thick white or pale yellow fatty liquid that rises to the top when milk is left to stand and that can be eaten as an accompaniment to desserts or used as a cooking ingredient: strawberries and cream | [as adj.] a cream sauce.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the part of a liquid that gathers at the top.

- FIGURATIVE the very best of a group of people or things: the paper's readership is the cream of American society.

- a sauce, soup, dessert, or similar food containing cream or milk or having the consistency of cream: a can of cream of mushroom soup.

- a candy of a specified flavor that is creamy in texture, typically covered with chocolate: a peppermint cream.

2 a thick liquid or semisolid cosmetic or medical preparation applied to the skin: shaving cream | moisturizing creams.

3 a very pale yellow or off-white color: the dress is available in white or cream | [as adj.] a cream linen jacket.

■ v. [trans.] 1 work (butter, typically with sugar) to form a smooth soft paste.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [usu. as adj.] (creamed) mash (a cooked vegetable) and mix with milk or cream: creamed turnips.

- add cream to (coffee).

2 rub a cosmetic cream into (the skin): Madge was creaming her face in front of the mirror.

3 INFORMAL defeat (someone) heavily, esp. in a sports contest.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (often be creamed) hit or collide heavily and violently with (someone), esp. in a car: she got creamed by a speeding car.

4 [intrans.] VULGAR SLANG (of a person) be sexually aroused, esp. to the point of producing sexual secretions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] moisten (one's underpants) due to such arousal.

<PHRASAL VERB> cream something off take the best of a group of people or things, esp. in a way that is considered unfair: the schools cream off some of the better students.
- make a disproportionate or excessive profit on a transaction.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cresme, from a blend of late Latin cramum (probably of Gaulish origin) and ecclesiastical Latin chrisma (see CHRISM).

Linked entries:

CHRISM ■

cream cheese n. soft, rich cheese made from unskimmed milk and cream.

cream·er n. 1 a cream or milk substitute for adding to coffee or tea.

2 a small jug for cream.

3 HISTORICAL a flat dish used for skimming the cream off milk.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a machine used for separating cream from milk.

cream·er·y n. (pl. -er·ies) a place where butter and cheese are produced.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED a shop where dairy products are sold.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CREAM, on the pattern of French crémerie.

Linked entries:

CREAM ■

cream of tar·tar n. a white, crystalline, acidic compound obtained as a byproduct of wine fermentation and used chiefly in baking powder.
<INFO>  Alternative name: potassium hydrogen tartrate; chem. formula: HOOC(CHOH)2COOK.

cream puff n. 1 a cake made of light pastry filled with cream.

2 INFORMAL a weak or ineffectual person.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] denoting something of little consequence or difficulty: a cream-puff assignment.

3 INFORMAL a secondhand car or other item maintained in excellent condition.

cream so·da n. a carbonated, vanilla-flavored soft drink.

cream·ware n. glazed earthenware pottery of a rich cream color, developed by Josiah Wedgwood in about 1760.

cream·y adj. (cream·i·er, cream·i·est) resembling cream in consistency or color: beat the sugar and egg yolks together until thick and creamy; creamy white flowers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> containing a lot of cream: a thick, creamy dressing.

<DERIVATIVES> cream·i·ly adv. cream·i·ness n.

cre·ance n. [FALCONRY] a long, fine cord attached to a hawk's leash to prevent escape during training.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from French créance 'faith', also denoting a cord to retain a bird of peu de créance ('of little faith', i.e., which cannot yet be relied upon).

crease n. 1 a line or ridge produced on paper or cloth by folding, pressing, or crushing it: khaki trousers with knife-edge creases.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a wrinkle or furrow in the skin, typically of the face, caused by age or a particular facial expression.

2 (usu. the crease) an area around the goal in ice hockey or lacrosse that attacking players may not normally enter unless the puck or ball has already done so.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CRICKET] any of a number of lines marked on the pitch at specified places, esp. the position of a batsman.

■ v. [trans.] 1 make a crease in (cloth or paper): he sank into the chair, careful not to crease his dinner jacket | [as adj.] (creased) a creased piece of paper.
<SPECIAL USAGE> cause a crease to appear temporarily in (the face or its features), typically as a result of the expression of an emotion or feeling: a small frown creased her forehead.

2 (of a bullet) graze (someone or something), causing little damage: a bullet creased his thigh.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: probably a variant of CREST.

Linked entries:

CREST ■

cre·ate v. [trans.] bring (something) into existence: he created a thirty-acre lake; over 170 jobs were created.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- cause (something) to happen as a result of one's actions: divorce only created problems for children.

- (of an actor) originate (a role) by playing a character for the first time.

- invest (someone) with a new rank or title: he was created a baronet.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'form out of nothing', used of a divine or supernatural being): from Latin creat- 'produced', from the verb creare.

cre·a·tine n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a compound formed in protein metabolism and present in much living tissue. It is involved in the supply of energy for muscular contraction.
<INFO>  A guanidine derivative, usually present as a phosphate; chem. formula: C_4H_9N_3O_2.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: formed irregularly from Greek kreas 'meat' + -INE^4 .

Linked entries:

-INE ■

cre·a·tine phos·phate n. another term for PHOSPHOCREATINE.

Linked entries:

PHOSPHOCREATINE ■

cre·at·i·nine n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a compound that is produced by metabolism of creatine and excreted in the urine.
<INFO>  An anhydride of creatine; chem. formula: C_7H_4N_3O.

cre·a·tion n. 1 the action or process of bringing something into existence: the creation of a coalition government; job creation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thing that has been made or invented, esp. something showing artistic talent: she treats fictional creations as if they were real people.

2 (the Creation) the bringing into of existence of the universe, esp. when regarded as an act of God.
<SPECIAL USAGE> everything so created; the universe: our alienation from the rest of Creation.

3 the action or process of investing someone with a new rank or title.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin creatio(n-), from the verb creare (see CREATE).

Linked entries:

CREATE ■

cre·a·tion·ism n. the belief that the universe and living organisms originate from specific acts of divine creation, as in the biblical account, rather than by natural processes such as evolution.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for CREATION SCIENCE.

<DERIVATIVES> cre·a·tion·ist n. & adj.

Linked entries:

CREATION SCIENCE ■

cre·a·tion sci·ence n. the interpretation of scientific knowledge in accord with belief in the literal truth of the Bible, esp. regarding the creation of matter, life, and humankind in six days.

cre·a·tive adj. relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas, esp. in the production of an artistic work: change unleashes people's creative energy; creative writing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) having good imagination or original ideas: Homer, the creative genius of Greek epic.

■ n. a person who is creative, typically in a professional context.

<DERIVATIVES> cre·a·tive·ly adv. cre·a·tive·ness n.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
creative, imaginative, ingenious, inventive, original, resourceful

Everyone likes to think that he or she is creative, which is used to describe the active, exploratory minds possessed by artists, writers, and inventors (a creative approach to problem-solving). Today, however, creative has become an advertising buzzword (creative cooking, creative hairstyling) that simply means new or different.

Original is more specific and limited in scope. Someone who is original comes up with things that no one else has thought of (an original approach to constructing a doghouse), or thinks in an independent and creative way (a highly original filmmaker).

Imaginative implies having an active and creative imagination, which often means that the person visualizes things quite differently than the way they appear in the real world (imaginative illustrations for a children's book).

The practical side of imaginative is inventive; the inventive person figures out how to make things work (an inventive solution to the problem of getting a wheelchair into a van).

But where an inventive mind tends to comes up with solutions to problems it has posed for itself, a resourceful mind deals successfully with externally imposed problems or limitations (A resourceful child can amuse herself with simple wooden blocks).

Someone who is ingenious is both inventive and resourceful, with a dose of cleverness thrown in (the ingenious idea of using recycled plastic to create a warm, fleecelike fabric).

cre·a·tive ac·count·an·cy (also cre·a·tive ac·count·ing) n. INFORMAL the exploitation of loopholes in financial regulation in order to gain advantage or present figures in a misleadingly favorable light.

cre·a·tiv·i·ty n. the use of the imagination or original ideas, esp. in the production of an artistic work.

cre·a·tor n. a person or thing that brings something into existence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the Creator) used as a name for God.

crea·ture n. an animal, as distinct from a human being: night sounds of birds and other creatures.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an animal or person: as fellow creatures on this planet, animals deserve respect.

- a fictional or imaginary being, typically a frightening one: a creature from outer space.

- ARCHAIC anything living or existing: dress, jewels, and other transitory creatures.

- a person of a specified kind, typically one viewed with pity, contempt, or desire: you heartless creature!

- a person or organization considered to be under the complete control of another: the village teacher was expected to be the creature of his employer.

<PHRASES> creature of habit a person who follows an unvarying routine.

<DERIVATIVES> crea·ture·ly adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'something created'): via Old French from late Latin creatura, from the verb creare (see CREATE).

Linked entries:

CREATE ■

crea·ture com·forts plural n. material comforts that contribute to physical ease and well-being, such as good food and accommodations.

crèche n. 1 a model or tableau representing the scene of Jesus Christ's birth, displayed in homes or public places at Christmas.

2 BRIT. a nursery where babies and young children are cared for during the working day.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (sense 1): French.

Cré·cy, Battle of a battle between the English and the French in 1346 near the village of Crécy-en-Ponthieu in Picardy, at which the forces of Edward III defeated those of Philip VI. It was the first major English victory of the Hundred Years War.

cred n. informal term for STREET CREDIBILITY.

Linked entries:

STREET CREDIBILITY ■

cred·al (also creed·al) adj. of or relating to a statement of Christian or other religious belief.

cre·dence n. 1 belief in or acceptance of something as true: psychoanalysis finds little credence among laymen.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the likelihood of something being true; plausibility: being called upon by the media as an expert lends credence to one's opinions.

2 [usu. as adj.] a small side table, shelf, or niche in a church for holding the elements of the Eucharist before they are consecrated: a credence table.

<PHRASES> give credence to accept as true.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin credentia, from Latin credent- 'believing', from the verb credere.

cre·den·tial n. (usu. credentials) a qualification, achievement, personal quality, or aspect of a person's background, typically when used to indicate that they are suitable for something: recruitment is based mainly on academic credentials.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a document or certificate proving a person's identity or qualifications.

- a letter of introduction given by a government to an ambassador before a new posting.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin credentialis, from credentia (see CREDENCE). The original use was as an adjective in the sense 'giving credence to, recommending', frequently in credential letters or papers, hence credentials (mid 17th cent.).

Linked entries:

CREDENCE ■

cre·den·tialed adj. awarded or in possession of credentials: impeccably credentialed professionals.

cre·den·za n. a sideboard or cupboard.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Italian, from medieval Latin credentia (see CREDENCE).

Linked entries:

CREDENCE ■

cred·i·bil·i·ty n. the quality of being trusted and believed in: the government's loss of credibility.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the quality of being convincing or believable: the book's anecdotes have scant regard for credibility.

- another term for STREET CREDIBILITY.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from medieval Latin credibilitas, from Latin credibilis (see CREDIBLE).

Linked entries:

STREET CREDIBILITY ■

CREDIBLE ■

cred·i·bil·i·ty gap n. an apparent difference between what is said or promised and what happens or is true.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a lack of trust in a person's or institution's statements and motives: the Times's worst enemy is a continuing credibility gap.

cred·i·ble adj. able to be believed; convincing: few people found his story credible; a credible witness. See note at BELIEVABLE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> capable of persuading people that something will happen or be successful: a credible threat.

<DERIVATIVES> cred·i·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin credibilis, from credere 'believe'.

cred·it n. 1 the ability of a customer to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future: I've got unlimited credit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the money lent or made available under such an arrangement: the bank refused to extend their credit | [as adj.] he was exceeding his credit limit.

2 an entry recording a sum received, listed on the right-hand side or column of an account. The opposite of DEBIT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a payment received: you need to record debits or credits made to your account.

3 public acknowledgment or praise, typically that given or received when a person's responsibility for an action or idea becomes or is made apparent: the president claims credit for each accomplishment.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in sing.] a source of pride, typically someone or something that reflects well on another person or organization: he's a credit to his mother.

- (usu. credits) an acknowledgment of a contributor's services to a movie or a television program, typically one of a list that is scrolled down the screen at the beginning or end of a movie or program: the closing credits finished rolling.

4 the acknowledgment of a student's completion of a course that counts toward a degree or diploma as maintained in a school's records: a student can earn one unit of academic credit.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a unit of study counting toward a degree or diploma: in his first semester he earned 17 credits.

- acknowledgment of merit in an examination which is reflected in the grades awarded: students will receive credit for accuracy and style.

5 ARCHAIC the quality of being believed or credited: the abstract philosophy of Cicero has lost its credit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> favorable estimation; good reputation: John Gilpin was a citizen of credit and renown.

■ v. (cred·it·ed, cred·it·ing) [trans.] (often be credited) 1 publicly acknowledge someone as a participant in the production of (something published or broadcast): the screenplay is credited to one American and two Japanese writers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (credit someone with) ascribe (an achievement or good quality) to someone: he is credited with painting one hundred and twenty-five canvases.

2 add (an amount of money) to an account: this deferred tax can be credited to the profit and loss account.

3 believe (something surprising or unlikely): you would hardly credit itbut it was true.

<PHRASES>
□ credit where credit is due praise given when it is deserved, even if one is reluctant to give it.

□ do someone credit (or do credit to someone) make someone worthy of praise or respect: your concern does you credit.

□ give someone credit for commend someone for (a quality or achievement), esp. with reluctance or surprise: please give me credit for some sense.

□ have something to one's credit have achieved something notable: he has 65 tournament wins to his credit.

□ on credit with an arrangement to pay later.

□ on the credit side as a good aspect of the situation: on the credit side, the text is highly readable.

□ to one's credit used to indicate that something praiseworthy has been achieved, esp. despite difficulties: to her credit, she had never betrayed a confidence.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (originally in the senses 'belief', 'credibility'): from French crédit, probably via Italian credito from Latin creditum, neuter past participle of credere 'believe, trust'.

Linked entries:

DEBIT ■

cred·it·a·ble adj. (of a performance, effort, or action) deserving public acknowledgment and praise but not necessarily outstanding or successful: a very creditable 2-4 defeat. See note at BELIEVABLE.

<DERIVATIVES> cred·it·a·bil·i·ty n. cred·it·a·bly adv.

cred·it an·a·lyst n. a person employed to assess the credit rating of people or companies.

cred·it bu·reau n. a company that collects information relating to the credit ratings of individuals and makes it available to credit card companies, financial institutions, etc.

cred·it card n. a small plastic card issued by a bank, business, etc., allowing the holder to purchase goods or services on credit.

cred·it line n. another term for LINE OF CREDIT (see LINE^1 ).

Linked entries:

LINE ■

cred·i·tor n. a person or company to whom money is owed.

cred·it rat·ing n. an estimate of the ability of a person or organization to fulfill their financial commitments, based on previous dealings.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the process of assessing this.

cred·it score n. [FINANCE] a number assigned to a person that indicates to lenders their capacity to repay a loan.

cred·it un·ion n. a nonprofit-making money cooperative whose members can borrow from pooled deposits at low interest rates.

cred·it·worth·y adj. (of a person or company) considered suitable to receive credit, esp. because of being reliable in paying money back in the past.

<DERIVATIVES> cred·it·wor·thi·ness n.

cre·do n. (pl. -dos) a statement of the beliefs or aims that guide someone's actions: he announced his credo in his first editorial.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (Credo) a creed of the Christian Church in Latin.

- (Credo) a musical setting of the Nicene Creed, typically as part of a mass.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: Latin, 'I believe'. Compare with CREED.

Linked entries:

CREED ■

cre·du·li·ty n. a tendency to be too ready to believe that something is real or true.

cred·u·lous adj. having or showing too great a readiness to believe things. See note at GULLIBLE.

<DERIVATIVES> cred·u·lous·ly adv. cred·u·lous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the general sense 'inclined to believe'): from Latin credulus (from credere 'believe') + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

Cree n. (pl. same or Crees) 1 a member of a American Indian people living in a vast area of central Canada.

2 the Algonquian language of this people, closely related to Montagnais.

■ adj. of or relating to the Cree or their language.

<ORIGIN> from Canadian French Cris, abbreviation of Cristinaux, from Algonquian .

creed n. a system of Christian or other religious belief; a faith: people of many creeds and cultures.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (often the Creed) a formal statement of Christian beliefs, esp. the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed.

- a set of beliefs or aims that guide someone's actions: liberalism was more than a political creed.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Latin CREDO.

Linked entries:

CREDO ■

creed·al adj. variant spelling of CREDAL.

Linked entries:

CREDAL ■

Creek n. (pl. same) 1 a member of a confederacy of native peoples of the southeastern U.S. in the 16th to 19th centuries whose descendants now live mainly in Oklahoma.

2 the Muskogean language of this confederacy.

■ adj. of, relating to, or denoting this confederacy.

<ORIGIN> from CREEK, because they lived beside the waterways of the flatlands of Georgia and Alabama.

Linked entries:

CREEK ■

creek n. a stream, brook, or minor tributary of a river.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an inlet in a shoreline, a channel in a marsh, or another narrow, sheltered waterway.

<PHRASES>
□ be up the creek INFORMAL (also be up the creek without a paddle) be in severe difficulty or trouble, esp. with no means of extricating oneself from it.

□ be up shit creek see SHIT.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French crique or from Old Norse kriki 'nook'; perhaps reinforced by Middle Dutch ; of unknown ultimate origin.

Linked entries:

SHIT ■

creel n. 1 a large wicker basket for carrying fish.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an angler's fishing basket.

2 a rack holding bobbins or spools for spinning.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (sense 1; originally Scots and northern English): of unknown origin. Sense 2 (perhaps the same word) dates from the mid 19th cent.

creep v. (past and past part. crept ) [intrans.] 1 move slowly and carefully, esp. in order to avoid being heard or noticed: he crept downstairs, hardly making any noise; they were taught how to creep up on an enemy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a thing) move very slowly at an inexorably steady pace: the fog was creeping up from the marsh.

- (of a plant) grow along the ground or other surface by means of extending stems or branches: [as adj.] (creeping) tufts of fine leaves grow on creeping rhizomes.

- (of a plastic solid) undergo gradual deformation under stress.

2 (creep in/into) (of an unwanted and negative characteristic or fact) occur or develop gradually and almost imperceptibly: errors crept into his game | [as adj.] (creeping) the creeping centralization of power.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (creep up) increase slowly but steadily in number or amount: interest rates have been creeping up in the past few weeks.

■ n. 1 INFORMAL a detestable person.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who behaves in an obsequious way in the hope of advancement.

2 slow movement, esp. at a steady but almost imperceptible pace: an attempt to prevent this slow creep of costs.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the tendency of a car with automatic transmission to move when in gear without the accelerator being pressed.

- the gradual downward movement of disintegrated rock or soil due to gravitational forces: stones and earth slowly slip down the slopes by soil creep.

- the gradual deformation of a plastic solid under stress.

- gradual bulging of the floor of a mine owing to pressure on the pillars.

<PHRASES>
□ give someone the creeps INFORMAL induce a feeling of revulsion or fear in someone.

□ make one's flesh creep feel disgust or revulsion and have a sensation like that of something crawling over the skin.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'move with the body close to the ground', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kruipen. Sense 1 of the verb dates from Middle English.

creep·er n. 1 [BOTANY] any plant that grows along the ground, around another plant, or up a wall by means of extending stems or branches.

2 any of a number of small birds that creep around in trees, vegetation, etc.:
<INFO>
- (brown creeper) the American treecreeper (Certhia americana, family Certhiidae).

- (brown creeper) NZ a New Zealand songbird (Mohoua (or Finschia) novaeseelandiae, family Pachycephalidae or Acanthizidae).

- a Philippine songbird (family Rhabdornithidae and genus Rhabdornis: two species).

- a Hawaiian honeycreeper (genus Paroreomyza, family Drepanididae: three species).

3 a low, wheeled platform on which a mechanic lies while working on the underside of a motor vehicle.

creep·ing Char·lie n. a creeping or trailing plant, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- another term for MONEYWORT.

- another term for GROUND IVY.

Linked entries:

MONEYWORT ■

GROUND IVY ■

creep·ing Jen·ny n. another term for MONEYWORT.

Linked entries:

MONEYWORT ■

creep·y adj. (creep·i·er, creep·i·est) INFORMAL causing an unpleasant feeling of fear or unease: the creepy feelings one often gets in a strange house.

<DERIVATIVES> creep·i·ly adv. creep·i·ness n.

creep·y-crawl·y INFORMAL n. (pl. -crawl·ies) a spider, worm, or other small, flightless creature, esp. when considered unpleasant or frightening.

■ adj. causing an unpleasant feeling of fear or unease: creepy-crawly stories.

creese n. archaic spelling of KRIS.

Linked entries:

KRIS ■

cre·mains plural n. a person's cremated remains.

cre·mas·ter n. 1 (also cre·mas·ter mus·cle) [ANATOMY] the muscle of the spermatic cord, by which the testicle can be partially raised.

2 [ENTOMOLOGY] the hooklike tip of a butterfly pupa, serving as an anchorage point.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Greek , from krema- 'hang'.

cre·mate v. [trans.] (usu. be cremated) dispose of (a dead person's body) by burning it to ashes, typically after a funeral ceremony.
- to burn (something), typically food.

<DERIVATIVES> cre·ma·tion n. cre·ma·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (as cremation): from Latin cremare 'burn'.

cre·ma·to·ri·um n. (pl. -to·ri·a or -to·ri·ums) another term for CREMATORY.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from cremare 'burn'.

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CREMATORY ■

cre·ma·to·ry n. (pl. -ries) a place where a dead person's body is cremated.

■ adj. of or relating to cremation.

crème an·glaise n. a rich egg custard.

<ORIGIN> French, literally 'English cream'.

crème brû·lée n. (pl. crèmes brû·léespronunc. same, or crème brû·lées ) a dessert of custard topped with caramelized sugar.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, literally 'burned cream'.

crème car·a·mel n. (pl. crèmes car·a·mel pronunc. same, or crème car·a·mels ) a custard dessert made with whipped cream and eggs and topped with caramel.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally 'caramel custard'.

crème de ca·ca·o n. a chocolate-flavored liqueur.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: French, literally 'cream of cacao'.

crème de cas·sis n. see CASSIS^1 .

<ORIGIN> French, literally 'cream of black currant'.

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CASSIS ■

crème de la crème n. the best person or thing of a particular kind: the crème de la crème of the dancers have left the country.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, literally 'cream of the cream'.

crème de menthe n. a peppermint-flavored liqueur.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally 'cream of mint'.

crème fraiche n. a type of thick cream made from heavy cream with the addition of buttermilk, sour cream, or yogurt.

<ORIGIN> from French crème fraîche, literally 'fresh cream'.

Cre·mo·na a city in northern Italy, in Lombardy; pop. 75,160. Between the 16th and the 18th century the city was home to three renowned families of violin-makers: the Amati, the Guarneri, and the Stradivari.

cre·nate adj. [BOTANY] & [ZOOLOGY] (esp. of a leaf or shell) having a round-toothed or scalloped edge. Compare with CRENULATE.

<DERIVATIVES> cre·nat·ed adj. cre·na·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (earlier as crenated): from modern Latin crenatus, from popular Latin crena 'notch'.

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CRENULATE ■

cren·el (also cre·nelle ) n. an indentation in the battlements of a fort or castle, used for shooting or firing missiles through.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French, based on popular Latin crena 'notch'.

cren·el·late (also cren·e·late) v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (crenellated) CHIEFLY HISTORICAL provide (a wall of a building) with battlements.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French créneler, from Old French crenel (see CRENEL).

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CRENEL ■

cren·el·la·tions plural n. the battlements of a castle or other building.

cren·u·late adj. TECHNICAL (esp. of a leaf, shell, or shoreline) having a finely scalloped or notched outline or edge. Compare with CRENATE.

<DERIVATIVES> cren·u·lat·ed adj. cren·u·la·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from modern Latin crenulatus, from crenula, diminutive of crena 'notch'.

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CRENATE ■

cre·o·dont n. an extinct carnivorous mammal of the early Tertiary period, ancestral to modern carnivores.
<INFO>  Creodonta

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Creodonta (plural), from Greek kreas 'flesh' + odous, odont- 'tooth'.

Cre·ole (also cre·ole) n. 1 a person of mixed European and black descent, esp. in the Caribbean.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a descendant of Spanish or other European settlers in the Caribbean or Central or South America.

- a white descendant of French settlers in Louisiana and other parts of the southern U.S.

2 a mother tongue formed from the contact of two languages through an earlier pidgin stage: a Portuguese-based Creole.

■ adj. of or relating to a Creole or Creoles.

<ORIGIN> from French créole, criole, from Spanish criollo, probably from Portuguese crioulo 'black person born in Brazil, home-born slave', from criar 'to breed', from Latin creare 'produce, create'.

cre·o·lize v. [trans.] form (a Creole language) from the contact of two languages: [as adj.] (creolized) a creolized variety of French.

<DERIVATIVES> cre·o·li·za·tion n.

cre·o·sol n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless liquid that is the chief constituent of wood-tar creosote.
<INFO>  Alternative name: 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol; chem. formula: C_8H_10O_2.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CREOSOTE + -OL.

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CREOSOTE ■

-OL ■

cre·o·sote n. (also creosote oil) a dark brown oil distilled from coal tar and used as a wood preservative. It contains a number of phenols, cresols, and other organic compounds.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a colorless, pungent, oily liquid, containing creosol and other compounds, distilled from wood tar and used as an antiseptic.

■ v. [trans.] treat (wood) with creosote.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: coined in German from Greek kreas 'flesh' + 'preserver', with reference to its antiseptic properties.

cre·o·sote bush n. a shrub native to arid parts of Mexico and the western U.S. Its leaves smell of creosote and when steeped in boiling water, they yield an antiseptic lotion.
<INFO>  Larrea tridentata, family Zygophyllaceae.

crepe (also crêpe) n. 1  a light, thin fabric with a wrinkled surface: [as adj.] a silk crepe blouse.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also crepe rubber) hard-wearing wrinkled rubber, used esp. for the soles of shoes.

2 black silk or imitation silk, formerly used for mourning clothes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a band of such fabric formerly worn around a person's hat as a sign of mourning.

3 a thin pancake.

<DERIVATIVES> crep·ey adj.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, from Old French crespe 'curled, frizzed', from Latin crispus.

crepe de chine (also crepe de Chine) n. a fine crepe of silk or similar fiber.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, literally 'crêpe of China'.

crepe myr·tle n. variant spelling of CRAPE MYRTLE.

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CRAPE MYRTLE ■

crepe pa·per n. thin, crinkled paper resembling crepe, used esp. for making decorations.

crêp·er·ie n. (pl. -er·ies) a small restaurant, typically one in France, in which a variety of crêpes are served.

<ORIGIN> French.

crêpe su·zette n. (pl. crêpes su·zette pronunc. same) a thin dessert pancake with a brandy and citrus sauce, usually set aflame when served.

crépinette n. a flat sausage consisting of minced meat and savory stuffing wrapped in pieces of pork caul.

<ORIGIN> French, diminutive of crêpine 'caul'.

crep·i·tate v. [intrans.] make a crackling sound: the night crepitates with an airy, whistling cacophony | [as adj.] (crepitating) spidery fingers of crepitating electricity.

<DERIVATIVES> crep·i·tant adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'break wind'): from Latin crepitat- 'crackled, rustled', from the verb crepitare, from crepare 'to rattle'.

crep·i·ta·tion n. a crackling or rattling sound: pistollike crepitations.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MEDICINE] a crackling sound made in breathing by a person with an inflamed lung, detected using a stethoscope.

- [ENTOMOLOGY] the explosive ejection of irritant fluid from the abdomen of a bombardier beetle.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French crépitation or Latin crepitatio(n-), from the verb crepitare (see CREPITATE).

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CREPITATE ■

crep·i·tus n. [MEDICINE] a grating sound or sensation produced by friction between bone and cartilage or the fractured parts of a bone.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the production of crepitations in the lungs; rale.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin, from crepare 'rattle'.

cré·pon n. a fabric resembling crepe, but heavier and with a more pronounced crinkled effect.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French.

crept past and past participle of CREEP.

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CREEP ■

cre·pus·cu·lar adj. of, resembling, or relating to twilight.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ZOOLOGY] (of an animal) appearing or active in twilight.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin crepusculum 'twilight' + -AR^1 .

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-AR ■

cre·pus·cule n. the period of partial darkness at the beginning or end of the day; twilight.

cresc. (also cres.) [MUSIC] abbr. crescendo.

cre·scen·do n. (pl. -dos or -di ) [MUSIC] a gradual increase in loudness in a piece of music.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MUSIC] a passage of music marked to be performed in this way.

- the loudest point reached in a gradually increasing sound: Deborah's voice was rising to a crescendo.

- a progressive increase in force or intensity: a crescendo of misery.

- the most intense point reached in this; a climax: the negative reviews reached a crescendo in mid-February.

■ adv. & adj. [MUSIC] with a gradual increase in loudness: [as adj.] a short crescendo kettledrum roll.

■ v. (-does, -doed) [intrans.] increase in loudness or intensity: the reluctant cheers began to crescendo.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: Italian, present participle of crescere 'to increase', from Latin crescere 'grow'.

cres·cent n. 1 the curved sickle shape of the waxing or waning moon.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a representation of such a shape used as an emblem of Islam or of Turkey.

- (the Crescent) CHIEFLY HISTORICAL the political power of Islam or of the Ottoman Empire.

2 a thing that has has the shape of a single curve, esp. one that is broad in the center and tapers to a point at each end: a three-mile crescent of golden sand; |a crescent-shaped building.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a street or row of houses forming an arc: we lived at Westway Crescent.

- [HERALDRY] a charge in the form of a crescent, typically with the points upward (also a mark of cadency for a second son).

3 a moth or butterfly that bears crescent-shaped markings on the wings, in particular:
<INFO>
- an orange or brown American butterfly with a silvery mark on the underside of the hind wing (genus Phyciodes, subfamily Melitaeinae, family Nymphalidae).

- a brownish European moth with a pale mark on the forewing (several species in the family Noctuidae, in particular Celaena leucostigma).

■ adj. 1 having the shape of a crescent: a crescent moon.

2 POETIC/LITERARY growing, increasing, or developing.

<DERIVATIVES> cres·cen·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English cressant, from Old French creissant, from Latin crescere 'grow'. The spelling change in the 17th century was due to the influence of the Latin.

cres·cent wrench n. an adjustable wrench designed to grip hexagonal nuts, with an adjusting screw fitted in the crescent-shaped head of the wrench.

cre·sol n. [CHEMISTRY] each of three isomeric crystalline compounds present in coal-tar creosote, used as disinfectants.
<INFO>  The ortho-, meta-, and para-methyl derivatives of phenol; chem. formula: CH_3C_6H_4OH.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CREOSOTE + -OL.

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CREOSOTE ■

-OL ■

cress n. a plant of the cabbage family, typically having small white flowers and pungent leaves. Some kinds are edible and are eaten raw as salad.
<INFO>  Barbarea and other genera, family Brassicaceae: several species, including garden cress and watercress.

<ORIGIN> Old English cresse, cærse; related to Dutch kers and German Kresse.

cres·set n. HISTORICAL a metal container of oil, grease, wood, or coal burned as a torch and typically mounted on a pole.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from craisse, variant of graisse 'oil, grease'.

Cres·si·da (in medieval legends of the Trojan War) the daughter of Calchas, a priest. She was unfaithful to her lover Troilus, a son of Priam.

crest n. 1 a comb or tuft of feathers, fur, or skin on the head of a bird or other animal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thing resembling such a tuft, esp. a plume of feathers on a helmet.

2 the top of something, esp. a mountain or hill: she reached the crest of the hill.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the curling foamy top of a wave.

- [ANATOMY] a ridge along the surface of a bone.

- the upper line of the neck of a horse or other mammal.

3 [HERALDRY] a distinctive device borne above the shield of a coat of arms (originally as worn on a helmet), or separately reproduced, for example on writing paper or silverware, to represent a family or corporate body.

■ v. [trans.] reach the top of (something such as a hill or wave): she crested a hill and saw the valley spread out before her.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of a river) rise to its highest level: the river was expected to crest at eight feet above flood stage.

- [intrans.] (of a wave) form a curling foamy top.

- (be crested) have attached or affixed at the top: his helmet was crested with a fan of spikes.

<DERIVATIVES> crest·less adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French creste, from Latin crista 'tuft, plume'.

crest·ed adj. 1 (of a bird or other animal) having a comb or tuft of feathers, fur, or skin on the head: the crested drake mandarin duck; |a plush-crested jay.

2 emblazoned with a coat of arms or other emblem: crested notepaper.

crest·ed tit n. a small European tit (songbird) with a short crest, living chiefly in coniferous woodland.
<INFO>  Parus cristatus, family Paridae.

crest·ed wood i·bis n. see WOOD IBIS (sense 2).

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WOOD IBIS ■

crest·fal·len adj. sad and disappointed: he came back empty-handed and crestfallen.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: figuratively, from the original use referring to a mammal or bird having a fallen or drooping crest.

crest·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a very elongated silvery marine fish with a crimson dorsal fin running the full length of its body and a forehead that projects forward into a long filament.
<INFO>  Lophotus lacepedei, family Lophotidae.

crest·ing n. an ornamental decoration at the ridge of a roof or top of a wall or screen.

cres·yl n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] of or denoting a radical OC_6H_4CH_3, derived from a cresol.

Cre·ta·ceous adj. [GEOLOGY] of, relating to, or denoting the last period of the Mesozoic era, between the Jurassic and Tertiary periods.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (the Cretaceous) the Cretaceous period or the system of rocks deposited during it.

The Cretaceous lasted from about 146 million to 65 million years ago. The climate was warm, and the sea level rose; the period is characterized esp. in northwestern Europe and parts of North America by the deposition of chalk. The first flowering plants emerged, and the domination of the dinosaurs continued although they died out quite abruptly toward the end of it.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin cretaceus (from creta 'chalk') + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

Cre·ta·ceous-Ter·ti·ar·y bound·a·ry (also K/T boundary) [GEOLOGY] the division between the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, about 65 million years ago.

A widespread layer of sediment dating from this time has been shown since 1980 to be enriched in iridium and other elements and carbon deposits indicative of extensive fires. This appears to indicate the catastrophic impact of one or more large meteorites, and geologists have identified a formation at Chicxulub in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico, as a probable impact site. A resulting drastic climate change has been suggested as the cause of the extinction of dinosaurs and many other organisms at this time, but this remains controversial.

Crete a Greek island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea; pop. 536,980; capital, Heraklion. It is noted for the remains of the Minoan civilization that flourished here in the 2nd millennium BC. Crete played an important role in the Greek struggle for independence from the Turks in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that resulted in it becoming administratively part of an independent Greece in 1913. Greek name KRÍTI.

<DERIVATIVES> Cre·tan adj. & n.

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KRÍTI ■

cre·tic n. [PROSODY] a metrical foot containing one short or unstressed syllable between two long or stressed ones.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin Creticus, from Greek , from 'Crete'.

cre·tin n. a stupid person (used as a general term of abuse).
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED [MEDICINE] a person who is deformed and mentally handicapped because of congenital thyroid deficiency.

<DERIVATIVES> cre·tin·ism n. cre·tin·ous adj.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French crétin, from Swiss French crestin 'Christian' (from Latin Christianus), here used to mean 'human being', apparently as a reminder that, though deformed, cretins were human and not beasts.

cre·tonne n. a heavy cotton fabric, typically with a floral pattern printed on one or both sides, used for upholstery.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, of unknown origin.

Creutz·feldt-Ja·kob dis·ease n. a fatal degenerative disease affecting nerve cells in the brain, causing mental, physical, and sensory disturbances such as dementia and seizures. It is believed to be caused by prions and hence to be related to BSE and other spongiform encephalopathies such as kuru and scrapie.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: named after H. G. Creutzfeldt (1885-1964) and A. Jakob (1882-1927), the German neurologists who first described cases of the disease in 1920-21. Creutzfeldt is credited with the first description of the disease in 1920, although the case is atypical by current diagnostic criteria; a year later Jakob described four cases, at least two of whom had clinical features suggestive of CJD as it is currently described.

cre·vasse n. a deep open crack, esp. one in a glacier.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a breach in the embankment of a river or canal.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French, from Old French crevace (see CREVICE).

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CREVICE ■

crev·ice n. a narrow opening or fissure, esp. in a rock or wall.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French crevace, from crever 'to burst', from Latin crepare 'to rattle, crack'.

crew 1 n. [treated as sing. or pl.] a group of people who work on and operate a ship, boat, aircraft, spacecraft, or train.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- such a group other than the officers: the ship's captain and crew may be brought to trial.

- the group that rows a racing shell.

- the sport of rowing a racing shell.

- a group of people who work closely together, in a job that is technically difficult or dangerous: an ambulance crew.; crews of firefighters from neighboring towns were called in.

- INFORMAL, OFTEN DEROGATORY a group of people associated in some way: a crew of assorted computer geeks.

- INFORMAL a group of rappers, breakdancers, or graffiti artists performing or operating together.

- INFORMAL a criminal gang.

■ v. [trans.] (often be crewed) provide (a craft or vehicle) with a group of people to operate it: normally the boat is crewed by 5 people.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] act as a member of a crew, subordinate to a captain: I've never crewed for a world-famous yachtsman before.

<DERIVATIVES> crew·man n. (pl. -men).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French creue 'augmentation, increase', feminine past participle of croistre 'grow', from Latin crescere. The original sense was 'band of soldiers serving as reinforcements'; hence it came to denote any organized armed band or, generally, a company of people (late 16th cent.).

crew 2 CHIEFLY BRIT. past of CROW^2 .

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CROW ■

crew cut n. a very short haircut for men and boys.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: apparently first adopted as a style by boat crews of Harvard and Yale universities.

crew·el n. a thin, loosely twisted, worsted yarn used for tapestry and embroidery.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: of unknown origin.

crew·el work n. embroidery or tapestry done with crewel yarn on linen cloth.

crew neck n. a close-fitting, round neckline, esp. on a sweater or T-shirt: [as adj.] a crew-neck sweater.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sweater with such a neckline.

crib n. 1 a young child's bed with barred or latticed sides.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a barred container or rack for animal fodder; a manger.

2 INFORMAL unfair use of notes on an examination or schoolwork.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL BRIT. a trot: an English crib of Caesar's Gallic Wars.

- a thing that has been plagiarized: is the song a crib from Mozart's “Don Giovanni?”

3 INFORMAL an apartment or house.

4 short for CRIBBAGE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the cards discarded by the players at cribbage, counting to the dealer.

5 (also crib·work) a heavy timber framework used in foundations for a building or to line a mine shaft.

■ v. (cribbed, crib·bing) [trans.] 1 INFORMAL copy (another person's work) illicitly or without acknowledgment: he was doing an exam and didn't want anybody to crib the answers from him | [intrans.] he often cribbed from other researchers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC steal.

2 ARCHAIC restrain: he had been so cabined, cribbed, and confined by office.

<DERIVATIVES> crib·ber n.

<ORIGIN> Old English (in the sense 'manger'), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch krib, kribbe and German Krippe.

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CRIBBAGE ■

crib·bage n. a card game for two to four players, in which the objective is to play so that the value of one's cards played reaches exactly 15 or 31.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: related to CRIB; according to John Aubrey, the game was invented by the English poet Sir John Suckling (1609-42); it seems to have been developed from an older game called Noddy.

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CRIB ■

crib·bage board n. a board with pegs and holes, used for scoring at cribbage.

crib-bit·ing n. a repetitive habit of some horses that involves biting and chewing of wood, esp. that of doors and mangers, in the stable, causing excessive wear to the front teeth.

crib death n. informal term for SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME.

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SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME ■

cri·bel·lum n. (pl. -bel·la ) [ZOOLOGY] (in some spiders) an additional spinning organ with numerous fine pores, situated in front of the spinnerets.

<DERIVATIVES> cri·bel·late adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from late Latin, diminutive of cribrum 'sieve'.

cri·bo n. (pl. -bos) another term for INDIGO SNAKE.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

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INDIGO SNAKE ■

crib·ri·form adj. [ANATOMY] denoting an anatomical structure that is pierced by numerous small holes, in particular the plate of the ethmoid bone through which the olfactory nerves pass.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin cribrum 'sieve' + -IFORM.

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-IFORM ■

crib·work n. see CRIB (sense 5).

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CRIB ■

Crich·ton 1 James (1560-c.1585), Scottish adventurer; known as the Admirable Crichton. He was an accomplished swordsman, poet, and scholar and served in the French army.

Crich·ton 2 Michael (1942-), U.S. novelist. Notable works: The Andromeda Strain(1969), The Great Train Robbery (1975), and Jurassic Park (1990).

Crick Francis Harry Compton (1916-2004), English biophysicist. With J. D. Watson, he proposed the double helix structure of the DNA molecule, thus broadly explaining how genetic information is carried in living organisms and how genes replicate. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1962, shared with Watson and M. H. F. Wilkins).

crick 1 n. a painful stiff feeling in the neck or back.

■ v. [trans.] twist or strain (one's neck or back), causing painful stiffness: [as adj.] (cricked) he suffered a cricked neck during tackling practice.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin.

crick 2 n. DIALECT creek.

crick·et 1 n. an insect related to the grasshoppers. The male produces a characteristic rhythmical chirping sound.
<INFO>  Family Gryllidae: many genera and species, including the field cricket and the house cricket.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French criquet, from criquer 'to crackle', of imitative origin.

crick·et 2 n. an open-air game played on a large grass field with ball, bats, and two wickets, between teams of eleven players, the object of the game being to score more runs than the opposition.

Cricket is played mainly in Britain and in territories formerly under British rule, including Australia, South Africa, the West Indies, New Zealand, and the Indian subcontinent. The full game with two innings per side can last several days; shorter matches are usual at the amateur level and have become popular at professional level since the 1960s.

<PHRASES> not cricket BRIT., INFORMAL a thing contrary to traditional standards of fairness or rectitude.

<DERIVATIVES> crick·et·er n. crick·et·ing adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

crick·et 3 n. a low stool, typically with a rectangular or oval seat and four legs splayed out.

cri·coid n. (also cricoid cartilage) [ANATOMY] the ring-shaped cartilage of the larynx.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from modern Latin cricoides 'ring-shaped', from Greek , from krikos 'ring'.

cri de cœur n. (pl. cris de cœur ) a passionate appeal, complaint, or protest.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally 'cry from the heart'.

cried past and past participle of CRY.

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CRY ■

cri·er n. an officer who makes public announcements in a court of justice.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- short for TOWN CRIER.

- a person who shouts out announcements about their wares; a hawker.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French criere, from crier 'to shout'.

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TOWN CRIER ■

cri·key exclam. BRIT., INFORMAL an expression of surprise: Crikey! I never thought I'd see you again.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: euphemism for CHRIST.

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CHRIST ■

crime n. an action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law: shoplifting was a serious crime.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- illegal activities: the victims of crime.

- an action or activity that, although not illegal, is considered to be evil, shameful, or wrong: they condemned apartheid as a crime against humanity; |it's a crime to keep a creature like Willy in a tank.

See note at SIN.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'wickedness, sin'): via Old French from Latin crimen 'judgment, offense', based on cernere 'to judge'.

Cri·me·a (usu. the Crimea) a peninsula in Ukraine that lies between the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. The Crimean War was fought here in the 1850s.

<DERIVATIVES> Cri·me·an adj.

Cri·me·an War a war (1853-56) between Russia and an alliance of Great Britain, France, Sardinia, and Turkey. Russian aggression against Turkey led to war, with Turkey's European allies intervening to destroy Russian naval power in the Black Sea in 1854; eventually the allies captured the fortress city of Sebastopol in 1855 after a lengthy siege.

crime-fight·ing n. the action of working to reduce the incidence of crime.

<DERIVATIVES> crime-fight·er n.

crime pas·si·on·nel n. (pl. crimes pas·si·on·nels pronunc. same) a crime, typically a murder, committed in a fit of sexual jealousy.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally 'crime of passion'.

crime wave n. a sudden increase in the number of crimes committed in a country or area.

crime writ·er n. a writer of detective stories or thrillers.

crim·i·nal n. a person who has committed a crime: these men are dangerous criminals.

■ adj. of or relating to a crime: he is charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [LAW] of or relating to crime as opposed to civil matters: a criminal court.

- INFORMAL (of an action or situation) deplorable and shocking: he may never fulfill his potential, and that would be a criminal waste.

<DERIVATIVES> crim·i·nal·i·ty n. crim·i·nal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an adjective): from late Latin criminalis, from Latin crimen, crimin- (see CRIME).

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CRIME ■

crim·i·nal con·ver·sa·tion n. HISTORICAL adultery, esp. as formerly constituting grounds for the recovery of legal damages by a husband from his adulterous wife's partner.

crim·i·nal·is·tics plural n. [treated as sing.] another term for FORENSICS (see FORENSIC).

<DERIVATIVES> crim·i·nal·ist

crim·i·nal·ize v. [trans.] turn (an activity) into a criminal offense by making it illegal: the law that criminalizes assisted suicide.
<SPECIAL USAGE> turn (someone) into a criminal by making their activities illegal: these punitive measures would further criminalize travelers for their way of life.

<DERIVATIVES> crim·i·nal·i·za·tion n.

crim·i·nal jus·tice sys·tem n. the system of law enforcement that is directly involved in apprehending, prosecuting, defending, sentencing, and incarcerating those who are suspected of or have been charged with criminal offenses.

crim·i·nal law n. a system of law concerned with the punishment of those who commit crimes. Contrasted with CIVIL LAW.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a law belonging to this system.

Linked entries:

CIVIL LAW ■

crim·i·nal li·bel n. [LAW] a malicious, defamatory statement in a permanent form, rendering the maker liable to criminal prosecution.

crim·i·nal re·cord n. a history of being convicted for crime: he admits he has a criminal record.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a list of a person's previous criminal convictions: the court said his criminal record would be expunged at the end of the year.

crim·i·no·gen·ic adj. (of a system, situation, or place) causing or likely to cause criminal behavior: the criminogenic nature of homelessness.

crim·i·nol·o·gy n. the scientific study of crime and criminals.

<DERIVATIVES> crim·i·no·log·i·cal adj. crim·i·nol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin crimen, crimin- 'crime' + -LOGY.

Linked entries:

-LOGY ■

crimp v. [trans.] compress (something) into small folds or ridges: she crimped the edge of the pie.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- squeeze (metal) so as to bend or corrugate it.

- connect (a wire or cable) in this way.

- [often as adj.] (crimped) make waves in (someone's hair) with a curling iron: crimped blond hair.

- INFORMAL have a limiting or adverse effect on (something): farmers complain that the drought could crimp their income potential.

■ n. a curl, wave, or folded or compressed edge: this cascade of delicate crimps depends on a perm | the wool had too much crimp to be used in weaving.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a small connecting piece for crimping wires or lines together.

- INFORMAL a restriction or limitation: the crimp on take-home pay has been even tighter since taxes were raised.

<PHRASES> put a crimp in INFORMAL have an adverse effect on: well, that puts a crimp in my theory.

<DERIVATIVES> crimp·er n. crimp·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English gecrympan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch krimpen 'shrink, wrinkle'. Of rare occurrence before the 18th cent., the word was perhaps reintroduced from Low German or Dutch.

crim·son adj. of a rich deep red color inclining to purple: she blushed crimson with embarrassment.

■ n. a rich deep red color inclining to purple.

■ v. [intrans.] (of a person's face) become flushed, esp. through embarrassment: my face crimsoned and my hands began to shake.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from obsolete French cramoisin or Old Spanish cremesin, based on Arabic , from (see KERMES). Compare with CARMINE.

Linked entries:

KERMES ■

CARMINE ■

cringe v. (cring·ing) [intrans.] bend one's head and body in fear or in a servile manner: he cringed away from the blow | [as adj.] (cringing) we are surrounded by cringing yes-men and sycophants.
<SPECIAL USAGE> experience an inward shiver of embarrassment or disgust: I cringed at the fellow's stupidity.
See note at WINCE.

■ n. an act of cringing in fear.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a feeling of embarrassment or disgust.

<DERIVATIVES> cring·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English crenge, crenche, related to Old English cringan, crincan 'bend, yield, fall in battle', of Germanic origin and related to Dutch krengen 'heel over' and German krank 'sick', also to CRANK^1 .

Linked entries:

CRANK ■

cringe-mak·ing adj. another term for CRINGEWORTHY.

Linked entries:

CRINGEWORTHY ■

cringe·wor·thy adj. INFORMAL causing feelings of embarrassment or awkwardness: the play's cast was excellent, but the dialogue was unforgivably cringeworthy.

crin·gle n. [SAILING] a ring of rope formed in the edge of a sail and containing a thimble, for another rope to pass through.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Low German kringel, diminutive of kring 'ring'.

crin·kle v. [intrans.] form small creases or wrinkles in the surface of something, esp. the skin of the face as the result of a facial expression: Rose's face crinkled in bewilderment; his face crinkled up in a smile | [as adj.] (crinkled) plants with crinkled foliage.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause to form such creases or wrinkles: Burney crinkled his eyes in a smile.

- [trans.] cause (something) to make a crackling or rustling sound: we tried hard not to crinkle the plastic as we unwrapped the pies.

■ n. a wrinkle or crease found on the surface of something: there was a crinkle of suspicion on her forehead.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the sound of crinkling: I heard the crinkle of clothing.

<DERIVATIVES> crin·kly adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: related to Old English crincan (see CRINGE).

Linked entries:

CRINGE ■

crin·kle-cut adj. (esp. of French fries) cut with wavy edges.

crin·kum-cran·kum n. ARCHAIC elaborate decoration or detail.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: fanciful reduplication of the nouns CRANK^1 and CRANK^2 .

Linked entries:

CRANK ■

CRANK ■

Cri·noid·e·a [ZOOLOGY] a class of echinoderms that comprises the sea lilies and feather stars. They have slender, feathery arms and (in some kinds) a stalk for attachment, and were abundant in the Paleozoic era.

<DERIVATIVES> cri·noid n. & adj. cri·noi·dal adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek 'lilylike', from krinon 'lily'.

crin·o·line n. 1 HISTORICAL a stiffened or hooped petticoat worn to make a long skirt stand out.

2 a stiff fabric made of horsehair and cotton or linen thread, typically used for stiffening petticoats or as a lining.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (originally in sense 2, early crinolines being made of such material): from French, formed irregularly from Latin crinis 'hair' + linum 'thread'.

cri·ol·lo (also Cri·ol·lo) n. (pl. -los) 1 a person from Spanish South or Central America, esp. one of pure Spanish descent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a horse or other domestic animal of a South or Central American breed.

2 (also criollo tree) a cacao tree of a variety producing thin-shelled beans of high quality.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Spanish, literally 'native to the locality' (see CREOLE).

Linked entries:

CREOLE ■

crip n. INFORMAL 1 DEROGATORY a disabled person. <ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: abbreviation of CRIPPLE.

2 (usu. Crip) a member of a Los Angeles street gang.

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CRIPPLE ■

cripes exclam. INFORMAL used as a euphemism for Christ.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: alteration of CHRIST.

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CHRIST ■

crip·ple n. 1 DATED, OFFENSIVE a person who is unable to walk or move properly because of disability or injury to their back or legs.

2 a person who is disabled in a specified way: an emotional cripple.

■ v. [trans.] (often be crippled) cause (someone) to become unable to move or walk properly: a writer who was crippled by polio at the age of eleven | [as adj.] (crippling) a crippling disease.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- cause severe and disabling damage to (a machine): [as adj.] (crippled) the pilot displayed skill and nerve in landing the crippled plane.

- cause a severe and almost insuperable problem for: developing countries are crippled by their debts.

<DERIVATIVES> crip·pler n.

<ORIGIN> Old English: from two words, crypel and , both of Germanic origin and related to CREEP.

<USAGE>
The word cripple has long been in use to refer to ‘a person unable to walk due to illness or disability’ and is recorded as early as AD 950. In the 20th century, the term acquired offensive connotations and has now been largely replaced by broader terms such as ‘disabled person.’

Linked entries:

CREEP ■

crip·ple·ware n. INFORMAL [COMPUTING] software distributed with reduced functionality with a view to attracting payment for a fully functional version.

cri·sis n. (pl. -ses ) a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger: the current economic crisis;| a family in crisis a crisis of semiliteracy among high school graduates.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a time when a difficult or important decision must be made: [as adj.] a crisis point of history.

- the turning point of a disease when an important change takes place, indicating either recovery or death.

- the point in a play or story when a crucial conflict takes place, determining the outcome of the plot.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the turning point of a disease): medical Latin, from Greek krisis 'decision', from krinein 'decide'. The general sense 'decisive point' dates from the early 17th cent.

cri·sis cen·ter n. a facility, telephone answering system, etc., where individuals going through personal crises can obtain help or advice.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an office or agency that serves as a clearinghouse for information and coordinates action during an emergency or disaster.

cri·sis man·age·ment n. the use of expert managers by a business or government to limit damage or danger from a crisis.
- the tendency to take action only after a crisis has developed.

crisp adj. 1 (of a substance) firm, dry, and brittle, esp. in a way considered pleasing or attractive: crisp bacon; the snow is lovely and crisp.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a fruit or vegetable) firm, indicating freshness: crisp lettuce.

- (of the weather) cool, fresh, and invigorating: a crisp autumn day.

- (of paper or cloth) smoothly and attractively stiff and uncreased: a crisp $5 bill.

- (of hair) having tight curls, giving an impression of rigidity.

2 (of a way of speaking or writing) briskly decisive and matter-of-fact, without hesitation or unnecessary detail: they were cut off with a crisp “Thank you.”

■ n. 1 a dessert of fruit baked with a crunchy topping of brown sugar, butter, and flour: rhubarb crisp.

2 (also potato crisp) British term for POTATO CHIP.

■ v. [trans.] give (something, esp. food) a crisp surface by placing it in an oven or grill: crisp the pita rounds in the oven.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of food) acquire a crisp surface in this way: open the foil so that the bread browns and crisps.

- ARCHAIC curl into short, stiff, wavy folds or crinkles.

<PHRASES> burn something to a crisp burn something completely, leaving only a charred remnant.

<DERIVATIVES> crisp·ly adv. crisp·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English (referring to hair in the sense 'curly'): from Latin crispus 'curled'. Other senses may result from symbolic interpretation of the sound of the word.

Linked entries:

POTATO CHIP ■

cris·pate adj. [BOTANY] (esp. of a leaf) having a wavy or curly edge.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin crispatus, past participle of crispare 'to curl'.

crisp·er n. a compartment at the bottom of a refrigerator for storing fruit and vegetables.

crisp·y adj. (crisp·i·er, crisp·i·est) (of food, typically cooked food) having a pleasingly firm, dry, and brittle surface or texture: crispy fried bacon.

<DERIVATIVES> crisp·i·ness n.

cris·sal thrash·er n. a large gray thrasher (songbird) with a red patch under the tail, found in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico.
<INFO>  Toxostoma dorsale (or crissale), family Mimidae.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: crissal from modern Latin crissum (denoting the vent region of a bird) + -AL.

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-AL ■

criss·cross n. a pattern of intersecting straight lines or paths: the crisscross of wrinkles on his face.

■ adj. (of a pattern) containing a number of straight lines or paths that intersect each other: the streets ran in a regular crisscross pattern.

■ adv. in a pattern of intersecting straight lines: the swords were strung crisscross on his back.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be crisscrossed) form a pattern of intersecting lines or paths on (a place): the green hill was crisscrossed with a network of sheep tracks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of straight lines or paths) intersect repeatedly: the smaller streets crisscrossed in a grid pattern.

- move or travel around (a place) by going back and forth repeatedly: the President crisscrossed America.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting a figure of a cross preceding the alphabet in a hornbook): from Christ-cross (in the same sense in late Middle English), from Christ's cross. The form was later treated as a reduplication of CROSS.

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CROSS ■

cris·ta n. (pl. -tae ) 1 [ANATOMY] & [ZOOLOGY] a ridge or crest.

2 [BIOLOGY] each of the partial partitions in a mitochondrion formed by infolding of the inner membrane.

<DERIVATIVES> cris·tate adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin, 'tuft, plume, crest'.

cris·to·bal·ite n. a form of silica that is the main component of opal and also occurs as small octahedral crystals.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: named after Cerro San Cristóbal in Mexico, where it was discovered, + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ITE ■

crit n. INFORMAL short for CRITICISM or CRITIC.

Linked entries:

CRITICISM ■

CRITIC ■

cri·te·ri·on n. (pl. -te·ri·a ) a principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided: the launch came too close to violating safety criteria.

<DERIVATIVES> cri·te·ri·al adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Greek 'means of judging', from (see CRITIC).

<USAGE>
Strictly speaking, the singular form (following the original Greek) is criterion and the plural form is criteria. It is a common mistake, however, to use criteria as if it were a singular, as in a further criteria needs to be considered.

Linked entries:

CRITIC ■

cri·te·ri·um n. a one-day bicycle race on a circuit road course.

crit·ic n. 1 a person who expresses an unfavorable opinion of something: critics say many schools are not prepared to handle the influx of foreign students.

2 a person who judges the merits of literary, artistic, or musical works, esp. one who does so professionally: a film critic.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin criticus, from Greek kritikos, from 'a judge', from krinein 'judge, decide'.

crit·i·cal adj. 1 expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgments: he was critical of many U.S. welfare programs.

2 expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature, music, or art: she never won the critical acclaim she sought.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a published literary or musical text) incorporating a detailed and scholarly analysis and commentary: a critical edition of a Bach sonata.

3 (of a situation or problem) having the potential to become disastrous; at a point of crisis: the flood waters had not receded, and the situation was still critical.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) extremely ill and at risk of death: he had been in critical condition since undergoing surgery.

- having a decisive or crucial importance in the success or failure of something: temperature is a critical factor in successful fruit storage.

See note at CRUCIAL.

4 [MATHEMATICS] & [PHYSICS] relating to or denoting a point of transition from one state to another.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a nuclear reactor or fuel) maintaining a self-sustaining chain reaction: the reactor is due to go critical in October.

<DERIVATIVES> crit·i·cal·i·ty n. (in senses 3 and 4). crit·i·cal·ly adv. [as submodifier] he's critically ill. crit·i·cal·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'relating to the crisis of a disease'): from late Latin criticus (see CRITIC).

Linked entries:

CRITIC ■

crit·i·cal an·gle n. [OPTICS] the angle of incidence beyond which rays of light passing through a denser medium to the surface of a less dense medium are no longer refracted but totally reflected.

crit·i·cal ap·pa·rat·us n. see APPARATUS (sense 3).

Linked entries:

APPARATUS ■

crit·i·cal damp·ing n. [PHYSICS] damping just sufficient to prevent oscillations.

crit·i·cal list n. [in sing.] a list of those who are critically ill in the hospital.

crit·i·cal mass n. [PHYSICS] the minimum amount of fissile material needed to maintain a nuclear chain reaction.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE the minimum size or amount of something required to start or maintain a venture: a communication system is of no value unless there is a critical mass of users.

crit·i·cal path n. the sequence of stages determining the minimum time needed for an operation, esp. when analyzed on a computer for a large organization.

crit·i·cal path a·nal·y·sis n. the mathematical network analysis technique of planning complex working procedures with reference to the critical path of each alternative system.

crit·i·cal pe·ri·od n. [PSYCHOLOGY] a period during someone's development in which a particular skill or characteristic is believed to be most readily acquired.

crit·i·cal point n. 1 [CHEMISTRY] a point on a phase diagram at which both the liquid and gas phases of a substance have the same density, and are therefore indistinguishable.

2 [MATHEMATICS] a point on a curve where the gradient is zero.

crit·i·cal pres·sure n. [CHEMISTRY] the pressure of a gas or vapor in its critical state.

crit·i·cal state n. [CHEMISTRY] the state of a substance when it is at the critical point, i.e., at critical temperature and pressure.

crit·i·cal tem·per·a·ture n. [CHEMISTRY] the temperature of a gas or vapor in its critical state. Above this temperature, a gas cannot be liquefied by pressure alone.

crit·i·cal the·o·ry n. a philosophical approach to culture, and esp. to literature, that seeks to confront the social, historical, and ideological forces and structures that produce and constrain it. The term is applied particularly to the work of the Frankfurt School.

crit·i·cal vol·ume n. [CHEMISTRY] the volume occupied by a unit mass of a gas or vapor in its critical state.

crit·ic·as·ter n. RARE a minor or inferior critic.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from CRITIC + -ASTER.

Linked entries:

CRITIC ■

-ASTER ■

crit·i·cism n. 1 the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes: he received a lot of criticism | he ignored the criticisms of his friends.

2 the analysis and judgment of the merits and faults of a literary or artistic work: alternative methods of criticism supported by well-developed literary theories.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an article, book, or comment containing such analysis: I only read poetry and criticism.

- the scholarly investigation of literary or historical texts to determine their origin or intended form.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from CRITIC or Latin criticus + -ISM.

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CRITIC ■

-ISM ■

crit·i·cize v. [trans.] 1 indicate the faults of (someone or something) in a disapproving way: they criticized the failure of Western nations to adequately resettle Indochinese refugees; technicians were criticized for defective workmanship.

2 form and express a sophisticated judgment of (a literary or artistic work): a literary text may be criticized on two grounds: the semantic and the expressive.

<DERIVATIVES> crit·i·ciz·a·ble adj. crit·i·ciz·er n.

cri·tique n. a detailed analysis and assessment of something, esp. a literary, philosophical, or political theory.

■ v. (-tiques, -tiqued, -tiqu·ing) [trans.] evaluate (a theory or practice) in a detailed and analytical way: the authors critique the methods and practices used in the research.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (as a noun): from French, based on Greek 'critical art'.

crit·ter n. INFORMAL or DIALECT a living creature; an animal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person of a particular kind: the old critter used to live in a shack.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: variant of CREATURE.

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CREATURE ■

CRM abbr. customer relationship management, denoting strategies and software that enable a company to organize and optimize its customer relations.

croak n. a deep hoarse sound made by a frog or a crow.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sound resembling this, esp. one made by a person: Lorton tried to laughit came out as a croak.

■ v. [intrans.] 1 (of a frog or crow) make a characteristic deep hoarse sound.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) make a similar sound when speaking or laughing: “Thank you,” I croaked.

- ARCHAIC prophesy evil or misfortune, esp. unjustifiably and to the irritation of others: without croaking, it may be observed that our government is upon a dangerous experiment.

2 INFORMAL die: the dog finally croaked in 1987.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] kill (someone): Scissors Haggerty's mob croaked two messengers.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a verb): imitative.

croak·er n. 1 an animal or fish that makes a deep, hoarse sound.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for DRUM^3 .

2 ARCHAIC a person who habitually prophesies evil or misfortune unjustifiably and to the irritation of others.

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DRUM ■

croak·y adj. (croak·i·er, croak·i·est) (of a person's voice) deep and hoarse.

<DERIVATIVES> croak·i·ly adv.

Cro·at n. 1 a native or national of Croatia, or a person of Croatian descent.

2 the South Slavic language of the Croats, almost identical to Serbian but written in the Roman alphabet. See SERBO-CROAT.

■ adj. of or relating to the Croats or their language.

<ORIGIN> from modern Latin Croatae (plural), from Serbo-Croat Hrvat.

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SERBO-CROAT ■

Cro·a·tia a country in southeastern Europe, formerly a constituent republic of Yugoslavia; pop. 4,760,000; capital, Zagreb; language, Croatian. Croatian name HRVATSKA.

Apart from a period of Turkish rule in the 16th-17th centuries, Croatia largely remained linked with Hungary until 1918, when it joined the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia). After a period during World War II as a Nazi puppet state (1941-45), it became part of Yugoslavia once more and remained a constituent republic until it declared itself independent in 1991. The secession of Croatia led to war between Croats and the Serb minority, and with Serbia; a cease-fire was called for in 1992 but it was not until 1998 that peace came about.

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HRVATSKA ■

Cro·a·tian n. & adj. another term for CROAT.

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CROAT ■

croc n. INFORMAL a crocodile.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: abbreviation.

Cro·ce Benedetto (1866-1952), Italian philosopher and politician. In his “Philosophy of Spirit,” he denied the physical reality of a work of art and identified philosophical endeavor with a methodological approach to history.

cro·chet n. a handicraft in which yarn is made up into a patterned fabric by looping yarn with a hooked needle: [as adj.] a crochet hook.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fabric or items made in such a way: the bikini is tiny, three triangles of cotton crochet.

■ v. (-cheted , -chet·ing ) [trans.] make (a garment or piece of fabric) in such a way: she had crocheted the shawl herself | [intrans.] her mother had stopped crocheting.

<DERIVATIVES> cro·chet·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, diminutive of croc 'hook', from Old Norse krókr.

cro·ci plural form of CROCUS.

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CROCUS ■

cro·cid·o·lite n. a fibrous blue or green mineral consisting of a silicate of iron and sodium. Also called BLUE ASBESTOS (see ASBESTOS).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek krokis, krokid- 'nap of cloth' + -LITE.

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-LITE ■

crock 1 n. 1 an earthenware pot or jar.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a broken piece of earthenware.

2 (also VULGAR SLANG crock of shit) a thing that is considered to be complete nonsense.

<ORIGIN> Old English croc, crocca, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse krukka and probably to Dutch kruik and German Krug.

crock 2 INFORMAL n. an old person who is feeble and useless.

■ v. [trans.] BRIT. cause an injury to (a person or part of the body): he crocked a shoulder.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: perhaps from Flemish, and probably related to CRACK. Originally a Scots term for an old ewe, it came in the late 19th cent. to denote an old or broken-down horse.

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CRACK ■

crocked adj. INFORMAL drunk: his party guests were pretty crocked.

crock·er·y n. plates, dishes, cups, and other similar items, esp. ones made of earthenware or china.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from obsolete crocker 'potter', from CROCK^2 .

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CROCK ■

crock·et n. (in Gothic architecture) a small carved ornament, typically a bud or curled leaf, on the inclined side of a pinnacle or gable.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a curl or roll of hair): from Old Northern French, variant of Old French crochet (see CROTCHET). The current sense dates from the late 17th cent., but crotchet was used in the same sense from late Middle English until the 19th cent.

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CROTCHET ■

Crock·ett Davy (1786-1836), U.S. frontiersman, soldier, and politician; full name David Crockett. While a member of the House of Representatives 1827-35, he cultivated the image of a rough backwoods legislator. When he left politics, he returned to the frontier, where he fought for the cause of Texan independence. He was killed at the siege of the Alamo.

Crock·pot n. TRADEMARK a large electric cooking pot used to cook stews and other dishes slowly.

croc·o·dile n. 1 a large predatory semiaquatic reptile with long jaws, long tail, short legs, and a horny textured skin, using submersion and stealth to approach prey unseen. The crocodile has been extensively hunted for its valuable skin.
<INFO>  Family Crocodylidae: three genera, in particular Crocodylus, and several species.

<SPECIAL USAGE> leather made from crocodile skin, used esp. to make bags and shoes.

2 BRIT., INFORMAL a line of schoolchildren walking in pairs.

<ORIGIN> Middle English cocodrille, cokadrill, from Old French cocodrille, via medieval Latin from Latin crocodilus, from Greek krokodilos 'worm of the stones', from 'pebble' + drilos 'worm'. The spelling was changed in the 16th cent. to conform with the Latin and Greek forms.

croc·o·dile bird n. the Egyptian plover, which is said to feed on insects parasitic on crocodiles.

croc·o·dile clip n. British term for ALLIGATOR CLIP.

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ALLIGATOR CLIP ■

croc·o·dile tears plural n. tears or expressions of sorrow that are insincere.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: said to be so named from a belief that crocodiles wept while devouring or luring their prey.

croc·o·dil·i·an n. [ZOOLOGY] a large, predatory, semiaquatic reptile of an order that comprises the crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharial. Crocodilians are distinguished by long jaws, short legs, and a powerful tail.
<INFO>  Crocodylia

■ adj. of or relating to such reptiles.

cro·co·ite n. a rare, bright orange mineral consisting of lead chromate.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: originally as French crocoise, from Greek krokoeis 'saffron-colored', from krokos 'crocus'. The spelling was altered to crocoisite, then crocoite.

cro·cus n. (pl. -cus·es or -ci ) a small, spring-flowering plant of the iris family, which grows from a corm and bears bright yellow, purple, or white flowers. See also AUTUMN CROCUS.
<INFO>  Genus Crocus, family Iridaceae.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also denoting saffron, obtained from a species of crocus): via Latin from Greek krokos, of Semitic origin and related to Hebrew and Arabic kurkum.

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AUTUMN CROCUS ■

Croe·sus (6th century BC), last king of Lydia c.560-546 BC. Renowned for his great wealth, he subjugated the Greek cities on the coast of Asia Minor before being overthrown by Cyrus the Great of Persia.

croft BRIT. n. a small rented farm, esp. one in Scotland, comprising a plot of arable land attached to a house and with a right of pasturage held in common with other such farms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an enclosed field used for tillage or pasture, typically attached to a house and worked by the occupier.

■ v. [trans.] farm (land) as a croft or crofts.

<DERIVATIVES> croft·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English: of unknown origin.

Crohn's dis·ease n. a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines, esp. the colon and ileum, associated with ulcers and fistulae.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: named after Burrill B. Crohn (1884-1983), American pathologist, who was among the first to describe it.

crois·sant n. a French crescent-shaped roll made of sweet flaky pastry, often eaten for breakfast.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French (see CRESCENT). The term had occasionally been recorded earlier as a variant of crescent.

Linked entries:

CRESCENT ■

Cro-Mag·non man n. the earliest form of modern human in Europe, associated with the Aurignacian flint industry. Their appearance c.35,000 years ago marked the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic and the apparent decline and disappearance of Neanderthal man; the group persisted at least into the Neolithic period.

<ORIGIN> Cro-Magnon, the name of a hill in the Dordogne, France, where remains were found in 1868.

crom·bec n. a small African warbler with a very short tail, and gray or green upper parts with rufous or white underparts.
<INFO>  Genus Sylvietta, family Sylviidae: several species, in particular the (northern) crombec (S. brachyura).

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French, from Dutch krom 'crooked' + bek 'beak'.

Crome John (1768-1821), English painter; founder and leading member of the Norwich School.

crom·lech n. (in Wales) a megalithic tomb consisting of a large flat stone laid on upright ones. Also called DOLMEN. <ORIGIN> Welsh, from crom, feminine of crwm 'arched' + llech 'flat stone'.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in Brittany) a circle of standing stones. <ORIGIN> via French from Breton krommlec'h.

Linked entries:

DOLMEN ■

Crom·well 1 Oliver (1599-1658), English general and statesman; lord protector of the Commonwealth 1653-58. He was the leader of the victorious Parliamentary forces (or Roundheads) in the English Civil War. As head of state, he instituted many puritan reforms in the Church of England. He was briefly succeeded by his son Richard (1626-1712), who was forced into exile in 1659.

Crom·well 2 Thomas (c.1485-1540), English statesman, chief minister to Henry VIII 1531-40. He presided over the king's divorce from Catherine of Aragon (1533) and his break with the Roman Catholic Church.

crone n. an old woman who is thin and ugly.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Middle Dutch croonje, caroonje 'carcass, old ewe' from Old Northern French caroigne 'carrion, cantankerous woman' (see CARRION).

Linked entries:

CARRION ■

Cro·nin A. J. (1896-1981), Scottish novelist; full name Archibald Joseph Cronin. His novels, including The Citadel (1937), often reflect his early experiences as a doctor.

cron·ing n. (especially among feminists in the U.S. and Australasia) a celebration or ceremony to honor older women.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: blend of crone + crowning.

Cron·kite Walter Leland, Jr. (1916- ), U.S. television journalist. He anchored the "The CBS News with Walter Cronkite" 1962-81, ending each broadcast with "And that's the way it is."

Cro·nus (also Kro·nos) [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the supreme god until dethroned by Zeus. The youngest son of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaia (Earth), Cronus overthrew and castrated his father and then married his sister Rhea. Because he was fated to be overcome by one of his male children, Cronus swallowed all of them as soon as they were born, but when Zeus was born, Rhea deceived him and hid the baby away. Roman equivalent SATURN.

Linked entries:

SATURN ■

cro·ny n. (pl. -nies) INFORMAL, OFTEN DEROGATORY a close friend or companion: he went gambling with his cronies.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (originally Cambridge University slang): from Greek khronios 'long-lasting' (here used to mean 'contemporary'), from khronos 'time'. Compare with CHUM^1 .

Linked entries:

CHUM ■

cro·ny·ism n. DEROGATORY the appointment of friends and associates to positions of authority, without proper regard to their qualifications.

Cro·nyn Hume (Blake) (1911-2003), Canadian actor; husband of Jessica Tandy. He often teamed with his wife on the stage and also appeared in movies such as Sunrise at Campobello (1960), Cocoon (1985), and Batteries Not Included (1987).

Crook George (1829-90), U.S. army officer. He served during the Civil War and then fought against the Indians in the northwest. He was defeated by Crazy Horse in 1876 but went on to fight against the Apaches under Geronimo 1882-85.

crook n. 1 the hooked staff of a shepherd.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a bishop's crozier.

- a bend in something, esp. at the elbow in a person's arm: her head was cradled in the crook of Luke's left arm.

- a piece of extra tubing that can be fitted to a brass instrument to lower the pitch by a set interval.

- a metal tube on which the reed of some wind instruments (such as the bassoon) is set.

2 INFORMAL a person who is dishonest or a criminal.

■ v. [trans.] bend (something, esp. a finger as a signal): he crooked a finger for the waitress.

■ adj. AUSTRAL./NZ, INFORMAL (esp. of a situation) bad, unpleasant, or unsatisfactory: it was pretty crook on the land in the early 1970s.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person or a part of the body) unwell or injured: a crook knee.

- dishonest; illegal: some pretty crook things went on there. <ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: abbreviation of CROOKED.

<DERIVATIVES> crook·er·y n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'hooked tool or weapon'): from Old Norse krókr 'hook'. A noun sense 'deceit, guile, trickery' (compare with CROOKED) was recorded in Middle English but was obsolete by the 17th cent.

Linked entries:

CROOKED ■

CROOKED ■

crook·back n. ARCHAIC a person with a hunchback.

<DERIVATIVES> crook·backed adj.

crook·ed adj. (crook·ed·er, crook·ed·est) bent or twisted out of shape or out of place: his teeth were yellow and crooked.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a smile or grin) with the mouth sloping down on one side; lopsided.

- INFORMAL dishonest; illegal: a crooked business deal.

<DERIVATIVES> crook·ed·ly adv. crook·ed·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from CROOK, probably modeled on Old Norse krókóttr 'crooked, cunning'.

Linked entries:

CROOK ■

crook·neck (also crookneck squash) n. a squash of a club-shaped variety with a curved neck and warty skin.

croon v. [intrans.] hum or sing in a soft, low voice, esp. in a sentimental manner: she was crooning to the child | [trans.] the female vocalist crooned smoky blues into the microphone.
<SPECIAL USAGE> say in a soft, low voice: “Goodbye, you lovely darling,” she crooned.

■ n. [in sing.] a soft, low voice or tone: he sang in a gentle, highly expressive croon.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (originally Scots and northern English): from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch 'groan, lament'. The use of croon in standard English was probably popularized by Robert Burns.

croon·er n. a singer, typically a male one, who sings sentimental songs in a soft, low voice.

crop n. 1 a cultivated plant that is grown as food, esp. a grain, fruit, or vegetable: the main crops were oats and barley.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an amount of such plants or their produce harvested at one time: a heavy crop of fruit.

- an abundance of something, esp. a person's hair: he had a thick crop of wiry hair.

- the total number of young farm animals born in a particular year on one farm.

- a group or amount of related people or things appearing or occurring at one time: the current crop of politicians.

- the entire tanned hide of an animal.

2 a hairstyle in which the hair is cut very short.

3 short for RIDING CROP.

4 a pouch in a bird's gullet where food is stored or prepared for digestion.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a similar organ in an insect or earthworm.

■ v. (cropped, crop·ping) [trans.] 1 cut (something, esp. a person's hair) very short: [as adj.] (cropped) cropped blond hair.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an animal) bite off and eat the tops of (plants): the horse was gratefully cropping the grass.

- cut the edges of (a photograph) in order to produce a better picture or to fit a given space.

2 (often be cropped) harvest (plants or their produce) from a particular area: hay would have been cropped several times through the summer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> sow or plant (land) with plants that will produce food or fodder, esp. on a large commercial scale: the southern areas are cropped in cotton | [as adj.] (cropped) intensively cropped areas.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  crop out (of rock) appear or be exposed at the surface of the earth.

□  crop up appear, occur, or come to one's notice unexpectedly: some urgent business had cropped up.

<ORIGIN> Old English, of Germanic origin; related to German Kropf. From Old English to the late 18th cent. there existed a sense 'flowerhead, ear of corn', giving rise to sense 1 and senses referring to the top of something, whence sense 3.

Linked entries:

RIDING CROP ■

crop cir·cle n. an area of standing crops that has been flattened in the form of a circle or more complex pattern. No general cause of crop circles has been identified although various natural and unorthodox explanations have been put forward; many of the circles are known to have been hoaxes.

crop dust·ing n. the spraying of powdered or liquid insecticide or fertilizer on crops, esp. from the air.

crop-eared adj. HISTORICAL (esp. of an animal) having the tops of the ears cut off.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (esp. of a Roundhead in the English Civil War) having the hair cut very short.

crop·per n. 1 a plant that yields a crop of a specified kind or in a specified way: the white-fleshed varieties are the heaviest croppers.

2 a machine or person that cuts or trims something, such as wool off a sheep or the pile of a carpet during manufacture.

3 a person who raises a crop, esp. as a sharecropper.

<PHRASES> come a cropper INFORMAL fall heavily.
- suffer a defeat or disaster: the club's challenge for the championship has come a cropper.

crop ro·ta·tion n. see ROTATION.

Linked entries:

ROTATION ■

crop top n. a woman's casual garment or undergarment for the upper body, cut short so that it reveals the stomach.

cro·quem·bouche n. a decorative dessert consisting of cream puff pastry and crystallized fruit or other confectionery items arranged in a cone and held together by a caramel sauce.

<ORIGIN> French, literally 'crunch in the mouth'.

cro·quet n. a game played on a lawn, in which colored wooden balls are driven through a series of wickets by means of mallets: [as adj.] a croquet lawn.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an act of croqueting a ball.

■ v. (-queted , -quet·ing ) [trans.] drive away (an opponent's ball) by holding one's own ball against it and striking this with the mallet. A player is entitled to do this after their ball has struck an opponent's ball.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: perhaps a dialect form of French crochet 'hook'.

cro·quette n. a small roll of chopped vegetables, meat, or fish, fried in breadcrumbs: a potato croquette.

<ORIGIN> French, from croquer 'to crunch'.

crore n. INDIAN ten million; one hundred lakhs, esp. of rupees, units of measurement, or people.

<ORIGIN> from Hindi , based on Sanskrit 'ten million'.

Cros·by Bing (1904-77), U.S. singer and actor; born Harry Lillis Crosby. His songs include “Pennies from Heaven,” "Blue Skies,” and, in particular, "White Christmas” (from the movie Holiday Inn, 1942), one of the best selling songs of all time. He also starred in the series of Road movies from 1940 to 1962 with Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour.

cro·sier n. variant spelling of CROZIER.

Linked entries:

CROZIER ■

cross n. 1 a mark, object, or figure formed by two short intersecting lines or pieces (+ or ×): cut a cross in the bark with a sharp knife.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a mark of this type (×) made to represent a signature by a person who cannot write.

- BRIT. a mark of this type (×) used to show that something is incorrect or unsatisfactory.

2 an upright post with a transverse bar, as used in antiquity for crucifixion.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the Cross) the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

- this, or a representation of it, as an emblem of Christianity: she wore a cross around her neck.

- FIGURATIVE a thing that is unavoidable and has to be endured: she's just a cross we have to bear.

- short for SIGN OF THE CROSS (see SIGN).

- a staff surmounted by a cross carried in religious processions.

- a cross-shaped decoration awarded for personal valor or indicating rank in some orders of knighthood: the Military Cross.

- (the Cross) the constellation Southern Cross. Also called CRUX.

3 an animal or plant resulting from crossbreeding; a hybrid: a Devon and Holstein cross.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (a cross between) a mixture or compromise of two things: the system is a cross between a monorail and a conventional railroad.

4 a sideways or transverse movement or pass, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [SOCCER] a pass of the ball across the field toward the center close to one's opponents' goal.

- [BOXING] a blow delivered across and over the opponent's lead: a right cross.

■ v. [trans.] 1 go or extend across or to the other side of (a path, road, stretch of water, or area): he has crossed the Atlantic twice; two paths crossed the field | FIGURATIVE a shadow of apprehension crossed her face | [intrans.] we crossed over the bridge.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- go across or climb over (an obstacle or boundary): he attempted to cross the border into Jordan | [intrans.] we crossed over a fence.

- [intrans.] (cross over) (esp. of an artist or an artistic style or work) begin to appeal to a different audience, esp. a wider one: a talented animator who crossed over to live action.

2 [intrans.] pass in an opposite or different direction; intersect: the two lines cross at 90°.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause (two things) to intersect: cross the cables in opposing directions.

- [trans.] place (something) crosswise: Michele sat back and crossed her arms.

- (of a letter) be sent before receipt of another from the person being written to: our letters crossed.

3 draw a line or lines across; mark with a cross: cross the t's.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- BRIT. mark or annotate (a check), typically by drawing a pair of parallel lines across it, to indicate that it must be paid into a named bank account.

- (cross someone/something off) delete a name or item on a list as being no longer required or involved: Liz crossed off the days on the calendar.

- (cross something out) delete an incorrect or inapplicable word or phrase by drawing a line through it.

4 (cross oneself) (of a person) make the sign of the cross in front of one's chest as a sign of Christian reverence or to invoke divine protection.

5 [SOCCER] pass (the ball) across the field toward the center when attacking.

6 cause (an animal of one species, breed, or variety) to interbreed with one of another species, breed, or variety: many animals of the breed were crossed with the closely related Guernsey | FIGURATIVE he behaved like an old regular officer crossed with a mathematician.
<SPECIAL USAGE> cross-fertilize (a plant): a hybrid tea was crossed with a polyantha rose.

7 oppose or stand in the way of (someone): no one dared cross him.

■ adj. annoyed: he seemed to be very cross about something.

<PHRASES>
□ at cross purposes misunderstanding or having different aims from one another: we had been talking at cross purposes.

□ cross one's fingers (or keep one's fingers crossed) put one finger across another as a sign of hoping for good luck.
- hope that someone or something will be successful.

□ cross the floor BRIT. join the opposing side in Parliament.

□ cross my heart (and hope to die) used to emphasize the truthfulness and sincerity of what one is saying, and sometimes reinforced by making a sign of the cross over one's chest.

□ cross one's mind (of a thought) occur to one, esp. transiently: it never crossed my mind to leave the tent and live in a house.

□ cross someone's palm with silver OFTEN HUMOROUS pay someone for a favor or service, esp. before having one's fortune told.

□ cross someone's path meet or encounter someone.

□ cross swords have an argument or dispute.

□ get one's wires (or lines) crossed become wrongly connected by telephone.
- have a misunderstanding.

□ the way of the Cross see WAY.

<DERIVATIVES> cross·er n. cross·ly adv. cross·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Old English (in the sense 'monument in the form of a cross'): from Old Norse kross, from Old Irish cros, from Latin crux.

Linked entries:

SIGN ■

CRUX ■

WAY ■

cross- comb. form 1 denoting movement or position across something: cross-channel.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- denoting interaction: cross-pollinate.

- passing from side to side; transverse: crosspiece.

2 describing the form or figure of a cross: crossbones.

<ORIGIN> from CROSS.

Linked entries:

CROSS ■

cross-as·sem·bler n. [COMPUTING] an assembler that can convert instructions into machine code for a computer other than that on which it is run.

cross·bar n. a horizontal bar fixed across another bar or between two upright bars, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in sports) the bar between the two upright posts of a goal.

- the horizontal metal bar between the handlebars and saddle on a man's or boy's bicycle.

cross·beam n. a transverse beam.

cross-bed·ding n. [GEOLOGY] layering within a stratum and at an angle to the main bedding plane.

cross·bill n. a thickset finch with a crossed bill adapted for extracting seeds from the cones of conifers. The plumage is typically red in the male and olive green in the female.
<INFO>  Genus Loxia, family Fringillidae: four species, in particular the widespread red (or common) crossbill (L. curvirostra).

cross·bones n. see SKULL AND CROSSBONES at SKULL.

Linked entries:

SKULL ■

cross-bor·der adj. passing, occurring, or performed across a border between two countries: cross-border trade.

cross·bow n. a medieval bow of a kind that is fixed across a wooden support and has a groove for the bolt and a mechanism for drawing and releasing the string.

<DERIVATIVES> cross·bow·man n. (pl. -men).

cross·breed n. an animal or plant produced by mating or hybridizing two different species, breeds, or varieties: [as adj.] a crossbreed Labrador.

■ v. [trans.] produce (an animal or plant) in this way: [as adj.] (crossbred) a crossbred puppy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- hybridize (a breed, species, or variety) with another.

- [intrans.] (of an animal or plant) breed with a different breed, species, or variety.

cross-check v. [trans.] 1 verify (figures or information) by using an alternative source or method: always try to cross-check your bearings | [as n.] (cross-checking) no cross-checking has been done.

2 [ICE HOCKEY] obstruct (an opponent) illegally with the stick held horizontally in both hands.

■ n. 1 an instance of verifying something by using an alternative source or method: as a cross-check, they were also asked to give their date of birth.

2 [ICE HOCKEY] an illegal obstruction using the stick held horizontally in both hands.

cross-claim [LAW] a claim brought by one defendant against another in the same proceeding.

cross-col·or n. colored flashes of interference in a color television receiver caused by the misinterpretation of high-frequency luminance detail as color information.

cross-com·pil·er n. [COMPUTING] a compiler that can convert instructions into machine code or low level code for a computer other than that on which it is run.

cross-con·nec·tion n. a connection made between two or more distinct things, typically parts of different networks or circuits.

cross-con·tam·i·na·tion n. the process by which bacteria or other microorganisms are unintentionally transferred from one substance or object to another, with harmful effect.

<DERIVATIVES> cross-con·tam·i·nate v.

cross-cor·re·late v. [trans.] compare (a sequence of data) against another.

<DERIVATIVES> cross-cor·re·la·tion n.

cross-coun·try adj. 1 across fields or countryside, as opposed to on roads or tracks: cross-country walking.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of, relating to, or denoting the sport of running, riding, or driving along a course in the countryside, as opposed to around a track.

- of, relating to, or denoting skiing over relatively flat or mountainous terrain, as opposed to skiing only downhill.

2 across a region or country, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- not keeping to main or direct roads, routes, or railroad lines: mine shafts camouflaged by vegetation have swallowed up more than one cross-country hiker | [as adv.] if you are traveling cross-country, choose where you walk with care.

- traveling to many different parts of a country: a whirlwind cross-country tour.

■ n. a cross-country race or competition.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the sport of cross-country running, riding, skiing, or driving: skiing in the Rockies is a pleasant mix of downhill and cross-country.

cross·court adv. & adj. (of a stroke in tennis and other racket sports) hit diagonally across the court: [as adj.] a crosscourt volley.

■ n. a stroke of this type.

cross cous·in n. each of two cousins who are children of a brother and sister.

cross-cul·tur·al adj. of or relating to different cultures or comparison between them: cross-cultural understanding.

cross·cur·rent n. a current in a river or sea that flows across another.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a process or tendency that is in conflict with another: strong crosscurrents of debate.

cross·cut v. [trans.] 1 cut (wood or stone) across its main grain or axis.

2 alternate (one sequence) with another when editing a movie.

■ n. 1 a diagonal cut, esp. one across the main grain or axis of wood or stone.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- short for CROSSCUT SAW.

- [MINING] a cutting made across the course of a vein or the general direction of the workings.

2 an instance of alternating between two or more sequences when editing a movie.

Linked entries:

CROSSCUT SAW ■

cross·cut saw n. a saw with a handle at each end, used by two people for cutting across the grain of timber.

cross-dress v. [intrans.] wear clothing typical of the opposite sex.

<DERIVATIVES> cross-dress·er n.

crosse n. the stick used in lacrosse.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from Old French croce 'bishop's crook', ultimately of Germanic origin and related to CRUTCH.

Linked entries:

CRUTCH ■

cross-ex·am·ine v. [trans.] question (a witness called by the other party) in a court of law to discredit or undercut testimony already given. Compare with DIRECT EXAMINATION.
<SPECIAL USAGE> question (someone) aggressively or in great detail: I was cross-examined over the breakfast table.

<DERIVATIVES> cross-ex·am·i·na·tion n. cross-ex·am·in·er n.

Linked entries:

DIRECT EXAMINATION ■

cross-eyed adj. having one or both eyes turned inward toward the nose, either from focusing on something very close, through temporary loss of control of focus, or as a permanent condition (convergent strabismus).

cross-fade v. [intrans.] (in sound or movie editing) make a picture or sound appear or be heard gradually as another disappears or becomes silent.

■ n. an act or instance of cross-fading.

cross-fer·ti·lize v. [trans.] fertilize (a plant) using pollen from another plant of the same species.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of two plants) fertilize each other.

- FIGURATIVE stimulate the development of (something) with an exchange of ideas or information: sessions between the two groups cross-fertilize ideas and provide insights.

<DERIVATIVES> cross-fer·ti·li·za·tion n.

cross·fire n. gunfire from two or more directions passing through the same area, often killing or wounding noncombatants: a photographer was killed in the crossfire.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE used to refer to a situation in which two or more groups are attacking or arguing with each other: grape growers have been caught in the crossfire of the boycott.

cross·flow n. a type of engine cylinder head where the intake ports are on the opposite side of the engine from the exhaust ports.

cross-grain adj. running across the regular grain in timber: cross-grain swelling.

cross-grained adj. (of timber) having a grain that runs across the regular grain.
<SPECIAL USAGE> stubbornly contrary or bad-tempered: Bruce was a cross-grained and boastful individual.

cross·hairs plural n. a pair of fine wires or lines crossing at right angles at the focus of an optical instrument or gun sight, for use in positioning, aiming, or measuring.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a representation of this on a computer screen.

cross·hatch v. [trans.] [often as n.] (crosshatching) (in drawing or graphics) shade (an area) with intersecting sets of parallel lines.

cross·head n. a bar or block between the piston rod and connecting rod in a steam engine.

cross in·dex n. a note or cross reference in a book or list that refers the reader to other material.

■ v. (cross-in·dex) [trans.] index (something) under another heading as a cross reference: [as adj.] a cross-indexed file.

cross in·fec·tion n. the transfer of infection, esp. to a hospital patient with a different infection or between different species of animal or plant.

cross·ing n. 1 a place where two roads, two railroad lines, or a road and a railroad line cross.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of moving across or over something: the crossing of the Pyrenees.

- a journey across water in a ship: a short ferry crossing.

- a place at which one may safely cross something, esp. a street.

- a place at which one can cross a border between countries.

- [ARCHITECTURE] the intersection of a church nave and the transepts.

2 crossbreeding.

cross·ing guard a person whose job it is to help pedestrians, esp. schoolchildren, to cross intersections safely.

cross·ing o·ver n. [GENETICS] the exchange of genes between homologous chromosomes, resulting in a mixture of parental characteristics in offspring.

cross-leg·ged adj. & adv. (of a seated person) with the legs crossed at the ankles and the knees bent outward: [as adv.] John sat cross-legged on the floor.

cross·light n. a light positioned to illuminate the parts of a photographic subject that the main lighting leaves in shade.

cross-link n. a chemical bond between different chains of atoms in a polymer or other complex molecule.

■ v. make or become linked with such a bond.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] connect (something) by a series of transverse links.

<DERIVATIVES> cross-link·age n.

cross·match [MEDICINE] v. [trans.] [often as n.] (crossmatching) test the compatibility of (a donor's and a recipient's blood or tissue).

■ n. an instance of such testing.

cross·mem·ber n. a transverse structural piece that adds support to a motor-vehicle chassis or other construction.

cross of Lor·raine n. another term for LORRAINE CROSS.

Linked entries:

LORRAINE CROSS ■

cros·sop·te·ryg·i·an [ZOOLOGY] n. a lobe-finned fish, such as the coelacanth.

