h ['āch] -n
- the 8th letter of the English alphabet
- a graphic representation of this letter
- a speech counterpart of orthographic h
- a graphic device for reproducing the letter h
- one designated hesp. as the eighth in order or class
- something shaped like the letter H
- half
- harbor
- hard; hardness
- hect-; hecto-
- height
- high
- hit
- horse
- hour
- humidity
- hundred
- husband
H -abbr
- Hamiltonian
- henry
- heroin
- hydrogen
ha ['hä] -interj
- used esp. to express surprise, joy, or triumph
- hectare
HA -abbr
- hour angle
Hab -abbr
- Habacuc; Habakkuk
Ha·ba·cuc ['ha-bə-,kək, hə-'ba-kək] -n
- habakkuk
Ha·bak·kuk ['ha-bə-,kək, hə-'ba-kək] -n
- a Hebrew prophet of seventh century b.c.Judah who prophesied an imminent Chaldean invasion
- a prophetic book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scripture
ha·ba·ne·ra [,(h)ä-bə-'ner-ə] -n
- a Cuban dance in slow duple time
- the music for the habanera
ha·ba·ne·ro [,(h)ä-bə-'n(y)er-ō] -n
- a very hot roundish chili pepper ( Capsicum chinense) that is usu. orange when mature
hab corp -abbr
- habeas corpus
habdalah [,häv-də-'lä, häv-'dȯ-lə] -n
(variant of havdalah)
- a Jewish ceremony marking the close of a Sabbath or holy day
ha·be·as cor·pus ['hā-bē-əs-'kȯr-pəs] -n
- any of several common-law writs issued to bring a party before a court or judge
- habeas corpus ad subjiciendum
- the right of a citizen to obtain a writ of habeas corpus as a protection against illegal imprisonment
habeas corpus ad sub·ji·ci·en·dum [-,ad-səb-,ji-sē-'en-dəm, -,ji-shē-; -,äd-su̇b-,yi-kē-'en-du̇m] -n
- a writ for inquiring into the lawfulness of the restraint of a person who is imprisoned or detained in another's custody
hab·er·dash·er ['ha-bə(r)-,da-shər] -n
- a dealer in notions
- a dealer in men's clothing and accessories
hab·er·dash·ery [-,da-sh(ə-)rē] -n
- goods sold by a haberdasher
- a haberdasher's shop
ha·ber·geon ['ha-bər-jən; hə-'bər-jē-ən, -jən] -n
- a medieval jacket of mail shorter than a hauberk
- hauberk
Ha·ber process ['hä-bər-] -n
- a catalytic process for synthesizing ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen
hab·ile ['ha-bəl, -,bī(-ə)l] -adj
- having general skill : able, skillful
ha·bil·i·ment [hə-'bi-lə-mənt] -n
- characteristic apparatus : trappings
- the habiliment s of civilization -- W. P. Webb
- the dress characteristic of an occupation or occasion usu. used in pl.
- clothes usu. used in pl.
ha·bil·i·tate [hə-'bi-lə-,tāt] -vb, n
- to make fit or capable (as for functioning in society)
- clothe, dress
- to qualify oneself
hab·it ['ha-bət] -n
- clothing
- a costume characteristic of a calling, rank, or function
- a costume worn for horseback riding
- manner of conducting oneself : bearing
- bodily appearance or makeup
- the prevailing disposition or character of a person's thoughts and feelings : mental makeup
- a settled tendency or usual manner of behavior
- her habit of taking a morning walk
- a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself in regularity or increased facility of performance
- an acquired mode of behavior that has become nearly or completely involuntary
- got up early from force of habit
- addiction
- characteristic mode of growth or occurrence
- a grass similar to Indian corn in habit
- characteristic assemblage of forms at crystallization leading to a usual appearance
- shape
habit -vt
- clothe, dress
hab·it·able ['ha-bə-tə-bəl also hə-'bi-tə-] -adj, n, adv
- capable of being lived in : suitable for habitation
ha·bi·tant [-'täⁿ] -n
- inhabitant, resident
- a settler or descendant of a settler of French origin working as a farmer in Canada
hab·i·tat ['ha-bə-,tat] -n
- the place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows
- the typical place of residence of a person or a group
- a housing for a controlled physical environment in which people can live under surrounding inhospitable conditions (as under the sea)
- the place where something is commonly found
hab·i·ta·tion [,ha-bə-'tā-shən] -n
- the act of inhabiting : occupancy
- not fit for human habitation
- a dwelling place
- settlement, colony
hab·itform·ing ['ha-bət-,fȯr-miŋ] -adj
- inducing the formation of an addiction
ha·bit·u·al [hə-'bi-ch(ə-)wəl, ha-, -'bi-chəl] -adj, adv, n
- having the nature of a habit : customary
- doing, practicing, or acting in some manner by force of habit
- resorted to on a regular basis
- inherent in an individual
ha·bit·u·ate [hə-'bi-chə-,wāt, ha-, -chü-,āt] -vb
- to make used to something : accustom
- frequent
- to cause habituation
- to undergo habituation
ha·bit·u·a·tion [-,bi-chə-'wā-shən, -chü-'ā-] -n
- the process of habituating : the state of being habituated
- tolerance to the effects of a drug acquired through continued use
- psychological dependence on a drug after a period of use
- decrease in responsiveness upon repeated exposure to a stimulus
hab·i·tude ['ha-bə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n
- native or essential character
- habitual association
- habitual disposition or mode of behavior or procedure
- custom
ha·bi·tue [hə-'bi-chə-,wā, ha-, -,bi-chə-'] -n
- a person who may be regularly found in or at a particular place or kind of place
- devotee
hab·i·tus ['ha-bə-təs] -n
- habit
- body build and constitution esp. as related to predisposition to disease
ha·boob [hə-'büb] -n
- a violent dust storm or sandstorm esp. of Sudan
ha·ek ['hä-,chek] -n
- a diacritic placed over a letter (as in ) to modify it : an inverted circumflex
ha·cen·da·do [,(h)ä-sᵊn-'dä-(,)dō] -n
- the owner or proprietor of a hacienda
ha·chure [ha-'shu̇r] -n
- a short line used for shading and denoting surfaces in relief (as in map drawing) and drawn in the direction of slope
hachure -vt
- to shade with or show by hachures
ha·ci·en·da [,(h)ä-sē-'en-də] -n
- a large estate esp. in a Spanish-speaking country : plantation
- the main dwelling of a hacienda
hack ['hak] -vb
- to cut or sever with repeated irregular or unskillful blows
- to cut or shape by or as if by crude or ruthless strokes
- hack ing out new election districts
- annoy, vex often used with off
- to clear or make by or as if by cutting away vegetation
- hack ed his way through the brush
- to manage successfully
- just couldn't hack the new job
- tolerate
- I can't hack all this noise
- to make chopping strokes or blows
- to make cuts as if by chopping
- hack ing away at the work force
- to play inexpert golf
- to cough in a short dry manner
- loaf usu. used with around
- to write computer programs for enjoyment
- to gain access to a computer illegally
- an implement for hacking
- nick, notch
- a short dry cough
- a hacking stroke or blow
- restriction to quarters as punishment for naval officers usu. usedin the phrase under hack
- a usu. creative solution to a computer hardware or programming problem or limitation
- hackney
- taxicab
- cabdriver
- a horse let out for common hire
- a horse used in all kinds of work
- a horse worn out in service : jade
- a light easy saddle horse
- a three-gaited saddle horse
- a ride on a horse
- a person who works solely for mercenary reasons : hireling
- a writer who works on order
- a writer who aims solely for commercial success
- hacker
- working for hire esp. with mediocre professional standards
- performed by, suited to, or characteristic of a hack
- hackneyed, trite
- to ride or drive at an ordinary pace or over the roads esp. as distinguished from racing or hunting
- to operate a taxicab
- to ride (a horse) at an ordinary pace
- to rear (a young hawk) in a state of partial liberty esp. prior to the acquisition of flight and hunting capabilities
- a guard esp. at a prison
hack·a·more ['ha-kə-,mȯr] -n
- a bridle with a loop capable of being tightened about the nose in place of a bit or with a slip noose passed over the lower jaw
hack·ber·ry ['hak-,ber-ē] -n
- any of a genus ( Celtis) of trees and shrubs of the elm family with small often edible berries
- its wood
hack·er ['ha-kər] -n
- one that hacks
- a person who is inexperienced or unskilled at a particular activity
- an expert at programming and solving problems with a computer
- a person who illegally gains access to and sometimes tampers with information in a computer system
hack·ie ['ha-kē] -n
- cabdriver
hack·le ['ha-kəl] -n
- one of the long narrow feathers on the neck or saddle of a bird
- the neck plumage of the domestic fowl
- a comb or board with long metal teeth for dressing flax, hemp, or jute
- erectile hairs along the neck and back esp. of a dog
- temper, dander
- the issue raised some hackle s
- an artificial fishing fly made chiefly of the filaments of a cock's neck feathers
- filaments of cock feather projecting from the head of an artificial fly
hackle ['ha-k(ə-)liŋ] -vt, n
- to comb out with a hackle
hack·ly ['ha-k(ə-)lē] -adj
- having the appearance of something hacked : jagged
hack·man ['hak-mən] -n
- cabdriver
hack·ma·tack ['hak-mə-,tak] -n
- tamarack
hack·ney ['hak-nē] -n
- a horse suitable for ordinary riding or driving
- a trotting horse used chiefly for driving
- any of an English breed of rather compact usu. chestnut, bay, or brown high-stepping horses
- one that works for hire
- a carriage or automobile kept for hire
hackney -adj
- kept for public hire
- hackneyed
- done or suitable for doing by a drudge
- to make common or frequent use of
- to make trite, vulgar, or commonplace
- to make sophisticated or jaded
hackney coach -n
- a coach kept for hire
- a four-wheeled carriage drawn by two horses and having seats for six persons
hack·neyed ['hak-nēd] -adj
- lacking in freshness or originality
hack·saw ['hak-,sȯ] -n, vb
- a fine-tooth saw with a blade under tension in a frame that is used for cutting hard materials (as metal)
hack·work [-,wərk] -n
- literary, artistic, or professional work done on order usu. according to formula and in conformity with commercial standards
had ['hav, (h)əv, v; in “have to” meaning “must” usu 'haf] -vb
(variant of have)
- to hold or maintain as a possession, privilege, or entitlement
- to hold in one's use, service, regard, or at one's disposal
- the group will have enough tickets for everyone
- we don't have time to stay
- to hold, include, or contain as a part or whole
- to feel obligation in regard to usu. used with an infinitive with to
- to stand in a certain relationship to
- we will have the wind at our backs
- to acquire or get possession of : obtain
- these shoes are the best to be had
- receive
- accept
- to accept in marriage
- to copulate with
- to be marked or characterized by (a quality, attribute, or faculty)
- exhibit, show
- use, exercise
- to experience esp. by submitting to, undergoing, or suffering
- to make the effort to perform (an action) or engage in (an activity)
- to entertain in the mind
- to cause or command to do something used with the infinitive without to
- to cause to be in a certain place or state
- has people around at all times
- allow
- we'll have no more of that
- to be competent in
- to hold in a position of disadvantage or certain defeat
- to take advantage of : trick, fool
- bear
- to partake of
- bribe, suborn
- used with the past participle to form the present perfect, past perfect, or future perfect
- will have finished dinner by then
- to be compelled, obliged, or required used with an infinitive with to or to alone
- one that is well-endowed esp. in material wealth
ha·dal ['hā-dᵊl] -adj
- of, relating to, or being the parts of the ocean below 6000 meters (about 20,000 feet)
had·dock ['ha-dək] -n
- an important food fish ( Melanogrammus aeglefinussyn. Gadus aeglefinus) of the cod family occurring on both sides of the No. Atlantic that has a black lateral line and dark patch above the pectoral fin
Ha·de·an ['hā-,dē-ən, hā-'dē-ən] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or being the aeon of history between the formation of the solar system and the formation of the first rocks on the earth
Ha·des ['hā-(,)dēz] -n
- pluto
- the underground abode of the dead in Greek mythology
- sheol
- hell
ha·dith [hə-'dēth] -n
- a narrative record of the sayings or customs of Muhammad and his companions
- the collective body of traditions relating to Muhammad and his companions
hadj ['haj] -n
(variant of hajj)
- the pilgrimage to Mecca prescribed as a religious duty for Muslims
Had·ley cell ['had-lē-] -n
- a pattern of atmospheric circulation in which warm air rises near the equator, cools as it travels poleward at high altitude, sinks as cold air, and warms as it travels equatorward
- a similar atmospheric circulation pattern on another planet (as Mars)
hadn't ['ha-dᵊnt, -dᵊn, dial also 'ha-tᵊn(t) or 'hant]
- had not
had·ron ['ha-,drän] -n, adj
- any of the subatomic particles (as protons and neutrons) that are made up of quarks and are subject to the strong force
had·ro·saur ['ha-drə-,sȯr] -n
- any of a family (Hadrosauridae) of medium-sized bipedal herbivorous dinosaurs of the Upper Cretaceous with long flat snouts and an often crested skull
hadst ['hav, (h)əv, v; in “have to” meaning “must” usu 'haf] -vb
(variant of have)
- to hold or maintain as a possession, privilege, or entitlement
- to hold in one's use, service, regard, or at one's disposal
- the group will have enough tickets for everyone
- we don't have time to stay
- to hold, include, or contain as a part or whole
- to feel obligation in regard to usu. used with an infinitive with to
- to stand in a certain relationship to
- we will have the wind at our backs
- to acquire or get possession of : obtain
- these shoes are the best to be had
- receive
- accept
- to accept in marriage
- to copulate with
- to be marked or characterized by (a quality, attribute, or faculty)
- exhibit, show
- use, exercise
- to experience esp. by submitting to, undergoing, or suffering
- to make the effort to perform (an action) or engage in (an activity)
- to entertain in the mind
- to cause or command to do something used with the infinitive without to
- to cause to be in a certain place or state
- has people around at all times
- allow
- we'll have no more of that
- to be competent in
- to hold in a position of disadvantage or certain defeat
- to take advantage of : trick, fool
- bear
- to partake of
- bribe, suborn
- used with the past participle to form the present perfect, past perfect, or future perfect
- will have finished dinner by then
- to be compelled, obliged, or required used with an infinitive with to or to alone
- one that is well-endowed esp. in material wealth
hae ['hav, (h)əv, v; in “have to” meaning “must” usu 'haf] -vb
(variant of have)
- to hold or maintain as a possession, privilege, or entitlement
- to hold in one's use, service, regard, or at one's disposal
- the group will have enough tickets for everyone
- we don't have time to stay
- to hold, include, or contain as a part or whole
- to feel obligation in regard to usu. used with an infinitive with to
- to stand in a certain relationship to
- we will have the wind at our backs
- to acquire or get possession of : obtain
- these shoes are the best to be had
- receive
- accept
- to accept in marriage
- to copulate with
- to be marked or characterized by (a quality, attribute, or faculty)
- exhibit, show
- use, exercise
