c ['sē] -n
- the 3d letter of the English alphabet
- a graphic representation of this letter
- a speech counterpart of orthographic c
- one hundred
- a sum of 100
- the keynote of a C-major scale
- a graphic device for reproducing the letter c
- one designated cesp. as the third in order or class
- a grade rating a student's work as fair or mediocre in quality
- one graded or rated with a C
- something shaped like the letter C
- a structured programming language designed to be compact and efficient
- calm
- calorie
- canceled
- candle
- carat
- catcher
- cent
- centavo
- centi-
- centime
- centimeter
- century
- chapter
- circa
- circumference
- cocaine
- coefficient
- college
- gallon
- contralto
- copyright
- cubic
- cup
- curie
C -abbr
- capacitance
- Celsius
- centigrade
- Coulomb
- cytosine
- carbon
ca -abbr
- circa
Ca -symbol
- calcium
CA -abbr
- California
- Central America
- certified acupuncturist
- chartered accountant
- chief accountant
- chronological age
- commercial agent
- controller of accounts
- current account
ca' ['kȯl] -vb
(variant of call)
- to speak in a loud distinct voice so as to be heard at a distance : shout
- to make a request or demand
- call for an investigation
- to utter a characteristic note or cry
- to get or try to get into communication by telephone
- just call ed to say hello
often used with up - to make a demand in card games (as for a particular card or for a show of hands)
- to give the calls for a square dance
- to make a brief visit
- call ed to pay his respects
- to utter in a loud distinct voice often used with out
- to announce or read loudly or authoritatively
- call off a row of figures
- to announce the play-by-play of (as a football game)
- to command or request to come or be present
- to cause to come : bring
- call s to mind an old saying
- to summon to a particular activity, employment, or office
- was call ed to active duty
- was call ed to the bar of justice
- to invite or command to meet : convoke
- to rouse from sleep or summon to get up
- to give the order for : bring into action
- call a strike against the company
- to manage by giving the signals or orders
- that catcher call s a good game
- to make a demand in bridge for (a card or suit)
- to require (a player) to show the hand in poker by making an equal bet
- to challenge to make good on a statement
- to charge with or censure for an offense
- deserves to be call ed on that
- to attract (as game) by imitating the characteristic cry
- to halt (as a baseball game) because of unsuitable conditions
- to rule on the status of (as a pitched ball or a player's action)
- to give the calls for (a square dance) often used with off
- to demand payment of esp. by formal notice
- to demand presentation of (as a bond or option) for redemption
- to get or try to get in communication with by telephone
- call the doctor to make an appointment
- to generate signals for (a telephone number) in order to reach the party to whom the number is assigned
- to make a signal to in order to transmit a message
- to speak of or address by a specified name : give a name to
- to regard or characterize as of a certain kind : consider
- can hardly be call ed generous
- to estimate or consider for purposes of an estimate or for convenience
- to describe correctly in advance of or without knowledge of the event : predict
- to name or specify in advance
- to temporarily transfer control of computer processing to (as a subroutine or procedure)
- an act of calling with the voice : shout
- an imitation of the cry of a bird or other animal made to attract it
- an instrument used for calling
- the cry of an animal (as a bird)
- a request or command to come or assemble
- a summons or signal on a drum, bugle, or pipe
- admission to the bar as a barrister
- an invitation to become the minister of a church or to accept a professional appointment
- a divine vocation or strong inner prompting to a particular course of action
- a summoning of actors to rehearsal
- the call is for 11 o'clock
- the attraction or appeal of a particular activity, condition, or place
- an order specifying the number of men to be inducted into the armed services during a specified period
- the selection of a play in football
- demand, claim
- need, justification
- there's no call for such behavior
- a demand for payment of money
- an option to buy a specified amount of a security (as stock) or commodity (as wheat) at a fixed price at or within a specified time
- an instance of asking for something : request
- many call s for Christmas stories
- roll call
- a short usu. formal visit
- the name or thing called
- the act of calling in a card game
- the act of calling on the telephone
- a direction or a succession of directions for a square dance rhythmically called to the dancers
- a decision or ruling made by an official of a sports contest
- decision
- a temporary transfer of control of computer processing to a particular set of instructions (as a subroutine or procedure)
cab ['kab, 'käb] -n
- an ancient Hebrew unit of capacity equal to about two quarts (2.2 liters)
- cabriolet
- a similar light closed carriage (as a hansom)
- a carriage for hire
- taxicab
- the part of a locomotive that houses the engineer and operating controls
- a comparable shelter (as on a truck) housing operating controls
- to travel in a cab
- cabernet sauvignon
CAB -abbr
- Civil Aeronautics Board
ca·bal [kə-'bäl, -'bal] -n
- the artifices and intrigues of a group of persons secretly united in a plot (as to overturn a government)
- a group engaged in such artifices and intrigues
- club, group
cabal -vi
- to unite in or form a cabal
cabala [kə-'bä-lə, 'ka-bə-lə] -n, adj
(variant of kabbalah)
- a medieval and modern system of Jewish theosophy, mysticism, and thaumaturgy marked by belief in creation through emanation and a cipher method of interpreting Scripture
- a traditional, esoteric, occult, or secret matter
- esoteric doctrine or mysterious art
ca·ba·let·ta [,ka-bə-'le-tə, ,kä-] -n
- an operatic song in simple popular style characterized by a uniform rhythm
- the lively bravura concluding section of an extended aria or duet
ca·ba·list [kə-'bä-list, 'ka-bə-] -n
- a student, interpreter, or devotee of the Jewish cabala
- one skilled in esoteric doctrine or mysterious art
ca·bal·ist [kə-'ba-list, -'bä-] -n
- a member of a cabal
ca·bal·le·ro [,ka-bə-'ler-(,)ō, -bə(l)-'yer-] -n
- knight, cavalier
- horseman
ca·bana [kə-'ban-yə, -'ba-nə] -n
- a shelter resembling a cabin usu. with an open side facing a beach or swimming pool
- a lightweight structure with living facilities
cab·a·ret [,ka-bə-'rā, 'ka-bə-,] -n
- a shop selling wines and liquors
- a restaurant serving liquor and providing entertainment (as by singers or dancers) : nightclub
- the show provided at a cabaret
cab·bage ['ka-bij] -n, adj
- any of several brassicas ( Brassica oleracea) of European origin
- a leafy garden plant ( Brassica oleracea capitata) with a short stem and a dense globular head of usu. green leaves that is used as a vegetable
- any of several plants related to or resembling cabbage
- money, cash
cabbage -n
- pieces of cloth left in cutting out garments and traditionally kept by tailors as perquisites
- steal, filch
cabbage butterfly -n
- any of several largely white butterflies (family Pieridae) whose green larvae are cabbage worms
- a small cosmopolitan butterfly ( Pieris rapaesyn. Artogeia rapae) that is a pest on cabbage called also cabbage white
cabbage looper -n
- a noctuid moth ( Trichoplusia ni) having pale green white-striped larvae that feed on cruciferous plants
cabbage palm -n
- a palm with terminal buds eaten as a vegetable
cabbage palmetto -n
- a cabbage palm ( Sabal palmetto) with fan-shaped leaves that is native to coastal southeastern U.S. and the Bahamas
cabbage rose -n
- a fragrant garden rose ( Rosa centifolia) with upright branches and large pink flowers
cabbage worm -n
- an insect larva (as of a cabbage butterfly) that feeds on cabbages
cab·bie ['ka-bē] -n
- cabdriver
cab·driv·er ['kab-,drī-vər] -n
- a driver of a cab
ca·ber ['kā-bər, 'kä-] -n
- pole
- a young tree trunk used for tossing as a trial of strength in a Scottish sport
cab·er·net franc [,ka-bər-'nā-'fräŋk, -'fräⁿ] -n
- a dry red wine often used in blends (as with merlot or cabernet sauvignon)
cab·er·net sau·vi·gnon [,ka-bər-'nā-sō-vē-'nyōⁿ] -n
- a dry red wine made from a single widely cultivated variety of black grape called also cabernet
CABG -abbr
- coronary-artery bypass graft
cab·in ['ka-bən] -n
- a private room on a ship or boat
- a compartment below deck on a boat used for living accommodations
- the passenger or cargo compartment of a vehicle (as an airplane or automobile)
- the crew compartment of an exploratory vehicle (as a spacecraft)
- a small one-story dwelling usu. of simple construction
- cab
cabin -vi
- to live in or as if in a cabin
- confine, restrain
- significantly cabin s the discretion of administrators -- A. M. Dershowitz
cabin boy -n
- a boy working as servant on a ship
cabin car -n
- caboose
cabin class -n
- a class of accommodations on a passenger ship superior to tourist class and inferior to first class
cabin cruiser -n
- cruiser
cab·i·net ['kab-nit, 'ka-bə-] -n
- a case or cupboard usu. having doors and shelves
- a collection of specimens esp. of biological or numismatic interest
- console
- a chamber having temperature and humidity controls and used esp. for incubating biological samples
- a small room providing seclusion
- a small exhibition room in a museum
- the private room serving as council chamber of the chief councillors or ministers of a sovereign
- the consultations and actions of these councillors
- a body of advisers of a head of state
- a similar advisory council of a governor of a state or a mayor
- a meeting of a cabinet
- milk shake
cabinet -adj
- of or relating to a governmental cabinet
- suitable by reason of size for a small room or by reason of attractiveness or perfection for preservation and display in a cabinet
- used or adapted for cabinetmaking
- done or used by a cabinetmaker
cab·i·net·mak·er [-,mā-kər] -n
- a skilled woodworker who makes fine furniture
cab·i·net·ry ['kab-ni-trē, 'ka-bə-] -n
- cabinetwork
- cabinets
cab·i·net·work [-,wərk] -n
- finished woodwork made by a cabinetmaker
cabin fever -n
- extreme irritability and restlessness from living in isolation or a confined indoor area for a prolonged time
cab·in·mate ['ka-bən-,māt] -n
- one of two or more persons sharing the same cabin
ca·ble ['kā-bəl] -n
- a strong rope esp. of 10 inches (25 centimeters) or more in circumference
- a cable-laid rope
- a wire rope or metal chain of great tensile strength
- a wire or wire rope by which force is exerted to control or operate a mechanism
- cable length
- an assembly of electrical conductors insulated from each other but laid up together (as by being twisted around a central core)
- cablegram
- a radio message or telegram
- something resembling or fashioned like a cable
- cable television
cable ['kā-b(ə-)liŋ] -vb, n
- to fasten with or as if with a cable
- to provide with a cable or cables
- to telegraph by submarine cable
- to make into a cable or into a form resembling a cable
- to communicate by a submarine cable
cable car -n
- : a vehicle moved by an endless cable:
- one suspended from an overhead cable
- one that moves along tracks
cablecast ['kā-bəl-,kast] -n, vb
- a cable television transmission
ca·ble·gram ['kā-bəl-,gram] -n
- a message sent by a submarine telegraph cable
ca·bleknit ['kā-bəl-,nit] -adj
- having or made with a knitting stitch that produces a pattern resembling the twist of a usu. two-ply cable
ca·blelaid ['kā-bəl-'lād] -adj
- composed of three ropes laid together left-handed with each containing three strands twisted together
cable length -n
- a maritime unit of length variously reckoned as 100 fathoms, 120 fathoms, or 608 feet
cable modem -n
- a modem for connecting a computer to a network over a cable television line
cable television -n
- a system of television reception in which signals from distant stations are picked up by a master antenna and sent by cable to the individual receivers of paying subscribers called also cable TV
ca·ble·way ['kā-bəl-,wā] -n
- a suspended cable used as a track along which carriers can be pulled
cab·man ['kab-mən] -n
- cabdriver
cab·o·chon ['ka-bə-,shän] -n, adv
- a gem or bead cut in convex form and highly polished but not faceted
- this style of cutting
ca·boo·dle [kə-'bü-dᵊl] -n
- collection, lot
ca·boose [kə-'büs] -n
- a ship's galley
- a freight-train car attached usu. to the rear mainly for the use of the train crew
- one that follows or brings up the rear
- buttocks
cab·o·tage ['ka-bə-,täzh] -n
- trade or transport in coastal waters or airspace or between two points within a country
- the right to engage in cabotage
ca·bret·ta [kə-'bre-tə] -n
- a light soft leather from skins of hairy sheep
ca·bril·la [kə-'brē-ə, -'bri-lə] -n
- any of various sea basses (esp. of the genera Epinephelusand Paralabrax) of the Mediterranean, the California coast, and the warmer parts of the western Atlantic
cab·ri·ole ['ka-brē-,ōl] -n
- a ballet leap in which one leg is extended in midair and the other struck against it
- a curved furniture leg ending in an ornamental foot
cab·ri·o·let [,ka-brē-ə-'lā] -n
- a light 2-wheeled one-horse carriage with a folding leather hood, a large apron, and upward-curving shafts
- a convertible coupe
cab·stand ['kab-,stand] -n
- a place where cabs await hire
cac- -comb form
- bad
ca·ca ['kä-,kä] -n
- excrement
ca' can·ny [kȯ-'ka-nē] -n, vi
- slowdown
ca·cao [kə-'kau̇, kə-'kā-(,)ō] -n
- the dried partly fermented fatty seeds of a So. American evergreen tree ( Theobroma cacaoof the family Sterculiaceae) that are used in making cocoa, chocolate, and cocoa butter called also cacao bean cocoa bean
- a tree having small yellowish flowers followed by fleshy pods from which cacao is obtained
cacao butter -n
(variant of cocoa butter)
- a pale vegetable fat with a low melting point obtained from cacao beans
cac·cia·to·re [,kä-chə-'tȯr-ē] -adj
- cooked with tomatoes and herbs and sometimes wine
cach·a·lot ['ka-shə-,lät, -,lō] -n
- sperm whale
cache ['kash] -n
- a hiding place esp. for concealing and preserving provisions or implements
- a secure place of storage
- something hidden or stored in a cache
- a computer memory with very short access time used for storage of frequently or recently used instructions or data called also cache memory
- to place, hide, or store in a cache
ca·chec·tic [kə-'kek-tik, ka-] -adj
- affected by cachexia
cache·pot ['kash-,pät, 'kash-,pō, 'ka-shə-] -n
- an ornamental receptacle to hold and usu. to conceal a flowerpot
ca·chet [ka-'shā] -n
- a seal used esp. as a mark of official approval
- an indication of approval carrying great prestige
- a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige
- prestige
- being rich...doesn't have the cachet it used to -- Truman Capote
- a medicinal preparation for swallowing consisting of a case usu. of rice-flour paste enclosing a medicine
- a design or inscription on an envelope to commemorate a postal or philatelic event
- an advertisement forming part of a postage meter impression
- a motto or slogan included in a postal cancellation
ca·chex·ia [kə-'kek-sē-ə, ka-] -n
- general physical wasting and malnutrition usu. associated with chronic disease
cach·in·nate ['ka-kə-,nāt] -vi, n
- to laugh loudly or immoderately
ca·chou [ka-'shü, 'ka-,] -n
- a pill or pastille used to sweeten the breath
ca·cique [kə-'sēk] -n
- a native Indian chief in areas dominated primarily by a Spanish culture
- a local political boss in Spain and Latin America
cackhand·ed ['kak-,han-dəd] -adj
- left-handed
- clumsy, awkward
cack·le ['ka-kəl] -vi, n
- to make the sharp broken noise or cry characteristic of a hen esp. after laying
- to laugh esp. in a harsh or sharp manner
- chatter
caco·de·mon [,ka-kə-'dē-mən] -n, adj
- demon
cac·o·dyl·ic acid [,ka-kə-'di-lik-] -n
- a toxic crystalline compound of arsenic C 2H 7AsO 2used esp. as an herbicide
caco·e·thes [,ka-kə-'wē-(,)thēz, -kō-'ē-] -n
- an insatiable desire : mania
ca·cog·ra·phy [ka-'kä-grə-fē] -n, adj
- bad spelling
- bad handwriting
cac·o·mis·tle ['ka-kə-,mi-səl, ,ka-kə-'mis(t)-lē] -n
- ringtail
ca·coph·o·nous [ka-'kä-fə-nəs, -'kȯ- also -'ka-] -adj, adv
- marked by cacophony : harsh-sounding
ca·coph·o·ny [-nē] -n
- harsh or discordant sound : dissonance
- harshness in the sound of words or phrases
cac·tus ['kak-təs] -n
- any of a family (Cactaceae, the cactus family) of plants that have succulent stems and branches with scales or spines instead of leaves and are found esp. in dry areas (as deserts)
cactus wren -n
- a large harsh-voiced wren ( Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) esp. of arid regions of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico
ca·cu·mi·nal [ka-'kyü-mə-nᵊl, kə-] -adj
- retroflex
cad ['kad] -n
- an omnibus conductor
- a man who acts with deliberate disregard for another's feelings or rights
CAD -abbr
- computer-aided design
ca·das·tral [kə-'das-trəl] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a cadastre
- showing or recording property boundaries, subdivision lines, buildings, and related details
ca·das·tre [kə-'das-tər] -n
- an official register of the quantity, value, and ownership of real estate used in apportioning taxes
ca·dav·er [kə-'da-vər] -n, adj
- a dead body
- one intended for dissection
ca·dav·er·ine [kə-'da-və-,rēn] -n
- a syrupy colorless poisonous ptomaine C 5H 14N 2formed by decarboxylation of lysine esp. in putrefaction of flesh
ca·dav·er·ous [kə-'dav-rəs, -'da-vər-əs] -adj, adv
- of or relating to a corpse
- suggestive of corpses or tombs
- pallid, livid
- gaunt, emaciated
cad·die ['ka-dē] -n, vi
- one who waits about for odd jobs
- one who assists a golfer esp. by carrying the clubs
- a wheeled device for conveying things not readily carried by hand
cad·dis ['ka-dəs] -n
- worsted yarn
- a worsted ribbon or binding formerly used for garters and girdles
caddis -n
- caddisworm
- caddis fly
caddis fly -n
- any of an order (Trichoptera) of insects with four membranous usu. hairy wings, vestigial mouthparts, slender many-jointed antennae, and aquatic larvae
cad·dish ['ka-dish] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or being a cad
cad·dis·worm ['ka-dəs-,wərm] -n
- the larva of a caddis fly that lives in and carries around a silken case covered with bits of debris
Cad·do ['ka-(,)dō] -n
- a member of a group of American Indian peoples of Louisiana, Arkansas, and eastern Texas
- the language of the Caddo peoples
cad·dy ['ka-dē] -n
- a small box, can, or chest used esp. to keep tea in
- a container or device for storing or holding objects when they are not in use
cade ['kād] -adj
- left by its mother and reared by hand : pet
ca·delle [kə-'del] -n
- a small cosmopolitan black beetle ( Tenebroides mauritanicus) destructive to stored grain
ca·dence ['kā-dᵊn(t)s] -n, adj
- a rhythmic sequence or flow of sounds in language
- the beat, time, or measure of rhythmical motion or activity
- a falling inflection of the voice
- a concluding and usu. falling strain
- a musical chord sequence moving to a harmonic close or point of rest and giving the sense of harmonic completion
- the modulated and rhythmic recurrence of a sound esp. in nature
ca·den·cy ['kā-dᵊn(t)-sē] -n
- cadence
ca·dent ['kā-dᵊnt] -adj
- being in the process of falling
- with cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks -- Shak.
- having rhythmic cadence
ca·den·za [kə-'den-zə] -n
- a parenthetical flourish in an aria or other solo piece commonly just before a final or other important cadence
- a technically brilliant sometimes improvised solo passage toward the close of a concerto
- an exceptionally brilliant part of an artistic and esp. a literary work
cade oil ['kād-] -n
- juniper tar
ca·det [kə-'det] -n
- a younger brother or son
- youngest son
- a younger branch of a family or a member of it
- one in training for a military or naval commission
- a student in a service academy
- pimp
Ca·dette [kə-'det] -n
- a member of a program of the Girl Scouts for girls in the sixth through ninth grades in school
cadge ['kaj] -vb, n
- beg, sponge
- cadge a free cup of coffee
cad·mi·um ['kad-mē-əm] -n
- a bluish-white malleable ductile toxic divalent metallic element used esp. in batteries, pigments, and protective platings
cadmium sulfide -n
- a yellow-brown poisonous salt CdS used esp. in electronic parts, in photoelectric cells, and in medicine
Cad·mus ['kad-məs] -n
- the legendary founder of Thebes
cad·re ['ka-,drā, 'kä-, -drē; esp Brit 'kä-də(r), 'kā-, -drə] -n
- frame, framework
- a nucleus or core group esp. of trained personnel able to assume control and to train others
- a group of people having some unifying relationship
- a cell of indoctrinated leaders active in promoting the interests of a revolutionary party
- a member of a cadre
ca·du·ceus [kə-'dü-sē-əs, -'dyü-, -shəs] -n
- the symbolic staff of a herald
- a representation of a staff with two entwined snakes and two wings at the top
- an insignia bearing a caduceus and symbolizing a physician
ca·du·ci·ty [kə-'dü-sə-tē, -'dyü-] -n
- senility
- the quality of being transitory or perishable
ca·du·cous [kə-'dü-kəs, -'dyü-] -adj
- falling off easily or before the usual time used esp. of floral organs
cae·ci·lian [si-'sil-yən, -'sēl-, -'si-lē-ən] -n, adj
- any of an order (Gymnophiona) of chiefly tropical burrowing limbless amphibians resembling worms
Caer·phil·ly [kär-'fi-lē] -n
- a mild white friable cheese of Welsh origin
Cae·sar ['sē-zər] -n, adj
- any of the Roman emperors succeeding Augustus Caesar used as a title
- : a powerful ruler:
- emperor
- autocrat, dictator
- the civil power : a temporal ruler
caesarean [si-'zer-ē-ən] -n, adj
(variant of cesarean)
- cesarean section
caesarean section -n
(variant of cesarean section)
- surgical incision of the walls of the abdomen and uterus for delivery of offspring
Cae·sar·ism ['sē-zə-,ri-zəm] -n
- imperial authority or system : political absolutism : dictatorship
Caesar salad -n
- a tossed salad usu. made of romaine, garlic, anchovies, and croutons and dressed with olive oil, coddled egg, lemon juice, and grated cheese
cae·si·um ['sē-zē-əm also -zhē-] -n
(variant of cesium)
- a silver-white soft ductile element of the alkali metal group that is the most electropositive element known and that is used esp. in photoelectric cells
caes·pi·tose ['ses-pə-,tōs] -adj
- growing in clusters or tufts
- forming a dense turf
cae·su·ra [si-'zyu̇r-ə, -'zhu̇r-] -n, adj
- a usu. rhetorical break in the flow of sound in the middle of a line of verse
- a break in the flow of sound in a verse caused by the ending of a word within a foot
- break, interruption
- a pause marking a rhythmic point of division in a melody
CAF -abbr
- cost and freight
ca·fe [ka-'fā, kə-] -n
- a usu. small and informal establishment serving various refreshments (as coffee)
- restaurant
- barroom
- cabaret, nightclub
CAFE -abbr
- corporate average fuel economy
ca·fe au lait [(,)ka-'fā-ō-'lā] -n
- coffee with usu. hot milk in about equal parts
- the color of coffee with milk
ca·fe noir [-'nwär] -n
- coffee without milk or cream
- demitasse
cafe society -n
- society of persons who are regular patrons of fashionable cafes
caf·e·te·ria [,ka-fə-'tir-ē-ə] -n
- a restaurant in which the customers serve themselves or are served at a counter and take the food to tables to eat
- lunchroom
cafeteria -adj
- providing a selection from which a choice may be made
caf·e·te·riastyle [-,stī(-ə)l] -adj
- cafeteria
caf·e·to·ri·um [-'tȯr-ē-əm] -n
- a large room (as in a school building) designed for use both as a cafeteria and an auditorium
caff ['kaf] -n
- cafe
caf·fein·at·ed ['ka-fə-,nā-təd, -fē-ə-] -adj
- stimulated by or as if by caffeine
- caffeinated rhythms of electronic music -- Marc Weingarten
- containing caffeine
caf·feine [ka-'fēn, 'ka-,] -n
- a bitter alkaloid C 8H 10N 4O 2found esp. in coffee, tea, cacao, and kola nuts and used medicinally as a stimulant and diuretic
caf·fe lat·te ['kä-(,)fā-'lä-(,)tā] -n
- espresso mixed with hot or steamed milk
caf·tan ['kaf-(,)tan] -n
- a usu. cotton or silk ankle-length garment with long sleeves that is common throughout the Levant
CAG -abbr
- carrier air group
cage ['kāj] -n
- a box or enclosure having some openwork for confining or carrying animals (as birds)
- a barred cell for confining prisoners
- a fenced area for prisoners of war
- a framework serving as support
- the steel cage of a skyscraper
- an enclosure resembling a cage in form or purpose
- an arrangement of atoms or molecules so bonded as to enclose a space in which another atom or ion (as of a metal) can reside
- batting cage
- a goal consisting of posts or a frame with a net attached (as in ice hockey)
- a large building containing an area for practicing outdoor sports and often adapted for indoor events
- to confine or keep in or as if in a cage
- to drive (as a puck) into a cage and score a goal
cage·ling ['kāj-liŋ] -n
- a caged bird
ca·gey ['kā-jē] -adj, adv, n
- hesitant about committing oneself
- officials are cagey about giving out details
- wary of being trapped or deceived : shrewd
- marked by cleverness
CAGS -abbr
- Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study
ca·hier [kä-'yā, kī-'ā] -n
- a report or memorial concerning policy esp. of a parliamentary body
ca·hoot [kə-'hüt] -n
- partnership, league usu. used in pl.
