su·able ['sü-ə-bəl] -adj, n
- liable to be sued in court
sua·sion ['swā-zhən] -n, adj, adv
- the act of influencing or persuading
suave ['swäv] -adj, adv, n
- smoothly though often superficially gracious and sophisticated
- smooth in texture, performance, or style
sub ['səb] -n
- substitute
- to act as a substitute
- to read and edit as a copy editor : subedit
- subcontract
- submarine
- subaltern
- subscription
- subsidiary
- suburb
sub- -prefix
- under : beneath : below
- subordinate : secondary : next lower than or inferior to
- subordinate portion of : subdivision of
- with repetition (as of a process) so as to form, stress, or deal with subordinate parts or relations
- less than completely, perfectly, or normally : somewhat
- almost : nearly
- falling nearly in the category of and often adjoining : bordering on
sub·ac·id [,səb-'a-səd] -adj, adv, n
- somewhat acrimonious : cutting
sub·acute [-ə-'kyüt] -adj, adv
- having a tapered but not sharply pointed form
- falling between acute and chronic in character esp. when closer to acute
- less marked in severity or duration than a corresponding acute state
subacute sclerosing pan·en·ceph·a·li·tis [-,pan-in-,se-fə-'lī-təs] -n
- a usu. fatal neurological disease of children and young adults caused by infection of the brain by a previously latent measles virus that is marked esp. by intellectual deterioration, behavioral changes, myoclonic seizures, progressive deterioration of motor and mental functioning, and coma
sub·adult [,səb-ə-'dəlt; ,səb-'a-,dəlt] -n, adj
- an individual that has passed through the juvenile period but not yet attained typical adult characteristics
sub·aer·i·al [-'er-ē-əl, -ā-'ir-ē-əl] -adj, adv
- situated, formed, or occurring on or immediately adjacent to the surface of the earth
su·bah·dar [,sü-bə-'där] -n
- a governor of a province
- the chief Indian officer of a company of Indian troops in the British army of India
sub·al·pine [,səb-'al-,pīn] -adj
- of or relating to the region about the foot and lower slopes of the Alps
- of, relating to, or inhabiting high upland slopes and esp. the zone just below the timberline
subalpine fir -n
- a medium-sized fir ( Abies lasiocarpa) of subalpine regions of No. America having bluish-green white-lined needles
sub·al·tern [sə-'bȯl-tərn, esp Brit 'sə-bəl-tərn] -adj
- particular with reference to a related universal proposition
- some S is P is a subaltern proposition to all S is P
- subordinate
subaltern -n
- a person holding a subordinate position
- a junior officer (as in the British army)
- a particular proposition that follows immediately from a universal
sub·ant·arc·tic [,səb-ant-'ärk-tik, -'är-tik] -adj
- of, relating to, characteristic of, or being a region just outside the antarctic circle
sub·api·cal [-'ā-pi-kəl also -'a-] -adj
- situated below or near an apex
sub·aquat·ic [-ə-'kwä-tik, -'kwa-] -adj
- somewhat aquatic
sub·aque·ous [-'ā-kwē-əs, -'a-] -adj
- existing, formed, or taking place in or under water
sub·arach·noid [-ə-'rak-,nȯid] -adj
- of, relating to, occurring, or situated under the arachnoid membrane
sub·arc·tic [-'ärk-tik, -'är-tik] -adj, n
- of, relating to, characteristic of, or being regions immediately outside of the arctic circle or regions similar to these in climate or conditions of life
sub·as·sem·bly [-ə-'sem-blē] -n
- an assembled unit designed to be incorporated with other units in a finished product
sub·at·mo·spher·ic [-,at-mə-'sfir-ik, -'sfer-] -adj
- less or lower than that of the atmosphere
sub·atom·ic [-ə-'tä-mik] -adj
- of or relating to the inside of the atom
- of, relating to, or being particles smaller than atoms
sub·au·di·tion [-ȯ-'di-shən] -n
- the act of understanding or supplying something not expressed : a reading between the lines
sub·base ['səb-,bās] -n
- : underlying support placed below what is normally construed as a base: as
- the lowest member horizontally of an architectural base or of a baseboard or pedestal
- pervious fill (as crushed stone) placed under a roadbed
sub·bi·tu·mi·nous [,səb-bə-'tü-mə-nəs, -bī-, -'tyü-] -adj
- of, relating to, or being coal of lower rank than bituminous coal but higher than lignite
sub·cab·i·net [-'kab-nit, -'ka-bə-] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a high administrative position in the U.S. government that ranks below the cabinet level
sub·cap·su·lar [-'kap-sə-lər] -adj
- situated or occurring beneath or within a capsule
sub·cel·lu·lar [-'sel-yə-lər] -adj
- of less than cellular scope or level of organization
sub·cen·ter [-'sen-tər] -n
- a secondary center
- a center (as for shopping) located outside the main business area of a city
sub·cen·tral [-trəl] -adj, adv
- nearly but not quite central
- located under a center
sub·chas·er ['səb-,chā-sər] -n
- a small maneuverable patrol or escort vessel used for antisubmarine warfare
sub·class ['səb-,klas] -n
- : a primary division of a class: as
- a category in biological classification ranking below a class and above an order
- subset
sub·clas·si·fi·ca·tion [,səb-,kla-sə-fə-'kā-shən] -n, vt
- a primary division of a classification
- arrangement into or assignment to subclassifications
sub·cla·vi·an [-'klā-vē-ən] -adj
- of, relating to, being, or inserted into a part (as an artery, vein, or nerve) located under the clavicle
subclavian -n
- a subclavian part (as an artery, vein, or nerve)
subclavian artery -n
- the proximal part of the main artery of the arm or forelimb
subclavian vein -n
- the proximal part of the main vein of the arm or forelimb
sub·cli·max [,səb-'klī-,maks] -n
- a stage or community in an ecological succession immediately preceding a climax
- one held in relative stability throughout by edaphic or biotic influences or by fire
sub·clin·i·cal [-'kli-ni-kəl] -adj, adv
- not detectable or producing effects that are not detectable by the usual clinical tests
sub·com·mit·tee ['səb-kə-,mi-tē, ,səb-kə-'] -n
- a subdivision of a committee usu. organized for a specific purpose
sub·com·mu·ni·ty [,səb-kə-'myü-nə-tē] -n
- a distinct grouping within a community
sub·com·pact ['səb-'käm-,pakt] -n
- an automobile smaller than a compact
sub·con·scious [,səb-'kän(t)-shəs, 'səb-] -adj, adv, n
- existing in the mind but not immediately available to consciousness
subconscious -n
- the mental activities just below the threshold of consciousness
sub·con·ti·nent [,səb-'kän-tə-nənt, -'känt-nənt] -n, adj
- a large landmass smaller than a continent
- a major subdivision of a continent
sub·con·tract [,səb-'kän-,trakt] -n
- a contract between a party to an original contract and a third party
- one to provide all or a specified part of the work or materials required in the original contract
- to let out or undertake work under a subcontract
- to engage a third party to perform under a subcontract all or part of (work included in an original contract) sometimes used with out
- to undertake (work) under a subcontract
sub·con·trac·tor [,səb-'kän-,trak-tər, ,səb-kən-'] -n
- an individual or business firm contracting to perform part or all of another's contract
sub·con·trary [,səb-'kän-,trer-ē] -n, adj
- a proposition so related to another that though both may be true they cannot both be false
sub·cool [-'kül] -vt
- supercool
sub·cor·ti·cal [-'kȯr-ti-kəl] -adj
- of, relating to, involving, or being a part of the brain below the cerebral cortex
sub·crit·i·cal [-'kri-ti-kəl] -adj
- less or lower than critical in respect to a specified factor
- of insufficient size to sustain a chain reaction
- a subcritical mass of fissionable material
- designed for use with fissionable material of subcritical mass
sub·crust·al [-'krəs-tᵊl] -adj
- situated or occurring below a crust and esp. the crust of the earth
sub·cul·ture ['səb-,kəl-chər] -n, adj, adv, vt
- a culture (as of bacteria) derived from another culture
- an act or instance of producing a subculture
- an ethnic, regional, economic, or social group exhibiting characteristic patterns of behavior sufficient to distinguish it from others within an embracing culture or society
sub·cu·ta·ne·ous [,səb-kyu̇-'tā-nē-əs] -adj, adv
- being, living, occurring, or administered under the skin
sub·cu·tis [,səb-'kyü-təs] -n
- the deeper part of the dermis
sub·dea·con [-'dē-kən] -n
- : a cleric ranking below a deacon: as
- a cleric in the lowest of the former major orders of the Roman Catholic Church
- an Eastern Orthodox or Armenian cleric in minor orders
- a clergyman performing the liturgical duties of a subdeacon
sub·deb ['səb-,deb] -n
- subdebutante
sub·deb·u·tante [,səb-'de-byu̇-,tänt] -n
- a young girl who is about to become a debutante
- a girl in her middle teens
sub·der·mal [-'dər-məl] -adj, adv
- subcutaneous
sub·di·vide [,səb-də-'vīd, 'səb-də-,] -vb, adj, n
- to divide the parts of into more parts
- to divide into several parts
- to divide (a tract of land) into building lots
- to separate or become separated into subdivisions
sub·di·vi·sion ['səb-də-,vi-zhən] -n
- an act or instance of subdividing
- : something produced by subdividing: as
- a subordinate part of a larger whole
- a tract of land surveyed and divided into lots for purposes of sale
- one with houses built on it
- a category in botanical classification ranking below a division and above a class
sub·dom·i·nant [,səb-'däm-nənt, -'dä-mə-] -n, adj
- the fourth tone of a major or minor scale
- something partly but incompletely dominant
- an ecologically important life form subordinate in influence to the dominants of a community
sub·duc·tion [(,)səb-'dək-shən] -n, vb
- the action or process in plate tectonics of the edge of one crustal plate descending below the edge of another
sub·due [səb-'dü, -'dyü] -vt, n
- to conquer and bring into subjection : vanquish
- to bring under control esp. by an exertion of the will : curb
- to bring (land) under cultivation
- to reduce the intensity or degree of : tone down
sub·dued [-'düd, -'dyüd] -adj, adv
- lacking in vitality, intensity, or strength
sub·dur·al [,səb-'du̇r-əl, -'dyu̇r-; 'səb-,] -adj
- situated or occurring beneath the dura mater or between the dura mater and the arachnoid membrane
sub·dwarf ['səb-,dwȯrf] -n
- a small hot star containing few elements heavier than helium and having lower luminosity than a main-sequence star of similar temperature
sub·ed·i·tor [-'e-də-tər] -n, vt, adj
- copy editor
sub·em·ployed [,səb-im-'plȯid] -adj
- underemployed
sub·em·ploy·ment [-'plȯi-mənt] -n
- a condition of inadequate employment in a labor force including unemployment and underemployment
sub·en·try ['səb-,en-trē] -n
- an entry (as in a catalog or an account) made under a more general entry
sub·epi·der·mal [,səb-,e-pə-'dər-məl] -adj
- lying beneath or constituting the innermost part of the epidermis
su·ber·in ['sü-bə-rən] -n
- a complex fatty substance found esp. in the cell walls of cork
su·ber·i·za·tion [,sü-bə-rə-'zā-shən] -n, adj
- conversion of the cell walls into corky tissue by infiltration with suberin
sub·fam·i·ly ['səb-,fam-lē, -,fa-mə-] -n
- a category in biological classification ranking below a family and above a genus
- a subgroup of languages within a language family
sub·field [-,fēld] -n
- a subset of a mathematical field that is itself a field
- a subdivision of a field (as of study)
sub·floor [-,flȯr] -n
- a rough floor laid as a base for a finished floor
sub·fos·sil [-,fä-səl] -adj, n
- of less than typical fossil age but partially fossilized
sub·freez·ing [-'frē-ziŋ] -adj
- being or marked by temperature below the freezing point (as of water)
sub·fusc [(,)səb-'fəsk, 'səb-,] -adj
- drab, dusky
sub·ge·nus ['səb-,jē-nəs] -n
- a category in biological classification ranking below a genus and above a species
sub·gla·cial [,səb-'glā-shəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to the bottom of a glacier or the area immediately underlying a glacier
sub·grade ['səb-,grād] -n
- a surface of earth or rock leveled off to receive a foundation (as of a road)
sub·graph ['səb-,graf] -n
- a graph all of whose points and lines are contained in a larger graph
sub·group [-,grüp] -n
- a subordinate group whose members usu. share some common differential quality
- a subset of a mathematical group that is itself a group
sub·gum ['səb-'gəm] -n
- a dish of Chinese origin prepared with a mixture of vegetables (as peppers, water chestnuts, and mushrooms)
sub·head [-,hed] -n
- a heading of a subdivision (as in an outline)
- a subordinate caption, title, or headline
sub·head·ing [-,he-diŋ] -n
- subhead
sub·hu·man [,səb-'hyü-mən, -'yü-] -adj
- : less than human: as
- failing to attain the level (as of morality or intelligence) associated with normal human beings
- unsuitable to or unfit for human beings
- subhuman living conditions
- of or relating to a taxonomic group lower than that of humans
subhuman -n
- a subhuman being
sub·in·dex [,səb-'in-,deks] -n
- an index to a division of a main classification
sub·in·feu·da·tion [,səb-,in-fyü-'dā-shən] -n, vt
- the subdivision of a feudal estate by a vassal who in turn becomes feudal lord over his tenants
sub·in·ter·val [,səb-'in-tər-vəl] -n
- an interval that is a subdivision or a subset of an interval
sub·ir·ri·ga·tion [-,ir-ə-'gā-shən] -n, vt
- irrigation below the surface (as by a periodic rise of the water table or by a system of underground porous pipes)
su·bi·to ['sü-bi-,tō] -adv
- immediately, suddenly used as a direction in music
subj -abbr
- subject
sub·ja·cen·cy [,səb-'jā-sᵊn(t)-sē] -n
- the quality or state of being subjacent
sub·ja·cent [-sᵊnt] -adj, adv
- lying under or below
- lower than though not directly below
- hills and subjacent valleys
sub·ject ['səb-jikt, -(,)jekt] -n, adj
- : one that is placed under authority or control: as
- vassal
- one subject to a monarch and governed by the monarch's law
- one who lives in the territory of, enjoys the protection of, and owes allegiance to a sovereign power or state
- that of which a quality, attribute, or relation may be affirmed or in which it may inhere
- substratum
- material or essential substance
- the mind, ego, or agent of whatever sort that sustains or assumes the form of thought or consciousness
- a department of knowledge or learning
- motive, cause
- one that is acted on
- the helpless subject of their cruelty
- an individual whose reactions or responses are studied
- a dead body for anatomical study and dissection
- something concerning which something is said or done
- something represented or indicated in a work of art
- the term of a logical proposition that denotes the entity of which something is affirmed or denied
- the entity denoted
- a word or word group denoting that of which something is predicated
- the principal melodic phrase on which a musical composition or movement is based
subject -adj
- owing obedience or allegiance to the power or dominion of another
- suffering a particular liability or exposure
- having a tendency or inclination : prone
- contingent on or under the influence of some later action
- the plan is subject to discussion
sub·ject [səb-'jekt, 'səb-,jekt] -vt, n
- to bring under control or dominion : subjugate
- to make (as oneself) amenable to the discipline and control of a superior
- to make liable : predispose
- to cause or force to undergo or endure (something unpleasant, inconvenient, or trying)
- was subject ed to constant verbal abuse
sub·jec·tive [(,)səb-'jek-tiv] -adj, adv, n
- : of, relating to, or constituting a subject: as
- of, relating to, or characteristic of one that is a subject esp. in lack of freedom of action or in submissiveness
- being or relating to a grammatical subject
- nominative
- of or relating to the essential being of that which has substance, qualities, attributes, or relations
- characteristic of or belonging to reality as perceived rather than as independent of mind : phenomenal
- relating to or being experience or knowledge as conditioned by personal mental characteristics or states
- peculiar to a particular individual : personal
- modified or affected by personal views, experience, or background
- a subjective account of the incident
- arising from conditions within the brain or sense organs and not directly caused by external stimuli
- arising out of or identified by means of one's perception of one's own states and processes
- a subjective symptom of disease
- lacking in reality or substance : illusory
subjective -n
- something that is subjective
- nominative
subjective complement -n
- a grammatical complement relating to the subject of an intransitive verb (as sickin he had fallen sick)
sub·jec·tiv·ise [-ti-,vīz] -vt, n
(variant of subjectivize)
- to make subjective
sub·jec·tiv·ism [(,)səb-'jek-ti-,vi-zəm] -n, adj
- a theory that limits knowledge to subjective experience
- a theory that stresses the subjective elements in experience
- a doctrine that the supreme good is the realization of a subjective experience or feeling (as pleasure)
- a doctrine that individual feeling or apprehension is the ultimate criterion of the good and the right
sub·jec·tiv·ize [-ti-,vīz] -vt, n
- to make subjective
subject matter -n
- matter presented for consideration in discussion, thought, or study
sub·join [(,)səb-'jȯin] -vt
- annex, append
- subjoin ed a statement of expenses to her report
sub ju·di·ce [,su̇b-'yü-di-,kā, 'səb-'jü-də-(,)sē] -adv
- before a judge or court : not yet judicially decided
sub·ju·gate ['səb-ji-,gāt] -vt, n
- to bring under control and governance as a subject : conquer
- to make submissive : subdue
sub·junc·tion [(,)səb-'jəŋ(k)-shən] -n
- an act of subjoining or the state of being subjoined
- something subjoined
sub·junc·tive [səb-'jən(k)-tiv] -adj
- of, relating to, or constituting a verb form or set of verb forms that represents a denoted act or state not as fact but as contingent or possible or viewed emotionally (as with doubt or desire)
subjunctive -n
- the subjunctive mood of a language
- a form of verb or verbal in the subjunctive mood
sub·king·dom ['səb-,kiŋ-dəm] -n
- a category in biological classification ranking below a kingdom and above a phylum
sub·late [,sə-'blāt] -vt, n
- negate, deny
- to negate or eliminate (as an element in a dialectic process) but preserve as a partial element in a synthesis
sub·lease ['səb-'lēs, -,lēs] -n
- a lease by a tenant or lessee of part or all of leased premises to another person but with the original tenant retaining some right or interest under the original lease
sublease -vt
- to make or obtain a sublease of
sub·let ['səb-'let] -vb
- sublease
- subcontract
- to lease or rent all or part of a leased or rented property
- property and esp. housing obtained by or available through a sublease
sub·le·thal [,səb-'lē-thəl] -adj, adv
- less than but usu. only slightly less than lethal
sub·lieu·ten·ant [,səb-lü-'te-nənt, Brit -le(f)-'ten-] -n
- a commissioned officer in the British navy ranking immediately below lieutenant
sub·li·mate ['sə-blə-,māt] -vt, n
- sublime
- to improve or refine as if by subliming
- to divert the expression of (an instinctual desire or impulse) from its unacceptable form to one that is considered more socially or culturally acceptable
- a chemical product obtained by sublimation
sub·lime [sə-'blīm] -vb, adj, n
- to cause to pass directly from the solid to the vapor state and condense back to solid form
- to elevate or exalt esp. in dignity or honor
- to render finer (as in purity or excellence)
- to convert (something inferior) into something of higher worth
- to pass directly from the solid to the vapor state
sublime -adj, adv, n
- lofty, grand, or exalted in thought, expression, or manner
- of outstanding spiritual, intellectual, or moral worth
- tending to inspire awe usu. because of elevated quality (as of beauty, nobility, or grandeur) or transcendent excellence
- high in place
- lofty of mien : haughty
- supreme used in a style of address
- complete, utter
sub·lim·i·nal [(,)sə-'bli-mə-nᵊl] -adj, adv
- inadequate to produce a sensation or a perception
- existing or functioning below the threshold of consciousness
sub·lim·i·ty [sə-'bli-mə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being sublime
- something sublime or exalted
sub·line ['səb-,līn] -n
- an inbred or selectively cultured line (as of cells) within a strain
sub·lin·gual [,səb-'liŋ-gwəl, -gyə-wəl] -adj
- situated or administered under the tongue
sub·lit·er·ary [-'li-tə-,rer-ē] -adj
- relating to or being subliterature
sub·lit·er·a·ture [-'li-tə-rə-,chu̇r, -'li-trə-,chu̇r, -'li-tə(r)-,chu̇r, -chər, -,tyu̇r, -,tu̇r] -n
- popular writing (as mystery or adventure stories) considered inferior to standard literature