- to experience esp. by submitting to, undergoing, or suffering
- to make the effort to perform (an action) or engage in (an activity)
- to entertain in the mind
- to cause or command to do something used with the infinitive without to
- to cause to be in a certain place or state
- has people around at all times
- allow
- we'll have no more of that
- to be competent in
- to hold in a position of disadvantage or certain defeat
- to take advantage of : trick, fool
- bear
- to partake of
- bribe, suborn
- used with the past participle to form the present perfect, past perfect, or future perfect
- will have finished dinner by then
- to be compelled, obliged, or required used with an infinitive with to or to alone
- one that is well-endowed esp. in material wealth
haem ['hēm] -n
(variant of heme)
- the deep red iron-containing prosthetic group C 34H 32N 4O 4Fe of hemoglobin and myoglobin
haem- -comb form
(variant of hem-)
- blood
haema- -comb form
(variant of hema-)
- hem-
haemat- -comb form
(variant of hemat-)
- hem-
hae·ma·tite ['hē-mə-,tīt] -n, adj
(variant of hematite)
- a reddish-brown to black mineral consisting of ferric oxide, constituting an important iron ore, and occurring in crystals or as earthy red ocher
haet ['hāt] -n
- a small quantity : whit, bit
haf·fet ['ha-fət] -n
- cheek, temple
haf·ni·um ['haf-nē-əm] -n
- a metallic element that resembles zirconium in its chemical properties, occurs esp. in zirconium minerals, and readily absorbs neutrons
haft ['haft] -n
- the handle of a weapon or tool
- to set in or furnish with a haft
haf·ta·rah [häf-'tȯr-ə, ,häf-tə-'rä] -n
- one of the biblical selections from the Books of the Prophets read after the parashah in the Jewish synagogue service
hag ['hag] -n, adj
- an ugly, slatternly, or evil-looking old woman
- a female demon
- an evil or frightening spirit : hobgoblin
- witch
- quagmire, bog
- a firm spot in a bog
Hag -abbr
- Haggai
Ha·gar ['hā-,gär, -gər] -n
- a concubine of Abraham driven into the desert with her son Ishmael because of Sarah's jealousy according to the account in Genesis
hag·fish ['hag-,fish] -n
- any of a family (Myxinidae) of marine cyclostomes that are related to the lampreys and in general resemble eels but have a round mouth surrounded by barbels and that feed upon other fishes and invertebrates by boring into their bodies
Hag·ga·dah [hə-'gä-də, hä-, -'gȯ-] -n, adj
- aggadah
- the book of readings for the seder service
hag·ga·dist [-'gä-dist, -'gȯ-] -n, adj
- a haggadic writer
- a student of the Haggadah
Hag·gai ['ha-gē-,ī, 'ha-,gī] -n
- a Hebrew prophet who flourished about 500 b.c.and who advocated that the Temple in Jerusalem be rebuilt
- a prophetic book of canonical Jewish and Christian Scriptures
hag·gard ['ha-gərd] -adj, adv, n
- not tamed
- wild in appearance
- having a worn or emaciated appearance : gaunt
- haggard faces looked up sadly from out of the straw -- W. M. Thackeray
haggard -n
- an adult hawk caught wild
- an intractable person
hag·gis ['ha-gəs] -n
- a traditionally Scottish dish that consists of the heart, liver, and lungs of a sheep or a calf minced with suet, onions, oatmeal, and seasonings and boiled in the stomach of the animal
hag·gle ['ha-gəl] -vb, n
- to cut roughly or clumsily : hack
- to annoy or exhaust with wrangling
- bargain, wrangle
haggle -n
- an act or instance of haggling
hagi- -comb form
- holy
- saints
Ha·gi·og·ra·pha [,ha-gē-'ä-grə-fə, ,hā-, -jē-] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- writings
ha·gi·og·ra·pher [-fər] -n
- a writer of hagiography
ha·gio·graph·ic [,ha-gē-ə-'gra-fik, ,hā-, -jē-] -adj
- of, relating to, or being hagiography
- excessively flattering
- of or relating to the Hagiographa
ha·gi·og·ra·phy [-gē-'ä-grə-fē, -jē-] -n
- biography of saints or venerated persons
- idealizing or idolizing biography
ha·gi·ol·o·gy [-gē-'ä-lə-jē, -jē-] -n, adj
- literature dealing with venerated persons or writings
- a list of venerated figures
ha·gio·scope ['ha-gē-ə-,skōp, 'hā-jē-] -n, adj
- an opening in the interior walls of a cruciform church so placed as to afford a view of the altar to those in the transept
hag·ride ['hag-,rīd] -vt
- harass, torment
hah ['hä] -interj
(variant of ha)
- used esp. to express surprise, joy, or triumph
- hectare
haha [(')hä-'hä] -interj
- used to express amusement or derision
- sunk fence
hahn·ium ['hä-nē-əm] -n
- dubnium
Hai·da ['hī-də] -n
- a member of an American Indian people of the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, and Prince of Wales Island, Alaska
- the language of the Haida people
haik ['hīk] -n
- a voluminous piece of usu. white cloth worn as an outer garment in northern Africa
hai·ku ['hī-(,)kü] -n
- an unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usu. five, seven, and five syllables respectively
- a poem in this form usu. having a seasonal reference
hail ['hāl] -n
- precipitation in the form of small balls or lumps usu. consisting of concentric layers of clear ice and compact snow
- something that gives the effect of a shower of hail
- to precipitate hail
- to pour down or strike like hail
- used as a salutation
- used to express acclamation
- hail to the chief -- Sir Walter Scott
- salute, greet
- to greet with enthusiastic approval : acclaim
- to greet or summon by calling
- to call out
- to call a greeting to a passing ship
- an exclamation of greeting or acclamation
- a calling to attract attention
- hearing distance
hailfel·low ['hāl-,fe-(,)lō] -adj, n
- hail-fellow-well-met
hailfel·lowwellmet [-lō-,wel-'met, -lə-,wel-] -adj, n
- heartily friendly and informal : comradely
Hail Mary -n
- a Roman Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary that consists of salutations and a plea for her intercession
- a long forward pass in football thrown into or near the end zone in a last-ditch attempt to score as time runs out
hail·stone ['hāl-,stōn] -n
- a pellet of hail
hail·storm [-,stȯrm] -n
- a storm accompanied by hail
hair ['her] -n, adj
- a slender threadlike outgrowth of the epidermis of an animal
- one of the usu. pigmented filaments that form the characteristic coat of a mammal
- the hairy covering of an animal or a body part
- the coating of hairs on a human head
- haircloth
- a minute distance or amount
- a precise degree
- nature, character
- a filamentous structure that resembles hair
hair ball -n
- a compact mass of hair formed in the stomach esp. of a shedding animal (as a cat) that cleanses its coat by licking
hair·breadth ['her-,bretth, -,breth, -,bredth] -n
- a very small distance or margin
hairbreadth -adj
- very narrow : close
hair·brush ['her-,brəsh] -n
- a brush for the hair
hair cell -n
- a cell with hairlike processes
- one of the sensory cells in the auditory epithelium of the organ of Corti
hair·cloth ['her-,klȯth] -n
- any of various stiff wiry fabrics esp. of horsehair or camel hair used for upholstery or for stiffening in garments
hair·cut [-,kət] -n
- the act or process of cutting and shaping the hair
- hairdo
hair·do [-,dü] -n
- a way of wearing the hair : coiffure
hair·dress·er [-,dre-sər] -n
- a person whose occupation is the dressing or cutting of hair
- barber
hair·dress·ing [-,dre-siŋ] -n
- the action or process of washing, cutting, curling, or arranging the hair
- the occupation of a hairdresser
- a preparation for grooming and styling the hair
haired ['herd] -adj
- having hair esp. of a specified kind usu. used in combination
hair follicle -n
- the tubular epithelial sheath that surrounds the lower part of the hair shaft and encloses at the bottom a vascular papilla supplying the growing basal part of the hair with nourishment
hair·line [-'līn] -n, adj
- : a very slender line: as
- a tiny line or crack on a surface
- a fine line connecting thicker strokes in a printed letter
- hairbreadth
- a textile design consisting of lengthwise or crosswise lines usu. one thread wide
- a fabric with such a design
- the outline of scalp hair esp. on the forehead
- the way the hair frames the face
hair·net [-,net] -n
- a net worn over the hair to keep it in place
hair·piece [-,pēs] -n
- supplementary hair (as a switch) used in some feminine coiffures
- toupee
hair·pin [-,pin] -n
- a pin to hold the hair in place
- a long U-shaped pin
- something shaped like a hairpin
- a sharp U-shaped turn in a road
hairpin -adj
- having the shape of a hairpin
- having hairpin turns
hairrais·er ['her-,rā-zər] -n
- thriller
hairrais·ing [-,rā-ziŋ] -adj, adv
- causing terror, excitement, or astonishment
hair seal -n
- any of a family (Phocidae) of seals having a coarse hairy coat, the hind limbs reduced to swimming flippers, and no external ears called also true seal
hair shirt -n
- a shirt made of rough animal hair worn next to the skin as a penance
- one that irritates like a hair shirt
hair·split·ter ['her-,spli-tər] -n, adj or n
- one that makes excessively fine distinctions in reasoning
hair spray [-,sprā] -n
- a liquid sprayed on the hair to keep it in place after styling
hair·spring [-,spriŋ] -n
- a slender spiraled recoil spring that regulates the motion of the balance wheel of a timepiece
hair·streak [-,strēk] -n
- any of a subfamily (Theclinae of the family Lycaenidae) of small butterflies usu. having striped markings on the underside of the wings and thin filamentous projections from the hind wings
hair·style ['her-,stī(-ə)l] -n
- hairdo
hair·styl·ing [-,stī-liŋ] -n
- the work of a hairstylist
hair·styl·ist [-,stī-list] -n
- hairdresser
- a person who does creative styling of coiffures
hairtrigger -adj
- immediately responsive to the slightest stimulus
- delicately adjusted or easily disrupted
hair trigger -n
- a gun trigger so adjusted as to permit the firearm to be fired by a very slight pressure
hair·worm ['her-,wərm] -n
- any of a phylum (Nematomorpha) of elongated worms that have separate sexes, are parasitic in arthropods as larvae, and are free-living in water as adults called also horsehair worm
- any of a genus ( Capillaria) of nematode worms that include serious parasites of the alimentary tract of fowls and tissue and organ parasites of mammals
hairy ['her-ē] -adj, n
- covered with hair or hairlike material
- having a downy fuzz on the stems and leaves
- made of or resembling hair
- tending to cause nervous tension (as from danger)
- difficult to deal with or comprehend
hairy cell leukemia -n
- a chronic leukemia that is usu. of B cell origin and is characterized by malignant cells with a ciliated appearance
hairychest·ed [-,ches-təd] -adj
- characterized by esp. exaggerated or stereotypical manliness
hairy vetch -n
- a Eurasian vetch ( Vicia villosa) extensively cultivated as a cover and early forage crop
hairy woodpecker -n
- a common No. American woodpecker ( Picoides villosus) closely resembling the downy woodpecker but larger with a longer bill
Hai·tian ['hā-shən also 'hā-tē-ən] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Haiti
- haitian creole
Haitian Creole -n
- a French-based creole spoken by Haitians
hajj ['haj] -n
- the pilgrimage to Mecca prescribed as a religious duty for Muslims
hajji ['ha-jē] -n
- one who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca often used as a title
hake ['hāk] -n
- any of several marine food fishes (as of the genera Merlucciusand Urophycis) related to the Atlantic cod
ha·kim ['hä-kəm] -n
- an administrator in a Muslim country
- a physician in a Muslim country
hal- -comb form
- salt
- halogen
ha·la·cha [hä-'lä-k̲ə, ,hä-lə-'k̲ä] -n, adj
- the body of Jewish law supplementing the scriptural law and forming esp. the legal part of the Talmud
ha·lal [hə-'läl] -adj
- sanctioned by Islamic law
- ritually fit for use
- selling or serving food ritually fit according to Islamic law
ha·la·la [hə-'lä-lə] -n
- see riyal at
ha·la·tion [hā-'lā-shən] -n
- the spreading of light beyond its proper boundaries in a developed photographic image
- a bright ring that sometimes surrounds a bright object on a television screen
hal·berd ['hal-bərd, 'hȯl-] -n
- a weapon esp. of the 15th and 16th centuries consisting typically of a battle-ax and pike mounted on a handle about six feet long
hal·cy·on ['hal-sē-ən] -n
- a bird identified with the kingfisher and held in ancient legend to nest at sea about the time of the winter solstice and to calm the waves during incubation
- kingfisher
halcyon -adj
- of or relating to the halcyon or its nesting period
- calm, peaceful
- happy, golden
- prosperous, affluent
hale ['hāl] -adj
- free from defect, disease, or infirmity : sound
- retaining exceptional health and vigor
- a hale and hearty old man
- haul, pull
- to compel to go
ha·ler ['hä-lər, -,ler] -n
- see koruna at
half ['haf, 'häf] -n
- either of two equal parts that compose something
- a part approximately equal to one of these
- the larger half of the fortune
- half an hour used in designation of time
- : one of a pair: as
- partner
- semester, term
- either of the two equal periods that together make up the playing time of some games (as football)
- the midpoint in playing time
- the score was tied at the half
- half-dollar
- halfback
- being one of two equal parts
- amounting to approximately half
- falling short of the full or complete thing : partial
- extending over or covering only half
- in an equal part or degree
- the crowd was half jeering, half respectful
- not completely : partially
- by any means : at all
- her singing isn't half bad
halfandhalf [,haf-ᵊn-'haf, ,häf-ᵊn-'häf] -n, adj or adv
- : something that is approximately half one thing and half another: as
- a mixture of two malt beverages (as dark and light beer)
- a mixture of cream and whole milk
halfassed ['haf-'ast, 'häf-'äst] -adj, adv
- lacking significance, adequacy, or completeness
- lacking intelligence, character, or effectiveness
half·back ['haf-,bak, 'häf-] -n
- one of the backs stationed near either flank in football
- a player stationed immediately behind the forward line (as in field hockey, soccer, or rugby)
halfbaked [-'bākt] -adj
- poorly developed or carried out
- lacking adequate planning or forethought
- a halfbaked scheme for getting rich
- lacking in judgment, intelligence, or common sense
- imperfectly baked : underdone
half bath -n
- a bathroom containing a sink and toilet but no bathtub or shower
half·beak [-,bēk] -n
- any of various narrow-bodied fishes of warm waters that have an elongated lower jaw and are grouped with the flying fishes (family Exocoetidae) or placed in their own family (Hemiramphidae)
halfblood [-'bləd] -adj
- having half blood or being a half blood
half blood -n
- the relation between persons having only one parent in common
- a person so related to another
- half-breed
- grade
half boot -n
- a boot with a top reaching above the ankle and ending below the knee
halfbound ['haf-,bau̇nd, 'häf-] -adj, n
- bound in material of two qualities with the material of better quality on the spine and corners
halfbred [-,bred] -adj, n
- having one purebred parent
halfbreed [-,brēd] -n, adj
- the offspring of parents of different races
- the offspring of an American Indian and a white person
half brother -n
- a brother related through one parent only
halfcaste ['haf-,kast, 'häf-] -n, adj
- one of mixed racial descent : half-breed