ca·how [kə-'hau̇] -n
- a dark-colored petrel ( Pterodroma cahow) formerly abundant in Bermuda but now nearly extinct
CAI -abbr
- computer-aided instruction; computer-assisted instruction
cai·man ['kā-mən; kā-'man, kī-] -n
- any of several Central and So. American crocodilians (genera Caiman, Melanosuchus,and Paleosuchus) similar to alligators
Cain ['kān] -n
- the brother and murderer of Abel
cai·pi·ri·nha [,kī-pə-'rēn-yə] -n
- a cocktail consisting of lime, sugar, and rum
ca·ique [kä-'ēk, 'kīk] -n
- a light skiff used on the Bosporus
- a Levantine sailing vessel
caird ['kerd] -n
- a traveling tinker
- tramp, gypsy
cairn ['kern] -n, adj
- a heap of stones piled up as a memorial or as a landmark
cairn·gorm ['kern-,gȯrm] -n
- a yellow or smoky-brown crystalline quartz
cairn terrier -n
- any of a breed of small compactly built hard-coated terriers of Scottish origin
cais·son ['kā-,sän, -sᵊn, Brit also kə-'sün] -n
- a chest to hold ammunition
- a usu. 2-wheeled vehicle for artillery ammunition attachable to a horse-drawn limber
- a limber with its attached caisson
- a watertight chamber used in construction work under water or as a foundation
- a hollow floating box or a boat used as a floodgate for a dock or basin
- coffer
caisson disease -n
- decompression sickness
cai·tiff ['kā-təf] -adj, n
- cowardly, despicable
caj·e·put ['ka-jə-pət, -,pu̇t] -n
- an Australian and southeast Asian tree ( Melaleuca quinquenerviasyn. M. leucadendron) of the myrtle family that yields a pungent medicinal oil and has been introduced into Florida
ca·jole [kə-'jōl] -vt, n
- to persuade with flattery or gentle urging esp. in the face of reluctance : coax
- had to cajole them into going
- to obtain from someone by gentle persuasion
- cajoled money from his parents
- to deceive with soothing words or false promises
Ca·jun ['kā-jən] -n
- a Louisianian descended from French-speaking immigrants from Acadia
Cajun -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the Cajuns
- of, relating to, or prepared in a style of cooking originating among the Cajuns and characterized by the use of hot seasonings (as cayenne pepper)
cake ['kāk] -n, adj
- a breadlike food made from a dough or batter that is usu. fried or baked in small flat shapes and is often unleavened
- a sweet baked food made from a dough or thick batter usu. containing flour and sugar and often shortening, eggs, and a raising agent (as baking powder)
- a flattened usu. round mass of food that is baked or fried
- a block of compacted or congealed matter
- a hard or brittle layer or deposit
- something easily done
- after so much studying, the test was cake
- encrust
- to fill (a space) with a packed mass
- to form or harden into a mass
cake·walk ['kāk-,wȯk] -n, vi
- a black American entertainment having a cake as prize for the most accomplished steps and figures in walking
- a stage dance developed from walking steps and figures typically involving a high prance with backward tilt
- a one-sided contest
- an easy task
cal -abbr
- small calorie
Cal -abbr
- California
- large calorie
Cal·a·bar bean ['ka-lə-,bär-] -n
- the dark brown highly poisonous leguminous seed of a tropical west African woody vine ( Physostigma venenosum) that is used as a source of physostigmine and was used formerly as an ordeal poison in African witchcraft trials
cal·a·bash ['ka-lə-,bash] -n
- a tropical American tree ( Crescentia cujete) of the bignonia family
- its large hard-shelled globose fruit
- gourd
- one whose hard shell is used for a utensil
- a utensil (as a bottle or dipper) made from the shell of a calabash
ca·la·ba·za [,ka-lə-'bä-zə, -sə] -n
- a large winter squash ( Cucurbita moschata) that resembles a pumpkin and is typically grown in the West Indies and tropical America
cal·a·boose ['ka-lə-,büs] -n
- jail
- a local jail
ca·la·di·um [kə-'lā-dē-əm] -n
- any of a genus ( Caladiumand esp. C. bicolor) of tropical American plants of the arum family widely cultivated for their showy variably colored leaves
cal·a·man·der ['ka-lə-,man-dər, ,ka-lə-'] -n
- the hazel-brown black-striped wood of a southeast Asian tree (genus Diospyrosand esp. D. quaesita) that is used in furniture manufacturing
cal·a·mari [,kä-lə-'mär-ē, 'ka-lə-,mer-ē] -n
- squid used as food
cal·a·mary ['ka-lə-,mer-ē] -n
- squid
calamata [,kä-lə-'mä-tə, ,ka-] -n
(variant of kalamata)
- a brine-cured black olive grown in Greece
cal·a·mine ['ka-lə-,mīn, -mən] -n
- a mixture of zinc oxide with a small amount of ferric oxide used in lotions, liniments, and ointments
cal·a·mint ['ka-lə-,mint] -n
- any of a genus ( Calaminthasyn. Satureja,esp. C. nepeta) of Eurasian perennial mints
cal·a·mite ['ka-lə-,mīt] -n
- a Paleozoic fossil plant (esp. genus Calamites) resembling a giant horsetail
ca·lam·i·tous [kə-'la-mə-təs] -adj, adv
- being, causing, or accompanied by calamity
ca·lam·i·ty [kə-'la-mə-tē] -n
- a state of deep distress or misery caused by major misfortune or loss
- a disastrous event marked by great loss and lasting distress and suffering
cal·a·mon·din [,ka-lə-'män-dən] -n
- a small hybrid citrus tree ( Citrofortunella mitissyn. Citrus mitis)
- its small tart fruit resembling the mandarin and used esp. in marmalades
cal·a·mus ['ka-lə-məs] -n
- sweet flag
- the aromatic peeled and dried rhizome of the sweet flag that is the source of a carcinogenic essential oil
- the hollow basal portion of a feather below the vane : quill
ca·lash [kə-'lash] -n
- a light small-wheeled 4-passenger carriage with a folding top
- caleche
- a large hood worn by women in the 18th century
calc -abbr
- calculate; calculated
calc- -comb form
- calcium : calcium salt
cal·ca·ne·al [kal-'kā-nē-əl] -adj
- relating to the heel or calcaneus
cal·ca·ne·um [-nē-əm] -n
- calcaneus
cal·ca·ne·us [-nē-əs] -n
- a tarsal bone that in humans is the large bone of the heel
cal·car·e·ous [kal-'ker-ē-əs] -adj, adv
- resembling calcite or calcium carbonate esp. in hardness
- consisting of or containing calcium carbonate
- containing calcium
- growing on limestone or in soil impregnated with lime
cal·cic ['kal-sik] -adj
- derived from or containing calcium or lime : rich in calcium
cal·ci·cole ['kal-sə-,kōl] -n, adj
- a plant normally growing on calcareous soils
cal·cif·er·ol [kal-'si-fə-,rȯl, -,rōl] -n
- an alcohol C 28H 43OH usu. prepared by irradiation of ergosterol and used as a dietary supplement in nutrition and medicinally in the control of rickets and related disorders called also vitamin D 2
cal·cif·er·ous [kal-'si-f(ə-)rəs] -adj
- producing or containing calcium carbonate
cal·cif·ic [kal-'si-fik] -adj
- involving or caused by calcification
cal·ci·fuge ['kal-sə-,fyüj] -n, adj
- a plant not normally growing on calcareous soils
cal·ci·fy ['kal-sə-,fī] -vb, n
- to make calcareous by deposit of calcium salts
- to make inflexible or unchangeable
- to become calcareous
- to become inflexible and changeless : harden
cal·ci·mine ['kal-sə-,mīn] -n, vt
- a white or tinted wash of glue, whiting or zinc white, and water that is used esp. on plastered surfaces
cal·ci·na·tion [,kal-sə-'nā-shən] -n
- the act or process of calcining : the state of being calcined
cal·cine [kal-'sīn, 'kal-,] -vb
- to heat (as inorganic materials) to a high temperature but without fusing in order to drive off volatile matter or to effect changes (as oxidation or pulverization)
- to undergo calcination
- a product (as a metal oxide) of calcination or roasting
cal·ci·no·sis [,kal-sə-'nō-səs] -n
- the abnormal deposition of calcium salts in a part or tissue of the body
cal·cite ['kal-,sīt] -n, adj
- a mineral CaCO 3consisting of calcium carbonate crystallized in hexagonal form and including common limestone, chalk, and marble
cal·ci·to·nin [,kal-sə-'tō-nən] -n
- a polypeptide hormone esp. from the thyroid gland that lowers the level of calcium in the blood plasma called also thyrocalcitonin
cal·ci·um ['kal-sē-əm] -n
- a silver-white divalent metallic element of the alkaline-earth group occurring only in combination
calcium carbide -n
- a usu. dark gray crystalline compound CaC 2used esp. for the generation of acetylene and for making calcium cyanamide
calcium carbonate -n
- a compound CaCO 3found in nature as calcite and aragonite and in plant ashes, bones, and shells and used esp. in making lime and portland cement and as a gastric antacid
calcium channel blocker -n
- any of a class of drugs (as verapamil) that prevent or slow the influx of calcium ions into smooth muscle cells and are used esp. to treat some forms of angina pectoris and some cardiac arrhythmias
calcium chloride -n
- a white deliquescent salt CaCl 2used in its anhydrous state as a drying and dehumidifying agent and in a hydrated state for controlling dust and ice on roads
calcium cyanamide -n
- a compound CaCN 2used as a fertilizer and a weed killer and as a source of other nitrogen compounds
calcium gluconate -n
- a white powdery salt CaC 12H 22O 14used esp. to supplement bodily calcium stores
calcium hydroxide -n
- a white crystalline strong alkali Ca(OH) 2that is used esp. to make mortar and plaster and to soften water
calcium hypochlorite -n
- a white powder CaCl 2O 2used esp. as a bleaching agent and disinfectant
calcium oxalate -n
- a crystalline salt CaC 2O 4normally deposited in many plant cells and in animals sometimes excreted in urine or retained in the form of urinary calculi
calcium oxide -n
- a caustic solid CaO that is white when pure and that is the chief constituent of lime
calcium phosphate -n
- : any of various phosphates of calcium: as
- the phosphate CaH 4P 2O 8used as a fertilizer and in baking powder
- the phosphate CaHPO 4used in pharmaceutical preparations and animal feeds
- the phosphate Ca 3P 2O 8used as a fertilizer
- the naturally occurring phosphate Ca 5(F,Cl,OH,CO 3)(PO 4) 3that contains other elements or radicals and is the chief constituent of phosphate rock, bones, and teeth
calcium silicate -n
- any of several silicates of calcium used esp. in construction materials (as portland cement)
calcium sulfate -n
- a white salt CaSO 4that occurs esp. as anhydrite, gypsum, and plaster of paris and that in hydrated form is used as a building material and in anhydrous form is used as a drying agent
cal·cu·la·ble ['kal-kyə-lə-bəl] -adj
- subject to or ascertainable by calculation
- that may be counted on : dependable
cal·cu·late ['kal-kyə-,lāt] -vb
- to determine by mathematical processes
- calculate the rate of acceleration
- to reckon by exercise of practical judgment : estimate
- calculate the likelihood of success
- to solve or probe the meaning of : figure out
- trying to calculate his expression -- Hugh MacLennan
- to design or adapt for a purpose
- he carefully calculated the timing of his arrival for maximum impact
- to judge to be true or probable
- intend
- I calculate to do it or perish in the attempt -- Mark Twain
- to make a calculation
- to forecast consequences
- count, rely
cal·cu·lat·ed [-,lā-təd] -adj, adv, n
- apt, likely
- worked out by mathematical calculation
- engaged in, undertaken, or displayed after reckoning or estimating the statistical probability of success or failure
- planned or contrived to accomplish a purpose
- deliberate, intended
- a calculated attempt to deceive voters
cal·cu·lat·ing [-,lā-tiŋ] -adj, adv
- making calculations
- marked by prudent analysis or by shrewd consideration of self-interest : scheming
cal·cu·la·tion [,kal-kyə-'lā-shən] -n, adj
- the process or an act of calculating
- the result of an act of calculating
- studied care in analyzing or planning
- cold heartless planning to promote self-interest
cal·cu·la·tor ['kal-kyə-,lā-tər] -n
- : one that calculates: as
- a usu. electronic device for performing mathematical calculations
- a person who operates a calculator
cal·cu·lous ['kal-kyə-ləs] -adj
- caused or characterized by a calculus or calculi
cal·cu·lus [-ləs] -n
- a method of computation or calculation in a special notation (as of logic or symbolic logic)
- the mathematical methods comprising differential and integral calculus often used with the
- calculation
- a concretion usu. of mineral salts around organic material found esp. in hollow organs or ducts
- tartar
- a system or arrangement of intricate or interrelated parts
calculus of variations
- a branch of mathematics concerned with applying the methods of calculus to finding the maxima and minima of a function which depends for its values on another function or a curve
cal·de·ra [kal-'der-ə, kȯl-, -'dir-] -n
- a volcanic crater that has a diameter many times that of the vent and is formed by collapse of the central part of a volcano or by explosions of extraordinary violence
caldron ['kȯl-drən] -n
(variant of cauldron)
- a large kettle or boiler
- something resembling a boiling cauldron in intensity or degree of agitation
- a cauldron of intense emotions
ca·leche [kə-'lesh, -'lash] -n
- calash
- a 2-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle with a driver's seat on the splashboard used in Quebec
- calash
cal·e·fac·to·ry [,ka-lə-'fak-t(ə-)rē] -n
- a monastery room warmed and used as a sitting room
cal·en·dar ['ka-lən-dər] -n
- a system for fixing the beginning, length, and divisions of the civil year and arranging days and longer divisions of time (as weeks and months) in a definite order
- a tabular register of days according to a system usu. covering one year and referring the days of each month to the days of the week
- : an orderly list: as
- a list of cases to be tried in court
- a list of bills or other items reported out of committee for consideration by a legislative assembly
- a list or schedule of planned events or activities giving dates and details
- a university catalog
calendar [-d(ə-)riŋ] -vt
- to enter in a calendar
calendar year -n
- a period of a year beginning and ending with the dates that are conventionally accepted as marking the beginning and end of a numbered year
- a period of time equal in length to that of the year in the calendar conventionally in use
cal·en·der ['ka-lən-dər] -vt, n
- to press (as cloth, rubber, or paper) between rollers or plates in order to smooth and glaze or to thin into sheets
calender -n
- a machine for calendering something
- a member of a Sufic order of wandering mendicant dervishes
ca·len·dri·cal [kə-'len-dri-kəl, ka-] -adj
- of, relating to, characteristic of, or used in a calendar
ca·lends ['ka-lən(d)z, 'kā-] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- the first day of the ancient Roman month from which days were counted backward to the ides
ca·len·du·la [kə-'len-jə-lə, -dyu̇-lə] -n
- any of a small genus ( Calendula) of yellow-rayed composite herbs of temperate regions
cal·en·ture ['ka-lən-,chu̇r] -n
- a fever formerly supposed to affect sailors in the tropics
calf ['kaf, 'käf, dial also 'kāf] -n, adj
- the young of the domestic cow
- that of a closely related mammal (as a bison)
- the young of various large animals (as the elephant or whale)
- the hide of the domestic calf
- calfskin
- an awkward or silly youth
- the fleshy back part of the leg below the knee
calflove [-,ləv] -n
- puppy love
calf'sfoot jelly ['kavz-,fu̇t-, 'kafs-, 'kävz-, 'käfs- also 'kāvz-] -n
- jelly made from gelatin obtained by boiling calves' feet
calf·skin ['kaf-,skin, 'käf- also 'kāf-] -n
- leather made of the skin of a calf
Cal·i·ban ['ka-lə-,ban] -n
- a savage and deformed slave in Shakespeare's The Tempest
cal·i·ber ['ka-lə-bər, Brit also kə-'lē-] -n
- degree of mental capacity or moral quality
- degree of excellence or importance
- the diameter of a bullet or other projectile
- the diameter of a bore of a gun usu. expressed in hundredths or thousandths of an inch and typically written as a decimal fraction
- the diameter of a round or cylindrical body
- the internal diameter of a hollow cylinder
cal·i·brate ['ka-lə-,brāt] -vt, n
- to ascertain the caliber of (as a thermometer tube)
- to determine, rectify, or mark the graduations of (as a thermometer tube)
- to standardize (as a measuring instrument) by determining the deviation from a standard so as to ascertain the proper correction factors
- to adjust precisely for a particular function
- to measure precisely
- to measure against a standard
cal·i·bra·tion [,ka-lə-'brā-shən] -n
- the act or process of calibrating : the state of being calibrated
- a set of graduations to indicate values or positions usu. used in pl.
ca·li·che [kə-'lē-chē] -n
- the nitrate-bearing gravel or rock of the sodium nitrate deposits of Chile and Peru
- a crust of calcium carbonate that forms on the stony soil of arid regions
cal·i·co ['ka-li-,kō] -n, adj
- cotton cloth imported from India
- a plain white cotton fabric that is heavier than muslin
- any of various cheap cotton fabrics with figured patterns
- a blotched or spotted animal
- one that is predominantly white with red and black patches
calico bass -n
- black crappie
calico bush -n
- mountain laurel
Calif -abbr
- California
Cal·i·for·nia condor [,ka-lə-'fȯr-nyə-] -n
- a large nearly extinct vulture ( Gymnogyps californianus) found most recently in the mountains of southern California that is related to the condor of So. America
California laurel -n
- an evergreen Pacific coast tree ( Umbellularia californica) of the laurel family with small umbellate flowers
California poppy -n
- any of a genus ( Eschscholzia) of herbs of the poppy family
- one ( E. californica) widely cultivated for its usu. yellow or orange flowers
California sea lion -n
- a small brown sea lion ( Zalophus californianus) that occurs esp. along the Pacific coast of No. America from Vancouver Island to Baja California and the Gulf of California and in the Galapagos Islands and that is the seal most often trained to perform in circuses
Cal·i·for·nio [,ka-lə-'fȯr-nē-,ō] -n
- one of the original Spanish colonists of California or their descendants
cal·i·for·ni·um [,ka-lə-'fȯr-nē-əm] -n
- a radioactive element discovered by bombarding curium 242 with alpha particles
ca·lig·i·nous [kə-'li-jə-nəs] -adj
- misty, dark
cal·i·per ['ka-lə-pər] -n
- any of various measuring instruments having two usu. adjustable arms, legs, or jaws used esp. to measure diameter or thickness usu. used in pl.
- a device for pressing a frictional material (as a brake pad) against the sides of a rotating wheel or disc
- thickness esp. of paper, cardboard, or a tree
caliper [-p(ə-)riŋ] -vt
- to measure by or as if by calipers
ca·liph ['kā-ləf, 'ka-ləf] -n, adj
- a successor of Muhammad as temporal and spiritual head of Islam used as a title
ca·liph·ate [-lə-,fāt, -fət] -n
- the office or dominion of a caliph
cal·is·then·ic [,ka-ləs-'the-nik] -adj
- of or relating to calisthenics
cal·is·then·ics [-niks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- systematic rhythmic bodily exercises performed usu. without apparatus
- the art or practice of calisthenics
ca·lix ['kā-liks, 'ka-] -n
- cup
calk ['kȯk] -vt, n
(variant of caulk)
- to stop up and make tight against leakage (as a boat or its seams, the cracks in a window frame, or the joints of a pipe)
- material used to caulk
call ['kȯl] -vb
- to speak in a loud distinct voice so as to be heard at a distance : shout
- to make a request or demand
- call for an investigation
- to utter a characteristic note or cry
- to get or try to get into communication by telephone
- just call ed to say hello
often used with up - to make a demand in card games (as for a particular card or for a show of hands)
- to give the calls for a square dance
- to make a brief visit
- call ed to pay his respects
- to utter in a loud distinct voice often used with out
- to announce or read loudly or authoritatively
- call off a row of figures
- to announce the play-by-play of (as a football game)
- to command or request to come or be present
- to cause to come : bring
- call s to mind an old saying
- to summon to a particular activity, employment, or office
- was call ed to active duty
- was call ed to the bar of justice
- to invite or command to meet : convoke
- to rouse from sleep or summon to get up
- to give the order for : bring into action
- call a strike against the company
- to manage by giving the signals or orders
- that catcher call s a good game
- to make a demand in bridge for (a card or suit)
- to require (a player) to show the hand in poker by making an equal bet
- to challenge to make good on a statement
- to charge with or censure for an offense
- deserves to be call ed on that
- to attract (as game) by imitating the characteristic cry
- to halt (as a baseball game) because of unsuitable conditions
- to rule on the status of (as a pitched ball or a player's action)
- to give the calls for (a square dance) often used with off
- to demand payment of esp. by formal notice
- to demand presentation of (as a bond or option) for redemption
- to get or try to get in communication with by telephone
- call the doctor to make an appointment
- to generate signals for (a telephone number) in order to reach the party to whom the number is assigned
- to make a signal to in order to transmit a message
- to speak of or address by a specified name : give a name to
- to regard or characterize as of a certain kind : consider
- can hardly be call ed generous
- to estimate or consider for purposes of an estimate or for convenience
- to describe correctly in advance of or without knowledge of the event : predict
- to name or specify in advance
- to temporarily transfer control of computer processing to (as a subroutine or procedure)
- an act of calling with the voice : shout
- an imitation of the cry of a bird or other animal made to attract it
- an instrument used for calling
- the cry of an animal (as a bird)
- a request or command to come or assemble
- a summons or signal on a drum, bugle, or pipe
- admission to the bar as a barrister
- an invitation to become the minister of a church or to accept a professional appointment
- a divine vocation or strong inner prompting to a particular course of action
- a summoning of actors to rehearsal
- the call is for 11 o'clock
- the attraction or appeal of a particular activity, condition, or place
- an order specifying the number of men to be inducted into the armed services during a specified period
- the selection of a play in football
- demand, claim
- need, justification
- there's no call for such behavior
- a demand for payment of money
- an option to buy a specified amount of a security (as stock) or commodity (as wheat) at a fixed price at or within a specified time
- an instance of asking for something : request
- many call s for Christmas stories
- roll call
- a short usu. formal visit
- the name or thing called
- the act of calling in a card game
- the act of calling on the telephone
- a direction or a succession of directions for a square dance rhythmically called to the dancers
- a decision or ruling made by an official of a sports contest
- decision
- a temporary transfer of control of computer processing to a particular set of instructions (as a subroutine or procedure)
call·able ['kȯ-lə-bəl] -adj
- capable of being called
- subject to a demand for presentation for payment
cal·la lily ['ka-lə-] -n
- any of several herbs (genus Zantedeschia) of the arum family
- a house or greenhouse plant ( Z. aethiopica) with a white showy spathe and yellow spadix called also calla
cal·la·loo [,ka-lə-'lü, 'ka-lə-,] -n
- the edible young green leaves of a plant (as taro or a member of the genus Xanthosoma) of the arum family used as greens
- a soup or stew made with greens, onions, and crabmeat or pork
callandresponse -n
- a statement quickly followed by an answering statement
- a musical phrase in which the first and often solo part is answered by a second and often ensemble part
cal·lant ['ka-lənt, 'kä-] -n
- boy, lad
call·back ['kȯl-,bak] -n
- a return call
- recall
- a recall of an employee to work after a layoff
- a second or additional audition for a theatrical part
callboard [-,bȯrd] -n
- bulletin board
call box -n
- a public telephone booth
- a telephone usu. located on the side of a road for reporting emergencies (as fires or automobile breakdowns)
call·boy ['kȯl-,bȯi] -n
- bellhop, page
call down -vt
- to cause or entreat to descend
- reprimand
- called me down for being late
called strike -n
- a pitched baseball not struck at by the batter that passes through the strike zone
call·ee [kȯ-'lē] -n
- one who receives a telephone call
cal·ler ['kä-lər] -adj
- fresh
- cool
call·er ['kȯ-lər] -n
- one that calls
caller ID [-,ī-'dē] -n
- a telephone service that allows a subscriber to identify the telephone number of a caller before answering the call called also caller identification
cal·let ['ka-lət] -n
- prostitute
call forwarding -n
- a telephone service that allows a subscriber to have incoming calls forwarded to a different number
call girl -n
- a prostitute with whom an appointment may be made by telephone
call house -n
- a house or apartment where call girls may be procured
call·i·graphed ['ka-lə-,graft] -adj
- written or printed in calligraphy
- a calligraphed certificate
cal·lig·ra·pher [kə-'li-grə-fər] -n
- a professional copyist or engrosser
- one who practices the art of calligraphy
- penman
cal·lig·ra·phist [-fist] -n
- calligrapher
cal·lig·ra·phy [-fē] -n, adj, adv
- artistic, stylized, or elegant handwriting or lettering
- the art of producing such writing
- penmanship
- an ornamental line in drawing or painting
callin ['kȯl-,in] -adj
- allowing listeners to engage in broadcast telephone conversations with the host or a guest
call in -vt
- : to order to return or to be returned: as
- to withdraw from an advanced position
- to withdraw from circulation
- call in bank notes and issue new ones
- to summon to one's aid or for consultation
- to deliver (a message) by telephone
- call in an order for pizza
- to communicate with a person by telephone
call·ing ['kȯ-liŋ] -n
- a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action esp. when accompanied by conviction of divine influence
- the vocation or profession in which one customarily engages
- the characteristic cry of a female cat in heat
- the period of heat
calling card -n
- visiting card
- a sign or evidence that someone or something is or has been present
- an identifying mark
- a card displaying a number that can be used to charge telephone calls to a single account regardless of where the calls are placed
cal·li·ope [kə-'lī-ə-(,)pē, in sense 2 also 'ka-lē-,ōp] -n
- the Greek Muse of heroic poetry
- a keyboard musical instrument resembling an organ and consisting of a series of whistles sounded by steam or compressed air
cal·li·per ['ka-lə-pər] -n
(variant of caliper)
- any of various measuring instruments having two usu. adjustable arms, legs, or jaws used esp. to measure diameter or thickness usu. used in pl.
- a device for pressing a frictional material (as a brake pad) against the sides of a rotating wheel or disc
- thickness esp. of paper, cardboard, or a tree
cal·li·pyg·ian [,ka-lə-'pi-j(ē-)ən] -adj
- having shapely buttocks
Cal·lis·to [kə-'lis-(,)tō] -n
- a nymph loved by Zeus, changed into a she-bear by Hera, and subsequently changed into the Great Bear constellation
cal·li·thump ['ka-lə-,thəmp] -n, adj
- a noisy boisterous band or parade
call letters -n pl
- call sign
call loan -n
- a loan payable at the discretion of the borrower or on demand of the lender
call number -n
- a combination of characters assigned to a library book to indicate its place on a shelf
call off -vt
- to draw away : divert
- cancel
call of nature
- the need to urinate or defecate
cal·los·i·ty [ka-'lä-sə-tē, kə-] -n
- : the quality or state of being callous: as
- marked or abnormal hardness and thickness
- lack of feeling or capacity for emotion
- callus
cal·lous ['ka-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- being hardened and thickened
- having calluses
- feeling no emotion
- feeling or showing no sympathy for others : hard-hearted
callous -vt
- to make callous
- hands callous ed by hard manual labor
call·out ['kȯl-,au̇t] -n
- the act or an instance of calling out
- an often bordered inset in a printed article or illustration that usu. includes a key excerpt or detail
call out -vt
- to summon into action
- to challenge to a duel
- to order on strike
cal·low ['ka-(,)lō] -adj, n
- lacking adult sophistication : immature
call sheet -n
- a daily schedule of filming for a movie or television show
call sign -n
- the combination of identifying letters, letters and numbers, or words assigned to an operator, office, activity, vehicle, or station for use in communication (as in the address of a message sent by radio)
call slip -n
- a form filled out by a library patron for a desired book
call to arms
- a summons to engage in active hostilities
- a summons, invitation, or appeal to undertake a particular course of action
call to quarters
- a bugle call usu. shortly before taps that summons soldiers to their quarters
callup ['kȯl-,əp] -n
- an order to report for military service
- a baseball player brought up to a major league team from the minor leagues
call up -vt
- to summon together (as for a united effort)
- call up all his forces for the attack
- to bring to mind : evoke
- to summon before an authority
- to summon for active military duty
- to bring up from a minor league to a major league baseball team
- to bring forward for consideration or action
- to retrieve from the memory of a computer esp. for display and user interaction
cal·lus ['ka-ləs] -n
- a thickening of or a hard thickened area on skin or bark
- a mass of exudate and connective tissue that forms around a break in a bone and is converted into bone in healing
- soft tissue that forms over a wounded or cut plant surface
callus -vi
- to form callus
- to cause callus to form on
callwaiting -n
- a telephone service that signals (as by a beep) to the user when an incoming call is received during a call in progress
calm ['käm, 'kälm, 'kam, 'kȯ(l)m] -n
- a period or condition of freedom from storms, high winds, or rough activity of water
- complete absence of wind or presence of wind having a speed no greater than one mile (1.6 kilometers) per hour
- a state of tranquillity
- to become calm usu. used with down
- to make calm often used with down
- marked by calm : still
- free from agitation, excitement, or disturbance
calm·ative ['kä-mə-tiv, 'käl-, also 'kȯ(l)-, 'ka-] -n or adj
- sedative
cal·mod·u·lin [(,)kal-'mä-jə-lin, -dyu̇-lin] -n
- a calcium-binding protein that mediates cellular metabolic processes (as the contraction of muscle fibers) by regulating the activity of calcium-dependent enzymes
ca·lo [kə-'lō] -n
- any of several Spanish argots
- an argot used by Chicano youths in cities of the U.S. Southwest
cal·o·mel ['ka-lə-məl, -,mel] -n
- a white tasteless compound Hg 2Cl 2used esp. as a component of laboratory electrodes, as a fungicide, and formerly in medicine as a purgative called also mercurous chloride
ca·lo·ric [kə-'lȯr-ik] -n
- a supposed form of matter formerly held responsible for the phenomena of heat and combustion
- heat
caloric [kə-'lȯr-i-k(ə-)lē] -adj, adv
- of or relating to heat
- of, relating to, or containing calories
cal·o·rie ['ka-lə-rē, 'kal-rē] -n
- the amount of heat required at a pressure of one atmosphere to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius that is equal to about 4.19 joules abbr. cal called also gram calorie small calorie
- the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water one degree Celsius : 1000 gram calories or 3.968 Btu abbr. Cal called also large calorie
- a unit equivalent to the large calorie expressing heat-producing or energy-producing value in food when oxidized in the body
- an amount of food having an energy-producing value of one large calorie
cal·o·rif·ic [,ka-lə-'ri-fik] -adj
- caloric
- of or relating to heat production
cal·o·rim·e·ter [,ka-lə-'ri-mə-tər] -n, adj, adv
- an apparatus for measuring quantities of absorbed or emitted heat or for determining specific heats
ca·lotte [kə-'lät] -n
- skullcap
- zucchetto
cal·o·type ['ka-lə-,tīp] -n
- a photographic process by which a large number of prints could be produced from a paper negative
- a positive print so made
cal·pac ['kal-,pak, kal-'] -n
- a high-crowned cap worn in Turkey, Iran, and neighboring countries
calque ['kalk] -n
- loan translation
cal·trop ['kal-trəp, 'kȯl-] -n
- star thistle
- puncture vine
- any of various related herbs (genera Tribulusand Kallstroemia) of the same family (Zygophyllaceae, the caltrop family)
- a device with four metal points so arranged that when any three are on the ground the fourth projects upward as a hazard to the hooves of horses or to pneumatic tires
cal·u·met ['kal-yə-,met, -mət] -n
- a highly ornamented ceremonial pipe of the American Indians
ca·lum·ni·ate [kə-'ləm-nē-,āt] -vt, n
- to utter maliciously false statements, charges, or imputations about
- to injure the reputation of by calumny
cal·um·ny ['ka-ləm-nē also 'kal-yəm-] -n, adj, adv
- a misrepresentation intended to harm another's reputation
- the act of uttering false charges or misrepresentations maliciously calculated to harm another's reputation
cal·u·tron ['kal-yə-,trän] -n
- an electromagnetic apparatus for separating isotopes according to their masses
cal·va·dos [,kal-və-'dōs, ,käl-] -n
- an applejack made in Calvados
cal·var·i·um [kal-'va-rē-əm, -'ve-rē-] -n
- the portion of a skull including the braincase and excluding the lower jaw or lower jaw and facial portion
cal·va·ry ['kal-v(ə-)rē] -n
- an open-air representation of the crucifixion of Jesus
- an experience of usu. intense mental suffering
Calvary cross -n
- a Latin cross usu. mounted on three steps
calve ['kav, 'käv] -vb
- to give birth to a calf
- to produce offspring
- to separate or break so that a part becomes detached
- to produce by birth
- to let become detached
calves ['kaf, 'käf, dial also 'kāf] -n, adj
(variant of calf)
- the young of the domestic cow
- that of a closely related mammal (as a bison)
- the young of various large animals (as the elephant or whale)
- the hide of the domestic calf
- calfskin
- an awkward or silly youth
- the fleshy back part of the leg below the knee
Cal·vin cycle ['kal-vən-] -n
- the cycle of enzyme-catalyzed dark reactions of photosynthesis that occurs in the chloroplasts of plants and in many bacteria and that involves the fixation of carbon dioxide and the formation of a 6-carbon sugar
Cal·vin·ism ['kal-və-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj, adv
- the theological system of Calvin and his followers marked by strong emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the depravity of humankind, and the doctrine of predestination
ca·lyp·so [kə-'lip-(,)sō] -n
- a sea nymph in Homer's Odysseywho keeps Odysseus seven years on the island of Ogygia
- a bulbous bog orchid ( Calypso bulbosa) of northern regions bearing a single white to purplish flower
calypso [kə-,lip-'sō-nē-ən, ,ka-(,)lip-] -n, n or adj
- a style of music originating in the West Indies, marked by lively duple meter, and having lyrics that are often improvised and usu. satirize local personalities and events
- a song in this style
ca·lyp·tra [kə-'lip-trə] -n
- a hoodlike structure in a plant
- haploid tissue forming a membranous hood over the capsule in a moss
ca·lyx ['kā-liks also 'ka-] -n
- the usu. green outer whorl of a flower consisting of sepals
- a cuplike animal structure (as the body wall of a crinoid)
cal·zo·ne [kal-'zōn, -'zō-nē, -'zō-nā; käl-'zȯ-nā] -n
- a baked or fried turnover of pizza dough stuffed with various fillings usu. including cheese
cam ['kam] -n
- a rotating or sliding piece (as an eccentric wheel or a cylinder with an irregular shape) in a mechanical linkage used esp. in transforming rotary motion into linear motion or vice versa
- camera
- video camera
CAM -abbr
- computer-aided manufacturing
- complementary and alternative medicine
ca·ma·ra·de·rie [,käm-'rä-d(ə-)rē, ,kam-, ,kä-mə-, ,ka-, -'ra-] -n
- a spirit of friendly good-fellowship
cam·a·ril·la [,ka-mə-'ri-lə, -'rē-ə] -n
- a group of unofficial often secret and scheming advisers
- cabal
cam·as ['ka-məs] -n
- any of a genus ( Camassiaand esp. C. quamash) of plants of the lily family chiefly of the western U.S. with edible bulbs
cam·ber ['kam-bər] -vb
- to curve upward in the middle
- to arch slightly
- to impart camber to
camber -n
- a slight convexity, arching, or curvature (as of a beam, deck, or road)
- the convexity of the curve of an airfoil from the leading edge to the trailing edge
- a setting of the wheels of an automotive vehicle closer together at the bottom than at the top
cam·bi·um ['kam-bē-əm] -n, adj
- a thin formative layer between the xylem and phloem of most vascular plants that gives rise to new cells and is responsible for secondary growth
Cam·bo·di·an [kam-'bō-dē-ən] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Cambodia
- khmer
Cam·bri·an ['kam-brē-ən, 'kām-] -adj, n
- welsh
- of, relating to, or being the earliest geologic period of the Paleozoic era or the corresponding system of rocks marked by fossils of nearly every major invertebrate animal group
cam·bric ['kām-brik] -n
- a fine thin white linen fabric
- a cotton fabric that resembles cambric
cambric tea -n
- a hot drink of water, milk, sugar, and often a small amount of tea
cam·cord·er ['kam-,kȯr-dər] -n
- a small portable combined camera and video recording device
came ['kəm] -vb
(variant of come)
- to move toward something : approach
- to move or journey to a vicinity with a specified purpose
- come and see what's going on
- to reach a particular station in a series
- now we come to the section on health
- to arrive in due course
- to approach in kind or quality
- this come s near perfection
- to reach a condition or conclusion
- came to regard him as a friend
- come to think of it, you may be right
- to advance toward accomplishment : come along
- to advance in a particular manner
- to advance, rise, or improve in rank or condition
- extend
- her dress came to her ankles
- to arrive at a particular place, end, result, or conclusion
- amount
- the taxes on it come to more than it's worth
- to appear to the mind
- to appear on a scene : make an appearance
- children come equipped to learn any language
- happen, occur
- to come to pass : take place used in the subjunctive with inverted subject and verb to express the particular time or occasion