sub·lit·to·ral [-'li-tə-rəl; ,səb-,li-tə-'ral, -'räl] -adj
- situated, occurring, or formed on the aquatic side of a shoreline or littoral zone
- constituting the sublittoral
sublittoral -n
- the deeper part of the littoral portion of a body of water
- the region in an ocean between the lowest point exposed by a low tide and the margin of the continental shelf
sub·lu·na·ry [,səb-'lü-nə-rē, 'səb-lu̇-,ner-ē] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the terrestrial world
- dull sublunary lovers -- John Donne
sub·lux·a·tion [,sə-,blək-'sā-shən] -n
- partial dislocation (as of one of the bones in a joint)
sub·ma·chine gun [,səb-mə-'shēn-,gən] -n
- a portable automatic firearm that uses pistol-type ammunition and is fired from the shoulder or hip
sub·man·dib·u·lar [,səb-man-'di-byə-lər] -adj
- of, relating to, situated in, or performed in the region below the lower jaw
- of, relating to, or associated with the salivary glands inside of and near the lower edge of the mandible on each side
submandibular -n
- a submandibular part (as an artery or bone)
sub·mar·gin·al [,səb-'märj-nəl, -'mär-jə-nᵊl] -adj
- adjacent to a margin or a marginal part or structure
- submarginal spots on an insect wing
- falling below a necessary minimum
- submarginal economic conditions
sub·ma·rine ['səb-mə-,rēn, ,səb-mə-'] -adj
- underwater
- undersea
submarine -n
- something that functions or operates underwater
- a naval vessel designed to operate underwater
- a large sandwich on a long split roll with any of a variety of fillings (as meatballs or cold cuts, cheese, lettuce, and tomato) called also grinder hero hoagie Italian sandwich po'boy sub torpedo
- to attack by or as if by a submarine : attack from beneath
- to dive or slide under something
sub·ma·ri·ner [,səb-mə-'rē-nər, -'ma-rə-nər] -n
- a member of a submarine crew
sub·max·il·lary [,səb-'mak-sə-,ler-ē, 'səb-, chiefly Brit ,səb-mak-'si-lə-rē] -adj or n
- submandibular
sub·me·di·ant [,səb-'mē-dē-ənt] -n
- the sixth tone of a major or minor scale
sub·merge [səb-'mərj] -vb, n, adj
- to put under water
- to cover or overflow with water
- to make obscure or subordinate : suppress
- personal lives submerged by professional responsibilities
- to go under water
submerged -adj
- covered with water
- submersed
- sunk in poverty and misery
- hidden, suppressed
sub·merse [səb-'mərs] -vt, n
- submerge
submersed -adj
- : submerged: as
- covered with water
- growing or adapted to grow underwater
sub·mers·ible [səb-'mər-sə-bəl] -adj
- capable of being submerged
submersible -n
- something that is submersible
- a usu. small underwater craft used esp. for deep-sea research
sub·meta·cen·tric [,səb-,me-tə-'sen-trik] -adj, n
- having the centromere situated so that one chromosome arm is somewhat shorter than the other
sub·mi·cro·gram [,səb-'mī-krə-,gram] -adj
- relating to or having a mass of less than one microgram
- submicrogram quantities of a chemical
sub·mi·cron [-,krän] -adj
- being less than a micron in a (specified) measurement and esp. in diameter
- having or consisting of submicron particles
sub·mi·cro·scop·ic [,səb-,mī-krə-'skä-pik] -adj, adv
- too small to be seen in an ordinary light microscope
- of, relating to, or dealing with the very minute
sub·mil·li·me·ter [,səb-'mi-lə-,mē-tər] -adj
- being less than a millimeter in diameter or wavelength
- a submillimeter radio wave
sub·min·i·a·ture [,səb-'mi-nē-ə-,chu̇r, -'mi-ni-,chu̇r, -'min-yə-, -chər, -,tyu̇r, -,tu̇r] -adj
- very small used esp. of a very compact assembly of electronic equipment
sub·miss [səb-'mis] -adj
- submissive, humble
sub·mis·sion [səb-'mi-shən] -n
- a legal agreement to submit to the decision of arbitrators
- an act of submitting something (as for consideration or inspection)
- something submitted (as a manuscript)
- the condition of being submissive, humble, or compliant
- an act of submitting to the authority or control of another
sub·mis·sive [-'mi-siv] -adj, adv, n
- submitting to others
sub·mit [səb-'mit] -vb, n
- to yield to governance or authority
- to subject to a condition, treatment, or operation
- the metal was submitted to analysis
- to present or propose to another for review, consideration, or decision
- to deliver formally
- to put forward as an opinion or contention
- we submit that the charge is not proved
- to yield oneself to the authority or will of another : surrender
- to permit oneself to be subjected to something
- to defer to or consent to abide by the opinion or authority of another
sub·mi·to·chon·dri·al [,səb-,mī-tə-'kän-drē-əl] -adj
- relating to, composed of, or being parts and esp. fragments of mitochondria
- submitochondrial membranes
- submitochondrial particles
sub·mu·co·sa [,səb-myü-'kō-zə] -n, adj
- a supporting layer of loose connective tissue directly under a mucous membrane
sub·mul·ti·ple [-'məl-tə-pəl] -n
- an exact divisor of a number
sub·mu·ni·tion [(,)səb-myü-'ni-shən] -n
- any of a group of smaller weapons carried as a warhead by a missile or projectile and expelled as the carrier approaches its target
sub·nor·mal [-'nȯr-məl] -adj, n, adv
- lower or smaller than normal
- having less of something and esp. of intelligence than is normal
sub·note·book ['səb-'nōt-,bu̇k] -n
- a portable microcomputer similar to but smaller and lighter than a notebook computer
sub·nu·cle·ar [,səb-'nü-klē-ər, -'nyü-, ÷-kyə-lər] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a particle smaller than the atomic nucleus
sub·oce·an·ic [,səb-,ō-shē-'a-nik] -adj
- situated, taking place, or formed beneath the ocean or its bottom
sub·or·bit·al [,səb-'ȯr-bə-tᵊl] -adj
- situated beneath the eye or the orbit of the eye
- being or involving less than one orbit (as of the earth or moon)
- intended for suborbital flight
sub·or·der ['səb-,ȯr-dər] -n
- a subdivision of an order
- a taxonomic category ranking between an order and a family
sub·or·di·nate [sə-'bȯr-də-nət, -'bȯrd-nət] -adj, adv, n
- placed in or occupying a lower class, rank, or position : inferior
- submissive to or controlled by authority
- of, relating to, or constituting a clause that functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb
- subordinating
subordinate -n
- one that is subordinate
sub·or·di·nate [sə-'bȯr-də-,nāt] -vt, n, adj
- to make subject or subservient
- to treat as of less value or importance
subordinating -adj
- introducing and linking a subordinate clause to a main clause
- subordinating conjunction
sub·or·di·na·tor [-,nā-tər] -n
- one that subordinates
- a subordinating conjunction
sub·orn [sə-'bȯrn] -vt, n
- to induce secretly to do an unlawful thing
- to induce to commit perjury
- to obtain (perjured testimony) from a witness
sub·phy·lum ['səb-,fī-ləm] -n
- a category in biological classification ranking below a phylum and above a class
sub·plot ['səb-,plät] -n
- a subordinate plot in fiction or drama
- a subdivision of an experimental plot of land
sub·poe·na [sə-'pē-nə, ÷-nē] -n
- a writ commanding a person designated in it to appear in court under a penalty for failure
subpoena -vt
- to serve or summon with a writ of subpoena
subpoena ad tes·ti·fi·can·dum [-,ad-,tes-tə-fi-'kan-dəm] -n
- a writ commanding a person to appear in court to testify as a witness
subpoena du·ces te·cum [-,dü-səs-'tē-kəm] -n
- a writ commanding a person to produce in court certain designated documents or evidence
sub·po·lar [,səb-'pō-lər] -adj
- subarctic
- subantarctic
sub·pop·u·la·tion ['səb-,pä-pyə-'lā-shən] -n
- an identifiable fraction or subdivision of a population
sub·po·tent [,səb-'pō-tᵊnt] -adj, n
- less potent than normal
sub·prime ['səb-,prīm] -adj
- having or being an interest rate that is higher than a prime rate and is extended esp. to low-income borrowers
- extending or obtaining a subprime loan
sub·prin·ci·pal [-'prin(t)-s(ə-)pəl, -sə-bəl] -n
- an assistant principal (as of a school)
- a secondary or bracing rafter
sub·prob·lem ['səb-,prä-bləm] -n
- a problem that is contingent on or forms a part of another more inclusive problem
sub·pro·fes·sion·al [,səb-prə-'fesh-nəl, -'fe-shə-nᵊl] -adj, n
- functioning or qualified to function below the professional level but distinctly above the clerical or labor level and usu. under the supervision of a professionally trained person
sub·pro·gram ['səb-,prō-,gram, -grəm] -n
- a semi-independent portion of a program (as for a computer)
sub·re·gion ['səb-,rē-jən] -n, adj
- a subdivision of a region
- one of the primary divisions of a biogeographic region
sub·rep·tion [(,)səb-'rep-shən] -n, adj, adv
- a deliberate misrepresentation
- an inference drawn from it
sub·ring ['səb-,riŋ] -n
- a subset of a mathematical ring which is itself a ring
sub·ro·gate ['sə-brō-,gāt] -vt
- to put in the place of another
- to substitute (as a second creditor) for another with regard to a legal right or claim
sub·ro·ga·tion [,sə-brō-'gā-shən] -n
- the act of subrogating
- the assumption by a third party (as a second creditor or an insurance company) of another's legal right to collect a debt or damages
subrosa -adj
- secretive, private
sub ro·sa [,səb-'rō-zə] -adv
- in confidence : secretly
sub·rou·tine ['səb-(,)rü-,tēn] -n
- a subordinate routine
- a sequence of computer instructions for performing a specified task that can be used repeatedly
subSa·ha·ran [,səb-sə-'her-ən, -'här-] -adj
- of, relating to, or being the part of Africa south of the Sahara
sub·sam·ple ['səb-,sam-pəl, ,səb-'sam-] -vt
- to draw samples from (a previously selected group or population) : sample a sample of
subsample -n
- a sample or specimen obtained by subsampling
sub·sat·el·lite [,səb-'sa-tə-,līt] -n
- an object carried into orbit in and subsequently released from a satellite or spacecraft
sub·scribe [səb-'skrīb] -vb, n
- to write (one's name) underneath : sign
- to sign (as a document) with one's own hand in token of consent or obligation
- to attest by signing
- to pledge (a gift or contribution) by writing one's name with the amount
- to assent to : support
- to sign one's name to a document
- to give consent or approval to something written by signing
- unwilling to subscribe to the agreement
- to set one's name to a paper in token of promise to give something (as a sum of money)
- to give something in accordance with such a promise
- to enter one's name for a publication or service
- to receive a periodical or service regularly on order
- subscribed to many magazines
- to agree to purchase and pay for securities esp. of a new offering
- subscribed for 1000 shares
- to feel favorably disposed
- I subscribe to your sentiments
sub·script ['səb-,skript] -n, adj
- a distinguishing symbol (as a letter or numeral) written immediately below or below and to the right or left of another character
sub·scrip·tion [səb-'skrip-shən] -n
- the act of signing one's name (as in attesting or witnessing a document)
- the acceptance (as of ecclesiastical articles of faith) attested by the signing of one's name
- : something that is subscribed: as
- an autograph signature
- a paper to which a signature is attached
- a sum subscribed or pledged
- : an arrangement for providing, receiving, or making use of something of a continuing or periodic nature on a prepayment plan: as
- a purchase by prepayment for a certain number of issues (as of a periodical)
- application to purchase securities of a new issue
- a method of offering or presenting a series of public performances
- membership dues
subscription TV -n
- pay-TV that broadcasts programs directly over the air to customers provided with a special receiver called also subscription television
sub·sec·tion ['səb-,sek-shən] -n
- a subdivision or a subordinate division of a section
- a subordinate part or branch
sub·se·quence ['səb-sə-,kwen(t)s, -si-kwən(t)s] -n
- the quality or state of being subsequent
- a subsequent event
- a mathematical sequence that is part of another sequence
sub·se·quent ['səb-si-kwənt, -sə-,kwent] -adj, n, adv
- following in time, order, or place
- a subsequent clause in the treaty
subsequent to -prep
- at a time later or more recent than : since
- subsequent to our discussion
sub·serve [(,)səb-'sərv] -vt
- to promote the welfare or purposes of
- to serve as an instrument or means in carrying out
sub·ser·vi·ence [səb-'sər-vē-ən(t)s] -n
- a subservient or subordinate place or function
- obsequious servility
sub·ser·vi·en·cy [-ən(t)-sē] -n
- subservience
sub·ser·vi·ent [-ənt] -adj, adv
- useful in an inferior capacity : subordinate
- serving to promote some end
- obsequiously submissive : truckling
sub·set ['səb-,set] -n
- a set each of whose elements is an element of an inclusive set
- division, portion
- a subset of our community
sub·shrub [-,shrəb, esp Southern -,srəb] -n
- a perennial plant having woody stems except for the terminal part of the new growth which is killed back annually
- a low shrub
sub·side [səb-'sīd] -vi, n
- to sink or fall to the bottom : settle
- to tend downward : descend
- to flatten out so as to form a depression
- to let oneself settle down : sink
- to become quiet or less
sub·sid·i·ar·i·ty [,səb-si-dē-'er-ə-tē, səb-,si-] -n
- the quality or state of being subsidiary
- : a principle in social organization: functions which subordinate or local organizations perform effectively belong more properly to them than to a dominant central organization
sub·sid·i·ary [səb-'si-dē-,er-ē, -'si-də-rē] -adj, adv
- furnishing aid or support : auxiliary
- of secondary importance
- of, relating to, or constituting a subsidy
- a subsidiary payment to an ally
subsidiary -n
- one that is subsidiary
- a company wholly controlled by another
sub·si·dise ['səb-sə-,dīz, -zə-] -vt, n
(variant of subsidize)
- : to furnish with a subsidy: as
- to purchase the assistance of by payment of a subsidy
- to aid or promote (as a private enterprise) with public money
- subsidize soybean farmers
- subsidize public transportation
sub·si·dize ['səb-sə-,dīz, -zə-] -vt, n
- : to furnish with a subsidy: as
- to purchase the assistance of by payment of a subsidy
- to aid or promote (as a private enterprise) with public money
- subsidize soybean farmers
- subsidize public transportation
sub·si·dy ['səb-sə-dē, -zə-] -n
- : a grant or gift of money: as
- a sum of money formerly granted by the British Parliament to the crown and raised by special taxation
- money granted by one state to another
- a grant by a government to a private person or company to assist an enterprise deemed advantageous to the public
sub·sist [səb-'sist] -vb
- to have existence : be
- persist, continue
- to have or acquire the necessities of life (as food and clothing)
- to nourish oneself
- subsist ing on roots, berries and grubs
- to hold true
- to be logically conceivable as the subject of true statements
- to support with provisions
sub·sis·tence [səb-'sis-tən(t)s] -n, adj
- real being : existence
- the condition of remaining in existence : continuation, persistence
- an essential characteristic quality of something that exists
- the character possessed by whatever is logically conceivable
- : means of subsisting: as
- the minimum (as of food and shelter) necessary to support life
- a source or means of obtaining the necessities of life
subsistence farming -n
- farming or a system of farming that provides all or almost all the goods required by the farm family usu. without any significant surplus for sale
- farming or a system of farming that produces a minimum and often inadequate return to the farmer called also subsistence agriculture
sub·so·cial [,səb-'sō-shəl] -adj
- incompletely social
- tending to associate gregariously but lacking fixed or complex social organization
sub·soil ['səb-,sȯi(-ə)l] -n
- the stratum of weathered material that underlies the surface soil
subsoil -vt, n
- to turn, break, or stir the subsoil of
sub·so·lar point [,səb-'sō-lər-] -n
- the point on the surface of the earth or a planet at which the sun is at the zenith
sub·son·ic [,səb-'sä-nik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or being a speed less than that of sound in air
- moving, capable of moving, or utilizing air currents moving at a subsonic speed
- infrasonic
sub·space ['səb-,spās] -n
- a subset of a space
- one that has the essential properties (as those of a vector space or topological space) of the including space
sub spe·cie ae·ter·ni·ta·tis [su̇b-'spe-kē-,ā-,ī-,ter-nə-'tä-təs] -adv
- in its essential or universal form or nature
sub·spe·cies ['səb-,spē-shēz, -sēz] -n, adj
- : a subdivision of a species: as
- a category in biological classification that ranks immediately below a species and designates a population of a particular geographic region genetically distinguishable from other such populations of the same species and capable of interbreeding successfully with them where its range overlaps theirs
- a named subdivision (as a race or variety) of a taxonomic species
- subgroup
sub·stage ['səb-,stāj] -n
- an attachment to a microscope by means of which accessories (as mirrors, diaphragms, or condensers) are held in place beneath the stage of the instrument
sub·stance ['səb-stən(t)s] -n, adj
- essential nature : essence
- a fundamental or characteristic part or quality
- god
- ultimate reality that underlies all outward manifestations and change
- practical importance : meaning, usefulness
- the...bill-which will be without substance in the sense that it will authorize nothing more than a set of ideas -- Richard Reeves
- physical material from which something is made or which has discrete existence
- matter of particular or definite chemical constitution
- something (as drugs or alcoholic beverages) deemed harmful and usu. subject to legal restriction
- possession of a controlled substance
- material possessions : property
substance P -n
- a neuropeptide that consists of 11 amino acid residues, that is present in the nervous system and gastrointestinal tract, that causes the contraction of smooth muscle and dilation of blood vessels, and that acts as a potent neurotransmitter esp. in the transmission of signals from pain receptors
sub·stan·dard [,səb-'stan-dərd] -adj
- : deviating from or falling short of a standard or norm: as
- of a quality lower than that prescribed by law
- conforming to a pattern of linguistic usage existing within a speech community but not that of the prestige group in that community
- constituting a greater than normal risk to an insurer
sub·stan·tial [səb-'stan(t)-shəl] -adj, n, adv
- consisting of or relating to substance
- not imaginary or illusory : real, true
- important, essential
- ample to satisfy and nourish : full
- possessed of means : well-to-do
- considerable in quantity : significantly great
- earned a substantial wage
- firmly constructed : sturdy
- being largely but not wholly that which is specified
sub·stan·tia ni·gra [səb-,stan(t)-shē-ə-'nī-grə, -'ni-] -n
- a layer of deeply pigmented gray matter situated in the midbrain and containing the cell bodies of a tract of dopamine-producing nerve cells whose secretion tends to be deficient in Parkinson's disease
sub·stan·ti·ate [səb-'stan(t)-shē-,āt] -vt, n, adj
- to give substance or form to : embody
- to establish by proof or competent evidence : verify
sub·stan·ti·val [,səb-stən-'tī-vəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or serving as a substantive
sub·stan·tive ['səb-stən-tiv] -n, vt
- noun
- a word or word group functioning syntactically as a noun
- being a totally independent entity
- real rather than apparent : firm
- need substantive evidence to prove her guilt
- permanent, enduring
- belonging to the substance of a thing : essential
- expressing existence
- the substantive verb is the verb to be
- requiring or involving no mordant
- a substantive dyeing process
- having the nature or function of a grammatical substantive
- relating to or having the character of a noun or pronominal term in logic
- considerable in amount or numbers : substantial
- made substantive progress
- creating and defining rights and duties
- having substance : involving matters of major or practical importance to all concerned
- substantive discussions among world leaders
substantive due process -n
- due process
substantive right -n
- a right (as of life, liberty, property, or reputation) held to exist for its own sake and to constitute part of the normal legal order of society
sub·sta·tion ['səb-,stā-shən] -n
- : a subordinate or subsidiary station: as
- a branch post office
- a subsidiary station in which electric current is transformed
- a police station serving a particular area
sub·stit·u·ent [səb-'sti-chə-wənt, -'stich-wənt] -n, adj
