mo -abbr

  1. month

Mo -abbr

  1. Missouri
  2. Monday
  3. molybdenum

MO ['em-'ō] -n

  1. modus operandi
  2. mail order
  3. medical officer
  4. Missouri
  5. money order

moa ['mō-ə] -n

  1. any of various usu. very large extinct flightless birds of New Zealand of a ratite order (Dinornithiformes) including one ( Dinornis giganteusof the family Dinornithidae) nearly 12 feet (3.7 meters) in height

Mo·ab·ite ['mō-ə-,bīt] -n, adj

  1. a member of an ancient Semitic people related to the Hebrews

moan ['mōn] -n

  1. lamentation, complaint
  2. a low prolonged sound of pain or of grief
  3. to bewail audibly : lament
  4. to utter with moans
  5. lament, complain
  6. to make a moan : groan
  7. to emit a sound resembling a moan
    • the wind moan ed in the trees

moat ['mōt] -n, adj

  1. a deep and wide trench around the rampart of a fortified place (as a castle) that is usu. filled with water
  2. a channel resembling a moat (as about a seamount or for confinement of animals in a zoo)

mob ['mäb] -n, adj

  1. a large or disorderly crowd
  2. one bent on riotous or destructive action
  3. the lower classes of a community : masses, rabble
  4. a flock, drove, or herd of animals
  5. a criminal set : gang
  6. mafia
  7. a group of people : crowd
  8. to crowd about and attack or annoy
    • mobbed by autograph hunters
    • a crow mobbed by songbirds
  9. to crowd into or around
    • customers mob the stores on sale days

mob·cap ['mäb-,kap] -n

  1. a woman's fancy indoor cap made with a high full crown and often tied under the chin

mo·be pearl ['mō-,bā-, ,mō-'] -n

  1. mabe

mo·bile ['mō-bəl, -,bī-əl also -,bēl] -adj, n

  1. capable of moving or being moved : movable
    • a mobile missile launcher
  2. changeable in appearance, mood, or purpose
    • mobile face
  3. adaptable, versatile
  4. migratory
  5. characterized by the mixing of social groups
  6. having the opportunity for or undergoing a shift in status within the levels of a society
    • socially mobile workers
  7. marked by the use of vehicles for transportation
    • mobile warfare
  8. of or relating to a mobile
  9. cellular
    • a mobile phone
  10. a construction or sculpture frequently of wire and sheet metal shapes with parts that can be set in motion by air currents
  11. a similar structure (as of paper or plastic) suspended so that it moves in a current of air

mobile home -n

  1. a dwelling structure built on a steel chassis and fitted with wheels that is intended to be hauled to a usu. permanent site

mo·bi·lise ['mō-bə-,līz] -vb

(variant of mobilize)

  1. to put into movement or circulation
    • mobilize financial assets
  2. to release (something stored in the organism) for bodily use
  3. to assemble and make ready for war duty
  4. to marshal (as resources) for action
    • mobilize support for a proposal
  5. to undergo mobilization

mo·bi·li·za·tion [,mō-bə-lə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. the act of mobilizing
  2. the state of being mobilized

mo·bi·lize ['mō-bə-,līz] -vb

  1. to put into movement or circulation
    • mobilize financial assets
  2. to release (something stored in the organism) for bodily use
  3. to assemble and make ready for war duty
  4. to marshal (as resources) for action
    • mobilize support for a proposal
  5. to undergo mobilization

Mo·bi·us strip ['mœ-bē-əs-, 'mə(r)-, 'mō-] -n

  1. a one-sided surface that is constructed from a rectangle by holding one end fixed, rotating the opposite end through 180 degrees, and joining it to the first end

mo·bled ['mä-bəld] -adj

  1. being wrapped or muffled in or as if in a hood

mob·oc·ra·cy [mä-'bä-krə-sē] -n, adj

  1. rule by the mob
  2. the mob as a ruling class

mob·ster ['mäb-stər] -n

  1. a member of a criminal gang

moc ['mäk] -n

  1. moccasin

moc·ca·sin ['mä-kə-sən] -n

  1. a soft leather heelless shoe or boot with the sole brought up the sides of the foot and over the toes where it is joined with a puckered seam to a U-shaped piece lying on top of the foot
  2. a regular shoe having a seam on the forepart of the vamp imitating the seam of a moccasin
  3. water moccasin
  4. a snake (as of the genus Natrix) resembling a water moccasin

moccasin flower -n

  1. any of several lady's slippers (genus Cypripedium)
  2. a once common woodland orchid ( C. acaule) of eastern No. America with pink or white moccasin-shaped flowers

mo·cha ['mō-kə] -n

  1. a superior Arabian coffee consisting of small green or yellowish beans
  2. a coffee of superior quality
  3. a flavoring made of a strong coffee infusion or of a mixture of cocoa or chocolate with coffee
  4. a pliable suede-finished glove leather from African sheepskins
  5. a dark chocolate-brown color

mock ['mäk, 'mȯk] -vb, n, adv

  1. to treat with contempt or ridicule : deride
  2. to disappoint the hopes of
  3. defy, challenge
  4. to imitate (as a mannerism) closely : mimic
  5. to mimic in sport or derision
  6. jeer, scoff
  7. an act of ridicule or derision : jeer
  8. one that is an object of derision or scorn
  9. mockery
  10. an act of imitation
  11. something made as an imitation
  12. of, relating to, or having the character of an imitation : simulated, feigned
    • the mock solemnity of the parody
  13. in an insincere or counterfeit manner usu. used in combination
    • mock -serious

mock·ery ['mä-k(ə-)rē, 'mȯ-] -n

  1. insulting or contemptuous action or speech : derision
  2. a subject of laughter, derision, or sport
  3. a counterfeit appearance : imitation
  4. an insincere, contemptible, or impertinent imitation
    • makes a mockery of justice
  5. something ridiculously or impudently unsuitable

mockhe·ro·ic [,mäk-hi-'rō-ik, ,mȯk-] -adj, adv

  1. ridiculing or burlesquing heroic style, character, or action
    • a mockheroic poem

mockheroic -n

  1. a mock-heroic composition called also mock-epic

mock·ing·bird ['mä-kiŋ-,bərd, 'mȯ-] -n

  1. a common grayish No. American bird ( Mimus polyglottos) related to the thrashers that is remarkable for its exact imitations of the notes of other birds

mock orange -n

  1. any of a genus ( Philadelphus) of ornamental shrubs of which several are widely grown for their showy white flowers and that is either placed in the saxifrage or hydrangea families or in a family (Philadelphaceae) of its own called also philadelphus syringa
  2. any of several usu. shrubby plants considered to resemble the orange

mock turtleneck -n

  1. a collar that is lower and usu. looser than a turtleneck and is not turned over
  2. a garment with a mock turtleneck

mock turtle soup -n

  1. a soup made of meat (as calf's head or veal), wine, and spices in imitation of green turtle soup

mock·u·men·ta·ry [,mä-kyə-'men-tə-rē, -'men-trē] -n

  1. a facetious or satirical work (as a film) presented in the style of a documentary

mockup ['mäk-,əp, 'mȯk-] -n

  1. a full-sized structural model built to scale chiefly for study, testing, or display
  2. a working sample (as of a magazine) for reviewing format, layout, or content

mod ['mäd] -n

  1. one who wears mod clothes
  2. of, relating to, or being the characteristic style of 1960s British youth culture
  3. hip, trendy
  4. moderate
  5. modification; modified
  6. modulo; modulus

mod·acryl·ic fiber [,mä-də-'kri-lik-] -n

  1. any of various synthetic textile fibers that are long-chain polymers composed of 35 to 85 percent by weight of acrylonitrile units

mod·al ['mō-dᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to modality in logic
  2. containing provisions as to the mode of procedure or the manner of taking effect used of a contract or legacy
  3. of or relating to a musical mode
  4. of or relating to structure as opposed to substance
  5. of, relating to, or constituting a grammatical form or category characteristically indicating predication of an action or state in some manner other than as a simple fact
  6. of or relating to a statistical mode

modal auxiliary -n

  1. an auxiliary verb (as can, must, might, may) that is characteristically used with a verb of predication and expresses a modal modification and that in English differs formally from other verbs in lacking -sand -ingforms

mo·dal·i·ty [mō-'da-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being modal
  2. a modal quality or attribute : form
  3. the classification of logical propositions according to their asserting or denying the possibility, impossibility, contingency, or necessity of their content
  4. one of the main avenues of sensation (as vision)
  5. a usu. physical therapeutic agency

mod con [,mäd-'kän] -n

  1. a modern convenience usu. used in pl.

mode ['mōd] -n

  1. an arrangement of the eight diatonic notes or tones of an octave according to one of several fixed schemes of their intervals
  2. a rhythmical scheme (as in 13th and 14th century music)
  3. mood
  4. mood
  5. the modal form of the assertion or denial of a logical proposition
  6. a particular form or variety of something
    • flying and other mode s of transport
  7. a form or manner of expression : style
  8. a possible, customary, or preferred way of doing something
    • explained in the usual solemn mode
  9. a manifestation, form, or arrangement of being
  10. a particular form or manifestation of an underlying substance
  11. a particular functioning arrangement or condition : status
    • a computer operating in parallel mode
  12. the most frequent value of a set of data
  13. a value of a random variable for which a function of probabilities defined on it achieves a relative maximum
  14. any of various stationary vibration patterns of which an elastic body or oscillatory system is capable
    • the vibration mode of an airplane propeller blade
    • the vibrational mode s of a molecule
  15. a prevailing fashion or style (as of dress or behavior)

mod·el ['mä-dᵊl] -n

  1. a set of plans for a building
  2. copy, image
  3. structural design
    • a home on the model of an old farmhouse
  4. a usu. miniature representation of something
  5. a pattern of something to be made
  6. an example for imitation or emulation
  7. a person or thing that serves as a pattern for an artist
  8. one who poses for an artist
  9. archetype
  10. an organism whose appearance a mimic imitates
  11. one who is employed to display clothes or other merchandise
  12. a type or design of clothing
  13. a type or design of product (as a car)
  14. a description or analogy used to help visualize something (as an atom) that cannot be directly observed
  15. a system of postulates, data, and inferences presented as a mathematical description of an entity or state of affairs
  16. a computer simulation based on such a system
    • climate model s
  17. version
  18. animal model

model ['mäd-liŋ, 'mä-dᵊl-iŋ] -vb, n

  1. to plan or form after a pattern : shape
  2. to make into an organization (as an army, government, or parish)
  3. to shape or fashion in a plastic material
  4. to produce a representation or simulation of
    • using a computer to model a problem
  5. to construct or fashion in imitation of a particular model
    • model ed its constitution on that of the U.S.
  6. to display by wearing, using, or posing with
    • model ed gowns
  7. to design or imitate forms : make a pattern
    • enjoys model ing in clay
  8. to work or act as a fashion or art model
  9. serving as or capable of serving as a pattern
    • a model student
  10. being a usu. miniature representation of something
    • a model airplane

mo·dem ['mō-dəm also -,dem] -n

  1. a device that converts signals produced by one type of device (as a computer) to a form compatible with another (as a telephone)

modem -vt

  1. to send (as data) via a modem

mod·er·ate ['mä-d(ə-)rət] -adj, adv, n

  1. avoiding extremes of behavior or expression : observing reasonable limits
    • a moderate drinker
  2. calm, temperate
  3. tending toward the mean or average amount or dimension
  4. having average or less than average quality : mediocre
  5. professing or characterized by political or social beliefs that are not extreme
  6. limited in scope or effect
  7. not expensive : reasonable or low in price
  8. of medium lightness and medium chroma
  9. to lessen the intensity or extremeness of
    • the sun moderated the chill
  10. to preside over or act as chairman of
  11. to act as a moderator
  12. to become less violent, severe, or intense
    • the wind began to moderate
  13. one who holds moderate views or who belongs to a group favoring a moderate course or program

moderate breeze -n

  1. wind having a speed of about 13 to 18 miles (20 to 29 kilometers) per hour

moderate gale -n

  1. wind having a speed of 32 to 38 miles (51 to 61 kilometers) per hour

mo·der·a·to [,mä-də-'rä-(,)tō] -adv or adj

  1. moderate used as a direction in music to indicate tempo

mod·er·a·tor ['mä-də-,rā-tər] -n

  1. one who arbitrates : mediator
  2. : one who presides over an assembly, meeting, or discussion: as
  3. the presiding officer of a Presbyterian governing body
  4. the nonpartisan presiding officer of a town meeting
  5. the chairman of a discussion group
  6. a substance (as graphite) used for slowing neutrons in a nuclear reactor

mod·ern ['mä-dərn, ÷'mä-d(ə-)rən] -adj, n, adv

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the present or the immediate past : contemporary
  2. of, relating to, or characteristic of a period extending from a relevant remote past to the present time
  3. involving recent techniques, methods, or ideas : up-to-date
  4. of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the present or most recent period of development of a language
  5. of or relating to modernism : modernist

modern -n

  1. a person of modern times or views
  2. an adherent of modernism : modernist
  3. a style of printing type distinguished by regularity of shape, precise curves, straight hairline serifs, and heavy downstrokes

mo·derne [mō-'dern, mə-] -n, adj

  1. art deco

Modern Greek -n

  1. Greek as used by the Greeks since the end of the medieval period

Modern Hebrew -n

  1. the Hebrew language in use in present-day Israel

mod·ern·i·sa·tion [,mä-dər-nə-'zā-shən] -n

(variant of modernization)