- come spring the days will be longer
- originate, arise
- they come of sturdy stock
- to enter or assume a condition, position, or relation
- artillery came into action
- to fall within a field of view or a range of application
- this come s within the terms of the treaty
- to issue forth
- a sob came from her throat
- to take form
- churn till the butter come s
- to be available
- this model come s in several sizes
- to experience orgasm
- to fall to a person in a division or inheritance of property
- to become moved favorably : relent
- to turn out to be
- good clothes don't come cheap
- become
- to approach or be near (an age)
- a child coming eight years old
- to take on the aspect of
- semen
- orgasm
cam·el ['ka-məl] -n
- : either of two large ruminant mammals (genus Camelus) used as draft and saddle animals in desert regions esp. of Africa and Asia:
- the one-humped camel ( C. dromedarius) extant only as a domestic or feral animal called also dromedary
- the 2-humped camel ( C. bactrianussyn. C. ferus) of Chinese Turkestan and Mongolia called also Bactrian camel
- a watertight structure used esp. to lift submerged ships
- a light yellowish brown
cam·el·back ['kam-əl-,bak] -n
- the back of a camel
cam·el·eer [,ka-mə-'lir] -n
- a camel driver
camel hair -n
- the hair of the camel or a substitute for it (as hair from squirrels' tails)
- cloth made of camel hair or a mixture of camel hair and wool usu. light tan and of soft silky texture
cam·el·id ['ka-mə-,lid] -n
- any of a family (Camelidae) of 2-toed ruminant artiodactyl mammals having a 3-chambered stomach and including the camels, llamas, and vicua
ca·mel·lia [kə-'mēl-yə] -n
- any of a genus ( Camellia) of shrubs or trees of the tea family
- an ornamental greenhouse shrub ( C. japonica) with glossy leaves and roselike flowers
ca·mel·o·pard [kə-'me-lə-,pärd] -n
- giraffe
- camelopardalis
Ca·mel·o·par·da·lis [kə-,me-lə-'pär-dᵊl-əs] -n
- a northern constellation between Cassiopeia and Ursa Major
Cam·e·lot ['ka-mə-,lät] -n
- the site of King Arthur's palace and court
- a time, place, or atmosphere of idyllic happiness
Cam·em·bert ['ka-məm-,ber] -n
- a soft surface-ripened cheese with a thin grayish-white rind and a yellow interior
cam·eo ['ka-mē-,ō] -n, adj, vt
- a gem carved in relief
- a small piece of sculpture on a stone or shell cut in relief in one layer with another contrasting layer serving as background
- a small medallion with a profiled head in relief
- a carving or sculpture made in the manner of a cameo
- a usu. brief literary or filmic piece that brings into delicate or sharp relief the character of a person, place, or event
- a small theatrical role usu. performed by a well-known actor and often limited to a single scene
- a brief appearance or role
cam·era ['kam-rə, 'ka-mər-ə] -n
- the treasury department of the papal curia
- camera obscura
- a device that consists of a lightproof chamber with an aperture fitted with a lens and a shutter through which the image of an object is projected onto a surface for recording (as on film) or for translation into electrical impulses (as for television broadcast)
cam·era lu·ci·da [-'lü-sə-də] -n
- an instrument that by means of a prism or mirrors and often a microscope causes a virtual image of an object to appear as if projected upon a plane surface so that an outline may be traced
cam·era·man [-,man, -mən] -n
- a person who operates a camera (as for motion pictures or television)
cam·era ob·scu·ra [-əb-'skyu̇r-ə] -n
- a darkened enclosure having an aperture usu. provided with a lens through which light from external objects enters to form an image of the objects on the opposite surface
cam·era·per·son [-,pər-sᵊn] -n
- a man or woman who operates a camera
cam·era·wom·an [-,wu̇-mən] -n
- a woman who operates a camera
cam·er·len·go [,ka-mər-'leŋ-(,)gō] -n
- a cardinal who heads the Apostolic Camera
Cam·er·oo·nian [,ka-mə-'rü-nē-ən, -nyən] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Cameroon
- a native or inhabitant of the Cameroons
ca·mion [kä-'myōⁿ] -n
- motortruck
- bus
cam·i·sa·do [,ka-mə-'sā-(,)dō, -'sä-] -n
- an attack by night
ca·mise [kə-'mēz, -'mēs] -n
- a light loose long-sleeved shirt, gown, or tunic
cam·i·sole ['ka-mə-,sōl] -n
- a short negligee jacket for women
- a short sleeveless garment for women
cam·let ['kam-lət] -n
- a medieval Asian fabric of camel hair or angora wool
- a European fabric of silk and wool
- a fine lustrous woolen
- a garment made of camlet
camo ['ka-(,)mō] -adj
- camouflage
- a combination of colors and patterns typical of camouflage
- a camouflage garment or outfit
camomile ['ka-mə-,mī(-ə)l, -,mēl] -n
(variant of chamomile)
- a perennial composite herb ( Chamaemelum nobilesyn. Anthemis nobilis) of Europe and No. Africa with aromatic foliage and flower heads
- any of several composite plants (genera Matricariaand Anthemis) related to chamomile
- an annual Eurasian herb ( M. recutitasyn. M. chamomilla) naturalized in No. America
- the dried flower heads of chamomile that are often used in making tea and that yield an essential oil possessing medicinal properties
ca·mor·ra [kə-'mȯr-ə, -'mär-] -n
- a group of persons united for dishonest or dishonorable ends
- a secret organization formed about 1820 at Naples, Italy
ca·mor·ris·ta [,kä-mȯ-'rē-stə] -n
- a member of a camorra
cam·ou·flage ['ka-mə-,fläzh, -,fläj] -n, adj
- the disguising esp. of military equipment or installations with paint, nets, or foliage
- the disguise so applied
- concealment by means of disguise
- behavior or artifice designed to deceive or hide
camouflage ['ka-mə-,flä-zhə-bəl, -jə-bəl] -vb, adj
- to conceal or disguise by camouflage
- to practice camouflage
- made in colors or patterns typical of camouflage
camp ['kamp] -n
- a place usu. away from urban areas where tents or simple buildings (as cabins) are erected for shelter or for temporary residence (as for laborers, prisoners, or vacationers)
- a group of tents, cabins, or huts
- fishing camp s along the river
- a settlement newly sprung up in a lumbering or mining region
- a place usu. in the country for recreation or instruction often during the summer
- a program offering access to recreational or educational facilities for a limited period of time
- a resort offering boating and hiking camp s
- a preseason training session for athletes
- the star pitcher injured in camp this spring
- a body of persons encamped
- a group of persons
- a group engaged in promoting or defending a theory, doctrine, position, or person
- an ideological position
- military service or life
- to make camp or occupy a camp
- to live temporarily in a camp or outdoors often used with out
- to take up one's quarters : lodge
- to take up one's position : settle down often used with out
- camp out in the library for the afternoon
- to put into a camp
- accommodate
- exaggerated effeminate mannerisms exhibited esp. by homosexuals
- something so outrageously artificial, affected, inappropriate, or out-of-date as to be considered amusing
- a style or mode of personal or creative expression that is absurdly exaggerated and often fuses elements of high and popular culture
- a movie that celebrates camp
- of, relating to, being, or displaying camp
- camp send-ups of the songs of the fifties and sixties -- John Elsom
- to engage in camp : exhibit the qualities of camp
- he...was camp ing, hands on hips, with a quick eye to notice every man who passed by -- R. M. McAlmon
cam·paign [(,)kam-'pān] -n
- a connected series of military operations forming a distinct phase of a war
- a connected series of operations designed to bring about a particular result
campaign -vi, n
- to go on, engage in, or conduct a campaign
- to enter (as a horse or boat) in competition
cam·pa·ni·le [,kam-pə-'nē-lē, ,käm-, -(,)lā, esp of US structures also -'nēl] -n
- a usu. freestanding bell tower
cam·pa·nol·o·gist [,kam-pə-'nä-lə-jist] -n
- one who practices or is skilled in campanology
cam·pa·nol·o·gy [-jē] -n
- the art of bell ringing
cam·pan·u·la [kam-'pan-yə-lə] -n
- bellflower
cam·pan·u·late [-lət, -,lāt] -adj
- shaped like a bell
Camp·bell·ite ['ka-mə-,līt also 'kam-bə-] -n
- disciple
camp·craft ['kamp-,kraft] -n
- skill and practice in the activities relating to camping
camp·er ['kam-pər] -n
- one who camps
- a portable dwelling (as a specially equipped trailer or automotive vehicle) for use during casual travel and camping
cam·pe·si·no [,kam-pə-'sē-(,)nō] -n
- a native of a Latin-American rural area
- a Latin-American Indian farmer or farm laborer
cam·pes·tral [kam-'pes-trəl] -adj
- of or relating to fields or open country : rural
camp·fire ['kamp-,fī(-ə)r] -n
- a fire built outdoors (as at a camp or a picnic)
Camp Fire girl -n
- a girl who is a member of a national organization of young people from ages 5 to 18
camp follower -n
- a civilian (as a prostitute) who follows a military unit to attend or exploit military personnel
- a disciple or follower who is not of the main body of members or adherents
- a politician who joins the party or movement solely for personal gain
camp·ground ['kamp-,grau̇nd] -n
- the area or place (as a field or grove) used for a camp, for camping, or for a camp meeting
cam·phene ['kam-,fēn] -n
- any of several terpenes related to camphor
- a colorless crystalline terpene C 10H 16used in insecticides
cam·phor ['kam(p)-fər] -n, adj
- a tough gummy volatile aromatic crystalline compound C 10H 16O obtained esp. from the wood and bark of the camphor tree and used as a liniment and mild topical analgesic in medicine, as a plasticizer, and as an insect repellent
- any of several similar compounds (as some terpene alcohols and ketones)
cam·phor·ate ['kam(p)-fə-,rāt] -vt
- to impregnate or treat with camphor
camphor tree -n
- a large Asian evergreen tree ( Cinnamomum camphora) of the laurel family grown in warm regions
cam·pi·on ['kam-pē-ən] -n
- any of various plants (genera Lychnisand Silene) of the pink family
camp meeting -n
- a series of evangelistic meetings usu. held outdoors and attended by persons who often camp nearby
cam·po ['kam-(,)pō, 'käm-] -n
- a grassland plain in So. America with scattered perennial herbs
camp·o·ree [,kam-pə-'rē] -n
- a gathering of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts from a given geographic area
camp·out ['kamp-,au̇t] -n
- an occasion on which a group camps out
camp shirt -n
- a woman's shirt having a notched collar and often patch pockets
camp·site ['kamp-,sīt] -n
- a place suitable for or used as the site of a camp
cam·pus ['kam-pəs] -n
- the grounds and buildings of a university, college, or school
- a university, college, or school viewed as an academic, social, or spiritual entity
- grounds that resemble a campus
- a landscaped corporate campus
cam·pylo·bac·ter [,kam-pi-lō-'bak-tər, kam-,pi-lə-] -n
- any of a genus ( Campylobacter) of spirally curved motile gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria of which some are pathogenic in domestic animals and humans
cam·py·lot·ro·pous [,kam-pi-'lä-trə-pəs] -adj
- having the ovule curved
cam·shaft ['kam-,shaft] -n
- a shaft to which a cam is fastened or of which a cam forms an integral part
cam wheel -n
- a wheel set or shaped to act as a cam
can [kən, 'kan also 'ken; dial 'kin] -vb
- know, understand
- to be able to do, make, or accomplish
- to have knowledge or skill
- know how to
- be physically or mentally able to
- used to indicate possibility
- do you think he can still be alive
sometimes used interchangeably with may - be permitted by conscience or feeling to
- be made possible or probable by circumstances to
- he can hardly have meant that
- be inherently able or designed to
- everything that money can buy
- be logically or axiologically able to
- 2 2 can also be written 3 1
- be enabled by law, agreement, or custom to
- have permission to used interchangeably with may
- you can go now if you like
- : a usu. cylindrical receptacle:
- a vessel for holding liquids
- a drinking vessel
- a usu. metal typically cylindrical receptacle usu. with an open top, often with a removable cover, and sometimes with a spout or side handles (as for holding milk or trash)
- a container (as of tinplate) in which products (as perishable foods) are hermetically sealed for preservation until use
- a jar for packing or preserving fruit or vegetables
- jail
- toilet
- bathroom
- buttocks
- destroyer
- to put in a can : preserve by sealing in airtight cans or jars
- to hit (a golf shot) into the cup
- to hit (a shot) in basketball
- to discharge from employment
- to put a stop or end to
- canceled; cancellation
- cannon
- canto
Can -abbr
- Canada; Canadian
Ca·naan·ite ['kā-nə-,nīt] -n, adj
- a member of a Semitic people inhabiting ancient Palestine and Phoenicia from about 3000 b.c.
Can·a·da balsam ['ka-nə-də-] -n
- a viscid yellowish to greenish oleoresin exudate of the balsam fir ( Abies balsmea) that solidifies to a transparent mass and is used as a transparent cement esp. in microscopy
Canada Day -n
- July 1 observed as a legal holiday in commemoration of the proclamation of dominion status in 1867
Canada goose -n
- the common wild goose ( Branta canadensis) of No. America that is chiefly gray and brownish with black head and neck and a white patch running from the sides of the head under the throat
Canada thistle -n
- a European thistle ( Cirsium arvense) with pinkish-purple or white flowers naturalized as a weed in No. America
Ca·na·di·an [kə-'nā-dē-ən] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Canada
Canadian bacon -n
- bacon cut from the loin that has little fat and is cut into round or oblong slices
Canadian football -n
- a game resembling American football that is played on a turfed field between two teams of 12 players each
Canadian French -n
- the language of the French Canadians
Canadian lynx -n
- lynx
ca·naille [kə-'nī, -'nāl] -n
- rabble, riffraff
- proletarian
ca·nal [kə-'nal] -n
- a tubular anatomical passage or channel : duct
- channel, watercourse
- an artificial waterway for navigation or for draining or irrigating land
- any of various faint narrow lines on the planet Mars seen through telescopes and once thought by some to be canals built by Martians
canal -vt
- to construct a canal through or across
can·a·lic·u·lus [,ka-nə-'li-kyə-ləs] -n, adj
- a minute canal in a bodily structure
can·a·li·za·tion [,ka-nə-lə-'zā-shən] -n
- an act or instance of canalizing
- a system of channels
can·a·lize ['ka-nə-,līz] -vb
- to provide with a canal or channel
- to make into or similar to a canal
- to provide with an outlet
- to direct into preferred channels
- to flow in or into a channel
- to establish new channels
can·a·pe ['ka-nə-pē, -,pā] -n
- an appetizer consisting of a piece of bread or toast or a cracker topped with a savory spread (as caviar or cheese)
ca·nard [kə-'närd also -'när] -n
- a false or unfounded report or story
- a fabricated report
- a groundless rumor or belief
- an airplane with horizontal stabilizing and control surfaces in front of supporting surfaces
- a small airfoil in front of the wing of an aircraft that can increase the aircraft's performance
ca·nary [kə-'ner-ē] -n
- a Canary Islands usu. sweet wine similar to Madeira
- a lively 16th century court dance
- a small finch ( Serinus canariussyn. S. canaria) of the Canary Islands that is usu. greenish to yellow and is kept as a cage bird and singer
- informer
canary seed -n
- seed of a Canary Islands grass ( Phalaris canariensis) used as food for cage birds
canary yellow -n
- a light to a moderate or vivid yellow
ca·nas·ta [kə-'nas-tə] -n
- a form of rummy using two full decks in which players or partnerships try to meld groups of three or more cards of the same rank and score bonuses for 7-card melds
- a meld of seven cards of the same rank in canasta
canc -abbr
- canceled
can·can ['kan-,kan] -n
- a woman's dance of French origin characterized by high kicking usu. while holding up the front of a full ruffled skirt
can·cel ['kan(t)-səl] -vb, adj, n
- to destroy the force, effectiveness, or validity of : annul
- cancel a magazine subscription
- to bring to nothingness : destroy
- to match in force or effect : offset often used with out
- his irritability cancel ed out his natural kindness -- Osbert Sitwell
- to call off usu. without expectation of conducting or performing at a later time
- to mark or strike out for deletion
- omit, delete
- to remove (a common divisor) from numerator and denominator
- to remove (equivalents) on opposite sides of an equation or account
- to deface (a postage or revenue stamp) esp. with a set of ink lines so as to invalidate for reuse
- to neutralize each other's strength or effect : counterbalance
cancel -n
- cancellation
- a deleted part or passage
- a leaf containing matter to be deleted
- a new leaf or slip substituted for matter already printed
can·cel·la·tion [,kan(t)-sə-'lā-shən] -n
- the act or an instance of canceling
- something (as a hotel room or a ticket) made available by the canceling of an arrangement
- a mark made to cancel something (as a postage stamp)
can·cel·lous [kan-'se-ləs, 'kan(t)-sə-ləs] -adj
- having a porous structure
can·cer ['kan(t)-sər] -n, adj, adv
- a northern zodiacal constellation between Gemini and Leo
- the fourth sign of the zodiac in astrology
- one born under the sign of Cancer
- a malignant tumor of potentially unlimited growth that expands locally by invasion and systemically by metastasis
- an abnormal bodily state marked by such tumors
- something evil or malignant that spreads destructively
- the cancer of hidden resentment -- Irish Digest
- an enlarged tumorlike plant growth (as that of crown gall)
- a plant disease marked by such growths
Can·cer·ian [kan-'ser-ē-ən, -'sir-] -n
- cancer
can·de·la [kan-'dē-lə, -'de-, -'dā-; 'kan-də-lə] -n
- the base unit of luminous intensity in the International System of Units that is equal to the luminous intensity in a given direction of a source which emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 10 12hertz and has a radiant intensity in that direction of watt per unit solid angle abbr. cd called also candle
can·de·la·bra [,kan-də-'lä-brə sometimes -'la-] -n
- a branched candlestick or lamp with several lights
can·de·la·brum [-brəm] -n
- candelabra
can·dent ['kan-dənt] -adj
- glowing from or as if from great heat
can·des·cence [kan-'de-sᵊn(t)s] -n
- a candescent state : glowing whiteness
can·des·cent [-sᵊnt] -adj
- glowing or dazzling from or as if from great heat
can·did ['kan-dəd] -adj, adv, n
- white
- free from bias, prejudice, or malice : fair
- marked by honest sincere expression
- indicating or suggesting sincere honesty and absence of deception
- disposed to criticize severely : blunt
- relating to or being photography of subjects acting naturally or spontaneously without being posed
can·di·da ['kan-də-də] -n, adj
- any of a genus ( Candida) of parasitic fungi that resemble yeasts, occur esp. in the mouth, vagina, and intestinal tract where they are usu. benign but can become pathogenic, and have been grouped with the imperfect fungi but are now often placed with the ascomycetes
- one ( C. albicans) causing thrush
can·di·da·cy ['kan-də-də-sē, 'ka-nə-] -n
- the state of being a candidate
- he is expected to announce his candidacy
can·di·date ['kan-də-,dāt, 'ka-nə-, -dət] -n
- one that aspires to or is nominated or qualified for an office, membership, or award
- one likely or suited to undergo or be chosen for something specified
- a student in the process of meeting final requirements for a degree
can·di·da·ture ['kan-də-də-,chu̇r, 'ka-nə-, -chər] -n
- candidacy
candid camera -n, adj
- a camera used to record subjects in a natural, spontaneous, or unposed manner
- something likened to a camera used in such a manner
can·di·di·a·sis [,kan-də-'dī-ə-səs] -n
- infection with or disease caused by a candida called also moniliasis
can·died ['kan-dēd] -adj
- encrusted or coated with sugar
- baked with sugar or syrup until translucent
can·dle ['kan-dᵊl] -n
- a usu. molded or dipped mass of wax or tallow containing a wick that may be burned (as to give light, heat, or scent or for celebration or votive purposes)
- something resembling a candle in shape or use
- a sulfur candle for fumigating
- required effort, expense, or trouble usu. used in the phrase not worth the candle
- candela
candle ['kan(d)-liŋ, 'kan-dᵊl-iŋ] -vt, n
- to examine by holding between the eye and a light
- to test (eggs) in this way for staleness, blood clots, fertility, and growth
can·dle·ber·ry ['kan-dᵊl-,ber-ē, -,be-rē] -n
- a wax myrtle ( Myrica cerifera)
- a bayberry ( Myrica pensylvanica)
can·dle·fish [-,fish] -n
- a very oily anadromous marine food fish ( Thaleichthys pacificus) of the smelt family that occurs along the No. Pacific coast called also eulachon
can·dle·hold·er [-,hōl-dər] -n
- candlestick
can·dle·light ['kan-dᵊl-,(l)īt] -n
- the light of a candle
- a soft artificial light
- the time for lighting candles : twilight
can·dle·light·er [-,(l)ī-tər] -n
- one who lights the candles for a ceremony
- a long-handled implement with a taper and a candlesnuffer that is used for the ceremonial lighting and extinguishing of candles
can·dle·lit [-,(l)it] -adj
- illuminated by candlelight
Can·dle·mas ['kan-dᵊl-məs] -n
- February 2 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the presentation of Christ in the temple and the purification of the Virgin Mary
can·dle·nut [-,nət] -n
- the oily seed of a tropical tree ( Aleurites moluccana) of the spurge family used locally to make candles and commercially as a source of oil
- this tree
can·dle·pin [-,pin] -n
- a slender bowling pin tapering toward top and bottom
- a bowling game using candlepins and a smaller ball than that used in tenpins
can·dle·pow·er [-,pau̇(-ə)r] -n
- luminous intensity expressed in candelas
- candela
can·dle·snuff·er [-,snə-fər] -n
- an implement for snuffing candles that consists of a small hollow cone attached to a handle
can·dle·stick [-,stik] -n
- a holder with a socket for a candle
can·dle·wick [-,wik] -n
- the wick of a candle
- a soft cotton embroidery yarn
- embroidery made with this yarn usu. in tufts
can·dle·wood [-,wu̇d] -n
- any of several trees or shrubs (as ocotillo) chiefly of resinous character
- slivers of resinous wood burned for light
cando ['kan-'dü] -adj, n
- characterized by eager willingness to accept and meet challenges
can·dor ['kan-dər, -,dȯr] -n
- whiteness, brilliance
- unstained purity
- freedom from prejudice or malice : fairness
- kindliness
- unreserved, honest, or sincere expression : forthrightness
- the candor with which he acknowledged a weakness in his own case -- Aldous Huxley
can·dour ['kan-dər, -,dȯr] -n
(variant of candor)
- whiteness, brilliance
- unstained purity
- freedom from prejudice or malice : fairness
- kindliness
- unreserved, honest, or sincere expression : forthrightness
- the candor with which he acknowledged a weakness in his own case -- Aldous Huxley
can·dy ['kan-dē] -n, adj
- crystallized sugar formed by boiling down sugar syrup
- a confection made with sugar and often flavoring and filling
- a piece of such confection
- something that is pleasant or appealing in a light or frivolous way
candy -vb
- to encrust in or coat with sugar
- to cook (as fruit or fruit peel) in a heavy syrup until glazed
- to make attractive : sweeten
- to crystallize into sugar
- to become coated or encrusted with sugar crystals : become crystallized into sugar
candy floss -n
- cotton candy
- something attractive but insubstantial
candy striper -n
- a teenage volunteer worker at a hospital
can·dy·tuft ['kan-dē-,təft] -n
- any of a genus ( Iberis) of plants of the mustard family cultivated for their white, pink, or purple flowers
cane ['kān] -n
- a hollow or pithy and usu. slender and flexible jointed stem (as of a reed)
- any of various slender woody stems
- an elongated flowering or fruiting stem (as of a rose) usu. arising directly from the ground
- : any of various tall woody grasses or reeds: as
- any of a genus ( Arundinaria) of coarse grasses
- sugarcane
- sorghum
- : cane dressed for use: as
- a cane walking stick
- walking stick
- a cane or rod for flogging
- rattan
- split rattan for wickerwork or basketwork
- a tiny glass rod used in decorative glasswork (as in millefiori and paperweights)
- to beat with a cane
- he sat in a professor's chair and caned sophomores for blowing spitballs -- H. L. Mencken
- to weave or furnish with cane
cane·brake ['kān-,brāk] -n
- a thicket of cane
can·er ['kā-nər] -n
- one who canes chairs
ca·nes·cent [kə-'ne-sᵊnt, ka-] -adj
- growing white, whitish, or hoary
- having a fine grayish-white pubescence
cane sugar -n
- sugar from sugarcane
cane·ware ['kān-,wer] -n
- a buff or yellowish stoneware
ca·nic·u·lar [kə-'ni-kyə-lər] -adj
- of or relating to the dog days
ca·nid ['ka-nəd, 'kā-] -n
- any of a family (Canidae) of carnivorous animals that includes the wolves, jackals, foxes, coyote, and the domestic dog
ca·nine ['kā-,nīn, Brit also 'ka-] -n
- a conical pointed tooth
- one situated between the lateral incisor and the first premolar
- dog
- canid
canine -adj
- of or resembling that of a dog
- of or relating to dogs or to the family (Canidae) including the canids
canine distemper -n
- distemper
Ca·nis Ma·jor [,kā-nəs-'mā-jər, ,ka-] -n
- a constellation to the southeast of Orion containing Sirius
Canis Mi·nor [-'mī-nər] -n
- a constellation to the east of Orion containing Procyon
can·is·ter ['ka-nə-stər] -n
- an often cylindrical container for holding a usu. specified object or substance
- encased shot for close-range artillery fire
- a perforated metal box for gas masks with material to adsorb, filter, or detoxify airborne poisons and irritants
can·ker ['kaŋ-kər] -n, adj
- an erosive or spreading sore
- an area of necrosis in a plant
- a plant disease characterized by cankers
- any of various disorders of animals marked by chronic inflammatory changes
- a caterpillar destructive to plants
- rust
- a source of corruption or debasement
- dog rose
canker ['kaŋ-k(ə-)riŋ] -vb
- to infect with a spreading sore
- to corrupt the spirit of
- to become infested with canker
- to become corrupted
canker sore -n
- a painful shallow ulcer of the mouth that has a grayish-white base surrounded by a reddish inflamed area and is of uncertain cause but is not due to the virus causing herpes simplex
can·ker·worm ['kaŋ-kər-,wərm] -n
- either of two geometrid moths ( Alsophila pometariaand Paleacrita vernata) and esp. their larvae which are serious pests of fruit and shade trees
can·na ['ka-nə] -n
- any of a genus ( Cannaof the family Cannaceae) of tropical herbs with simple stems, large leaves, and a terminal raceme of irregular flowers
can·na·bi·noid [kə-'na-bə-,nȯid] -n
- any of various chemical constituents (as THC or cannabinol) of cannabis or marijuana
can·na·bi·nol [-,nȯl, -,nōl] -n
- a physiologically inactive crystalline cannabinoid C 21H 26O 2
can·na·bis ['ka-nə-bəs] -n
- hemp
- any of the preparations (as marijuana or hashish) or chemicals (as THC) that are derived from the hemp and are psychoactive
canned ['kand] -adj
- prepared or recorded in advance
- prepared in standardized form for nonspecific use or wide distribution
- lacking originality or individuality as if mass-produced
- drunk
can·nel coal ['ka-nᵊl-] -n
- a bituminous coal containing much volatile matter that burns brightly
can·nel·li·ni bean [,ka-nə-'lē-nē-] -n
- a usu. large white kidney bean called also cannellini
can·nel·lo·ni [,ka-nə-'lō-nē] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- boiled tube-shaped or rolled pasta filled with a meat, fish, cheese, or vegetable mixture and baked in a sauce
can·nery ['ka-nə-rē] -n
- a factory for the canning of foods
can·ni·bal ['ka-nə-bəl] -n
- one that eats the flesh of its own kind
can·ni·bal·ise ['ka-nə-bə-,līz] -vb, n
(variant of cannibalize)
- to take salvageable parts from (as a disabled machine) for use in building or repairing another machine
- to make use of (a part taken from one thing) in building, repairing, or creating something else
- to deprive of an essential part or element in creating or sustaining another facility or enterprise
- the energy system has begun cannibalizing the economic system it is supposed to fuel -- Barry Commoner
- to use or draw on material of (as another writer or an earlier work)
- a biography that cannibalize s previous biographies
- to take (sales) away from an existing product by selling or being sold as a similar but new product usu. from the same manufacturer
- to affect (as an existing product) adversely by cannibalizing sales
- to practice cannibalism
- to cannibalize one unit for the sake of another of the same kind
can·ni·bal·ism ['ka-nə-bə-,li-zəm] -n, adj
- the usu. ritualistic eating of human flesh by a human being
- the eating of the flesh of an animal by another animal of the same kind
- an act of cannibalizing something
can·ni·bal·ize ['ka-nə-bə-,līz] -vb, n
- to take salvageable parts from (as a disabled machine) for use in building or repairing another machine
- to make use of (a part taken from one thing) in building, repairing, or creating something else
- to deprive of an essential part or element in creating or sustaining another facility or enterprise
- the energy system has begun cannibalizing the economic system it is supposed to fuel -- Barry Commoner
- to use or draw on material of (as another writer or an earlier work)
- a biography that cannibalize s previous biographies
- to take (sales) away from an existing product by selling or being sold as a similar but new product usu. from the same manufacturer
- to affect (as an existing product) adversely by cannibalizing sales
- to practice cannibalism
- to cannibalize one unit for the sake of another of the same kind
can·ni·kin ['ka-ni-kən] -n
- a small can or drinking vessel
can·no·li [kə-'nō-lē, ka-] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a deep-fried tube of pastry filled with sweetened and flavored ricotta cheese
can·non ['ka-nən] -n
- a large heavy gun usu. mounted on a carriage
- a heavy-caliber automatic aircraft gun firing explosive shells
- the projecting part of a bell by which it is hung : ear
- the part of the leg in which the cannon bone is found
cannon -vi
- to discharge cannon
- cannonade
can·non·ade [,ka-nə-'nād] -n
- a heavy fire of artillery
- an attack (as with words) likened to artillery fire : bombardment
cannonade -vb
- to attack with or as if with artillery
- to deliver artillery fire
can·non·ball ['ka-nən-,bȯl] -n
- a usu. round solid missile made for firing from a cannon
- a jump into water made with the arms holding the knees tight against the chest
- a hard flat tennis service
- an express train
cannonball -vi
- to travel with great speed
cannon bone -n
- a bone in hoofed mammals that extends from the knee or hock to the fetlock
- the enlarged metacarpal or metatarsal of the third digit of a horse
can·non·eer [,ka-nə-'nir] -n
- an artillery gunner
cannon fodder -n
- soldiers regarded or treated as expendable in battle
- an expendable or exploitable person, group, or thing
- celebrities who have become cannon fodder for the tabloids
can·non·ry ['ka-nən-rē] -n
- a battery of cannons or cannon fire
can·not ['ka-(,)nät; kə-'nät, ka-']
- can not
can·nu·la ['kan-yə-lə] -n
- a small tube for insertion into a body cavity or into a duct or vessel
can·nu·lar ['kan-yə-lər] -adj
- tubular
can·nu·late ['kan-yə-,lāt] -vt, n
- to insert a cannula into
- cannulated the femoral artery
can·ny ['ka-nē] -adj, adv, n
- clever, shrewd
- prudent
- careful, steady
- restrained
- quiet, snug
- then canny, in some cozy place, they close the day -- Robert Burns
canny -adv
- in a canny manner : carefully
ca·noe [kə-'nü] -n
- a light narrow boat with both ends sharp that is usu. propelled by paddling
canoe [-ə-bəl] -vb, adj, n
- to transport in a canoe
- to travel by canoe down (a river)
- to go or travel in a canoe
can of worms
- pandora's box
ca·no·la [kə-'nō-lə] -n
- a rape plant of an improved variety having seeds that are low in erucic acid and are the source of canola oil
- canola oil
canola oil -n
- an edible vegetable oil obtained from the seeds of canola that is high in monounsaturated fatty acids
can·on ['ka-nən] -n
- a regulation or dogma decreed by a church council
- a provision of canon law
- the most solemn and unvarying part of the Mass including the consecration of the bread and wine
- an authoritative list of books accepted as Holy Scripture
- the authentic works of a writer
- a sanctioned or accepted group or body of related works
- the canon of great literature
- an accepted principle or rule
- a criterion or standard of judgment
- a body of principles, rules, standards, or norms
- a contrapuntal musical composition in which each successively entering voice presents the initial theme usu. transformed in a strictly consistent way
canon -n
- a clergyman belonging to the chapter or the staff of a cathedral or collegiate church
- canon regular
caon ['kan-yən] -n
(variant of canyon)
- a deep narrow valley with steep sides and often with a stream flowing through it
- something resembling a canyon
- the city's concrete canyon s
can·on·ess ['ka-nə-nəs] -n
- a woman living in community under a religious rule but not under a perpetual vow
- a member of a Roman Catholic congregation of women corresponding to canons regular
ca·non·ic [kə-'nä-nik] -adj
- canonical
- of or relating to musical canon
ca·non·i·cal [-ni-kəl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or forming a canon
- conforming to a general rule or acceptable procedure : orthodox
- of or relating to a clergyman who is a canon
- reduced to the canonical form
canonical form -n
- the simplest form of something
- the form of a square matrix that has zero elements everywhere except along the principal diagonal
canonical hour -n
- a time of day canonically appointed for an office of devotion
- one of the daily offices of devotion that compose the Divine Office and include matins with lauds, prime, terce, sext, none, vespers, and compline
ca·non·i·cals [kə-'nä-ni-kəlz] -n pl
- the vestments prescribed by canon for an officiating clergyman
can·on·ic·i·ty [,ka-nə-'ni-sə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being canonical
can·on·ist ['ka-nə-nist] -n
- a specialist in canon law
can·on·ize ['ka-nə-,nīz] -vt, n
- to declare (a deceased person) an officially recognized saint
- to make canonical
- to sanction by ecclesiastical authority
- to attribute authoritative sanction or approval to
- to treat as illustrious, preeminent, or sacred
canon law -n
- the usu. codified law governing a church
canon lawyer -n
- canonist
canon regular -n
- a member of one of several Roman Catholic religious institutes of regular priests living in community under a usu. Augustinian rule
can·on·ry ['ka-nən-rē] -n
- the office of a canon
- the endowment that financially supports a canon
ca·noo·dle [kə-'nü-dᵊl] -vi
- pet, fondle
- lovers canoodling in the park
ca·no·pic jar [kə-'nō-pik-, -'nä-] -n
- a jar in which the ancient Egyptians preserved the viscera of a deceased person usu. for burial with the mummy
Ca·no·pus [kə-'nō-pəs] -n
- a star of the first magnitude in the constellation Carina not visible north of 37 latitude
can·o·py ['ka-nə-pē] -n
- a cloth covering suspended over a bed
- a cover (as of cloth) fixed or carried above a person of high rank or a sacred object : baldachin
- : a protective covering: as
- the uppermost spreading branchy layer of a forest
- awning, marquee
- an ornamental rooflike structure
- the transparent enclosure over an airplane cockpit
- the fabric part of a parachute that catches the air
canopy -vt
- to cover with or as if with a canopy
ca·no·rous [kə-'nȯr-əs, 'ka-nə-rəs] -adj, adv, n
- pleasant sounding : melodious
canst [kən, 'kan also 'ken; dial 'kin] -vb
(variant of can)
- know, understand
- to be able to do, make, or accomplish
- to have knowledge or skill
- know how to
- be physically or mentally able to
- used to indicate possibility
- do you think he can still be alive
sometimes used interchangeably with may - be permitted by conscience or feeling to
- be made possible or probable by circumstances to
- he can hardly have meant that
- be inherently able or designed to
- everything that money can buy
- be logically or axiologically able to
- 2 2 can also be written 3 1
- be enabled by law, agreement, or custom to
- have permission to used interchangeably with may
- you can go now if you like
- : a usu. cylindrical receptacle:
- a vessel for holding liquids
- a drinking vessel
- a usu. metal typically cylindrical receptacle usu. with an open top, often with a removable cover, and sometimes with a spout or side handles (as for holding milk or trash)
- a container (as of tinplate) in which products (as perishable foods) are hermetically sealed for preservation until use
- a jar for packing or preserving fruit or vegetables
- jail
- toilet
- bathroom
- buttocks
- destroyer
- to put in a can : preserve by sealing in airtight cans or jars
- to hit (a golf shot) into the cup
- to hit (a shot) in basketball
- to discharge from employment
- to put a stop or end to
- canceled; cancellation
- cannon
- canto
cant ['kant] -adj
- lively, lusty
- to give a cant or oblique edge to : bevel
- to set at an angle : tilt
- to throw with a lurch
- to pitch to one side : lean
- slope
- corner, niche
- an external angle (as of a building)
- a log with one or more squared sides
- an oblique or slanting surface
- inclination, slope
- having canted corners or sides
- inclined
- to talk or beg in a whining or singsong manner
- to speak in cant or jargon
- to talk hypocritically
- affected singsong or whining speech
- the private language of the underworld
- the phraseology peculiar to a religious class or sect
- jargon
- a set or stock phrase
- the expression or repetition of conventional or trite opinions or sentiments
- the insincere use of pious words
Cant -abbr
- Canticle of Canticles
- Cantonese
can't ['kant, 'känt, esp Southern 'kānt]
- can not
Can·tab ['kan-,tab] -n
- cantabrigian
can·ta·bi·le [kän-'tä-bi-,lā, -lē] -adv or adj
- in a singing manner often used as a direction in music
Can·ta·brig·i·an [,kan-tə-'bri-j(ē-)ən] -n, adj
- a student or graduate of Cambridge University
- a native or resident of Cambridge, Mass.