- an atom or group that replaces another atom or group in a molecule
sub·sti·tut·able ['səb-stə-,tü-tə-bəl, -'tyü-] -adj, n
- capable of being substituted
sub·sti·tute ['səb-stə-,tüt, -,tyüt] -n, adj
- a person or thing that takes the place or function of another
substitute -vb
- to put or use in the place of another
- to introduce (an atom or group) as a substituent
- to alter (as a compound) by introduction of a substituent
- a substituted benzene ring
- to take the place of : replace
- to serve as a substitute
sub·sti·tu·tion [,səb-stə-'tü-shən, -'tyü-] -n, adj, adv
- the act, process, or result of substituting one thing for another
- replacement of one mathematical entity by another of equal value
- one that is substituted for another
substitution cipher -n
- a cipher in which the letters of the plaintext are systematically replaced by substitute letters
sub·sti·tu·tive ['səb-stə-,tü-tiv, -,tyü-] -adj, adv
- serving or suitable as a substitute
sub·strate ['səb-,strāt] -n
- substratum
- the base on which an organism lives
- the soil is the substrate of most seed plants
- a substance acted upon (as by an enzyme)
sub·stra·tum ['səb-,strā-təm, -,stra-, ,səb-'] -n
- : an underlying support : foundation: as
- substance that is a permanent subject of qualities or phenomena
- the material of which something is made and from which it derives its special qualities
- a layer beneath the surface soil
- subsoil
- substrate
sub·struc·ture ['səb-,strək-chər] -n, adj
- an underlying or supporting part of a structure
sub·sume [səb-'süm] -vt, adj
- to include or place within something larger or more comprehensive : encompass as a subordinate or component element
- red, green, and yellow are subsumed under the term color
sub·sump·tion [səb-'səm(p)-shən] -n
- the act or process of subsuming
sub·sur·face ['səb-,sər-fəs] -n
- earth material (as rock) near but not exposed at the surface of the ground
- of, relating to, or being something located beneath a surface and esp. underground
sub·teen ['səb-'tēn] -n
- a preadolescent child
sub·tem·per·ate [,səb-'tem-p(ə-)rət] -adj
- of or occurring in the colder parts of the temperate zones
sub·ten·an·cy [-'te-nən(t)-sē] -n
- the state of being a subtenant
sub·ten·ant [-'te-nənt] -n
- one who rents from a tenant
sub·tend [səb-'tend] -vt
- to be opposite to and extend from one side to the other of
- a hypotenuse subtend s a right angle
- to fix the angular extent of with respect to a fixed point or object taken as the vertex
- a central angle subtend ed by an arc
- the angle subtend ed at the eye by an object of given width and a fixed distance away
- to determine the measure of by marking off the endpoints of
- to underlie so as to include
- to occupy an adjacent and usu. lower position to and often so as to embrace or enclose
- a bract that subtend s a flower
sub·ter·fuge ['səb-tər-,fyüj] -n
- deception by artifice or stratagem in order to conceal, escape, or evade
- a deceptive device or stratagem
sub·ter·mi·nal [,səb-'tərm-nəl, -'tər-mə-nᵊl] -adj
- situated or occurring near but not precisely at an end
- subterminal spots on tail feathers
sub·ter·ra·nean [,səb-tə-'rā-nē-ən, -nyən] -adj, adv
- being, lying, or operating under the surface of the earth
- existing or working in secret : hidden
- a subterranean network of criminals
sub·text ['səb-,tekst] -n, adj, adv
- the implicit or metaphorical meaning (as of a literary text)
sub·thresh·old [,səb-'thre-,shōld, -'thresh-,hōld] -adj
- inadequate to produce a response
sub·tile ['sə-tᵊl, 'səb-tᵊl] -adj, adv, n
- subtle, elusive
- cunning, crafty
- sagacious, discerning
sub·til·i·sin [,səb-'ti-lə-sən] -n
- a protease secreted by a soil bacillus ( Bacillus amyloliquefaciens)
sub·til·ize ['sə-tᵊl-,īz, 'səb-tə-,līz] -vb, n
- to act or think subtly
- to make subtile
sub·til·ty ['sə-tᵊl-tē, 'səb-tᵊl-] -n
- subtlety
sub·ti·tle ['səb-,tī-tᵊl] -n
- a secondary or explanatory title
- a printed statement or fragment of dialogue appearing on the screen between the scenes of a silent motion picture or appearing as a translation at the bottom of the screen during the scenes of a motion picture or television show in a foreign language
subtitle -vt
- to give a subtitle to
sub·tle ['sə-tᵊl] -adj, n, adv
- delicate, elusive
- difficult to understand or perceive : obscure
- subtle differences in sound
- perceptive, refined
- a writer's sharp and subtle moral sense
- having or marked by keen insight and ability to penetrate deeply and thoroughly
- highly skillful : expert
- cunningly made or contrived : ingenious
- artful, crafty
- operating insidiously
sub·tle·ty ['sə-tᵊl-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being subtle
- something subtle
sub·ton·ic [,səb-'tä-nik] -n
- leading tone
sub·to·tal ['səb-,tō-tᵊl] -n
- the sum of part of a series of figures
- somewhat less than complete : nearly total
sub·tract [səb-'trakt] -vb, n
- to take away by or as if by deducting
- subtract funds from the project
- to perform a subtraction
sub·trac·tion [səb-'trak-shən] -n
- : an act, operation, or instance of subtracting: as
- the withdrawing or withholding of a right to which an individual is entitled
- the operation of deducting one number from another
sub·trac·tive [-'trak-tiv] -adj
- tending to subtract
- constituting or involving subtraction
sub·tra·hend ['səb-trə-,hend] -n
- a number that is to be subtracted from a minuend
sub·trop·i·cal [,səb-'trä-pi-kəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or being the regions bordering on the tropical zone
sub·trop·ics [-piks] -n pl
- subtropical regions
su·bu·late ['sü-byə-lət, 'sə-, -,lāt] -adj
- linear and tapering to a fine point
sub·um·brel·la [,səb-(,)əm-'bre-lə] -n
- the concave undersurface of a jellyfish
sub·urb ['sə-,bərb] -n, adj or n
- an outlying part of a city or town
- a smaller community adjacent to or within commuting distance of a city
- the residential area on the outskirts of a city or large town
- the near vicinity : environs
sub·ur·ban·ise [sə-'bər-bə-,nīz] -vt, n
(variant of suburbanize)
- to make suburban : give a suburban character to
sub·ur·ban·ize [sə-'bər-bə-,nīz] -vt, n
- to make suburban : give a suburban character to
sub·ur·bia [sə-'bər-bē-ə] -n
- the suburbs of a city
- people who live in the suburbs
- suburban life
sub·ven·tion [səb-'ven(t)-shən] -n, adj
- : the provision of assistance or financial support: as
- endowment
- a subsidy from a government or foundation
sub·ver·sion [səb-'vər-zhən, -shən] -n, adj, adj or n, adv
- the act of subverting : the state of being subverted
- a systematic attempt to overthrow or undermine a government or political system by persons working secretly from within
- a cause of overthrow or destruction
sub·vert [səb-'vərt] -vt, n
- to overturn or overthrow from the foundation : ruin
- to pervert or corrupt by an undermining of morals, allegiance, or faith
sub·vi·ral [,səb-'vī-rəl] -adj
- relating to, being, or caused by a piece or a structural part (as a protein) of a virus
sub·vo·cal [-'vō-kəl] -adj, adv
- characterized by the occurrence in the mind of words in speech order with or without inaudible articulation of the speech organs
sub·vo·cal·i·za·tion [,səb-,vō-kə-lə-'zā-shən] -n, vb
- the act or process of inaudibly articulating speech with the speech organs
sub·way ['səb-,wā] -n, vi
- : an underground way: as
- a passage under a street (as for pedestrians, power cables, or water or gas mains)
- a usu. electric underground railway
- underpass
sub·woof·er ['səb-'wu̇-fər] -n
- a loudspeaker responsive only to the lowest acoustic frequencies
suc·ce·da·ne·um [,sək-sə-'dā-nē-əm] -n, adj
- substitute
suc·ce·dent [sək-'sē-dᵊnt] -adj
- coming next : succeeding, subsequent
suc·ceed [sək-'sēd] -vb, n
- to come next after another in office or position or in possession of an estate
- to inherit sovereignty, rank, or title
- to follow after another in order
- to turn out well
- to attain a desired object or end
- students who succeed in college
- to pass to a person by inheritance
- to follow in sequence and esp. immediately
- to come after as heir or successor
suc·ces de scan·dale [sək-,sā-də-skäⁿ-'däl, (,)sük-] -n
- something (as a work of art) that wins popularity or notoriety because of its scandalous nature
- the reception accorded such a piece
succes d'es·time [-,des-'tēm] -n
- something (as a work of art) that wins critical respect but not popular success
- the reception accorded such a piece
succes fou [-'fü] -n
- an extraordinary success
suc·cess [sək-'ses] -n
- outcome, result
- degree or measure of succeeding
- favorable or desired outcome
- the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence
- one that succeeds
suc·cess·ful [-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- resulting or terminating in success
- gaining or having gained success
suc·ces·sion [sək-'se-shən] -n, adj, adv
- the order in which or the conditions under which one person after another succeeds to a property, dignity, title, or throne
- the right of a person or line to succeed
- the line having such a right
- the act or process of following in order : sequence
- the act or process of one person's taking the place of another in the enjoyment of or liability for rights or duties or both
- the act or process of a person's becoming beneficially entitled to a property or property interest of a deceased person
- the continuance of corporate personality
- unidirectional change in the composition of an ecosystem as the available competing organisms and esp. the plants respond to and modify the environment
- a number of persons or things that follow each other in sequence
- a group, type, or series that succeeds or displaces another
succession duty -n
- inheritance tax
suc·ces·sive [sək-'se-siv] -adj, adv, n
- following in order : following each other without interruption
- their fourth successive victory
- characterized by or produced in succession
suc·ces·sor [sək-'se-sər] -n
- one that follows
- one who succeeds to a throne, title, estate, or office
suc·ci·nate ['sək-sə-,nāt] -n
- a salt or ester of succinic acid
succinate dehydrogenase -n
- an iron-containing flavoprotein enzyme that catalyzes often reversibly the dehydrogenation of succinic acid to fumaric acid in the Krebs cycle and that is widely distributed esp. in animal tissues, bacteria, and yeast called also succinic dehydrogenase
suc·cinct [(,)sək-'siŋ(k)t, sə-'siŋ(k)t] -adj, adv, n
- being girded
- close-fitting
- marked by compact precise expression without wasted words
suc·cin·ic acid [(,)sək-'si-nik-] -n
- a crystalline dicarboxylic acid C 4H 6O 4found widely in nature and active in energy-yielding metabolic reactions
suc·ci·nyl ['sək-sə-nᵊl, -,nil] -n
- : either of two radicals derived from succinic acid by removal of one or both hydroxyl groups:
- a divalent radical OCCH 2CH 2CO
- a monovalent radical HOOCCH 2CH 2CO
suc·ci·nyl·cho·line [,sək-sə-nᵊl-'kō-,lēn, -,nil-] -n
- a basic compound that is used intravenously chiefly in the form of a hydrated chloride C 14H 30Cl 2N 2O 42H 2O as a muscle relaxant in surgery
suc·cor ['sə-kər] -n
- relief
- aid, help
- something that furnishes relief
succor ['sə-k(ə-)riŋ] -vt, n
- to go to the aid of : relieve
suc·co·ry ['sə-k(ə-)rē] -n
- chicory
suc·co·tash ['sə-kə-,tash] -n
- lima or shell beans and kernels of green corn cooked together
suc·cour ['sə-kər] -n
(variant of succor)
- relief
- aid, help
- something that furnishes relief
suc·cu·ba ['sə-kyə-bə] -n
- succubus
suc·cu·bus [-bəs] -n
- a demon assuming female form to have sexual intercourse with men in their sleep
suc·cu·lence ['sə-kyə-lən(t)s] -n
- the state of being succulent
- succulent feed
- wild game subsisting on succulence
suc·cu·lent [-lənt] -adj, adv
- full of juice : juicy
- moist and tasty : toothsome
- having fleshy tissues that conserve moisture
- rich in interest
succulent -n
- a succulent plant (as a cactus or an aloe)
suc·cumb [sə-'kəm] -vi
- to yield to superior strength or force or overpowering appeal or desire
- to be brought to an end (as death) by the effect of destructive or disruptive forces
such ['səch, 'sich] -adj
- of a kind or character to be indicated or suggested
- a bag such as a doctor carries
- having a quality to a degree to be indicated
- his excitement was such that he shouted
- of the character, quality, or extent previously indicated or implied
- in the past few years many such women have shifted to full-time jobs
- of so extreme a degree or quality
- never heard such a hubbub
- of the same class, type, or sort
- other such clinics throughout the state
- not specified
- such a person or thing
- someone or something stated, implied, or exemplified
- someone or something similar : similar persons or things
- to such a degree : so
- very, especially
- hasn't been in such good spirits lately
- in such a way
- related such that each excludes the other
such and such -adj
- not named or specified
- something not specified
such·like ['səch-,līk] -adj
- of like kind : similar
suchlike -pron
- such
suck ['sək] -vb
- to draw (as liquid) into the mouth through a suction force produced by movements of the lips and tongue
- suck ed milk from his mother's breast
- to draw something from or consume by such movements
- to apply the mouth to in order to or as if to suck out a liquid
- suck ed his burned finger
- to draw by or as if by suction
- when a receding wave suck s the sand from under your feet -- Kenneth Brower
- inadvertently suck ed into the...intrigue -- Martin Levin
- to take in and consume by or as if by suction
- a vacuum cleaner suck ing up dirt
- opponents say that malls suck the life out of downtown areas -- Michael Knight
- to draw something in by or as if by exerting a suction force
- to draw milk from a breast or udder with the mouth
- to make a sound or motion associated with or caused by suction
- flanks suck ed in and out, the long nose resting on his paws -- Virginia Woolf
- to act in an obsequious manner
- when they want votes...the candidates come suck ing around -- W. G. Hardy
usu. used with up - to be objectionable or inadequate
- our lifestyle suck s -- Playboy
- people who went said it suck ed -- H. S. Thompson
- a sucking movement or force
- the act of sucking
suck·er ['sə-kər] -n
- one that sucks esp. a breast or udder : suckling
- a device for creating or regulating suction (as a piston or valve in a pump)
- a pipe or tube through which something is drawn by suction
- an organ in various animals for adhering or holding
- a mouth (as of a leech) adapted for sucking or adhering
- a shoot from the roots or lower part of the stem of a plant
- any of numerous chiefly No. American freshwater bony fishes (family Catostomidae) closely related to the carps but distinguished from them esp. by the structure of the mouth which usu. has thick soft lips
- lollipop
- a person easily cheated or deceived
- a person irresistibly attracted by something specified
- a sucker for ghost stories
- used as a generalized term of reference
- see if you can get that sucker working again
sucker ['sə-k(ə-)riŋ] -vb
- to remove suckers from
- hoodwink
- to send out suckers
sucker punch -vt, n
- to punch (a person) suddenly without warning and often without apparent provocation
suck in -vt
- dupe, hoodwink
- to contract, flatten, and tighten (the abdomen) esp. by inhaling deeply
suck·ing ['sə-kiŋ] -adj
- not yet weaned
- very young
sucking louse -n
- any of an order (Anoplura) of wingless insects comprising the true lice with mouthparts adapted to sucking body fluids
suck·le ['sə-kəl] -vb
- to give milk to from the breast or udder
- a mother suckling her child
- to nurture as if by giving milk from the breast
- was suckled on pulp magazines
- to draw milk from the breast or udder of
- to draw milk from the breast or udder
suck·ling ['sə-kliŋ] -n
- a young unweaned animal
suckup ['sək-,əp] -n
- a person who is ingratiating or fawning
sucky ['sə-kē] -adj
- awful
su·cra·lose ['sü-krə-,lōs] -n
- a white crystalline powder C 12H 19Cl 3O 3that is derived from sucrose and is used as a low-calorie sweetener having a sweetness of much greater intensity than sucrose
su·crase ['sü-,krās, -,krāz] -n
- invertase
su·cre ['sü-(,)krā] -n
- the basic monetary unit of Ecuador until 2000
su·crose ['sü-,krōs, -,krōz] -n
- a sweet crystalline dextrorotatory disaccharide sugar C 12H 22O 11that occurs naturally in most plants and is obtained commercially esp. from sugarcane or sugar beets
suc·tion ['sək-shən] -n, adj
- the act or process of sucking
- the act or process of exerting a force upon a solid, liquid, or gaseous body by reason of reduced air pressure over part of its surface
- force so exerted
- a device (as a pipe or fitting) used in a machine that operates by suction
suction -vt
- to remove (as from a body cavity or passage) by suction
suction cup -n
- a cup-shaped device in which a partial vacuum can be produced when applied to a surface
suction pump -n
- a common pump in which the liquid to be raised is pushed by atmospheric pressure into the partial vacuum under a retreating valved piston on the upstroke and reflux is prevented by a check valve in the pipe
suction stop -n
- a voice stop in the formation of which air behind the articulation is rarefied with consequent inrush of air when articulation is broken
suc·to·ri·al [,sək-'tȯr-ē-əl] -adj
- adapted for sucking
- serving to draw up fluid or to adhere by suction
suc·to·ri·an [-ē-ən] -n
- any of a class or subclass (Suctoria) of complex protozoans which are ciliated only early in development and in which the mature form is fixed to the substrate, lacks locomotor organelles or a mouth, and obtains food through specialized suctorial tentacles
Su·dan grass [sü-'dan-, -'dän-] -n
- a vigorous tall-growing annual sorghum grass ( Sorghum sudanensesyn. S. vulgare sudanense) widely grown for hay and fodder
su·da·to·ri·um [,sü-də-'tȯr-ē-əm] -n
- a sweat room in a bath
su·da·to·ry ['sü-də-,tȯr-ē] -n
- sudatorium
sudd ['səd] -n
- floating vegetable matter that forms obstructive masses esp. in the upper White Nile
sud·den ['sə-dᵊn] -adj, adv, n
- happening or coming unexpectedly
- changing angle or character all at once
- a sudden drop in the ocean bottom
- marked by or manifesting abruptness or haste
- made or brought about in a short time : prompt
sudden -n
- an unexpected occurrence : emergency
sudden death -n
- unexpected death that is instantaneous or occurs within minutes from any cause other than violence
- sudden death following coronary occlusion
- extra play to break a tie in a sports contest in which the first to score or gain the lead wins
sudden infant death syndrome -n
- death of an apparently healthy infant usu. before one year of age that is of unknown cause and occurs esp. during sleep abbr. SIDS called also crib death
su·do·ku [sü-'dō-kü] -n
- a puzzle in which several numbers are to be filled into a 9x9 grid of squares so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9
su·do·rif·er·ous [,sü-də-'ri-f(ə-)rəs] -adj
- producing or conveying sweat
su·do·rif·ic [-'ri-fik] -adj, n
- causing or inducing sweat : diaphoretic
Su·dra ['sü-drə, 'shü-] -n, adj
- a Hindu of a lower caste traditionally assigned to menial occupations
suds ['sədz] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, adj
- water impregnated with soap or a synthetic detergent compound and worked up into froth
- the lather or froth on such water
- foam, froth
- beer
- to wash in suds
- to form suds
suds·er ['səd-zər] -n
- soap opera
sudsy ['səd-zē] -adj
- full of suds : frothy, foamy
- soapy
sue ['sü] -vb, n
- to make petition to or for
- to pay court or suit to : woo
- to seek justice or right from (a person) by legal process
- to bring an action against
- to proceed with and follow up (a legal action) to proper termination
- to make a request or application : plead usu. used with for or to
- to pay court : woo
- he loved...but sued in vain -- William Wordsworth
- to take legal proceedings in court
suede ['swād] -n
- leather with a napped surface
- a fabric finished with a nap to simulate suede
- to give a suede finish or nap to (a fabric or leather)
- to give cloth or leather a suede finish
su·et ['sü-ət] -n
- the hard fat about the kidneys and loins in beef and mutton that yields tallow
suf·fer ['sə-fər] -vb, adj, n, adv
- to submit to or be forced to endure
- to feel keenly : labor under
- undergo, experience
- to put up with esp. as inevitable or unavoidable
- to allow esp. by reason of indifference
- the eagle suffer s little birds to sing -- Shak.