■ adj. of or relating to such fishes.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Crossopterygii, from Greek krossos 'tassel' + pterux, pterug- 'fin'.

cross·o·ver n. 1 a point or place of crossing from one side to the other.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a short length of track joining two adjacent railroad lines.

2 the process of achieving success in a different field or style, esp. in popular music: [as adj.] a jazz-classical crossover album.

3 a person who votes for a candidate in a different political party than the one they usually support: [asadj.] crossover votes.

4 [as adj.] relating to or denoting trials of medical treatment in which experimental subjects and control groups are exchanged after a set period: a crossover study.

cross·o·ver dis·tor·tion n. [ELECTRONICS] distortion occurring where a signal changes from positive to negative or vice versa.

cross·o·ver net·work n. a filter in a loudspeaker unit that divides the signal and delivers different parts to bass and treble speakers.

cross own·er·ship n. the ownership by one corporation of different companies with related interests or commercial aims.

cross-par·ty adj. involving or relating to two or more political parties.

<USAGE>
Though appearing occasionally in American writing to denote cooperation between the two main political parties, this term does not compete very effectively with bipartisan the default term. Cross-party is far more common in other English dialects, and in American English to describe political cooperation in other countries.

cross·patch n. INFORMAL a bad-tempered person.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from the adjective CROSS + obsolete patch 'fool, clown', perhaps from Italian pazzo 'madman'.

Linked entries:

CROSS ■

cross peen (also cross pein) n. a hammer having a peen that lies crossways to the length of the shaft.

cross·piece n. a beam or bar fixed or placed across something else.

cross-plat·form adj. [COMPUTING] able to be used on different types of computers or with different software packages: a cross-platform game.

cross-pol·li·nate v. [trans.] pollinate (a flower or plant) with pollen from another flower or plant.

<DERIVATIVES> cross-pol·li·na·tion n.

cross-post (also cross·post) [COMPUTING] v. [trans.] post a single message to multiple Internet newsgroups or reading lists.
<SPECIAL USAGE> repost a message appearing on one list or newsgroup to another: please do not cross-post this vacancy.

■ n. a message posted to more than one newsgroup or reading list: we strongly recommend that crossposts be to relevant newsgroups only.

cross-post·ing n. the simultaneous sending of a message to more than one newsgroup or other distribution system on the Internet in such a way that the receiving software at individual sites can detect and ignore duplicates.

cross-pres·sure v. [trans.] expose (someone) to different, incompatible opinions: the executive has been cross-pressured by the interests of the states and the electorate.

cross prod·uct n. another term for VECTOR PRODUCT.

Linked entries:

VECTOR PRODUCT ■

cross-ques·tion v. [trans.] question (someone) in great detail; cross-examine: it seemed ungrateful to cross-question him | [as n.] (cross-questioning) the cross-questioning of Lopez.

cross-rate n. [FINANCE] an exchange rate between two currencies computed by reference to a third currency, usually the U.S. dollar.

cross-re·ac·tion n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] the reaction of an antibody with an antigen other than the one that gave rise to it.

<DERIVATIVES> cross-re·act v. cross-re·ac·tive adj. cross-re·ac·tiv·i·ty n.

cross-re·fer v. [intrans.] (of a text) refer to another text or part of a text, typically in order to elaborate on a point: the database cross-refers to the printed book.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] refer (someone) to another text: the entry cross-refers readers to “Style.”

- (of a person) follow a cross reference from one part of a text to another, or one text to another: students should be shown how to cross-refer between texts.

cross ref·er·ence n. a reference to another text or part of a text, typically given in order to elaborate on a point.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be cross-referenced) provide with cross references to another text or part of a text: entries are fully cross-referenced.

cross-rhythm n. [MUSIC] a rhythm used simultaneously with another rhythm or rhythms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the use of two or more rhythms simultaneously.

cross·roads n. an intersection of two or more roads.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a point at which a crucial decision must be made that will have far-reaching consequences: we stand again at a historic crossroads.

- (crossroad) a road that crosses a main road or joins two main roads.

cross·ruff n. a sequence of play in bridge or whist in which partners alternately trump each other's leads.

■ v. [intrans.] alternately trump particular suits in such a way.

cross sec·tion n. a surface or shape that is or would be exposed by making a straight cut through something, esp. at right angles to an axis: the cross section of an octahedron is a square; in cross section the sailfish's body looks like a tapering spear.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a thin strip of organic tissue or other material removed by making two such cuts.

- a diagram representing what such a cut would reveal.

- a typical or representative sample of a larger group, esp. of people: a cross section of our senior managers.

- [PHYSICS] a quantity having the dimensions of an area which expresses the probability of a given interaction between particles.

■ v. (cross-sec·tion) [trans.] make a cross section of (something): [as n.] (cross-sectioning) complex triangular terrain models for contour cross-sectioning.

<DERIVATIVES> cross-sec·tion·al adj.

cross-sell v. [trans.] sell (a different product or service) to an existing customer: their database is used to cross-sell financial services.

cross-slide n. a sliding part on a lathe or planing machine that is supported by the saddle and carries the tool in a direction at right angles to the bed of the machine.

cross-stitch [NEEDLEWORK] n. a stitch formed of two stitches crossing each other.
<SPECIAL USAGE> needlework done using such stitches.

■ v. [trans.] sew or embroider using such stitches: [as adj.] (cross-stitched) a cross-stitched pillow.

cross street n. a street crossing another or connecting two streets.

cross-sub·si·dize v. [trans.] subsidize (a business or activity) out of the profits of another business or activity.

<DERIVATIVES> cross-sub·si·di·za·tion n. cross-sub·si·dy n.

cross·talk n. 1 unwanted transfer of signals between communication channels.

2 casual conversation.

cross·tie n. a wooden or concrete beam laid transversely under the rails of a railroad track to support it.

cross-tol·er·ance n. resistance to the effects of a substance because of exposure to a pharmacologically similar substance: cross-tolerance of barbiturates with alcohol was observed.

cross·town adj. & adv. running or leading across a town: [as adj.] the crosstown traffic | [as adv.] she drove us crosstown.

cross-train v. [intrans.] learn another skill, esp. one related to one's current job.

cross-train·ing n. training in two or more sports in order to improve fitness and performance, esp. in a main sport.

cross·trees plural n. a pair of horizontal struts attached to a sailing ship's mast to spread the rigging, esp. at the head of a topmast.

cross vault n. a vault formed by the intersection of two or more vaults.

cross·walk n. a marked part of a road where pedestrians have right of way to cross.

cross·ways adv. another term for CROSSWISE.

Linked entries:

CROSSWISE ■

cross·wind n. a wind blowing across one's direction of travel.

cross·wise adv. in the form of a cross: their arms were held out crosswise.
<SPECIAL USAGE> diagonally; transversely: wash the potatoes and halve them crosswise.

cross·word (also crossword puzzle) n. a puzzle consisting of a grid of squares and blanks into which words crossing vertically and horizontally are written according to clues.

<ORIGIN> said to have been invented by the journalist Arthur Wynne, whose puzzle (called a “word-cross”) appeared in a Sunday newspaper, the New York World, on December 21, 1913.

cros·ti·ni plural n. small pieces of toasted or fried bread served with a topping as an appetizer or canapé.

<ORIGIN> Italian, plural of crostino 'little crust'.

crot·al n. variant spelling of CROTTLE.

Linked entries:

CROTTLE ■

cro·tale n. (usu. crotales) a small tuned cymbal.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: French, from Latin crotalum, denoting an ancient type of castanet, from Greek krotalon.

crotch n. the part of the human body between the legs where they join the torso.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the part of a garment that passes between the legs.

- a fork in a tree, road, or river.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (denoting an agricultural or garden fork, also a crutch): perhaps related to Old French croche 'crozier, shepherd's crook', based on Old Norse krókr 'hook'; partly also a variant of CRUTCH.

Linked entries:

CRUTCH ■

crotch·et n. 1 [MUSIC] CHIEFLY BRIT. a quarter note.

2 a perverse or unfounded belief or notion: the natural crotchets of inveterate bachelors.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'hook'): from Old French crochet, diminutive of croc 'hook', from Old Norse krókr.

crotch·et·y adj. irritable: he was tired and crotchety.

<DERIVATIVES> crotch·et·i·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from of CROTCHET + -Y^1 .

Linked entries:

CROTCHET ■

-Y ■

crotch·less adj. (of a garment) having a hole cut so as to leave the genitals uncovered.

cro·ton n. 1 a strong-scented tree, shrub, or herbaceous plant of the spurge family, native to tropical and warm regions. Several kinds yield timber and other commercially important products.
<INFO>  Genus Croton, family Euphorbiaceae: numerous species, including C. laccifer, the host plant for the lac insect.

2 a small evergreen tree or shrub of the Indo-Pacific region, which is grown for its colorful ornamental foliage.
<INFO>  Genus Codiaeum, family Euphorbiaceae: several species, in particular C. variegatum, many varieties of which are popular houseplants.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek 'sheep tick' (from the shape of the seeds of the croton in sense 1).

cro·ton oil n. a foul-smelling oil, formerly used as a purgative, obtained from the seeds of a tropical Asian croton tree.
<INFO>  The tree is Croton tiglium (family Euphorbiaceae).

Cro·ton Riv·er a short river in eastern New York that flows into the Hudson River. It was dammed to form part of New York City's water system.

crot·tle (also crot·al) n. a common lichen found on rocks, used in Scotland to make a golden-brown or reddish-brown dye for staining wool for making tweed.
<INFO>  Parmelia saxatilis (order Parmeliales) and other species.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Scottish Gaelic and Irish crotal, crotan.

crouch v. [intrans.] adopt a position where the knees are bent and the upper body is brought forward and down, sometimes to avoid detection or to defend oneself: we crouched down in the trench | (be crouched) Leo was crouched before the fire.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (crouch over) bend over in this wayso as to be close to (someone or something): she was crouching over some flower bed.

■ n. [in sing.] a crouching stance or posture.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: perhaps from Old French crochir 'be bent', from croche (see CROTCH).

Linked entries:

CROTCH ■

croup 1 n. inflammation of the larynx and trachea in children, associated with infection and causing breathing difficulties.

<DERIVATIVES> croup·y adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from dialect croup 'to croak', of imitative origin.

croup 2 n. the rump or hindquarters, esp. of a horse.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French croupe, ultimately of Germanic origin and related to CROP.

Linked entries:

CROP ■

croup·i·er n. 1 the person in charge of a gaming table, gathering in and paying out money or tokens.

2 HISTORICAL the assistant chairman at a public dinner, seated at the lower end of the table.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (denoting a person standing behind a gambler to give advice): French, from Old French cropier 'pillion rider, rider on the croup', related to Old French croupe (see CROUP^2 ). Compare with CRUPPER.

Linked entries:

CROUP ■

CRUPPER ■

crous·tade n. a crisp piece of bread or pastry hollowed to receive a savory filling.

<ORIGIN> French, from Old French crouste or Italian crostata 'tart' (from crosta 'crust').

croute n. a piece of toasted bread on which savory snacks can be served. See also EN CROUTE.

<ORIGIN> French croûte (see CRUST).

Linked entries:

EN CROUTE ■

CRUST ■

crou·ton n. a small piece of fried or toasted bread served with soup or used as a garnish.

<ORIGIN> from French croûton, from croûte (see CRUST).

Linked entries:

CRUST ■

Crow n. (pl. same or Crows) 1 a member of an American Indian people inhabiting eastern Montana.

2 the Siouan language of this people.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> suggested by French (gens des) corbeaux '(people of the) crows', translating Siouan apsáaloke 'crow people'.

crow 1 n. 1 a large perching bird with mostly glossy black plumage, a heavy bill, and a raucous voice.
<INFO>  Genus Corvus, family Corvidae (the crow family): several species, including the American crow (C. brachyrhynchos) and the carrion crow (C. corone). The crow family also includes the ravens, jays, magpies, choughs, and nutcrackers.

2 DEROGATORY a woman, esp. an old or ugly one.

3 (the Crow) the constellation Corvus.

<PHRASES>
□ as the crow flies in a straight line: Easingwold was 22 miles away as the crow flies.

□ eat crow INFORMAL be humiliated by having to admit one's defeats or mistakes.

<ORIGIN>  Old English ; related to Dutch kraai and German Krähe, also to CROW^2 .

Linked entries:

CROW ■

crow 2 v. (past crowed or BRIT. crew ) [intrans.] (of a cock) utter its characteristic loud cry.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) make a sound expressing a feeling of happiness or triumph: Ruby crowed with delight.

- say something in a tone of gloating satisfaction: avoid crowing about your success; | “I knew you'd be back,” she crowed.

■ n. [usu. in sing.] the cry of a cock.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sound made by a person expressing triumph or happiness: she gave a little crow of triumph.

<ORIGIN>  Old English ; related to German krähen, also to CROW^1 ; ultimately imitative.

Linked entries:

CROW ■

crow·bait n. INFORMAL, DEROGATORY an old horse.

crow·bar n. an iron bar with a flattened end, used as a lever.

■ v. (-barred, -bar·ring) [trans.] use a crowbar to open (something): he crowbarred the box open.

crow·ber·ry n. (pl. -ries) a creeping heatherlike dwarf shrub with small, needle-shaped leaves and black or reddish berries.
<INFO>  Genus Empetrum, family Empetraceae: several species, in particular the black crowberry (E. nigrum), with pea-sized black berries.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the edible but flavorless berry of this plant.

crowd n. a large number of people gathered together, typically in a disorganized or unruly way: a huge crowd gathered in the street outside.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an audience: a crowd of 500 filled the synagogue.

- INFORMAL, OFTEN DEROGATORY a group of people who are linked by a common interest or activity: I've broken away from that whole junkie crowd.

- (the crowd) the mass or multitude of people, esp. those considered to be drearily ordinary or anonymous: make yourself stand out from the crowd.

- a large number of things regarded collectively: the crowd of tall buildings.

■ v. [trans.] (often be crowded) (of a number of people) fill (a space) almost completely, leaving little or no room for movement: the dance floor was crowded with revelers | [as adj.] (crowded) the crowded streets of Chicago.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (crowd into) (of a number of people) move into (a space, esp. one that seems too small): they crowded into the cockpit.

- [intrans.] (crowd around) (of a group of people) form a tightly packed mass around (someone or something): photographers crowded around him.

- move too close to (someone), either aggressively or in a way that causes discomfort or harm: don't crowd her, she needs air.

- (crowd someone/something out) exclude someone or something by taking their place: grass invading the canyon has crowded out native plants.

- [intrans.] (crowd in on) FIGURATIVE overwhelm and preoccupy (someone): as demands crowd in on you it becomes difficult to keep things in perspective.

- [BASEBALL] (of a batter) stand very close to (the plate) when batting.

<DERIVATIVES> crowd·ed·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'press, hasten', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kruien 'push in a wheelbarrow'. In Middle English the senses 'move by pushing' and 'push one's way' arose, leading to the sense 'congregate', and hence (mid 16th cent.) to the noun.

crowd·ie (also crowd·y) n. a soft Scottish cheese made from buttermilk or sour milk.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from CRUD + -IE.

Linked entries:

CRUD ■

-IE ■

crowd-pleas·er n. a person or thing with great popular appeal.

<DERIVATIVES> crowd-pleas·ing adj.

crowd-pull·er n. INFORMAL an event, person, or thing that attracts a large audience.

crowd-surf·ing n. the activity of being passed in a prone position over the heads of the audience at a rock concert, typically after having jumped from the stage.

<DERIVATIVES> crowd-surf v.

crow·foot n. a herbaceous plant related to the buttercups, typically having lobed or divided leaves and white or yellow flowers. Many kinds are aquatic with flowers held above the water.
<INFO>  Genus Ranunculus, family Ranunculaceae: many species, in particular the European water crowfoot (R. aquatilis).

crown n. 1 a circular ornamental headdress worn by a monarch as a symbol of authority, usually made of or decorated with precious metals and jewels.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the Crown) the reigning monarch, representing a country's government: their loyalty to the Church came before their loyalty to the Crown.

- (usu. the Crown) the power or authority residing in the monarchy: they claimed immunity on behalf of the Crown.

- an ornament, emblem, or badge shaped like a crown.

- a wreath of leaves or flowers, esp. that worn as an emblem of victory in ancient Greece or Rome.

- an award or distinction gained by a victory or achievement, esp. in sports: the world heavyweight crown.

2 the top or highest part of something: the crown of the hill.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the top part of a person's head or a hat.

- the part of a plant just above and below the ground from which the roots and shoots branch out.

- the upper branching or spreading part of a tree or other plant.

- the upper part of a cut gem, above the girdle.

- the part of a tooth projecting from the gum.

- an artificial replacement or covering for the upper part of a tooth.

- the point of an anchor at which the arms reach the shaft.

3 (also crown piece) a British coin with a face value of five shillings or 25 pence, now minted only for commemorative purposes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a foreign coin with a name meaning ‘crown,’ esp. the krona or krone.

4 (in full metric crown) a paper size, now standardized at 384 × 504 mm.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in full crown octavo) a book size, now standardized at 186 × 123 mm.

- (in full crown quarto) a book size, now standardized at 246 × 189 mm.

■ v. [trans.] 1 (usu. be crowned) ceremonially place a crown on the head of (someone) in order to invest them as a monarch: he went to Rome to be crowned; | she was crowned queen in 1953.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- declare or acknowledge (someone) as the best, esp. at a sport: he was crowned world champion last September.

- (in checkers) promote (a piece) to king by placing another on top of it.

- rest on or form the top of: the distant knoll was crowned with trees.

- fit a crown to (a tooth).

- INFORMAL hit on the head: she contained the urge to crown him.

2 be the triumphant culmination of (an effort or endeavor, esp. a prolonged one): years of struggle were crowned by a state visit to Paris | [as adj.] (crowning) the crowning moment of a worthy career.

3 [intrans.] (of a baby's head during labor) fully appear in the vaginal opening prior to emerging.

<PHRASES>
□ crowning glory the best and most notable aspect of something: the scene is the crowning glory of this marvelously entertaining show.
- CHIEFLY HUMOROUS a person's hair.

□ to crown it all as the final event in a series of particularly fortunate or unfortunate events: it was cold and raining, and, to crown it all, we had to walk home.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French corune (noun), coruner (verb), Old French corone (noun), coroner (verb), from Latin corona 'wreath, chaplet'.

Crown at·tor·ney n. In Canada, a government prosecutor in criminal cases.

crown col·o·ny a British colony whose legislature and administration is controlled by the Crown, represented by a governor. Some British dependencies within the Commonwealth still retain the designation, with varying degrees of self-government.

Crown Der·by n. a kind of soft-paste porcelain made at Derby, England, and often marked with a crown above the letter “D.”

crowned crane n. an African crane with a yellowish bristly crest, a mainly black or dark gray body, much white on the wings, and pink and white cheeks.
<INFO>  Genus Balearica, family Gruidae: two species, in particular the (black) crowned crane (B. pavonina).

crowned head n. (usu. crowned heads) a king or queen.

crowned pi·geon n. the largest known pigeon, which has mainly bluish plumage and a tall, erect crest, and is found in New Guinea.
<INFO>  Genus Goura, family Columbidae: three species, including the Victoria crowned pigeon (G. victoria).

crown e·ther n. [CHEMISTRY] any of a class of organic compounds whose molecules are large rings containing a number of ether linkages.

crown fire n. a forest fire that spreads from treetop to treetop.

crown gall n. a bacterial disease of plants, esp. fruit bushes and trees, that is characterized by large tumorlike galls on the roots and lower trunk.
<INFO>  Agrobacterium tumefaciens

<SPECIAL USAGE> a gall of this type.

crown glass n. glass made without lead or iron, originally in a circular sheet. Formerly used in windows, it is now used as optical glass of low refractive index.

Crown Heights a neighborhood in northern Brooklyn in New York City, noted for its West Indian and Orthodox Jewish communities.

crown im·pe·ri·al n. an Asian fritillary (plant) with a cluster of bell-like flowers at the top of a tall, largely bare stem.
<INFO>  Fritillaria imperialis, family Liliaceae.

crown jew·els plural n. the crown and other ornaments and jewelry worn or carried by the sovereign on certain state occasions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (crown jewel) a prized asset, achievement, or person: the new stadium will be the crown jewel of sporting arenas.

Crown land n. (also Crown lands) land belonging to the British Crown.
<SPECIAL USAGE> land belonging to the state in some parts of the Commonwealth.

crown lens n. a lens made of crown glass and usu. forming one component of an achromatic lens.

crown mold·ing n. another term for CORNICE (sense 1).

Linked entries:

CORNICE ■

crown of thorns n. 1 (also crown-of-thorns-star·fish) a large spiky starfish of the tropical Indo-Pacific, feeding on coral and sometimes causing great damage to reefs.
<INFO>  Acanthaster planci, class Asteroidea.

2 a Madagascan shrub of the spurge family, with bright red flowers and many slender thorns. It is a popular houseplant and is sometimes used for hedges in the tropics.
<INFO>  Euphorbia milii, family Euphorbiaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> any of a number of other thorny plants, esp. Christ's thorn.

<ORIGIN> by association with Christ's crown of thorns.

crown piece n. see CROWN (sense 3).

Linked entries:

CROWN ■

Crown Point a resort town in northeastern New York, on Lake Champlain, scene of much military action during the 18th century.

crown prince n. (in some countries) a male heir to a throne.

crown prin·cess n. the wife of a crown prince.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in some countries) a female heir to a throne.

crown roast n. a roast of rib pieces of pork or lamb arranged like a crown in a circle with the bones pointing upward.

crown saw n. another term for HOLE SAW.

Linked entries:

HOLE SAW ■

crown wheel n. a gearwheel or cogwheel with teeth that project from the face of the wheel at right angles, used esp. in the gears of motor vehicles.

crow-pheas·ant n. a coucal, esp. the greater coucal, which has black plumage with chestnut wings and back and is found in South Asia.
<INFO>  Genus Centropus, family Cuculidae, esp. C. sinensis.

crow's-foot n. (pl. -feet) 1 (usu. crow's-feet) a branching wrinkle at the outer corner of a person's eye.

2 a mark, symbol, or design formed of lines diverging from a point, resembling a bird's footprint.

3 HISTORICAL a caltrop.

crow's-nest n. a shelter or platform fixed near the top of the mast of a vessel as a place for a lookout to stand.

crow steps plural n. another term for CORBIESTEPS.

<DERIVATIVES> crow-stepped adj.

Linked entries:

CORBIESTEPS ■

croze n. a groove at the end of a cask or barrel to receive the edge of the head.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a cooper's tool for making such grooves.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: perhaps from French creux, creuse 'hollow'.

Cro·zet Is·lands a group of five small islands in the southern Indian Ocean, under French administration.

cro·zier (also cro·sier) n. a hooked staff carried by a bishop as a symbol of pastoral office.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the curled top of a young fern.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally denoting the person who carried a processional cross in front of an archbishop): partly from Old French croisier 'cross bearer', from crois 'cross', based on Latin crux; reinforced by Old French crocier 'bearer of a bishop's crook', from croce (see CROSSE).

Linked entries:

CROSSE ■

CRT abbr. cathode-ray tube.

cru n. (pl. crus pronunc. same) (in France) a vineyard or group of vineyards, esp. one of recognized quality. See also GRAND CRU, PREMIER CRU.

<ORIGIN> French, from crû, literally 'growth', past participle of croître.

Linked entries:

GRAND CRU ■

PREMIER CRU ■

cru·ces plural form of CRUX.

Linked entries:

CRUX ■

cru·cial adj. decisive or critical, esp. in the success or failure of something: negotiations were at a crucial stage.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of great importance: this game is crucial to our survival.

<DERIVATIVES> cru·ci·al·i·ty n. cru·cial·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (in the sense 'cross-shaped'): from French, from Latin crux, cruc- 'cross'. The sense 'decisive' is from Francis Bacon's Latin phrase instantia crucis 'crucial instance', which he explained as a metaphor from a crux or fingerpost marking a fork at a crossroad; Newton and Boyle took up the metaphor in experimentum crucis 'crucial experiment'.

<USAGE>
Crucial is used in formal contexts to mean 'decisive, critical': the testimony of the only eyewitness was crucial to the case. Its broader use to mean 'very important' should be restricted to informal contexts: it is crucial to get good light for your photographs.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
acute, critical, crucial, deciding, pressing, urgent

In any emergency or crisis situation, there is usually a turning point. Such an event is called critical if it determines the outcome of a situation (a critical point in the nuclear disarmament negotiations; a critical election for the Democratic Party).

Crucial can also refer to a turning point, but it emphasizes the necessity of something happening before a result can be achieved (the battle was crucial to their victory), while critical suggests more of a balance between positive and negative outcomes (a critical debate on foreign policy).

Acute describes the intensification of a situation that is rapidly approaching a climax (an acute shortage of O-negative blood), while deciding refers to something that forces a certain outcome (a deciding factor in his recovery).

Pressing and urgent are milder words. A situation that is pressing may be chronic rather than acute (a pressing need for changes in the political system), while an urgent situation may be approaching a crisis without reference to a specific turning point (an urgent meeting between the two presidents).

While urgent expresses more intensity than pressing, neither adjective conveys the same sense of intensity as crucial, critical, or acute.

cru·cian (also crucian carp) n. a small olive-green to reddish-brown European carp of still or slow-moving waters, important as a farmed fish in eastern Europe.
<INFO>  Carassius carassius, family Cyprinidae.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Low German karusse, karutze, perhaps based on Latin coracinus, from Greek korax 'raven', also denoting a black fish found in the Nile.

cru·ci·ate adj. [ANATOMY] & [BOTANY] cross-shaped.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin cruciatus, from crux, cruc- 'cross'.

cru·ci·ate lig·a·ment n. [ANATOMY] either of a pair of ligaments in the knee that cross each other and connect the femur to the tibia.

cru·ci·ble n. a ceramic or metal container in which metals or other substances may be melted or subjected to very high temperatures.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a place or occasion of severe test or trial: the crucible of combat.

- a place or situation in which different elements interact to produce something new: the crucible of the new Romantic movement.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin crucibulum 'night lamp, crucible' (perhaps originally a lamp hanging in front of a crucifix), from Latin crux, cruc- 'cross'.

cru·ci·fer n. 1 [BOTANY] a cruciferous plant, with four petals arranged in a cross.

2 a person carrying a cross or crucifix in a procession.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Christian Latin, from Latin crux, cruc- 'cross'.

cru·cif·er·ous adj. [BOTANY] of, relating to, or denoting plants of the cabbage family (Brassicaceae, formerly Cruciferae).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cruciferae (plural), from Latin crux, cruc- 'cross' + -fer 'bearing' (because the flowers have four equal petals arranged crosswise), + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

cru·ci·fix n. a representation of a cross with a figure of Jesus Christ on it.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin crucifixus, from Latin cruci fixus 'fixed to a cross'. Compare with CRUCIFY.

Linked entries:

CRUCIFY ■

cru·ci·fix·ion n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL the execution of a person by nailing or binding them to a cross.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the Crucifixion) the killing of Jesus Christ in such a way.

- (Crucifixion) [in sing.] an artistic representation or musical composition based on this event.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from ecclesiastical Latin crucifixio(n-), from the verb crucifigere (see CRUCIFY).

Linked entries:

CRUCIFY ■

cru·ci·form adj. having the shape of a cross: a cruciform sword.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or denoting a church having a cross-shaped plan with a nave and transepts.

■ n. a thing shaped like a cross.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin crux, cruc- 'cross' + -IFORM.

Linked entries:

-IFORM ■

cru·ci·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] (often be crucified) CHIEFLY HISTORICAL put (someone) to death by nailing or binding them to a cross: two thieves were crucified with Jesus.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- criticize (someone) severely and unrelentingly: our fans would crucify us if we lost.

- cause anguish to (someone): she'd been crucified by his departure.

<DERIVATIVES> cru·ci·fi·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French crucifier, from late Latin crucifigere, from Latin crux, cruc- 'cross' + figere 'fix'. Compare with CRUCIFIX.

Linked entries:

CRUCIFIX ■

cruck n. BRIT. either of a pair of curved timbers extending to the ground in the roof framework of a type of medieval house: [as adj.] a cruck barn.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: variant of CROOK.

Linked entries:

CROOK ■

crud n. INFORMAL a substance that is disgusting or unpleasant, typically because of its dirtiness.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- snow that is not packed down or groomed, on which it is difficult to ski.

- nonsense: they just want the simple truth without any religious crud.

- a contemptible person.

<DERIVATIVES> crud·dy adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: variant of CURD (the original sense). The earliest modern senses, 'filth' and 'nonsense' (originally U.S.), date from the 1940s.

Linked entries:

CURD ■

crude adj. 1 in a natural or raw state; not yet processed or refined: crude oil.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [STATISTICS] (of figures) not adjusted or corrected: the crude mortality rate.

- (of an estimate or guess) likely to be only approximately accurate.

2 constructed in a rudimentary or makeshift way: a relatively crude nuclear weapon.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an action) showing little finesse or subtlety and as a result unlikely to succeed: the measure was condemned by economists as crude and ill-conceived.

3 (of language, behavior, or a person) offensively coarse or rude, esp. in relation to sexual matters: a crude joke. See note at RUDE.

■ n. natural petroleum: the ship was carrying 80,000 tons of crude.

<DERIVATIVES> crude·ly adv. crude·ness n. cru·di·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin crudus 'raw, rough'.

crude tur·pen·tine n. see TURPENTINE (sense 1).

Linked entries:

TURPENTINE ■

cru·di·tés plural n. assorted raw vegetables served as an hors d'oeuvre, typically with a sauce into which they may be dipped.

<ORIGIN> plural of French crudité 'rawness, crudity', from Latin crudus 'raw, rough'.

cru·el adj. (-el·er, -el·est; BRIT. -el·ler, -el·lest) causing pain or suffering: I can't stand people who are cruel to animals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> having or showing a sadistic disregard for the pain or suffering of others: the girl had a cruel face.

<DERIVATIVES> cru·el·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin crudelis, related to crudus (see CRUDE).

Linked entries:

CRUDE ■

cru·el·ty n. (pl. -ties) callous indifference to or pleasure in causing pain and suffering: he has treated her with extreme cruelty.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- behavior that causes pain or suffering to a person or animal: we can't stand cruelty to animals | the cruelties of forced assimilation and genocide.

- [LAW] behavior that causes physical or mental harm to another, esp. a spouse, whether intentionally or not.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French crualte, based on Latin crudelitas, from crudelis (see CRUEL).

Linked entries:

CRUEL ■

cru·el·ty-free adj. (of cosmetics or other commercial products) manufactured or developed by methods that do not involve experimentation on animals.

cru·et n. 1 a small container for salt, pepper, oil, or vinegar for use at a dining table.

2 (in church use) a small container for the wine or water to be used in the celebration of the Eucharist.

<ORIGIN>  Middle English (sense 2): from Anglo-Norman French, diminutive of Old French crue 'pot', from Old Saxon ; related to CROCK^2 .

Linked entries:

CROCK ■

Cruik·shank George (1792-1878), English painter, illustrator, and caricaturist.

Cruise Tom (1962- ), U.S. actor. He achieved success in Risky Business (1983) and went on to star in movies such as Top Gun (1986), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Jerry McGuire (1996), and Eyes Wide Shut (1999).

cruise v. [intrans.] sail about in an area without a precise destination, esp. for pleasure: they were cruising off the California coast | [trans.] she cruised the canals of France in a barge.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- take a vacation on a ship or boat following a predetermined course, usually calling in at several ports.

- (of a vehicle or person) travel or move slowly around without a specific destination in mind: a police van cruised past us | [trans.] teenagers were aimlessly cruising the mall.

- (of a motor vehicle or aircraft) travel smoothly at a moderate or economical speed.

- achieve an objective with ease, esp. in sports: he cruised to an easy victory in Tuesday's primary.

- [trans.] INFORMAL wander about (a place) in search of a sexual partner: he cruised the gay bars of Los Angeles.

- [trans.] INFORMAL attempt to pick up (a sexual partner): he was cruising a pair of sailors.

■ n. a voyage on a ship or boat taken for pleasure or as a holiday and usually calling in at several places: a cruise down the Nile | [as adj.] a cruise liner.

<PHRASES> cruising for a bruising INFORMAL heading or looking for trouble.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (as a verb): probably from Dutch kruisen 'to cross', from kruis 'cross', from Latin crux.

cruise con·trol n. an electronic device in a motor vehicle that can be switched on to maintain a selected constant speed without the use of the accelerator.

cruise mis·sile n. a low-flying missile that is guided to its target by an on-board computer.

cruis·er n. 1 a relatively fast warship larger than a destroyer and less heavily armed than a battleship.

2 a yacht or motorboat with passenger accommodations, designed for leisure use.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who goes on a pleasure cruise.

3 an automobile that can be driven smoothly at high speed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a police patrol car.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Dutch kruiser, from kruisen (see CRUISE).

Linked entries:

CRUISE ■

cruis·er·weight n. CHIEFLY BRIT. 1 another term for LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT.

2 in professional boxing, a weight between light heavyweight and heavyweight, ranging from 175 to 190 pounds (79 to 85 kg).
<SPECIAL USAGE> a boxer of this weight.

Linked entries:

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT ■

cruis·ing range n. the maximum distance a ship or aircraft can travel at a given speed without refueling.

cruis·ing speed n. a speed for a particular vehicle, ship, or aircraft, usually somewhat below maximum, that is comfortable and economical.

crul·ler n. a small cake made of rich, sweetened dough twisted or curled and fried in deep fat.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Dutch kruller, from krullen 'to curl'.

crumb n. 1 a small fragment of bread, cake, or cracker.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a very small amount of something: the budget provided few crumbs of comfort.

- the soft inner part of a loaf of bread.

- a dessert topping made of brown sugar, butter, flour, and spices and crumbled over a pie or cake: [as adj.] apple crumb pie.

- (usu. crumb rubber) granulated rubber, made from recycled tires.

2 INFORMAL an objectionable or contemptible person: he's an absolute crumb.

■ v. [trans.] cover (food) with breadcrumbs: [as adj.] (crumbed) crispy crumbed mushrooms with garlic dip.

<PHRASES> crumbs from someone's (or a rich man's) table an unfair and inadequate or unsatisfactory share of something.

<ORIGIN> Old English cruma, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kruim and German Krume. The final -b was added in the 16th cent., perhaps from CRUMBLE but also influenced by words such as dumb, where the original final -b is retained although no longer pronounced.

Linked entries:

CRUMBLE ■

crum·ble v. [intrans.] break or fall apart into small fragments, esp. over a period of time as part of a process of deterioration: the plaster started to crumble | [as adj.] (crumbling) their crumbling ancestral home.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause (something) to break apart into small fragments: the easiest way to crumble blue cheese.

- (of an organization, relationship, or structure) disintegrate gradually over a period of time: the party's fragile unity began to crumble.

■ n. BRIT. a mixture of flour and butter that is rubbed to the texture of breadcrumbs and cooked as a topping for fruit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a dessert made with such a topping and a particular fruit: rhubarb crumble.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: probably from an Old English word related to CRUMB.

Linked entries:

CRUMB ■

crum·bly adj. (-blier, -bli·est) consisting of or easily breaking into small fragments: the cheese is crumbly and moist.

<DERIVATIVES> crum·bli·ness n.

crumb struc·ture n. the porous structure or condition of soil when its particles are moderately aggregated.

crumb·y adj. (crumb·i·er, crumb·i·est) 1 like or covered in crumbs.

2 variant spelling of CRUMMY.

Linked entries:

CRUMMY ■

crum·horn n. variant spelling of KRUMMHORN.

Linked entries:

KRUMMHORN ■

crum·my (also crumb·y) INFORMAL adj. (-mi·er, -mi·est) dirty, unpleasant, or of poor quality: a crummy little room.
<SPECIAL USAGE> unwell; ill: I'm feeling crummy and want to get better.

■ n. an old or converted truck used to transport loggers to and from work.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for CABOOSE (sense 1) .

<DERIVATIVES> crum·mi·ly adv. crum·mi·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (earlier in the literal senses 'crumbly' and 'like or covered with crumbs'): variant of CRUMBY.

Linked entries:

CABOOSE ■

CRUMBY ■

crump n. a loud thudding sound, esp. one made by an exploding bomb or shell.

■ v. [intrans.] make such a sound.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: imitative. The original sense (as a verb) was 'munch, crunch', later 'hit hard' (used initially as a term in the game of cricket), hence the military sense 'bombard' (World War I).

crum·pet n. a thick, flat, savory cake with a soft, porous texture, made from a yeast mixture cooked on a griddle and eaten toasted and buttered.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

crum·ple v. [trans.] crush (something, typically paper or cloth) so that it becomes creased and wrinkled: he crumpled up the paper bag | [as adj.] (crumpled) a crumpled sheet.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] become bent, crooked, or creased: they heard the jetliner crumple moments before it crashed.

- [intrans.] (of a person) suddenly flop down to the ground so that their body appears bent or broken: she crumpled to the floor in a dead faint.

- [intrans.] (of a person's face) suddenly sag and show an expression of desolation: the child's face crumpled and he began to howl.

- [intrans.] suddenly lose force or effectiveness: her composure crumpled.

■ n. a crushed fold, crease, or wrinkle.

<DERIVATIVES> crum·ply adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from obsolete crump 'make or become curved', from Old English crump 'bent, crooked'; related to German krumm.

crum·ple zone n. a part of a motor vehicle, esp. the extreme front and rear, designed to crumple easily in a crash and absorb the main force of an impact.

crunch v. 1 [trans.] crush (a hard or brittle foodstuff) with the teeth, making a loud but muffled grinding sound: she paused to crunch a ginger snap.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] make such a sound, esp. when walking or driving over gravel or an icy surface.

- strike or crush noisily: two cab drivers who had just crunched fenders.

2 process large amounts of information or perform operations of great complexity, esp. by computer: computers crunch data from real-world observations.

■ n. 1 [usu. in sing.] a loud muffled grinding sound made when crushing, moving over, or hitting something: Marco's fist struck Brian's nose with a crunch.

2 (the crunch) INFORMAL a crucial point or situation, typically one at which a decision with important consequences must be made: when it comes to the crunch, you chicken out.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a severe shortage of money or credit: the Fed would do what it could to ease America's credit crunch.

3 a physical exercise designed to strengthen the abdominal muscles; a sit-up.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (as a verb): variant of 17th-cent. cranch (probably imitative), by association with CRUSH and MUNCH.

Linked entries:

CRUSH ■

MUNCH ■

crunch·er n. INFORMAL 1 a critical or vital point; a crucial or difficult question.

2 a computer, system, or person able to perform operations of great complexity or to process large amounts of information: a global information cruncher. See also NUMBER CRUNCHER.

Linked entries:

NUMBER CRUNCHER ■

crunch·y adj. (crunch·i·er, crunch·i·est) 1 making a sharp noise when bitten or crushed and (of food) pleasantly crisp: bake until the topping is crunchy.

2 INFORMAL politically and environmentally liberal: a song that incorporates whale-singing seems pretty crunchy.

<DERIVATIVES> crunch·i·ly adv. crunch·i·ness n.

crunk n. a type of hip-hop or rap music characterized by repeated shouted catchphrases and elements typical of electronic dance music, such as prominent bass.

■ adj. CHIEFLY BLACK SLANG (of a person) very excited or full of energy: get crunk with some raw hip hop.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: perhaps an altered past participle of CRANK^1 or a blend of CRAZY and DRUNK.

crup·per n. a strap buckled to the back of a saddle and looped under the horse's tail to prevent the saddle or harness from slipping forward.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cropiere, related to croupe (see CROUP^2 ). Compare with CROUPIER.

Linked entries:

CROUP ■

CROUPIER ■

cru·ra plural form of CRUS.

Linked entries:

CRUS ■

cru·ra ce·re·bri plural form of CRUS CEREBRI.

Linked entries:

CRUS CEREBRI ■

cru·ral adj. [ANATOMY] & [ZOOLOGY] of or relating to the leg or the thigh.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to any part called “crus,” for example, the crura cerebri.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin cruralis, from crus, crur- 'leg'.

crus n. (pl. cru·ra ) [ANATOMY] an elongated part of an anatomical structure, esp. one that occurs in the body as a pair. See CRUS CEREBRI.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: Latin, literally 'leg'.

Linked entries:

CRUS CEREBRI ■

cru·sade n. (often Cru·sade) a medieval military expedition, one of a series made by Europeans to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a war instigated by the Church for alleged religious ends.

- an organized campaign concerning a political, social, or religious issue, typically motivated by a fervent desire for change: a crusade against crime.

■ v. [intrans.] lead or take part in an energetic and organized campaign concerning a social, political, or religious issue: he crusaded against gambling in the 1950s.

<DERIVATIVES> cru·sad·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (originally as croisade): from French croisade, an alteration (influenced by Spanish cruzado) of earlier croisée, literally 'the state of being marked with the cross', based on Latin crux, cruc- 'cross'; in the 17th cent. the form crusado, from Spanish cruzado, was introduced; the blending of these two forms led to the current spelling, first recorded in the early 18th cent.

crus ce·re·bri n. (pl. cru·ra ce·re·bri ) [ANATOMY] either of two symmetrical tracts of nerve fibers at the base of the midbrain, linking the pons and the cerebral hemispheres.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Latin, literally 'leg of the brain'.

cruse n. ARCHAIC an earthenware pot or jar.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kroes and German Krause; reinforced in Middle English by Low German .

crush v. [trans.] press or squeeze (someone or something) with force or violence, typically causing serious damage or injury: he was crushed to death by a subway train | [as adj.] (crushed) the crushed remains of a Ford Bronco.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- reduce (something) to a powder or pulp by exerting strong pressure on it: you can crush a pill between two spoons.

- crease or crumple (cloth or paper): [as adj.] (crushed) crushed trousers and a crumpled jacket.

- (of a government or state) violently subdue (opposition or a rebellion): the government had taken elaborate precautions to crush any resistance.

- bring about a feeling of overwhelming disappointment or embarrassment in (someone): his defeat crushed a lot of left-wing supporters | [as adj.] (crushing) the news came as a crushing blow.

■ n. 1 [usu. in sing.] a crowd of people pressed closely together, esp. in an enclosed space: a number of youngsters fainted in the crush.

2 INFORMAL a brief but intense infatuation for someone, esp. someone unattainable or inappropriate: she did have a crush on Dr. Russell.

3 a drink made from the juice of pressed fruit: lemon crush.

<DERIVATIVES> crush·a·ble adj. crush·er n. crush·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cruissir 'gnash (teeth) or crack', of unknown origin.

crushed vel·vet n. velvet that has its nap pointing in different directions in irregular patches.

crush space n. 1 space in a motor vehicle between occupants and a point of impact that can absorb some of the shock of collision.

2 space in the common area of a performance venue that can accommodate the largest crowd expected.

crush zone n. another term for CRUMPLE ZONE.

Linked entries:

CRUMPLE ZONE ■

crust n. the tough outer part of a loaf of bread: a sandwich with the crusts cut off | I tore off several pieces of crust from the loaf.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a hard, dry scrap of bread: a kindly old woman might give her a crust.

- a slice of bread from the end of the loaf.

- a layer of pastry covering a pie.

- a hardened layer, coating, or deposit on the surface of something, esp. something soft: a crust of snow.

- the outermost layer of rock of which a planet consists, esp. the part of the earth above the mantle: the earth's crust | at the midocean ridge new crust is formed.

- a deposit of tartrates and other substances formed in wine aged in the bottle, esp. port.

■ v. [intrans.] form into a hard outer layer: the blisters eventually crust over.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] cover with a hard outer layer: the burns crusted his cheek.

<DERIVATIVES> crus·tal adj. (in the geological sense of the noun).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French crouste, from Latin crusta 'rind, shell, crust'.

Crus·ta·cea [ZOOLOGY] a large group of mainly aquatic arthropods that include crabs, lobsters, shrimps, wood lice, barnacles, and many minute forms. They are very diverse, but most have four or more pairs of limbs and several other appendages.
<INFO>  Crustacea

<SPECIAL USAGE> [as plural n.] (crustacea) arthropods of this group.

<DERIVATIVES> crus·ta·cean n. & adj. crus·ta·ceous adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from crusta (see CRUST).

Linked entries:

CRUST ■

crust·ed adj. 1 having or forming a hard top layer or covering: she washed away the crusted blood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> denoting a style of unfiltered, blended port that deposits a sediment in the bottle.

2 old-fashioned; venerable: a crusted establishment figure.

crus·tose adj. [BOTANY] (of a lichen or alga) forming or resembling a crust.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin crustosus, from crusta (see CRUST).

Linked entries:

CRUST ■

crust·y adj. (crust·i·er, crust·i·est) 1 having a crisp or hard outer layer or covering: crusty bread.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a substance) acting as a hard outer layer or covering: Lake Manyara was ringed by crusty salt deposits.

2 (esp. of an old person) outspoken and irritable: a crusty old grandfather.

<DERIVATIVES> crust·i·ly adv. crust·i·ness n.

crutch n. 1 a long stick with a crosspiece at the top, used as a support under the armpit by a lame person.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] FIGURATIVE a thing used for support or reassurance: they use the Internet as a crutch for their loneliness.

2 ARCHAIC another term for CROTCH (of the body or a garment).

■ v. [intrans.] move by means of or as if by means of crutches: I was crutching down a long corridor.

<ORIGIN> Old English crycc, cryc, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kruk and German Krücke.

Linked entries:

CROTCH ■

Crux [ASTRONOMY] another term for the SOUTHERN CROSS.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Cru·cis ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Beta Crucis.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

Linked entries:

SOUTHERN CROSS ■

crux n. (pl. crux·es or cru·ces ) (the crux) the decisive or most important point at issue: the crux of the matter is that attitudes have changed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a particular point of difficulty: both cruces can be resolved by a consideration of the manuscripts.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (denoting a representation of a cross, chiefly in crux ansata 'ankh', literally 'cross with a handle'): from Latin, literally 'cross'.

cru·za·do n. (pl. -dos) the basic monetary unit of Brazil from 1988 to 1990, equal to 100 centavos.

<ORIGIN> from Portuguese cruzado, crusado 'marked with the cross'.

cru·zei·ro n. (pl. -ros) the basic monetary unit of Brazil from 1990 to 1993, equal to 100 centavos.

<ORIGIN> Portuguese, literally 'large cross'.

cry v. (cries, cried) [intrans.] shed tears, esp. as an expression of distress or pain: don't cryit'll be all right | [trans.] you'll cry tears of joy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- shout or scream, esp. to express one's fear, pain, or grief: the little girl fell down and cried for her mommy.

- say something in an excited or anguished tone of voice: “Where will it end?” he cried out.

- (cry out for) FIGURATIVE demand as a self-evident requirement or solution: the present system cries out for reform.

- (of a bird or other animal) make a loud characteristic call: the wild birds cried out over the water.

- [trans.] (of a hawker) proclaim (wares) for sale in the street.

■ n. (pl. cries) a spell of weeping: I still have a cry, sometimes, when I realize that my mother is dead.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a loud inarticulate shout or scream expressing a powerful feeling or emotion: a cry of despair.

- a distinctive call of a bird or other animal.

- a loud excited utterance of a word or words: there was a cry of “Silence!”

- the call of a hawker selling wares on the street.

- an urgent appeal or entreaty: fund-raisers have issued a cry for help.

- a demand or opinion expressed by many people: peace became the popular cry.

<PHRASES>
□ cry one's eyes (or heart) out weep bitterly and at length.

□ cry for the moon ask for what is unattainable or impossible.

□ cry foul protest strongly about a real or imagined wrong or injustice.

□ cry from the heart a passionate and honest appeal or protest.

□ cry wolf see WOLF.

□ for crying out loud INFORMAL used to express one's irritation or impatience: why do you have to take everything so personally, for crying out loud?

□ in full cry used to describe hounds baying in keen pursuit.

□ it's no use crying over spilt (or spilled) milk see MILK.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  cry someone/something down DATED disparage or belittle someone or something.

□  cry off INFORMAL go back on a promise or fail to keep to an arrangement: we were going to Spain together and he cried off at the last moment.

□  cry someone/something up DATED praise or extol someone or something.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'ask for earnestly or loudly'): from Old French crier (verb), cri (noun), from Latin quiritare 'raise a public outcry', literally 'call on the Quirites (Roman citizens) for help'.

Linked entries:

WOLF ■

MILK ■

cry·ba·by n. (pl. -bies) a person, esp. a child, who sheds tears frequently or readily.

cry·er n. archaic spelling of CRIER.

Linked entries:

CRIER ■

cry·ing adj. very great: it would be a crying shame to let some other woman have it.

cryo- comb. form involving or producing cold, esp. extreme cold: cryostat; cryosurgery.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kruos 'frost'.

cry·o·bi·ol·o·gy n. the branch of biology that deals with the properties of organisms and tissues at low temperatures.

<DERIVATIVES> cry·o·bi·o·log·i·cal adj. cry·o·bi·ol·o·gist n.

cry·o·gen n. a substance used to produce very low temperatures.

cry·o·gen·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the branch of physics dealing with the production and effects of very low temperatures.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for CRYONICS.

<DERIVATIVES> cry·o·gen·ic adj. cry·o·gen·i·cal·ly adv.

Linked entries:

CRYONICS ■

cry·og·e·ny n. another term for CRYOGENICS.

Linked entries:

CRYOGENICS ■

cry·o·glob·u·lin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a protein that occurs in the blood in certain disorders. It can be precipitated out of solution below 10°C, causing obstruction in the fingers and toes.

cry·o·lite n. a white or colorless mineral consisting of a fluoride of sodium and aluminum. It is added to bauxite as a flux in aluminum smelting.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from CRYO- 'cold, frost' (because the main deposits are found in Greenland) + -LITE.

Linked entries:

CRYO- ■

-LITE ■

cry·om·e·ter n. a thermometer for measuring very low temperatures.

cry·on·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the practice or technique of deep-freezing the bodies of those who have died of an incurable disease, in the hope of a future cure.

<DERIVATIVES> cry·on·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: contraction of CRYOGENICS.

Linked entries:

CRYOGENICS ■

cry·o·pre·cip·i·tate n. [CHIEFLY BIOCHEMISTRY] a substance precipitated from a solution, esp. from the blood, at low temperatures.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MEDICINE] an extract rich in a blood-clotting factor obtained as a residue when frozen blood plasma is thawed.

cry·o·pre·serve v. [trans.] [BIOLOGY] & [MEDICINE] preserve (cells or tissues) by cooling them below the freezing point of water.

<DERIVATIVES> cry·o·pres·er·va·tion n.

cry·o·pro·tect·ant n. [PHYSIOLOGY] a substance that prevents the freezing of tissues, or prevents damage to cells during freezing.

cry·o·scope n. an instrument used to determine the freezing point of a liquid or a solution.

cry·o·stat n. an apparatus for maintaining a very low temperature.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an apparatus for taking very fine slices of tissue while it is kept very cold.

cry·o·sur·ger·y n. surgery using the local application of intense cold to destroy unwanted tissue.

cry·o·ther·a·py n. the use of extreme cold in surgery or other medical treatment.

crypt n. 1 an underground room or vault beneath a church, used as a chapel or burial place.

2 [ANATOMY] a small tubular gland, pit, or recess.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'cavern'): from Latin crypta, from Greek 'a vault', from kruptos 'hidden'.

crypt·a·nal·y·sis n. the art or process of deciphering coded messages without being told the key.

<DERIVATIVES> crypt·an·a·lyst n. crypt·an·a·lyt·ic adj. crypt·an·a·lyt·i·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from CRYPTO- + ANALYSIS.

Linked entries:

CRYPTO- ■

ANALYSIS ■

cryp·tic adj. 1 having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure: he found his boss's utterances too cryptic.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a crossword) having difficult clues that indicate the solutions indirectly.

2 [ZOOLOGY] (of coloration or markings) serving to camouflage an animal in its natural environment.

<DERIVATIVES> cryp·ti·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from late Latin crypticus, from Greek kruptikos, from kruptos 'hidden'. Sense 2 dates from the late 19th cent.

cryp·to n. 1 short for CRYPTOGRAPHY.

2 (pl. -tos) INFORMAL a person having a secret allegiance to a political creed, esp. communism.

Linked entries:

CRYPTOGRAPHY ■

crypto- comb. form concealed; secret: cryptogram.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kruptos 'hidden'.

cryp·to·bi·ont n. [BIOLOGY] an organism capable of cryptobiosis.

cryp·to·bi·o·sis n. [BIOLOGY] a physiological state in which metabolic activity is reduced to an undetectable level without disappearing altogether. It is known in certain plant and animal groups adapted to survive periods of extremely dry conditions.

cryp·to·bi·ot·ic adj. [BIOLOGY] 1 of, relating to, or capable of cryptobiosis.

2 of or denoting primitive organisms of the kind presumed to have existed in earlier geological periods but to have left no trace of their existence.

cryp·to·clas·tic adj. [GEOLOGY] composed of microscopic fragments.

cryp·to·coc·co·sis n. [MEDICINE] infestation with a yeastlike fungus, resulting in tumors in the lungs and sometimes spreading to the brain.
<INFO>  The fungus is Cryptococcus neoformans, phylum Basidiomycota, class Basidiomycetes).

<DERIVATIVES> cryp·to·coc·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from modern Latin Cryptococcus (part of the binomial of the fungus) + -OSIS.

Linked entries:

-OSIS ■

cryp·to·crys·tal·line adj. having a crystalline structure visible only when magnified.

cryp·to·gam n. DATED [BOTANY] a plant that has no true flowers or seeds, including ferns, mosses, liverworts, lichens, algae, and fungi.

<DERIVATIVES> cryptogamous adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French cryptogame, from modern Latin cryptogamae (plantae), denoting nonflowering plants, from Greek kruptos 'hidden' + gamos 'marriage' (because the means of reproduction was not apparent).

cryp·to·gam·ic adj. [BOTANY] of, relating to, or denoting cryptogams.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ECOLOGY] (of a desert soil or surface crust) covered with or consisting of a fragile black layer of cyanobacteria, mosses, and lichens, which is often important in preventing erosion.

cryp·to·gen·ic adj. (of a disease) of obscure or uncertain origin.

cryp·to·gram n. 1 a text written in code.

2 a symbol or figure with secret or occult significance.

cryp·tog·ra·phy n. the art of writing or solving codes.

<DERIVATIVES> cryp·tog·ra·pher n. cryp·to·graph·ic adj. cryp·to·graph·i·cal·ly adv.

cryp·tol·o·gy n. the study of codes, or the art of writing and solving them.

<DERIVATIVES> cryp·to·log·i·cal adj. cryp·tol·o·gist n.

cryp·to·me·ri·a n. a tall, conical, coniferous tree with long, curved, spirally arranged leaves and short cones. Native to China and Japan, it is grown for timber in Japan. Also called JAPANESE CEDAR.
<INFO>  Cryptomeria japonica, family Taxodiaceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from CRYPTO- 'hidden' + Greek meros 'part' (because the seeds are concealed by scales).

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JAPANESE CEDAR ■

CRYPTO- ■

cryp·to·nym n. a code name.

<DERIVATIVES> cryp·ton·y·mous adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CRYPTO- 'hidden' + Greek onuma 'name'.

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CRYPTO- ■

cryp·tor·chid n. [MEDICINE] a person suffering from cryptorchidism.

cryp·tor·chi·dism n. [MEDICINE] a condition in which one or both of the testes fail to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CRYPTO- 'hidden' + Greek orkhis, orkhid- 'testicle' + -ISM.

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CRYPTO- ■

-ISM ■

cryp·to·spor·i·di·um n. a parasitic coccidian protozoan found in the intestinal tract of many vertebrates, where it sometimes causes disease.
<INFO>  Genus Cryptosporidium, phylum Sporozoa.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from CRYPTO- 'concealed' + modern Latin sporidium 'small spore'.

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CRYPTO- ■

Cryp·to·zo·ic adj. [GEOLOGY] of, relating to, or denoting the period (the Precambrian) in which rocks contain no, or only slight, traces of living organisms. Compare with PHANEROZOIC.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Greek kruptos 'hidden' + 'life' + -IC.

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PHANEROZOIC ■

-IC ■

cryp·to·zo·ic adj. [ECOLOGY] (of small invertebrates) living on the ground but hidden in the leaf litter, under stones or pieces of wood.

<DERIVATIVES> cryp·to·zo·a plural n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek kruptos 'hidden' + 'life' + -IC.

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-IC ■

cryp·to·zo·ol·o·gy n. the search for and study of animals whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the Loch Ness monster and the yeti.

<DERIVATIVES> cryp·to·zo·o·log·i·cal adj. cryp·to·zo·ol·o·gist n.

crys·tal n. 1 a piece of a homogeneous solid substance having a natural geometrically regular form with symmetrically arranged plane faces.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [CHEMISTRY] any solid consisting of a symmetrical, ordered, three-dimensional aggregation of atoms or molecules.

- [ELECTRONICS] a crystalline piece of semiconductor used as an oscillator or transducer.

- a clear transparent mineral, esp. quartz.

- a piece of crystalline substance believed to have healing powers.

- INFORMAL short for CRYSTAL METH (methamphetamine).

2 (also crystal glass) highly transparent glass with a high refractive index: [as adj.] a crystal chandelier.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- articles made of such glass: a collection of crystal.

- the glass over a watch face.

■ adj. clear and transparent like crystal: the clean crystal waters of the lake.

<PHRASES> crystal clear completely transparent and unclouded.
- unambiguous; easily understood: the house rules are crystal clear.

<ORIGIN> late Old English (denoting ice or a mineral resembling it), from Old French cristal, from Latin crystallum, from Greek krustallos 'ice, crystal'. The chemistry sense dates from the early 17th cent.

Linked entries:

CRYSTAL METH ■

crys·tal ax·is n. each of three axes used to define the edges of the unit cell of a crystal.

crys·tal ball n. a solid globe of glass or rock crystal, used by fortune-tellers and clairvoyants for crystal-gazing.

crys·tal form n. a set of crystal faces defined according to their relationship to the crystal axes.

crys·tal-gaz·ing n. looking intently into a crystal ball with the aim of seeing images relating to future or distant events.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE attempting to forecast the future.

crys·tal heal·ing (also crystal therapy) n. the use of the healing powers of crystals in alternative medicine.

crys·tal lat·tice n. the symmetrical three-dimensional arrangement of atoms inside a crystal.

crys·tal·lif·er·ous (also crys·tal·lig·er·ous ) adj. bearing, containing, or producing crystals.

crys·tal·lin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a protein of the globulin class present in the lens of the eye.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin crystallum 'crystal' + -IN^1 .

Linked entries:

-IN ■

crys·tal·line adj. having the structure and form of a crystal; composed of crystals: a crystalline rock.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY very clear: he writes a crystalline prose.

<DERIVATIVES> crys·tal·lin·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cristallin, via Latin from Greek krustallinos, from krustallos (see CRYSTAL).

Linked entries:

CRYSTAL ■

crys·tal·line lens n. the transparent elastic structure behind the iris by which light is focused onto the retina of the eye.

crys·tal·line sphere n. HISTORICAL (in ancient and medieval astronomy) a transparent sphere of the heavens postulated to lie between the fixed stars and the primum mobile and to account for the precession of the equinox and other motions.

crys·tal·lite n. an individual perfect crystal or region of regular crystalline structure in the substance of a material, typically of a metal or a partly crystalline polymer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a very small crystal.

crys·tal·lize v. form or cause to form crystals: [intrans.] when most liquids freeze they crystallize.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE [intrans.] make or become definite and clear: vague feelings of unrest crystallized into something more concrete | [trans.] writing can help to crystallize your thoughts.

- [usu. as adj.] (crystallized) coat and impregnate (fruit or petals) with sugar as a means of preserving them: a box of crystallized fruits.

<DERIVATIVES> crys·tal·liz·a·ble adj. crys·tal·li·za·tion n.

crys·tal·log·ra·phy n. the branch of science concerned with the structure and properties of crystals.

<DERIVATIVES> crys·tal·log·ra·pher n. crys·tal·lo·graph·ic adj. crys·tal·lo·graph·i·cal·ly adv.

crys·tal·loid adj. resembling a crystal in shape or structure.

■ n. 1 [BOTANY] a small, crystallike mass of protein in a plant cell.

2 [CHEMISTRY] a substance that, when dissolved, forms a true solution rather than a colloid and is able to pass through a semipermeable membrane.

crys·tal meth n. see METH (sense 1).

Linked entries:

METH ■

Crys·tal Pal·ace a large building of prefabricated iron and glass resembling a giant greenhouse, designed by Joseph Paxton for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park, London, and reerected at Sydenham near Croydon; it was accidentally burned down in 1936.

crys·tal set (also crystal radio) n. a simple early form of radio receiver with a crystal touching a metal wire as the rectifier (instead of a tube or transistor), and no amplifier or loudspeaker, necessitating headphones or an earphone.

crys·tal sys·tem n. each of seven categories of crystals (cubic, tetragonal, orthorhombic, trigonal, hexagonal, monoclinic, and triclinic) classified according to the possible relations of the crystal axes.

crys·tal ther·a·py n. another term for CRYSTAL HEALING.

Linked entries:

CRYSTAL HEALING ■

crys·tal vi·o·let n. a synthetic violet dye, related to rosaniline, used as a stain in microscopy and as an antiseptic in the treatment of skin infections.

Cs symbol the chemical element cesium.

c/s abbr. cycles per second.

CSA abbr. Confederate States of America.

csar·das (also czar·das) n. (pl. same) a Hungarian dance with a slow introduction and a fast, wild finish.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Hungarian csárdás, from csárda 'inn'.

CSC abbr. Civil Service Commission.

CSF abbr. cerebrospinal fluid.

CS gas n. a powerful form of tear gas used particularly in the control of riots.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from the initials of Ben B. Corson (born 1896) and Roger W. Stoughton (1906-57), the American chemists who discovered the properties of the chemical in 1928.

CSM abbr.
- command and service modules (see COMMAND MODULE).

- command sergeant major.

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COMMAND MODULE ■

CST abbr. Central Standard Time (see CENTRAL TIME).

Linked entries:

CENTRAL TIME ■

CT abbr.
- computerized (or computed) tomography.

- Connecticut (in official postal use).

ct. abbr.
- carat: 18 ct. gold.

- cent.

- county.

- court.

cte·nid·i·um n. (pl. -nid·i·a ) [ZOOLOGY] a comblike structure, esp. a respiratory organ or gill in a mollusk, consisting of an axis with a row of projecting filaments.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.; modern Latin, from Greek ktenidion, diminutive of kteis, kten- 'comb'.

cte·noid adj. [ZOOLOGY] (of fish scales) having many tiny projections on the edge like the teeth of a comb, as in many bony fishes. Compare with GANOID and PLACOID.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek kteis, kten- 'comb' + -OID.

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GANOID ■

PLACOID ■

-OID ■

Cte·noph·o·ra [ZOOLOGY] a small phylum of aquatic invertebrates that comprises the comb jellies.

<DERIVATIVES> cten·o·phore n.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek kteis, kten- 'comb' + pherein 'to bear'.

ctn. abbr.
- carton.

- [MATHEMATICS] cotangent.

C2C abbr. consumer-to-consumer, denoting transactions conducted via the Internet between consumers.

CTS abbr. carpal tunnel syndrome.

CT scan n. another term for CAT SCAN.

<DERIVATIVES> CT scan·ner n.

Linked entries:

CAT SCAN ■

CTT abbr. capital transfer tax.

Cu symbol the chemical element copper.

<ORIGIN> from late Latin cuprum.

cu. abbr. cubic (in units of measurement: for example, cu. ft. = cubic feet).

cua·dril·la n. a matador's team of assistants, including picadors and banderilleros.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Spanish.

cua·tro n. (pl. -tros) a small guitar, typically with four (or five) single or paired strings, used in Latin American and Caribbean folk music, esp. in Puerto Rico.

<ORIGIN> Latin American Spanish, literally 'four'.

cub n. the young of a fox, bear, lion, or other carnivorous mammal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC a young man, esp. one who is awkward or ill-mannered.

■ v. (cubbed, cub·bing) [intrans.] give birth to cubs: both share the same earth during the first ten days after cubbing.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

Cu·ba a country in the western West Indies, the largest and furthest west of the islands, in the Caribbean Sea at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico; pop. 11,308,000; capital, Havana; official language, Spanish.

A Spanish colony, Cuba became nominally independent after the Spanish-American War of 1898 and achieved full autonomy in 1934. Since a communist revolution in 1959, it has been under the presidency of Fidel Castro. The country has suffered under a U.S. trade embargo and, since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Eastern bloc, has lost much of its trade.

<DERIVATIVES> Cu·ban adj. & n.

cub·age n. cubic content or capacity.

Cu·ba li·bre n. (pl. Cu·ba li·bres) a cocktail typically containing cola, lime juice, rum, and a garnish of lime.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: American Spanish, literally 'free Cuba'.

Cu·ban·go another name for OKAVANGO.

Linked entries:

OKAVANGO ■

Cu·ban heel n. a moderately high, straight-sided heel on a shoe or boot.

Cu·ban Mis·sile Cri·sis an international crisis in October 1962, the closest approach to nuclear war at any time between the U.S. and the USSR. When the U.S. discovered Soviet nuclear missiles on Cuba, President John F. Kennedy demanded their removal and announced a naval blockade of the island; the Soviet leader Khrushchev acceded to the U.S. demands a week later.

Cu·ban sand·wich n. a type of submarine sandwich, typically grilled, esp. with ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles.

cu·ba·ture n. the determination of the volume of a solid.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from the verb CUBE, on the pattern of quadrature.

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CUBE ■

cub·by n. (pl. -bies) a cubbyhole.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (originally Scots, denoting a straw basket): related to dialect cub 'stall, pen, hutch', of Low German origin.

cub·by·hole n. a small, enclosed compartment or room.

cube n. a symmetrical three-dimensional shape, either solid or hollow, contained by six equal squares.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- short for CUBICLE.

- a block of something with six sides: a sugar cube.

- [MATHEMATICS] the product of a number multiplied by its square, represented by a superscript figure 3: a body increasing in weight by the cube of its length.

■ v. [trans.] 1 [MATHEMATICS] raise (a number or value) to its cube.

2 cut (food) into small cubes: I bought sirloin from the butcher and cubed it myself.

3 tenderize (meat) by scoring a pattern of small squares into its surface: [as adj.] (cubed) cubed steaks.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Old French, or via Latin from Greek kubos.

cu·beb n. a tropical shrub of the pepper family that bears pungent berries.
<INFO>  Genus Piper, family Piperaceae: several species, including the Asian P. cubeba.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the dried unripe berries of this shrub, used medicinally and to flavor cigarettes.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cubebe, from Spanish Arabic , from Arabic .

cube farm n. a large open-plan office divided into cubicles for individual workers.

cube root n. the number that produces a given number when cubed.

cu·bic adj. having the shape of a cube: a cubic room.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- denoting a unit of measurement equal to the volume of a cube whose side is one of the linear unit specified: 15 billion cubic meters of water.

- measured or expressed in such units.

- involving the cube (and no higher power) of a quantity or variable: a cubic equation.

- of or denoting a crystal system or three-dimensional geometric arrangement having three equal axes at right angles.

■ n. [MATHEMATICS] a cubic equation, or a curve described by one.

<DERIVATIVES> cu·bi·cal adj. cu·bi·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the sense 'involving the cube (and no higher power)'): from Old French cubique, or via Latin from Greek kubikos, from kubos 'cube'.

cu·bic ca·pac·i·ty n. the volume contained by a hollow structure, expressed in liters, cubic centimeters, or other cubic units.

cu·bic con·tent n. the volume of a solid, often expressed in cubic meters.

cu·bi·cle n. a small partitioned-off area of a room, for example one containing a bed in a dwelling or one containing a desk in an office: each cubicle is equipped with a PC and printer, and there are two fax machines in the east alcove.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'bedroom'): from Latin cubiculum, from cubare 'lie down'.

cu·bic zir·co·ni·a n. a colorless form of zirconia that is very similar to diamond in refractivity and appearance.

cu·bi·form adj. TECHNICAL cube-shaped: the columns are thick and have cubiform capitals.

cub·ism n. an early 20th-century style and movement in art, esp. painting, in which perspective with a single viewpoint was abandoned and use was made of simple geometric shapes, interlocking planes, and, later, collage.

Cubism was a reaction against traditional modes of representation and Impressionist concerns with light and color. The style, created by Picasso and Braque and first named by the French critic Louis Vauxcelles in 1908, was inspired by the later work of Cézanne and by African sculpture.

<DERIVATIVES> cub·ist n. & adj. cub·is·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French cubisme, from cube (see CUBE).

Linked entries:

CUBE ■

cu·bit n. an ancient measure of length, approximately equal to the length of a forearm. It was typically about 18 inches or 44 cm, though there was a long cubit of about 21 inches or 52 cm.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin cubitum 'elbow, forearm, cubit'.

cu·bi·tal adj. 1 [ANATOMY] of the forearm or the elbow: the cubital vein.

2 [ENTOMOLOGY] of the cubitus.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin cubitalis, from cubitus 'cubit'.

cu·bi·tus n. [ENTOMOLOGY] the fifth longitudinal vein from the anterior edge of an insect's wing.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin.

cu·boid adj. more or less cubic in shape: the school was a hideous cuboid erection of brick and glass.

■ n. 1 [GEOMETRY] a solid that has six rectangular faces at right angles to each other.

2 (also cuboid bone) [ANATOMY] a squat tarsal bone on the outer side of the foot, articulating with the heel bone and the fourth and fifth metatarsals.

<DERIVATIVES> cu·boi·dal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from modern Latin cuboides, from Greek , from kubos (see CUBE).

Linked entries:

CUBE ■

cub re·port·er n. INFORMAL a young or inexperienced newspaper reporter.

Cub Scout n. a member of the junior branch of the Boy Scouts, for boys aged about 8 to 10.

cuck·ing stool n. HISTORICAL a chair to which a disorderly person was tied and then ducked into water or subjected to public ridicule as a punishment.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from obsolete cuck 'defecate', of Scandinavian origin; so named because a stool containing a chamber pot was often used for the purpose.

cuck·old n. ARCHAIC the husband of an adulteress, often regarded as an object of derision.

■ v. [trans.] (of a man) make (another man) a cuckold by having a sexual relationship with his wife.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a man's wife) make (her husband) a cuckold.

<DERIVATIVES> cuck·old·ry n.

<ORIGIN> late Old English, from Old French cucuault, from cucu 'cuckoo' (from the cuckoo's habit of laying its egg in another bird's nest). The equivalent words in French and other languages applied to both the bird and the adulterer; cuckold has never been applied to the bird in English.

cuck·oo n. 1 a medium-sized long-tailed bird, typically with a gray or brown back and barred or pale underparts. Many cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of small songbirds.
<INFO>  Family Cuculidae (the cuckoo family): numerous genera and species, esp. the (Eurasian) cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), the male of which has a well-known two-note call. The cuckoo family also includes the coucals, roadrunners, and anis.

2 INFORMAL a crazy person.

■ adj. INFORMAL crazy: people think you're cuckoo.

<PHRASES> cuckoo in the nest an unwelcome intruder in a place or situation.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cucu, imitative of its call.

cuck·oo bee n. a bee that lays its eggs in the nest of another species of bee, the young being raised and fed by the host.
<INFO>  Nomada and related genera (which parasitize solitary bees), and Psithyrus (which parasitize bumblebees), family Apidae.

cuck·oo clock n. a clock that strikes the hour with a sound like a cuckoo's call and typically has a mechanical cuckoo that emerges with each note.

cuck·oo·flow·er n. a spring-flowering, herbaceous plant with pale lilac flowers, growing in damp meadows and by streams.
<INFO>  Cardamine pratensis, family Brassicaceae.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: so named because it flowers at the time of year when the cuckoo is first heard calling.

cuck·oo·pint n. the common European wild arum of woodland and hedgerows, with a pale spathe and a purple or green spadix followed by bright red berries. Also called LORDS-AND-LADIES or JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT.
<INFO>  Arum maculatum, family Araceae.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from earlier cuckoo-pintle, from PINTLE in the obsolete sense 'penis' (because of the shape of the spadix).

Linked entries:

LORDS-AND-LADIES ■

JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT ■

PINTLE ■

cuck·oo spit n. whitish froth found in compact masses on leaves and plant stems, exuded by the nymphs of froghoppers.

cuck·oo wasp n. a wasp that lays its eggs in the nest of a bee or another species of wasp, in particular:
<INFO>  a true wasp lacking a worker caste, whose larvae are fed by the social wasp host (several species in the family Vespidae, including Vespula austriaca).

cu·cum·ber n. 1 a long, green-skinned fruit with watery flesh, usually eaten raw in salads or pickled.

2 the climbing plant of the gourd family that yields this fruit, native to the Chinese Himalayan region. It is widely cultivated but very rare in the wild.
<INFO>  Cucumis sativus, family Cucurbitaceae.

<PHRASES> (as) cool as a cucumber untroubled by heat, stress, or exertion.
- calm and relaxed.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cocombre, coucombre, from Latin cucumis, cucumer-.

cu·cum·ber mo·sa·ic n. a viral disease affecting plants of the gourd family, spread by beetles and aphids and causing mottling and stunting.

cu·cur·bit n. a plant of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), which includes melon, pumpkin, squash, and cucumber.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a gourd-shaped vessel forming the lower part of an alembic.

<DERIVATIVES> cu·cur·bi·ta·ceous adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cucurbite, from Latin cucurbita.

Cú·cu·ta an industrial and commercial city in northern Colombia, near the Venezuelan border, in the Andes; pop. 450,000.

cud n. partly digested food returned from the first stomach of ruminants to the mouth for further chewing.

<PHRASES> chew the cud
1 (of a ruminant animal) further chew partly digested food.

2 think or talk reflectively.

<ORIGIN> Old English cwidu, cudu, of Germanic origin; related to German Kitt 'cement, putty' and Swedish kåda 'resin'.

cud·dle v. [trans.] hold close in one's arms as a way of showing love or affection: he cuddles the baby close; they were cuddling each other in the back seat. | [intrans.] the pair have been spotted kissing and cuddling.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] lie or sit close and snug: I love cuddling up in front of a fire; they cuddled together to keep out the cold.

■ n. a prolonged and affectionate hug.

<DERIVATIVES> cud·dle·some adj.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (rare before the 18th cent.): of unknown origin.

cud·dly adj. (-dli·er, -dli·est) attractive, endearing, and pleasant to cuddle, esp. as a result of being soft or plump: she was short and cuddly.

cud·dy 1 n. a small room or compartment on a boat.
- a small room or closet.

cud·dy 2 n. (pl. -dies) DIALECT, CHIEFLY SCOTTISH 1 a donkey.

2 a stupid person: you great soft cuddy!

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: perhaps a nickname for the given name Cuthbert, once popular in Scotland and northern England.

cudg·el n. a short thick stick used as a weapon.

■ v. (cudg·eled, cudg·el·ing; BRIT. cudg·el·led, cudg·el·ling) [trans.] beat with a cudgel.

<PHRASES>
□ cudgel one's brain (or brains) think hard about a problem.

□ take up the cudgels start to defend or support someone or something strongly: there was no one else to take up the cudgels on their behalf.

<ORIGIN> Old English cycgel, of unknown origin.

cue 1 n. a thing said or done that serves as a signal to an actor or other performer to enter or to begin their speech or performance.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a signal for action: any conversational lull was my cue for asking a question.

- a piece of information or circumstance that aids the memory in retrieving details not recalled spontaneously.

- [PSYCHOLOGY] a feature of something perceived that is used in the brain's interpretation of the perception: expectancy is communicated both by auditory and visual cues.

- a hint or indication about how to behave in particular circumstances: my teacher joked about such attitudes and I followed her cue.

- a facility for playing through an audio or video recording very rapidly until a desired starting point is reached.

■ v. (cues, cued, cue·ing or cu·ing) [trans.] give a cue to or for: curious pedestrians are cued by the arrival of stretch limousines.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- act as a prompt or reminder: have a list of needs and questions on paper to cue you.

- set a piece of audio or video equipment in readiness to play (a particular part of the recorded material): features make it easier to cue up a tape for editing.

<PHRASES>
□ on cue at the correct moment: right on cue the door opened.

□ take one's cue from follow the example or advice of: McGee did not move and Julia took her cue from him.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

cue 2 n. a long, straight, tapering wooden rod for striking the ball in pool, billiards, snooker, etc.

■ v. (cues, cued, cue·ing or cu·ing) [intrans.] use such a rod to strike the ball.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (denoting a long plait or pigtail): variant of QUEUE.

Linked entries:

QUEUE ■

cue ball n. the ball, usually a white one, that is to be struck with the cue in pool, billiards, snooker, etc.

cue bid n. [BRIDGE] a bid intended to give specific information about the content of the hand to the bidder's partner, for example, possession of a control in the opponents' suit.

cue·ca n. a lively South American dance.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: American Spanish, from zamacueca, also denoting a dance performed esp. in Chile.

cue card n. a card held beside a camera for a television broadcaster to read from while appearing to look into the camera.

cued speech n. a type of sign language that uses hand movements combined with mouth shapes to communicate to the hearing impaired.

Cuen·ca a city in the Andes in southern Ecuador; pop. 239,900. Founded in 1557, it is known as the “marble city” because of its many fine buildings.

Cuer·na·va·ca a resort town in central Mexico, at an altitude of 5,060 feet (1,542 m), capital of the state of Morelos; pop. 400,000.

cues·ta n. [GEOLOGY] a ridge with a gentle slope (dip) on one side and a steep slope (scarp) on the other.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (originally a U.S. term for a steep slope at the edge of a plain): from Spanish, 'slope', from Latin costa 'rib, flank'.

cuff 1 n. 1 the end part of a sleeve, where the material of the sleeve is turned back or a separate band is sewn on.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the part of a glove covering the wrist.

- the turned-up end of a trouser leg.

- the top part of a boot, typically padded or turned down.

- an inflatable bag wrapped around the arm when blood pressure is measured.

2 (cuffs) INFORMAL handcuffs.

■ v. [trans.] INFORMAL secure with handcuffs: the man's hands were cuffed behind his back.

<PHRASES> off the cuff INFORMAL without preparation: they posed some difficult questions to answer off the cuff | [as adj.] an off-the-cuff remark. <ORIGIN> as if from impromptu notes made on one's shirt cuffs.

<DERIVATIVES> cuffed adj. [in combination] a double-cuffed striped shirt.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a glove or mitten): of unknown origin.

cuff 2 v. [trans.] strike (someone) with an open hand, esp. on the head: he cuffed him playfully on the ear.

■ n. [usu. in sing.] a blow given with an open hand.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

cuff link n. (usu. cuff links) a device for fastening together the sides of a shirt cuff, often decorative.

Cu·fic n. & adj. variant spelling of KUFIC.

Linked entries:

KUFIC ■

Cu·ia·bá 1 a river port in west central Brazil, on the Cuiabá River; pop. 389,070.

2 a river in western Brazil that rises in the Mato Grosso plateau and flows for 300 miles (483 km) to join the São Lourenço River near the border with Bolivia.

cui bo·no? exclam. who stands, or stood, to gain (from a crime, and so might have been responsible for it)?

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: Latin, literally 'to whom (is it) a benefit?'

cui·rass n. 1 HISTORICAL a piece of armor consisting of breastplate and backplate fastened together.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a hard protective cover on an animal.

2 [MEDICINE] an artificial ventilator that encloses the body, leaving the limbs free, and forces air in and out of the lungs by changes in pressure.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cuirace, based on late Latin coriaceus (adjective), from corium 'leather' (of which a cuirass was originally made).

cui·ras·sier n. HISTORICAL a cavalry soldier wearing a cuirass.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: French, from cuirasse, from Old French cuirace (see CUIRASS).

Linked entries:

CUIRASS ■

cui·sine n. a style or method of cooking, esp. as characteristic of a particular country, region, or establishment: much Venetian cuisine is based on seafood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> food cooked in a certain way: we spent the evening sampling the local cuisine.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, literally 'kitchen'.

cuisse (also cuish ) n. (usu. cuisses or cuishes) HISTORICAL a piece of armor for the thigh.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally in the plural): from Old French cuisseaux, plural of cuissel, from late Latin coxale, from coxa 'hip'.

cuke n. informal term for CUCUMBER.

Linked entries:

CUCUMBER ■

Cul·bert·son Ely (1891-1955), U.S. bridge player. He revolutionized the game of contract bridge by formalizing a system of bidding.

culch n. variant spelling of CULTCH.

Linked entries:

CULTCH ■

Cul·dee n. an Irish or Scottish monk of the 8th to 12th centuries, living as a recluse usually in a group of thirteen (on the analogy of Jesus Christ and his Apostles). The tradition ceased as the Celtic Church was brought under Roman Catholic rule.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin culdeus, alteration, influenced by Latin cultores Dei 'worshipers of God', of kelledei (plural, found in early Scottish records), from Old Irish céle dé, literally 'companion of God'.

cul-de-sac n. (pl. cul-de-sacs or culs-de-sac ) a street or passage closed at one end.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE a route or course leading nowhere: the pro-democracy forces found themselves in a political cul-de-sac.

- [ANATOMY] a vessel, tube, or sac, e.g., the cecum, open at only one end.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (originally in anatomy): French, literally 'bottom of a sack'.

-cule suffix forming nouns such as molecule, reticule, which were originally diminutives.

<ORIGIN> from French -cule or Latin -culus, -cula, -culum.

cu·lex (also culex mosquito) n. (pl. -li·ces ) a mosquito of a genus that includes a number of kinds commonly found in cooler regions. They do not transmit malaria, but can pass on a variety of other parasites including those causing filariasis. Compare with ANOPHELES.
<INFO>  Genus Culex, subfamily Culicinae, family Culicidae.

<DERIVATIVES> cu·li·cine adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Latin, literally 'gnat'.

Linked entries:

ANOPHELES ■

Cu·lia·cán Ro·sa·les a city in northwestern Mexico, capital of the state of Sinaloa; pop. 662,110.

cu·li·nar·y adj. of or for cooking: culinary skills; savor the culinary delights of the region.

<DERIVATIVES> cu·li·nar·i·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin culinarius, from culina 'kitchen'.

cull v. [trans.] (usu. be culled) select from a large quantity; obtain from a variety of sources: anecdotes culled from Greek and Roman history.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- reduce the population of (a wild animal) by selective slaughter: he sees culling deer as a necessity | [as n.] (culling) kangaroo culling.

- send (an inferior or surplus animal on a farm) to be slaughtered.

- POETIC/LITERARY pick (flowers or fruit): [as adj.] (culled) fresh culled daffodils.

■ n. a selective slaughter of wild animals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. as adj.] an inferior or surplus livestock animal selected for killing: a cull cow.

<DERIVATIVES> cull·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French coillier, based on Latin colligere (see COLLECT^1 ).

Linked entries:

COLLECT ■

Cul·len Countee (1903-46), U.S. poet and leader of the Harlem Renaissance. His works include Color (1925), The Black Christ (1929), and The Medea and Some Poems (1935).

cul·let n. recycled broken or waste glass used in glassmaking.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: variant of COLLET, in the obsolete sense 'glass left on the blowing iron when the finished article is removed'.

Linked entries:

COLLET ■

Cul·lo·den, Battle of the final engagement of the Jacobite uprising of 1745-6, fought on a moor near Inverness, the last pitched battle on British soil. The Hanoverian army under the Duke of Cumberland crushed the small and poorly supplied Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart, and a ruthless pursuit after the battle effectively prevented any chance of saving the Jacobite cause.

cul·ly n. (pl. -lies) BRIT., INFORMAL (often as a form of address) a man; a friend.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (denoting a person who is imposed upon): of unknown origin.

Culm n. [GEOLOGY] a series of Carboniferous strata in southwestern England, mainly shale and limestone with some thin coal seams.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (culm) ARCHAIC coal dust or slack.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'soot, smut', now only Scots): probably related to COAL.

Linked entries:

COAL ■

culm n. the hollow stem of a grass or cereal plant, esp. that bearing the flower.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin culmus 'stalk'.

cul·men n. ( pl. -mi·na ) 1 [ORNITHOLOGY] the upper ridge of a bird's bill.

2 [ANATOMY] a small region in the brain on the anterior surface of the cerebellum.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'top, summit'): from Latin, contraction of columen 'top, summit'.

cul·mi·nant adj. at or forming the top or highest point.

cul·mi·nate v. [intrans.] reach a climax or point of highest development: the tensions and disorders which culminated in World War II.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] be the climax or point of highest development of: her book culminated a research project on the symmetry studies of Escher.

- [ASTRONOMY] [ASTROLOGY] (of a celestial body) reach the highest point at the meridian.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in astronomy and astrology): from late Latin culminat- 'exalted', from the verb culminare, from culmen 'summit'.

cul·mi·na·tion n. [in sing.] the highest or climactic point of something, esp. as attained after a long time: the product was the culmination of 13 years of research.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ASTRONOMY] [ASTROLOGY] the reaching of the meridian by a celestial body.

cu·lottes plural n. women's knee-length trousers, cut with very full legs to resemble a skirt.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, 'breeches', diminutive of cul 'rump', from Latin culus.

cul·pa·ble adj. deserving blame: sometimes you're just as culpable when you watch something as when you actually participate.

<DERIVATIVES> cul·pa·bil·i·ty n. cul·pa·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'deserving punishment'): from Old French coupable, culpable, from Latin culpabilis, from culpare 'to blame', from culpa 'fault, blame'.

cul·prit n. a person who is responsible for a crime or other misdeed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the cause of a problem or defect: viruses could turn out to be the culprit.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (originally in the formula Culprit, how will you be tried?, said by the Clerk of the Crown in England to a prisoner pleading not guilty): perhaps from a misinterpretation of the written abbreviation cul. prist, for Anglo-Norman French Culpable: prest d'averrer notre bille '(You are) guilty: (We are) ready to prove our indictment'; in later use influenced by Latin culpa 'fault, blame'.

cult n. a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object: the cult of St. Olaf.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister: a network of Satan-worshiping cults.

- a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing: a cult of personality surrounding the leaders.

- [usu. as adj.] a person or thing that is popular or fashionable, esp. among a particular section of society: a cult film.

<DERIVATIVES> cul·tic adj. cult·ish adj. cult·ish·ness n. cult·ism n. cult·ist n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (originally denoting homage paid to a divinity): from French culte or Latin cultus 'worship', from cult- 'inhabited, cultivated, worshiped', from the verb colere.

cultch (also culch) n. the mass of stones, broken shells, and grit of which an oyster bed is formed.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

cul·ti·gen n. [BOTANY] a plant species or variety known only in cultivation, esp. one with no known wild ancestor.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from cultivated (past participle of CULTIVATE) + -GEN.

Linked entries:

CULTIVATE ■

-GEN ■

cul·ti·var n. [BOTANY] a plant variety that has been produced in cultivation by selective breeding. Cultivars are usually designated in the style Taxus baccata “Variegata.” See also VARIETY (sense 2).

<ORIGIN> 1920s: blend of CULTIVATE and VARIETY.

Linked entries:

VARIETY ■

CULTIVATE ■

VARIETY ■

cul·ti·vate v. [trans.] 1 prepare and use (land) for crops or gardening.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- break up (soil) in preparation for sowing or planting.

- raise or grow (plants), esp. on a large scale for commercial purposes.

- [BIOLOGY] grow or maintain (living cells or tissue) in culture.

2 try to acquire or develop (a quality, sentiment, or skill): he cultivated an air of indifference.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- try to win the friendship or favor of (someone): it helps if you go out of your way to cultivate the local people.

- [usu. as adj.] (cultivated) apply oneself to improving or developing (one's mind or manners): he was a remarkably cultivated and educated man.

<DERIVATIVES> cul·ti·va·ble adj. cul·ti·vat·a·ble adj. cul·ti·va·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin cultivat- 'prepared for crops', from the verb cultivare, from cultiva (terra) 'arable (land)', from colere 'cultivate, inhabit'.

cul·ti·va·tor n. a person or thing that cultivates something: they were herders of cattle and cultivators of corn.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a mechanical implement for breaking up the soil and uprooting weeds.

cul·tur·al adj. of or relating to the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a society: the cultural diversity of the world's peoples.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to the arts and to intellectual achievements: a cultural festival.

<DERIVATIVES> cul·tur·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin cultura 'tillage' + -AL.

Linked entries:

-AL ■

cul·tur·al an·thro·pol·o·gy n. see ANTHROPOLOGY.

Linked entries:

ANTHROPOLOGY ■

cul·tur·al at·ta·ché n. an embassy official whose function is to promote cultural relations between the home country and the foreign country.

Cul·tur·al Rev·o·lu·tion a political upheaval in China 1966-68 intended to bring about a return to revolutionary Maoist beliefs. Largely carried forward by the Red Guard, it resulted in attacks on intellectuals, a large-scale purge in party posts, and the appearance of a personality cult around Mao Zedong. It led to considerable economic dislocation and was gradually brought to a halt by premier Zhou Enlai.

cul·tu·ra·ti plural n. well-educated people who appreciate the arts: avant-garde enough to please the culturati but not there long enough to scare the old guard.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: blend of culture and literati.

cul·ture n. 1 the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively: 20th century popular culture.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a refined understanding or appreciation of this: men of culture.

- the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group: Caribbean culture | people from many different cultures.

- [with adj.] the attitudes and behavior characteristic of a particular social group: the emerging drug culture.

2 [BIOLOGY] the cultivation of bacteria, tissue cells, etc., in an artificial medium containing nutrients: the cells proliferate readily in culture.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a preparation of cells obtained in such a way: the bacterium was isolated in two blood cultures.

- the cultivation of plants: this variety of lettuce is popular for its ease of culture.

■ v. [trans.] [BIOLOGY] maintain (tissue cells, bacteria, etc.) in conditions suitable for growth.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a cultivated piece of land): the noun from French culture or directly from Latin cultura 'growing, cultivation'; the verb from obsolete French culturer or medieval Latin culturare, both based on Latin colere 'tend, cultivate' (see CULTIVATE). In late Middle English the sense was 'cultivation of the soil' and from this (early 16th cent.) arose 'cultivation (of the mind, faculties, or manners)'; sense 1 dates from the early 19th cent.

Linked entries:

CULTIVATE ■

cul·ture-bound adj. restricted in character or outlook by belonging or referring to a particular culture.

cul·tured adj. 1 characterized by refined taste and manners and good education: Muslim Spain was the most cultured society in western Europe.

2 [BIOLOGY] (of tissue cells, bacteria, etc.) grown or propagated in an artificial medium.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a pearl) formed around a foreign body inserted into an oyster.

cul·ture shock n. the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.

cul·ture vul·ture n. INFORMAL a person who is very interested in the arts, esp. to an obsessive degree.

cul·ture war n. a conflict between groups with different ideals, beliefs, and philosophies: a persisting culture war between religious and nonobservant Jews.

cul·tus n. TECHNICAL a system or variety of religious worship.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Latin (see CULT).

Linked entries:

CULT ■

Cul·ver Cit·y a city in southwestern California, west of Los Angeles, an industrial and filmmaking center; pop. 38,793.

cul·ver·in n. 1 a 16th- or 17th- century cannon with a relatively long barrel for its bore, typically about 10 to 13 feet long.

2 a kind of handgun of the 15th and 16th centuries.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (sense 2): from Old French coulevrine, from couleuvre 'snake', based on Latin colubra.

cul·vert n. a tunnel carrying a stream or open drain under a road or railroad.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be culverted) channel (a stream or drain) through a culvert.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

cum 1 prep. [usu. in combination] combined with; also used as (used to describe things with a dual nature or function): a study-cum-bedroom.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: Latin.

cum 2 n. INFORMAL variant spelling of COME.

Linked entries:

COME ■

cum. abbr. cumulative.

Cu·ma·ná a historic port city in northeastern Venezuela, capital of Sucre state, on the Manzanares River; pop. 212,000. It is said to be the oldest European settlement in South America.

cum·ber v. [trans.] DATED hamper or hinder (someone or something): they were cumbered with greatcoats and swords.
<SPECIAL USAGE> obstruct (a path or space): the road was clean and dry and not still cumbered by slush.

■ n. ARCHAIC a hindrance, obstruction, or burden: a cumber of limestone rocks.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'overthrow, destroy'): probably from ENCUMBER.

Linked entries:

ENCUMBER ■

Cum·ber·land 1 a city in northwestern Maryland, on the northern banks of the Potomac River; pop. 21,518.

2 a city in northeastern Rhode Island, north of Providence; pop. 31,840.

Cum·ber·land Gap a historic pass through the Appalachian Mountains, from southwestern Virginia into southeastern Kentucky.