  1. the act of modernizing : the state of being modernized
  2. something modernized : a modernized version

mod·ern·ism ['mä-dər-,ni-zəm] -n, n or adj, adj

  1. a practice, usage, or expression peculiar to modern times
  2. a tendency in theology to accommodate traditional religious teaching to contemporary thought and esp. to devalue supernatural elements
  3. modern artistic or literary philosophy and practice
  4. a self-conscious break with the past and a search for new forms of expression

mod·ern·i·za·tion [,mä-dər-nə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. the act of modernizing : the state of being modernized
  2. something modernized : a modernized version

mod·ern·ize ['mä-dər-,nīz] -vb, n

  1. to make modern (as in taste, style, or usage)
  2. to adopt modern ways

modern pentathlon -n

  1. a composite contest in which all contestants compete in a 300-meter freestyle swim, a 4000-meter cross-country run, a 5000-meter 30-jump equestrian steeplechase, epee fencing, and target shooting at 25 meters

mod·est ['mä-dəst] -adj, adv

  1. placing a moderate estimate on one's abilities or worth
  2. neither bold nor self-assertive : tending toward diffidence
  3. arising from or characteristic of a modest nature
  4. observing the proprieties of dress and behavior : decent
  5. limited in size, amount, or scope
    • a family of modest means
  6. unpretentious
    • a modest home

mod·es·ty ['mä-də-stē] -n

  1. freedom from conceit or vanity
  2. propriety in dress, speech, or conduct

mo·di·cum ['mä-di-kəm also 'mō-] -n

  1. a small portion : a limited quantity

mod·i·fi·ca·tion [,mä-də-fə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. the limiting of a statement : qualification
  2. mode
  3. the making of a limited change in something
  4. the result of such a change
  5. a change in an organism caused by environmental factors
  6. a limitation or qualification of the meaning of a word by another word, by an affix, or by internal change

mod·i·fi·er ['mä-də-,fī(-ə)r] -n

  1. one that modifies
  2. a word or phrase that makes specific the meaning of another word or phrase
  3. a gene that modifies the effect of another

mod·i·fy ['mä-də-,fī] -vb, n, adj

  1. to make less extreme : moderate
  2. to limit or restrict the meaning of esp. in a grammatical construction
  3. to change (a vowel) by umlaut
  4. to make minor changes in
  5. to make basic or fundamental changes in often to give a new orientation to or to serve a new end
    • the wing of a bird is an arm modified for flying
  6. to undergo change

mo·dil·lion [mō-'dil-yən] -n

  1. an ornamental block or bracket under the corona of the cornice (as in the Corinthian order)

mod·ish ['mō-dish] -adj, adv, n

  1. fashionable, stylish
    • a modish hat
    • a modish writer

mo·diste [mō-'dēst] -n

  1. one who makes and sells fashionable dresses and hats for women

Mo·dred ['mō-dred] -n

  1. a knight of the Round Table and nephew of King Arthur

mod·u·la·bil·i·ty [,mä-jə-lə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the capability of being modulated

mod·u·lar ['mä-jə-lər] -adj, n, adv

  1. of, relating to, or based on a module or a modulus
  2. constructed with standardized units or dimensions for flexibility and variety in use
    • modular furniture

modular arithmetic -n

  1. arithmetic that deals with whole numbers where the numbers are replaced by their remainders after division by a fixed number
    • in a modular arithmetic with modulus 5, 3 multiplied by 4 is 2

mod·u·lar·ized ['mä-jə-lə-,rīzd] -adj

  1. containing or consisting of modules
  2. produced in the form of modules

mod·u·late ['mä-jə-,lāt] -vb, n, adj

  1. to tune to a key or pitch
  2. to adjust to or keep in proper measure or proportion : temper
  3. to vary the amplitude, frequency, or phase of (a carrier wave or a light wave) for the transmission of information (as by radio)
  4. to vary the velocity of electrons in an electron beam
  5. to play or sing with modulation
  6. to pass from one musical key into another by means of intermediary chords or notes that have some relation to both keys
  7. to pass gradually from one state to another

mod·u·la·tion [,mä-jə-'lā-shən] -n

  1. an inflection of the tone or pitch of the voice
  2. the use of stress or pitch to convey meaning
  3. a regulating according to measure or proportion : tempering
  4. a change from one musical key to another by modulating
  5. the process of modulating a carrier or signal (as in radio)
  6. the result of this process

mod·ule ['mä-(,)jül] -n

  1. a standard or unit of measurement
  2. the size of some one part taken as a unit of measure by which the proportions of an architectural composition are regulated
  3. : any in a series of standardized units for use together: as
  4. a unit of furniture or architecture
  5. an educational unit which covers a single subject or topic
  6. a usu. packaged functional assembly of electronic components for use with other such assemblies
  7. an independently operable unit that is a part of the total structure of a space vehicle
  8. a subset of an additive group that is also a group under addition
  9. a mathematical set that is a commutative group under addition and that is closed under multiplication which is distributive from the left or right or both by elements of a ring and for which a(bx) (ab)xor (xb)a x(ba)or both where aand bare elements of the ring and xbelongs to the set

mod·u·lo ['mä-jə-,lō] -prep

  1. with respect to a modulus of
    • 19 and 54 are congruent modulo 7

mod·u·lus ['mä-jə-ləs] -n

  1. the factor by which a logarithm of a number to one base is multiplied to obtain the logarithm of the number to a new base
  2. absolute value
  3. the number (as a positive integer) or other mathematical entity (as a polynomial) in a congruence that divides the difference of the two congruent members without leaving a remainder
  4. the number of different numbers used in a system of modular arithmetic
  5. a constant or coefficient that expresses usu. numerically the degree to which a body or substance possesses a particular property (as elasticity)

mo·dus ope·ran·di [,mō-dəs-,ä-pə-'ran-dē, -,dī] -n

  1. a method of procedure
  2. a distinct pattern or method of operation that indicates or suggests the work of a single criminal in more than one crime

mo·dus vi·ven·di [,mō-dəs-vi-'ven-dē, -,dī] -n

  1. a feasible arrangement or practical compromise
  2. one that bypasses difficulties
  3. a manner of living : a way of life

mog·gy ['mä-gē] -n

  1. cat

Mo·go·llon [,mə-gə-'yōn, ,mō-] -n

  1. a prehistoric American Indian people inhabiting the mountains of eastern Arizona and western New Mexico

mo·gul ['mō-(,)gəl] -n, adj

  1. an Indian Muslim of or descended from one of several conquering groups of Mongol, Turkish, and Persian origin
  2. great mogul
  3. a great personage : magnate
  4. a bump in a ski run

mo·hair ['mō-,her] -n

  1. a fabric or yarn made wholly or in part of the long silky hair of the Angora goat
  2. this hair

Mo·ham·med·an [mō-'ha-mə-dən, -'hä- also mü-] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to Muhammad or Islam

Mo·hawk ['mō-,hȯk] -n

  1. a member of an American Indian people of the Mohawk River valley, New York
  2. the Iroquoian language of the Mohawk people
  3. a hairstyle with a narrow center strip of usu. upright hair and the sides of the head shaved

Mo·he·gan [mō-'hē-gən, mə-] -n

  1. a member of an American Indian people of southeastern Connecticut

mo·hel ['mō-(h)el, 'mȯi(-ə)l] -n

  1. a person who performs ritual Jewish circumcisions

Mo·ho ['mō-,hō] -n

  1. the boundary layer between the earth's crust and mantle whose depth varies from about 3 miles (5 kilometers) beneath the ocean floor to about 25 miles (40 kilometers) beneath the continents

Mo·hock ['mō-,häk] -n

  1. one of a gang of aristocratic ruffians who assaulted and otherwise maltreated people in London streets in the early 18th century

Mo·ho·ro·vi·cic discontinuity [,mō-hə-'rō-və-,chich-] -n

  1. moho

Mohs' scale ['mōz-, 'mōs-, 'mō-səz-] -n

  1. a scale of hardness for minerals that ranges from a value of 1 for talc to 10 for diamond

mo·hur ['mō-ər, mə-'hu̇r] -n

  1. a former gold coin of India and Persia equal to 15 rupees

moi·e·ty ['mȯi-ə-tē] -n

  1. one of two equal parts : half
  2. one of two approximately equal parts
  3. one of the portions into which something is divided : component, part
    • an ether molecule with a benzene moiety
  4. one of two basic complementary tribal subdivisions

moil ['mȯi(-ə)l] -vb, n

  1. to make wet or dirty
  2. to work hard : drudge
  3. to be in continuous agitation : churn, swirl
  4. hard work : drudgery
  5. confusion, turmoil

moil·ing ['mȯi-liŋ] -adj, adv

  1. requiring hard work
  2. industrious
    • moiling workers
  3. violently agitated : turbulent

Moi·rai ['mȯi-,rī] -n pl

  1. fate

moire ['mȯi(-ə)r, 'mȯr, 'mwär] -n

  1. a watered mohair

moi·re [mȯ-'rā, mwä-] -n, adj

  1. an irregular wavy finish on a fabric
  2. a ripple pattern on a stamp
  3. a fabric having a wavy watered appearance
  4. an independent usu. shimmering pattern seen when two geometrically regular patterns (as two sets of parallel lines or two halftone screens) are superimposed esp. at an acute angle

moist ['mȯist] -adj, adv, n

  1. slightly or moderately wet : damp
  2. tearful
  3. characterized by high humidity

moist·en ['mȯi-sᵊn] -vb, n

  1. to make moist
  2. to become moist

mois·ture ['mȯis-chər, 'mȯish-] -n

  1. liquid diffused or condensed in relatively small quantity

mois·tur·ise [-chə-,rīz] -vt, n

(variant of moisturize)

  1. to add moisture to
    • moisturize the air
    • a cream that moisturize s the skin

mois·tur·ize [-chə-,rīz] -vt, n

  1. to add moisture to
    • moisturize the air
    • a cream that moisturize s the skin

mo·jo ['mō-(,)jō] -n

  1. a magic spell, hex, or charm
  2. magical power
    • works his mojo on the tennis court

moke ['mōk] -n

  1. donkey
  2. nag

mol ['mōl] -n

(variant of mole)

  1. a pigmented spot, mark, or small permanent protuberance on the human body
  2. nevus
  3. any of numerous burrowing insectivores (esp. family Talpidae) with tiny eyes, concealed ears, and soft fur
  4. one who works in the dark
  5. a machine for tunneling
  6. a spy (as a double agent) who establishes a cover long before beginning espionage
  7. one within an organization who passes on information
  8. an abnormal mass in the uterus esp. when containing fetal tissues
  9. a massive work formed of masonry and large stones or earth laid in the sea as a pier or breakwater
  10. the harbor formed by a mole
  11. the base unit of amount of pure substance in the International System of Units that contains the same number of elementary entities as there are atoms in exactly 12 grams of the isotope carbon 12

MOL -abbr

  1. manned orbiting ( ororbital) laboratory

mol·al ['mō-ləl] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or containing a mole of solute per 1000 grams of solvent

mo·lar ['mō-lər] -n

  1. a tooth with a rounded or flattened surface adapted for grinding
  2. one of the cheek teeth in mammals behind the incisors and canines

molar -adj

  1. pulverizing by friction : grinding
  2. of, relating to, or located near the molar teeth
  3. of or relating to a mole of a substance
    • the molar volume of a gas
  4. containing one mole of solute in one liter of solution

mo·las·ses [mə-'la-səz] -n

  1. the thick dark to light brown syrup that is separated from raw sugar in sugar manufacture
  2. a syrup made from boiling down sweet vegetable or fruit juice
    • citrus molasses

mold ['mōld] -n

  1. crumbling soft friable earth suited to plant growth : soil
  2. soil rich in humus
  3. the surface of the earth : ground
  4. the earth of the burying ground
  5. earth that is the substance of the human body
    • be merciful great Duke to men of mold -- Shak.
  6. distinctive nature or character : type
  7. the frame on or around which an object is constructed
  8. : a cavity in which a substance is shaped: as
  9. a matrix for casting metal
    • a bullet mold
  10. a form in which food is given a decorative shape
  11. a molded object
  12. molding
  13. an example to be followed
  14. prototype
  15. a fixed pattern : design
  16. to knead (dough) into a desired consistency or shape
  17. to give shape to
    • the wind mold s the waves
  18. to form in a mold
    • mold candles
  19. to determine or influence the quality or nature of
    • mold public opinion
  20. to fit the contours of
    • fitted skirts that mold the hips
  21. to ornament with molding or carving
    • mold ed picture frames
  22. a superficial often woolly growth produced esp. on damp or decaying organic matter or on living organisms by a fungus (as of the order Mucorales)
  23. a fungus that produces mold
  24. to become moldy

mold·board ['mōl(d)-,bȯrd] -n

  1. a curved iron plate attached above a plowshare to lift and turn the soil
  2. the flat or curved blade (as of a bulldozer) that pushes material to one side as the machine advances

mold·er ['mōl-dər] -vi

  1. to crumble into particles : disintegrate, decay

mold·ing ['mōl-diŋ] -n

  1. an object produced by molding
  2. a decorative recessed or relieved surface
  3. a decorative plane or curved strip used for ornamentation or finishing

moldy ['mōl-dē] -adj, n

  1. of, resembling, or covered with mold
  2. being old and moldering : crumbling
  3. antiquated, fusty
    • moldy tradition

mole ['mōl] -n

  1. a pigmented spot, mark, or small permanent protuberance on the human body
  2. nevus
  3. any of numerous burrowing insectivores (esp. family Talpidae) with tiny eyes, concealed ears, and soft fur
  4. one who works in the dark
  5. a machine for tunneling
  6. a spy (as a double agent) who establishes a cover long before beginning espionage
  7. one within an organization who passes on information
  8. an abnormal mass in the uterus esp. when containing fetal tissues
  9. a massive work formed of masonry and large stones or earth laid in the sea as a pier or breakwater
  10. the harbor formed by a mole
  11. the base unit of amount of pure substance in the International System of Units that contains the same number of elementary entities as there are atoms in exactly 12 grams of the isotope carbon 12

mo·le ['mō-lā] -n

  1. a spicy sauce made with chilies and usu. chocolate and served with meat

mole cricket -n

  1. any of a family (Gryllotalpidae) of widely distributed orthopteran insects that have broad front legs adapted for digging in moist soil and that feed largely on the roots of plants

mo·lec·u·lar [mə-'le-kyə-lər] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, consisting of, or produced by molecules
    • molecular oxygen
  2. of or relating to individual or small components
    • a molecular view of the American Civil War

molecular biology -n

  1. a branch of biology dealing with the ultimate physicochemical organization of living matter and esp. with the molecular basis of inheritance and protein synthesis

molecular chaperone -n

  1. chaperone

molecular formula -n

  1. a chemical formula that gives the total number of atoms of each element in each molecule of a substance

molecular genetics -n pl but sing in constr

  1. a branch of genetics dealing with the structure and activity of genetic material at the molecular level

molecular mass -n

  1. the mass of a molecule that is equal to the sum of the masses of all the atoms contained in the molecule

molecular orbital -n

  1. a solution of the Schrodinger equation that describes the probable location of an electron relative to the nuclei in a molecule and so indicates the nature of any bond in which the electron is involved

molecular sieve -n

  1. a crystalline substance (as a zeolite) characterized by uniformly sized pores of molecular dimension that can adsorb small molecules and is used esp. in separations

molecular weight -n

  1. the average mass of a molecule of a compound compared to the mass of carbon 12 and calculated as the sum of the atomic weights of the constituent atoms

mol·e·cule ['mä-li-,kyül] -n

  1. the smallest particle of a substance that retains all the properties of the substance and is composed of one or more atoms
  2. a tiny bit : particle