- to endure death, pain, or distress
- to sustain loss or damage
- to be subject to disability or handicap
suf·fer·ance ['sə-f(ə-)rən(t)s] -n
- patient endurance
- pain, misery
- consent or sanction implied by a lack of interference or failure to enforce a prohibition
- endurance
suffering -n
- the state or experience of one that suffers
- pain
suf·fice [sə-'fīs also -'fīz] -vb, n
- to meet or satisfy a need : be sufficient
- a brief note will suffice
often used with an impersonal it - suffice it to say that they are dedicated, serious personalities -- Cheryl Aldridge
- to be competent or capable
- to be enough for
- a few more should suffice them
suf·fi·cien·cy [sə-'fi-shən(t)-sē] -n
- sufficient means to meet one's needs : competency
- a modest but adequate scale of living
- the quality or state of being sufficient : adequacy
suf·fi·cient [sə-'fi-shənt] -adj, adv
- enough to meet the needs of a situation or a proposed end
- sufficient provisions for a month
- being a sufficient condition
- qualified, competent
sufficient condition -n
- a proposition whose truth assures the truth of another proposition
- a state of affairs whose existence assures the existence of another state of affairs
suf·fix ['sə-fiks] -n, adj
- an affix occurring at the end of a word, base, or phrase
- to attach as a suffix
suf·fo·cate ['sə-fə-,kāt] -vb, n, adj
- to stop the respiration of (as by strangling or asphyxiation)
- to deprive of oxygen
- to make uncomfortable by want of fresh air
- to impede or stop the development of
- : to become suffocated:
- to die from being unable to breathe
- to die from lack of oxygen
- to be uncomfortable through lack of fresh air
- to become checked in development
suffocating -adj, adv
- tending or serving to suffocate or overpower : overwhelming
Suf·folk ['sə-fək, -,fȯk] -n
- any of a breed of chestnut-colored draft horses of English origin called also Suffolk punch
- any of a breed of large hornless black-faced sheep of English origin raised chiefly for mutton
suf·fra·gan ['sə-fri-gən, -jən] -n
- a diocesan bishop (as in the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England) subordinate to a metropolitan
- an Anglican or Episcopal bishop assisting a diocesan bishop and not having the right of succession
suffragan -adj
- of or being a suffragan
- subordinate to a metropolitan or archiepiscopal see
suf·frage ['sə-frij, sometimes -fə-rij] -n
- a short intercessory prayer usu. in a series
- a vote given in deciding a controverted question or electing a person for an office or trust
- the right of voting : franchise
- the exercise of such right
suf·frag·ette [,sə-fri-'jet] -n
- a woman who advocates suffrage for women
suf·frag·ist ['səf-ri-jist] -n
- one who advocates extension of suffrage esp. to women
suf·fuse [sə-'fyüz] -vt, n, adj
- to spread over or through in the manner of fluid or light : flush, fill
- the northern horizon was suffused with a deep red glow -- P. M. Leschak
Su·fi ['sü-(,)fē] -n, adj
- a Muslim mystic
sug·ar ['shu̇-gər] -n, adj
- a sweet crystallizable material that consists wholly or essentially of sucrose, is colorless or white when pure tending to brown when less refined, is obtained commercially from sugarcane or sugar beet and less extensively from sorghum, maples, and palms, and is important as a source of dietary carbohydrate and as a sweetener and preservative of other foods
- any of various water-soluble compounds that vary widely in sweetness, include the monosaccharides and oligosaccharides, and typically are optically active
- a unit (as a spoonful, cube, or lump) of sugar
- a sugar bowl
sugar ['shu̇-g(ə-)riŋ] -vb
- to make palatable or attractive : sweeten
- a story sugar ed with romance
- to sprinkle or mix with sugar
- to form or be converted into sugar
- to become granular
- to make maple syrup or maple sugar
sugar apple -n
- a tropical American tree ( Annona squamosa) of the custard-apple family
- its edible sweet pulpy fruit with thick green scaly rind and shining black seeds
sugar beet -n
- a white-rooted beet grown for the sugar in its roots
sug·ar·ber·ry ['shu̇-gər-,ber-ē] -n
- any of several hackberries (esp. Celtis laevigataand C. occidentalis) with sweet edible fruits
sugar bush -n
- a woods in which sugar maples predominate
sug·ar·cane ['shu̇-gər-,kān] -n
- a stout tall perennial grass ( Saccharum officinarum) native to tropical southeast Asia that has a large terminal panicle and is widely grown in warm regions as a source of sugar
sug·ar·coat ['shu̇-gər-,kōt] -vt
- to coat with sugar
- to make superficially attractive or palatable
sugar daddy -n
- a well-to-do usu. older man who supports or spends lavishly on a mistress, girlfriend, or boyfriend
- a generous benefactor of a cause or undertaking
sug·ar·house ['shu̇-gər-,hau̇s] -n
- a building where sugar is made or refined
- one where maple sap is boiled and maple syrup and maple sugar are made
sugaring off -n
- the act or process of converting maple syrup into sugar
- a party held at the time of sugaring off
sug·ar·loaf ['shu̇-gər-,lōf] -n, adj
- refined sugar molded into a cone
- a hill or mountain shaped like a sugarloaf
sugar maple -n
- a maple ( Acer saccharum) of eastern No. America with 3- to 5-lobed leaves, hard close-grained wood much used for cabinetwork, and sap that is the chief source of maple syrup and maple sugar called also rock maple hard maple
- any of several maples (esp. Acer nigrumand A. grandidentatum) often considered subspecies of the sugar maple
sugar off -vi
- to complete the process of boiling down the syrup in making maple sugar until it is thick enough to crystallize
- to approach or reach the state of granulation
sugar orchard -n
- sugar bush
sugar pea -n
- snow pea
sugar pill -n
- a pharmacologically inert pill : placebo
sugar pine -n
- a very tall pine ( Pinus lambertiana) found from Oregon to Baja California and having needles in clusters of five, cones up to 18 inches (46 cm) long, and soft reddish-brown wood
- its wood
sug·ar·plum ['shu̇-gər-,pləm] -n
- a small candy in the shape of a ball or disk : sweetmeat
sugar snap pea -n
- snap pea
sug·ary ['shu̇-g(ə-)rē] -adj
- exaggeratedly sweet : honeyed
- his sugary deprecating voice -- D. H. Lawrence
- cloyingly sweet : sentimental
- containing, resembling, or tasting of sugar
sug·gest [səg-'jest, sə-'jest] -vt, n
- to seek to influence : seduce
- to call forth : evoke
- to mention or imply as a possibility
- suggest ed that he might bring his family
- to propose as desirable or fitting
- to offer for consideration or as a hypothesis
- suggest a solution to a problem
- to call to mind by thought or association
- the explosion...suggest ed sabotage -- F. L. Paxson
- to serve as a motive or inspiration for
- a play suggest ed by a historic incident
sug·gest·ible [səg-'jes-tə-bəl, sə-'jes-] -adj, n
- easily influenced by suggestion
sug·ges·tion [səg-'jes-chən, sə-'jes-, -'jesh-] -n
- the act or process of suggesting
- something suggested
- the process by which a physical or mental state is influenced by a thought or idea
- the process by which one thought leads to another esp. through association of ideas
- a slight indication : trace
sug·ges·tive [səg-'jes-tiv, sə-'jes-] -adj, adv, n
- giving a suggestion : indicative
- full of suggestions : stimulating thought
- provided a suggestive...commentary on the era -- Lloyd Morris
- stirring mental associations : evocative
- suggesting or tending to suggest something improper or indecent : risque
sui·cid·al [,sü-ə-'sī-dᵊl] -adj, adv
- dangerous esp. to life
- destructive to one's own interests
- relating to or of the nature of suicide
- marked by an impulse to commit suicide
sui·cide ['sü-ə-,sīd] -n
- the act or an instance of taking one's own life voluntarily and intentionally esp. by a person of years of discretion and of sound mind
- ruin of one's own interests
- apoptosis
- one that commits or attempts suicide
suicide -adj
- of or relating to suicide
- being or performing a deliberate act resulting in the voluntary death of the person who does it
- to commit suicide
- to put (oneself) to death
suicide squeeze -n
- a squeeze play in which the runner runs all out at the pitch without knowing whether the batter will contact the ball
sui ge·ner·is [,sü-,ī-'je-nə-rəs; ,sü-ē-'je-, -'ge-] -adj
- constituting a class alone : unique, peculiar
sui ju·ris [,sü-,ī-'ju̇r-əs, ,sü-ē-'yu̇r-] -adj
- having full legal rights or capacity
su·int ['sü-ənt, 'swint] -n
- dried perspiration of sheep deposited in the wool and rich in potassium salts
suit ['süt] -n, adj
- suite
- recourse or appeal to a feudal superior for justice or redress
- an action or process in a court for the recovery of a right or claim
- an act or instance of suing or seeking by entreaty : appeal
- courtship
- a group of things forming a unit
- suite used chiefly of armor, sails, and counters in games
- : a set of garments: as
- an ensemble of two or more usu. matching outer garments (as a jacket, vest, and trousers)
- businessmen wearing three-piece suit s
- a costume to be worn for a special purpose or under particular conditions
- all the playing cards in a pack bearing the same symbol
- all the dominoes bearing the same number
- all the cards or counters in a particular suit held by one player
- the suit led
- a business executive usu. used in pl.
- to be becoming to
- to be proper for : befit
- a mood that suit s the occasion
- to outfit with clothes : dress
- accommodate, adapt
- suit the action to the word
- to meet the needs or desires of : please
- to be in accordance : agree
- the position suit s with your abilities
- to be appropriate or satisfactory
- to put on specially required clothing (as a uniform or protective garb) usu. used with up
- players suit ing up for the game
suit·able ['sü-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- similar, matching
- adapted to a use or purpose
- satisfying propriety : proper
- able, qualified
- a suitable candidate for the job
suit·case ['süt-,kās] -n
- portable case designed to hold a traveler's clothing and personal articles
suite ['swēt, 2d is also 'süt] -n
- retinue
- the personal staff accompanying a ruler, diplomat, or dignitary on official business
- : a group of things forming a unit or constituting a collection : set: as
- a group of rooms occupied as a unit
- a 17th and 18th century instrumental musical form consisting of a series of dances in the same or related keys
- a modern instrumental composition in several movements of different character
- a long orchestral concert arrangement in suite form of material drawn from a longer work (as a ballet)
- a collection of minerals or rocks having some characteristic in common (as type or origin)
- a set of matched furniture
- a set of computer programs designed to work together and usu. sold as a single unit
suit·er ['sü-tər] -n
- a suitcase for holding a specified number of suits usu. used in combination
suit·ing ['sü-tiŋ] -n
- fabric for suits
- a suit of clothes
suit·or ['sü-tər] -n
- one that petitions or entreats
- a party to a suit at law
- one who courts a woman or seeks to marry her
- one who seeks to take over a business
su·ki·ya·ki [skē-'yä-kē; ,su̇-kē-', ,sü-] -n
- a dish consisting of thin slices of meat, tofu, and vegetables cooked in soy sauce and sugar
suk·kah ['su̇-kə] -n
- a booth or shelter with a roof of branches and leaves that is used esp. for meals during the Sukkoth
Suk·koth ['su̇-kəs, -,kōt, -,kōth, -,kōs] -n
- a Jewish harvest festival beginning on the 15th of Tishri and commemorating the temporary shelters used by the Jews during their wandering in the wilderness
sul·cate ['səl-,kāt] -adj
- scored with usu. longitudinal furrows
sul·cus ['səl-kəs] -n
- furrow, groove
- a shallow furrow on the surface of the brain separating adjacent convolutions
sulf- -comb form
- sulfur : containing sulfur
sul·fa ['səl-fə] -adj
- related chemically to sulfanilamide
- of, relating to, or containing sulfa drugs
sul·fa·di·a·zine [,səl-fə-'dī-ə-,zēn] -n
- a sulfa drug C 10H 10N 4O 2S used esp. in the treatment of toxoplasmosis
sulfa drug -n
- any of various synthetic organic bacteria-inhibiting drugs that are sulfonamides derived esp. from sulfanilamide
sul·fa·meth·ox·a·zole [,səl-fə-,me-'thäk-sə-,zōl] -n
- an antibacterial sulfonamide C 10H 11N 3O 3S used alone or in combination with trimethoprim (as in the treatment of urinary tract infections or acute otitis media)
sul·fa·nil·amide [,səl-fə-'ni-lə-,mīd, -məd] -n
- a crystalline sulfonamide C 6H 8N 2O 2S that is the parent compound of most of the sulfa drugs
sul·fa·tase ['səl-fə-,tās, -,tāz] -n
- any of various esterases that accelerate the hydrolysis of sulfuric esters and that are found in animal tissues and in microorganisms (as bacteria)
sul·fate ['səl-,fāt] -n
- a salt or ester of sulfuric acid
- a divalent group or anion SO 4characteristic of sulfuric acid and the sulfates
sulfate -vt
- to treat or combine with sulfuric acid or a sulfate
sulf·hy·dryl [,səlf-'(h)ī-drəl] -n
- thiol used chiefly in molecular biology
sul·fide ['səl-,fīd] -n
- any of various organic compounds characterized by a sulfur atom attached to two carbon atoms
- a binary compound (as CuS) of sulfur usu. with a more electropositive element or group : a salt of hydrogen sulfide
sul·fin·py·ra·zone [,səl-fən-'pī-rə-,zōn] -n
- a uricosuric drug C 23H 20N 2O 3S used in long-term treatment of chronic gout
sul·fite ['səl-,fīt] -n, adj
- a salt or ester of sulfurous acid
sul·fon·amide [,səl-'fä-nə-,mīd, -məd; -'fō-nə-,mīd] -n
- any of various amides (as sulfanilamide) of a sulfonic acid
- sulfa drug
sul·fo·nate ['səl-fə-,nāt] -n
- a salt or ester of a sulfonic acid
sulfonate [,səl-fə-'nā-shən] -vt, n
- to introduce the SO 3H group into
- to treat (an organic substance) with sulfuric acid
sul·fone ['səl-,fōn] -n
- any of various compounds containing the sulfonyl group with its sulfur atom having two bonds with carbon
sul·fon·ic [,səl-'fä-nik, -'fō-] -adj
- of, relating to, being, or derived from the monovalent acid group SO 3H
sulfonic acid -n
- any of numerous acids that contain the SO 3H group and may be derived from sulfuric acid by replacement of a hydroxyl group by either an inorganic anion or a monovalent organic group
sul·fo·ni·um [,səl-'fō-nē-əm] -n
- a monovalent group or cation SH 3or derivative SR 3
sul·fo·nyl ['səl-fə-,nil] -n
- the divalent group SO 2
sul·fo·nyl·urea [,səl-fə-,nil-'yu̇r-ē-ə] -n
- any of several hypoglycemic compounds related to the sulfonamides and used in the oral treatment of diabetes
sul·fo·raph·ane [,səl-fō-'ra-,fan, -'rā-] -n
- an anticarcinogenic isothiocyanate C 6H 11NOS 2found in cruciferous vegetables (as broccoli and cauliflower) that is thought to function by stimulating the production of enzymes in the body that detoxify cancer-causing substances
sulf·ox·ide [,səl-'fäk-,sīd] -n
- any of a class of organic compounds characterized by an SO group with its sulfur atom having two bonds with carbon
sul·fur ['səl-fər] -n, adj
- a nonmetallic element that occurs either free or combined esp. in sulfides and sulfates, is a constituent of proteins, exists in several allotropic forms including yellow orthorhombic crystals, resembles oxygen chemically but is less active and more acidic, and is used esp. in the chemical and paper industries, in rubber vulcanization, and in medicine for treating skin diseases
sulfur bacterium -n
- any of various bacteria (esp. genus Thiobacillus) capable of metabolizing sulfur compounds
sulfur dioxide -n
- a heavy pungent toxic gas SO 2that is easily condensed to a colorless liquid, is used esp. in making sulfuric acid, in bleaching, as a preservative, and as a refrigerant, and is a major air pollutant esp. in industrial areas
sul·fu·ric [,səl-'fyu̇r-ik] -adj
- of, relating to, or containing sulfur esp. with a higher valence than sulfurous compounds
sulfuric acid [,səl-'fyu̇r-ik-] -n
- a heavy corrosive oily dibasic strong acid H 2SO 4that is colorless when pure and is a vigorous oxidizing and dehydrating agent
sul·fu·rize ['səl-fə-,rīz, -fyə-] -vt
- to treat with sulfur or a sulfur compound
sul·fu·rous ['səl-fə-rəs, -fyə- also esp for 1a ,səl-'fyu̇r-əs] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or containing sulfur esp. with a lower valence than sulfuric compounds
- resembling or emanating from sulfur and esp. burning sulfur
- of, relating to, or dealing with the fire of hell : infernal
- scathing, virulent
- profane, blasphemous
sulfurous acid -n
- a weak unstable dibasic acid H 2SO 3known in solution and through its salts and used as a reducing and bleaching agent
sul·fu·ryl ['səl-fə-,ril, -fyə-] -n
- sulfonyl used esp. in names of inorganic compounds
sulk ['səlk] -vi
- to be moodily silent
- the state of one sulking often used in pl.