Cum·ber·land Riv·er a river that flows for 690 miles (1,110 km) from the Cumberland Plateau in southeastern Kentucky across northern Tennessee and back into Kentucky, where it joins the Ohio River near Paducah.

Cum·ber·land sauce n. a piquant sauce served as a relish with game and cold meats. It is typically made from red currant jelly flavored with orange, mustard, and port.

cum·ber·some adj. large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use; unwieldy: cumbersome diving suits. See note at HEAVY.
<SPECIAL USAGE> slow or complicated and therefore inefficient: organizations with cumbersome hierarchical structures.

<DERIVATIVES> cum·ber·some·ly adv. cum·ber·some·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'difficult to get through'): from CUMBER + -SOME^1 .

Linked entries:

CUMBER ■

-SOME ■

cum·bi·a n. a kind of dance music of Colombian origin, similar to salsa.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a dance performed to this music.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Colombian Spanish, perhaps from Spanish cumbé.

Cum·bri·a a county in northwestern England; county town, Carlisle. Cumbria was an ancient British kingdom, and the name continued to be used for the hilly northwestern region of England that contains the Lake District and much of the northern Pennines. The county of Cumbria was formed in 1974.

<DERIVATIVES> Cum·bri·an adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> from medieval Latin, from Welsh Cymry 'Welshman'.

cum·brous adj. poetic or literary term for CUMBERSOME.

<DERIVATIVES> cum·brous·ly adv. cum·brous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'difficult to get through'): from CUMBER + -OUS.

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CUMBERSOME ■

CUMBER ■

-OUS ■

cum div·i·dend adv. (of stocks) with a dividend.

cu·mec n. a unit of flow equal to one cubic meter of water per second: minimum flows proposed would vary seasonally between 80 cumecs in winter and 140 cumecs in summer.

<ORIGIN> on the model of cusec.

cu·mene n. [CHEMISTRY] a liquid hydrocarbon made catalytically from benzene, chiefly as an intermediate in phenol synthesis.
<INFO>  Alternative name: isopropyl benzene; chem. formula: C_6H_5CH(CH_3)2.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin cuminum 'cumin' + -ENE.

Linked entries:

-ENE ■

cum gra·no sal·is adv. (in phrase take something cum grano salis) another way of saying TAKE SOMETHING WITH A PINCH OF SALT (see SALT).

<ORIGIN> Latin, literally 'with a grain of salt'.

Linked entries:

SALT ■

cum·in (also cum·min) n. 1 the aromatic seeds of a plant of the parsley family, used as a spice, esp. ground and used in curry powder.

2 the small, slender plant that bears this fruit and grows from the Mediterranean to central Asia.
<INFO>  Cuminum cyminum, family Umbelliferae.

<ORIGIN> Old English cymen, from Latin cuminum, from Greek kuminon, probably of Semitic origin and related to Hebrew and Arabic ; superseded in Middle English by forms from Old French cumon, comin, also from Latin.

cum·mer·bund n. a sash worn around the waist, esp. as part of a man's evening clothes.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Urdu and Persian kamar-band, from kamar 'waist, loins' and -bandi 'band'. The sash was formerly worn in the Indian subcontinent by domestic workers and low-status office workers.

cum·mings e. e. (1894-1962), U.S. poet and novelist; full name Edward Estlin Cummings. His poems are characterized by their experimental typography (most notably by the avoidance of capital letters), technical skill, frank vocabulary, and sharp satire. Notable works: The Enormous Room (1922) and 95 Poems (1956).

cum·ming·ton·ite n. a mineral occurring typically as brownish fibrous crystals in some metamorphic rocks. It is a magnesium-rich iron silicate of the amphibole group.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after Cummington, a town in Massachusetts, + -ITE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ITE ■

cum·quat n. variant spelling of KUMQUAT.

Linked entries:

KUMQUAT ■

cu·mu·late v. [trans.] gather together and combine: the systems cumulate data over a period of years.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] be gathered together and combined: all unpaid dividend payments cumulate and are paid when earnings are sufficient.

- [as adj.] (cumulated) [CHEMISTRY] denoting two double bonds attached to the same carbon atom.

■ n. [GEOLOGY] an igneous rock formed by gravitational settling of particles in a magma.

<DERIVATIVES> cu·mu·la·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as a verb in the sense 'gather in a heap'): from Latin cumulat- 'heaped', from the verb cumulare, from cumulus 'a heap'. Current senses date from the early 20th cent.

cu·mu·la·tive adj. increasing or increased in quantity, degree, or force by successive additions: the cumulative effect of two years of drought.

<DERIVATIVES> cu·mu·la·tive·ly adv. cu·mu·la·tive·ness n.

cu·mu·la·tive dis·tri·bu·tion func·tion n. [STATISTICS] a function whose value is the probability that a corresponding continuous random variable has a value less than or equal to the argument of the function.

cu·mu·la·tive er·ror n. [STATISTICS] an error consistently in the same direction for all observations.

cu·mu·la·tive pre·ferred stock n. a preferred stock whose annual fixed-rate dividend, if it cannot be paid in any year, accrues until it can and is paid before common dividends.

cu·mu·la·tive vot·ing n. a system of voting in an election in which each voter is allowed as many votes as there are candidates and may give all to one candidate or varying numbers to several.

cu·mu·li·form adj. (of a cloud) developed in a predominantly vertical direction.

cu·mu·lo·nim·bus n. (pl. -nim·bi ) [METEOROLOGY] a cloud forming a towering mass with a flat base at fairly low altitude and often a flat top, as in thunderstorms.

cu·mu·lus n. (pl. -li ) [METEOROLOGY] a cloud forming rounded masses heaped on each other above a flat base at fairly low altitude.

<DERIVATIVES> cu·mu·lous adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (denoting a heap or an accumulation): from Latin, 'heap'.

Cu·na n. & adj. variant spelling of KUNA.

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KUNA ■

Cu·nard Sir Samuel (1787-1865), British shipowner; born in Canada. He founded the steamship company that still bears his name with the aid of a contract that began in 1840 to carry the mail between Britain and Canada.

cunc·ta·tion n. the action or an instance of delaying; tardy action.

cu·ne·ate adj. [CHIEFLY ANATOMY] [BOTANY] wedge-shaped.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin cuneus 'wedge' + -ATE^2 .

Linked entries:

-ATE ■

cu·ne·i·form adj. denoting or relating to the wedge-shaped characters used in the ancient writing systems of Mesopotamia, Persia, and Ugarit, surviving mainly impressed on clay tablets: a cuneiform inscription.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ANATOMY] denoting three bones of the tarsus (ankle) between the navicular bone and the metatarsals.

- [CHIEFLY BIOLOGY] wedge-shaped: the eggs are cuneiform.

■ n. cuneiform writing.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French cunéiforme or modern Latin cuneiformis, from Latin cuneus 'wedge'.

Cu·ne·ne a river in Angola that rises near the city of Huambo and flows south and then west for 156 miles (250 km) to the Atlantic Ocean.

cun·ner n. an edible greenish-gray wrasse (fish) that lives along the Atlantic coast of North America.
<INFO>  Tautogolabrus adspersus, family Labridae.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: perhaps associated with archaic conder, denoting a lookout who alerts the crew of fishing boats to the direction taken by shoals of herring.

cun·ni·lin·gus n. stimulation of the female genitals using the tongue or lips.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin, from cunnus 'vulva' + lingere 'lick'.

cun·ning adj. 1 having or showing skill in achieving one's ends by deceit or evasion: a cunning look came into his eyes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ingenious: plants have evolved cunning defenses.

2 attractive; quaint: the baby will look cunning in that pink print.

■ n. skill in achieving one's ends by deceit: a statesman to whom cunning had come as second nature.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ingenuity: what resources of energy and cunning it took just to survive.

<DERIVATIVES> cun·ning·ly adv. cun·ning·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: perhaps from Old Norse kunnandi 'knowledge', from kunna 'know' (related to CAN^1 ), or perhaps from Middle English cunne, an obsolete variant of CAN^1 . The original sense was '(possessing) erudition or skill' and had no implication of deceit; the sense 'deceitfulness' dates from late Middle English.

Linked entries:

CAN ■

CAN ■

Cun·ning·ham Merce (1919- ), U.S. dancer and choreographer. As a dancer with the Martha Graham dance company 1939-45, he experimented with choreography and collaborated with composer John Cage in solo performances in 1944. He formed his own company in 1953.

Cu·no·be·li·nus variant of CYMBELINE.

Linked entries:

CYMBELINE ■

cunt n. VULGAR SLANG a woman's genitals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> OFFENSIVE a woman.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: of Germanic origin; related to Norwegian and Swedish dialect kunta, and Middle Low German, Middle Dutch, and Danish dialect kunte.

cup n. 1 a small, bowl-shaped container for drinking from, typically having a handle and used with a matching saucer for hot drinks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the contents of such a container: a strong cup of tea.

- a measure of capacity used in cooking, equal to half a pintthat is, 8 ounces (0.237 l): one cup of butter.

- (in church use) a chalice used at the Eucharist.

- the wine of the Eucharist.

- one's portion or share, as of sorrow or joy: I submit to God's will and drink this cup for his satisfaction.

- an ornamental trophy in the form of a cup, usually made of gold or silver and having a stem and two handles, awarded as a prize in a contest.

- (Cup) such a contest: playing in the Cup is the best thing ever.

- (cups) one of the suits in a tarot pack.

2 a cup-shaped thing, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- either of the two parts of a bra shaped to contain or support one breast.

- this as a measure of breast size: she had grown from an A to a C cup in just six months.

- a jockstrap having a protective reinforcement of rigid plastic or metal.

- [GOLF] the hole on a putting green or the metal container in it.

- CANADIAN a receptacle forming part of a liquidizer.

3 a mixed drink served at parties, typically flavored with fruit juices and containing wine or cider.

■ v. (cupped, cup·ping) [trans.] 1 form (one's hand or hands) into the curved shape of a cup: “Hey!” Dad shouted, with his hands cupped around his mouth.
<SPECIAL USAGE> place the curved hand or hands around: he cupped her face in his hands.

2 HISTORICAL [MEDICINE] bleed (someone) by using a glass in which a partial vacuum is formed by heating: Dr. Ross ordered me to be cupped.

<PHRASES>
□ in one's cups INFORMAL drunk.

□ not one's cup of tea INFORMAL not what one likes or is interested in: cats were not her cup of tea.

<ORIGIN> Old English: from popular Latin cuppa, probably from Latin cupa 'tub'.

cup-and-ring adj. denoting marks cut in megalithic monuments consisting of a circular depression surrounded by concentric rings.

cup·bear·er n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL or POETIC/LITERARY a person who serves wine, esp. in a royal or noble household.

cup·board n. a cabinet or closet, usually with a door and shelves, used for storage: a kitchen cupboard.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a table or sideboard on which cups, plates, etc., were displayed): from CUP + BOARD.

Linked entries:

CUP ■

BOARD ■

cup·cake n. 1 a small cake baked in a cup-shaped container and typically iced.

2 an attractive woman (often as a term of address).
<SPECIAL USAGE> a weak or effeminate man.

cup cor·al n. a small, brightly colored, solitary coral with tentacles that end in small knobs, sometimes found in colder seas.
<INFO>  Genus Caryophyllia, order Scleractinia (or Madreporaria): several species, including the Devonshire cup coral (C. smithi), of European waters.

cu·pel n. a shallow, porous container in which gold or silver can be refined or assayed by melting with a blast of hot air, which oxidizes lead or other base metals.

■ v. (-peled, -pel·ing; BRIT. -pel·led, -pel·ling) [trans.] assay or refine (a metal) in such a container.

<DERIVATIVES> cu·pel·la·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as a noun): from French coupelle, diminutive of coupe 'goblet'.

Cu·per·ti·no a city in north central California, west of San Jose, part of the Silicon Valley complex; pop. 40,263.

Cup Fi·nal n. the final match in a sports competition in which the winners are awarded a cup.

cup·ful n. (pl. -fuls) the amount held by a cup: a cupful of water.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for CUP as a measure in cooking: add 1 cupful of flour.

Linked entries:

CUP ■

cup fun·gus n. a fungus in which the spore-producing layer forms the lining of a shallow cup.
<INFO>  Several families in the orders Helotiales and Pezizales, phylum Ascomycota.

Cu·pid [ROMAN MYTHOLOGY] the god of love. He is represented as a naked, winged boy with a bow and arrows, with which he wounds his victims. Greek equivalent EROS.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (also cupid) a representation of a naked winged child, typically carrying a bow.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Cupido, personification of cupido 'love, desire', from cupere 'to desire'.

Linked entries:

EROS ■

cu·pid·i·ty n. greed for money or possessions.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French cupidite or Latin cupiditas, from cupidus 'desirous', from cupere 'to desire'. Compare with COVET.

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COVET ■

Cu·pid's bow n. a shape like that of the double-curved bow often shown carried by Cupid, esp. at the top edge of a person's upper lip.

cup li·chen n. a greenish-gray lichen that has small, cuplike structures arising from its spreading lobes and is found typically on heathland and moorland.
<INFO>  Genus Cladonia, order Cladoniales: many species.

cu·po·la n. a small dome, esp. a small dome on a drum on top of a larger dome, adorning a roof or ceiling.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a gun turret; a small domed hatch above a gun turret on some tanks.

- (also cupola furnace) a cylindrical furnace for refining metals, with openings at the bottom for blowing in air and originally with a dome leading to a chimney above.

<DERIVATIVES> cu·po·laed adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: Italian, from late Latin cupula 'small cask or burying vault', diminutive of cupa 'cask'.

cup·pa BRIT., INFORMAL n. a cup of tea: a good strong cuppa.

■ contraction of cup of: let's have another cuppa coffee.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: alteration.

cup·ping n. (in Chinese medicine) a therapy in which heated glass cups are applied to the skin along the meridians of the body, creating suction as a way of stimulating the flow of energy.

cup·py adj. (-pi·er, -pi·est) (of ground) full of shallow depressions.

cupr- comb. form variant spelling of CUPRO- shortened before a vowel (as in cuprammonium).

Linked entries:

CUPRO- ■

cu·pram·mo·ni·um n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] a complex ion, Cu(NH_3)42+, formed in solution when ammonia is added to copper salts. The solution is deep blue and is used to dissolve cellulose.

cu·pre·ous adj. DATED or POETIC/LITERARY of or like copper.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from late Latin cupreus (from cuprum 'copper') + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

cu·pric adj. [CHEMISTRY] of copper with a valence of two; of copper(II). Compare with CUPROUS.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from late Latin cuprum 'copper' + -IC.

Linked entries:

CUPROUS ■

-IC ■

cu·prite n. a dark red or brownish black mineral consisting of cuprous oxide.

cupro- (also cupr-) comb. form of or relating to copper: cupronickel.

<ORIGIN> from late Latin cuprum.

cu·pro n. a type of rayon made by dissolving cotton cellulose with cuprammonium salts and spinning the resulting solution into filaments.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: an invented word, probably from cuprammonium.

cu·pro·nick·el n. an alloy of copper and nickel, esp. in the proportions 3:1 as used in “silver” coins.

cu·prous adj. [CHEMISTRY] of copper with a valence of one; of copper(I).

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: partly directly from late Latin cuprum 'copper' (reinforced by CUPRIC) + -OUS.

Linked entries:

CUPRIC ■

-OUS ■

cu·pule n. [BOTANY] & [ZOOLOGY] a cup-shaped organ, structure, or receptacle in a plant or animal.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin cupula (see CUPOLA).

Linked entries:

CUPOLA ■

cur n. an aggressive dog or one that is in poor condition, esp. a mongrel.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a contemptible man.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the general sense 'dog'): probably originally in cur-dog, perhaps from Old Norse kurr 'grumbling'.

cur. abbr.
- currency.

- current.

cur·a·ble adj. (of a disease or condition) able to be cured: most skin cancers are completely curable.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of plastic, varnish, etc.) able to be hardened by some additive or other agent: a radiation-curable coating.

<DERIVATIVES> cur·a·bil·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin curabilis, from Latin curare (see CURE).

Linked entries:

CURE ■

Cu·ra·çao the largest island in the Netherlands Antilles, in the Caribbean Sea, 37 miles (60 km) north of the Venezuelan coast; pop. 144,100; chief town, Willemstad.

cu·ra·çao n. (pl. -çaos) a liqueur flavored with the peel of bitter oranges.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after CURAÇAO, where the oranges are grown.

Linked entries:

CURAÇAO ■

cu·ra·cy n. (pl. -cies) the office, position, or work of a curate: I was in England serving my curacy.

cu·ran·de·ro n. (pl. -de·ros) (fem. cu·ran·de·ra ) (in Spain and Latin America) a healer who uses folk remedies.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, from curar 'to cure', from Latin curare.

cu·ra·re n. a bitter, resinous substance obtained from the bark and stems of some South American plants. It paralyzes the motor nerves and is traditionally used by some Indian peoples to poison their arrows and blowpipe darts.
<INFO>  Curare is obtained from Curarea species and Chondodendron tomentosum (family Menispermaceae), and Strychnos toxifera (family Loganiaceae).

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from a Carib word, partly via Spanish and Portuguese.

cu·ras·sow n. a large, crested, pheasantlike bird of the guan family, found in tropical American forests. The male is typically black in color.
<INFO>  Genus Crax (and Nothocrax), family Cracidae: several species.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: anglicized form of CURAÇAO.

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CURAÇAO ■

cu·rate 1 n. (also assistant curate) a member of the clergy engaged as assistant to a vicar, rector, or parish priest.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC a minister with pastoral responsibility.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from medieval Latin curatus, from Latin cura 'care'.

cu·rate 2 v. [trans.] (usu. be curated) select, organize, and look after the items in (a collection or exhibition): both exhibitions are curated by the museum's director.

<DERIVATIVES> cu·ra·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: back-formation from CURATOR.

Linked entries:

CURATOR ■

cu·rate's egg n. BRIT. a thing that is partly good and partly bad: this book is a bit of a curate's egg.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from a cartoon in Punch (1895) depicting a meek curate who, given a stale egg at the bishop's table, assures his host that “parts of it are excellent.”

cur·a·tive adj. able to cure something, typically disease: the curative properties of herbs.

■ n. a medicine or remedy.

<DERIVATIVES> cur·a·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'relating to cures'): from French curatif, -ive, from medieval Latin curativus, from Latin curare (see CURE).

Linked entries:

CURE ■

cu·ra·tor n. a keeper or custodian of a museum or other collection.

<DERIVATIVES> cu·ra·to·ri·al adj. cu·ra·tor·ship n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting an ecclesiastical pastor, also (still a Scots legal term) the guardian of a minor): from Old French curateur or, in later use, directly from Latin curator, from curare (see CURE). The current sense dates from the mid 17th cent.

Linked entries:

CURE ■

curb n. 1 a stone or concrete edging to a street or path.

2 a check or restraint on something: curbs on the powers of labor unions.

3 (also curb bit) a type of bit that is widely used in western riding. In English riding it is usually only used with a snaffle as part of a double bridle.

4 a swelling on the back of a horse's hock, caused by spraining a ligament.

■ v. [trans.] 1 restrain or keep in check: she promised she would curb her temper.
<SPECIAL USAGE> restrain (a horse) by means of a curb.

2 lead (a dog being walked) near the curb to urinate or defecate.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (denoting a strap fastened to the bit): from Old French courber 'bend, bow', from Latin curvare (see CURVE).

Linked entries:

CURVE ■

curb chain n. a small chain which is attached to a curb bit and lies in the groove on a horse's chin.

curb·ing n. the concrete or stones collectively forming a curb.

curb mar·ket n. a market for selling shares not dealt with on the normal stock exchange.

curb roof n. another term for GAMBREL.

Linked entries:

GAMBREL ■

curb serv·ice n. service, esp. at a restaurant, extended to customers remaining in their parked vehicles.

curb·side n. [usu. as adj.] the side of a road or sidewalk that is nearer to the curb: curbside collection of trash.

curb·stone n. a long, narrow stone or concrete block, laid end to end with others to form a curb.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] INFORMAL unqualified; amateur: curbstone commentators.

curb weight n. the weight of an automobile without occupants or baggage.

cur·cu·li·o n. (pl. -os) a beetle of the weevil family, esp. one that is a pest of fruit trees.
<INFO>  Several genera and species in the family Curculionidae, including the plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar).

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, used as the genus name for weevils in the 18th cent., now restricted to the nut weevils.

cur·cu·ma n. a tropical Asian plant of a genus that includes turmeric, zedoary, and other species that yield spices, dyes, and medicinal products.
<INFO>  Genus Curcuma, family Zingiberaceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Arabic kurkum 'saffron', from Sanskrit (so named because the color of turmeric resembles that of saffron).

curd n. 1 (also curds) a soft, white substance formed when milk sours, used as the basis for cheese.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a fatty substance found between the flakes of poached salmon.

2 the edible head of a cauliflower or similar plant.

<DERIVATIVES> curd·y adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin.

curd cheese n. CHIEFLY BRIT. a mild, soft, smooth cheese made from skimmed milk curd.

cur·dle v. separate or cause to separate into curds or lumps: [intrans.] take care not to let the soup boil or it will curdle | [trans.] making cheese by curdling milk.

<PHRASES> make one's blood curdle fill one with horror.

<DERIVATIVES> cur·dler n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: frequentative of obsolete curd 'congeal'.

cure v. [trans.] 1 relieve (a person or animal) of the symptoms of a disease or condition: he was cured of the disease | FIGURATIVE centuries of science have not cured us of our superstitions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- eliminate (a disease, condition, or injury) with medical treatment: this technology could be used to cure diabetes.

- solve (a problem): stopping foreign investment is no way to cure the fundamental problem.

2 preserve (meat, fish, tobacco, or an animal skin) by various methods such as salting, drying, or smoking: some farmers cured their own bacon | [as adj.] (cured) home-cured ham.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- harden (rubber, plastic, concrete, etc.) after manufacture by a chemical process such as vulcanization.

- [intrans.] undergo this process.

■ n. 1 a substance or treatment that cures a disease or condition: the search for a cure for the common cold.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- restoration to health: he was beyond cure.

- a solution to a problem: the cure is to improve the clutch operation.

2 the process of curing rubber, plastic, or other material.

3 a Christian minister's pastoral charge or area of responsibility for spiritual ministry: a benefice involving the cure of souls.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a parish.

<DERIVATIVES> cur·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a noun): from Old French curer (verb), cure (noun), both from Latin curare 'take care of', from cura 'care'. The original noun senses were 'care, concern, responsibility', in particular spiritual care (hence sense 3). In late Middle English the senses 'medical care' and 'successful medical treatment' arose, and hence 'remedy'.

cu·ré n. a parish priest in a French-speaking country or region.

<ORIGIN> French, from medieval Latin curatus (see CURATE^1 ).

Linked entries:

CURATE ■

cure-all n. a medicine or other remedy that will supposedly cure any ailment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a solution to any problem: unfortunately, the new output circuitry is not a cure-all.

cu·ret·tage n. [SURGERY] the use of a curette, esp. on the lining of the uterus. See DILATATION AND CURETTAGE.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, from CURETTE.

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CURETTE ■

cu·rette n. a surgical instrument used to remove material by a scraping action, esp. from the uterus.

■ v. [trans.] clean or scrape with a curette.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (as a noun): from French, from curer 'cleanse', from Latin curare (see CURE).

Linked entries:

CURE ■

cur·few n. a regulation requiring people to remain indoors between specified hours, typically at night: a dusk-to-dawn curfew | the whole area was immediately placed under curfew.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the hour designated as the beginning of such a restriction: to be out after curfew without permission was to risk punishment.

- the daily signal indicating this.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a regulation requiring people to extinguish fires at a fixed hour in the evening, or a bell rung at that hour): from Old French cuevrefeu, from cuvrir 'to cover' + feu 'fire'. The current sense dates from the late 19th cent.

Cu·ri·a the papal court at the Vatican, by which the Roman Catholic Church is governed. It comprises various Congregations, Tribunals, and other commissions and departments.

<DERIVATIVES> Cu·ri·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin curia, denoting a division of an ancient Roman tribe, also (by extension) the senate of cities other than Rome; later the term came to denote a feudal or Roman Catholic court of justice, whence the current sense.

Cu·rie Marie (1867-1934) and Pierre (1859-1906), French physicists; (Marie was born Maria Sklodowska in Poland); pioneers in radioactivity. Working together on the mineral pitchblende, they discovered the elements polonium and radium. After her husband's accidental death, Marie isolated radium. She died of leukemia, caused by prolonged exposure to radioactive materials. Nobel Prize for Physics (1903, both; shared with Becquerel); Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1911, Marie).

cu·rie (abbr.: Ci) n. (pl. -ries) a unit of radioactivity, corresponding to 3.7 × 10^10 disintegrations per second.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the quantity of radioactive substance that has this amount of activity.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after Pierre and Marie CURIE.

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CURIE ■

cu·ri·o n. (pl. -os) a rare, unusual, or intriguing object.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: abbreviation of CURIOSITY.

Linked entries:

CURIOSITY ■

cu·ri·o·sa plural n. curiosities, esp. erotic or pornographic books or articles.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin, neuter plural of curiosus (see CURIOUS).

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CURIOUS ■

cu·ri·os·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) 1 a strong desire to know or learn something: filled with curiosity, she peered through the window.

2 a strange or unusual object or fact: he showed them some of the curiosities of the house.

<PHRASES> curiosity killed the cat PROVERB being inquisitive about other people's affairs may get you into trouble.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French curiousete, from Latin curiositas, from curiosus (see CURIOUS).

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CURIOUS ■

cu·ri·ous adj. 1 eager to know or learn something: I began to be curious about the whereabouts of the bride and groom; she was curious to know what had happened.
<SPECIAL USAGE> expressing curiosity: a curious stare.

2 strange; unusual: a curious sensation overwhelmed her.

<DERIVATIVES> cu·ri·ous·ly adv. [sentence adverb] curiously, I find snooker riveting. cu·ri·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French curios, from Latin curiosus 'careful', from cura 'care'. Sense 2 dates from the early 18th cent.

Cu·ri·ti·ba a city in southern Brazil, capital of the state of Paraná; pop. 1,315,035.

cu·ri·um n. the chemical element of atomic number 96, a radioactive metal of the actinide series. Curium does not occur naturally and was first made by bombarding plutonium with helium ions. (Symbol: Cm)

<ORIGIN> 1940s: modern Latin, from the name of Marie and Pierre CURIE.

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CURIE ■

curl v. 1 form or cause to form into a curved or spiral shape: [intrans.] her fingers curled around the microphone; | a slice of ham had begun to curl up at the edges | [trans.] she used to curl her hair with rags.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (curl up) sit or lie with the knees drawn up: she curled up and went to sleep.

- move or cause to move in a spiral or curved course: [intrans.] a wisp of smoke curling across the sky.

- (with reference to one's mouth or upper lip) raise or cause to raise slightly on one side as an expression of contempt or disapproval: [intrans.] Maria saw his lip curl sardonically.

- (in weight training) lift (a weight) using only the hands, wrists, and forearms.

2 [intrans.] play at the game of curling.

■ n. 1 a lock of hair having a spiral or coiled form: her blond hair was a mass of tangled curls.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a thing having a spiral or inwardly curved form: a curl of blue smoke.

- a curling movement: the sneering curl of his lip.

- (with reference to a person's hair) a state or condition of being curled: your hair has a natural curl | large perm rods give volume and control rather than lots of curl.

- see LEAF CURL.

- a weightlifting exercise involving movement of only the hands, wrists, and forearms: a dumbbell curl.

2 [MATHEMATICS] the vector product of the operator del and a given vector.

<PHRASES> make someone's hair curl INFORMAL shock or horrify someone.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from obsolete crulle 'curly', from Middle Dutch krul.

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LEAF CURL ■

curl·er n. 1 (usu. curlers) a roller or clasp around which a lock of hair is wrapped to curl it.

2 a player in the game of curling.

cur·lew n. (pl. same or -lews) a large wading bird of the sandpiper family, with a long down-curved bill, brown streaked plumage, and frequently a distinctive ascending two-note call. See also STONE CURLEW.
<INFO>  Genus Numenius, family Scolopacidae: several species, including the common Eurasian N. arquata and the North American long-billed curlew (N. americanus).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French courlieu, alteration (by association with courliu 'courier', from courre 'run' + lieu 'place') of imitative courlis.

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STONE CURLEW ■

Cur·ley James Michael (1874-1958), U.S. politician. An urban political boss, he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives 1911-14, 1943-47, mayor of Boston for four terms between 1914 and 1950, and governor of Massachusetts 1935-37.

curl·i·cue (also curl·y·cue) n. a decorative curl or twist in calligraphy or in the design of an object.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CURLY + CUE^2 (in the sense 'pigtail'), or -cue representing the letter q.

Linked entries:

CURLY ■

CUE ■

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

curl·ing i·ron n. a heated rod used for rolling a person's hair into curls.

curl·ing stone n. a large, polished, circular stone with an iron handle on top, used in the game of curling.

curl·y adj. (curl·i·er, curl·i·est) made, grown, or arranged in curls or curves: my hair is just naturally thick and curly.

<DERIVATIVES> curl·i·ness n.

cur·ly·cue n. variant spelling of CURLICUE.

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CURLICUE ■

curl·y en·dive n. see ENDIVE.

Linked entries:

ENDIVE ■

curl·y kale n. kale of a variety with dark green, tightly curled leaves.

cur·ly top (also curly top disease) n. a viral disease affecting plants, esp. beets and members of the gourd family, spread by beetles, particularly the beet leafhopper. Infected plants become dwarfed and have puckered, distorted foliage.

curl·y-wurl·y adj. INFORMAL twisting and curling.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: reduplication of CURLY.

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CURLY ■

cur·mudg·eon n. a bad-tempered or surly person.

<DERIVATIVES> cur·mudg·eon·li·ness n. cur·mudg·eon·ly adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

cur·rach (also cur·ragh) n. Irish and Scottish term for CORACLE.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Irish and Scottish Gaelic curach 'small boat'. Compare with CORACLE.

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CORACLE ■

CORACLE ■

cur·ragh n. variant spelling of CURRACH.

Linked entries:

CURRACH ■

cur·ra·jong n. variant spelling of KURRAJONG.

Linked entries:

KURRAJONG ■

cur·rant n. 1 a small dried fruit made from a seedless variety of grape originally grown in the eastern Mediterranean region, now widely produced in California, and much used in cooking: [as adj.] a currant bun.

2 a Eurasian shrub that produces small edible black, red, or white berries.
<INFO>  Genus Ribes, family Grossulariaceae: numerous species, including black currant and red currant.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a berry from such a shrub.

<ORIGIN> Middle English raisons of Corauntz, translating Anglo-Norman French raisins de Corauntz 'grapes of Corinth' (the original source).

cur·rant gall n. a spherical red or purple gall that forms on the leaves or male catkins of oak trees in response to the developing larva of a gall wasp. It results from eggs laid in the spring and alternates with the spangle gall.
<INFO>  The wasp is Neuroterus quercusbaccarum, family Cynipidae.

cur·rant to·ma·to n. a kind of tomato with tiny fruits, native to the Andes.
<INFO>  Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium, family Solanaceae.

cur·ren·cy n. (pl. -cies) 1 a system of money in general use in a particular country: the dollar was a strong currency | travelers checks in foreign currency | FIGURATIVE he was rich in the currency of love.

2 the fact or quality of being generally accepted or in use: since the Gulf War, the term has gained new currency.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the time during which something is in use or operation: no claim had been made during the currency of the policy.

cur·rent adj. belonging to the present time; happening or being used or done now: keep abreast of current events; I started my current job last year.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in common or general use: the other meaning of the word is still current.

■ n. a body of water or air moving in a definite direction, esp. through a surrounding body of water or air in which there is less movement: ocean currents.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a flow of electricity which results from the ordered directional movement of electrically charged particles.

- a quantity representing the rate of flow of electric charge, usually measured in amperes.

- the general tendency or course of events or opinion: the student movement formed a distinct current of protest.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the adjective sense 'running, flowing'): from Old French corant 'running', from courre 'run', from Latin currere 'run'.

cur·rent af·fairs plural n. events of political or social interest and importance happening in the world at the present time.

cur·rent as·sets plural n. cash and other assets that are expected to be converted to cash within a year. Compare with FIXED ASSETS.

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FIXED ASSETS ■

cur·rent cost ac·count·ing n. a method of accounting in which assets are valued on the basis of their current replacement cost, and increases in their value as a result of inflation are excluded from calculations of profit.

cur·rent den·si·ty n. [PHYSICS] the amount of electric current flowing per unit cross-sectional area of a material.

cur·rent li·a·bil·i·ties plural n. amounts due to be paid to creditors within twelve months.

cur·rent·ly adv. at the present time: the price is currently at a premium.

cur·ri·cle n. HISTORICAL a light, open, two-wheeled carriage pulled by two horses side by side.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin curriculum 'course, racing chariot', from currere 'to run'.

cur·ric·u·lum n. (pl. -la or -lums) the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college.

<DERIVATIVES> cur·ric·u·lar adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin (see CURRICLE).

Linked entries:

CURRICLE ■

cur·ric·u·lum vi·tae (abbr.: CV) n. (pl. cur·ric·u·la vi·tae ) a brief account of a person's education, qualifications, and previous experience, typically sent with a job application.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: Latin, literally 'course of life'.

Cur·ri·er Nathaniel (1813-88), U.S. lithographer. He partnered with James Ives in 1857 to establish the company of Currier & Ives, which produced hand-colored prints of American scenes.

cur·ri·er n. a person who curries leather.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French corier, from Latin coriarius, from corium 'leather'.

cur·rish adj. 1 like a cur; snappish.

2 ignoble.

<DERIVATIVES> cur·rish·ly adv. cur·rish·ness n.

cur·ry 1 n. 1 (pl. -ries) a dish of meat, vegetables, etc., cooked in an Indian-style sauce of strong spices and turmeric and typically served with rice.

2 curry powder.

■ v. (-ries, -ried) [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (curried) prepare or flavor with a sauce of hot-tasting spices: curried chicken.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Tamil kari.

cur·ry 2 v. (-ries, -ried) [trans.] 1 groom (a horse) with a rubber or plastic curry-comb.

2 HISTORICAL treat (tanned leather) to improve its properties.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC thrash; beat.

<PHRASES> curry favor ingratiate oneself with someone through obsequious behavior: a wimpish attempt to curry favor with the new bosses. <ORIGIN> alteration of Middle English curry favel, from the name (Favel or Fauvel) of a chestnut horse in a 14th-cent. French romance who became a symbol of cunning and duplicity; hence ‘to rub down Favel’ meant to use the cunning that he personified.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French correier, ultimately of Germanic origin.

cur·ry-comb n. a hand-held metal device with serrated ridges, used for removing dirt out of a horse's coat or for cleaning brushes with which a horse is being groomed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (also rubber curry-comb) a similar device of flexible rubber, used for grooming horses.

cur·ry leaf n. a shrub or small tree native to India and Sri Lanka, the leaves of which are widely used in Indian cooking.
<INFO>  Murraya koenigii, family Rutaceae.

cur·ry plant n. a small, shrubby plant of the daisy family, which has narrow, silver-gray leaves and small yellow flowers and emits a strong smell of curry.
<INFO>  Helichrysum angustifolium, family Compositae.

cur·ry pow·der n. a mixture of finely ground spices, such as turmeric, ginger, and coriander, used for making curry.

curse n. 1 a solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something: she'd put a curse on him.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [usu. in sing.] a cause of harm or misery: impatience is the curse of our day and age.

- (the curse) INFORMAL menstruation.

2 an offensive word or phrase used to express anger or annoyance: his mouth was spitting vile oaths and curses.

■ v. 1 [trans.] invoke or use a curse against: it often seemed as if the family had been cursed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (be cursed with) be afflicted with: many owners have been cursed with a series of bankruptcies.

2 [intrans.] utter offensive words in anger or annoyance: drivers were cursing and sounding their horns.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] address with such words: I cursed myself for my carelessness.

<DERIVATIVES> curs·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English, of unknown origin.

curs·ed adj. INFORMAL, DATED used to express annoyance or irritation: he didn't whine about his cursed fate.

<DERIVATIVES> curs·ed·ly adv. curs·ed·ness n.

cur·sil·lo n. (pl. -los) a short informal spiritual retreat by a group of Roman Catholics, organized mainly by lay people and originally developed in Spain.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: Spanish, literally 'little course'.

cur·sive adj. written with the characters joined: cursive script.

■ n. writing with such a style.

<DERIVATIVES> cur·sive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from medieval Latin cursivus, from Latin curs- 'run', from the verb currere.

cur·sor n. a movable indicator on a computer screen identifying the point that will be affected by input from the user, for example showing where typed text will be inserted.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY HISTORICAL the transparent slide engraved with a hairline that is part of a slide rule and is used for marking a point on the rule while bringing a point on the central sliding portion up to it.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a runner or running messenger): from Latin, 'runner', from curs- (see CURSIVE). The sense 'sliding part of an instrument' dates from the late 16th cent.

Linked entries:

CURSIVE ■

cur·so·ri·al adj. [ZOOLOGY] having limbs adapted for running.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin cursor (see CURSOR) + -IAL.

Linked entries:

CURSOR ■

-IAL ■

cur·so·ry adj. hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed: a cursory glance at the figures. See note at SUPERFICIAL.

<DERIVATIVES> cur·so·ri·ly adv. cur·so·ri·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin cursorius 'of a runner', from cursor (see CURSOR).

Linked entries:

CURSOR ■

curst adj. archaic spelling of CURSED.

Linked entries:

CURSED ■

curt adj. rudely brief: his reply was curt. See note at BRUSQUE.

<DERIVATIVES> curt·ly adv. curt·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'short, shortened'): from Latin curtus 'cut short, abridged'.

cur·tail v. [trans.] (often be curtailed) reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on: civil liberties were further curtailed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (curtail someone of) ARCHAIC deprive someone of (something): I that am curtailed of this fair proportion.

<DERIVATIVES> cur·tail·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from obsolete curtal 'horse with a docked tail', from French courtault, from court 'short', from Latin curtus. The change in the ending was due to association with TAIL^1 and perhaps also with French tailler 'to cut'.

Linked entries:

TAIL ■

cur·tain n. a piece of material suspended at the top to form a covering or screen, typically one of a pair at a window: she drew the curtains and lit the fire | FIGURATIVE through the curtain of falling snow, she could just make out gravestones.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the curtain) a screen of heavy cloth or other material that can be raised or lowered at the front of a stage.

- a raising or lowering of such a screen at the beginning or end of an act or scene: the art is to hold your audience right from the opening curtain.

- (curtains) INFORMAL a disastrous outcome: it looked like curtains for me.

■ v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (curtained) provide with a curtain or curtains: a curtained window.
<SPECIAL USAGE> conceal or screen with a curtain: a curtained-off side room | FIGURATIVE her unbound hair curtaining her face.

<PHRASES> bring down the curtain on bring to an end: her decision brought down the curtain on a glittering 30-year career.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cortine, from late Latin cortina, translation of Greek aulaia, from 'court'.

cur·tain call n. the appearance of one or more performers on stage after a performance to acknowledge the audience's applause.

cur·tain lec·ture n. DATED an instance of a wife reprimanding her husband in private.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: originally a reprimand given behind bed curtains.

cur·tain rais·er n. an entertainment or other arts event happening just before a longer or more important one: Bach's Sinfonia in B flat was an ideal curtain-raiser to Mozart's last piano concerto.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: originally used in the theater to denote a short opening piece performed before a play.

cur·tain speech n. a speech of thanks or appreciation to an audience, made after a performance by an actor playing a leading role, typically from the front of the stage with the curtains closed.

cur·tain time n. [in sing.] the beginning of a stage performance: curtain time is at 8 p.m.

cur·tain wall n. a fortified wall around a medieval castle, typically one linking towers together.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a wall that encloses the space within a building but does not support the roof, typically on a modern high-rise.

cur·tal adj. ARCHAIC shortened, abridged, or curtailed.

■ n. HISTORICAL a dulcian or bassoon of the late 16th to early 18th century.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (denoting a short-barreled cannon): from French courtault, from court 'short' + the pejorative suffix -ault. In both English and French the noun denoted various items characterized by something short, esp. an animal with a docked tail, which probably gave rise to the adjective sense.

cur·ta·na n. BRIT. the unpointed sword carried in front of English sovereigns at their coronation to represent mercy.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Latin curtana (spatha) 'shortened (sword)', from Old French cortain, the name of the sword belonging to ROLAND (the point of which was damaged when it was thrust into a block of steel), from cort 'short', from Latin curtus 'cut short'.

Linked entries:

ROLAND ■

cur·te·sy n. (pl. -sies) HISTORICAL [LAW] a tenure by which a husband, after his wife's death, held certain kinds of property that she had inherited.

cur·ti·lage n. [LAW] an area of land attached to a house and forming one enclosure with it: the roads within the curtilage of the development site.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French, variant of Old French courtillage, from courtil 'small court', from cort 'court'.

Cur·tis Benjamin Robbins (1809-74), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1851-57. He resigned in protest over the Court's handling of the Dred Scott case 1857. He served as chief counsel to Andrew Johnson during Johnson's impeachment in 1868. His brother, George Ticknor Curtis (1812-94), a lawyer and writer, argued for the plaintiff before the U.S. Supreme Court in the Dred Scott case.

Cur·tiss Glenn (Hammond) (1878-1930), U.S. air pioneer and aircraft designer. In 1908, Curtiss made the first public U.S. flight, traversing 0.6 miles (1.0 km). He built his first airplane in 1909 and invented the aileron and then demonstrated the first practical seaplane two years later.

curt·sy (also curt·sey) n. (pl. -sies or -seys) a woman's or girl's formal greeting made by bending the knees with one foot in front of the other: she bobbed a curtsy to him.

■ v. (-sies, -sied or -seys, -seyed) [intrans.] perform such an action: she curtsied onto the stage.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: variant of COURTESY. Both forms were used to denote the expression of respect or courtesy by a gesture, esp. in phrases such as do courtesy, make courtesy, and from this arose the current use (late 16th cent.).

Linked entries:

COURTESY ■

cu·rule adj. HISTORICAL denoting or relating to the authority exercised by the senior magistrates in ancient Rome, chiefly the consul and praetor, who were entitled to use the sella curulis (‘curule seat,’ a kind of folding chair).

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin curulis, from currus 'chariot' (in which the chief magistrate was conveyed to the seat of office), from currere 'to run'.

cur·va·ceous adj. (esp. of a woman or a woman's figure) having an attractively curved shape.

<DERIVATIVES> cur·va·ceous·ness n.

cur·va·ture n. the fact of being curved or the degree to which something is curved: spinal curvature; the curvature of the earth | it has a distinct curvature near the middle.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GEOMETRY] the degree to which a curve deviates from a straight line, or a curved surface deviates from a plane.

- a numerical quantity expressing this.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin curvatura, from curvare (see CURVE).

Linked entries:

CURVE ■

curve n. a line or outline that gradually deviates from being straight for some or all of its length: the parapet wall sweeps down in a bold curve.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a place where a road deviates from a straight path: the vehicle rounded a curve.

- (curves) a curving contour of a woman's figure.

- a line on a graph (whether straight or curved) showing how one quantity varies with respect to another: the population curve.

- a system in which grades are assigned to students based on their performance relative to other students, regardless of their actual knowledge of the subject: grades were marked on a curve.

- [BASEBALL] another term for CURVEBALL.

■ v. form or cause to form a curve: [intrans.] her mouth curved in a smile | [as adj.] (curved) birds with long curved bills | [trans.] starting with arms outstretched, curve the body sideways.

<PHRASES> ahead of (or behind) the curve (esp. of a business or politician) ahead of (or lagging behind) current thinking or trends.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin curvare 'to bend', from curvus 'bent'. The noun dates from the late 17th cent.

Linked entries:

CURVEBALL ■

curve·ball n. [BASEBALL] a ball that is pitched with a snap of the wrist and a strong downward spin, which causes the ball to drop suddenly and deceptively veer away from home plate.

cur·vet n. (of a horse) a graceful or energetic leap.

■ v. (-vet·ted, -vet·ting or -vet·ed, -vet·ing) [intrans.] RARE (of a horse) leap gracefully or energetically.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Italian corvetta, diminutive of corva, earlier form of curva 'a curve', from Latin curvus 'bent'.

cur·vi·lin·e·ar adj. contained by or consisting of a curved line or lines: these designs employ flowing, curvilinear forms.

<DERIVATIVES> cur·vi·lin·e·ar·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from curvi- 'curved', from Latin curvus, on the pattern of rectilinear.

cur·vi·ros·tral adj. with a curved beak.

curv·y adj. (curv·i·er, curv·i·est) having many curves: a curvy stretch of road.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL (esp. of a woman's figure) shapely and voluptuous.

<DERIVATIVES> curv·i·ness n.

cus·cus n. a tree-dwelling marsupial with a rounded head and prehensile tail, native to New Guinea and northern Australia.
<INFO>  Four genera in the family Phalangeridae: several species, including the spotted cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus) and the grey cuscus (Phalanger orientalis). See also PHALANGER.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: via French and Dutch from a local name in the Molucca Islands.

Linked entries:

PHALANGER ■

cu·sec n. a unit of flow (esp. of water) equal to one cubic foot per second.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: abbreviation of cubic foot per second.

Cush 1 (in the Bible) the eldest son of Ham and grandson of Noah (Gen. 10:6).

2 the southern part of ancient Nubia, first mentioned in Egyptian records of the Middle Kingdom. In the Bible it is the country of the descendants of Cush.

cush·at n. DIALECT, CHIEFLY SCOTTISH a wood pigeon.

<ORIGIN> Old English, of unknown origin.

cu·shaw (also cushaw squash) n. a large winter squash of a variety with a curved neck.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

cush-cush (also cush-cush yam) n. a tropical American yam that produces a number of tubers on each plant. Also called YAMPEE.
<INFO>  Dioscorea trifida, family Dioscoreaceae.

<SPECIAL USAGE> the edible tuber of this plant, eaten as a vegetable.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: perhaps ultimately of African origin.

Linked entries:

YAMPEE ■

Cush·ing William (1732-1810), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1789-1810. After serving as chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court 1780-89, he was the first person to be nominated by President Washington to serve as an associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Cush·ing's dis·ease n. Cushing's syndrome as caused by a tumor of the pituitary gland.

Cush·ing's syn·drome n. [MEDICINE] a metabolic disorder caused by overproduction of corticosteroid hormones by the adrenal cortex and often involving obesity and high blood pressure.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: named after Harvey W. Cushing (1869-1939), American surgeon.

cush·ion n. a pillow or pad stuffed with a mass of soft material, used as a comfortable support for sitting or leaning on.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- something providing support or protection against impact: the pad forms a cushion between carpet and floor | FIGURATIVE a poll showed the candidate with a 14-point cushion.

- the elastic lining of the sides of a billiard table, from which the ball rebounds.

- the layer of air supporting a hovercraft or similar vehicle.

■ v. [trans.] soften the effect of an impact on: the bag cushions equipment from inevitable knocks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE mitigate the adverse effects of: he called for federal assistance to cushion the blow for farmers.

<DERIVATIVES> cush·ioned adj. cush·ion·y adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cuissin, based on a Latin word meaning 'cushion for the hip', from coxa 'hip, thigh'.

cush·ion cap·i·tal n. [ARCHITECTURE] a capital resembling a cushion pressed down by a weight, seen particularly in Romanesque churches.

Cush·it·ic n. a group of East African languages of the Afro-Asiatic family spoken mainly in Ethiopia and Somalia, including Somali and Oromo.

■ adj. of or relating to this group of languages.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from CUSH + -ITIC.

Linked entries:

CUSH ■

-ITIC ■

cush·y adj. (cush·i·er, cush·i·est) INFORMAL 1 (of a job, task, or situation) undemanding, easy, or secure: cushy jobs that pay you to ski.

2 (of furniture) comfortable.

<DERIVATIVES> cush·i·ness n.

<ORIGIN> World War I (originally Anglo-Indian): from Urdu 'pleasure', from Persian .

cusk n. another term for TORSK.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

Linked entries:

TORSK ■

cusk-eel n. a small, eellike fish with a tapering body and fins that form a pointed tail, typically found in deep water.
<INFO>  Ophidiidae

cusp n. 1 a pointed end where two curves meet, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ARCHITECTURE] a projecting point between small arcs in Gothic tracery.

- a cone-shaped prominence on the surface of a tooth, esp. of a molar or premolar.

- [ANATOMY] a pocket or fold in the wall of the heart or a major blood vessel that fills and distends if the blood flows backward, so forming part of a valve.

- [MATHEMATICS] a point at which the direction of a curve is abruptly reversed.

- each of the pointed ends of a crescent, esp. of the moon.

2 [ASTROLOGY] the initial point of an astrological sign or house: he was Aries on the cusp with Taurus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a point between two different situations or states, when a person or thing is poised between the two or just about to move from one to the other: those on the cusp of adulthood.

<DERIVATIVES> cus·pate adj. cusped adj. cus·pi·date adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (sense 2): from Latin cuspis 'point or apex'.

cus·pid n. a tooth with a single cusp or point; a canine tooth.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin cuspis, cuspid- 'point or apex'.

cus·pi·dor n. a spittoon.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Portuguese, literally 'spitter'.

cusp·ing n. 1 formation of a cusp or cusps: if you use the incorrect pressure there will be serious cusping and uneven wear on the tire.

2 [ARCHITECTURE] a decorative feature consisting of cusps.

cuss INFORMAL n. 1 an annoying or stubborn person or animal: he was certainly an unsociable cuss.

2 another term for CURSE (sense 2).

■ v. another term for CURSE (sense 2).

Linked entries:

CURSE ■

CURSE ■

cuss·ed adj. INFORMAL stubborn; annoying: why do you have to be so cussed?

<DERIVATIVES> cuss·ed·ly adv. cuss·ed·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent. (originally U.S.): variant of CURSED.

Linked entries:

CURSED ■

cuss word n. INFORMAL a swear word.

cus·tard n. a dessert or sweet sauce made with milk, eggs, and sugar.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English crustarde, custarde (denoting an open pie containing meat or fruit in a spiced or sweetened sauce thickened with eggs), from Old French crouste (see CRUST).

Linked entries:

CRUST ■

cus·tard ap·ple n. 1 a large, fleshy, tropical fruit with a sweet yellow pulp. See also CHERIMOYA and SWEETSOP.

2 the tree that bears this fruit, native to Central and South America.
<INFO>  Genus Annona, family Annonaceae: several species.

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CHERIMOYA ■

SWEETSOP ■

Cus·ter George (Armstrong) (1839-76), U.S. cavalry officer. He served with distinction during the Civil War. In 1876, he was killed, along with all of his men (266) in a clash (popularly known as Custer's Last Stand) with the Sioux Indians at Little Bighorn in Montana.

cus·to·di·an n. a person who has responsibility for or looks after something, such as a museum, financial assets, or a culture or tradition: the custodians of pension and insurance funds.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person employed to clean and maintain a building.

<DERIVATIVES> cus·to·di·an·ship n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from CUSTODY, on the pattern of guardian.

Linked entries:

CUSTODY ■

cus·to·dy n. the protective care or guardianship of someone or something: the property was placed in the custody of a trustee.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- imprisonment: my father was being taken into custody.

- [LAW] parental responsibility, esp. as allocated to one of two divorcing parents: he was trying to get custody of their child.

<DERIVATIVES> cus·to·di·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin custodia, from custos 'guardian'.

cus·tom n. 1 a traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place, or time: the old English custom of dancing around the maypole | custom demanded that a person should have gifts for the child.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in sing.] a thing that one does habitually: it was my custom to nap for an hour every day.

- [LAW] established practice or usage having the force of law or right.

2 CHIEFLY BRIT. regular dealings with a shop or business by customers: if you keep me waiting, I will take my custom elsewhere.

■ adj. made or done to order for a particular customer: a custom guitar.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French coustume, based on Latin consuetudo, from consuetus, past participle of consuescere 'accustom', from con- (expressing intensive force) + suescere 'become accustomed'.

cus·tom·al n. variant spelling of CUSTUMAL.

Linked entries:

CUSTUMAL ■

cus·tom·ar·y adj. according to the customs or usual practices associated with a particular society, place, or set of circumstances: it is customary to mark an occasion like this with a toast.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- according to a person's habitual practice: I put the kettle on for our customary cup of tea.

- [LAW] established by or based on custom rather than common law or statute.

■ n. (pl. -ar·ies) HISTORICAL another term for CUSTUMAL.

<DERIVATIVES> cus·tom·ar·i·ly adv. cus·tom·ar·i·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a noun): from medieval Latin custumarius, from custuma, from Anglo-Norman French custume (see CUSTOM).

Linked entries:

CUSTUMAL ■

CUSTOM ■

cus·tom-built adj. another term for CUSTOM-MADE.

Linked entries:

CUSTOM-MADE ■

cus·tom·er n. 1 a person or organization that buys goods or services from a store or business: Mr. Harrison was a regular customer at the Golden Lion | [as adj.] customer service.

2 a person or thing of a specified kind that one has to deal with: the fish is a slippery customer and very hard to catch; | Jon won over Lucie's father, but her mother is a tough customer.

cus·tom house (also cus·toms house) n. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL the office at a port or frontier where customs duty is collected.

cus·tom·ize v. [trans.] (often be customized) modify (something) to suit a particular individual or task: the suit can be customized for every skydiving need.

cus·tom-made adj. made to a particular customer's order.

cus·toms plural n. the official department that administers and collects the duties levied by a government on imported goods: cocaine seizures by customs have risen this year | [as adj.] a customs officer.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the place at a port, airport, or frontier where officials check incoming goods, travelers, or luggage: arriving refugees were whisked through customs.

- (usu. customs duties) the duties levied by a government on imported goods.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: originally in the singular, denoting a customary due paid to a ruler, later duty levied on goods on their way to market.

cus·toms un·ion n. a group of countries that have agreed to charge the same import duties as each other and usually to allow free trade between themselves.

cus·tu·mal (also cus·to·mal) n. HISTORICAL a written account of the customs of a manor or other local community or large establishment.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from medieval Latin custumale 'customs book', neuter of custumalis, from custuma 'custom'.

cut v. (cut·ting; past and past part. cut) [trans.] 1 make an opening, incision, or wound in (something) with a sharp-edged tool or object: he cut his big toe on a sharp stone; he cut open MacKay's face with the end of his hockey stick | [intrans.] FIGURATIVE his scorn cut deeper than knives.

2 remove (something) from something larger by using a sharp implement: I cut his photograph out of the paper; some prisoners had their right hands cut off.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL castrate (an animal, esp. a horse).

- remove the foreskin of a penis; circumcise.

- (cut something out) make something by cutting: I cut out some squares of paper.

- (cut something out) remove, exclude, or stop eating or doing something undesirable: start today by cutting out fatty foods.

- (cut something out) separate an animal from the main herd.

3 divide into pieces with a knife or other sharp implement: cut the beef into thin slices; he cut his food up into teeny pieces.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make divisions in (something): land that has been cut up by streams into forested areas.

- separate (something) into two; sever: they cut the rope before he choked.

- (cut something down) make something, esp. a tree, fall by cutting it through at the base.

- (cut someone down) (of a weapon, bullet, or disease) kill or injure someone: Barker had been cut down by a sniper's bullet.

4 make or form (something) by using a sharp tool to remove material: workmen cut a hole in the pipe.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make or design (a garment) in a particular way: [as adj.] (cut) an impeccably cut chalk-stripe suit.

- make (a path, tunnel, or other route) by excavation, digging, or chopping: plans to cut a road through a rain forest | [intrans.] investigators called for a machete to cut through the bush | FIGURATIVE a large woman with a voice that cut through crowds.

5 trim or reduce the length of (something, esp. grass or a person's hair or fingernails) by using a sharp implement: cutting the lawn; cut back all the year's growth to about four leaves.

6 reduce the amount or quantity of: buyers will bargain hard to cut the cost of the house they want; I should cut down my sugar intake | [intrans.] they've cut back on costs; the state passed a law to cut down on drunk-driving; the paper glut cuts into profits.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- abridge (a text, movie, or performance) by removing material: he had to cut unnecessary additions made to the opening scene.

- [COMPUTING] delete (part of a text or other display) completely or so as to insert a copy of it elsewhere. See also CUT AND PASTE.

- (in sports) remove (a player) from a team’s roster.

- end or interrupt the provision of (something, esp. power or food supplies): we resolved to cut oil supplies to territories controlled by the rebels; if the pump develops a fault, the electrical supply is immediately cut off.

- (cut something off) block the usual means of access to a place: the caves were cut off from the outside world by a landslide.

- absent oneself deliberately from (something one should normally attend, esp. school): Robert was cutting class.

- switch off (an engine or a light).

7 (of a line) cross or intersect (another line): the point where the line cuts the vertical axis.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (cut across) pass or traverse, esp. so as to shorten one's route: the following aircraft cut across to join him.

- [intrans.] (cut across) have an effect regardless of (divisions or boundaries between groups): subcultures that cut across national and political boundaries.

- [intrans.] (cut along) INFORMAL, DATED leave or move hurriedly: you can cut along now.

8 DATED ignore or refuse to recognize (someone).

9 [intrans., often in imperative] stop filming or recording.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- move to another shot in a movie: cut to a dentist's surgery.

- [trans.] make (a movie) into a coherent whole by removing parts or placing them in a different order.

10 make (a sound recording).

11 divide (a pack of playing cards) by lifting a portion from the top, either to reveal or draw a card at random or to place the top portion under the bottom portion.

12 [GOLF] slice (the ball).

13 adulterate (a drug) or dilute (alcohol) by mixing it with another substance: speed cut with rat poison.

14 (cut it) INFORMAL come up to expectations; meet requirements: this CD player doesn't quite cut it. <ORIGIN> shortened form of the idiom cut the mustard.

■ n. 1 an act of cutting, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in sing.] a haircut: his hair was in need of a cut.

- a stroke or blow given by a sharp-edged implement or by a whip or cane: he could skin an animal with a single cut of the knife.

- FIGURATIVE a wounding remark or act: his unkindest cut at Elizabeth was to call her heartless.

- a reduction in amount or size: she took a 20% pay cut; a cut in interest rates.

- (in sports) a removal of a player from a team’s roster.

- an act of removing part of a play, movie, or book, esp. to shorten the work or to delete offensive material: they would not publish the book unless the author was willing to make cuts.

- an immediate transition from one scene to another in a movie.

- [GOLF] the halfway point of a golf tournament where half of the players are eliminated.

- [TENNIS] a stroke made with a sharp horizontal or downward action of the racket, imparting spin.

2 a result of cutting something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a long narrow incision in the skin made by something sharp.

- a long narrow opening or incision made in a surface or piece of material: make a single cut along the top of each potato.

- a piece of meat cut from a carcass: a good lean cut of beef.

- [in sing.] INFORMAL a share of the profits from something: the directors are demanding their cut.

- a recording of a piece of music: a cut from his forthcoming album.

- a version of a movie after editing: the director's cut.

- a passage cut or dug out, as a railroad cutting or a new channel made for a river or other waterway.

- a woodcut.

3 [in sing.] the way or style in which something, esp. a garment or someone's hair, is cut: the elegant cut of his dinner jacket.

<PHRASES>
□ be cut out for (or to be) [usu. with negative] INFORMAL have exactly the right qualities for a particular role, task, or job: I'm just not cut out to be a policeman.

□ a cut above INFORMAL noticeably superior to: she's a cut above the rest.

□ cut and dried [often with negative] (of a situation) completely settled or decided: the championship is not as cut and dried as everyone thinks. <ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: originally used to distinguish the herbs of herbalists' shops from growing herbs.

□ cut and run INFORMAL make a speedy or sudden departure from an awkward or hazardous situation rather than deal with it. <ORIGIN> originally a nautical phrase, meaning 'cut the anchor cable because of some emergency and make sail immediately'.

□ cut and thrust [FENCING] the use of both the edge and the point of one’s sword while fighting.
- a spirited and rapid interchange of views: the cut and thrust of political debate.

- a situation or sphere of activity regarded as carried out under adversarial conditions: the ruthless cut and thrust of the business world.

□ cut both ways (of a point or statement) serve both sides of an argument.
- (of an action or process) have both good and bad effects: the triumphs of civilization cut both ways.

□ cut the corner take the shortest course by going across and not around a corner.

□ cut corners undertake something in what appears to be the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way, esp. by omitting to do something important or ignoring rules.

□ cut the crap [often in imperative] VULGAR SLANG get to the point; state the real situation.

□ cut someone dead completely ignore someone.

□ cut a deal INFORMAL come to an arrangement, esp. in business; make a deal.

□ cut someone down to size INFORMAL deflate someone's exaggerated sense of self-worth.

□ cut something down to size reduce the size or power of something, for example an organization, that is regarded as having become too large or powerful.

□ cut a figure present oneself or appear in a particular way: David has cut a dashing figure on the international social scene.

□ cut someone free free someone from something in which they are trapped.

□ cut from the same cloth of the same nature; similar: don't assume all women are cut from the same cloth.

□ cut in line push into a line of people in order to be served or dealt with before one's turn.

□ cut it fine see FINE^1 .

□ cut it out [usu. in imperative] INFORMAL used to ask someone to stop doing or saying something that is annoying or offensive: I'm sick of that joke; cut it out, can't you?

□ cut loose distance oneself from a person, group, or system by which one is unduly influenced or on which one is overdependent: Poland cut loose from communism.
- act without restraint: consumers want to cut loose and have secret bacchanals.

□ cut someone/something loose free someone or something from something that holds or restricts them; untie: he'd cut loose the horses.

□ cut one's losses abandon an enterprise or course of action that is clearly going to be unprofitable or unsuccessful before one suffers too much loss or harm.

□ cut the mustard INFORMAL come up to expectations; reach the required standard: I didn't cut the mustard as a hockey player.

□ cut no ice INFORMAL have no influence or effect: your holier-than-thou attitude cuts no ice with me.

□ cut someone off (or down) in their prime bring someone's life or career to an abrupt end while they are at the peak of their abilities.

□ cut someone/something short interrupt someone or something; bring an abrupt or premature end to something said or done: Peter cut him short rudely.

□ cut someone to pieces kill or severely injure someone.
- FIGURATIVE totally defeat someone.

□ cut a (or the) rug INFORMAL dance, typically in an energetic or accomplished way: you can cut a rug when dance bands and singers take to the stage.

□ cut one's teeth acquire initial practice or experience of a particular sphere of activity or with a particular organization: the brothers cut their professional teeth at Lusardi's before starting their own restaurant.

□ cut a tooth (usu.of a baby or child) have a tooth appear through the gum.

□ cut to the chase INFORMAL come to the point: cut to the chasewhat is it you want us to do? <ORIGIN> cut in the sense 'move to another part of the movie', expressing the notion of ignoring any preliminaries.

□ cut your coat according to your cloth PROVERB undertake only what you have the money or ability to do and no more.

□ have one's work cut out see WORK.

□ make the cut [GOLF] equal or better a required score, thus avoiding elimination from the last two rounds of a four-round tournament.

□ miss the cut [GOLF] fail to equal or better a required score, thus being eliminated from the last two rounds of a four-round tournament.

<PHRASAL VERB>
□  cut in 1 interrupt someone while they are speaking: “It's urgent,” Raoul cut in.
- DATED interrupt a dancing couple to take over from one partner.

2 pull in too closely in front of another vehicle after having overtaken it: she cut in on a station wagon, forcing the driver to brake.

3 (of a motor or other mechanical device) begin operating, esp. when triggered automatically by an electrical signal: emergency generators cut in.

4

□  cut someone in INFORMAL include someone in a deal and give them a share of the profits.

□  cut into interrupt the course of: Victoria's words cut into her thoughts.

□  cut someone off interrupt someone while they are speaking.
- interrupt someone during a telephone call by breaking the connection: I listened to prerecorded messages for twenty-three minutes before being cut off.

- prevent someone from receiving or being provided with something, esp. power or water: consumers cut off for nonpayment.

- reject someone as one's heir; disinherit someone: Gabrielle's family cut her off without a penny.

- prevent someone from having access to somewhere or someone; isolate someone from something they previously had connections with: we were cut off from reality.

- INFORMAL (of a driver) overtake someone and pull in too closely in front of them.

□  cut out 1 (of a motor or engine) suddenly stop operating.

2 INFORMAL (of a person) leave quickly, esp. so as to avoid a boring or awkward situation.

□  cut someone out exclude someone: his mother cut him out of her will.

□  cut up 1 INFORMAL behave in a mischievous or unruly manner: kids cutting up in a classroom.

2 INFORMAL (of a horse race) have a particular selection of runners: the race has cut up badly with no other opposition from England.

□  cut someone up INFORMAL criticize someone severely: my kids cut him up about his appetite all the time.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (probably existing, although not recorded, in Old English); probably of Germanic origin and related to Norwegian kutte and Icelandic kuta 'cut with a small knife', kuti 'small blunt knife'.

Linked entries:

CUT AND PASTE ■

FINE ■

WORK ■

cut-and-come-a·gain n. [usu. as adj.] a garden plant, esp. a green vegetable or a flower, that can be repeatedly cut or harvested: cut-and-come-again spinach.

cut-and-cov·er n. a method of building a tunnel by making a cutting, which is then lined and covered over.

cut and paste n. a process used in assembling text on a word processor or computer, in which items are removed from one part and inserted elsewhere.

■ v. [trans.] move (an item of text) using this technique.

cu·ta·ne·ous adj. of, relating to, or affecting the skin: cutaneous pigmentation.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from modern Latin cutaneus (from Latin cutis 'skin') + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

cut·a·way n. [often as adj.] 1 a thing made or designed with a part cut out or absent, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a coat or jacket with the front cut away below the waist so as to curve back to the tails.

- a diagram or drawing with some external parts left out to reveal the interior.

2 a shot in a movie that is of a different subject from those to which it is joined in editing.

cut·back n. an act or instance of reducing something, typically expenditures: cutbacks in defense spending.

cutch n. see CATECHU.

Linked entries:

CATECHU ■

cut·down n. 1 a decrease or reduction: [as adj.] left with a cutdown staff.

2 [SURGERY] a procedure of cutting into a vein in order to insert a needle or cannula.

cute adj. 1 attractive in a pretty or endearing way: a cute kitten.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL sexually attractive.

2 INFORMAL affectedly or superficially clever: I don't want to be cute with you.

<DERIVATIVES> cute·ly adv. cute·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (in the sense 'clever, shrewd'): shortening of ACUTE.

Linked entries:

ACUTE ■

cute·sy adj. INFORMAL cute to a sentimental or mawkish extent: hair pulled back in cutesy little bows.

cut·ey n. variant spelling of CUTIE.

Linked entries:

CUTIE ■

cut glass n. glass that has been ornamented by having patterns cut into it by grinding and polishing: [as adj.] a cut-glass vase.

Cuth·bert, St. (died 687), English monk. Feast day, March 20.

cu·ti·cle n. 1 the outer layer of living tissue, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [BOTANY] & [ZOOLOGY] a protective and waxy or hard layer covering the epidermis of a plant, invertebrate, or shell.

- the outer cellular layer of a hair.

- [ZOOLOGY] another term for EPIDERMIS.

2 the dead skin at the base of a fingernail or toenail.

<DERIVATIVES> cu·tic·u·lar adj.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (denoting a membrane of the body): from Latin cuticula, diminutive of cutis 'skin'.

Linked entries:

EPIDERMIS ■

cut·ie (also cutie pie) n. INFORMAL an attractive or endearing person.

cut·in n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a waxy, water-repellent substance occurring in the cuticle of plants and consisting of highly polymerized esters of fatty acids.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CUTIS + -IN^1 .

Linked entries:

CUTIS ■

-IN ■

cut-in n. a shot in a movie that is edited into another shot or scene.

cu·tis n. [ANATOMY] the true skin or dermis.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin, 'skin'.

cut·lass n. a short sword with a slightly curved blade, formerly used by sailors.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French coutelas, based on Latin cultellus 'small knife' (see CUTLER).

Linked entries:

CUTLER ■

cut·lass·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a long, slender marine fish with sharp teeth and a dorsal fin running the length of the back.
<INFO>  Family Trichiuridae: several species, including the Atlantic Trichiurus lepturus (also called SNAKEFISH), an important food fish in the tropics.

Linked entries:

SNAKEFISH ■

cut·ler n. a person who makes or sells cutlery.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French coutelier, from coutel 'knife', from Latin cultellus, diminutive of culter 'knife, plowshare'. Compare with COULTER.

Linked entries:

COULTER ■

cut·ler·y n. 1 cutting utensils, esp. knives for cutting food.

2 knives, forks, and spoons used for eating or serving food.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French coutellerie, from coutelier (see CUTLER).

Linked entries:

CUTLER ■

cut·let n. a portion of sliced meat breaded and served either grilled or fried.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a flat croquette of minced meat, nuts, or pulses, typically covered in breadcrumbs and fried.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French côtelette, earlier costelette, diminutive of coste 'rib', from Latin costa.

cut·line n. 1 the caption to a photograph or other illustration.

2 (in squash) the line above which a served ball must strike the front wall.

cut·off (also cut-off) adj. 1 of or constituting a limit: the cutoff date to register is July 2.

2 (of a device) producing an interruption or cessation of a power or fuel supply: a cutoff valve.

3 (of an item of clothing) having been cut short: a cutoff T-shirt.

4 (of a person) isolated from or no longer having access to someone or something: aid to the cutoff troops in the north.

■ n. 1 a point or level that is a designated limit of something: 1 p.m. is the cutoff for being out of the woods.

2 an act of stopping or interrupting the supply or provision of something: a cutoff of aid would be a disaster.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a device for producing an interruption or cessation of a power or fuel supply.

- a sudden drop in amplification or responsiveness of an electric device at a certain frequency: [as adj.] a cutoff frequency of 8 Hz.

- the stopping of the supply of steam to the cylinders of a steam engine when the piston has traveled a set percentage of its stroke.

3 (cutoffs) shorts made by cutting off the legs of a pair of jeans or other trousers above or at the knee and leaving the edges unhemmed.

4 a shortcut.

5 [GEOLOGY] a pattern of a meandering stream in which a channel cuts a new course to bypass a meander bend.

cut·out (also cut-out) n. 1 a shape of a person or thing cut out of cardboard or another material.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a person perceived as characterless or as lacking in individuality: this film's protagonists are cardboard cutouts.

2 a hole cut in something for decoration or to allow the insertion of something else.

3 a device that automatically breaks an electric circuit for safety and either resets itself or can be reset.

cut·o·ver n. a rapid transition from one phase of a business enterprise or project to another.

■ adj. (of land) having had its saleable timber felled and removed.

cut·purse n. archaic term for PICKPOCKET.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: with reference to stealing by cutting purses suspended from a waistband.

Linked entries:

PICKPOCKET ■

cut-rate (also cut-price) adj. for sale at a reduced or unusually low price: cut-rate tickets.
<SPECIAL USAGE> offering goods at such prices: a cut-rate furniture store.

cut·scene n. (in computer games) a scene that develops the story line and is often shown on completion of a certain level, or when the player's character dies.

cut·ter n. 1 a person or thing that cuts something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [often with adj.] a tool for cutting something, esp. one intended for cutting a particular thing or for producing a particular shape: a glass cutter | (cutters) a pair of bolt cutters.

- a person who cuts or edits movies.

- a person in a tailoring establishment who takes measurements and cuts the cloth.

- a person who reduces or cuts down on something, esp. expenditures: a determined cutter of costs.

2 a light, fast coastal patrol boat.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a ship's boat used for carrying light stores or passengers.

- HISTORICAL a small fore-and-aft-rigged sailing ship with one mast, more than one headsail, and a running bowsprit, used as a fast auxiliary.

- a yacht with a gaff-rigged mainsail and two foresails.

3 [BASEBALL] (also cut fastball) a fastball that breaks somewhat on being pitched.

4 a light horse-drawn sleigh.

cut·throat n. 1 DATED a murderer or other violent criminal.

2 (also cutthroat trout) a trout of western North America, with red or orange markings under the jaw.
<INFO>  Salmo clarki, family Salmonidae.

■ adj. (of a competitive situation or activity) fierce and intense; involving the use of ruthless measures: cutthroat competition led to a lot of bankruptcies; | the cutthroat world of fashion.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) using ruthless methods in a competitive situation: the greedy cutthroat manufacturers he worked for.

- [SPORTS] relating to or being a game or contest in which each of three players scores individually against the other two.

- denoting a form of whist (or other card game normally for four) played by three players.

cut·throat ra·zor n. British term for STRAIGHT RAZOR.

Linked entries:

STRAIGHT RAZOR ■

cut·throat weav·er (also cut·throat or cutthroat finch) n. a small, finchlike African bird of the waxbill family, with speckled brown plumage, a conspicuous crimson throat band, and a rufous belly.
<INFO>  Amadina fasciata, family Estrildidae.

cut·ting n. 1 (often cuttings) a piece cut off from something, esp. what remains when something is being trimmed or prepared: grass cuttings.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a piece cut from a plant for propagation.

- BRIT. a clipping from a newspaper or periodical.

2 the action of someone or something that cuts: the cutting of the cake; | tax-cutting.

3 an open passage excavated through higher ground for a railroad, road, or canal.

■ adj. capable of cutting something: the cutting blades of the hedge trimmer.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE (esp. of a comment) causing emotional pain; hurtful: a cutting remark.

- FIGURATIVE (of the wind) bitterly cold.

<DERIVATIVES> cut·ting·ly adv.

cut·ting edge n. edge of a tool's blade.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [in sing.] the latest or most advanced stage in the development of something: researchers at the cutting edge of molecular biology.

- [in sing.] a person or factor that contributes a dynamic or invigorating quality to a situation and thereby puts one at an advantage over one's rivals: the campaign began to lose its cutting edge.

- FIGURATIVE incisiveness and directness of expression: his wit retains its cutting edge.

■ adj. (cut·ting-edge) at the latest or most advanced stage of development; innovative or pioneering: cutting-edge technology.

cut·ting horse n. a horse trained in separating cattle from a herd.

cut·ting·ly adv. in an unkind or hurtful way: he can be cuttingly rude.

cut·ting room n. a room in a production studio where film or videotape is cut and edited: [as adj.] such a scene would end up on the cutting-room floor.

cut·tle n. a cuttlefish.

<ORIGIN> Old English cudele 'cuttlefish', of Germanic origin; related to codd 'bag', with reference to its ink bag.

cut·tle·bone n. the flattened oval internal skeleton of the cuttlefish, which is made of white, lightweight, chalky material. It is used as a dietary supplement for caged birds and for making casts for precious metal items.

cut·tle·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a swimming marine mollusk that resembles a broad squid, having eight arms and two long tentacles that are used for grabbing prey. Its internal skeleton is cuttlebone, which it uses for adjusting buoyancy.
<INFO>  Order Sepioidea, class Cephalopoda: Sepia and other genera.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from CUTTLE + FISH^1 .

Linked entries:

CUTTLE ■

FISH ■

Cut·ty Sark the only survivor of the British tea clippers, launched in 1869 and now preserved as a museum ship at Greenwich, London.

<ORIGIN> from Robert Burns's Tam o' Shanter, a poem about a Scottish farmer chased by a young witch who wore only her “cutty sark” (= short shift).

cut·ty-stool n. SCOTTISH, HISTORICAL a stool on which an offender was publicly rebuked during a church service.

cut-up (also cut up) adj. 1 divided into pieces by cutting: cut-up vegetables.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a soft piece of ground) having an uneven surface after the passage of heavy vehicles or animals: the ground was deeply cut up where the cattle had strayed.

2 INFORMAL (of a person) very distressed: his girlfriend is dying and he's really cut up about it.

■ n. 1 a film or sound recording made by cutting and editing material from preexisting recordings.

2 (cutup) INFORMAL a person who is fond of making jokes or playing pranks.

cut·wa·ter n. 1 the forward edge of a ship's prow.

2 a wedge-shaped projection on the pier of a bridge, which divides the flow of water and prevents debris from becoming trapped against the pier.

cut·work n. embroidery or lace with parts cut out and the edges oversewn or filled with needlework designs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> appliqué work in which the pattern is cut out and sewn on.

cut·worm n. a moth caterpillar that lives in the upper layers of the soil and eats through the stems of young plants at ground level.
<INFO>  Noctuidae

cu·vée n. a type, blend, or batch of wine, esp. champagne.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, 'vatful', from cuve 'cask', from Latin cupa.

cu·vette n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a straight-sided, optically clear container for holding liquid samples in a spectrophotometer or other instrument.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, diminutive of cuve 'cask', from Latin cupa.

Cu·vi·er Georges Léopold Chrétien Frédéric Dagobert, Baron (1769-1832), French naturalist. Cuvier founded the science of paleontology.

cuz (also 'cuz or coz) conj. INFORMAL short for BECAUSE.

Linked entries:

BECAUSE ■

Cuz·co a city in the Andes in southern Peru; pop. 275,000. It was the capital of the Inca empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533.

CV abbr.
- cardiovascular.

- curriculum vitae.

cv abbr. cultivated variety.

CVS abbr. chorionic villus sampling.

CVT abbr. continuously variable transmission.

cwm n. a cirque, esp. one in the mountains of Wales.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Welsh; related to COMBE.

Linked entries:

COMBE ■

CWO abbr. Chief Warrant Officer.

c.w.o. abbr. cash with order.

cwr abbr. continuous welded rail; railroad track laid in long unbroken strips rather than as short fixed lengths with gaps.

cwt. abbr. hundredweight.

CY abbr. calendar year.

-cy suffix 1 denoting state or condition: bankruptcy.

2 denoting rank or status: baronetcy.

<ORIGIN> from Latin -cia, -tia and Greek -k(e)ia, -t(e)ia.

cy·an n. a greenish-blue color, which is one of the primary subtractive colors, complementary to red.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek kuaneos 'dark blue'.

cy·an·a·mide n. [CHEMISTRY] a weakly acidic crystalline compound made as an intermediate in the industrial production of ammonia.
<INFO>  Alternative name: cyanogen amide; chem. formula: CH_2N_2.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a salt of this containing the anion CN_2^2 esp. the calcium salt ( calcium cyanamide) used as a fertilizer.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: blend of CYANOGEN and AMIDE.

Linked entries:

CYANOGEN ■

AMIDE ■

cy·an·ic adj. RARE blue; azure.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from CYAN + -IC.

Linked entries:

CYAN ■

-IC ■

cy·an·ic ac·id n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless, poisonous, volatile, strongly acidic liquid.
<INFO>  See also FULMINIC ACID.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·a·nate n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from CYANOGEN.

Linked entries:

FULMINIC ACID ■

CYANOGEN ■

cy·a·nide n. [CHEMISTRY] a salt or ester of hydrocyanic acid, containing the anion CN or the group CN. The salts are generally extremely toxic. Compare with NITRILE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> sodium or potassium cyanide used as a poison or in the extraction of gold and silver.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from CYANOGEN + -IDE.

Linked entries:

NITRILE ■

CYANOGEN ■

-IDE ■

cy·a·nine n. a blue pigment that is a mixture of cobalt blue and Prussian blue.

cy·a·nite n. variant of KYANITE.

Linked entries:

KYANITE ■

cyano- comb. form 1 relating to the color blue, esp. dark blue: cyanosis.

2 representing CYANIDE.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kuan(e)os 'dark blue'.

Linked entries:

CYANIDE ■

cy·a·no·ac·ry·late n. [CHEMISTRY] any of a class of compounds that are cyanide derivatives of acrylates. They are easily polymerized and are used to make quick-setting adhesives.

Cy·a·no·bac·te·ri·a [BIOLOGY] a division of microorganisms that are related to the bacteria but are capable of photosynthesis. They are prokaryotic and represent the earliest known form of life on the earth.
<INFO>  Class Cyanophyceae, kingdom Eubacteria.

<SPECIAL USAGE> [as plural n.] (cyanobacteria) microorganisms of this division. Also called BLUE-GREEN ALGAE.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek kuaneos 'dark blue' + plural of BACTERIUM.

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BLUE-GREEN ALGAE ■

BACTERIUM ■

cy·a·no·co·bal·a·min n. a vitamin found in foods of animal origin such as liver, fish, and eggs, a deficiency of which can cause pernicious anemia. It contains a cyanide group bonded to the central cobalt atom of a cobalamin molecule. Also called VITAMIN B_12 (see VITAMIN B).

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from CYANOGEN and cobalamin (blend of COBALT and VITAMIN).

Linked entries:

CYANOGEN ■

COBALT ■

VITAMIN ■

cy·a·no·gen n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless, flammable, highly poisonous gas made by oxidizing hydrogen cyanide. One of the pseudohalogens, cyanogen is an intermediate in fertilizer manufacture.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_2N_2.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French cyanogène, from Greek kuanos 'dark blue mineral' + -gène (see -GEN), so named because it is a constituent of Prussian blue.

Linked entries:

-GEN ■

cy·a·no·gen·e·sis n. [BOTANY] the production of hydrogen cyanide by certain plants, such as cherry laurel, bracken, and some legumes, as a response to wounding or a deterrent to herbivores.

cy·a·no·gen·ic adj. [BOTANY] (of a plant) capable of cyanogenesis: cyanogenic forms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BIOCHEMISTRY] containing a cyanide group in the molecule.

cy·a·no·hy·drin n. [CHEMISTRY] an organic compound containing a carbon atom linked to both a cyanide group and a hydroxyl group.

cy·a·no·phyte n. [BIOLOGY] a microorganism of the division Cyanobacteria.

cy·a·no·sis n. [MEDICINE] a bluish discoloration of the skin resulting from poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·a·not·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek 'blueness', from kuaneos 'dark blue'.

cy·an·o·type n. a photographic blueprint.

cy·ath·i·um n. (pl. -ath·i·a ) [BOTANY] the characteristic inflorescence of the spurges, resembling a single flower. It consists of a cup-shaped involucre of fused bracts enclosing several greatly reduced male flowers and a single female flower.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek kuathion, diminutive of kuathos 'cup'.

Cyb·e·le [MYTHOLOGY] a mother goddess worshiped esp. in Phrygia and later in Greece (where she was associated with Demeter), Rome, and the Roman provinces, with her consort Attis.

cy·ber adj. of, relating to, or characteristic of the culture of computers, information technology, and virtual reality: the cyber age.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: abbreviation of CYBERNETICS.

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CYBERNETICS ■

cyber- comb. form relating to electronic communication networks and virtual reality: cyberpunk; cyberspace.

<ORIGIN> back-formation from CYBERNETICS.

Linked entries:

CYBERNETICS ■

cy·ber·at·tack n. an effort by hackers to damage or destroy a computer network or system.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·ber·at·tack·er n.

cy·ber·ca·fé n. a café that offers internet access on computers that it owns, or via Wi-Fi on patrons' computers.

cy·ber·cash n. 1 funds used in electronic financial transactions, especially over the Internet.

2 money stored on an electronic smart card or in an online credit account.

cy·ber·crime n. crime conducted via the Internet or some other computer network.

cy·ber·law n. laws, or a specific law, relating to Internet and computer offenses, especially fraud or copyright infringement.

cy·ber·mall n.a commercial Web site through which a range of goods may be purchased; a virtual shopping mall on the Internet: a cybermall, where a user might move from store to store and acquire various merchandise along the way.

cy·ber·naut n. [COMPUTING] a person who wears sensory devices in order to experience virtual reality.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who uses the Internet.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: from CYBER-, on the pattern of astronaut and aeronaut.

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CYBER- ■

cy·ber·net·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the science of communications and automatic control systems in both machines and living things.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·ber·net·ic adj. cy·ber·ne·ti·cian n. cy·ber·net·i·cist n.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Greek 'steersman', from kubernan 'to steer'.

cy·ber·pet n. an electronic toy that simulates a real pet and with which human interaction is possible. Also called DIGIPET or VIRTUAL PET.

cy·ber·pho·bi·a n. extreme or irrational fear of computers or technology.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·ber·phobe n. cy·ber·pho·bic adj. & n.

cy·ber·porn n. pornography viewable on a computer screen, especially accessed via the Internet.

cy·ber·punk n. a genre of science fiction set in a lawless subculture of an oppressive society dominated by computer technology.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a writer of such science fiction.

- a person who accesses computer networks illegally, esp. with malicious intent.

cy·ber·sex n. sexual arousal using computer technology, esp. by wearing virtual reality equipment or by exchanging messages with another person via the Internet.

cy·ber·shop v. (-shopped, -shop·ping) [intrans., often as noun] (cybershopping) purchase or shop for goods and services on a Web site: more than half of American workers cybershop on company time.

■ n. a Web site that sells or provides information about retail goods or services: the retailer's cybershop sometimes has different prices than in its mail-order catalog. Also called CYBERSTORE.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·ber·shop·per n.

cy·ber·slack·er n. INFORMAL a person who uses their employer's Internet and e-mail facilities for personal activities during working hours: cyberslackers who download and distribute pornography.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·ber·slack·ing n.

cy·ber·space n. the notional environment in which communication over computer networks occurs.

cy·ber·squat·ting n. the practice of registering names, especially well-known company or brand names, as Internet domains, in the hope of reselling them at a profit.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·ber·squat·ter n.

cy·ber·stalk·ing n. the repeated use of electronic communications to harass or frighten someone, for example by sending threatening e-mails.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·ber·stalk·er n.

cy·ber·store n. another term for CYBERSHOP.

cy·ber·surf·ing n. the practice of using and browsing the Internet, especially as a habitual pastime.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·ber·surf·er n.

cy·ber·ter·ror·ism n. the politically motivated use of computers and information technology to cause severe disruption or widespread fear in society: a bill that would make it easier for law enforcement to wiretap computers and combat cyberterrorism.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·ber·ter·ror·ist n.

cy·ber·war n. acts of hostility carried out on the Internet against national interests or ethnic groups.

cy·borg n. a fictional or hypothetical person whose physical abilities are extended beyond normal human limitations by mechanical elements built into the body.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: blend of CYBER- and ORGANISM.

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CYBER- ■

ORGANISM ■

cy·brar·i·an n. a librarian or researcher who uses the Internet as an information resource.

<ORIGIN> blend of cyber- and librarian.

cy·cad n. a palmlike plant of tropical and subtropical regions, bearing large male or female cones. Cycads were abundant during the Triassic and Jurassic eras, but have since been in decline.
<INFO>  Class Cycadopsida, subdivision Gymnospermae: twenty species in the genus Cycas and family Cycadaceae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cycas, Cycad- (order name), from supposed Greek kukas, scribal error for koikas, plural of koix 'Egyptian palm'.

Cyc·la·des a large group of islands in the southern Aegean Sea, regarded in antiquity as circling around the sacred island of Delos. Greek name KIKLÁDHES.

<ORIGIN> Latin, based on Greek kuklos 'circle'.

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KIKLÁDHES ■

Cy·clad·ic adj. of or relating to the Cyclades.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [ARCHAEOLOGY] of, relating to, or denoting a Bronze Age civilization that flourished in the Cyclades, dated to c.3000-1050 BC.

- [as n.] (the Cycladic) the Cycladic culture or period.

cy·cla·mate n. [CHEMISTRY] a salt of a synthetic acid which is a cyclohexyl derivative of sulfamic acid. Sodium and calcium cyclamates were formerly used as artificial sweeteners.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: contraction of cyclohexylsulphamate.

cy·cla·men n. (pl. same or -mens) a European plant of the primrose family, having pink, red, or white flowers with backward-curving petals and widely grown as a winter-flowering houseplant.
<INFO>  Genus Cyclamen, family Primulaceae: several species.

<SPECIAL USAGE> a pinkish-purple color.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Latin cyclaminos, from Greek kuklaminos, perhaps from kuklos 'circle', with reference to its bulbous roots.

cy·cle n. 1 [often with adj.] a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order: the boom and slump periods of a trade cycle.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the period of time taken to complete a single sequence of such events: the cells are shed over a cycle of twenty-eight days

- TECHNICAL a recurring series of successive operations or states, as in the working of an internal combustion engine, or in the alternation of an electric current or a wave: the familiar four cycles of intake, combustion, ignition, and exhaust.

- [BIOLOGY] a recurring series of events or metabolic processes in the lifetime of a plant or animal: the storks' breeding cycle.

- [BIOCHEMISTRY] a series of successive metabolic reactions in which one of the products is regenerated and reused.

- [ECOLOGY] the movement of a simple substance through the soil, rocks, water, atmosphere, and living organisms of the earth. See CARBON CYCLE, NITROGEN CYCLE.

- [COMPUTING] a single set of hardware operations, esp. that by which memory is accessed and an item is transferred to or from it, to the point at which the memory may be accessed again.

- [PHYSICS] a cycle per second; one hertz.

2 a complete set or series: the painting is one of a cycle of seven.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a series of songs, stories, plays, or poems composed around a particular theme and usually intended to be performed or read in sequence: Wagner's Ring Cycle.

3 a bicycle or tricycle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [in sing.] a ride on a bicycle: a 112-mile cycle.

■ v. [intrans.] 1 ride a bicycle: she cycled to work every day.

2 move in or follow a regularly repeated sequence of events: economies cycle regularly between boom and slump.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from late Latin cyclus, from Greek kuklos 'circle'.

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CARBON CYCLE ■

NITROGEN CYCLE ■

cy·cle of e·ro·sion n. DATED [GEOLOGY] an idealized course of landscape evolution, passing from youthful stages, which are marked by steep gradients, to old age, when the landscape is reduced to a peneplain.

cy·clic adj. 1 occurring in cycles; regularly repeated: nature is replete with cyclic processes; the cyclic pattern of the last two decades.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MATHEMATICS] (of a group) having the property that each element of the group can be expressed as a power of one particular element.

- relating to or denoting a musical or literary composition with a recurrent theme or structural device.

2 [MATHEMATICS] of or relating to a circle or other closed curve.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [GEOMETRY] (of a polygon) having all its vertices lying on a circle.

- [CHEMISTRY] (of a compound) having a molecular structure containing one or more closed rings of atoms.

- [BOTANY] (of a flower) having its parts arranged in whorls.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·cli·cal adj. (in sense 1). cy·cli·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French cyclique or Latin cyclicus, from Greek kuklikos, from kuklos 'circle'.

cy·cli·cals plural n. stocks in cyclical companies (those whose success varies with the seasonal or economic cycle).

cy·clic AMP n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a cyclic form of adenosine monophosphate (adenylic acid) that plays a major role in controlling many enzyme-catalyzed processes in living cells.

cy·clic GMP (abbr. cGMP) n. a cyclic version of the nucleotide guanosine monophosphate. In cellular metabolism, it is a secondary messenger affecting cell growth and division..

cy·clic re·dun·dan·cy check (also cyclic redundancy code) (abbr.: CRC) n. [COMPUTING] a code added to data that is used to detect errors occurring during transmission, storage, or retrieval.

cy·clin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] any of a number of proteins associated with the cycle of cell division that are thought to initiate certain processes of mitosis.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: from CYCLE + -IN^1 .

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CYCLE ■

-IN ■

cy·cling n. the sport or activity of riding a bicycle. Bicycle racing has three main forms: road racing (typically over long distances), track racing (on an oval track), and cyclocross (over rough, open country).

Cy·cli·oph·o·ra [ZOOLOGY] a new phylum that has been proposed for a minute marine invertebrate (Symbion pandora) that was discovered in 1996 attached to the mouthparts of lobsters. It is related to the phyla Bryozoa and Entoprocta.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek kuklios 'circular' + pherein 'to bear'.

cy·clist n. a person who rides a bicycle.

cy·clize v. [CHEMISTRY] undergo or cause to undergo a reaction in which one part of a molecule becomes linked to another to form a closed ring.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·cli·za·tion n.

cyclo- comb. form 1 circular: cyclorama.

2 relating to a cycle or cycling: cyclocross.

3 cyclic: cycloparaffin.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kuklos 'circle', or directly from CYCLE or CYCLIC.

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CYCLE ■

CYCLIC ■

cy·clo·ad·di·tion n. [CHEMISTRY] an addition reaction in which a cyclic molecule is formed.

cy·clo·al·kane n. [CHEMISTRY] another term for CYCLOPARAFFIN.

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CYCLOPARAFFIN ■

cy·clo·cross (also cy·clo-cross) n. cross-country racing on bicycles.

cy·clo·hex·ane n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless, flammable liquid cycloparaffin obtained from petroleum or by hydrogenating benzene, and used as a solvent and paint remover.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_6H_12.

cy·clo·hex·yl n. [as adj.] [CHEMISTRY] of or denoting the cyclic hydrocarbon radical C_6H_11, derived from cyclohexane.

cy·cloid n. [MATHEMATICS] a curve (resembling a series of arches) traced by a point on a circle being rolled along a straight line.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·cloi·dal adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Greek 'circular', from kuklos 'circle'.

cy·clom·e·ter n. 1 an instrument for measuring circular arcs.