mole·hill ['mōl-,hil] -n

  1. a little mound or ridge of earth pushed up by a mole

mole rat -n

  1. any of various burrowing Old World rodents (as of the families Bathyergidae and Muridae) that generally resemble moles in appearance and have large often protruding incisors used for digging

mole·skin [-,skin] -n

  1. the skin of the mole used as fur
  2. a heavy durable cotton fabric with a short thick velvety nap on one side
  3. a garment made of moleskin usu. used in pl.
  4. adhesive padding (as for blisters) made of moleskin

mo·lest [mə-'lest] -vt, n

  1. to annoy, disturb, or persecute esp. with hostile intent or injurious effect
  2. to make annoying sexual advances to
  3. to force physical and usu. sexual contact on

mo·line [mə-'lēn, -'līn] -adj

  1. having the end of each arm forked and recurved

moll ['mäl, 'mȯl] -n

  1. prostitute
  2. doll
  3. a gangster's girlfriend

mol·li·fy ['mä-lə-,fī] -vb, n

  1. to soothe in temper or disposition : appease
    • mollified the staff with a raise
  2. to reduce the rigidity of : soften
  3. to reduce in intensity : assuage, temper
  4. soften, relent

mol·lus·ci·cide [mə-'ləs-kə-,sīd, -'lə-sə-] -n, adj

  1. an agent for destroying mollusks (as snails)

mol·lusk ['mä-ləsk] -n, adj

  1. any of a large phylum (Mollusca) of invertebrate animals (as snails, clams, or squids) with a soft unsegmented body usu. enclosed in a calcareous shell
  2. shellfish

mol·ly ['mä-lē] -n

  1. any of several brightly colored tropical live-bearers (genus Poecilia) highly valued as aquarium fishes

mol·ly·cod·dle ['mä-lē-,kä-dᵊl] -n

  1. a pampered or effeminate man or boy

mollycoddle [-,käd-liŋ, -,kä-dᵊl-iŋ] -vt, n

  1. to treat with an excessive or absurd degree of indulgence and attention

Mo·loch ['mä-lək, 'mō-,läk] -n

  1. a Semitic god to whom children were sacrificed

Mo·lo·tov cocktail ['mä-lə-,tȯf-, 'mȯ-, 'mō-, -,tȯv-] -n

  1. a crude bomb made of a bottle filled with a flammable liquid (as gasoline) and usu. fitted with a wick (as a saturated rag) that is ignited just before the bottle is hurled

molt ['mōlt] -vb, n

  1. to shed hair, feathers, shell, horns, or an outer layer periodically
  2. to cast off (an outer covering) periodically
  3. to throw off (the old cuticle) used of arthropods
  4. the act or process of molting
  5. ecdysis

mol·ten ['mōl-tᵊn] -adj

  1. made by melting and casting
  2. fused or liquefied by heat : melted
    • molten lava
  3. having warmth or brilliance : glowing

mol·to ['mōl-(,)tō, 'mȯl-] -adv

  1. much, very used in music directions

mol wt -abbr

  1. molecular weight

mo·ly ['mō-lē] -n

  1. a mythical herb with a black root, white blossoms, and magical powers

mo·lyb·date [mə-'lib-,dāt] -n

  1. a salt of molybdenum containing the group MoO 4or Mo 2O 7

mo·lyb·de·nite [mə-'lib-də-,nīt] -n

  1. a metallic gray usu. foliated mineral consisting of molybdenum disulfide that is a major ore of molybdenum

mo·lyb·de·num [-nəm] -n

  1. a metallic element that resembles chromium and tungsten in many properties, is used esp. in strengthening and hardening steel, and is a trace element in plant and animal metabolism

molybdenum disulfide -n

  1. a compound MoS 2used esp. as a lubricant in grease

mom ['mäm, 'məm] -n

  1. mother

MOM -abbr

  1. middle of month

momandpop ['mäm-ən(d)-'päp] -adj

  1. being or relating to a small owner-operated business
    • a momandpop grocery
  2. small-scale

mome ['mōm] -n

  1. blockhead, fool

mo·ment ['mō-mənt] -n

  1. a minute portion or point of time : instant
  2. a comparatively brief period of time
  3. present time
    • at the moment she is working on a novel
  4. a time of excellence or conspicuousness
    • he has his moment s
  5. importance in influence or effect
    • a matter of great moment
  6. a cause or motive of action
  7. a stage in historical or logical development
  8. tendency or measure of tendency to produce motion esp. about a point or axis
  9. the product of quantity (as a force) and the distance to a particular axis or point
  10. the mean of the nth powers of the deviations of the observed values in a set of statistical data from a fixed value
  11. the expected value of a power of the deviation of a random variable from a fixed value

mo·men·tar·i·ly [,mō-mən-'ter-ə-lē] -adv

  1. for a moment
  2. instantly
  3. at any moment : in a moment

mo·men·tary ['mō-mən-,ter-ē] -adj, n

  1. continuing only a moment : fleeting
  2. having a very brief life
  3. operative or recurring at every moment

mo·ment·ly ['mō-mənt-lē] -adv

  1. from moment to moment
  2. at any moment
  3. for a moment

moment of inertia

  1. a measure of the resistance of a body to angular acceleration about a given axis that is equal to the sum of the products of each element of mass in the body and the square of the element's distance from the axis

moment of truth

  1. the final sword thrust in a bullfight
  2. a moment of crisis on whose outcome much or everything depends

mo·men·tous [mō-'men-təs, mə-] -adj, adv, n

  1. important, consequential

mo·men·tum [mō-'men-təm, mə-] -n

  1. a property of a moving body that the body has by virtue of its mass and motion and that is equal to the product of the body's mass and velocity
  2. a property of a moving body that determines the length of time required to bring it to rest when under the action of a constant force or moment
  3. strength or force gained by motion or through the development of events : impetus
    • the campaign gained momentum

momma ['mä-mə, chiefly Brit mə-'mä] -n

(variant of mama)

  1. mother
  2. wife, woman

mom·my ['mä-mē, 'mə-mē] -n

  1. mother

mommy track -n

  1. a career path that allows a mother flexible or reduced work hours but tends to slow or block advancement

Mo·mus ['mō-məs] -n

  1. the Greek god of censure and mockery

mon ['man, in compounds ,man or mən] -n, adj

(variant of man)

  1. an individual human
  2. an adult male human
  3. a man belonging to a particular category (as by birth, residence, membership, or occupation) usu. used in combination
    • council man
  4. husband
  5. lover
  6. the human race : humankind
  7. a bipedal primate mammal ( Homo sapiens) that is anatomically related to the great apes but distinguished esp. by notable development of the brain with a resultant capacity for articulate speech and abstract reasoning, is usu. considered to form a variable number of freely interbreeding races, and is the sole living representative of the hominid family
  8. any living or extinct hominid
  9. one possessing in high degree the qualities considered distinctive of manhood
  10. the quality or state of being manly : manliness
  11. fellow, chap used as mode of familiar address
  12. used interjectionally to express intensity of feeling
    • man, what a game
  13. individual, person
    • a man could get killed there
  14. the individual who can fulfill or who has been chosen to fulfill one's requirements
    • she's your man
  15. a feudal tenant : vassal
  16. an adult male servant
  17. the working force as distinguished from the employer and usu. the management
  18. one of the distinctive objects moved by each player in various board games
  19. one of the players on a team
  20. an alumnus of or student at a college or university
    • a Bowdoin man
  21. the compound idea of infinite Spirit : the spiritual image and likeness of God : the full representation of Mind
  22. police
    • when I heard the siren, I knew it was the Man -- Amer. Speech
  23. the white establishment : white society
    • surprise that any black...should take on so about The Man -- Peter Goldman
  24. one extremely fond of or devoted to something specified
    • strictly a vanilla ice cream man
  25. to supply with people (as for service)
    • man a fleet
  26. to station members of a ship's crew at
    • man the capstan
  27. to serve in the force or complement of
    • man the ticket booth
  28. to accustom (as a hawk) to humans and the human environment
  29. to furnish with strength or powers of resistance : brace
  30. manual

Mon ['mōn] -n

  1. a member of the dominant native people of Pegu division, Myanmar (Burma)
  2. the Mon-Khmer language of the Mon people
  3. Monday

mon- -comb form

  1. one : single : alone
    • mono plane
    • mono drama
  2. containing one (usu. specified) atom, radical, or group
    • mono hydroxy
  3. monomolecular
    • mono layer

mon·a·chal ['mä-ni-kəl] -adj, n

  1. monastic

mo·nad ['mō-,nad] -n, adj

  1. unit, one
  2. atom
  3. an elementary individual substance which reflects the order of the world and from which material properties are derived
  4. a flagellated protozoan (as of the genus Monas)

mon·adel·phous [,mä-nə-'del-fəs] -adj

  1. united by the filaments into one group usu. forming a tube around the gynoecium

mo·nad·nock [mə-'nad-,näk] -n

  1. inselberg

mon·an·dry ['mä-,nan-drē] -n

  1. a marriage form or custom in which a woman has only one husband at a time

mon·arch ['mä-nərk, -,närk] -n, adj

  1. : a person who reigns over a kingdom or empire: as
  2. a sovereign ruler
  3. a constitutional king or queen
  4. one that holds preeminent position or power
  5. monarch butterfly

monarch butterfly -n

  1. a large migratory American butterfly ( Danaus plexippus) that has orange-brown wings with black veins and borders and a larva that feeds on milkweed

Mo·nar·chi·an [mə-'när-kē-ən, mä-] -n

  1. an adherent of one of two anti-Trinitarian groups of the second and third centuries a.d.teaching that God is one person as well as one being

mo·nar·chi·cal [mə-'när-ki-kəl, mä-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, suggestive of, or characteristic of a monarch or monarchy

mon·ar·chism ['mä-nər-,ki-zəm, -,när-] -n, n or adj

  1. monarchical government or principles

mon·ar·chy ['mä-nər-kē also -,när-] -n

  1. undivided rule or absolute sovereignty by a single person
  2. a nation or state having a monarchical government
  3. a government having a hereditary chief of state with life tenure and powers varying from nominal to absolute

mo·nar·da [mə-'när-də] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Monarda) of coarse annual or perennial No. American mints with a tubular calyx and whorls of showy flowers

mon·as·tery ['mä-nə-,ster-ē] -n

  1. a house for persons under religious vows
  2. an establishment for monks

mo·nas·tic [mə-'nas-tik] -adj, n, adv

  1. of or relating to monasteries or to monks or nuns
  2. resembling (as in seclusion or ascetic simplicity) life in a monastery

mon·atom·ic [,mä-nə-'tä-mik] -adj

  1. consisting of one atom
  2. having but one atom in the molecule

mon·au·ral [(,)mä-'nȯr-əl] -adj, adv

  1. monophonic

mon·a·zite ['mä-nə-,zīt] -n

  1. a yellow to red or brown mineral that is a phosphate of thorium and various rare earth elements and occurs esp. in sand and gravel deposits

Mon·day ['mən-(,)dā, -dē] -n, adv

  1. the second day of the week

Mondaymorning quarterback -n

  1. one who second-guesses

mon·de·green ['män-də-,grēn] -n

  1. a word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung
    • very close veins is a mondegreen for varicose veins

mon·do ['män-(,)dō] -adv

  1. extremely

mondo -adj

  1. very large or great in amount or number

monecious [mə-'nē-shəs, mä-] -adj

(variant of monoecious)

  1. having pistillate and staminate flowers on the same plant
  2. having male and female sex organs in the same individual : hermaphroditic

mo·ner·an [mō-'nir-ən, mə-] -n, adj

  1. prokaryote

mon·es·trous [(,)mä-'nes-trəs] -adj

  1. experiencing estrus once each year or breeding season

mon·e·tar·ism ['mä-nə-tə-,ri-zəm also 'mən-] -n, n or adj

  1. a theory in economics that stable economic growth can be assured only by control of the rate of increase of the money supply to match the capacity for growth of real productivity

mon·e·tary ['mä-nə-,ter-ē also 'mə-] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to money or to the mechanisms by which it is supplied to and circulates in the economy

monetary aggregate -n

  1. one of the formal categories of money (as cash and demand deposits or bank credits) in a national economy that is used as a measure in predictions of economic growth

monetary unit -n

  1. the standard unit of value of a currency

mon·e·tize ['mä-nə-,tīz also 'mə-] -vt, adj, n

  1. to coin into money
  2. to establish as legal tender
  3. to purchase (public or private debt) and thereby free for other uses moneys that would have been devoted to debt service
  4. to utilize (something of value) as a source of profit

mon·ey ['mə-nē] -n

  1. : something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment: as
  2. officially coined or stamped metal currency
  3. money of account
  4. paper money
  5. wealth reckoned in terms of money
  6. an amount of money
  7. sums of money : funds
  8. a form or denomination of coin or paper money
  9. the first, second, and third place winners (as in a horse or dog race) usu. used in the phrases in the money or out of the money
  10. prize money
    • his horse took third money
  11. persons or interests possessing or controlling great wealth
  12. a position of wealth
    • born into money

money -adj

  1. involving or reliable in a crucial situation
    • a money player
    • a money pitch

mon·eyback [-'bak] -adj

  1. providing that the purchaser is entitled to a refund if the product is unsatisfactory
    • a moneyback guarantee

mon·ey·bags ['mə-nē-,bagz] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. wealth
  2. a wealthy person

money changer -n

  1. one whose business is the exchanging of kinds or denominations of currency
  2. a device for holding and dispensing sorted change

mon·eyed ['mə-nēd] -adj

  1. having money : wealthy
  2. consisting in or derived from money

mon·ey·er ['mə-nē-ər] -n

  1. an authorized coiner of money : minter

mon·eygrub·ber ['mə-nē-,grə-bər] -n, adj or n

  1. a person bent on accumulating money

mon·ey·lend·er [-,len-dər] -n

  1. one whose business is lending money
  2. pawnbroker

mon·ey·mak·er [-,mā-kər] -n, adj or n

  1. one that accumulates wealth
  2. one (as a plan or product) that produces profit

mon·ey·man [-,man] -n

  1. financier

money market -n

  1. the trade in short-term negotiable instruments (as certificates of deposit or U.S. Treasury securities)

money of account

  1. a denominator of value or basis of exchange which is used in keeping accounts and for which there may or may not be an equivalent coin or denomination of paper money

money order -n

  1. an order issued by a post office, bank, or telegraph office for payment of a specified sum of money usu. at any branch of the organization

money plant -n

  1. honesty
  2. a biennial herb ( Lunaria annua) grown esp. for its seed pods that are silvery white when dried

mon·eyspin·ner ['mə-nē-,spi-nər] -n, adj or n

  1. moneymaker

money supply -n

  1. the total amount of money available in an economy for spending as calculated by any of various methods (as by adding total currency to funds available in private checking accounts)

mon·ey·wort [-,wərt, -,wȯrt] -n

  1. a trailing perennial herb ( Lysimachia nummularia) of the primrose family with rounded opposite leaves and solitary yellow flowers in their axils

mon·ger ['məŋ-gər, 'mäŋ-] -n

  1. broker, dealer usu. used in combination
    • ale monger
  2. a person who attempts to stir up or spread something that is usu. petty or discreditable usu. used in combination
    • war monger

monger [-g(ə-)riŋ] -vt

  1. peddle

mon·go ['mäŋ-(,)gō] -n

  1. see tugrik at

Mon·gol ['mäŋ-gəl; 'män-,gōl, 'mäŋ-] -n, adj

  1. a member of any of a group of traditionally pastoral peoples of Mongolia
  2. mongolian
  3. a person of Mongoloid racial stock
  4. one affected with Down syndrome