- a sulky mood or spell
sulky ['səl-kē] -adj, adv, n
- sulking or given to spells of sulking
- relating to or indicating a sulk
- having wheels and usu. a seat for the driver
- a light 2-wheeled vehicle (as for harness racing) having a seat for the driver only and usu. no body
sul·lage ['sə-lij] -n
- refuse, sewage
sul·len ['sə-lən] -adj, adv, n
- gloomily or resentfully silent or repressed
- suggesting a sullen state : lowering
- dull or somber in sound or color
- dismal, gloomy
- moving sluggishly
sul·ly ['sə-lē] -vt
- to make soiled or tarnished : defile
sully -n
- soil, stain
sulph- -comb form
(variant of sulf-)
- sulfur : containing sulfur
sul·phate ['səl-,fāt] -n
(variant of sulfate)
- a salt or ester of sulfuric acid
- a divalent group or anion SO 4characteristic of sulfuric acid and the sulfates
sulphur butterfly -n
- any of numerous butterflies (esp. Coliasand related genera of the family Pieridae) having the wings usu. yellow or orange with a black border called also sulphur
sul·phu·re·ous [,səl-'fyu̇r-ē-əs] -adj
- sulfurous
sul·phu·rise ['səl-fə-,rīz, -fyə-] -vt
(variant of sulfurize)
- to treat with sulfur or a sulfur compound
sulphur yellow -n
- a brilliant greenish yellow
Sul·pi·cian [,səl-'pi-shən] -n
- a member of the Society of Priests of St. Sulpice founded by Jean Jacques Olier in Paris, France, in 1642 and dedicated to the teaching of seminarians
sul·tan ['səl-tᵊn] -n, adj
- a king or sovereign esp. of a Muslim state
sul·ta·na [(,)səl-'ta-nə] -n
- a woman who is a member of a sultan's family
- a sultan's wife
- a pale yellow seedless grape grown for raisins and wine
- the raisin of a sultana
sul·tan·ate ['səl-tᵊn-,āt] -n
- a state or country governed by a sultan
- the office, dignity, or power of a sultan
sul·tan·ess ['səl-tə-nəs] -n
- sultana
sul·try ['səl-trē] -adj, adv, n
- very hot and humid : sweltering
- burning hot : torrid
- hot with passion or anger
- exciting or capable of exciting strong sexual desire
sum ['səm] -n, adj
- an indefinite or specified amount of money
- the whole amount : aggregate
- the utmost degree : summit
- reached the sum of human happiness
- a summary of the chief points or thoughts : summation
- the sum of this criticism follows -- C. W. Hendel
- gist
- the sum and substance of an argument
- the result of adding numbers
- the limit of the sum of the first nterms of an infinite series as nincreases indefinitely
- numbers to be added
- a problem in arithmetic
- disjunction
- union
- to calculate the sum of : total
- summarize
- to reach a sum : amount
su·mac ['shü-,mak, 'sü-] -n
- a material used in tanning and dyeing that consists of dried powdered leaves and flowers of various sumacs
- any of a genus ( Rhus) of trees, shrubs, and woody vines of the cashew family that have leaves turning to brilliant colors in the autumn, small usu. dioecious flowers, and spikes or loose clusters of red or whitish berries
su·ma·trip·tan [,sü-mə-'trip-,tan, -tən] -n
- a triptan C 14H 21N 3O 2S that is administered as a nasal spray or in the form of its succinate by mouth or by injection and is used in the treatment of migraine attacks
Su·me·ri·an [sü-'mer-ē-ən, -'mir-] -n, adj
- a native of Sumer
- the language of the Sumerians that has no known linguistic affinities
Su·me·rol·o·gy [,sü-mə-'rä-lə-jē] -n
- the study of Sumerian culture, language, and history
sum·ma ['su̇-mə, 'sü-, 'sə-] -n
- a comprehensive treatise
- one by a scholastic philosopher
- a synthesis or summary of any subject
sum·ma cum lau·de [,su̇-mə-(,)ku̇m-'lau̇-də, ,sü-, -'lau̇-dē; ,sə-mə-,kəm-'lȯ-dē] -adv or adj
- with highest distinction
- graduated summa cum laude
sum·mand ['sə-,mand, ,sə-'mand] -n
- a term in a summation : addend
sum·ma·rise ['sə-mə-,rīz] -vb, adj, n
(variant of summarize)
- to tell in or reduce to a summary
- to make a summary
sum·ma·ri·za·tion [,sə-mə-rə-'zā-shən, ,səm-rə-] -n
- the act of summarizing
- summary
sum·ma·rize ['sə-mə-,rīz] -vb, adj, n
- to tell in or reduce to a summary
- to make a summary
sum·ma·ry ['sə-mə-rē also 'səm-rē or -,mer-ē] -adj, adv
- comprehensive
- covering the main points succinctly
- done without delay or formality : quickly executed
- of, relating to, or using a summary proceeding
- an abstract, abridgment, or compendium esp. of a preceding discourse
summary judgment -n
- judgment that may be granted upon a party's motion when the pleadings, discovery, and any affidavits show that there is no issue of material fact and that the party is entitled to judgment in its favor as a matter of law
summary proceeding -n
- a civil or criminal proceeding conducted without formalities (as pleadings) for the speedy disposition of a matter
sum·mate ['sə-,māt] -vb
- to add together : sum up
- to form a sum or cumulative effect
sum·ma·tion [(,)sə-'mā-shən] -n, adj
- the act or process of forming a sum : addition
- sum, total
- cumulative action or effect
- the process by which a sequence of stimuli that are individually inadequate to produce a response are cumulatively able to induce a nerve impulse
- a final part of an argument reviewing points made and expressing conclusions
sum·ma·tive ['sə-mə-tiv, -,mā-] -adj
- additive, cumulative
sum·mer ['sə-mər] -n, adj
- the season between spring and autumn comprising in the northern hemisphere usu. the months of June, July, and August or as reckoned astronomically extending from the June solstice to the September equinox
- the warmer half of the year
- year
- a girl of seventeen summer s
- a period of maturing powers
summer -adj
- of, relating to, or suitable for summer
- sown in the spring and harvested in the same year as sown
- to pass the summer
- to keep or carry through the summer
- to provide (as cattle or sheep) with pasture during the summer
summer cypress -n
- a densely branched Eurasian herb ( Kochia scoparia) of the goosefoot family grown for its foliage which turns red in autumn
summer flounder -n
- a greenish-brown white-spotted flounder ( Paralichthys dentatusof the family Bothidae) that occurs along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. from Maine to Florida and is used for food
sum·mer·house ['sə-mər-,hau̇s] -n
- a country house for summer residence
- a covered structure in a garden or park designed to provide a shady resting place in summer
summer kitchen -n
- a small building or shed that is usu. adjacent to a house and is used as a kitchen in warm weather
sum·mer·long [-,lȯŋ, -'lȯŋ] -adj
- lasting through the summer
sum·mers ['sə-mərz] -adv
- during the summers
- worked summers as a waiter
summersault ['sə-mər-,sȯlt] -n, vi
(variant of somersault)
- a movement (as in gymnastics) in which a person turns forward or backward in a complete revolution along the ground or in the air bringing the feet over the head
- a falling or tumbling head over heels
summer savory -n
- an aromatic annual European mint ( Satureja hortensis) with leaves used for seasoning
- its leaves
summer school -n
- a school or school session conducted in summer enabling students to accelerate progress toward a diploma or degree, to make up credits lost through absence or failure, or to round out professional education
summer squash -n
- any of various squashes that are cultivars of a variety ( Cucurbita pepovar. melopepo) and are used as a vegetable while immature and before hardening of the seeds and rind
summer stock -n
- theatrical productions of stock companies presented during the summer
summer theater -n
- a theater that presents several different plays or musicals during the summer
sum·mer·time ['sə-mər-,tīm] -n
- the summer season or a period like summer
summer time -n
- daylight saving time
sum·mer·wood ['sə-mər-,wu̇d] -n
- the harder less porous portion of an annual ring of wood that develops late in the growing season
sum·mery ['sə-mə-rē, 'səm-rē] -adj
- of, resembling, or fit for summer
sum·mingup [,sə-miŋ-'əp] -n
- the act or statement of one who sums up
sum·mit ['sə-mət] -n
- top, apex
- the highest point : peak
- the topmost level attainable
- the highest level of officials
- the diplomatic level of heads of government
- a conference of highest-level officials (as heads of government)
summit -vi
- to participate in a summit conference
- to climb to the summit
sum·mit·eer [,sə-mə-'tir] -n
- one who takes part in a summit
sum·mit·ry ['sə-mə-trē] -n
- the use of a summit conference for international negotiation
sum·mon ['sə-mən] -vt, adj, n
- to issue a call to convene : convoke
- to command by service of a summons to appear in court
- to call upon for specified action
- to bid to come : send for
- to call forth : evoke often used with up
sum·mons ['sə-mənz] -n
- the act of summoning
- a call by authority to appear at a place named or to attend to a duty
- : a warning or citation to appear in court: as
- a written notification to be served on a person as a warning to appear in court at a day specified to answer to the plaintiff
- a subpoena to appear as a witness
- something (as a call) that summons
summons -vt
- summon
sum·mum bo·num [,su̇-məm-'bō-nəm, ,sü-, ,sə-] -n
- the supreme good from which all others are derived
su·mo ['sü-(,)mō] -n
- a Japanese form of wrestling in which a contestant loses if he is forced out of the ring or if any part of his body except the soles of his feet touches the ground
sump ['səmp] -n
- : a pit or reservoir serving as a drain or receptacle for liquids: as
- cesspool
- a pit at the lowest point in a circulating or drainage system (as the oil-circulating system of an internal combustion engine)
- oil pan
- crankcase
- the lowest part of a mine shaft into which water drains
- an excavation ahead of regular work in driving a mine tunnel or sinking a mine shaft
- something resembling a sump : sink
sump pump -n
- a pump (as in a basement) to remove accumulations of liquid (as water) from a sump pit
sump·ter ['səm(p)-tər] -n
- a pack animal
sump·tu·ary ['səm(p)-chə-,wer-ē] -adj
- relating to personal expenditures and esp. to prevent extravagance and luxury
- conservative sumptuary tastes -- John Cheever
- designed to regulate extravagant expenditures or habits esp. on moral or religious grounds
sump·tu·ous ['səm(p)(t)-shə-wəs, -shəs, -shwəs] -adj, adv, n
- extremely costly, rich, luxurious, or magnificent
- magnificent
sum total -n
- a total arrived at through the counting of sums
- total result : totality
sumup ['səm-,əp] -n
- summary
sum up -vt
- to be the sum of : bring to a total
- 10 victories summed up his record
- to present or show succinctly : summarize
- sum up the evidence presented
- to assess and then describe briefly : size up
- to present a summary or recapitulation
sun ['sən] -n
- the luminous celestial body around which the earth and other planets revolve, from which they receive heat and light, which is composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, and which has a mean distance from earth of about 93,000,000 miles (150,000,000 kilometers), a linear diameter of 864,000 miles (1,390,000 kilometers), and a mass 332,000 times greater than earth
- a celestial body like the sun : star
- the heat or light radiated from the sun
- played in the sun all day
- one resembling the sun (as in warmth or brilliance)
- the rising or setting of the sun
- glory, splendor
- to expose to or as if to the rays of the sun
- to sun oneself
Sun -abbr
- Sunday
sun·baked ['sən-,bākt] -adj
- heated, parched, or compacted esp. by excessive sunlight
- baked by exposure to sunshine
sun·bath ['sən-,bath, -,bäth] -n
- an exposure to sunlight or a sunlamp
sun·bathe [-,bāth] -vi, n
- to take a sunbath
sun·beam [-,bēm] -n
- a ray of sunlight
sun bear -n
- a small forest-dwelling bear ( Ursus malayanussyn. Helarctos malayanus) of southeastern Asia that has short glossy black fur with a lighter muzzle and often an orange or white breast mark
sun·bird [-,bərd] -n
- any of numerous small brilliantly colored oscine birds (family Nectariniidae) of the tropical Old World somewhat resembling hummingbirds
sun·block [-,bläk] -n
- a preparation (as a lotion) applied to the skin to prevent sunburn (as by physically blocking out ultraviolet radiation)
- its active ingredient (as titanium dioxide)
sun·bon·net [-,bä-nət] -n
- a woman's bonnet with a wide brim framing the face and usu. having a ruffle at the back to protect the neck from the sun
sun·bow [-,bō] -n
- an arch resembling a rainbow made by the sun shining through vapor or mist
sun·burn [-,bərn] -vb
- to burn or discolor by the sun
- to become sunburned
sunburn -n
- inflammation of the skin caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation esp. from sunlight
sun·burst ['sən-,bərst] -n
- a flash of sunlight esp. through a break in clouds
- a jeweled brooch representing a sun surrounded by rays
- a design in the form of rays diverging from a central point
sun·choke [-,chōk] -n
- jerusalem artichoke
sun·dae ['sən-(,)dā, -dē] -n
- ice cream served with topping (as crushed fruit, syrup, nuts, or whipped cream)
sun dance -n
- a solo or group solstice rite of American Indians
Sun·day ['sən-(,)dā, -dē] -n, adv
- the first day of the week : the Christian analogue of the Jewish Sabbath
Sunday -adj
- of, relating to, or associated with Sunday
- best
- amateur
Sun·daygotomeet·ing ['sən-dē-,gō-tə-'mē-tiŋ] -adj
- appropriate for Sunday churchgoing
Sunday punch -n
- a powerful or devastating blow
- a knockout punch
- something capable of delivering a powerful or devastating blow to the opposition
- saving his Sunday punch for the end of the campaign -- Newsweek
Sunday school -n
- a school held on Sunday for religious education
- the teachers and pupils of such a school
sun·deck ['sən-,dek] -n
- the usu. upper deck of a ship that is exposed to the most sun
- a roof, deck, or terrace for sunning
sun·der ['sən-dər] -vb
- to break apart or in two : separate by or as if by violence or by intervening time or space
- to become parted, disunited, or severed
sun·dew ['sən-(,)dü, -(,)dyü] -n
- any of a genus ( Droseraof the family Droseraceae, the sundew family) of bog-inhabiting insectivorous herbs having leaves covered with gland-tipped adhesive hairs
sun·di·al [-,dī(-ə)l] -n
- an instrument to show the time of day by the shadow of a gnomon on a usu. horizontal plate or on a cylindrical surface
sun disk -n
- an ancient Near Eastern symbol consisting of a disk with conventionalized wings emblematic of the sun god (as Ra in Egypt)
sun dog -n
- parhelion
- a small nearly round halo on the parhelic circle most frequently just outside the halo of 22 degrees
sun·down ['sən-,dau̇n] -n
- sunset
sun·down·er [-,dau̇-nər] -n
- hobo, tramp
- a drink taken at sundown
sun·dress [-,dres] -n
- a dress with an abbreviated bodice usu. exposing the shoulders, arms, and back
sun·dries ['sən-drēz] -n pl
- miscellaneous small articles, details, or items
sun·drops ['sən-,dräps] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- any of several day-flowering herbs (genera Oenotheraand Calylophus) of the evening-primrose family
sun·dry ['sən-drē] -adj
- miscellaneous, various
sundry -pron, pl in constr
- an indeterminate number
- recommended for reading by all and sundry -- Edward Huberman
sun·fish [-,fish] -n
- ocean sunfish
- any of numerous No. American freshwater bony fishes (family Centrarchidae, esp. genus Lepomis) usu. with a deep compressed body and metallic luster
Sunfish -trademark
- used for a small light sailboat that has one sail
sun·flow·er [-,flau̇(-ə)r] -n
- any of a genus ( Helianthus,esp. H. annuus) of New World composite plants with large yellow-rayed flower heads bearing edible seeds that yield an edible oil
sung ['siŋ] -vb, adj
(variant of sing)
- to produce musical tones by means of the voice
- to utter words in musical tones and with musical inflections and modulations
- to deliver songs as a trained or professional singer
- to make a shrill whining or whistling sound
- to relate or celebrate something in verse
- to compose poetry
- to create in or through words a feeling or sense of song
- to produce musical or harmonious sounds
- buzz, ring
- to make a cry : call
- to give information or evidence
- to utter with musical inflections
- to interpret in musical tones produced by the voice
- to relate or celebrate in verse
- chant, intone
- to bring or accompany to a place or state by singing
- sing s the child to sleep
- a session of group singing
Sung ['su̇ŋ] -n, adj
- a Chinese dynasty dated a.d.9601280 and marked by cultural refinement and achievements in philosophy, literature, and art
sun·glass ['sən-,glas] -n
- a convex lens for converging the sun's rays
- glasses to protect the eyes from the sun
sung mass -n
- high mass
sun god -n
- a god that represents or personifies the sun in various religions
sun goddess -n
- a goddess that represents or personifies the sun in various religions
sungrebe ['sən-,grēb] -n
- any of a small family (Heliornithidae) of semiaquatic African, Asian, and American tropical birds that have lobed feet and are related to the rails
sunk ['siŋk] -vb, adj
(variant of sink)
- to go to the bottom : submerge
- to become partly buried (as in mud)
- to become engulfed
- to fall or drop to a lower place or level
- to flow at a lower depth or level
- to burn with lower intensity
- to fall to a lower pitch or volume
- his voice sank to a whisper
- to subside gradually : settle
- to disappear from view
- to slope gradually : dip
- to soak or become absorbed : penetrate
- to become impressively known or felt
- to become deeply absorbed
- to go downward in quality, state, or condition
- to grow less in amount or worth
- to fall or drop slowly for lack of strength
- to become depressed
- to fail in health or strength
- fail
- to cause to sink
- to force down esp. below the earth's surface
- to cause (something) to penetrate
- immerse, absorb
- he sank himself into his studies
- to dig or bore (a well or shaft) in the earth : excavate
- to form by cutting or excising
- to cast down or bring to a low condition or state : overwhelm, defeat
- to lower in standing or reputation : abase
- to lessen in value or amount
- to lower or soften (the voice) in speaking
- restrain, suppress
- sink s her pride and approaches the despised neighbor -- Richard Harrison
- to pay off (as a debt) : liquidate
- invest
- drop
- to drink down completely
- a pool or pit for the deposit of waste or sewage : cesspool
- a ditch or tunnel for carrying off sewage : sewer
- a stationary basin connected with a drain and usu. a water supply for washing and drainage
- a place where vice, corruption, or evil collects
- sump
- a depression in the land surface
- one having a saline lake with no outlet
- sinkhole
- : a body or process that acts as a storage device or disposal mechanism: as
- heat sink
- a device that collects or dissipates energy (as radiation)
- a reactant with or absorber of a substance
- forests are a sink for carbon dioxide
sunk·en ['səŋ-kən] -adj
- submerged
- lying at the bottom of a body of water
- hollow, recessed
- lying in a depression
- settled below the normal level
- constructed below the normal floor level
sunk fence -n
- a ditch with a retaining wall used to divide lands without defacing a landscape called also ha-ha
sun·lamp ['sən-,lamp] -n
- an electric lamp designed to emit radiation of wavelengths from ultraviolet to infrared
sun·less [-ləs] -adj
- lacking sunshine : dark, cheerless
sun·light [-,līt] -n
- the light of the sun : sunshine
sun·lit [-,lit] -adj
- lighted by or as if by the sun
sunn ['sən] -n
- an annual Indian herb ( Crotalaria juncea) of the legume family with slender branches, simple leaves, and yellow flowers
- its valuable fiber resembling hemp that is lighter and stronger than jute
sun·na ['su̇(n)-(,)nə, 'sə(n)-] -n
- the body of Islamic custom and practice based on Muhammad's words and deeds
sunn hemp -n
- sunn
Sun·ni ['su̇(n)-(,)nē] -n, adj
- the Muslims of the branch of Islam that adheres to the orthodox tradition and acknowledges the first four caliphs as rightful successors of Muhammad
- a Sunni Muslim
Sun·nism ['su̇(n)-,ni-zəm] -n
- the religious system or distinctive tenets of the Sunni
Sun·nite [-,nīt] -n, adj
- sunni
sun·ny ['sə-nē] -adj, adv, n
- marked by brilliant sunlight : full of sunshine
- cheerful, optimistic
- exposed to, brightened by, or warmed by the sun
sun·nyside up [,sə-nē-,sīd-'əp] -adj
- fried on one side only
sun·porch [-,pȯrch] -n
- a screened-in or glassed-in porch with a sunny exposure
sun protection factor -n
- a number assigned to a sunscreen that is the factor by which the time required for unprotected skin to become sunburned is increased when the sunscreen is used abbr. SPF
sun·rise ['sən-,rīz] -n
- the apparent rising of the sun above the horizon
- the accompanying atmospheric effects
- the time when the upper limb of the sun appears above the horizon as a result of the diurnal rotation of the earth
sun·roof [-,rüf, -,ru̇f] -n
- a panel in an automobile roof that can be opened
sun·room [-,rüm, -,ru̇m] -n
- a glass-enclosed porch or living room with a sunny exposure called also sun parlor
sun·scald [-,skȯld] -n
- an injury of woody plants (as fruit or forest trees) characterized by localized death of the tissues and sometimes by cankers and caused when it occurs in the summer by the combined action of both the heat and light of the sun and in the winter by the combined action of sun and low temperature to produce freezing of bark and underlying tissues
sun·screen [-,skrēn] -n, adj
- a screen to protect against sun
- a preparation (as a lotion) applied to the skin to prevent sunburn (as by chemically absorbing ultraviolet radiation)
- its active ingredient (as benzophenone)
sun·seek·er [-,sē-kər] -n
- a person who travels to an area of warmth and sun esp. in winter
sun·set [-,set] -n
- the apparent descent of the sun below the horizon
- the accompanying atmospheric effects
- the time when the upper limb of the sun disappears below the horizon as a result of the diurnal rotation of the earth
- a period of decline
- old age
sunset -adj
- stipulating the periodic review of government agencies and programs in order to continue their existence
sun·shade ['sən-,shād] -n
- : something used as a protection from the sun's rays: as
- parasol
- awning
sun·shine [-,shīn] -n, adj
- the sun's light or direct rays
- the warmth and light given by the sun's rays
- a spot or surface on which the sun's light shines
- something (as a person, condition, or influence) that radiates warmth, cheer, or happiness
sunshine -adj
- forbidding or restricting closed meetings of legislative or executive bodies and sometimes providing for public access to records
sun·spot [-,spät] -n
- any of the dark spots that appear at times on the sun's surface and are usu. visible only through a telescope
sun·stroke [-,strōk] -n
- heatstroke caused by direct exposure to the sun
sun·struck [-,strək] -adj
- affected or touched by the sun
sun·suit [-,süt] -n
- an outfit worn usu. for sunbathing and play
sun·tan [-,tan] -n, adj
- a browning of the skin from exposure to the rays of the sun
- a tan-colored summer uniform
sun·tan·ning ['sən-,ta-niŋ] -n, adj
- the process of tanning the skin by exposure to the sun or artificial light
sun·up [-,əp] -n
- sunrise
sun·ward ['sən-wərd] -adv
- toward the sun
sunward -adj
- facing the sun
sun·wise ['sən-,wīz] -adv
- clockwise
sup ['səp] -vb
- to take or drink in swallows or gulps
- to take food and esp. liquid food into the mouth a little at a time
- a mouthful esp. of liquor or broth : sip
- a small quantity of liquid
- pour me just a sup of tea
- to eat the evening meal
- to make one's supper used with on or off
- superior
- supra
su·per ['sü-pər] -adj
- of high grade or quality
- used as a generalized term of approval
- very large or powerful
- exhibiting the characteristics of its type to an extreme or excessive degree
super -n
- supernumerary
- a supernumerary actor
- superintendent, supervisor
- the superintendent of an apartment building
- a removable upper story of a beehive
- a superfine grade or extra large size
- a thin loosely woven open-meshed starched cotton fabric used esp. for reinforcing books
- very, extremely
- to an excessive degree
super- -prefix
- over and above : higher in quantity, quality, or degree than : more than
- in addition : extra
- exceeding or so as to exceed a norm
- in or to an extreme or excessive degree or intensity
- surpassing all or most others of its kind
- situated or placed above, on, or at the top of
- situated on the dorsal side of
- next above or higher
- having the (specified) ingredient present in a large or unusually large proportion
- constituting a more inclusive category than that specified
- superior in status, title, or position
su·per·a·ble ['sü-p(ə-)rə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- capable of being overcome or conquered
su·per·abound [,sü-pər-ə-'bau̇nd] -vi
- to abound or prevail in greater measure or to excess
su·per·abun·dant [-'bən-dənt] -adj, n, adv
- excessive
su·per·add [,sü-pər-'ad] -vt
- to add esp. in a way that compounds an effect
su·per·agen·cy ['sü-pər-,ā-jən(t)-sē] -n
- a large complex governmental agency esp. when set up to supervise other agencies
su·per·al·loy [,sü-pər-'a-,lȯi, -ə-'lȯi] -n
- any of various high-strength often complex alloys resistant to high temperature
su·per·al·tern [,sü-pər-'ȯl-tərn] -n
- a universal proposition (as every P is Q) that in traditional logic is held to be grounds for the immediate inference of the truth of a corresponding subaltern (as some P is Q)
su·per·an·nu·ate [,sü-pər-'an-yə-,wāt] -vb, n
- to make, declare, or prove obsolete or out-of-date
- to retire and pension because of age or infirmity
- to become retired
- to become antiquated
superannuated -adj
- outmoded, old-fashioned
- incapacitated or disqualified for active duty by advanced age
- older than the typical member of a specified group
- a superannuated graduate student
su·perb [su̇-'pərb] -adj, adv, n