2 an instrument attached to a bicycle for measuring the distance it travels.

cy·clone n. [METEOROLOGY] a system of winds rotating inward to an area of low atmospheric pressure, with a counterclockwise (northern hemisphere) or clockwise (southern hemisphere) circulation; a depression.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for TROPICAL STORM.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·clon·ic adj. cy·clon·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: probably from Greek 'wheel, coil of a snake', from kuklos 'circle'. The change of spelling from -m to -n is unexplained.

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TROPICAL STORM ■

cy·clo·par·af·fin n. [CHEMISTRY] a hydrocarbon with a molecule containing a ring of carbon atoms joined by single bonds.

cy·clo·pe·an (also cy·clo·pi·an) adj. 1 denoting a type of ancient masonry made with massive irregular blocks: cyclopean stone walls. <ORIGIN> by association with the great size of the Cyclops.

2 of or resembling a Cyclops: a cyclopean eye.

cy·clo·pe·di·a (also cy·clo·pae·di·a) n. ARCHAIC (EXCEPT IN BOOK TITLES) an encyclopedia: Bailey's Cyclopedia of Horticulture.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·clo·pe·dic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: shortening of ENCYCLOPEDIA.

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ENCYCLOPEDIA ■

cy·clo·pen·ta·di·ene n. a colorless toxic liquid derived from the distillation of coal tar, insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol, and used in the manufacture of insecticides and resins.

cy·clo·phos·pha·mide n. [MEDICINE] a synthetic cytotoxic drug used in treating leukemia and lymphoma and as an immunosuppressive agent.

cy·clo·ple·gia n. paralysis of the ciliary muscle of the eye.

cy·clo·pro·pane n. [CHEMISTRY] a flammable, gaseous synthetic compound whose molecule contains a ring of three carbon atoms. It has some use as a general anesthetic.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_3H_6.

Cy·clops n. 1 (pl. Cy·clops or Cy·clops·es or Cy·clo·pes ) [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a member of a race of savage one-eyed giants. In the Odyssey, Odysseus escaped death by blinding the Cyclops Polyphemus.

2 (cyclops) a minute predatory freshwater crustacean which has a cylindrical body with a single central eye.
<INFO>  Genus Cyclops and other genera, order Cyclopoida.

<ORIGIN> via Latin from Greek , literally 'round-eyed', from kuklos 'circle' + 'eye'.

cy·clo·ram·a n. a circular picture of a 360° scene, viewed from inside.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a cloth stretched tight in an arc around the back of a stage set, often used to depict the sky.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·clo·ram·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CYCLO-, on the pattern of words such as panorama.

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CYCLO- ■

cy·clo·spo·rine (also cy·clo·spo·rin A, cy·clo·spo·rin) n. [MEDICINE] a drug with immunosuppressive properties used to prevent the rejection of grafts and transplants. A cyclic peptide, it is obtained from a fungus.
<INFO>  Trichoderma polysporum

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from CYCLO- + -sporin (from Latin spora 'spore') + -IN^1 .

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CYCLO- ■

-IN ■

cy·clo·stome n. [ZOOLOGY] an eellike, jawless vertebrate with a round sucking mouth, formerly included in a group with the lampreys and hagfishes.
<INFO>  Subclass Cyclostomata, now incorporated in the superclass Agnatha.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from CYCLO- + Greek stoma 'mouth'.

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CYCLO- ■

cy·clo·style n. an early device for duplicating handwriting, in which a pen with a small toothed wheel pricks holes in a sheet of waxed paper, which is then used as a stencil.

■ v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (cyclostyled) duplicate with such a device: a cyclostyled leaflet.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CYCLO- 'circular' + the noun STYLE.

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CYCLO- ■

STYLE ■

cy·clo·thy·mi·a n. DATED [PSYCHIATRY] a mental state characterized by marked swings of mood between depression and elation; manic-depressive tendency.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·clo·thy·mic adj.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from CYCLO- + Greek thumos 'temper'.

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CYCLO- ■

cy·clo·tron n. [PHYSICS] an apparatus in which charged atomic and subatomic particles are accelerated by an alternating electric field while following an outward spiral or circular path in a magnetic field.

cy·der n. archaic spelling of CIDER.

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CIDER ■

cyg·net n. a young swan.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French cignet, diminutive of Old French cigne 'swan', based on Latin cycnus, from Greek kuknos.

Cyg·nus [ASTRONOMY] a prominent northern constellation (the Swan), said to represent a flying swan that was the form adopted by Zeus on one occasion. It contains the bright star Deneb.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Cyg·ni ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Delta Cygni.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

cyl. abbr. cylinder.

cyl·in·der n. a solid geometric figure with straight parallel sides and a circular or oval section.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a solid or hollow body, object, or part with such a shape.

- a piston chamber in a steam or internal combustion engine.

- a cylindrical container for liquefied gas under pressure.

- a rotating metal roller in a printing press.

- [ARCHAEOLOGY] a cylinder seal.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·lin·dric adj. cy·lin·dri·cal adj. cy·lin·dri·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin cylindrus, from Greek kulindros 'roller', from kulindein 'to roll'.

cyl·in·der block n. see BLOCK (sense 1).

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BLOCK ■

cyl·in·der head n. the end cover of a cylinder in an internal combustion engine, against which the piston compresses the cylinder's contents.

cyl·in·der lin·er n. see LINER^2 .

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LINER ■

cyl·in·der lock n. a lock with the keyhole and tumbler mechanism contained in a cylinder.

cyl·in·der seal n. [ARCHAEOLOGY] a small, barrel-shaped stone object with a hole down the center and an incised design or cuneiform inscription. It was originally rolled on clay when soft to indicate ownership or to authenticate a document and was used chiefly in Mesopotamia from the late 4th to the 1st millennium BC.

cyl·in·droid n. a figure or body resembling a cylinder.

■ adj. resembling a cylinder in shape.

cy·ma n. (pl. -masor -mae ) 1 [ARCHITECTURE] a cornice molding with an S-shaped cross section. Compare with OGEE.

2 [BOTANY] variant spelling of CYME.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek kuma 'wave or wavy molding'.

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OGEE ■

CYME ■

cym·bal n. a musical instrument consisting of a slightly concave round brass plate that is either struck against another one or struck with a stick to make a ringing or clashing sound.

<DERIVATIVES> cym·bal·ist n.

<ORIGIN> Old English, from Latin cymbalum, from Greek kumbalon, from 'cup'; readopted in Middle English from Old French cymbale.

cym·ba·lom (also cim·ba·lom) n. a large Hungarian dulcimer.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Hungarian, from Italian cembalo, cimbalo, from Latin cymbalum (see CYMBAL).

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CYMBAL ■

Cym·be·line (also Cu·no·be·li·nus ) (died c.AD 42), English chieftain. A powerful ruler, he made the town of Camulodunum (Colchester) his capital and established a mint.

cym·bid·i·um n. (pl. -ums) a tropical orchid with long, narrow leaves and arching stems bearing several flowers, growing chiefly as an epiphyte from Asia to Australasia and widely cultivated for boutonnières.
<INFO>  Genus Cymbidium, family Orchidaceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek 'cup'.

cyme n. [BOTANY] a flower cluster with a central stem bearing a single terminal flower that develops first, the other flowers in the cluster developing as terminal buds of lateral stems. Compare with RACEME.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·mose adj.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (denoting the unopened head of a plant): from French, literally 'summit', from a popular variant of Latin cyma.

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RACEME ■

cy·moid adj. resembling a cyma or a cyme.

Cym·ric adj. Welsh in language or culture.

■ n. the Welsh language.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Welsh Cymru 'Wales', Cymry 'the Welsh', + -IC.

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-IC ■

Cym·ru Welsh name for WALES.

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WALES ■

Cyn·e·wulf (late 8th-9th centuries), Anglo-Saxon poet. Four poems are attributed to him: Juliana, Elene, The Fates of the Apostles, and Christ II.

cyn·ic n. 1 a person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons: some cynics thought that the controversy was all a publicity stunt.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who questions whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile: the cynics were silenced when the factory opened.

2 (Cynic) a member of a school of ancient Greek philosophers founded by Antisthenes, marked by an ostentatious contempt for ease and pleasure. The movement flourished in the 3rd century BC and revived in the 1st century AD.

<DERIVATIVES> cyn·i·cism n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (sense 2): from Latin cynicus, from Greek kunikos; probably originally from Kunosarges, the name of a gymnasium where Antisthenes taught, but popularly taken to mean 'doglike, churlish', , kun- 'dog' becoming a nickname for a Cynic.

cyn·i·cal adj. 1 believing that people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity: her cynical attitude.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- doubtful as to whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile: most residents are cynical about efforts to clean mobsters out of their city.

- contemptuous; mocking: he gave a cynical laugh.

2 concerned only with one's own interests and typically disregarding accepted or appropriate standards in order to achieve them: Stalin had struck a cynical deal with Hitler.

<DERIVATIVES> cyn·i·cal·ly adv.

cyno- comb. form of or relating to dogs: cynodont.

<ORIGIN> from Greek , kun- 'dog'.

cyn·o·dont n. a carnivorous, mammallike fossil reptile of the late Permian and Triassic periods, with well-developed, specialized teeth.
<INFO>  Suborder Cynodontia, order Therapsida: several families.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek , kun- 'dog' + odous, odont- 'tooth'.

cy·no·sure n. [in sing.] a person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration: the Queen was the cynosure of all eyes.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French, or from Latin cynosura, from Greek kunosoura 'dog's tail' (also 'Ursa Minor'), from , kun- 'dog' + oura 'tail'. The term originally denoted the constellation Ursa Minor, or the star Polaris that it contains, long used as a guide by navigators.

cy·pher n. variant spelling of CIPHER.

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CIPHER ■

cy·pher·punk n. a person who uses encryption when accessing a computer network in order to ensure privacy, esp. from government authorities.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: on the pattern of cyberpunk.

cy-pres adv. & adj. [LAW] as near as possible to the testator's or donor's intentions when these cannot be precisely followed.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from a late Anglo-Norman French variant of French si près 'so near'.

Cy·press a city in south central California, southeast of Los Angeles; pop. 42,655.

cy·press n. (also cypress tree) an evergreen coniferous tree with small, rounded, woody cones and flattened shoots bearing small, scalelike leaves.
<INFO>  Cupressus, Chamaecyparis, and other genera, family Cupressaceae: many species, including the columnar Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), common throughout southern Europe. See also LAWSON CYPRESS.

<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a tree of this type, or branches from it, as a symbol of mourning.

- used in names of similar coniferous trees of other families, e.g., bald cypress.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French cipres, from late Latin cypressus, from Greek kuparissos.

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LAWSON CYPRESS ■

cy·press knees plural n. the cone-shaped exposed growths on the buttress roots of a bald cypress.

Cyp·ri·an, St. (died 258), Carthaginian bishop and martyr. Feast day, September 16 or 26.

cy·pri·nid n. [ZOOLOGY] a fish of the minnow (or carp) family (Cyprinidae).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cyprinidae (plural), based on Greek kuprinos 'carp'.

cyp·ri·noid [ZOOLOGY] n. a fish of a large group that includes the carps, suckers, and loaches, and (in some classification schemes) the characins.
<INFO>  Order Cypriniformes or superfamily Cyprinoidea.

■ adj. of or relating to fish of this group.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Cyprinoidea, based on Latin cyprinus 'carp' (from Greek kuprinos).

Cyp·ri·ot n. 1 a native or national of Cyprus.

2 the dialect of Greek used in Cyprus.

■ adj. of or relating to Cyprus or its people or the Greek dialect used there.

<ORIGIN> from Greek , from Kupros 'Cyprus'.

cyp·ri·pe·di·um n. (pl. -ums) an orchid of a genus that comprises the lady's slippers.
<INFO>  Genus Cypripedium, family Orchidaceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek Kupris 'Aphrodite' + pedilon 'slipper'.

Cy·prus an island country in southeastern Europe, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, about 50 miles (80 km) south of the Turkish coast; pop. 775,000; capital, Nicosia; official languages, Greek and Turkish.

A Greek colony in ancient times, Cyprus was held by the Turks from 1571 until 1878, when it was placed under British administration. After virtual civil war between the Greek Cypriots (some of whom favor enosis or union with Greece) and the Turkish Cypriots, Cyprus became an independent Commonwealth of Nations republic in 1960. In 1974, Turkish forces took over the northern part of the island, which proclaimed itself the independent Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983 and effectively divided the island between the Greek and Turkish communities. It is now under UN supervision. The Greek Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus joined the EU in May 2004.

cyp·se·la n. (pl. -lae ) [BOTANY] a dry, single-seeded fruit formed from a double ovary, of which only one develops into a seed, as in the daisy family.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek 'hollow vessel'.

Cyr·a·no de Ber·ge·rac Savinien (1619-55), French soldier, duelist, and writer. He is chiefly remembered for the large number of duels that he fought (many because of his proverbially large nose) as immortalized in Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), a play by Edmond Rostand.

Cyr·e·na·ic adj. of or denoting the hedonistic school of philosophy, whichwas founded c.400 BC by Aristippus the Elder of Cyrene and which holds that pleasure is the highest good and that virtue is to be equated with the ability to enjoy.

■ n. a follower of this school of philosophy.

<DERIVATIVES> Cyr·e·na·i·cism n.

Cyr·e·na·i·ca a region in northeastern Libya that borders on the Mediterranean Sea and was settled by the Greeks c.640 BC.

Cy·re·ne an ancient Greek city in North Africa, near the coast in Cyrenaica.

Cyr·il, St. (826-869), Greek missionary. The invention of the Cyrillic alphabet is ascribed to him. Feast day (in the Eastern Church) May 11; (in the Western Church) February 14.

Cy·ril·lic adj. denoting the alphabet used by many Slavic peoples, chiefly those with a historical allegiance to the Orthodox Church. Ultimately derived from Greek uncials, it is now used for Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Ukrainian, and some other Slavic languages.

■ n. the Cyrillic alphabet.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after St. Cyril (see CYRIL, ST.).

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CYRIL, ST. ■

Cyr·il of Al·ex·an·dri·a, St. (died 444), doctor of the Church and patriarch of Alexandria. He is best known for his vehement opposition to the views of Nestorius, the patriarch of Constantinople. Feast day, February 9.

Cy·rus 1 (died c.530 BC), king of Persia 559-530 BC; founder of the Achaemenid dynasty; father of Cambyses; known as Cyrus the Great. He defeated the Median empire in 550 BC and went on to conquer Asia Minor, Babylonia, Syria, Palestine, and most of the Iranian plateau. He is said to have ruled with wisdom and moderation, maintaining good relations with the Jews (whom he freed from the Babylonian Captivity) and the Phoenicians.

Cy·rus 2 (died 401 BC), Persian prince; known as Cyrus the Younger. On the death of his father, Darius II, in 405 BC, Cyrus led an army of mercenaries against his elder brother, who had succeeded to the throne as Artaxerxes II.

cyst n. [BIOLOGY] in an animal or plant, a thin-walled, hollow organ or cavity containing a liquid secretion; a sac, vesicle, or bladder.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MEDICINE] in the body, a membranous sac or cavity of abnormal character containing fluid.

- a tough protective capsule enclosing the larva of a parasitic worm or the resting stage of an organism.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from late Latin cystis, from Greek kustis 'bladder'.

cys·tec·to·my n. 1 (pl. -mies) a surgical operation to remove the urinary bladder.

2 a surgical operation to remove an abnormal cyst: an ovarian cystectomy.

cys·te·ine n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a sulfur-containing amino acid that occurs in keratins and other proteins, often in the form of cystine, and is a constituent of many enzymes.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: HSCH_2CH(NH_2)COOH.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from CYSTINE + -eine (variant of -INE^4 ).

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CYSTINE ■

-INE ■

cys·tic adj. 1 [CHIEFLY MEDICINE] of, relating to, or characterized by cysts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ZOOLOGY] (of a parasite or other organism) enclosed in a cyst: the cystic stage.

2 of or relating to the urinary bladder or the gallbladder: the cystic artery.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (originally referring to the gallbladder): from French cystique or modern Latin cysticus, from late Latin cystis (see CYST).

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CYST ■

cys·ti·cer·cus n. (pl. -cer·ci ) [ZOOLOGY] a larval tapeworm that is at a stage in which the scolex is inverted in a sac, and that is typically found encysted in the muscle tissue of the host.

<DERIVATIVES> cys·ti·cer·coid adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin (originally the name of a supposed genus), from Greek kustis 'bladder' + kerkos 'tail'.

cys·tic fi·bro·sis n. a hereditary disorder affecting the exocrine glands. It causes the production of abnormally thick mucus, leading to the blockage of the pancreatic ducts, intestines, and bronchi and often resulting in respiratory infection.

cys·tine n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a compound that is an oxidized dimer of cysteine and is the form in which cysteine often occurs in organic tissue.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_6H_12N_2O_4S_2.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek kustis 'bladder' (because it was first isolated from urinary calculi) + -INE^4 .

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-INE ■

cys·ti·tis n. [MEDICINE] inflammation of the urinary bladder. It is often caused by infection and is usually accompanied by frequent, painful urination.

cysto- comb. form of or relating to the urinary bladder: cystotomy.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kustis 'bladder'.

cyst·oid adj. of the nature of a cyst.

■ n. a cystoid formation.

cys·to·scope n. [MEDICINE] an instrument inserted into the urethra for examining the urinary bladder.

<DERIVATIVES> cys·to·scop·ic adj. cys·tos·co·py n.

cys·tot·o·my n. (pl. -mies) a surgical incision into the urinary bladder.

-cyte comb. form [BIOLOGY] denoting a mature cell: lymphocyte. Compare with -BLAST.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kutos 'vessel'.

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-BLAST ■

Cyth·er·e·a n. another name for APHRODITE.

<ORIGIN> from Latin Cythera 'Kithira', the name of an Ionian island.

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APHRODITE ■

Cyth·er·ean adj. [ASTRONOMY] of or relating to the planet Venus: the Cytherean atmosphere.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to the goddess Cytherea.

cyt·i·dine n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a nucleoside composed of cytosine linked to ribose, obtained from RNA by hydrolysis.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from CYTO- + -IDE + -INE^4 .

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CYTO- ■

-IDE ■

-INE ■

cyto- comb. form [BIOLOGY] of a cell or cells: cytology; cytoplasm.

<ORIGIN> from Greek kutos 'vessel'.

cy·to·ar·chi·tec·ton·ics plural n. [treated as sing. or pl.] another term for CYTOARCHITECTURE.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·to·ar·chi·tec·ton·ic adj.

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CYTOARCHITECTURE ■

cy·to·ar·chi·tec·ture n. [ANATOMY] the arrangement of cells in a tissue, esp. in specific areas of the cerebral cortex characterized by the arrangement of their cells and each associated with particular functions. Also called CYTOARCHITECTONICS.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the study of this.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·to·ar·chi·tec·tur·al adj. cy·to·ar·chi·tec·tur·al·ly adv.

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CYTOARCHITECTONICS ■

cy·to·cen·tri·fuge [BIOLOGY] n. a centrifuge used for depositing cells suspended in a liquid onto a slide for microscopic examination.

■ v. [trans.] deposit (cells) on a slide using such a centrifuge.

cy·to·cha·la·sin n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] any of a group of polycyclic compounds produced by fungi and used experimentally in research for their property of interfering with cell processes.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from CYTO- 'cell' + Greek khalasis 'dislocation'.

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CYTO- ■

cy·to·chem·is·try n. the chemistry of living cells, esp. as studied microscopically.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·to·chem·i·cal adj.

cy·to·chrome n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] any of a number of compounds consisting of heme bonded to a protein. Cytochromes function as electron transfer agents in many metabolic pathways, esp. cellular respiration.

cy·to·gen·e·sis (also cy·tog·e·ny ) n. the formation and development of cells.

cy·to·ge·net·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] [BIOLOGY] the study of inheritance in relation to the structure and function of chromosomes.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·to·ge·net·ic adj. cy·to·ge·net·i·cal adj. cy·to·ge·net·i·cal·ly adv. cy·to·ge·net·i·cist n.

cy·to·kine n. [PHYSIOLOGY] any of a number of substances, such as interferon, interleukin, and growth factors, that are secreted by certain cells of the immune system and have an effect on other cells.

cy·to·ki·ne·sis n. [BIOLOGY] the cytoplasmic division of a cell at the end of mitosis or meiosis, bringing about the separation into two daughter cells.

cy·to·ki·nin n. another term for KININ (sense 2).

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KININ ■

cy·tol·o·gy n. the branch of biology concerned with the structure and function of plant and animal cells.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·to·log·i·cal adj. cy·to·log·i·cal·ly adv. cy·tol·o·gist n.

cy·tol·y·sis n. [BIOLOGY] the dissolution or disruption of cells, esp. by an external agent.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·to·lyt·ic adj.

cy·to·me·gal·ic adj. [MEDICINE] characterized by enlarged cells, esp. with reference to a disease caused by a cytomegalovirus.

cy·to·meg·a·lo·vi·rus (abbr.: CMV) n. [MEDICINE] a kind of herpesvirus that usually produces very mild symptoms in an infected person but may cause severe neurological damage in people with weakened immune systems and in the newborn.

cy·to·mem·brane n. another term for CELL MEMBRANE.

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CELL MEMBRANE ■

cy·to·path·ic (also cy·to·path·o·gen·ic ) adj. of, pertaining to, or producing damage to living cells.

cy·to·phil·ic adj. having an affinity for living cells.

cy·to·pho·tom·e·try n. [BIOLOGY] the investigation of the contents of cells by measuring the light they allow through after staining.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·to·pho·tom·e·ter n. cy·to·pho·to·met·ric adj.

cy·to·plasm n. [BIOLOGY] the material or protoplasm within a living cell, excluding the nucleus.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·to·plas·mic adj.

cy·to·plast n. the intact cytoplasmic content of a single cell.

cy·to·sine n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a compound found in living tissue as a constituent base of nucleic acids. It is paired with guanine in double-stranded DNA.
<INFO>  A pyrimidine derivative; chem. formula: C_4H_5N_3O.

cy·to·skel·e·ton n. [BIOLOGY] a microscopic network of protein filaments and tubules in the cytoplasm of many living cells, giving them shape and coherence.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·to·skel·e·tal adj.

cy·to·sol n. [BIOLOGY] the aqueous component of the cytoplasm of a cell, within which various organelles and particles are suspended.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·to·sol·ic adj.

cy·to·stat·ic adj. inhibiting cell growth and division.

■ n. any substance that inhibits cell growth and division.

cy·to·tax·on·o·my n. taxonomy based on cytological (and esp. cytogenetic) study.

cy·to·tox·ic adj. toxic to living cells.

<DERIVATIVES> cy·to·tox·ic·i·ty n.

cy·to·tox·ic T cell n. another term for KILLER CELL.

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KILLER CELL ■

cy·to·tox·in n. a substance toxic to cells.

Cy Young A·ward n. [BASEBALL] an annual award to the outstanding pitcher in each of the major leagues.

<ORIGIN> named in honor of Cy Young.

czar (also tsar or tzar) n. 1 variant spelling of TSAR

2 a person with great authority or power in a particular area: America's new drug czar.

<DERIVATIVES> czar·dom n. czar·ism n. czar·ist n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> from Russian , representing Latin Caesar.

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TSAR ■

czar·das n. variant spelling of CSARDAS.

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CSARDAS ■

czar·e·vich variant spelling of TSAREVICH

cza·rev·na variant spelling of TSAREVNA

cza·ri·na variant spelling of TSARINA

Czech n. 1 a native or national of the Czech Republic or (formerly) Czechoslovakia, or a person of Czech descent.

2 the West Slavic language spoken in the Czech Republic, closely related to Slovak.

■ adj. of or relating to the Czechs or their language.

<ORIGIN> Polish spelling of Czech .

Czech·o·slo·va·ki·a a former country in central Europe, now divided between the Czech Republic and Slovakia; capital, Prague. Created out of the northern part of the Austro-Hungarian empire at the end of World War I, it was crushed by the Nazi takeover of the Sudetenland in 1938 and the rest of the country in 1939. After World War II, it fell under Soviet domination. The two parts separated on January 1, 1993.

<DERIVATIVES> Czech·o·slo·vak n. & adj. Czech·o·slo·va·ki·an adj. & n.

Czech Re·pub·lic a country in central Europe; pop. 10,298,700; capital, Prague; official language, Czech.

The Czech Republic was formerly one of the two constituent republics of Czechoslovakia. When Czechoslovakia was partitioned on January 1, 1993, the Czech Republic became independent. It includes the former provinces of Bohemia, Silesia, and Moravia. In 2004 the Czech Republic joined both NATO and the EU.

Cz·sto·cho·wa an industrial city in south central Poland; pop. 258,000. It is known for the statue of the black Madonna in its church.

D 1 (also d) n. (pl. Dsor D's) 1 the fourth letter of the alphabet.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- denoting the fourth in a set of items, categories, sizes, etc.

- the fourth highest category of academic mark.

- (d) [CHESS] denoting the fourth file from the left, as viewed from White's side of the board.

- denoting the second-lowest-earning socioeconomic category for marketing purposes, including semiskilled and unskilled personnel.

2 (D) a shape like that of a capital D: [in combination] the D-shaped handle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a loop or ring of this shape.

3 (usu. D) [MUSIC] the second note of the diatonic scale of C major.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a key based on a scale with D as its keynote.

4 the Roman numeral for 500. <ORIGIN> understood as half of CI, an earlier form of M (= 1,000).

D 2 abbr.
- Democrat or Democratic.

- depth (in the sense of the dimension of an object from front to back).

- [CHEMISTRY] dextrorotatory: D-glucose.

- (with a numeral) dimension(s) or dimensional: a 3-D model.

- (in tables of sports results) drawn.

- (on an automatic gearshift) drive.

- (in personal ads) divorced.

■ symbol
- [PHYSICS] electric flux density.

- [CHEMISTRY] the hydrogen isotope deuterium.

d abbr.
- date.

- (in genealogies) daughter.

- day(s): orbital period (Mars): 687.0d.

- deceased.

- deep.

- [in combination] (in units of measurement) deci-.

- (in travel timetables) departs.

- (d.) died (used to indicate a date of death): Barents, Willem (d.1597).

- divorced.

- BRIT. penny or pence (of predecimal currency): £20 10s 6d. <ORIGIN> from Latin denarius 'penny'.

- [CHEMISTRY] denoting electrons and orbitals possessing two units of angular momentum: d-electrons. <ORIGIN> d from diffuse, originally applied to lines in atomic spectra.

■ symbol
- [MATHEMATICS] diameter.

- [MATHEMATICS] denoting a small increment in a given variable: dy/dx.

'd contraction of
- had: they'd already gone.

- would: I'd expect that.

DA abbr.
- district attorney.

- Doctor of Arts.

- INFORMAL duck's ass.

da abbr. [in combination] (in units of measurement) deca-.

da adj. nonstandard spelling of the, used in representing informal speech.

D/A [ELECTRONICS] abbr. digital to analog.

DAB abbr. digital audio broadcasting.

dab 1 v. (dabbed, dab·bing) [trans.] 1 press against (something) lightly with a piece of absorbent material in order to clean or dry it: he dabbed his mouth with his napkin | [intrans.] she dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.
<SPECIAL USAGE> apply (a substance) with light quick strokes: she dabbed disinfectant on the cut.

2 aim at or strike with a light blow.

■ n. a small amount of something: she licked a dab of chocolate from her finger.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a brief application of cosmetic, paint, or the like to a surface: apply concealer with light dabs.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: symbolic of a light striking movement; compare with DABBLE and DIB.

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DABBLE ■

DIB ■

dab 2 n. a small, commercially important flatfish that is found chiefly in the North Atlantic.
<INFO>  Limanda and other genera, family Pleuronectidae (several species, in particular the European L. limanda), and genus Citharichthys, family Bothidae (see also SAND DAB).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of unknown origin.

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SAND DAB ■

dab·ber n. a rounded pad used in printing to apply ink to a surface.

dab·ble v. [trans.] immerse (one's hands or feet) partially in water and move them around gently: they dabbled their feet in the rock pools.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of a duck or other waterbird) move the bill around in shallow water while feeding: teal dabble in the shallows.

- [intrans.] FIGURATIVE take part in an activity in a casual or superficial way: he dabbled in writing as a young man.

<DERIVATIVES> dab·bler n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from obsolete Dutch dabbelen, or a frequentative of the verb DAB^1 .

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DAB ■

dab·bling duck n. a freshwater duck that typically feeds in shallow water by dabbling and upending, such as the mallard, teal, shoveler, and pintail. Compare with DIVING DUCK.
<INFO>  Tribe Anatini, family Anatidae: genus Anas (numerous species), and perhaps some other genera.

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DIVING DUCK ■

dab·chick n. a small grebe, esp. the little grebe.
<INFO>  Genera Tachybaptus and Podilymbus, family Podicipedidae: several species.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as dapchick or dopchick): the first element is perhaps related to DIP and DEEP.

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DIP ■

DEEP ■

dab hand n. BRIT., INFORMAL a person who is an expert at a particular activity: Tony is a dab hand at golf.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

D'A·bruz·zo Alphonso, see ALDA.

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ALDA ■

DAC [ELECTRONICS] abbr. digital to analog converter.

da ca·po [MUSIC] adv. (esp. as a direction) repeat from the beginning. Compare with DAL SEGNO.

■ adj. [attrib.] including the repetition of a passage at the beginning: da capo arias.

<ORIGIN> Italian, literally 'from the head'.

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DAL SEGNO ■

Dac·ca variant spelling of DHAKA.

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DHAKA ■

dace n. (pl. same) a small freshwater fish of the minnow family, typically living in running water.
<INFO>  Leuciscus and numerous other genera, family Cyprinidae: several species, including the longfin dace (Agosia chrysogaster) of western North America and the widely distributed L. leuciscus of northern Eurasia.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French dars (see DART).

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DART ■

da·cha n. a country house or cottage in Russia, typically used as a second or vacation home.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Russian, originally 'grant (of land)'.

Da·chau a city in Bavaria in southwestern Germany, on the Amper River, near Munich, site of a Nazi concentration camp from 1933 until 1945; pop. 33,000.

dachs·hund n. a dog of a short-legged, long-bodied breed.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from German, literally 'badger dog' (the breed being originally used to dig badgers out of their setts).

Da·ci·a an ancient country in southeastern Europe in what is now northwestern Romania. It was annexed by Trajan in AD 106 as a province of the Roman Empire.

<DERIVATIVES> Da·ci·an adj. & n.

da·cite n. [GEOLOGY] a volcanic rock resembling andesite but containing free quartz.

<DERIVATIVES> da·cit·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from the name of the Roman province of DACIA (as it was first found in the Carpathian Mountains) + -ITE^1 .

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DACIA ■

-ITE ■

da·coit n. a member of a band of armed robbers in India or Myanmar (Burma).

<ORIGIN> from Hindi , from 'robbery by a gang'.

da·coit·y n. (pl. -coit·ies) an act of armed robbery committed by a gang in India or Myanmar (Burma).

<ORIGIN> from Hindi .

Da·cron n. TRADEMARK a synthetic polyester (polyethylene terephthalate) with tough, elastic properties, used as a textile fabric.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: an invented name.

dac·tyl n. [PROSODY] a metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables or (in Greek and Latin) one long syllable followed by two short syllables.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Latin from Greek daktulos, literally 'finger' (the three bones of the finger corresponding to the three syllables).

dac·tyl·ic [PROSODY] adj. of or using dactyls: dactylic rhythm.

■ n. (usu. dactylics) dactylic verse.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek daktulikos, from daktulos, literally 'finger' (see DACTYL).

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DACTYL ■

dad n. INFORMAL one's father: his dad was with him; | what are you making, Dad?

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: perhaps imitative of a young child's first syllables da, da.

Da·da n. an early 20th-century international movement in art, literature, music, and film, repudiating and mocking artistic and social conventions and emphasizing the illogical and absurd.

Dada was launched in Zurich in 1916 by Tristan Tzara and others, soon merging with a similar group in New York. It favored montage, collage, and the ready-made. Leading figures: Jean Arp, André Breton, Max Ernst, Man Ray, and Marcel Duchamp.

<DERIVATIVES> Da·da·ism n. Da·da·ist n. & adj. Da·da·is·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> French, literally 'hobbyhorse', the title of a review that appeared in Zurich in 1916.

da·da n. INFORMAL one's father.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: perhaps imitative of a young child's first syllables (see DAD).

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DAD ■

dad·dy n. (pl. -dies) INFORMAL one's father.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the oldest, best, or biggest example of something: the daddy of all potholes.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from DAD + -Y^2 .

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DAD ■

-Y ■

dad·dy long·legs n. 1 an arachnid with a globular body and long thin legs, typically living in leaf litter and on tree trunks. Also called HARVESTMAN.
<INFO>  Order Phalangida: numerous genera and species, including the common Phalangium opilio.

2 BRIT. a crane fly.

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HARVESTMAN ■

Dade Coun·ty a county in southeastern Florida, on the Atlantic coast, that includes Miami and many suburbs as well as much of the Everglades; pop. 2,253,362. Formally Miami-Dade County.

da·do n. (pl. -dos) the lower part of the wall of a room, below about waist height, if it is a different color or has a different covering than the upper part.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a groove cut in the face of a board, into which the edge of another board is fixed.

- [ARCHITECTURE] the part of a pedestal between the base and the cornice.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (denoting the main part of a pedestal, above the base): from Italian, literally 'dice or cube', from Latin datum 'something given, starting point' (see DATUM).

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DATUM ■

Da·dra and Na·gar Ha·ve·li a union territory in western India, on the Arabian Sea; pop. 138,500; capital, Silvassa.

Daed·a·lus [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a craftsman, considered the inventor of carpentry, who is said to have built the labyrinth for Minos, king of Crete. Minos imprisoned him and his son Icarus, but they escaped using wings that Daedalus made and fastened with wax. Icarus, however, flew too near the sun and was killed.

dae·mon 1 (also dai·mon) n. 1 (in ancient Greek belief) a divinity or supernatural being of a nature between gods and humans.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an inner or attendant spirit or inspiring force.

2 archaic spelling of DEMON^1 .

<DERIVATIVES> dae·mon·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: common spelling of DEMON^1 until the 19th cent.

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DEMON ■

DEMON ■

dae·mon 2 (also de·mon) n. [COMPUTING] a background process that handles requests for services such as print spooling and file transfers, and is dormant when not required.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: perhaps from d(isk) a(nd) e(xecution) mon(itor) or from de(vice) mon(itor), or merely a transferred use of DEMON^1 .

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DEMON ■

daf·fo·dil n. a bulbous plant that typically bears bright yellow flowers with a long trumpet-shaped center (corona).
<INFO>  Genus Narcissus, family Liliaceae (or Amaryllidaceae): several species, in particular the common N. pseudonarcissus and its varieties. See also NARCISSUS.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from late Middle English affodill, from medieval Latin affodilus, variant of Latin asphodilus (see ASPHODEL). The initial d- is unexplained.

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NARCISSUS ■

ASPHODEL ■

daf·fy adj. (-fi·er, -fi·est) INFORMAL silly; mildly eccentric: daffy anecdotes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> crazy: you must both be daffy.

<DERIVATIVES> daf·fi·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from northern English dialect daff 'simpleton' + -Y^1 ; perhaps related to DAFT.

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-Y ■

DAFT ■

daft adj. INFORMAL, silly; foolish: don't ask such daft questions.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- crazy: have you gone daft?

- [predic.] (daft about) infatuated with: we were all daft about him.

<ORIGIN> Old English gedæfte 'mild, meek', of Germanic origin; related to Gothic gadaban 'become or be fitting'.

dag n. AUSTRAL./NZ INFORMAL an unfashionable or socially conservative person.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'a hanging part of something'): of unknown origin.

da Ga·ma Vasco (c.1469-1524), Portuguese explorer. He led the first European expedition around the Cape of Good Hope in 1497, sighting and naming Natal on Christmas Day before crossing the Indian Ocean and arriving in Calicut (Kozhikode, in India) in 1498.

Da·ge·stan an autonomous republic in southwestern Russia, on the western shore of the Caspian Sea; pop. 1,823,000; capital, Makhachkala.

dag·ga n. CHIEFLY S. AFRICAN marijuana.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Afrikaans, from Khoikhoi dachab.

dag·ger n. 1 a short knife with a pointed and edged blade, used as a weapon.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PRINTING] another term for OBELUS.

2 a moth with a dark dagger-shaped marking on the forewing.
<INFO>  Genus Acronicta, family Noctuidae: several species.

<PHRASES>
□ at daggers drawn in bitter enmity.

□ look daggers at glare angrily or venomously at.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: perhaps from obsolete dag 'pierce, stab', influenced by Old French dague 'long dagger'.

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OBELUS ■

dag·ger·board n. a board that slides vertically through the keel of a sailboat to reduce sideways movement. Compare with CENTERBOARD.

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CENTERBOARD ■

da·go n. (pl. -gos or -goes) INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE an Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking person.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the Spanish given name Diego (equivalent to James).

Da·gon (in the Bible) a national deity of the ancient Philistines, represented as a fish-tailed man.

<ORIGIN> via Latin and Greek from Hebrew , perhaps from 'corn', but said (according to folk etymology) to be from 'fish'.

da·go red n. OFFENSIVE cheap red wine, typically from Italy.

Da·guerre Louis-Jacques-Mandé (1789-1851), French physicist. He invented the first practical photographic process, which became known as the daguerreotype process.

da·guerre·o·type (also da·guer·ro·type) n. a photograph taken by an early photographic process employing an iodine-sensitized silvered plate and mercury vapor.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French daguerréotype, named after L.-J.-M. DAGUERRE, its French inventor.

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DAGUERRE ■

Dag·wood sand·wich (also Dag·wood) n. a thick sandwich with a variety of different fillings.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: named after Dagwood Bumstead, a comic-strip character who makes and eats this type of sandwich.

dah n. (in Morse code) another term for DASH.

<ORIGIN> World War II: imitative.

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DASH ■

da·ha·be·ah (also da·ha·bee·yah) n. a passenger boat used on the Nile, typically with lateen sails.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Arabic, literally 'golden', denoting the gilded state barge formerly used by the Muslim rulers of Egypt.

Dahl Roald (1916-90), British writer. His fiction and drama, such as the short-story collection Tales of the Unexpected (1979), typically include macabre plots and unexpected outcomes. Notable works for children include James and the Giant Peach (1961) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964).

dahl n. variant spelling of DHAL.

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DHAL ■

dahl·ia n. a tuberous-rooted Mexican plant of the daisy family, cultivated for its brightly colored single or double flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Dahlia, family Compositae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, named in honor of Andreas Dahl (1751-89), Swedish botanist.

Da·ho·mey former name (until 1975) of BENIN.

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BENIN ■

dai·kon n. a radish of a variety with a large slender white root that is typically eaten cooked, esp. in Eastern cuisine, and is also used for fodder.

<ORIGIN> Japanese, from dai 'large' + kon 'root'.

dai·ly adj. [attrib.] done, produced, or occurring every day or every weekday: a daily newspaper; | daily flights to Prague.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to the period of a single day: boats can be rented for a daily rate.

■ adv. every day: the museum is open daily.

■ n. (pl. -lies) INFORMAL 1 a newspaper published every day except Sunday.

2 (dailies) the first prints from cinematographic takes, made rapidly for movie producers or editors; the rushes.

3 (also dai·ly help) BRIT., DATED a woman who is employed to clean someone's house each day.

<PHRASES> daily life the activities and experiences that constitute a person's normal existence.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from DAY + -LY^1 , -LY^2 .

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DAY ■

-LY ■

-LY ■

dai·ly dou·ble n. [HORSE RACING] a single bet on the winners of two named races in a day.

dai·ly doz·en n. [in sing.] INFORMAL, DATED regular exercises, esp. those done first thing in the morning.

Daim·ler Gottlieb (1834-1900), German engineer and engine manufacturer. In 1884 he produced a small internal combustion engine using gasoline as a fuel and made it propel a bicycle. In 1890 he formed a company to produce these engines.

dai·mon n. (pl. -mons or -mo·nes ) variant spelling of DAEMON^1 .

<DERIVATIVES> dai·mon·ic adj.

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DAEMON ■

dai·myo (also dai·mio) n. (pl. -myos) HISTORICAL (in feudal Japan) one of the great lords who were vassals of the shogun.

<ORIGIN> Japanese, from dai 'great' + 'name'.

dain·ty adj. (-ti·er, -ti·est) 1 delicately small and pretty: a dainty lace handkerchief.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) delicate and graceful in build or movement.

- (of food) particularly good to eat: a dainty morsel.

2 fastidious or difficult to please, typically concerning food: a dainty appetite.

■ n. (pl. -ties) (usu. dainties) something good to eat; a delicacy.

<DERIVATIVES> dain·ti·ly adv. dain·ti·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'tidbit, [something] pleasing to the palate'): from Old French daintie, deintie 'choice morsel, pleasure', from Latin dignitas 'worthiness or beauty', from dignus 'worthy'.

dai·qui·ri n. (pl. -ris) a cocktail containing rum and lime juice.

<ORIGIN> named after Daiquiri, a rum-producing district in Cuba.

Dai·ren former name of DALIAN.

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DALIAN ■

dair·y n. (pl. dair·ies) a building, room, or establishment for the storage, processing, and distribution of milk and milk products.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a store where milk and milk products are sold.

- food made from or containing milk.

■ adj. [attrib.] containing or made from milk: dairy products.
<SPECIAL USAGE> concerned with or involved in the production of milk: a dairy farmer.

<ORIGIN> Middle English deierie, from deie 'dairymaid' (in Old English 'female servant'), of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse deigja, also to DOUGH and to the second element of Old English (see LADY).

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DOUGH ■

LADY ■

dair·y·ing n. the business of producing, storing, and distributing milk and its products.

dair·y·maid n. ARCHAIC a woman employed in a dairy.

dair·y·man n. (pl. -men) a man who is employed in a dairy or sells dairy products.

da·is n. a low platform for a lectern, seats of honor, or a throne.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally denoting a raised table for distinguished guests): from Old French deis, from Latin discus 'disk or dish' (later 'table'). Little used after the Middle English period, the word was revived by antiquarians in the early 19th cent. with the disyllabic pronunciation.

dai·sy n. (pl. -sies) a small grassland plant that has flowers with a yellow disk and white rays. It has given rise to many ornamental garden varieties.
<INFO>  Bellis perennis, family Compositae (or Asteraceae; the daisy family). The plants of this large family (known as composites) are distinguished by having composite flowerheads consisting of numerous disk florets, ray florets, or both; they include many weeds (dandelions, thistles, ragworts) and garden flowers (asters, chrysanthemums, dahlias, marigolds).

<SPECIAL USAGE> used in names of other plants of this family with similar flowers, e.g., Michaelmas daisy, Shasta daisy.

<PHRASES>
□ (as) fresh as a daisy healthy and full of energy.

□ pushing up (the) daisies INFORMAL dead and buried.

<ORIGIN> Old English 'day's eye' (because the flower opens in the morning and closes at night).

dai·sy chain n. a string of daisies threaded together by their stems.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE a string of associated people or things: we can all make daisy chains of blame.

- INFORMAL a sexual activity in which participants serve as partners to different people simultaneously.

■ v. (dai·sy-chain) [trans.] [COMPUTING] connect (several devices) together in a linear series.

<DERIVATIVES> dai·sy-chain·a·ble adj.

dai·sy-cut·ter n. INFORMAL an immensely powerful aerial bomb that derives its destructive power from the mixture of ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder with air.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: so named because the bomb explodes just above ground level.

dai·sy wheel n. a device used as a printer in word processors and typewriters, consisting of a disk of spokes extending radially from a central hub, each terminating in a printing character.

Dak. abbr. Dakota.

Da·kar the capital of Senegal, a port on the Atlantic coast of West Africa; pop. 1,641,350.

Da·ko·ta 1 a former territory of the U.S. that was organized in 1889 into the states of North Dakota and South Dakota.

<DERIVATIVES> Da·ko·tan n. & adj.

Da·ko·ta 2 n. (pl. same or -tas) 1 a member of a North American Indian people of the upper Mississippi valley and the surrounding plains.

2 the Siouan language of this people. Also called SIOUX.

■ adj. of or relating to this people or their language.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: the name in Dakota, literally 'allies'.

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SIOUX ■

Da·ko·ta Riv·er another name for JAMES RIVER (sense 1).

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JAMES RIVER ■

dal 1 abbr. decaliter(s).

dal 2 n. variant spelling of DHAL.

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DHAL ■

Da·lai La·ma n. the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism and, until the establishment of Chinese communist rule, the spiritual and temporal ruler of Tibet.

Each Dalai Lama is believed to be the reincarnation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, reappearing in a child when the incumbent Dalai Lama dies. The present Dalai Lama, the fourteenth incarnation, escaped to India in 1959 following the invasion of Tibet by the Chinese and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Tibetan, literally 'ocean guru', so named because he is regarded as “the ocean of compassion” (see LAMA).

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LAMA ■

da·la·si n. (pl. same or -sis ) the basic monetary unit of Gambia, equal to 100 butut.

<ORIGIN> a local word.

Dal·croze see JAQUES-DALCROZE.

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JAQUES-DALCROZE ■

Dale Sir Henry Hallett (1875-1968), English physiologist and pharmacologist. He investigated the role of histamine in anaphylactic shock and allergy and the role of acetylcholine as a natural neurotransmitter. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1936, shared with Loewi).

dale n. a valley, esp. a broad one.

<ORIGIN> Old English dæl, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse dalr, Dutch dal, and German Tal, also to DELL.

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DELL ■

Da·ley Richard Joseph (1902-76), U.S. politician. As mayor of Chicago 1955-76, he was known as a big-city boss. He also led the national Democratic Party.

Da·li Salvador (1904-89), Spanish painter. A surrealist, he portrayed dream images with almost photographic realism against backgrounds of arid Catalan landscapes. Notable works: The Persistence of Memory (1931) and Christ of St. John of the Cross (1951).

Da·lian a port and shipbuilding center on the Liaodong Peninsula in northeastern China, now part of the urban complex of Luda. Former name DAIREN.

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DAIREN ■

Da·lit n. (in the traditional Indian caste system) a member of the lowest caste. See also UNTOUCHABLE, SCHEDULED CASTE.

<ORIGIN> via Hindi from Sanskrit dalita 'oppressed'.

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UNTOUCHABLE ■

SCHEDULED CASTE ■

Dal·las a city in northeastern Texas, noted as a center of the oil industry; pop. 1,188,580. Pres. John F. Kennedy was assassinated here in November 1963.

dal·li·ance n. a casual romantic or sexual relationship.
<SPECIAL USAGE> brief or casual involvement with something: Berkeley was my last dalliance with the education system.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'conversation'): from DALLY + -ANCE.

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DALLY ■

-ANCE ■

Dall sheep (also Dall's sheep) n. a wild North American sheep found in mountainous country from Alaska to British Columbia.
<INFO>  Ovis dalli, family Bovidae.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after William H. Dall (1845-1927), U.S. naturalist.

dal·ly v. (-lies, -lied) [intrans.] 1 act or move slowly: workers were loafing, dallying, or goofing off. See note at LOITER.

2 have a casual romantic or sexual liaison with someone: he should stop dallying with movie stars.
<SPECIAL USAGE> show a casual interest in something, without committing oneself seriously: the company has been dallying with the idea of opening a new office.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French dalier 'to chat' (commonly used in Anglo-Norman French), of unknown origin.

Dal·ma·tia an ancient region in what is now southwestern Croatia that is composed of mountains and a narrow coastal plain along the Adriatic Sea, together with offshore islands. It once formed part of the Roman province of Illyricum.

Dal·ma·tian n. 1 a dog of a white, short-haired breed with dark spots.

2 a native or inhabitant of Dalmatia.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (sense 2): the dog is believed to have originated in Dalmatia in the 18th cent.

dal·mat·ic n. a wide-sleeved, long, loose vestment open at the sides, worn by deacons and bishops, and by some monarchs at their coronation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French dalmatique or late Latin dalmatica, from dalmatica (vestis) '(robe) of (white) Dalmatian wool', from Dalmaticus 'of Dalmatia'.

dal se·gno adv. [MUSIC] (esp. as a direction) repeat from the point marked by a sign. Compare with DA CAPO.

<ORIGIN> Italian, 'from the sign'.

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DA CAPO ■

Dal·ton 1 a city in northwestern Georgia; pop. 21,761.

Dal·ton 2 John (1766-1844), English chemist; father of the modern atomic theory. He defined an atom as the smallest part of a substance that could participate in a chemical reaction and argued that elements are composed of atoms. He produced the first table of comparative atomic weights.

dal·ton n. [CHEMISTRY] a unit used in expressing the molecular weight of proteins, equivalent to atomic mass unit.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: named after John DALTON.

dal·ton·ism n. another term for PROTANOPIA, a form of color-blindness.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from the name of J. DALTON + -ISM.

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PROTANOPIA ■

-ISM ■

Dal·ton's law [CHEMISTRY] a law stating that the pressure exerted by a mixture of gases in a fixed volume is equal to the sum of the pressures that would be exerted by each gas alone in the same volume.

Da·ly Cit·y a city in north central California, southwest of San Francisco; pop. 92,311.

dam 1 abbr. decameter(s).

dam 2 n. a barrier, typically of concrete, constructed to hold back water and raise its level, the resulting reservoir being used in the generation of electricity or as a water supply.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a barrier of branches in a stream, constructed by a beaver to provide a deep pool and a lodge.

- any barrier resembling a dam.

- a rubber sheet used to keep saliva from the teeth during dental operations.

■ v. (dammed, dam·ming) [trans.] build a dam across (a river or lake).
<SPECIAL USAGE> hold back or obstruct (something): the closed lock gates dammed up the canal.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch; related to Dutch dam and German Damm, also to Old English fordemman 'close up'.

dam 3 n. the female parent of an animal, esp. a domestic mammal.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a human mother): alteration of DAME.

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DAME ■

dam·age n. 1 physical harm caused to something in such a way as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function.
<SPECIAL USAGE> unwelcome and detrimental effects: the damage to his reputation was considerable.

2 (damages) a sum of money claimed or awarded in compensation for a loss or an injury: she was awarded $284,000 in damages.

■ v. [trans.] inflict physical harm on (something) so as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function: the car was badly damaged in the accident | [as adj.] (damaged) damaged ligaments | [as adj.] (damaging) extreme heat can be very damaging to color film.
<SPECIAL USAGE> have a detrimental effect on: the scandal could seriously damage his career.

<PHRASES> what's the damage? INFORMAL, HUMOROUS used to ask the cost of something.

<DERIVATIVES> dam·ag·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, from dam, damne 'loss or damage', from Latin damnum 'loss or hurt'; compare with DAMN.

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DAMN ■

dam·age con·trol (also BRIT. damage limitation) n. action taken to limit the damaging effects of an accident or error: the cost of doing damage control after problems reach the crisis stage.

dam·aged goods plural n. merchandise that has deteriorated in quality.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a person regarded as inadequate or impaired in some way: I was just damaged goods, another misfit.

Dam·an and Di·u a union territory in India, on the western coast, north of Bombay; pop. 101,400; capital, Daman.

dam·ar n. & adj. variant spelling of DAMMAR.

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DAMMAR ■

Dam·a·scene adj. of or relating to the city of Damascus.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- of, relating to, or resembling the conversion of St. Paul on the road to Damascus: a transformation of Damascene proportions.

- HISTORICAL of or relating to Damascus steel or its manufacture.

- (often damascene) relating to or denoting a process of inlaying a metal object with gold or silver decoration.

■ n. a native or inhabitant of Damascus.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a noun): via Latin from Greek 'of Damascus.'

dam·a·scened adj. (of iron or steel) given a wavy pattern by hammer-welding and repeated heating and forging.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a metal object) inlaid with gold or silver decoration.

Da·mas·cus the capital of Syria since the country's independence in 1946; pop. 1,497,000. It has existed as a city for over 4,000 years.

Da·mas·cus steel n. HISTORICAL steel made with a wavy surface pattern produced by hammer-welding strips of steel and iron followed by repeated heating and forging, used chiefly for knife and sword blades. Such items were often marketed, but not necessarily made, in Damascus during the medieval period.

dam·ask n. 1 a figured woven fabric with a pattern visible on both sides, typically used for table linen and upholstery.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a tablecloth made of this material.

2 short for DAMASK ROSE.

3 (also dam·ask steel) HISTORICAL another term for DAMASCUS STEEL.

■ adj. made of or resembling damask: the satinlike finish of these damask napkins.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY having the velvety pink or light red color of a damask rose.

■ v. [trans.] weave with figured designs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> POETIC/LITERARY decorate with or as if with a variegated pattern.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Damaske, early form of the name of Damascus, where the fabric was first produced.

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DAMASK ROSE ■

DAMASCUS STEEL ■

dam·ask rose n. a sweet-scented rose of an old variety (or hybrid) that is typically pink or light red in color. The petals are soft and velvety and are used to make attar.
<INFO>  Rosa damascena, family Rosaceae.

dame n. 1 (Dame) (in the UK) the title given to a woman equivalent to the rank of knight.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a woman holding this title.

2 INFORMAL a woman.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC or HUMOROUS an elderly or mature woman.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting a female ruler): via Old French from Latin domina 'mistress'.

dam·fool INFORMAL, DATED adj. (also dam·fool·ish) [attrib.] (of a person) thoroughly foolish and stupid.

■ n. a stupid or foolish person.

dam·i·an·a n. a small shrub native to Mexico whose leaves are used in herbal medicine and in the production of a liqueur. It is reputed to possess aphrodisiac qualities.
<INFO>  Turnera diffusa, family Turneraceae.

<ORIGIN> American Spanish.

Dam·i·et·ta the eastern branch of the Nile delta. Arabic name DUMYAT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a port at the mouth of this delta; pop. 113,000.

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DUMYAT ■

da·min·o·zide n. a growth retardant sprayed on vegetables and fruit, esp. apples, to enhance the quality of the crop. In the U.S., the application of daminozide is now restricted to ornamental plants due to the potential health risks of consuming the chemical.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_6H_12N_2O_3.

dam·mar (also dam·ar) n. resin obtained from any of a number of tropical and mainly Indo-Malaysian trees, used to make varnish.
<INFO>  The resin is obtained from trees in the families Araucariaceae (genus Agathis), Dipterocarpaceae (genera Hopea, Shorea, and Vatica), and Burseraceae (genus Canarium).

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Malay damar 'resin'.

dam·mit exclam. used to express anger and frustration.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: alteration of damn it.

damn v. [trans.] (in Christian belief) (of God) condemn (a person) to suffer eternal punishment in hell: be forever damned with Lucifer.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (be damned) be doomed to misfortune or failure: the enterprise was damned.

- condemn, esp. by the public expression of disapproval: intellectuals whom he damns as rigid doctrinaire idealists.

- curse (someone or something): she cleared her throat, damning it for its huskiness; | damn him for making this sound trivial.

■ exclam. INFORMAL expressing anger, surprise, or frustration: Damn! I completely forgot!

■ adj. [attrib.] INFORMAL used for emphasis, esp. to express anger or frustration: turn that damn thing off! | [as submodifier] don't be so damn silly!

<PHRASES>
□ be damned used to express rejection of someone or something previously mentioned: “Glory be damned!”

□ damn all BRIT., INFORMAL nothing at all.

□ damn well INFORMAL used to emphasize a statement, esp. when the speaker is angry: this is your mess and you can damn well clear it up!

□ damn someone/something with faint praise praise someone or something so unenthusiastically as to imply condemnation.

□ I'll be (or I'm) damned if INFORMAL used to express a strong negative: I'll be damned if I'll call her.

□ not be worth a damn INFORMAL have no value or validity at all.

□ not give a damn see GIVE.

□ well I'll be (or I'm) damned INFORMAL used as an expression of surprise.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French dam(p)ner, from Latin dam(p)nare 'inflict loss on', from damnum 'loss, damage'.

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GIVE ■

dam·na·ble adj. 1 extremely bad or unpleasant: leave this damnable place behind.

2 subject to or worthy of divine condemnation: suicide was thought damnable in the Middle Ages.

<DERIVATIVES> dam·na·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'worthy of condemnation'): from Old French dam(p)nable, from Latin dam(p)nabilis, from dam(p)nare 'inflict loss on' (see DAMN).

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DAMN ■

dam·na·tion n. (in Christian belief) condemnation to eternal punishment in hell.

■ exclam. expressing anger or frustration.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin dam(p)natio(n-), from the verb dam(p)nare 'inflict loss on' (see DAMN).

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DAMN ■

dam·na·to·ry adj. conveying or causing censure or damnation: the case against you was most damnatory.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin damnatorius, from dam(p)nat- 'caused to suffer loss', from the verb dam(p)nare (see DAMN).

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DAMN ■

damned adj. 1 (in Christian belief) condemned by God to suffer eternal punishment in hell: [as plural n.] (the damned) the spirits of the damned.

2 [attrib.] INFORMAL used for emphasis, esp. to express anger or frustration: it's none of your damned business | [as submodifier] she's too damned arrogant.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (damnedest) used to emphasize the surprising nature of something: the damnedest thing I ever saw.

■ adv. extremely; exceedingly: called her one damned fine pilot.

<PHRASES>
□ damned well INFORMAL used for emphasis when the speaker is angry or irritated: you can damned well tell him yourself!

□ do (or try) one's damnedest do or try one's utmost.

dam·ni·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] RARE [LAW] cause injury to.

<DERIVATIVES> dam·ni·fi·ca·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Old French damnefier, dam(p)nifier, from late Latin damnificare 'injure, condemn', from Latin damnificus 'hurtful', from damnus 'loss, damage'.

damn·ing adj. (of a circumstance or piece of evidence) strongly suggesting guilt or error: presented with damning affidavits.
<SPECIAL USAGE> extremely critical: last year's damning report on the industry.

<DERIVATIVES> damn·ing·ly adv.

Dam·o·cles a legendary courtier who extravagantly praised the happiness of Dionysius I, ruler of Syracuse. To show him how precarious this happiness was, Dionysius seated him at a banquet with a sword hung by a single hair over his head.

<PHRASES> sword of Damocles used to refer to a precarious situation.

Da·mon a legendary Syracusan of the 4th century BC whose friend Pythias was sentenced to death by Dionysius I. Damon stood bail for Pythias, who returned just in time to save him, and was himself reprieved.

damp adj. slightly wet: her hair was still damp from the shower.

■ n. 1 moisture diffused through the air or a solid substance or condensed on a surface, typically with detrimental or unpleasant effects.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- foul, stifling, or poisonous gas, esp. in a mine.

- (damps) ARCHAIC damp air or atmosphere.

2 ARCHAIC a check or discouragement: shame gave a damp to her triumph.

■ v. [trans.] 1 make (something) slightly wet: damp a small area with water.

2 control or restrain (a feeling or a state of affairs): she tried to damp down her feelings of despair.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make (a fire) burn less strongly by reducing the flow of air to it.

3 restrict the amplitude of vibrations on (a piano or other musical instrument) so as to reduce the volume of sound: rapidly damping the cymbals after repeatedly clashing them together.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHYSICS] progressively reduce the amplitude of (an oscillation or vibration): concrete structures damp out any vibrations.

- reduce the level of (a noise or sound): the ground mist clung to the hedgerows, damping down all sound.

<DERIVATIVES> damp·ish adj. damp·ly adv. damp·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the noun sense 'noxious inhalation'); related to a Middle Low German word meaning 'vapor, steam, smoke'.

damp-dry v. [intrans.] dry (something) until it is only damp: the machine automatically washes, rinses, and damp-dries.

damp·en v. [trans.] 1 make slightly wet: the fine rain dampened her face.

2 make less strong or intense: nothing could dampen her enthusiasm.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reduce the amplitude of (a sound source): slider switches on the mixers can dampen the drums.

<DERIVATIVES> damp·en·er n.

damp·er n. a person or thing that has a depressing, subduing, or inhibiting effect: another damper on reactor development was the problem of safeguards.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MUSIC] a pad that silences a piano string except when removed by means of a pedal or by the note being struck.

- a device for reducing mechanical vibration, in particular a shock absorber on a motor vehicle.

- a conductor used to reduce hunting in an electric motor or generator.

- a movable metal plate in a flue or chimney, used to regulate the draft and so control the rate of combustion.

<PHRASES> put a damper on have a depressing, subduing, or inhibiting effect on: he put a damper on her youthful excitement.

damp·ing n. 1 TECHNICAL a decrease in the amplitude of an oscillation as a result of energy being drained from the system to overcome frictional or other resistive forces.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a mechanism or system for bringing about such a decrease.

- a method of bringing about a decrease in oscillatory peaks in an electric current or voltage using an energy-absorbing or resistance circuit.

2 short for DAMPING-OFF.

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DAMPING-OFF ■

damp·ing-off n. a plant disease occurring in excessively damp conditions, in particular the collapse and death of young seedlings as a result of a fungal infection.
<INFO>  The disease is commonly caused by fungi of the genera Pythium (phylum Oomycota) or Fusarium (phylum Ascomycota).

dam·sel n. ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY a young unmarried woman.

<PHRASES> damsel in distress OFTEN HUMOROUS a young woman in trouble (with the implication that the woman needs to be rescued, as by a prince in a fairy tale).

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French dameisele, damisele, based on Latin domina 'mistress'.

dam·sel bug n. a slender long-legged bug that is a predator of other insects.
<INFO>  Family Nabidae, suborder Heteroptera: several genera.

dam·sel·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a small brightly colored tropical fish that lives in or near coral reefs.
<INFO>  Chromis and other genera, family Pomacentridae: numerous species, in particular C. chromis.

dam·sel·fly n. (pl. -flies) a slender insect related to the dragonflies, having weak flight and typically resting with the wings folded back along the body.
<INFO>  Suborder Zygoptera, order Odonata: several families.

dam·son n. 1 a small purple-black plumlike fruit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a dark purple color.

2 (also damson tree) the small deciduous tree that bears this fruit, probably derived from the bullace.
<INFO>  Prunus domestica subsp. insititia (or P. damascena), family Rosaceae.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English damascene, from Latin damascenum (prunum) '(plum) of Damascus'. Compare with DAMASCENE and DAMASK.

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DAMASCENE ■

DAMASK ■

Dan (in the Bible) a Hebrew patriarch, son of Jacob and Bilhah.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the tribe of Israel traditionally descended from him.

- an ancient town in the north of Canaan, where the tribe of Dan settled. It marked the northern limit of the ancient Hebrew kingdom of Israel.

dan 1 n. any of ten degrees of advanced proficiency in judo or karate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who has achieved such a degree.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Japanese.

dan 2 (also dan buoy) n. a small marker buoy with a lightweight flagpole.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: of unknown origin.

Dan. abbr. [BIBLE] Daniel.

Da·na 1 Charles Anderson (1819-97), U.S. newspaper editor. He was a resident of the Brook Farm commune near Boston 1841-46, an experimental community, and the owner and editor of the New York Sun 1868-97.

Da·na 2 James Dwight (1813-95), U.S. naturalist, geologist, and mineralogist. He founded a classification of minerals based on chemistry and physics and viewed the earth as a unit.

Da·na 3 Richard Henry (1815-82), U.S. adventurer, lawyer, and writer. An expert in maritime law and an editor of an international law journal, he is most noted for the account of his voyage from Boston around Cape Horn to California in Two Years before the Mast (1840).

Dan·a·e [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the daughter of Acrisius, king of Argos. An oracle foretold that she would bear a son who would kill her father. Attempting to evade this, Acrisius imprisoned her, but Zeus visited her in the form of a shower of gold and she conceived Perseus, who killed Acrisius by accident.

da·na·id n. a large strikingly marked butterfly of a group that includes the monarch, found chiefly in the tropics of Africa and the Far East.
<INFO>  Subfamily Danainae, family Nymphalidae (formerly family Danaidae).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Danaidae, arbitrary use of the Latin name of the daughters of Danaus.

Da·na·ids [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the daughters of Danaus, king of Argos, who were compelled to marry the sons of his brother Aegyptus but murdered their husbands on the wedding night, except for one, Hypermnestra, who helped her husband to escape. The remaining Danaids were punished in Hades by being sent to fill a leaky jar with water.

Da Nang a port and city in central Vietnam, on the South China Sea; pop. 382,670. It served as a U.S. military base during the Vietnam War. Former name TOURANE.

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TOURANE ■

Da·na Point a city in southwestern California, on the Pacific coast; pop. 31,896.

Dan·bury a city in west central Connecticut, formerly noted for its hat industry; pop. 74,848.

dance v. [intrans.] 1 move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps: their cheeks were pressed together as they danced.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] perform (a particular dance or a role in a ballet): they danced a tango.

- [trans.] lead (someone) in a particular direction while dancing: I danced her out of the room.

2 [with adverbial of direction] (of a person) move in a quick and lively way: Sheila danced in gaily.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with adverbial of place] move up and down lightly and quickly: midges danced over the stream.

- (of someone's eyes) sparkle brightly with pleasure or excitement.

■ n. a series of movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a particular sequence of steps and movements constituting a particular form of dancing.

- steps and movements of this type considered as an activity or art form: she has studied dance with Martha Graham.

- a social gathering at which people dance: she met her husband at a dance.

- a set of lively movements resembling a dance: he gesticulated comically and did a little dance.

- a piece of music for dancing to: the last dance had been played.

- (also dance music) music for dancing to, esp. in a nightclub.

- a set of stylized movements performed by certain animals: the waggle dances of honeybees convey the direction, distance, and desirability of food sources.

<PHRASES>
□ dance attendance on do one's utmost to please someone by attending to all possible needs or requests.

□ dance to someone's tune comply completely with someone's demands and wishes.

□ lead someone a dance (or a merry dance) BRIT. cause someone a great deal of trouble or worry.

<DERIVATIVES> dance·a·bil·i·ty n. dance·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French dancer (verb), dance (noun), of unknown origin.

dance band n. a band that plays music suitable for dancing, esp. swing.

dance card n. DATED a card bearing the names of a woman's prospective partners at a formal dance.

dance floor n. an area of uncarpeted floor, typically in a nightclub or restaurant, reserved for dancing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] denoting a recording or type of music particularly popular as an accompaniment to dancing: a current dance-floor hit.

dance hall n. 1 a large public hall or building where people pay to enter and dance.

2 (dance·hall) an uptempo style of dance music originating in Jamaica and derived from reggae, in which a DJ improvises lyrics over a recorded instrumental backing track or to the accompaniment of live musicians.

dance of death n. a medieval allegorical representation in which a personified Death leads people to the grave, designed to emphasize the equality of all before death. Also called DANSE MACABRE.

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DANSE MACABRE ■

danc·er n. a person who dances or whose profession is dancing.

dan·cer·cise (also dan·cer·cize) n. a system of aerobic exercise using dance movements.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: blend of DANCE and EXERCISE.

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DANCE ■

EXERCISE ■

danc·ing girl n. a female professional dancer, esp. an erotic dancer or a member of the chorus in a musical.

D and C abbr. dilatation and curettage.

dan·de·li·on n. a widely distributed weed of the daisy family, with a rosette of leaves, bright yellow flowers followed by globular heads of seeds with downy tufts, and stems containing a milky latex.
<INFO>  Genus Taraxacum, family Compositae: several species, in particular the common T. officinale, which has edible leaves.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French dent-de-lion, translation of medieval Latin dens leonis 'lion's tooth' (because of the jagged shape of the leaves).

dan·de·li·on greens plural n. fresh dandelion leaves used as a salad vegetable or herb.

dan·der 1 n. (in phrase get/have one's dander up) INFORMAL lose one's temper.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.

dan·der 2 n. skin flakes in an animal's fur or hair.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: related to DANDRUFF.

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DANDRUFF ■

dan·di·a·cal adj. DATED,HUMOROUS relating to or characteristic of a dandy.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from DANDY, on the pattern of words such as hypochondriacal.

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DANDY ■

Dan·die Din·mont n. a terrier of a breed with short legs, a long body, and a rough coat.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: named after a farmer who owned a special breed of terriers, portrayed in Sir Walter Scott's Guy Mannering.

dan·di·fied adj. (of a man) showing excessive concern about his clothes or appearance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> self-consciously sophisticated or elaborate: he writes a dandified prose.

dan·di·prat n. ARCHAIC, INFORMAL a small boy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an insignificant person.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (denoting a coin worth three halfpence): of unknown origin.

dan·dle v. [trans.] move (a baby or young child) up and down in a playful or affectionate way.
<SPECIAL USAGE> move (something) lightly up and down: dandling the halter rope, he gently urged the pony's head up.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

Dan·dong a port in Liaoning province, in northeastern China, near the mouth of the Yalu River, on the border with North Korea; pop. 660,500. Former name ANTUNG.

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ANTUNG ■

dan·druff n. small pieces of dead skin in a person's hair.

<DERIVATIVES> dan·druff·y adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: the first element is unknown; the second (-ruff) is perhaps related to Middle English rove 'scurfiness'.

D&X abbr. dilation and extraction. See PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION.

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PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION ■

dan·dy n. (pl. -dies) 1 a man unduly devoted to style, neatness, and fashion in dress and appearance.

2 INFORMAL, DATED an excellent thing of its kind: this umbrella is a dandy.

■ adj. (-di·er, -di·est) 1 INFORMAL excellent: upgrading seemed a dandy idea; things are all fine and dandy.

2 relating to or characteristic of a dandy.

<DERIVATIVES> dan·dy·ish adj. dan·dy·ism n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: perhaps a shortened form of 17th-cent. Jack-a-dandy 'conceited fellow' (the last element representing Dandy, a nickname for the given name Andrew).

dan·dy brush n. a coarse brush used for grooming a horse.

dan·dy roll (also dandy roll·er) n. a roller that is used to solidify partly formed paper during its manufacture, and to impress the water mark.

Dane n. a native or national of Denmark, or a person of Danish descent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL one of the Viking invaders of the British Isles in the 9th-11th centuries.

<ORIGIN> Old English Dene; superseded in Middle English by forms influenced by Old Norse Danir and late Latin Dani (both plural).

Dane·geld n. HISTORICAL a land tax levied in medieval England, originally to raise funds for protection against Danish invaders.

<ORIGIN> late Old English, from Old Norse Danir 'Danes' + gjald 'payment'.

Dan·forth an·chor n. a type of stockless lightweight anchor with flat flukes.

dang adj., exclam. & v. INFORMAL euphemism for DAMN: [as adj.] just get the dang car started! | [as exclam.] dang it, Phil, stop snoring! | [as v.] I’ll be danged.

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DAMN ■

dan·ger n. the possibility of suffering harm or injury: his life was in danger.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person or thing that is likely to cause harm or injury: infertile soils where drought is a danger.

- the possibility of something unwelcome or unpleasant: there was no danger of the champagne running out.

- BRIT. the status of a railroad signal indicating that the line is not clear and that a train should not proceed.

<PHRASES>
□ in danger of likely to incur or to suffer from: the animal is in danger of extinction.

□ out of danger (of a person who has suffered a serious injury or illness) not expected to die.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French dangier, based on Latin dominus 'lord'. The original sense was 'jurisdiction or power', specifically 'power to harm', hence the current meaning 'liability to be harmed'.

dan·ger·ous adj. able or likely to cause harm or injury: a dangerous animal; | ice was making the roads dangerous.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- likely to have adverse or unfortunate consequences; risky: it is dangerous to underestimate an enemy.

- likely to cause problems or difficulty: our most dangerous opponents in the playoffs.

- (of a drug) addictive or otherwise harmful or illegal.

<DERIVATIVES> dan·ger·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the senses 'arrogant', 'fastidious', and 'difficult to please'): from Old French dangereus, from dangier (see DANGER).

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DANGER ■

dan·gle v. [intrans.] hang or swing loosely: saucepans dangled from a rail | [trans.] they were dangling their legs over the water.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] FIGURATIVE offer (an enticing incentive) to someone: two rich commissions that had been dangling so sweetly in front of me.

<PHRASES> keep someone dangling keep someone in an uncertain position.

<DERIVATIVES> dan·gler n. dan·gling adj. dan·gly adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: symbolic of something loose and pendulous, corresponding to Danish dangle, Swedish dangla, but the origin is not clear.

dan·gling par·ti·ci·ple n. [GRAMMAR] a participle intended to modify a noun that is not actually present in the text.

<USAGE>
A participle is a word formed as an inflection of the verb, such as arriving or arrived. A dangling participle is one left “hanging” because, in the grammar of the clause, it does not relate to the noun it should. In the sentence arriving at the station, she picked up her case, the construction is correct because the participle arriving and the subject she relate to each other (she is the one doing the arriving). But in the following sentence, a dangling participle has been created: arriving at the station, the sun came out. We know, logically, that it is not the sun that is arriving, but grammatically that is exactly the link that has been created. Such errors are frequent in written English and can give rise to confusion.

Dan·iel 1 a Hebrew prophet (6th century BC), who spent his life as a captive at the court of Babylon. In the Bible he interpreted the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar and was delivered by God from the lions' den into which he had been thrown as the result of a trick; in the apocryphal Book of Susanna he is portrayed as a wise judge.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a book of the Bible containing his prophecies. It was probably written at the outbreak of the persecution of the Jews under Seleucid rule c.167 BC.

Dan·iel 2 Peter Vivian (1784-1860), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1841-60. Appointed to the Court by President Van Buren, he advocated states' rights.

dan·i·o n. (pl. -os) a small, typically brightly colored freshwater fish native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
<INFO>  Genera Danio and Brachydanio, family Cyprinidae: several species.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (genus name).

Dan·ish adj. of or relating to Denmark or its people or language.

■ n. 1 the North Germanic language of Denmark, which is also the official language of Greenland and the Faeroes.

2 [as plural n.] (the Danish) the people of Denmark.

3 INFORMAL short for DANISH PASTRY.

<ORIGIN> Old English Denisc, of Germanic origin; superseded in Middle English by forms influenced by Old French daneis and medieval Latin Danensis (from late Latin Dani 'Danes').

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DANISH PASTRY ■

Dan·ish blue n. a soft, salty, strong-flavored white cheese with blue veins.

Dan·ish pas·try n. a pastry made of sweetened yeast dough with toppings or fillings such as fruit, nuts, or cheese.

dank adj. disagreeably damp, musty, and typically cold.

<DERIVATIVES> dank·ly adv. dank·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish dank 'marshy spot'.

Dan·mark Danish name for DENMARK.

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DENMARK ■

Dan·ne·brog n. the Danish national flag.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: Danish, literally 'Danish cloth'.

Da·no-Nor·we·gian n. another term for BOKMÅL.

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BOKMÅL ■

Dan Riv·er a river that flows for 180 miles (290 km) from southwestern Virginia into North Carolina to the Roanoke River.

danse ma·ca·bre n. another term for DANCE OF DEATH.

<ORIGIN> French, recorded from late Middle English in anglicized forms such as dance of Machabray, dance of Macaber (see also MACABRE).

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DANCE OF DEATH ■

MACABRE ■

dan·seur n. a male ballet dancer.

<ORIGIN> French, from danser 'to dance'.

dan·seuse n. a female ballet dancer.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: French, literally 'female dancer'.

Dan·te (1265-1321), Italian poet; full name Dante Alighieri. He wrote The Divine Comedy (c.1309-20), an epic poem that describes his spiritual journey through Hell and Purgatory and finally to Paradise. His love for Beatrice Portinari is described in Vita nuova (c.1290-94).

Dan·te·an adj. of or reminiscent of the poetry of Dante, esp. in invoking his vision of hell in The Divine Comedy.

■ n. an admirer or student of Dante or his writing.

Dan·tesque (also Dan·te-esque ) adj. another term for DANTEAN.

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DANTEAN ■

Dan·ton Georges (Jacques) (1759-94), French revolutionary. Initially an ally of Robespierre, he later revolted against the severity of the Revolutionary Tribunal and was executed on Robespierre's orders.

Dan·ube a river that rises in the Black Forest in southwestern Germany and flows for about 1,770 miles (2,850 km) into the Black Sea. It is the second longest river in Europe (after the Volga); the cities of Vienna, Budapest, and Belgrade are situated on its banks. German name DONAU.

<DERIVATIVES> Dan·u·bi·an adj.

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DONAU ■

Dan·ube School a group of landscape painters working in the Danube region in the early 16th century. Its members included Altdorfer and Cranach the Elder.

Dan·vers a town in northeastern Massachusetts, northeast of Boston; pop. 24,174.

Dan·ville 1 a city in north central California, northeast of Oakland; pop. 31,306.

2 a city in east central Illinois; pop. 33,828.

3 a city in southern Virginia, on the Dan River; pop. 48,411.

Dan·zig German name for GDASK.

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GDASK ■

dap v. (dapped, dap·ping) [intrans.] fish by letting the fly bob lightly on the water without letting the line touch the water.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (as a verb): symbolic of a flicking movement, similar to DAB^1 .

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DAB ■

Daph·ne [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a nymph who was turned into a laurel bush to save her from the amorous pursuit of Apollo.

daph·ne n. a small Eurasian shrub with sweet-scented flowers and, typically, evergreen leaves.
<INFO>  Genus Daphne, family Thymelaeaceae: several species, including mezereon and spurge laurel.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the laurel or bay tree): from Greek , from the name of the nymph DAPHNE.

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DAPHNE ■

daph·ni·a n. (pl. same) a tiny and semitransparent freshwater crustacean with long antennae and prominent eyes, often used as food for aquarium fish. Also called WATER FLEA.
<INFO>  Genus Daphnia, order Cladocera.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek , from the name of the nymph DAPHNE.

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WATER FLEA ■

DAPHNE ■

Daph·nis [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] a Sicilian shepherd who, according to one version of the legend, was struck with blindness for his infidelity to the nymph Echenaïs. He consoled himself with pastoral poetry, of which he was the inventor.

dap·per adj. (typically of a man) neat and trim in dress, appearance, or bearing.

<DERIVATIVES> dap·per·ly adv. dap·per·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: probably from a Middle Low German or Middle Dutch word meaning 'strong, stout'.

dap·ple v. [trans.] (usu. be dappled) mark with spots or rounded patches: the floor was dappled with pale moonlight | [as adj.] (dappled) dappled sunlight lay upon her straight brown hair.

■ n. a patch or spot of color or light.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an animal whose coat is marked with patches or spots.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (earlier as an adjective): perhaps related to Old Norse depill 'spot'.

dap·ple gray adj. (of a horse) gray or white with darker ringlike markings.

■ n. a horse of this type.

Dap·sang another name for K2.

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K2 ■

dap·sone n. [MEDICINE] a sulfur compound with bacteriostatic action, used chiefly in the treatment of leprosy.
<INFO>  Alternative name: bis(4-aminophenyl)sulfone; chem. formula: (H_2NC_6H_4)2SO_2.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from elements of its alternative systematic name dipara-aminophenyl sulfone.

Da·qing (also Ta·ching) a major industrial city in northeastern China, in Heilongjiang province; pop. 996,800.

DAR abbr. Daughters of the American Revolution.

Dard n. 1 a member of a group of peoples inhabiting eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, and Kashmir.

2 a group of languages, including Kashmiri, usually classified as Indic but showing strong Iranian influence.

■ adj. of or relating to the Dards or their languages.

<DERIVATIVES> Dard·ic n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> the name in Dard.

Dar·da·nelles a narrow strait between Europe and Asiatic Turkey (called the Hellespont in classical times) that links the Sea of Marmara with the Aegean Sea. It is 38 miles (60 km) long. In 1915, it was the scene of an unsuccessful attack on Turkey by Allied troops (see GALLIPOLI).

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GALLIPOLI ■

Dare Virginia (1587-?), first English child born in North America. Born on Roanoke Island, Virginia, to Ananias Dare and Elinor White, she disappeared with the other 117 Roanoke colonists, as was discovered in 1591.

dare v. (3rd sing. present usu. dare before an expressed or implied infinitive without to) 1 [usu. with infinitive with or without to] [often with negative] have the courage to do something: a story he dare not write down; | she leaned forward as far as she dared.

2 [trans.] defy or challenge (someone) to do something: she was daring him to disagree | [trans.] swap with me, I dare you.

3 [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY take the risk of; brave: few dared his wrath.

■ n. a challenge, esp. to prove courage: athletes who eat ground glass on a dare.

<PHRASES>
□ don't you dare used to order someone threateningly not to do something: don't you dare touch me!

□ how dare you used to express indignation: how dare you talk to me like that!

□ I dare say (or daresay) used to indicate that one believes something is probable: I dare say you've heard about her.

<DERIVATIVES> dar·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English durran, of Germanic origin; related to Gothic gadaursan, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek tharsein and Sanskrit 'be bold'.

dare·dev·il n. a reckless person who enjoys doing dangerous things.

■ adj. [attrib.] reckless and daring.

<DERIVATIVES> dare·dev·il·ry n.

Dar es Sa·laam the chief port and former capital of Tanzania; pop. 1,360,850. Its Arabic name means “haven of peace.”

Da·ri n. the form of Persian spoken in Afghanistan.

Dar·i·en a sparsely populated province in eastern Panama. The name was formerly applied to the whole of the Isthmus of Panama.

Dar·i·en, Gulf of part of the Caribbean Sea between Panama and Colombia.

dar·ing adj. (of a person or action) adventurous or audaciously bold: a daring crime.
<SPECIAL USAGE> boldly unconventional: a pretty girl in daring clothes.

■ n. adventurous courage: the zeal and daring of climbers.

<DERIVATIVES> dar·ing·ly adv.

dar·i·ole (also dariole mold) n. (in French cooking) a small, round metal mold in which an individual sweet or savory dish is cooked and served.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French.

Da·ri·us I (c.550-486 BC), king of Persia 521-486 BC; known as Darius the Great. After a revolt by the Greek cities in Ionia (499-494 BC), he invaded Greece but was defeated at Marathon (490 BC).

Dar·jee·ling n. a high-quality tea grown in the mountainous regions of northern India.

dark adj. 1 with little or no light: it's too dark to see much.
<SPECIAL USAGE> hidden from knowledge; mysterious: a dark secret.

- ARCHAIC ignorant; unenlightened: he is dark on certain points of scripture.

- (of a theater) closed; not in use: on Tuesdays he’d wait tables because the theater was dark.

2 (of a color or object) not reflecting much light; approaching black in shade: dark green.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of someone's skin, hair, or eyes) brown or black in color.

- (of a person) having such skin, hair, or eyes: both my father and I are very dark.

- FIGURATIVE (of a sound or taste) having richness or depth: a distinctive dark, sweet flavor.

- served or drunk with only a little or no milk or cream.

3 (of a period of time or situation) characterized by tragedy, unhappiness, or unpleasantness: the dark days of the war.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- gloomily pessimistic: a dark vision of the future.

- (of an expression) angry; threatening: Matthew flashed a dark look at her.

- suggestive of or arising from evil characteristics or forces; sinister: so many dark deeds had been committed.

4 [PHONETICS] denoting a velarized form of the sound of the letter l (as in pull).

■ n. 1 (the dark) the absence of light in a place: Carolyn was sitting in the dark; | he's scared of the dark.
<SPECIAL USAGE> nightfall: I'll be home before dark.

2 a dark color or shade, esp. in a painting.

<PHRASES>
□ the darkest hour is just before the dawn PROVERB when things seem to be at their worst, they are about to start improving.

□ in the dark in a state of ignorance about something: we're clearly being kept in the dark about what's happening.

□ keep something dark keep something secret from other people: I asked Ann to keep my identity dark.

□ a shot (or stab) in the dark an act whose outcome cannot be foreseen; a mere guess.

<DERIVATIVES> dark·ish adj. dark·some adj. (POETIC/LITERARY).

<ORIGIN> Old English deorc, of Germanic origin, probably distantly related to German tarnen 'conceal'.

dark ad·ap·ta·tion n. the adjustment of the eye to low light intensities, involving reflex dilation of the pupil and activation of the rod cells in preference to the cone cells.

<DERIVATIVES> dark-a·dapt·ed adj.

Dark Ag·es 1 the period in western Europe between the fall of the Roman Empire and the high Middle Ages, c.AD 500-1100, during which Germanic tribes swept through Europe and North Africa, often attacking and destroying towns and settlements.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a period of supposed unenlightenment: the dark ages of racism.

- (the dark ages) HUMOROUS or DEROGATORY an obscure or little-regarded period in the past, esp. as characterizing an outdated attitude or practice: the judge is living in the dark ages.

2 [ARCHAEOLOGY] a period in Greece and the Aegean from the end of the Bronze Age until the beginning of the archaic period. There was no building of palaces and fortresses, and the art of writing was apparently lost.

Dark and Blood·y Ground a nickname for the state of KENTUCKY.

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KENTUCKY ■

dark choc·o·late n. slightly bitter chocolate, of a deep brown color, without added milk.

Dark Con·ti·nent HISTORICAL a name given to Africa at a time when it was little known to Europeans.

dark cur·rent n. the residual electric current flowing in a photoelectric device when there is no incident illumination.

dark·en v. 1 make or become dark or darker: [intrans.] the sky was darkening rapidly | [trans.] darken the eyebrows with black powder | [as adj.] (darkened) a darkened room.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] FIGURATIVE (of an unpleasant event or state of affairs) cast a shadow over something; spoil: the abuse darkened the rest of their lives.

2 make or become gloomy, angry, or unhappy: [intrans.] his mood darkened.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of someone's eyes or expression) show anger or another strong negative emotion: his face darkened and he lunged away.

- [trans.] (of such an emotion) show in (someone's eyes or expression): misery darkened her gaze.

<PHRASES> darken someone's door visit someone's home: never darken my door again!

<DERIVATIVES> dark·en·er n.

dark en·er·gy n.[PHYSICS] a theoretical repulsive force that counteracts gravity and causes the universe to expand at an accelerating rate: Einstein’s theories allow for the possible existence of dark energy.

dark-field mi·cros·co·py n. a type of light microscopy that produces brightly illuminated objects on a dark background.

dark glass·es plural n. glasses with tinted lenses, worn to protect or conceal a person's eyes.

dark horse n. 1 a person about whom little is known, esp. someone whose abilities and potential for success are concealed: [as adj.] a dark-horse candidate.

2 a competitor or candidate who has little chance of winning, or who wins against expectations: a preseason dark horse as the nation's top collegiate football team.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: originally racing slang.

dark·ie n. variant spelling of DARKY.

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DARKY ■

dark lan·tern n. a lantern with a movable panel that can be used to hide the light.

dark line n. [PHYSICS] a line in an absorption spectrum, appearing as a black line at visible wavelengths.

dark·ling adj. POETIC/LITERARY of or relating to growing darkness: the darkling sky.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from DARK + -ling, a suffix denoting condition or situation. The verb darkle is a back-formation dating from the 15th century.

dark·ling bee·tle n. a dark-colored nocturnal beetle, typically with reduced or absent wings.
<INFO>  Tenebrionidae

dark·ly adv. 1 in a threatening, mysterious, or ominous way: “You can't trust him,” said Jacob darkly.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in a depressing or pessimistic way: I wondered darkly if I was wasting my time.

2 with a dark color: a figure silhouetted darkly against the trees.

dark mat·ter n. [ASTRONOMY] (in some cosmological theories) nonluminous material that is postulated to exist in space and that could take any of several forms including weakly interacting particles (cold dark matter) or high-energy randomly moving particles created soon after the big bang (hot dark matter).

dark neb·u·la n. [ASTRONOMY] a nonluminous nebula of dust and gas that is observable because it obscures light from other sources.

dark·ness n. 1 the partial or total absence of light: the office was in darkness.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- night: they began to make camp before darkness fell.

- the quality of being dark in color: the darkness of his jacket.

2 wickedness or evil: the forces of darkness.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- unhappiness, distress, or gloom: moments of darkness were rare.

- secrecy or mystery: they drew a veil of darkness across the proceedings.

- lack of spiritual or intellectual enlightenment; ignorance: his accomplishments shone in a world of darkness.

dark night of the soul (also dark night) n. [CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY] a period of spiritual aridity suffered by a mystic in which all sense of consolation is removed.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: translating Spanish noche oscura (St. John of the Cross).

dark re·ac·tion n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] the cycle of reactions (the Calvin cycle) that occurs in the second phase of photosynthesis and does not require the presence of light. It involves the fixation of carbon dioxide and its reduction to carbohydrate and the dissociation of water, using chemical energy stored in ATP.

dark·room n. a room from which normal light is excluded, used for developing photographs.

dark star n. [ASTRONOMY] a starlike object that emits little or no visible light. Its existence is inferred from other evidence, such as the eclipsing of other stars.

dark·y (also dark·ie) n. (pl. dark·ies) INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE a person with black or dark skin.

dar·ling n. used as an affectionate form of address to a beloved person: good night, my darling.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a lovable or endearing person: he's such a darling.

- a person who is particularly popular with a certain group: she is the darling of the media.

■ adj. [attrib.] beloved: his darling wife.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (esp. in affected use) pretty; charming: a darling little pillbox hat.

<PHRASES> be a darling used as a friendly or encouraging preface to a request: be a darling and don't mention I'm here.

<DERIVATIVES> dar·ling·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English (see DEAR, -LING).

Linked entries:

DEAR ■

-LING ■

Dar·ling Riv·er a river in southeastern Australia that flows southwest for 1,712 miles (2,757 km) to join the Murray River.

Darm·stadt an industrial town in western Germany, in the state of Hesse; pop. 140,040.

darm·stadt·i·um n. the synthetic chemical element of atomic number 110. It is a superheavy metal that decays in thousandths of a second.

<ORIGIN> early 21st cent.: after a laboratory in Darmstadt, Germany, where the element was first created.

darn 1 v. [trans.] mend (knitted material or a hole in this) by weaving yarn across the hole with a needle: I don't expect you to darn my socks.
<SPECIAL USAGE> embroider (material) with a large running stitch.

■ n. a place in a garment that has been mended in such a way.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: perhaps from dialect dern 'to hide', which is from Old English diernan; compare with Middle Dutch dernen 'stop holes in (a dike)'.

darn 2 (also durn) v., adj. & exclam. INFORMAL euphemism for DAMN: [as v.] darn it all, Poppa | [as adj.] the darn things were expensive.

Linked entries:

DAMN ■

darned (also durned ) adj. INFORMAL euphemism for DAMNED: you have to work a darned sight harder | [as submodifier] they're darned good songwriters.

<DERIVATIVES> darned·est adj.

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DAMNED ■

dar·nel n. a Eurasian ryegrass.
<INFO>  Genus Lolium, family Gramineae: several species, in particular the widespread L. temulentum.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: of unknown origin; apparently related to French (Walloon dialect) darnelle.

darn·er n. 1 a darning needle.

2 a large slender-bodied dragonfly. Also called DARNING NEEDLE, DEVIL'S DARNING NEEDLE. <ORIGIN> said to be so named because of the popular belief that the dragonfly sews up the lips and eyelids of people sleeping.
<INFO>  Aeshnidae

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DARNING NEEDLE ■

DEVIL'S DARNING NEEDLE ■

darn·ing n. the skill or activity of one who darns: long hours of tedious darning.
<SPECIAL USAGE> articles being darned or needing to be darned: Aunt Edie bent her head to her darning.

darn·ing egg n. an egg-shaped piece of wood or other smooth hard material used to stretch and support material being darned.

darn·ing nee·dle n. a long sewing needle with a large eye, used in darning.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for DARNER (sense 2).

Linked entries:

DARNER ■

Darn·ley Henry Stewart (or Stuart), Lord (1545-67), Scottish nobleman; second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots; father of James I of England.

DARPA abbr. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the central research and development organization for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Dar·row Clarence Seward (1857-1938), U.S. lawyer. He served as defense counsel in several well-publicized trials, including that of John T. Scopes, a teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, who was charged with violating state law for teaching evolution in a public school in 1925.

dar·shan n. [HINDUISM] an opportunity or occasion of seeing a holy person or the image of a deity.

<ORIGIN> via Hindi from Sanskrit 'sight or seeing'.

Dart Raymond Arthur (1893-1988), South African anthropologist and anatomist; born in Australia. In 1925, he found the first specimen of the hominid species A. africanus, for which he coined the genus name Australopithecus.

dart n. 1 a small pointed missile that can be thrown or fired.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a small pointed missile with a feather or plastic tail, used in the game of darts.

- an act of running somewhere suddenly and rapidly: the cat made a dart for the door.

- FIGURATIVE a sudden, intense pang of a particular emotion: a dart of panic.

- [ZOOLOGY] a dartlike calcareous organ of a snail forming part of the reproductive system, exchanged during copulation.