half cock -n
- the position of the hammer of a firearm when about half retracted and held by the sear so that it cannot be operated by a pull on the trigger
- a state of inadequate preparation or mental confusion
halfcocked ['haf-'käkt, 'häf-] -adj
- being at half cock
- lacking adequate preparation or forethought
halfcourt ['haf-'kȯrt, 'häf-] -n
- a dividing line that separates a playing court into equal halves (as in basketball)
- the area comprising each half
half crown -n
- a British coin worth two shillings and sixpence used as legal tender until 1970
half dime -n
- a silver 5-cent coin struck by the U.S. mint in 1792 and from 1794 to 1873
half disme -n
- a half dime struck in 1792
halfdol·lar ['haf-'dä-lər, 'häf-] -n
- a coin representing one half of a dollar
- the sum of 50 cents
half duplex -n
- a mode of communication esp. with a computer via telephone line in which information can be sent in only one direction at a time
half eagle -n
- a 5-dollar gold piece issued by the U.S. from 1795 to 1916 and in 1929
halfglas·ses ['haf-'gla-səz] -n pl
- eyeglasses that have half lenses and are used for reading only
halfhardy -adj
- able to withstand a moderately low temperature but injured by severe freezing and surviving the winter in cold climates only if carefully protected
half·heart·ed ['haf-'här-təd, 'häf-] -adj, adv, n
- lacking heart, spirit, or interest
half hitch -n
- a simple knot tied by passing the end of a line around an object, across the main part of the line, and then through the resulting loop
half hour ['haf-'au̇(-ə)r-lē, 'häf-] -n, adv or adj
- thirty minutes
- the middle point of an hour
halfknot ['haf-,nät, 'häf-] -n
- a knot intertwining the ends of two cords and used in tying other knots
halflength ['haf-'leŋ(k)th, 'häf-] -n
- something (as a portrait) that is or represents only half the complete length
halflife [-,līf] -n
- : the time required for half of something to undergo a process: as
- the time required for half of the atoms of a radioactive substance to become disintegrated
- the time required for half the amount of a substance (as a drug, radioactive tracer, or pesticide) in or introduced into a living system or ecosystem to be eliminated or disintegrated by natural processes
- a period of usefulness or popularity preceding decline or obsolescence
- slang usually has a short halflife
halflight [-,līt] -n
- dim grayish light
half line -n
- a straight line extending from a point indefinitely in one direction only
halfmast [-'mast] -n
- a point some distance but not necessarily halfway down below the top of a mast or staff or the peak of a gaff
- to cause to hang at half-mast
halfmoon ['haf-,mün, 'häf-] -n, adj
- the moon when half its disk appears illuminated
- something shaped like a crescent
- the lunule of a fingernail
half nelson -n
- a wrestling hold in which one arm is thrust under the corresponding arm of an opponent and the hand placed on the back of the opponent's neck
half note -n
- a musical note with the time value of of a whole note
half·pen·ny ['hāp-nē, 'hā-pə-, US also 'haf-,pe-nē, 'häf-] -n, adj
- a former British coin representing one half of a penny
- the sum of half a penny
- a small amount
halfpint ['haf-,pīnt, 'häf-] -n
- half a pint
- a short, small, or inconsequential person
- of less than average size : diminutive
halfpipe ['haf-,pīp, 'häf-] -n
- a U-shaped high-sided ramp or runway used esp. in snowboarding, skateboarding, or in-line skating
half plane -n
- the part of a plane on one side of an indefinitely extended straight line drawn in the plane
half rest -n
- a musical rest corresponding in time value to a half note
half shell -n
- either of the valves of a bivalve
half sister -n
- a sister related through one parent only
halfslip ['haf-,slip, 'häf-] -n
- a topless slip with an elasticized waistband
halfsole -vt
- to put half soles on
half sole -n
- a shoe sole extending from the shank forward
half sovereign -n
- a British gold coin worth 10 shillings
halfspace ['haf-,spās, 'häf-] -n
- the part of three-dimensional euclidean space lying on one side of a plane
halfstaff [-'staf] -n
- half-mast
half step -n
- a walking step of 15 inches or in double time of 18 inches
- a musical interval (as E-F or B-C) equivalent to of an octave called also semitone
halftimber ['haf-'tim-bərd, 'häf-] -adj, n
- constructed of wood framing with spaces filled with masonry
half·time [-,tīm] -n
- an intermission between halves of a game or contest (as in football or basketball)
halftime -adj, adv
- involving or working half the standard hours
half title -n
- the title of a book appearing alone on a right-hand page immediately preceding the title page
- the page itself
half·tone ['haf-,tōn, 'häf-] -n, adj
- half step
- any of the shades of gray between the darkest and the lightest parts of a photographic image
- a photoengraving made from an image photographed through a screen and then etched so that the details of the image are reproduced in dots
- an image (as one printed on an offset press or laser printer) that renders smooth variations of color in an original by means of dots assigned to areas of the image electronically
halftrack [-,trak] -n, adj
- an endless chain-track drive system that propels a vehicle supported in front by a pair of wheels
- a motor vehicle propelled by half-tracks
- one lightly armored for military use
halftruth [-,trüth] -n
- a statement that is only partially true
- a statement that mingles truth and falsehood with deliberate intent to deceive
half volley -n, vb
- a stroke of a ball (as in tennis) at the instant it rebounds from the ground
half·way ['haf-'wā, 'häf-] -adj, adv
- midway between two points
- partial
halfway house -n
- a place to stop midway on a journey
- a halfway place in a progression
- a residence for individuals after release from institutionalization (as for mental disorder, drug addiction, or criminal activity) that is designed to facilitate their readjustment to private life
halfwit ['haf-,wit, 'häf-] -n, adj
- a foolish or imbecilic person
halfworld [-,wərld] -n
- demimonde
hal·i·but ['ha-lə-bət also 'hä-] -n
- any of several marine flatfishes (esp. Hippoglossus hippoglossusof the Atlantic and H. stenolepisof the Pacific) that are widely used for food and include some of the largest bony fishes
ha·lide ['ha-,līd, 'hā-] -n
- a binary compound of a halogen with a more electropositive element or radical
hal·i·dom ['ha-lə-dəm] -n
- something held sacred
ha·lite ['ha-,līt, 'hā-] -n
- rock salt
hal·i·to·sis [,ha-lə-'tō-səs] -n
- a condition of having fetid breath
hall ['hȯl] -n
- the castle or house of a medieval king or noble
- the chief living room in such a structure
- the manor house of a landed proprietor
- a large usu. imposing building for public or semipublic purposes
- a building used by a college or university for some special purpose
- dormitory
- a college or a division of a college at some universities
- the common dining room of an English college
- a meal served there
- the entrance room of a building : lobby
- a corridor or passage in a building
- a large room for assembly : auditorium
- a place used for public entertainment
hallah ['k̲ä-lə, 'hä-] -n
(variant of challah)
- egg-rich yeast-leavened bread that is usu. braided or twisted before baking and is traditionally eaten by Jews on the Sabbath and holidays
Hall effect ['hȯl-] -n
- a potential difference observed between the edges of a conducting strip carrying a longitudinal current when placed in a magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of the strip
Hal·lel [hä-'lāl] -n
- a selection comprising Psalms 113118 chanted during Jewish feasts (as the Passover)
hal·le·lu·jah [,ha-lə-'lü-yə] -interj
- used to express praise, joy, or thanks
hallelujah -n
- a shout or song of praise or thanksgiving
hall·mark ['hȯl-,märk] -n
- an official mark stamped on gold and silver articles in England to attest their purity
- a mark or device placed or stamped on an article of trade to indicate origin, purity, or genuineness
- a distinguishing characteristic, trait, or feature
- the dramatic flourishes which are the hallmark of the trial lawyer -- Marion K. Sanders
hallmark -vt
- to stamp with a hallmark
hallo ['hä-(,)lō; hä-'lō, hə-] -vi
(variant of hollo)
- to cry hollo : holler
- to call or cry hollo to
- to utter loudly : holler
Hall of Fame [-'fā-mər]
- a structure housing memorials to famous or illustrious individuals usu. chosen by a group of electors
- a group of individuals in a particular category (as a sport) who have been selected as particularly illustrious
hal·low ['ha-(,)lō] -vt
- to make holy or set apart for holy use
- to respect greatly : venerate
hal·lowed ['ha-(,)lōd, 'ha-ləd, in the Lord's Prayer often 'ha-lə-wəd] -adj
- holy, consecrated
- the church stands on hallowed ground
- sacred, revered
- the university's hallowed halls
Hal·low·een [,ha-lə-'wēn, ,hä-] -n
- October 31 observed esp. with dressing up in disguise, trick-or-treating, and displaying jack-o'-lanterns during the evening
Hal·low·mas ['ha-lō-,mas, 'ha-lə-, -məs] -n
- all saints' day
halls of ivy
- university, college
Hall·statt ['hȯl-,stat; 'häl-,shtät, -,stät] -adj
- of or relating to the earlier period of the Iron Age in Europe
hal·lu·ci·nate [hə-'lü-sə-,nāt] -vb, n
- to affect with visions or imaginary perceptions
- to perceive or experience as a hallucination
- to have hallucinations
hal·lu·ci·na·tion [hə-,lü-sə-'nā-shən] -n
- perception of objects with no reality usu. arising from disorder of the nervous system or in response to drugs (as LSD)
- the object so perceived
- an unfounded or mistaken impression or notion : delusion
hal·lu·ci·na·to·ry [hə-'lü-sə-nə-,tȯr-ē, -'lüs-nə-] -adj
- tending to produce hallucination
- resembling, involving, or being a hallucination
hal·lu·ci·no·gen [hə-'lü-sə-nə-jən] -n, adj or n
- a substance that induces hallucinations
hal·lu·ci·no·sis [hə-,lü-sə-'nō-səs] -n
- a pathological mental state characterized by hallucinations
hal·lux ['ha-ləks] -n
- the innermost digit (as the big toe) of a hind or lower limb
hall·way ['hȯl-,wā] -n
- an entrance hall
- corridor
hal·ma ['hal-mə] -n
- a game played on a square board and having rules similar to those of Chinese checkers
ha·lo ['hā-(,)lō] -n
- a circle of light appearing to surround the sun or moon and resulting from refraction or reflection of light by ice particles in the atmosphere
- : something resembling a halo: as
- nimbus
- a region of space surrounding a galaxy that is sparsely populated with luminous objects (as globular clusters) but is believed to contain a great deal of dark matter
- a differentiated zone surrounding a central zone or object
- an orthopedic device used to immobilize the head and neck (as to treat fracture of neck vertebrae) that consists of a metal band placed around the head and fastened to the skull usu. with metal pins and that is attached by extensions to an inflexible vest called also halo brace
- the aura of glory, veneration, or sentiment surrounding an idealized person or thing
halo -vt
- to form into or surround with a halo
- rainbows halo ed the waterfalls -- Michael Crawford
hal·o·car·bon ['ha-lə-,kär-bən] -n
- any of various compounds of carbon and one or more halogens
hal·o·cline ['ha-lə-,klīn] -n
- a usu. vertical gradient in salinity (as of the ocean)
halo effect -n
- generalization from the perception of one outstanding personality trait to an overly favorable evaluation of the whole personality
hal·o·gen ['ha-lə-jən] -n, adj
- any of the five elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine that form part of group VIIA of the periodic table and exist in the free state normally as diatomic molecules
halogen -adj
- containing, using, or being a halogen
ha·lo·ge·nate ['ha-lə-jə-,nāt, ha-'lä-jə-] -vt, n
- to treat or cause to combine with a halogen
hal·o·ge·ton [,ha-lə-'jē-,tän] -n
- a coarse annual Asian herb ( Halogeton glomeratus) of the goosefoot family that is a noxious weed in western U.S. ranges
hal·o·mor·phic [,ha-lə-'mȯr-fik] -adj
- developed in the presence of neutral or alkali salts or both
ha·lon ['hā-,län] -n
- a halocarbon that contains esp. bromine
hal·o·per·i·dol [,ha-lō-'per-ə-,dȯl, -,dōl] -n
- a depressant C 21H 23ClFNO 2of the central nervous system used esp. as an antipsychotic drug
hal·o·phile ['ha-lə-,fī(-ə)l] -n, adj
- an organism that flourishes in a salty environment
hal·o·phyte ['ha-lə-,fīt] -n, adj
- a plant (as saltbush or sea lavender) that grows in salty soil and usu. has a physiological resemblance to a true xerophyte
hal·o·thane ['ha-lə-,thān] -n
- a potent inhalational anesthetic C 2HBrClF 3that is nonexplosive and nonflammable
halt ['hȯlt] -adj
- lame
- to walk or proceed lamely : limp
- to stand in perplexity or doubt between alternate courses : waver
- to display weakness or imperfection : falter
- stop
- to cease marching or journeying
- discontinue, terminate
- the project halt ed for lack of funds
- to bring to a stop
- the strike halt ed subways and buses
- to cause the discontinuance of : end
hal·ter ['hȯl-tər] -n
- a rope or strap for leading or tying an animal
- a headstall usu. with noseband and throatlatch to which a lead may be attached
- a rope for hanging criminals : noose
- death by hanging
- a woman's blouse or top that leaves the back, arms, and midriff bare and that is typically held in place by straps around the neck and across the back
halter [-t(ə-)riŋ] -vt
- to catch with or as if with a halter
- to put a halter on
- hang
- to put restraint upon : hamper
hal·ter·break ['hȯl-tər-,brāk] -vt
- to break (as a colt) to a halter
hal·tere ['hȯl-,tir, 'hal-] -n
- one of a pair of club-shaped organs in a dipteran fly that are the modified second pair of wings and function as sensory flight stabilizers
halt·ing ['hȯl-tiŋ] -adj, adv
- marked by a lack of sureness or effectiveness
- spoke in a halting manner
hal·vah [häl-'vä; 'häl-(,)vä, -və] -n
- a flaky confection of crushed sesame seeds in a base of syrup (as of honey)
halve ['hav, 'häv] -vt
- to divide into two equal parts
- to reduce to one half
- to share equally
- to play (as a hole in golf) in the same number of strokes as one's opponent
halv·ers ['ha-vərz, 'hä-] -n pl
- half shares : halves
halves ['haf, 'häf] -n
(variant of half)
- either of two equal parts that compose something
- a part approximately equal to one of these
- the larger half of the fortune
- half an hour used in designation of time
- : one of a pair: as
- partner
- semester, term
- either of the two equal periods that together make up the playing time of some games (as football)
- the midpoint in playing time
- the score was tied at the half
- half-dollar
- halfback
- being one of two equal parts
- amounting to approximately half
- falling short of the full or complete thing : partial
- extending over or covering only half
- in an equal part or degree
- the crowd was half jeering, half respectful
- not completely : partially
- by any means : at all
- her singing isn't half bad
hal·yard ['hal-yərd] -n
- a rope or tackle for hoisting and lowering something (as sails)
ham ['ham] -n, adj
- the hollow of the knee
- a buttock with its associated thigh usu. used in pl.