- marked to the highest degree by grandeur, excellence, brilliance, or competence
Super Ball -trademark
- used for a toy rubber ball with a high bounce
su·per·block [-,bläk] -n
- a very large commercial or residential block barred to through traffic, crossed by pedestrian walks and sometimes access roads, and often spotted with grassed malls
Super Bowl -service mark
- used for the annual championship game of the National Football League
su·per·bug ['sü-pər-,bəg] -n
- a pathogenic microorganism and esp. a bacterium that has developed resistance to the medications normally used against it
su·per·cal·en·der ['sü-pər-,ka-lən-dər] -vt
- to process (paper) in a supercalender
supercalender -n
- a stack of highly polished calender rolls used to give an extra finish to paper
su·per·car·go [,sü-pər-'kär-(,)gō, 'sü-pər-,] -n
- an officer on a merchant ship in charge of the commercial concerns of the voyage
su·per·cede [,sü-pər-'sēd] -vt, n
(variant of supersede)
- to cause to be set aside
- to force out of use as inferior
- to take the place or position of
- to displace in favor of another
su·per·cell ['sü-pər-,sel] -n
- an unusually large storm cell
- a severe storm generated by such a cell
su·per·cen·ter ['sü-pər-,sen-tər] -n
- a very large discount department store that also sells a complete line of grocery merchandise
su·per·charge ['sü-pər-,chärj] -vt, n
- to charge greatly or excessively (as with vigor or tension)
- to supply a charge to the intake of (as an engine) at a pressure higher than that of the surrounding atmosphere
- pressurize
su·per·charg·er [-,chär-jər] -n
- a device (as a blower or compressor) for pressurizing the cabin of an airplane or for increasing the volume air charge of an internal combustion engine over that which would normally be drawn in through the pumping action of the pistons
su·per·cil·i·ary [,sü-pər-'si-lē-,er-ē] -adj
- of, relating to, or adjoining the eyebrow : supraorbital
su·per·cil·ious [-'si-lē-əs, -'sil-yəs] -adj, adv, n
- coolly and patronizingly haughty
su·per·city ['sü-pər-,si-tē] -n
- megalopolis
su·per·class [-,klas] -n
- a category in biological classification ranking below a phylum or division and above a class
su·per·clu·ster ['sü-pər-,kləs-tər] -n
- a group of gravitationally associated clusters of galaxies
su·per·coil [-,kȯi(-ə)l] -n, vb
- a double helix (as of DNA) that has undergone additional twisting in the same direction as or in the opposite direction from the turns in the original helix
su·per·col·lid·er [-kə-,lī-dər] -n
- a very large collider capable of accelerating particles to very high energies
su·per·com·put·er [-kəm-,pyü-tər] -n
- a large very fast mainframe used esp. for scientific computations
su·per·con·duct [,sü-pər-kən-'dəkt] -vi, adj
- to exhibit superconductivity
su·per·con·duc·tiv·i·ty [-,kän-,dək-'ti-və-tē, -kən-] -n
- a complete disappearance of electrical resistance in a substance esp. at very low temperatures
su·per·con·ti·nent ['sü-pər-,kän-tə-nənt, -,känt-nənt] -n
- a hypothetical former large continent from which other continents are held to have broken off and drifted away
su·per·cool [,sü-pər-'kül] -vt
- to cool below the freezing point without solidification or crystallization
- to become supercooled
supercool -adj
- : extremely cool: as
- showing extraordinary reserve and self-control
- being the latest style or fashion
su·per·crit·i·cal [-'kri-ti-kəl] -adj
- being or having a temperature above a critical temperature
su·per·cross ['sü-pər-,krȯs] -n
- a motorcycle race held in a stadium on a dirt track having hairpin turns and high jumps
su·per·cur·rent ['sü-pər-,kər-ənt, -,kə-rənt] -n
- a current of electricity flowing in a superconductor
su·per·del·e·gate ['sü-pər-,de-li-gət] -n
- a political party leader or an elected official selected to vote at a presidential nominating convention who may or may not be pledged to support a particular candidate
su·perdu·per ['sü-pər-'dü-pər] -adj
- of the greatest excellence, size, effectiveness, or impressiveness
su·per·ego [,sü-pər-'ē-(,)gō also -'e-(,)gō] -n
- the one of the three divisions of the psyche in psychoanalytic theory that is only partly conscious, represents internalization of parental conscience and the rules of society, and functions to reward and punish through a system of moral attitudes, conscience, and a sense of guilt
su·per·el·e·vate [-'e-lə-,vāt] -vt
- bank
su·per·el·e·va·tion [-,e-lə-'vā-shən] -n
- the vertical distance between the heights of inner and outer edges of highway pavement or railroad rails
- additional elevation
su·per·er·o·ga·tion [,sü-pər-,er-ə-'gā-shən] -n
- the act of performing more than is required by duty, obligation, or need
su·per·erog·a·to·ry [,sü-pər-i-'rä-gə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- observed or performed to an extent not enjoined or required
- superfluous
su·per·fam·i·ly ['sü-pər-,fam-lē, -'fa-mə-] -n
- a category of biological classification ranking below an order and above a family
- a large group of closely related molecules or chemical compounds usu. possessing a similar function
su·per·fat·ted [-,fa-təd] -adj
- containing extra oil or fat
su·per·fe·cun·da·tion [,sü-pər-,fe-kən-'dā-shən, -,fē-] -n
- successive fertilization of two or more ova from the same ovulation esp. by different sires
- fertilization at one time of a number of ova excessive for the species
su·per·fe·ta·tion [-fē-'tā-shən] -n
- a progressive accumulation or accretion reaching an excessive degree
su·per·fi·cial [,sü-pər-'fi-shəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or located near a surface
- lying on, not penetrating below, or affecting only the surface
- square
- concerned only with the obvious or apparent : shallow
- seen on the surface : external
- presenting only an appearance without substance or significance
superficial fascia -n
- the thin layer of loose fatty connective tissue underlying the skin and binding it to the parts beneath called also hypodermis
su·per·fi·ci·al·i·ty [,sü-pər-,fi-shē-'a-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being superficial
- something superficial
su·per·fi·cies [-'fi-(,)shēz, -shē-,ēz] -n
- a surface of a body or a region of space
- the external aspects or appearance of a thing
su·per·fine [,sü-pər-'fīn] -adj
- overly refined or nice
- of extremely fine size or texture
- superfine toothbrush bristles
- of high quality or grade used esp. of merchandise
su·per·fix ['sü-pər-,fiks] -n
- a morpheme consisting of a pattern of stress, intonation, or juncture features that are associated with the syllables of a word or phrase (as the distinctive stress patterns of the noun subjectand the verb subject)
su·per·flu·id [,sü-pər-'flü-əd] -n, adj
- an unusual state of matter noted only in liquid helium cooled to near absolute zero and characterized by apparently frictionless flow (as through fine holes)
su·per·flu·i·ty [,sü-pər-'flü-ə-tē] -n
- excess, oversupply
- something unnecessary or superfluous
- immoderate and esp. luxurious living, habits, or desires
su·per·flu·ous [su̇-'pər-flü-əs] -adj, adv, n
- exceeding what is sufficient or necessary : extra
- not needed : unnecessary
- marked by wastefulness : extravagant
su·per·gene ['sü-pər-,jēn] -n
- a group of linked genes acting as an allelic unit esp. when due to the suppression of crossing-over
su·per·gi·ant [-,jī-ənt] -n, adj
- something that is extremely large
- a star of very great intrinsic luminosity and enormous size
su·per·glue ['sü-pər-,glü] -n, vt
- a very strong glue
- a glue whose chief ingredient is a cyanoacrylate that becomes adhesive through polymerization rather than evaporation of a solvent
su·per·graph·ics [-,gra-fiks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- billboard-sized graphic shapes usu. of bright color and simple design
su·per·grav·i·ty [,sü-pər-'gra-və-tē] -n
- any of various theories in physics that are based on supersymmetry and attempt to unify general relativity and quantum theory and that state that the principal transmitter of gravity is the graviton
su·per·group ['sü-pər-,grüp] -n
- a rock group made up of prominent former members of other rock groups
- an extremely successful rock group
su·per·heat [,sü-pər-'hēt] -vt, n
- to heat (a vapor not in contact with its own liquid) so as to cause to remain free from suspended liquid droplets
- to heat (a liquid) above the boiling point without converting into vapor
- the extra heat imparted to a vapor in superheating it from a dry and saturated condition
- the corresponding rise of temperature
su·per·heat·ed [-,hē-təd, -'hē-] -adj
- subjected to superheating
- very hot
- exceedingly emotional or intense
su·per·hea·vy·weight [,sü-pər-'he-vē-,wāt] -n
- an athlete (as an Olympic weightlifter, boxer, or wrestler) who competes in the heaviest class or division
su·per·he·lix ['sü-pər-,hē-liks] -n, adj
- supercoil
su·per·hero [-,hir-(,)ō, -,hē-(,)rō] -n
- a fictional hero having extraordinary or superhuman powers
- an exceptionally skillful or successful person
su·per·het·ero·dyne [,sü-pər-'he-tə-rə-,dīn, -'he-trə-] -adj, n
- used in or being a radio receiver in which an incoming signal is mixed with a locally generated frequency to produce an ultrasonic signal that is then rectified, amplified, and rectified again to reproduce the sound
su·per·high frequency ['sü-pər-,hī-] -n
- a radio frequency in the next to the highest range of the radio spectrum
su·per·high·way [,sü-pər-'hī-,wā, 'sü-pər-,] -n
- a multilane highway (as an expressway or turnpike) designed for high-speed traffic
- information superhighway
su·per·hu·man [,sü-pər-'hyü-mən, -'yü-] -adj, n, adv
- being above the human : divine
- exceeding normal human power, size, or capability : herculean
- having such power, size, or capability
su·per·im·pose [,sü-pər-im-'pōz] -vt, adj, n
- to place or lay over or above something
su·per·in·cum·bent [-in-'kəm-bənt] -adj, adv
- lying or resting and usu. exerting pressure on something else
su·per·in·di·vid·u·al [,sü-pər-,in-də-'vij-wəl, -'vi-jə-wəl, -'vi-jəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or being an organism, entity, or complex of more than individual complexity or nature
su·per·in·duce [-in-'düs, -'dyüs] -vt, n
- to introduce as an addition over or above something already existing
- bring on, induce
su·per·in·fec·tion [-in-'fek-shən] -n, vt
- reinfection or a second infection with a microbial agent (as a bacterium, fungus, or virus)
su·per·in·tend [,sü-p(ə-)rin-'tend, ,sü-pərn-] -vt
- to have or exercise the charge and oversight of : direct
su·per·in·ten·dence [-'ten-dən(t)s] -n
- the act or function of superintending or directing : supervision
su·per·in·ten·den·cy [-dən(t)-sē] -n
- the office, post, or jurisdiction of a superintendent
- superintendence
su·per·in·ten·dent [-dənt] -n, adj
- one who has executive oversight and charge
su·pe·ri·or [su̇-'pir-ē-ər] -adj, adv
- situated higher up : upper
- of higher rank, quality, or importance
- courageously or serenely indifferent (as to something painful or disheartening)
- greater in quantity or numbers
- escaped by superior speed
- excellent of its kind : better
- being a superscript
- situated above or anterior or dorsal to another and esp. a corresponding part
- : situated above or near the top of another part: as
- attached to and apparently arising from the ovary
- free from the calyx or other floral envelope
- more comprehensive
- a genus is superior to a species
- affecting or assuming an air of superiority : supercilious
superior -n
- one who is above another in rank, station, or office
- the head of a religious house or order
- one that surpasses another in quality or merit
- superscript
superior conjunction -n
- a conjunction of a planet with the sun in which the sun is aligned between the earth and the planet
superior court -n
- a court of general jurisdiction intermediate between the inferior courts (as a justice of the peace court) and the higher appellate courts
- a court with juries having original jurisdiction
superior general -n
- the superior of a religious order or congregation
su·pe·ri·or·i·ty [su̇-,pir-ē-'ȯr-ə-tē, ,sü-, -'är-] -n
- the quality or state of being superior
- a superior characteristic
superiority complex -n
- an exaggerated opinion of oneself
superior planet -n
- a planet (as Jupiter) whose orbit lies outside that of Earth
superior vena cava -n
- the branch of the vena cava of a vertebrate that brings blood back from the head and anterior part of the body to the heart
su·per·ja·cent [,sü-pər-'jā-sᵊnt] -adj
- lying above or upon : overlying
su·per·jet ['sü-pər-,jet] -n
- a very large jet airplane
su·per·jum·bo ['sü-pər-,jəm-bō] -n
- an extremely large passenger jet airplane : superjet
su·per·la·tive [su̇-'pər-lə-tiv] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or constituting the degree of grammatical comparison that denotes an extreme or unsurpassed level or extent
- surpassing all others : supreme
- of very high quality : excellent
- excessive, exaggerated
superlative -n
- the superlative degree of comparison in a language
- a superlative form of an adjective or adverb
- the superlative or utmost degree of something : acme
- a superlative person or thing
- an admiring sometimes exaggerated expression esp. of praise
su·per·lin·er ['sü-pər-,lī-nər] -n
- a fast luxurious passenger liner of great size
su·per·lu·na·ry [,sü-pər-'lü-nə-rē] -adj
- being above the moon : celestial
su·per·ma·jor·i·ty ['sü-pər-mə-,jȯr-ə-tē, -,jär-] -n
- a majority (as two-thirds or three-fifths) greater than a simple majority
su·per·man ['sü-pər-,man] -n
- a superior man that according to Nietzsche has learned to forgo fleeting pleasures and attain happiness and dominance through the exercise of creative power
- a person of extraordinary or superhuman power or achievements
su·per·mar·ket [-,mär-kət] -n
- a self-service retail market selling esp. foods and household merchandise
- something resembling a supermarket esp. in the variety or volume of its goods or services
su·per·mi·cro [-,mī-(,)krō] -n
- a very fast and powerful microcomputer
su·per·mini·com·put·er [-'mi-nē-kəm-,pyü-tər] -n
- a very fast and powerful minicomputer called also supermini
su·per·mod·el ['sü-pər-,mä-dᵊl] -n
- a famous and successful fashion model
su·per·mom ['sü-pər-,mäm] -n
- an exemplary mother
- a woman who performs the traditional duties of housekeeping and child-rearing while also having a full-time job
su·per·nal [su̇-'pər-nᵊl] -adj, adv
- being or coming from on high
- heavenly, ethereal
- superlatively good
- located in or belonging to the sky
su·per·na·tant [,sü-pər-'nā-tᵊnt] -n, adj
- the usu. clear liquid overlying material deposited by settling, precipitation, or centrifugation
su·per·nat·u·ral [,sü-pər-'na-chə-rəl, -'nach-rəl] -adj, n, adv
- of or relating to an order of existence beyond the visible observable universe
- of or relating to God or a god, demigod, spirit, or devil
- departing from what is usual or normal esp. so as to appear to transcend the laws of nature
- attributed to an invisible agent (as a ghost or spirit)
su·per·nat·u·ral·ism [,sü-pər-'na-chə-rə-,li-zəm, -'nach-rə-] -n, n or adj, adj
- the quality or state of being supernatural
- belief in a supernatural power and order of existence
su·per·na·ture ['sü-pər-,nā-chər] -n
- the realm of the supernatural
su·per·nor·mal [,sü-pər-'nȯr-məl] -adj, n, adv
- exceeding the normal or average
- being beyond normal human powers : paranormal
su·per·no·va [,sü-pər-'nō-və] -n
- the explosion of a star in which the star may reach a maximum intrinsic luminosity one billion times that of the sun
- one that explodes into prominence or popularity
- superstar
su·per·nu·mer·ary [,sü-pər-'nü-mə-,rer-ē, -'nyü-, -mə-rē; -'n(y)üm-rē] -adj
- exceeding the usual, stated, or prescribed number
- not enumerated among the regular components of a group and esp. of a military organization
- exceeding what is necessary, required, or desired
- more numerous
supernumerary -n
- a supernumerary person or thing
- an actor employed to play a walk-on
su·per·or·der ['sü-pər-,ȯr-dər] -n
- a category of biological classification ranking below a class and above an order
su·per·or·di·nate [,sü-pər-'ȯrd-nət, -'ȯr-də-nət, -'ȯr-də-,nāt] -adj
- superior in rank, class, or status
su·per·or·gan·ism [-'ȯr-gə-,ni-zəm] -n
- an organized society (as of a social insect) that functions as an organic whole
su·per·ovu·la·tion [-,äv-yə-'lā-shən, -,ōv-] -n, vb
- production of exceptional numbers of ova at one time
su·per·ox·ide [-'äk-,sīd] -n
- the monovalent anion O 2 or a compound containing it
- potassium superoxide KO 2
superoxide dis·mut·ase [-dis-'myü-,tās, -,tāz] -n
- a metal-containing antioxidant enzyme that reduces harmful free radicals of oxygen formed during normal metabolic cell processes to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide
su·per·par·a·sit·ism [,sü-pər-'pa-rə-,sī-,ti-zəm, -sə-] -n
- parasitization of a host by more than one parasitic individual usu. of one kind used esp. of parasitic insects
su·per·phos·phate [,sü-pər-'fäs-,fāt] -n
- an acid phosphate
- a soluble mixture of phosphates used as fertilizer and made from insoluble mineral phosphates by treatment with sulfuric acid
su·per·phys·i·cal [-'fi-zi-kəl] -adj
- being above or beyond the physical world or explanation on physical principles
su·per·plas·tic [-'plas-tik] -adj, n
- capable of plastic deformation under low stress at an elevated temperature used of metals and alloys
- of or relating to superplastic materials
su·per·pose [,sü-pər-'pōz] -vt, adj, n
- to place or lay over or above whether in or not in contact : superimpose
- to lay (as a geometric figure) upon another so as to make all like parts coincide
su·per·posed [-'pōzd] -adj
- situated vertically over another layer or part
su·per·pow·er ['sü-pər-,pau̇(-ə)r] -n, adj
- excessive or superior power
- an extremely powerful nation
- one of a very few dominant states in an era when the world is divided politically into these states and their satellites
- an international governing body able to enforce its will upon the most powerful states
su·per·sat·u·rate [,sü-pər-'sa-chə-,rāt] -vt
- to add to (a solution) beyond saturation
su·per·sat·u·rat·ed [-,rā-təd] -adj
- containing an amount of a substance greater than that required for saturation as a result of having been cooled from a higher temperature to a temperature below that at which saturation occurs
- a supersaturated solution
- air supersaturated with water vapor
su·per·sat·u·ra·tion [-,sa-chə-'rā-shən] -n
- the state of being supersaturated
su·per·scribe ['sü-pər-,skrīb, ,sü-pər-'] -vt
- to write (as a name or address) on the outside or cover of : address
- to write or engrave on the top or outside
su·per·script ['sü-pər-,skript] -n, adj
- a distinguishing symbol (as a numeral or letter) written immediately above or above and to the right or left of another character
su·per·scrip·tion [,sü-pər-'skrip-shən] -n
- something written or engraved on the surface of, outside, or above something else : inscription
- address
- the act of superscribing
su·per·sede [,sü-pər-'sēd] -vt, n
- to cause to be set aside
- to force out of use as inferior
- to take the place or position of
- to displace in favor of another
su·per·se·de·as [-'sē-dē-əs] -n
- a common-law writ commanding a stay of legal proceedings that is issued under various conditions and esp. to stay an officer from proceeding under another writ
- an order staying proceedings of an inferior court
su·per·se·dure [-'sē-jər] -n
- the act or process of superseding
- the replacement of an old or inferior queen bee by a young or superior queen
su·per·sen·si·ble [,sü-pər-'sen(t)-sə-bəl] -adj
- being above or beyond that which is apparent to the senses : spiritual
su·per·sen·so·ry [-'sen(t)-sə-rē, -'sen(t)s-rē] -adj
- supersensible
su·per·ser·vice·able [-'sər-və-sə-bəl] -adj
- offering unwanted services : officious
su·per·ses·sion [,sü-pər-'se-shən] -n
- the act of superseding : the state of being superseded
su·per·size ['sü-pər-,sīz] -vt
- to increase considerably the size, amount, or extent of
su·per·son·ic [,sü-pər-'sä-nik] -adj, adv
- ultrasonic
- of, being, or relating to speeds from one to five times the speed of sound in air
- moving, capable of moving, or utilizing air currents moving at supersonic speed
- relating to supersonic airplanes or missiles
supersonic -n
- a supersonic wave or frequency
- a supersonic airplane
su·per·son·ics [,sü-pər-'sä-niks] -n pl but sing in constr
- the science of supersonic phenomena
supersonic transport -n
- a supersonic transport airplane
su·per·star ['sü-pər-,stär] -n
- a star (as in sports or the movies) who is considered extremely talented, has great public appeal, and can usu. command a high salary
- one that is very prominent or is a prime attraction
su·per·sti·tion [,sü-pər-'sti-shən] -n
- a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation
- an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition
- a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary
su·per·sti·tious [-'sti-shəs] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or swayed by superstition
su·per·store ['sü-pər-,stȯr] -n
- a very large store often offering a wide variety of merchandise for sale
su·per·string [-,striŋ] -n
- a hypothetical string obeying the rules of supersymmetry whose vibrations manifest themselves as particles existing in ten dimensions of which only four are evident
su·per·struc·ture [-,strək-chər] -n, adj
- an entity, concept, or complex based on a more fundamental one
- social institutions (as the law or politics) that are in Marxist theory erected upon the economic base
- : a structure built as a vertical extension of something else: as
- all of a building above the basement
- the structural part of a ship above the main deck
su·per·sub·stan·tial [,sü-pər-səb-'stan(t)-shəl] -adj
- being above material substance : of a transcending substance
su·per·sym·me·try [-'si-mə-trē] -n, adj
- the correspondence between fermions and bosons of identical mass that is postulated to have existed during the opening moments of the big bang and that relates gravity to the other forces of nature
su·per·sys·tem ['sü-pər-,sis-təm] -n
- a system that is made up of systems
su·per·tax [-,taks] -n
- surtax
su·per·ti·tle ['sü-pər-,tī-tᵊl] -n
- a translation of foreign-language dialogue displayed above a screen or performance
- an opera with supertitle s
su·per·ton·ic [,sü-pər-'tä-nik] -n
- the second tone of a major or minor scale
su·per·vene [,sü-pər-'vēn] -vi, n
- to follow or result as an additional, adventitious, or unlooked-for development
su·per·ve·nient [-'vē-nyənt] -adj
- coming or occurring as something additional, extraneous, or unexpected
su·per·vise ['sü-pər-,vīz] -vt
- superintend, oversee
su·per·vi·sion [,sü-pər-'vi-zhən] -n
- the action, process, or occupation of supervising
- a critical watching and directing (as of activities or a course of action)
su·per·vi·sor ['sü-pər-,vī-zər] -n, adj
- one that supervises
- an administrative officer in charge of a business, government, or school unit or operation
su·per·wom·an ['sü-pər-,wu̇-mən] -n
- an exceptional woman
- a woman who succeeds in having a career and raising a family
su·pi·nate ['sü-pə-,nāt] -vb
- to cause to undergo supination
- to undergo supination
su·pi·na·tion [,sü-pə-'nā-shən] -n
- rotation of the forearm and hand so that the palm faces forward or upward
- a corresponding movement of the foot and leg in which the foot rolls outward with an elevated arch
- the position resulting from supination
su·pi·na·tor ['sü-pə-,nā-tər] -n
- a muscle that produces the motion of supination
su·pine ['sü-,pīn] -n
- a Latin verbal noun having an accusative of purpose in -umand an ablative of specification in -u
- an English infinitive with to
- lying on the back or with the face upward
- marked by supination
- exhibiting indolent or apathetic inertia or passivity
- mentally or morally slack
- leaning or sloping backward
supp -abbr
- supplement
sup·per ['sə-pər] -n
- the evening meal esp. when dinner is taken at midday
- a social affair featuring a supper
- an evening social esp. for raising funds
- the food served as a supper
- a light meal served late in the evening
supper club -n
- nightclub
sup·plant [sə-'plant] -vt, n
- to supersede (another) esp. by force or treachery
- uproot
- to eradicate and supply a substitute for
- efforts to supplant the vernacular
- to take the place of and serve as a substitute for esp. by reason of superior excellence or power
sup·ple ['sə-pəl also 'sü-] -adj, adv, n
- compliant often to the point of obsequiousness
- readily adaptable or responsive to new situations
- capable of being bent or folded without creases, cracks, or breaks : pliant
- able to perform bending or twisting movements with ease : limber
- easy and fluent without stiffness or awkwardness
- sang with a lively, supple voice -- Douglas Watt
supple [-p(ə-)liŋ] -vb
- to make pacific or complaisant
- supple the tempers of your race -- Laurence Sterne
- to alleviate with a salve
- to make flexible or pliant
- to become soft and pliant
sup·ple·jack ['sə-pəl-,jak also 'sü-] -n
- any of various woody climbers having tough pliant stems
- a southern U.S. vine ( Berchemia scandens) of the buckthorn family
sup·ple·ment ['sə-plə-mənt] -n
- something that completes or makes an addition
- dietary supplement
- a part added to or issued as a continuation of a book or periodical to correct errors or make additions
- an angle or arc that when added to a given angle or arc equals 180
- to add or serve as a supplement to
- does odd jobs to supplement his income
sup·ple·men·tal [,sə-plə-'men-tᵊl] -adj, n
- serving to supplement
- nonscheduled
sup·ple·men·ta·ry [,sə-plə-'men-tə-rē, -'men-trē] -adj
- added or serving as a supplement : additional
- being or relating to a supplement or a supplementary angle
supplementary angle -n
- one of two angles or arcs whose sum is 180 usu. used in pl.