2 a tapered tuck stitched into a garment in order to shape it.

■ v. [intrans.] move or run somewhere suddenly or rapidly: she darted across the street.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cast (a look or one's eyes) suddenly and rapidly in a particular direction: she darted a glance across the table.

- [trans.] ARCHAIC throw (a missile).

- [trans.] shoot (an animal) with a dart, typically in order to administer a drug.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, accusative of darz, dars, from a West Germanic word meaning 'spear, lance'.

dart·board n. a circular board marked with numbered segments, used as a target in the game of darts.

dart·er n. 1 another term for ANHINGA.

2 a small North American freshwater fish, the male of which may develop bright coloration during the breeding season.
<INFO>  Genera Etheostoma and Percina, family Percidae: numerous species.

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ANHINGA ■

darts plural n. [usu. treated as sing.] an indoor game in which small pointed missiles with feather or plastic flights are thrown at a circular target marked with numbers in order to score points.

Dar·win Charles (Robert) (1809-82), English natural historian and geologist; a proponent of the theory of evolution by natural selection. While the naturalist on HMS Beagle for her voyage around the Southern Hemisphere 1831-36, he collected the material that became the basis for his ideas on natural selection. Notable works: On the Origin of Species (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871).

Dar·win·i·an adj. of or relating to Darwinism.

■ n. an adherent of Darwinism.

Dar·win·ism n. the theory of the evolution of species by natural selection advanced by Charles Darwin.

Darwin argued that since offspring tend to vary slightly from their parents, mutations that make an organism better adapted to its environment will be encouraged and developed by the pressures of natural selection, leading to the evolution of new species differing widely from one another and from their common ancestors. Darwinism was later developed by the findings of Mendelian genetics (see NEO-DARWINIAN).

<DERIVATIVES> Dar·win·ist n. & adj.

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NEO-DARWINIAN ■

Dar·win's finch·es plural n. a group of songbirds related to the buntings and found on the Galapagos Islands, discovered by Charles Darwin and used by him to illustrate his theory of natural selection. They are believed to have evolved from a common ancestor and have developed a variety of bills to suit various modes of life.
<INFO>  Family Emberizidae (subfamily Emberizinae): four to six genera, esp. Geospiza (the ground finches) and Camarhynchus (the tree finches).

Da·sein n. [PHILOSOPHY] (in Hegelianism) existence or determinate being; (in existentialism) human existence.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: German, from dasein 'exist', from da 'there' + sein 'be'.

dash v. 1 [intrans.] run or travel somewhere in a great hurry: I dashed into the garden; I must dash, I'm late.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (often dash about/around) move about in a great hurry, esp. in the attempt to do several things in a short period of time: I dash about for four days in a manic fit to straighten things up.

2 [trans.] strike or fling (something) somewhere with great force, esp. so as to have a destructive effect; hurl: the ship was dashed upon the rocks.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] strike forcefully against something: a gust of rain dashed against the bricks.

- [trans.] destroy or frustrate (a person's hopes or expectations): the budget dashed hopes of an increase in funding.

- [trans.] cause (someone) to lose confidence; dispirit: I won't tell StuartI think he'd be dashed.

■ exclam. BRIT., INFORMAL, DATED used to express mild annoyance: “Dash it all, I am in charge.”

■ n. 1 [in sing.] an act of running somewhere suddenly and hastily: she made a dash for the door.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a journey or period of time characterized by urgency or eager haste: a 20-mile dash to the airport.

- a short fast race run in one heat; a sprint: the 100-yard dash.

2 a small quantity of a substance, esp. a liquid, added to something else: whiskey with a dash of soda.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a small amount of a particular quality adding piquancy or distinctiveness to something else: a casual atmosphere with a dash of sophistication.

3 a horizontal stroke in writing or printing to mark a pause or break in sense, or to represent omitted letters or words.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the longer signal of the two used in Morse code. Compare with DOT^1 .

- [MUSIC] a short vertical mark placed above or beneath a note to indicate that it is to be performed in a very staccato manner.

4 impetuous or flamboyant vigor and confidence; panache: he has youthful energy, dash, and charisma.

5 short for DASHBOARD.

<PHRASAL VERB> dash something off write something hurriedly and without much premeditation.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'strike forcibly against'): probably symbolic of forceful movement and related to Swedish daska and Danish daske.

Linked entries:

DOT ■

DASHBOARD ■

dash·board n. the panel facing the driver of a vehicle or the pilot of an aircraft, containing instruments and controls.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL a board of wood or leather in front of a carriage, to keep out mud.

dashed adj. [attrib.] 1 BRIT., INFORMAL, DATED used for emphasis: it's a dashed shame | [as submodifier] she was dashed rude.

2 (of a line on a piece of paper) composed of dashes.

da·sheen n. another term for TARO.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (originally West Indian): of unknown origin.

Linked entries:

TARO ■

dash·er n. 1 INFORMAL a person who dresses or acts flamboyantly or stylishly.

2 a plunger for agitating cream in a churn.

3 [HOCKEY] the ledge along the top of the boards of a rink.

da·shi n. stock made from fish and kelp, used in Japanese cooking.

da·shi·ki n. (pl. -kis) a loose, brightly colored shirt or tunic, originally from West Africa.

<ORIGIN> from Yoruba or Hausa.

dash·ing adj. (of a man) attractive in a romantic, adventurous way: a dashing pirate on the high seas.
<SPECIAL USAGE> stylish or fashionable: a dashing S-type Jaguar.

<DERIVATIVES> dash·ing·ly adv.

dash·pot n. a device for damping shock or vibration.

das·sie n. (pl. -sies) a hyrax, esp. the rock hyrax of southern Africa.
<INFO>  Family Procaviidae, in particular Procavia capensis.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Afrikaans, from South African Dutch dasje, diminutive of Dutch das 'badger'.

das·tard n. DATED,HUMOROUS a dishonorable or despicable person.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'stupid person'): probably from dazed, influenced by dotard and bastard.

das·tard·ly adj. DATED,HUMOROUS wicked and cruel: pirates and their dastardly deeds.

<DERIVATIVES> das·tard·li·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'dull or stupid'): from DASTARD in the obsolete sense 'base coward'.

Linked entries:

DASTARD ■

das·y·ure n. another term for QUOLL.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from modern Latin dasyurus, from Greek dasus 'rough, hairy' + oura 'tail'.

Linked entries:

QUOLL ■

DAT abbr. digital audiotape.

da·ta n. [treated as sing. or pl.] facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis. See also DATUM.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [COMPUTING] the quantities, characters, or symbols on which operations are performed by a computer, being stored and transmitted in the form of electrical signals and recorded on magnetic, optical, or mechanical recording media.

- [PHILOSOPHY] things known or assumed as facts, making the basis of reasoning or calculation.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (as a term in philosophy): from Latin, plural of DATUM.

<USAGE>
Data was originally the plural of the Latin word datum, 'something (e.g., a piece of information) given.' Data is now used as a singular where it means 'information': this data was prepared for the conference. It is used as a plural in technical contexts and when the collection of bits of information is stressed: all recent data on hurricanes are being compared. Avoid datas and datae, which are false plurals, neither English nor Latin.

Linked entries:

DATUM ■

DATUM ■

da·ta bank (also da·ta·bank) n. [COMPUTING] a large repository of data on a particular topic, sometimes formed from more than one database, and accessible by many users.

da·ta·base n. a structured set of data held in a computer, esp. one that is accessible in various ways.

da·ta·base man·age·ment sys·tem (abbr.: DBMS) n. [COMPUTING] software that handles the storage, retrieval, and updating of data in a computer system.

dat·a·ble (also date·a·ble) adj. able to be dated to a particular time.

da·ta com·mun·i·ca·tions n. the electronic transmission of encoded information to, from, or between computers.

da·ta dic·tion·ar·y n. [COMPUTING] a set of information describing the contents, format, and structure of a database and the relationship between its elements, used to control access to and manipulation of the database.

da·ta·glove n. [COMPUTING] a device, worn like a glove, that allows the manual manipulation of images in virtual reality.

da·ta·link n. an electronic connection for the exchange of information: a datalink system that would allow aircraft controllers and pilots to exchange electronic messages.

da·ta min·ing n. [COMPUTING] the practice of examining large databases in order to generate new information.

da·ta·point n. an identifiable element in a data set: software that can quickly process tens of thousands of datapoints.

da·ta proc·ess·ing n. a series of operations on data, esp. by a computer, to retrieve, transform, or classify information.

<DERIVATIVES> da·ta proc·es·sor n.

da·ta set n. [COMPUTING] a collection of related sets of information that is composed of separate elements but can be manipulated as a unit by a computer.

da·ta smog n. INFORMAL an overwhelming excess of information, especially from the Internet: nowadays, people need help getting their intellectual bearings because cable has become a torrent of ideology, dueling experts and data smog.

da·ta ter·mi·nal n. [COMPUTING] a terminal at which a person can enter data into a computer-based system or receive data from one.

da·ta type n. [COMPUTING] a particular kind of data item, as defined by the values it can take, the programming language used, or the operations that can be performed on it.

da·ta·veil·lance n. the extraction of private information about a people or groups from algorithmic study of the residue of their various electronic and digital transactions and activities.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: blend of data and surveillance.

da·ta ware·house n. [COMPUTING] a large store of data accumulated from a wide range of sources within a company and used to guide management decisions.

<DERIVATIVES> da·ta ware·hous·ing n.

date 1 n. 1 the day of the month or year as specified by a number: what's the date today?; | please give your name, address, and date of birth.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a particular day or year when a given event occurred or will occur: significant dates like 1776 and 1789; they've set a date for the wedding.

- (dates) the years of a person's birth and death or of the beginning and end of a period or event: giving the dates of kings and queens.

- the period of time to which an artifact or structure belongs: the church is the largest of its date.

- a written, printed, or stamped statement on an item giving the day, month, and year of writing, publication, or manufacture: these Roman coins bear an explicit date.

2 INFORMAL a social or romantic appointment or engagement: a college student on a date with someone he met in class.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person with whom one has such an engagement: my date isn't going to show, it seems.

- an appointment: he has a date with a specialist next week.

- a musical or theatrical engagement or performance, esp. as part of a tour: possible live dates in the near future.

■ v. [trans.] 1 establish or ascertain the date of (an object or event): they date the paintings to 1460-70.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- mark with a date: sign and date the document | [as adj.] (dated) a signed and dated painting.

- [intrans.] have its origin at a particular time; have existed since: the controversy dates back to 1986.

2 indicate or expose as being old-fashioned: discothat word alone dates me.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] seem old-fashioned: [as adj.] (dated) his style would sound dated nowadays.

3 INFORMAL go out with (someone in whom one is romantically or sexually interested): my sister's pretty judgmental about the girls I date | [intrans.] they have been dating for more than a year.

<PHRASES> to date until now: their finest work to date.

<DERIVATIVES> dat·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from medieval Latin data, feminine past participle of dare 'give'; from the Latin formula used in dating letters, data (epistola) '(letter) given or delivered', to record a particular time or place.

date 2 n. 1 a sweet, dark brown, oval fruit containing a hard stone, often eaten dried.

2 (also date palm) the tall palm tree that bears clusters of this fruit, native to western Asia and North Africa.
<INFO>  Phoenix dactylifera, family Palmae.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, via Latin from Greek daktulos 'finger' (because of the fingerlike shape of its leaves).

date·a·ble adj. variant spelling of DATABLE.

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DATABLE ■

date·book n. a book with spaces for each day of the year in which one notes appointments or important information for each day.

date·less adj. 1 not clearly belonging to any particular period, therefore not likely to go out of date: dateless dresses.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a document or stamp) having no date mark.

2 not having, or incapable of having, social or romantic appointments or engagements: dateless men reduce women to sex objects and dateless women become space-age scanners.

date·line n. a line at the head of a dispatch or special article in a newspaper showing the date and place of writing.

■ v. furnish (a dispatch or article) with a dateline.

Date Line (also International Date Line) an imaginary north-south line through the Pacific Ocean, adopted in 1884, to the east of which the date is a day earlier than it is to the west. It lies chiefly along the meridian furthest from Greenwich, England (i.e., longitude 180°), with diversions to pass around some island groups.

date palm n. see DATE 2 .

Linked entries:

DATE ■

date rape n. rape committed by the victim's escort.

date-rape drug n. a drug that causes temporary loss of memory or inhibition, surreptitiously given to a girl or a woman so that her date may sexually abuse or rape her.

date stamp n. a stamped mark indicating a date, typically used on food packaging or mailed envelopes.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an adjustable stamp used to make such a mark.

■ v. (date-stamp) [trans.] mark (something) with a date stamp.

dat·ing serv·ice n. an agency that arranges introductions for people seeking romantic partners or friends with similar interests.

da·tive [GRAMMAR] adj. (in Latin, Greek, German, and other languages) denoting a case of nouns and pronouns, and words in grammatical agreement with them, indicating an indirect object or recipient.

■ n. a noun or other word of this type.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (the dative) the dative case.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin (casus) dativus '(case) of giving', from dat- 'given', from the verb dare.

Da·tong a city in northern China, in Shanxi province; pop. 1,090,000.

da·tum n. (pl. da·ta ) 1 See also DATA. a piece of information.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an assumption or premise from which inferences may be drawn. See SENSE DATUM.

2 a fixed starting point of a scale or operation.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin, literally 'something given', neuter past participle of dare 'give'.

Linked entries:

DATA ■

SENSE DATUM ■

da·tum line (also datum level) n. a standard of comparison or point of reference.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [SURVEYING] an assumed surface used as a reference for the measurement of heights and depths.

- a line to which dimensions are referred on engineering drawings, and from which measurements are calculated.

da·tu·ra n. a shrubby annual plant with large trumpet-shaped flowers, native to southern North America. Daturas contain toxic or narcotic alkaloids and are used as hallucinogens by some American Indian peoples. See also ANGEL'S TRUMPET.
<INFO>  Genus Datura, family Solanaceae: several species, including the jimson weed.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Hindi .

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ANGEL'S TRUMPET ■

daub v. [trans.] coat or smear (a surface) with a thick or sticky substance in a carelessly rough or liberal way: she daubed her face with night cream.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- spread (a thick or sticky substance) on a surface in such a way: a canvas with paint daubed on it.

- paint (words or drawings) on a surface in such a way: they daubed graffiti on the walls.

■ n. 1 plaster, clay, or another substance used for coating a surface, esp. when mixed with straw and applied to laths or wattles to form a wall: square huts, mostly daub and wattle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a patch or smear of a thick or sticky substance: a daub of paint.

2 a painting executed without much skill.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French dauber, from Latin dealbare 'whiten, whitewash', based on albus 'white'.

daube n. a stew of meat, typically beef, braised slowly in wine.

<PHRASES> en daube (of meat) cooked in this way.

<ORIGIN> French; compare with Italian addobbo 'seasoning'.

daub·er n. a crude or inartistic painter.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an implement used for daubing.

Dau·bi·gny Charles François (1817-78), French landscape painter. A member of the Barbizon School, he is often regarded as a linking figure between this group and the Impressionists.

daugh·ter n. a girl or woman in relation to her parents.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a female offspring of an animal.

- a female descendant: we are the sons and daughters of Adam.

- a woman considered as the product of a particular person, influence, or environment: a daughter of the dry savannas of Africa.

- ARCHAIC used as a term of affectionate address to a woman or girl, typically by an older person.

- POETIC/LITERARY a thing personified as a daughter in relation to its origin or source: Italian, the eldest daughter of ancient Latin.

- [PHYSICS] a nuclide formed by the radioactive decay of another.

■ adj. [BIOLOGY] originating through division or replication: daughter cells.

<DERIVATIVES> daugh·ter·hood n. daugh·ter·ly adj.

<ORIGIN> Old English dohtor, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dochter and German Tochter, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek .

daugh·ter·board n. [ELECTRONICS] an expansion circuit card affixed to a motherboard that accesses memory and the CPU directly rather than through a bus. Also called DAUGHTERCARD.

daugh·ter-in-law n. (pl. daugh·ters-in-law) the wife of one's son.

Daugh·ters of the A·mer·i·can Rev·o·lu·tion (abbr.: DAR) a patriotic society whose aims include encouraging education and the study of U.S. history and that tends to be politically conservative. Membership is limited to female descendants of those who aided the cause of independence.

Dau·mier Honoré (1808-78), French painter and lithographer. Working as a cartoonist, he produced lithographs satirizing French society and politics.

daunt v. [trans.] (usu. be daunted) make (someone) feel intimidated or apprehensive: some people are daunted by technology.

<PHRASES> nothing daunted without having been made fearful or apprehensive: nothing daunted, the committee set to work.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French danter, from Latin domitare, frequentative of domare 'to tame'.

daunt·ing adj. seeming difficult to deal with in anticipation; intimidating: a daunting task.

<DERIVATIVES> daunt·ing·ly adv.

daunt·less adj. showing fearlessness and determination: dauntless bravery.

<DERIVATIVES> daunt·less·ly adv. daunt·less·ness n.

dau·phin n. HISTORICAL the eldest son of the king of France.

<ORIGIN> French, from the family name of the lords of the Dauphiné (first used in this way in the 14th cent.), ultimately a nickname meaning 'dolphin'.

dau·phi·nois (also dau·phi·noise ) adj. (of potatoes or other vegetables) sliced and cooked in milk, typically with a topping of cheese.

<ORIGIN> French, 'from the province of Dauphiné'.

Da·vao a seaport in the southern Philippines, on the island of Mindanao; pop. 850,000.

da·ven v. (da·vened, da·ven·ing) [intrans.] (in Judaism) recite the prescribed liturgical prayers.

<ORIGIN> Yiddish.

Dav·en·port an industrial city in southeastern Iowa, on the Mississippi River, one of the Quad Cities; pop. 98,359.

dav·en·port n. 1 a large upholstered sofa, typically able to be converted into a bed. <ORIGIN> perhaps from a manufacturer's name.

2 BRIT. an ornamental writing desk with drawers and a sloping surface for writing. <ORIGIN> probably named after Captain Davenport, for whom early examples of this type of desk were made in the late 18th cent.

Da·vid 1 (died c.962 BC), king of Judah and Israel c.1000-c.962 BC. In the biblical account, he killed the Philistine Goliath and, on Saul's death, became king, making Jerusalem his capital. He is traditionally regarded as the author of the Psalms, although this has been disputed.

Da·vid 2 the name of two kings of Scotland:
<SPECIAL USAGE> David I (c.1084-1153), sixth son of Malcolm III; reigned 1124-53. In 1136, he invaded England in support of his niece Matilda's claim to the throne, but he was defeated at the Battle of the Standard in 1138.

<SPECIAL USAGE> David II (1324-71), son of Robert the Bruce; reigned 1329-71.

Da·vid 3 Jacques-Louis (1748-1825), French painter. He is noted for neoclassical paintings such as The Oath of the Horatii (1784) and The Intervention of the Sabine Women (1799).

Da·vid, St. (6th century), Welsh monk; Welsh name De·wi . Since the 12th century he has been regarded as the patron saint of Wales. Feast day, March 1.

da Vin·ci, Leonardo see LEONARDO DA VINCI.

Linked entries:

LEONARDO DA VINCI ■

Da·vis an academic and agricultural city in north central California, west of Sacramento; pop. 46,209.

Da·vis 1 Angela Yvonne (1944- ), U.S. civil rights leader and writer. She wrote Women, Race and Class (1980).

Da·vis 2 Benjamin Oliver (1877-1970), U.S. military leader. In 1940, he became the first African-American general in the U.S. Army. His son, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. (1912-2002), an aviator, became the first African-American Air Force general in 1953.

Da·vis 3 Bette (1908-89), U.S. actress; born Ruth Elizabeth Davis. She established her Hollywood career playing a number of strong, independent female characters in such movies as Dangerous (1935) and Jezebel (1938). Her flair for suggesting the macabre and menacing emerged in later movies, such as Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962).

Da·vis 4 David (1815-86), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1862-77 and a U.S. senator from Illinois 1877-83.

Da·vis 5 Jefferson (1808-89), U.S. politician and president of the Confederate States of America (CSA). As a U.S. senator from Mississippi 1847-51 and a defender of slavery, he withdrew from the Senate when Mississippi seceded from the Union and was elected president of CSA in 1862. He wrote The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government (1881).

Da·vis 6 Miles (Dewey) (1926-91), U.S. jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader. In the 1950s, he played and recorded arrangements in a new style that became known as “cool” jazz, heard on albums such as Kind of Blue (1959). In the 1960s, he pioneered the fusion of jazz and rock.

Da·vis 7 Sammy, Jr. (1925-90), U.S. actor, singer, and dancer. Most notably, he appeared in Ocean's Eleven (1960) along with Frank Sinatra and other members of the "Rat Pack." His recording of "Candy Man" (1972) became his theme song.

Da·vis Cup an annual tennis championship for men, first held in 1900, between teams from different countries.

<ORIGIN> named after Dwight F. Davis (1879-1945), the U.S. doubles champion who donated the trophy.

Da·vis Moun·tains a range in southwestern Texas, site of the Mount Locke observatory and several resorts.

Da·vis·son Clinton Joseph (1881-1958), U.S. physicist. With L. H. Germer (1896-1971), he discovered electron diffraction, thus confirming de Broglie's theory of the wave nature of electrons. Nobel Prize for Physics (1937, shared with George P. Thomson 1892-1975).

Da·vis Strait a sea passage 400 miles (645 km) long that separates Greenland from Baffin Island and connects Baffin Bay with the Atlantic Ocean.

<ORIGIN> named after John Davis (c.1550-1605), the English explorer who sailed through it in 1587.

da·vit n. a small crane on board a ship, esp. one of a pair for suspending or lowering a lifeboat.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Old French daviot, diminutive of david, denoting a kind of carpenter's tool.

Da·vy Sir Humphry (1778-1829), English chemist; a pioneer of electrochemistry. He discovered nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and the elements sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium. He also identified and named the element chlorine, determined the properties of iodine, and demonstrated that diamond was a form of carbon.

Da·vy Jones's lock·er n. INFORMAL the bottom of the sea, esp. regarded as the grave of those drowned at sea.

<ORIGIN> extension of early 18th-cent. nautical slang Davy Jones, denoting the evil spirit of the sea.

Da·vy lamp n. HISTORICAL a miner's portable safety lamp with the flame enclosed by wire gauze to reduce the risk of an explosion of gas.

daw n. another term for JACKDAW.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: of Germanic origin; related to German Dohle.

Linked entries:

JACKDAW ■

daw·dle v. [intrans.] waste time; be slow: I couldn't dawdle over my coffee any longer.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with adverbial of direction] move slowly and idly: Ruth dawdled back through the woods.
See note at LOITER.

<DERIVATIVES> daw·dler n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: related to dialect daddle, doddle 'dally'.

Dawes 1 Charles Gates (1865-1951), U.S. politician, lawyer, and financier. He was vice president of the U.S. 1925-29 and was instrumental in formulating the 1923 plan for restructuring post-World War I Germany's economy. Nobel Peace Prize (1925, shared with Sir Austen Chamberlain).

Dawes 2 William (1745-99), U.S. patriot. With Paul Revere he rode from Lexington to Concord, Massachusetts, to warn of approaching British soldiers on April 18, 1775.

dawn n. the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise: the rose-pink light of dawn.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE the beginning of a phenomenon or period of time, esp. one considered favorable: the dawn of civilization.

■ v. [intrans.] 1 (of a day) begin: [with complement] Thursday dawned bright and sunny.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE come into existence: a new era of land-use policy was dawning.

2 become evident to the mind; be perceived or understood: the awful truth was beginning to dawn on him | [as adj.] (dawning) he smiled with dawning recognition.

<PHRASES> from dawn to dusk all day; ceaselessly: day after day from dawn to dusk, they drove those loaded canoes.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (as a verb): back-formation from Middle English DAWNING.

Linked entries:

DAWNING ■

dawn cho·rus n. [in sing.] the singing of a large number of birds before dawn each day, particularly during the breeding season.

dawn·ing n. POETIC/LITERARY dawn.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the beginning or first appearance of something: the dawning of civilization.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: alteration of earlier dawing, from Old English dagian 'to dawn', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dagen and German tagen, also to DAY.

Linked entries:

DAY ■

dawn red·wood n. a coniferous tree with deciduous needles, known only as a fossil until it was found growing in southwestern China in 1941. Also called METASEQUOIA.
<INFO>  Metasequoia glyptostroboides, family Taxodiaceae.

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METASEQUOIA ■

Daw·son a town in the west central Yukon Territory, on the Klondike and Yukon rivers, center of a gold rush after 1896.

DAX abbr. Deutsche Aktienindex, the German stock exchange.

Day 1 Doris (1924- ), U.S. actress and singer; born Doris Kappelhoff. She became a movie star in the 1950s with roles in lighthearted musicals, comedies, and romances, such as Calamity Jane (1953) and Pillow Talk (1959).

Day 2 Dorothy (1897-1980), U.S. journalist and reformer. She founded the Catholic Worker newspaper with social activist Peter Maurin (1877-1949) in 1933.

Day 3 William Rufus (1849-1923), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice 1903-22. He was appointed to the Court by President Theodore Roosevelt.

day n. 1 a period of twenty-four hours as a unit of time, reckoned from one midnight to the next, corresponding to a rotation of the earth on its axis.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the part of this period when it is light; the time between sunrise and sunset: she sleeps all day and goes out at night; | the animals hunt by day.

- the time spent working during such a period: he works an eight-hour day.

- [ASTRONOMY] a single rotation of a planet in relation to its primary.

- [ASTRONOMY] the period on a planet when its primary star is above the horizon.

- ARCHAIC daylight: by the time they had all gone it was broad day.

2 (usu. days) a particular period of the past; an era: the laws were very strict in those days.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the day) the present time: the political issues of the day.

- [with adj.] a day associated with a particular event or purpose: graduation day; | Christmas Day.

- a day's endeavor, or the period of an endeavor, esp. as bringing success: speed and surprise would win the day.

- [usu. with adj.] (days) a particular period in a person's life or career: my student days.

- (one's day) the successful, fortunate, or influential period of a person's life or career: he had been a matinée idol in his day.

- (one's days) the span of someone's life: she cared for him for the rest of his days.

■ adj. [attrib.] carried out during the day as opposed to the evening or at night: my day job.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) working during the day as opposed to at night: a day nurse.

<PHRASES>
□ all in a (or the) day's work (of something unusual or difficult) accepted as part of someone's normal routine or as a matter of course: dodging sharks is all in a day's work for these scientists.

□ any day INFORMAL at any time: you can take me dancing any day of the week.
- (used to express one's strong preference for something) under any circumstances: I'd rather live in a shack in the woods than a penthouse in the city, any day.

- very soon: she's expected to give birth any day.

□ at the end of the day see END.

□ by the day gradually and steadily: the campaign is growing by the day.

□ call it a day end a period of activity, esp. resting content that enough has been done: we were prepared to do another long march before calling it a day.

□ day after day on each successive day, esp. over a long period: the rain poured down day after day.

□ day and night all the time: they kept working, day and night.

□ day by day gradually and steadily: day by day I grew worse.

□ day in, day out continuously or repeatedly over a long period of time.

□ day of reckoning the time when past mistakes or misdeeds must be punished or paid for; a testing time when the degree of one's success or failure will be revealed. <ORIGIN> with allusion to Judgment Day, on which (in some beliefs) the judgment of humankind is expected to take place.

□ from day one from the very beginning: children need a firm hand from day one.

□ have had one's (or its) day be no longer popular, successful, or influential: power dressing has had its day.

□ if someone is a day at least (added to a statement about a person's age): he must be seventy if he's a day.

□ in this day and age at the present time; in the modern era: it simplifies housekeeping, which is essential in this day and age.

□ not someone's day used to convey that someone has had a bad day.

□ of the day a thing currently considered to be particularly interesting or important: the big news story of the day.

□ one day (or one of these days) at some time in the future: our wishes will come true one of these days.

□ one of those days a day when several things go wrong.

□ that will (or that'll) be the day INFORMAL that will never happen.

□ these days at present: he was drinking far too much these days.

□ those were the days used to assert that a particular past time was better than the present.

□ to the day exactly: it's four years to the day since we won the lottery.

□ to this day up to the present time; still: the tradition continues to this day.

<ORIGIN> Old English dæg, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dag and German Tag.

Linked entries:

END ■

Day·ak (also Dy·ak) n. (pl. same or -aks) 1 a member of a group of indigenous peoples inhabiting parts of Borneo.

2 the group of Austronesian languages spoken by these peoples.

■ adj. of or relating to these peoples or their languages.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Malay, literally 'up-country'.

Da·yan Moshe (1915-81), Israeli statesman and general. As minister of defense he oversaw Israel's victory in the Six Day War, and as foreign minister he played a prominent role in negotiations that led to the Camp David agreements of 1979.

day·bed n. a couch that can be made up into a bed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a bed for daytime rest.

day·book n. an account book in which a day's transactions are entered for later transfer to a ledger.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a diary.

day·break n. the time in the morning when daylight first appears; dawn: she set off at daybreak.

day care n. daytime care for the needs of people who cannot be fully independent, such as children or the elderly: family issues such as day care | [as adj.] a day-care center for employees' children.

day·dream n. a series of pleasant thoughts that distract one's attention from the present.

■ v. [intrans.] indulge in such a series of thoughts: stop daydreaming and pay attention.

<DERIVATIVES> day·dream·er n. day·dream·y adj.

day·flow·er n. a plant related to the spiderwort, with short-lived flowers that are typically blue.
<INFO>  Genus Commelina, family Commelinaceae.

Day-Glo n. TRADEMARK a fluorescent paint or other coloring.

■ adj. (also day-glo) of or denoting very bright or fluorescent coloring: wearing Day-Glo pink T-shirts.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: blend of DAY and GLOW.

Linked entries:

DAY ■

GLOW ■

day job n. a person's regular job and main source of income, usually performed during the normal business day, and either allowing them to practice an avocation or contrasting to a vocation they would rather pursue.

day la·bor n. unskilled labor paid by the day.

<DERIVATIVES> day la·bor·er n.

Day Lew·is 1 C. (1904-72), English poet, novelist, and critic; full name Cecil Day Lewis. He served as Britain’s poet laureate 1968-72 and also wrote detective novels under the name Nicholas Blake.

Day-Lew·is 2 Daniel 1957-, English actor; full name Daniel Michael Blake Day-Lewis. His films include The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988), My Left Foot (Academy Award, 1989), The Age of Innocence (1993), and Gangs of New York (2002).

day·light n. 1 the natural light of the day: there were two hours of daylight left | [as adj.] the daylight hours.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the first appearance of light in the morning; dawn: I returned at daylight.

- FIGURATIVE visible distance between one person or thing and another: the growing daylight between himself and the leading jockey.

2 (daylights) used to emphasize the severity or thoroughness of an action: my father beat the living daylights out of them. <ORIGIN> from daylights meaning 'eyes', hence 'any vital organ'.

<PHRASES> see daylight begin to understand what was previously puzzling or unclear.

day·light·ing n. the illumination of buildings by natural light: daylighting is achieved by using properly designed windows and skylights.

day·light sav·ing time (also day·light sav·ings time) n. time as adjusted to achieve longer evening daylight, esp. in summer, by setting the clocks an hour ahead of the standard time.

day·lil·y (also day lil·y) n. a lily that bears large yellow, red, or orange flowers, each flower lasting only one day.
<INFO>  Genus Hemerocallis, family Liliaceae.

day·long adj. of a day's duration; lasting all day: a daylong deluge.

day·mare n. a frightening or oppressive trance or hallucinatory condition experienced while awake.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from DAY, on the pattern of nightmare.

Linked entries:

DAY ■

day nurs·er·y n. a place where young children are cared for during the working day.

Day of A·tone·ment another term for YOM KIPPUR.

Linked entries:

YOM KIPPUR ■

day off n. (pl. days off) a day's vacation from work or school on what would normally be a working day.

Day of Judg·ment another term for JUDGMENT DAY.

Linked entries:

JUDGMENT DAY ■

day·pack n. a small backpack, used for day hikes or for carrying books, etc.

day room (also day·room) n. a room used for daytime recreation, esp. a communal room in an institution.

day·sail v. [intrans.] sail a yacht for a single day: [as n.] (daysailing) an outstanding boat for daysailing.

day·sail·er n. a sailboat without a cabin, designed for day trips.

day school n. a nonresidential school, typically a private one.

day shift n. a period of time worked during the daylight hours in a hospital, factory, etc., as opposed to the night shift.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [treated as sing. or pl.] the employees who work during this period.

day·side n. [ASTRONOMY] the side of a planet that is facing its primary star.

Days of Awe plural n. another term for HIGH HOLIDAYS.

Linked entries:

HIGH HOLIDAYS ■

day·spring n. POETIC/LITERARY dawn.

day stu·dent n. a student who attends classes at a boarding school or college but who does not live at the school.

day·time n. the time of the day between sunrise and sunset: she was alone in the daytime | [as adj.] a daytime telephone number.

day-to-day adj. [attrib.] happening regularly every day: the day-to-day management of the classroom.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ordinary; everyday: our day-to-day domestic life.

- short-term; without consideration for the future: the struggle for day-to-day survival.

- [SPORTS] (of an injured player) not playing owing to a minor injury that is being treated and evaluated on a daily basis: their shortstop has an ankle sprain and is listed as day-to-day

■ n. [in sing.] an ordinary, everyday routine: they have come to escape the day-to-day.

■ adv. on a daily basis: the information to be traded is determined day-to-day.

Day·ton a city in western Ohio; pop. 166,179. It was the home of aviation pioneers Wilbur and Orville Wright and is still a center of aerospace research.

Day·to·na Beach a resort city in northeastern Florida, on the Atlantic coast; pop. 61,921.

day trad·ing n. the buying and selling of securities on the same day, often online, on the basis of small, short-term price fluctuations.

<DERIVATIVES> day-trade v. day trad·er n.

day trip n. a journey or excursion completed in one day.

<DERIVATIVES> day-trip·per (or day trip·per) n.

day·wear n. articles of casual clothing suitable for informal or everyday occasions.

day·work n. casual work paid for on a daily basis.

<DERIVATIVES> day·work·er n..

daze v. [trans.] (usu. be dazed) make (someone) unable to think or react properly; stupefy; bewilder: she was dazed by his revelations | [as adj.] (dazed) he staggered home dazed and confused.

■ n. [in sing.] a state of stunned confusion or bewilderment: he was walking around in a daze.

<DERIVATIVES> daz·ed·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: back-formation from dazed (adjective), from Old Norse dasathr 'weary'; compare with Swedish dasa 'lie idle'.

da·zi·bao n. (pl. same) (in the People's Republic of China) a wall poster written in large characters.

<ORIGIN> Chinese, from dà 'big' + zi 'character' + bào 'newspaper or poster'.

daz·zle v. [trans.] (of a bright light) blind (a person) temporarily: she was dazzled by the headlights.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE amaze or overwhelm (someone) with a particular impressive quality: I was dazzled by the beauty and breadth of the exhibition.

- [intrans.] ARCHAIC (of the eyes) be affected by a bright light: my eyes dazzled and I could not move.

■ n. brightness that confuses someone's vision temporarily: [in sing.] a dazzle of green and red spotlights.

<DERIVATIVES> daz·zle·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the sense 'be dazzled'): frequentative of the verb DAZE.

Linked entries:

DAZE ■

daz·zler n. a person or thing that dazzles, in particular a person who is overwhelmingly impressive or skillful.

daz·zling adj. extremely bright, esp. so as to blind the eyes temporarily: the sunlight was dazzling | FIGURATIVE a dazzling smile.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE extremely impressive, beautiful, or skillful: a dazzling display of football.

<DERIVATIVES> daz·zling·ly adv.

Db symbol the chemical element dubnium.

dB abbr. decibel(s).

dba (also d/b/a) abbr.
- doing business as.

DBMS abbr. database management system.

DBS abbr.
- direct broadcasting by satellite.

- direct-broadcast satellite.

dbx n. TRADEMARK electronic circuitry designed to increase the dynamic range of reproduced sound and reduce noise in the system.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from DB 'decibel' + x (representing expander).

Linked entries:

DB ■

DC abbr.
- [MUSIC] da capo.

- direct current.

- District of Columbia: Washington, DC.

- Doctor of Chiropractic.

DC abbr.
- District of Columbia: Washington, DC.

DCC abbr.
- digital compact cassette.

DCL abbr. Doctor of Civil Law.

DCM abbr. (in the UK) Distinguished Conduct Medal, awarded for bravery.

DD abbr.
- Department of Defense (on forms and documents): a DD 214.

- [MILITARY] dishonorable discharge.

- Doctor of Divinity.

D-Day n. the day (June 6, 1944) in World War II on which Allied forces invaded northern France by means of beach landings in Normandy.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the day on which an important operation is to begin or a change to take effect: it's D-day at the Websters', as Sally gives Kevin an ultimatum.

<ORIGIN> from D for day + DAY. Compare with H-HOUR.

Linked entries:

DAY ■

H-HOUR ■

DDC (also ddC) abbr. dideoxycytidine.

DDE n. [COMPUTING] a standard allowing data to be shared between different programs.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: abbreviation of Dynamic Data Exchange.

DDI (also ddI) abbr.
- dideoxyinosine.

DDoS (also DDOS) abbr. distributed denial of service, the intentional paralyzing of a computer network by flooding it with data sent simultaneously from many individual computers: [as modifier] so-called zombies which are used to stage DDOS attacks.

DDR abbr. German Democratic Republic.

<ORIGIN> abbreviation of German Deutsche Demokratische Republik.

D.D.S. abbr.
- Doctor of Dental Science.

- Doctor of Dental Surgery.

DDT abbr. dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, a synthetic organic compound introduced in the 1940s and used as an insecticide. Like other chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons, DDT tends to persist in the environment and become concentrated in animals at the head of the food chain. Its use is now banned in many countries.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: CCl_3CH(C_6H_4Cl)2.

DE abbr.
- [FOOTBALL] defensive end.

- Delaware (in official postal use).

de- prefix 1 (forming verbs and their derivatives) down; away: descend; | deduct.
<SPECIAL USAGE> completely: denude; | derelict.

2 (added to verbs and their derivatives) denoting removal or reversal: deaerate; | de-ice.

3 denoting formation from: deverbal.

<ORIGIN> from Latin de 'off, from'; sense 2 via Old French des- from Latin dis-.

de·ac·ces·sion v. [trans.] officially remove (an item) from the listed holdings of a library, museum, or art gallery, typically in order to sell it to raise funds.

■ n. the disposal of books, works of art, or other items in this way.

dea·con n. (in Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches) an ordained minister of an order ranking below that of priest.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in some Protestant churches) a lay officer appointed to assist a minister, esp. in secular affairs.

- HISTORICAL (in the early church) an appointed minister of charity.

■ v. [trans.] appoint or ordain as a deacon.

<DERIVATIVES> dea·con·ship n.

<ORIGIN> Old English diacon, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek diakonos 'servant' (in ecclesiastical Greek 'Christian minister').

dea·con·ess n. (in the early church and some modern churches) a woman with duties similar to those of a deacon.

de·ac·ti·vate v. 1 [trans.] make (something, typically technical equipment or a virus) inactive by disconnecting or destroying it: the switch deactivates the alarm.

2 [trans.] [MILITARY] remove from active duty.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ac·ti·va·tion n. de·ac·ti·va·tor n.

dead adj. 1 no longer alive: a dead body | [as complement] he was shot dead by terrorists.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a part of the body) having lost sensation; numb.

- having or displaying no emotion, sympathy, or sensitivity: a cold, dead voice.

- no longer current, relevant, or important: pollution had become a dead issue.

- devoid of living things: a dead planet.

- resembling death: a dead faint.

- (of a place or time) characterized by a lack of activity or excitement: Brussels isn't dead after dark, if you know where to look.

- (of money) not financially productive.

- (of sound) without resonance; dull.

- (of a color) not glossy or bright.

- (of a piece of equipment) no longer functioning, esp. because of a fault: the phone had gone dead.

- (of an electric circuit or conductor) carrying or transmitting no current: the batteries are dead.

- no longer burning: the fire had been dead for some days.

- (of air or water) not circulating; stagnant.

- (of a glass or bottle) empty or no longer being used.

- (of the ball in a game) out of play. See also DEAD BALL.

- (of a playing field, ball, or other surface) lacking springiness or bounce.

2 [attrib.] complete; absolute: we sat in dead silence.

■ adv. [often as submodifier] absolutely; completely: you're dead right; he was dead against the idea.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- exactly: they arrived dead on time.

- straight; directly: red flares were seen dead ahead.

- BRIT., INFORMAL very: omelets are dead easy to prepare.

■ n. [as plural n.] (the dead) those who have died.

<PHRASES>
□ dead and buried over; finished: the incident is dead and buried.

□ (as) dead as a (or the) dodo see DODO.

□ (as) dead as a doornail see DOORNAIL.

□ dead from the neck up INFORMAL stupid.

□ dead in the water (of a ship) unable to move.
- FIGURATIVE unable to function effectively: the economy is dead in the water.

□ dead meat INFORMAL in serious trouble: if anyone finds out, you're dead meat.

□ the dead of night the quietest, darkest part of the night.

□ the dead of winter the coldest part of winter.

□ dead on exactly right: her judgment was dead on.

□ dead on arrival used to describe a person who is declared dead immediately upon arrival at a hospital.
- FIGURATIVE (of an idea, etc.) declared ineffective without ever having been put into effect: why are people pronouncing the plan dead on arrival in the legislature?

□ dead on one's feet INFORMAL extremely tired.

□ dead set against INFORMAL strongly opposed to: they were dead set against seeing any more open spaces divided up.

□ dead to rights INFORMAL in the act of doing something wrong; red-handed: he had me dead to rights, so I meekly suffered the rebuke.

□ dead to the world INFORMAL fast asleep.

□ from the dead from a state of death: Christ rose from the dead.
- FIGURATIVE from a period of obscurity or inactivity: the cartoon brought animation back from the dead.

□ make a dead set at see SET^2 .

□ over my dead body see BODY.

□ wouldn't be seen (or caught) dead INFORMAL used to express strong dislike for a particular thing: James Bond wouldn't be caught dead wearing a paper napkin bib.

<DERIVATIVES> dead·ness n.

<ORIGIN>  Old English , of Germanic origin: related to Dutch dood and German tot, also to DIE^1 .

Linked entries:

DEAD BALL ■

DODO ■

DOORNAIL ■

SET ■

BODY ■

DIE ■

dead air n. an unintended interruption of the video or audio signal during a television or radio broadcast.

dead ball n. [SPORTS] a ball that has gone out of play or is declared to be out of play.

dead-ball line n. [SOCCER] the part of the goal line to either side of the goal.

dead·beat n. INFORMAL a person who tries to evade paying debts.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also deadbeat dad) a man who avoids paying child support.

- an idle, feckless, or disreputable person.

■ adj. (of a clock escapement or other mechanism) without recoil.

dead·bolt n. a bolt engaged by turning a knob or key, rather than by spring action.

dead cat bounce n. [STOCK MARKET] a temporary recovery in share prices after a substantial fall, caused by speculators buying in order to cover their positions.

dead cen·ter n. the position of a crank when it is in line with the connecting rod and not exerting torque.

dead duck n. INFORMAL 1 an unsuccessful or useless person or thing: totalitarianism is a dead duck, he says.

2 a person who is beyond help; one who is doomed: if they put their finger on Billy, he's a dead duck.

<ORIGIN> from the old saying “never waste powder on a dead duck.”

dead·en v. [trans.] make (a noise or sensation) less intense: ether was used to deaden the pain.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- deprive of the power of sensation: diabetes can deaden the nerve endings.

- deprive of force or vitality; stultify: the syllabus has deadened the teaching process | [as adj.] (deadening) a deadening routine.

- make (someone) insensitive to something: laughter might deaden us to the moral issue.

<DERIVATIVES> dead·en·er n.

dead end n. an end of a road or passage from which no exit is possible; a cul-de-sac: the path came to a dead end.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a road or passage having such an end.

- a situation offering no prospects of progress or development: [as adj.] a dead-end job.

■ v. [intrans.] (dead-end) (of a road or passage) come to a dead end: he kept walking, until the corridor dead-ended.

dead·eye n. 1 [SAILING] a circular wooden block with a groove around the circumference to take a lanyard, used singly or in pairs to tighten a shroud.

2 INFORMAL an expert marksman.

dead·fall n. 1 a trap consisting of a heavy weight positioned to fall on an animal.

2 a tangled mass of fallen trees and brush.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a fallen tree.

dead hand n. an undesirable persisting influence: the dead hand of government control.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LAW] see MORTMAIN.

Linked entries:

MORTMAIN ■

dead·head (also dead-head) n. 1 (Deadhead) a fan and follower of the rock group The Grateful Dead: [as adj.] the Deadhead hard core shadows the band, selling tie-dyes and beads.

2 INFORMAL a commercial carrier with no paying passengers or freight on a trip.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a passenger or member of an audience with a free ticket.

- INFORMAL a boring or unenterprising person.

3 a sunken or partially submerged log.

■ v. 1 [intrans.] INFORMAL (of a commercial driver, etc.) complete a trip without paying passengers or freight: trucks deadheading into California to pick up outbound loads.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ride (in a plane or other vehicle) without paying for a ticket: he calls his airline and gets a seat on the red-eye to deadhead to Boston.

2 [trans.] remove dead flowerheads from (a plant) to encourage further blooming.

dead heat n. a situation in or result of a race in which two or more competitors are exactly even.

■ v. [intrans.] (dead-heat) run or finish a race exactly even.

dead lan·guage n. a language no longer in everyday spoken use, such as Latin.

dead let·ter n. 1 a law or treaty that has not been repealed but is ineffectual or defunct in practice.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a thing that is impractical or obsolete: theoretical reasoning is a dead letter to a child.

2 a letter that is undeliverable and unreturnable, typically one with an incorrect address.

dead lift n. [WEIGHTLIFTING] a lift made from a standing position, without the use of a bench or other equipment.

dead·light n. 1 a protective cover or shutter fitted over a porthole or window on a ship.

2 a skylight designed not to be opened.

dead·line n. 1 the latest time or date by which something should be completed: the deadline for submissions is February 5th.

2 HISTORICAL a line drawn around a prison beyond which prisoners were liable to be shot.

dead load n. the intrinsic weight of a structure or vehicle, excluding the weight of passengers or goods. Often contrasted with LIVE LOAD.

Linked entries:

LIVE LOAD ■

dead·lock n. 1 [in sing.] a situation, typically one involving opposing parties, in which no progress can be made: an attempt to break the deadlock.

2 British term for DEADBOLT.

■ v. [trans.] 1 [intrans.] (usu. be deadlocked) cause (a situation or opposing parties) to come to a point where no progress can be made because of fundamental disagreement: the jurors were deadlocked on six charges.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- cause (a contest or game) to be in a tie:
with the score still deadlocked at three-three.

2 BRIT. secure (a door) with a deadlock.

Linked entries:

DEADBOLT ■

dead loss n. a venture or situation that produces no profit whatsoever.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. a person or thing that is completely useless.

dead·ly adj. (-li·er, -li·est) causing or able to cause death: a deadly weapon.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- filled with hate: his voice was cold and deadly.

- (typically in the context of shooting or sports) extremely accurate, effective, or skillful: his aim is deadly.

- INFORMAL extremely boring: he's well meaning, but so utterly deadly.

- [attrib.] complete; total: she was in deadly earnest.

■ adv. [as submodifier] in a way resembling or suggesting death; as if dead: her skin was deadly pale.
<SPECIAL USAGE> extremely: a deadly serious remark.

<DERIVATIVES> dead·li·ness n.

<ORIGIN>  Old English 'mortal, in danger of death' (see DEAD, -LY^1 ).

Linked entries:

DEAD ■

-LY ■

dead·ly night·shade n. a poisonous bushy Eurasian plant with drooping purple flowers and black cherrylike fruit. Also called BELLADONNA.
<INFO>  Atropa belladonna, family Solanaceae.

Linked entries:

BELLADONNA ■

dead·ly sin n. (in Christian tradition) a sin regarded as leading to damnation, esp. one of a traditional list of seven. See SEVEN DEADLY SINS.

Linked entries:

SEVEN DEADLY SINS ■

dead·man n. an object buried in or secured to the ground for the purpose of providing anchorage or leverage.

dead man's fin·gers (also dead-man's-fin·gers) plural n. 1 a soft coral that has spongy lobes stiffened by calcareous spines. When found washed up on the beach it is said to resemble the fingers of a corpse.
<INFO>  Alcyonium digitatum, order Alcyonacea.

2 a fungus that produces clumps of dull black, irregular, fingerlike fruiting bodies at the bases of dead tree stumps in both Eurasia and North America.
<INFO>  Xylaria polymorpha, family Xylariaceae, phylum Ascomycota.

3 INFORMAL the fingerlike divisions of a lobster's or crab's gills.

dead-man's float n. a floating position, often used by beginning swimmers, in which a person lies face down in the water with arms outstretched or extended forward and legs extended backward.

dead man's han·dle (also dead man's pedal) n. (esp. in a diesel or electric train) a lever that acts as a safety device by shutting off power when not held in place by the driver.

dead march n. a slow, solemn piece of music suitable to accompany a funeral procession.

dead-net·tle n. an Old World plant of the mint family, with leaves that resemble those of a nettle but lack stinging hairs.
<INFO>  Lamium and related genera, family Labiatae: several species, including the common white dead-nettle (L. album).

dead·pan adj. deliberately impassive or expressionless: answers his phone in a deadpan tone; | deadpan humor.

■ adv. in a deadpan manner.

■ v. (-panned, -pan·ning) [with direct speech] say something amusing while affecting a serious manner: “I'm an undercover dentist,” he deadpanned.

dead reck·on·ing n. the process of calculating one's position, esp. at sea, by estimating the direction and distance traveled rather than by using landmarks, astronomical observations, or electronic navigation methods.

dead ring·er n. a person or thing that seems exactly like someone or something else: he is a dead ringer for his late papa.

dead·rise n. the vertical distance between a line horizontal to the keel of a vessel and its chine.

Dead Sea a salt lake or inland sea in the Jordan valley, on the Israel-Jordan border. Its surface is 1,300 feet (400 m) below sea level.

Dead Sea scrolls a collection of Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts discovered in pottery storage jars in caves near Qumran between 1947 and 1956. Thought to have been hidden by the Essenes or a similar Jewish sect shortly before the revolt against Roman rule AD 66-70, the scrolls include texts of many books of the Bible; they are some 1,000 years older than previously known versions.

dead set n. see SET^2 (sense 2).

Linked entries:

SET ■

dead·stick land·ing n. an unpowered landing of an aircraft.

dead time n. time in which someone or something is inactive or unable to act productively.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHYSICS] the period after the recording of a particle or pulse when a detector is unable to record another.

dead weight (also dead·weight) n. the weight of an inert person or thing: the net was a dead weight on his shoulders.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a heavy or oppressive burden: the past was just so much dead weight, excess baggage.

- the total weight of cargo, stores, etc., that a ship carries or can carry at a particular draft.

- another term for DEAD LOAD.

- [FARMING] animals sold by the estimated weight of salable meat that they will yield.

- [usu. as adj.] [ECONOMICS] losses incurred because of the inefficient allocation of resources, esp. through taxation or restriction: a dead-weight burden.

Linked entries:

DEAD LOAD ■

dead white Eu·ro·pe·an male (also dead white male) n. INFORMAL a writer, philosopher, or other significant figure whose importance and talents may have been exaggerated by virtue of his belonging to a historically dominant gender and ethnic group.

Dead·wood a city in western South Dakota, in the Black Hills, known for its 1870s gold rush and Boot Hill cemetery; pop. 1,830.

dead·wood n. a branch or part of a tree that is dead.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE people or things that are no longer useful or productive.

dead zone n. an area of the ocean that is depleted of oxygen, frequently due to pollution.

de·aer·ate v. [trans.] (usu. be deaerated) partially or completely remove dissolved air from (something): the electrolyte was deaerated by purging it with argon.

<DERIVATIVES> de·aer·a·tion n.

deaf adj. lacking the power of hearing or having impaired hearing: [as plural n.] (the deaf) subtitles for the deaf.
<SPECIAL USAGE> unwilling or unable to hear or pay attention to something: she is deaf to all advice.

<PHRASES>
□ (as) deaf as a post completely or extremely deaf.

□ fall on deaf ears (of a statement or request) be ignored.

□ turn a deaf ear refuse to listen or respond to a statement or request.

<DERIVATIVES> deaf·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch doof and German taub, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek tuphlos 'blind'.

deaf aid n. BRIT. a hearing aid.

deaf-blind adj. having a severe impairment of both hearing and vision.

deaf·en v. [trans.] (usu. be deafened) cause (someone) to lose the power of hearing permanently or temporarily: we were deafened by the explosion.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a loud noise) overwhelm (someone) with sound: the roar of the water deafened them.

- (deafen someone to) (of a sound) cause someone to be unaware of (other sounds): the noise deafened him to Ron's approach.

deaf·en·ing adj. (of a noise) so loud as to make it impossible to hear anything else: the music reached a deafening crescendo.

<DERIVATIVES> deaf·en·ing·ly adv.

de·af·fer·en·ta·tion n. [BIOLOGY] the interruption or destruction of the afferent connections of nerve cells, performed esp. in animal experiments to demonstrate the spontaneity of locomotor movement.

<DERIVATIVES> de·af·fer·ent·ed adj.

deaf-mute n. CHIEFLY OFFENSIVE a person who is both deaf and unable to speak.

■ adj. CHIEFLY OFFENSIVE (of a person) both deaf and unable to speak.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to such people.

<USAGE>
In modern use, deaf-mute has acquired offensive connotations (implying, wrongly, that such people are without the capacity for communication). It should be avoided in favor of other terms such as profoundly deaf.

See also usage at MUTE.

Linked entries:

MUTE ■

deal 1 v. (past and past part. dealt ) 1 [trans.] distribute (cards) in an orderly rotation to the players for a game or round: the cards were dealt for the last hand | [with two objs.] FIGURATIVE fate dealt her a different hand.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (deal someone in) include a new player in a card game by giving them cards.

- distribute or mete out (something) to a person or group: the funds raised were dealt out to the needy.

2 [intrans.] take part in commercial trading of a particular commodity: directors were prohibited from dealing in the company's shares.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FIGURATIVE be concerned with: a movie that deals in ideas and issues.

- INFORMAL buy and sell illegal drugs: [trans.] Frankie started dealing cocaine.

3 [intrans.] (deal with) take measures concerning (someone or something), esp. with the intention of putting something right: the government had been unable to deal with the economic crisis.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- cope with (a difficult person or situation): you'll have to find a way of dealing with those feelings.

- [with adverbial] treat (someone) in a particular way: life had dealt harshly with her.

- have relations with (a person or organization), esp. in a commercial context: the bank deals directly with the private sector.

- take or have as a subject; discuss: the novel deals with several different topics.

4 [with two objs.] inflict (a blow) on (someone or something): hopes of an economic recovery were dealt another blow.

■ n. 1 an agreement entered into by two or more parties for their mutual benefit, esp. in a business or political context: the band signed a major recording deal.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an attractive price on a commodity for a purchaser; a bargain: we've got great deals on the latest camcorders.

- [with adj.] a particular form of treatment given or received: working mothers get a bad deal.

2 a significant but unspecified amount of something: he lost a great deal of blood.

3 [in sing.] the process of distributing the cards to players in a card game.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a player's turn to distribute cards.

- the round of play following this.

- the set of hands dealt to the players.

<PHRASES>
□ a big deal INFORMAL [usu. with negative] a thing considered important: they don't make a big deal out of minor irritations.
- an important person: Sam Kinison became a big deal.

- (big deal) used to express one's contempt for something regarded as impressive or important by another person.

□ a raw (or rough) deal INFORMAL a situation in which someone receives unfair or harsh treatment.

□ a good (or great) deal a large amount: I don't know a great deal about politics.
- to a considerable extent: she had gotten to know him a good deal better.

□ cut a deal INFORMAL make an agreement: he had gone to the board of directors with his new robot design and cut a deal.

□ it's a deal INFORMAL used to express one's assent to an agreement.

<ORIGIN>  Old English 'divide', 'participate', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch deel and German Teil 'part' (noun), also to DOLE^1 . The sense 'divide' gave rise to 'distribute', hence senses 1 and 4 of the verb; the sense 'participate' gave rise to 'have dealings with', hence senses 2 and 3 of the verb.

Linked entries:

DOLE ■

deal 2 n. fir or pine wood, esp. when sawn into planks of a standard size.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a plank of such wood.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch dele 'plank'.

de-al·co·hol·ize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (de-alcoholized) remove the alcohol from (a normally alcoholic drink): de-alcoholized beer.

deal·er n. 1 a person or business that buys and sells goods: a car dealer.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who buys and sells shares, securities, or other financial assets as a principal (rather than as a broker or agent). See also BROKER-DEALER.

- INFORMAL a person who buys and sells drugs: posed as a dealer willing to buy heroin.

2 the player who distributes the cards at the start of a game or hand.

<DERIVATIVES> deal·er·ship n. (in sense 1).

Linked entries:

BROKER-DEALER ■

deal·fish n. (pl. same or -fish·es) a slender silvery fish with a dorsal fin running the length of the body, living in the northeastern Atlantic.
<INFO>  Trachipterus arcticus, family Trachipteridae.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from DEAL^2 in the sense 'board' (with reference to its shape) + FISH^1 .

Linked entries:

DEAL ■

FISH ■

de·a·lign v. [intrans.] (of a voter) withdraw allegiance to a political party.

<DERIVATIVES> de·a·lign·ment n.

deal·ing n. 1 (usu. dealings) a business relation or transaction: they had dealings with an insurance company.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a personal connection or association with someone: my dealings with David consisted of giving him his late-night formula.

- the activity of buying and selling a particular commodity: car dealing; | drug dealing.

2 the particular way in which someone behaves toward others: fair dealing came naturally to him.

de·al·lo·cate v. [trans.] [COMPUTING] return (allocated memory) to the store of available RAM.

<DERIVATIVES> de·al·lo·ca·tion n.

dealt past participle of DEAL^1 .

Linked entries:

DEAL ■

de·am·i·na·tion n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] the removal of an amino group from an amino acid or other compound.

<DERIVATIVES> de·am·i·nat·ed adj.

Dean 1 Dizzy (1911-74), U.S. baseball player and broadcaster; born Jay Hanna Dean. He pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals 1932-37 and the Chicago Cubs 1938-41. Baseball Hall of Fame (1953).

Dean 2 Howard (1948-), U.S. politician and physician. After serving as governor of Vermont 1981-2003, he became a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, running a campaign that energized young people, especially because of his opposition to the war in Iraq, and raised a record amount of money over the Internet.

Dean 3 James (Byron) (1931-55), U.S. actor. Although he starred in only three movies before dying in a car accident, he became a cult figure closely identified with the title role of Rebel Without a Cause (1955), symbolizing for many the disaffected youth of the postwar era. Other movies: East of Eden (1955) and Giant (1956).

Dean 4 John (Wesley III) (1938- ), U.S. political adviser. After serving as presidential counsel to Richard Nixon, he became the chief witness in the Watergate hearings 1973-74, was convicted of conspiracy, and served four months in prison. He wrote Blind Ambition (1976).

dean 1 n. 1 the head of a college or university faculty or department: the dean of the law school.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a college or university official, esp. one with disciplinary and advisory functions: the dean of students.

- the leader or senior member of a group: the dean of California winemakers.

2 the head of the chapter of a cathedral or collegiate church.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French deien, from late Latin decanus 'chief of a group of ten', from decem 'ten'. Compare with DOYEN.

Linked entries:

DOYEN ■

dean 2 n. variant spelling of DENE^1 .

Linked entries:

DENE ■

dean·er·y n. (pl. -er·ies) 1 BRIT. the group of parishes presided over by a rural dean.

2 the official residence of a dean.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the position or office of a dean.

dean's list n. a list of students recognized for academic achievement during a semester by the dean of the college they attend.

dear adj. 1 regarded with deep affection; cherished by someone: a dear friend; he is very dear to me.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- used in speech as a way of addressing a person in a polite way: Martin, my dear fellow.

- used as part of the polite introduction to a letter, esp. in a formula denoting the degree of formality involved: Dear Sir or Madam.

- endearing; sweet: a dear little puppy.

2 expensive.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of money) available as a loan only at a high rate of interest.

■ n. used as an affectionate or friendly form of address: don't you worry, dear.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a sweet or endearing person.

■ adv. at a high cost: they buy property cheaply and sell dear.

■ exclam. used in expressions of surprise, dismay, or sympathy: oh dear, I've upset you.

<PHRASES> for dear life see LIFE.

<DERIVATIVES> dear·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dier 'beloved', also to Dutch duur and German teuer 'expensive'.

Linked entries:

LIFE ■

Dear·born a city in southeastern Michigan, southwest of Detroit, home to the Ford Motor Company and to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village; pop. 97,775.

dear·est adj. 1 most loved or cherished: one of my dearest friends.

2 most expensive: beer is dearest in Germany.

■ n. used as an affectionate form of address to a much-loved person: you make me so happy, dearest.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a much-loved person: I was going to miss my dearest.

dear·ie n. (pl. -ies) INFORMAL, CHIEFLY BRIT. used as a friendly or condescending form of address.

Dear John let·ter (also Dear John) n. INFORMAL a letter from a woman to a man, esp. a serviceman, terminating a personal relationship: a young officer gets his Dear John letter.

dear·ly adv. 1 very much: he loved his parents dearly.

2 with much loss or suffering; at great cost: freedom to worship our religion has been bought dearly.

dearth n. [in sing.] a scarcity or lack of something: there is a dearth of evidence. See note at LACK.

<ORIGIN> Middle English derthe (originally in the sense 'shortage and dearness of food') (see DEAR, -TH^2 ).

Linked entries:

DEAR ■

-TH ■

death n. the action or fact of dying or being killed; the end of the life of a person or organism: I don't believe in life after death | [as adj.] a death sentence.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an instance of a person or an animal dying: there's been a death in his family.

- the state of being dead: even in death, she was beautiful.

- the permanent ending of vital processes in a cell or tissue.

- (Death) [in sing.] the personification of the power that destroys life, often represented in art and literature as a skeleton or an old man holding a scythe.

- [in sing.] FIGURATIVE the destruction or permanent end of something: the death of her hopes.

- FIGURATIVE, INFORMAL a damaging or destructive state of affairs: to be driven to a dance by one's father would be social death.

<PHRASES>
□ at death's door (esp. in hyperbolic use) so ill that one might die.

□ be the death of (often used hyperbolically or humorously) cause someone's death: you'll be the death of me with all your questions.

□ be in at the death be present when a hunted animal is caught and killed.
- be present when something fails or comes to an end.

□ catch one's death (of cold) INFORMAL catch a severe cold or chill.

□ do someone to death kill someone.

□ do something to death perform or repeat something so frequently that it becomes tediously familiar: a subject that has been done to death by generations of painters.

□ a fate worse than death a terrible experience, esp. that of seduction or rape.

□ like death warmed over (or up) INFORMAL extremely tired or ill.

□ a matter of life and death see LIFE.

□ put someone to death kill someone, esp. with official sanction.

□ till (or until) death us do part for as long as both persons in a couple live. <ORIGIN> from the marriage service in the Book of Common Prayer.

□ to death used of a particular action or process that results in someone's death: he was stabbed to death.
- used to emphasize the extreme nature of a specific action, feeling, or state of mind: I'm sick to death of you.

□ to the death until dead: a fight to the death.

<DERIVATIVES> death·like adj.

<ORIGIN>  Old English , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dood and German Tod, also to DIE^1 .

Linked entries:

LIFE ■

DIE ■

death ad·der n. a venomous Australian snake that has a thin wormlike tail, which it uses to lure birds and other prey.
<INFO>  Genus Acanthophis, family Elapidae: three species, in particular A. antarcticus.

death·bed n. the bed where someone is dying or has died.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used in reference to the time when someone is dying: she visited him on his deathbed | [as adj.] a deathbed confession.

death ben·e·fit n. the amount paid to a beneficiary upon the death of an insured person. Also called FACE AMOUNT.

Linked entries:

FACE AMOUNT ■

death blow n. an impact or stroke that causes death.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE an event, circumstance, or action that ends something abruptly: it was Galileo Galilei who dealt the death blow to the geocentric theory.

death camp n. a prison camp, esp. one for political prisoners or prisoners of war, in which many die from poor conditions and treatment or from mass execution.

death cer·tif·i·cate n. an official statement, signed by a physician, of the cause, date, and place of a person's death.

death-deal·ing adj. capable of causing death: death-dealing drugs.

death house n. INFORMAL the building in which prisoners are kept in preparation for execution.

death in·stinct n. [PSYCHOANALYSIS] an innate desire for self-annihilation, thought to be manifest in the conservative and regressive tendency of the psyche to reduce tension. Compare with LIFE INSTINCT.

Linked entries:

LIFE INSTINCT ■

death knell n. [in sing.] the tolling of a bell to mark someone's death.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE an event that heralds the end or destruction of something: the chaos may sound the death knell for the peace plan.

death·less adj. CHIEFLY POETIC/LITERARY,HUMOROUS immortal: deathless beauty; | he died before his song could be recorded, but his compositions are deathless.

<DERIVATIVES> death·less·ness n.

death·ly adj. (-li·er, -li·est) resembling or suggestive of death: a deathly hush fell over the breakfast table | [as submodifier] she felt deathly cold.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC,POETIC/LITERARY of, relating to, or causing death: an eagle carrying a snake in its deathly grasp.

death mask n. a plaster cast taken of a dead person's face, used to make a mask or model.

death met·al n. a form of heavy metal music using lyrics preoccupied with death, suffering, and destruction.

death pen·al·ty n. the punishment of execution, administered to someone legally convicted of a capital crime.

death rate n. the ratio of deaths to the population of a particular area during a particular period of time, usually calculated as the number of deaths per one thousand people per year.

death rat·tle n. a gurgling sound heard in a dying person's throat.

death row n. a prison block or section for prisoners sentenced to death: a convicted killer on death row.

death sen·tence n. [LAW] a sentence to be put to death for a capital crime.
- FIGURATIVE a disastrous result or outcome: the market crash was a death sentence for many dot-coms.

death's head n. a human skull as a symbol of mortality.

death's-head hawk moth n. a large dark European hawk moth with a skull-like marking on the thorax and a very large caterpillar.
<INFO>  Acherontia atropos, family Sphingidae.

death song n. a song sung before or after someone's death or to commemorate the dead.

death squad n. an armed paramilitary group formed to kill particular people, esp. political opponents.

death tax n. another term for ESTATE TAX, INHERITANCE TAX.

Linked entries:

ESTATE TAX ■

INHERITANCE TAX ■

death toll n. the number of deaths resulting from a particular cause, esp. an accident, battle, or natural disaster.

death trap n. a place, structure, or vehicle that is potentially dangerous: the theaters were often death traps.

Death Val·ley a deep arid desert basin below sea level in southeastern California and southwestern Nevada, the hottest and driest part of North America. It contains the lowest point in the U.S. at Badwater, which is 282 feet (86 m) below sea level.

death war·rant n. an official order for the execution of a condemned person: FIGURATIVE in making his announcement he has signed his political death warrant.

death·watch n. 1 a vigil kept beside a dead or dying individual.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a guard set over a person due for execution.

2 (also deathwatch beetle) a small beetle with larvae that bore into dead wood and structural timbers, causing considerable damage. The adult makes a sound like a watch ticking that was formerly believed to portend death.
<INFO>  Xestobium rufovillosum, family Anobiidae.

death wish n. a desire for someone's death, esp. an unconscious desire for one's own death. Compare with DEATH INSTINCT.

Linked entries:

DEATH INSTINCT ■

de·at·tri·bute v. [trans.] cease to attribute (a work of art) to a particular artist.

<DERIVATIVES> de·at·tri·bu·tion n.

deb n. INFORMAL short for DEBUTANTE.

Linked entries:

DEBUTANTE ■

de·ba·cle n. a sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco: the economic debacle that became known as the Great Depression.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French débâcle, from débâcler 'unleash', from dé- 'un-' + bâcler 'to bar' (from Latin baculum 'staff').

de·bag v. (-bagged, -bag·ging) [trans.] BRIT., INFORMAL remove the pants of (someone) as a joke or punishment.

de·bal·last v. [trans.] remove ballast from (a ship) in order to increase its buoyancy.

de·bar v. (-barred, -bar·ring) [trans.] (usu. be debarred) exclude or prohibit (someone) officially from doing something: people declaring that they were HIV-positive could be debarred entry.

<DERIVATIVES> de·bar·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French débarrer, from Old French desbarrer 'unbar', from des- (expressing reversal) + barrer 'to bar'.

de·bark 1 v. [intrans.] leave a ship or aircraft.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] unload (cargo or troops) from a ship or aircraft.

<DERIVATIVES> de·bar·ka·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French débarquer.

de·bark 2 v. [trans.] remove (the bark) from a tree.

de·base v. [trans.] reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade: the love episodes debase the dignity of the drama | [as adj.] (debased) the debased traditions of sportsmanship.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- lower the moral character of (someone): war debases people.
See note at HUMBLE.
- HISTORICAL lower the value of (coinage) by reducing the content of precious metal.

<DERIVATIVES> de·base·ment n. de·bas·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'humiliate, belittle'): from DE- 'down' + the obsolete verb base (compare with ABASE), expressing the notion 'bring down completely'.

Linked entries:

DE- ■

ABASE ■

de·bat·a·ble adj. open to discussion or argument: it is debatable whether the country is coming out of recession.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL (of land) on the border between two countries and claimed by each.

<DERIVATIVES> de·bat·a·bly adv.

de·bate n. a formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an argument about a particular subject, esp. one in which many people are involved: the national debate on abortion | there has been much debate about prices.

■ v. [trans.] argue about (a subject), esp. in a formal manner: the board debated his proposal | the date when people first entered America is hotly debated.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with clause] consider a possible course of action in one's mind before reaching a decision: he debated whether he should leave the matter alone or speak to her.

<PHRASES>
□ be open to debate be unproven; require further discussion.

□ under debate being discussed or disputed.

<DERIVATIVES> de·bat·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + battere 'to fight'.

de·bat·ing point n. an extraneous proposition or inessential piece of information used to gain advantage in a debate.

de·bauch v. [trans.] destroy or debase the moral purity of; corrupt.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED seduce (a woman): he debauched sixteen schoolgirls.

■ n. a bout of excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures, esp. eating and drinking.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the habit or practice of such indulgence; debauchery: his life had been spent in debauch.

<DERIVATIVES> de·bauch·er n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French débaucher (verb) 'turn away from one's duty', from Old French desbaucher, of uncertain ultimate origin.

de·bauched adj. indulging in or characterized by sensual pleasures to a degree perceived to be morally harmful; dissolute: a debauched lifestyle.

deb·au·chee n. a person given to excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French débauché 'turned away from duty', past participle of débaucher (see DEBAUCH).

Linked entries:

DEBAUCH ■

de·bauch·er·y n. excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

de·beak v. [trans.] remove the upper part of the beak of (a bird) to prevent it from injuring other birds: [as n.] (debeaking) debeaking is thought to cause chickens chronic pain.

de Beau·voir Simone (1908-86), French existentialist philosopher, novelist, and feminist. Her best-known work is The Second Sex (1949), a central book of the “second wave” of feminism. She was closely associated with Jean-Paul Sartre.

de·ben·ture n. (also debenture bond) an unsecured loan certificate issued by a company, backed by general credit rather than by specified assets.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT. a long-term security yielding a fixed rate of interest, issued by a company and secured against assets.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a voucher issued by a royal household, giving the right to claim payment for goods or services): from Latin debentur 'are owing' (from debere 'owe'), used as the first word of a certificate recording a debt. The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

de·bil·i·tate v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (debilitating) make (someone) weak and infirm: a debilitating disease | [as adj.] (debilitated) a woman who had felt chronically debilitated and unwell for years.
<SPECIAL USAGE> hinder, delay, or weaken: the debilitating effects of underinvestment.

<DERIVATIVES> de·bil·i·tat·ing·ly adv. de·bil·i·ta·tion n. de·bil·i·ta·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin debilitat- 'weakened', from the verb debilitare, from debilitas (see DEBILITY).

Linked entries:

DEBILITY ■

de·bil·i·ty n. physical weakness, esp. as a result of illness.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French debilite, from Latin debilitas, from debilis 'weak'.

deb·it n. an entry recording an amount owed, listed on the left-hand side or column of an account. The opposite of CREDIT.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a payment made or owed.

■ v. (deb·it·ed, deb·it·ing) [trans.] (usu. be debited) (of a bank or other financial organization) remove (an amount of money) from a customer's account, typically as payment for services or goods: $10,000 was debited from their account.
<SPECIAL USAGE> remove an amount of money from (a bank account): the tag on the rear window automatically activates the pump and debits any major credit card..

<PHRASES> on the debit side as an unsatisfactory aspect of the situation: on the debit side, they predict a rise in book prices.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'debt'): from French débit, from Latin debitum 'something owed' (see DEBT). The verb sense dates from the 17th cent.; the current noun sense from the late 18th cent.

Linked entries:

CREDIT ■

DEBT ■

deb·it card n. a card issued by a bank allowing the holder to transfer money electronically to another bank account when making a purchase.

deb·o·nair adj. (of a man) confident, stylish, and charming.

<DERIVATIVES> deb·o·nair·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'meek or courteous'): from Old French debonaire, from de bon aire 'of good disposition'.

de·bone v. remove the bones from (meat, poultry, or fish), esp. before cooking.

Deb·o·rah a biblical prophet and leader who inspired the Israelite army to defeat the Canaanites. The “Song of Deborah,” a song of victory attributed to her, is thought to be one of the oldest sections of the Bible.

de·bouch v. [intrans.] emerge from a narrow or confined space into a wide, open area: the soldiers debouched from their jeeps and dispersed among the trees; the stream finally debouches into a silent pool.

<DERIVATIVES> de·bouch·ment n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French déboucher, from dé- (expressing removal) + bouche 'mouth' (from Latin bucca 'cheek').

De·bre·cen an industrial and commercial city in eastern Hungary; pop. 217,290.

de·bride·ment n. [MEDICINE] the removal of damaged tissue or foreign objects from a wound.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, from débrider, literally 'unbridle', based on bride 'bridle' (of Germanic origin).

de·brief v. [trans.] question (someone, typically a soldier or spy) about a completed mission or undertaking: together they debriefed their two colleagues | [as n.] (debriefing) during his debriefing, he exposed two Russian spies.

■ n. a series of questions about a completed mission or undertaking.

<DERIVATIVES> de·brief·er n.

de·bris n. scattered fragments, typically of something wrecked or destroyed: the bomb hits it, showering debris from all sides.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- loose natural material consisting esp. of broken pieces of rock: a stable arrangement of planets, comets, and debris orbiting the sun.

- dirt or refuse: clean away any collected dust or debris.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French débris, from obsolete débriser 'break down'.

de Bro·glie Louis-Victor, Prince (1892-1987), French physicist. He was the first to suggest that subatomic particles can also have the properties of waves, and his name is now applied to such a wave. Nobel Prize for Physics (1929).

debt n. something, typically money, that is owed or due: I paid off my debts | a way to reduce Third World debt.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the state of owing money: the firm is heavily in debt.

- [usu. in sing.] a feeling of gratitude for a service or favor: we owe them a debt of thanks.

<PHRASES> be in someone's debt owe gratitude to someone for a service or favor.

<ORIGIN> Middle English dette: from Old French, based on Latin debitum 'something owed', past participle of debere 'owe'. The spelling change in French and English was by association with the Latin word.

debt coun·se·lor n. a person who offers professional advice on methods of debt repayment.

debt of hon·or n. a debt that is not legally recoverable, esp. one incurred in gambling.

debt·or n. a person or institution that owes a sum of money.

debt se·cu·ri·ty n. a negotiable or tradable liability or loan.

debt swap (also debt-for-na·ture swap) n. a transaction in which a foreign exchange debt owed by a developing country is transferred to another organization on the condition that the country use local currency for a designated purpose, usually environmental protection.

de·bug v. (-bugged, -bug·ging) [trans.] 1 identify and remove errors from (computer hardware or software): games are the worst to debug | [as n.] (debugging) software debugging.

2 detect and remove concealed microphones from (an area).

3 remove insects from (something), esp. with a pesticide.

■ n. the process of identifying and removing errors from computer hardware or software.

de·bug·ger n. a computer program that assists in the detection and correction of errors in computer programs.

de·bunk v. [trans.] expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief): the magazine that debunks claims of the paranormal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reduce the inflated reputation of (someone), esp. by ridicule: comedy takes delight in debunking heroes.

<DERIVATIVES> de·bunk·er n. de·bunk·er·y n.

de·burr (also de·bur) v. (-burred, -bur·ring) [trans.] neaten and smooth the rough edges or ridges of (an object, typically one made of metal): hand tools for deburring holes in metal.

De·bus·sy (Achille) Claude (1862-1918), French composer and critic. Debussy incorporated the ideas of impressionist art and symbolist poetry into music, using melodies based on the whole-tone scale and delicate harmonies that exploit overtones.

de·but n. a person's first appearance or performance in a particular capacity or role: the film marked his debut as a director.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the first public appearance of a new product or presentation of a theatrical show: the car makes its world debut.

- [as adj.] denoting the first recording or publication of a group, singer, or writer: a debut album.

- DATED the first appearance of a debutante in society.

■ v. [intrans.] perform in public for the first time: the Rolling Stones debuted at the Marquee.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a new product) be launched: the model is expected to debut at $19,000.

- [trans.] (of a company) launch (a new product): the company is to debut new software.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French début, from débuter 'lead off'.

deb·u·tant n. a person making a first appearance in a career or in fashionable society.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French débutant 'leading off', from the verb débuter.

deb·u·tante n. an upper-class young woman making her first appearance in fashionable society.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French débutante (feminine) 'leading off', from the verb débuter.

De·bye Peter Joseph William (1884-1966), U.S. chemical physicist; born in the Netherlands. He is noted for establishing the existence of permanent electric dipole moments in many molecules, for demonstrating the use of these to determine molecular size and shape, and for modifying Einstein's theory of specific heats as applied to solids. Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1936).

de·bye (also debye unit) n. [CHEMISTRY] a unit used to express electric dipole moments of molecules. One debye is equal to 3.336 × 10^30 coulomb meter.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after P. J. DEBYE.

Linked entries:

DEBYE ■

Dec. abbr. December.

dec. abbr. deceased.

deca- (also dec- before a vowel) comb. form (used commonly in units of measurement) ten; having ten: decahedron; decane.

<ORIGIN> from Greek deka 'ten'.

dec·ade n. 1 a period of ten years: he taught at the university for nearly a decade.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a period of ten years beginning with a year ending in 0: the fourth decade of the nineteenth century.

2 a set, series, or group of ten, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE> each of the five divisions of each chapter of the rosary.

<DERIVATIVES> dec·a·dal adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting each of ten parts of a literary work): via Old French and late Latin from Greek deka 'ten'. Sense 1 dates from the early 17th cent.

<USAGE>
1 The U.S. (and primary British) pronunciation of decade puts the stress on dec-. An alternative pronunciation used in Britain sounds like the word decayed. This latter pronunciation is disapproved of by some traditionalists, but it is regarded by many as a standard, acceptable alternative.

2 Note that when decade means 'a division of the rosary,' the pronunciation is distinct: the stress is on dec-, but the second syllable sounds like id, not ade.

dec·a·dence n. moral or cultural decline, esp. after a peak or culmination of achievement: he denounced Western decadence.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- behavior reflecting such a decline: the rituals of joy and grief had become so ornate as to verge on decadence.

- luxurious self-indulgence: “French” connotes richness and decadence, and that's the idea of this ice cream.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French décadence, from medieval Latin decadentia; related to DECAY.

Linked entries:

DECAY ■

dec·a·dent adj. characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline.
<SPECIAL USAGE> luxuriously self-indulgent: a decadent soak in a scented bath.

■ n. a person who is luxuriously self-indulgent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (often Decadent) a member of a group of late 19th-cent. French and English poets associated with the Aesthetic Movement.

<DERIVATIVES> dec·a·dent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French décadent, from medieval Latin decadentia (see DECADENCE).

Linked entries:

DECADENCE ■

de·caf n. INFORMAL decaffeinated coffee.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: abbreviation.

de·caf·fein·ate v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (decaffeinated) remove most or all of the caffeine from (coffee or tea): decaffeinated coffee.

<DERIVATIVES> de·caf·fein·a·tion n.

dec·a·gon n. a plane figure with ten straight sides and angles.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cag·o·nal adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek , neuter (used as a noun) of 'ten-angled'.

dec·a·gram (also dek·a·gram) n. a metric unit of mass or weight, equal to 10 grams.

dec·a·he·dron n. (pl. -drons or -dra ) a solid figure with ten plane faces.

<DERIVATIVES> dec·a·he·dral adj.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from DECA- 'ten' + -HEDRON, on the pattern of words such as polyhedron.

Linked entries:

DECA- ■

-HEDRON ■

de·cal n. a design prepared on special paper for transfer onto another surface such as glass, porcelain, or metal.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: abbreviation of DECALCOMANIA.

Linked entries:

DECALCOMANIA ■

de·cal·ci·fied adj. (of rock or bone) containing a reduced quantity of calcium salts: decalcified chalk.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cal·ci·fi·ca·tion n. de·cal·ci·fi·er n.

de·cal·co·ma·ni·a n. the process of transferring designs from prepared paper on to glass or porcelain.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a technique used by some surrealist artists that involves pressing paint between sheets of paper.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French décalcomanie, from décalquer 'transfer a tracing' + -manie '-mania' (with reference to the enthusiasm for the process in the 1860s).

dec·a·li·ter (also dek·a·li·ter) (abbr.: dal or dkl) n. a metric unit of capacity, equal to 10 liters.

Dec·a·logue n. (usu. the Decalogue) the Ten Commandments.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via French and ecclesiastical Latin from Greek dekalogos (biblos) '(book of) the Ten Commandments', from hoi deka logoi 'the Ten Commandments' (literally 'the ten sayings').

De·cam·er·on a work by Boccaccio, written between 1348 and 1358, containing a hundred tales supposedly told in ten days by a party of ten young people who had fled from the Black Death in Florence. The work was influential on later writers such as Chaucer and Shakespeare.

dec·a·me·ter (also dek·a·me·ter) (abbr.: dam or dkm) n. a metric unit of length, equal to 10 meters.

<DERIVATIVES> dec·a·met·ric adj..

de·camp v. [intrans.] depart suddenly, esp. to relocate one's business or household in another area: now he has decamped to Hollywood.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- abscond hurriedly to avoid prosecution or detection: the copyists sold the originals and decamped with the proceeds.

- ARCHAIC break up or leave a military camp: the armies of both chiefs had decamped.

<DERIVATIVES> de·camp·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French décamper, from dé- (expressing removal) + camp 'camp'.

dec·an n. [ASTROLOGY] each of three equal ten-degree divisions of a sign of the zodiac.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from late Latin decanus 'chief of a group of ten' (see DEAN^1 ).

Linked entries:

DEAN ■

dec·a·nal adj. of or relating to a dean or deanery.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or denoting the south side of the choir of a church, the side on which the dean sits. The opposite of CANTORIAL.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from medieval Latin decanalis, from late Latin decanus (see DEAN^1 ).

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CANTORIAL ■

DEAN ■

dec·ane n. [CHEMISTRY] a colorless liquid hydrocarbon of the alkane series, present in petroleum products such as kerosene.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_10H_22; many isomers, esp. the straight-chain isomer (n-decane), which is used as a solvent and in jet fuel research.

de·cant v. [trans.] gradually pour (liquid, typically wine or a solution) from one container into another, esp. without disturbing the sediment: the wine was decanted about 40 minutes before being served.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE empty out; move as if by pouring: she had learned to decant her seizures of feeling into theatrical performances.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin decanthare, from Latin de- 'away from' + canthus 'edge, rim' (used to denote the angular lip of a beaker), from Greek kanthos 'corner of the eye'.

de·cant·er n. a stoppered glass container into which wine is decanted.

de·cap·i·tate v. [trans.] cut off the head of (a person or animal): how to decapitate a snapping turtle | [as adj.] (decapitated) a decapitated body.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- cut the end or top from (something).

- FIGURATIVE attempt to undermine (a group or organization) by removing its leaders: Italy's organized-crime network was decapitated when the godfather of the Sicilian Mafia was arrested.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cap·i·ta·tion n. de·cap·i·ta·tor n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from late Latin decapitat- 'decapitated', from the verb decapitare, from de- (expressing removal) + caput, capit- 'head'.

de·cap·i·ta·tion strike n. a debilitating military attack, esp. one aimed at the enemy's leadership.

De·cap·o·da [ZOOLOGY] 1 an order of crustaceans that includes shrimps, crabs, and lobsters. They have five pairs of walking legs and are typically marine.

2 a former order of cephalopod mollusks that includes squids and cuttlefishes, having eight arms and two long tentacles. Compare with OCTOPODA.

<DERIVATIVES> dec·a·pod n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from DECA- 'ten' + Greek pous, pod- 'foot'.

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OCTOPODA ■

DECA- ■

de·cap·su·late v. [trans.] [SURGERY] remove the capsule or covering from (a kidney or other encapsulated organ).

<DERIVATIVES> de·cap·su·la·tion n.

de·car·bon·ize v. [trans.] remove carbon or carbonaceous deposits from (an engine or other metal object).

<DERIVATIVES> de·car·bon·i·za·tion n. de·car·bon·iz·er n.

de·car·box·yl·ase n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] an enzyme that catalyzes the decarboxylation of a particular organic molecule.

de·car·box·yl·ate v. [trans.] [CHEMISTRY] eliminate a carboxylic acid group from (an organic compound).
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] undergo this process.

<DERIVATIVES> de·car·box·yl·a·tion n.

de·car·bu·rize v. [trans.] [METALLURGY] remove carbon from (iron or steel); decarbonize.

<DERIVATIVES> de·car·bu·ri·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from DE- (expressing removal) + CARBURIZE, on the pattern of French décarburer.

Linked entries:

DE- ■

CARBURIZE ■

dec·a·syl·lab·ic [PROSODY] adj. (of a metrical line) consisting of ten syllables.

■ n. a metrical line of ten syllables.

de·cath·lon n. an athletic event taking place over two days, in which each competitor takes part in the same prescribed ten events (100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1,500-meter run).

<DERIVATIVES> de·cath·lete n.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from DECA- 'ten' + Greek athlon 'contest'.

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DECA- ■

De·ca·tur 1 1 an industrial city in northern Alabama, on the Tennessee River; pop. 53,929.

2 an industrial and commercial city in central Illinois; pop. 81,860.

De·ca·tur 2 Stephen (1779-1820), U.S. naval officer. He was a daring commander in the Tripolitan War and the War of 1812. He is noted for his well-known toast, "Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong!"

de·cay v. [intrans.] (of organic matter) rot or decompose through the action of bacteria and fungi: [as adj.] (decayed) a decayed cabbage leaf | [as adj.] (decaying) the odor of decaying fish.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause to rot or decompose: the fungus will decay soft timber.

- (of a building or area) fall into disrepair; deteriorate: urban neighborhoods decay when elevated freeways replace surface roads.

- decline in quality, power, or vigor: the moral authority of the party was decaying.

- [PHYSICS] (of a radioactive substance, particle, etc.) undergo change to a different form by emitting radiation: the trapped radiocarbon begins to decay at a known rate.

- TECHNICAL (of a physical quantity) undergo a gradual decrease: the time taken for the current to decay to zero.

■ n. the state or process of rotting or decomposition: hardwood is more resistant to decay than softwood; | tooth decay.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- structural or physical deterioration: the old barn rapidly fell into decay.

- rotten matter or tissue: fluoride heals small spots of decay.

- the process of declining in quality, power, or vigor: preachers warning of moral decay.

- [PHYSICS] the change of a radioactive substance, particle, etc., into another by the emission of radiation: the gas radon is produced by the decay of uranium in rocks and soil.

- TECHNICAL gradual decrease in the magnitude of a physical quantity: the decay of electrical fields in the electromagnets.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French decair, based on Latin decidere 'fall down or off', from de- 'from' + cadere 'fall'.

Dec·can a triangular plateau in southern India, bounded by the Malabar Coast in the west, the Coromandel Coast in the east, and the Vindhaya mountains in the north.

de·cease n. [in sing.] FORMAL or [LAW] death: a doctor's sudden decease.

■ v. [intrans.] ARCHAIC die.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French deces, from Latin decessus 'death', past participle (used as a noun) of decedere 'to die'.

de·ceased FORMAL [LAW] n. (the deceased) a person who has died: in memory of the deceased.

■ adj. dead; no longer living: the cremation of a deceased person.

de·ce·dent n. [LAW] a person who has died: to make sure the decedent's property passes to his children.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin decedent- 'dying', from the verb decedere (see DECEASE).

Linked entries:

DECEASE ■

de·ceit n. the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth: a web of deceit.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a dishonest act or statement.

- deceitful disposition or character: I can't stand your treachery and deceit.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, past participle (used as a noun) of deceveir 'deceive'.

de·ceit·ful adj. (of a person) deceiving or misleading others, typically on a habitual basis.
<SPECIAL USAGE> intended to deceive or mislead: such an act would have been deceitful and irresponsible.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ceit·ful·ly adv. de·ceit·ful·ness n.

de·ceive v. [trans.] (of a person) cause (someone) to believe something that is not true, typically in order to gain some personal advantage: I didn't intend to deceive people into thinking it was French champagne.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (often be deceived) (of a thing) give a mistaken impression: the area may seem to offer nothing of interest, but don't be deceived | [intrans.] everything about him was intended to deceive.

- (deceive oneself) fail to admit to oneself that something is true: enabling the rulers to deceive themselves about the nature of their own rule.

- be sexually unfaithful to (one's regular partner).

<DERIVATIVES> de·ceiv·a·ble adj. de·ceiv·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French deceivre, from Latin decipere 'catch, ensnare, cheat'.

de·cel·er·ate v. [intrans.] (of a vehicle, machine, or process) reduce speed; slow down: international growth rates decelerated in the early 1970s.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] cause to move more slowly: gravity decelerates the cosmic expansion.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cel·er·a·tion n. de·cel·er·a·tor n. de·cel·er·om·e·ter n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from DE- (expressing removal) + a shortened form of ACCELERATE.

Linked entries:

DE- ■

ACCELERATE ■

De·cem·ber n. the twelfth month of the year, in the northern hemisphere usually considered the first month of winter: the fuel shortage worsened during December | [as adj.] a December day.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin, from decem 'ten' (being originally the tenth month of the Roman year).

De·cem·brist n. a member of a group of Russian revolutionaries who in December 1825 led an unsuccessful revolt against Tsar Nicholas I. The leaders were executed and later came to be regarded as martyrs by the Left.

de·cen·cy n. (pl. -cies) behavior that conforms to accepted standards of morality or respectability: she had the decency to come and confess.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- modesty and propriety: a loose dress, rather too low-cut for decency.

- (decencies) the requirements of accepted or respectable behavior: an appeal to common decencies.

- (decencies) things required for a reasonable standard of life: I can't afford any of the decencies of life.

de·cen·ni·al adj. recurring every ten years: the decennial census.
<SPECIAL USAGE> lasting for or relating to a period of ten years: decennial insurance.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cen·ni·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin decennium 'a decade', from decennis 'of ten years' (from decem 'ten' + annus 'year'), + -AL.

Linked entries:

-AL ■

de·cen·ni·um n. (pl. -cen·ni·a or -cen·ni·ums) a decade.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin, from decem 'ten' + annus 'year'.

de·cent adj. 1 conforming with generally accepted standards of respectable or moral behavior: the good name of such a decent and innocent person.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- appropriate; fitting: they would meet again after a decent interval.

- not likely to shock or embarrass others: a decent high-necked dress.

- INFORMAL sufficiently clothed to see visitors: make yourself decent.

2 [attrib.] of an acceptable standard; satisfactory: find me a decent cup of coffee; | people need decent homes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- good: the deer are small: a 14-inch spread is a pretty decent buck.

- kind, obliging, or generous: that was pretty awfully decent of him.