can·tal [kän-'täl] -n
- a hard cheddar-type cheese made in the south of France
can·ta·la [kan-'tä-lə] -n
- a hard fiber produced from the leaves of an agave ( Agave cantala)
can·ta·loupe ['kan-tə-,lōp also -,üp] -n
- a small widely cultivated muskmelon ( Cucumis melo reticulatus) with a heavily netted rind and reddish-orange flesh
- muskmelon
- a muskmelon ( Cucumis melo cantalupensis) with a rough hard warty rind that is not usu. grown in No. America
can·tan·ker·ous [kan-'taŋ-k(ə-)rəs, kən-] -adj, adv, n
- difficult or irritating to deal with
can·ta·ta [kən-'tä-tə] -n
- a composition for one or more voices usu. comprising solos, duets, recitatives, and choruses and sung to an instrumental accompaniment
can·ta·trice [,kän-tə-'trē-(,)chā, ,käⁿ-tə-'trēs] -n
- a woman who is a singer
- an opera singer
cant dog -n
- peavey
can·teen [kan-'tēn] -n
- a portable chest with compartments for carrying bottles or for cooking and eating utensils
- a flask for carrying liquids (as on a hike)
- mess kit
- a chest for storing flatware
- a bar at a military post or camp
- a general store at a military post : exchange
- an establishment that serves as an informal social club (as for soldiers or a community's teenagers)
- a small cafeteria or snack bar
cant·er ['kan-tər] -n
- : one who uses cant: as
- beggar, vagabond
- a user of professional or religious cant
can·ter ['kan-tər] -vb
- to move at or as if at a canter : lope
- to ride a horse at a canter
- to cause to go at a canter
- a 3-beat gait resembling but smoother and slower than the gallop
- a ride at a canter
Can·ter·bury bell ['kan-tə(r)-,ber-ē-, -,be-rē-, -,b(ə-)rē-] -n
- any of several bellflowers (as Campanula medium) cultivated for their showy flowers
can·thar·i·din [kan-'tha-rə-dən, -'ther-ə-] -n
- a bitter crystalline compound C 10H 12O 4that is the active blister-producing ingredient of cantharides
can·tha·ris ['kan(t)-thə-rəs] -n
- spanish fly
- a preparation of dried beetles (as Spanish flies) used in medicine as a counterirritant and formerly as an aphrodisiac
can·tha·xan·thin [,kan(t)-thə-'zan-,thin] -n
- a naturally occurring carotenoid C 40H 52O 2used esp. as a color additive for food
cant hook -n
- a lumberman's lever that has a pivoting hooked arm and a blunt often toothed metal cap at one end
can·thus ['kan(t)-thəs] -n
- either of the angles formed by the meeting of an eye's upper and lower eyelids
can·ti·cle ['kan-ti-kəl] -n
- song
- one of several liturgical songs (as the Magnificat) taken from the Bible
Canticle of Canticles
- song of solomon
Canticles -n pl but sing in constr
- song of solomon
can·ti·le·na [,kan-tə-'lā-nə, -'lē-] -n
- a vocal or instrumental passage of sustained lyricism
can·ti·le·ver ['kan-tə-,lē-vər, -,le-] -n
- : a projecting beam or member supported at only one end: as
- a bracket-shaped member supporting a balcony or a cornice
- either of the two beams or trusses that project from piers toward each other and that when joined directly or by a suspended connecting member form a span of a cantilever bridge
cantilever -vt
- to support by a cantilever
- to build as a cantilever
- to project as a cantilever
can·til·late ['kan-tə-,lāt] -vt, n
- to recite with musical tones
can·ti·na [kan-'tē-nə] -n
- a pouch or bag at the pommel of a saddle
- a small barroom : saloon
cant·ing ['kan-tiŋ] -adj
- affectedly pious or righteous
can·tle ['kan-tᵊl] -n
- a segment cut off or out of something : part, portion
- the upward projecting rear part of a saddle
can'tmiss ['kant-,mis] -adj
- certain to have a favorable result, performance, or reception : surefire
can·to ['kan-(,)tō] -n
- one of the major divisions of a long poem
can·ton ['kan-tᵊn, -,tän] -n, adj
- : a small territorial division of a country: as
- one of the states of the Swiss confederation
- a division of a French arrondissement
canton -n
- division, section
- the top inner quarter of a flag
- the dexter chief region of a heraldic field
Can·ton·ese [,kan-tə-'nēz, -'nēs] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Guangzhou, China
- the dialect of Chinese spoken in Guangzhou and Hong Kong
- a style of Chinese cooking that emphasizes fresh ingredients, subtle tastes, and relatively mild sauces
can·ton flannel ['kan-,tän-, -tᵊn-] -n
- flannel
can·ton·ment [kan-'tōn-mənt, -'tän- also -'tün-] -n
- usu. temporary quarters for troops
- a permanent military station in India
Can·ton ware ['kan-,tän-] -n
- ceramic ware exported from China esp. during the 18th and 19th centuries by way of Canton (Guangzhou) and including blue-and-white and enameled porcelain and various ornamented stonewares
can·tor ['kan-tər] -n, adj
- a choir leader : precentor
- a synagogue official who sings or chants liturgical music and leads the congregation in prayer
can·trip ['kan-trəp] -n
- a witch's trick : spell
- hocus-pocus
can·tus ['kan-təs] -n
- cantus firmus
- the principal melody or voice
cantus fir·mus [-'fir-məs, -'fər-] -n
- the plainsong or simple Gregorian melody orig. sung in unison and prescribed as to form and use by ecclesiastical tradition
- a melodic theme or subject
- one for contrapuntal treatment
canty ['kan-tē] -adj
- cheerful, sprightly
Ca·nuck [kə-'nək sometimes -'nu̇k] -n
- a Canadian and esp. a French Canadian
can·vas ['kan-vəs] -n, adj
- a firm closely woven cloth usu. of linen, hemp, or cotton used for clothing and formerly much used for tents and sails
- a set of sails : sail
- a piece of canvas used for a particular purpose
- tent
- a group of tents
- a piece of cloth backed or framed as a surface for a painting
- the painting on such a surface
- the background, setting, or scope of a historical or fictional account or narrative
- a coarse cloth so woven as to form regular meshes for working with the needle
- the canvas-covered floor of a boxing or wrestling ring
canvas -vt
- to cover, line, or furnish with canvas
can·vas·back ['kan-vəs-,bak] -n
- a No. American wild duck ( Aythya valisineria) that has a reddish-brown head, black breast, and whitish body and is characterized esp. by the elongate sloping profile of the bill and head
can·vass ['kan-vəs] -vt, n
- to toss in a canvas sheet in sport or punishment
- to examine in detail
- to examine (votes) officially for authenticity
- discuss, debate
- to go through (a district) or go to (persons) in order to solicit orders or political support or to determine opinions or sentiments
- to seek orders or votes : solicit
canvass -n
- the act or an instance of canvassing
- a personal solicitation of votes or survey of public opinion
can·yon ['kan-yən] -n
- a deep narrow valley with steep sides and often with a stream flowing through it
- something resembling a canyon
- the city's concrete canyon s
can·yon·eer·ing [,kan-yə-'nir-iŋ] -n
- the sport of exploring canyons (as by climbing, rappelling, swimming, or rafting)
can·yon·ing ['kan-yə-niŋ] -n
- canyoneering
can·zo·ne [kan-'zō-nē, känt-'sō-(,)nā] -n
- a medieval Italian or Provenal lyric poem
- the musical setting of a canzone
can·zo·net [,kan-zə-'net] -n
- a light usu. strophic song
- a part-song resembling but less elaborate than a madrigal
caou·tchouc ['kau̇-,chu̇k, -,chük, -,chü] -n
- rubber
cap ['kap] -n
- a head covering esp. with a visor and no brim
- : a distinctive head covering emblematic of a position or office: as
- a cardinal's biretta
- mortarboard
- : a natural cover or top: as
- an overlying rock layer that is usu. hard to penetrate
- pileus
- calyptra
- the top of a bird's head or a patch of distinctively colored feathers in this area
- something that serves as a cover or protection esp. for a tip, knob, or end
- a fitting for closing the end of a tube (as a water pipe or electric conduit)
- cervical cap
- an artificial crown for a tooth
- an overlaying or covering structure
- a paper or metal container holding an explosive charge (as for a toy pistol)
- an upper limit (as on expenditures) : ceiling
- the symbol indicating the intersection of two sets
- a cluster of molecules or chemical groups bound to one end or a region of a cell, virus, or molecule
- to provide or protect with a cap
- to give a cap to as a symbol of honor, rank, or achievement
- to form a cap over : crown
- the mountains were capped with mist -- John Buchan
- to follow with something more noticeable or more significant : outdo
- to bring to a climax or conclusion
- cap off the show with a song
- to form a chemical cap on
- to prevent from growing or spreading : set an upper limit on
- to supply (a tooth) with an artificial crown
- to form or produce a chemical cap
- a small amount of an illegal or legally regulated drug
- a small amount of a drug enclosed in a capsule
- capitalization
- capacity
- capital
- capitalize; capitalized
CAP -abbr
- Civil Air Patrol
- combat air patrol
ca·pa·bil·i·ty [,kā-pə-'bi-lə-tē] -n
- the quality or state of being capable
- ability
- a feature or faculty capable of development : potentiality
- the facility or potential for an indicated use or deployment
- the capability of a metal to be fused
ca·pa·ble ['kā-pə-bəl, in rapid speech 'kāp-bəl] -adj, n, adv
- susceptible
- a remark capable of being misunderstood
- comprehensive
- having attributes (as physical or mental power) required for performance or accomplishment
- is capable of intense concentration
- having traits conducive to or features permitting
- this woman is capable of murder by violence -- Robert Graves
- an outer coat of light color capable of reflecting solar heat -- Current Biog.
- having legal right to own, enjoy, or perform
- having or showing general efficiency and ability
ca·pa·cious [kə-'pā-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- containing or capable of containing a great deal
ca·pac·i·tance [kə-'pa-sə-tən(t)s] -n, adj, adv
- the property of an electric nonconductor that permits the storage of energy as a result of the separation of charge that occurs when opposite surfaces of the nonconductor are maintained at a difference of potential
- the measure of this property that is equal to the ratio of the charge on either surface to the potential difference between the surfaces
- a part of a circuit or network that possesses capacitance
ca·pac·i·tate [kə-'pa-sə-,tāt] -vt
- to make capable
- to cause (sperm) to undergo capacitation
ca·pac·i·ta·tion [kə-,pa-sə-'tā-shən] -n
- the change undergone by sperm in the female reproductive tract that enables them to penetrate and fertilize an egg
ca·pac·i·tor [kə-'pa-sə-tər] -n
- a device giving capacitance and usu. consisting of conducting plates or foils separated by thin layers of dielectric (as air or mica) with the plates on opposite sides of the dielectric layers oppositely charged by a source of voltage and the electrical energy of the charged system stored in the polarized dielectric
ca·pac·i·ty [kə-'pa-sə-tē, -'pas-tē] -n
- legal competency or fitness
- the potential or suitability for holding, storing, or accommodating
- the maximum amount or number that can be contained or accommodated
- a jug with a one-gallon capacity
- the auditorium was filled to capacity
- an individual's mental or physical ability : aptitude, skill
- the faculty or potential for treating, experiencing, or appreciating
- duty, position, role
- will be happy to serve in any capacity
- the facility or power to produce, perform, or deploy : capability
- a plan to double the factory's capacity
- maximum output
- industries running at three-quarter capacity
- capacitance
- the quantity of electricity that a battery can deliver under specified conditions
capacity -adj
- equaling maximum capacity
capapie [,ka-pə-'pē, -'pā] -adv
- from head to foot
ca·par·i·son [kə-'per-ə-sən, -'pa-rə-] -n
- an ornamental covering for a horse
- decorative trappings and harness
- rich clothing : adornment
caparison -vt
- to provide with or as if with a rich ornamental covering : adorn
cape ['kāp] -n
- a point or extension of land jutting out into water as a peninsula or as a projecting point
- cape cod cottage
- a sleeveless outer garment or part of a garment that fits closely at the neck and hangs loosely over the shoulders
- the short feathers covering the shoulders of a fowl
Cape buffalo ['kāp-] -n
- the large reddish-brown to black wild buffalo ( Syncerus caffer) of sub-Saharan Africa called also African buffalo
Cape Cod cottage [(')kāp-'käd-] -n
- a compact rectangular dwelling of one or one-and-a-half stories usu. with a central chimney and steep gable roof called also cape Cape Cod
Cape gooseberry -n
- any of several ground-cherries (esp. Physalis peruviana) bearing edible acid berries
- its berry
Cape Horn·er [,kāp-'hȯr-nər] -n
- a ship that voyages around Cape Horn
cape·let ['kāp-lət] -n
- a small cape usu. covering the shoulders
cap·e·lin ['ka-p(ə-)lən] -n
- a small northern sea fish ( Mallotus villosus) of the smelt family
Ca·pel·la [kə-'pe-lə] -n
- a star of the first magnitude in Auriga
cap·el·lini [,ka-pə-'lē-nē] -n
- angel-hair pasta
ca·per ['kā-pər] -n
- any of a genus ( Capparisof the family Capparidaceae, the caper family) of low prickly shrubs of the Mediterranean region
- one ( C. spinosa) cultivated for its buds
- one of the greenish flower buds or young berries of the caper pickled and used as a seasoning or garnish
caper [-p(ə-)riŋ] -vi
- to leap or prance about in a playful manner
- a frolicsome leap
- a capricious escapade : prank
- an illegal or questionable act
- theft
cap·er·cail·lie [,ka-pər-'kā-lē, -'kāl-yē] -n
- a very large European grouse ( Tetrao urogallus) of hilly coniferous woodlands
cape·skin ['kāp-,skin] -n
- a light flexible leather made from sheepskins with the natural grain retained and used esp. for gloves and garments
Ca·pe·tian [kə-'pē-shən] -adj, n
- of or relating to the French royal house that ruled from 987 to 1328
cape·work ['kāp-,wərk] -n
- the art of the bullfighter in working a bull with the cape
cap·ful ['kap-,fu̇l] -n
- as much as a cap will hold
capful of wind
- a sudden light breeze
ca·pi·as ['kā-pē-əs] -n
- an arrest warrant
cap·il·lar·i·ty [,ka-pə-'ler-ə-tē, -'la-rə-] -n
- the property or state of being capillary
- the action by which the surface of a liquid where it is in contact with a solid (as in a capillary tube) is elevated or depressed depending on the relative attraction of the molecules of the liquid for each other and for those of the solid
cap·il·lary ['ka-pə-,ler-ē, -,le-rē, Brit usu kə-'pi-lə-rē] -adj
- resembling a hair esp. in slender elongated form
- having a very small bore
- involving, held by, or resulting from surface tension
- capillary water in the soil
- of or relating to capillaries or capillarity
capillary -n
- a capillary tube
- any of the smallest blood vessels connecting arterioles with venules and forming networks throughout the body
capillary attraction -n
- the force of adhesion between a solid and a liquid in capillarity
cap·i·tal ['ka-pə-tᵊl, 'kap-tᵊl] -n
- the uppermost member of a column or pilaster crowning the shaft and taking the weight of the entablature
capital -adj
- of or conforming to the series A, B, C, etc. rather than a, b, c, etc.