Mon·go·lian [män-'gōl-yən, mäŋ-, -'gō-lē-ən] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting Mongolia, the Mongolian People's Republic, the Mongols, or Mongolian
  2. of, relating to, or affected with Down syndrome

Mongolian -n

  1. the language of the Mongol people
  2. a family of Altaic languages that includes the languages of the Mongols and the Kalmucks
  3. mongol
  4. a person of Mongoloid racial stock
  5. a native or inhabitant of Mongolia

Mongolian gerbil -n

  1. a gerbil ( Meriones unguiculatus) of Mongolia and northern China that has an external resemblance to a rat, has a high capacity for temperature regulation, and is often kept as a pet or used as an experimental laboratory animal

Mon·gol·ic [män-'gä-lik, mäŋ-] -adj

  1. mongoloid

mon·gol·ism ['mäŋ-gə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. down syndrome

Mon·gol·oid ['mäŋ-gə-,lȯid] -adj, n

  1. of, constituting, or characteristic of a race of humankind native to Asia and classified according to physical features (as the presence of an epicanthic fold)
  2. of, relating to, or affected with Down syndrome

mon·goose ['män-,güs, 'mäŋ-] -n

  1. any of numerous carnivorous mammals (family Herpestidae) that are agile usu. ferret-sized mammals sometimes with bands or stripes, feed chiefly on small animals and fruits, and are sometimes grouped with the viverrids in two subfamilies (Herpestinae and Galidiinae)

mon·grel ['mäŋ-grəl, 'məŋ-] -n, adj, vt

  1. an individual resulting from the interbreeding of diverse breeds or strains
  2. one of unknown ancestry
  3. a cross between types of persons or things

monied ['mə-nēd] -adj

(variant of moneyed)

  1. having money : wealthy
  2. consisting in or derived from money

monies ['mə-nē] -n

(variant of money)

  1. : something generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment: as
  2. officially coined or stamped metal currency
  3. money of account
  4. paper money
  5. wealth reckoned in terms of money
  6. an amount of money
  7. sums of money : funds
  8. a form or denomination of coin or paper money
  9. the first, second, and third place winners (as in a horse or dog race) usu. used in the phrases in the money or out of the money
  10. prize money
    • his horse took third money
  11. persons or interests possessing or controlling great wealth
  12. a position of wealth
    • born into money

mon·i·ker ['mä-ni-kər] -n

  1. name, nickname

mo·ni·li·a·sis [,mō-nə-'lī-ə-səs, ,mä-] -n

  1. candidiasis

mo·nil·i·form [mə-'ni-lə-,fȯrm] -adj

  1. jointed or constricted at regular intervals so as to resemble a string of beads
    • a moniliform root
    • moniliform insect antennae

mon·ish ['mä-nish] -vt

  1. warn

mo·nism ['mō-,ni-zəm, 'mä-] -n, adj

  1. a view that there is only one kind of ultimate substance
  2. the view that reality is one unitary organic whole with no independent parts
  3. monogenesis
  4. a viewpoint or theory that reduces all phenomena to one principle

mo·ni·tion [mō-'ni-shən, mə-] -n

  1. warning, caution
  2. an intimation of danger

mon·i·tor ['mä-nə-tər] -n, adj

  1. a student appointed to assist a teacher
  2. one that warns or instructs
  3. : one that monitors or is used in monitoring: as
  4. a cathode-ray tube used for display (as of television pictures or computer information)
  5. a device for observing a biological condition or function
  6. monitor lizard
  7. a heavily armored warship formerly used in coastal operations having a very low freeboard and one or more revolving gun turrets
  8. a small modern warship with shallow draft for coastal bombardment
  9. a raised central portion of a roof having low windows or louvers for providing light and air

monitor ['mä-nə-t(ə-)riŋ] -vt

  1. to watch, keep track of, or check usu. for a special purpose

monitor lizard -n

  1. any of various tropical carnivorous lizards (genus Varanusof the family Varanidae) of Australia, Asia, and Africa

mon·i·to·ry ['mä-nə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. giving admonition : warning

monitory -n

  1. a letter giving admonition or warning

monk ['məŋk] -n

  1. a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery
  2. friar
  3. monkey

monk·ery ['məŋ-kə-rē] -n

  1. monastic life or practice : monasticism
  2. a monastic house : monastery

mon·key ['məŋ-kē] -n

  1. a nonhuman primate mammal with the exception usu. of the lemurs and tarsiers
  2. any of the smaller longer-tailed catarrhine or platyrrhine primates as contrasted with the apes
  3. a person resembling a monkey
  4. a ludicrous figure : dupe
  5. any of various machines, implements, or vessels
  6. the falling weight of a pile driver
  7. a desperate desire for or addiction to drugs often used in the phrase monkey on one's back
  8. a persistent or annoying encumbrance or problem

monkey -vb

  1. mimic, mock
  2. to act in a grotesque or mischievous manner
  3. fool, trifle often used with around
  4. tamper usu. used with with

monkey bars -n pl

  1. a three-dimensional framework of horizontal and vertical bars from which children can hang and swing

monkey business -n

  1. shenanigan

monkey jacket -n

  1. mess jacket

mon·key·pod ['məŋ-kē-,päd] -n

  1. an ornamental tropical leguminous tree ( Samanea samansyn. Albizia saman) that has bipinnate leaves, globose clusters of flowers with crimson stamens, sweet-pulp pods eaten by cattle, and wood used in carving called also rain tree
  2. the wood of a monkeypod

mon·key·pox ['məŋ-kē-,päks] -n

  1. a rare virus disease esp. of central and western Africa that is caused by a poxvirus (species Monkeypox virusof the genus Orthopoxvirus), occurs chiefly in wild rodents and primates, and when transmitted to humans resembles smallpox but is milder

monkey puzzle -n

  1. a tall araucaria ( Araucaria araucana) that is native to Chile and western Argentina but widely grown elsewhere called also monkey puzzle tree

mon·key·shine ['məŋ-kē-,shīn] -n

  1. prank usu. used in pl.

monkey wrench -n

  1. a wrench with one fixed and one adjustable jaw at right angles to a straight handle
  2. something that disrupts
    • threw a monkey wrench into the peace negotiations

monk·fish ['məŋk-,fish] -n

  1. either of two goosefishes ( Lophius americanusof America and L. piscatoriusof Europe) used for food

MonKhmer [,mōn-kə-'mer] -n

  1. a language family containing Mon, Khmer, and a number of other languages of southeast Asia

monk·hood ['məŋk-,hu̇d] -n

  1. the character, condition, or profession of a monk : monasticism
  2. monks as a class

monk·ish ['məŋ-kish] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or resembling a monk
  2. resembling that of a monk
  3. inclined to disciplinary self-denial

monk parakeet -n

  1. a So. American green and gray parakeet ( Myiopsitta monachus) that is kept as a cage bird and has become established in several wild breeding populations in the U.S. from escaped stock

monk's cloth -n

  1. a coarse heavy fabric in basket weave made orig. of worsted and used for monk's habits but now chiefly of cotton or linen and used for draperies

monk seal -n

  1. any of a genus ( Monachus) of hair seals of Hawaii, the Mediterranean Sea, and formerly the Caribbean Sea

monks·hood ['məŋ(k)s-,hu̇d] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Aconitum) of usu. bluish flowered poisonous herbs of the buttercup family
  2. a poisonous Eurasian herb ( A. napellus) often cultivated for its showy terminal racemes of white or purplish flowers

mono ['mä-(,)nō] -n

  1. monophonic reproduction
  2. monophonic
  3. infectious mononucleosis

mono·amine [,mä-nō-ə-'mēn] -n

  1. an amine RNH 2that has one organic substituent attached to the nitrogen atom
  2. one (as serotonin) that is functionally important in neural transmission

monoamine oxidase -n

  1. an enzyme that deaminates monoamines oxidatively and that functions in the nervous system by breaking down monoamine neurotransmitters

mono·am·in·er·gic [,mä-nō-,a-mə-'nər-jik] -adj

  1. liberating or involving monoamines (as serotonin or norepinephrine) in neural transmission
    • monoaminergic neurons
    • monoaminergic mechanisms

mono·ba·sic [,mä-nə-'bā-sik] -adj

  1. having only one replaceable hydrogen atom

mono·car·box·yl·ic [-,kär-(,)bäk-'si-lik] -adj

  1. containing one carboxyl group
    • acetic acid is a monocarboxylic acid

mono·car·pic [-'kär-pik] -adj

  1. bearing fruit but once and then dying

mono·cha·si·um [-'kä-zē-əm, -zhē-] -n, adj

  1. a cymose inflorescence that produces only one main axis

mono·chord ['mä-nə-,kȯrd] -n

  1. an instrument of ancient origin for measuring and demonstrating the mathematical relations of musical tones and that consists of a single string stretched over a sound box and a movable bridge set on a graduated scale

mono·chro·mat ['mä-nə-krō-,mat, ,mä-nə-'] -n

  1. a completely color-blind individual

mono·chro·mat·ic [,mä-nə-krō-'ma-tik] -adj, adv, n

  1. having or consisting of one color or hue
  2. monochrome
  3. consisting of radiation of a single wavelength or of a very small range of wavelengths
  4. of, relating to, or exhibiting monochromatism
  5. lacking variety, creativity, or excitement : colorless

mono·chro·ma·tism [-'krō-mə-,ti-zəm] -n

  1. complete color blindness in which all colors appear as shades of gray

mono·chro·ma·tor [,mä-nə-'krō-,mā-tər] -n

  1. a device for isolating a narrow portion of a spectrum

mono·chrome ['mä-nə-,krōm] -n, adj

  1. a painting, drawing, or photograph in a single hue

monochrome -adj

  1. of, relating to, or made with a single color or hue
  2. involving or producing visual images in a single color or in varying tones of a single color (as gray)
    • monochrome film

mon·o·cle ['mä-ni-kəl] -n, adj

  1. an eyeglass for one eye

mono·cline ['mä-nə-,klīn] -n

  1. an oblique geologic fold

mono·clin·ic [,mä-nə-'kli-nik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or constituting a system of crystallization characterized by three unequal axes with one oblique intersection

mono·clo·nal [,mä-nə-'klō-nᵊl] -adj, n

  1. produced by, being, or composed of cells derived from a single cell

mono·coque ['mä-nə-,kōk, -,käk] -n

  1. a type of construction (as of a fuselage) in which the outer skin carries all or a major part of the stresses
  2. a type of vehicle construction (as of an automobile) in which the body is integral with the chassis

mono·cot [-,kät] -n

  1. monocotyledon

mono·cot·y·le·don [,mä-nə-,kä-tə-'lē-dᵊn] -n, adj

  1. any of a class or subclass (Liliopsida or Monocotyledoneae) of chiefly herbaceous angiospermous plants having an embryo with a single cotyledon, usu. parallel-veined leaves, and floral organs arranged in cycles of three

mo·noc·ra·cy [mä-'nä-krə-sē, mə-] -n, adj

  1. government by a single person

mono·crys·tal ['mä-nə-,kris-tᵊl] -n, adj

  1. a single crystal

mon·oc·u·lar [mä-'nä-kyə-lər, mə-] -adj, adv

  1. of, involving, or affecting a single eye
  2. suitable for use with only one eye

monocular -n

  1. a monocular device

mono·cul·ture ['mä-nə-,kəl-chər] -n, adj

  1. the cultivation or growth of a single crop or organism esp. on agricultural or forest land
  2. a crop or a population of a single kind of organism grown on land in monoculture
  3. a culture dominated by a single element : a prevailing culture marked by homogeneity

mono·cy·clic [,mä-nə-'sī-klik, -'si-] -adj

  1. containing one ring in the molecular structure

mono·cyte ['mä-nə-,sīt] -n, adj

  1. a large white blood cell with finely granulated chromatin dispersed throughout the nucleus that is formed in the bone marrow, enters the blood, and migrates into the connective tissue where it differentiates into a macrophage

mono·dis·perse [,mä-nō-dis-'pərs] -adj

  1. characterized by particles of uniform size in a dispersed phase

mon·o·dist ['mä-nə-dist] -n

  1. a writer, singer, or composer of monody

mono·dra·ma ['mä-nə-,drä-mə, -,dra-] -n, adj

  1. a drama acted or designed to be acted by a single person

mon·o·dy ['mä-nə-dē] -n, adj

  1. an ode sung by one voice (as in a Greek tragedy)
  2. an elegy or dirge performed by one person
  3. a monophonic vocal piece
  4. the monophonic style of 17th century opera

mon·oe·cious [mə-'nē-shəs, mä-] -adj

  1. having pistillate and staminate flowers on the same plant
  2. having male and female sex organs in the same individual : hermaphroditic

mon·oe·cism [-'nē-,si-zəm] -n

  1. the condition of being monoecious

mono·es·ter ['mä-nō-,es-tər] -n

  1. an ester (as of a dibasic acid) that contains only one ester group

mono·fil·a·ment [,mä-nə-'fi-lə-mənt] -n

  1. a single untwisted synthetic filament (as of nylon)

mo·nog·a·mist [mə-'nä-gə-mist] -n

  1. one who practices or upholds monogamy

mo·nog·a·my [-mē] -n, adj, adv

  1. the practice of marrying only once during a lifetime
  2. the state or custom of being married to one person at a time
  3. the condition or practice of having a single mate during a period of time

mono·gas·tric [,mä-nə-'gas-trik] -adj

  1. having a stomach with only a single compartment
    • swine, chicks, and human beings are monogastric

mono·ge·ne·an [-'jē-nē-ən] -n, adj

  1. a monogenetic flatworm

mono·gen·e·sis [-'je-nə-səs] -n

  1. origin of diverse individuals or kinds (as of language) by descent from a single ancestral individual or kind