<PHRASES> do the decent thing take the most honorable or appropriate course of action, even if is not necessarily in one's own interests: after his defeat, he should do the decent thing and step down.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'suitable, appropriate'): from Latin decent- 'being fitting', from the verb decere.

de·cen·ter (BRIT. de·cen·tre) v. [trans.] displace from the center or from a central position.
<SPECIAL USAGE> remove or displace (the individual human subject, such as the author of a text) from a primary place or central role: [as n.] (decentering) the egocentric infant develops by a progressive decentering.

de·cen·tral·ize v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (decentralized) transfer (authority) from central to local government: Canada has one of the most decentralized governments in the world | [intrans.] European countries were trying to decentralize.
<SPECIAL USAGE> move departments of (a large organization) away from a single administrative center to other locations, usually granting them some degree of autonomy.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cen·tral·ist n. & adj. de·cen·tral·i·za·tion n.

de·cep·tion n. the action of deceiving someone: obtaining property by deception.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thing that deceives: a range of elaborate deceptions.
See note at FICTION.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin deceptio(n-), from decipere 'deceive'.

de·cep·tive adj. giving an appearance or impression different from the true one; misleading: he put the question with deceptive casualness.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cep·tive·ness n.

de·cep·tive·ly adv. [usu. as submodifier] in a way or to an extent that gives a misleading impression.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- to a lesser extent than appears the case: the idea was deceptively simple.

- to a greater extent than appears the case: the airy and deceptively spacious lounge.

<USAGE>
Deceptively belongs to a very small set of words whose meaning is genuinely ambiguous in that it can be used in similar contexts to mean both one thing and also its complete opposite. A deceptively smooth surface is one that appears smooth but in fact is not smooth at all, while a deceptively spacious room is one that does not look spacious but is in fact more spacious than it appears. But what is a deceptively steep gradient ? Or a person who is described as deceptively strong ? To avoid confusion, use with caution (or not at all) unless the context makes clear in what way the thing modified is not what it first appears to be.

de·cer·e·brate v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (decerebrated) [BIOLOGY] remove the cerebrum from (a laboratory animal).

<DERIVATIVES> de·cer·e·bra·tion n.

de·cer·ti·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] remove a certificate or certification from (someone or something), typically for failure to comply with a regulating authority's rules or standards.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cer·ti·fi·ca·tion n.

de·chris·tian·i·za·tion n. the action or process or removing Christian influences or characteristics from something: the dechristianization of modern society.

<DERIVATIVES> de·chris·tian·ize v.

deci- comb. form (used commonly in units of measurement) one tenth: deciliter.

<ORIGIN> from Latin decimus 'tenth'.

dec·i·bel (abbr.: dB) n. a unit used to measure the intensity of a sound or the power level of an electrical signal by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in general use) a degree of loudness: his voice went up several decibels.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from DECI- 'ten' + BEL (the unit being one tenth of a bel).

Linked entries:

DECI- ■

BEL ■

de·cide v. [intrans.] come to a resolution in the mind as a result of consideration: [with infinitive] they decided to appoint someone else | [with clause] you've decided that a hedge is what you want.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause to come to such a resolution: this business about the letter decided me.

- make a choice from a number of alternatives: she had decided on her plan of action; | I've decided against having children.

- give a judgment concerning a matter or legal case: the courts decided in favor of the New York claimants | [trans.] the judge will decide the case.

- [trans.] come to a decision about (something): we must decide the fates of the people who headed the coup.

- [trans.] resolve or settle (a question or contest): an exciting game was decided in a sudden-death overtime.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cid·a·ble adj. de·cid·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'bring to a settlement'): from French décider, from Latin decidere 'determine', from de- 'off' + caedere 'cut'.

de·cid·ed adj. [attrib.] (of a quality) definite; unquestionable: the sunshine is a decided improvement.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) having clear opinions; resolute.

- [attrib.] (of a legal case) that has been resolved.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cid·ed·ness n.

de·cid·ed·ly adv. 1 [usu. as submodifier] undoubtedly; undeniably: he looked decidedly uncomfortable.

2 in a decisive and confident way: “No,” Donna said decidedly.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cid·ed·ness n.

de·cid·u·a n. [PHYSIOLOGY] the thick layer of modified mucous membrane that lines the uterus during pregnancy and is shed with the afterbirth.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cid·u·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from modern Latin decidua (membrana), literally 'falling off (membrane)'.

de·cid·u·ous adj. (of a tree or shrub) shedding its leaves annually. Often contrasted with EVERGREEN.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL (of a tree or shrub) broad-leaved.

- denoting the milk teeth of a mammal, which are shed after a time.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cid·u·ous·ly adv. de·cid·u·ous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin deciduus (from decidere 'fall down or off') + -OUS.

Linked entries:

EVERGREEN ■

-OUS ■

dec·ile n. [STATISTICS] each of ten equal groups into which a population can be divided according to the distribution of values of a particular variable: the lowest income decile of the population.
<SPECIAL USAGE> each of the nine values of the random variable that divide a population into ten such groups.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French décile, from a medieval Latin derivative of Latin decem 'ten'.

dec·i·li·ter (BRIT. dec·i·li·tre) (abbr.: dl) n. a metric unit of capacity, equal to one tenth of a liter.

dec·i·mal adj. relating to or denoting a system of numbers and arithmetic based on the number ten, tenth parts, and powers of ten: decimal arithmetic.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to or denoting a system of currency, weights and measures, or other units in which the smaller units are related to the principal units as powers of ten: decimal coinage.

■ n. (also decimal fraction) a fraction whose denominator is a power of ten and whose numerator is expressed by figures placed to the right of a decimal point.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the system of decimal numerical notation.

<DERIVATIVES> dec·i·mal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from modern Latin decimalis (adjective), from Latin decimus 'tenth'.

dec·i·mal·ize v. [trans.] convert (a system of coinage or weights and measures) to a decimal system.

<DERIVATIVES> dec·i·mal·i·za·tion n.

dec·i·mal place n. the position of a digit to the right of a decimal point.

dec·i·mal point n. a dot placed after the figure representing units in a decimal fraction.

dec·i·mate v. [trans.] (often be decimated) 1 kill, destroy, or remove a large percentage or part of: the project would decimate the fragile wetland wilderness; | the American chestnut, a species decimated by blight.
<SPECIAL USAGE> drastically reduce the strength or effectiveness of (something): plant viruses that can decimate yields.

2 HISTORICAL kill one in every ten of (a group of soldiers or others) as a punishment for the whole group.

<DERIVATIVES> dec·i·ma·tion n. dec·i·ma·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin decimat- 'taken as a tenth', from the verb decimare, from decimus 'tenth'. In Middle English the term decimation denoted the levying of a tithe, and later the tax imposed in England by Cromwell on the Royalists (1655). The verb decimate originally alluded to the Roman punishment of executing one man in ten of a mutinous legion.

<USAGE>
Historically, the meaning of the word decimate is ‘kill one in every ten of (a group of people).’ This sense has been superseded by the later, more general sense ‘kill or destroy a large percentage or part of,’ as in the virus has decimated the population. Some traditionalists argue that this and other later senses are incorrect, but it is clear that these extended senses are now part of standard English. It is sometimes also argued that decimate should refer to people and not to things or animals such as weeds or insects. It is generally agreed that decimate should not be used to mean 'defeat utterly.'

dec·i·me·ter (BRIT. dec·i·me·tre) (abbr.: dm) n. a metric unit of length, equal to one tenth of a meter.

<DERIVATIVES> dec·i·met·ric adj..

de·ci·pher v. [trans.] convert (a text written in code, or a coded signal) into normal language: enable the government to decipher coded computer transmissions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> succeed in understanding, interpreting, or identifying (something): an expression she could not decipher came and went upon his face.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ci·pher·a·ble adj. de·ci·pher·ment n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from DE- (expressing reversal) + CIPHER, on the pattern of French déchiffrer.

Linked entries:

DE- ■

CIPHER ■

de·ci·sion n. a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration: I'll make the decision on my own; the editor's decision is final.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action or process of deciding something or of resolving a question: the information was used as the basis for decision.

- a formal judgment: last year's Supreme Court decision.

- the ability or tendency to make decisions quickly; decisiveness: she was a woman of decision.

- [BOXING] the awarding of a fight, in the absence of a knockout or technical knockout, to the boxer with the most rounds won or with the most points.

- [BASEBALL] a win or a loss assigned to a pitcher.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin decisio(n-), from decidere 'determine' (see DECIDE).

Linked entries:

DECIDE ■

de·ci·sion prob·lem n. [LOGIC] the problem of finding a way to decide whether a formula or class of formulas is true or provable within a given system of axioms.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: translating German Entscheidungsproblem.

de·ci·sion sup·port sys·tem (abbr.: DSS) n. [COMPUTING] a set of related computer programs and the data required to assist with analysis and decision-making within an organization.

de·ci·sion the·o·ry n. the mathematical study of strategies for optimal decision-making between options involving different risks or expectations of gain or loss depending on the outcome. Compare with GAME THEORY.

Linked entries:

GAME THEORY ■

de·ci·sive adj. settling an issue; producing a definite result: the Supreme Court voided the statute by a decisive 7-2 vote; decisive evidence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) having or showing the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.
See note at RESOLUTE.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ci·sive·ly adv. de·ci·sive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French décisif, -ive, from medieval Latin decisivus, from decis- 'determined', from the verb decidere (see DECIDE).

Linked entries:

DECIDE ■

De·cius Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus (c.201-251), Roman emperor 249-251. He was the first Roman emperor to promote systematic persecution of the Christians.

deck n. 1 a structure of planks or plates, approximately horizontal, extending across a ship or boat at any of various levels, esp. one of those at the highest level and open to the weather: he stood on the deck of his flagship.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the accommodations on a particular deck of a ship: the first-class deck.

- a floor or platform resembling or compared to a ship's deck, esp. the floor of a pier or a platform for sunbathing.

- a platformlike structure, typically made of lumber and unroofed, attached to a house or other building: they cooked hamburgers on the deck adjoining the living room.

- a level of a large, open building, esp. a sports stadium: Jeter hit an enormous home run into the upper deck.

- (the deck) INFORMAL the ground or floor: there was a big thud when I hit the deck.

- the flat part of a skateboard or snowboard.

2 a component or unit in sound-reproduction equipment that incorporates a playing or recording mechanism for discs or tapes: the car has cruise control and a tape deck.

3 a pack of cards: shuffle the deck.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL a packet of narcotics.

■ v. [trans.] 1 (usu. be decked) decorate or adorn brightly or festively: Ingrid was decked out in her Sunday best.

2 INFORMAL knock (someone) to the ground with a punch.

<PHRASES>
□ below decks see BELOW DECKS.

□ clear the decks see CLEAR.

□ not playing with a full deck INFORMAL mentally deficient.

□ on deck on or onto a ship's main deck: she stood on deck for hours.
- FIGURATIVE ready for action or work.

- [BASEBALL] next to hit in the batting order.

<DERIVATIVES> decked adj. [in combination] a three-decked vessel.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Middle Dutch dec 'covering, roof, cloak', dekken 'to cover'. Originally denoting canvas used to make a covering (esp. on a ship), the term came to mean the covering itself, later denoting a solid surface serving as roof and floor.

Linked entries:

BELOW DECKS ■

CLEAR ■

deck chair n. a folding chair of wood and canvas, typically used near the sea or on the deck of passenger ships.

-decker comb. form having a specified number of decks or layers: double-decker.

deck·hand n. a member of a ship's crew whose duties include maintenance of hull, decks, and superstructure and mooring and cargo handling.

deck·house n. a superstructure on the deck of a ship or boat, used primarily to house equipment or for storage, or (formerly) for accommodations.

deck·ing n. 1 the material of the deck of a ship, a floor, or a platform.

2 the action of ornamenting something.

deck·le n. (also deckle strap) a device in a papermaking machine for limiting the size of the sheet, consisting of a continuous belt on either side of the wire.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a frame on the mold used to shape the pulp when making paper by hand.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from German Deckel, diminutive of Decke 'covering'.

deck·le edge n. the rough uncut edge of a sheet of paper, formed by a deckle.

<DERIVATIVES> deck·le-edged adj.

deck of·fi·cer n. an officer in charge of the above-deck workings and maneuvers at sea of a ship or boat.

deck pas·sen·ger n. a passenger on a ship who does not have a cabin.

deck shoe another term for BOAT SHOE.

Linked entries:

BOAT SHOE ■

de·claim v. [reporting verb] utter or deliver words or a speech in a rhetorical or impassioned way, as if to an audience: [trans.] she declaimed her views | [intrans.] a preacher declaiming from the pulpit.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (declaim against) forcefully protest against or criticize (something).

<DERIVATIVES> de·claim·er n. de·clam·a·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French déclamer or Latin declamare, from de- (expressing thoroughness) + clamare 'to shout'.

dec·la·ma·tion n. the action or art of declaiming: Shakespearean declamation | declamations of patriotism.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a rhetorical exercise or set speech.

- forthright or distinct projection of words set to music: a soprano soloist with wonderfully clear declamation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'a set speech'): from Latin declamatio(n-), from the verb declamare (see DECLAIM).

Linked entries:

DECLAIM ■

de·clar·ant [CHIEFLY LAW] n. 1 a person or party who makes a formal declaration.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an alien who has signed a declaration of intent to become a U.S. citizen.

2 a person who makes a statement, even an informal one.

■ adj. making or having made a formal declaration.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French déclarant, present participle of déclarer, from Latin declarare 'make quite clear' (see DECLARE).

Linked entries:

DECLARE ■

dec·la·ra·tion n. a formal or explicit statement or announcement: they issued a declaration at the close of the talks; declarations of love.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the formal announcement of the beginning of a state or condition: the declaration of war | a declaration of independence.

- a listing of goods, property, income, etc., subject to duty or tax.

- a statement asserting or protecting a legal right.

- a written public announcement of intentions or of the terms of an agreement.

- [LAW] a plaintiff's statement of claims in proceedings.

- [LAW] an affirmation made instead of taking an oath.

- the naming of trump in bridge, whist, or a similar card game.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin declaratio(n-), from declarare 'make quite clear' (see DECLARE).

Linked entries:

DECLARE ■

Dec·la·ra·tion of In·de·pen·dence a document declaring the U.S. to be independent of the British Crown, signed on July 4, 1776, by the congressional representatives of the Thirteen Colonies, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams.

de·clar·a·tive adj. 1 of the nature of or making a declaration: declarative statements.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GRAMMAR] (of a sentence or phrase) taking the form of a simple statement.

2 [COMPUTING] denoting high-level programming languages that can be used to solve problems without requiring the programmer to specify an exact procedure to be followed.

■ n. a statement in the form of a declaration.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GRAMMAR] a declarative sentence or phrase.

<DERIVATIVES> de·clar·a·tive·ly adv.

de·clare v. 1 [reporting verb] say something in a solemn and emphatic manner: [with clause] Mao declared that his forces were henceforth to be known as the People's Liberation Army | [with direct speech] “I was under too much pressure,” he declared. See note at ANNOUNCE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] formally announce the beginning of (a state or condition): Spain declared war on Britain in 1796.

- [trans.] pronounce or assert (a person or thing) to be something specified: the mansion was declared a fire hazard.

- [intrans.] (declare for/against) openly align oneself for or against (a party or position) in a dispute: Mr. Roosevelt had declared for "a new deal."

- [intrans.] announce oneself as a candidate for an election: he declared last April.

- (declare oneself) reveal one's intentions or identity.

- (declare oneself) ARCHAIC express feelings of love to someone: she waited in vain for him to declare himself.

2 [trans.] acknowledge possession of (taxable income or dutiable goods).

3 [trans.] announce that one holds (certain combinations of cards) in a card game.

<PHRASES> well, I declare (or I do declare) an exclamation of incredulity, surprise, or vexation.

<DERIVATIVES> de·clar·a·ble adj. de·clar·a·to·ry adj. de·clar·ed·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin declarare, from de- 'thoroughly' + clarare 'make clear' (from clarus 'clear').

de·clar·er n. [BRIDGE] the player whose bid establishes the suit of the contract and who must therefore play both their own hand and the exposed hand of the dummy.

de·class v. [trans.] (usu. be declassed) demote (someone) from their original social class to a lower one.

dé·clas·sé (also dé·clas·sée) adj. having fallen in social status: his parents were poor and déclassé.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, 'removed from one's class, degraded', past participle of déclasser.

de·clas·si·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] (often be declassified) officially declare (information or documents) to be no longer secret: government documents were declassified.

<DERIVATIVES> de·clas·si·fi·ca·tion n.

de·claw v. [trans.] remove the claws from.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make harmless or less threatening: the Grimms' fairy tales were declawed beyond recognition.

de·clen·sion n. 1 (in the grammar of Latin, Greek, and other languages) the variation of the form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective, by which its grammatical case, number, and gender are identified.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the class to which a noun or adjective is assigned according to the manner of this variation.

2 POETIC/LITERARY a condition of decline or moral deterioration: the declension of the new generation.

<DERIVATIVES> de·clen·sion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English declinson, from Old French declinaison, from decliner 'to decline'. The change in the ending was probably due to association with words such as ascension.

de Cle·ram·bault's syn·drome n. [PSYCHIATRY] another term for EROTOMANIA.

<ORIGIN> from the name of French psychiatrist Gatin de Clérambault (1872-1934), who first described it.

dec·li·na·tion n. 1 [ASTRONOMY] the angular distance of a point north or south of the celestial equator. Compare with RIGHT ASCENSION and CELESTIAL LATITUDE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the angular deviation of a compass needle from true north (because the magnetic north pole and the geographic north pole do not coincide).

2 formal refusal: in the face of this declination of the proposition.

<DERIVATIVES> dec·li·na·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin declinatio(n-), from the verb declinare (see DECLINE).

Linked entries:

RIGHT ASCENSION ■

CELESTIAL LATITUDE ■

DECLINE ■

dec·li·na·tion ax·is n. [ASTRONOMY] the axis of an equatorially mounted telescope that is at right angles to the polar axis, about which the telescope is turned in order to view points at different declinations but at a constant right ascension.

de·cline v. 1 [intrans.] become smaller, fewer, or less; decrease: the birth rate continued to decline.
<SPECIAL USAGE> diminish in strength or quality; deteriorate: her health began to decline | [as adj.] (declining) the victims of declining educational standards.

2 [trans.] politely refuse (an invitation or offer): Caroline declined the coffee.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [with infinitive] politely refuse to do something: the company declined to comment.

3 [intrans.] (esp. of the sun) move downward.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC bend down; droop.

4 [trans.] (in the grammar of Latin, Greek, and certain other languages) state the forms of (a noun, pronoun, or adjective) corresponding to cases, number, and gender.

■ n. [in sing.] a gradual and continuous loss of strength, numbers, or quality: a serious decline in bird numbers | a civilization in decline.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a fall in value or price: able to halt the stock's decline.

- ARCHAIC the gradual setting of the sun.

- ARCHAIC any disease in which bodily strength gradually fails, esp. tuberculosis.

<DERIVATIVES> de·clin·a·ble adj. de·clin·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French decliner, from Latin declinare 'bend down, turn aside', from de- 'down' + clinare 'to bend'.

de·clin·ing years plural n. a person's old age, esp. when regarded as the time when health, vigor, and mental faculties deteriorate.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE the period leading up to the demise of something, often characterized by a loss of effectiveness: the council's declining years.

de·cliv·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) a downward slope: a thickly wooded declivity.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cliv·i·tous adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin declivitas, from declivis 'sloping down', from de- 'down' + clivus 'a slope'.

dec·o n. 1 short for ART DECO.

2 (in scuba diving) short for DECOMPRESSION.

Linked entries:

ART DECO ■

DECOMPRESSION ■

de·coct v. [trans.] ARCHAIC extract the essence from (something) by heating or boiling it.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'cook, heat up'): from Latin decoct- 'boiled down', from the verb decoquere, from de- 'down' + coquere 'cook'.

de·coc·tion n. the liquor resulting from concentrating the essence of a substance by heating or boiling, esp. a medicinal preparation made from a plant: a decoction of a root.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action or process of extracting the essence of something.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin decoctio(n-), from decoquere 'boil down' (see DECOCT).

Linked entries:

DECOCT ■

de·code v. [trans.] convert (a coded message) into intelligible language.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- analyze and interpret (a verbal or nonverbal communication or image): a handbook to help parents decode street language.

- convert (audio or video signals) into another form, e.g., to analog from digital in sound reproduction: processors used to decode CD-quality digital audio signals.

■ n. INFORMAL a translation of a coded message.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cod·a·ble adj.

de·cod·er n. a person or thing that analyzes and interprets something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an electronic device for analyzing the information components of an audio or visual signal and feeding them to separate amplifier channels.

- an electronic device that converts a coded signal into one that can be used by other equipment, esp. a device to decode satellite television signals.

de·col·late 1 v. [trans.] ARCHAIC behead (someone).

<DERIVATIVES> de·col·la·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin decollat- 'beheaded', from the verb decollare, from de- (expressing removal) + collum 'neck'.

de·col·late 2 v. [intrans.] separate sheets of paper, such as multi-ply computer paper, into different piles.

<DERIVATIVES> de·col·la·tion n. de·col·la·tor n.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: from DE- 'away from' + COLLATE.

Linked entries:

DE- ■

COLLATE ■

dé·colle·tage n. a low neckline on a woman's dress or top.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, from décolleter 'expose the neck', from dé- (expressing removal) + collet 'collar of a dress'.

dé·colle·té adj. (also dé·colle·tée) (of a woman's dress or top) having a low neckline.

■ n. a low neckline on a woman's dress or top.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, past participle of décolleter 'expose the neck'.

de·col·o·nize v. [trans.] (of a country) withdraw from (a colony), leaving it independent: they must decolonize French Polynesia.

<DERIVATIVES> de·col·o·ni·za·tion n.

de·col·or·ize v. [trans.] remove the color from: ethane decolorizes bromine water.

<DERIVATIVES> de·col·or·i·za·tion n.

de·com·mis·sion v. [trans.] withdraw (someone or something) from service, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make (a nuclear reactor or weapon) inoperative, and dismantle and decontaminate it to make it safe.

- take (a ship) out of service.

de·com·mu·nize v. [trans.] remove the features or influence of communism from.

<DERIVATIVES> de·com·mu·ni·za·tion n.

de·com·pen·sa·tion n. [MEDICINE] the failure of an organ (esp. the liver or heart) to compensate for the functional overload resulting from disease.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PSYCHIATRY] the failure to generate effective psychological coping mechanisms in response to stress, resulting in personality disturbance or disintegration, esp. that which causes relapse in schizophrenia.

<DERIVATIVES> de·com·pen·sat·ed adj.

de·com·pile v. [trans.] [COMPUTING] produce source code from (compiled code).

<DERIVATIVES> de·com·pi·la·tion n. de·com·pil·er n.

de·com·pose v. [intrans.] (of a dead body or other organic matter) decay; become rotten: leaves stuffed in plastic bags do not decompose | [as adj.] (decomposed) the body was badly decomposed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] cause (something) to decay or rot: dead plant matter can be completely decomposed by microorganisms.

- (of a chemical compound) break down into component elements or simpler constituents: many chemicals decompose rapidly under high temperature.

- [trans.] break down (a chemical compound) into its component elements or simpler constituents: to decompose the compound by means of an acid.

<DERIVATIVES> de·com·pos·a·ble adj. de·com·po·si·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (in the sense 'separate into simpler constituents'): from French décomposer, from de- (expressing reversal) + composer.

de·com·pos·er n. an organism, esp. a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a device or installation that is used to break down a chemical substance.

de·com·press v. [trans.] relieve of compressing forces, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- expand (compressed computer data) to its normal size so that it can be read and processed by a computer.

- subject (a diver) to decompression.

- [intrans.] INFORMAL calm down and relax: Michael sits for a minute to decompress before walking home.

de·com·pres·sion n. a release of compressing forces, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- reduction in air pressure: decompression of the aircraft cabin.

- a gradual reduction of air pressure on a person who has been experiencing high pressure while diving in order to prevent decompression sickness.

- the process of expanding computer data to its normal size so that it can be read by a computer.

- a surgical procedure that relieves excessive pressure on an internal part of the body such as the cranium or spinal cord.

de·com·pres·sion cham·ber n. a small room in which the air pressure can be varied, used chiefly to allow deep-sea divers to adjust gradually to normal air pressure.

de·com·pres·sion sick·ness n. a condition that results when sudden decompression causes nitrogen bubbles to form in the tissues of the body. It is suffered particularly by divers (who often call it the bends), and can cause pain in the muscles and joints, cramps, numbness, nausea, and paralysis. Also called CAISSON DISEASE.

Linked entries:

CAISSON DISEASE ■

de·com·pres·sor n. an instrument or device for decompressing something.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a computer program that decompresses data by digitally expanding it to its original size and form.

de·con·di·tion v. [trans.] 1 [usu. as adj.] (deconditioned) cause to lose fitness or muscle tone, esp. through lack of exercise: deconditioned muscles.

2 [usu. as n.] (deconditioning) [PSYCHIATRY] reform or reverse (previously conditioned behavior), esp. in the treatment of phobia and other anxiety disorders in which the fear response to certain stimuli is brought under control. Compare with COUNTERCONDITIONING.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL persuade (someone) to abandon a habitual mode of thinking.

Linked entries:

COUNTERCONDITIONING ■

de·con·flict v. resolve the conflicts or contradictions in (something): [trans.] the spreadsheet is used to show approved events and to deconflict unit participation; | [intrans.] why the U.S. should deconflict.

<DERIVATIVES> de·con·flic·tion n.

de·con·gest v. [trans.] relieve the congestion of (something).

<DERIVATIVES> de·con·ges·tion n.

de·con·ges·tant adj. (chiefly of a medicine) used to relieve nasal congestion.

■ n. a decongestant medicine.

de·con·se·crate v. [trans.] (usu. be deconsecrated) transfer (a building) from sacred to secular use: the church was deconsecrated in the early nineteenth century.

<DERIVATIVES> de·con·se·cra·tion n.

de·con·struct v. [trans.] analyze (a text or a linguistic or conceptual system) by deconstruction, typically in order to expose its hidden internal assumptions and contradictions and subvert its apparent significance or unity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in general use) dismantle: do we need to deconstruct all the institutions that we've created in order to improve them?

<DERIVATIVES> de·con·struc·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: back-formation from DECONSTRUCTION.

Linked entries:

DECONSTRUCTION ■

de·con·struc·tion n. a method of critical analysis of philosophical and literary language that emphasizes the internal workings of language and conceptual systems, the relational quality of meaning, and the assumptions implicit in forms of expression.

Deconstruction focuses on a text as such rather than as an expression of the author's intention, stressing the limitlessness (or impossibility) of interpretation and rejecting the Western philosophical tradition of seeking certainty through reasoning by privileging certain types of interpretation and repressing others. It was effectively named and popularized by the French philosopher Jacques Derrida from the late 1960s and taken up particularly by U.S. literary critics.

<DERIVATIVES> de·con·struc·tion·ism n. de·con·struc·tion·ist adj. & n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (originally in the general sense 'taking to pieces'): from DE- (expressing reversal) + CONSTRUCTION.

Linked entries:

DE- ■

CONSTRUCTION ■

de·con·tam·i·nate v. [trans.] neutralize or remove dangerous substances, radioactivity, or germs from (an area, object, or person): they tried to decontaminate nearby villages.

<DERIVATIVES> de·con·tam·i·na·tion n.

de·con·tex·tu·al·ized adj. considered in isolation from its context: coffee-table photo books with their beautiful but decontextualized photographs.

<DERIVATIVES> de·con·tex·tu·al·i·za·tion n. de·con·tex·tu·al·ize v.

de·con·trol v. (-trolled, -trol·ling) [trans.] release (a commodity, market, etc.) from controls or restrictions: whether gas prices should be totally decontrolled.

■ n. the action of decontrolling something.

de·con·vo·lu·tion n. a process of resolving something into its constituent elements or removing complication in order to clarify it: the editor helped in the deconvolution of phrase and thought.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MATHEMATICS] the resolution of a convolution function into the functions from which it was formed in order to separate their effects.

- (also deconvolution analysis) the improvement of resolution of images or other data by a mathematical algorithm designed to separate the information from artifacts that result from the method of collecting it.

de·cor n. the furnishing and decoration of a room.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the decoration and scenery of a stage.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French décor, from the verb décorer, from Latin decorare 'embellish' (see DECORATE).

Linked entries:

DECORATE ■

dec·o·rate v. [trans.] 1 make (something) look more attractive by adding ornament to it.
<SPECIAL USAGE> provide (a room or building) with a color scheme, paint, wallpaper, etc.: the five bedrooms are individually decorated.

2 confer an award or medal on (a member of the armed forces): he was decorated for outstanding bravery.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'to grace or honor'): from Latin decoratus 'embellished' (past participle of decorare), from decus, decor- 'beauty, honor, or embellishment'.

Dec·o·rat·ed adj. denoting a stage of English Gothic church architecture typical of the 14th century (between Early English and Perpendicular), with increasing use of decoration and geometric, curvilinear, and reticulated tracery.

dec·o·ra·tion n. 1 the process or art of decorating or adorning something: the lavish decoration of cloth with gilt.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ornamentation: pearwood inlaid with floral decoration of stained woods.

- a thing that serves as an ornament: Christmas tree decorations.

- the application of paint or wallpaper in a room or building.

- the paint or wallpaper applied: an authority on English furniture and decoration.

2 a medal or award conferred as an honor.

Dec·o·ra·tion Day n. another term for MEMORIAL DAY.

Linked entries:

MEMORIAL DAY ■

dec·o·ra·tive adj. serving to make something look more attractive; ornamental: the outside of the building is functional rather than decorative.
<SPECIAL USAGE> relating to decoration: a decorative artist.

<DERIVATIVES> dec·o·ra·tive·ly adv. dec·o·ra·tive·ness n.

dec·o·ra·tive arts plural n. the arts concerned with the production of high-quality objects that are both useful and beautiful.

dec·o·ra·tor n. a person who decorates, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person whose job is to design the interior of someone's home, by choosing colors, carpets, materials, and furnishings.

- CHIEFLY BRIT. a person whose job is to decorate the interior of buildings by painting the walls and hanging wallpaper: she became a painter and decorator.

dec·o·rous adj. in keeping with good taste and propriety; polite and restrained: dancing with decorous space between partners.

<DERIVATIVES> dec·o·rous·ly adv. dec·o·rous·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (in the sense 'appropriate, seemly'): from Latin decorus 'seemly' + -OUS.

Linked entries:

-OUS ■

de·cor·ti·cate v. [trans.] 1 [often as adj.] (decorticated) TECHNICAL remove the bark, rind, or husk from: decorticated peanuts.

2 subject to surgical decortication.

■ adj. [BIOLOGY] & [PSYCHOLOGY] of or relating to an animal that has had the cortex of the brain removed or separated.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin decorticat- 'stripped of its bark', from the verb decorticare, from de- (expressing removal) + cortex, cortic- 'bark'.

de·cor·ti·ca·tion n. the removal of the outer layer or cortex from a structure, esp. the lung, brain, or other organ.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MEDICINE] the operation of removing fibrous scar tissue that prevents expansion of the lung.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin decorticatio(n-), from decorticare 'strip of bark' (see DECORTICATE).

Linked entries:

DECORTICATE ■

de·co·rum n. behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety: you exhibit remarkable modesty and decorum.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- etiquette: he had no idea of funeral decorum.

- (usu. decorums) ARCHAIC a particular requirement of good taste and propriety.

- ARCHAIC suitability to the requirements of a person, rank, or occasion.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (as a literary term, denoting suitability of style): from Latin, neuter of the adjective decorus 'seemly'.

de·cou·page n. the decoration of the surface of an object with paper cut-outs, which is then usu. varnished or lacquered.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: French, from découper 'cut out'.

de·cou·ple v. [trans.] separate, disengage, or dissociate (something) from something else: the mountings effectively decouple movements of the engine from those of the wheels.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make the interaction between (electrical components) so weak that there is little transfer of energy between them, esp. to remove unwanted AC distortion or oscillations in circuits with a common power supply.

- muffle the sound or shock of (a nuclear explosion) by causing it to take place in an underground cavity.

de·coy n. 1 a bird or mammal, or an imitation of one, used by hunters to attract other birds or mammals: [as adj.] a decoy duck.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person or thing used to lure an animal or person into a trap.

- a fake or nonworking article, esp. a weapon, used to mislead or misdirect.

2 a pond from which narrow netted channels lead, into which wild ducks may be enticed for capture.

■ v. [trans.] lure or entice (a person or animal) away from an intended course, typically into a trap: they would try to decoy the enemy toward the hidden group.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (earlier as coy): from Dutch de kooi 'the decoy', from Middle Dutch de kouw 'the cage', from Latin cavea 'cage'. Sense 2 is from the practice of using tamed ducks to lead wild ones along channels into captivity.

de·crease v. [intrans.] become smaller or less in size, amount, intensity, or degree: the population of the area has decreased radically.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] make smaller or less in size, amount, intensity, or degree: in some cases vitamin E has decreased cholesterol levels.

■ n. an instance or example of becoming smaller or less: a decrease in births.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action or process of becoming smaller or fewer: the rate of decrease became greater.

<PHRASES> on the decrease becoming less common or widespread; decreasing.

<DERIVATIVES> de·creas·ing·ly adv. [as submodifier] voters have proved decreasingly willing to support the party.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French decreis (noun), decreistre (verb), based on Latin decrescere, from de- 'down' + crescere 'grow'.

de·cree n. an official order issued by a legal authority.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the issuing of such an order: the king ruled by decree.

- a judgment or decision of certain law courts.

■ v. (-crees, -creed, -cree·ing) [trans.] order (something) by decree: the government decreed a ban on any contact with the guerrillas | [with clause] the president decreed that the military was to be streamlined.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting an edict issued by an ecclesiastical council to settle a point of doctrine or discipline): from Old French decre, decret, from Latin decretum 'something decided', from decernere 'decide'.

dec·re·ment n. a reduction or diminution: relaxation produces a decrement in sympathetic nervous activity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an amount by which something is reduced or diminished: the dose was reduced by 10 mg weekly decrements.

- [PHYSICS] the ratio of the amplitudes in successive cycles of a damped oscillation.

■ v. [trans.] [CHIEFLY COMPUTING] cause a discrete reduction in (a numerical quantity): the instruction decrements the accumulator by one.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (as a noun): from Latin decrementum 'diminution', from the stem of decrescere 'to decrease'.

de·cre·o·lize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (decreolized) modify (a Creole language) toward the local standard language.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cre·o·li·za·tion n.

de·crep·it adj. (of a person) elderly and infirm: a decrepit old drunk. See note at WEAK.
<SPECIAL USAGE> worn out or ruined because of age or neglect: centuries-old buildings, now decrepit and black with soot.

<DERIVATIVES> de·crep·i·tude n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin decrepitus, from de- 'down' + crepitus, past participle of crepare 'rattle, creak'.

de·crep·i·tate v. [intrans.] TECHNICAL (of a crystal or an inclusion of something within a crystal) disintegrate audibly when heated.

<DERIVATIVES> de·crep·i·ta·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from DE- 'away' + Latin crepitat- 'crackled', from the verb crepitare, frequentative of crepare 'rattle' (see DECREPIT).

Linked entries:

DE- ■

DECREPIT ■

de·cre·scen·do n. (pl. -dos), adv., adj., & v. (-dos, -doed) another term for DIMINUENDO: [as n.] faded like the decrescendo of distant thunder | [as adj.] a decrescendo heart murmur | [as v.] he decrescendos down to a whisper.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: Italian, literally 'decreasing'.

Linked entries:

DIMINUENDO ■

de·cres·cent adj. [attrib.] (of the moon) waning.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin decrescent- 'growing less', from the verb decrescere (see DECREASE).

Linked entries:

DECREASE ■

de·cre·tal n. a papal decree concerning a point of canon law.

■ adj. of the nature of a decree.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from late Latin decretale, neuter of decretalis (adjective), from Latin decret- 'decided', from the verb decernere.

De·cre·tum n. a collection of decisions and judgments in canon law.

<ORIGIN> Latin, literally 'something decreed'.

de·crim·i·nal·ize v. [trans.] cease by legislation to treat (something) as illegal: a battle to decriminalize drugs.

<DERIVATIVES> de·crim·i·nal·i·za·tion n.

de·cry v. (-cries, -cried) [trans.] publicly denounce: they decried human rights abuses.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cri·er n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'decrease the value of coins by royal proclamation'): from DE- 'down' + CRY, on the pattern of French décrier 'cry down'.

Linked entries:

DE- ■

CRY ■

de·crypt v. [trans.] make (a coded or unclear message) intelligible: the computer can be used to encrypt and decrypt sensitive transmissions.

■ n. a text that has been decoded.

<DERIVATIVES> de·cryp·tion n.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from DE- (expressing reversal) + crypt as in encrypt.

Linked entries:

DE- ■

de·cub·i·tus n. [CHIEFLY MEDICINE] the posture adopted by a person who is lying down: [as adj.] lumbar puncture with the patient in the lateral decubitus position.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Latin decumbere 'lie down', on the pattern of words such as accubitus 'reclining at table'.

de·cub·i·tus ul·cer n. technical term for BEDSORE.

Linked entries:

BEDSORE ■

de·cum·bent adj. [BOTANY] (of a plant or part of a plant) lying along the ground or along a surface, with the extremity curving upward.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin decumbent- 'lying down', from the verb decumbere, based on de- 'down' + a verb related to cubare 'to lie'.

de·cur·rent adj. [BOTANY] (of a fungus gill, leaf, etc.) extending down the stem below the point of attachment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a shrub or the crown of a tree) having several roughly equal branches.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin decurrent- 'running down', from the verb decurrere.

de·curved adj. [BIOLOGY] (esp. of a bird's bill) curved downward.

dec·us·sate TECHNICAL v. [reciprocal] (of two or more things) cross or intersect each other to form an X: the fibers decussate in the collar.

■ adj. shaped like an X.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BOTANY] (of leaves) arranged in opposite pairs, each pair being at right angles to the pair below.

<DERIVATIVES> dec·us·sa·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (as a verb): from Latin decussatus, past participle of decussare 'divide crosswise', from decussis (describing the figure X, i.e., the Roman numeral for the number 10), from decem 'ten'.

de·dans n. (in court tennis) an open gallery for spectators at the service side of a court.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: French, literally 'inside'.

de·den·dum n. [ENGINEERING] the radial distance from the pitch circle of a cogwheel or worm wheel to the bottom of the tooth space or groove. Compare with ADDENDUM.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Latin, 'to be given up, surrendered'.

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ADDENDUM ■

Ded·ham a town in eastern Massachusetts, southwest of Boston; pop. 23,782.

ded·i·cate v. [trans.] devote (time, effort, or oneself) to a particular task or purpose: Joan has dedicated her life to animals.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- devote (something) to a particular subject or purpose: you should dedicate a telephone line to each modem you plan to install.

- (usu. be dedicated) cite (a book or other artistic work) as being issued or performed in someone's honor: the novel is dedicated to the memory of my mother.

- open (a building or other facility) formally for public use: the ex-president came to dedicate a $2.6 million recreation center.

- (usu. be dedicated) ceremonially assign (a church or other building) to a deity or saint: the parish church is dedicated to St. Paul.

<DERIVATIVES> ded·i·ca·tee n. ded·i·ca·tor n. ded·i·ca·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'devote to sacred use by solemn rites'): from Latin dedicat- 'devoted, consecrated', from the verb dedicare.

ded·i·cat·ed adj. (of a person) devoted to a task or purpose; having single-minded loyalty or integrity: a team of dedicated doctors.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a thing) exclusively allocated to or intended for a particular service or purpose: investing in dedicated bike lanes will encourage more bicycle commuters.

<DERIVATIVES> ded·i·cat·ed·ly adv.

ded·i·ca·tion n. 1 the quality of being dedicated or committed to a task or purpose: his dedication to his duties.

2 the words with which a book or other artistic work is dedicated: the hardback edition contained a warm dedication to his wife.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of formally opening a building or other facility for public use: the dedication and unveiling was attended by some 5,000 people.

- the action of dedicating a church or other building to a deity or saint.

- an inscription dedicating a church or other building in this way.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin dedicatio(n-), from dedicare 'devote, consecrate' (see DEDICATE).

Linked entries:

DEDICATE ■

de dicto adj. [PHILOSOPHY] relating to the form of an assertion or expression itself, rather than any property of a thing it refers to. Compare with DE RE.

<ORIGIN> Latin, 'from what is said'.

Linked entries:

DE RE ■

de·dif·fer·en·ti·ate v. [intrans.] [BIOLOGY] (of a cell or tissue) undergo a reversal of differentiation and lose specialized characteristics.

<DERIVATIVES> de·dif·fer·en·ti·a·tion n.

de·duce v. [trans.] arrive at (a fact or a conclusion) by reasoning; draw as a logical conclusion: little can be safely deduced from these figures | [with clause] they deduced that the fish died because of water pollution.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC trace the course or derivation of: he cannot deduce his descent wholly by heirs male.

<DERIVATIVES> de·duc·i·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'lead or convey'): from Latin deducere, from de- 'down' + ducere 'lead'.

de·duct v. [trans.] subtract or take away (an amount or part) from a total: tax has been deducted from the payments.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin deduct- 'taken or led away', from the verb deducere. Deduct and deduce were not distinguished in sense until the mid 17th cent.

de·duct·i·ble adj. able to be deducted, esp. from taxable income or tax to be paid: child-care vouchers will be deductible expenses for employers. See also TAX-DEDUCTIBLE.

■ n. (in an insurance policy) a specified amount of money that the insured must pay before an insurance company will pay a claim: a traditional insurance policy with a low deductible.

<DERIVATIVES> de·duct·i·bil·i·ty n.

Linked entries:

TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ■

de·duc·tion n. 1 the action of deducting or subtracting something: the dividend will be paid without deduction of tax.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an amount that is or may be deducted from something, esp. from taxable income or tax to be paid: tax deductions.

2 the inference of particular instances by reference to a general law or principle: the detective must uncover the murderer by deduction from facts. Often contrasted with INDUCTION.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a conclusion that has been deduced.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin deductio(n-), from the verb deducere (see DEDUCE).

Linked entries:

INDUCTION ■

DEDUCE ■

de·duc·tive adj. characterized by the inference of particular instances from a general law: deductive reasoning.
<SPECIAL USAGE> based on reason and logical analysis of available facts: I used my deductive powers.

<DERIVATIVES> de·duc·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from medieval Latin deductivus, from deduct- 'deduced', from the verb deducere (see DEDUCE).

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DEDUCE ■

de Du·ve Christian René (1917- ), Belgian biochemist; born in Britain. He was a pioneer in the study of cell biology. Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (1974, shared with Albert Claude 1899-1983 and George Palade 1912- ).

Dee 1 a river in northeastern Scotland that rises in the Grampian Mountains and flows east to the North Sea at Aberdeen.

2 a river that rises in North Wales and flows past Chester and on into the Irish Sea.

deed n. 1 an action that is performed intentionally or consciously: doing good deeds.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a brave or noble act: their deeds will live on in song.

- action or performance: she had erred in both deed and manner.

2 a legal document that is signed and delivered, esp. one regarding the ownership of property or legal rights. See also TITLE DEED.

■ v. [trans.] convey or transfer (property or rights) by legal deed: they deeded their property to their children.

<ORIGIN>  Old English , , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch daad and German Tat, from an Indo-European root shared by DO^1 .

Linked entries:

TITLE DEED ■

DO ■

dee·jay INFORMAL n. a disc jockey.

■ v. (-jays , -jayed, -jay·ing) [intrans.] act as, or hold a job as, a disc jockey.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: representing the pronunciation of DJ.

deem v. [trans.] regard or consider in a specified way: the event was deemed a great success | [trans.] the strike was deemed to be illegal.

<ORIGIN> Old English (also in the sense 'act as judge'), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch doeman, also to DOOM.

Linked entries:

DOOM ■

de-em·pha·size v. [trans.] reduce the importance or prominence given to (something): the reform de-emphasized central planning and placed more power in the association of socialized industries.

<DERIVATIVES> de-em·pha·sis n.

de-en·er·gize v. [trans.] disconnect (an electric circuit) from a power supply.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] undergo loss of electrical power: the starter relay automatically de-energizes.

deep adj. 1 extending far down from the top or surface: a deep gorge; the lake was deep and cold.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- extending or situated far in or down from the outer edge or surface: a deep alcove; deep in the woods.

- [predic.] (after a measurement and in questions) extending a specified distance from the top, surface, or outer edge: the well was 200 feet deep.

- [in combination] as far up or down as a specified point: standing waist-deep in the river.

- [predic.] in a specified number of ranks one behind another: [in combination] they were standing three-deep at the bar.

- taking in or giving out a lot of air: she took a deep breath.

- [BASEBALL] far back in the outfield: his first pitch was hit into deep left field.

2 very intense or extreme: she was in deep trouble; a deep sleep; a deep economic recession.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an emotion or feeling) intensely felt: deep disappointment.

- profound or penetrating in awareness or understanding: a deep analysis.

- difficult to understand: this is all getting too deep for me.

- [predic.] (deep in) fully absorbed or involved in (a state or activity): they were deep in their own thoughts.

- (of a person) unpredictable and secretive: that Thomas is a deep one.

3 (of sound) low in pitch and full in tone; not shrill: a deep, resonant voice.

4 (of color) dark and intense: a deep pink.

■ n. (the deep) POETIC/LITERARY the sea: denizens of the deep.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. deeps) a deep part of the sea: the dark and menacing deeps.

- (usu. deeps) FIGURATIVE a remote and mysterious region: the deeps of her imagination.

■ adv. far down or in; deeply: traveling deep into the countryside | FIGURATIVE his passion runs deep.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in sports) distant from the start of a play or the forward line of one's team: the defense played deep.

<PHRASES>
□ the deep end the end of a swimming pool where the water is deepest.

□ go off (or go in off) the deep end INFORMAL give way immediately to an emotional outburst, esp. of anger.
- go mad; behave extremely strangely: they looked at me as if I had gone off the deep end.

□ in deep INFORMAL inextricably involved in or committed to a situation: he knew that he was in deep when his things began to proliferate in her apartment.

□ in deep water (or waters) INFORMAL in trouble or difficulty: he landed in deep water when he began the affair.

□ jump (or be thrown) in at the deep end INFORMAL face a difficult problem or undertaking with little experience of it.

<DERIVATIVES> deep·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Old English (adjective), , (adverb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch diep and German tief, also to DIP.

Linked entries:

DIP ■

deep brain stim·u·la·tion n. a nonsurgical treatment to reduce tremor and to block involuntary movements in patients with motion disorders. Small electric shocks are delivered to the thalamus (esp. in the treatment of multiple sclerosis) or the globus pallidus (esp. in the treatment of Parkinson's disease), rendering these parts of the brain inactive without surgically destroying them.

deep breath·ing n. breathing with long breaths, esp. as exercise or a method of relaxation.

deep-cy·cle adj. denoting a type of electric battery that can be totally discharged and recharged several times.

deep-dis·count adj. denoting financial securities carrying a low rate of interest relative to prevailing market rates and issued at a discount to their redemption value, thus mainly providing capital gain rather than income.
<SPECIAL USAGE> heavily discounted; greatly reduced in price: deep-discount pricing has kept airfares affordable.

deep-dish adj. 1 (of a pie) baked in a deep dish to allow for a large filling: deep-dish apple pie.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a pizza) baked in a deep dish and having a thick dough base.

2 INFORMAL extreme or thoroughgoing: a deep-dish Catholic.

deep-dyed adj. INFORMAL thoroughgoing; complete: a deep-dyed Beatles fan.

deep e·col·o·gy n. an environmental movement and philosophy that regards human life as just one of many equal components of a global ecosystem.

deep·en v. make or become deep or deeper: [intrans.] the crisis deepened
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a weather system) decrease in barometric pressure. Compare with FILL.
| [as adj.] (deepening) a deepening depression.

Linked entries:

FILL ■

deep freeze n. (also deep freez·er) a refrigerated cabinet or room in which food can be quickly frozen and kept for long periods at a low temperature: plenty of garden space to keep our deep freezes supplied with fruit and vegetables.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a place or situation in which progress or activity is suspended: the nation is now beginning to resume its history after twenty years in the deep freeze.

■ v. (deep-freeze) [trans.] [often as adj.] (deep-frozen) store (something) in a deep freeze.

deep-fry v. [trans.] [as adj.] (deep-fried) fry (food) in an amount of fat or oil sufficient to cover it completely: deep-fried onion rings.

deep kiss n. DATED a kiss involving insertion of the tongue into the partner's mouth.

deep-laid adj. (of a scheme) secret and elaborate: a deep-laid plot.

deep·ly adv. far down or in: he breathed deeply; | fragments of rock were deeply embedded within the wood.
<SPECIAL USAGE> intensely: [as submodifier] she was deeply hurt.

deep mourn·ing n. a state of mourning, conventionally expressed by wearing only black clothing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the black clothing worn by someone in deep mourning.

deep pock·ets n. abundant financial resources: these companies have deep pockets and don't mind spending to get their projects off the ground.

deep-root·ed adj. (of a plant) deeply implanted.
<SPECIAL USAGE> firmly embedded in thought, behavior, or culture, and so having a persistent influence: deep-rooted concern about declining values.

<DERIVATIVES> deep-root·ed·ness n.

deep sea n. [usu. as adj.] the deeper parts of the ocean, esp. those beyond the edge of the continental shelf: deep-sea diving.

deep-seat·ed adj. firmly established at a deep or profound level: deep-seated anxiety.

deep-set adj. (of a person's eyes) positioned deeply in the head: his deep-set black eyes are powerful, still, and unrelenting.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- embedded firmly: the bees found only a few deep-set plants.

- long-established, ingrained, or profound: a deep-set enmity.

deep-six v. [trans.] INFORMAL destroy or dispose of (something) irretrievably: someone had deliberately deep-sixed evidence.

<ORIGIN> 1920s (as the deep six 'the grave'): perhaps from the custom of burial at sea at a depth of six fathoms.

Deep South (the Deep South) the southeastern region of the U.S. that is regarded as embodying traditional Southern culture and traditions.

deep space n. another term for OUTER SPACE.

Linked entries:

OUTER SPACE ■

deep struc·ture n. (in generative grammar) the abstract representation of the syntactic structure of a sentence. Contrasted with SURFACE STRUCTURE.

Linked entries:

SURFACE STRUCTURE ■

deep throat n. INFORMAL a concealed informant, esp. one who is hated by those persons informed upon.

<ORIGIN> 1970s: from the pseudonym used by a Watergate informant, the name having been taken from the title of a pornographic movie (1972).

deep time n. [GEOLOGY] the multimillion year time frame within which scientists believe the earth has existed, and which is supported by the observation of natural, mostly geological, phenomena.

deep-vein throm·bo·sis n. thrombosis in a vein lying deep below the skin, especially in the legs. It is a particular hazard of long-haul flying.

deer n. (pl. same) a hoofed grazing or browsing animal, with branched bony antlers that are shed annually and typically borne only by the male. See also MOUSE DEER, MUSK DEER.
<INFO>  Cervidae

<ORIGIN> Old English , also originally denoting any quadruped, used in the (now archaic) phrase small deer meaning 'small creatures collectively'; of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dier, German Tier.

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MOUSE DEER ■

MUSK DEER ■

Deere John (1804-86), U.S. manufacturer. He founded John Deere & Co. in 1868, originally manufacturing steel plows.

Deer·field a historic town in northwestern Massachusetts, on the Connecticut River; pop. 5,018. It suffered major Indian attacks in 1675 and 1704.

Deer·field Beach a resort city in southeastern Florida, north of Fort Lauderdale; pop. 46,325.

deer·fly n. 1 a bloodsucking horsefly that attacks humans and other large mammals. It can transmit various diseases, including tularemia.
<INFO>  Genus Chrysops, family Tabanidae: several species, including C. callidus, widespread throughout North America.

2 a bloodsucking louse fly that is a parasite of deer. It loses its wings on finding a host, and the female gives birth to fully grown larvae.
<INFO>  Lipoptena cervi, family Hippoboscidae.

deer hair n. hair from a deer, particularly as used in making artificial fishing flies.

deer·hound n. a large dog of a rough-haired breed resembling the greyhound.

deer lick n. a place where deer come to lick salt, either from a block of salt placed there or from a natural source.

deer mouse n. a mainly nocturnal mouse found in a wide range of habitats in North and Central America.
<INFO>  Genus Peromyscus, family Muridae: numerous species, in particular P. maniculatus.

deer·skin n. leather made from a deer's skin.

deer·stalk·er n. 1 a soft cloth cap, originally worn for hunting, with bills in front and behind, and ear flaps that can be tied together over the top.

2 a person who stalks deer.

de-es·ca·late v. [trans.] reduce the intensity of (a conflict or potentially violent situation).

<DERIVATIVES> de-es·ca·la·tion n.

Deet n. TRADEMARK a brand of diethyltoluamide, a colorless oily liquid with a mild odor, used as an insect repellent.

def adj. INFORMAL excellent: a truly def tattoo.

<ORIGIN> 1980s: probably an alteration of DEATH (used in Jamaican English as an intensifier), or shortened from DEFINITIVE or DEFINITE.

Linked entries:

DEATH ■

DEFINITIVE ■

DEFINITE ■

de·face v. [trans.] spoil the surface or appearance of (something), e.g., by drawing or writing on it: he defaced library books.
<SPECIAL USAGE> mar; disfigure: the canyon's spectacular limestone walls have been defaced by the reservoir.

<DERIVATIVES> de·face·ment n. de·fac·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French desfacier, from des- (expressing removal) + face 'face'.

de fac·to adv. in fact, whether by right or not: the island has been de facto divided into two countries. Often contrasted with DE JURE.

■ adj. [attrib.] denoting someone or something that is such in fact: a de facto one-party system.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: Latin, literally 'of fact'.

Linked entries:

DE JURE ■

de·fal·cate v. [trans.] FORMAL embezzle (funds with which one has been entrusted): the officials were charged with defalcating government money.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fal·ca·tion n. de·fal·ca·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'deduct, subtract'): from medieval Latin defalcat- 'lopped', from the verb defalcare, from de- 'away from, off' + Latin falx, falc- 'sickle'.

de·fame v. [trans.] damage the good reputation of (someone); slander or libel: he claimed that the article defamed his family. See note at MALIGN.

<DERIVATIVES> def·a·ma·tion n. de·fam·a·to·ry adj. de·fam·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French diffamer, from Latin diffamare 'spread evil report', from dis- (expressing removal) + fama 'report'.

de·fa·mil·iar·ize v. [trans.] render unfamiliar or strange (used esp. in the context of art and literature): art serves to defamiliarize our experience of our own present.

de·fang v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (defanged) render harmless or ineffectual: the military, demoralized and defanged, gave up their campaign.

de·fat v. (-fat·ted, -fat·ting) [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (defatted) remove fat from (food): soup made with defatted chicken stock.

de·fault n. 1 failure to fulfill an obligation, esp. to repay a loan or appear in a court of law: it will have to restructure its debts to avoid default.

2 a preselected option adopted by a computer program or other mechanism when no alternative is specified by the user or programmer: the default is fifty lines | [as adj.] default settings.

■ v. [intrans.] 1 fail to fulfill an obligation, esp. to repay a loan or to appear in a court of law: some had defaulted on student loans.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] declare (a party) in default and give judgment against that party: the possibility that cases would be defaulted and defendants released.

2 (default to) (of a computer program or other mechanism) revert automatically to (a preselected option): when you start a fresh letter, the system will default to its own style.

<PHRASES>
□ by default because of a lack of opposition: they won the last election by default.
- through lack of positive action rather than conscious choice: legislation dies by default if the governor fails to act on it.

□ in default guilty of failing to repay a loan or appear in a court of law: the company is already in default on its loans.

□ in default of in the absence of: in default of agreement, the rent was to be determined by a surveyor.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French defaut, from defaillir 'to fail', based on Latin fallere 'disappoint, deceive'.

de·fault·er n. a person who fails to fulfill a duty, obligation, or undertaking, esp. to pay a debt.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a person who fails to complete a course of medical treatment.

de·fea·sance n. [LAW] the action or process of rendering something null and void.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a clause or condition which, if fulfilled, renders a deed or contract null and void.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a legal term): from Old French defesance, from defaire, desfaire 'undo' (see DEFEAT).

Linked entries:

DEFEAT ■

de·fea·si·ble adj. [CHIEFLY LAW] [PHILOSOPHY] open in principle to revision, valid objection, forfeiture, or annulment.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fea·si·bil·i·ty n. de·fea·si·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Anglo-Norman French from the stem of Old French desfesant 'undoing' (see also DEFEASANCE).

Linked entries:

DEFEASANCE ■

de·feat v. [trans.] win a victory over (someone) in a battle or other contest; overcome or beat: Arab armies defeated the Byzantine garrison.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- prevent (someone) from achieving an aim: she was defeated by the last steep hill.

- prevent (an aim) from being achieved: don't cheat by allowing your body to droopthis defeats the object of the exercise.

- reject or block (a motion or proposal): the amendment was defeated.

- be impossible for (someone) to understand: this line of reasoning defeats me, I must confess.

- [LAW] render null and void; annul.

■ n. an instance of defeating or being defeated: the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 | she had still not quite admitted defeat.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'undo, destroy, annul'): from Old French desfait 'undone', past participle of desfaire, from medieval Latin disfacere 'undo'.

de·feat·ed adj. having been beaten in a battle or other contest: the defeated army.
<SPECIAL USAGE> demoralized and overcome by adversity.

<DERIVATIVES> de·feat·ed·ly adv.

de·feat·ist n. a person who expects or is excessively ready to accept failure.

■ adj. demonstrating expectation or acceptance of failure: we have a duty not to be so defeatist.

<DERIVATIVES> de·feat·ism n.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from French défaitiste, from défaite 'defeat'.

def·e·cate v. [intrans.] discharge feces from the body.

<DERIVATIVES> def·e·ca·tion n. def·e·ca·tor n. def·e·ca·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'clear of dregs, purify'): from Latin defaecat- 'cleared of dregs', from the verb defaecare, from de- (expressing removal) + faex, faec- 'dregs'. The current sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

de·fect 1 n. a shortcoming, imperfection, or lack: genetic defects | the property is free from defect.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a noun, influenced by Old French defect 'deficiency'): from Latin defectus, past participle of deficere 'desert or fail', from de- (expressing reversal) + facere 'do'.

de·fect 2 v. [intrans.] abandon one's country or cause in favor of an opposing one: he defected to the Soviet Union after the war.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fec·tion n. de·fec·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin defect- 'failed', from the verb deficere (see DEFECT^1 ).

Linked entries:

DEFECT ■

de·fec·tive adj. imperfect or faulty: complaints over defective goods.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ARCHAIC or OFFENSIVE mentally handicapped.

- lacking or deficient: dystrophin is commonly defective in muscle tissue.

- [GRAMMAR] (of a word) not having all the inflections normal for the part of speech.

■ n. ARCHAIC or OFFENSIVE a mentally handicapped person.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fec·tive·ly adv. de·fec·tive·ness n.

de·fem·i·nize v. [trans.] deprive of feminine characteristics.

de·fence n. British spelling of DEFENSE.

Linked entries:

DEFENSE ■

de·fend v. [trans.] resist an attack made on (someone or something); protect from harm or danger: we shall defend our country, whatever the cost.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- speak or write in favor of (an action or person); attempt to justify: he defended his policy of imposing high taxes.

- conduct the case for (the party being accused or sued) in a lawsuit: the lawyer had defended anticommunist dissidents.

- compete to retain (a title or seat) in a contest or election: he successfully defended his Congressional seat in new elections | [as adj.] (defending) the defending champion.

- [intrans.] (in sports) protect one's goal rather than attempt to score against one's opponents.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fend·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French defendre, from Latin defendere, from de- 'off' + -fendere 'to strike'. Compare with OFFEND.

Linked entries:

OFFEND ■

de·fend·ant n. an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law. Compare with PLAINTIFF.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as an adjective in the sense 'defending'): from Old French, 'warding off', present participle of defendre (see DEFEND).

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PLAINTIFF ■

DEFEND ■

de·fend·er n. a person who defends someone or something: a defender of family values.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in soccer, hockey, and other games) a player whose task it is to protect the team's goal.

- [BRIDGE] either member of the partnership that did not win the auction. Compare with DECLARER.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French defendeor.

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DECLARER ■

De·fend·er of the Faith n. a title conferred on Henry VIII by Pope Leo X in 1521. It was recognized by Parliament as an official title of the English monarch in 1544 and has been borne by all subsequent sovereigns.

<ORIGIN> translation of Latin Fidei Defensor.

de·fen·es·tra·tion n. FORMAL or HUMOROUS the action of throwing someone or something out of a window.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fen·es·trate v.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from modern Latin defenestratio(n-), from de- 'down from' + Latin fenestra 'window'.

de·fense (BRIT. de·fence) n. 1 the action of defending from or resisting attack: they relied on missiles for the country's defense; | she came to the defense of the eccentric professor.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- attempted justification or vindication of something: he spoke in defense of a disciplined approach.

- an instance of defending a title or seat in a contest or election: his first title defense against Jones.

- military measures or resources for protecting a country: the minister of defense | [as adj.] defense policy.

- a means of protecting something from attack: education is the best defense against tyranny.

- (defenses) fortifications or barriers against attack: coastal defenses.

- (in sports) the action or role of defending one's goal against the opposition: we played solid defense.

- (the defense) the players in a team who perform this role.

2 the case presented by or on behalf of the party being accused or sued in a lawsuit.

3 one or more defendants in a trial.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (usu. the defense) [treated as sing. or pl.] the counsel for the defendant in a lawsuit: the defense requested more time to prepare their case.

<PHRASES> defense in depth the practice of arranging defensive lines or fortifications so that they can defend each other, esp. in case of an enemy incursion.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French defens, from late Latin defensum (neuter), defensa (feminine), past participles of defendere 'defend'.

de·fense·less adj. without defense or protection; totally vulnerable: attacks on defenseless civilians.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fense·less·ness n.

de·fense·man n. (pl. -men) (in ice hockey and lacrosse) a player in a defensive position.

de·fense mech·an·ism n. an automatic reaction of the body against disease-causing organisms.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a mental process (e.g., repression or projection) initiated, typically unconsciously, to avoid conscious conflict or anxiety.

de·fen·si·ble adj. 1 justifiable by argument: a morally defensible penal system.

2 able to be protected: a fort with a defensible yard at its feet.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fen·si·bil·i·ty n. de·fen·si·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (used as a weapon, a fortified place, etc., in the sense 'capable of giving protective defense'): from late Latin defensibilis, from Latin defendere (see DEFEND).

Linked entries:

DEFEND ■

de·fen·sive adj. 1 used or intended to defend or protect: troops in defensive positions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [attrib.] (in sports) relating to or intended as defense.

2 very anxious to challenge or avoid criticism: he was very defensive about that side of his life.

<PHRASES> on the defensive expecting or resisting criticism or attack: the forces have remained on the defensive.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fen·sive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French défensif, -ive, from medieval Latin defensivus, from Latin defens- 'warded off', from the verb defendere (see DEFEND).

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DEFEND ■

de·fen·sive end n. [FOOTBALL] either of the two defensive players positioned at the end of the players who are linemen.

de·fen·sive·ly adv. in a defensive manner: “No, I didn't,” he replied defensively.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in sports) in terms of defense: we must tighten up defensively.

de·fer 1 v. (-ferred, -fer·ring) [trans.] put off (an action or event) to a later time; postpone: they deferred the decision until February. See note at POSTPONE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL postpone the conscription of (someone): he was no longer deferred from the draft.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fer·ment n. de·fer·ra·ble adj. de·fer·ral n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also in the sense 'put on one side'): from Old French differer 'defer or differ', from Latin differre, from dis- 'apart' + ferre 'bring, carry'. Compare with DEFER^2 and DIFFER.

Linked entries:

DEFER ■

DIFFER ■

de·fer 2 v. (-ferred, -fer·ring) [intrans.] (defer to) submit humbly to (a person or a person's wishes or qualities): he deferred to Tim's superior knowledge.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fer·rer n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French deferer, from Latin deferre 'carry away, refer (a matter)', from de- 'away from' + ferre 'bring, carry'. Compare with DEFER^1 .

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DEFER ■

def·er·ence n. humble submission and respect: he addressed her with the deference due to age. See note at HONOR.

<PHRASES> in deference to out of respect for; in consideration of.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French déférence, from déférer 'refer' (see DEFER^2 ).

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DEFER ■

def·er·ent 1 adj. another term for DEFERENTIAL.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from DEFER^2 and DEFERENCE.

Linked entries:

DEFERENTIAL ■

DEFER ■

DEFERENCE ■

def·er·ent 2 n. (in the Ptolemaic system of astronomy) the large circular orbit followed by the center of the small epicycle in which a planet was thought to move.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin deferent- 'carrying away', from the verb deferre.

def·er·en·tial adj. showing deference; respectful: people were always deferential to him.

<DERIVATIVES> def·er·en·tial·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from DEFERENCE, on the pattern of pairs such as prudence, prudential.

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DEFERENCE ■

de·ferred an·nu·i·ty n. an annuity that commences only after a lapse of some specified time after the final purchase premium has been paid.

de·fer·ves·cence n. [MEDICINE] the abatement of a fever as indicated by a decrease in bodily temperature.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fer·vesce v.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Latin defervescent- 'ceasing to boil', from the verb defervescere.

de·fi·ance n. open resistance; bold disobedience: the demonstration was held in defiance of official warnings.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting the renunciation of an allegiance or friendship): from Old French, from defier 'defy'.

de·fi·ant adj. showing defiance: she was in a defiant mood.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fi·ant·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French défiant or directly from DEFIANCE.

Linked entries:

DEFIANCE ■

de·fib·ril·la·tion n. [MEDICINE] the stopping of fibrillation of the heart by administering a controlled electric shock in order to allow restoration of the normal rhythm.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fib·ril·late v.

de·fib·ril·la·tor n. [MEDICINE] an apparatus used to control heart fibrillation by application of an electric current to the chest wall or heart.

de·fi·cien·cy n. (pl. -cies) a lack or shortage: vitamin A deficiency in children.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a failing or shortcoming: they did not like having the deficiencies of their city pointed out to them.

de·fi·cien·cy dis·ease n. a disease caused by the lack of some essential or important element in the diet, usually a particular vitamin or mineral. See also IMMUNODEFICIENCY.

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IMMUNODEFICIENCY ■

de·fi·cien·cy pay·ment n. a payment made, typically by a government body, to cover a financial deficit incurred in the course of an activity such as farming or education.

de·fi·cient adj. [predic.] not having enough of a specified quality or ingredient: this diet is deficient in vitamin B.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- insufficient or inadequate: they trashed the legislation as deficient.

- (also mentally deficient) OFFENSIVE having a mental handicap.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (originally in the theological phrase deficient cause, denoting a failure or deficiency that has a particular consequence): from Latin deficient- 'failing', from the verb deficere (see DEFECT^1 ).

Linked entries:

DEFECT ■

def·i·cit n. the amount by which something, esp. a sum of money, is too small.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an excess of expenditure or liabilities over income or assets in a given period: an annual operating deficit | the budget will remain in deficit.

- (in sports) the amount or score by which a team or individual is losing: came back from a 3-0 deficit.

- TECHNICAL a deficiency or failing, esp. in a neurological or psychological function: deficits in speech comprehension.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: via French from Latin deficit 'it is lacking', from the verb deficere (see DEFECT^1 ).

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DEFECT ■

def·i·cit fi·nanc·ing n. government funding of spending by borrowing.

def·i·cit spend·ing n. government spending, in excess of revenue, of funds raised by borrowing rather than from taxation.

def·i·lade [MILITARY] n. the protection of a position, vehicle, or troops against enemy observation or gunfire.

■ v. [trans.] protect (a position, vehicle, or troops) against enemy observation or gunfire: [as adj.] (defiladed) a defiladed tank.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French défiler 'protect from the enemy' + -ADE^1 .

Linked entries:

-ADE ■

de·file 1 v. [trans.] sully, mar, or spoil: the land was defiled by a previous owner. See note at POLLUTE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- desecrate or profane (something sacred): the tomb had been defiled and looted.

- ARCHAIC violate the chastity of (a woman).

<DERIVATIVES> de·file·ment n. de·fil·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: alteration of obsolete defoul, from Old French defouler 'trample down', influenced by obsolete befile 'befoul, defile'.

de·file 2 n. a steep-sided, narrow gorge or passage (originally one requiring troops to march in single file).

■ v. [intrans.] ARCHAIC (of troops) march in single file: we emerged after defiling through the mountainsides.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from French défilé (noun), défiler (verb), from dé 'away from' + file 'column, file'.

de·fine v. [trans.] 1 state or describe exactly the nature, scope, or meaning of: the contract will seek to define the client's obligations.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- give the meaning of (a word or phrase), esp. in a dictionary.

- make up or establish the character of: for some, the football team defines their identity.

2 mark out the boundary or limits of: [as adj.] (defined) clearly defined boundaries.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make clear the outline of; delineate: she defined her eyes by applying eyeshadow.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fin·a·ble adj. de·fin·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also in the sense 'bring to an end'): from Old French definer, from a variant of Latin definire, from de- (expressing completion) + finire 'finish' (from finis 'end').

de·fin·i·en·dum n. (pl. -da ) a word, phrase, or symbol that is the subject of a definition, esp. in a dictionary entry, or that is introduced into a logical system by being defined. Contrasted with DEFINIENS.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin, 'that which is to be defined', from the verb definire (see DEFINE).

Linked entries:

DEFINIENS ■

DEFINE ■

de·fin·i·ens n. (pl. de·fin·i·en·ti·a ) a word, phrase, or symbolic expression used to define something, esp. in a dictionary entry, or introducing a word or symbol into a logical system by providing a statement of its meaning. Contrasted with DEFINIENDUM.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from medieval Latin, 'defining', present participle of definire (see DEFINE).

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DEFINIENDUM ■

DEFINE ■

de·fin·ing mo·ment n. an event that typifies or determines all subsequent related occurrences.

def·i·nite adj. clearly stated or decided; not vague or doubtful: we had no definite plans.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- clearly true or real; unambiguous: no definite proof has emerged.

- [predic.] (of a person) certain or sure about something: you're very definite about that!

- clear or undeniable (used for emphasis): video is a definite asset in the classroom.

- having exact and discernible physical limits or form.

<DERIVATIVES> def·i·nite·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin definitus 'defined, set within limits', past participle of definire (see DEFINE).

<USAGE>
For an explanation of the difference between definite and definitive, see usage at DEFINITIVE.

Linked entries:

DEFINE ■

DEFINITIVE ■

def·i·nite ar·ti·cle n. [GRAMMAR] a determiner (the in English) that introduces a noun phrase and implies that the thing mentioned has already been mentioned, or is common knowledge, or is about to be defined (as in the book on the table; the art of government; the famous poet and short story writer). Compare with INDEFINITE ARTICLE.

Linked entries:

INDEFINITE ARTICLE ■

def·i·nite de·scrip·tion n. [CHIEFLY PHILOSOPHY] a noun phrase introduced by the definite article or its equivalent, and purporting to denote a particular entity or phenomenon.

def·i·nite in·te·gral n. [MATHEMATICS] an integral expressed as the difference between the values of the integral at specified upper and lower limits of the independent variable.

def·i·nite·ly adv. without doubt (used for emphasis): I will definitely be at the airport to meet you.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in a definite manner; clearly: we couldn't plan to go elsewhere until we had heard from you more definitely.

def·i·ni·tion n. 1 a statement of the exact meaning of a word, esp. in a dictionary.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an exact statement or description of the nature, scope, or meaning of something: our definition of what constitutes poetry.

- the action or process of defining something.

2 the degree of distinctness in outline of an object, image, or sound, esp. of an image in a photograph or on a screen.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the capacity of an instrument or device for making images distinct in outline: [in combination] high-definition television.

<PHRASES> by definition by its very nature; intrinsically: underachievement, by definition, is not due to lack of talent.

<DERIVATIVES> def·i·ni·tion·al adj. def·i·ni·tion·al·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin definitio(n-), from the verb definire 'set bounds to' (see DEFINE).

Linked entries:

DEFINE ■

de·fin·i·tive adj. 1 (of a conclusion or agreement) done or reached decisively and with authority: a definitive diagnosis.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a book or other text) the most authoritative of its kind: the definitive biography of Harry Truman.

2 (of a postage stamp) for general use and typically of standard design, not special or commemorative.

■ n. a definitive postage stamp.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fin·i·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French definitif, -ive, from Latin definitivus, from definit- 'set within limits', from the verb definire (see DEFINE).

<USAGE>
Definitive in the sense 'decisive, unconditional, final' is sometimes confused with definite. Definite means 'clearly defined, precise, having fixed limits,' but definitive goes further, meaning 'most complete, satisfying all criteria, most authoritative': although some critics found a few definite weak spots in the author’s interpretations, his book was nonetheless widely regarded as the definitive history of the war. A definite decision is simply one that has been made clearly and is without doubt, whereas a definitive decision is one that is not only conclusive but also carries the stamp of authority or is a benchmark for the future, as in a Supreme Court ruling. It is a common error to use definitive as though it were a more elegant way of saying definite.

Linked entries:

DEFINE ■

de·fin·i·tive host n. [BIOLOGY] an organism that supports the adult or sexually reproductive form of a parasite. Compare with INTERMEDIATE HOST.

Linked entries:

INTERMEDIATE HOST ■

def·la·grate v. DATED [CHEMISTRY] burn away or cause (a substance) to burn away with a sudden flame and rapid, sharp combustion: [trans.] the current will deflagrate some of the particles.

<DERIVATIVES> def·la·gra·tor n.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Latin deflagrat- 'burned up', from the verb deflagrare, from de- 'away, thoroughly' + flagrare 'to burn'.

def·la·gra·tion n. the action of heating a substance until it burns away rapidly.
<SPECIAL USAGE> TECHNICAL combustion that propagates through a gas or across the surface of an explosive at subsonic speeds, driven by the transfer of heat. Compare with DETONATION.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin deflagratio(n-), from the verb deflagrare (see DEFLAGRATE).

Linked entries:

DETONATION ■

DEFLAGRATE ■

de·flate v. 1 [trans.] let air or gas out of (a tire, balloon, or similar object): he deflated one of the tires.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] be emptied of air or gas: the balloon deflated.

2 cause (someone) to suddenly lose confidence or feel less important: [as adj.] (deflated) the news left him feeling utterly deflated.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reduce the level of (an emotion or feeling): her anger was deflated.

3 [ECONOMICS] bring about a general reduction of price levels in (an economy).

<DERIVATIVES> de·fla·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from DE- (expressing reversal) + -flate (as in inflate).

Linked entries:

DE- ■

de·fla·tion n. 1 the action or process of deflating or being deflated: deflation of the illusion that the 1960s were a perpetual party.

2 [ECONOMICS] reduction of the general level of prices in an economy.

3 [GEOLOGY] the removal of particles of rock, sand, etc., by the wind.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fla·tion·ist n. & adj.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (in the sense 'release of air from something inflated'): from DEFLATE; sense 3 via German from Latin deflat- 'blown away', from the verb deflare.

Linked entries:

DEFLATE ■

de·fla·tion·ar·y adj. of, characterized by, or tending to cause economic deflation.

de·flect v. [trans.] cause (something) to change direction by interposing something; turn aside from a straight course: the bullet was deflected harmlessly into the ceiling | FIGURATIVE he attempted to deflect attention away from his private life.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of an object) change direction after hitting something: the ball deflected off his body.

- cause (someone) to deviate from an intended purpose: she refused to be deflected from anything she had set her mind on.

- cause (something) to change orientation: the compass needle is deflected from magnetic north by metal in the aircraft.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin deflectere, from de- 'away from' + flectere 'to bend'.

de·flec·tion (also de·flex·ion) n. the action or process of deflecting or being deflected: the deflection of the light beam.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the amount by which something is deflected: an 11-mile deflection of the river.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from late Latin deflexio(n-), from deflectere 'bend away' (see DEFLECT).

Linked entries:

DEFLECT ■

de·flec·tor n. a device that deflects something, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a plate or other attachment for deflecting a flow of air, water, heat, etc.

- an electrode in a cathode-ray tube whose magnetic field is used to deflect a beam of electrons onto a phosphor screen to form an image.

de·flexed adj. TECHNICAL (typically of plant or animal structures) bent or curving downward or backward: a deflexed beak.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (earlier as deflex): from Latin deflexus 'bent away' (past participle of deflectere) + -ED^1 .

Linked entries:

-ED ■

de·floc·cu·late v. [trans.] [CHEMISTRY] break up the floccules (of a substance suspended in a liquid) into fine particles, producing a dispersion.

<DERIVATIVES> de·floc·cu·la·tion n.

def·lo·ra·tion n. POETIC/LITERARY the taking of a woman's virginity.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin defloratio(n-), from the verb deflorare (see DEFLOWER).

Linked entries:

DEFLOWER ■

de·flow·er v. [trans.] 1 DATED or POETIC/LITERARY deprive (a woman) of her virginity.

2 [usu. as adj.] (deflowered) strip (a plant or garden) of flowers: deflowered rose bushes.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French desflourer, from a variant of late Latin deflorare, from de- (expressing removal) + Latin flos, flor- 'a flower'.

de·fo·cus v. (-fo·cused, -fo·cus·ing or -fo·cussed, -fo·cus·sing) [trans.] cause (an image, lens, or beam) to go out of focus: the filter lets you defocus all or part of an image.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] go out of focus: the view defocused, then resolved.

- take the focus of interest or activity away from (something): defocusing the traditional contract approach in business.

De·foe Daniel (1660-1731), English novelist and journalist. His novel, Robinson Crusoe (1719), is loosely based on the true story of shipwrecked sailor Alexander Selkirk and has a claim to being the first British novel. Other notable works: Moll Flanders (1722) and A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).

de·fog·ger n. a device on a vehicle that removes condensation from the windshield by directing a jet of air onto it.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fog v.

de·fo·li·ant n. a chemical that removes the leaves from trees and plants and is often used in warfare.

de·fo·li·ate v. [trans.] remove leaves from (a tree, plant, or area of land), for agricultural purposes or as a military tactic: the area was defoliated and napalmed many times.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fo·li·a·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from late Latin defoliat- 'stripped of leaves', from the verb defoliare, from de- (expressing removal) + folium 'leaf'.

de·fo·li·a·tor n. an adult or larval insect that strips all the leaves from a tree or shrub.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a machine that removes the leaves from a root crop.

de·force v. [trans.] [LAW] withhold (land or other property) wrongfully or forcibly from the rightful owner.
<SPECIAL USAGE> deprive (someone) wrongfully or forcibly of rightful property.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French deforcer, from de- (expressing removal) + forcer 'to force'.

de·for·est v. [trans.] (often be deforested) clear (an area) of forests or trees.

<DERIVATIVES> de·for·est·a·tion n.

De For·est Lee (1873-1961), U.S. physicist and electrical engineer. He designed a triode valve that was crucial to the development of radio communication, television, and computers. De Forest successfully transmitted a live broadcast in 1910.

de·form v. [trans.] distort the shape or form of; make misshapen: [as adj.] (deformed) deformed hands.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] become distorted or misshapen; undergo deformation: the suspension deforms slightly on corners.

<DERIVATIVES> de·form·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French desformer, via medieval Latin from Latin deformare, from de- (expressing reversal) + forma 'a shape'.

de·for·ma·tion n. the action or process of changing in shape or distorting, esp. through the application of pressure: solid rock undergoing slow deformation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the result of such a process: the deformation will be temporary.

- an altered form of a word, esp. one used to avoid overt profanity (e.g., dang for damn).

<DERIVATIVES> de·for·ma·tion·al adj.

de·form·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) a deformed part, esp. of the body; a malformation: children born with deformities.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the state of being deformed or misshapen: respiratory problems caused by spinal deformity.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French desformite, from Latin deformitas, from deformis 'misshapen'.

de·frag v. (-fragged, -frag·ging) [trans.] [COMPUTING] short for DEFRAGMENT.

■ n. an instance of defragging a disk, or the utility that does this.

de·frag·ment v. [trans.] [COMPUTING] (of software) reduce the fragmentation of (a file) by concatenating parts stored in separate locations on a disk: the safe way to defragment your files.

<DERIVATIVES> de·frag·men·ta·tion n. de·frag·ment·er n.

de·fraud v. [trans.] illegally obtain money from (someone) by deception: he used a false identity to defraud the bank of thousands of dollars | [intrans.] conspiracy to defraud.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fraud·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French defrauder or Latin defraudare, from de- 'from' + fraudare 'to cheat' (from fraus, fraud- 'fraud').

de·fray v. [trans.] provide money to pay (a cost or expense): the proceeds from the raffle help to defray the expenses of the evening.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fray·a·ble adj. de·fray·al n. de·fray·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the general sense 'spend money'): from French défrayer, from dé- (expressing removal) + obsolete frai 'cost, expenses' (from medieval Latin fredum 'a fine for breach of the peace').

de·frock v. [trans.] deprive (a person in holy orders) of ecclesiastical status.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [usu. as adj.] (defrocked) deprive (someone) of professional status or membership in a prestigious group: a defrocked psychiatrist.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French défroquer, from dé- (expressing removal) + froc 'frock'.

de·frost v. [trans.] remove frost or ice from (the windshield of a motor vehicle).
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- thaw (frozen food) before cooking it: defrost the turkey slowly.

- [intrans.] (of frozen food) thaw before being cooked: make sure that it has thoroughly defrosted.

- free (the interior of a refrigerator) of accumulated ice, usually by turning it off for a period.

- [intrans.] (of a refrigerator) become free of accumulated ice in this way: she opened the door to let the fridge defrost.

<DERIVATIVES> de·frost·er n.

deft adj. neatly skillful and quick in one's movements: a deft piece of footwork.
<SPECIAL USAGE> demonstrating skill and cleverness: the script was both deft and literate.

<DERIVATIVES> deft·ly adv. deft·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: variant of DAFT, in the obsolete sense 'meek'.

Linked entries:

DAFT ■

de·funct adj. no longer existing or functioning: the now defunct communist common market.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'deceased'): from Latin defunctus 'dead', past participle of defungi 'carry out, finish', from de- (expressing reversal) + fungi 'perform'.

de·fund v. [trans.] prevent from continuing to receive funds: the California legislature has defunded the Industrial Welfare Commission.

de·fuse v. [trans.] remove the fuse from (an explosive device) in order to prevent it from exploding: explosives specialists tried to defuse the grenade.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE reduce the danger or tension in (a difficult situation): he had the ability to defuse tense moments with humor.

<USAGE>
On the difference between defuse and diffuse, see usage at DIFFUSE.

Linked entries:

DIFFUSE ■

de·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] openly resist or refuse to obey: a woman who defies convention.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a thing) make (an action or quality) almost impossible: his actions defy belief.

- [trans.] appear to be challenging (someone) to do or prove something: he glowered at her, defying her to mock him.

- ARCHAIC challenge to combat: go now, defy him to the combat.

<DERIVATIVES> de·fi·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the senses 'renounce an allegiance' and 'challenge to combat'): from Old French desfier, based on Latin dis- (expressing reversal) + fidus 'faithful'.

deg. abbr. degree(s).

dé·ga·gé adj. unconcerned or unconstrained; relaxed.

■ n. (pl. same) [BALLET] pointing of the foot to an open position with an arched instep slightly off the floor.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: French, past participle of dégager 'set free'.

De·gas Edgar (1834-1917), French painter and sculptor. Full name Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas.An Impressionist painter, he is known for his paintings of ballet dancers, such as Dancer Lacing Her Shoe (c.1878).

de·gas v. (-gassed, -gas·sing) make or become free of unwanted or excess gas: [trans.] the column has not been degassed | [intrans.] the summit craters were degassing freely.

de Gaulle Charles (André Joseph Marie) (1890-1970), French general and statesman; head of government 1944-46; president 1959-69. A wartime organizer of the Free French movement, he is remembered particularly for his assertive foreign policy and for quelling the student uprisings and strikes of May 1968.

de·gauss v. [trans.] [often as n.] (degaussing) [ELECTRONICS] remove unwanted magnetism from (a television or monitor) in order to correct color disturbance.
<SPECIAL USAGE> HISTORICAL neutralize the magnetic field of (a ship) by encircling it with a conductor carrying electric currents.

<DERIVATIVES> de·gauss·er n.

de·gen·er·a·cy n. the state or property of being degenerate: the ills of society, from sexual degeneracy to political corruption.

de·gen·er·ate adj. 1 having lost the physical, mental, or moral qualities considered normal and desirable; showing evidence of decline: a degenerate form of a higher civilization. See note at DEPRAVED.

2 TECHNICAL lacking some property, order, or distinctness of structure previously or usually present, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MATHEMATICS] relating to or denoting an example of a particular type of equation, curve, or other entity that is equivalent to a simpler type, often occurring when a variable or parameter is set to zero.

- [PHYSICS] relating to or denoting an energy level that corresponds to more than one quantum state.

- [PHYSICS] relating to or denoting matter at densities so high that gravitational contraction is counteracted either by the Pauli exclusion principle or by an analogous quantum effect between closely packed neutrons.

- [BIOLOGY] having reverted to a simpler form as a result of losing a complex or adaptive structure present in the ancestral form.

■ n. an immoral or corrupt person.

■ v. [intrans.] decline or deteriorate physically, mentally, or morally: the quality of life had degenerated; the debate degenerated into a brawl.

<DERIVATIVES> de·gen·er·a·cy n. de·gen·er·ate·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin degeneratus 'no longer of its kind', from the verb degenerare, from degener 'debased', from de- 'away from' + genus, gener- 'race, kind'.

de·gen·er·a·tion n. the state or process of being or becoming degenerate; decline or deterioration: overgrazing has caused serious degeneration of grassland.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [MEDICINE] deterioration and loss of function in the cells of a tissue or organ: degeneration of the muscle fibers.

de·gen·er·a·tive adj. (of a disease or symptom) characterized by progressive, often irreversible deterioration, and loss of function in the organs or tissues: degenerative diseases.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or tending to decline and deterioration: the young generation had fallen into a degenerative backslide.

de·gen·er·a·tive joint dis·ease n. another term for OSTEOARTHRITIS.

Linked entries:

OSTEOARTHRITIS ■

de·gen·er·es·cence n. another term for DEGENERATION.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French dégénérescence, from dégénérer 'to degenerate'.

Linked entries:

DEGENERATION ■

de·gla·ci·a·tion n. [GEOLOGY] the disappearance of ice from a previously glaciated region.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a period of geological time during which this takes place: the last deglaciation.

de·glam·or·ize v. [trans.] make (someone or something) less glamorous or attractive.

<DERIVATIVES> de·glam·or·i·za·tion n.

de·glaze v. [trans.] dilute meat sediments in (a pan) in order to make a gravy or sauce, typically using wine: deglaze the pan with the white wine.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French déglacer.

de·glu·ti·tion n. TECHNICAL the action or process of swallowing.

<DERIVATIVES> de·glu·ti·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French déglutition or modern Latin deglutitio(n-), from deglutire 'swallow down'.

deg·ra·da·tion n. the condition or process of degrading or being degraded: a trail of human misery and degradation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GEOLOGY] the wearing down of rock by disintegration.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'deposition from an office or rank as a punishment'): from Old French, or from ecclesiastical Latin degradatio(n-), from the verb degradare (see DEGRADE).

Linked entries:

DEGRADE ■

de·grade v. 1 [trans.] treat or regard (someone) with contempt or disrespect: she thought that many supposedly erotic pictures degraded women. See note at HUMBLE.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- lower the character or quality of: repeaters clean up and amplify the degraded signal.

- ARCHAIC reduce (someone) to a lower rank, esp. as a punishment: he was degraded from his high estate.

2 break down or deteriorate chemically: [intrans.] when exposed to light, the materials will degrade | [trans.] the bacteria will degrade hydrocarbons.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] [PHYSICS] reduce (energy) to a less readily convertible form.

- [trans.] [GEOLOGY] wear down (rock) and cause it to disintegrate.

<DERIVATIVES> de·grad·a·bil·i·ty n. de·grad·a·ble adj. deg·ra·da·tive adj. de·grad·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French degrader, from ecclesiastical Latin degradare, from de- 'down, away from' + Latin gradus 'step or grade'.

de·grad·ing adj. causing a loss of self-respect; humiliating: cruel or degrading treatment.

<DERIVATIVES> de·grad·ing·ly adv.

de·gran·u·late v. [intrans.] [PHYSIOLOGY] (of a cell) lose or release granules of a substance, typically as part of an immune reaction: the eosinophils degranulate, releasing the toxic contents of the granules.

<DERIVATIVES> de·gran·u·la·tion n.

de·grease v. [trans.] [often as n.] (degreasing) remove excess grease or fat from (something).

<DERIVATIVES> de·greas·ant n. de·greas·er n.

de·gree n. 1 [in sing.] the amount, level, or extent to which something happens or is present: a degree of caution is probably wise | a question of degree.

2 a unit of measurement of angles, one three-hundred-and-sixtieth of the circumference of a circle: set at an angle of 45 degrees. (Symbol: °)

3 a stage in a scale or series, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a unit in any of various scales of temperature, intensity, or hardness: water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. (Symbol: °)

- [in combination] each of a set of grades (usually three) used to classify burns according to their severity. See FIRST-DEGREE, SECOND-DEGREE, THIRD-DEGREE.

- [in combination] a legal grade of crime or offense, esp. murder: second-degree murder.

- [often in combination] a step in direct genealogical descent: second-degree relatives.

- [MUSIC] a position in a musical scale, counting upward from the tonic or fundamental note: the lowered third degree of the scale.

- [MATHEMATICS] the class into which an equation falls according to the highest power of unknowns or variables present: an equation of the second degree.

- [GRAMMAR] any of the three steps on the scale of comparison of gradable adjectives and adverbs, namely positive, comparative, and superlative.

- ARCHAIC a thing placed like a step in a series; a tier or row.

4 an academic rank conferred by a college or university after examination or after completion of a course of study, or conferred as an honor on a distinguished person: a degree in zoology.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ARCHAIC social or official rank: persons of unequal degree.

- a rank in an order of Freemasonry.

<PHRASES>
□ by degrees a little at a time; gradually: rivalries and prejudice were by degrees fading out.

□ to a degree to some extent: to a degree, it is possible to educate oneself.
- DATED to a considerable extent: the pressure you were put under must have been frustrating to a degree.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the senses 'step', 'tier', 'rank', or 'relative state'): from Old French, based on Latin de- 'down' + gradus 'step or grade'.

Linked entries:

FIRST-DEGREE ■

SECOND-DEGREE ■

THIRD-DEGREE ■

de·gree day n. a unit used to determine the heating requirements of buildings, representing a fall of one degree below a specified average outdoor temperature (usually 18°C or 65°F) for one day.

de·gree of free·dom n. each of a number of independently variable factors affecting the range of states in which a system may exist, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [PHYSICS] a direction in which independent motion can occur.

- [CHEMISTRY] each of a number of independent factors required to specify a system at equilibrium.

- [STATISTICS] the number of independent values or quantities which can be assigned to a statistical distribution.

de·gres·sive adj. reducing by gradual amounts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of taxation) at successively lower rates on lower amounts.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from Latin degress- 'descended' (from the verb degredi, from de- 'down' + gradi 'walk') + -IVE.

Linked entries:

-IVE ■

de·gu n. a ratlike rodent with a long silky coat, found in southern South America.
<INFO>  Genus Octodon, family Octodontidae: three species.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from American Spanish, from South American Indian deuñ.

de·gust v. [trans.] RARE taste (something) carefully, so as to appreciate it fully.

<DERIVATIVES> de·gus·ta·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin degustare, from de- 'completely' + gustare 'to taste'.

de haut en bas adv. & adj. in a condescending or superior manner: [as adv.] he never addressed his students de haut en bas | [as adj.] he has a certain de haut en bas style.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: French, literally 'from above to below'.

de Hav·il·land 1 Sir Geoffrey (1882-1965), English aircraft designer and manufacturer. He designed and built many aircraft, including the Mosquito used in World War II.

de Hav·il·land 2 Olivia (1916- ), U.S. actress; born in Japan; sister of Joan Fontaine. She is noted for her role as Melanie Hamilton in Gone with the Wind (1939). Other significant movies in which she appeared included Hold Back the Dawn (1941), To Each His Own (Academy Award, 1946), and The Heiress (Academy Award, 1949).

de·hisce v. [intrans.] TECHNICAL (of a pod or seed vessel, or of a cut or wound) gape or burst open: after the anther lobes dehisce, the pollen is set free.