sup·ple·tion [sə-'plē-shən] -n, adj
- the occurrence of phonemically unrelated allomorphs of the same morpheme (as wentas the past tense of goor betteras the comparative form of good)
sup·ple·to·ry [sə-'plē-tə-rē; 'sə-plə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- supplying deficiencies : supplementary
- rules suppletory to the contract
sup·pli·ance ['sə-plē-ən(t)s] -n
- entreaty, supplication
sup·pli·ant [-ənt] -n
- supplicant
suppliant -adj, adv
- humbly imploring : entreating
- a suppliant sinner seeking forgiveness -- O. J. Baab
- expressing supplication
- upraised to the heavens...suppliant arms -- William Styron
sup·pli·cant ['sə-pli-kənt] -n
- one who supplicates
supplicant -adj
- suppliant
sup·pli·cate ['sə-plə-,kāt] -vb, n
- to make a humble entreaty
- to pray to God
- to ask humbly and earnestly of
- to ask for earnestly and humbly
sup·pli·ca·to·ry ['sə-pli-kə-,tȯr-ē] -adj
- expressing supplication : suppliant
sup·ply [sə-'plī] -vb, n
- to add as a supplement
- to provide for : satisfy
- laws by which the material wants of men are supplied -- Bull. of Bates Coll.
- to make available for use : provide
- supplied the necessary funds
- to satisfy the needs or wishes of
- to furnish (organs, tissues, or cells) with a vital element (as blood or nerve fibers)
- to substitute for another in
- to serve as a supply in (a church or pulpit)
- to serve as a supply or substitute
supply -n
- assistance, succor
- reinforcements often used in pl.
- a member of the clergy filling a vacant pulpit temporarily
- the quantity or amount (as of a commodity) needed or available
- beer was in short supply in that hot weather -- Nevil Shute
- provisions, stores usu. used in pl.
- the act or process of filling a want or need
- engaged in the supply of raw materials to industry
- the quantities of goods or services offered for sale at a particular time or at one price
- something that maintains or constitutes a supply
sup·plyside [sə-'plī-'sīd] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or being an economic theory that reduction of tax rates encourages more earnings, savings, and investment and thereby expands economic activity and the total taxable national income
sup·port [sə-'pȯrt] -vt, n, adj
- to endure bravely or quietly : bear
- to promote the interests or cause of
- to uphold or defend as valid or right : advocate
- to argue or vote for
- support ed the motion to lower taxes
- assist, help
- bombers support ed the ground troops
- to act with (a star actor)
- to bid in bridge so as to show support for
- to provide with substantiation : corroborate
- to pay the costs of : maintain
- to provide a basis for the existence or subsistence of
- the island could probably support three -- A. B. C. Whipple
- to hold up or serve as a foundation or prop for
- to maintain (a price) at a desired level by purchases or loans
- to maintain the price of by purchases or loans
- to keep from fainting, yielding, or losing courage : comfort
- to keep (something) going
support -n
- the act or process of supporting : the condition of being supported
- assistance provided by a company to users of its products
- one that supports often used attributively
- sufficient strength in a suit bid by one's partner in bridge to justify raising the suit
sup·port·er [sə-'pȯr-tər] -n
- : one that supports or acts as a support: as
- adherent, partisan
- one of two figures (as of men or animals) placed one on each side of an escutcheon and exterior to it
- garter
- athletic supporter
support group -n
- a group of people with common experiences and concerns who provide emotional and moral support for one another
support hose -n
- elastic stockings worn esp. to provide mild compression of the leg (as to prevent formation of varicose veins)
support level -n
- a price level on a declining market at which a security resists further decline due to increased attractiveness to traders and investors called also support area
support system -n
- a network of people who provide an individual with practical or emotional support
sup·pos·able [sə-'pō-zə-bəl] -adj, adv
- capable of being supposed : conceivable
sup·pos·al [-'pō-zəl] -n
- the act or process of supposing
- something supposed : hypothesis, supposition
sup·pose [sə-'pōz, oftenest after “I ” 'spōz] -vb
- to lay down tentatively as a hypothesis, assumption, or proposal
- suppose you bring the salad
- to hold as an opinion : believe
- they supposed they were early
- to think probable or in keeping with the facts
- seems reasonable to suppose that he would profit
- conceive, imagine
- to have a suspicion of
- presuppose
- conjecture, opine
sup·posed [sə-'pōzd; 1b & 2a usu -'pō-zəd, 3 & 4 often -'pōst] -adj, adv
- pretended
- twelve hours are supposed to elapse between Acts I and II -- A. S. Sullivan
- alleged
- trusted my supposed friends
- held as an opinion : believed
- mistakenly believed : imagined
- the sight which makes supposed terror true -- Shak.
- considered probable or certain : expected
- it was not supposed that everybody could master the technical aspects -- J. C. Murray
- understood
- you will be supposed to refer to my grandaunt -- G. B. Shaw
- made or fashioned by intent or design
- what's that button supposed to do
- required by or as if by authority
- soldiers are supposed to obey their commanding officers
- given permission : permitted
- was not supposed to have visitors
supposing -conj
- if by way of hypothesis : on the assumption that
- supposing I did agree with you
sup·po·si·tion [,sə-pə-'zi-shən] -n, adj
- something that is supposed : hypothesis
- the act of supposing
sup·po·si·tious [-'zi-shəs] -adj
- supposititious
sup·pos·i·ti·tious [sə-,pä-zə-'ti-shəs] -adj, adv
- fraudulently substituted : spurious
- falsely presented as a genuine heir
- illegitimate
- imaginary
- of the nature of or based on a supposition : hypothetical
sup·pos·i·to·ry [sə-'pä-zə-,tȯr-ē] -n
- a solid but readily meltable cone or cylinder of usu. medicated material for insertion into a bodily passage or cavity (as the rectum)
sup·press [sə-'pres] -vt, n, adj
- to put down by authority or force : subdue
- : to keep from public knowledge: as
- to keep secret
- to stop or prohibit the publication or revelation of
- suppress the test results
- to exclude from consciousness
- to keep from giving vent to : check
- to press down
- to restrain from a usual course or action
- to inhibit the growth or development of
- to inhibit the genetic expression of
sup·pres·sant [sə-'pre-sᵊnt] -n
- an agent (as a drug) that tends to suppress or reduce in intensity rather than eliminate something
sup·pres·sion [sə-'pre-shən] -n
- an act or instance of suppressing : the state of being suppressed
- the conscious intentional exclusion from consciousness of a thought or feeling
sup·pres·sor [-'pre-sər] -n
- one that suppresses
- a mutant gene that suppresses the expression of another nonallelic mutant gene when both are present
suppressor T cell -n
- a T cell that suppresses the immune response of B cells and other T cells to an antigen called also suppressor cell
sup·pu·rate ['sə-pyə-,rāt] -vi, n, adj
- to form or discharge pus
su·pra ['sü-prə, -,prä] -adv
- earlier in this writing : above
supra- -prefix
- super-
- transcending
su·pra·chi·as·mat·ic nucleus [,sü-prə-,kī-əz-'ma-tik-] -n
- either of a pair of neuron clusters in the hypothalamus situated directly above the optic chiasma that receive photic input from the retina via the optic nerve and that regulate the body's circadian rhythms
su·pra·lim·i·nal [,sü-prə-'li-mə-nᵊl, -,prä-] -adj
- existing above the threshold of consciousness
- adequate to evoke a response or induce a sensation
su·pra·mo·lec·u·lar [-mə-'le-kyə-lər] -adj
- more complex than a molecule
- composed of many molecules
su·pra·na·tion·al [-'nash-nəl, -'na-shə-nᵊl] -adj, n
- transcending national boundaries, authority, or interests
- a supranational authority, regulating ocean usage -- N. H. Jacoby
su·pra·op·tic [-'äp-tik] -adj
- situated above the optic chiasma
- being a small nucleus of closely packed neurons overlying the optic chiasma and intimately connected with the neurohypophysis
su·pra·or·bit·al [-'ȯr-bə-tᵊl] -adj
- situated or occurring above the orbit of the eye
su·pra·ra·tio·nal [-'rash-nəl, -'ra-shə-nᵊl] -adj
- transcending the rational : based on or involving factors not to be comprehended by reason alone
- the stars inspire suprarational dreams -- R. J. Dubos
su·pra·re·nal [-'rē-nᵊl] -adj
- situated above or anterior to the kidneys
suprarenal -n
- a suprarenal part
- adrenal gland
suprarenal gland -n
- adrenal gland
su·pra·seg·men·tal [,sü-prə-seg-'men-tᵊl, -,prä-] -adj
- of or relating to significant features (as stress, pitch, or juncture) that occur simultaneously with vowels and consonants in an utterance
sup·ra·ven·tric·u·lar [-ven-'tri-kyə-lər, -vən-] -adj
- relating to or being a rhythmic abnormality of the heart caused by impulses originating above the ventricles
- supraventricular tachycardia
su·pra·vi·tal [-'vī-tᵊl] -adj, adv
- having or utilizing the property of staining cells or tissues removed from a living body
su·prem·a·cist [sə-'pre-mə-sist, sü-] -n
- an advocate or adherent of group supremacy
- white supremacist
su·prem·a·cy [sə-'pre-mə-sē, sü- also -'prē-] -n
- the quality or state of being supreme
- supreme authority or power
su·prem·a·tism [-mə-,ti-zəm] -n, adj or n
- an early 20th century art movement in Russia producing abstract works featuring flat geometric forms
su·preme [sə-'prēm, sü-] -adj, adv, n
- highest in rank or authority
- highest in degree or quality
- supreme endurance in war and in labour -- R. W. Emerson
- ultimate, final
Supreme Being -n
- god
supreme court -n
- the highest judicial tribunal in a political unit (as a nation or state)
- a court of original jurisdiction in New York state subordinate to a final court of appeals
Supreme Soviet -n
- the highest legislative body of a nation (as the former Soviet Union or former Soviet republics)
su·pre·mo [sə-'prē-(,)mō, sü-] -n
- one who is highest in rank or authority
supt -abbr
- superintendent
suq ['sük] -n
(variant of souk)
- a marketplace in northern Africa or the Middle East
- a stall in such a marketplace
sur- -prefix
- over : super-
- above : up
su·ra ['su̇r-ə] -n
- a chapter of the Koran
su·rah ['su̇r-ə] -n
- a soft twilled fabric of silk or rayon
sur·cease [(,)sər-'sēs, 'sər-,] -vb
- to desist from action
- to come to an end : cease
- to put an end to : discontinue
- cessation
- a temporary respite or end
- to borrow from my books surcease of sorrow -- E. A. Poe
sur·charge ['sər-,chärj] -vt
- overcharge
- to charge an extra fee
- to show an omission in (an account) for which credit ought to have been given
- overstock
- to fill or load to excess
- the atmosphere...was surcharged with war hysteria -- H. A. Chippendale
- to mark a surcharge on (a stamp)
- overprint
surcharge -n
- an additional tax, cost, or impost
- an extra fare
- an instance of surcharging an account
- an excessive load or burden
- the action of surcharging : the state of being surcharged
- an overprint on a stamp
- one that alters the denomination
- a stamp bearing such an overprint
- an overprint on a currency note
sur·cin·gle ['sər-,siŋ-gəl] -n
- a belt, band, or girth passing around the body of a horse to bind a saddle or pack fast to the horse's back
- the cincture of a cassock
sur·coat ['sər-,kōt] -n
- an outer coat or cloak
- a tunic worn over armor
surd ['sərd] -adj
- lacking sense : irrational
- surd conceits of scripture's sense -- Thomas Jackson
- voiceless used of speech sounds
- an irrational root (as 3)
- irrational number
- a surd speech sound
sure ['shu̇r, esp Southern 'shȯr] -adj, n
- safe from danger or harm
- firmly established : steadfast
- reliable, trustworthy
- marked by or given to feelings of confident certainty
- characterized by a lack of wavering or hesitation
- admitting of no doubt : indisputable
- spoke from sure knowledge
- bound to happen : inevitable
- bound, destined
- careful to remember, attend to, or find out something
- surely
sureenough ['shu̇r-ə-'nəf] -adj
- actual, genuine, real
sure enough -adv
- as one might expect : certainly
sure·fire ['shu̇r-'fī(-ə)r] -adj
- certain to get successful or expected results
surefoot·ed [-'fu̇-təd] -adj, adv, n
- not liable to stumble, fall, or err
surehand·ed [-'han-dəd] -adj, n
- proficient and confident in performance esp. using the hands
sure·ly ['shu̇r-lē, esp Southern 'shȯr-] -adv
- : in a sure manner:
- without danger or risk of injury or loss : safely
- with assurance : confidently
- answered quickly and surely
- without doubt : certainly
- they will surely be heard from in the future -- R. J. Lifton
- indeed, really often used as an intensive
- you surely don't believe that
sure thing -n
- one that is certain to succeed : a sure bet
sure·ty ['shu̇r(-ə)-tē] -n
- : the state of being sure: as
- sure knowledge : certainty
- confidence in manner or behavior : assurance
- a formal engagement (as a pledge) given for the fulfillment of an undertaking : guarantee
- a basis of confidence or security
- one who has become legally liable for the debt, default, or failure in duty of another
surety bond -n
- a bond guaranteeing performance of a contract or obligation
surf ['sərf] -n
- the swell of the sea that breaks upon the shore
- the foam, splash, and sound of breaking waves
- to ride the surf (as on a surfboard)
- to scan a wide range of offerings for something of interest
- to scan the offerings of (as television or the Internet) for something of interest
sur·face ['sər-fəs] -n
- the exterior or upper boundary of an object or body
- on the surface of the water
- a plane or curved two-dimensional locus of points (as the boundary of a three-dimensional region)
- the external or superficial aspect of something
- trouble lurks below the surface
- an external part or layer
- sanded the rough surface s
surface -adj
- of, located on, or designed for use at the surface of something
- situated, transported, or employed on the surface of the earth
- appearing to be such on the surface only : superficial
- : to give a surface to: as
- to plane or make smooth
- to apply the surface layer to
- to bring to the surface
- to work on or at the surface
- to come to the surface
- to come into public view : show up
- letters that have recently surfaced
surfaceactive -adj
- altering the properties and esp. lowering the tension at the surface of contact between phases
- soaps and wetting agents are typical surfaceactive substances
surface of revolution
- a surface formed by the revolution of a plane curve about a line in its plane
sur·facerip·ened ['sər-fəs-,rī-pənd, -,rī-pᵊmd] -adj
- ripened by the action of microorganisms (as molds) on the surface
surface structure -n
- a formal representation of the phonetic form of a sentence
- the structure which such a representation describes
surface tension -n
- the attractive force exerted upon the surface molecules of a liquid by the molecules beneath that tends to draw the surface molecules into the bulk of the liquid and makes the liquid assume the shape having the least surface area
surfacetoair -adj
- launched from the ground against a target in the air
surfacing -n
- material forming or used to form a surface
sur·fac·tant [(,)sər-'fak-tənt, 'sər-,] -n, adj
- a surface-active substance (as a detergent)
surf and turf -n
- seafood and steak served as a single course
surf·bird ['sərf-,bərd] -n
- a shorebird ( Aphriza virgata) of the sandpiper family that occurs along the Pacific coasts of America and has a black-tipped white tail
surf·board [-,bȯrd] -n
- a long narrow buoyant board (as of lightweight wood or fiberglass-covered foam) used in the sport of surfing
surf·boat [-,bōt] -n
- a boat for use in heavy surf
surf casting -n
- a method of fishing in which artificial or natural bait is cast into the open ocean or in a bay where waves break on a beach
surf clam -n
- any of various typically rather large surf-dwelling edible clams (family Mactridae)
- a common clam ( Spisula solidissima) of the Atlantic coast chiefly from Nova Scotia to So. Carolina
sur·feit ['sər-fət] -n
- an overabundant supply : excess
- an intemperate or immoderate indulgence in something (as food or drink)
- disgust caused by excess
surfeit -vt, n
- to feed, supply, or give to surfeit
- to indulge to satiety in a gratification (as indulgence of the appetite or senses)
sur·fi·cial [,sər-'fi-shəl] -adj
- of or relating to a surface
- surficial geologic processes
surf·ing ['sər-fiŋ] -n
- the sport of riding the surf esp. on a surfboard
surf·man ['sərf-mən] -n
- one who is skilled in handling a boat in surf
surf·perch ['sərf-,pərch] -n
- any of a family (Embiotocidae) of small or medium-sized viviparous bony fishes chiefly of shallow water along the Pacific coast of No. America that resemble the perches
surg -abbr
- surgeon; surgery; surgical
surge ['sərj] -vb
- to rise and fall actively : toss
- a ship surging in heavy seas
- to rise and move in waves or billows : swell
- to slip around a windlass, capstan, or bitts used esp. of a rope
- to rise suddenly to an excessive or abnormal value
- the stock market surged to a record high
- to move with a surge or in surges
- felt the blood surging into his face -- Harry Hervey
- she surged past the other runners
- to let go or slacken gradually (as a rope)
- a swelling, rolling, or sweeping forward like that of a wave or series of waves
- a large wave or billow : swell
- a series of such swells or billows
- the resulting elevation of water level
- a movement (as a slipping or slackening) of a rope or cable
- a sudden jerk or strain caused by such a movement
- a transient sudden rise of current or voltage in an electrical circuit
sur·geon ['sər-jən] -n
- a medical specialist who practices surgery
sur·geon·fish [-,fish] -n
- any of a family (Acanthuridae) of tropical bony fishes that have a laterally compressed body and typically a movable spine on each side of the body near the base of the tail capable of inflicting a painful wound
surgeon general -n
- the chief medical officer of a branch of the armed services or of a public health service
surgeon's knot -n
- a reef knot in which the first knot has two turns
sur·gery ['sərj-rē, 'sər-jə-] -n
- a branch of medicine concerned with diseases and conditions requiring or amenable to operative or manual procedures
- alterations made as if by surgery
- a physician's or dentist's office
- a room or area where surgery is performed
- the work done by a surgeon
- operation
sur·gi·cal ['sər-ji-kəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to surgeons or surgery
- used in or in connection with surgery
- following or resulting from surgery
- characteristic of or resembling surgery or a surgeon esp. in control or incisiveness
su·ri·mi [su̇-'rē-mē] -n
- a fish product made from inexpensive whitefish and often processed to resemble more expensive seafood (as crabmeat)
sur·jec·tion [(,)sər-'jek-shən] -n
- a mathematical function that is an onto mapping
sur·jec·tive [-'jek-tiv] -adj
- onto
- a set of surjective functions
sur·ly ['sər-lē] -adj, adv, n
- menacing or threatening in appearance
- arrogant, imperious
- irritably sullen and churlish in mood or manner : crabbed
sur·mise [sər-'mīz, 'sər-,] -n
- a thought or idea based on scanty evidence : conjecture
- to form a notion of from scanty evidence : imagine, infer
sur·mount [sər-'mau̇nt] -vt, adj
- to surpass in quality or attainment : excel
- to prevail over : overcome
- to get to the top of : climb
- to stand or lie at the top of