- a cut of meat consisting of a thigh
- one from a hog
- a showy performer
- an actor performing in an exaggerated theatrical style
- a licensed operator of an amateur radio station
- a cushion used esp. by tailors for pressing curved areas of garments
- to execute with exaggerated speech or gestures : overact
- to overplay a part
Ham ['ham] -n
- a son of Noah held to be the progenitor of the Egyptians, Nubians, and Canaanites
hama·dry·ad [,ha-mə-'drī-əd, -,ad] -n
- wood nymph
- king cobra
hama·dry·as baboon [,ha-mə-'drī-əs-] -n
- a baboon ( Papio hamadryas) that has a reddish-pink muzzle and a large bare patch of pink skin on each buttock and that was venerated by the ancient Egyptians called also sacred baboon
ha·mal [hə-'mäl] -n
- a porter in countries of southwest Asia (as Turkey)
Ha·man ['hā-mən] -n
- a Persian minister in the book of Esther who is hanged after plotting a foiled massacre of the Jews
ha·man·tasch ['hä-mən-,täsh, 'hȯ-, -,tȯsh] -n
- a 3-cornered pastry with a filling (as of poppy seeds or prunes) traditionally eaten during the Jewish holiday Purim
ha·mar·tia [,hä-,mär-'tē-ə] -n
- tragic flaw
ha·mate ['hā-,māt] -n
- a bone on the inner side of the second row of the carpus in mammals
ham·burg·er ['ham-,bər-gər] -n
- ground beef
- a patty of ground beef
- a sandwich consisting of a patty of hamburger in a split typically round bun
hame ['hām] -n
- one of two curved supports attached to the collar of a draft horse to which the traces are fastened
hame ['hōm] -n
(variant of home)
- one's place of residence : domicile
- house
- the social unit formed by a family living together
- a familiar or usual setting : congenial environment
- the focus of one's domestic attention
- home is where the heart is
- habitat
- a place of origin
- salmon returning to their home to spawn
- one's own country
- having troubles at home and abroad
- headquarters
- home of the dance company
- an establishment providing residence and care for people with special needs
- the objective in various games
- home plate
- to or at one's home
- to a final, closed, or ultimate position
- to or at an ultimate objective (as a goal or finish line)
- to a vital sensitive core
- of, relating to, or being a home, place of origin, or base of operations
- prepared, done, or designed for use in a home
- operating or occurring in a home area
- to go or return home
- to return accurately to one's home or natal area from a distance
- to proceed to or toward a source of radiated energy used as a guide
- missiles home in on radar
- to proceed or direct attention toward an objective
- science is homing in on the mysterious human process -- Sam Glucksberg
- to send to or provide with a home
hamfist·ed ['ham-,fis-təd] -adj
- ham-handed
hamhand·ed [-,han-dəd] -adj, adv, n
- lacking dexterity or grace : heavy-handed
Ham·il·to·ni·an [,ha-məl-'tō-nē-ən] -n
- a function that is used to describe a dynamic system (as the motion of a particle) in terms of components of momentum and coordinates of space and time and that is equal to the total energy of the system when time is not explicitly part of the function
Ham·il·to·ni·an·ism [-nē-ə-,ni-zəm] -n, adj or n
- the political principles and ideas held by or associated with Alexander Hamilton that center around a belief in a strong central government, broad interpretation of the federal constitution, encouragement of an industrial and commercial economy, and a general distrust of the political capacity or wisdom of the common man
Ham·ite ['ha-,mīt] -n
- a member of a Hamitic-speaking people
Ham·it·ic [ha-'mi-tik, hə-] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the Hamites or one of the Hamitic languages
Hamitic -n
- hamitic languages
Hamitic languages -n pl
- any of various groupings of non-Semitic Afro-Asiatic languages (as Berber, Egyptian, and Cushitic) that were formerly thought to make up a single branch of the Afro-Asiatic family
Ham·i·toSe·mit·ic [,ha-mə-(,)tō-sə-'mi-tik, hə-'mi-tō-] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or constituting the Afro-Asiatic languages
ham·let ['ham-lət] -n
- a small village
Ham·let ['ham-lət] -n
- a legendary Danish prince and hero of Shakespeare's play Hamlet
ham·mam [hə-'mäm] -n
- turkish bath
ham·mer ['ha-mər] -n
- a hand tool consisting of a solid head set crosswise on a handle and used for pounding
- a power tool that often substitutes a metal block or a drill for the hammerhead
- : something that resembles a hammer in form or action: as
- a lever with a striking head for ringing a bell or striking a gong
- an arm that strikes the cap in a percussion lock to ignite the propelling charge
- a part of the action of a modern gun that strikes the primer of the cartridge in firing or that strikes the firing pin to ignite the cartridge
- malleus
- gavel
- a padded mallet in a piano action for striking a string
- a hand mallet for playing on various percussion instruments (as a xylophone)
- a metal sphere thrown for distance in the hammer throw
- accelerator
hammer ['ha-mər-iŋ, 'ham-riŋ] -vb, n
- to strike blows esp. repeatedly with or as if with a hammer : pound
- to make repeated efforts
- to reiterate an opinion or attitude
- the lectures all hammer ed away at the same points
- to beat, drive, or shape with repeated blows of a hammer
- to fasten or build with a hammer
- to strike or drive with a force suggesting a hammer blow or repeated blows
- hammer ed the ball over the fence
- tried to hammer me into submission
- to criticize severely
hammer and sickle -n
- an emblem consisting of a crossed hammer and sickle used esp. as a symbol of Soviet Communism
hammer and tongs -adv, adj
- with great force, vigor, or violence
- went at it hammer and tongs
hammer dulcimer -n
- dulcimer called also hammered dulcimer
hammered -adj
- having surface indentations produced or appearing to have been produced by hammering
- drunk
ham·mer·head ['ha-mər-,hed] -n
- the striking part of a hammer
- blockhead
- any of a family (Sphyrnidae) of active voracious medium-sized sharks that have the eyes at the ends of lateral extensions of the flattened head
ham·mer·less [-ləs] -adj
- having the hammer concealed
ham·mer·lock [-,läk] -n
- a wrestling hold in which an opponent's arm is held bent behind the back
- a strong hold
hammer mill -n
- a grinder or crusher in which materials are broken up by hammers
hammer out -vt
- to produce or bring about as if by repeated blows
- hammered out an agreement
hammer price -n
- the price at which an item is sold at auction
ham·mer·stone ['ha-mər-,stōn] -n
- a prehistoric hammering implement consisting of a rounded stone
hammer throw -n
- a field event in which a usu. 16-pound metal sphere attached to a flexible handle is thrown for distance
ham·mer·toe ['ha-mər-,tō] -n
- a deformed claw-shaped toe and esp. the second that results from permanent angular flexion between one or both phalangeal joints
ham·mock ['ha-mək] -n
- a swinging couch or bed usu. made of netting or canvas and slung by cords from supports at each end
hammock -n
- hummock
- a fertile area in the southern U.S. and esp. Florida that is usu. higher than its surroundings and that is characterized by hardwood vegetation and deep humus-rich soil
ham·my ['ha-mē] -adj, adv, n
- marked by exaggerated and usu. self-conscious theatricality
ham·per ['ham-pər] -vt
- to restrict the movement of by bonds or obstacles : impede
- to interfere with the operation of : disrupt
- curb, restrain
- to interfere with : encumber
hamper -n
- a large basket usu. with a cover for packing, storing, or transporting articles (as food or laundry)
Hamp·shire ['ham(p)-,shir, -shər] -n
- any of a British breed of large hornless black-faced mutton-producing sheep called also Hampshire Down
- any of an American breed of black white-belted swine
ham·ster ['ham(p)-stər] -n
- any of a subfamily (Cricetinae) of small Old World rodents having very large cheek pouches
ham·string ['ham-,striŋ] -n
- either of two groups of tendons at the back of the human knee
- any of three muscles at the back of the thigh that function to flex and rotate the leg and extend the thigh
- a large tendon above and behind the hock of a quadruped
hamstring [-,strəŋ] -vt
- to make ineffective or powerless : cripple
- to cripple by cutting the leg tendons
ham·u·lus ['ham-yə-ləs] -n
- a hook or hooked process (as of a bone)
ham·za ['ham-zə, 'häm-] -n
- the sign for a glottal stop in Arabic orthography usu. represented in English by an apostrophe
Han ['hän] -n
- a Chinese dynasty dated 206 b.c. a.d.220 and marked by centralized control through an appointive bureaucracy, a revival of learning, and the penetration of Buddhism
- the Chinese peoples esp. as distinguished from non-Chinese (as Mongolian) elements in the population
Han·a·fi ['ha-nə-(,)fē] -adj
- of or relating to an orthodox school of Sunni Muslim jurisprudence followed esp. in southern and central Asia
hand ['hand] -n
- the terminal part of the vertebrate forelimb when modified (as in humans) as a grasping organ
- the forelimb segment (as the terminal section of a bird's wing) of a vertebrate higher than the fishes that corresponds to the hand irrespective of its form or functional specialization
- : a part serving the function of or resembling a hand: as
- the hind foot of an ape
- the chela of a crustacean
- : something resembling a hand: as
- an indicator or pointer on a dial
- index
- a cluster of bananas developed from a single flower group
- a branched rootstock of ginger
- a bunch of large leaves (as of tobacco) tied together usu. with another leaf
- personal possession usu. used in pl.
- the documents fell into the hand s of the enemy
- control, supervision usu. used in pl.
- left the matter in her hand s
- side, direction
- men fighting on either hand
- one of two sides or aspects of an issue or argument
- on the one hand we can appeal for peace, and on the other, declare war
- a pledge esp. of betrothal or bestowal in marriage
- style of penmanship : handwriting
- signature
- skill, ability
- tried her hand at sailing
- an instrumental part
- had a hand in the victory
- a unit of measure equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters) used esp. for the height of horses
- assistance or aid esp. involving physical effort
- participation, interest
- had no hand in the decision
- a round of applause
- a player in a card game or board game
- the cards or pieces held by a player
- a single round in a game
- the force or solidity of one's position (as in negotiations)
- trying to strengthen their hand
- a person who performs or executes a particular work
- two portraits by the same hand
- a person employed at manual labor or general tasks
- worker, employee
- employed over a hundred hand s
- a member of a ship's crew
- a person skilled in a particular action or pursuit
- a specialist or veteran in a usu. designated activity or region
- handiwork, doings
- style of execution : workmanship
- the feel of or tactile reaction to something (as silk or leather)
- a punch made with a specified hand
- knocked him out with a good right hand
- with the hands rather than by machine
- to touch or manage with the hands
- to deal with
- furl
- to lead, guide, or assist with the hand
- to give, pass, or transmit with the hand
- to present or provide with
hand and foot -adv
- totally, assiduously
hand ax -n
- a short-handled ax intended for use with one hand
- a prehistoric stone tool having one end pointed for cutting and the other end rounded for holding in the hand
hand·bag ['han(d)-,bag] -n
- suitcase
- a bag held in the hand or hung from a shoulder strap and used for carrying small personal articles and money
hand·ball [-,bȯl] -n
- a game played in a walled court or against a single wall or board by two or four players who use their hands to strike the ball
- a small rubber ball used in handball
hand·bar·row [-,ba-(,)rō] -n
- a flat rectangular frame with handles at both ends that is carried by two persons
hand·bas·ket [-,bas-kət] -n
- a small portable basket usu. used in the phrase to hell in a handbasket denoting rapid and utter ruination
hand·bell [-,bel] -n
- a small bell with a handle
- one of a set tuned in a scale for musical performance
hand·bill [-,bil] -n
- a small printed sheet to be distributed (as for advertising) by hand
hand·blown [-'blōn] -adj
- made by glassblowing and molded by hand
hand·book [-,bu̇k] -n
- a book capable of being conveniently carried as a ready reference : manual
- a concise reference book covering a particular subject
- a bookmaker's book of bets
- a place where bookmaking is carried on
hand brake -n
- an emergency brake operated by a hand lever
hand·breadth [-,bretth, -,breth, -,bredth] -n
- any of various units of length varying from about 2 to 4 inches based on the breadth of a hand
hand·car ['han(d)-,kär] -n
- a small four-wheeled railroad car propelled by a hand-operated mechanism or by a small motor
hand·cart [-,kärt] -n
- a cart drawn or pushed by hand
hand·clasp ['han(d)-,klasp] -n
- handshake
hand·craft [-,kraft] -n
- handicraft
handcraft -vt
- to fashion by handicraft
hand·crafts·man [-,kraf(t)-smən] -n
- a person who is skilled in handicraft
hand·cuff [-,kəf] -n
- a metal fastening that can be locked around a wrist and is usu. connected by a chain or bar with another such fastening usu. used in pl.
handcuff -vt
- to apply handcuffs to : manacle
- to hold in check : make ineffective or powerless
- handcuff ed by strict regulations
hand down -vt
- to transmit in succession (as from father to son)
- to make official formulation of and express (the opinion of a court)
hand·ed ['han-dəd] -adj
- having a hand or hands esp. of a specified kind or number usu. used in combination
- using a specified hand or number of hands used in combination
hand·ed·ness [-nəs] -n
- a tendency to use one hand rather than the other
- the property of an object (as a molecule) of not being identical with its mirror image : chirality
- either of the two configurations of an object that may exist in forms which are nonidentical mirror images
hand·fast ['han(d)-,fast] -n
- a contract or covenant esp. of betrothal or marriage
handfeed ['han(d)-'fēd] -vt
- to feed (as animals) by hand
hand, foot and mouth disease -n
- a usu. mild contagious disease esp. of young children that is caused by an enterovirus (species Human enterovirus A,esp. serotype Human coxsackievirus A16) and is characterized by vesicular lesions chiefly in the mouth and on the hands and feet
hand·ful ['han(d)-,fu̇l] -n
- as much or as many as the hand will grasp
- a small quantity or number
- as much as one can manage
- the kids are quite a handful
hand glass -n
- a small mirror with a handle
hand·grip ['han(d)-,grip] -n
- a grasping with the hand
- handle
- hand-to-hand combat
hand·gun [-,gən] -n
- a firearm (as a revolver or pistol) designed to be held and fired with one hand
hand·held [-,held, -'held] -adj, n
- held in the hand
- designed to be operated while being held in the hand
hand·hold ['hand-,hōld] -n
- hold, grip
- something to hold on to (as in mountain climbing)
handhold·ing [-,hōl-diŋ] -n
- solicitous attention, support, or instruction (as in servicing clients)
hand·i·cap ['han-di-,kap, -dē-] -n
- a race or contest in which an artificial advantage is given or disadvantage imposed on a contestant to equalize chances of winning
- an advantage given or disadvantage imposed usu. in the form of points, strokes, weight to be carried, or distance from the target or goal
- a disadvantage that makes achievement unusually difficult
- a physical disability
handicap -vt
- to give a handicap to
- to assess the relative winning chances of (contestants) or the likely winner of (a contest)
- to put at a disadvantage
handicapped -adj
- having a physical or mental disability
- of or reserved for handicapped persons
- handicapped parking spaces
hand·i·cap·per [-,ka-pər] -n
- a person who assigns handicaps
- a person who predicts the winners in a contest (as a horse race)
- a person who competes with a (specified) handicap (as in golf) usu. used in combination
hand·i·craft ['han-di-,kraft, -dē-] -n
- manual skill
- an occupation requiring skill with the hands
- the articles fashioned by those engaged in handicraft
hand·i·crafts·man [-,kraf(t)-smən] -n
- a person who engages in a handicraft : artisan
hand·i·ly ['han-də-lē] -adv
- in a dexterous manner
- easily
- defeated the other candidate handily
- conveniently nearby
hand in -vt
- submit
hand in glove -adv
- in extremely close relationship or agreement
- working hand in glove with the police
hand in hand -adv
- with hands clasped (as in intimacy or affection)
- in close association : together
hand·i·work ['han-di-,wərk, -dē-] -n
- work done by the hands
- work done personally
- the product of handiwork
hand·ker·chief ['haŋ-kər-chəf, -(,)chif, -,chēf] -n
- a small usu. square piece of cloth used for usu. personal purposes (as blowing the nose) or as a clothing accessory
- kerchief
han·dle ['han-dᵊl] -n, adj
- a part that is designed esp. to be grasped by the hand
- something that resembles a handle
- title
- name
- nickname
- hand
- the total amount of money bet on a race, game, or event
- a means of understanding or controlling
- can't quite get a handle on things
handle ['han(d)-liŋ, 'han-dᵊl-iŋ] -vb, adj
- to try or examine (as by touching, feeling, or moving) with the hand
- handle silk to judge its weight
- to manage with the hands
- to deal with in writing or speaking or in the plastic arts
- to have overall responsibility for supervising or directing : manage
- a lawyer handle s all my affairs
- to train and act as second for (a boxer)
- to put up with : stand
- to act on or perform a required function with regard to
- to engage in the buying, selling, or distributing of (a commodity)
- to act, behave, or respond in a certain way when handled or directed
han·dle·bar ['han-dᵊl-,bär] -n
- a straight or bent bar with a handle at each end
- one used to steer a bicycle or similar vehicle usu. used in pl.
handlebar mustache -n
- a heavy mustache with long sections that curve upward at each end
hand lens -n
- a magnifying glass to be held in the hand
han·dler ['han(d)-lər, 'han-dᵊl-ər] -n
- one that handles something
- a person in immediate physical charge of an animal
- a person who exhibits dogs at shows or field trials
- a person who trains or acts as second for a boxer
- a manager of a political or public figure or campaign
hand·less ['han(d)-ləs] -adj
- having no hands
- inefficient in manual tasks : clumsy
handling -n
- the action of one that handles something
- a process by which something is handled in a commercial transaction
- the packaging and shipping of an object or material (as to a consumer)
- the manner in which something is treated (as in a musical, literary, or art work)
hand·list ['han(d)-,list] -n
- a list (as of books) for purposes of reference or checking
hand·made ['han(d)-'mād] -adj
- made by hand or by a hand process
hand·maid·en [-,mā-dᵊn] -n
- a personal maid or female servant
- something whose essential function is to serve or assist
- criticism is not the enemy of art but rather its handmaiden -- Gary Michael
handmedown ['han(d)-mē-,dau̇n] -adj, n
- put in use by one person or group after being used, discarded, or handed down by another
- ready-made and usu. cheap and shoddy
hand off ['hand-,ȯf] -vt, n
- to hand (a football) to a nearby teammate on a play
- to hand off a football
hand on -vt
- hand down
hand organ -n
- a barrel organ operated by a hand crank
hand·out ['hand-,au̇t] -n
- a portion of food, clothing, or money given to or as if to a beggar
- a folder or circular of information for free distribution
- a prepared statement released to the news media
hand out -vt
- to give without charge
- to give freely
- administer
- handed out a severe punishment
hand over ['han-,dō-vər] -vt, n
- to yield control of
hand over fist -adv
- quickly and in large amounts
- making money hand over fist
hand·pick ['han(d)-'pik] -vt
- to pick by hand as opposed to a machine process
- to select personally or for personal ends
hand·press [-,pres] -n
- a hand-operated press
hand·print [-,print] -n
- an impression of a hand on a surface
hand puppet -n
- puppet
hand·rail ['han(d)-,rāl] -n
- a narrow rail for grasping with the hand as a support
hand running -adv
- in unbroken succession
hand·saw ['han(d)-,sȯ] -n
- a saw designed to be used with one hand
handsbreadth [-,bretth, -,breth, -,bredth] -n
(variant of handbreadth)
- any of various units of length varying from about 2 to 4 inches based on the breadth of a hand
hands down ['han(d)z-'dau̇n] -adv, adj
- without much effort : easily
- without question
hand·sel ['han(t)-səl] -n
- a gift made as a token of good wishes or luck esp. at the beginning of a new year
- something received first (as in a day of trading) and taken to be a token of good luck
- a first installment : earnest money
- earnest, foretaste
handsel [-s(ə-)liŋ] -vt
- to give a handsel to
- to inaugurate with a token or gesture of luck or pleasure
- to use or do for the first time
hand·set ['han(d)-,set] -n
- a combined telephone transmitter and receiver mounted on a handheld device
hand·shake [-,shāk] -n
- a clasping usu. of right hands by two people (as in greeting or farewell)
handsoff ['han(d)z-'ȯf] -adj
- characterized by noninterference
- a handsoff policy toward the internal affairs of other nations
hand·some ['han(t)-səm] -adj, adv, n
- appropriate, suitable
- moderately large : sizable
- a painting that commanded a handsome price
- marked by skill or cleverness : adroit
- marked by graciousness or generosity : liberal
- handsome contributions to charity
- having a pleasing and usu. impressive or dignified appearance
handson ['han(d)z-'ȯn, -'än] -adj
- relating to, being, or providing direct practical experience in the operation or functioning of something
- involving or allowing use of or touching with the hands
- characterized by active personal involvement
hand·spike ['han(d)-,spīk] -n
- a bar used as a lever
hand·spring [-,spriŋ] -n
- an acrobatic feat in which the body turns forward or backward in a full circle from a standing position and lands first on the hands and then on the feet
hand·stand [-,stand] -n
- an act of supporting the body on the hands with the trunk and legs balanced in the air
handtohand ['han-tə-'hand, -də-] -adj
- involving physical contact or close enough range for physical contact
hand to hand -adv
- at very close range
handtomouth [-'mau̇th] -adj, adv
- having or providing nothing to spare beyond basic necessities
hand truck -n
- a small hand-propelled truck
- truck
hand up -vt
- to deliver (an indictment) to a judge or higher judicial authority
hand·wheel ['han(d)-,(h)wēl] -n
- a wheel worked by hand
hand·work ['hand-,wərk] -n
- work done with the hands and not by machines : handiwork
hand·wo·ven [-'wō-vən] -adj
- produced on a hand-operated loom
- woven by hand
handwring·ing [-,riŋ-iŋ] -n
- an overwrought expression of concern or guilt
hand·write [-,rīt] -vt
- to write by hand
hand·writ·ing ['hand-,rī-tiŋ] -n
- writing done by hand
- the form of writing peculiar to a particular person
- something written by hand
hand·wrought ['hand-'rȯt] -adj
- fashioned by hand or chiefly by hand processes
handy ['han-dē] -adj, n
- conveniently near
- convenient for use
- easily handled
- clever in using the hands esp. in a variety of useful ways
- handy with a hammer as well as with a paintbrush
handy·man [-dē-,man] -n
- a person who does odd jobs
- one competent in a variety of small skills or inventive or ingenious in repair or maintenance work called also handyperson
hang ['haŋ] -vb, adj
- to fasten to some elevated point without support from below : suspend
- to suspend by the neck until dead often hanged in the past often used as a mild oath
- to fasten so as to allow free motion within given limits upon a point of suspension
- to adjust the hem of (a skirt) so as to hang evenly and at a proper height
- to furnish with hanging decorations (as flags or bunting)
- to hold or bear in a suspended or inclined manner
- to apply to a wall
- to display (pictures) in a gallery
- to throw (as a curveball) so that it fails to break properly
- to make (a turn) esp. while driving
- hung a quick U-turn -- Tom Clancy
- base, found
- something to hang our hopes on
- to remain suspended or fastened to some point above without support from below : dangle
- to die by hanging often hanged in the past
- he hang ed for his crimes
- to be connected as something relevant or related
- thereby hang s a tale -- Shak.