<DERIVATIVES> de·his·cence n. de·his·cent adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin dehiscere, from de- 'away' + hiscere 'begin to gape' (from hiare 'gape').

de Hooch (also de Hoogh) Pieter (c.1629-c.1684), Dutch genre painter. He is noted for his depictions of domestic interior and courtyard scenes.

de·horn v. [trans.] remove the horns from (an animal).

de·hors prep. [LAW] other than, not including, or outside the scope of: the plea shows that no request, dehors the letter, existed.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from an Old French usage as a preposition (in modern French functioning as an adverb and noun).

Deh·ra Dun a city in northern India, in a valley at the foot of the Himalaya Mountains in Uttar Pradesh state; pop. 270,000.

de·hu·man·ize v. [trans.] deprive of positive human qualities: [as adj.] (dehumanizing) the dehumanizing effects of war.

<DERIVATIVES> de·hu·man·i·za·tion n.

de·hu·mid·i·fi·er n. a device that removes excess moisture from the air.

de·hu·mid·i·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] remove moisture from (the air or a gas).

<DERIVATIVES> de·hu·mid·i·fi·ca·tion n.

de·hy·drate v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (dehydrated) cause (a person or a person's body) to lose a large amount of water: his body temperature was high, and he had become dehydrated.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] lose a large amount of water from the body.

- remove water from (food) in order to preserve and store it: dehydrated mashed potatoes.

<DERIVATIVES> de·hy·dra·tion n. de·hy·dra·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from DE- (expressing removal) + Greek , hudr- 'water'.

Linked entries:

DE- ■

de·hy·dro·cho·les·ter·ol n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a derivative of cholesterol present in the skin. It can be converted to cholecalciferol (vitamin D_3) by the action of ultraviolet radiation.
<INFO>  Chem. formula: C_27H_44O. The particular isomer involved in vitamin D_3 formation is 7-dehydrocholesterol.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from dehydro- 'that has lost hydrogen' + CHOLESTEROL.

Linked entries:

CHOLESTEROL ■

de·hy·dro·ep·i·an·dro·ste·rone (abbr.: DHEA) n. a naturally occurring weak androgenic steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands with benefits such as the prevention of aging, the improvement of sexual function, the enhancement of athletic performance, and the treatment of osteoporosis.

de·hy·dro·gen·ase n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] an enzyme that catalyzes the removal of hydrogen atoms from a particular molecule, particularly in the electron transport chain reactions of cell respiration in conjunction with the coenzymes NAD and FAD: [with adj.] glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from DE- (expressing removal) + HYDROGEN + -ASE.

Linked entries:

DE- ■

HYDROGEN ■

-ASE ■

de·hy·dro·gen·ate v. [trans.] [CHEMISTRY] remove a hydrogen atom or atoms from (a compound).

<DERIVATIVES> de·hy·dro·gen·a·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from DE- (expressing removal) + HYDROGEN + -ATE^3 .

Linked entries:

DE- ■

HYDROGEN ■

-ATE ■

De·ia·ni·ra [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the wife of Hercules, who was tricked into smearing poison on a garment that caused his death.

de-ice v. [trans.] remove ice from: airplanes are de-iced before takeoff.

<DERIVATIVES> de-ic·er n.

de·i·cide n. the killer of a god.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the killing of a god.

<DERIVATIVES> de·i·cid·al adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin deicida 'killer of a god', or directly from Latin deus 'god' + -CIDE.

Linked entries:

-CIDE ■

deic·tic [LINGUISTICS] adj. of, relating to, or denoting a word or expression whose meaning is dependent on the context in which it is used, e.g., here, you, me, that one there, or next Tuesday. Also called INDEXICAL.

■ n. a deictic word or expression.

<DERIVATIVES> deic·ti·cal·ly adv..

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek deiktikos, deiktos 'demonstrative'

Linked entries:

INDEXICAL ■

de·i·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] (usu. be deified) worship, regard, or treat (someone or something) as a god: she was deified by the early Romans as a fertility goddess.

<DERIVATIVES> de·i·fi·ca·tion n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'make godlike in character'): from Old French deifier, from ecclesiastical Latin deificare, from deus 'god'.

Deigh·ton Len (1929- ), English writer; full name Leonard Cyril Deighton. Several of his spy thrillers have been adapted as movies and for television. Notable works: The Ipcress File (1962) and the trilogy Berlin Game, Mexico Set, and London Match (1983-85).

deign v. [intrans.] do something that one considers to be beneath one's dignity: she did not deign to answer the maid's question.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] ARCHAIC condescend to give (something): he had deigned an apology.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French degnier, from Latin dignare, dignari 'deem worthy', from dignus 'worthy'.

De·i gra·ti·a adv. by the grace of God.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: Latin.

deil n. Scottish form of DEVIL.

Linked entries:

DEVIL ■

Dei·mos [ASTRONOMY] the outer, and smaller, of the two satellites of Mars, discovered in 1877. It is football-shaped and 10 miles (16 km) long. Compare with PHOBOS.

<ORIGIN> named after one of the sons of Ares in Greek mythology, the name means literally 'fear, terror'.

Linked entries:

PHOBOS ■

de-in·dex v. [trans.] end the indexation to inflation of (pensions or other benefits).

de·in·dus·tri·al·i·za·tion n. a change from industry to other forms of activity.
<SPECIAL USAGE> decline in industrial activity in a region or economy: severe deindustrialization with substantial job losses.

<DERIVATIVES> de·in·dus·tri·al·ize v.

de-ink v. [trans.] remove ink from (paper being recycled).

dei·non·y·chus n. a dromaeosaurid dinosaur of the mid Cretaceous period, growing up to 11 feet (3.3 m) in length.
<INFO>  Genus Deinonychus, family Dromaeosauridae, suborder Theropoda.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek deinos 'terrible' + onux, onukh- 'claw'.

dei·no·the·ri·um (also dei·no·there ) n. (pl. -the·ri·a or -the·ri·ums) an elephantlike fossil mammal found mainly in the Pliocene epoch, the lower jaw having tusks that curve downward and backward.
<INFO>  Genus Deinotherium, suborder Deinotherioidea, order Proboscidea.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek deinos 'terrible' + 'wild beast'.

de·in·stall (BRIT. also de·in·stal) v. [trans.] uninstall.
- HUMOROUS dismiss from employment: the company lost funding and I was deinstalled.

<DERIVATIVES> de·in·stal·la·tion n. de·in·stall·er n.

de·in·sti·tu·tion·al·ize v. [trans.] discharge (a long-term inmate) from an institution such as a mental hospital or prison: the changes aim to deinstitutionalize mentally ill people.

<DERIVATIVES> de·in·sti·tu·tion·al·i·za·tion n.

de·i·on·ize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (deionized) remove the ions or ionic constituents from (a substance, esp. water).

<DERIVATIVES> de·i·on·i·za·tion n. de·i·on·iz·er n.

Deir·dre [IRISH MYTHOLOGY] a tragic heroine of whom it was prophesied that her beauty would bring banishment and death to heroes. King Conchobar of Ulster wanted to marry her, but she fell in love with Naoise, son of Usnach, who with his brothers carried her off to Scotland. They were lured back by Conchobar and treacherously slain, and Deirdre took her own life.

de·ism n. belief in the existence of a supreme being, specifically of a creator who does not intervene in the universe. The term is used chiefly of an intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries that accepted the existence of a creator on the basis of reason but rejected belief in a supernatural deity who interacts with humankind. Compare with THEISM.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ist n. de·is·tic adj. de·is·ti·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin deus 'god' + -ISM.

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THEISM ■

-ISM ■

de·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) a god or goddess (in a polytheistic religion): a deity of ancient Greece.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- divine status, quality, or nature: a ruler driven by delusions of deity.

- (usu. the Deity) the creator and supreme being (in a monotheistic religion such as Christianity).

- a representation of a god or goddess, such as a statue or carving.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (denoting the divine nature of God): from Old French deite, from ecclesiastical Latin deitas (translating Greek ), from deus 'god'.

deix·is n. [LINGUISTICS] the function or use of deictic words, forms, or expressions.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Greek, literally 'demonstrative force, reference'.

dé·jà vu n. a feeling of having already experienced the present situation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> tedious familiarity: to list the opponents of his policies is to invite boredom and a sense of déjà vu.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally 'already seen'.

de·ject v. [trans.] ARCHAIC make sad or dispirited; depress: nothing dejects a trader like the interruption of his profits.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also in the sense 'overthrow, abase, degrade'): from Latin deject- 'thrown down', from the verb deicere, from de- 'down' + jacere 'to throw'.

de·ject·ed adj. sad and depressed; dispirited: he stood in the street looking dejected.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ject·ed·ly adv.

de·jec·tion n. a sad and depressed state; low spirits: he was slumped in deep dejection.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin dejectio(n-), from deicere 'throw down' (see DEJECT).

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DEJECT ■

de·junk v. [trans.] INFORMAL clear (a room or other space) by disposing of clutter and unwanted possessions: dejunk the house before you move FIGURATIVE how to dejunk your life.

de ju·re adv. according to rightful entitlement or claim; by right. Often contrasted with DE FACTO.

■ adj. denoting something or someone that is rightfully such: he had been de jure king since his father's death.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: Latin, literally 'of law'.

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DE FACTO ■

dek·a·gram n. variant spelling of DECAGRAM.

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DECAGRAM ■

De Kalb an industrial city in north central Illinois; pop. 34,925.

dek·a·li·ter n. variant spelling of DECALITER.

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DECALITER ■

dek·a·me·ter n. variant spelling of DECAMETER.

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DECAMETER ■

deke [ICE HOCKEY] n. a deceptive movement or feint that induces an opponent to move out of position.

■ v. [trans.] draw (a player) out of position by such a movement.

<ORIGIN> 1960s: shortened form of DECOY.

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DECOY ■

dek·ko n. [in sing.] BRIT., INFORMAL a quick look or glance: come and have a dekko at this.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (originally used by the British army in India): from Hindi dekho 'look!', imperative of .

de Klerk F. W. (1936- ), South African statesman; state president 1989-94; full name Frederik Willem de Klerk. As state president, he freed Nelson Mandela in 1990, lifted the ban on membership in the African National Congress (ANC), and opened the negotiations that led to the first democratic elections in 1994. Nobel Peace Prize (1993, shared with Nelson Mandela).

de Koo·ning Willem (1904-97), U.S. painter; born in the Netherlands; a leading exponent of abstract expressionism. He usually retained figurative elements in his work, either represented or merely hinted at, as in Painting (1948). The female form became a central theme in his later work, notably in the Women series (1950-53).

del n. [MATHEMATICS] an operator used in vector analysis. (Symbol: )
<INFO>  del is defined as i/x/ + j/y/ + k/z/, where i, j, and k are vectors directed respectively along the Cartesian axes x, y, and z.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: abbreviation of DELTA^1 , from the representation of the operator as an inverted capital delta.

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DELTA ■

Del. abbr. Delaware.

De·la·croix (Ferdinand Victor) Eugène (1798-1863), French painter. The chief painter of the French romantic school, he is known for his use of vivid color, free drawing, and sometimes violent subject matter.

de la Mare Walter (John) (1873-1956), English poet. He is known for his children’s poetry.

de·lam·i·nate v. divide or become divided into layers: [trans.] delaminating the horn into thin sheets | [intrans.] the plywood was starting to delaminate.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from DE- 'away' + Latin lamina 'thin plate' + -ATE^3 .

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DE- ■

-ATE ■

De·la·no an agricultural city in south central California; pop. 22,762.

de·late v. [trans.] ARCHAIC report (an offense or crime): they may delate my slackness to my patron.
<SPECIAL USAGE> inform against or denounce (someone): they deliberated together on delating her as a witch.

<DERIVATIVES> de·la·tion n. de·la·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin delat- 'referred, carried away', from the verb deferre (see DEFER^2 ).

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DEFER ■

De·lau·nay Robert (1885-1941), French painter. He painted some of the first purely abstract pictures and was one of the founding members of Orphism, together with his wife Sonia Delaunay-Terk.

De·lau·nay-Terk Sonia (1885-1979), French painter and textile designer; born in Russia; wife of Robert Delaunay. She created abstract paintings based on harmonies of form and color.

Del·a·ware 1 1 a river in the northeastern U.S. that rises in the Catskill Mountains in New York and flows south for about 280 miles (450 km) to northern Delaware, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean at Delaware Bay. For much of its length it forms the eastern border of Pennsylvania.

2 a state in the eastern U.S., on the Atlantic coast; ; pop. 683,600; capital, Dover; statehood, Dec. 7, 1787 (1). One of the original thirteen states, it was the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

Del·a·ware 2 n. (pl. same or -wares) 1 a member of an American Indian people formerly inhabiting the Delaware River valley of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.

2 either of two Algonquian languages (Munsi and Unami) spoken by this people.

■ adj. of or relating to the Delaware or their languages.

<ORIGIN> named after the Delaware River (see DELAWARE^1 ).

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DELAWARE ■

de·lay v. [trans.] make (someone or something) late or slow: the train was delayed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] be late or slow; loiter: time being of the essence, they delayed no longer.

- postpone or defer (an action): he may decide to delay the next cut in interest rates.

See note at POSTPONE.

■ n. a period of time by which something is late or postponed: a two-hour delay; long delays in obtaining passports.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of delaying or being delayed: I set off without delay.

- [ELECTRONICS] the time interval between the propagation of an electrical signal and its reception.

- an electronic device that introduces such an interval, esp. in an audio signal.

<DERIVATIVES> de·lay·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French delayer (verb).

de·layed-ac·tion adj. [attrib.] operating or effective after a predetermined length of time: delayed-action bombs.

■ n. (de·layed ac·tion) the operation of something after a predetermined length of time.

de·lay·ing ac·tion n. action taken to gain time, esp. a military engagement that delays the advance of an enemy.

de·lay·ing tac·tics plural n. tactics designed to defer or postpone something in order to gain an advantage for oneself.

de·lay line n. a device producing a specific desired delay in the transmission of a signal.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a set of mirrors controlling the path lengths between outlying telescopes and a central receiver.

de·le v. (de·led, de·le·ing) [trans.] delete or mark (a part of a text) for deletion.

■ n. a proofreader's sign indicating matter to be deleted.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: Latin, 'blot out! efface!', imperative of delere.

de·lec·ta·ble adj. (of food or drink) delicious: delectable handmade chocolates.
<SPECIAL USAGE> CHIEFLY HUMOROUS extremely beautiful or attractive: the delectable Ms. Davis.

<DERIVATIVES> de·lec·ta·bil·i·ty n. de·lec·ta·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin delectabilis, from delectare 'to charm' (see DELIGHT).

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DELIGHT ■

de·lec·ta·tion n. FORMAL, CHIEFLY HUMOROUS pleasure and delight: a box of chocolates for their delectation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin delectatio(n-), from delectare 'to charm' (see DELIGHT).

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DELIGHT ■

del·e·ga·cy n. (pl. -cies) [treated as sing. or pl.] a body of delegates; a committee or delegation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an appointment as a delegate.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from DELEGATE, on the pattern of the pair prelate, prelacy.

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DELEGATE ■

del·e·gate n. a person sent or authorized to represent others, in particular an elected representative sent to a conference.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a member of a committee.

■ v. [trans.] entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person, typically one who is less senior than oneself: he delegates routine tasks; the power delegated to him must never be misused.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] send or authorize (someone) to do something as a representative: Edward was delegated to meet new arrivals.

<DERIVATIVES> del·e·ga·ble adj. del·e·ga·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin delegatus 'sent on a commission', from the verb delegare, from de- 'down' + legare 'depute'.

del·e·ga·tion n. [treated as sing. or pl.] a body of delegates or representatives; a deputation: a delegation of teachers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the act or process of delegating or being delegated: prioritizing tasks for delegation.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting the act or process of delegating; also in the sense 'delegated power'): from Latin delegatio(n-), from delegare 'send on a commission' (see DELEGATE).

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DELEGATE ■

de·le·git·i·mate v. another term for DELEGITIMIZE.

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DELEGITIMIZE ■

de·le·git·i·ma·tize v. another term for DELEGITIMIZE.

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DELEGITIMIZE ■

de·le·git·i·mize v. [trans.] withdraw legitimate status or authority from (someone or something): political efforts to delegitimize nuclear weapons.

<DERIVATIVES> de·le·git·i·mi·za·tion n.

de·lete v. [trans.] remove or obliterate (written or printed matter), esp. by drawing a line through it or marking it with a delete sign: the passage was deleted.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. be deleted) remove (data) from a computer's memory.

- (be deleted) [GENETICS] (of a section of genetic code, or its product) be lost or excised from a nucleic acid or protein sequence: if one important gene is deleted from an animal's DNA, other genes can stand in.

- remove (a product, esp. a recording) from the catalog of those available for purchase: their EMI release has already been deleted.

■ n. a command or key on a computer that erases text.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'destroy'): from Latin delet- 'blotted out, effaced', from the verb delere.

del·e·te·ri·ous adj. causing harm or damage: divorce is assumed to have deleterious effects on children.

<DERIVATIVES> del·e·te·ri·ous·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: via medieval Latin from Greek 'noxious' + -OUS.

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-OUS ■

de·le·tion n. 1 the action or process of deleting something: deletion of a file.

2 [GENETICS] the loss or absence of a section from a nucleic acid molecule or chromosome.

de·lex·i·cal adj. [LINGUISTICS] (of a verb) having little or no meaning in its own right, for example take in take a photograph.

Delft a town in the Netherlands, in the province of South Holland; pop. 89,400. The home of painters Pieter de Hooch and Jan Vermeer, it also is noted for its pottery.

<ORIGIN> originally Delf, from Dutch delf 'ditch', still the name of the town's main canal.

delft n. English or Dutch tin-glazed earthenware, typically decorated by hand in blue on a white background.

<DERIVATIVES> delft·ware n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (originally Delf ware): see DELFT, where the pottery originated.

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DELFT ■

Del·hi a union territory in northern central India that contains the cities of Old and New Delhi; pop. 7,175,000. Old Delhi, a walled city on the Jumna River, was made the capital of the Mogul empire in 1638 by Shah Jahan (1592-1666). New Delhi, the capital of India, was built 1912-29 to replace Calcutta as the capital of British India.

del·i n. (pl. del·is) INFORMAL short for DELICATESSEN.

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DELICATESSEN ■

De·li·an adj. of or relating to Delos.

■ n. a native or inhabitant of Delos.

De·li·an League an alliance of ancient Greek city-states, dominated by Athens, that joined in 478-447 BC against the Persians. The league was disbanded on the defeat of Athens in the Peloponnesian War (404 BC), but again united under Athens' leadership against Spartan aggression in 377-338 BC. Also called ATHENIAN EMPIRE.

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ATHENIAN EMPIRE ■

de·lib·er·ate adj. done consciously and intentionally: a deliberate attempt to provoke conflict.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- fully considered; not impulsive: a deliberate decision.

- done or acting in a careful and unhurried way: a careful and deliberate worker.

■ v. [intrans.] engage in long and careful consideration: she deliberated over the menu.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [trans.] consider (a question) carefully: jurors deliberated the fate of those charged | [with clause] deliberating what she should do.

<DERIVATIVES> de·lib·er·ate·ly adv. de·lib·er·ate·ness n. de·lib·er·a·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an adjective): from Latin deliberatus, 'considered carefully', past participle of deliberare, from de- 'down' + librare 'weigh' (from libra 'scales').

de·lib·er·a·tion n. 1 long and careful consideration or discussion: after much deliberation, we arrived at a compromise | the commission's deliberations.

2 slow and careful movement or thought: he replaced the glass on the table with deliberation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin deliberatio(n-), from deliberare 'consider carefully' (see DELIBERATE).

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DELIBERATE ■

de·lib·er·a·tive adj. relating to or intended for consideration or discussion: a deliberative assembly.

<DERIVATIVES> de·lib·er·a·tive·ly adv.

del·i·ca·cy n. (pl. -cies) 1 the quality of being delicate, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- fineness or intricacy of texture or structure: miniature pearls of exquisite delicacy.

- susceptibility to illness or adverse conditions; fragility.

- the quality of requiring discretion or sensitivity: the delicacy of the situation.

- tact and consideration: I have to treat this matter with the utmost delicacy.

- accuracy of perception; sensitiveness.

2 a choice or expensive food: a Chinese delicacy.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the senses 'voluptuousness' and 'luxuriousness'): from DELICATE + -ACY.

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DELICATE ■

-ACY ■

del·i·cate adj. 1 very fine in texture or structure; of intricate workmanship or quality: a spider's web, strong yet delicate.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a color or a scent) subtle and subdued: delicate pastel shades; a delicate fragrance.

- (of food or drink) subtly and pleasantly flavored: a delicate cream sauce.

2 easily broken or damaged; fragile: delicate china.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person, animal, or plant) susceptible to illness or adverse conditions: his delicate health.

- (of a state or condition) easily upset or damaged: owls have a delicate balance with their habitat.

3 requiring sensitive or careful handling: delicate negotiations.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person or an action) tactful and considerate: the most delicate tact was called for.

- skillful and finely judged; deft: his delicate ball-playing skills.

- (of an instrument) highly sensitive.

■ n. INFORMAL a delicate fabric or garment made of such fabric.

<PHRASES> in a delicate condition ARCHAIC pregnant.

<DERIVATIVES> del·i·cate·ly adv. del·i·cate·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'delightful, charming'): from French délicat or Latin delicatus, of unknown origin. Senses also expressed in Middle English (now obsolete) include 'voluptuous', 'self-indulgent', 'fastidious', and 'effeminate'.

del·i·ca·tes·sen n. a store selling cold cuts, cheeses, and a variety of salads, as well as a selection of unusual or foreign prepared foods.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a counter or section within a supermarket or grocery store at which a range of such foods is available.

- foods of this type collectively.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent. (originally denoting prepared foods for sale): from German Delikatessen or Dutch delicatessen, from French délicatesse 'delicateness', from délicat (see DELICATE).

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DELICATE ■

de·li·cense v. [trans.] deprive of a license or authority to operate: physicians are being threatened, impoverished, delicensed, and imprisoned for prescribing in good faith with the intention of relieving pain.

De·li·cious n. a red or yellow variety of eating apple with a sweet flavor and a slightly elongated shape, originally cultivated in the U.S.

de·li·cious adj. highly pleasant to the taste: delicious home-baked brown bread.
<SPECIAL USAGE> delightful: a delicious irony.

<DERIVATIVES> de·li·cious·ly adv. de·li·cious·ness n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (also in the sense 'characterized by sensuous indulgence'): via Old French from late Latin deliciosus, from Latin deliciae (plural) 'delight, pleasure'.

de·lict n. [LAW] a violation of the law; a tort: an international delict.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin delictum 'something showing fault', neuter past participle of delinquere (see DELINQUENT).

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DELINQUENT ■

de·light v. [trans.] please (someone) greatly: an experience guaranteed to delight both young and old.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (delight in) take great pleasure in: they delight in playing tricks.

■ n. great pleasure: she took great delight in telling your story.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a cause or source of great pleasure: the trees here are a delight.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French delitier (verb), delit (noun), from Latin delectare 'to charm', frequentative of delicere. The -gh- was added in the 16th cent. by association with LIGHT^1 .

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LIGHT ■

de·light·ed adj. feeling or showing great pleasure: a delighted smile | [with infinitive] we were delighted to see her.

<DERIVATIVES> de·light·ed·ly adv.

de·light·ful adj. causing delight; charming: a delightful secluded garden.

<DERIVATIVES> de·light·ful·ly adv. de·light·ful·ness n.

De·li·lah (in the Bible) a woman who betrayed Samson to the Philistines by revealing to them that the secret of his strength lay in his long hair.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as n.] (a Delilah) a seductive and wily temptress.

de·lim·it v. (-lim·it·ed, -lim·it·ing) [trans.] determine the limits or boundaries of: agreements delimiting fishing zones.

<DERIVATIVES> de·lim·i·ta·tion n. de·lim·it·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French délimiter, from Latin delimitare, from de- 'down, completely' + limitare (from limes, limit- 'boundary, limit').

de·lin·e·ate v. [trans.] describe or portray (something) precisely: the law should delineate and prohibit behavior that is socially abhorrent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> indicate the exact position of (a border or boundary).

<DERIVATIVES> de·lin·e·a·tion n. de·lin·e·a·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'trace the outline of something'): from Latin delineat- 'outlined', from the verb delineare, from de- 'out, completely' + lineare (from linea 'line').

de·link v. (delinking) break the connection between (something) and something else: if an invasion of Iraq is delinked from Middle East peace, then all America will gain is more terror cells in the Muslim world.

de·lin·quen·cy n. (pl. -cies) minor crime, esp. that committed by young people: social causes of crime and delinquency.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- FORMAL neglect of one's duty: he relayed this in such a manner as to imply grave delinquency on the host's part.

- a failure to pay an outstanding debt.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin delinquentia, from Latin delinquent- 'offending' (see DELINQUENT).

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DELINQUENT ■

de·lin·quent adj. (typically of a young person or that person's behavior) showing or characterized by a tendency to commit crime, particularly minor crime: delinquent children.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- in arrears: delinquent accounts.

- FORMAL failing in one's duty.

■ n. a delinquent person: young delinquents.

<DERIVATIVES> de·lin·quent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from Latin delinquent- 'offending', from the verb delinquere, from de- 'away' + linquere 'to leave'.

del·i·quesce v. [intrans.] (of organic matter) become liquid, typically during decomposition.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHEMISTRY] (of a solid) become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin deliquescere 'dissolve', from de- 'down' + liquescere 'become liquid' (from liquere 'be liquid').

del·i·ques·cent adj. becoming liquid or having a tendency to become liquid.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [CHEMISTRY] (of a solid) tending to absorb moisture from the air and dissolve in it.

<DERIVATIVES> del·i·ques·cence n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin deliquescent- 'dissolving', from the verb deliquescere (see DELIQUESCE).

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DELIQUESCE ■

de·lir·i·ous adj. in an acutely disturbed state of mind resulting from illness or intoxication and characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence of thought and speech.
<SPECIAL USAGE> in a state of wild excitement or ecstasy: there was a great roar from the delirious crowd.

<DERIVATIVES> de·lir·i·ant adj. de·lir·i·ous·ly adv.

de·lir·i·um n. an acutely disturbed state of mind that occurs in fever, intoxication, and other disorders and is characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence of thought and speech.
<SPECIAL USAGE> wild excitement or ecstasy.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin, from delirare 'deviate, be deranged' (literally 'deviate from the furrow'), from de- 'away' + lira 'ridge between furrows'.

de·lir·i·um tre·mens n. a psychotic condition typical of withdrawal in chronic alcoholics, involving tremors, hallucinations, anxiety, and disorientation.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin, 'trembling delirium'.

de·lish adj. INFORMAL delicious.

de·list v. [trans.] remove (something) from a list, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- remove (a security) from the official register of a stock exchange: the stock collapsed and was delisted.

- remove (a product) from the list of those sold by a particular retailer.

de·liv·er v. [trans.] 1 bring and hand over (a letter, parcel, or ordered goods) to the proper recipient or address: the products should be delivered on time | [intrans.] we'll deliver direct to your door.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- formally hand over (someone): they would have delivered him to the Germans for vengeance.

- obtain (a vote) in favor of a candidate or cause: he had been able to deliver votes in huge numbers.

- launch or aim (a blow, a ball, or an attack): the pitcher winds up to deliver the ball.

- provide (something promised or expected): the struggle to deliver election commitments; she's waiting for him to deliver on his promise.

- (deliver someone/something from) save, rescue, or set free from: deliver us from misery.

- (deliver someone/something up) surrender someone or something: to deliver up to justice a member of his own family.

- [LAW] acknowledge that one intends to be bound by (a deed), either explicitly by declaration or implicitly by formal handover.

2 state in a formal manner: the President will deliver a speech; he delivered himself of a sermon.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a judge or court) give (a judgment or verdict): the judge delivered his verdict.

3 assist in the birth of: the village midwife delivered the baby.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- give birth to: she will deliver a child.

- (be delivered of) give birth to: she has never been delivered of a foal that lived.

- assist (a woman) in giving birth.

<PHRASES> deliver the goods INFORMAL provide what is promised or expected.

<DERIVATIVES> de·liv·er·ee n. de·liv·er·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French delivrer, based on Latin de- 'away' + liberare 'set free'.

de·liv·er·a·ble adj. able to be delivered: goods in a deliverable state.

■ n. (usu. deliverables) a thing able to be provided, esp. as a product of a development process.

de·liv·er·ance n. 1 the action of being rescued or set free: prayers for deliverance.

2 a formal or authoritative utterance.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French delivrance, from the verb delivrer (see DELIVER).

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DELIVER ■

de·liv·er·y n. (pl. -er·ies) 1 the action of delivering letters, packages, or ordered goods: allow up to 28 days for delivery.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a regular or scheduled occasion for this: there will be around 15 deliveries a week.

- an item or items delivered on a particular occasion: they are getting smaller deliveries.

- [LAW] the formal or symbolic handing over of property, esp. a sealed deed, to a grantee or third party.

2 the process of giving birth: injuries sustained during delivery | practically all deliveries take place in a hospital | [as adj.] the delivery room.

3 an act of throwing or bowling a ball or striking a blow: a quick, compact delivery that sent the ball zinging.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the style or manner of such an action: hints to speed up his delivery.

4 the manner or style of giving a speech: her delivery was stilted.

5 the supply or provision of something: delivery of electricity at a specified price.

<PHRASES> take delivery of receive (something purchased): we took delivery of the software in February.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French delivree, feminine past participle of delivrer (see DELIVER).

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DELIVER ■

dell n. POETIC/LITERARY a small valley, usually among trees: lush green valleys and wooded dells.

<ORIGIN> Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch del and German dialect Telle, also to DALE.

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DALE ■

Del·la Crus·can adj. of or relating to the Academy della Crusca in Florence, an institution established in 1582, with the purity of the Italian language as its chief interest.
<SPECIAL USAGE> of or relating to a late 18th-century school of English poets with an artificial style modeled on that of purist Italian writers.

■ n. a member of the Academy della Crusca.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a Della Cruscan poet.

<ORIGIN> from Italian (Accademia) della Crusca '(Academy) of the bran' (with reference to “sifting” of the language).

del·la Quer·cia Jacopo (c.1374-1438), Italian sculptor. He is noted for the biblical reliefs on the portal of San Petronio in Bologna (1425-35).

del·la Rob·bia Luca (1400-82), Italian sculptor and ceramicist. He is best known for his relief panels in Florence Cathedral and his color-glazed terra-cotta figures.

Del·mar·va (also Delmarva Peninsula) a peninsular region 180 miles (290 km) long in the eastern U.S. that includes Delaware, the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and a small strip of Virginia that separates Chesapeake Bay from the Atlantic Ocean.

<ORIGIN> acronym from Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.

Del·mon·i·co steak n. a small steak cut from the front section of the short loin of beef. Also called CLUB STEAK.

<ORIGIN> named for Lorenzo Delmonico (1813-81), Swiss-born U.S. restaurateur.

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CLUB STEAK ■

de·lo·cal·ize v. [trans.] detach or remove (something) from a particular place or location: [as adj.] (delocalized) delocalized cortical activity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- not limit to a particular location: [as n.] (delocalizing) delocalizing of finance capital.

- (be delocalized) [CHEMISTRY] (of electrons) be shared among more than two atoms in a molecule: the pi electrons are delocalized and energetically stable.

<DERIVATIVES> de·lo·cal·i·za·tion n.

De·lors Jacques (Lucien Jean) (1925- ), French socialist politician; president of the European Commission 1985-94. During his presidency, he pressed for closer European union and oversaw the introduction of a single market within the European Community, which came into effect on January 1, 1993.

De·los a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea, regarded as the center of the Cyclades. Although it is now virtually uninhabited, it was considered to be sacred to Apollo in classical times and, according to legend, was the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.

de·louse v. [trans.] rid (a person or animal) of lice and other parasitic insects.

Del·phi one of the most important religious sanctuaries of the ancient Greek world, dedicated to Apollo, situated on the lower southern slopes of Mount Parnassus above the Gulf of Corinth. Thought of as the navel of the earth, it was the seat of the Delphic Oracle, whose riddling responses to a wide range of questions were delivered by the Pythia. Greek name DHELFOÍ.

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DHELFOÍ ■

Del·phic (also Del·phi·an ) adj. of or relating to the ancient Greek oracle at Delphi.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (typically of a pronouncement) deliberately obscure or ambiguous.

del·phin·i·um n. (pl. -ums) a popular garden plant of the buttercup family that bears tall spikes of blue flowers.
<INFO>  Genus Delphinium, family Ranunculaceae.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek delphinion 'larkspur', from delphin 'dolphin' (because of the shape of the spur, thought to resemble a dolphin's back).

Del·phi·nus [ASTRONOMY] a small constellation (the Dolphin), just north of the celestial equator near Cygnus.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as genitive] (Del·phi·ni ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Alpha Delphini.

<ORIGIN> Latin.

Del·phi tech·nique n. a method of group decision-making and forecasting that involves successively collating the judgments of experts.

<ORIGIN> in allusion to the ancient Greek oracle at Delphi.

Del·ray Beach a resort city in southeastern Florida, north of Fort Lauderdale; pop. 47,181.

Del Ri·o a city in southwestern Texas, on the Rio Grande; pop. 30,705.

del Sar·to , Andrea, see SARTO.

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SARTO ■

Del·ta (the Delta) a region in northern Mississippi that lies between the Yazoo and Mississippi rivers and is known for its cotton and for blues music. Also called YAZOO DELTA (see YAZOO RIVER) or MISSISSIPPI DELTA.

del·ta 1 n. 1 the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet (, ), transliterated as “d.”
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [as adj.] the fourth in a series of items, categories, etc.: delta hepatitis.

- (Delta) [followed by Latin genitive] [ASTRONOMY] the fourth (usually fourth-brightest) star in a constellation: Delta Cephei.

2 a code word representing the letter D, used in radio communication.

■ symbol
- () [MATHEMATICS] variation of a variable or function.

- () [MATHEMATICS] a finite increment.

- () [ASTRONOMY] declination.

del·ta 2 n. a triangular tract of sediment deposited at the mouth of a river, typically where it diverges into several outlets.

<DERIVATIVES> del·ta·ic adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: originally specifically as the Delta (of the Nile River), from the shape of the Greek letter (see DELTA^1 ).

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DELTA ■

del·ta con·nec·tion n. a triangular arrangement of electrical three-phase windings in series, each of the three wires of the circuit being connected to a junction of two windings.

Del·ta Force an elite U.S. Army unit whose main responsibilities are rescue operations and special forces work.

del·ta rays plural n. [PHYSICS] rays of low penetrative power consisting of slow electrons or other particles ejected from atoms by the impact of ionizing radiation.

del·ta rhythm n. electrical activity of the brain at a frequency of around 1-8 Hz, typical of sleep. The resulting oscillations, detected using an electroencephalograph, are called delta waves.

del·ta-v (also del·ta-vee) n. INFORMAL acceleration: four hundred knots of delta-v.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: from DELTA^1 (as a mathematical symbol denoting variation) + v for velocity.

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DELTA ■

del·ta wing n. the single triangular swept-back wing on some aircraft, typically on military aircraft.

<DERIVATIVES> del·ta-winged adj.

del·ti·ol·o·gist n. a person who collects postcards as a hobby.

<DERIVATIVES> del·ti·ol·o·gy n.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: from Greek deltion (diminutive of deltos 'writing tablet') + -LOGIST.

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-LOGIST ■

del·toid adj. TECHNICAL triangular: a tree with large deltoid leaves.
<SPECIAL USAGE> denoting a thick triangular muscle covering the shoulder joint and used for raising the arm away from the body.

■ n. a deltoid muscle.
<SPECIAL USAGE> each of the three parts of a deltoid muscle, attached at the front, side, and rear of the shoulder: the anterior deltoid.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French deltoïde, or via modern Latin from Greek .

de·lude v. [trans.] impose a misleading belief upon (someone); deceive; fool: too many theorists have deluded the public | [as adj.] (deluded) the poor deluded creature.

<DERIVATIVES> de·lud·ed·ly adv. de·lud·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin deludere 'to mock', from de- (with pejorative force) + ludere 'to play'.

del·uge n. a severe flood.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (the Deluge) the biblical Flood (recorded in Genesis 6-8).

- a heavy fall of rain: a deluge of rain hit the plains.

- FIGURATIVE a great quantity of something arriving at the same time: a deluge of complaints.

■ v. [trans.] (usu. be deluged) inundate with a great quantity of something: he has been deluged with offers of work.
<SPECIAL USAGE> flood: the country was deluged with rain.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, variant of diluve, from Latin diluvium, from diluere 'wash away'.

de·lu·sion n. an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument, typically a symptom of mental disorder: the delusion of being watched.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of deluding someone or the state of being deluded: what a capacity television has for delusion.

<PHRASES> delusions of grandeur a false impression of one's own importance.

<DERIVATIVES> de·lu·sion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'act of deluding or of being deluded'): from late Latin delusio(n-), from the verb deludere (see DELUDE).

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DELUDE ■

de·lu·sive adj. giving a false or misleading impression: the delusive light of Venice.

<DERIVATIVES> de·lu·sive·ly adv. de·lu·sive·ness n.

de·lu·so·ry adj. another term for DELUSIVE.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from late Latin delusorius, from delus- 'mocked', from the verb deludere (see DELUDE).

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DELUSIVE ■

DELUDE ■

de·lust·er (BRIT. de·lus·tre) v. [trans.] remove the luster from (a textile), typically by chemical treatment.

de·luxe adj. luxurious or sumptuous; of a superior kind: a deluxe hotel.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from French de luxe, literally 'of luxury'.

delve v. [intrans.] reach inside a receptacle and search for something: she delved in her pocket.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- research or make painstaking inquiries into something: a machine designed to delve further into the atom's secrets.

- [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY dig; excavate: [as adj.] (delved) the approach from the surface above had awed her, so hugely delved were the tunnels.

<DERIVATIVES> delv·er n.

<ORIGIN> Old English delfan 'dig'; related to Dutch delven.

Dem. abbr. Democrat.

de·mag·net·ize v. [trans.] remove magnetic properties from.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mag·net·i·za·tion n. de·mag·net·iz·er n.

dem·a·gogue n. a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in ancient Greece and Rome) a leader or orator who espoused the cause of the common people.

<DERIVATIVES> dem·a·gog·ic adj. dem·a·gogu·er·y n. dem·a·go·gy n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Greek , from 'the people' + 'leading' (from agein 'to lead').

de Main·te·non see MAINTENON.

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MAINTENON ■

de·mand n. an insistent and peremptory request, made as if by right: a series of demands for far-reaching reforms.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (demands) pressing requirements: he's got enough demands on his time already.

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

■ v. [reporting verb] ask authoritatively or brusquely: [with direct speech] “Where is she?” he demanded | [with clause] the police demanded that he give them the names.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] insist on having: an outraged public demanded retribution; too much was being demanded of the top players.

- require; need: a complex activity demanding detailed knowledge.

- [LAW] call into court; summon.

<PHRASES>
□ in demand sought after: all these skills are much in demand.

□ on demand as soon as or whenever required: he promised us endless coffee on demand.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mand·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a noun): from Old French demande (noun), demander (verb), from Latin demandare 'hand over, entrust' (in medieval Latin 'demand'), from de- 'formally' + mandare 'to order'.

de·mand curve n. a graph showing how the demand for a commodity or service varies with changes in its price.

de·mand de·pos·it n. a deposit of money that can be withdrawn without prior notice.

de·mand draft n. a financial draft payable on demand.

de·mand feed·ing n. the practice of feeding a baby when it cries to be fed rather than at set times.

de·mand·ing adj. (of a task) requiring much skill or effort: she has a busy and demanding job.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) making others work hard or meet high standards.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mand·ing·ly adv.

de·mand-led (also de·mand-driv·en) adj. [ECONOMICS] caused or determined by demand from consumers or clients.

de·mand note n. a formal request for payment.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for DEMAND DRAFT.

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DEMAND DRAFT ■

de·mand pull adj. relating to or denoting inflation caused by an excess of demand over supply.

de·man·toid n. a lustrous green variety of andradite (garnet).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from German, from Demant 'diamond'.

de·mar·cate (also de·mar·kate) v. [trans.] set the boundaries or limits of: plots of land demarcated by barbed wire.
<SPECIAL USAGE> separate or distinguish from: art was being demarcated from the more objective science.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: back-formation from DEMARCATION.

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DEMARCATION ■

de·mar·ca·tion n. the action of fixing the boundary or limits of something: the demarcation of the maritime border.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a dividing line: a horizontal band that produces a distinct demarcation two inches from the top.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mar·ca·tor n.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from Spanish demarcación, from demarcar 'mark the bounds of', ultimately of Germanic origin and related to MARK^1 . Originally used in the phrase line of demarcation (Spanish linea de demarcación, Portuguese linha de demarcação), the word denoted a line dividing the New World between the Spanish and Portuguese, laid down by the pope in 1493.

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MARK ■

dé·marche n. a political step or initiative: foreign policy démarches.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: French, from démarcher 'take steps'.

de·mas·si·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] divide or break up (a social or political unit) into its component parts.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mas·si·fi·ca·tion n.

de·ma·te·ri·al·ize v. [intrans.] become free of physical substance, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in science fiction) disappear or cease to be physically present through some imagined technological process: he watched the time machine dematerialize.

- become spiritual rather than physical: the kiss dematerializes into a kind of spiritual rebirth.

- [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (dematerialized) replace (physical records or certificates) with a paperless computerized system: a dematerialized stock lending service.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ma·te·ri·al·i·za·tion n.

de Mau·pas·sant , Guy, see MAUPASSANT.

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MAUPASSANT ■

deme n. 1 a political division of Attica in ancient Greece.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an administrative division in modern Greece.

2 [BIOLOGY] a subdivision of a population consisting of closely related plants, animals, or people, typically breeding mainly within the group.

<ORIGIN> from Greek 'people'; sense 2 is an extended use dating from the 1930s.

de·mean 1 v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (demeaning) cause a severe loss in the dignity of and respect for (someone or something): the poster was not demeaning to women; I had demeaned the profession. See note at HUMBLE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (demean oneself) do something that is beneath one's dignity.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from DE- 'away, down' + the adjective MEAN^2 , on the pattern of debase.

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DE- ■

MEAN ■

de·mean 2 v. (demean oneself) ARCHAIC conduct oneself in a particular way: no man demeaned himself so honorably.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (also in the sense 'manage, control'): from Old French demener 'to lead', based on Latin de- 'away' + minare 'drive (animals), drive on with threats' (from minari 'threaten').

de·mean·or (BRIT. de·mean·our) n. outward behavior or bearing: a quiet, somber demeanor.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent.: from DEMEAN^2 , probably influenced by obsolete havour 'behavior'.

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DEMEAN ■

de' Med·i·ci 1 , Catherine, see CATHERINE DE' MEDICI.

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CATHERINE DE' MEDICI ■

de' Med·i·ci 2 , Cosimo, see COSIMO DE' MEDICI.

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COSIMO DE' MEDICI ■

de' Med·i·ci 3 , Giovanni, the name of Pope Leo X (see LEO^1 ).

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LEO ■

de' Med·i·ci 4 , Lorenzo, see LORENZO DE' MEDICI.

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LORENZO DE' MEDICI ■

de Méd·i·cis , Marie, see MARIE DE MÉDICIS.

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MARIE DE MÉDICIS ■

de·ment n. ARCHAIC a person suffering from dementia.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (as an adjective in the sense 'demented'): from French dément or Latin demens, dement- 'insane'. The noun use dates from the late 19th cent.

de·ment·ed adj. suffering from dementia.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL driven to behave irrationally due to anger, distress, or excitement: a demented, dangerous, and sadistic Mafioso.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ment·ed·ly adv. de·ment·ed·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: past participle of earlier dement 'drive mad', from Old French dementer or late Latin dementare, from demens 'out of one's mind'.

dé·men·ti n. an official denial of a published statement.

<ORIGIN> French, from démentir 'contradict or accuse of lying'.

de·men·tia n. [MEDICINE] a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from Latin, from demens, dement- 'out of one's mind'.

de·men·tia prae·cox n. dated term for SCHIZOPHRENIA.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. Latin, literally 'early insanity'.

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SCHIZOPHRENIA ■

Dem·e·ra·ra a river in northern Guyana. Rising in the Guiana Highlands, it flows north for about 200 miles (320 km) to the Atlantic Ocean.

dem·e·ra·ra n. 1 (also demerara sugar) light brown cane sugar coming originally and chiefly from Guyana.

2 (also demerara rum) a dark rum fermented from molasses, made in Guyana.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after the region of DEMERARA.

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DEMERARA ■

de·mer·it n. 1 a feature or fact deserving censure: the merits and demerits of these proposals.

2 a mark awarded against someone for a fault or offense.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mer·i·to·ri·ous adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also in the sense 'merit'): from Old French desmerite or Latin demeritum 'something deserved', neuter past participle of demereri, from de- 'thoroughly' (also understood in medieval Latin as denoting reversal) + mereri 'to merit'.

Dem·e·rol n. trademark for MEPERIDINE.

<ORIGIN> 1940s: of unknown origin.

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MEPERIDINE ■

de·mer·sal adj. (typically of fish) living close to the floor of the sea or a lake. Often contrasted with PELAGIC.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin demersus (past participle of demergere 'submerge, sink', from de- 'down' + mergere 'plunge') + -AL.

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PELAGIC ■

-AL ■

de·mesne n. HISTORICAL 1 land attached to a manor and retained for the owner's own use.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the lands of an estate.

- ARCHAIC a region or domain: she may one day queen it over that fair demesne.

2 HISTORICAL [LAW] possession of real property in one's own right.

<PHRASES> held in demesne (of an estate) occupied by the owner, not by tenants.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French demeine (later Anglo-Norman French demesne) 'belonging to a lord', from Latin dominicus, from dominus 'lord, master'. Compare with DOMAIN.

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DOMAIN ■

De·me·ter [GREEK MYTHOLOGY] the goddess of cereal grains, daughter of Cronus and Rhea and mother of Persephone. She is associated with Cybele; her symbol is typically an ear of wheat. The Eleusinian mysteries were held in honor of her. Roman equivalent CERES. See also PERSEPHONE.

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CERES ■

PERSEPHONE ■

demi- prefix 1 half; half-size: demisemiquaver; | demitasse.

2 partially; in an inferior degree: demigod; | demimonde.

<ORIGIN> via French from medieval Latin dimedius 'half', from earlier dimidius.

de·mi-ca·rac·tère n. (pl. same) a style of ballet having elements of character dance but executed with steps based on the classical technique.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a dancer specializing in this type of dance.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, literally 'half character'.

de·mi-glace (also de·mi-glaze ) n. a rich, glossy brown sauce from which the liquid has been partly evaporated, typically flavored with wine and served with meat.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally 'half glaze'.

dem·i·god n. (fem. dem·i·god·dess ) a being with partial or lesser divine status, such as a minor deity, the offspring of a god and a mortal, or a mortal raised to divine rank.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE a person who is greatly admired or feared.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: translating Latin semideus.

dem·i·john n. a bulbous, narrow-necked bottle holding from 3 to 10 gallons of liquid, typically enclosed in a wicker cover.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: probably an alteration of French dame-jeanne 'Lady Jane', by association with DEMI- 'half-sized' and the given name John.

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DEMI- ■

de·mil·i·ta·rize v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (demilitarized) remove all military forces from (an area): a demilitarized zone.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mil·i·ta·ri·za·tion n.

De Mille Cecil B. (1881-1959), U.S. movie producer and director, noted for his spectacular epics; full name Cecil Blount De Mille. He founded the Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company (later Paramount) with Samuel Goldwyn in 1913 and chose the then little-known Los Angeles suburb of Hollywood as a location for their first movie, The Squaw Man (1914). Other notable movies: The Ten Commandments (1923; remade 1956) and Samson and Delilah (1949).

de Mille Agnes George (1905-93), U.S. dancer and choreographer; the niece of movie director Cecil B. De Mille. Her style of dancing mixed classical ballet with folk dance. She choreographed the ballet Rodeo (1942) and the Broadway musicals Oklahoma! (1943), Brigadoon (1947), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949), and Paint Your Wagon (1951), among others.

dem·i·mon·daine (also dem·i-mon·daine) n. a woman considered to belong to the demimonde.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French demi-mondaine, literally 'woman of the demimonde'.

dem·i·monde (also dem·i-monde) n. (in 19th-century France) the class of women considered to be of doubtful morality and social standing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a group of people considered to be on the fringes of respectable society: the demimonde of arms deals.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French demi-monde, literally 'half-world'.

de·mine v. [trans.] remove explosive mines from: the money will be used to demine a field in Afghanistan.

<DERIVATIVES> de·min·er n.

de·min·er·al·ize v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (demineralized) remove salts from (water).
<SPECIAL USAGE> deprive (teeth or bones) of minerals, causing loss of tooth enamel or softening of the skeleton.

<DERIVATIVES> de·min·er·al·i·za·tion n.

de·mi-pen·sion n. hotel accommodations with bed, breakfast, and one main meal per day.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: French, literally 'half board'.

dem·i·rep n. ARCHAIC a woman whose chastity is considered doubtful.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: abbreviation of demi-reputable.

de·mise n. [in sing.] 1 a person's death: Mr. Grisenthwaite's tragic demise.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the end or failure of an enterprise or institution: the demise of industry.

2 [LAW] conveyance or transfer of property or a title by demising.

■ v. [trans.] [LAW] convey or grant (an estate) by will or lease.
<SPECIAL USAGE> transmit (a sovereign's title) by death or abdication.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a legal term): from Anglo-Norman French, past participle (used as a noun) of Old French desmettre 'dismiss', (in reflexive) 'abdicate', based on Latin dimittere (see DISMISS).

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DISMISS ■

dem·i-sec adj. (of wine) medium dry.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: French, literally 'half-dry'.

dem·i·sem·i·qua·ver n. CHIEFLY BRIT. [MUSIC] a thirty-second note.

de·mit v. (-mit·ted, -mit·ting) [trans.] ARCHAIC resign from (an office or position): arguments within his congregation led to his demitting his post.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mis·sion n.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (in the sense 'dismiss'): from French démettre, from dé- 'away from' + mettre 'put'.

dem·i·tasse n. a small coffee cup.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, literally 'half-cup'.

dem·i·urge n. a being responsible for the creation of the universe, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in Platonic philosophy) the Maker or Creator of the world.

- (in Gnosticism and other theological systems) a heavenly being, subordinate to the Supreme Being, that is considered to be the controller of the material world and antagonistic to all that is purely spiritual.

<DERIVATIVES> dem·i·ur·gic adj. dem·i·ur·gi·cal adj.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting a magistrate in certain ancient Greek states): via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek 'craftsman', from 'public' (from 'people') + -ergos 'working'.

dem·o INFORMAL n. (pl. -os) a demonstration of the capabilities of something, typically computer software or a musical group: [as adj.] a demo tape.

■ v. (-os, -oed) [trans.] demonstrate the capabilities of (software or equipment).
<SPECIAL USAGE> record (a song) for demonstration purposes: they've already demoed twelve new songs.

de·mob BRIT., INFORMAL v. (-mobbed, -mob·bing) [trans.] (usu. be demobbed) demobilize.

■ n. demobilization: we were waiting for our demob.

<ORIGIN> 1920s (following World War I): abbreviation.

de·mo·bi·lize v. [trans.] (usu. be demobilized) take (troops) out of active service, typically at the end of a war: he was demobilized in February 1946.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] cease military operations: Germany demanded that they demobilize within twelve hours.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mo·bi·li·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French démobiliser, from dé- (expressing reversal) + mobiliser 'mobilize'.

de·moc·ra·cy n. (pl. -cies) a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives: capitalism and democracy are ascendant in the third world.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a state governed in such a way: a multiparty democracy.

- control of an organization or group by the majority of its members: the intended extension of industrial democracy.

- the practice or principles of social equality: demands for greater democracy.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French démocratie, via late Latin from Greek , from 'the people' + -kratia 'power, rule'.

dem·o·crat n. 1 an advocate or supporter of democracy.

2 (Democrat) a member of the Democratic Party.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (originally denoting an opponent of the aristocrats in the French Revolution of 1790): from French démocrate, on the pattern of aristocrate 'aristocrat'.

dem·o·crat·ic adj. 1 of, relating to, or supporting democracy or its principles: democratic reforms; democratic government.
<SPECIAL USAGE> favoring or characterized by social equality; egalitarian: cycling is a democratic activity that can be enjoyed by anyone.

2 (Democratic) of or relating to the Democratic Party.

<DERIVATIVES> dem·o·crat·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French démocratique, via medieval Latin from Greek , from (see DEMOCRACY).

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DEMOCRACY ■

dem·o·crat·ic cen·tral·ism n. the Leninist organizational system in which policy is decided centrally and is binding on all members.

Dem·o·crat·ic Par·ty one of the two main U.S. political parties (the other being the Republican Party), which follows a liberal program, tending to promote a strong central government and expansive social programs.

Dem·o·crat·ic Re·pub·li·can Par·ty a U.S. political party that was founded in 1792 by Thomas Jefferson and was a forerunner of the modern Democratic Party.

de·moc·ra·tize v. [trans.] (often be democratized) introduce a democratic system or democratic principles to: public institutions need to be democratized.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make (something) accessible to everyone: mass production has not democratized fashion.

<DERIVATIVES> de·moc·ra·ti·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French démocratiser.

De·moc·ri·tus (c.460-c.370 BC), Greek philosopher. He developed the atomic theory originated by his teacher Leucippus that explained natural phenomena in terms of the arrangement and rearrangement of atoms moving in a void.

dé·mo·dé adj. out of fashion.

<ORIGIN> French, past participle of démoder 'go out of fashion'.

de·mo·dec·tic mange n. a form of mange caused by follicle mites and tending to affect chiefly the head and foreparts. Compare with SARCOPTIC MANGE.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: demodectic from modern Latin Demodex (from Greek 'fat' + 'woodworm') + -IC.

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SARCOPTIC MANGE ■

-IC ■

de·mod·u·late v. [trans.] [ELECTRONICS] extract (a modulating signal) from its carrier.
<SPECIAL USAGE> separate a modulating signal from (its carrier).

<DERIVATIVES> de·mod·u·la·tion n. de·mod·u·la·tor n.

dem·o·graph·ic adj. relating to the structure of populations: the demographic trend is toward an older population.

■ n. a particular sector of a population: the drink is popular with a young demographic.

<DERIVATIVES> dem·o·graph·i·cal adj. dem·o·graph·i·cal·ly adv.

dem·o·graph·ics plural n. statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it: the demographics of book buyers.

de·mog·ra·phy n. the study of statistics such as births, deaths, income, or the incidence of disease, which illustrate the changing structure of human populations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the composition of a particular human population: Europe's demography is changing.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mog·ra·pher n.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek 'the people' + -GRAPHY.

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-GRAPHY ■

de·moi plural form of DEMOS.

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DEMOS ■

dem·oi·selle n. 1 (also demoiselle crane) a small, graceful Old World crane with a black head and breast and white ear tufts, breeding in southeastern Europe and central Asia.
<INFO>  Anthropoides virgo, family Gruidae.

2 a damselfly, esp. of the genus Agrion.

3 a damselfish.

4 ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY a young woman.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (sense 4): from French, from Old French dameisele 'damsel'.

de Moi·vre's the·o·rem [MATHEMATICS] a theorem that states that (cos + i sin )n = cos n + i sin n, where i is the square root of 1.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: named after Abraham de Moivre (1667-1754) French-born English mathematician, fellow of the Royal Society.

de·mol·ish v. [trans.] pull or knock down (a building). See note at DESTROY.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- comprehensively refute (an argument or its proponent): I looked forward keenly to demolishing my opponent.

- INFORMAL overwhelmingly defeat (a player or team): they demolished the Denver Broncos, 55-10.

- HUMOROUS eat up (food) quickly: we demolished the potato pancakes.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mol·ish·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French démoliss-, lengthened stem of démolir, from Latin demoliri, from de- (expressing reversal) + moliri 'construct' (from moles 'mass').

dem·o·li·tion n. the action or process of demolishing or being demolished: the monument was saved from demolition.
<SPECIAL USAGE> INFORMAL an overwhelming defeat.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: via French from Latin demolitio(n-), from the verb demoliri (see DEMOLISH).

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DEMOLISH ■

dem·o·li·tion der·by n. a competition in which typically older cars are driven into each other until only one is left running.

de·mon 1 n. 1 an evil spirit or devil, esp. one thought to possess a person or act as a tormentor in hell.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a cruel, evil, or destructive person or thing: I was a little demon, I can tell you.

- [often as adj.] a forceful, fierce, or skillful performer of a specified activity: a friend of mine is a demon cook; a demon for work.

- reckless mischief; devilry: his eyes are bursting with pure demon.

2 another term for DAEMON^1 (sense 1).

<PHRASES> like a demon in a very forceful, fierce, or skillful way: he worked like a demon.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from medieval Latin, from Latin daemon, from Greek 'deity, genius'; in sense 1 also from Latin daemonium 'lesser or evil spirit', from Greek daemonion, diminutive of .

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DAEMON ■

de·mon 2 n. variant spelling of DAEMON^2 .

Linked entries:

DAEMON ■

de·mon·e·tize v. [trans.] (usu. be demonetized) deprive (a coin or precious metal) of its status as money.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mon·e·ti·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French démonétiser, from dé- (expressing reversal) + Latin moneta 'money'.

de·mo·ni·ac adj. of, like, or characteristic of a demon or demons: a goddess with both divine and demoniac qualities; | demoniac rage.

■ n. a person believed to be possessed by an evil spirit.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mo·ni·a·cal adj. de·mo·ni·a·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French demoniaque, from ecclesiastical Latin daemoniacus, from daemonium 'lesser or evil spirit' (see DEMON^1 ).

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DEMON ■

de·mon·ic adj. of, resembling, or characteristic of demons or evil spirits: demonic possession; | her laughter was demonic.
<SPECIAL USAGE> fiercely energetic or frenzied: in a demonic hurry.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mon·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN>  mid 17th cent.: via late Latin from Greek daimonikos, from (see DEMON^1 ).

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DEMON ■

de·mon·ism n. 1 belief in the power of demons.

2 action or behavior that seems too cruel or wicked to be human: the demonism of warfare.

de·mon·ize v. [trans.] portray as wicked and threatening: seeking to demonize one side in the conflict.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mon·i·za·tion n.

demono- comb. form of or relating to demons: demonolatry.

<ORIGIN> from Greek 'demon'.

de·mon·ol·a·try n. the worship of demons.

de·mon·ol·o·gy n. the study of demons or of demonic belief.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mon·o·log·i·cal adj. de·mon·ol·o·gist n.

de·mo·nop·o·lize v. [trans.] introduce competition into (a market or economy) by privatizing previously nationalized assets.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mo·nop·o·li·za·tion n.

de·mon·stra·ble adj. clearly apparent or capable of being logically proved: the demonstrable injustices of racism.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mon·stra·bil·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin demonstrabilis, from demonstrare 'point out'.

de·mon·stra·bly adv. clearly and undeniably: the situation is demonstrably unfair.

dem·on·strate v. 1 [trans.] clearly show the existence or truth of (something) by giving proof or evidence: their shameful silence demonstrates their ineptitude.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- give a practical exhibition and explanation of (how a machine, skill, or craft works or is performed): computerized design methods will be demonstrated | [with clause] he demonstrated how to make his favorite hotdog.

- show or express (a feeling or quality) by one's actions: she began to demonstrate a new-found confidence.

2 [intrans.] take part in a public demonstration: thousands demonstrated in favor of the government.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'point out'): from Latin demonstrat- 'pointed out', from the verb demonstrare.

dem·on·stra·tion n. 1 the action or process of showing the existence or truth of something by giving proof or evidence: it is not capable of mathematical demonstration | Lind's demonstration that citrus fruits cure scurvy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- something that proves or makes evident: the letter was a demonstration of good faith.

- the outward showing of feeling: physical demonstrations of affection.

- a practical exhibition and explanation of how something works or is performed: a microwave cooking demonstration.

- a show of military force: the flight demonstration squadron.

2 a public meeting or march protesting against something or expressing views on a political issue.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (also in the senses 'proof provided by logic' and 'sign, indication'): from Latin demonstratio(n-), from demonstrare 'point out' (see DEMONSTRATE). Sense 2 dates from the mid 19th cent.

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DEMONSTRATE ■

de·mon·stra·tive adj. 1 (of a person) tending to show feelings, esp. of affection, openly.

2 serving as conclusive evidence of something; giving proof: demonstrative evidence.
<SPECIAL USAGE> involving demonstration, esp. by scientific means: the possibility of a demonstrative science of ethics.

3 [GRAMMAR] (of a determiner or pronoun) indicating the person or thing referred to (e.g., this, that, those).

■ n. [GRAMMAR] a demonstrative determiner or pronoun.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mon·stra·tive·ly adv. de·mon·stra·tive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the senses 'serving as conclusive evidence of' and 'making manifest'): from Old French demonstratif, -ive, from Latin demonstrativus, from demonstrare 'point out' (see DEMONSTRATE).

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DEMONSTRATE ■

de·mon·stra·tive leg·a·cy n. [LAW] a legacy that is directed to be paid from a specified fund or pool.

dem·on·stra·tor n. 1 a person who takes part in a public protest meeting or march.

2 a person who shows how a particular piece of equipment works or how a skill or craft is performed.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a person who teaches in this way, esp. in a laboratory.

- a piece of merchandise that can be tested by potential buyers.

de Mon·tes·pan , Marquise de, see MONTESPAN.

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MONTESPAN ■

de Mont·fort , Simon, see MONTFORT^1 .

Linked entries:

MONTFORT ■

de·mor·al·ize v. [trans.] 1 [usu. as adj.] (demoralized) cause (someone) to lose confidence or hope; dispirit: the army was demoralized and scattered.

2 ARCHAIC corrupt the morals of (someone).

<DERIVATIVES> de·mor·al·i·za·tion n. de·mor·al·iz·ing adj. de·mor·al·iz·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French démoraliser (a word of the French Revolution), from dé- (expressing reversal) + moral 'moral', from Latin moralis.

de Mor·gan's laws [MATHEMATICS] two laws in Boolean algebra and set theory that state that AND and OR, or union and intersection, are dual. They are used to simplify the design of electronic circuits.
<INFO>  The laws can be expressed in Boolean logic as: NOT (a AND b) = NOT a OR NOT b; NOT (a OR b) = NOT a AND NOT b.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: named after Augustus de Morgan (1806-71), English mathematician, but already known (by logicians) as principles in the Middle Ages.

de·mos n. (pl. -moi ) the common people of an ancient Greek state.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the populace as a political unit, esp. in a democracy.

<ORIGIN> from Greek .

De·mos·the·nes (384-322 BC), Athenian orator and statesman. He is known for his political speeches on the need to resist the aggressive tendencies of Philip II of Macedon (the Philippics).

de·mote v. [trans.] (often be demoted) give (someone) a lower rank or less senior position, usually as a punishment: the head of the army was demoted to deputy defense secretary.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from DE- 'down' + a shortened form of PROMOTE.

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DE- ■

PROMOTE ■

de·mot·ic adj. denoting or relating to the kind of language used by ordinary people; popular or colloquial: a demotic idiom.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- relating to or denoting the form of modern Greek used in everyday speech and writing. Compare with KATHAREVOUSA.

- relating to or denoting a simplified, cursive form of ancient Egyptian script, dating from c.650 BC and replaced by Greek in the Ptolemaic period. Compare with HIERATIC.

■ n. ordinary colloquial speech.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- demotic Greek.

- demotic Egyptian script.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (in the sense 'relating to the Egyptian demotic'): from Greek 'popular', from 'one of the people', from 'the people'.

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KATHAREVOUSA ■

HIERATIC ■

de·mo·tion n. reduction in rank or status: too many demotions would weaken morale.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from DEMOTE, on the pattern of promotion.

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DEMOTE ■

de·mo·ti·vate v. [trans.] make (someone) less eager to work or study: some children disrupt classes and demotivate pupils.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mo·tiv·a·tion n.

de·mount·a·ble adj. able to be dismantled or removed from its setting and readily reassembled or repositioned.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mount v.

Demp·sey Jack (1895-1983), U.S. boxer; full name William Harrison Dempsey. He was world heavyweight champion 1919-26.

de·mul·cent [MEDICINE] adj. (of a substance) relieving inflammation or irritation.

■ n. a substance that relieves irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth by forming a protective film.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from Latin demulcent- 'stroking caressingly', from the verb demulcere, from de- 'away' + mulcere 'soothe'.

de·mur v. (-murred, -mur·ring) [intrans.] raise doubts or objections or show reluctance: normally she would have accepted the challenge, but she demurred.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED [LAW] put forward a demurrer.

■ n. [usu. with negative] the action or process of objecting to or hesitating over something: they accepted this ruling without demur. See note at QUALM.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'linger, delay'): from Old French demourer (verb), demeure (noun), based on Latin de- 'away, completely' + morari 'delay'.

de·mure adj. (-mur·er, -mur·est) (of a woman or her behavior) reserved, modest, and shy: a demure little wife who sits at home minding the house.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of clothing) lending such an appearance.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mure·ly adv. de·mure·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'sober, serious, reserved'): perhaps from Old French demoure, past participle of demourer 'remain, stay' (see DEMUR); influenced by Old French mur 'grave', from Latin maturus 'ripe or mature'. The sense 'reserved, shy' dates from the late 17th cent.

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DEMUR ■

de·mur·ra·ble adj. DATED, [CHIEFLY LAW] open to demurrer.

de·mur·rage n. [LAW] a charge payable to the owner of a chartered ship in respect of failure to load or discharge the ship within the time agreed.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (also in the general sense 'procrastination, delay'): from Old French demourage, from the verb demourer (see DEMUR).

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DEMUR ■

de·mur·ral n. the action of demurring: words of demurral.

de·mur·rer n. an objection.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DATED [LAW] an objection that an opponent's point is irrelevant or invalid, while granting the factual basis of the point: on demurrer it was held that the plaintiff's claim succeeded.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent.: from Anglo-Norman French (infinitive used as a noun), from Old French demourer 'remain, stay' (see DEMUR).

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DEMUR ■

de·mu·tu·al·ize v. [trans.] change (a mutual organization such as a savings and loan association ) to one of a different kind.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mu·tu·al·i·za·tion n.

de·my (in full metric demy) n. a paper size, now standardized at 564 × 444 mm.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (in full demy octavo) a book size, now standardized at 216 × 138 mm.

- (in full demy quarto) a book size, now standardized at 276 × 219 mm.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an adjective in the sense 'half-sized'): from DEMI-, or from its source, French demi 'half'.

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DEMI- ■

de·my·e·li·nate v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (demyelinating) [MEDICINE] cause the loss or destruction of myelin in (nerve tissue): a chronic demyelinating disease.

<DERIVATIVES> de·my·e·li·na·tion n.

de·mys·ti·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] make (a difficult or esoteric subject) clearer and easier to understand: this book attempts to demystify technology.

<DERIVATIVES> de·mys·ti·fi·ca·tion n.

de·my·thol·o·gize v. [trans.] reinterpret (a subject or text) so that it is free of mythical or heroic elements: he undertakes to demythologize the man who has been for many the modern counterpart of St. Augustine.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reinterpret what are considered to be mythological elements of (the Bible).

den n. a wild animal's lair or habitation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- INFORMAL a small, comfortable room in a house where a person can pursue an activity in private.

- a place where people meet in secret, typically to engage in some illicit activity: an opium den; a den of iniquity.

- a small subdivision of a Cub Scout pack.

■ v. (denned, den·ning) [intrans.] (of a wild animal) live in or retreat to a den: the cubs denned in the late autumn.

<ORIGIN> Old English denn, of Germanic origin; related to German Tenne 'threshing floor', also to DENE^1 .

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DENE ■

De·na·li another name for Mount McKinley (see MCKINLEY, MOUNT).

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MCKINLEY, MOUNT ■

de·nar n. the basic monetary unit of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

<ORIGIN> based on Latin denarius; compare with DINAR.

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DINAR ■

de·nar·i·us n. (pl. -nar·i·i ) an ancient Roman silver coin, originally worth ten asses.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a unit of weight equal to that of a silver denarius.

- an ancient Roman gold coin worth 25 silver denarii.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: Latin, literally 'containing ten', from the phrase denarius nummus 'coin worth ten asses' (see AS^2 ), from deni 'in tens', from decem 'ten'.

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AS ■

den·a·ry adj. relating to or based on the number ten; less common term for DECIMAL: denary numbers.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin denarius 'containing ten' (see DENARIUS).

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DECIMAL ■

DENARIUS ■

de·na·tion·al·ize v. [trans.] 1 transfer (a nationalized industry or institution) from public to private ownership.

2 deprive (a country or person) of nationality or national characteristics.

<DERIVATIVES> de·na·tion·al·i·za·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent. (sense 2): from French dénationaliser (a word of the French Revolution), from dé- (expressing reversal) + nationaliser 'nationalize'.

de·nat·u·ral·ize v. [trans.] 1 make (something) unnatural.

2 deprive (someone) of citizenship of a country.

<DERIVATIVES> de·nat·u·ral·i·za·tion n.

de·na·tur·ant n. a substance added to alcohol to make it unfit for drinking.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [BIOCHEMISTRY] a substance that causes denaturation of proteins or other biological compounds.

de·na·ture v. [trans.] [often as adj.] (denatured) take away or alter the natural qualities of: empty verbalisms and denatured ceremonies.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make (alcohol) unfit for drinking by the addition of toxic or foul-tasting substances.

- [BIOCHEMISTRY] destroy the characteristic properties of (a protein or other biological macromolecule) by heat, acidity, or other effects that disrupt its molecular conformation.

- [intrans.] (of a substance) undergo this process.

<DERIVATIVES> de·na·tur·a·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (in the sense 'make unnatural'): from French dénaturer, from dé- (expressing reversal) + nature 'nature'.

de·na·zi·fi·ca·tion n. the process of bringing the leaders of the National Socialist regime in Germany to justice and of purging all elements of Nazism from public life, carried out esp. between 1945 and 1948.

de·na·zi·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] remove the Nazi (or figuratively, the fascist or repressive) influence from.

Dench Dame Judi (1934- ), English actress; full name Judith Olivia Dench. She appeared in numerous theatrical, movie, and television productions. Her movies include A Handful of Dust (1987), Mrs. Brown, (1997), Shakespeare in Love (Academy Award, 1998), and Iris (2001).

den·dri·form adj. having the shape or form of a tree.

den·dri·mer n. a synthetic polymer with a branching, treelike structure.

<ORIGIN> 1990s: from Greek dendron 'tree' + -i- + -mer.

den·drite n. 1 [PHYSIOLOGY] a short branched extension of a nerve cell, along which impulses received from other cells at synapses are transmitted to the cell body. Compare with AXON.

2 a crystal or crystalline mass with a branching, treelike structure.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a natural treelike or mosslike marking on a piece of rock or mineral.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French, from Greek 'treelike', from dendron 'tree'.

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AXON ■

den·drit·ic adj. TECHNICAL having a branched form resembling a tree.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [PHYSIOLOGY] of or relating to a dendrite or dendrites.

- (of a solid) consisting of crystalline dendrites: dendritic salt.

<DERIVATIVES> den·drit·i·cal·ly adv.

dendro- comb. form of or relating to a tree or trees: dendrology.

<ORIGIN> from Greek dendron 'tree'.

den·dro·chro·nol·o·gy n. the science or technique of dating events, environmental change, and archaeological artifacts by using the characteristic patterns of annual growth rings in timber and tree trunks.

<DERIVATIVES> den·dro·chron·o·log·i·cal adj. den·dro·chro·nol·o·gist n.

den·dro·gram n. a tree diagram, esp. one showing taxonomic relationships.

den·droid adj. [BIOLOGY] (of a plant, marine invertebrate, or structure) tree-shaped; arborescent; branching.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PALEONTOLOGY] denoting graptolites of a type that formed many-branched colonies, found chiefly in the Ordovician and Silurian periods.

■ n. [PALEONTOLOGY] a graptolite of this type.
<INFO>  Order Dendroidea, class Graptolithina.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from DENDRO- 'tree' + -OID.

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DENDRO- ■

-OID ■

den·drol·o·gy n. the scientific study of trees.

<DERIVATIVES> den·dro·log·i·cal adj. den·drol·o·gist n.

den·dron n. another term for DENDRITE (sense 1).

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from DENDRITE, on the pattern of words such as axon.

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DENDRITE ■

DENDRITE ■

De·ne n. (pl. same) 1 a member of a group of American Indian peoples of the Canadian Northwest and Alaska, traditionally speaking Athabaskan languages, and having collective representation in Canadian political life.

2 any of the languages of these peoples.

■ adj. of or relating to these peoples or their languages.

<ORIGIN> from French Déné, from an Athabaskan word meaning 'people'.

dene 1 (also dean) n. [usu. in place names] BRIT. a vale, esp. the deep, narrow, wooded valley of a small river: Rottingdean; Deepdene.

<ORIGIN> Old English denu, of Germanic origin; related to DEN.

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DEN ■

dene 2 n. DIALECT a bare, sandy tract or low dune by the sea.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: perhaps of Germanic origin and related to DUNE.

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DUNE ■

Den·eb [ASTRONOMY] the brightest star in the constellation Cygnus, a yellow supergiant.

<ORIGIN> from Arabic, literally 'tail' (i.e., of the “swan”).

De·neb·o·la [ASTRONOMY] the second brightest star in the constellation Leo.

<ORIGIN> from Arabic dhanab al(-asad) '(lion's) tail'.

de·ner·vate v. [trans.] [MEDICINE] remove or cut off the nerve supply from (an organ or other body part): [as adj.] (denervated) the denervated muscle fibers.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ner·va·tion n.

De·neuve Catherine (1943- ), French actress; born Catherine Dorléac. Notable movies: Repulsion (1965), Belle de jour (1967), and Indochine (1992).

den·gue (also dengue fever) n. a debilitating viral disease of the tropics, transmitted by mosquitoes, and causing sudden fever and acute pains in the joints.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from West Indian Spanish, from Kiswahili dinga (in full kidingapopo), influenced by Spanish dengue 'fastidiousness' (with reference to the dislike of movement by affected patients).

Deng Xiao·ping (also Teng Hsiao-p'ing) (1904-97), Chinese communist statesman; vice-premier 1973-76 and 1977-80; vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party 1977-80. Discredited during the Cultural Revolution, he was reinstated in 1977 and became the leader of China. In 1989, his orders led to the massacre of some 2,000 pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

Den Haag Dutch name for The Hague (see HAGUE).

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HAGUE ■

de·ni·a·ble adj. able to be denied: the government did agree to play a limited and deniable role in the rebellion.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ni·a·bil·i·ty n. de·ni·a·bly adv.

de·ni·al n. the action of declaring something to be untrue: she shook her head in denial.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the refusal of something requested or desired: the denial of insurance to people with certain medical conditions.

- a statement that something is not true: official denials; | his denial that he was having an affair.

- [PSYCHOLOGY] failure to acknowledge an unacceptable truth or emotion or to admit it into consciousness, used as a defense mechanism: you're living in denial.

- short for SELF-DENIAL.

- disavowal of a person as one's leader.

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SELF-DENIAL ■

de·ni·al of ser·vice n. (abbr.: DoS) [COMPUTING] an interruption in an authorized user's access to a computer network, typically one caused with malicious intent.

de·ni·er n. 1  a unit of weight by which the fineness of silk, rayon, or nylon yarn is measured, equal to the weight in grams of 9000 meters of the yarn and often used to describe the thickness of hosiery: 840 denier nylon.

2 HISTORICAL a French coin, equal to one twelfth of a sou, which was withdrawn from use in the 19th century.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin denarius (see DENARIUS). Sense 1 dates from the mid 19th cent.

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DENARIUS ■

den·i·grate v. [trans.] criticize unfairly; disparage: there is a tendency to denigrate the poor.

<DERIVATIVES> den·i·gra·tion n. den·i·gra·tor n. den·i·gra·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'blacken, make dark'): from Latin denigrat- 'blackened', from the verb denigrare, from de- 'away, completely' + nigrare (from niger 'black').

den·im n. a sturdy cotton twill fabric, typically blue, used for jeans, overalls, and other clothing.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (denims) clothing made of such fabric: a pair of denims.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (as serge denim): from French serge de Nimes, denoting a kind of serge from the manufacturing town of NÎMES.

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NÎMES ■

De Ni·ro Robert (1943- ), U.S. actor. The star of many movies, he often played tough characters and frequently worked with director Martin Scorsese. He won Academy Awards for The Godfather Part II (1974) and Raging Bull (1980) and made his debut as a director with A Bronx Tale (1994), in which he also acted.

Den·is, St. (also Den·ys) (died c.250), French bishop; born in Italy; patron saint of France; Roman name Dionysius. According to tradition, he was one of a group of seven missionaries sent from Rome to convert Gaul; he became bishop of Paris and was martyred in the reign of the emperor Valerian. Feast day, October 9.

Den·i·son a city in northern Texas, on the Red River; pop. 21,505.

de·ni·tri·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] (chiefly of bacteria) remove the nitrates or nitrites from (soil, air, or water) by chemical reduction.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ni·tri·fi·ca·tion n.

den·i·zen n. FORMAL or HUMOROUS an inhabitant or occupant of a particular place: denizens of field and forest.
<SPECIAL USAGE> BRIT., HISTORICAL a foreigner allowed certain rights in the adopted country.

<DERIVATIVES> den·i·zen·ship n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English deynseyn, via Anglo-Norman French from Old French deinz 'within' (from Latin de 'from' + intus 'within') + -ein (from Latin -aneus '-aneous'). The change in the form of the word was due to association with CITIZEN.

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CITIZEN ■

De·niz·li a commercial city in southwestern Turkey, the site of ancient ruins; pop. 203,000.

Den·mark a country in northwestern Europe, on the Jutland peninsula, between the North and the Baltic seas; pop. 5,400,000; capital, Copenhagen; official language, Danish. Danish name DANMARK.

Denmark emerged as a separate country during the Viking period of the 10th and 11th centuries. In the 14th century Denmark and Norway were united under a Danish king; the union was joined between the late 1300s and 1523 by Sweden, and Norway was ceded to Sweden in 1814. Although neutral, Denmark was occupied by Germany for much of World War II. It joined the EC (now the EU) in 1973.

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DANMARK ■

den moth·er n. the female leader of a den of Cub Scouts.

de·nom·i·nal adj. [attrib.] (of a word) derived from a noun.

■ n. a verb or other word that is derived from a noun.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from DE- + NOMINAL.

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DE- ■

NOMINAL ■

de·nom·i·nate v. 1 (be denominated) (of sums of money) be expressed in a specified monetary unit: the borrowings were denominated in U.S. dollars.

2 [trans.] FORMAL call; name: the whole train was denominated a “bull-outfit.”

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'give a name to'): from Latin denominat- 'named', from the verb denominare, from de- 'away, formally' + nominare 'to name' (from nomen, nomin- 'name'). Sense 1 dates from the mid 20th cent.

de·nom·i·na·tion n. 1 a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a group or branch of any religion: Jewish clergy of all denominations.

2 the face value of a banknote, a coin, or a postage stamp: a hundred dollars or so, in small denominations.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the rank of a playing card within a suit, or of a suit relative to others: two cards of the same denomination.

3 FORMAL a name or designation, esp. one serving to classify a set of things.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of naming or classifying something: denomination of oneself as a fat woman.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 3): from Latin denominatio(n-), from the verb denominare (see DENOMINATE). Sense 1 dates from the mid 17th cent.

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DENOMINATE ■

de·nom·i·na·tion·al adj. relating to or according to the principles of a particular religious denomination: denominational relief agencies.

<DERIVATIVES> de·nom·i·na·tion·al·ism n.

de·nom·i·na·tive adj. old-fashioned term for DENOMINAL.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (as a noun in the grammatical sense): from late Latin denominativus, from denominat- 'named', from the verb denominare (see DENOMINATE).

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DENOMINAL ■

DENOMINATE ■

de·nom·i·na·tor n. [MATHEMATICS] the number below the line in a common fraction; a divisor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a figure representing the total population in terms of which statistical values are expressed.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French dénominateur or medieval Latin denominator, from denominare 'to name' (see DENOMINATE).

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DENOMINATE ■

de·no·ta·tion n. the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests: beyond their immediate denotation, the words have a connotative power.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action or process of indicating or referring to something by means of a word, symbol, etc.

- [PHILOSOPHY] the object or concept to which a term refers, or the set of objects of which a predicate is true. Often contrasted with CONNOTATION.

<DERIVATIVES> de·no·ta·tion·al adj..

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CONNOTATION ■

de·note v. [trans.] be a sign of; indicate: this mark denotes purity and quality.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (often be denoted) stand as a name or symbol for: the level of output per firm, denoted by X.

<DERIVATIVES> de·no·ta·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'be a sign of, mark out'): from French dénoter or Latin denotare, from de- 'away, thoroughly' + notare 'observe, note' (from nota 'a mark').

<USAGE>
For an explanation of the difference between denote and connote, see usage at CONNOTE.

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CONNOTE ■

de·noue·ment n. the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the climax of a chain of events, usually when something is decided or made clear: I waited by the eighteenth green to see the denouement.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: French dénouement, from dénouer 'unknot'.

de·nounce v. [trans.] publicly declare to be wrong or evil: the Assembly denounced the use of violence; he was widely denounced as a traitor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> inform against: some of his own priests denounced him to the King for heresy.

<DERIVATIVES> de·nounce·ment n. de·nounc·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally in the sense 'proclaim, announce', also 'proclaim someone to be wicked, cursed, a rebel, etc'.): from Old French denoncier, from Latin denuntiare 'give official information', based on nuntius 'messenger'.

de nou·veau adv. ARCHAIC starting again from the beginning; anew.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, literally 'from new'.

de no·vo adv. & adj. starting from the beginning; anew: [as adv.] in a pure meritocracy, everyone must begin de novo | [as adj.] a general strategy for de novo protein design.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: Latin, literally 'from new'.

Den·pa·sar the chief city of the island of Bali in Indonesia, a seaport on the southern coast; pop. 261,200.

dense adj. closely compacted in substance: dense volcanic rock; swirling, dense smoke.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- having the constituent parts crowded closely together: an estuary dense with marine life.

- FIGURATIVE (of a text) hard to understand because of complexity of ideas.

- INFORMAL (of a person) stupid.

See note at STUPID.

<DERIVATIVES> dense·ly adv. dense·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin densus.

den·si·fy v. (-fies, -fied) [trans.] [often as adj.] (densified) make (something) more dense: densified hardboard.

<DERIVATIVES> den·si·fi·ca·tion n.

den·sim·e·ter n. an instrument for measuring density, esp. of liquids.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin densus 'dense' + -METER.

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-METER ■

den·si·tom·e·ter n. 1 an instrument for measuring the photographic density of an image on a film or photographic print.

2 a device for measuring the optical density of a material by measuring the amount of light it reflects or transmits.

<DERIVATIVES> den·si·to·met·ric adj. den·si·to·met·ri·cal·ly adv. den·si·tom·e·try n..

den·si·ty n. (pl. -ties) the degree of compactness of a substance: a reduction in bone density.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [COMPUTING] a measure of the amount of information on a storage medium (tape or disk). For magnetic tape it is the amount of information recorded per unit length of tape (bits per inch or millimeter); for a disk, a fixed number of bits per sector, sectors per track, and tracks per disk: chip density doubles every eighteen months | [as modifier, in combination] a low-density 5.25-inch floppy disk; a drive capable of handling high-density 1.44 megabyte disks.

- [PHYSICS] degree of consistency measured by the quantity of mass per unit volume.

- the opacity of a photographic image.

- the quantity of people or things in a given area or space: areas of low population density | a density of 10,000 per square mile.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French densité or Latin densitas, from densus 'dense'.

den·si·ty func·tion n. short for PROBABILITY DENSITY FUNCTION.

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PROBABILITY DENSITY FUNCTION ■

dent n. a slight hollow in a hard, even surface made by a blow or by the exertion of pressure.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a diminishing effect; a reduction: a dent in profits.

■ v. [trans.] mark with a dent: the moose dropped a hind foot and dented the hood of the car.
<SPECIAL USAGE> have an adverse effect on; diminish: this neither deterred him nor dented his enthusiasm.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (as a noun designating a blow with a weapon): variant of DINT.

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DINT ■

dent. abbr.
- dental.

- dentist.

- dentistry.

den·tal adj. 1 [attrib.] of or relating to the teeth: dental health.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (abbr.: dent.) of or relating to dentistry: dental councils.

2 [PHONETICS] (of a consonant) pronounced with the tip of the tongue against the upper front teeth (as th) or the alveolar ridge (as n, d, t).

■ n. [PHONETICS] a dental consonant.

<DERIVATIVES> den·tal·ize v. ([PHONETICS]) den·tal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from late Latin dentalis, from Latin dens, dent- 'tooth'.

den·tal dam n. a thin sheet of latex used by dentists to isolate a tooth being worked on.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a thin sheet of latex used as a prophylactic device during cunnilingus and anilingus.

den·tal floss n. a soft thread of floss silk or similar material used to clean between the teeth.

den·tal for·mu·la n. [ZOOLOGY] a formula expressing the number and kinds of teeth possessed by a mammal. A dental formula is usually written in the form of four “fractions,” one for each type of tooth, with the upper and lower lines describing the upper and lower jaws respectively.

den·tal hy·gien·ist n. an ancillary dental worker specializing in scaling and polishing teeth and in giving advice on cleaning the teeth.

<DERIVATIVES> den·tal hy·giene n.

den·ta·li·um n. tooth shells used as ornaments or as a form of currency: a white mare purchased with dentalium.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin, from late Latin dentalis (see DENTAL).

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DENTAL ■

den·tal nurse n. a nurse who assists a dentist.

den·tal sur·geon n. a dentist.

den·tal tech·ni·cian n. a person who makes and repairs artificial teeth.

den·ta·ry n. (pl. -ries) [ZOOLOGY] the anterior bone of the lower jaw, which bears the teeth. In mammals it forms the whole of the lower jaw (or mandible).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from late Latin dentarius, from Latin dens, dent- 'tooth'.

den·tate adj. [BOTANY] & [ZOOLOGY] having a toothlike or serrated edge.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin dentatus, from dens, dent- 'tooth'.

den·telle n. (pl.or pronunc. same) ornamental tooling used in bookbinding, resembling lace edging.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French, 'lace', from dent 'tooth' + the diminutive suffix -elle.

den·tex n. (pl. same or -tex·es) any of various sea breams of the genus Dentex, especially D. dentex of the Mediterranean and the North African Atlantic coast. Many are important food fishes.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (genus name), from Latin.

den·ti·cle n. [ZOOLOGY] a small tooth or toothlike projection.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting a pointer on an astrolabe): from Latin denticulus, diminutive of dens, dent- 'tooth'.

den·tic·u·late adj. having small teeth or toothlike projections; finely toothed.

<DERIVATIVES> den·tic·u·lat·ed adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin denticulatus, from denticulus 'small tooth' (see DENTICLE).

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DENTICLE ■

den·ti·frice n. a paste or powder for cleaning the teeth.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from French, from Latin dentifricium, from dens, dent- 'tooth' + fricare 'to rub'.

den·til n. [often as adj.] (in classical architecture) one of a number of small, rectangular blocks resembling teeth and used as a decoration under the soffit of a cornice: a dentil frieze.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Italian dentello or obsolete French dentille, diminutive of dent 'tooth', from Latin dens, dent-.

den·ti·lin·gual adj. [PHONETICS] (of a consonant) pronounced with the teeth and the tongue; dental.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Latin dens, dent- 'tooth' + LINGUAL.

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LINGUAL ■

den·tin (also den·tine ) n. hard, dense, bony tissue forming the bulk of a tooth beneath the enamel.

<DERIVATIVES> den·tin·al adj.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Latin dens, dent- 'tooth' + -IN^1 .

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-IN ■

den·tist (abbr.: dent.) n. a person qualified to treat the diseases and conditions that affect the teeth and gums, esp. the repair and extraction of teeth and the insertion of artificial ones.

<DERIVATIVES> den·tist·ry n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from French dentiste, from dent 'tooth', from Latin dens, dent-.

den·ti·tion n. the arrangement or condition of the teeth in a particular species or individual.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (denoting the process of developing of teeth): from Latin dentitio(n-), from dentire 'teethe', from dens, dent- 'tooth'.

Den·ton a commercial city in northeastern Texas; pop. 66,270.

den·ture n. (usu. dentures) a removable plate or frame holding one or more artificial teeth.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from French, from dent 'tooth', from Latin dens, dent-.

den·tur·ist n. a person who makes dentures.

de·nu·cle·ar·ize v. [trans.] remove nuclear weapons from.

<DERIVATIVES> de·nu·cle·ar·i·za·tion n.

de·nude v. [trans.] (often be denuded) strip (something) of its covering, possessions, or assets; make bare: almost overnight the Arctic was denuded of animals.

<DERIVATIVES> den·u·da·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin denudare, from de- 'completely' + nudare 'to bare' (from nudus 'naked').

de·nu·mer·a·ble adj. [MATHEMATICS] able to be counted by a one-to-one correspondence with the infinite set of integers.

<DERIVATIVES> de·nu·mer·a·bil·i·ty n. de·nu·mer·a·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: from late Latin denumerare 'count out' + -ABLE.

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-ABLE ■

de·nun·ci·a·tion n. public condemnation of someone or something.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of informing against someone.

<DERIVATIVES> de·nun·ci·a·tor n. de·nun·ci·a·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin denuntiatio(n-), from the verb denuntiare (see DENOUNCE). The original sense was 'public announcement', also 'formal accusation or charge'; the main sense dates from the mid 19th cent.

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DENOUNCE ■

Den·ver 1 the capital of Colorado, in the central part of the state, on the South Platte River; pop. 554,636. It is situated at an altitude of 5,280 feet (1,608 m) on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains.

Den·ver 2 John (1943-97), U.S. country and pop singer and songwriter and actor; born Henry John Deutschendorf. He celebrated the simple life and his love of Colorado in his songs such as "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (1971), "Rocky Mountain High" (1972), and "Sunshine on My Shoulders" (1974). He also acted in movies, most notably Oh, God! (1977).

Den·ver boot n. see BOOT^1 (sense 1).

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: named after Denver, Colorado, where the boot was introduced in 1949.

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BOOT ■

de·ny v. (-nies, -nied) [trans.] refuse to admit the truth or existence of (something): they deny any responsibility for the tragedy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [with two objs.] refuse to give (something requested or desired) to (someone): the inquiry was denied access to intelligence sources.

- refuse to accept or agree to: judges would retain the discretion to grant or deny the requests.

- refuse to acknowledge or recognize; disown: Peter repeatedly denied Jesus.

- (deny oneself) refrain from satisfying oneself: he had denied himself sexually for years.

- ARCHAIC refuse access to (someone): the servants are ordered to deny him.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French deni-, stressed stem of deneier, from Latin denegare, from de- 'formally' + negare 'say no'.

Den·ys, St. see DENIS, ST.

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DENIS, ST. ■

de·o·dar n. a tall, broadly conical cedar that is native to the Himalayas and has drooping branches and large barrel-shaped cones.
<INFO>  Cedrus deodara, family Pinaceae.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Hindi , from Sanskrit 'divine tree'.

de·o·dor·ant n. a substance that removes or conceals unpleasant smells, esp. bodily odors.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from DE- (expressing removal) + Latin odor 'smell' + -ANT.

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DE- ■

-ANT ■

de·o·dor·ize v. [trans.] remove or conceal an unpleasant smell in: people used dried flowers to deodorize their homes.

<DERIVATIVES> de·o·dor·i·za·tion n. de·o·dor·iz·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from DE- (expressing removal) + Latin odor 'smell' + -IZE.

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DE- ■

-IZE ■

De·o gra·ti·as exclam. thanks be to God.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: Latin.

de·on·tic adj. [attrib.] [PHILOSOPHY] of or relating to duty and obligation as ethical concepts.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LINGUISTICS] expressing duty or obligation.

<ORIGIN> mid 20th cent.: from Greek deont- 'being right' (from dei 'it is right') + -IC.

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-IC ■

de·on·tol·o·gy n. [PHILOSOPHY] the study of the nature of duty and obligation.

<DERIVATIVES> de·on·to·log·i·cal adj. de·on·tol·o·gist n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Greek deont- 'being necessary' (from dei 'it is necessary') + -LOGY.

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-LOGY ■

De·o vo·len·te adv. God willing; if nothing prevents it.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: Latin.

de·ox·i·dize v. [trans.] remove combined oxygen from (a substance, usually a metal).