mono·ge·net·ic [-jə-'ne-tik] -adj

  1. relating to or involving monogenesis
  2. of, relating to, or being any of a class (Monogenea) of flatworms that ordinarily live as ectoparasites on a single host (as a fish or amphibian) throughout their entire life cycle

mono·gen·ic [-'je-nik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or controlled by a single gene and esp. by either of an allelic pair

mono·germ ['mä-nə-,jərm] -adj

  1. producing or being a fruit that gives rise to a single plant
    • a monogerm sugar beet

mono·glot [-,glät] -adj, n

  1. monolingual

mono·glyc·er·ide [,mä-nə-'gli-sə-,rīd] -n

  1. any of various esters of glycerol in which only one of the three hydroxyl groups is esterified and which are often used as emulsifiers

mono·gram ['mä-nə-,gram] -n, adj

  1. a sign of identity usu. formed of the combined initials of a name

monogram [-,gra-mər] -vt, n

  1. to mark with a monogram

mono·graph ['mä-nə-,graf] -n, adj

  1. a learned treatise on a small area of learning
  2. a written account of a single thing

monograph -vt

  1. to write a monograph on

mo·nog·y·nous [mə-'nä-jə-nəs, mä-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or living in monogyny

mo·nog·y·ny [-nē] -n

  1. the state or custom of having only one wife at a time

mono·hull ['mä-nə-,həl] -n, adj

  1. a vessel (as a sailboat) with a single hull

mono·hy·brid [,mä-nō-'hī-brəd] -n, adj

  1. an individual or strain heterozygous for one specified gene

mono·hy·dric [-'hī-drik] -adj

  1. monohydroxy

mono·hy·droxy [-(,)hī-'dräk-sē] -adj

  1. containing one hydroxyl group in the molecule

mono·lay·er ['mä-nō-,lā-ər, -,ler] -n

  1. a single continuous layer or film that is one cell, molecule, or atom in thickness

mono·lin·gual [,mä-nə-'liŋ-gwəl, ,mō-, -'liŋ-gyə-wəl] -adj, n

  1. having or using only one language

mono·lith ['mä-nə-,lith] -n

  1. a single great stone often in the form of an obelisk or column
  2. a massive structure
  3. an organized whole that acts as a single unified powerful or influential force

mono·lith·ic [,mä-nə-'li-thik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or resembling a monolith : huge, massive
  2. formed from a single crystal
    • a monolithic silicon chip
  3. produced in or on a monolithic chip
    • a monolithic circuit
  4. cast as a single piece
    • a monolithic concrete wall
  5. formed or composed of material without joints or seams
    • a monolithic floor covering
  6. consisting of or constituting a single unit
  7. constituting a massive undifferentiated and often rigid whole
    • a monolithic society
  8. exhibiting or characterized by often rigidly fixed uniformity
    • monolithic party unity

mono·logue ['mä-nə-,lȯg, -,läg] -n

  1. soliloquy
  2. a dramatic sketch performed by one actor
  3. the routine of a stand-up comic
  4. a literary composition written in the form of a soliloquy
  5. a long speech monopolizing conversation

mono·ma·nia [,mä-nə-'mā-nē-ə, -nyə] -n, n or adj, adj, adv

  1. mental illness esp. when limited in expression to one idea or area of thought
  2. excessive concentration on a single object or idea

mono·mer ['mä-nə-mər] -n, adj

  1. a chemical compound that can undergo polymerization

mono·me·tal·lic [,mä-nō-mə-'ta-lik] -adj

  1. of or relating to monometallism
  2. consisting of or employing one metal

mono·met·al·lism [-'me-tᵊl-,i-zəm] -n

  1. the adoption of one metal only in a currency

mo·nom·e·ter [mə-'nä-mə-tər, mä-] -n

  1. a line of verse consisting of a single metrical foot or dipody

mo·no·mi·al [mä-'nō-mē-əl, mə-] -n, adj

  1. a mathematical expression consisting of a single term
  2. a taxonomic name consisting of a single word or term

mono·mo·lec·u·lar [,mä-nə-mə-'le-kyə-lər] -adj, adv

  1. being only one molecule thick
    • a monomolecular film

mono·mor·phe·mic [-mȯr-'fē-mik] -adj

  1. consisting of only one morpheme
    • the word talk is monomorphemic but talked is not

mono·mor·phic [-'mȯr-fik] -adj, n

  1. having but a single form, structural pattern, or genotype
    • a monomorphic species of insect

mono·nu·cle·ar [-'nü-klē-ər, -'nyü-, ÷-kyə-lər] -adj, n

  1. having only one nucleus
    • a mononuclear cell

mononuclear phagocyte system -n

  1. a system of cells comprising all free and fixed phagocytes together with their ancestral cells including monocytes and their precursors in the bone marrow called also reticuloendothelial system

mono·nu·cle·at·ed [-'nü-klē-,ā-təd, -'nyü-] -adj

  1. mononuclear

mono·nu·cle·o·sis [-,nü-klē-'ō-səs, -,nyü-] -n

  1. an abnormal increase of mononuclear white blood cells in the blood
  2. infectious mononucleosis

mono·nu·cle·o·tide [-'nü-klē-ə-,tīd, -'nyü-] -n

  1. a nucleotide that is derived from one molecule each of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and a phosphoric acid

mo·noph·a·gous [mə-'nä-fə-gəs, mä-] -adj, n

  1. feeding on or utilizing a single kind of food
  2. feeding on a single kind of plant or animal

mono·pho·nic [,mä-nə-'fä-nik, -'fō-] -adj, adv

  1. having a single unaccompanied melodic line
  2. of or relating to sound transmission, recording, or reproduction involving a single transmission path

mo·noph·o·ny [mə-'nä-fə-nē, mä-] -n

  1. monophonic music

mon·oph·thong ['mä-nə(f)-,thȯŋ] -n, adj

  1. a vowel sound that throughout its duration has a single constant articulatory position

mono·phy·let·ic [,mä-nō-fī-'le-tik] -adj, n

  1. of or relating to a single stock
  2. developed from a single common ancestral form

Mo·noph·y·site [mə-'nä-fə-,sīt] -n, adj

  1. one holding the doctrine that Christ has a single inseparable nature that is at once divine and human rather than having two distinct but unified natures

mono·plane ['mä-nə-,plān] -n

  1. an airplane with only one main supporting surface

mono·ploid ['mä-nə-,plȯid] -adj

  1. haploid
  2. having or being the basic haploid number of chromosomes in a polyploid series of organisms

monoploid -n

  1. a monoploid individual or organism

mono·pod ['mä-nə-,päd] -n

  1. a one-legged support (as for a camera)

mono·po·di·al [,mä-nə-'pō-dē-əl] -adj

  1. growing upward with a single main stem or axis that produces leaves and flowers
    • monopodial orchids

mono·pole ['mä-nə-,pōl] -n

  1. a single positive or negative electric charge
  2. a hypothetical north or south magnetic pole existing alone
  3. a radio antenna consisting of a single often straight element

mo·nop·o·lise [mə-'nä-pə-,līz] -vt, n

(variant of monopolize)

  1. to get a monopoly of : assume complete possession or control of
    • monopolize a conversation

mo·nop·o·list [mə-'nä-pə-list] -n, adj, adv

  1. a person who monopolizes

mo·nop·o·lize [mə-'nä-pə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to get a monopoly of : assume complete possession or control of
    • monopolize a conversation

mo·nop·o·ly [mə-'nä-p(ə-)lē] -n

  1. exclusive ownership through legal privilege, command of supply, or concerted action
  2. exclusive possession or control
  3. a commodity controlled by one party
  4. one that has a monopoly

mono·pro·pel·lant [,mä-nō-prə-'pe-lənt] -n

  1. a rocket propellant containing both the fuel and the oxidizer in a single substance

mo·nop·so·ny [mə-'näp-sə-nē] -n, adj

  1. an oligopsony limited to one buyer

mono·rail ['mä-nə-,rāl] -n

  1. a single rail serving as a track for a wheeled vehicle
  2. a vehicle traveling on such a track

mon·or·chid [mä-'nȯr-kəd] -n, adj

  1. an individual who has only one testis or only one descended into the scrotum

mono·rhyme ['mä-nə-,rīm] -n, adj

  1. a strophe or poem in which all the lines have the same end rhyme

mono·sac·cha·ride [,mä-nə-'sa-kə-,rīd] -n

  1. a sugar that is not decomposable into simpler sugars by hydrolysis, is classed as either an aldose or ketose, and contains one or more hydroxyl groups per molecule called also simple sugar

mono·so·di·um glu·ta·mate [,mä-nə-,sō-dē-əm-'glü-tə-,māt] -n

  1. a crystalline sodium salt C 5H 8NO 4Na derived from glutamic acid and used to enhance the flavor of food abbr. MSG

mono·some ['mä-nə-,sōm] -n

  1. a chromosome lacking a synaptic mate
  2. an unpaired X chromosome
  3. a single ribosome

mono·so·mic [,mä-nə-'sō-mik] -adj, n

  1. having one less than the diploid number of chromosomes

mono·spe·cif·ic [,mä-nō-spə-'si-fik] -adj, n

  1. specific for a single antigen or receptor site on an antigen

mono·syl·lab·ic [,mä-nə-sə-'la-bik] -adj, adv, n

  1. consisting of one syllable or of monosyllables
  2. using or speaking only monosyllables
  3. conspicuously brief in answering or commenting : terse

mono·syl·la·ble ['mä-nə-,si-lə-bəl, ,mä-nə-'] -n

  1. a word of one syllable

mono·syn·ap·tic [,mä-nō-sə-'nap-tik] -adj, adv

  1. having or involving a single neural synapse

mono·ter·pene [,mä-nə-'tər-,pēn] -n

  1. any of a class of terpenes C 10H 16containing two isoprene units per molecule
  2. a derivative of a monoterpene

mono·the·ism ['mä-nə-(,)thē-,i-zəm] -n, adj, adv

  1. the doctrine or belief that there is but one God

mono·tone ['mä-nə-,tōn] -n

  1. a succession of syllables, words, or sentences in one unvaried key or pitch
  2. a single unvaried musical tone
  3. a tedious sameness or reiteration
  4. a person unable to produce or to distinguish between musical intervals

monotone -adj

  1. monotonic
  2. having a uniform color

mono·ton·ic [,mä-nə-'tä-nik] -adj, adv, n

  1. characterized by the use of or uttered in a monotone
  2. having the property either of never increasing or of never decreasing as the values of the independent variable or the subscripts of the terms increase

mo·not·o·nous [mə-'nä-tə-nəs, -'nät-nəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. uttered or sounded in one unvarying tone : marked by a sameness of pitch and intensity
  2. tediously uniform or unvarying

mo·not·o·ny [mə-'nä-tə-nē, -'nät-nē] -n

  1. tedious sameness
  2. sameness of tone or sound

mono·treme ['mä-nə-,trēm] -n

  1. any of an order (Monotremata) of egg-laying mammals comprising the platypuses and echidnas

mono·type ['mä-nə-,tīp] -n

  1. an impression on paper of a design painted usu. with the finger or a brush on a surface (as glass)

Monotype -trademark

  1. used for a keyboard typesetting machine that casts and sets type in separate characters

mono·typ·ic [,mä-nə-'ti-pik] -adj

  1. including a single representative used esp. of a genus with only one species

mono·un·sat·u·rat·ed [,mä-nō-,ən-'sa-chə-,rā-təd] -adj, n

  1. containing one double or triple bond per molecule used esp. of an oil, fat, or fatty acid

mono·va·lent [,mä-nə-'vā-lənt] -adj

  1. having a valence of one
  2. having specific immunologic activity against a single antigen, microorganism, or disease
    • a monovalent vaccine

mon·ovu·lar [(,)mä-'näv-yə-lər, -'nōv-] -adj

  1. monozygotic

mon·ox·ide [mə-'näk-,sīd] -n

  1. an oxide containing one atom of oxygen in a molecule

mono·zy·got·ic [,mä-nə-zī-'gä-tik] -adj

  1. derived from a single egg
    • monozygotic twins

Mon·roe Doctrine [mən-'rō- also 'mən- or 'män-] -n

  1. a statement of U.S. foreign policy expressing opposition to extension of European control or influence in the western hemisphere

mon·sei·gneur [,mōⁿ-,sān-'yər] -n

  1. a French dignitary (as a prince or prelate) used as a title preceding a title of office or rank

mon·sieur [məs-'yə(r), məsh-; mə-'sir] -n

  1. a Frenchman of high rank or station used as a title equivalent to Mister and prefixed to the name of a Frenchman

mon·si·gnor [män-'sē-nyər, mən-] -n, adj

  1. a Roman Catholic prelate having a dignity or titular distinction (as of domestic prelate or protonotary apostolic) usu. conferred by the pope used as a title prefixed to the surname or to the given name and surname

mon·soon [män-'sün, 'män-,] -n, adj

  1. a periodic wind esp. in the Indian Ocean and southern Asia
  2. the season of the southwest monsoon in India and adjacent areas that is characterized by very heavy rainfall
  3. rainfall that is associated with the monsoon

mons pu·bis ['mänz-'pyü-bəs] -n

  1. a rounded eminence of fatty tissue on the pubic symphysis esp. of the human female

mon·ster ['män(t)-stər] -n

  1. an animal or plant of abnormal form or structure
  2. one who deviates from normal or acceptable behavior or character
  3. a threatening force
  4. an animal of strange or terrifying shape
  5. one unusually large for its kind
  6. something monstrous
  7. a person of unnatural or extreme ugliness, deformity, wickedness, or cruelty
  8. one that is highly successful

monster -adj

  1. enormous or impressive esp. in size, extent, or numbers

mon·strance ['män(t)-strən(t)s] -n

  1. a vessel in which the consecrated Host is exposed for the adoration of the faithful

mon·stros·i·ty [män-'strä-sə-tē] -n

  1. a malformation of a plant or animal
  2. something deviating from the normal : freak
  3. the quality or state of being monstrous
  4. an object of great and often frightening size, force, or complexity
  5. an excessively bad or shocking example

mon·strous ['män(t)-strəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. strange, unnatural
  2. having extraordinary often overwhelming size : gigantic
  3. having the qualities or appearance of a monster
  4. teeming with monsters
  5. extraordinarily ugly or vicious : horrible
  6. shockingly wrong or ridiculous
  7. deviating greatly from the natural form or character : abnormal
  8. very great used as an intensive

monstrous -adv

  1. very, extremely
    • a monstrous long raft -- Mark Twain

mons ve·ne·ris ['mänz-'ve-nə-rəs] -n

  1. mons pubis

Mont -abbr

  1. Montana

mon·ta·dale ['män-tə-,dāl] -n

  1. any of an American breed of white-faced hornless sheep noted for heavy fleece and good meat conformation

mon·tage [män-'täzh, mōⁿ(n)-] -n

  1. the production of a rapid succession of images in a motion picture to illustrate an association of ideas
  2. a literary, musical, or artistic composite of juxtaposed more or less heterogeneous elements
  3. a composite picture made by combining several separate pictures
  4. a heterogeneous mixture : jumble
    • a montage of emotions

montage -vt

  1. to combine into or depict in a montage

mon·ta·gnard [,mōⁿ-,tän-'yär(d)] -n, adj

  1. a member of any of various peoples inhabiting the highlands of central and southern Vietnam