- to remain poised or stationary in the air
- clouds hang ing low overhead
- linger, persist
- to be imminent : impend
- doom hung over the nation
- to fall or droop from a usu. tense or taut position
- depend
- election hang s on one vote
- to take hold for support : cling
- to keep persistent contact
- to maintain or continue holding a position
- to stay even : keep up usu. used with with
- trying to hang with the leader
- to be burdensome or oppressive
- to be uncertain or in suspense
- the decision is still hang ing
- to lean, incline, or jut over or downward
- to be in a state of rapt attention
- to fit or fall from the figure in easy lines
- to pass time idly or in relaxing or socializing often used with around or out
- to fail to break or drop as intended
- the manner in which a thing hangs
- declivity, slope
- droop
- facility with or an understanding of something
- can't get the hang of this
- a hesitation or slackening in motion or in a course
hang about -vi
- hang
han·gar ['haŋ-ər, 'haŋ-gər] -n
- shelter, shed
- a covered and usu. enclosed area for housing and repairing aircraft
hangar -vt
- to place or store in a hangar
hang around -vt
- to pass time or stay aimlessly in or at
- hung around the house all day
hang back -vi
- to drag behind others
- to be reluctant
hang·dog ['haŋ-,dȯg] -adj
- sad, dejected
- sheepish
hangdog -n
- a despicable or miserable person
hang·er ['haŋ-ər] -n
- one that hangs or causes to be hung or hanged
- : something that hangs, overhangs, or is suspended: as
- a decorative strip of cloth
- a small sword formerly used by seamen
- a small wood on steeply sloping land
- : a device by which or to which something is hung or hangs: as
- a strap on a sword belt by which a sword or dagger can be suspended
- a loop by which a garment is hung up
- a device that fits inside or around a garment for hanging from a hook or rod
hang·eron [-,ȯn, -,än] -n
- one that hangs around a person, place, or institution esp. for personal gain
hanger steak -n
- a steak cut from the beef diaphragm
hang glider -n, vi
- a kitelike glider from which a harnessed rider hangs while gliding down from a cliff or hill
hang in -vi
- to refuse to be discouraged or intimidated : show pluck
hanging -adj
- situated or lying on steeply sloping ground
- jutting out : overhanging
- supported only by the wall on one side
- downcast in appearance
- adapted for sustaining a hanging object
- deserving, likely to cause, or prone to inflict death by hanging
- an execution by strangling or breaking the neck by a suspended noose
- : something hung: as
- curtain
- a covering (as a tapestry) for a wall
- a downward slope : declivity
hanging indention -n
- indention of all the lines of a paragraph except the first
hang·man ['haŋ-mən] -n
- one who hangs a condemned person
- a public executioner
- a game in which the object is for one player to guess the letters of an unknown word before the player who knows the word creates a stick figure of a hanged man by drawing one line for each incorrect guess
hang·nail [-,nāl] -n
- a bit of skin hanging loose at the side or root of a fingernail
hang off -vi
- hang back
hang on -vi
- to keep hold : hold onto something
- to persist tenaciously
- a cold that hung on all spring
- hold on
hang·out ['haŋ-,au̇t] -n
- a favorite place for spending time
- a place frequented for entertainment or for socializing
hang out -vi
- to protrude and droop
- live, reside
- to display outside as an announcement to the public used chiefly in the phrase hang out one's shingle
hang·over ['haŋ-,ō-vər] -n
- something (as a surviving custom) that remains from what is past
- disagreeable physical effects following heavy consumption of alcohol or the use of drugs
- a letdown following great excitement or excess
hang·tag ['haŋ-,tag] -n
- a tag attached to an article of merchandise giving information about its material and proper care
hang time -n
- the amount of time a kicked football remains in the air
- the length of time a leaping athlete is in the air
hang together -vi
- to remain united : stand by one another
- to have unity : form a consistent or coherent whole
Hang·town fry ['haŋ-,tau̇n-] -n
- an omelet or scrambled eggs containing oysters
han·gul ['hän-,gül] -n
- the alphabetic script in which Korean is written
hangup ['haŋ-,əp] -n
- a source of mental or emotional difficulty
- problem
hang up -vt
- to place on a hook or hanger designed for the purpose
- to replace (a telephone receiver) on the cradle so that the connection is broken
- to keep delayed, suspended, or held up
- to cause to stick or snag immovably
- the ship was hung up on a sandbar
- to break a telephone connection
- to become stuck or snagged so as to be immovable
ha·ni·wa ['hä-nə-,wä] -n pl
- large hollow baked clay sculptures placed on ancient Japanese burial mounds
hank ['haŋk] -n
- coil, loop
- a coiled or looped bundle (as of yarn) usu. containing a definite yardage
- any of a series of rings or clips by which a jib or staysail is attached to a stay
han·ker ['haŋ-kər] -vi, n
- to have a strong or persistent desire : yearn often used with for or after
han·kie ['haŋ-kē] -n
- handkerchief
han·kypan·ky [,haŋ-kē-'paŋ-kē] -n
- questionable or underhanded activity
- sexual dalliance
Han·o·ve·ri·an [,ha-nə-'vir-ē-ən, -'ver-] -adj
- of, relating to, or supporting the German ducal house of Hanover
- of or relating to the British royal house that ruled from 1714 to 1901
Hanoverian -n
- a member or supporter of the ducal or of the British royal Hanoverian house
- any of a breed of horses of German origin bred to excel in equestrian competition (as dressage and jumping)
Han·sa ['han(t)-sə, 'hän-(,)zä] -n, n or adj
- a league orig. constituted of merchants of various free German cities dealing abroad in the medieval period and later of the cities themselves and organized to secure greater safety and privileges in trading
- a medieval merchant guild or trading association
Han·sard ['han(t)-sərd, 'han-,särd] -n
- the official published report of debates in the parliament of a member of the Commonwealth of Nations
hansel ['han(t)-səl] -n
(variant of handsel)
- a gift made as a token of good wishes or luck esp. at the beginning of a new year
- something received first (as in a day of trading) and taken to be a token of good luck
- a first installment : earnest money
- earnest, foretaste
Han·sen's disease ['han(t)-sənz-] -n
- leprosy
han·som ['han(t)-səm] -n
- a light 2-wheeled covered carriage with the driver's seat elevated behind called also hansom cab
hant ['hȯnt, 'hänt] -vb, n, adv
(variant of haunt)
- to visit often : frequent
- to continually seek the company of
- to have a disquieting or harmful effect on : trouble
- problems we ignore now will come back to haunt us
- to recur constantly and spontaneously to
- to reappear continually in
- a sense of tension that haunt s his writing
- to visit or inhabit as a ghost
- to stay around or persist : linger
- to appear habitually as a ghost
- a place habitually frequented
- ghost
han·ta·vi·rus ['hän-tə-,vī-rəs, 'hən-, 'han-] -n
- any of a genus ( Hantavirus) of bunyaviruses transmitted esp. by rodent feces and urine and including viruses causing serious pulmonary disease or hemorrhagic fevers marked by renal necrosis
Hants -abbr
- Hampshire
Ha·nuk·kah ['hä-nə-kə, 'k̲ä-] -n
- an 8-day Jewish holiday beginning on the 25th of Kislev and commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after its defilement by Antiochus of Syria
hao ['hau̇] -n
- a monetary unit of Vietnam equal to dong
hao·le ['hau̇-lē, -(,)lā] -n
- one who is not descended from the aboriginal Polynesian inhabitants of Hawaii
- white
hap ['hap] -n
- happening
- chance, fortune
- happen
- clothe, cover
- something (as a bed quilt or cloak) that serves as a covering or wrap
ha·pa hao·le [,hä-pə-'hau̇-lē, -(,)lā] -adj
- of part-white ancestry or origin
- of white and Hawaiian ancestry
ha·pax le·go·me·non [,ha-,paks-li-'gä-mə-,nän, ,hä-,päks-, -nən] -n
- a word or form occurring only once in a document or corpus
ha'·pen·ny ['hāp-nē, 'hā-pə-] -n
- halfpenny
hap·haz·ard [(,)hap-'ha-zərd] -n
- chance
haphazard [-zər-drē] -adj, adv, n
- marked by lack of plan, order, or direction
hap·ki·do [,häp-'kē-dō] -n
- a Korean martial art based on kicking motions and incorporating elements of aikido
hapl- -comb form
- single
- haploid
hap·less ['ha-pləs] -adj, adv, n
- having no luck : unfortunate
hap·loid ['ha-,plȯid] -adj, n
- having the gametic number of chromosomes typically including one of each pair of homologous chromosomes
hap·lol·o·gy [ha-'plä-lə-jē] -n
- contraction of a word by omission of one or more similar sounds or syllables (as in mineralogyfor hypothetical mineralologyor pra-ble for probably)
hap·lont ['ha-,plänt] -n, adj
- an organism (as some primitive algae) having a diploid zygote that undergoes meiosis to produce haploid cells
hap·lo·type ['ha-plō-,tīp] -n
- a group of alleles of different genes (as of the major histocompatibility complex) on a single chromosome that are closely enough linked to be inherited usu. as a unit
hap·ly ['ha-plē] -adv
- by chance, luck, or accident
hap·pen ['ha-pən, -pᵊm] -vi
- to occur by chance often used with it
- it so happen s I'm going your way
- to come into being or occur as an event, process, or result
- to do, encounter, or attain something by or as if by chance
- I happen to know the answer
- to meet or discover something by chance
- happen ed upon a system that worked -- Richard Corbin
- to come or go casually : make a chance appearance
- he might happen by at any time
- to come esp. by way of injury or harm
- I promise nothing will happen to you
hap·pen·chance ['ha-pən-,chan(t)s, 'ha-pᵊm-] -n
- happenstance
happening -n
- something that happens : occurrence
- an event or series of events designed to evoke a spontaneous reaction to sensory, emotional, or spiritual stimuli
- something (as an event) that is particularly interesting, entertaining, or important
- very fashionable : in
- offering much stimulating activity
hap·pen·stance ['ha-pən-,stan(t)s, 'ha-pᵊm-] -n, adj
- a circumstance esp. that is due to chance
hap·pi·ly ['ha-pə-lē] -adv
- in a fortunate manner
- as it fortunately happens
- happily, some boyhood pleasures don't change -- P. A. Witteman
- by chance
- in a happy manner or state
- in an adequate or fitting manner : successfully
hap·pi·ness ['ha-pē-nəs] -n
- good fortune : prosperity
- a state of well-being and contentment : joy
- a pleasurable or satisfying experience
- felicity, aptness
hap·py ['ha-pē] -adj
- favored by luck or fortune : fortunate
- notably fitting, effective, or well adapted : felicitous
- enjoying or characterized by well-being and contentment
- is the happiest person I know
- expressing, reflecting, or suggestive of happiness
- glad, pleased
- having or marked by an atmosphere of good fellowship : friendly
- characterized by a dazed irresponsible state
- impulsively or obsessively quick to use or do something
- enthusiastic about something to the point of obsession : obsessed
- education-conscious and statistic- happy -- Helen Rowen
happy camper -n
- one who is content
hap·pygolucky [,ha-pē-gō-'lə-kē] -adj
- blithely unconcerned : carefree
happy hour -n
- a period of time during which the price of drinks (as at a bar) is reduced or hors d'oeuvres are served free
happy hunting ground -n
- the paradise of some American Indian tribes to which the souls of warriors and hunters pass after death to spend a happy hereafter in hunting and feasting
- a choice or profitable area of activity or exploitation
happy talk -n
- informal talk among the participants in a television news broadcast
- a broadcast format featuring such talk
- optimistic talk
Haps·burg ['haps-,bərg, 'häps-,bu̇rg] -adj, n
- of or relating to the German royal house to which belong the rulers of Austria from 1278 to 1918, the rulers of Spain from 1516 to 1700, and many of the Holy Roman emperors
hap·ten ['hap-,ten] -n, adj
- a small separable part of an antigen that reacts specif. with an antibody but is incapable of stimulating antibody production except in combination with a carrier protein molecule
hap·tic ['hap-tik] -adj
- relating to or based on the sense of touch
- characterized by a predilection for the sense of touch
hap·to·glo·bin ['hap-tə-,glō-bən] -n
- any of several forms of an alpha globulin found in blood serum that can combine with free hemoglobin in the plasma and thereby prevent the loss of iron into the urine
harakiri [,ha-ri-'kir-ē, -'ka-rē] -n
- ritual suicide by disembowelment practiced by the Japanese samurai or formerly decreed by a court in lieu of the death penalty
- suicide
ha·ram [hä-'räm] -adj
- forbidden by Islamic law
ha·rangue [hə-'raŋ] -n
- a speech addressed to a public assembly
- a ranting speech or writing
- lecture
harangue -vb, n
- to make a harangue : declaim
- to address in a harangue
- haranguing me...on the folly of my ways -- Jay Jacobs
ha·rass [hə-'ras; 'her-əs, 'ha-rəs] -vt, n
- exhaust, fatigue
- to annoy persistently
- to create an unpleasant or hostile situation for esp. by uninvited and unwelcome verbal or physical conduct
- to worry and impede by repeated raids
har·bin·ger ['här-bən-jər] -n
- a person sent ahead to provide lodgings
- one that pioneers in or initiates a major change : precursor
- one that presages or foreshadows what is to come
harbinger -vt
- to be a harbinger of : presage
har·bor ['här-bər] -n, adj
- a place of security and comfort : refuge
- a part of a body of water protected and deep enough to furnish anchorage
- one with port facilities
harbor [-b(ə-)riŋ] -vb, n
- to give shelter or refuge to
- to be the home or habitat of
- the ledges still harbor rattlesnakes
- contain
- to hold esp. persistently in the mind : cherish
- to take shelter in or as if in a harbor
- live
har·bor·age [-bə-rij] -n
- shelter, harbor
har·bor·mas·ter ['här-bər-,mas-tər] -n
- an officer who executes the regulations respecting the use of a harbor
harbor seal -n
- a small hair seal ( Phoca vitulina) of oceanic coasts in the northern hemisphere that often ascends rivers
har·bor·side ['här-bər-,sīd] -adj
- located next to a harbor
har·bour ['här-bər] -n, adj
(variant of harbor)
- a place of security and comfort : refuge
- a part of a body of water protected and deep enough to furnish anchorage
- one with port facilities
hard ['härd] -adj
- not easily penetrated : not easily yielding to pressure
- not capable of being spread : very firm
- having a harsh or acid taste
- strongly alcoholic
- characterized by the presence of salts (as of calcium or magnesium) that prevent lathering with soap
- of or relating to radiation of relatively high penetrating power : having high energy
- having or producing relatively great photographic contrast
- metallic as distinct from paper
- convertible into gold : stable in value
- usable as currency
- readily acceptable in international trade
- being high and firm
- firmly and closely twisted
- having a smooth close napless finish
- physically fit
- resistant to stress or disease
- free of weakness or defects
- firm, definite
- not speculative or conjectural : factual
- important or informative rather than sensational or entertaining
- close, searching