- punishable by death
- involving execution
- most serious
- chief in importance or influence
- the capital importance of criticism in the work of creation itself -- T. S. Eliot
- being the seat of government
- of or relating to capital
- relating to or being assets that add to the long-term net worth of a corporation
- excellent
- a stock of accumulated goods esp. at a specified time and in contrast to income received during a specified period
- the value of these accumulated goods
- accumulated goods devoted to the production of other goods
- accumulated possessions calculated to bring in income
- net worth
- stock
- persons holding capital
- advantage, gain
- make capital of the situation
- a store of useful assets or advantages
- wasted their political capital on an unpopular cause
- wrote from the capital of his emotionally desolate boyhood -- E. L. Doctorow
- a capital letter
- an initial capital letter
- a letter belonging to a style of alphabet modeled on the style customarily used in inscriptions
- a city serving as a seat of government
- a city preeminent in some special activity
capital gain -n
- the increase in value of an asset (as stock or real estate) between the time it is bought and the time it is sold
capital goods -n pl
- capital
capitalintensive -adj
- having a high capital cost per unit of output
- requiring greater expenditure in the form of capital than of labor
cap·i·tal·ise ['ka-pə-tə-,līz, 'kap-tə-, Brit also kə-'pi-tə-] -vb
(variant of capitalize)
- to write or print with an initial capital or in capitals
- to convert into capital
- capitalize the company's reserve fund
- to treat as an amortizable investment in long-term capital assets rather than as an ordinary operating expense to be charged against revenue for the period in which it is incurred
- capitalize development costs
- to compute the present value of (an income extended over a period of time)
- to convert (a periodic payment) into an equivalent capital sum
- to supply capital for
- to gain by turning something to advantage : profit
- capitalize on an opponent's mistake
cap·i·tal·ism ['ka-pə-tə-,liz-əm, 'kap-tə-, Brit also kə-'pi-tə-] -n
- an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market
cap·i·tal·ist [-ist] -n
- a person who has capital esp. invested in business
- a person of wealth : plutocrat
- a person who favors capitalism
capitalist [,ka-pə-tə-'lis-tik, ,kap-tə-, Brit also kə-,pi-tə-] -adj, adv
- owning capital
- practicing or advocating capitalism
- marked by capitalism
- capitalist period of history
cap·i·tal·i·za·tion [,ka-pə-tə-lə-'zā-shən, ,kap-tə-, Brit also kə-,pi-tə-] -n
- the act or process of capitalizing
- a sum resulting from a process of capitalizing
- the total liabilities of a business including both ownership capital and borrowed capital
- the total par value or the stated value of no-par issues of authorized stock
- the use of a capital letter in writing or printing
cap·i·tal·ize ['ka-pə-tə-,līz, 'kap-tə-, Brit also kə-'pi-tə-] -vb
- to write or print with an initial capital or in capitals
- to convert into capital
- capitalize the company's reserve fund
- to treat as an amortizable investment in long-term capital assets rather than as an ordinary operating expense to be charged against revenue for the period in which it is incurred
- capitalize development costs
- to compute the present value of (an income extended over a period of time)
- to convert (a periodic payment) into an equivalent capital sum
- to supply capital for
- to gain by turning something to advantage : profit
- capitalize on an opponent's mistake
cap·i·tal·ly ['ka-pə-tə-lē, 'kap-tə-] -adv
- in a manner involving capital punishment
- in a capital manner : excellently
capital stock -n
- the outstanding shares of a joint-stock company considered as an aggregate
- capitalization
- stock
cap·i·tate ['ka-pə-,tāt] -adj
- forming a head
- abruptly enlarged and globose
cap·i·tat·ed ['ka-pə-,tā-təd] -adj
- of, relating to, participating in, or being a health-care system in which a medical provider is given a set fee per patient (as by an HMO) regardless of treatment required
cap·i·ta·tion [,ka-pə-'tā-shən] -n
- a direct uniform tax imposed on each head or person : poll tax
- a uniform per capita payment or fee
- a capitated health-care system
cap·i·tol ['ka-pə-tᵊl, 'kap-tᵊl] -n
- a building in which a state legislative body meets
- a group of buildings in which the functions of state government are carried out
- the building in which the U.S. Congress meets at Washington
Capitol Hill -n
- the legislative branch of the U.S. government
Cap·i·to·line ['ka-pə-tə-,līn, Brit usu kə-'pi-tə-,līn] -adj
- of or relating to the smallest of the seven hills of ancient Rome, the temple on it, or the gods worshipped there
ca·pit·u·lar [kə-'pi-chə-lər] -adj
- of or relating to an ecclesiastical chapter
ca·pit·u·lary [-,ler-ē, -,le-rē] -n
- a civil or ecclesiastical ordinance
- a collection of ordinances
ca·pit·u·late [kə-'pi-chə-,lāt] -vi
- parley, negotiate
- to surrender often after negotiation of terms
- to cease resisting : acquiesce
ca·pit·u·la·tion [kə-,pi-chə-'lā-shən] -n
- a set of terms or articles constituting an agreement between governments
- the act of surrendering or yielding
- the terms of surrender
ca·pit·u·lum [kə-'pi-chə-ləm] -n
- a rounded protuberance of an anatomical part (as a bone)
- a racemose inflorescence (as of the sunflower) with the axis shortened and dilated to form a rounded or flattened cluster of sessile flowers
Cap·lets ['ka-pləts] -trademark
- used for capsule-shaped medicinal tablets
ca·po ['kā-(,)pō] -n
- a movable bar attached to the fingerboard of a fretted instrument to uniformly raise the pitch of all the strings
- the head of a branch of a crime syndicate
ca·po·ei·ra [,kä-pə-'wā-rə, ,käp-'wā-] -n
- a Brazilian dance of African origin that incorporates martial arts movements such as kicks and chops
ca·pon ['kā-,pän, -pən] -n
- a castrated male chicken
ca·po·na·ta [,kä-pə-'nä-tə] -n
- a relish of chopped eggplant and assorted vegetables
ca·pote [kə-'pōt] -n
- a usu. long and hooded cloak or overcoat
cap·pel·let·ti [,ka-pə-'le-tē] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- pasta in the form of little peaked hats filled with a savory mixture
cap·per ['ka-pər] -n
- : one that caps: as
- a device that fits caps on bottles
- finale, climax, clincher
- a lure or decoy esp. in an illicit or questionable activity : shill
cap·ping ['ka-piŋ] -n
- something that caps
cap·puc·ci·no [,ka-pə-'chē-(,)nō, ,kä-pü-] -n
- espresso coffee mixed with frothed hot milk or cream and often flavored with cinnamon
cap·ric acid ['ka-prik-] -n
- a fatty acid C 10H 20O 2found in fats and oils and used in flavors and perfumes
ca·pric·cio [kə-'prē-ch(ē-,)ō] -n
- fancy, whimsy
- caper, prank
- an instrumental piece in free form usu. lively in tempo and brilliant in style
ca·price [kə-'prēs] -n
- a sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action
- a sudden usu. unpredictable condition, change, or series of changes
- the caprice s of the weather
- a disposition to do things impulsively
- capriccio
ca·pri·cious [kə-'pri-shəs, -'prē-] -adj, adv, n
- governed or characterized by caprice : impulsive, unpredictable
Cap·ri·corn ['ka-pri-,kȯrn] -n
- a southern zodiacal constellation between Sagittarius and Aquarius
- the 10th sign of the zodiac in astrology
- one born under the sign of Capricorn
cap·ri·fi·ca·tion [,ka-prə-fə-'kā-shən] -n
- artificial pollination of figs that usu. bear only pistillate flowers by hanging male flowering branches of the caprifig in the trees to facilitate pollen transfer by a fig wasp
cap·ri·fig ['ka-prə-,fig] -n
- a wild fig ( Ficus carica sylvestris) of southern Europe and southwestern Asia used for caprification of the cultivated fig
- its fruit
cap·rine ['ka-,prīn] -adj
- of, relating to, or being a goat
cap·ri·ole ['ka-prē-,ōl] -n, vi
- a playful leap : caper
- a vertical leap with a backward kick of the hind legs at the height of the leap
ca·pri pants [kə-'prē-] -n pl
- close-fitting women's pants that end above the ankle called also capris
cap·rock ['kap-,räk] -n
- cap
ca·pro·ic acid [kə-'prō-ik-] -n
- a liquid fatty acid C 6H 12O 2that is found as a glycerol ester in fats and oils or made synthetically and used in pharmaceuticals and flavorings
cap·ro·lac·tam [,ka-prō-'lak-,tam] -n
- a white crystalline cyclic amide C 6H 11NO used esp. in making one type of nylon
ca·pryl·ic acid [kə-'pri-lik-] -n
- a fatty acid C 8H 16O 2of rancid odor occurring in fats and oils and used esp. in the synthesis of esters for perfumes
caps -abbr
- capitals
- capsule
cap·sa·i·cin [kap-'sā-ə-sən] -n
- a colorless irritant phenolic amide C 18H 27NO 3found in various capsicums that gives hot peppers their hotness and that is used in topical creams for its analgesic properties
Cap·si·an ['kap-sē-ən] -adj
- of or relating to a Paleolithic culture of northern Africa and southern Europe
cap·si·cum ['kap-si-kəm] -n
- any of a genus ( Capsicum) of tropical American herbs and shrubs of the nightshade family widely cultivated for their many-seeded usu. fleshy-walled berries called also pepper
- pepper
- an oleoresin derived from the fruit of some capsicums that contains capsaicin and related compounds and is used medicinally esp. as a topical pain reliever
cap·sid ['kap-səd] -n
- the protein shell of a virus particle surrounding its nucleic acid
cap·size ['kap-,sīz, kap-'] -vb, n
- to cause to overturn
- to become upset or overturned : turn over
cap sleeve -n
- a very short sleeve (as on a dress) that hangs over the edge of the shoulder without extending along the underside of the arm
cap·stan ['kap-stən, -,stan] -n
- a machine for moving or raising heavy weights that consists of a vertical drum which can be rotated and around which cable is turned
- a rotating shaft that drives tape at a constant speed in a recorder
cap·stone ['kap-,stōn] -n
- a coping stone : coping
- the high point : crowning achievement
- the capstone of her career
cap·su·lar ['kap-sə-lər] -adj
- of, relating to, or resembling a capsule
- capsulated
cap·su·lat·ed [-,lā-təd] -adj
- enclosed in a capsule
cap·sule ['kap-səl, -(,)sül also -,syül] -n
- a membrane or sac enclosing a body part (as a knee joint or kidney)
- either of two layers of white matter in the cerebrum
- : a closed receptacle containing spores or seeds: as
- a dry dehiscent usu. many-seeded fruit composed of two or more carpels
- the spore case of a moss
- a shell usu. of gelatin for packaging something (as a drug or vitamins)
- a usu. medicinal or nutritional preparation for oral use consisting of the shell and its contents
- an often polysaccharide envelope surrounding a microorganism
- an extremely brief condensation : outline, survey
- a compact often sealed and detachable container or compartment
- a small pressurized compartment or vehicle (as for space flight)
capsule -vt
- to equip with or enclose in a capsule
- to condense into or devise in a compact form
- extremely brief
- small and very compact
cap·sul·ize ['kap-sə-,līz] -vt
- capsule
Capt -abbr
- captain
cap·tain ['kap-tən also 'kap-ᵊm] -n
- a military leader : the commander of a unit or a body of troops
- a subordinate officer commanding under a sovereign or general
- a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps ranking above a first lieutenant and below a major
- a naval officer who is master or commander of a ship
- a commissioned officer in the navy ranking above a commander and below a commodore and in the coast guard ranking above a commander and below a rear admiral
- a senior pilot who commands the crew of an airplane
- an officer in a police department or fire department in charge of a unit (as a precinct or company) and usu. ranking above a lieutenant and below a chief
- : one who leads or supervises: as
- a leader of a sports team or side
- headwaiter
- a person in charge of hotel bellhops called also bell captain
- a person of importance or influence in a field
captain -vt
- to be captain of : lead
- captain ed the football team
captain's chair -n
- an armchair with a saddle seat and a low curved back with vertical spindles
captain's mast -n
- mast
cap·tan ['kap-,tan] -n
- a fungicide C 9H 8Cl 3NO 2S used on agricultural crops
cap·tion ['kap-shən] -n, adj
- the part of a legal document that shows where, when, and by what authority it was taken, found, or executed
- the heading esp. of an article or document : title
- the explanatory comment or designation accompanying a pictorial illustration
- a motion-picture subtitle
caption [-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vt
- to furnish with a caption
cap·tious ['kap-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections
- calculated to confuse, entrap, or entangle in argument
cap·ti·vate ['kap-tə-,vāt] -vt, n
- seize, capture
- to influence and dominate by some special charm, art, or trait and with an irresistible appeal
cap·tive ['kap-tiv] -adj, n
- taken and held as or as if a prisoner of war
- kept within bounds : confined
- of or relating to captive animals
- held under control of another but having the appearance of independence
- owned or controlled by another concern and operated for its needs rather than for an open market
- being such involuntarily because of a situation that makes free choice or departure difficult
cap·tiv·i·ty [kap-'ti-və-tē] -n
- the state of being captive
- some birds thrive in captivity
- a group of captives
cap·to·pril ['kap-tə-,pril] -n
- an antihypertensive drug C 9H 15NO 3S that is an ACE inhibitor
cap·tor ['kap-tər, -,tȯr] -n
- one that has captured a person or thing
cap·ture ['kap-chər, -shər] -n
- : an act or instance of capturing: as
- an act of catching, winning, or gaining control by force, stratagem, or guile
- a move in a board game (as chess or checkers) that gains an opponent's piece
- the absorption by an atom, nucleus, or particle of a subatomic particle that often results in subsequent emission of radiation or in fission
- the act of recording in a permanent file
- one that has been taken (as a prize ship)
capture ['kap-chə-riŋ, 'kap-shriŋ] -vt
- to take captive
- to gain control of esp. by force
- to gain or win esp. through effort
- captured 60 percent of the vote
- to emphasize, represent, or preserve (as a scene, mood, or quality) in a more or less permanent form
- at any such moment as a photograph might capture -- C. E. Montague
- to record in a permanent file (as in a computer)
- to captivate and hold the interest of
- to take according to the rules of a game
- to bring about the capture of (a subatomic particle)
capture the flag -n
- a game in which players on each of two teams seek to capture the other team's flag and return it to their side without being captured and imprisoned
ca·puche [kə-'püch, -'püsh] -n
- hood
- the cowl of a Capuchin friar
ca·pu·chin ['ka-pyə-shən, -pə-, esp for 3 also kə-'pyü-, -'pü-] -n
- a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin forming since 1529 an austere branch of the first order of St. Francis of Assisi engaged in missionary work and preaching
- a hooded cloak for women
- any of a genus ( Cebus) of So. and Central American monkeys
- one ( C. capucinus) with the hair on its crown resembling a monk's cowl
Cap·u·let ['ka-pyə-lət] -n
- the family of Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
cap·y·bara [,ka-pi-'ber-ə, -'bär-, -'ba-rə] -n
- a tailless semiaquatic So. and Central American rodent ( Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris) often exceeding four feet (1.2 meters) in length
car ['kär, dial also 'kȯr, 'kyär] -n
- : a vehicle moving on wheels: as
- carriage, chariot
- a vehicle designed to move on rails (as of a railroad)
- automobile
- the passenger compartment of an elevator
- the part of an airship or balloon that carries the passengers and cargo
CAR -abbr
- civil air regulations
ca·ra·bao [,ker-ə-'bau̇, ,kär-, ,ka-rə-] -n
- water buffalo
ca·ra·bid ['ker-ə-bəd, 'ka-rə-, kə-'ra-bəd] -n
- ground beetle
car·a·bi·neer [,ker-ə-bə-'nir, ,ka-rə-] -n
- a cavalry soldier armed with a carbine
car·a·bi·ner [,ker-ə-'bē-nər, ,ka-rə-] -n
- an oblong metal ring with one spring-hinged side that is used esp. in mountain climbing as a connector and to hold a freely running rope
ca·ra·bi·ne·ro [,ker-ə-bə-'ner-(,)ō, ,kär-, ,ka-rə-] -n
- a member of a Spanish national police force serving esp. as frontier guards
- a customs or coast guard officer in the Philippines
ca·ra·bi·nie·re [,ker-ə-bən-'yer-(,)ā, ,kär-, ,ka-rə-] -n
- a member of the Italian national police force
car·a·cal ['ker-ə-,kal, 'ka-rə-] -n
- a long-legged reddish-brown nocturnal cat ( Felis caracalsyn. Lynx caracal) of savannas in Africa and parts of Asia that has long pointed ears with a tuft of black hairs at the tip
ca·ra·ca·ra [,ka-rə-'ka-rə, -ə-kə-'rä] -n
- any of various large long-legged hawks found from the southern U.S. to So. America that are classified with the falcons
car·a·cole ['ka-rə-,kōl] -n, vb
- a half turn to right or left executed by a mounted horse
car·a·cul ['ka-rə-kəl] -n
- the pelt of a karakul lamb after the curl begins to loosen
ca·rafe [kə-'raf, -'räf] -n
- a bottle with a flaring lip used to hold beverages and esp. wine
- a usu. glass container used to hold and serve coffee
car·am·bo·la [,ka-rəm-'bō-lə] -n
- a 5-angled green to yellow tropical fruit of star-shaped cross section called also star fruit
- a tropical tree ( Averrhoa carambola) of the wood-sorrel family that is native to southeastern Asia and is widely cultivated for carambolas
car·a·mel ['kär-məl; 'ker-ə-məl, 'ka-rə-, -,mel] -n
- an amorphous brittle brown and somewhat bitter substance obtained by heating sugar and used as a coloring and flavoring agent
- a firm chewy usu. caramel-flavored candy
car·a·mel·ise [-mə-,līz] -vb
(variant of caramelize)
- to change (as sugar) into caramel
- to change to caramel
car·a·mel·ize [-mə-,līz] -vb
- to change (as sugar) into caramel
- to change to caramel
ca·ran·gid [kə-'ran-jəd, -'raŋ-gəd] -adj, n
- of or relating to a large family (Carangidae of the order Perciformes) of marine spiny-finned bony fishes including important food fishes
car·a·pace ['ker-ə-,pās, 'ka-rə-] -n
- a bony or chitinous case or shield covering the back or part of the back of an animal (as a turtle or crab)
- a protective, decorative, or disguising shell
- the carapace of reserve he built around himself -- M. M. Mintz
carat ['ker-ət, 'ka-rət] -n
(variant of karat)
- a unit of fineness for gold equal to part of pure gold in an alloy
car·at ['ker-ət, 'ka-rət] -n
- a unit of weight for precious stones equal to 200 milligrams
car·a·van ['ker-ə-,van, 'ka-rə-] -n
- a company of travelers on a journey through desert or hostile regions
- a train of pack animals
- a group of vehicles traveling together (as in a file)
- a covered wagon or motor vehicle equipped as traveling living quarters
- trailer
caravan -vi
- to travel in a caravan
car·a·van·ner [-,va-nər] -n
- one that travels in a caravan
- one who goes camping with a trailer
car·a·van·sa·ry [,ker-ə-'van(t)-sə-rē, ,ka-rə-] -n
- an inn surrounding a court in eastern countries where caravans rest at night
- hotel, inn
car·a·vel ['ker-ə-,vel, 'ka-rə-, -vəl] -n
- any of several sailing ships
- a small 15th and 16th century ship that has broad bows, high narrow poop, and usu. three masts with lateen or both square and lateen sails
car·a·way ['ker-ə-,wā, 'ka-rə-] -n
- a biennial usu. white-flowered aromatic Old World herb ( Carum carvi) of the carrot family
- the pungent fruit of the caraway used in seasoning and medicine called also caraway seed
carb ['kärb] -n
- carburetor
- carbohydrate
- a high-carbohydrate food usu. used in pl.
carb- -comb form
- carbon : carbonic : carbonyl : carboxyl
car·ba·chol ['kär-bə-,kȯl, -,kōl] -n
- a synthetic parasympathomimetic drug C 6H 15ClN 2O 2that is used in veterinary medicine and topically in glaucoma
car·ba·mate ['kär-bə-,māt, kär-'ba-,māt] -n
- a salt or ester of carbamic acid
- one that is a synthetic organic insecticide
car·ba·maz·e·pine [,kär-bə-'ma-zə-,pēn] -n
- a tricyclic anticonvulsant and analgesic C 15H 12N 2O used in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia and epilepsy
car·bam·ic acid [(,)kär-'ba-mik-] -n
- an acid CH 3NO 2known in the form of salts and esters that is a half amide of carbonic acid
car·bam·ide ['kär-bə-,mīd, kär-'ba-məd] -n
- urea
carb·ami·no [,kär-bə-'mē-(,)nō] -adj
- relating to any of various carbamic acid derivatives formed by reaction of carbon dioxide with an amino acid or a protein (as hemoglobin)
carb·an·ion [kär-'ba-,nī-ən, -,nī-,än] -n
- an organic ion carrying a negative charge on a carbon atom
car·barn ['kär-,bärn] -n
- a building that houses the cars of a street railway or the buses of a bus system
car·ba·ryl ['kär-bə-,ril] -n
- a carbamate insecticide C 12H 11NO 2effective esp. against numerous crop, forage, and forest pests
car·ba·zole ['kär-bə-,zōl] -n
- a crystalline slightly basic cyclic compound C 12H 9N found in anthracene and used in making dyes
car·bide ['kär-,bīd] -n
- a binary compound of carbon with a more electropositive element
- calcium carbide
- a very hard material made of carbon and one or more heavy metals
car·bine ['kär-,bēn, -,bīn] -n
- a short-barreled lightweight firearm orig. used by cavalry
- a light short-barreled repeating rifle that is used as a supplementary military arm or for hunting in dense brush
car·bi·nol ['kär-bə-,nȯl, -,nōl] -n
- methanol
- an alcohol derived from it
car·bo·cy·clic [,kär-bō-'sī-klik, -'si-] -adj
- being or having an organic ring composed of carbon atoms
car·bo·hy·drase [,kär-bō-'hī-,drās, -bə-, -,drāz] -n
- any of a group of enzymes (as amylase) that promote hydrolysis or synthesis of a carbohydrate (as a disaccharide)
car·bo·hy·drate [-,drāt, -drət] -n
- any of various neutral compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (as sugars, starches, and celluloses) most of which are formed by green plants and which constitute a major class of animal foods
car·bol·ic [kär-'bä-lik] -n
- phenol
carbolic acid -n
- phenol
car·boload ['kär-bō-,lōd] -vi
- to consume a large amount of carbohydrates through food intake usu. in order to improve performance in an upcoming athletic event (as a marathon)
car bomb -n
- an explosive device concealed in an automobile for use as a weapon of terrorism
car·bon ['kär-bən] -n
- a nonmetallic chiefly tetravalent element found native (as in diamond and graphite) or as a constituent of coal, petroleum, and asphalt, of limestone and other carbonates, and of organic compounds or obtained artificially in varying degrees of purity esp. as carbon black, lampblack, activated carbon, charcoal, and coke
- a carbon rod used in an arc lamp
- a sheet of carbon paper
- carbon copy
car·bo·na·ceous [,kär-bə-'nā-shəs] -adj
- relating to, containing, or composed of carbon
- rich in carbon
car·bo·na·do [,kär-bə-'nā-(,)dō, -'nä-] -n
- a piece of meat scored before grilling
carbonado -vt
- to make a carbonado of
- cut, slash
- an impure opaque dark-colored fine-grained aggregate of diamond particles valuable for its superior toughness
car·bo·nara [,kär-bə-'när-ə] -n
- a dish of hot pasta into which other ingredients (as eggs, bacon or ham, and grated cheese) have been mixed often used as a postpositive modifier
car·bon·ate ['kär-bə-,nāt, -nət] -n
- a salt or ester of carbonic acid
- to convert into a carbonate
- to combine or infuse with carbon dioxide
carbon black -n
- any of various colloidal black substances consisting wholly or principally of carbon obtained usu. as soot and used esp. in tires and as pigments
carbon copy -n
- a copy made by carbon paper
- duplicate
- is a carbon copy of his father
carbon cycle -n
- the cycle of carbon in the earth's ecosystems in which carbon dioxide is fixed by photosynthetic organisms to form organic nutrients and is ultimately restored to the inorganic state (as by respiration, protoplasmic decay, or combustion)
- a cycle of thermonuclear reactions in which four hydrogen atoms synthesize into a helium atom by the catalytic action of carbon with the release of nuclear energy and which is held to be the source of most of the energy radiated by the sun and stars
carbon dating ['kär-bən-'dāt] -n, vt
- the determination of the age of old material (as an archaeological or paleontological specimen) by means of the content of carbon 14
carbon dioxide -n
- a heavy colorless gas CO 2that does not support combustion, dissolves in water to form carbonic acid, is formed esp. in animal respiration and in the decay or combustion of animal and vegetable matter, is absorbed from the air by plants in photosynthesis, and is used in the carbonation of beverages
carbon disulfide -n
- a colorless flammable poisonous liquid CS 2used as a solvent for rubber and as an insect fumigant called also carbon bisulfide
carbon fiber -n
- a very strong lightweight synthetic fiber made esp. by carbonizing acrylic fiber at high temperatures
carbon footprint -n
- the negative impact that something (as a person or business) has on the environment
- the amount of carbon emitted by something during a given period
carbon 14 -n
- a heavy radioactive isotope of carbon of mass number 14 used esp. in tracer studies and in dating old materials (as archaeological and geological specimens)
car·bon·ic [kär-'bä-nik] -adj
- of, relating to, or derived from carbon, carbonic acid, or carbon dioxide
carbonic acid -n
- a weak dibasic acid H 2CO 3known only in solution that reacts with bases to form carbonates
carbonic acid gas -n
- carbon dioxide
carbonic an·hy·drase [-an-'hī-,drās, -,drāz] -n
- a zinc-containing enzyme that occurs in living tissues (as red blood cells) and aids carbon-dioxide transport from the tissues and its release from the blood in the lungs by catalyzing the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide to carbonic acid
car·bon·if·er·ous [,kär-bə-'ni-f(ə-)rəs] -adj, n
- producing or containing carbon or coal
- of, relating to, or being the period of the Paleozoic era between the Devonian and the Permian or the corresponding system of rocks that includes coal beds
car·bo·ni·um [kär-'bō-nē-əm] -n
- an organic ion carrying a positive charge on a carbon atom
car·bon·i·za·tion [,kär-bə-nə-'zā-shən] -n
- the process of carbonizing
- destructive distillation
car·bon·ize ['kär-bə-,nīz] -vb
- to convert into carbon or a carbonic residue
- carburize
- to become carbonized : char
car·bon·less ['kär-bən-ləs] -adj
- being without carbon
- being or composed of paper that makes multiple copies without intervening layers of carbon paper
carbon monoxide -n
- a colorless odorless very toxic gas CO that is formed as a product of the incomplete combustion of carbon or a carbon compound
car·bon·nade [,kär-bə-'näd] -n
- a beef stew cooked in beer
carbon paper -n
- a thin paper faced with a waxy pigmented coating so that when placed between two sheets of paper the pressure of writing or typing on the top sheet causes transfer of pigment to the bottom sheet
carbon steel -n
- a strong hard steel that derives its physical properties from the presence of carbon and is used in hand tools and kitchen utensils
carbon tetrachloride -n
- a colorless nonflammable toxic liquid CCl 4that has an odor resembling that of chloroform and is used as a solvent and a refrigerant
carbon 13 -n
- an isotope of carbon of mass number 13 that constitutes about of natural carbon and is used as a tracer esp. in spectroscopy utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance
carbon 12 -n
- an isotope of carbon of mass number 12 that is the most abundant carbon isotope and is used as a standard for measurements of atomic weight
car·bon·yl ['kär-bə-,nil, -,nēl] -n, adj
- an organic functional group or radical CO occurring in aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, and their derivatives
- a coordination complex involving the neutral radical CO
car·bon·yl·a·tion [(,)kär-,bä-nə-'lā-shən] -n
- the synthesis of a carbonyl compound esp. by a reaction involving carbon monoxide
Car·bo·run·dum [,kär-bə-'rən-dəm] -trademark
- used for various abrasives
carboxy- -comb form
- carboxyl
car·box·yl [kär-'bäk-səl] -n, adj
- a monovalent functional group or radical COOH typical of organic acids called also carboxyl group
car·box·yl·ase [kär-'bäk-sə-,lās, -,lāz] -n
- an enzyme that catalyzes decarboxylation or carboxylation
car·box·yl·ate [-,lāt, -lət] -n
- a salt or ester of a carboxylic acid
- to introduce carboxyl or carbon dioxide into (a compound) with formation of a carboxylic acid
carboxylic acid -n
- an organic acid (as acetic acid) containing one or more carboxyl groups
car·boxy·meth·yl·cel·lu·lose [kär-,bäk-sē-,me-thəl-'sel-yə-,lōs, -,lōz] -n
- an acid ether derivative of cellulose that in the form of its sodium salt is used as a thickening, emulsifying, and stabilizing agent and as a bulk laxative in medicine
car·boxy·pep·ti·dase [-'pep-tə-,dās, -,dāz] -n
- an enzyme that hydrolyzes peptides and esp. polypeptides by splitting off sequentially the amino acids at the end of the peptide chain which contain free carboxyl groups
car·boy ['kär-,bȯi] -n
- a large container for liquids
car·bun·cle ['kär-,bəŋ-kəl] -n, adj
- any of several red precious stones
- the garnet cut cabochon
- a painful local purulent inflammation of the skin and deeper tissues with multiple openings for the discharge of pus and usu. necrosis and sloughing of dead tissue
car·bu·ret·ed ['kär-bə-,rā-təd, -byə-, esp by chemists -,re-təd] -adj
- equipped with a carburetor
car·bu·re·tion [,kär-bə-'rā-shən, -byə-] -n
- the process of mixing (as in a carburetor) the vapor of a flammable hydrocarbon (as gasoline) with air to form an explosive mixture esp. for use in an internal-combustion engine
car·bu·re·tor ['kär-bə-,rā-tər, -byə-] -n
- a mechanical apparatus for premixing vaporized fuel and air in proper proportions and supplying the mixture to an internal combustion engine
car·bu·ret·tor ['kär-bə-,rā-tər, -byə-] -n
(variant of carburetor)
- a mechanical apparatus for premixing vaporized fuel and air in proper proportions and supplying the mixture to an internal combustion engine
car·bu·rise ['kär-bə-,rīz, -byə-] -vt, n
(variant of carburize)
- to combine or impregnate (as metal) with carbon
car·bu·rize ['kär-bə-,rīz, -byə-] -vt, n
- to combine or impregnate (as metal) with carbon
car·ca·net ['kär-kə-nət] -n
- an ornamental necklace, chain, collar, or headband
car·case ['kär-kəs] -n
(variant of carcass)
- a dead body : corpse
- the dressed body of a meat animal
- the living, material, or physical body
- the decaying or worthless remains of a structure
- the carcass of an abandoned automobile
- the underlying structure or frame of something (as of a piece of furniture)
car·cass ['kär-kəs] -n
- a dead body : corpse
- the dressed body of a meat animal
- the living, material, or physical body
- the decaying or worthless remains of a structure
- the carcass of an abandoned automobile
- the underlying structure or frame of something (as of a piece of furniture)
car·cer·al ['kär-sə-rəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or suggesting a jail or prison
carcin- -comb form
- tumor : cancer
car·ci·no·em·bry·on·ic antigen [,kär-sə-nō-,em-brē-'ä-nik-] -n
- a glycoprotein present in fetal digestive-tract tissues and in peripheral blood of patients with some forms of cancer
car·cin·o·gen [kär-'si-nə-jən, 'kär-sə-nə-,jen] -n, adj
- a substance or agent causing cancer
car·ci·no·gen·e·sis [,kär-sə-nō-'je-nə-sis] -n
- the production of cancer
car·ci·noid ['kär-sə-,nȯid] -n
- a benign or malignant tumor arising esp. from the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract
car·ci·no·ma [,kär-sə-'nō-mə] -n, adj
- a malignant tumor of epithelial origin
car·ci·no·ma·to·sis [-,nō-mə-'tō-səs] -n
- a condition in which multiple carcinomas develop simultaneously usu. after dissemination from a primary source
car coat -n
- a three-quarter-length overcoat
card ['kärd] -vt, n
- to cleanse, disentangle, and collect together (as fibers) by the use of cards preparatory to spinning
- an instrument or machine for carding fibers that consists usu. of bent wire teeth set closely in rows in a thick piece of leather fastened to a back
- an implement for raising a nap on cloth
- playing card
- a game played with cards
- card playing
- something (as an advantage) compared to a valuable playing card in one's hand
- holding all the card s in negotiations
- an issue esp. with emotional appeal that is brought into play to achieve a desired end (as winning a political campaign)
- a usu. clownishly amusing person : wag
- compass card
- : a flat stiff usu. small and rectangular piece of material (as paper, cardboard, or plastic) usu. bearing information: as
- postcard
- visiting card
- business card
- credit card
- one bearing a picture (as of a baseball player) on one side and usu. statistical data on the other
- one on which computer information is stored (as in the form of punched holes or magnetic encoding)
- one bearing electronic circuit components for insertion into a larger electronic device (as a computer)
- program
- a sports program
- a wine list
- menu
- greeting card
- to place or fasten on or by means of a card
- to provide with a card
- to list or record on a card
- score
- to ask for identification (as in a bar)
- cardinal
car·da·mom ['kär-də-məm, -,mäm] -n
- the aromatic capsular fruit of an Indian herb ( Elettaria cardamomum) of the ginger family with seeds used as a spice or condiment and in medicine
- this plant
card·board ['kärd-,bȯrd] -n, adj
- a material made from cellulose fiber (as wood pulp) like paper but usu. thicker
cardboard -adj
- made of or as if of cardboard
- unreal, stereotyped
- a play with cardboard characters
cardcar·ry·ing ['kärd-,ka-rē-iŋ] -adj
- being a full-fledged member of an organization (as a Communist party)
- strongly identified with a group (as of people with a common interest)
- cardcarrying members of the ecology movement -- R. J. Neuhaus
- being such emphatically or unmistakably
card catalog -n
- a catalog (as of books) in which the entries are arranged systematically on cards
card·hold·er ['kärd-,hōl-dər] -n
- one who possesses a card and esp. a credit card
cardi- -comb form
- heart : cardiac : cardiac and
car·dia ['kär-dē-ə] -n
- the opening of the esophagus into the stomach
- the part of the stomach adjoining this opening
car·di·ac ['kär-dē-,ak] -adj
- of, relating to, situated near, or acting on the heart
- of or relating to the cardia of the stomach
- of, relating to, or affected with heart disease
cardiac -n
- a person with heart disease
cardiac arrest -n
- temporary or permanent cessation of the heartbeat
cardiac muscle -n
- the principal involuntary-muscle tissue of the vertebrate heart made up of striated fibers joined at usu. branched ends and functioning in synchronized rhythmic contraction
car·di·gan ['kär-di-gən] -n
- a usu. collarless sweater or jacket that opens the full length of the center front
Cardigan Welsh corgi -n
- any of a breed of Welsh corgis with rounded ears, slightly bowed forelegs, and a long tail called also Cardigan
car·di·nal ['kärd-nəl, 'kär-də-] -n
- a high ecclesiastical official of the Roman Catholic Church who ranks next below the pope and is appointed by him to assist him as a member of the college of cardinals
- cardinal number usu. used in pl.