<DERIVATIVES> de·ox·i·da·tion n. de·ox·i·diz·er n.

de·ox·y·cor·ti·cos·ter·one n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a corticosteroid hormone involved in regulating the salt and water balance in the human body.

de·ox·y·gen·ate v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (deoxygenated) remove oxygen from: deoxygenated air.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ox·y·gen·a·tion n.

de·ox·y·ri·bo·nu·cle·ase n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] another term for DNASE.

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DNASE ■

de·ox·y·ri·bo·nu·cle·ic ac·id n. see DNA.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: deoxyribonucleic from a blend of DEOXYRIBOSE and NUCLEIC ACID.

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DNA ■

DEOXYRIBOSE ■

NUCLEIC ACID ■

de·ox·y·ri·bose n. [BIOCHEMISTRY] a sugar derived from ribose by replacing a hydroxyl group with hydrogen.
<INFO>  Chem. formula; C_5H_10O_4. There are several isomers; the isomer 2-deoxyribose is a constituent of DNA.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from DE- (expressing reduction) + OXY-2 + RIBOSE.

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DE- ■

OXY- ■

RIBOSE ■

dep. abbr.
- departs.

- deputy.

Dé·par·dieu Gérard 1948-, French actor. His films include Jean de Florette (1986) and Tous les matins du monde (1991).

de·part v. [intrans.] leave, typically in order to start a journey: they departed for Germany; a contingent was departing from Cairo.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (depart from) deviate from (an accepted, prescribed, or traditional course of action): he departed from the precedent set by many.

<PHRASES> depart this life ARCHAIC die.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French departir, based on Latin dispertire 'to divide'. The original sense was 'separate', also 'take leave of each other', hence 'go away'.

de·part·ed adj. deceased: a dear departed relative.

■ n. (the departed) a particular dead person or dead people: the prayer for the departed.

de·part·ment n. a division of a large organization such as a government, university, business, or shop, dealing with a specific subject, commodity, or area of activity: the English department.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- an administrative district in France and other countries.

- (one's department) INFORMAL an area of special expertise or responsibility: that's not my department.

- [with adj.] INFORMAL the specified subject under discussion: I never thought of myself as above average in the looks department.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French departement, from departir (see DEPART). The original sense was 'division or distribution', later 'separation', hence 'a separate part' (core sense, mid 18th cent.).

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DEPART ■

de·part·men·tal adj. concerned with or belonging to a department of an organization: a departmental meeting.

<DERIVATIVES> de·part·men·tal·ly adv.

de·part·men·tal·ism n. adherence to departmental methods or structure.

de·part·men·tal·ize v. [trans.] (usu. be departmentalized) divide (an organization or its work) into departments.

<DERIVATIVES> de·part·men·tal·i·za·tion n.

De·part·ment of Ag·ri·cul·ture n. the department of the U.S. government that administers federal programs related to food production and rural life. The department's principal duty is to aid farmers, but it also serves consumers through its food-assistance and food-inspection programs.

de·part·ment store n. a large store stocking many varieties of goods in different departments.

de·par·ture n. the action of leaving, typically to start a journey: the day of departure | she made a hasty departure.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a deviation from an accepted, prescribed, or traditional course of action or thought: a departure from their usual style.

- [NAUTICAL] the east-west distance between two points, esp. as traveled by a ship or aircraft and expressed in miles.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French departeure, from the verb departir (see DEPART).

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DEPART ■

de·paup·er·ate adj. [BIOLOGY] (of a flora, fauna, or ecosystem) lacking in numbers or variety of species: oceanic islands are generally depauperate in mayflies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a plant or animal) imperfectly developed.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'impoverished'): from medieval Latin depauperatus, past participle of depauperare, from de- 'completely' + pauperare 'make poor' (from pauper 'poor').

dé·pay·sé (also dé·pay·sée) adj. removed from one's habitual surroundings.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally '(removed) from one's own country'.

de·pend v. [intrans.] 1 (depend on/upon) be controlled or determined by: differences in earnings depended on a wide variety of factors.

2 (depend on/upon) rely on: the kind of person you could depend on.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- need or require for financial or other support: a town that had depended heavily upon the wool industry.

- be grammatically dependent on.

3 ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY hang down: his tongue depended from open jaws.

<PHRASES>
□ depending on being conditioned by; contingent on: makes 8-10 burgers (depending on size) | [with clause] the article sneered or just condescended, depending on how you read it.

□ it (or that) (all) depends used to express uncertainty or qualification in answering a question: How many people use each screen? It all depends.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 3; also in the sense 'wait or be in suspense'): from Old French dependre, from Latin dependere, from de- 'down' + pendere 'hang'.

<USAGE>
In informal use, it is quite common for the on to be dropped in sentences such as it all depends how you look at it (rather than it all depends on how you look at it), but in well-formed written English, the on should always be retained. In more formal writing, and sometimes for sound, rhythm, or other rhetorical effect, upon is the preferred preposition: You may depend upon it.

de·pend·a·ble adj. trustworthy and reliable.

<DERIVATIVES> de·pend·a·bil·i·ty n. de·pend·a·bly adv.

de·pend·ence n. the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else: Japan's dependence on imported oil.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- reliance on someone or something for financial support: the dependence of our medical schools on grant funds.

- addiction to drink or drugs: alcohol dependence.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'hanging down or something that hangs down'): from Old French dependance, from the verb dependre (see DEPEND).

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DEPEND ■

de·pend·en·cy n. (pl. -cies) 1 a dependent or subordinate thing, esp. a country or province controlled by another.

2 dependence: the country's dependency on the oil industry.

de·pend·ent adj. 1 [predic.] (dependent on/upon) contingent on or determined by: the various benefits will be dependent on length of service.

2 requiring someone or something for financial, emotional, or other support: an economy heavily dependent on oil exports; households with dependent children.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- unable to do without: people dependent on drugs | [in combination] welfare-dependent families.

- [GRAMMAR] (of a clause, phrase, or word) subordinate to another clause, phrase, or word.

■ n. (BRIT. also de·pend·ant) a person who relies on another, esp. a family member, for financial support: a single man with no dependents.

<DERIVATIVES> de·pend·ent·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English dependant 'hanging down', from Old French, present participle of dependre (see DEPEND). The spelling change in the 16th cent. was due to association with the Latin participial stem dependent-.

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DEPEND ■

de·pend·ent var·i·a·ble n. [MATHEMATICS] a variable (often denoted by y) whose value depends on that of another.

de·per·son·al·i·za·tion n. the action of divesting someone or something of human characteristics or individuality.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PSYCHIATRY] a state in which one's thoughts and feelings seem unreal or not to belong to oneself, or in which one loses all sense of identity.

de·per·son·al·ize v. [trans.] divest of human characteristics or individuality: medical technology depersonalizes treatment.

de·phlo·gis·ti·cat·ed adj. HISTORICAL [CHEMISTRY] deprived of “phlogiston.” Oxygen was originally called dephlogisticated air by Joseph Priestley.

de·pict v. [trans.] show or represent by a drawing, painting, or other art form.
<SPECIAL USAGE> portray in words; describe: youth is depicted as a time of vitality and good health.

<DERIVATIVES> de·pict·er n. de·pic·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin depict- 'portrayed', from the verb depingere, from de- 'completely' + pingere 'to paint'.

de·pig·ment v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (depigmented) reduce or remove the pigmentation of (the skin).

<DERIVATIVES> de·pig·men·ta·tion n.

dep·i·late v. [trans.] remove the hair from: they scrubbed and depilated her | [as adj.] (depilated) his permanently depilated and tattooed skull.

<DERIVATIVES> dep·i·la·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin depilat- 'stripped of hair', from the verb depilare, from de- (expressing removal) + pilare (from pilus 'hair').

dep·i·la·tor n. an instrument that removes unwanted bodily hair, typically by plucking it from the root.

de·pil·a·to·ry adj. used to remove unwanted hair.

■ n. (pl. -ries) a cream or lotion for removing unwanted hair.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Latin depilatorius, from depilat- 'stripped of hair', from the verb depilare (see DEPILATE).

Linked entries:

DEPILATE ■

de·plane v. [intrans.] disembark from an aircraft: we landed and deplaned.

de·plete v. [often as adj.] (depleted) use up the supply of; exhaust the abundance of: fish stocks are severely depleted.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] diminish in number or quantity: supplies are depleting fast.

- exhaust: avoid getting depleted and depressed.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ple·tion n.

<ORIGIN> early 19th cent.: from Latin deplet- 'emptied out', from the verb deplere, from de- (expressing reversal) + plere 'fill' (from plenus 'full').

de·plet·ed u·ra·ni·um (abbr.: DU) n. uranium from which most of the fissile isotope uranium-235 has been removed.

de·ple·tion al·low·ance n. a tax concession allowable to a company whose normal business activities (in particular oil extraction) reduce the value of its own assets.

de·plor·a·ble adj. deserving strong condemnation: the deplorable conditions in which most prisoners are held.
<SPECIAL USAGE> shockingly bad in quality: her spelling was deplorable.

<DERIVATIVES> de·plor·a·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French déplorable or late Latin deplorabilis, from the verb deplorare (see DEPLORE).

Linked entries:

DEPLORE ■

de·plore v. [trans.] feel or express strong disapproval of (something): we deplore this act of violence.

<DERIVATIVES> de·plor·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'weep for, regret deeply'): from French déplorer or Italian deplorare, from Latin deplorare, from de- 'away, thoroughly' + plorare 'bewail'.

de·ploy v. [trans.] move (troops) into position for military action: forces were deployed at strategic locations.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of troops) move into position for such action: the air force began to deploy forward.

- bring into effective action; utilize: they are not always able to deploy this skill.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ploy·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French déployer, from Latin displicare and late Latin deplicare 'unfold or explain', from dis-, de- 'un-' + plicare 'to fold'. Compare with DISPLAY.

Linked entries:

DISPLAY ■

de·plume v. [trans.] deprive (a bird) of feathers.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC, FIGURATIVE strip or deprive of honor, status, or wealth.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French desplumer or medieval Latin deplumare, from des-, de- (expressing reversal) + Latin pluma 'feather'.

de·po·lar·ize v. [trans.] [PHYSICS] reduce or remove the polarization of: the threshold necessary to depolarize the membrane.

<DERIVATIVES> de·po·lar·i·za·tion n.

de·po·lit·i·cize v. [trans.] remove from political activity or influence: we have to depoliticize sex education.

<DERIVATIVES> de·po·lit·i·ci·za·tion n.

de·po·lym·er·ize v. [trans.] [CHEMISTRY] break (a polymer) down into monomers or other smaller units.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] undergo this process: the ideal disposable polymer would depolymerize naturally.

<DERIVATIVES> de·po·lym·er·i·za·tion n.

de·po·nent adj. [GRAMMAR] (of a verb, esp. in Latin or Greek) passive or middle in form but active in meaning.

■ n. 1 [GRAMMAR] a deponent verb.

2 [LAW] a person who makes a deposition or affidavit under oath.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin deponent- 'laying aside, putting down' (in medieval Latin 'testifying'), from the verb deponere, from de- 'down' + ponere 'place'. The use in grammar arose from the notion that the verb had “laid aside” the passive sense (although in fact these verbs were originally reflexive).

de·pop·u·late v. [trans.] substantially reduce the population of (an area): the disease could depopulate a city the size of New Haven.

<DERIVATIVES> de·pop·u·la·tion n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent. (in the sense 'ravage, lay waste'): from Latin depopulat- 'ravaged', from the verb depopulari, from de- 'completely' + populari 'lay waste' (from populus 'people').

de·port v. 1 [trans.] expel (a foreigner) from a country, typically on the grounds of illegal status or for having committed a crime: he was deported for violation of immigration laws.
<SPECIAL USAGE> exile (a native) to another country.

2 (deport oneself) ARCHAIC conduct oneself in a specified manner: he has deported himself with great dignity.

<DERIVATIVES> de·port·a·ble adj. de·por·ta·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (sense 2): from French déporter, from Latin deportare, from de- 'away' + portare 'carry'.

de·por·tee n. a person who has been or is being expelled from a country.

de·port·ment n. a person's behavior or manners: there are team rules governing deportment on and off the field.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from French déportement, from the verb déporter (see DEPORT).

Linked entries:

DEPORT ■

de·pose v. [trans.] 1 remove from office suddenly and forcefully: he had been deposed by a military coup.

2 [LAW] testify to or give (evidence) on oath, typically in a written statement: every affidavit shall state which of the facts deposed to are within the deponent's knowledge.

3 [LAW] to question (a witness) in deposition.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French deposer, from Latin deponere (see DEPONENT), but influenced by Latin depositus and Old French poser 'to place'.

Linked entries:

DEPONENT ■

de·pos·it n. 1 a sum of money placed or kept in a bank account, usually to gain interest.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an act of placing money in a bank account: I'd like to make a deposit.

2 a sum payable as a first installment on the purchase of something or as a pledge for a contract, the balance being payable later: we've saved enough for a deposit on a house.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a returnable sum payable on the rental of something, to cover any possible loss or damage.

3 a layer or body of accumulated matter: the deposits of salt on the chrome.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a natural layer of sand, rock, coal, or other material.

■ v. (-it·ed, -it·ing) 1 [trans.] put or set down (something or someone) in a specific place, typically unceremoniously: he deposited a pile of schoolbooks on the kitchen table.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (usu. be deposited) (of water, the wind, or other natural agency) lay down (matter) gradually as a layer or covering: beds where salt is deposited by the tide.

- lay (an egg): the female deposits a line of eggs.

2 [trans.] store or entrust with someone for safekeeping.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- pay (a sum of money) into a bank account: the money is deposited with a bank.

- pay (a sum) as a first installment or as a pledge for a contract: I had to deposit 10% of the price of the house.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (esp. in the phrases in deposit or on deposit): from Latin depositum (noun), medieval Latin depositare (verb), both from Latin deposit- 'laid aside', from the verb deponere.

de·pos·i·tar·y (also de·pos·i·tor·y) n. (pl. -tar·ies) a person to whom something is lodged in trust.

■ adj. (of a share or receipt) representing a share in a foreign company. The depositary share or receipt is traded on the stock exchange of the investor's country rather than the actual share, which is deposited in a foreign bank.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from late Latin depositarius, from the verb deponere (see DEPOSIT).

Linked entries:

DEPOSIT ■

dep·o·si·tion n. 1 the action of deposing someone, esp. a monarch: Edward V's deposition.

2 [LAW] the process of giving sworn evidence: the deposition of four expert witnesses.

3 [LAW] the written record of a witness's out-of-court testimony.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a formal, usually written, statement to be used as evidence outside court.

4 the action of depositing something: pebbles formed by the deposition of calcium in solution.

5 (the Deposition) the taking down of the body of Jesus Christ from the Cross.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin depositio(n-), from the verb deponere (see DEPOSIT).

Linked entries:

DEPOSIT ■

de·pos·i·tor n. a person who keeps money in a bank account.

de·pos·i·to·ry n. (pl. -ries) 1 a place where things are stored.

2 variant spelling of DEPOSITARY.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (denoting a depositary): from late Latin depositorium, from deposit- 'laid aside', from the verb deponere (see DEPOSIT).

Linked entries:

DEPOSITARY ■

DEPOSIT ■

de·pot n. a place for the storage of large quantities of equipment, food, or some other commodity: an arms depot.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a railroad or bus station.

- a place where buses, trains, or other vehicles are housed and maintained and from which they are dispatched for service.

- the headquarters of a regiment; a place where recruits or other troops are assembled.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent. (in the sense 'act of depositing'): from French dépôt, from Latin depositum 'something deposited' (see DEPOSIT).

Linked entries:

DEPOSIT ■

de·prave v. [trans.] make (someone) immoral or wicked: this book would deprave and corrupt young children.

<DERIVATIVES> dep·ra·va·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'pervert the meaning or intention of something'): from Old French depraver or Latin depravare, from de- 'down, thoroughly' + pravus 'crooked, perverse'.

de·praved adj. morally corrupt: a depraved indifference to human life.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
corrupt, debased, degenerate, depraved, perverted, vile

There are many terms to describe the dark side of human nature.

Someone who preys on young children would be considered depraved, a term that means totally immoral and implies a warped character or a twisted mind (a depraved man who stole money from his own mother and eventually murdered her).

While depraved suggests an absolute condition, degenerate is a relative term that implies deterioration from a mental, moral, or physical standard (her degenerate habits eventually led to her arrest for possession of drugs).

Corrupt also suggests a deterioration or loss of soundness, particularly through a destructive or contaminating influence. But unlike depraved, which usually applies to the lower end of the human spectrum, people in high positions are often referred to as corrupt (a corrupt politician from a prominent family).

To say that someone or something is debased suggests a lowering in quality, value, dignity, or character (debased by having to spend time in prison).

Perverted and vile are the strongest of these words describing lack of moral character.

Perverted suggests a distortion of someone or something from what is right, natural, or true; in a moral sense, it means to use one's appetites or natural desires for other ends than those which are considered normal or natural (a perverted individual who never should have been left alone with young children).

Most people find criminals who prey on either very old or very young victims to be vile, a more general term for whatever is loathsome, repulsive, or utterly despicable (a vile killer who deserved the maximum sentence).

de·prav·i·ty n. (pl. -ties) moral corruption: a tale of wickedness and depravity.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a wicked or morally corrupt act.

- [CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY] the innate corruptness of human nature, due to original sin.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: alteration (influenced by DEPRAVE) of obsolete pravity, from Latin pravitas, from pravus 'crooked, perverse'.

Linked entries:

DEPRAVE ■

dep·re·cate v. [trans.] 1 express disapproval of: [as adj.] (deprecating) he sniffed in a deprecating way.

2 another term for DEPRECIATE (sense 2): he deprecates the value of children's television.

<DERIVATIVES> dep·re·cat·ing·ly adv. dep·re·ca·tion n. dep·re·ca·tive adj. dep·re·ca·tor n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'pray against'): from Latin deprecat- 'prayed against (as being evil)', from the verb deprecari, from de- (expressing reversal) + precari 'pray'.

<USAGE>
See usage at SELF-DEPRECATING.

Linked entries:

DEPRECIATE ■

SELF-DEPRECATING ■

dep·re·ca·to·ry adj. expressing disapproval; disapproving.
<SPECIAL USAGE> apologetic or appeasing: a deprecatory smile.

de·pre·ci·ate v. 1 [intrans.] diminish in value over a period of time: the pound is expected to depreciate against the dollar.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reduce the recorded value in a company's books of (an asset) each year over a predetermined period: the computers would be depreciated at 50 percent per annum.

2 [trans.] disparage or belittle (something): she was already depreciating her own aesthetic taste.

<DERIVATIVES> de·pre·ci·a·to·ry adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (sense 2): from late Latin depreciat- 'lowered in price, undervalued', from the verb depreciare, from Latin de- 'down' + pretium 'price'.

<USAGE>
See usage at SELF-DEPRECATING.

Linked entries:

SELF-DEPRECATING ■

de·pre·ci·a·tion n. a reduction in the value of an asset with the passage of time, due in particular to wear and tear.
<SPECIAL USAGE> decrease in the value of a currency relative to other currencies: depreciation leads to losses for nondollar-based investors | a currency depreciation.

dep·re·da·tion n. (usu. depredations) an act of attacking or plundering: protecting grain from the depredations of rats and mice.

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the sense 'plundering, robbery', (plural) 'ravages'): from French déprédation, from late Latin depraedatio(n-), from depraedari 'plunder'.

dep·re·da·tor n. ARCHAIC a person or thing that makes depredations, esp. a predatory animal.

<DERIVATIVES> dep·re·da·to·ry adj.

de·press v. [trans.] 1 make (someone) feel utterly dispirited or dejected: that first day at school depressed me.
<SPECIAL USAGE> reduce the level or strength of activity in (something, esp. an economic or biological system): fear of inflation in America depressed bond markets; | alcohol depresses the nervous system.

2 push or pull (something) down into a lower position: depress the lever.

<DERIVATIVES> de·press·i·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French depresser, from late Latin depressare, frequentative of deprimere 'press down'.

de·pres·sant adj. (chiefly of a drug) reducing functional or nervous activity.

■ n. a depressant drug.
<SPECIAL USAGE> an influence that depresses economic or other activity: higher taxation is a depressant.

de·pressed adj. (of a person) in a state of general unhappiness or despondency.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a person) suffering from clinical depression.

- (of a place or economic activity) suffering the damaging effects of a lack of demand or employment: depressed urban areas.

- (of an object or part of an object) in a physically lower position, having been pushed or forced down: a depressed fracture of the skull.

de·press·ing adj. causing or resulting in a feeling of miserable dejection: that thought is too depressing for words.
<SPECIAL USAGE> causing a damaging reduction in economic activity: the mortgage rate increase will have a depressing effect on the housing market.

<DERIVATIVES> de·press·ing·ly adv.

de·pres·sion n. 1 severe despondency and dejection, typically felt over a period of time and accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MEDICINE] a condition of mental disturbance characterized by such feelings to a greater degree than seems warranted by the external circumstances, typically with lack of energy and difficulty in maintaining concentration or interest in life: clinical depression.

- a long and severe recession in an economy or market: the depression in the housing market.

- (the Depression or the Great Depression) the financial and industrial slump of 1929 and subsequent years.

2 the lowering or reducing of something: the depression of prices.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of pressing down on something: depression of the plunger delivers two units of insulin.

- a sunken place or hollow on a surface: the original shallow depressions were slowly converted to creeks.

- [ASTRONOMY] & [GEOGRAPHY] the angular distance of an object below the horizon or a horizontal plane.

- [METEOROLOGY] a region of lower atmospheric pressure, esp. a cyclonic weather system.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin depressio(n-), from deprimere 'press down' (see DEPRESS).

Linked entries:

DEPRESS ■

De·pres·sion glass n. machine-pressed, tinted glassware that was mass-produced in the U.S. from the late 1920s to the 1940s and often used as giveaways to persuade customers to purchase goods.

de·pres·sive adj. causing feelings of hopelessness, despondency, and dejection.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MEDICINE] relating to or tending to suffer from clinical depression: a depressive illness.

- causing a reduction in strength, effectiveness, or value: steroids have a depressive effect on the immune system.

■ n. [MEDICINE] a person suffering from or with a tendency to suffer from depression.

de·pres·sor n. 1 [ANATOMY] (also depressor muscle) a muscle whose contraction pulls down the part of the body to which it is attached.
<SPECIAL USAGE> any of several specific muscles in the face: [followed by Latin genitive] depressor anguli oris.

2 [PHYSIOLOGY] a nerve whose stimulation results in a lowering of blood pressure.

3 an instrument for pressing something down.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the general sense 'someone or something that depresses'): from Latin, from depress- 'pressed down', from the verb deprimere (see DEPRESS).

Linked entries:

DEPRESS ■

de·pres·sur·ize v. [trans.] release the pressure of the gas inside (a pressurized vehicle or container).
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (of a pressurized vehicle or container) lose pressure.

<DERIVATIVES> de·pres·sur·i·za·tion n.

dep·ri·va·tion n. the damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society: low wages mean that 3.75 million people suffer serious deprivation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the lack or denial of something considered to be a necessity: sleep deprivation.

- ARCHAIC the action of depriving someone of office, esp. an ecclesiastical office.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'removal from office'): from medieval Latin deprivatio(n-), from the verb deprivare (see DEPRIVE).

Linked entries:

DEPRIVE ■

de·prive v. [trans.] deny (a person or place) the possession or use of something: the city was deprived of its water supplies.
<SPECIAL USAGE> ARCHAIC depose (someone, esp. a clergyman) from office: Archbishop Bancroft deprived a considerable number of puritan clergymen.

<DERIVATIVES> de·priv·al n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'depose from office'): from Old French depriver, from medieval Latin deprivare, from de- 'away, completely' + privare (see PRIVATE).

Linked entries:

PRIVATE ■

de·prived adj. suffering a severe and damaging lack of basic material and cultural benefits: the charity cares for destitute and deprived children.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) suffering a lack of a specified benefit that is considered important: the men felt sexually deprived.

de pro·fun·dis n. a heartfelt cry of appeal expressing one's deepest feelings of sorrow or anguish.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: Latin, literally 'from the depths', the opening words of Psalm 130.

de·pro·gram v. (-grammed , -gram·ming or -gramed, -gram·ing) [trans.] release (someone) from apparent brainwashing, typically that of a religious cult, by the systematic reindoctrination of conventional values.

de·pro·tein·ize v. [trans.] remove the protein from (a substance), usually as a stage in chemical purification.

<DERIVATIVES> de·pro·tein·i·za·tion n.

Dept. abbr. Department.

depth n. 1 the distance from the top or surface of something to its bottom: shallow water of no more than 12 feet in depth.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- distance from the nearest to the farthest point of something or from the front to the back: the depth of the wardrobe.

- used to specify the distance below the top or surface of something to which someone or something percolates or at which something happens: [in sing.] loosen the soil to a depth of 8 inches.

- the apparent existence of three dimensions in a picture, photograph, or other two-dimensional representation; perspective: texture in a picture gives it depth.

- lowness of pitch: my voice had not yet acquired husky depths.

2 complexity and profundity of thought: the book has unexpected depth.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- extensive and detailed study or knowledge: third-year courses typically go into more depth.

- intensity of emotion, usually considered as a laudable quality: a man of compassion and depth of feeling.

- intensity of color: the wine shows good depth of color.

3 (the depths) a point far below the surface: he lifted the manhole cover and peered into the depths beneath.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (also the depth) the worst or lowest part or state: 4 a.m. in the depths of winter; | the putrid depths to which morality has sunk.

- a time when one's negative feelings are at their most intense: she was in the depths of despair.

- a place that is remote and inaccessible: a remote little village somewhere in the depths of Russia.

4 [SPORTS] the strength of a team in its reserve of substitute players: they have so much depth that they could afford the luxury of breaking in their players slowly.

<PHRASES>
□ hidden depths usually admirable but previously unnoticed qualities of a person: hidden depths and insights within children.
- obscure or secretive aspects of a situation: the hidden depths of marital life.

□ in depth in great detail; comprehensively and thoroughly: research students pursue a specific aspect of a subject in depth. See also IN-DEPTH.

□ out of one's depth in water too deep to stand in.
- FIGURATIVE beyond one's knowledge or ability to cope: the Governor is out of his depth, politically adrift.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from DEEP + -TH^2 , on the pattern of pairs such as long, length.

Linked entries:

IN-DEPTH ■

DEEP ■

-TH ■

depth charge n. an explosive charge designed to be dropped from a ship or aircraft and to explode under water at a preset depth, used for attacking submarines.

depth find·er n. an echo sounder or other device for measuring water depth, esp. for navigation and fishing.

depth gauge n. a device fitted to a drill bit to ensure that the hole drilled does not exceed the required depth.

depth·less adj. unfathomably deep: a depthless gorge.
<SPECIAL USAGE> FIGURATIVE shallow and superficial.

<DERIVATIVES> depth·less·ly adv.

depth of field n. the distance between the nearest and the furthest objects that give an image judged to be in focus in a camera.

depth of fo·cus n. the distance between the two extreme axial points behind a lens at which an image is judged to be in focus.

depth per·cep·tion n. the ability to perceive the relative distance of objects in one's visual field.

depth psy·chol·o·gy n. the study of unconscious mental processes and motives, esp. in psychoanalytic theory and practice.

depth sound·er n. another term for ECHO SOUNDER.

Linked entries:

ECHO SOUNDER ■

de·pub·li·ca·tion n. the act of depublishing: the League of California cities had requested depublication of the Div. Seven ruling.

de·pub·lish v. [trans.] [CHIEFLY LAW] remove from an official record or publication: the Supreme Court may also elect to depublish a case on its own motion.

dep·u·rate v. [trans.] RARE free (something) of impurities.

<DERIVATIVES> dep·u·ra·tion n. dep·u·ra·tive adj. & n. dep·u·ra·tor n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from medieval Latin depurat- 'purified', from the verb depurare, from de- 'completely' + purare 'purify' (from purus 'pure').

dep·u·ta·tion n. a group of people appointed to undertake a mission or take part in a formal process on behalf of a larger group: he had been a member of a deputation to Napoleon III.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'appointment to an office or function'): from late Latin deputatio(n-), from the verb deputare (see DEPUTE).

Linked entries:

DEPUTE ■

de·pute v. [trans.] appoint or instruct (someone) to perform a task for which one is responsible: she had been deputed to look after him while Clarissa was away.
<SPECIAL USAGE> delegate (authority or a task).

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin deputare 'consider to be, assign', from de- 'away'+ putare 'think over, consider'.

dep·u·tize v. [trans.] make (someone) a deputy: some officers will be deputized as federal marshals.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] temporarily act or speak as a deputy.

dep·u·ty n. (pl. -ties) a person whose immediate superior is a senior figure within an organization and who is empowered to act as a substitute for this superior.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a parliamentary representative in certain countries.

<PHRASES> by deputy HISTORICAL instructing another person to act in one's stead; by proxy: the wardens of the forests performed important duties by deputy.

<DERIVATIVES> dep·u·ty·ship n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French depute, from late Latin deputatus, past participle of deputare (see DEPUTE).

Linked entries:

DEPUTE ■

de·queue v. (-queued, -queu·ing or -queue·ing) [trans.] [COMPUTING] remove (an item) from a queue.

De Quin·cey Thomas (1785-1859), English essayist and critic. He was known for his Confessions of an English Opium Eater (1822), a study of his addiction to opium and its psychological effects.

de·rac·in·ate v. [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY tear (something) up by the roots.

<DERIVATIVES> de·rac·i·na·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from French déraciner, from dé- (expressing removal) + racine 'root' (based on Latin radix).

de·rac·i·nat·ed adj. another term for DÉRACINÉ.

Linked entries:

DÉRACINÉ ■

dé·ra·ci·né adj. uprooted or displaced from one's geographical or social environment: the self-consciousness of déraciné Americans.

■ n. a person who has been or feels displaced.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally 'uprooted'.

de·rail v. [trans.] (usu. be derailed) cause (a train or trolley car) to leave its tracks accidentally: a train was derailed after it collided with a herd of cattle.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] (of a train or trolley car) accidentally leave the tracks: the trolley cars had a tendency to derail on sharp corners.

- [trans.] FIGURATIVE obstruct (a process) by diverting it from its intended course: the plot is seen by some as an attempt to derail the negotiations.

<DERIVATIVES> de·rail·ment n.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from French dérailler, from dé- (expressing removal) + rail 'rail'.

de·rail·leur n. a bicycle mechanism that moves the chain out and up, allowing it to shift to different cogs.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from French, from dérailler 'derail'.

De·rain André (1880-1954), French painter; an exponent of fauvism.

de·range v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (deranged) cause (someone) to become insane: a deranged man.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- throw (something) into confusion; cause to act irregularly: stress deranges the immune system.

- ARCHAIC intrude on; interrupt: I am sorry to have deranged you for so small a matter.

<DERIVATIVES> de·range·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: from French déranger, from Old French desrengier, literally 'move from orderly rows'.

de·rate v. [trans.] reduce the power rating of (a component or device): the engines were derated to 90 horse power.

Der·by 1 a city in north central England, on the Derwent River ; pop. 214,000.

Der·by 2 Edward George Geoffrey Smith Stanley, 14th Earl of (1799-1869), British statesman; prime minister 1852, 1858-59, and 1866-68.

Der·by 3 n. (pl. -bies) 1 an annual horse race for three-year-olds, founded in 1780 by the 12th Earl of Derby. The race is run on Epsom Downs in England in late May or early June.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a similar race elsewhere: the Kentucky Derby.

- (derby) a sporting contest open to the general public: sign up for the fishing derby.

2 (derby, also derby hat) a bowler hat. <ORIGIN> said to be from American demand for a hat of the type worn at the Epsom Derby.

3 a boot or shoe having the eyelet tabs stitched on top of the vamp. <ORIGIN> so named because originally a sports boot.

Der·by 4 n. a hard pressed cheese made from skimmed milk, chiefly in Derbyshire.

Der·by Day n. the day on which the Epsom Derby is run.

Der·by·shire a county in north central England; county town, Matlock.

Der·by·shire neck n. HISTORICAL goiter, formerly endemic in parts of Derbyshire.

de re adj. [PHILOSOPHY] relating to the properties of things mentioned in an assertion or expression, rather than to the assertion or expression itself. Compare with DE DICTO.

<ORIGIN> Latin, literally 'about the thing'.

Linked entries:

DE DICTO ■

de·re·al·i·za·tion n. a feeling that one's surroundings are not real, esp. as a symptom of mental disturbance.

<DERIVATIVES> de·re·al·ized adj.

de·re·cho n. a line of intense, widespread, and fast-moving windstorms and sometimes thunderstorms that moves across a great distance and is characterized by damaging straight-line winds.

<ORIGIN> Spanish, literally 'straight'.

de·ref·er·ence v. [trans.] [COMPUTING] obtain the address of a data item held in another location from (a pointer).

de·reg·u·late v. [trans.] remove regulations or restrictions from: a law that would deregulate cable TV prices.

<DERIVATIVES> de·reg·u·la·tion n. de·reg·u·la·to·ry adj.

der·e·lict adj. in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect: the cities were derelict and dying.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) shamefully negligent in not having done what one should have done: he was derelict in his duty to his country.

■ n. a person without a home, job, or property: derelicts who could fit all their possessions in a paper bag.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a piece of property, esp. a ship, abandoned by the owner and in poor condition.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin derelictus 'abandoned', past participle of derelinquere, from de- 'completely' + relinquere 'forsake'.

der·e·lic·tion n. the state of having been abandoned and become dilapidated: every year valuable gardens start the slow slide to dereliction.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (usu. dereliction of duty) the shameful failure to fulfill one's obligations.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin derelictio(n-), from the verb derelinquere (see DERELICT).

Linked entries:

DERELICT ■

de·re·press v. [trans.] [BIOCHEMISTRY] & [GENETICS] activate (enzymes, genes, etc.) from an inoperative or latent state.

<DERIVATIVES> de·re·pres·sion n.

de·req·ui·si·tion v. [trans.] DATED return (requisitioned property) to its former owner.

de·re·strict v. [trans.] remove restrictions from.

<DERIVATIVES> de·re·stric·tion n.

de·ride v. [trans.] express contempt for; ridicule: critics derided the proposals as clumsy attempts to find a solution.

<DERIVATIVES> de·rid·er n.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin deridere 'scoff at'.

de ri·gueur adj. required by etiquette or current fashion: it was de rigueur for bands to grow their hair long.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: French, literally 'in strictness'.

de·ri·sion n. contemptuous ridicule or mockery: my stories were greeted with derision and disbelief.

<PHRASES> hold (or have) in derision ARCHAIC regard with mockery.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ris·i·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin derisio(n-), from deridere 'scoff at'.

de·ri·sive adj. expressing contempt or ridicule: a harsh, derisive laugh.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ri·sive·ly adv. de·ri·sive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from DERISION, on the pattern of the pair decision, decisive.

<USAGE>
On the difference between derisive and derisory, see usage at DERISORY.

Linked entries:

DERISION ■

DERISORY ■

de·ri·so·ry adj. 1 ridiculously small or inadequate: they were given a derisory pay rise.

2 another term for DERISIVE: his derisory gaze swept over her.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'derisive'): from late Latin derisorius, from deris- 'scoffed at', from the verb deridere (see DERISION).

<USAGE>
Although the words derisory and derisive share similar roots, they have different core meanings. Derisory usually means ‘ridiculously small or inadequate,’ as in a derisory pay offer or the security arrangements were derisory. Derisive, on the other hand, is used to mean ‘showing contempt,’ as in he gave a derisive laugh.

Linked entries:

DERISIVE ■

DERISION ■

der·i·vate n. something derived, esp. a product obtained chemically from a raw material.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin derivat- 'derived', from the verb derivare (see DERIVE).

Linked entries:

DERIVE ■

der·i·va·tion n. 1 the obtaining or developing of something from a source or origin: the derivation of scientific laws from observation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the formation of a word from another word or from a root in the same or another language.

- [LINGUISTICS] in generative grammar the set of stages that link the abstract underlying structure of an expression to its surface form.

- [MATHEMATICS] a sequence of statements showing that a formula, theorem, etc., is a consequence of previously accepted statements.

- [MATHEMATICS] the process of deducing a new formula, theorem, etc., from previously accepted statements.

2 origin; extraction: music of primarily Turkish derivation.
<SPECIAL USAGE> something derived; a derivative: the derivation “sheepish” has six definitions.

<DERIVATIVES> der·i·va·tion·al adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (denoting the drawing of a fluid, specifically the drawing of pus or blood; also in the sense 'formation of a word from another word'): from Latin derivatio(n-), from the verb derivare (see DERIVE).

Linked entries:

DERIVE ■

de·riv·a·tive adj. (typically of an artist or work of art) imitative of the work of another person, and usually disapproved of for that reason: an artist who is not in the slightest bit derivative.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- originating from, based on, or influenced by: Darwin's work is derivative of the moral philosophers.

- [attrib.] (of a financial product) having a value deriving from an underlying variable asset: equity-based derivative products.

■ n. something that is based on another source: a derivative of the system was chosen for the Marine Corps’ V-22 tilt rotor aircraft.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (often derivatives) an arrangement or instrument (such as a future, option, or warrant) whose value derives from and is dependent on the value of an underlying asset: [as adj.] the derivatives market.

- a word derived from another or from a root in the same or another language.

- a substance that is derived chemically from a specified compound: crack is a highly addictive cocaine derivative.

- [MATHEMATICS] an expression representing the rate of change of a function with respect to an independent variable.

<DERIVATIVES> de·riv·a·tive·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the adjective sense 'having the power to draw off', and in the noun sense 'a word derived from another'): from French dérivatif, -ive, from Latin derivativus, from derivare (see DERIVE).

Linked entries:

DERIVE ■

de·rive v. [trans.] (derive something from) obtain something from (a specified source): they derived great comfort from this assurance.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (derive something from) base a concept on a logical extension or modification of (another concept): Marx derived his philosophy of history from Hegel.

- [intrans.] (derive from) (of a word) have (a specified word, usually of another language) as a root or origin: the word “punch” derives from the Hindustani “pancha” | (be derived from) the word “man” is derived from the Sanskrit “manas.”

- [intrans.] (derive from) arise from or originate in (a specified source): words whose spelling derives from Dr. Johnson's incorrect etymology.

- (be derived from) [LINGUISTICS] (of an expression in a natural language) be linked by a set of stages to (its underlying abstract form).

- (be derived from) (of a substance) be formed or prepared by (a chemical or physical process affecting another substance): strong acids are derived from the combustion of fossil fuels.

- [MATHEMATICS] obtain (a function or equation) from another by a sequence of logical steps, for example by differentiation.

<DERIVATIVES> de·riv·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'draw a fluid through or into a channel'): from Old French deriver or Latin derivare, from de- 'down, away' + rivus 'brook, stream'.

de·rived de·mand n. [ECONOMICS] a demand for a commodity, service, etc., that is a consequence of the demand for something else.

de·rived fos·sil n. a fossil redeposited in a sediment that is younger than the one in which it first occurred.

derm n. another term for DERMIS.

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DERMIS ■

der·ma 1 n. another term for DERMIS.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek 'skin'.

Linked entries:

DERMIS ■

der·ma 2 n. beef or chicken intestine, stuffed and cooked in dishes such as kishke.

<ORIGIN> from Yiddish derme, plural of darm 'intestine'; related to Old English tharm 'intestine'.

der·ma- (also dermo-) comb. form skin: dermabrasion.

<ORIGIN> from Greek, derma 'skin'.

derm·a·bra·sion n. the removal of superficial layers of skin with a rapidly revolving abrasive tool, as a technique in cosmetic surgery.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: from Greek derma 'skin' + ABRASION.

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ABRASION ■

Der·map·te·ra [ENTOMOLOGY] an order of insects that comprises the earwigs.

<DERIVATIVES> der·map·ter·an n. & adj. der·map·ter·ous adj.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek derma 'skin' + pteron 'wing'.

der·ma·ti·tis n. a condition of the skin in which it becomes red, swollen, and sore, sometimes with small blisters, resulting from direct irritation of the skin by an external agent or an allergic reaction to it. Compare with ECZEMA.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from Greek derma, dermat- 'skin' + -ITIS.

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ECZEMA ■

-ITIS ■

dermato- comb. form of or relating to the skin: dermatomycosis.

<ORIGIN> from Greek derma, dermat- 'skin, hide'.

der·mat·o·glyph·ics plural n. [treated as sing.] the study of skin markings or patterns on fingers, hands, and feet, and its application, esp. in criminology.

<DERIVATIVES> der·mat·o·glyph n. der·mat·o·glyph·ic adj. der·mat·o·glyph·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: from DERMATO- 'skin' + Greek gluphikos 'carved' (from 'carving').

Linked entries:

DERMATO- ■

der·ma·tol·o·gy n. the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders.

<DERIVATIVES> der·ma·to·log·i·cal adj. der·ma·to·log·i·cal·ly adv. der·ma·tol·o·gist n.

der·ma·tome n. [EMBRYOLOGY] the lateral wall of each somite in a vertebrate embryo, giving rise to the connective tissue of the skin. Compare with MYOTOME, SCLEROTOME.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [PHYSIOLOGY] an area of the skin supplied by nerves from a single spinal root.

Linked entries:

MYOTOME ■

SCLEROTOME ■

der·mat·o·my·co·sis n. (pl. -ses ) a fungal infection of the skin, esp. by a dermatophyte.

der·mat·o·my·o·si·tis n. [MEDICINE] inflammation of the skin and underlying muscle tissue, involving degeneration of collagen, discoloration, and swelling, typically occurring as an autoimmune condition or associated with internal cancer.

der·mat·o·phyte n. a pathogenic fungus that grows on skin, mucous membranes, hair, nails, feathers, and other body surfaces, causing ringworm and related diseases.
<INFO>  Trichophyton and other genera, subdivision Deuteromycotina.

<DERIVATIVES> der·mat·o·phyt·ic adj.

der·mat·o·phy·to·sis n. (pl. -ses ) another term for DERMATOMYCOSIS.

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DERMATOMYCOSIS ■

der·ma·to·sis n. (pl. -ses ) a disease of the skin, esp. one that does not cause inflammation.

der·mes·tid n. [ENTOMOLOGY] a small beetle of a family (Dermestidae) that includes many kinds that are destructive (esp. as larvae) to hides, skin, fur, wool, and other animal substances.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Dermestidae (plural), from the genus name Dermestes, formed irregularly from Greek derma 'skin' + esthiein 'eat'.

der·mis n. TECHNICAL the skin.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [ANATOMY] the thick layer of living tissue below the epidermis that forms the true skin, containing blood capillaries, nerve endings, sweat glands, hair follicles, and other structures.

<DERIVATIVES> der·mal adj. der·mic adj. (RARE).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: modern Latin, suggested by epidermis.

der·moid n. short for DERMOID CYST.

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DERMOID CYST ■

der·moid cyst n. [MEDICINE] an abnormal growth (teratoma) containing epidermis, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands, derived from residual embryonic cells.

Der·mop·ter·a [ZOOLOGY] a small order of mammals that comprises the flying lemurs or colugos.

<ORIGIN> modern Latin (plural), from Greek derma 'skin' + pteron 'wing'.

der·nier cri n. (the/le dernier cri) the very latest fashion: as soon as he was passé on the European scene, he became the dernier cri here.

<ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: French, literally 'last cry'.

der·o·gate v. FORMAL 1 [trans.] disparage (someone or something): it is typical of Pirandello to derogate the powers of reason.

2 [intrans.] (derogate from) detract from: this does not derogate from his duty to act honestly and faithfully.

3 [intrans.] (derogate from) deviate from (a set of rules or agreed form of behavior): one country has derogated from the Rome Convention.

<DERIVATIVES> de·rog·a·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin derogat- 'abrogated', from the verb derogare, from de- 'aside, away' + rogare 'ask'.

der·o·ga·tion n. 1 an exemption from or relaxation of a rule or law: the massive derogation of human rights.

2 the perception or treatment of someone as being of little worth: the derogation of women.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'impairment of the force of'): from Latin derogatio(n-), from the verb derogare (see DEROGATE).

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DEROGATE ■

de·rog·a·to·ry adj. showing a critical or disrespectful attitude: she tells me I'm fat and is always making derogatory remarks.

<DERIVATIVES> de·rog·a·to·ri·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> early 16th cent. (in the sense 'impairing in force or effect'): from late Latin derogatorius, from derogat- 'abrogated', from the verb derogare (see DEROGATE).

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DEROGATE ■

der·rick n. 1 a kind of crane with a movable pivoted arm for moving or lifting heavy weights, esp. on a ship.

2 the framework over an oil well or similar boring that holds the drilling machinery.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (denoting a hangman, also the gallows): from Derrick, the surname of a hangman in London, England.

Der·ri·da Jacques (1930-2004), French philosopher and literary critic. He was an important figure in the theory of deconstructionism.

der·ri·ère n. INFORMAL euphemistic term for a person's buttocks.

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: French, literally 'behind'.

der·ring-do n. DATED,HUMOROUS action displaying heroic courage: tales of derring-do.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from late Middle English dorryng do 'daring to do', used by Chaucer, and, in a passage by Lydgate based on Chaucer's work, misprinted in 16th-cent. editions as derrynge do; this was misinterpreted by Spenser to mean 'manhood, chivalry', and subsequently taken up and popularized by Sir Walter Scott.

der·rin·ger n. a small pistol that has a large bore and is very effective at close range.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: named after Henry Deringer (1786-1868), the American gunsmith who invented it.

der·ris n. 1 an insecticide made from the powdered roots of certain tropical plants containing rotenone. <ORIGIN> late 19th cent.: originally used in Malaya to stupefy fish.

2 a woody, climbing plant of the pea family that bears leathery pods and has tuberous roots from which this insecticide is obtained. <ORIGIN> modern Latin, from Greek, 'leather covering' (referring to its pod).
<INFO>  Genus Derris, family Leguminosae.

Der·ry 1  see LONDONDERRY.

2 a town in southeastern New Hampshire, southeast of Manchester; pop. 34,021.

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LONDONDERRY ■

der·vish n. a Muslim (specifically Sufi) religious man who has taken vows of poverty and austerity. Dervishes first appeared in the 12th century; they were noted for their wild or ecstatic rituals and were known as dancing, whirling, or howling dervishes according to the practice of their order.

<ORIGIN> from Turkish , from Persian 'poor', (as a noun) 'religious mendicant'.

DES abbr.
- diethylstilbestrol.

- [COMPUTING] data encryption standard.

de·sa·cral·ize v. [trans.] remove the religious or sacred status or significance from: we have chosen to desacralize the world through modern science.

<DERIVATIVES> de·sa·cral·i·za·tion n.

de Sade , Marquis, see SADE.

Linked entries:

SADE ■

de·sal·i·nate v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (desalinated) remove salt from (seawater).

<DERIVATIVES> de·sal·i·na·tion n. de·sal·i·na·tor n.

de·sal·in·ize v. another term for DESALINATE.

<DERIVATIVES> de·sal·in·i·za·tion n.

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DESALINATE ■

de·salt v. another term for DESALINATE.

Linked entries:

DESALINATE ■

de·sa·pa·re·ci·do n. (pl. -dos) (esp. in South America), a person who has disappeared, presumed killed by members of the armed services or the police.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: Spanish, literally 'disappeared'.

de·sat·u·rate v. [trans.] make less saturated; cause to become unsaturated.

<DERIVATIVES> de·sat·u·ra·tion n.

des·ca·mi·sa·do n. (pl. -dos) (in Latin America) a very poor person.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: Spanish, literally 'shirtless'.

des·cant n. [MUSIC] an independent treble melody usually sung or played above a basic melody.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY a melodious song.

- a discourse on a theme or subject: his descant of deprivation.

■ v. [intrans.] talk tediously or at length: I have descanted on this subject before.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French deschant, from medieval Latin discantus 'part-song, refrain'.

des·cant re·cord·er n. British term for SOPRANO RECORDER.

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SOPRANO RECORDER ■

Des·cartes René (1596-1650), French philosopher, mathematician, and man of science. He concluded that everything was open to doubt except conscious experience and existence as a necessary condition of this: "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am). In mathematics, he developed the use of coordinates to locate a point in two or three dimensions.

de·scend v. [intrans.] 1 move or fall downward: the aircraft began to descend.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [trans.] move down (a slope or stairs): the vehicle descended a ramp.

- (of stairs, a road or path, or a piece of land) be on a slope or incline and extend downward: a side road descended into the forest | [trans.] a narrow flight of stairs descended a steep slope.

- come or go down a scale, esp. from the superior to the inferior: [as adj.] (descending) the categories are listed in descending order of usefulness.

- [MUSIC] (of sound) become lower in pitch: [as adj.] (descending) a passage of descending chords.

- (descend to) act in a specified shameful way that is far below one's usual standards: she descended to self-pity.

- (descend into) (of a situation or group of people) reach (a state considered undesirable or shameful): the army had descended into chaos.

2 (descend on/upon) make a sudden attack on: the militia descended on Rye.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make an unexpected and typically unwelcome visit to: treasure-seekers descended upon the site.

- (of a feeling or atmosphere) develop suddenly and be felt throughout a place or by a person or group of people: an air of gloom descended on the Democratic Party headquarters.

- (of night or darkness) begin to occur: as the winter darkness descended, the fighting ceased.

3 (be descended from) be a blood relative of (a specified, typically illustrious ancestor): Jews believe they are descended from Abraham.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of an asset) pass by inheritance, typically from parent to child: his lands descended to his eldest son.

<DERIVATIVES> de·scend·ent adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French descendre, from Latin descendere, from de- 'down' + scandere 'to climb'.

de·scend·ant n. a person, plant, or animal that is descended from a particular ancestor: Shakespeare's last direct descendant.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a machine, artifact, system, etc., that has developed from an earlier, more rudimentary version.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as an adjective in the sense 'descending'): from French, present participle of descendre 'to descend' (see DESCEND). The noun dates from the early 17th cent.

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DESCEND ■

de·scend·er n. a part of a letter that extends below the level of the base of a letter such as x (as in g and p).
<SPECIAL USAGE> a letter having such a part.

de·scen·deur n. [CLIMBING] a piece of metal around which a rope is passed and which makes use of friction to slow descent during rappelling.

<ORIGIN> late 20th cent.: French, literally 'descender'.

de·scend·i·ble adj. [LAW] (of property) able to be inherited by a descendant.

de·scend·ing co·lon n. [ANATOMY] the part of the large intestine that passes downward on the left side of the abdomen toward the rectum.

de·scent n. 1 [usu. in sing.] an action of moving downward, dropping, or falling: the plane had gone into a steep descent.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a downward slope, esp. a path or track: a steep, badly eroded descent.

- a moral, social, or psychological decline into a specified undesirable state: the ancient empire's slow descent into barbarism.

2 the origin or background of a person in terms of family or nationality: American families of Hungarian descent.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the transmission of qualities, property, or privileges by inheritance.

3 (descent on) a sudden, violent attack: a descent on the enemy airstrip.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French descente, from descendre 'to descend' (see DESCEND).

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DESCEND ■

de·scram·ble v. [trans.] convert or restore (a signal) to intelligible form.

<DERIVATIVES> de·scram·bler n.

de·scribe v. [trans.] 1 give an account in words of (someone or something), including all the relevant characteristics, qualities, or events: the police said the man was described as white, 6 ft. tall, with mousy, cropped hair.
<SPECIAL USAGE> indicate; denote: “Jim Crow” describes a policy of segregation.

2 mark out or draw (a geometric figure): on the diameter of a circle an equilateral triangle is described.

<DERIVATIVES> de·scrib·a·ble adj. de·scrib·er n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin describere, from de- 'down' + scribere 'write'.

de·scrip·tion n. 1 a spoken or written representation or account of a person, object, or event: people who had seen him were able to give a description.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the action of giving such a representation or account: teaching by demonstration and description.

2 a sort, kind, or class of people or things: ships of every description.

<PHRASES>
□ beyond description to a great and astonishing extent: his face was swollen beyond description.

□ defy description be so unusual or remarkable as to be impossible to describe: the sheer scale of the Requiem defies description.

□ answers (or fits) the description has the qualities specified.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: via Old French from Latin descriptio(n-), from describere 'write down'.

de·scrip·tive adj. 1 serving or seeking to describe.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [GRAMMAR] (of an adjective) assigning a quality rather than restricting the application of the expression modified, e.g., blue as distinct from few.

2 describing or classifying without expressing feelings or judging.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [LINGUISTICS] denoting or relating to an approach to language analysis that describes accents, forms, structures, and usage without making value judgments. Often contrasted with PRESCRIPTIVE.

<DERIVATIVES> de·scrip·tive·ly adv. de·scrip·tive·ness n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent.: from late Latin descriptivus, from descript- 'written down', from the verb describere (see DESCRIBE).

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PRESCRIPTIVE ■

DESCRIBE ■

de·scrip·tiv·ism n. [PHILOSOPHY] the doctrine that the meanings of ethical or aesthetic terms and statements are purely descriptive rather than prescriptive, evaluative, or emotive.

<DERIVATIVES> de·scrip·tiv·ist n. & adj.

de·scrip·tor n. an element or term that has the function of describing, identifying, or indexing, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [LINGUISTICS] a word or expression used to describe or identify something.

- [COMPUTING] a piece of stored data that indicates how other data is stored.

de·scry v. (-scries, -scried) [trans.] POETIC/LITERARY catch sight of: she descried two figures. See note at DISTINGUISH.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: perhaps confused with obsolete descry 'describe', variant of obsolete descrive (via Old French from Latin describere 'write down'), which also had the meaning 'perceive'.

des·e·crate v. [trans.] (often be desecrated) treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect; violate: more than 300 graves were desecrated.

<DERIVATIVES> des·e·cra·tion n. des·e·cra·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from DE- (expressing reversal) + a shortened form of CONSECRATE.

Linked entries:

DE- ■

CONSECRATE ■

de·seed v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (deseeded) remove the seeds from (a plant, vegetable, or fruit).

<DERIVATIVES> de·seed·er n.

de·seg·re·gate v. [trans.] end a policy of racial segregation in: actions to desegregate schools.

<DERIVATIVES> de·seg·re·ga·tion n.

de·se·lect v. [trans.] turn off (a selected feature) on a list of options on a computer menu.

<DERIVATIVES> de·se·lec·tion n.

de·sen·si·tize v. [trans.] make less sensitive: creams to desensitize the skin at the site of the injection.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- make (someone) less likely to feel shock or distress at scenes of cruelty, violence, or suffering by overexposure to such images: [as adj.] (desensitized) people who view such movies become desensitized to violence.

- free (someone) from a phobia or neurosis by gradually exposing the person to the thing that is feared. See SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION.

<DERIVATIVES> de·sen·si·ti·za·tion n. de·sen·si·tiz·er n.

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SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION ■

Des·er·et the name proposed in the 1840s by Mormon settlers for what became Utah.

de·sert 1 v. [trans.] abandon (a person, cause, or organization) in a way considered disloyal or treacherous: he deserted his wife and daughter and went back to England.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [usu. as adj.] (deserted) (of a number of people) leave (a place), causing it to appear empty: the lobby of the hotel was virtually deserted.

- (of a quality or ability) fail (someone), esp. at a crucial moment when most needed: her luck deserted her.

- [intrans.] [MILITARY] (of a soldier) illegally run away from military service.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ser·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French deserter, from late Latin desertare, from Latin desertus 'left waste' (see DESERT^2 ).

Linked entries:

DESERT ■

des·ert 2 n. a dry, barren area of land, esp. one covered with sand, that is characteristically desolate, waterless, and without vegetation.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a lifeless and unpleasant place, esp. one consisting of or covered with a specified substance: the interior of Iceland is an ice desert.

- a situation or area considered dull and uninteresting: a cultural desert.

■ adj. [attrib.] like a desert: overgrazing has created desert conditions.
<SPECIAL USAGE> uninhabited and desolate: desert wastes.

<DERIVATIVES> de·ser·tic adj.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from late Latin desertum 'something left waste', neuter past participle of deserere 'leave, forsake'.

de·sert 3 n. (usu. deserts) a person's worthiness or entitlement to reward or punishment: the penal system fails to punish offenders in accordance with their deserts.

<PHRASES> get (or receive) one's just deserts receive the appropriate reward or (more usually) punishment for one's actions: those who caused great torment to others rarely got their just deserts.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: via Old French from deservir 'serve well' (see DESERVE).

Linked entries:

DESERVE ■

des·ert boot n. a lightweight boot with the upper made from suede.

de·sert·er n. a member of the armed forces who deserts: deserters from the army.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from DESERT^1 , on the pattern of French déserteur.

Linked entries:

DESERT ■

de·sert·i·fi·ca·tion n. the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

des·ert is·land n. a remote tropical island, typically uninhabited.

des·ert pave·ment n. [GEOLOGY] a surface layer of closely packed or cemented pebbles, rock fragments, etc., from which fine material has been removed by the wind in arid regions.

des·ert rat n. INFORMAL a soldier of the 7th British armored division (with the jerboa as a badge) in the North African desert campaign of 1941-42.

des·ert rose n. 1 a flowerlike aggregate of crystals of a mineral occurring in arid areas.

2 a succulent plant with pink, tubular flowers and a swollen, woody stem containing toxic, milky sap that is sometimes used for arrow poison. It is native to East Africa and Arabia.
<INFO>  Adenium obesum, family Apocynaceae.

3 (also Sturt's desert rose) a dense shrub with pinkish-lilac flowers and black spotted leaves and fruit. Native to arid regions of Australia, it is the floral emblem of the Northern Territory of Australia.
<INFO>  Gossypium sturtianum, family Malvaceae.

des·ert var·nish n. [GEOLOGY] a dark, hard film of oxides formed on exposed rock surfaces in arid regions.

de·serve v. [trans.] do something or have or show qualities worthy of (reward or punishment): the referee deserves a pat on the back for his bravery | [with infinitive] people who park like that deserve to be towed away.

<DERIVATIVES> de·served adj. de·serv·ed·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French deservir, from Latin deservire 'serve well or zealously'.

de·serv·ing adj. worthy of being treated in a particular way, typically of being given assistance: the deserving poor.

<DERIVATIVES> de·serv·ing·ly adv. de·serv·ing·ness n.

de·sex v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (desexed) 1 deprive (someone) of sexual qualities or attraction: Lawrence portrays feminists as shrill, humorless, and desexed.

2 castrate or spay (an animal).

de·sex·u·al·ize v. [trans.] deprive of sexual character or the distinctive qualities of a sex.

<DERIVATIVES> de·sex·u·al·i·za·tion n.

des·ha·bille n. variant spelling of DISHABILLE.

Linked entries:

DISHABILLE ■

de·si (also de·shi) INDIAN adj. 1 local; indigenous.
<SPECIAL USAGE> DEROG. rustic; unsophisticated.

2 unadulterated or pure.

■ n. a person of Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi birth or descent who lives abroad.

<ORIGIN> via Hindi from Sanskrit 'country, land'.

De Si·ca Vittorio (1901-74), Italian movie director and actor; a key figure in Italian neorealist cinema. His movies include Bicycle Thieves (1948) and Two Women (1960), both of which won Academy Awards.

des·ic·cant n. a hygroscopic substance used as a drying agent.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent.: from Latin desiccant- 'making thoroughly dry', from the verb desiccare.

des·ic·cate v. [trans.] [usu. as adj.] (desiccated) remove the moisture from (something, esp. food), typically in order to preserve it: desiccated coconut.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [as adj.] (desiccated) FIGURATIVE lacking interest, passion, or energy: a desiccated history of ideas.

<DERIVATIVES> des·ic·ca·tion n. des·ic·ca·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent.: from Latin desiccat- 'made thoroughly dry', from the verb desiccare.

des·ic·ca·tor n. a glass container or other apparatus holding a drying agent for removing moisture from specimens and protecting them from water vapor in the air.

de·sid·er·ate v. [trans.] ARCHAIC feel a keen desire for (something lacking or absent): I desiderate the resources of a family.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin desiderat- 'desired', from the verb desiderare, perhaps from de- 'down' + sidus, sider- 'star'. Compare with CONSIDER.

Linked entries:

CONSIDER ■

de·sid·er·a·tive adj. [GRAMMAR] (in Latin and other inflected languages) denoting a verb formed from another and expressing a desire to do the act denoted by the root verb (such as Latin esurire ‘want to eat,’ from edere ‘eat’).
<SPECIAL USAGE> having, expressing, or relating to desire.

■ n. [GRAMMAR] a desiderative verb.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from late Latin desiderativus, from Latin desiderat- 'desired', from the verb desiderare (see DESIDERATE).

Linked entries:

DESIDERATE ■

de·sid·er·a·tum n. (pl. -ta ) something that is needed or wanted: integrity was a desideratum.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin, 'something desired', neuter past participle of desiderare (see DESIDERATE).

Linked entries:

DESIDERATE ■

de·sign n. 1 a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is built or made: he has just unveiled his design for the new museum.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the art or action of conceiving of and producing such a plan or drawing: good design can help the reader understand complicated information; the cloister is of late twelfth century design.

- an arrangement of lines or shapes created to form a pattern or decoration: pottery with a lovely blue and white design.

2 purpose, planning, or intention that exists or is thought to exist behind an action, fact, or material object: the appearance of design in the universe.

■ v. [trans.] decide upon the look and functioning of (a building, garment, or other object), typically by making a detailed drawing of it: a number of architectural students were designing a factory | [as adj.with submodifier] (designed) specially designed buildings.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (often be designed) do or plan (something) with a specific purpose or intention in mind: [trans.] the tax changes were designed to stimulate economic growth.
See note at INTEND.

<PHRASES>
□ by design as a result of a plan; intentionally: I became a presenter by default rather than by design.

□ have designs on aim to obtain (something desired), typically in a secret and dishonest way: he suspected her of having designs on the family fortune.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (as a verb in the sense 'to designate'): from Latin designare 'to designate', reinforced by French désigner. The noun is via French from Italian.

des·ig·nate v. [trans.] (often be desigated) appoint (someone) to a specified position: he was designated as prime minister.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- officially assign a specified status or ascribe a specified name or quality to: [trans.] certain schools are designated “science schools”; | a personality disorder that Adler designates the Ruling Type.

- signify; indicate: the term “brainstem” designates the medulla, pons, and mesencephalon.

■ adj. [postpositive] appointed to an office or position but not yet installed: the Director designate.

<DERIVATIVES> des·ig·na·tor n.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent. (as an adjective): from Latin designatus 'designated', past participle of designare, based on signum 'a mark'. The verb dates from the late 18th cent.

des·ig·nat·ed driv·er n. a member of a group who abstains from alcohol in order to drive the others safely.

des·ig·nat·ed hit·ter n. [BASEBALL] a nonfielding player named before the start of a game to be in the batting order, typically in place of the pitcher.

des·ig·na·tion n. the choosing and naming of someone to be the holder of an official position: a leader's designation of his own successor.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action of choosing a place for a special purpose or giving it a special status: the designation of parts of Santa Ana as an enterprise zone.

- a name, description, or title, typically one that is officially bestowed: a group of tribes banded together under the designation “Sheepeaters.”

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'the action of marking'): from Latin designatio(n-), from the verb designare (see DESIGNATE).

Linked entries:

DESIGNATE ■

de·sign·ed·ly adv. deliberately in order to produce a specific effect: [as submodifier] let me propose a designedly vague criterion.

des·ig·nee n. a person who has been designated.

de·sign·er n. a person who plans the form, look, or workings of something before its being made or built, typically by drawing it in detail: he's one of the world's leading car designers.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [as adj.] made by or having the expensive sophistication of a famous and prestigious fashion designer: a designer label.

- [as adj.] upscale and fashionable: designer food.

de·sign·er drug n. a synthetic analog of an illegal drug, esp. one devised to circumvent drug laws.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a fashionable artificial drug.

de·sign·er stub·ble n.beard stubble that is deliberately groomed to look fashionable or trendy.

de·sign·ing adj. [attrib.] acting in a calculating, deceitful way: she was a designing little minx.

de·sir·a·ble adj. wanted or wished for as being an attractive, useful, or necessary course of action: [with infinitive] it is desirable to exercise some social control over technology.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a person) arousing sexual desire: she had never looked more desirable.

■ n. a desirable person, thing, or quality.

<DERIVATIVES> de·sir·a·bil·i·ty n. de·sir·a·ble·ness n. de·sir·a·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, suggested by Latin desiderabilis, from desiderare 'to desire' (see DESIDERATE).

Linked entries:

DESIDERATE ■

de·sire n. a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen: [with infinitive] a desire to work in the dirt with your bare hands.
<SPECIAL USAGE> strong sexual feeling or appetite: they were clinging together in fierce mutual desire.

■ v. [trans.] strongly wish for or want (something): he never achieved the status he so desired | [as adj.] (desired) it failed to create the desired effect.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- want (someone) sexually: there had been a time, years ago, when he had desired her.

- ARCHAIC express a wish to (someone); request or entreat.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French desir (noun), desirer (verb), from Latin desiderare (see DESIDERATE).

Linked entries:

DESIDERATE ■

De·si·ree n. a potato of a pink-skinned variety with yellow, waxy flesh.

de·sir·ous adj. [predic.] having or characterized by desire: the pope was desirous of peace in Europe.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French desireus, based on Latin desiderare 'to desire' (see DESIDERATE).

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DESIDERATE ■

de·sist v. [intrans.] cease; abstain: each pledged to desist from acts of sabotage.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French desister, from Latin desistere, from de- 'down from' + sistere 'to stop' (reduplication of stare 'to stand').

desk n. a piece of furniture with a flat or sloped surface and typically with drawers, at which one can read, write, or do other work.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [MUSIC] a position in an orchestra at which two players share a music stand: an extra desk of first and second violins.

- a counter in a hotel, bank, or airport at which a customer may check in or obtain information: the reception desk.

- [with adj.] a specified section of a news organization, esp. a newspaper: he landed a job on the sports desk.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from medieval Latin desca, probably based on Provençal desca 'basket' or Italian desco 'table, butcher's block', both based on Latin discus (see DISCUS).

Linked entries:

DISCUS ■

desk-bound adj. restricted to working in an office, rather than in an active, physical capacity: he is no desk-bound theoretician.

desk dic·tion·ar·y n. a one-volume dictionary of medium size.

de·skill v. [trans.] reduce the level of skill required to carry out (a job): advances in technology had deskilled numerous working-class jobs.
<SPECIAL USAGE> make the skills of (a worker) obsolete.

desk job n. a job based at a desk, esp. as opposed to one in active military or police service.

desk jock·ey n. INFORMAL, HUMOROUS the holder of a desk job, especially an unimportant one.

<ORIGIN> on the pattern of disc jockey.

desk ser·geant n. a sergeant in administrative charge of a police station.

desk·top n. the working surface of a desk.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [as adj.] denoting a piece of equipment such as a microcomputer that is suitable for use at an ordinary desk: a desktop machine.

- a desktop computer.

- the working area of a computer screen regarded as a representation of a notional desktop and containing icons representing items such as files and a wastebasket.

desk·top pub·lish·ing (abbr.: DTP) n. the production of printed matter by means of a printer linked to a desktop computer, with special software. The system enables reports, advertising matter, company magazines, etc., to be produced cheaply with a layout and print quality similar to that of typeset books, for xerographic or other reproduction.

des·man n. a small, semiaquatic European mammal related to the mole, with a long, tubular muzzle and webbed toes.
<INFO>  Family Talpidae: the Russian desman (Desmana moschata) and the Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus).

<ORIGIN> late 18th cent.: via French and German from Swedish desman-råtta 'muskrat', from desman 'musk'.

des·mid n. [BIOLOGY] a single-celled, freshwater alga that appears to be composed of two rigid cells with a shared nucleus. The presence of desmids is usually an indicator of unpolluted water.
<INFO>  Family Desmidiaceae, division Chlorophyta (or phylum Gamophyta, kingdom Protista).

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin Desmidium (genus name), from Greek desmos 'band, chain' (because the algae are often found united in chains or masses).

des·moid adj. [MEDICINE] denoting a type of fibrous tumor of muscle and connective tissue, typically in the abdomen.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from Greek desmos 'bond' or 'bundle' + -OID.

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-OID ■

Des Moines the capital of and the largest city in Iowa, in the southern central part of the state; pop. 198,682.

des·mo·some n. [BIOLOGY] a structure by which two adjacent cells are attached, formed from protein plaques in the cell membranes linked by filaments.

<DERIVATIVES> des·mo·so·mal adj.

<ORIGIN> 1930s: from Greek desmos 'bond, chain' + -SOME^3 .

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-SOME ■

Des·na Riv·er a river in western Russia and Ukraine that rises east of Smolensk and flows for 550 miles (885 km) to enter the Dnieper River near Kiev.

des·o·late adj. (of a place) deserted of people and in a state of bleak and dismal emptiness: a desolate moor.
<SPECIAL USAGE> feeling or showing misery, unhappiness, or loneliness: I suddenly felt desolate and bereft.

■ v. [trans.] make (a place) bleakly and depressingly empty or bare: the droughts that desolated the dry plains.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (usu. be desolated) make (someone) feel utterly wretched and unhappy: he was desolated by the deaths of his treasured friends.

<DERIVATIVES> des·o·late·ly adv. des·o·late·ness n. des·o·la·tor n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin desolatus 'abandoned', past participle of desolare, from de- 'thoroughly' + solus 'alone'.

des·o·la·tion n. a state of complete emptiness or destruction: the stony desolation of the desert. See note at SOLITUDE.
<SPECIAL USAGE> anguished misery or loneliness: in choked desolation, she watched him leave.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from late Latin desolatio(n-), from Latin desolare 'to abandon' (see DESOLATE).

Linked entries:

DESOLATE ■

de·sol·der v. [trans.] remove the solder from (electrical components), usually to effect separation: cut the pins one by one on the component side, desolder the halves, then throw the chip out.

de·sorb v. [trans.] [CHEMISTRY] cause the release of (an adsorbed substance) from a surface.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [intrans.] (of an adsorbed substance) become released.

<DERIVATIVES> de·sorb·ent adj. & n. de·sorb·er n. de·sorp·tion n.

<ORIGIN> 1920s: originally as desorption (from de- 'away' + adsorption), from which desorb is a back-formation.

De So·to a city in northeastern Texas, south of Dallas; pop. 30,544.

de So·to Hernando (c.1496-1542), Spanish soldier and explorer. After serving as military commander of Nicaragua and of Peru, he landed in Florida in 1539 and explored much of what is now the southeastern U.S., as far west as Oklahoma. He died of a fever on the banks of the Mississippi River.

de·spair n. the complete loss or absence of hope: driven to despair, he throws himself under a train; | in despair, I hit the bottle.

■ v. [intrans.] lose or be without hope: we should not despair; | he was beginning to despair of ever knowing | [as adj.] (despairing) he gave a despairing little shrug.

<PHRASES> be the despair of be the cause of a feeling of hopelessness in (someone else): my handwriting was the despair of my teachers.

<DERIVATIVES> des·pair·ing·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: the noun via Anglo-Norman French from Old French desespeir; the verb from Old French desperer, from Latin desperare, from de- 'down from' + sperare 'to hope'.

des·patch v. & n. variant spelling of DISPATCH.

Linked entries:

DISPATCH ■

des·per·a·do n. (pl. -does or -dos) a desperate or reckless person, esp. a criminal.

<DERIVATIVES> des·per·a·do·ism n.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: pseudo-Spanish alteration of the obsolete noun desperate. Both desperate and desperado originally denoted a person in despair or in a desperate situation, hence someone made reckless by despair.

des·per·ate adj. feeling, showing, or involving a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with: a desperate sadness enveloped Ruth.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of an act or attempt) tried in despair or when everything else has failed; having little hope of success: drugs used in a desperate attempt to save his life.

- (of a situation) extremely bad, serious, or dangerous: there is a desperate shortage of teachers.

- [predic.] (of a person) having a great need or desire for something: I am desperate for a cigarette | [with infinitive] the government is desperate to clean up Rio's streets.

- (of a person or fight) violent or dangerous: a desperate criminal; a desperate struggle.

<PHRASES> desperate diseases must have desperate remedies PROVERB extreme measures are justified as a response to a difficult or dangerous situation.

<DERIVATIVES> des·per·ate·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'in despair'): from Latin desperatus 'deprived of hope', past participle of desperare (see DESPAIR).

Linked entries:

DESPAIR ■

des·per·ate·ly adv. in a way that shows despair: he looked around desperately.
<SPECIAL USAGE> used to emphasize the extreme degree of something: he desperately needed a drink | [as submodifier] I am desperately disappointed.

des·per·a·tion n. a state of despair, typically one that results in rash or extreme behavior: she wrote to him in desperation.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin desperatio(n-), from the verb desperare (see DESPAIR).

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DESPAIR ■

des·pi·ca·ble adj. deserving hatred and contempt: a despicable crime.

<DERIVATIVES> des·pi·ca·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from late Latin despicabilis, from despicari 'look down on'.

de Spi·no·za , Baruch, see SPINOZA.

Linked entries:

SPINOZA ■

de·spise v. [trans.] feel contempt or a deep repugnance for: he despised himself for being selfish.

<DERIVATIVES> de·spis·er n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French despire, from Latin despicere, from de- 'down' + specere 'look at'.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
abhor, contemn, despise, detest, disdain, loathe, scorn

It's one thing to dislike someone; it's quite another to despise or detest the person. Both are strong words, used to describe extreme dislike or hatred.

Detest is probably the purest expression of hatred (she detested the woman who had raised her, and longed to find her own mother), while despise suggests looking down with great contempt and regarding the person as mean, petty, weak, or worthless (he despised men whose only concern was their own safety).

Disdain carries even stronger connotations of superiority, often combined with self-righteousness (to disdain anyone lacking a college education).

Scorn is a stronger word for disdain, and it implies an attitude of not only contempt but of haughty rejection or refusal (to scorn the woman he'd once loved).

To loathe something is to feel utter disgust toward it (he grew to loathe peanut butter and jelly sandwiches) and to abhor it is to feel a profound, shuddering, repugnance (she abhorred the very idea of asking her husband for the money).

Contemn is a more literary word meaning to treat with disdain, scorn, or contempt.

de·spite prep. without being affected by; in spite of: he remains a great leader despite age and infirmity.

■ n. ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY 1 outrage; injury: the despite done by him to the holy relics.

2 contempt; disdain: the theater only earns my despite.

<PHRASES>
□ despite (or in despite) of ARCHAIC in spite of.

□ despite oneself used to indicate that one did not intend or expect to do the thing mentioned: despite herself Fran felt a ripple of appreciation for his beauty.

<DERIVATIVES> de·spite·ful adj. (ARCHAIC or POETIC/LITERARY).

<ORIGIN> Middle English (originally used as a noun meaning 'contempt, scorn' in the phrase in despite of): from Old French despit, from Latin despectus 'looking down on', past participle (used as a noun) of despicere (see DESPISE).

Linked entries:

DESPISE ■

Des Plaines a city in northeastern Illinois, northwest of Chicago; pop. 53,223.

de·spoil v. [trans.] (often be despoiled) steal or violently remove valuable or attractive possessions from; plunder: the church was despoiled of its marble wall covering. See note at RAVAGE.

<DERIVATIVES> de·spoil·er n. de·spoil·ment n. de·spo·li·a·tion n.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French despoillier, from Latin despoliare 'rob, plunder' (from spolia 'spoil').

de·spond v. [intrans.] ARCHAIC become dejected and lose confidence.

■ n. a state of unhappiness and low spirits.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from Latin despondere 'give up, abandon', from de- 'away' + spondere 'to promise'. The word was originally used as a noun in SLOUGH OF DESPOND.

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SLOUGH OF DESPOND ■

de·spond·en·cy n. a state of low spirits caused by loss of hope or courage: he hinted at his own deep despondency.

<DERIVATIVES> de·spond·ence n.

de·spond·ent adj. in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.

<DERIVATIVES> de·spond·ent·ly adv.

des·pot n. a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.

<DERIVATIVES> des·pot·ic adj. des·pot·i·cal·ly adv.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French despote, via medieval Latin from Greek 'master, absolute ruler'. Originally (after the Turkish conquest of Constantinople) the term denoted a petty Christian ruler under the Turkish empire. The current sense dates from the late 18th cent.

des·pot·ism n. the exercise of absolute power, esp. in a cruel and oppressive way: the King's arbitrary despotism.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a country or political system where the ruler holds absolute power.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent.: from French despotisme, from despote (see DESPOT).

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DESPOT ■

des·qua·mate v. [intrans.] (of a layer of cells, e.g., of the skin) come off in scales or flakes: [as adj.] (desquamated) desquamated cells.

<DERIVATIVES> des·qua·ma·tion n. des·qua·ma·tive adj.

<ORIGIN> early 18th cent. (in the sense 'remove the scales from'): from Latin desquamat- 'scaled', from the verb desquamare, from de- 'away from' + squama 'a scale'.

des·sert n. the sweet course eaten at the end of a meal: a dessert of chocolate mousse.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from French, past participle of desservir 'clear the table', from des- (expressing removal) + servir 'to serve'.

des·sert·spoon n. a spoon used for dessert, smaller than a tablespoon and larger than a teaspoon.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the amount held by such a spoon.

<DERIVATIVES> des·sert·spoon·ful n. (pl. -fuls).

des·sert wine n. a sweet wine drunk with or following dessert.

de·sta·bi·lize v. [trans.] upset the stability of; cause unrest in: the discovery of an affair can destabilize a relationship.

<DERIVATIVES> de·sta·bi·li·za·tion n.

de Staël Madame (1766-1817), French novelist and critic; a precursor of the French romantics; born Anne Louise Germaine Necker. Her critical work, De l'Allemagne (1810), introduced late 18th-century German writers and thinkers to France.

de·stain v. [trans.] [BIOLOGY] selectively remove stain from (a specimen for microscopy, a chromatography gel, etc.) after it has previously been stained.

de-Sta·lin·i·za·tion n. (in communist countries) the policy of eradicating the memory or influence of Joseph Stalin and Stalinism, esp. after 1956.

De Stijl a 20th-century Dutch art movement founded in 1917 by Theo van Doesburg (1883-1931) and Piet Mondrian. The movement favored an abstract, economical style. It was influential on the Bauhaus and constructivist movements.

<ORIGIN> Dutch, literally 'the style', originally the name of the movement's periodical.

des·ti·na·tion n. the place to which someone or something is going or being sent: a popular destination for golfers.

■ adj. being a place that people will make a special trip to visit: a destination restaurant.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin destinatio(n-), from destinare 'make firm, establish'. The original sense was 'the action of intending someone or something for a particular purpose', later 'being destined for a particular place', hence (from the early 19th cent.) the place itself.

des·ti·na·tion charge n. a fee added to the price of a new car to cover the cost of shipping the vehicle from the manufacturer to the dealer.

des·tine v. [trans.] intend or choose (someone or something) for a particular purpose or end.

<ORIGIN> Middle English (in the sense 'predetermine, decree'): from Old French destiner, from Latin destinare 'make firm, establish'.

des·tined adj. [predic.] (of a person's future) developing as though according to a plan: she could see that he was destined for great things | [with infinitive] they were destined to become diplomats.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (destined to) certain to meet (a particular fate): she was destined to become a life-long friend.

- (destined for) intended for or traveling toward (a particular place): a shipment of steel tubes destined for Iraq.

- [attrib.] preordained: your heroine will be united with her destined mate.

des·ti·ny n. (pl. -nies) the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future: she was unable to control her own destiny.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the hidden power believed to control what will happen in the future; fate: he believes in destiny.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French destinee, from Latin destinata, feminine past participle of destinare 'make firm, establish'.

des·ti·tute adj. without the basic necessities of life: the charity cares for destitute children.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [predic.] (destitute of) not having: towns destitute of commerce.

<DERIVATIVES> des·ti·tu·tion n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'deserted, abandoned, empty'): from Latin destitutus, past participle of destituere 'forsake', from de- 'away from' + statuere 'to place'.

de-stress v. [intrans.] relax after a period of work or tension.

des·tri·er n. a medieval knight's warhorse.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French, based on Latin dextera 'the right hand', from dexter 'on the right' (because the squire led the knight's horse with his right hand).

de·stroy v. [trans.] put an end to the existence of (something) by damaging or attacking it: the room had been destroyed by fire.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- completely ruin or spoil (something): she had destroyed his dreams.

- ruin (someone) emotionally or spiritually: he has been determined to destroy her.

- defeat (someone) utterly: the Tigers destroyed the Padres in five games.

- (usu. be destroyed) kill (a sick, savage, or unwanted animal) by humane means: their terrier was destroyed after the attack.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Old French destruire, based on Latin destruere, from de- (expressing reversal) + struere 'build'.

<THE RIGHT WORD>
annihilate, demolish, destroy, eradicate, exterminate, extirpate, raze

If you're interested in getting rid of something, you've got a number of options at your disposal.

Destroy is a general term covering any force that wrecks, ruins, kills, etc. (to destroy an ant hill by pouring boiling water on it).

If it's a building, you'll want to demolish or raze it, two words that are generally applied only to very large things.

Raze is used almost exclusively with structures; it means to bring something down to the level of the ground (they razed the apartment building to make way for the new hospital).

Demolish implies pulling or smashing something to pieces; when used with regard to buildings, it conjures up a vision of complete wreckage and often a heap of rubble (their new house was demolished by the first hurricane of the season). But unlike raze, demolish can also be applied to nonmaterial things (to demolish the theory with a few simple experiments).

If you eradicate something, you eliminate it completely, literally or figuratively, pull it out by the roots (to eradicate smallpox with a vaccine) and prevent its reappearance.

Extirpate, like eradicate, implies the utter destruction of something (the species was extirpated from the park by the flooding).

If you're dealing with cockroaches, you'll probably want to exterminate them, which means to wipe out or kill in great numbers.

Or better yet, you'll want to annihilate them, which is the most extreme word in this group and literally means to reduce to nothingness.

de·stroy·er n. a small, fast warship, esp. one equipped for a defensive role against submarines and aircraft.
<SPECIAL USAGE> someone or something that destroys: the greatest destroyer of love and peace.

de·stroy·ing an·gel n. a deadly poisonous white toadstool that grows in woodlands and is native to both Eurasia and North America.
<INFO>  Amanita virosa, family Amanitaceae, class Hymenomycetes.

de·struct v. [trans.] cause deliberate, irreparable damage to (something, typically a rocket or missile).

■ n. [in sing.] [usu. as adj.] the deliberate causing of terminal damage: he had ordered him to go for the destruct button.

<ORIGIN> 1950s: back-formation from DESTRUCTION.

Linked entries:

DESTRUCTION ■

de·struct·i·ble adj. able to be destroyed.

<DERIVATIVES> de·struct·i·bil·i·ty n.

<ORIGIN> mid 18th cent. (earlier in indestructible): from French, from late Latin destructibilis, from Latin destruct- 'destroyed', from the verb destruere (see DESTROY).

Linked entries:

DESTROY ■

de·struc·tion n. the action or process of causing so much damage to something that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired: the destruction of the library in Alexandria; | the avalanche left a trail of destruction.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the action or process of killing or being killed: weapons of mass destruction.

- the ruination or ending of a system or state of affairs: the destruction of a traditional way of life.

- [in sing.] a cause of someone's ruin: gambling was his destruction.

<ORIGIN> Middle English: from Latin destructio(n-), from the verb destruere (see DESTROY).

Linked entries:

DESTROY ■

de·struc·tive adj. causing great and irreparable harm or damage: the destructive power of weapons.
<SPECIAL USAGE> tending to refute or disparage; negative and unhelpful: destructive criticism.

<DERIVATIVES> de·struc·tive·ly adv. de·struc·tive·ness n.

de·struc·tive dis·til·la·tion n. [CHEMISTRY] decomposition of a solid by heating it in a closed container and collecting the volatile constituents given off.

des·ue·tude n. FORMAL a state of disuse: the docks fell into desuetude.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'cessation'): from French, from Latin desuetudo, from desuet- 'made unaccustomed', from the verb desuescere, from de- (expressing reversal) + suescere 'be accustomed'.

de·sul·fu·rize (also de·sul·phu·rize) v. [trans.] remove sulfur or sulfur compounds from (a substance).

<DERIVATIVES> de·sul·fu·ri·za·tion n. de·sul·fu·riz·er n.

des·ul·to·ry adj. lacking a plan, purpose, or enthusiasm: a few people were left, dancing in a desultory fashion.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of conversation or speech) going constantly from one subject to another in a halfhearted way; unfocused: the desultory conversation faded.

- occurring randomly or occasionally: desultory passengers were appearing.

<DERIVATIVES> des·ul·to·ri·ly adv. des·ul·to·ri·ness n.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (also in the literal sense 'skipping around'): from Latin desultorius 'superficial' (literally 'relating to a vaulter'), from desultor 'vaulter', from the verb desilire.

de·su·per·heat·er n. a container for reducing the temperature of steam to make it less superheated.

de·syn·chro·nize v. [trans.] disturb the synchronization of; put out of step or phase.

<DERIVATIVES> de·syn·chro·ni·za·tion n.

de·tach v. [trans.] 1 disengage (something or part of something) and remove it: he detached the front lamp from its bracket | FIGURATIVE federal strings need to be detached to restore parental authority.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [intrans.] be easily removable: the screen detaches from the keyboard.

- (detach oneself from) leave or separate oneself from (a group or place): a figure in brown detached itself from the shadows.

- (detach oneself from) avoid or put an end to any connection or association with: the newspaper detached itself from the political parties.

2 (usu. be detached) [MILITARY] send (a group of soldiers or ships) on a separate mission: our crew was detached to Puerto Rico for the exercise.

<DERIVATIVES> de·tach·a·bil·i·ty n. de·tach·a·ble adj.

<ORIGIN> late 16th cent. (in the sense 'discharge a gun'): from French détacher, earlier destacher, from des- (expressing reversal) + attacher 'attach'.

de·tached adj. separate or disconnected, in particular:
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- (of a house or other building) not joined to another on either side: a four-bedroom detached house.

- aloof and objective: he managed to remain detached from petty politics.

<DERIVATIVES> de·tach·ed·ly adv.

de·tached ret·i·na n. a retina that has become separated from the underlying choroid tissue at the back of the eye, causing loss of vision in the affected area.

de·tach·ment n. 1 the state of being objective or aloof: he felt a sense of detachment from what was going on.

2 [MILITARY] a group of troops, aircraft, or ships sent away on a separate mission: a detachment of Marines | the battalion went on detachment to Florida.
<SPECIAL USAGE> a party of people similarly separated from a larger group: a truck containing a detachment of villagers.

3 the action or process of detaching; separation: structural problems resulted in cracking and detachment of the wall.

<ORIGIN> mid 17th cent.: from French détachement, from détacher 'to detach' (see DETACH).

Linked entries:

DETACH ■

de·tail n. 1 an individual feature, fact, or item: we shall consider every detail of the bill | her meticulous attention to detail.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- a minor or less significant item or feature: he didn't want them to get sidetracked on a detail of policy.

- a minor decorative feature of a building or work of art: a detail on Charlemagne's tomb.

- the style or treatment of such features: the classical French detail of the building's facade.

- a small part of a picture or other work of art reproduced separately for close study: detail of right eye showing marks on the lids.

- (details) BRIT. itemized facts or information about someone; personal particulars: the official asked for my father's details.

2 a small detachment of troops or police officers given a special duty: the candidate's security detail.
<SPECIAL USAGE> [often with adj.] a special duty assigned to such a detachment.

■ v. [trans.] 1 describe item by item; give the full particulars of: the report details the environmental and health costs of the car.

2 [trans.] assign (someone) to undertake a particular task: the ships were detailed to keep watch.

3 clean (a motor vehicle) intensively and minutely: the Buick dealer gave him a job washing and detailing cars.

<PHRASES>
□ go into detail give a full account of something.

□ in detail as regards every feature or aspect; fully: we will have to examine the proposals in detail.

<DERIVATIVES> de·tail·er n. (in sense 3 of the verb).

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent. (in the sense 'minor items or events regarded collectively'): from French détail (noun), détailler (verb), from dé- (expressing separation) + tailler 'to cut' (based on Latin talea 'twig, cutting').

de·tailed adj. having many details or facts; showing attention to detail: more detailed information was needed.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (of a work of art) executed with many minor decorative features: an exquisitely detailed carving.

de·tail·ing n. small, decorative features on a building, garment, or work of art.

de·tain v. [trans.] keep (someone) in official custody, typically for questioning about a crime or in politically sensitive situations: she was detained without trial for two years.
<SPECIAL USAGE> keep (someone) from proceeding; hold back: she made to open the door, but he detained her.

<DERIVATIVES> de·tain·ment n.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'be afflicted with sickness or infirmity'): from Old French detenir, from a variant of Latin detinere, from de- 'away, aside' + tenere 'to hold'.

de·tain·ee n. a person held in custody, esp. for political reasons.

de·tain·er n. 1 [LAW] the action of detaining or withholding property.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the detention of a person in custody.

- an order authorizing the continued detention of a person in custody.

2 [CHIEFLY LAW] a person who detains someone or something.

<ORIGIN> early 17th cent.: from Anglo-Norman French detener 'detain' (used as a noun), variant of Old French detenir (see DETAIN).

Linked entries:

DETAIN ■

de·tan·gle v. [trans.] remove tangles from (hair).

de·tect v. [trans.] discover or identify the presence or existence of: cancer may soon be detected in its earliest stages.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- discover or investigate (a crime or its perpetrators): the public can help the police to detect crime.

- discern (something intangible or barely perceptible): Paul detected a faint note of weariness in his father's voice.

<DERIVATIVES> de·tect·a·ble adj. de·tect·a·bly adv.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English: from Latin detect- 'uncovered', from the verb detegere, from de- (expressing reversal) + tegere 'to cover'. The original senses were 'uncover, expose' and 'give someone away', later 'expose the real or hidden nature of something or someone'; hence the current senses (partly influenced by DETECTIVE).

Linked entries:

DETECTIVE ■

de·tec·tion n. the action or process of identifying the presence of something concealed: the early detection of fetal abnormalities.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- the work of a detective in investigating a crime: [as adj.] the detection rate for murder is over 90 percent

- another term for DEMODULATION (see DEMODULATE).

<ORIGIN> late 15th cent. (in the sense 'revelation of what is concealed'): from late Latin detectio(n-), from Latin detegere 'uncover' (see DETECT).

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DEMODULATE ■

DETECT ■

de·tec·tive n. a person, esp. a police officer, whose occupation is to investigate and solve crimes.
<SPECIAL USAGE>
- [as adj.] denoting a particular rank of police officer: Detective Sergeant Fox.

- [as adj.] concerning crime and its investigation: detective work.

<ORIGIN> mid 19th cent.: from DETECT, on the pattern of pairs such as elect, elective. The noun was originally short for detective policeman, from an adjectival use of the word in the sense 'serving to detect'.

Linked entries:

DETECT ■

de·tec·tive sto·ry (also detective novel) n. a story whose plot revolves around the investigation and solving of a crime.

de·tec·tor n. [often with adj.] a device or instrument designed to detect the presence of a particular object or substance and to emit a signal in response: methane detectors.
<SPECIAL USAGE> another term for DEMODULATOR (see DEMODULATE).

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DEMODULATE ■

de·tent n. a catch in a machine that prevents motion until released.
<SPECIAL USAGE> (in a clock) a catch that regulates striking.

<ORIGIN> late 17th cent. (denoting a catch in clocks and watches): from French détente, from Old French destente, from destendre 'slacken', from des- (expressing reversal) + Latin tendere 'to stretch'.

dé·tente (also de·tente) n. the easing of hostility or strained relations, esp. between countries: a serious effort at détente with the eastern bloc.

<ORIGIN> early 20th cent.: French, literally 'loosening, relaxation'.

de·ten·tion n. the action of detaining someone or the state of being detained in official custody, esp. as a political prisoner: he committed suicide while in police detention.
<SPECIAL USAGE> the punishment of being kept in school after hours: he has made students fear after-school detention | arbitrary after-school detentions.

<ORIGIN> late Middle English (in the sense 'withholding of what is claimed or due'): from late Latin detentio(n-), from Latin detinere 'hold back' (see DETAIN).

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DETAIN ■

de·ten·tion cen·ter n. an institution where people are held in detention for short periods, in particular illegal immigrants, refugees, people awaiting trial or sentence, or youthful offenders.

de·ter v. (-terred, -ter·ring) [trans.] discourage (someone) from doing something, typically by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences: only a health problem would deter him from seeking reelection.
<SPECIAL USAGE> prevent the occurrence of: strategists think not only about how to deter war, but about how war might occur.

<ORIGIN> mid 16th cent.: from Latin deterrere, from de- 'away from' + terrere 'frighten'.

de·terge