- free from sentimentality or illusion : realistic
- lacking in responsiveness : obdurate, unfeeling
- difficult to bear or endure
- oppressive, inequitable
- sales taxes are hard on the poor
- lacking consideration, compassion, or gentleness : callous
- incorrigible, tough
- harsh, severe, or offensive in tendency or effect
- resentful
- strict, unrelenting
- inclement
- intense in force, manner, or degree
- demanding the exertion of energy : calling for stamina and endurance
- performing or carrying on with great energy, intensity, or persistence
- most unyielding or thoroughgoing
- characterized by sharp or harsh outline, rigid execution, and stiff drawing
- sharply defined : stark
- lacking in shading, delicacy, or resonance
- sounding as in arcingand geeserespectively used of c and g
- suggestive of toughness or insensitivity
- difficult to accomplish or resolve : troublesome
- the true story was hard to come by
- difficult to comprehend or explain
- having difficulty in doing something
- difficult to magnetize or demagnetize
- being at once addictive and gravely detrimental to health
- such hard drugs as heroin
- resistant to biodegradation
- hard pesticides such as DDT
- being, schooled in, or using the methods of the natural sciences and esp. of the physical sciences
- contributed (as by individuals or political action committees) directly to a particular candidate or campaign
- with great or utmost effort or energy : strenuously
- in a violent manner : fiercely
- to the full extent usu. used in nautical directions
- to an immoderate degree
- in a searching, close, or concentrated manner
- in such a manner as to cause hardship, difficulty, or pain
- with rancor, bitterness, or grief
- in a firm manner : tightly
- to the point of hardness
- close in time or space
hardandfast [,härd-ᵊn-'fast] -adj
- not to be modified or evaded : strict
hardass ['härd-,as] -n, adj
- a tough, demanding, or uncompromising person
hard·back ['härd-,bak] -n
- a book bound in hard covers
hard·ball [-,bȯl] -n
- baseball
- forceful uncompromising methods employed to gain an end
- played political hardball
hardbit·ten [-'bi-tᵊn] -adj
- inclined to bite hard
- seasoned or steeled by difficult experience : tough
hard·board ['härd-,bȯrd] -n
- a very dense fiberboard usu. having one smooth face
hardboil [-'bȯi(-ə)l] -vt
- to cook (an egg) in the shell until both white and yolk have solidified
hardboiled [-'bȯi(-ə)ld] -adj
- devoid of sentimentality : tough
- a hardboiled drill sergeant
- of, relating to, or being a detective story featuring a tough unsentimental protagonist and a matter-of-fact attitude towards violence
- hardheaded, practical
- hardboiled business decisions
hard·boot [-,büt] -n
- an esp. small-time horseman
hard·bound [-,bau̇nd] -adj
- hardcover
hard candy -n
- a candy made of sugar and corn syrup boiled without crystallizing
hard·case ['härd-'kās] -adj
- hard-bitten, tough
hard case [-,kās] -n
- a tough or hardened person
hard cheese -n
- tough luck often used interjectionally
hard cider -n
- fermented apple juice
hard clam -n
- a clam with a thick hard shell
- quahog
hard coal -n
- anthracite
hardcoat·ed ['härd-'kō-təd] -adj
- having a harsh-textured coat
hard copy -n
- a copy of textual or graphic information (as from microfilm or computer storage) produced on paper in normal size
hardcore [-'kȯr] -adj
- of, relating to, or being part of a hard core
- confirmed, die-hard
- containing explicit descriptions of sex acts or scenes of actual sex acts
- characterized by or being the purest or most basic form of something : fundamental
- a room gussied up in hardcore French provincial style -- John Canaday
hard core [-,kōr, -,kȯr] -n
- : a central or fundamental and usu. enduring group or part: as
- a relatively small enduring core of society marked by apparent resistance to change or inability to escape a persistent wretched condition (as poverty or chronic unemployment)
- a militant or fiercely loyal faction
- hard material in pieces (as broken bricks or stone) used as a bottom (as in making roads and in foundations)
hard·cov·er ['härd-'kə-vər] -adj, n
- having rigid boards on the sides covered in cloth or paper
- of or relating to hardcover books
hard disk -n
- a rigid metal disk coated with a magnetic material on which data for a computer can be stored
- hard drive
hard drive -n
- a data-storage device consisting of a drive and one or more hard disks
harddriv·ing ['här(d)-'drī-viŋ] -adj
- intensely ambitious, energetic, or hardworking
hardedge ['härd-'ej] -adj
- of or relating to abstract painting characterized by geometric forms with clearly defined boundaries
hardedged [-'ejd] -adj
- having a tough, driving, or sharp quality
- hardedged stories about life in the city
hard·en ['här-dᵊn] -vb
- to make hard or harder
- to confirm in disposition, feelings, or action
- to make callous
- inure, toughen
- to inure to unfavorable environmental conditions (as cold) often used with off
- harden off seedlings before transplanting
- to protect from blast, heat, or radiation (as by a thick barrier or placement underground)
- to become hard or harder
- to become firm, stable, or settled
- to assume an appearance of harshness or severity
- her face harden ed at the thought
- to become gradually acclimatized to unfavorable conditions often used with off
- plants harden ed off before the first frost
hard·en·er ['härd-nər, 'här-dᵊn-ər] -n
- one that hardens
- a substance added (as to a paint or varnish) to harden the film
hard·en·ing -n
- sclerosis
- hardening of the arteries
hardeyed ['härd-,īd] -adj
- hard or cold in manner or approach : dispassionate
- a hardeyed view of the candidates
hard·fist·ed ['härd-'fis-təd] -adj
- stingy, closefisted
- hardhanded
hard goods -n pl
- durables
hard·hack ['härd-,hak] -n
- a No. American spirea ( Spiraea tomentosa) with dense terminal panicles of pink or occas. white flowers and leaves having a hairy and yellow to rust-colored underside
hard·hand·ed [-'han-dəd] -adj, n
- having hands made hard by labor
- strict, oppressive
hard hat [usu -'hat for 1 and -,hat for 1b & 2] -n
- a protective hat made of rigid material (as metal or fiberglass) and worn esp. by construction workers
- a construction worker
- a conservative who is intolerant of opposing views
hard·head ['härd-,hed] -n
- a hardheaded person
- blockhead
- any of several fishes esp. with a spiny or bony head
- atlantic croaker
hard·head·ed [-'he-dəd] -adj, adv, n
- stubborn, willful
- concerned with or involving practical considerations : sober, realistic
- a hardheaded observer of winds and tides
hardheart·ed [-'här-təd] -adj, adv, n
- lacking in sympathetic understanding : unfeeling, pitiless
hardhit ['härd-,hit] -adj
- profoundly stricken : affected in an esp. negative way
- one of the industries particularly hardhit during the downturn
hardhit·ting [-'hi-tiŋ] -adj
- strikingly effective in force or result
- plain hardhitting English
har·di·hood ['här-dē-,hu̇d] -n
- resolute courage and fortitude
- resolute and self-assured audacity often carried to the point of impudent insolence
- vigor, robustness
har·di·ment [-mənt] -n
- hardihood
- a bold deed
har·ding grass ['här-diŋ-] -n
- a perennial Mediterranean grass ( Phalaris aquaticasyn. P. tuberosa) widely used as a forage grass
hard knocks -n pl
- rough unsparing treatment (as in use or in life) often used in the phrase school of hard knocks
hard labor -n
- compulsory labor of imprisoned criminals as a part of the prison discipline
hardline ['härd-'līn] -adj, n
- advocating or involving a rigidly uncompromising course of action
hard lines -n pl
- hard luck often used interjectionally
hardluck ['härd-,lək] -adj
- marked by, relating to, or experiencing bad luck or difficulty
- another loss for the team's hardluck pitcher
hard·ly ['härd-lē] -adv
- with force : vigorously
- in a severe manner : harshly
- with difficulty : painfully
- used to emphasize a minimal amount
- almost new - hardly a scratch on it
- used to soften a negative
- you can't hardly tell who anyone is -- G. B. Shaw
- certainly not
- that news is hardly surprising
hard maple -n
- sugar maple
hard·mouthed ['härd-'mau̇thd, -'mau̇tht] -adj
- not sensitive to the bit
- obstinate, stubborn
hard·ness [-nəs] -n
- the quality or state of being hard
- the cohesion of the particles on the surface of a mineral as determined by its capacity to scratch another or be itself scratched
- resistance of metal to indentation under a static load or to scratching
hard·nose ['härd-,nōz] -n
- a hard-nosed person
hardnosed ['härd-'nōzd] -adj
- being tough, stubborn, or uncompromising
- hardheaded , tough-minded
hard of hearing -adj
- relating to or having a defective but functional sense of hearing
hardon ['härd-,ȯn, -,än] -n
- an erection of the penis
hard·pack ['härd-,pak] -n
- compacted snow
hard palate -n
- the bony anterior part of the palate forming the roof of the mouth
hard·pan ['härd-,pan] -n
- a cemented or compacted and often clayey layer in soil that is impenetrable by roots
- a fundamental part : bedrock
hardpaste porcelain ['härd-,pāst-] -n
- porcelain
hard pine -n
- a pine (as longleaf pine or pitch pine) that has hard wood and leaves usu. in groups of two or three
- the wood of a hard pine
hardpressed ['härd-'prest] -adj
- hard put
- being under financial strain
hard put -adj
- barely able : faced with difficulty or perplexity
- was hard put to find an explanation
hard rock -n
- rock music marked by a heavy regular beat, high amplification, and usu. frenzied performances
hard rubber -n
- a firm rubber or rubber product
- a normally black horny substance made by vulcanizing natural rubber with high percentages of sulfur
hard sauce -n
- a creamed mixture of butter and powdered sugar often with added cream and flavoring (as vanilla or rum)
hard·scape ['härd-,skāp] -n
- structures (as fountains, benches, or gazebos) that are incorporated into a landscape
hard·scrab·ble ['härd-,skra-bəl] -adj
- being or relating to a place of barren or barely arable soil
- getting a meager living from poor soil
- marked by poverty
- a hardscrabble cotton town
hard sell -n
- aggressive high-pressure salesmanship
hardset ['härd-'set] -adj
- rigid, fixed
hardshell [-,shel] -adj
- fundamental , fundamentalist
- uncompromising, hidebound
hardshell clam -n
- quahog called also hard-shelled clam
hardshell crab -n
- a crab that has not recently shed its shell called also hard-shelled crab
hard·ship ['härd-,ship] -n
- privation, suffering
- something that causes or entails suffering or privation
hard·stand [-,stand] -n
- a paved area for parking an airplane
hard·stand·ing [-,stan-diŋ] -n
- hardstand
- parking lot
hard stone -n
- an opaque usu. semiprecious stone that can be shaped or carved (as for jewelery or mosaics)
hard·tack [-,tak] -n
- a saltless hard biscuit, bread, or cracker
- any of several mountain mahoganies (esp. Cercocarpus betuloides)
hardtimes token -n
- any of the tokens issued during the controversy between the Jackson administration and the bank of the U.S.
hard·top ['härd-,täp] -n
- an automobile or a motorboat having a permanent rigid top
- such an automobile styled to resemble a convertible
hard up -adj
- short of money
- poorly provided
hard·ware ['härd-,wer] -n
- ware (as fittings, cutlery, tools, utensils, or parts of machines) made of metal
- : major items of equipment or their components used for a particular purpose: as
- military equipment
- the physical components (as electronic and electrical devices) of a vehicle (as a spacecraft) or an apparatus (as a computer)
- an award (as a trophy, medal, or cup) given in a sports competition
hardware cloth -n
- rugged galvanized screening
hard wheat -n
- a wheat with hard kernels that are high in gluten and that yield a flour esp. suitable for bread and macaroni
hard·wired ['härd-,wī(-ə)rd] -adj
- implemented in the form of permanent electronic circuits
- connected or incorporated by or as if by permanent electrical connections
- concepts of attractiveness may be universal and hardwired into the human brain -- Jane E. Brody
- genetically or innately determined : inborn
- creature whose every action is a reflexive, hardwired response -- Natalie Angier
- genetically or innately predisposed
- a human being who is hardwired to be sociable -- Forbes
hardwon [-'wən] -adj
- gained by great effort
hard·wood ['härd-,wu̇d] -n
- the wood of an angiospermous tree as distinguished from that of a coniferous tree
- a tree that yields hardwood
- a basketball court
hardwood -adj
- having or made of hardwood
- consisting of mature woody tissue
hard·work·ing ['härd-'wər-kiŋ] -adj
- industrious, diligent
har·dy ['här-dē] -adj, adv, n
- bold, brave
- audacious, brazen
- inured to fatigue or hardships : robust
- capable of withstanding adverse conditions
Har·dyWein·berg law [,här-dē-'wīn-,bərg-] -n
- a fundamental principle of population genetics: population gene frequencies and genotype frequencies remain constant from generation to generation if mating is random and if mutation, selection, immigration, and emigration do not occur called also Hardy-Weinberg principle
hare ['her] -n
- any of various swift long-eared lagomorph mammals (family Leporidae and esp. genus Lepus) that are usu. solitary or sometimes live in pairs and have the young open-eyed and furred at birth
- to go swiftly : tear
hare and hounds -n
- a game in which some of the players leave a trail and others try to follow the trail to find and catch them
hare·bell ['her-,bel] -n
- a slender blue-flowered herb ( Campanula rotundifolia) with linear leaves on the stem
hare·brained [-'brānd] -adj
- foolish
- absurd, ridiculous
Ha·re Krish·na ['här-ē-'krish-nə, 'her-, 'ha-rē-] -n
- a member of a religious group dedicated to the worship of the Hindu god Krishna
hare·lip ['her-'lip] -n
- cleft lip
har·em ['her-əm] -n
- a usu. secluded house or part of a house allotted to women in a Muslim household
- the wives, concubines, female relatives, and servants occupying a harem
- a group of women associated with one man
- a group of females associated with one male used of polygamous animals
harem pants -n
- women's loose trousers that fit closely at the ankle
har·i·cot ['(h)er-i-,kō, '(h)a-ri-] -n
- the ripe seed or the unripe pod of any of several beans (genus Phaseolus) and esp. the kidney bean ( P. vulgaris)
har·i·cot vert [,är-ē-kō-'ver] -n
- a thin green bean
ha·ri·jan [,här-i-'jän] -n
- a member of the outcaste group in India : untouchable
hark ['härk] -vi
- to pay close attention : listen
hark back -vi
- to turn back to an earlier topic or circumstance
- to go back to something as an origin or source
hark·en -vi
- hearken
- hark back usu. used with back
har·le·quin ['här-li-k(w)ən] -n
- a character in comedy and pantomime with a shaved head, masked face, variegated tights, and wooden sword
- buffoon
- a variegated pattern (as of a textile)
- a combination of patches on a solid ground of contrasting color (as in the coats of some dogs)
har·le·quin·ade [,här-li-k(w)ə-'nād] -n
- a play or pantomime in which Harlequin has a leading role
har·lot ['här-lət] -n
- prostitute
har·lot·ry [-lə-trē] -n
- sexual profligacy : prostitution
- an unprincipled or immoral woman
- he sups tonight with a harlotry -- Shak.