Mon·ta·gue ['män-tə-,gyü] -n

  1. the family of Romeo in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

mon·tane [,män-'tān, 'män-,] -adj

  1. of, relating to, growing in, or being the biogeographic zone of relatively moist cool upland slopes below timberline dominated by large coniferous trees
  2. of, relating to, or made up of montane plants or animals

Mon·ta·nist ['män-tə-nist] -n

  1. an adherent of a Christian sect arising in the late second century and stressing apocalyptic expectations, the continuing prophetic gifts of the Spirit, and strict ascetic discipline

mon·tan wax ['män-tᵊn-] -n

  1. a hard brittle mineral wax obtained usu. from lignites by extraction and used esp. in polishes, carbon paper, and insulating compositions

mon·te ['män-tē] -n

  1. a card game in which players select any two of four cards turned face up in a layout and bet that one of them will be matched before the other as cards are dealt one at a time from the pack called also monte bank
  2. three-card monte

Mon·te Car·lo [,män-tē-'kär-(,)lō] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or involving the use of random sampling techniques and often the use of computer simulation to obtain approximate solutions to mathematical or physical problems esp. in terms of a range of values each of which has a calculated probability of being the solution
    • Monte Carlo calculations

mon·teith [män-'tēth] -n

  1. a large silver punch bowl with scalloped rim

Mon·te·rey cypress ['män-tə-,rā-] -n

  1. a California cypress ( Cupressus macrocarpa) that is endemic to the Monterey and Carmel seacoast and is often planted for ornament

Monterey Jack -n

  1. a semisoft whole-milk cheese with high moisture content

Monterey pine -n

  1. a pine ( Pinus radiata) native to coastal California but widely grown esp. in the southern hemisphere for its wood

mon·te·ro [män-'ter-(,)ō] -n

  1. a round hunter's cap with ear flaps

Mon·te·zu·ma's revenge [,män-tə-'zü-məz-] -n

  1. traveler's diarrhea esp. when contracted in Mexico

month ['mən(t)th] -n

  1. a measure of time corresponding nearly to the period of the moon's revolution and amounting to approximately 4 weeks or 30 days or of a year
  2. an indefinite usu. extended period of time
    • he has been gone for month s
  3. one ninth of the typical duration of human pregnancy
    • she was in her eighth month

month·long ['mən(t)th-'lȯŋ] -adj

  1. lasting a month

month·ly [-lē] -adv

  1. once a month : by the month

monthly -adj

  1. of or relating to a month
  2. payable or reckoned by the month
  3. lasting a month
  4. occurring or appearing every month
  5. a monthly periodical
  6. a menstrual period

Monthly Meeting -n

  1. a local unit of organization of Friends

month's mind -n

  1. a Roman Catholic requiem mass held a month after a person's death

Mont·mo·ren·cy [,mänt-mə-'ren(t)-sē] -n

  1. a cherry that is grown commercially for its bright red sour fruit
  2. the fruit

mont·mo·ril·lon·ite [,mänt-mə-'ri-lə-,nīt, -'rē-ə-,nīt] -n, adj

  1. a soft clayey water-absorbent mineral that is a hydrous aluminum silicate

Mon·tra·chet [,mōⁿ-trä-'she] -n

  1. a dry white burgundy wine
  2. a soft goat cheese from the Burgundy region of France

mon·u·ment ['män-yə-mənt] -n

  1. a burial vault : sepulchre
  2. a written legal document or record : treatise
  3. a lasting evidence, reminder, or example of someone or something notable or great
  4. a distinguished person
  5. a memorial stone or a building erected in remembrance of a person or event
  6. an identifying mark : evidence
  7. portent, sign
  8. a carved statue : effigy
  9. a boundary or position marker (as a stone)
  10. national monument
  11. a written tribute

mon·u·men·tal [,män-yə-'men-tᵊl] -adj, n, adv

  1. of or relating to a monument
  2. serving as or resembling a monument : massive
  3. highly significant : outstanding
  4. very great
    • a monumental misunderstanding

mon·u·men·tal·ize [-'men-tᵊl-,īz] -vt

  1. to record or memorialize lastingly by a monument

mon·u·ron ['män-yə-,rän] -n

  1. a persistent herbicide C 9H 11ClN 2O used esp. to control broad-leaved weeds

mon·zo·nite [män-'zō-,nīt, 'män-zə-] -n

  1. a granular igneous rock composed of plagioclase and orthoclase in about equal quantities usu. together with augite and biotite

moo ['mü] -vi, n

  1. to make the throat noise of a cow

mooch ['müch] -vb, n

  1. to wander aimlessly : amble
  2. sneak
  3. beg, sponge
  4. to take surreptitiously : steal
  5. beg, sponge

mood ['müd] -n

  1. a conscious state of mind or predominant emotion : feeling
  2. the expression of mood esp. in art or literature
  3. a fit of anger : rage
  4. a prevailing attitude : disposition
  5. a receptive state of mind predisposing to action
  6. a distinctive atmosphere or context : aura
  7. the form of a syllogism as determined by the quantity and quality of its constituent propositions
  8. distinction of form or a particular set of inflectional forms of a verb to express whether the action or state it denotes is conceived as fact or in some other manner (as command, possibility, or wish)
  9. mode

mood disorder -n

  1. any of several psychological disorders (as major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder) characterized by abnormalities of emotional state called also affective disorder

moody ['mü-dē] -adj, adv, n

  1. subject to depression : gloomy
  2. subject to moods : temperamental
  3. expressive of a mood

mook ['mük] -n

  1. a foolish, insignificant, or contemptible person

moo·la ['mü-(,)lä, -lə] -n

  1. money

moon ['mün] -n, adj

  1. the earth's natural satellite that shines by the sun's reflected light, revolves about the earth from west to east in about 29 days with reference to the sun or about 27 days with reference to the stars, and has a diameter of 2160 miles (3475 kilometers), a mean distance from the earth of about 238,900 miles (384,400 kilometers), and a mass about one eightieth that of the earth usu. used with the
  2. one complete moon cycle consisting of four phases
  3. satellite
  4. a natural satellite of a planet
  5. an indefinite usu. extended period of time
    • a labor of many moon s
  6. moonlight
  7. : something that resembles a moon: as
  8. a highly translucent spot on old porcelain
  9. lunule
  10. naked buttocks
  11. something impossible or inaccessible
    • reach for the moon
  12. to spend in idle reverie : dream used with away
  13. to expose one's naked buttocks to
  14. to spend time in idle reverie : behave abstractedly

moon·beam ['mün-,bēm] -n

  1. a ray of light from the moon

moon blindness -n

  1. a recurrent inflammation of the eye of the horse

moon·calf ['mün-,kaf, -,käf] -n

  1. a foolish or absentminded person : simpleton

moon·dust [-,dəst] -n

  1. fine dry particles of the moon's soil

moon·eye [-,ī] -n

  1. a silvery No. American freshwater bony fish ( Hiodon tergisusof the family Hiodontidae)

mooneyed [-'īd] -adj

  1. having the eyes wide open

moon·faced [-,fāst] -adj

  1. having a round face

moon·fish [-,fish] -n

  1. : any of various compressed often short deep-bodied silvery or yellowish marine fishes: as
  2. opah
  3. platy

moon·flow·er [-,flau̇(-ə)r] -n

  1. a tropical American morning glory ( Ipomoea albasyn. Calonyction aculeatum) with fragrant flowers
  2. any of several related plants

Moon·ie ['mü-nē] -n

  1. a member of the Unification Church founded by Sun Myung Moon

moon·ish ['mü-nish] -adj, adv

  1. influenced by the moon
  2. capricious

moon·less ['mün-ləs] -adj

  1. lacking the light of the moon

moon·let [-lət] -n

  1. a small natural or artificial satellite

moon·light [-,līt] -n

  1. the light of the moon

moonlight -vi, n

  1. to hold a second job in addition to a regular one

moon·lit [-,lit] -adj

  1. lighted by the moon

moon·quake [-,kwāk] -n

  1. a seismic event on the moon

moon·rise [-,rīz] -n

  1. the rising of the moon above the horizon
  2. the time of the moon's rising

moon·roof ['mün-,rüf, -,ru̇f] -n

  1. a glass sunroof

moon·scape [-,skāp] -n

  1. the surface of the moon as seen or as depicted
  2. a landscape resembling this surface

moon·seed [-,sēd] -n

  1. a twining plant ( Menispermum canadenseof the family Menispermaceae, the moonseed family) of eastern No. America that has crescent-shaped seeds and black fruits

moon·set [-,set] -n

  1. the descent of the moon below the horizon
  2. the time of the moon's setting

moon shell -n

  1. moon snail

moon·shine ['mün-,shīn] -n

  1. moonlight
  2. empty talk : nonsense
  3. intoxicating liquor
  4. illegally distilled corn whiskey

moon·shin·er [-,shī-nər] -n

  1. a maker or seller of illicit whiskey

moon shot -n

  1. a spacecraft mission to the moon
  2. a hit or thrown ball with a very high trajectory

moon snail -n

  1. any of a cosmopolitan family (Naticidae) of carnivorous marine snails having smooth globular shells

moon·stone [-,stōn] -n

  1. a transparent or translucent feldspar of pearly or opaline luster used as a gem

moon·struck [-,strək] -adj

  1. : affected by or as if by the moon: as
  2. mentally unbalanced
  3. romantically sentimental
  4. lost in fantasy or reverie

moon suit -n

  1. a sealed garment worn esp. for protection from hazardous material (as toxic waste or infectious disease)

moon·walk ['mün-,wȯk] -vi, n

  1. to dance by gliding backwards while appearing to make forward walking motions

moon·ward [-wərd] -adv

  1. toward the moon

moony ['mü-nē] -adj

  1. of or relating to the moon
  2. crescent-shaped
  3. resembling the full moon : round
  4. moonlit
  5. dreamy, moonstruck

moor ['mu̇r] -n

  1. an expanse of open rolling infertile land
  2. a boggy area
  3. one that is peaty and dominated by grasses and sedges
  4. to make fast with or as if with cables, lines, or anchors : anchor
  5. to secure a boat by mooring : anchor
  6. to be made fast

Moor ['mu̇r] -n, adj

  1. one of the Arab and Berber conquerors of Spain
  2. berber

moor·age ['mu̇r-ij] -n

  1. an act of mooring
  2. a place to moor

Moore's law ['mȯrz-, 'mu̇rz-] -n

  1. an axiom of microprocessor development usu. holding that processing power doubles about every 18 months esp. relative to cost or size

moor·hen ['mu̇r-,hen] -n

  1. an aquatic bird ( Gallinula chloropus) of the rail family that is widespread in the New World, Eurasia, and Africa and that has a red bill, red frontal area on the head, and a white band on the flanks called also gallinule

moor·ing [-iŋ] -n

  1. an act of making fast a boat or aircraft with lines or anchors
  2. a place where or an object to which something (as a craft) can be moored
  3. a device (as a line or chain) by which an object is secured in place
  4. an established practice or stabilizing influence : anchorage usu. used in pl.

moor·land [-lənd, -,land] -n

  1. land consisting of moors : a stretch of moor

moose ['müs] -n

  1. a ruminant mammal ( Alces alces) with humped shoulders, long legs, and broadly palmated antlers that is the largest existing member of the deer family and inhabits forested areas of Canada, the northern U.S., Europe, and Asia
  2. a member of a major benevolent and fraternal order

moot ['müt] -n

  1. a deliberative assembly primarily for the administration of justice
  2. one held by the freemen of an Anglo-Saxon community
  3. argument, discussion
  4. to discuss from a legal standpoint : argue
  5. to bring up for discussion : broach
  6. debate
  7. open to question : debatable
  8. subjected to discussion : disputed
  9. deprived of practical significance : made abstract or purely academic

moot court -n

  1. a mock court in which law students argue hypothetical cases for practice

mop ['mäp] -n

  1. an implement made of absorbent material fastened to a handle and used esp. for cleaning floors
  2. something that resembles a mop
  3. a thick mass of hair
  4. : to use a mop on
  5. to clean or clear away by mopping
    • mop the floors
    often used with up
    • mop up the spillage
  6. to wipe as if with a mop
    • mopped his brow with a handkerchief
  7. to clean a surface (as a floor) with a mop

mop·board ['mäp-,bȯrd] -n

  1. baseboard

mope ['mōp] -vi, n, adj

  1. to act in a dazed or stupid manner
  2. to give oneself up to brooding : become listless or dejected
  3. to move slowly or aimlessly : dawdle
  4. one that mopes
  5. blues

mo·ped ['mō-,ped] -n

  1. a lightweight low-powered motorbike that can be pedaled

mop·pet ['mä-pət] -n

  1. baby, darling
  2. child

mopup ['mäp-,əp] -n

  1. a concluding action or phase

mop up -vt

  1. to consume eagerly
  2. to gather as if by absorbing
  3. garner
    • mopped up all the awards
  4. to overcome decisively : trounce
  5. to clear (an area) of remaining pockets of resistance in the wake of a military offensive
  6. to complete a project, transaction, or task

mo·quette [mō-'ket] -n

  1. a carpet or upholstery fabric having a velvety pile

mor ['mȯr] -n

  1. forest humus that forms a layer of largely organic matter distinct from the mineral soil beneath