- a crested finch ( Cardinalis cardinalisof the family Cardinalidae) of the eastern U.S. and adjacent Canada, the southwestern U.S., and Mexico to Belize which has a black face and heavy red bill in both sexes and is nearly completely red in the male
cardinal -adj, adv
- of basic importance : main, chief, primary
- very serious or grave
car·di·nal·ate ['kärd-nə-lət, 'kär-də-, -,lāt] -n
- the office, rank, or dignity of a cardinal
cardinal flower -n
- a No. American lobelia ( Lobelia cardinalis) that bears a spike of brilliant red flowers
car·di·nal·i·ty [,kär-də-'na-lə-tē] -n
- the number of elements in a given mathematical set
cardinal number -n
- a number (as 1, 5, 15) that is used in simple counting and that indicates how many elements there are in an assemblage
- the property that a mathematical set has in common with all sets that can be put in one-to-one correspondence with it
cardinal point -n
- one of the four principal compass points north, south, east, and west
cardinal virtue -n
- one of the four classically defined natural virtues prudence, justice, temperance, or fortitude
- a quality designated as a major virtue
car·dio ['kär-dē-(,)ō] -adj
- cardiovascular
car·dio·gen·ic [,kär-dē-ō-'je-nik] -adj
- originating in the heart : caused by a cardiac condition
car·dio·gram ['kär-dē-ə-,gram] -n
- the curve or tracing made by a cardiograph
car·dio·graph [-,graf] -n, adj
- an instrument that graphically registers movements of the heart
car·di·oid ['kär-dē-,ȯid] -n
- a heart-shaped curve that is traced by a point on the circumference of a circle rolling completely around an equal fixed circle and has an equation in one of the forms a(1 cos) or a(1 sin) in polar coordinates
car·di·ol·o·gy [,kär-dē-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj
- the study of the heart and its action and diseases
car·dio·my·op·a·thy ['kär-dē-ō-(,)mī-'ä-pə-thē] -n
- any of several structural or functional diseases of heart muscle marked esp. by hypertrophy and obstructive damage to the heart
car·di·op·a·thy [,kär-dē-'ä-pə-thē] -n
- any disease of the heart
car·dio·pro·tec·tive [,kär-dē-ō-prə-'tek-tiv] -adj
- serving to protect the heart
- a drug's cardioprotective effect
car·dio·pul·mo·nary [,kär-dē-ō-'pu̇l-mə-,ner-ē, -'pəl-] -adj
- of or relating to the heart and lungs
cardiopulmonary resuscitation -n
- a procedure designed to restore normal breathing after cardiac arrest that includes the clearance of air passages to the lungs, mouth-to-mouth method of artificial respiration, and heart massage by the exertion of pressure on the chest
car·dio·re·spi·ra·to·ry [,kär-dē-ō-'res-p(ə-)rə-,tȯr-ē, -ri-'spī-rə-] -adj
- of or relating to the heart and the respiratory system
car·dio·tho·rac·ic [-thə-'ra-sik] -adj
- relating to, involving, or specializing in the heart and chest
car·dio·ton·ic [-'tä-nik] -adj, n
- tending to increase the tonus of heart muscle
car·dio·vas·cu·lar [-'vas-kyə-lər] -adj
- of, relating to, or involving the heart and blood vessels
- used, designed, or performed to cause a temporary increase in heart rate
car·dio·ver·sion [-'vər-zhən] -n
- application of an electric shock in order to restore normal heartbeat
car·doon [kär-'dün] -n
- a large perennial Mediterranean plant ( Cynara cardunculus) related to the artichoke and cultivated for its edible root and petioles
- the root and petioles
card·play·er ['kärd-,plā-ər] -n
- one who plays cards
card·sharp [-,shärp] -n
- a person who habitually cheats at cards
card table -n
- a table designed for playing cards
- a square table with folding legs
care ['ker] -n
- suffering of mind : grief
- a disquieted state of mixed uncertainty, apprehension, and responsibility
- a cause for such anxiety
- painstaking or watchful attention
- maintenance
- regard coming from desire or esteem
- charge, supervision
- a person or thing that is an object of attention, anxiety, or solicitude
- to feel trouble or anxiety
- to feel interest or concern
- to give care
- to have a liking, fondness, or taste
- don't care for your attitude
- to have an inclination
- would you care for some pie
- to be concerned about or to the extent of
- wish
care and feeding -n
- the providing of what is needed for sustenance, well-being, or efficient operation
- machines that don't need a lot of care and feeding
ca·reen [kə-'rēn] -vb
- to put (a ship or boat) on a beach esp. in order to clean, caulk, or repair the hull
- to cause to heel over
- to careen a boat
- to undergo this process
- to heel over
- to sway from side to side : lurch
- a careen ing carriage being pulled wildly...by a team of runaway horses -- J. P. Getty
- career
careen -n
- the act or process of careening : the state of being careened
ca·reer [kə-'rir] -n
- speed in a course
- course, passage
- encounter, charge
- a field for or pursuit of consecutive progressive achievement esp. in public, professional, or business life
- Washington's career as a soldier
- a profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a permanent calling
career -vi
- to go at top speed esp. in a headlong manner
- a car career ed off the road
ca·reer·ism [-,i-zəm] -n, n or adj
- the policy or practice of advancing one's career often at the cost of one's integrity
care·free ['ker-,frē] -adj
- : free from care: as
- having no worries or troubles
- irresponsible
- is carefree with his money
care·ful [-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- solicitous, anxious
- filling with care or solicitude
- exercising or taking care
- marked by attentive concern and solicitude
- marked by wary caution or prudence
- be very careful with knives
- marked by painstaking effort to avoid errors or omissions often used with of or an infinitive
- careful to adjust the machine
care·giv·er [-,gi-vər] -n
- a person who provides direct care (as for children, elderly people, or the chronically ill)
care·less [-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- free from care : untroubled
- indifferent, unconcerned
- careless of the consequences
- not taking care
- : not showing or receiving care:
- negligent, slovenly
- unstudied, spontaneous
- unvalued, disregarded
care package -n
- a package of useful or pleasurable items that is sent or given as a gift to another (as a college student)
ca·ress [kə-'res] -vt, n, adv
- to treat with tokens of fondness, affection, or kindness : cherish
- to touch or stroke lightly in a loving or endearing manner
- to touch or affect as if with a caress
- echoes that caress the ear
caress [-'re-siv] -n, adj, adv
- an act or expression of kindness or affection : endearment
- a light stroking, rubbing, or patting
- kiss
car·et ['ker-ət, 'ka-rət] -n
- a wedge-shaped mark made on written or printed matter to indicate the place where something is to be inserted
care·tak·er ['ker-,tā-kər] -n, vb
- one that gives physical or emotional care and support
- served as caretaker to the younger children
- one that takes care of the house or land of an owner who may be absent
- one temporarily fulfilling the function of office
care·worn [-,wȯrn] -adj
- showing the effect of grief or anxiety
car·fare ['kär-,fer] -n
- passenger fare (as on a bus)
car·ful ['kär-,fu̇l] -n
- as much or as many as a car will hold
car·go ['kär-(,)gō] -n
- the goods or merchandise conveyed in a ship, airplane, or vehicle : freight
cargo cult -n
- any of various Melanesian religious groups characterized by the belief that material wealth (as money or manufactured goods) can be obtained through ritual worship
cargo pants -n pl
- pants with cargo pockets typically on the sides of the legs at thigh level
cargo pocket -n
- a large pocket usu. with a flap and a pleat
car·hop ['kär-,häp] -n
- one who serves customers at a drive-in restaurant
Car·ib ['ka-rəb] -n
- a member of an Indian people of northern So. America and the Lesser Antilles
- the language of the Caribs
Ca·ri·ban ['ka-rə-bən, kə-'rē-bən] -n
- a member of a group of Indian peoples of So. America and the Lesser Antilles
- the language family comprising the languages of the Cariban peoples
Ca·rib·be·an [,ker-ə-'bē-ən, ,ka-rə-, kə-'ri-bē-ən] -adj
- of or relating to the Caribs, the eastern and southern West Indies, or the Caribbean Sea
ca·ri·be [kə-'rē-bē] -n
- piranha
car·i·bou ['ker-ə-,bü, 'ka-rə-] -n
- a large gregarious deer ( Rangifer tarandus) of Holarctic taiga and tundra that usu. has palmate antlers in both sexes used esp. for one of the New World called also reindeer
car·i·ca·ture ['ker-i-kə-,chu̇r, -,chər, -,tyu̇r, -,tu̇r, -'ka-ri-] -n, adj
- exaggeration by means of often ludicrous distortion of parts or characteristics
- a representation esp. in literature or art that has the qualities of caricature
- a distortion so gross as to seem like caricature
caricature -vt
- to make or draw a caricature of : represent in caricature
- the portrait caricatured its subject
car·ies ['ker-ēz] -n
- a progressive destruction of bone or tooth
- tooth decay
car·il·lon ['ker-ə-,län, -lən, 'ka-rə-; 'ker-ē-,än, -,ōn, 'ka-rē-; kə-'ril-yən] -n
- a set of fixed chromatically tuned bells sounded by hammers controlled from a keyboard
- an electronic instrument imitating a carillon
- a composition for the carillon
car·il·lon·neur [,ker-ə-lə-'nər, ,ka-rə-; ,ker-ē-ə-'nər, ,ka-rē-; kə-,ril-yə-'nər] -n
- a carillon player
ca·ri·na [kə-'rī-nə, -'rē-] -n
- a keel-shaped anatomical part, ridge, or process
- a constellation in the southern hemisphere lying near the Southern Cross
car·i·nate ['ker-ə-,nāt, -nət, 'ka-rə-] -adj
- having or shaped like a keel or carina
ca·ri·o·ca [,ka-rē-'ō-kə] -n
- a native or resident of Rio de Janeiro
- a variation of the samba
- the music for this dance
car·i·o·gen·ic [,ker-ē-ə-'je-nik, -'jē-] -adj
- producing or promoting the development of tooth decay
car·i·ous ['ker-ē-əs] -adj
- affected with caries
car·jack·ing ['kär-,ja-kiŋ] -n, vt
- the theft of an automobile from its driver by force or intimidation
cark·ing ['kär-kiŋ] -adj
- burdensome, annoying
carl ['kär(-ə)l] -n
- a man of the common people
- churl, boor
car·line ['kär-lən] -n
- woman
- an old woman
Car·list ['kär-list] -n, adj
- a supporter of Don Carlos or his successors as having rightful title to the Spanish throne
car·load ['kär-'lōd, -,lōd] -n
- a load (as of occupants) that fills a car
- the minimum number of tons required for shipping at carload rates
- a large unspecified quantity
carload rate -n
- a rate for large shipments lower than that quoted for less-than-carload lots of the same class
Car·lo·vin·gian [,kär-lə-'vin-j(ē-)ən] -adj
- carolingian
car·ma·gnole ['kär-mən-,yōl] -n
- a lively song popular at the time of the first French Revolution
- a street dance in a meandering course to the tune of the carmagnole
car·mak·er ['kär-,mā-kər] -n
- an automobile manufacturer
Car·mel·ite ['kär-mə-,līt] -n, adj
- a member of the Roman Catholic mendicant Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel founded in the 12th century
car·mi·na·tive [kär-'mi-nə-tiv, 'kär-mə-,nā-] -adj, n
- expelling gas from the stomach or intestines so as to relieve flatulence or abdominal pain or distension
car·mine ['kär-mən, -,mīn] -n
- a rich crimson or scarlet lake made from cochineal
- a vivid red
car·nage ['kär-nij] -n
- the flesh of slain animals or men
- great and usu. bloody slaughter or injury (as in battle)
car·nal ['kär-nᵊl] -adj, n, adv
- relating to or given to crude bodily pleasures and appetites
- marked by sexuality
- bodily, corporeal
- temporal
- worldly
car·nall·ite ['kär-nə-,līt] -n
- a mineral consisting of hydrous potassium-magnesium chloride that is an important source of potassium
car·nas·si·al [kär-'na-sē-əl] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or being a tooth of a carnivore often larger and longer than adjacent teeth and adapted for cutting rather than tearing
car·na·tion [kär-'nā-shən] -n
- the variable color of human flesh
- a pale to grayish yellow
- a moderate red
- a plant of any of numerous often cultivated and usu. double-flowered varieties or subspecies of an Old World pink ( Dianthus caryophyllus) orig. flesh-colored but now found in many color variations
car·nau·ba [kär-'nȯ-bə, -'nau̇-; ,kär-nə-'ü-bə] -n
- a fan-leaved palm ( Copernicia pruniferasyn. C. cerifera) of Brazil that has an edible root and yields a useful leaf fiber and carnauba wax
carnauba wax -n
- a hard brittle high-melting wax obtained from the leaves of the carnauba palm and used chiefly in polishes
car·ne asa·da [,kär-nā-ə-'sä-də] -n
- a grilled Mexican dish of spicy marinated steak strips sometimes served in a burrito or taco
car·ne·lian [kär-'nēl-yən] -n
- a hard red chalcedony used in jewelry
car·ni·tine ['kär-nə-,tēn] -n
- a quaternary ammonium compound C 7H 15NO 3that is present esp. in vertebrate muscle and that in the levorotatory form is involved in the transfer of fatty acids across mitochondrial membranes
car·ni·val ['kär-nə-vəl] -n
- a season or festival of merrymaking before Lent
- an instance of merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading
- an instance of riotous excess
- a traveling enterprise offering amusements
- an organized program of entertainment or exhibition : festival
carnival -adj
- suggestive of or suited to a carnival
car·ni·val·esque [,kär-nə-və-'lesk] -adj
- suggestive of a carnival
- a carnivalesque celebration
- marked by an often mocking or satirical challenge to authority and the traditional social hierarchy
car·niv·o·ra [kär-'ni-və-rə] -n pl
- carnivorous mammals
car·ni·vore ['kär-nə-,vȯr] -n
- any of an order (Carnivora) of typically flesh-eating mammals that includes dogs, foxes, bears, raccoons, and cats
- a carnivorous animal
- a carnivorous plant
car·niv·o·rous [kär-'ni-v(ə-)rəs] -adj, adv, n
- subsisting or feeding on animal tissues
- subsisting on nutrients obtained from the breakdown of animal protoplasm (as of insects)
- of or relating to the carnivores
- rapacious
car·no·saur ['kär-nə-,sȯr] -n
- any of a group (Carnosauria) of very large theropod dinosaurs (as a tyrannosaur)
car·no·tite ['kär-nə-,tīt] -n
- a yellow to greenish-yellow mineral consisting of a radioactive hydrous vanadate of uranium and potassium that is a source of radium and uranium
car·ny ['kär-nē] -n
- carnival
- a person who works with a carnival
car·ob ['ker-əb, 'ka-rəb] -n
- a Mediterranean evergreen leguminous tree ( Ceratonia siliqua) with racemose red flowers
- a pod of the carob tree or its sweet pulp having a flavor similar to that of chocolate
ca·roche [kə-'rōch, -'rōsh] -n
- a luxurious horse-drawn carriage
car·ol ['ker-əl, 'ka-rəl] -n
- an old round dance with singing
- a song of joy or mirth
- the carol of a bird -- Lord Byron
- a popular song or ballad of religious joy
carol [-ə-lər] -vb, n
- to sing esp. in a joyful manner
- to sing carols
- to go about outdoors in a group singing Christmas carols
- to praise in or as if in song
- to sing esp. in a cheerful manner : warble
Car·o·li·na parakeet [,ker(-ə)-'lī-nə-, ,ka-rə-] -n
- an extinct parakeet ( Conuropsis carolinensis) of the eastern U.S.
Carolina wren -n
- a large wren ( Thryothorus ludovicianus) chiefly of eastern No. America having a loud lively song
Car·o·line ['ka-rə-,līn, -lən] -adj
- of or relating to Charles used esp. with reference to Charles I and Charles II of England
Car·o·lin·gi·an [,ka-rə-'lin-j(ē-)ən] -adj, n
- of or relating to a Frankish dynasty dating from about a.d.613 and including among its members the rulers of France from 751 to 987, of Germany from 752 to 911, and of Italy from 774 to 961
car·om ['ker-əm, 'ka-rəm] -n
- a shot in billiards in which the cue ball strikes each of two object balls
- a shot in pool in which an object ball strikes another ball before falling into a pocket
- a rebounding esp. at an angle
carom -vi
- to strike and rebound : glance
- the car carom ed off a tree
- to make a carom
- to proceed by or as if by caroms
car·o·tene ['ker-ə-,tēn, 'ka-rə-] -n
- any of several orange or red crystalline hydrocarbon pigments (as C 40H 56) that occur in the chromoplasts of plants and in the fatty tissues of plant-eating animals and are convertible to vitamin A
ca·rot·en·oid [kə-'rä-tə-,nȯid] -n, adj
- any of various usu. yellow to red pigments (as carotenes) found widely in plants and animals and characterized chemically by a long aliphatic polyene chain composed of eight isoprene units
ca·rot·id [kə-'rä-təd] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or being the chief artery or pair of arteries that pass up the neck and supply the head
carotid body -n
- a small body of vascular tissue that adjoins the carotid sinus, functions as a chemoreceptor sensitive to change in the oxygen content of blood, and mediates reflex changes in respiratory activity
carotid sinus -n
- a small but richly innervated arterial enlargement that is located near the point in the neck where either carotid artery divides to form its main branches and that functions in the regulation of heart rate and blood pressure
ca·rous·al [kə-'rau̇-zəl] -n
- carouse
ca·rouse [kə-'rau̇z] -n
- a large draft of liquor : toast
- a drunken revel
carouse -vb, n
- to drink liquor freely or excessively
- to take part in a carouse : engage in dissolute behavior
- to drink up : quaff
car·ou·sel [,ker-ə-'sel, ,ka-rə- also -'zel; 'ker-ə-,, 'ka-rə-] -n
- a tournament or exhibition in which horsemen execute evolutions
- merry-go-round
- a circular conveyor
- the luggage carousel at the airport
- a revolving case or tray used for storage or display
carp ['kärp] -vi, n
- to find fault or complain querulously
- complaint
- a large variable Asian soft-finned freshwater cyprinid fish ( Cyprinus carpio) of sluggish waters that is often raised for food and has been widely introduced into U.S. waters
- any of various related cyprinid fishes (as the grass carp)
- a fish (as the European sea bream) resembling a carp
carp- -comb form
- fruit
car·pac·cio [kär-'pä-ch(ē-)ō] -n
- thinly sliced raw meat or fish served with a sauce often used as a postpositive modifier
car·pal ['kär-pəl] -adj
- of or relating to the carpus
carpal -n
- a carpal element or bone
carpal tunnel syndrome -n
- a condition caused by compression of a nerve where it passes through the wrist into the hand and characterized esp. by weakness, pain, and disturbances of sensation in the hand and fingers
car park -n
- a lot or garage for parking
car·pe di·em ['kär-pe-'dē-,em, -'dī-, -əm] -n
- the enjoyment of the pleasures of the moment without concern for the future
car·pel ['kär-pəl] -n, adj
- one of the ovule-bearing structures in an angiosperm that comprises the innermost whorl of a flower
car·pen·ter ['kär-pən-tər, 'kär-pᵊm-tər] -n
- a worker who builds or repairs wooden structures or their structural parts
carpenter [-t(ə-)riŋ] -vb
- to follow the trade of a carpenter
- carpenter ed when he was young
- to make by or as if by carpentry
- to put together often in a mechanical manner
- carpenter ed many television scripts
carpenter ant -n
- an ant (esp. genus Camponotus) that gnaws galleries esp. in dead or decaying wood
carpenter bee -n
- any of various solitary bees (genera Xylocopaand Ceratina) that nest in wood
car·pen·try [-trē] -n
- the art or trade of a carpenter
- the art of shaping and assembling structural woodwork
- timberwork constructed by a carpenter
- the form or manner of putting together the parts (as of a literary or musical composition)
car·pet ['kär-pət] -n, vt
- a heavy often tufted fabric used as a floor covering
- a floor covering made of this fabric
- a surface or layer resembling or suggesting a carpet
car·pet·bag [-,bag] -n
- a traveler's bag made of carpet and widely used in the U.S. in the 19th century
carpetbag [-,ba-giŋ] -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of carpetbaggers
car·pet·bag·ger [-,ba-gər] -n
- a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usu. seeking private gain under the reconstruction governments
- outsider
- a nonresident or new resident who seeks private gain from an area often by meddling in its business or politics
carpetbag steak -n
- a thick piece of steak in which a pocket is cut and stuffed (as with oysters)
carpet beetle -n
- any of several small dermestid beetles (genera Anthrenusand Attagenus) whose larvae are destructive esp. to woolen goods
carpet bomb -vt
- to drop large numbers of bombs so as to cause uniform devastation over (a given area)
- to bombard repeatedly, widely, or excessively
- carpet bomb the country with advertising
car·pet·ing ['kär-pə-tiŋ] -n
- material for carpets
- carpets
car·pet·weed ['kär-pət-,wēd] -n
- a No. American mat-forming weed ( Mollugo verticillataof the family Aizoaceae, the carpetweed family)
carp·ing ['kär-piŋ] -adj, adv
- marked by or inclined to querulous and often perverse criticism
car·po·go·ni·um [,kär-pə-'gō-nē-əm] -n, adj
- the egg-bearing portion of the female reproductive organ in some red algae
car·pool ['kär-,pül] -vi, n
- to participate in a car pool
car pool -n
- an arrangement in which a group of people commute together by car
- the group entering into such an arrangement
car·port ['kär-,pȯrt] -n
- an open-sided automobile shelter by the side of a building
car·po·spore ['kär-pə-,spȯr] -n
- a diploid spore of a red alga
car·pus ['kär-pəs] -n
- wrist
- the bones of the wrist
carr ['kä(r)] -n
- fen
car·rack ['ka-rək, -rik] -n
- a beamy sailing ship esp. of the 15th and 16th centuries
car·ra·geen ['ka-rə-,gēn] -n
- irish moss
- carrageenan
car·ra·geen·an [,ker-ə-'gē-nən, ,ka-rə-] -n
- a colloid extracted from various red algae (as Irish moss) and used esp. as a stabilizing or thickening agent
car·re·four [,ka-rə-'fu̇r] -n
- crossroads
- square, plaza
- the farmers...preferred the open carrefour for their transactions -- Thomas Hardy
car·rel ['ker-əl, 'ka-rəl] -n
- a table that is often partitioned or enclosed and is used for individual study esp. in a library
car·riage ['ker-ij, 'ka-rij] -n
- the act of carrying
- deportment
- manner of bearing the body : posture
- management
- the price or expense of carrying
- burden, load
- a wheeled vehicle
- a horse-drawn vehicle designed for private use and comfort
- a railway passenger coach
- a wheeled support carrying a burden
- import, sense
- a hanger for a sword
- a movable part of a machine for supporting some other movable object or part
carriage trade -n
- trade from well-to-do or upper-class people
- well-to-do people
car·riage·way ['ker-ij-,wā, 'ka-rij-] -n
- the part of a road used by vehicular traffic
car·rick bend ['ka-rik-] -n
- a knot used to join the ends of two large ropes
car·ri·er ['ker-ē-ər, 'ka-rē-] -n
- one that carries : bearer, messenger
- an individual or organization engaged in transporting passengers or goods for hire
- a transportation line carrying mail between post offices
- a postal employee who delivers or collects mail
- one that delivers newspapers
- an entity (as a hole or an electron) capable of carrying an electric charge
- a container for carrying
- a device or machine that carries : conveyor
- aircraft carrier
- a bearer and transmitter of a causative agent of an infectious disease
- one who carries the causative agent of a disease systemically but is asymptomatic or immune to it
- an individual (as one heterozygous for a recessive trait) having a specified gene that is not expressed or only weakly expressed in its phenotype
- a usu. inactive accessory substance : vehicle
- a carrier for a drug or an insecticide
- a substance (as a catalyst) by whose agency some element or group is transferred from one compound to another
- an electromagnetic wave or alternating current whose modulations are used as communications signals (as in radio, telephonic, or telegraphic transmissions)
- a telecommunication company
- an organization acting as an insurer
carrier pigeon -n
- a pigeon used to carry messages
- homing pigeon
- any of a breed of large long-bodied show pigeons
car·ri·on ['ker-ē-ən, 'ka-rē-] -n
- dead and putrefying flesh
- flesh unfit for food
carrion crow -n
- a uniformly black crow ( Corvus corone corone) occurring in much of western Europe
car·ron·ade [,ka-rə-'nād] -n
- a short-barreled gun of the late 18th and 19th centuries that fired large shot at short range and was used esp. on warships
car·rot ['ker-ət, 'ka-rət] -n
- a biennial herb ( Daucus carotaof the family Umbelliferae, the carrot family) with a usu. orange spindle-shaped edible root
- its root
- a reward or advantage offered esp. as an inducement
car·rotandstick [,ker-ət-ᵊn-'stik, ,ka-rət-] -adj
- characterized by the use of both reward and punishment to induce cooperation
- carrotandstick foreign policy
car·rot·top ['ker-ə(t)-,täp, 'ka-rə(t)-] -n, adj
- redhead
car·roty ['ker-ə-tē, 'ka-rə-] -adj
- resembling carrots in color
carrousel [,ker-ə-'sel, ,ka-rə- also -'zel; 'ker-ə-,, 'ka-rə-] -n
(variant of carousel)
- a tournament or exhibition in which horsemen execute evolutions
- merry-go-round
- a circular conveyor
- the luggage carousel at the airport
- a revolving case or tray used for storage or display
car·ry ['ka-rē, 'ker-ē] -vb
- to move while supporting : transport
- her legs refused to carry her further -- Ellen Glasgow
- to convey by direct communication
- carry tales about a friend
- conduct, escort
- to influence by mental or emotional appeal : sway
- to get possession or control of : capture
- to transfer from one place (as a column) to another
- to contain and direct the course of
- to wear or have on one's person
- to bear upon or within one
- is carry ing an unborn child
- to have or bear esp. as a mark, attribute, or property
- imply, involve
- the crime carried a heavy penalty
- to hold or comport (as one's person) in a specified manner
- to sustain the weight or burden of
- is carry ing a full course load
- to bear as a crop
- to sing with reasonable correctness of pitch
- to keep in stock for sale
- to provide sustenance for
- land carry ing 10 head of cattle
- to have or maintain on a list or record
- carry a person on a payroll
- carried six guards on the team
- to be chiefly or solely responsible for the success, effectiveness, or continuation of
- a player capable of carry ing a team
- her performance carried the play
- to prolong or maintain in space, time, or degree
- carry a principle too far
- carry the wall above the eaves
- carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning
- to gain victory for
- to secure the adoption or passage of
- to win a majority or plurality of votes in (as a legislative body or a state)
- to present for public use or consumption
- newspapers carry weather reports
- channel nine will carry the game
- to bear the charges of holding or having (as stocks or merchandise) from one time to another
- to keep on one's books as a debtor
- a merchant carries a customer
- to hold to and follow after (as a scent)
- to hoist and maintain (a sail) in use
- to pass over (as a hazard) at a single stroke in golf
- to propel and control (a puck or ball) along a playing surface
- to act as a bearer
- to reach or penetrate to a distance
- fly balls don't carry well in cold air
- to convey itself to a reader or audience
- to undergo or admit of carriage in a specified way
- to keep and follow the scent
- to win adoption
- the motion carried by a vote of 7125
carry -n
- carrying power
- the range of a gun or projectile or of a struck or thrown ball
- portage
- the act or method of carrying
- the act of rushing with the ball in football
- averaged four yards per carry
- the position assumed by a color-bearer with the flag or guidon held in position for marching
- a quantity that is transferred in addition from one number place to the adjacent one of higher place value
car·ry·all ['ka-rē-,ȯl, 'ker-ē-] -n
- a light covered carriage for four or more persons
- a passenger automobile used as a small bus
- a capacious bag or carrying case
carry away -vt
- to arouse to a high and often excessive degree of emotion or enthusiasm
- carry off
car·ry·back ['ka-rē-,bak, 'ker-ē-] -n
- a loss sustained or a portion of a credit not used in a given period that may be deducted from taxable income of a prior period
car·rycot [-,kät] -n
- a portable bed for an infant
car·ry·for·ward [-'fȯr-wərd, -,fȯr-, Southern also -'fär-, -,fär-] -n
- carryover
carrying capacity -n
- the maximum population (as of deer) that an area will support without undergoing deterioration
carrying charge -n
- expense incident to ownership or use of property
- a charge added to the price of merchandise sold on the installment plan
car·ry·ingon [,ka-rē-iŋ-'ȯn, ,ker-ē-, -'än] -n
- foolish, excited, or improper behavior
- an instance of such behavior
carry off -vt
- to cause the death of
- the plague carried off thousands
- to perform or manage successfully : bring off
- tried to look suave but couldn't carry it off
car·ryon ['ka-rē-,ȯn, 'ker-ē-, -,än] -n
- carrying-on
- a piece of luggage suitable for being carried aboard an airplane by a passenger
carryon -adj
- carried or suitable for being carried aboard
carry on -vt
- to continue doing, pursuing, or operating
- to continue esp. in spite of hindrance or discouragement
- chose to carry on despite the weather
- to behave or speak in a foolish, excited, or improper manner
- shocked at how he carries on
car·ry·out ['ka-rē-,au̇t, 'ker-ē-] -n, adj
- takeout
carry out -vt
- to bring to a successful issue : complete, accomplish
- carried out the assignment
- to put into execution
- to continue to an end or stopping point
car·ry·over ['ka-rē-,ō-vər, 'ker-ē-] -n
- the act or process of carrying over
- something retained or carried over
carry over -vt
- to transfer (an amount) to the next column, page, or book relating to the same account
- to hold over (as goods) for another time or season
- to deduct (a loss or an unused credit) from taxable income of a later period
- to persist from one stage or sphere of activity to another
carry through -vt
- carry out
- persist, survive
- feelings that carry through to the present
car seat -n