harm ['härm] -n
- physical or mental damage : injury
- mischief, hurt
- to cause harm to
har·mat·tan [,här-mə-'tan, här-'ma-tᵊn] -n
- a dust-laden wind on the Atlantic coast of Africa in some seasons
harm·ful ['härm-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- of a kind likely to be damaging : injurious
harm·less ['härm-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- free from harm, liability, or loss
- lacking capacity or intent to injure : innocuous
har·mon·ic [här-'mä-nik] -adj, adv
- musical
- of or relating to musical harmony or a harmonic
- pleasing to the ear : harmonious
- of an integrated nature : congruous
harmonic -n
- overtone
- one whose vibration frequency is an integral multiple of that of the fundamental
- a flutelike tone produced on a stringed instrument by touching a vibrating string at a nodal point
- a component frequency of a complex wave (as of electromagnetic energy) that is an integral multiple of the fundamental frequency
har·mon·i·ca [här-'mä-ni-kə] -n
- glass harmonica
- a small rectangular wind instrument with free reeds recessed in air slots from which tones are sounded by exhaling and inhaling
harmonic analysis -n
- the expression of a periodic function as a sum of sines and cosines and specif. by a Fourier series
harmonic mean -n
- the reciprocal of the arithmetic mean of the reciprocals of a finite set of numbers
harmonic motion -n
- a periodic motion (as of a sounding violin string or swinging pendulum) that has a single frequency or amplitude or is composed of two or more such simple periodic motions
harmonic progression -n
- a sequence of numbers whose reciprocals form an arithmetic progression
harmonic series -n
- a series of the formwhich diverges for 0 1 and converges for 1
har·mo·ni·ous [här-'mō-nē-əs] -adj, adv, n
- musically concordant
- having the parts agreeably related : congruous
- blended into a harmonious whole
- marked by accord in sentiment or action
har·mo·nise ['här-mə-,nīz] -vb, n
(variant of harmonize)
- to play or sing in harmony
- to be in harmony
- to bring into consonance or accord
- to provide or accompany with harmony
har·mo·ni·um [här-'mō-nē-əm] -n
- reed organ
har·mo·nize ['här-mə-,nīz] -vb, n
- to play or sing in harmony
- to be in harmony
- to bring into consonance or accord
- to provide or accompany with harmony
har·mo·ny ['här-mə-nē] -n
- tuneful sound : melody
- the combination of simultaneous musical notes in a chord
- the structure of music with respect to the composition and progression of chords
- the science of the structure, relation, and progression of chords
- pleasing or congruent arrangement of parts
- a painting exhibiting harmony of color and line
- correspondence, accord
- lives in harmony with her neighbors
- internal calm : tranquillity
- an interweaving of different accounts into a single narrative
- a systematic arrangement of parallel literary passages (as of the Gospels) for the purpose of showing agreement or harmony
harm's way -n
- a dangerous place or situation
- got them out of harm's way
har·ness ['här-nəs] -n
- the gear other than a yoke of a draft animal
- gear, equipment
- military equipment for a horse or man
- occupational surroundings or routine
- get back into harness after a vacation
- close association
- ability to work in harness with others -- R. P. Brooks
- something that resembles a harness (as in holding or fastening something)
- prefabricated wiring with insulation and terminals ready to be attached
- a part of a loom which holds and controls the heddles
harness -vt
- to put a harness on
- to attach by means of a harness
- to tie together : yoke
- utilize
- harness the computer's potential
harness horse -n
- a horse for racing or working in harness
harness racing -n
- the sport of racing standardbred horses harnessed to 2-wheeled sulkies
harp ['härp] -n
- a plucked stringed instrument consisting of a resonator, an arched or angled neck that may be supported by a post, and strings of graded length that are perpendicular to the soundboard
- something resembling a harp
- harmonica
- to play on a harp
- to dwell on or recur to a subject tiresomely or monotonously usu. used with on
harp·er ['här-pər] -n
- a harp player
- one that harps
har·poon [här-'pün] -n, vt
- a barbed spear or javelin used esp. in hunting large fish or whales
harp seal -n
- a dark-faced seal ( Phoca groenlandicus) of the No. Atlantic that is a variable light gray with the male usu. having a dark crescent on its back and sides
harp·si·chord ['härp-si-,kȯrd] -n
- a stringed instrument resembling a grand piano but usu. having two keyboards and two or more strings for each note and producing tones by the plucking of strings with plectra
har·py ['här-pē] -n
- a foul malign creature in Greek mythology that is part woman and part bird
- a predatory person : leech
- a shrewish woman
harpy eagle -n
- a large powerful crested eagle ( Harpia harpyja) of Central and So. America that is black above and chiefly white below
har·que·bus ['här-kwi-(,)bəs, -kə-bəs] -n
- a matchlock gun invented in the 15th century which was portable but heavy and was usu. fired from a support
har·ri·dan ['her-ə-dən, 'ha-rə-] -n
- shrew
harried -adj
- beset by problems : harassed
har·ri·er ['her-ē-ər, 'ha-rē-] -n
- any of a breed of hunting dogs resembling a small English foxhound and orig. bred for hunting rabbits
- a runner on a cross-country team
harrier -n
- any of a genus ( Circus) of slender hawks having long angled wings and long legs and feeding chiefly on small mammals, reptiles, and insects
- one that harries
Har·ris's hawk ['ha-rə-səz-] -n
- a black hawk ( Parabuteo unicinctus) found from the southwestern U.S. to So. America that has brown shoulders and conspicuous white markings on the rump and tail called also Harris hawk
har·row ['her-(,)ō, 'ha-(,)rō] -vt
- pillage, plunder
harrow -n
- a cultivating implement set with spikes, spring teeth, or disks and used primarily for pulverizing and smoothing the soil
- to cultivate with a harrow
- torment, vex
har·rumph [hə-'rəm(p)f] -vb, n
- to clear the throat in a pompous way
- to comment disapprovingly
- to utter (a comment) disapprovingly
har·ry ['her-ē, 'ha-rē] -vt
- to make a pillaging or destructive raid on : assault
- to force to move along by harassing
- harry ing the terrified horses down out of the mountains -- R. A. Sokolov
- to torment by or as if by constant attack
harsh ['härsh] -adj, adv, n
- having a coarse uneven surface that is rough or unpleasant to the touch
- causing a disagreeable or painful sensory reaction : irritating
- physically discomforting : painful
- unduly exacting : severe
- lacking in aesthetic appeal or refinement : crude
harsh·en ['här-shən] -vb
- to make (as a voice) harsh
- to become harsh
- saw the grain of his skin harshen ing over face bones -- Elizabeth Bowen
hart ['härt] -n
- the male of the red deer esp. when over five years old : stag
harte·beest ['här-tə-,bēst] -n
- either of two large African antelopes ( Alcelaphus buselaphusand Sigmoceros lichtensteinii) with long faces and short annulate divergent horns
- a smaller antelope ( Damaliscus hunteri) of eastern Africa having a horizontal white line between the eyes
harts·horn ['härts-,hȯrn] -n
- a preparation of ammonia used as smelling salts
har·umscar·um [,her-əm-'sker-əm] -adj, adv
- reckless, irresponsible
ha·rus·pex [hə-'rəs-,peks, 'ha-rəs-] -n
- a diviner in ancient Rome basing his predictions on inspection of the entrails of sacrificial animals
ha·rus·pi·ca·tion [hə-,rəs-pə-'kā-shən] -n
- an act or instance of foretelling something
har·vest ['här-vəst] -n
- the season for gathering in agricultural crops
- the act or process of gathering in a crop
- a mature crop (as of grain or fruit) : yield
- the quantity of a natural product gathered in a single season
- an accumulated store or productive result
harvest [-və-stə-bəl] -vt, adj, n
- to gather in (a crop) : reap
- to gather, catch, hunt, or kill (as salmon, oysters, or deer) for human use, sport, or population control
- to remove or extract (as living cells, tissues, or organs) from culture or from a living or recently deceased body esp. for transplanting
- to accumulate a store of
- has now harvest ed this new generation's scholarly labors -- M. J. Wiener
- to win by achievement
- the team harvest ed several awards
- to gather in a crop esp. for food
harvest fly -n
- cicada
harvest home -n
- a feast at the close of the harvest
- the gathering or the time of the harvest
- a song sung by the reapers at the close of the harvest
har·vest·man ['här-vəs(t)-mən] -n
- daddy longlegs
harvest mite -n
- chigger
harvest moon -n
- the full moon nearest the time of the September equinox
har·vest·time ['här-vəs(t)-,tīm] -n
- the time during which an annual crop (as wheat) is harvested
has ['hav, (h)əv, v; in “have to” meaning “must” usu 'haf] -vb
(variant of have)
- to hold or maintain as a possession, privilege, or entitlement
- to hold in one's use, service, regard, or at one's disposal
- the group will have enough tickets for everyone
- we don't have time to stay
- to hold, include, or contain as a part or whole
- to feel obligation in regard to usu. used with an infinitive with to
- to stand in a certain relationship to
- we will have the wind at our backs
- to acquire or get possession of : obtain
- these shoes are the best to be had
- receive
- accept
- to accept in marriage
- to copulate with
- to be marked or characterized by (a quality, attribute, or faculty)
- exhibit, show
- use, exercise
- to experience esp. by submitting to, undergoing, or suffering
- to make the effort to perform (an action) or engage in (an activity)
- to entertain in the mind
- to cause or command to do something used with the infinitive without to
- to cause to be in a certain place or state
- has people around at all times
- allow
- we'll have no more of that
- to be competent in
- to hold in a position of disadvantage or certain defeat
- to take advantage of : trick, fool
- bear
- to partake of
- bribe, suborn
- used with the past participle to form the present perfect, past perfect, or future perfect
- will have finished dinner by then
- to be compelled, obliged, or required used with an infinitive with to or to alone
- one that is well-endowed esp. in material wealth
hasbeen ['haz-,bin, -,ben, chiefly Brit -,bēn] -n
- one that has passed the peak of effectiveness or popularity
ha·sen·pfef·fer ['hä-zᵊn-,(p)fe-fər, 'hä-sᵊn-] -n
- a highly seasoned stew made of marinated rabbit meat
hash ['hash] -vt
- to chop (as meat and potatoes) into small pieces
- confuse, muddle
- to talk about : review often used with over or out
- chopped food
- chopped meat mixed with potatoes and browned
- a restatement of something that is already known
- hodgepodge, jumble
- a confused muddle
- made a hash of the whole project
- hashish
hash browns -n pl
- boiled potatoes that have been diced, mixed with chopped onions and shortening, and fried usu. until they form a browned cake called also hash brown potatoes hashed brown potatoes hashed browns
Hash·em·ite ['ha-shə-,mīt] -n
- a member of an Arab family having common ancestry with Muhammad and founding dynasties in countries of the eastern Mediterranean
hash house -n
- an inexpensive eating place
hash·ish ['ha-,shēsh, ha-'shēsh] -n
- the concentrated resin from the flowering tops of female hemp plants ( Cannabis sativaor C. indica) that is smoked, chewed, or drunk for its intoxicating effect called also charas
hash mark -n
- service stripe
- inbounds line
Ha·sid ['ha-səd, 'k̲ä-] -n, adj
- a member of a Jewish sect of the second century b.c.opposed to Hellenism and devoted to the strict observance of the ritual law
- a member of a Jewish mystical sect founded in Poland about 1750 in opposition to rationalism and ritual laxity
Ha·si·dism ['ha-sə-,di-zəm, 'hä-, 'k̲ä-] -n
- the practices and beliefs of the Hasidim
- the Hasidic movement
Has·mo·nae·an [,haz-mə-'nē-ən] -n, adj
- a member of the Maccabees
hasn't ['ha-zᵊnt, -zᵊn]
- has not
hasp ['hasp] -n, vt
- any of several devices for fastening
- a fastener esp. for a door or lid consisting of a hinged metal strap that fits over a staple and is secured by a pin or padlock
has·si·um ['ha-sē-əm] -n
- a short-lived radioactive metallic element produced artificially
has·sle ['ha-səl] -n
- a heated often protracted argument : wrangle
- a violent skirmish : fight
- a state of confusion : turmoil
- an annoying or troublesome concern
hassle [-s(ə-)liŋ] -vb
- argue, fight
- to annoy persistently or acutely : harass
- he gets hassled in the street because he dresses funny -- William Kloman
has·sock ['ha-sək] -n
- tussock
- a cushion for kneeling
- a padded cushion or low stool that serves as a seat or leg rest
hast ['hav, (h)əv, v; in “have to” meaning “must” usu 'haf] -vb
(variant of have)
- to hold or maintain as a possession, privilege, or entitlement
- to hold in one's use, service, regard, or at one's disposal
- the group will have enough tickets for everyone
- we don't have time to stay
- to hold, include, or contain as a part or whole
- to feel obligation in regard to usu. used with an infinitive with to
- to stand in a certain relationship to
- we will have the wind at our backs
- to acquire or get possession of : obtain
- these shoes are the best to be had
- receive
- accept
- to accept in marriage
- to copulate with
- to be marked or characterized by (a quality, attribute, or faculty)
- exhibit, show
- use, exercise
- to experience esp. by submitting to, undergoing, or suffering
- to make the effort to perform (an action) or engage in (an activity)
- to entertain in the mind
- to cause or command to do something used with the infinitive without to
- to cause to be in a certain place or state
- has people around at all times
- allow
- we'll have no more of that
- to be competent in
- to hold in a position of disadvantage or certain defeat
- to take advantage of : trick, fool
- bear
- to partake of
- bribe, suborn
- used with the past participle to form the present perfect, past perfect, or future perfect
- will have finished dinner by then
- to be compelled, obliged, or required used with an infinitive with to or to alone
- one that is well-endowed esp. in material wealth
HAST -abbr
- Hawaii-Aleutian standard time
has·tate ['has-,tāt] -adj
- triangular with sharp basal lobes spreading away from the base of the petiole
- shaped like a spear or the head of a spear
haste ['hāst] -n
- rapidity of motion : swiftness
- rash or headlong action : precipitateness
- the beauty of speed uncontaminated by haste -- Harper's
- undue eagerness to act
- to urge on : hasten
- to move or act swiftly
has·ten ['hā-sᵊn] -vb, n
- to move or act quickly
- to urge on
- hasten ed her to the door -- A. J. Cronin
- accelerate
- hasten the coming of a new order -- D. W. Brogan
hast·i·ly ['hā-stə-lē] -adv
- in haste : hurriedly
hasty ['hā-stē] -adj, n
- rapid in action or movement : speedy
- done or made in a hurry
- fast and typically superficial
- made a hasty examination of the wound
- eager, impatient
- precipitate, rash
- prone to anger : irritable
hasty pudding -n
- a porridge of oatmeal or flour boiled in water
- cornmeal mush
- indian pudding
hat ['hat] -n, adj
- a covering for the head usu. having a shaped crown and brim
- a distinctive head covering worn as a symbol of office
- an office, position, or role assumed by or as if by the wearing of a special hat
- wore many hat s in her career
- to furnish or provide with a hat
- to make or supply hats
hat·band ['hat-,band] -n
- a band (as of fabric, leather, or cord) around the crown of a hat just above the brim
hat·box [-,bäks] -n
- a box for holding or storing a hat
- a usu. round piece of luggage designed esp. for carrying hats
hatch ['hach] -n
- a small door or opening (as in an airplane or spaceship)
- an opening in the deck of a ship or in the floor or roof of a building
- the covering for such an opening
- hatchway
- compartment
- floodgate
- to produce young by incubation
- to emerge from an egg, chrysalis, or pupa
- to give forth young or imagoes
- to incubate eggs : brood
- to produce (young) from an egg by applying natural or artificial heat
- incubate
- to bring into being : originate
- to concoct in secret
- an act or instance of hatching
- a brood of hatched young
- to inlay with narrow bands of distinguishable material
- a silver handle hatch ed with gold
- to mark (as a drawing or engraving) with fine closely spaced lines
- line
- one used to give the effect of shading
hatch·back ['hach-,bak] -n
- an automobile the back of which consists of a hatch that opens upward
- the back itself
hat·check ['hat-,chek] -adj
- employed in checking hats and articles of outdoor clothing
hatch·ery ['ha-chə-rē] -n
- a place for hatching eggs (as of poultry or fish)
hatch·et ['ha-chət] -n
- a short-handled ax often with a hammerhead to be used with one hand
- tomahawk
hatchet face ['ha-chət-,fāst] -n, adj
- a thin sharp face
hatchet job -n
- a forceful or malicious verbal attack
hatchet man -n
- one hired for murder, coercion, or attack
- a writer specializing in invective
- a person hired to perform underhanded or unscrupulous tasks (as ruin reputations)
hatchet work -n
- the work of a hatchet man
hatch·ing ['ha-chiŋ] -n
- the engraving or drawing of fine lines in close proximity esp. to give an effect of shading
- the pattern so made
hatch·ling ['hach-liŋ] -n
- a recently hatched animal
hatch·ment ['hach-mənt] -n
- a panel on which a coat of arms of a deceased person is temporarily displayed
hatch·way ['hach-,wā] -n
- a passage giving access usu. by a ladder or stairs to an enclosed space (as a cellar)
- hatch
hate ['hāt] -n
- intense hostility and aversion usu. deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury
- extreme dislike or antipathy : loathing
- had a great hate of hard work
- an object of hatred
- a generation whose finest hate had been big business -- F. L. Paxson
- to feel extreme enmity toward
- hate s his country's enemies
- to have a strong aversion to : find very distasteful
- hated to have to meet strangers
- to express or feel extreme enmity or active hostility
hate crime -n
- any of various crimes (as assault or defacement of property) when motivated by hostility to the victim as a member of a group (as one based on color, creed, gender, or sexual orientation)
hate·ful ['hāt-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- full of hate : malicious
- deserving of or arousing hate
hath ['hav, (h)əv, v; in “have to” meaning “must” usu 'haf] -vb
(variant of have)
- to hold or maintain as a possession, privilege, or entitlement
- to hold in one's use, service, regard, or at one's disposal
- the group will have enough tickets for everyone
- we don't have time to stay
- to hold, include, or contain as a part or whole
- to feel obligation in regard to usu. used with an infinitive with to
- to stand in a certain relationship to
- we will have the wind at our backs
- to acquire or get possession of : obtain
- these shoes are the best to be had
- receive
- accept
- to accept in marriage
- to copulate with
- to be marked or characterized by (a quality, attribute, or faculty)
- exhibit, show
- use, exercise
- to experience esp. by submitting to, undergoing, or suffering
- to make the effort to perform (an action) or engage in (an activity)
- to entertain in the mind
- to cause or command to do something used with the infinitive without to
- to cause to be in a certain place or state
- has people around at all times
- allow
- we'll have no more of that
- to be competent in
- to hold in a position of disadvantage or certain defeat
- to take advantage of : trick, fool
- bear
- to partake of
- bribe, suborn
- used with the past participle to form the present perfect, past perfect, or future perfect
- will have finished dinner by then
- to be compelled, obliged, or required used with an infinitive with to or to alone
- one that is well-endowed esp. in material wealth
hatha yo·ga ['hə-tə-'yō-gə, 'hä-] -n
- a system of physical exercises for the control and perfection of the body that constitutes one of the four chief Hindu disciplines
hat in hand -adv
- in an attitude of respectful humility
- have to go hat in hand to apologize
hat·mak·er ['hat-,mā-kər] -n
- one who makes hats
ha·tred ['hā-trəd] -n
- hate
- prejudiced hostility or animosity
- old racial prejudices and national hatred s -- Peter Thomson
hat·ter ['ha-tər] -n
- one that makes, sells, or cleans and repairs hats
hat trick -n
- the retiring of three batsmen with three consecutive balls by a bowler in cricket
- the scoring of three goals in one game (as of hockey or soccer) by a single player
- a series of three victories, successes, or related accomplishments
- scored a hat trick when her three best steers corralled top honors -- People
hau·berk ['hȯ-(,)bərk] -n
- a tunic of chain mail worn as defensive armor from the 12th to the 14th century
haugh ['hȯ(k̲)] -n
- a low-lying meadow by the side of a river
haugh·ty ['hȯ-tē, 'hä-] -adj, adv, n
- blatantly and disdainfully proud
haul ['hȯl] -vb
- to exert traction on : draw
- to obtain or move by or as if by hauling
- was haul ed to parties night after night by his wife
- to transport in a vehicle : cart
- to change the course of (a ship) esp. so as to sail closer to the wind
- to bring before an authority for interrogation or judgment : hale
- haul traffic violators into court
- to exert traction : pull
- to move along : proceed
- to furnish transportation
- shift
- the act or process of hauling : pull
- a device for hauling
- the result of an effort to obtain, collect, or win
- the quantity of fish taken in a single draft of a net
- transportation by hauling
- the length or course of a transportation route
- a quantity transported : load
haul·age ['hȯ-lij] -n
- the act or process of hauling
- a charge made for hauling
haul·er ['hȯ-lər] -n
- : one that hauls: as
- a commercial establishment or worker whose business is hauling
- an automotive vehicle for hauling goods or material
haul·ier ['hȯ-lər] -n
(variant of hauler)
- : one that hauls: as
- a commercial establishment or worker whose business is hauling
- an automotive vehicle for hauling goods or material
haulm ['hȯm] -n
- the stems or tops of crop plants (as peas or potatoes) esp. after the crop has been gathered
haul off -vi
- to get ready used with and and a following verb describing a usu. sudden and violent act
haunch ['hȯnch, 'hänch] -n
- hip
- hindquarter usu. used in pl.