MOR -abbr

  1. middle of the road

mo·ra ['mȯr-ə] -n

  1. the minimal unit of measure in quantitative verse equivalent to the time of an average short syllable

mo·raine [mə-'rān] -n, adj

  1. an accumulation of earth and stones carried and finally deposited by a glacier

mor·al ['mȯr-əl, 'mär-] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior : ethical
    • moral judgments
  2. expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior
    • a moral poem
  3. conforming to a standard of right behavior
  4. sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical judgment
    • a moral obligation
  5. capable of right and wrong action
    • a moral agent
  6. probable though not proved : virtual
    • a moral certainty
  7. perceptual or psychological rather than tangible or practical in nature or effect
    • a moral victory
    • moral support
  8. the moral significance or practical lesson (as of a story)
  9. a passage pointing out usu. in conclusion the lesson to be drawn from a story
  10. moral practices or teachings : modes of conduct
  11. ethics
  12. morale

mo·rale [mə-'ral] -n

  1. moral principles, teachings, or conduct
  2. the mental and emotional condition (as of enthusiasm, confidence, or loyalty) of an individual or group with regard to the function or tasks at hand
  3. a sense of common purpose with respect to a group : esprit de corps
  4. the level of individual psychological well-being based on such factors as a sense of purpose and confidence in the future

moral hazard -n

  1. the possibility of loss to an insurance company arising from the character or circumstances of the insured

mor·al·ise ['mȯr-ə-,līz, 'mär-] -vb, n

(variant of moralize)

  1. to explain or interpret morally
  2. to give a moral quality or direction to
  3. to improve the morals of
  4. to make moral reflections

mor·al·ism ['mȯr-ə-,li-zəm, 'mär-] -n

  1. the habit or practice of moralizing
  2. a conventional moral attitude or saying
  3. an often exaggerated emphasis on morality (as in politics)

mor·al·ist [-list] -n

  1. one who leads a moral life
  2. a philosopher or writer concerned with moral principles and problems
  3. one concerned with regulating the morals of others

mor·al·is·tic [,mȯr-ə-'lis-tik, ,mär-] -adj, adv

  1. characterized by or expressive of a concern with morality
  2. characterized by or expressive of a narrow moral attitude

mo·ral·i·ty [mə-'ra-lə-tē, mȯ-] -n

  1. a moral discourse, statement, or lesson
  2. a literary or other imaginative work teaching a moral lesson
  3. a doctrine or system of moral conduct
  4. particular moral principles or rules of conduct
  5. conformity to ideals of right human conduct
  6. moral conduct : virtue

morality play -n

  1. an allegorical play popular esp. in the 15th and 16th centuries in which the characters personify abstract qualities or concepts (as virtues, vices, or death)
  2. something (as a court trial) which involves a direct conflict between right and wrong or good and evil and from which a moral lesson may be drawn

mor·al·ize ['mȯr-ə-,līz, 'mär-] -vb, n

  1. to explain or interpret morally
  2. to give a moral quality or direction to
  3. to improve the morals of
  4. to make moral reflections

moral philosophy -n

  1. ethics
  2. the study of human conduct and values

mo·rass [mə-'ras, mȯ-] -n, adj

  1. marsh, swamp
  2. a situation that traps, confuses, or impedes
    • a legal morass
  3. an overwhelming or confusing mass or mixture
    • a morass of traffic jams -- Mary Roach

mor·a·to·ri·um [,mȯr-ə-'tȯr-ē-əm, ,mär-] -n

  1. a legally authorized period of delay in the performance of a legal obligation or the payment of a debt
  2. a waiting period set by an authority
  3. a suspension of activity

Mo·ra·vi·an [mə-'rā-vē-ən] -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of Moravia
  2. the group of Czech dialects spoken in Moravia
  3. a member of a Protestant denomination arising from a 15th century religious reform movement in Bohemia and Moravia

mo·ray eel [mə-'rā-, 'mȯr-(,)ā-] -n

  1. any of numerous often brightly colored eels (family Muraenidae) that have sharp teeth capable of inflicting a severe bite, that occur in warm seas, and that include a chiefly Mediterranean eel ( Muraena helena) sometimes used for food called also moray

mor·bid ['mȯr-bəd] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of disease
    • morbid anatomy
  2. affected with or induced by disease
    • a morbid condition
  3. productive of disease
    • morbid substances
  4. abnormally susceptible to or characterized by gloomy or unwholesome feelings
  5. grisly, gruesome
    • morbid details
    • morbid curiosity

mor·bid·i·ty [mȯr-'bi-də-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being morbid
  2. the relative incidence of disease

mor·bil·li·vi·rus [mȯr-'bi-lə-,vī-rəs] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Morbillivirus) of paramyxoviruses that include the causative agents of canine distemper, measles, and rinderpest

mor·ceau [mȯr-'sō] -n

  1. a short literary or musical piece

mor·dan·cy ['mȯr-dᵊn(t)-sē] -n

  1. a biting and caustic quality of style : incisiveness
  2. a sharply critical or bitter quality of thought or feeling : harshness

mor·dant ['mȯr-dᵊnt] -adj, adv

  1. biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style : incisive
    • a mordant wit
  2. acting as a mordant
  3. burning, pungent

mordant -n

  1. a chemical that fixes a dye in or on a substance by combining with the dye to form an insoluble compound
  2. a corroding substance used in etching
  3. to treat with a mordant

Mor·de·cai ['mȯr-di-,kī] -n

  1. a relative of Esther who gave advice on saving the Jews from the destruction planned by Haman

mor·dent ['mȯr-dᵊnt, mȯr-'dent] -n

  1. a musical ornament made by a quick alternation of a principal tone with the tone immediately below it

more ['mȯr] -adj

  1. greater
    • something more than she expected
  2. additional, further
    • more guests arrived
  3. in addition
    • a couple of times more
  4. moreover
  5. to a greater or higher degree often used with an adjective or adverb to form the comparative
    • more evenly matched
  6. a greater quantity, number, or amount
    • liked the idea better the more I thought about it
  7. something additional : an additional amount
  8. persons of higher rank
  9. additional persons or things or a greater amount
    • more will arrive shortly
    • more was spilled

more and more -adv

  1. to a progressively increasing extent

mo·reen [mə-'rēn, mȯ-] -n

  1. a strong fabric of wool, wool and cotton, or cotton with a plain glossy or moire finish

mo·rel [mə-'rel, mȯ-] -n

  1. any of several edible fungi (genus Morchella,esp. M. esculenta) having a conical cap with a highly pitted surface called also morel mushroom

mo·rel·lo [mə-'re-(,)lō] -n

  1. a cultivated sour cherry (as the Montmorency) having a dark-colored skin and juice called also morello cherry

more or less -adv

  1. to a varying or undetermined extent or degree : somewhat
    • they were more or less willing to help
  2. with small variations : approximately
    • contains 16 acres more or less

more·over [mȯr-'ō-vər, 'mȯr-,] -adv

  1. in addition to what has been said : besides

mo·res ['mȯr-,āz also -(,)ēz] -n pl

  1. the fixed morally binding customs of a particular group
  2. moral attitudes
  3. habits, manners

mo·resque [mȯ-'resk, mə-] -adj

  1. having the characteristics of Moorish art or architecture

moresque -n

  1. an ornament or decorative motif in Moorish style

mor·gan ['mȯr-gən] -n

  1. a unit of inferred distance between genes on a chromosome that is used in constructing genetic maps and is equal to the distance for which the frequency of crossing over between specific pairs of genes is 100 percent
  2. centimorgan

Mor·gan ['mȯr-gən] -n

  1. any of an American breed of light strong horses originated in Vermont from the progeny of one prepotent stallion of uncertain ancestry

mor·ga·nat·ic [,mȯr-gə-'na-tik] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or being a marriage between a member of a royal or noble family and a person of inferior rank in which the rank of the inferior partner remains unchanged and the children of the marriage do not succeed to the titles, fiefs, or entailed property of the parent of higher rank

mor·gan·ite ['mȯr-gə-,nīt] -n

  1. a rose-colored gem variety of beryl

Morgan le Fay [-lə-'fā] -n

  1. a sorceress and sister of King Arthur

mor·gen ['mȯr-gə(n)] -n

  1. a Dutch and southern African unit of land area equal to 2.116 acres (0.856 hectare)

morgue ['mȯrg] -n

  1. a place where the bodies of dead persons are kept temporarily pending identification or release for burial or autopsy
  2. a collection of reference works and files of reference material in a newspaper or news periodical office

mor·i·bund ['mȯr-ə-(,)bənd, 'mär-] -adj, n

  1. being in the state of dying : approaching death
  2. being in a state of inactivity or obsolescence

mo·ri·on ['mȯr-ē-,än] -n

  1. a high-crested helmet with no visor

morion -n

  1. a nearly black variety of smoky quartz

Mo·ris·co [mə-'ris-(,)kō, mȯ-] -n, adj

  1. moor
  2. a Spanish Moor converted to Christianity

Mor·mon ['mȯr-mən] -n

  1. the ancient redactor and compiler of the Book of Mormon presented as divine revelation by Joseph Smith
  2. latter-day saint
  3. a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Mormon cricket -n

  1. a large dark wingless migratory katydid ( Anabrus simplex) that resembles a cricket and is found in the western U.S. where it is occas. an abundant pest of crops and forage plants

Mormon tea -n

  1. any of various ephedras of the arid southwestern U.S. having jointed stems used esp. formerly to make a tea

morn ['mȯrn] -n

  1. dawn
  2. morning

Mor·nay sauce [mȯr-'nā-] -n

  1. a cheese-flavored cream sauce

morn·ing ['mȯr-niŋ] -n

  1. dawn
  2. the time from sunrise to noon
  3. the time from midnight to noon
  4. a period of first development : beginning

morn·ingafter pill [,mȯr-niŋ-'af-tər-] -n

  1. an oral drug usu. containing high doses of estrogen taken up to usu. three days after unprotected sexual intercourse that interferes with pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation or by blocking implantation of a fertilized egg in the human uterus

morning breath -n

  1. halitosis upon awakening from sleep that is caused by the buildup of bacteria in the mouth from decreased saliva production

morning coat -n

  1. cutaway

morning glory -n

  1. any of various usu. twining plants (genus Ipomoeaof the family Convolvulaceae, the morning-glory family) with showy trumpet-shaped flowers
  2. an herb, shrub, or tree of the morning-glory family

morning line -n

  1. a bookmaker's list of entries for a race meet and the probable odds on each that is printed or posted before the betting begins

Morning Prayer -n

  1. a service of liturgical prayer used for regular morning worship in churches of the Anglican communion

morn·ings ['mȯr-niŋz] -adv

  1. in the morning repeatedly : on any morning

morning sickness -n

  1. nausea and vomiting that occurs typically in the morning esp. during the earlier months of pregnancy

morning star -n

  1. a bright planet (as Venus) seen in the eastern sky before or at sunrise

Mo·ro ['mȯr-(,)ō] -n

  1. a member of any of several Muslim peoples of the southern Philippines
  2. any of the Austronesian languages of the Moros

mo·roc·co [mə-'rä-(,)kō] -n

  1. a fine leather from goatskin tanned with sumac

mo·ron ['mȯr-,än] -n, adj, adv

  1. a person affected with mild mental retardation
  2. a very stupid person

mo·rose [mə-'rōs, mȯ-] -adj, adv, n

  1. having a sullen and gloomy disposition
  2. marked by or expressive of gloom

morph ['mȯrf] -n

  1. allomorph
  2. a distinctive collocation of phones (as a portmanteau form) that serves as the realization of more than one morpheme in a context (as the French dufor the sequence of deand le)
  3. a local population of a species that consists of interbreeding organisms and is distinguishable from other populations by morphology or behavior though capable of interbreeding with them
  4. a phenotypic variant of a species
  5. to change the form or character of : transform
  6. to undergo transformation
  7. to undergo transformation from an image of one object into that of another esp. by means of computer-generated animation
  8. morphology

morph- -comb form

  1. form
    • morpho genesis
  2. morpheme
    • morpho phonemics

mor·phac·tin [mȯr-'fak-tən] -n

  1. any of several synthetic fluorine-containing compounds that tend to produce morphological changes and suppress growth in plants

mor·phal·lax·is [,mȯr-fə-'lak-səs] -n

  1. regeneration of a part or organism from a fragment by reorganization without cell proliferation

mor·pheme ['mȯr-,fēm] -n, adj, adv

  1. a distinctive collocation of phonemes (as the free form pinor the bound form -sof pins) having no smaller meaningful parts

mor·phe·mics [mȯr-'fē-miks] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. a branch of linguistic analysis that consists of the study of morphemes
  2. the structure of a language in terms of morphemes

Mor·pheus ['mȯr-fē-əs, -,fyüs, -,füs] -n

  1. the Greek god of dreams

mor·phia ['mȯr-fē-ə] -n

  1. morphine

mor·phine ['mȯr-,fēn] -n

  1. a bitter crystalline addictive narcotic base C 17H 19NO 3that is the principal alkaloid of opium and is used in the form of a soluble salt (as a hydrochloride or a sulfate) as an analgesic and sedative

mor·phin·ism ['mȯr-,fē-,ni-zəm, -fə-] -n

  1. a disordered condition of health produced by habitual use of morphine

mor·pho ['mȯr-(,)fō] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Morphoof the family Morphoidae) of large showy tropical American butterflies that typically have a brilliant blue metallic luster on the upper surface of the wings

mor·pho·gen ['mȯr-fə-jən, -,jen] -n

  1. a diffusible chemical substance that exerts control over morphogenesis esp. by forming a gradient in concentration

mor·pho·gen·e·sis [,mȯr-fə-'je-nə-səs] -n

  1. the formation and differentiation of tissues and organs

mor·pho·ge·net·ic [-jə-'ne-tik] -adj, adv

  1. relating to or concerned with the development of normal organic form
    • morphogenetic movements of early embryonic cells

mor·pho·gen·ic [-'je-nik] -adj

  1. morphogenetic

mor·phol·o·gy [mȯr-'fä-lə-jē] -n, adj, adv

  1. a branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of animals and plants
  2. the form and structure of an organism or any of its parts
  3. a study and description of word formation (as inflection, derivation, and compounding) in language
  4. the system of word-forming elements and processes in a language
  5. a study of structure or form
  6. structure, form
  7. the external structure of rocks in relation to the development of erosional forms or topographic features

mor·phom·e·try [mȯr-'fä-mə-trē] -n, adj, adv

  1. measurement of external form

mor·pho·pho·ne·mics [,mȯr-fō-fə-'nē-miks] -n pl but sing in constr

  1. a study of the phonemic differences between allomorphs of the same morpheme
  2. the distribution of allomorphs in one morpheme
  3. the structure of a language in terms of morphophonemics

mor·ris ['mȯr-əs, 'mär-] -n

  1. a vigorous English dance traditionally performed by men wearing costumes and bells

morris chair -n

  1. an easy chair with an adjustable back and removable cushions

mor·row ['mär-(,)ō, 'mȯr-] -n

  1. morning
  2. the next day
  3. the time immediately after a specified event

Morse code ['mȯrs-] -n

  1. either of two codes consisting of variously spaced dots and dashes or long and short sounds used for transmitting messages by audible or visual signals