- a portable seat for an infant or a small child that attaches to an automobile seat and holds the child safely
car·sick ['kär-,sik] -adj, n
- affected with motion sickness esp. in an automobile
cart ['kärt] -n
- a heavy usu. horse-drawn 2-wheeled vehicle used for farming or transporting freight
- a lightweight 2-wheeled vehicle drawn by a horse, pony, or dog
- a small wheeled vehicle
- to carry or convey in or as if in a cart
- buses to cart the kids to and from school -- L. S. Gannett
- to take or drag away without ceremony or by force usu. used with off
- they cart ed him off to jail
cart·age ['kär-tij] -n
- the action of or rate charged for carting
carte blanche ['kärt-'bläⁿsh, -'blänch] -n
- full discretionary power
- was given carte blanche to furnish the house
carte du jour [,kärt-də-'zhu̇r] -n
- menu
car·tel [kär-'tel] -n
- a written agreement between belligerent nations
- a combination of independent commercial or industrial enterprises designed to limit competition or fix prices
- a combination of political groups for common action
car·tel·ise ['kär-tə-,līz] -vt, n
(variant of cartelize)
- to bring under the control of a cartel
car·tel·ize ['kär-tə-,līz] -vt, n
- to bring under the control of a cartel
Car·te·sian [kär-'tē-zhən] -adj, n
- of or relating to Rene Descartes or his philosophy
Cartesian coordinate -n
- either of two coordinates that locate a point on a plane and measure its distance from either of two intersecting straight-line axes along a line parallel to the other axis
- any of three coordinates that locate a point in space and measure its distance from any of three intersecting coordinate planes measured parallel to that one of three straight-line axes that is the intersection of the other two planes
Cartesian plane -n
- a plane whose points are labeled with Cartesian coordinates
Cartesian product -n
- a set that is constructed from two given sets and comprises all pairs of elements such that the first element of the pair is from the first set and the second is from the second set
Car·thu·sian [kär-'thü-zhən, -'thyü-] -n, adj
- a member of an ascetic contemplative religious order founded by St. Bruno in 1084
car·ti·lage ['kär-tə-lij, 'kärt-lij] -n
- a usu. translucent somewhat elastic tissue that composes most of the skeleton of vertebrate embryos and except for a small number of structures (as some joints, respiratory passages, and the external ear) is replaced by bone during ossification in the higher vertebrates
- a part or structure composed of cartilage
car·ti·lag·i·nous [,kär-tə-'la-jə-nəs] -adj
- composed of, relating to, or resembling cartilage
cartilaginous fish -n
- any of a class (Chondrichthyes) of fishes (as a shark, ray, or chimaera) having the skeleton wholly or largely composed of cartilage
cart·load ['kärt-'lōd, -,lōd] -n
- as much as a cart will hold
car·tog·ra·pher [kär-'tä-grə-fər] -n
- one that makes maps
car·tog·ra·phy [-fē] -n, adj, adv
- the science or art of making maps
car·ton ['kär-tᵊn] -n
- a box or container usu. made of cardboard and often of corrugated cardboard
carton -vt
- to pack or enclose in a carton
- to shape cartons from cardboard sheets
car·toon [kär-'tün] -n, vb, adj, adv
- a preparatory design, drawing, or painting (as for a fresco)
- a drawing intended as satire, caricature, or humor
- comic strip
- animated cartoon
- a ludicrously simplistic, unrealistic, or one-dimensional portrayal or version
- the film's villain is an entertaining cartoon
car·top ['kär-,täp] -adj, n
- suitable in size and weight for carrying on top of an automobile
car·touche [kär-'tüsh] -n
- a gun cartridge with a paper case
- an ornate or ornamental frame
- an oval or oblong figure (as on ancient Egyptian monuments) enclosing a sovereign's name
car·tridge ['kär-trij, dial 'ka-trij] -n
- : a case or container that holds a substance, device, or material which is difficult, troublesome, or awkward to handle and that usu. can be easily changed: as
- a tube (as of metal) containing a complete charge for a firearm and usu. an initiating device (as a primer)
- a case containing an explosive charge for blasting
- an often cylindrical container for insertion into a larger mechanism or apparatus
- cassette
- a small case that contains a phonograph needle and transducer and is attached to a tonearm
- a removable case containing a magnetic tape or one or more disks and used as a computer storage medium
- a case for holding printed circuit chips containing a computer program
cartridge belt -n
- a belt having a series of loops for holding cartridges
- a belt worn around the waist and designed for carrying various attachable equipment
car·tu·lary ['kär-chə-,ler-ē] -n
- a collection of charters
- a book holding copies of the charters and title deeds of an estate
cart·wheel ['kärt-,hwēl, -,wēl] -n
- a large coin (as a silver dollar)
- a lateral handspring with arms and legs extended
cartwheel -vi, n
- to move like a turning wheel
- to perform cartwheels
car·un·cle ['ker-,əŋ-kəl, 'ka-,reŋ-, kə-'rəŋ-] -n
- a naked fleshy outgrowth (as a bird's wattle)
- an outgrowth on a seed adjacent to the micropyle
car·va·crol ['kär-və-,krȯl, -,krōl] -n
- a liquid phenol C 10H 14O found in essential oils of various mints (as thyme) and used esp. as a fungicide and disinfectant
carve ['kärv] -vb, n
- to cut with care or precision
- to make or get by or as if by cutting often used with out
- to cut into pieces or slices
- to cut up and serve meat
- to work as a sculptor or engraver
car·velbuilt ['kär-vəl-,bilt, -,vel-] -adj
- built with the planks meeting flush at the seams
carv·en ['kär-vən] -adj
- wrought or ornamented by carving
carv·ing ['kär-viŋ] -n
- the act or art of one who carves
- a carved object, design, or figure
car wash -n
- an area or structure equipped with facilities for washing automobiles
cary·at·id [,ker-ē-'a-təd, ,ka-rē-; 'ker-ē-ə-,tid, 'ka-rē-] -n
- a draped female figure supporting an entablature
cary·op·sis [,ker-ē-'äp-səs, ,ka-rē-] -n
- a small one-seeded dry indehiscent fruit (as of Indian corn or wheat) in which the fruit and seed fuse in a single grain
CAS -abbr
- certificate of advanced study
ca·sa ['kä-sə] -n
- dwelling
ca·sa·ba [kə-'sä-bə] -n
- any of several winter melons with usu. yellow rind and sweet white, yellow, or orange flesh
Ca·sa·no·va [,ka-zə-'nō-və, ,ka-sə-] -n
- lover
- a man who is a promiscuous and unscrupulous lover
cas·bah ['kaz-,bä, 'käz-] -n
- a No. African castle or fortress
- the native section of a No. African city
cas·ca·bel ['kas-kə-,bel] -n
- a projection behind the breech of a muzzle-loading cannon
- a small hollow perforated spherical bell enclosing a loose pellet
cas·cade [(,)kas-'kād] -n
- a steep usu. small fall of water
- one of a series
- something arranged or occurring in a series or in a succession of stages so that each stage derives from or acts upon the product of the preceding
- blood clotting involves a biochemical cascade
- a fall of material (as lace) that hangs in a zigzag line
- something falling or rushing forth in quantity
cascade -vb
- to fall, pour, or rush in or as if in a cascade
- to cause to fall like a cascade
- to connect in a cascade arrangement
cas·cara [ka-'ska-rə] -n
- cascara buckthorn
- cascara sagrada
cascara buckthorn -n
- a buckthorn ( Rhamnus purshiana) of the Pacific coast of the U.S. yielding cascara sagrada
cascara sa·gra·da [-sə-'grä-də] -n
- the dried bark of cascara buckthorn used as a laxative
cas·ca·ril·la [,kas-kə-'ri-lə, -'rē-ə] -n
- the aromatic bark of a West Indian shrub ( Croton eluteria) of the spurge family used esp. for making incense and as a tonic
- this shrub
case ['kās] -n
- a set of circumstances or conditions
- is the statement true in all three case s
- a situation requiring investigation or action (as by the police)
- the object of investigation or consideration
- condition
- condition of body or mind
- an inflectional form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective indicating its grammatical relation to other words
- such a relation whether indicated by inflection or not
- what actually exists or happens : fact
- thought he had failed, but that wasn't the case
- a suit or action in law or equity
- the evidence supporting a conclusion or judgment
- argument
- a convincing argument
- makes a good case for adopting the proposal
- an instance of disease or injury
- patient
- an instance that directs attention to a situation or exhibits it in action : example
- a peculiar person : character
- oneself considered as an object of harassment or criticism
- a box or receptacle for holding something
- a box together with its contents
- set
- pair
- an outer covering or housing
- a tube into which the components of a round of ammunition are loaded
- a divided tray for holding printing type
- the frame of a door or window : casing
- to enclose in or cover with or as if with a case : encase
- to line (as a well) with supporting material (as metal pipe)
- to inspect or study esp. with intent to rob
ca·se·ation [,kā-sē-'ā-shən] -n, vi
- necrosis with conversion of damaged tissue into a soft cheesy substance
case·bear·er ['kās-,ber-ər] -n
- an insect larva that forms a protective case (as of silk)
case·book [-,bu̇k] -n
- a book containing records of illustrative cases that is used for reference and instruction (as in law or medicine)
- a compilation of primary and secondary documents relating to a central topic together with scholarly comment, exercises, and study aids that is designed to serve as a sourcebook for short papers (as in a writing course) or as a point of departure for a research paper
cased glass ['kāst-] -n
- glass consisting of two or more fused layers of different colors often decorated by cutting so that the inner layers show through called also case glass
case goods -n pl
- furniture (as bureaus or bookcases) that provides interior storage space
- dining-room and bedroom furniture sold as sets
- products often sold by the case
casehard·en ['kās-,här-dᵊn] -vt, adj
- to harden (a ferrous alloy) so that the surface layer is harder than the interior
- to make callous or insensible
case history -n
- a record of history, environment, and relevant details of a case esp. for use in analysis or illustration
ca·sein ['kā-,sēn, kā-'] -n
- : a phosphoprotein of milk: as
- one that is precipitated from milk by heating with an acid or by the action of lactic acid in souring and is used in making paints and adhesives
- one that is produced when milk is curdled by rennet, is the chief constituent of cheese, and is used in making plastics
ca·sein·ate [kā-'sē-,nāt, 'kā-si-,nāt] -n
- a compound of casein with a metal (as calcium or sodium)
case in point
- an illustrative, relevant, or pertinent case
case knife -n
- sheath knife
- a table knife
case law -n
- law established by judicial decision in cases
case·load ['kās-,lōd] -n
- the number of cases handled (as by a court or clinic) usu. in a particular period
case·mate ['kās-,māt] -n
- a fortified position or chamber or an armored enclosure on a warship from which guns are fired through embrasures
case·ment ['kās-mənt] -n
- a window sash that opens on hinges at the side
- a window with such a sash
ca·se·ous ['kā-sē-əs] -adj
- marked by caseation
- cheesy
ca·sern [kə-'zərn] -n
- a military barracks in a garrison town
case study -n
- an intensive analysis of an individual unit (as a person or community) stressing developmental factors in relation to environment
- case history
case system -n
- a system of teaching law in which instruction is chiefly on the basis of leading or selected cases as primary authorities instead of from textbooks called also case method
case·work ['kās-,wərk] -n
- social work involving direct consideration of the problems, needs, and adjustments of the individual case (as a person or family)
cash ['kash] -n
- ready money
- money or its equivalent (as a check) paid for goods or services at the time of purchase or delivery
- being a method of accounting that includes as income only what has been received and as expenses only those paid
- to pay or obtain cash for
- to lead and win a bridge trick with (a card that is the highest remaining card of its suit)
- any of various coins of small value in China and southern India
- a Chinese coin with a square hole in the center
- a unit of value equivalent to one cash
cashandcar·ry [,ka-shᵊn-'ka-rē, -'ker-ē] -adj
- sold or provided for cash and usu. without delivery service
cashandcarry -n
- the policy of selling on a cash-and-carry basis
cash bar -n
- a bar (as at a reception) at which drinks are sold
cash·book ['kash-,bu̇k] -n
- a book in which record is kept of all cash receipts and disbursements
cash cow -n
- a consistently profitable business, property, or product whose profits are used to finance a company's investments in other areas
- one regarded or exploited as a reliable source of money
- a singer deemed a cash cow for the record label
cash crop -n
- a readily salable crop (as cotton or tobacco) produced or gathered primarily for market
cash discount -n
- a discount granted in consideration of immediate payment or payment within a prescribed time
cash·ew ['ka-(,)shü, kə-'shü] -n
- a tropical American tree ( Anacardium occidentaleof the family Anacardiaceae, the cashew family) grown for a phenolic oil and the edible kernel of its nut and for a gum from its stem
- cashew nut
cashew nut -n
- the kidney-shaped kernel of the fruit of the cashew that is edible when roasted
cash flow -n
- a measure of an organization's liquidity that usu. consists of net income after taxes plus noncash charges against income
- a flow of cash
- one that provides solvency
ca·shier [ka-'shir, kə-] -vt
- to dismiss from service
- to dismiss dishonorably
- reject, discard
cash·ier [(,)ka-'shir] -n
- : one that has charge of money: as
- a high officer in a bank or trust company responsible for moneys received and expended
- one who collects and records payments
- an employee (as in a store) who handles monetary transactions
cashier's check -n
- a check drawn by a bank on its own funds and signed by the cashier
cash in -vt
- to obtain cash for
- to retire from a gambling game
- to settle accounts and withdraw from an involvement (as a business deal)
- to obtain advantage or financial profit often used with on
cash·less ['kash-ləs] -adj
- not having or involving cash
- relying largely or entirely on monetary transactions that use electronic means rather than cash
cash·mere ['kazh-,mir, 'kash-] -n
- fine wool from the undercoat of the cashmere goat
- a yarn of this wool
- a soft twilled fabric made orig. from cashmere
cashmere goat -n
- an Indian goat raised esp. for its undercoat of fine soft wool that constitutes the cashmere wool of commerce
cash out -vt, n
- to convert (noncash assets) to cash
- to convert noncash assets to cash
cash register -n
- a business machine that usu. has a money drawer, indicates the amount of each sale, and records the amount of money received
cashstrapped ['kash-,strapt] -adj
- lacking sufficient money
cas·ing ['kā-siŋ] -n
- : something that encases : material for encasing: as
- an enclosing frame esp. around a door or window opening
- a metal pipe used to case a well
- tire
- a membranous case for processed meat
- a space formed between two parallel lines of stitching through at least two layers of cloth into which something (as a rod or string) may be inserted
ca·si·no [kə-'sē-(,)nō] -n
- a building or room used for social amusements
- one used for gambling
- a card game in which cards are won by matching or combining cards in a hand with those exposed on the table
- summerhouse
ca·si·ta [kə-'sē-tə] -n
- a small house
cask ['kask] -n
- a barrel-shaped vessel of staves, headings, and hoops usu. for liquids
- a cask and its contents
- the quantity contained in a cask
cas·ket ['kas-kət] -n, vt
- a small chest or box (as for jewels)
- a usu. fancy coffin
casque ['kask] -n
- a piece of armor for the head : helmet
- an anatomical structure (as the horny outgrowth on the head of a cassowary) suggestive of a helmet
Cas·san·dra [kə-'san-drə, -'sän-] -n
- a daughter of Priam endowed with the gift of prophecy but fated never to be believed
- one that predicts misfortune or disaster
cas·sa·va [kə-'sä-və] -n
- any of several American plants (genus Manihot,esp. M. esculenta) of the spurge family grown in the tropics for their edible tuberous roots which yield a nutritious starch
- the root
cas·se·role ['ka-sə-,rōl also 'ka-zə-] -n
- a dish in which food may be baked and served
- food cooked and served in a casserole
- a deep round usu. porcelain dish with a handle used for heating substances in the laboratory
cas·sette [kə-'set, ka-] -n
- casket
- : a usu. flat case or cartridge that can be easily loaded or unloaded: as
- a lightproof magazine for holding film or plates for use in a camera
- a plastic cartridge containing magnetic tape with the tape passing from one reel to another
- a cassette tape player
cas·sia ['ka-shə] -n
- a dried coarse cinnamon bark (as from Cinnamomum cassia)
- any of a genus ( Cassia) of leguminous herbs, shrubs, and trees of warm regions
cas·si·mere ['ka-zə-,mir, 'ka-sə-] -n
- a closely woven smooth twilled usu. wool fabric (as for suits)
Cas·si·o·pe·ia [,ka-sē-ə-'pē-ə] -n
- the wife of King Cepheus who gives birth to Andromeda and is later changed into a constellation
- a northern constellation between Andromeda and Cepheus
cas·sis [kə-'sēs] -n
- a syrupy liquor of low alcoholic strength made from black currants and used chiefly as a flavoring and sweetening agent
cas·sit·er·ite [kə-'si-tə-,rīt] -n
- a brown or black mineral that consists of tin dioxide and is the chief source of metallic tin called also tinstone
cas·sock ['ka-sək] -n
- a close-fitting ankle-length garment worn esp. in Roman Catholic and Anglican churches by the clergy and by laypersons assisting in services
cas·sou·let [,ka-sə-'lā] -n
- a casserole of white beans baked with herbs and meat (as pork, lamb, and goose or duck)
cas·so·wary ['ka-sə-,wer-ē] -n
- any of a genus ( Casuarius) of large ratite birds chiefly of New Guinea and northern Australia that have a horny casque on the head and are closely related to the emu
cast ['kast] -vb, n, adj
- to cause to move or send forth by throwing
- direct
- to put forth
- the fire cast s a warm glow
- cast light on the subject
- to place as if by throwing
- cast doubt on their reliability
- to deposit (a ballot) formally
- to throw off or away
- to get rid of : discard
- shed, molt
- to bring forth
- to give birth to prematurely
- to throw to the ground esp. in wrestling
- to build by throwing up earth
- to perform arithmetical operations on : add
- to calculate by means of astrology
- decide, intend
- to dispose or arrange into parts or into a suitable form or order
- to assign the parts of (a dramatic production) to actors
- to assign (as an actor) to a role or part
- was cast in the leading role
- to give a shape to (a substance) by pouring in liquid or plastic form into a mold and letting harden without pressure
- to form by this process
- turn
- to make (a knot or stitch) by looping or catching up
- twist, warp
- to throw something
- to throw out a lure with a fishing rod
- vomit
- to bear fruit : yield
- to perform addition
- estimate, conjecture
- warp
- to range over land in search of a trail used of hunting dogs or trackers
- veer
- an act of casting
- something that happens as a result of chance
- a throw of dice
- a throw of a line (as a fishing line) or net
- the form in which a thing is constructed
- the set of actors in a dramatic production
- a set of characters or persons
- in both great houses there is the usual cast of servants -- Elizabeth Bowen
- the arrangement of draperies in a painting
- the distance to which a thing can be thrown
- the distance a bow can shoot
- a turning of the eye in a particular direction
- expression
- this freakish, elfish cast came into the child's eye -- Nathaniel Hawthorne
- a slight strabismus
- something that is thrown or the quantity thrown
- the leader of a fishing line
- : something that is formed by casting in a mold or form: as
- a reproduction (as of a statue) in metal or plaster : casting
- a fossil reproduction of the details of a natural object by mineral infiltration
- an impression taken from an object with a liquid or plastic substance : mold
- a rigid casing (as of fiberglass or of gauze impregnated with plaster of paris) used for immobilizing a usu. diseased or broken part
- forecast, conjecture
- an overspread of a color or modification of the appearance of a substance by a trace of some added hue : shade
- gray with a greenish cast
- tinge, suggestion
- a ride on one's way in a vehicle : lift
- help, assistance
- shape, appearance
- the delicate cast of her features
- characteristic quality
- his father's conservative cast of mind
- : something that is shed, ejected, or thrown out or off: as
- the excrement of an earthworm
- a mass of soft matter formed in cavities of diseased organs and discharged from the body
- the skin of an insect
- the ranging in search of a trail by a dog, hunting pack, or tracker
cast about -vi
- to look around : seek
- to lay plans concerning : contrive
- cast about how he was to go
cas·ta·net [,kas-tə-'net] -n
- a percussion instrument used esp. by dancers that consists of two small shells of hard wood, ivory, or plastic usu. fastened to the thumb and clicked together by the other fingers usu. used in pl.
cast around -vi
- cast about
cast·away ['kast-ə-,wā] -adj, n
- thrown away : rejected
- cast adrift or ashore as a survivor of a shipwreck
- thrown out or left without friends or resources
cast down -adj
- downcast
caste ['kast also 'käst] -n
- one of the hereditary social classes in Hinduism that restrict the occupation of their members and their association with the members of other castes
- a division of society based on differences of wealth, inherited rank or privilege, profession, occupation, or race
- the position conferred by caste standing : prestige
- a system of rigid social stratification characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social barriers sanctioned by custom, law, or religion
- a specialized form (as the worker of an ant or bee) of a polymorphic social insect that carries out a particular function in the colony
cas·tel·lan ['kas-tə-lən] -n
- a governor or warden of a castle or fort
cas·tel·lat·ed ['kas-tə-,lā-təd] -adj
- having battlements like a castle
- having or supporting a castle
cast·er ['kas-tər] -n
- one that casts
- a machine that casts type
- a usu. silver table vessel with a perforated top for sprinkling a seasoning (as sugar or spice)
- a usu. revolving metal stand bearing condiment containers (as cruets, mustard pot, and often shakers) for table use : a cruet stand
- any of a set of wheels or rotating balls mounted in a swivel frame and used for the support and movement of furniture, trucks, and portable equipment
- the slight usu. backward tilt from vertical of the axis of the steering mechanism of an automobile for giving directional stability to the front wheels
cas·ti·gate ['kas-tə-,gāt] -vt, n
- to subject to severe punishment, reproof, or criticism
cas·tile soap [(,)kas-'tēl-] -n
- a fine hard bland soap made from olive oil and sodium hydroxide
- any of various similar soaps
Cas·til·ian [ka-'stil-yən] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Castile
- spaniard
- the dialect of Castile
- the official and literary language of Spain based on this dialect
cast·ing -n
- something (as the excrement of an earthworm) that is cast out or off
- : the act of one that casts: as
- the throwing of a fishing line by means of a rod and reel
- the assignment of parts and duties to actors or performers
- something cast in a mold
casting couch -n
- a couch in an entertainment executive's office on which aspiring actresses are reputed to perform sexual acts in exchange for desired roles
- the practice of abusing one's power to obtain sexual partners
casting director -n
- a person who supervises the casting of dramatic productions (as films and plays)
casting vote -n
- a deciding vote cast by a presiding officer to break a tie
castiron -adj
- made of cast iron
- : resembling cast iron: as
- capable of withstanding great strain
- not admitting change, adaptation, or exception : rigid
cast iron -n
- a commercial alloy of iron, carbon, and silicon that is cast in a mold and is hard, brittle, nonmalleable, and incapable of being hammer-welded but more easily fusible than steel
cas·tle ['ka-səl] -n
- a large fortified building or set of buildings
- a massive or imposing house
- a retreat safe against intrusion or invasion
- rook
castle ['ka-s(ə-)liŋ] -vb
- to establish in a castle
- to move (the chess king) in castling
- to move a chess king two squares toward a rook and in the same move the rook to the square next past the king
cas·tled ['ka-səld] -adj
- castellated
castle in the air
- an impracticable project : daydream called also castle in Spain
castoff ['kast-,ȯf] -adj, n
- thrown away or aside
cast off -vt
- loose
- unfasten
- to remove (a stitch) from a knitting needle in such a way as to prevent unraveling
- to unfasten or untie a boat or a line
- to turn one's partner in a square dance and pass around the outside of the set and back
- to finish a knitted fabric by casting off all stitches
cast on -vt
- to place (stitches) on a knitting needle for beginning or enlarging knitted work
cas·tor ['kas-tər] -n
- beaver
- castoreum
- a beaver hat
Cas·tor ['kas-tər] -n
- one of the Dioscuri
- the more northern of the two bright stars in Gemini
castor bean -n
- the very poisonous seed of the castor-oil plant
- castor-oil plant
cas·to·re·um [ka-'stȯr-ē-əm] -n
- a bitter strong-smelling creamy orange-brown substance that consists of the dried perineal glands of the beaver and their secretion and is used esp. by perfumers called also castor
castor oil -n
- a pale viscous fatty oil from castor beans used esp. as a cathartic and as a lubricant and plasticizer
castoroil plant -n
- a tropical Old World herb ( Ricinus communis) widely grown as an ornamental or for its oil-rich castor beans
castor sugar -n
- finely granulated white sugar
cast out -vt
- to drive out : expel
cas·trate ['kas-,trāt] -vt, n, adj
- to render impotent or deprive of vitality esp. by psychological means
- to deprive of the testes : geld
- to deprive of the ovaries : spay
cas·tra·to [ka-'strä-(,)tō, kə-] -n
- a singer castrated before puberty to preserve the soprano or contralto range of his voice
Cas·tro·ism ['kas-(,)trō-,i-zəm] -n
- the political, economic, and social principles and policies of Fidel Castro
ca·su·al ['kazh-wəl, 'ka-zhə-wəl, 'ka-zhəl] -adj, adv, n
- subject to, resulting from, or occurring by chance
- occurring without regularity : occasional
- employed for irregular periods
- met with on occasion and known only superficially
- feeling or showing little concern : nonchalant
- a casual approach to cooking
- lacking a high degree of interest or devotion
- done without serious intent or commitment
- informal, natural
- designed for informal use
casual -n
- a casual or migratory worker
- an officer or enlisted person awaiting assignment or transportation to a unit
ca·su·al·ty ['ka-zhəl-tē, 'kazh-wəl-, 'ka-zhə-wəl-] -n
- chance, fortune
- losses that befall them by mere casualty -- Sir Walter Raleigh
- serious or fatal accident : disaster
- a military person lost through death, wounds, injury, sickness, internment, or capture or through being missing in action
- a person or thing injured, lost, or destroyed : victim
- the ex-senator was a casualty of the last election
casual water -n
- a temporary accumulation of water not forming a regular hazard of a golf course
ca·su·a·ri·na [,ka-zhə-(wə-)'rē-nə] -n
- any of a genus ( Casuarinaof the family Casuarinaceae) of dicotyledonous chiefly Australian trees which have whorls of scalelike leaves and jointed stems resembling horsetails and some of which yield a heavy hard wood
ca·su·ist ['ka-zhü-ist, 'kazh-wist] -n, adj
- one skilled in or given to casuistry
ca·su·ist·ry ['kazh-wə-strē, 'ka-zhə-] -n
- a resolving of specific cases of conscience, duty, or conduct through interpretation of ethical principles or religious doctrine
- specious argument : rationalization
ca·sus bel·li ['kä-səs-'be-,lē, 'kā-səs-'be-,lī] -n
- an event or action that justifies or allegedly justifies a war or conflict
cat ['kat] -n
- a carnivorous mammal ( Felis catus) long domesticated as a pet and for catching rats and mice
- any of a family (Felidae) of carnivorous usu. solitary and nocturnal mammals (as the domestic cat, lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cougar, wildcat, lynx, and cheetah)
- a malicious woman
- a strong tackle used to hoist an anchor to the cathead of a ship
- catboat
- catamaran
- cat-o'-nine-tails
- catfish
- a player or devotee of jazz
- guy
- to search for a sexual mate often used with around
- to bring (an anchor) up to the cathead
- catalog
- catalyst
Cat ['kat] -trademark
- used for a Caterpillar tractor
CAT -abbr
- clean-air turbulence
- computerized axial tomography
cata- -prefix
- down
ca·tab·o·lism [kə-'ta-bə-,li-zəm] -n, adj, adv
- degradative metabolism involving the release of energy and resulting in the breakdown of complex materials (as proteins or lipids) within the organism
ca·tab·o·lite [-,līt] -n
- a product of catabolism
ca·tab·o·lize [-,līz] -vb
- to subject to catabolism
- to undergo catabolism
cat·a·chre·sis [,ka-tə-'krē-səs] -n, adj, adv
- use of the wrong word for the context
- use of a forced and esp. paradoxical figure of speech (as blind mouths)
cat·a·clysm ['ka-tə-,kli-zəm] -n, adj, adv
- flood, deluge
- catastrophe
- a momentous and violent event marked by overwhelming upheaval and demolition
- an event that brings great changes
cat·a·comb ['ka-tə-,kōm] -n
- a subterranean cemetery of galleries with recesses for tombs usu. used in pl.