- hindquarter
- either side of an arch between the springing and the crown
haunt ['hȯnt, 'hänt] -vb, n, adv
- to visit often : frequent
- to continually seek the company of
- to have a disquieting or harmful effect on : trouble
- problems we ignore now will come back to haunt us
- to recur constantly and spontaneously to
- to reappear continually in
- a sense of tension that haunt s his writing
- to visit or inhabit as a ghost
- to stay around or persist : linger
- to appear habitually as a ghost
- a place habitually frequented
- ghost
Hau·sa ['hau̇-sə, -zə] -n
- the Chadic language of the Hausa people widely used in western Africa as a trade language
- a member of a black people of northern Nigeria and southern Niger
haus·frau ['hau̇s-,frau̇] -n
- housewife
haus·tel·lum [hȯ-'ste-ləm] -n
- a proboscis (as of an insect) adapted to suck blood or juices of plants
haus·to·ri·al [hȯ-'stȯr-ē-əl] -adj
- of, relating to, or having a haustorium
haus·to·ri·um [-ē-əm] -n
- a food-absorbing outgrowth of a plant organ (as a hypha or stem)
haut·bois ['(h)ō-,bȯi] -n
- oboe
haute ['ōt] -adj
- fashionable, high-class
- haute interior decorators
- a store filled with haute kitsch
haute cou·ture [,ōt-ku̇-'tu̇r] -n
- the houses or designers that create exclusive and often trend-setting fashions for women
- the fashions created
haute cui·sine [-kwi-'zēn] -n
- artful or elaborate cuisine
- traditionally elaborate French cuisine
haute ecole [-ā-'kȯl, -'kəl] -n
- a highly stylized form of classical riding : advanced dressage
hau·teur [hȯ-'tər, (h)ō-] -n
- arrogance, haughtiness
haut monde [ō-'mänd, ō-'mōⁿd] -n
- high society
Ha·vana [hə-'va-nə] -n
- a cigar made from Cuban tobacco
- a tobacco orig. grown in Cuba
Ha·var·ti [hə-'vär-tē] -n
- a semisoft Danish cheese having a porous texture and usu. a mild flavor
hav·da·lah [,häv-də-'lä, häv-'dȯ-lə] -n
- a Jewish ceremony marking the close of a Sabbath or holy day
have ['hav, (h)əv, v; in “have to” meaning “must” usu 'haf] -vb
- to hold or maintain as a possession, privilege, or entitlement
- to hold in one's use, service, regard, or at one's disposal
- the group will have enough tickets for everyone
- we don't have time to stay
- to hold, include, or contain as a part or whole
- to feel obligation in regard to usu. used with an infinitive with to
- to stand in a certain relationship to
- we will have the wind at our backs
- to acquire or get possession of : obtain
- these shoes are the best to be had
- receive
- accept
- to accept in marriage
- to copulate with
- to be marked or characterized by (a quality, attribute, or faculty)
- exhibit, show
- use, exercise
- to experience esp. by submitting to, undergoing, or suffering
- to make the effort to perform (an action) or engage in (an activity)
- to entertain in the mind
- to cause or command to do something used with the infinitive without to
- to cause to be in a certain place or state
- has people around at all times
- allow
- we'll have no more of that
- to be competent in
- to hold in a position of disadvantage or certain defeat
- to take advantage of : trick, fool
- bear
- to partake of
- bribe, suborn
- used with the past participle to form the present perfect, past perfect, or future perfect
- will have finished dinner by then
- to be compelled, obliged, or required used with an infinitive with to or to alone
- one that is well-endowed esp. in material wealth
have·lock ['hav-,läk, -lək] -n
- a covering attached to a cap to protect the neck from the sun or bad weather
ha·ven ['hā-vən] -n, vt
- harbor, port
- a place of safety : refuge
- a place offering favorable opportunities or conditions
havenot ['hav-,nät, -'nät] -n
- one that is poor esp. in material wealth
haven't ['ha-vənt, 'ha-bᵊm(t)]
- have not
have on -vt
- wear
- to trick or deceive intentionally : put on
- to have plans for
- what do you have on for tomorrow
ha·ver ['hā-vər] -vi
- to hem and haw
hav·er·sack ['ha-vər-,sak] -n
- a bag similar to a knapsack but worn over one shoulder
ha·ver·sian canal [hə-'vər-zhən-] -n
- any of the small canals through which the blood vessels ramify in bone
haversian system -n
- a haversian canal with the concentrically arranged laminae of bone that surround it
hav·oc ['ha-vək, -vik] -n
- wide and general destruction : devastation
- great confusion and disorder
- the blackout caused havoc in the city
havoc -vt
- to lay waste : destroy
haw ['hȯ] -n
- a hawthorn berry
- hawthorn
- nictitating membrane
- an inflamed nictitating membrane of a domesticated mammal
- often used to indicate a vocalized pause in speaking
- to utter the sound represented by haw
- hemmed and haw ed before answering
- equivocate
- the administration hemmed and haw ed over the students' demands
- used as a direction to turn to the left
- to turn to the near or left side
HawaiiAleutian time -n
- the time of the 10th time zone west of Greenwich that includes the Hawaiian Islands and the Aleutians west of the Fox group
Ha·wai·ian [hə-'wä-yən, -'wī-(y)ən, -'wȯ-yən] -n, adj
- a native or resident of Hawaii
- one of Polynesian ancestry
- the Polynesian language of the Hawaiians
Hawaiian goose -n
- nene
Hawaiian guitar -n
- a usu. electric stringed instrument having a long fretted neck and six to eight steel strings that are plucked while being pressed with a movable steel bar for a glissando effect
Hawaiian shirt -n
- a usu. short-sleeved sport shirt with a colorful pattern
haw·finch ['hȯ-,finch] -n
- an Old World finch ( Coccothraustes coccothraustesof the family Fringillidae) with a large heavy bill and short thick neck and the male marked with black, white, and brown
hawk ['hȯk] -n, adj, adv
- any of numerous diurnal birds of prey belonging to a suborder (Falcones of the order Falconiformes) and including all the smaller members of this group
- accipiter
- a small board or metal sheet with a handle on the underside used to hold mortar
- one who takes a militant attitude and advocates immediate vigorous action
- a supporter of a war or warlike policy
- to hunt birds by means of a trained hawk
- to soar and strike like a hawk
- to hunt on the wing like a hawk
- to raise by trying to clear the throat
- to utter a harsh guttural sound in or as if in hawking
- an audible effort to force up phlegm from the throat
- to offer for sale by calling out in the street
- sell
hawk·er ['hȯ-kər] -n
- falconer
hawker -n
- one who hawks wares
Hawk·eye ['hȯk-,ī] -n
- a native or resident of Iowa used as a nickname
hawk·eyed ['hȯk-,īd] -adj
- having keen sight
hawk moth -n
- any of a family (Sphingidae) of stout-bodied moths with a long proboscis, long narrow more or less pointed forewings, and small hind wings called also sphinx
hawks·bill ['hȯks-,bil] -n
- a small brown or brown and yellow sea turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata) of tropical waters that has a narrow pointed beak and a carapace of overlapping plates
hawk·shaw ['hȯk-,shȯ] -n
- detective
hawk·weed ['hȯk-,wēd] -n
- any of a genus ( Hieracium) of perennial often apomictic composite herbs having usu. yellow flowers
hawse ['hȯz] -n
- the part of a ship's bow that contains the hawseholes
- hawsehole
- the distance between a ship's bow and her anchor
hawse·hole [-,hōl] -n
- a hole in the bow of a ship through which a cable passes
haw·ser ['hȯ-zər] -n
- a large rope for towing, mooring, or securing a ship
haw·serlaid ['hȯ-zər-,lād] -adj
- composed of three ropes laid together right-handed with each containing three strands twisted together
haw·thorn ['hȯ-,thȯrn] -n
- any of a genus ( Crataegus) of spring-flowering spiny shrubs or small trees of the rose family with glossy and often lobed leaves, white or pink fragrant flowers, and small red fruits
Haw·thorne effect ['hȯ-,thȯrn-] -n
- the stimulation to output or accomplishment that results from the mere fact of being under observation
- such an increase in output or accomplishment
hay ['hā] -n
- herbage and esp. grass mowed and cured for fodder
- reward
- bed
- a small sum of money
- a saving of...14 million is not hay -- H. C. Schonberg
- to cut, cure, and store hay
- to feed with hay
hay·cock ['hā-,käk] -n
- a somewhat rounded conical pile of hay
hay fever -n
- an acute allergic reaction to pollen that is usu. seasonal and is marked by sneezing, nasal discharge and congestion, and itching and watering of the eyes called also pollinosis
hay·lage ['hā-lij] -n
- a stored forage that is essentially a grass silage wilted to 35 to 50 percent moisture
hay·loft ['hā-,lȯft] -n
- a loft esp. for storing hay
hay·mak·er [-,mā-kər] -n
- a powerful blow
hay·mow [-,mau̇] -n
- a mow esp. of or for hay
hay·rack [-,rak] -n
- a feeding rack that holds hay for livestock
- a frame mounted on the running gear of a wagon and used esp. in hauling hay or straw
- a wagon equipped with a hayrack
hay·rick [-,rik] -n
- a relatively large sometimes thatched outdoor pile of hay : haystack
hay·ride [-,rīd] -n
- a pleasure ride usu. at night by a group in a wagon, sleigh, or open truck partly filled with straw or hay
hayscent·ed fern ['hā-,sen-təd-] -n
- a common fern ( Dennstaedtia punctilobula) of eastern No. America with fragrant finely divided pale green fronds
hay·seed ['hā-,sēd] -n
- seed shattered from hay
- clinging bits of straw or chaff from hay
- bumpkin, yokel
hay·stack [-,stak] -n
- a stack of hay
- a vertical standing wave in turbulent river waters
hay·wire [-,wī(-ə)r] -adv or adj
- being out of order or having gone wrong
- emotionally or mentally upset or out of control : crazy
- is going haywire with grief
ha·zan [k̲ə-'zän, 'k̲ä-zᵊn] -n
- an official of a Jewish synagogue or community of the period when the Talmud was compiled
- cantor
haz·ard ['ha-zərd] -n
- a game of chance like craps played with two dice
- a source of danger
- chance, risk
- a chance event : accident
- stake
- a golf-course obstacle
hazard -vt
- venture, risk
- hazard a guess as to the outcome
haz·ard·ous ['ha-zər-dəs] -adj, adv, n
- depending on hazard or chance
- involving or exposing one to risk (as of loss or harm)
- disposing of hazardous waste
haze ['hāz] -n
- fine dust, smoke, or light vapor causing lack of transparency of the air
- a cloudy appearance in a transparent liquid or solid
- a dullness of finish (as on furniture)
- something suggesting atmospheric haze
- vagueness of mind or mental perception
- to make hazy, dull, or cloudy
- to become hazy or cloudy
- to harass by exacting unnecessary or disagreeable work
- to harass by banter, ridicule, or criticism
- to haze by way of initiation
- haze the fraternity pledges
- to drive (as cattle or horses) from horseback
ha·zel ['hā-zəl] -n
- any of a genus ( Corylusand esp. the American C. americanaand the European C. avellana) of shrubs or small trees of the birch family bearing nuts enclosed in a leafy involucre
- a light brown to strong yellowish brown
hazel -adj
- consisting of hazels or of the wood of the hazel
- of the color hazel
- of a variable color averaging light greenish-grayish brown
hazel hen -n
- a European woodland grouse ( Bonasa bonasia) related to the ruffed grouse called also hazel grouse
ha·zel·nut ['hā-zəl-,nət] -n
- the brown nut of a hazel
hazing -n
- the action of hazing
- an initiation process involving harassment
haz·mat ['haz-,mat] -n
- a material (as flammable or poisonous material) that would be a danger to life or to the environment if released without precautions
hazy ['hā-zē] -adj, adv, n
- obscured or made dim or cloudy by or as if by haze
- vague, indefinite
- has only a hazy recollection
- uncertain