sur·name ['sər-,nām] -n
- an added name derived from occupation or other circumstance : nickname
- the name borne in common by members of a family
surname -vt
- to give a surname to
sur·pass [sər-'pas] -vt, adj
- to become better, greater, or stronger than : exceed
- surpass ed all expectations
- to go beyond : overstep
- to transcend the reach, capacity, or powers of
- a beauty that surpass es description
sur·pass·ing [sər-'pa-siŋ] -adj, adv
- greatly exceeding others : of a very high degree
sur·plice ['sər-pləs] -n
- a loose white outer ecclesiastical vestment usu. of knee length with large open sleeves
surplice -adj
- having a diagonally overlapping neckline or closing
sur·plus ['sər-(,)pləs] -n, adj
- the amount that remains when use or need is satisfied
- an excess of receipts over disbursements
- the excess of a corporation's net worth over the par or stated value of its stock
sur·plus·age [-(,)plə-sij] -n
- surplus
- excessive or nonessential matter
- matter introduced in legal pleading which is not necessary or relevant to the case
surplus value -n
- the difference in Marxist theory between the value of work done or of commodities produced by labor and the usu. subsistence wages paid by the employer
sur·print ['sər-,print] -vt, n
- overprint
sur·pris·al [sə(r)-'prī-zəl] -n
- the action of surprising : the state of being surprised
sur·prise [sə(r)-'prīz] -n
- an attack made without warning
- a taking unawares
- something that surprises
- the state of being surprised : astonishment
surprise -vb, n
- to attack unexpectedly
- to capture by an unexpected attack
- to take unawares
- police surprised the burglars in the store
- to detect or elicit by a taking unawares
- sometimes surprised a tragic shadow in her eyes -- Willa Cather
- to strike with wonder or amazement esp. because unexpected
- to cause astonishment or surprise
- her success didn't surprise
surprising -adj
- of a nature that excites surprise
sur·pris·ing·ly [sə(r)-'prī-ziŋ-lē] -adv
- in a surprising manner : to a surprising degree
- a surprisingly fast runner
- it is surprising that
- surprisingly, voter turnout was high
sur·ra ['su̇r-ə] -n
- a serious tropical or subtropical disease of domestic animals that is caused by a trypanosome ( Trypanosoma evansi), is transmitted by biting flies, and is marked esp. by fever, anemia, edema, emaciation, and petechiae
sur·re·al [sə-'rē(-ə)l also -'rā-əl] -adj, n, adv
- marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream
- unbelievable, fantastic
- surrealistic
sur·re·al·ism [sə-'rē-ə-,li-zəm also -'rā-] -n, n or adj
- the principles, ideals, or practice of producing fantastic or incongruous imagery or effects in art, literature, film, or theater by means of unnatural or irrational juxtapositions and combinations
sur·re·al·is·tic [-,rē-ə-'lis-tik also -,rā-] -adj, adv
- of or relating to surrealism
- having a strange dreamlike atmosphere or quality like that of a surrealist painting
sur·re·but·ter [,sər-(r)i-'bə-tər] -n
- the reply in common law pleading of a plaintiff to a defendant's rebutter
sur·re·join·der [-(r)i-'jȯin-dər] -n
- the reply in common law pleading of a plaintiff to a defendant's rejoinder
sur·ren·der [sə-'ren-dər] -vb
- to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand
- to give up completely or agree to forgo esp. in favor of another
- to give (oneself) up into the power of another esp. as a prisoner
- to give (oneself) over to something (as an influence)
- to give oneself up into the power of another : yield
surrender -n
- the action of yielding one's person or giving up the possession of something esp. into the power of another
- the relinquishment by a patentee of rights or claims under a patent
- the delivery of a principal into lawful custody by bail called also surrender by bail
- the voluntary cancellation of the legal liability of an insurance company by the insured and beneficiary for a consideration
- the delivery of a fugitive from justice by one government to another
- an instance of surrendering
sur·rep·ti·tious [,sər-əp-'ti-shəs, ,sə-rəp-, sə-,rep-] -adj, adv
- done, made, or acquired by stealth : clandestine
- acting or doing something clandestinely : stealthy
sur·rey ['sər-ē, 'sə-rē] -n
- a four-wheel two-seated horse-drawn pleasure carriage
sur·ro·ga·cy ['sər-ə-gə-sē] -n
- the practice of serving as a surrogate mother
sur·ro·gate ['sər-ə-,gāt, 'sə-rə-] -vt
- : to put in the place of another:
- to appoint as successor, deputy, or substitute for oneself
- substitute
- one appointed to act in place of another : deputy
- a local judicial officer in some states (as New York) who has jurisdiction over the probate of wills, the settlement of estates, and the appointment and supervision of guardians
- one that serves as a substitute
- surrogate mother
surrogate mother -n
- a woman who becomes pregnant usu. by artificial insemination or surgical implantation of a fertilized egg for the purpose of carrying the fetus to term for another woman
sur·round [sə-'rau̇nd] -vt
- to enclose on all sides : envelop
- the crowd surround ed her
- to enclose so as to cut off communication or retreat : invest
- to form or be a member of the entourage of
- flatterers who surround the king
- to constitute part of the environment of
- to extend around the margin or edge of : encircle
- a wall surround s the old city
- to cause to be surrounded by something
- surround ed himself with friends
surround -n
- something (as a border or ambient environment) that surrounds
- from urban centre to rural surround -- Emrys Jones
sur·round·ings [sə-'rau̇n-diŋz] -n pl
- the circumstances, conditions, or objects by which one is surrounded : environment
surround sound -n
- sound reproduction that often uses three or more transmission channels to enhance the illusion of a live hearing
sur·sum cor·da [,su̇r-səm-'kȯr-də, -,dä] -n
- a versicle that in traditional eucharistic liturgies exhorts the faithful to enthusiastic worship
- something inspiriting
sur·tax ['sər-,taks] -n
- an extra tax or charge
- a graduated income tax in addition to the normal income tax imposed on the amount by which one's net income exceeds a specified sum
sur·tout [(,)sər-'tü, 'sər-,] -n
- a man's long close-fitting overcoat
surv -abbr
- survey
sur·veil [sər-'vāl] -vt
- to subject to surveillance
sur·veil·lance [sər-'vā-lən(t)s also -'vāl-yən(t)s or -'vā-ən(t)s] -n
- close watch kept over someone or something (as by a detective)
- supervision
sur·veil·lant [-'vā-lənt also -'vāl-yənt or -'vā-ənt] -n
- one that exercises surveillance
sur·vey [sər-'vā, 'sər-,] -vb
- to examine as to condition, situation, or value : appraise
- to query (someone) in order to collect data for the analysis of some aspect of a group or area
- to determine and delineate the form, extent, and position of (as a tract of land) by taking linear and angular measurements and by applying the principles of geometry and trigonometry
- to view or consider comprehensively
- inspect, scrutinize
- he survey ed us in a lordly way -- Alan Harrington
- to make a survey
- : the act or an instance of surveying: as
- a broad treatment of a subject
- poll
- something that is surveyed
survey course ['sər-,vā-] -n
- a course treating briefly the chief topics of a broad field of knowledge
surveying -n
- a branch of applied mathematics that is concerned with determining the area of any portion of the earth's surface, the lengths and directions of the bounding lines, and the contour of the surface and with accurately delineating the whole on paper
sur·vey·or [sər-'vā-ər] -n
- one that surveys
- one whose occupation is surveying land
sur·viv·able [sər-'vī-və-bəl] -adj, n
- resulting in or permitting survival
sur·viv·al [sər-'vī-vəl] -n
- the act or fact of living or continuing longer than another person or thing
- the continuation of life or existence
- problems of survival in arctic conditions
- one that survives
sur·viv·al·ism [sər-'vī-və-,li-zəm] -n
- an attitude, policy, or practice based on the primacy of survival as a value
sur·viv·al·ist [-və-list] -n, adj
- a person who advocates or practices survivalism
- one who has prepared to survive in the anarchy of an anticipated breakdown of society
survival of the fittest
- natural selection
sur·viv·ance [sər-'vī-vən(t)s] -n
- survival
sur·vive [sər-'vīv] -vb, n
- to remain alive or in existence : live on
- to continue to function or prosper
- to remain alive after the death of
- he is survived by his wife
- to continue to exist or live after
- to continue to function or prosper despite : withstand
- they survived many hardships
sur·viv·er [-'vī-vər] -n
- one that survives : survivor
sur·vi·vor·ship [-'vī-vər-,ship] -n
- the legal right of the survivor of persons having joint interests in property to take the interest of the person who has died
- the state of being a survivor : survival
- the probability of surviving to a particular age
- the number or proportion of survivors (as of an age group or population)
Su·san B An·tho·ny Day ['sü-zᵊn-,bē-'an(t)-thə-nē-] -n
- February 15 observed to commemorate the birth of Susan B. Anthony
sus·cep·ti·bil·i·ty [sə-,sep-tə-'bi-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being susceptible
- lack of ability to resist some extraneous agent (as a pathogen or drug) : sensitivity
- a susceptible temperament or constitution
- feelings, sensibilities
- the ratio of the magnetization in a substance to the corresponding magnetizing force
- the ratio of the electric polarization to the electric intensity in a polarized dielectric
sus·cep·ti·ble [sə-'sep-tə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- capable of submitting to an action, process, or operation
- a theory susceptible to proof
- open, subject, or unresistant to some stimulus, influence, or agency
- impressionable, responsive
su·shi ['sü-shē also 'su̇-] -n
- cold rice dressed with vinegar, formed into any of various shapes, and garnished esp. with bits of raw seafood or vegetables
su·slik ['sü-slik] -n
- any of several rather large short-tailed ground squirrels (genus Spermophilus) of eastern Europe or northern Asia
- the mottled grayish-black fur of a suslik
sus·pect ['səs-,pekt, sə-'spekt] -adj
- regarded or deserving to be regarded with suspicion : suspected
- investigates suspect employees
- doubtful, questionable
- whose skills are suspect -- Peter Vecsey
- one that is suspected
- a person suspected of a crime
- to imagine (one) to be guilty or culpable on slight evidence or without proof
- suspect him of giving false information
- to have doubts of : distrust
- to imagine to exist or be true, likely, or probable
- to imagine something to be true or likely
sus·pend [sə-'spend] -vb
- to debar temporarily esp. from a privilege, office, or function
- suspend a student from school
- to cause to stop temporarily
- to set aside or make temporarily inoperative
- to defer to a later time on specified conditions
- to hold in an undetermined or undecided state awaiting further information
- hang
- to hang so as to be free on all sides except at the point of support
- suspend a ball by a thread
- to keep from falling or sinking by some invisible support (as buoyancy)
- dust suspend ed in the air
- to put or hold in suspension
- to keep fixed or lost (as in wonder or contemplation)
- to keep waiting in suspense or indecision
- to hold (a musical note) over into the following chord
- to cease operation temporarily
- to stop payment or fail to meet obligations
- hang
suspended animation -n
- temporary suspension of the vital functions (as in persons nearly drowned)
- a condition (as inactivity) likened to suspended animation
sus·pend·er [sə-'spen-dər] -n, adj
- one that suspends
- : a device by which something may be suspended: as
- one of two supporting bands worn across the shoulders to support trousers, skirt, or belt usu. used in pl. and often with pair
- a fastener attached to a garment or garter to hold up a stocking or sock
- a device consisting of garter and fastener
sus·pense [sə-'spen(t)s] -n, adj, adv
- the state of being suspended : suspension
- mental uncertainty : anxiety
- pleasant excitement as to a decision or outcome
- the state or character of being undecided or doubtful : indecisiveness
suspense account -n
- an account for the temporary entry of charges or credits or esp. of doubtful accounts receivable pending determination of their ultimate disposition
sus·pens·er [sə-'spen(t)-sər] -n
- a suspenseful film
sus·pen·sion [sə-'spen(t)-shən] -n
- : the act of suspending : the state or period of being suspended: as
- temporary removal (as from office or privileges)
- temporary withholding (as of belief or decision)
- temporary abrogation of a law or rule
- the holding over of one or more musical tones of a chord into the following chord producing a momentary discord and suspending the concord which the ear expects
- such a dissonance which resolves downward
- the tone thus held over
- stoppage of payment of business obligations : failure used esp. of a business or a bank
- a rhetorical device whereby the principal idea is deferred to the end of a sentence or longer unit
- the act of hanging : the state of being hung
- the state of a substance when its particles are mixed with but undissolved in a fluid or solid
- a substance in this state
- a system consisting of a solid dispersed in a solid, liquid, or gas usu. in particles of larger than colloidal size
- something suspended
- the means by which something is suspended
- the system of devices (as springs) supporting the upper part of a vehicle on the axles
suspension bridge -n
- a bridge that has its roadway suspended from two or more cables usu. passing over towers and securely anchored at the ends
suspension points -n pl
- usu. three spaced periods used to show the omission of a word or word group from a written context
sus·pen·sive [sə-'spen(t)-siv] -adj, adv
- stopping temporarily : suspending
- characterized by suspense, suspended judgment, or indecisiveness
- characterized by suspension
sus·pen·sor [sə-'spen(t)-sər] -n
- : a suspending part or structure: as
- a group or chain of cells that is produced from the zygote of a seed plant and serves to push the developing embryo into the endosperm
- either of a pair of gametangia-bearing hyphal outgrowths in fungi (order Mucorales) that extend from two sexually compatible hyphae and support the resulting zygospore
sus·pen·so·ry [sə-'spen(t)-sə-rē, -'spen(t)s-rē] -adj
- held in suspension
- fitted or serving to suspend
- temporarily leaving undetermined : suspensive
suspensory -n
- something that suspends or holds up
- a fabric supporter for the scrotum
suspensory ligament -n
- a ligament or fibrous membrane suspending an organ or part
- a ringlike fibrous membrane connecting the ciliary body and the lens of the eye and holding the lens in place
sus·pi·cion [sə-'spi-shən] -n
- the act or an instance of suspecting something wrong without proof or on slight evidence : mistrust
- a state of mental uneasiness and uncertainty : doubt
- a barely detectable amount : trace
- just a suspicion of garlic
suspicion [-'spi-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vt
- suspect
sus·pi·cious [sə-'spi-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- tending to arouse suspicion : questionable
- disposed to suspect : distrustful
- expressing or indicative of suspicion
sus·pi·ra·tion [,səs-pə-'rā-shən] -n
- a long deep breath : sigh
sus·pire [sə-'spī(-ə)r] -vi
- to draw a long deep breath : sigh
suss ['səs] -vt
- figure out usu. used with out
- to inspect or investigate so as to gain more knowledge usu. used with out
Sus·sex spaniel ['sə-siks-, -,seks-] -n
- any of a breed of short-legged short-necked long-bodied spaniels of English origin with a flat or slightly wavy golden liver-colored coat
sus·tain [sə-'stān] -vt, adv, n
- to give support or relief to
- to supply with sustenance : nourish
- keep up, prolong
- to support the weight of : prop
- to carry or withstand (a weight or pressure)
- to buoy up
- to bear up under
- suffer, undergo
- to support as true, legal, or just
- to allow or admit as valid
- the court sustain ed the motion
- to support by adequate proof : confirm
- testimony that sustain s our contention
sustain -n
- a musical effect that prolongs a note's resonance
- utilizing heavy sustain on his guitar -- Bill Dahl
sus·tain·able [sə-'stā-nə-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- capable of being sustained
- of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged
- of or relating to a lifestyle involving the use of sustainable methods
sus·tainedre·lease [sə-'stānd-ri-'lēs] -adj
- designed to release a drug in the body slowly over an extended period of time
- sustainedrelease capsules
sustained yield -n, adj
- production of a biological resource (as timber or fish) under management procedures which ensure replacement of the part harvested by regrowth or reproduction before another harvest occurs
sus·tain·ing [sə-'stā-niŋ] -adj
- serving to sustain
- aiding in the support of an organization through a special fee
sus·te·nance ['səs-tə-nən(t)s] -n
- means of support, maintenance, or subsistence : living
- food, provisions
- nourishment
- the act of sustaining : the state of being sustained
- a supplying or being supplied with the necessaries of life
- something that gives support, endurance, or strength
sus·ten·tac·u·lar cell [,səs-tən-'ta-kyə-lər-, -,ten-] -n
- a supporting epithelial cell (as a Sertoli cell or a cell of the olfactory epithelium) that lacks a specialized function (as nerve-impulse conduction)
sus·ten·ta·tion [-'tā-shən] -n, adj
- : the act of sustaining : the state of being sustained: as
- maintenance, upkeep
- preservation, conservation
- maintenance of life, growth, or morale
- provision with sustenance
- something that sustains : support
Su·su ['sü-(,)sü] -n
- a member of a West African people of Mali, Guinea, and the area along the northern border of Sierra Leone
- the Mande language of the Susu people
su·sur·ra·tion [,sü-sə-'rā-shən] -n
- a whispering sound : murmur
su·sur·rous [su̇-'sər-əs, -'sə-rəs] -adj
- full of whispering sounds
su·sur·rus [su̇-'sər-əs, -'sə-rəs] -n, adj
- a whispering or rustling sound
sut·ler ['sət-lər] -n
- a civilian provisioner to an army post often with a shop on the post
su·tra ['sü-trə] -n
- a precept summarizing Vedic teaching
- a collection of these precepts
- one of the discourses of the Buddha that constitute the basic text of Buddhist scripture
sut·tee [(,)sə-'tē, 'sə-,tē] -n
- the act or custom of a Hindu widow willingly being cremated on the funeral pyre of her husband as an indication of her devotion to him
- a woman cremated in this way
su·ture ['sü-chər] -n, adj, adv
- a strand or fiber used to sew parts of the living body
- a stitch made with a suture
- the act or process of sewing with sutures
- a uniting of parts
- the seam or seamlike line along which two things or parts are sewed or united
- the line of union in an immovable articulation (as between the bones of the skull)
- such an articulation
- a furrow at the junction of adjacent bodily parts
- a line of dehiscence (as on a fruit)
suture ['sü-chə-riŋ, 'süch-riŋ] -vt
- to unite, close, or secure with sutures
SUV [,es-(,)yü-'vē] -n
- sport-utility vehicle
su·zer·ain ['sü-zə-rən, -,rān; 'süz-rən] -n
- a superior feudal lord to whom fealty is due : overlord
- a dominant state controlling the foreign relations of a vassal state but allowing it sovereign authority in its internal affairs
su·zer·ain·ty [-tē] -n
- the dominion of a suzerain : overlordship