- : something resembling a catacomb: as
- an underground passageway or group of passageways
- a complex set of interrelated things
- the endless catacomb s of formal education -- Kingman Brewster 1988
cata·di·op·tric [,ka-tə-dī-'äp-trik] -adj
- belonging to, produced by, or involving both the reflection and the refraction of light
ca·tad·ro·mous [kə-'ta-drə-məs] -adj
- living in freshwater and going to the sea to spawn
cat·a·falque ['ka-tə-,fȯ(l)k, -,falk] -n
- an ornamental structure sometimes used in funerals for the lying in state of the body
- a pall-covered coffin-shaped structure used at requiem masses celebrated after burial
Cat·a·lan ['ka-tə-lən, -,lan] -n, adj
- a native or inhabitant of Catalonia
- the Romance language of Catalonia, Valencia, Andorra, and the Balearic islands
cat·a·lase ['ka-tə-,lās, -,lāz] -n, adj
- a red crystalline enzyme that consists of a protein complex with hematin groups and catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen
cat·a·lec·tic [,ka-tə-'lek-tik] -adj, n
- lacking a syllable at the end of a line in metrical verse or ending in an incomplete foot
cat·a·lep·sy ['ka-tə-,lep-sē] -n, adj or n, adv
- a trancelike state marked by loss of voluntary motion in which the limbs remain in whatever position they are placed
cat·a·lex·is [,ka-tə-'lek-səs] -n
- omission or incompleteness usu. in the last foot of a line in metrical verse
cat·a·log ['ka-tə-,lȯg, -,läg] -n
- list, register
- a complete enumeration of items arranged systematically with descriptive details
- a pamphlet or book that contains such a list
- material in such a list
catalog -vb, n
- to make a catalog of
- to enter in a catalog
- to classify (as books or information) descriptively
- to make or work on a catalog
- to become listed in a catalog at a specified price
- this stamp catalog s at 2
catalogue rai·son·ne [-,rā-zə-'nā] -n
- a systematic annotated catalog
- a critical bibliography
ca·tal·pa [kə-'tal-pə, -'tȯl-] -n
- any of a genus ( Catalpa) of No. American and Asian trees of the bignonia family with pale showy flowers in terminal clusters
ca·tal·y·sis [kə-'ta-lə-səs] -n
- a modification and esp. increase in the rate of a chemical reaction induced by material unchanged chemically at the end of the reaction
cat·a·lyst ['ka-tə-ləst] -n
- a substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usu. faster rate or under different conditions (as at a lower temperature) than otherwise possible
- an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action
cat·a·lyt·ic [,ka-tə-'li-tik] -adj, adv
- causing, involving, or relating to catalysis
catalytic converter -n
- an automobile exhaust-system component containing a catalyst that causes conversion of harmful gases (as carbon monoxide and uncombusted hydrocarbons) into mostly harmless products (as water and carbon dioxide)
catalytic cracker -n
- the unit in a petroleum refinery in which cracking is carried out in the presence of a catalyst
cat·a·lyze ['ka-tə-,līz] -vt, n
- to bring about the catalysis of (a chemical reaction)
- bring about, inspire
- to alter significantly by or as if by catalysis
- innovations in basic chemical theory that have catalyzed the field -- Newsweek
cat·a·ma·ran [,ka-tə-mə-'ran, 'ka-tə-mə-,ran] -n
- a vessel (as a sailboat) with twin hulls and usu. a deck or superstructure connecting the hulls
cat·a·me·nia [,ka-tə-'mē-nē-ə] -n pl, adj
- menses
cat·a·mite ['ka-tə-,mīt] -n
- a boy kept by a pederast
cat·a·mount ['ka-tə-,mau̇nt] -n
- : any of various wild cats: as
- cougar
- lynx
catamoun·tain [,ka-tə-'mau̇n-tᵊn] -n
- any of various wild cats
cat and mouse -n
- : behavior like that of a cat with a mouse: as
- the act of toying with or tormenting something before destroying it
- a contrived action involving constant pursuit, near captures, and repeated escapes
- played a game of cat and mouse with the police
- an evasive action
ca·taph·o·ra [kə-'ta-fə-rə] -n
- the use of a grammatical substitute (as a pronoun) that has the same reference as a following word or phrase
cat·a·pho·re·sis [,ka-tə-fə-'rē-səs] -n, adj
- electrophoresis
cat·a·phor·ic [,ka-tə-'fȯr-ik] -adj
- of or relating to cataphora
- being a word or phrase (as a pronoun) that takes its reference from a following word or phrase (as herin before her Jane saw nothing but desert)
cat·a·plasm ['ka-tə-,pla-zəm] -n
- poultice
cat·a·plexy ['ka-tə-,plek-sē] -n
- sudden loss of muscle power following a strong emotional stimulus
cat·a·pult ['ka-tə-,pəlt, -,pu̇lt] -n
- an ancient military device for hurling missiles
- a device for launching an airplane at flying speed (as from an aircraft carrier)
catapult -vt
- to throw or launch by or as if by a catapult
- to become catapulted
cat·a·ract ['ka-tə-,rakt] -n, adj
- a clouding of the lens of the eye or of its surrounding transparent membrane that obstructs the passage of light
- waterspout
- waterfall
- a large one over a precipice
- steep rapids in a river
- downpour, flood
- cataract s of information
ca·tarrh [kə-'tär] -n, adj, adv
- inflammation of a mucous membrane
- one chronically affecting the human nose and air passages
cat·ar·rhine ['ka-tə-,rīn] -adj, n
- of, relating to, or being any of a division (Catarrhina) of primates comprising the Old World monkeys, higher apes, and hominids that have the nostrils close together and directed downward, 32 teeth, and the tail when present never prehensile
ca·tas·tro·phe [kə-'tas-trə-(,)fē] -n, adj, adv
- the final event of the dramatic action esp. of a tragedy
- a momentous tragic event ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin
- a violent and sudden change in a feature of the earth
- a violent usu. destructive natural event (as a supernova)
- utter failure : fiasco
- the party was a catastrophe
catastrophe theory -n
- mathematical theory and conjecture that uses topology to explain events (as an earthquake or a stock market crash) characterized by major abrupt changes
ca·tas·tro·phism [kə-'tas-trə-,fi-zəm] -n
- a geological doctrine that changes in the earth's crust have in the past been brought about suddenly by physical forces operating in ways that cannot be observed today
cat·a·to·nia [,ka-tə-'tō-nē-ə] -n
- catatonic schizophrenia
cat·a·ton·ic [-'tä-nik] -adj, n, adv
- of, relating to, being, resembling, or affected by schizophrenia characterized esp. by a marked psychomotor disturbance that may involve stupor or mutism, negativism, rigidity, purposeless excitement, and inappropriate or bizarre posturing
- characterized by a marked lack of movement, activity, or expression
Ca·taw·ba [kə-'tȯ-bə] -n
- a member of an American Indian people of No. Carolina and So. Carolina
- the language of the Catawba people
- any of various wines produced from a pale red native American grape
cat·bird ['kat-,bərd] -n
- an American songbird ( Dumetella carolinensis) that is dark gray in color with a black cap and reddish coverts under the tail and is related to the mockingbird
catbird seat -n
- a position of great prominence or advantage
cat·boat ['kat-,bōt] -n
- a sailboat having a cat rig and usu. a centerboard and being of light draft and broad beam
cat·bri·er [-,brī(-ə)r] -n
- any of a genus ( Smilax) of dioecious often prickly climbing plants of the lily family
cat burglar -n
- a burglar who is adept at entering and leaving the burglarized place without attracting notice
cat·call [-,kȯl] -n, vb
- a loud or raucous cry made esp. to express disapproval (as at a sports event)
- a derisive remark : criticism
catch ['kach, 'kech] -vb, adj
- to capture or seize esp. after pursuit
- to take or entangle in or as if in a snare
- deceive
- to discover unexpectedly : find
- to check (oneself) suddenly or momentarily
- to become suddenly aware of
- to take hold of : seize
- to affect suddenly
- to grasp and hold on to (something in motion)
- to avail oneself of : take
- caught the first opportunity to leave
- to obtain through effort : get
- to overtake unexpectedly usu. used in the passive
- to get entangled
- : to become affected by: as
- contract
- to respond sympathetically to the point of being imbued with
- catch the spirit of an occasion
- to be struck by
- he caught a bullet in the leg
- to be subjected to : receive
- to take in and retain
- a barrel to catch rainwater
- fasten
- to take or get usu. momentarily or quickly
- catch a glimpse of a friend
- overtake
- catch the leader in a race
- to get aboard in time
- to attract and hold : arrest, engage
- to make contact with : strike
- the pitch caught him in the back
- to grasp by the senses or the mind
- to apprehend and fix by artistic means
- catch a person's likeness
- see, watch
- to listen to
- to serve as a catcher for in baseball
- to meet with
- to grasp hastily or try to grasp
- to become caught
- to catch fire
- to play the position of catcher on a baseball team
- kick over
- something caught
- the total quantity caught at one time
- the act, action, or fact of catching
- a game in which a ball is thrown and caught
- something that checks or holds immovable
- one worth catching esp. as a spouse
- a round for three or more unaccompanied usu. male voices often with suggestive or obscene lyrics
- fragment, snatch
- a concealed difficulty or complication
- a momentary audible break in the voice or breath
catch·all ['kach-,ȯl, 'kech-] -n
- something that holds or includes odds and ends or a wide variety of things
- dyspepsia is a catchall term for stomach discomfort
catchascatchcan -adj
- using any available means or method : hit-or-miss
- a catchascatchcan system that relies on borrowed judges -- Patricia Nealon
catch·er ['ka-chər, 'ke-] -n
- one that catches
- a baseball player positioned behind home plate
catch·fly ['kach-,flī, 'kech-] -n
- any of various plants (as of the genera Lychnisand Silene) of the pink family often with viscid stems
catch·ing -adj
- infectious, contagious
- catchy, alluring
catch·ment ['kach-mənt, 'kech-] -n
- something that catches water
- the amount of water caught
- the action of catching water
catchment area -n
- an area that serves to catch water
- the geographical area served by an institution
catch on -vi
- to become aware : learn
- understand
- didn't catch on to what was going on
- to become popular
- this idea has already caught on
catch out -vt
- to detect in error or wrongdoing
- caught him out committing perjury
- to take unawares or by surprise
catch·pen·ny ['kach-,pe-nē, 'kech-] -adj
- using sensationalism or cheapness for appeal
catch·phrase [-,frāz] -n
- a word or expression that is used repeatedly and conveniently to represent or characterize a person, group, idea, or point of view
- slogan
catch·pole [-,pōl] -n
- a sheriff's deputy
- one who makes arrests for failure to pay a debt
catch22 [-,twen-tē-'tü] -n
- a problematic situation for which the only solution is denied by a circumstance inherent in the problem or by a rule
- the show-business catch22-no work unless you have an agent, no agent unless you've worked -- Mary Murphy
- the circumstance or rule that denies a solution
- an illogical, unreasonable, or senseless situation
- a measure or policy whose effect is the opposite of what was intended
- a situation presenting two equally undesirable alternatives
- a hidden difficulty or means of entrapment : catch
catchup ['ke-chəp, 'ka-] -n
(variant of ketchup)
- a seasoned pureed condiment usu. made from tomatoes
catch up -vt
- to pick up often abruptly
- the thief caught the purse up and ran
- ensnare, entangle
- education has been caught up in a stultifying mythology -- N. M. Pusey
- enthrall
- the...public was caught up in the car's magic -- D. A. Jedlicka
- to provide with the latest information
- to travel fast enough to overtake an advance party
- to reach a state of parity or of being able to cope
- students who miss class have difficulty catching up
- to bring about arrest for illicit activities
- the police caught up with the thieves
- to complete or compensate for something belatedly
- to acquire belated information
catch·word ['kach-,wərd, 'kech-] -n
- a word under the right-hand side of the last line on a book page that repeats the first word on the following page
- guide word
- catchphrase
catchy ['ka-chē, 'ke-chē] -adj
- tending to catch the interest or attention
- easily retained in the memory
- fitful, irregular
- tricky
cat·claw ['kat-,klȯ] -n
- a yellow-flowered spiny acacia ( Acacia greggi) of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico
cat distemper -n
- panleukopenia
cate ['kāt] -n
- a dainty or choice food
cat·e·che·sis [,ka-tə-'kē-səs] -n, adj
- oral instruction of catechumens
cat·e·chin ['ka-tə-,kin] -n
- a crystalline flavonoid compound C 15H 14O 6or its derivatives having antioxidant properties and used in dyeing and tanning
cat·e·chism ['ka-tə-,ki-zəm] -n, adj
- oral instruction
- a manual for catechizing
- a summary of religious doctrine often in the form of questions and answers
- a set of formal questions put as a test
- something resembling a catechism esp. in being a rote response or formulaic statement
cat·e·chist ['ka-tə-kist] -n
- : one that catechizes: as
- a teacher of catechumens
- a native in a missionary district who does Christian teaching
cat·e·chize ['ka-tə-,kīz] -vt, n
- to instruct systematically esp. by questions, answers, and explanations and corrections
- to give religious instruction in such a manner
- to question systematically or searchingly
cat·e·chol ['ka-tə-,kȯl, -,kōl] -n
- catechin
- a crystalline phenol C 6H 6O 2obtained from various natural sources but usu. made synthetically and used esp. in organic synthesis
cat·e·chol·amine [,ka-tə-'kō-lə-,mēn, -'kȯ-] -n
- any of various amines (as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) that function as hormones or neurotransmitters or both
cat·e·chol·amin·er·gic [-,kō-lə-mē-'nər-jik, -,kȯ-, -mi-] -adj
- involving, liberating, or mediated by catecholamine
cat·e·chu ['ka-tə-,chü, -,shü] -n
- : any of several dry, earthy, or resinous astringent substances obtained from tropical plants of Asia: as
- an extract of the heartwood of an East Indian acacia ( Acacia catechu)
- gambier
cat·e·chu·men [,ka-tə-'kyü-mən] -n
- a convert to Christianity receiving training in doctrine and discipline before baptism
- one receiving instruction in the basic doctrines of Christianity before admission to communicant membership in a church
cat·e·gor·i·cal [,ka-tə-'gȯr-i-kəl, -'gär-] -adj, adv
- absolute, unqualified
- of, relating to, or constituting a category
- involving, according with, or considered with respect to specific categories
categorical imperative -n
- a moral obligation or command that is unconditionally and universally binding
cat·e·go·rise ['ka-ti-gə-,rīz] -vt, n
(variant of categorize)
- to put into a category : classify
cat·e·go·rize ['ka-ti-gə-,rīz] -vt, n
- to put into a category : classify
cat·e·go·ry ['ka-tə-,gȯr-ē] -n
- any of several fundamental and distinct classes to which entities or concepts belong
- a division within a system of classification
ca·te·na [kə-'tē-nə] -n
- a connected series of related things
cat·e·nary ['ka-tə-,ner-ē, -,ne-rē, esp Brit kə-'tē-nə-rē] -n, adj
- the curve assumed by a cord of uniform density and cross section that is perfectly flexible but not capable of being stretched and that hangs freely from two fixed points
- something in the form of a catenary
cat·e·nate ['ka-tə-,nāt] -vt, n
- to connect in a series : link
ca·ter ['kā-tər] -vb, n
- to provide a supply of food
- to supply what is required or desired
- cater ing to middle-class tastes
- to provide food and service for
cat·er·an ['ka-tə-rən] -n
- a former military irregular or brigand of the Scottish Highlands
ca·tercous·in ['kā-tər-,kə-zᵊn] -n
- an intimate friend
cat·er·pil·lar ['ka-tə(r)-,pi-lər] -n
- the elongated wormlike larva of a butterfly or moth
- any of various similar larvae
Caterpillar -trademark
- used for a tractor made for use on rough or soft ground and moved on two endless metal belts
cat·er·waul ['ka-tər-,wȯl] -vi, n
- to make a harsh cry
- to protest or complain noisily
cat·fac·ing ['kat-,fā-siŋ] -n
- a disfigurement or malformation of fruit suggesting a cat's face in appearance
cat·fight [-,fīt] -n
- an intense fight or argument esp. between two women
cat·fish [-,fish] -n
- any of an order (Siluriformes) of chiefly freshwater stout-bodied scaleless bony fishes having long tactile barbels
cat·gut [-,gət] -n
- a tough cord made usu. from sheep intestines
cath -abbr
- cathedral
- catheter; catheterization
- cathode
Cath·ar ['ka-,thär] -n, adj
- a member of one of various ascetic and dualistic Christian sects esp. of the later Middle Ages teaching that matter is evil and professing faith in an angelic Christ who did not really undergo human birth or death
ca·thar·sis [kə-'thär-səs] -n
- purgation
- purification or purgation of the emotions (as pity and fear) primarily through art
- a purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension
- elimination of a complex by bringing it to consciousness and affording it expression
ca·thar·tic [kə-'thär-tik] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or producing catharsis
cathartic -n
- a cathartic medicine : purgative
cat·head ['kat-,hed] -n
- a projecting piece of timber or iron near the bow of a ship to which the anchor is hoisted and secured
ca·thect [kə-'thekt, ka-] -vt
- to invest with mental or emotional energy
ca·thec·tic [kə-'thek-tik, ka-] -adj
- of, relating to, or invested with mental or emotional energy
ca·the·dra [kə-'thē-drə] -n
- a bishop's official throne
ca·the·dral [kə-'thē-drəl] -adj
- of, relating to, or containing a cathedra
- emanating from a chair of authority
- suggestive of a cathedral
- a cathedral grove of redwoods
cathedral -n
- a church that is the official seat of a diocesan bishop
- something that resembles or suggests a cathedral (as in size or importance)
ca·thep·sin [kə-'thep-sən] -n
- any of several intracellular proteases of animal tissue that aid in autolysis
Cath·er·ine wheel ['ka-th(ə-)rin-] -n
- a wheel with spikes projecting from the rim
- pinwheel
- cartwheel
cath·e·ter ['ka-thə-tər, 'kath-tər] -n
- a tubular medical device for insertion into canals, vessels, passageways, or body cavities usu. to permit injection or withdrawal of fluids or to keep a passage open
cath·e·ter·i·za·tion [,ka-thə-tə-rə-'zā-shən, ,kath-tə-rə-] -n, vt
- the use of or introduction of a catheter (as in or into the bladder, trachea, or heart)
ca·thex·is [kə-'thek-səs, ka-] -n
- investment of mental or emotional energy in a person, object, or idea
cath·ode ['ka-,thōd] -n, adj, adv
- : the electrode of an electrochemical cell at which reduction occurs:
- the negative terminal of an electrolytic cell
- the positive terminal of a galvanic cell
- the electron-emitting electrode of an electron tube
- the negative electrode of a diode
cathode ray -n
- the high-speed electrons emitted in a stream from the heated cathode of a vacuum tube
- a stream of electrons emitted from the cathode of a vacuum tube usu. used in pl.
cathoderay tube -n
- a vacuum tube in which a beam of electrons is projected on a phosphor-coated screen to produce a luminous spot at a point on the screen determined by the effect on the electron beam of a variable magnetic field within the tube
cathodic protection -n
- the prevention of electrolytic corrosion of a usu. metallic structure (as a pipeline) by causing it to act as the cathode rather than as the anode of an electrochemical cell
cath·o·lic ['kath-lik, 'ka-thə-] -adj, adv, vb
- of, relating to, or forming the church universal
- of, relating to, or forming the ancient undivided Christian church or a church claiming historical continuity from it
- roman catholic
- comprehensive, universal
- broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests
- a catholic taste in music
Cath·o·lic ['kath-lik, 'ka-thə-] -n
- a person who belongs to the universal Christian church
- a member of a Catholic church
- roman catholic
Catholic Apostolic -adj
- of or relating to a Christian sect founded in 19th century England in anticipation of Christ's second coming
ca·thol·i·cate [kə-'thȯ-lə-,kāt, -kət] -n
- the jurisdiction of a catholicos
Catholic Epistles -n pl
- the five New Testament letters including James, I and II Peter, I John, and Jude addressed to the early Christian churches at large
Ca·thol·i·cism [kə-'thä-lə-,si-zəm] -n
- roman catholicism
- the faith, practice, or system of Catholic Christianity
cath·o·lic·i·ty [,ka-thə-'li-sə-tē, ,kath-'li-] -n
- the character of being in conformity with a Catholic church
- liberality of sentiments or views
- catholicity of viewpoint -- W. V. O'Connor
- universality
- comprehensive range
ca·thol·i·con [kə-'thä-lə-,kän] -n
- cure-all, panacea
ca·thol·i·cos [kə-'thȯ-li-kȯs] -n
- a primate of certain Eastern churches and esp. of the Armenian or of the Nestorian church
cat·house ['kat-,hau̇s] -n
- bordello
cat·ion ['kat-,ī-ən, 'ka-(,)tī-ən] -n
- the ion in an electrolyzed solution that migrates to the cathode
- a positively charged ion
cat·ion·ic [,kat-(,)ī-'ä-nik, ,ka-(,)tī-] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or being a cation
- characterized by an active and esp. surface-active cation
cat·kin ['kat-kən] -n
- a spicate inflorescence (as of the willow, birch, or oak) bearing scaly bracts and unisexual usu. apetalous flowers called also ament
cat·like ['kat-,līk] -adj or adv
- resembling a cat
- stealthy
- with catlike tread, upon our prey we steal -- W. S. Gilbert
cat·mint [-,mint] -n
- any of a genus ( Nepeta) of Old World temperate-zone herbs of the mint family
- catnip
cat·nap [-,nap] -n, vi
- a very short light nap
cat·nap·per ['kat-,na-pər] -n
- one who steals cats usu. to sell them for research
cat·nip [-,nip] -n
- a strong-scented perennial mint ( Nepeta cataria) that has whorls of small pale flowers in terminal spikes and contains a substance attractive to cats
- something very attractive
cato'ninetails [,ka-tə-'nīn-,tālz] -n
- a whip made of usu. nine knotted lines or cords fastened to a handle
ca·top·tric [kə-'täp-trik] -adj
- being or using a mirror to focus light
cat rig ['kat-'rigd] -n, adj
- a rig consisting of a single mast far forward carrying a single large sail extended by a boom
cats and dogs -adv
- in great quantities : very hard
- it was raining cats and dogs
CAT scan ['kat-] -n
- an image made by computed tomography
CAT scanner -n
- a medical instrument consisting of integrated X-ray and computing equipment and used for computed tomography
cat's cradle -n
- a game in which a string looped in a pattern like a cradle on the fingers of one person's hands is transferred to the hands of another so as to form a different figure
- something that is intricate, complicated, or elaborate
- a cat's cradle of red tape
cat scratch disease -n
- an illness that is characterized by swelling of the lymph glands, fever, and chills and is caused by a bacterium ( Bartonella henselaesyn. Rochalimaea henselae) transmitted esp. by a cat scratch called also cat scratch fever
cat'seye ['kat-,sī] -n
- any of various gems (as a chrysoberyl or a chalcedony) exhibiting opalescent reflections from within
- a marble with eyelike concentric circles
cat's meow -n
- a highly admired person or thing
cat'spaw ['kats-,pȯ] -n
- a light air that ruffles the surface of the water in irregular patches during a calm
- one used by another as a tool : dupe
- the...government became the cat'spaw for foreign powers -- D. J. Boorstin
- a hitch knot formed with two eyes for attaching a line to a hook
cat·suit ['kat-,süt] -n
- a close-fitting one-piece garment that covers the torso and the legs and sometimes the arms
catsup ['ke-chəp, 'ka-] -n
(variant of ketchup)
- a seasoned pureed condiment usu. made from tomatoes
cat·tail ['kat-,tāl] -n
- any of a genus ( Typhaof the family Typhaceae, the cattail family) of tall reedy marsh plants with brown furry fruiting spikes
- a plant ( Typha latifolia) with long flat leaves used esp. for making mats and chair seats
cat·tery ['ka-tə-rē] -n
- an establishment for the breeding and boarding of cats
cat·tle ['ka-tᵊl] -n pl
- domesticated quadrupeds held as property or raised for use
- bovine animals on a farm or ranch
- human beings esp. en masse
cattle call -n
- a mass audition (as of actors)
cattle egret -n
- a small Old World white egret ( Bubulcus ibis) introduced into the New World and having a yellow bill and in the breeding season buff on the crown, breast, and back
cattle grub -n
- : either of two warble flies (genus Hypoderma) esp. in the larval stage:
- common cattle grub
- a related warble fly ( H. bovis)
cattle guard -n
- a shallow ditch with rails or bars laid across that are spread far enough apart to prevent livestock from crossing but not people or vehicles
cat·tle·man [-mən, -,man] -n
- one who tends or raises cattle
cattle prod -n
- a handheld prodding device that delivers an electric shock (as in controlling cattle)
cattle tick -n
- either of two ixodid ticks ( Boophilus annulatusand B. microplus) that infest cattle and transmit the protozoan which causes Texas fever
cat·tle·ya ['kat-lē-ə; kat-'lā-ə, -'lē-] -n
- any of a genus ( Cattleya) of tropical American epiphytic orchids with showy hooded flowers
cat·ty ['ka-tē] -n
- any of various units of weight of China and southeast Asia varying around 1 pounds (about 600 grams)
- a standard Chinese unit equal to 1.1023 pounds (500 grams)
catty ['ka-tə-lē] -adj, adv, n
- resembling a cat
- slyly spiteful : malicious
- made several catty comments
- of or relating to a cat
CATV -abbr
- cable television
- community antenna television
cat·walk ['kat-,wȯk] -n
- a narrow walkway (as along a bridge)
Cau·ca·sian [kȯ-'kā-zhən, kä- also -'ka-zhən] -adj, n, adj or n
- of or relating to the Caucasus or its inhabitants
- of, constituting, or characteristic of a race of humankind native to Europe, No. Africa, and southwest Asia and classified according to physical features used esp. in referring to persons of European descent having usu. light skin pigmentation
Cau·chy sequence [kō-'shē-, 'kō-shē-] -n
- a sequence of elements in a metric space such that for any positive number no matter how small there exists a term in the sequence for which the distance between any two terms beyond this term is less than the arbitrarily small number
cau·cus ['kȯ-kəs] -n
- a closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction usu. to select candidates or to decide on policy
- a group of people united to promote an agreed-upon cause
caucus -vi
- to meet in or hold a caucus
cau·dad ['kȯ-,dad] -adv
- toward the tail or posterior end
cau·dal ['kȯ-dᵊl] -adj, adv
- of, relating to, or being a tail
- directed toward or situated in or near the tail or posterior part of the body
cau·date ['kȯ-,dāt] -adj
- having a tail or a taillike appendage
caudate nucleus -n
- the most medial of the four basal ganglia in each cerebral hemisphere called also caudate
cau·dex ['kȯ-,deks] -n
- the stem of a palm or tree fern
- the woody base of a perennial plant
cau·di·llis·mo [,kau̇-thē-'yēz-(,)mō, -thēl-'yēz-] -n
- the doctrine or practice of a caudillo
cau·di·llo [kau̇-'thē-(,)yō, -'thēl-(,)yō] -n
- a Spanish or Latin-American military dictator
cau·dle ['kȯ-dᵊl] -n
- a drink (as for invalids) usu. of warm ale or wine mixed with bread or gruel, eggs, sugar, and spices
caught ['kach, 'kech] -vb, adj
(variant of catch)
- to capture or seize esp. after pursuit
- to take or entangle in or as if in a snare
- deceive
- to discover unexpectedly : find
- to check (oneself) suddenly or momentarily
- to become suddenly aware of
- to take hold of : seize
- to affect suddenly
- to grasp and hold on to (something in motion)
- to avail oneself of : take
- caught the first opportunity to leave
- to obtain through effort : get
- to overtake unexpectedly usu. used in the passive
- to get entangled
- : to become affected by: as
- contract
- to respond sympathetically to the point of being imbued with
- catch the spirit of an occasion
- to be struck by
- he caught a bullet in the leg
- to be subjected to : receive
- to take in and retain
- a barrel to catch rainwater
- fasten
- to take or get usu. momentarily or quickly
- catch a glimpse of a friend
- overtake
- catch the leader in a race
- to get aboard in time
- to attract and hold : arrest, engage
- to make contact with : strike
- the pitch caught him in the back
- to grasp by the senses or the mind
- to apprehend and fix by artistic means
- catch a person's likeness
- see, watch
- to listen to
- to serve as a catcher for in baseball
- to meet with
- to grasp hastily or try to grasp
- to become caught
- to catch fire
- to play the position of catcher on a baseball team
- kick over
- something caught
- the total quantity caught at one time
- the act, action, or fact of catching
- a game in which a ball is thrown and caught
- something that checks or holds immovable
- one worth catching esp. as a spouse
- a round for three or more unaccompanied usu. male voices often with suggestive or obscene lyrics
- fragment, snatch
- a concealed difficulty or complication
- a momentary audible break in the voice or breath
caul ['kȯl] -n
- the large fatty omentum covering the intestines (as of a cow, sheep, or pig)
- the inner fetal membrane of higher vertebrates esp. when covering the head at birth
caul·dron ['kȯl-drən] -n
- a large kettle or boiler
- something resembling a boiling cauldron in intensity or degree of agitation
- a cauldron of intense emotions
cau·li·flow·er ['kȯ-li-,flau̇(-ə)r, 'kä-, -lē-] -n
- a garden plant ( Brassica oleracea botrytis) related to the cabbage and grown for its compact edible head of usu. white undeveloped flowers
- its flower cluster used as a vegetable
cauliflower ear -n
- an ear deformed from injury and excessive growth of reparative tissue
cau·li·flow·er·et [,kȯ-li-,flau̇(-ə)-'ret, ,kä-, -lē-] -n
- a bite-size piece of cauliflower
cau·line ['kȯ-,līn] -adj
- of, relating to, or growing on a stem and esp. on the upper part
caulk ['kȯk] -vt, n
- to stop up and make tight against leakage (as a boat or its seams, the cracks in a window frame, or the joints of a pipe)
- material used to caulk
(variant of calk)
- a cleat on the shoe of a horse to prevent slipping
- a similar device worn on the sole of a shoe
- to furnish with calks
- to wound with a calk
caus -abbr
- causative
caus·al ['kȯ-zəl] -adj, adv
- expressing or indicating cause : causative
- a causal clause introduced by since
- of, relating to, or constituting a cause
- the causal agent of a disease
- involving causation or a cause
- the relationship...was not one of causal antecedence so much as one of analogous growth -- H. O. Taylor
- arising from a cause
cau·sal·gia [kȯ-'zal-j(ē-)ə, -'sal-] -n, adj
- a constant usu. burning pain resulting from injury to a peripheral nerve
cau·sal·i·ty [kȯ-'za-lə-tē] -n
- a causal quality or agency
- the relation between a cause and its effect or between regularly correlated events or phenomena
cau·sa·tion [kȯ-'zā-shən] -n
- the act or process of causing
- the act or agency which produces an effect
- causality
caus·a·tive ['kȯ-zə-tiv] -adj, n, adv
- effective or operating as a cause or agent
- causative bacteria of cholera
- expressing causation
- being a linguistic form that indicates that the subject causes an act to be performed or a condition to come into being
cause ['kȯz] -n, adj
- a reason for an action or condition : motive
- something that brings about an effect or a result
- a person or thing that is the occasion of an action or state
- an agent that brings something about
- sufficient reason
- a ground of legal action
- case
- a matter or question to be decided
- a principle or movement militantly defended or supported
- a charitable undertaking
- to serve as a cause or occasion of
- to compel by command, authority, or force
cause ce·le·bre [,kȯz-sə-'leb, -'le-brə, ,kōz-, -'lebrᵊ] -n
- a legal case that excites widespread interest
- a notorious person, thing, incident, or episode
cause of action
- the grounds (as violation of a right) that entitle a plaintiff to bring a suit
cau·se·rie [,kōz-'rē, ,kō-zə-] -n
- an informal conversation : chat
- a short informal essay
cause·way ['kȯz-,wā] -n, vt
- a raised way across wet ground or water
- highway
- one of ancient Roman construction in Britain
cau·sey ['kȯ-zē] -n
- causeway
- causeway
caus·tic ['kȯs-tik] -adj, adv, n
- capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action : corrosive
- marked by incisive sarcasm
- relating to or being the surface or curve of a caustic
caustic -n
- : a caustic agent: as
- a substance that burns or destroys organic tissue by chemical action
- sodium hydroxide
- the envelope of rays emanating from a point and reflected or refracted by a curved surface
caustic potash -n
- potassium hydroxide
caustic soda -n
- sodium hydroxide
cau·ter·ize ['kȯ-tə-,rīz] -vt, n
- to sear with a cautery or caustic
- to make insensible : deaden
- must oust the feeling, or cauterize it -- Robert Craft
cau·tery ['kȯ-tə-rē] -n
- the act or effect of cauterizing : cauterization
- an agent (as a hot iron or caustic) used to burn, sear, or destroy tissue
cau·tion ['kȯ-shən] -n, adj
- warning, admonishment
- precaution
- prudent forethought to minimize risk
- one that astonishes or commands attention
- some shoes you see...these days are a caution -- Esquire
caution ['kȯ-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vt
- to advise caution to : warn
cau·tious ['kȯ-shəs] -adj, adv, n
- marked by or given to caution
cav -abbr
- cavalry
- cavity
cav·al·cade [,ka-vəl-'kād, 'ka-vəl-,] -n
- a procession of riders or carriages
- a procession of vehicles or ships
- a dramatic sequence or procession : series
cav·a·lier [,ka-və-'lir] -n
- a gentleman trained in arms and horsemanship
- a mounted soldier : knight
- an adherent of Charles I of England
- gallant
cavalier [-,i-zəm] -adj, n, adv
- debonair
- marked by or given to offhand and often disdainful dismissal of important matters
- a cavalier attitude toward money
- of or relating to the party of Charles I of England in his struggles with the Puritans and Parliament
- aristocratic
- of or relating to the English Cavalier poets of the mid-17th century
Cavalier King Charles spaniel [-'chär(-ə)lz-] -n
- any of a breed of toy spaniels developed in Great Britain from English toy spaniels and having a tapered muzzle and a long silky coat
ca·val·la [kə-'va-lə] -n
- any of various carangid fishes
- king mackerel
cav·al·let·ti [,ka-və-'le-tē] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- a series of timber jumps that are adjustable in height for schooling horses
cav·al·ry ['ka-vəl-rē, ÷'kal-və-rē] -n
- an army component mounted on horseback
- an army component moving in motor vehicles or helicopters and assigned to combat missions that require great mobility
- horsemen
- a thousand cavalry in flight
cav·al·ry·man [-rē-mən, -,man] -n
- a cavalry soldier
cavalry twill -n
- tricotine
cav·a·ti·na [,ka-və-'tē-nə, ,kä-] -n
- an operatic solo simpler and briefer than an aria
- a songlike instrumental piece or movement
cave ['kāv] -n
- a natural underground chamber or series of chambers open to the surface
- a usu. underground chamber for storage
- the articles stored there
- to form a cave in or under : hollow, undermine
- to explore caves esp. as a sport or hobby
- to fall in or down esp. from being undermined usu. used with in
- to cease to resist : submit usu. used with in
- to cause to fall or collapse usu. used with in
ca·ve·at ['ka-vē-,ät, -,at; 'kä-vē-,ät; 'kā-vē-,at] -n
- a warning enjoining one from certain acts or practices
- an explanation to prevent misinterpretation
- a modifying or cautionary detail to be considered when evaluating, interpreting, or doing something
- a legal warning to a judicial officer to suspend a proceeding until the opposition has a hearing
caveat emp·tor [-'em(p)-tər, -,tȯr] -n
- a principle in commerce: without a warranty the buyer takes the risk
cave bear -n
- a very large extinct bear ( Ursus spelaeus) known esp. from Pleistocene deposits in European caves
cave dweller -n
- one (as a prehistoric human) that dwells in a cave
- one that lives in a city apartment building
cavein ['kāv-,in] -n
- the action of caving in
- a place where earth has caved in
cave·man ['kāv-,man] -n
- a cave dweller esp. of the Stone Age
- a man who acts in a rough or crude manner
cav·ern ['ka-vərn also -vrən] -n
- cave
- one of large or indefinite extent
cavern -vt
- to place in or as if in a cavern
- to form a cavern of : hollow used with out
cav·er·nic·o·lous [,ka-vər-'ni-kə-ləs] -adj
- inhabiting caves
cav·ern·ous ['ka-vər-nəs] -adj, adv
- having caverns or cavities
- composed largely of vascular sinuses and capable of dilating with blood to bring about the erection of a body part
- constituting or suggesting a cavern
ca·vet·to [kə-'ve-(,)tō, kä-] -n
- a concave molding having a curve that approximates a quarter circle
cav·i·ar ['ka-vē-,är also 'kä-] -n
- processed salted roe of large fish (as sturgeon)
- something considered too delicate or lofty for mass appreciation usu. used in the phrase caviar to the general
- something considered the best of its kind
cav·il ['ka-vəl] -vb, n
- to raise trivial and frivolous objection
- to raise trivial objections to
cav·ing ['kā-viŋ] -n
- the sport of exploring caves : spelunking
cav·i·tary ['ka-və-,ter-ē, -,te-rē] -adj
- of, relating to, or characterized by bodily cavitation
cav·i·tate ['ka-və-,tāt] -vb
- to form cavities or bubbles
- to cavitate in
cav·i·ta·tion [,ka-və-'tā-shən] -n
- : the process of cavitating: as
- the formation of partial vacuums in a liquid by a swiftly moving solid body (as a propeller) or by high-intensity sound waves
- the pitting and wearing away of solid surfaces (as of metal or concrete) as a result of the collapse of these vacuums in surrounding liquid
- the formation of cavities in an organ or tissue esp. in disease
cav·i·ty ['ka-və-tē] -n
- an unfilled space within a mass
- a hollowed-out space
- an area of decay in a tooth : caries
ca·vort [kə-'vȯrt] -vi
- to leap or dance about in a lively manner
- to engage in extravagant behavior
CAVU -abbr
- ceiling and visibility unlimited
ca·vy ['kā-vē] -n
- any of several short-tailed rough-haired So. American rodents (family Caviidae)
- guinea pig
caw ['kȯ] -vi, n
- to utter the harsh raucous natural call of the crow or a similar cry
cay ['kē, 'kā] -n
- a low island or reef of sand or coral
cay·enne [(,)kī-'en, (,)kā-; 'kī,, 'kā-,] -n
- cayenne pepper
cayenne pepper -n
- a pungent condiment consisting of the ground dried fruits or seeds of hot peppers
- hot pepper
- any of several cultivated peppers of a variety ( Capsicum annuum longum) with very long twisted pungent red fruits
- the fruit of a cayenne pepper
cayman ['kā-mən; kā-'man, kī-] -n
(variant of caiman)
- any of several Central and So. American crocodilians (genera Caiman, Melanosuchus,and Paleosuchus) similar to alligators
Ca·yu·ga [kā-'yü-gə, kī-] -n
- a member of an American Indian people of New York
- the Iroquoian language of the Cayuga people
Cay·use ['kī-,yüs, kī-'] -n
- a member of an American Indian people of Oregon and Washington
- a native range horse