mor·sel ['mȯr-səl] -n

  1. a small piece of food : bite
  2. a small quantity : fragment
  3. a tasty dish
  4. something delectable and pleasing
  5. a negligible person

morsel -vt

  1. to divide into or distribute in small pieces

mort ['mȯrt] -n

  1. a note sounded on a hunting horn when a deer is killed
  2. killing
  3. a great quantity or number

mor·ta·del·la [,mȯr-tə-'de-lə] -n

  1. a large smoked sausage made of beef, pork, and pork fat and seasoned with pepper and garlic

mor·tal ['mȯr-tᵊl] -adj

  1. causing or having caused death : fatal
    • a mortal injury
  2. subject to death
    • mortal man
  3. possible, conceivable
    • have done every mortal thing
  4. deadly
    • waited three mortal hours
  5. marked by unrelenting hostility
    • a mortal enemy
  6. marked by great intensity or severity
    • mortal fear
  7. human
    • mortal limits
  8. of, relating to, or connected with death
    • mortal agony

mortal -adv

  1. mortally
  2. a human being

mor·tal·i·ty [mȯr-'ta-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being mortal
  2. the death of large numbers (as of people or animals)
  3. death
  4. the human race
  5. the number of deaths in a given time or place
  6. the proportion of deaths to population
  7. the number lost or the rate of loss or failure

mortality table -n

  1. an actuarial table based on mortality statistics over a number of years

mor·tal·ly ['mȯr-tᵊl-ē] -adv

  1. in a deadly or fatal manner : to death
    • mortally wounded
  2. to an extreme degree : intensely
    • mortally afraid

mortal mind -n

  1. a belief that life, substance, and intelligence are in and of matter : illusion

mortal sin -n

  1. a sin (as murder) that is deliberately committed and is of such serious consequence according to Thomist theology that it deprives the soul of sanctifying grace

mor·tar ['mȯr-tər] -n

  1. a sturdy vessel in which material is pounded or rubbed with a pestle
  2. a muzzle-loading cannon having a tube short in relation to its caliber that is used to throw projectiles at high angles
  3. any of several similar firing devices

mortar -n, adj

  1. a plastic building material (as a mixture of cement, lime, or gypsum plaster with sand and water) that hardens and is used in masonry or plastering
  2. to plaster or make fast with mortar

mor·tar·board ['mȯr-tər-,bȯrd] -n

  1. an academic cap consisting of a closely fitting headpiece with a broad flat projecting square top
  2. hawk
  3. a board or platform about three feet (one meter) square for holding mortar

mor·tar·man ['mȯr-tər-mən] -n

  1. a soldier who operates a mortar

mort·gage ['mȯr-gij] -n

  1. a conveyance of or lien against property (as for securing a loan) that becomes void upon payment or performance according to stipulated terms
  2. the instrument evidencing the mortgage
  3. the state of the property so mortgaged
  4. the interest of the mortgagee in such property

mortgage -vt

  1. to grant or convey by a mortgage
  2. to subject to a claim or obligation : pledge

mort·gag·ee [,mȯr-gi-'jē] -n

  1. a person to whom property is mortgaged

mort·gag·or [,mȯr-gi-'jȯr] -n

  1. a person who mortgages property

mor·ti·cian [mȯr-'ti-shən] -n

  1. undertaker

mor·ti·fi·ca·tion [,mȯr-tə-fə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. the subjection and denial of bodily passions and appetites by abstinence or self-inflicted pain or discomfort
  2. necrosis, gangrene
  3. a sense of humiliation and shame caused by something that wounds one's pride or self-respect
  4. the cause of such humiliation or shame

mor·ti·fy ['mȯr-tə-,fī] -vb

  1. to destroy the strength, vitality, or functioning of
  2. to subdue or deaden (as the body or bodily appetites) esp. by abstinence or self-inflicted pain or discomfort
  3. to subject to severe and vexing embarrassment : shame
  4. to practice mortification
  5. to become necrotic or gangrenous

mor·tise ['mȯr-təs] -n

  1. a hole, groove, or slot into or through which some other part of an arrangement of parts fits or passes
  2. a cavity cut into a piece of material (as timber) to receive a tenon

mortise -vt

  1. to join or fasten securely
  2. to join or fasten by a tenon and mortise
  3. to cut or make a mortise in

mort·main ['mȯrt-,mān] -n

  1. an inalienable possession of lands or buildings by an ecclesiastical or other corporation
  2. the condition of property or other gifts left to a corporation in perpetuity esp. for religious, charitable, or public purposes
  3. the influence of the past regarded as controlling the present

mor·tu·ary ['mȯr-chə-,wer-ē, -chü-,er-] -adj

  1. of or relating to the burial of the dead
  2. of, relating to, or characteristic of death

mortuary -n

  1. a place in which dead bodies are kept until burial
  2. funeral home

mor·u·la ['mȯr-(y)ə-lə, 'mär-] -n, adj

  1. a globular solid mass of blastomeres formed by cleavage of a zygote that typically precedes the blastula

mos -abbr

  1. months

MOS -abbr

  1. metal-oxide semiconductor
  2. military occupational specialty

mo·sa·ic [mō-'zā-ik] -n, adj

  1. a surface decoration made by inlaying small pieces of variously colored material to form pictures or patterns
  2. the process of making it
  3. a picture or design made in mosaic
  4. something resembling a mosaic
    • a mosaic of visions and daydreams and memories -- Lawrence Shainberg
  5. an organism or one of its parts composed of cells of more than one genotype : chimera
  6. any of numerous virus diseases of plants characterized by diffuse light and dark green or yellow and green mottling of the foliage
  7. a composite map made of photographs taken by an aircraft or spacecraft
  8. the part of a television camera tube consisting of many minute photoelectric particles that convert light to an electric charge

mosaic [-'zā-ə-k(ə-)lē] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, produced by, or resembling a mosaic
  2. exhibiting mosaicism
  3. determinate
  4. to decorate with mosaics
  5. to form into a mosaic

Mo·sa·ic [mō-'zā-ik] -adj

  1. of or relating to Moses or the institutions or writings attributed to him

mo·sa·i·cism [mō-'zā-ə-,si-zəm] -n

  1. the condition of possessing cells of two or more different genetic constitutions

mo·sa·i·cist [-sist] -n

  1. a designer of mosaics
  2. a worker who makes mosaics
  3. a dealer in mosaics

mo·sa·saur ['mō-zə-,sȯr] -n

  1. any of a family (Mosasauridae) of very large extinct marine fish-eating lizards of the Upper Cretaceous with limbs modified into paddles that are related to the recent monitor lizards

Mo·selle [mō-'zel] -n

  1. a white wine from the Moselle valley

Mo·ses ['mō-zəz also -zəs] -n

  1. a Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery and at Mt. Sinai delivered the Law establishing God's covenant with them

mo·sey ['mō-zē] -vi

  1. to hurry away
  2. to move in a leisurely or aimless manner : saunter
    • mosey ed around the general store -- Eric Sevareid

MOSFET -abbr

  1. metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor

mosh ['mäsh] -vi, n

  1. to engage in uninhibited often frenzied activities (as intentional collision) with others near the stage at a rock concert

mo·shav [mō-'shäv] -n

  1. a cooperative settlement of small individual farms in Israel

mosh pit -n

  1. an area in front of a stage where very physical and rough dancing takes place at a rock concert

Mo·so·tho [mō-'sō-(,)tō, -'sü-(,)tü] -n

  1. a member of the Basotho people

mosque ['mäsk] -n

  1. a building used for public worship by Muslims

mos·qui·to [mə-'skē-(,)tō] -n, adj

  1. any of a family (Culicidae) of dipteran flies with females that have a set of slender organs in the proboscis adapted to puncture the skin of animals and to suck their blood and that are in some cases vectors of serious diseases

mosquito fish -n

  1. any of three No. American live-bearers ( Gambusia affinis, G. holbrooki,and Heterandria formosaof the family Poeciliidae) used esp. to control mosquito larvae

mosquito hawk -n

  1. dragonfly
  2. crane fly

mosquito net -n

  1. a net or screen for keeping out mosquitoes

moss ['mȯs] -n, adj

  1. bog, swamp
  2. a peat bog
  3. any of a class (Musci) of bryophytic plants characterized by a gametophyte having a small leafy often tufted stem bearing sex organs at its tip
  4. a clump or sward of these plants
  5. any of various plants resembling moss in appearance or habit of growth
  6. a mossy covering
  7. to cover or overgrow with moss

moss agate -n

  1. an agate mineral containing brown, black, or green mosslike or dendritic markings

moss animal -n

  1. bryozoan

moss·back ['mȯs-,bak] -n, adj

  1. a large sluggish fish (as a largemouth bass)
  2. an extremely old-fashioned or reactionary person : fogy

moss green -n

  1. a variable color averaging a moderate yellow-green

mossgrown ['mȯs-,grōn] -adj

  1. overgrown with moss
  2. antiquated

moss pink -n

  1. a low-growing perennial phlox ( Phlox subulata) widely cultivated for its abundant usu. pink or white flowers

moss rose -n

  1. an old-fashioned garden rose ( Rosa centifolia mucosa) that has a glandular mossy calyx and flower stalk
  2. a So. American portulaca ( Portulaca grandiflora) grown for its showy flowers

mosstroop·er ['mȯs-,trü-pər] -n, adj

  1. one of a class of 17th century raiders in the marshy border country between England and Scotland
  2. pirate

mossy ['mȯ-sē] -adj

  1. resembling moss
  2. covered with moss or something like moss
  3. antiquated
    • the mossy precepts of the...prescriptive grammarians -- Thomas Pyles

mossy zinc -n

  1. a granulated form of zinc made by pouring melted zinc into water

most ['mōst] -adj

  1. greatest in quantity, extent, or degree
    • the most ability
  2. the majority of
    • most people
  3. to the greatest or highest degree often used with an adjective or adverb to form the superlative
    • the most challenging job he ever had
  4. to a very great degree
    • was most persuasive
  5. the greatest amount
    • it's the most I can do
  6. the greatest number or part
    • most become discouraged and quit
  7. almost
    • we'll be crossing the river most any time now -- Hamilton Basso

most·ly ['mōst-lē] -adv

  1. for the greatest part : mainly

Most Reverend

  1. used as a title for an archbishop or a Roman Catholic bishop

mot ['mō] -n

  1. a pithy or witty saying

mote ['mōt] -verbal auxiliary

  1. may, might
  2. a small particle : speck

mo·tel [mō-'tel] -n

  1. an establishment which provides lodging and parking and in which the rooms are usu. accessible from an outdoor parking area

mo·tet [mō-'tet] -n

  1. a polyphonic choral composition on a sacred text usu. without instrumental accompaniment

moth ['mȯth] -n, adj

  1. clothes moth
  2. any of various usu. nocturnal lepidopteran insects with antennae that are often feathery, with a stouter body, duller coloring, and proportionately smaller wings than the butterflies, and with larvae that are plant-eating caterpillars

moth·ball ['mȯth-,bȯl] -n

  1. a ball made formerly of camphor but now often of naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene and used to keep moths from clothing
  2. a condition of protective storage
    • put the ships in mothball s after the war
  3. a state of having been rejected for further use or dismissed from further consideration
    • put that idea in mothball s

mothball -vt

  1. to deactivate (as a ship) and prevent deterioration chiefly by dehumidification
  2. to withdraw from use or service and keep in reserve : put aside

moth bean -n

  1. a legume ( Vigna acontifoliasyn. Phaseolus aconitifolius) cultivated esp. in India for its edible cylindrical pods and small seeds

motheat·en ['mȯth-,ē-tᵊn] -adj

  1. eaten into by moth larvae
    • motheaten clothes
  2. dilapidated
  3. antiquated, outmoded

moth·er ['mə-thər] -n, adj

  1. a female parent
  2. a woman in authority
  3. the superior of a religious community of women
  4. an old or elderly woman
  5. source, origin
    • necessity is the mother of invention
  6. maternal tenderness or affection
  7. motherfucker
  8. something that is an extreme or ultimate example of its kind esp. in terms of scale
    • the mother of all construction projects

mother -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a mother
  2. bearing the relation of a mother
  3. derived from or as if from one's mother
  4. acting as or providing parental stock used without reference to sex
  5. to give birth to
  6. to give rise to : produce
  7. to care for or protect like a mother
  8. mother of vinegar

moth·er·board [-,bȯrd] -n

  1. the main circuit board esp. of a microcomputer

Mother Car·ey's chicken [-'ker-ēz-] -n

  1. storm petrel

mother cell -n

  1. a cell that gives rise to other cells usu. of a different sort

mother country -n

  1. the country from which the people of a colony or former colony derive their origin
  2. the country of one's parents or ancestors
  3. fatherland
  4. a country that is the origin of something

moth·er·fuck·er ['mə-thər-,fə-kər] -n, adj

  1. one that is formidable, contemptible, or offensive - usu. used as a generalized term of abuse
  2. person, fellow
    • he was a hilarious motherfucker -- Wayne Kramer

Mother Goose -n

  1. the legendary author of a collection of nursery rhymes first published in London about 1760

mother hen -n

  1. a person who assumes an overly protective maternal attitude

moth·er·house [-,hau̇s] -n

  1. the convent in which the superior of a religious community resides
  2. the original convent of a religious community

Mother Hub·bard [-'hə-bərd] -n

  1. a loose usu. shapeless dress

moth·erinlaw ['mə-thər-ən-,lȯ, 'məth-rən-, 'mə-thərn-] -n

  1. the mother of one's spouse
  2. stepmother

moth·er·land ['mə-thər-,land] -n

  1. a country regarded as a place of origin (as of an idea or a movement)
  2. mother country

mother lode -n

  1. the principal vein or lode of a region
  2. a principal source or supply

moth·er·ly [-lē] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a mother
    • motherly advice
  2. resembling a mother : maternal

moth·erna·ked [,mə-thər-'nā-kəd, esp Southern -'ne-kəd] -adj

  1. stark naked

Mother Nature -n

  1. nature personified as a woman considered as the source and guiding force of creation

moth·erofpearl [,mə-thə-rə(v)-'pər(-ə)l] -n

  1. the hard pearly iridescent substance forming the inner layer of a mollusk shell

mother of vinegar

  1. a slimy membrane composed of yeast and bacterial cells that develops on the surface of alcoholic liquids undergoing acetous fermentation and is added to wine or cider to produce vinegar called also mother

Mother's Day -n

  1. the second Sunday in May appointed for the honoring of mothers

mother ship -n

  1. a ship serving smaller craft

mother tongue -n

  1. one's native language
  2. a language from which another language derives

mother wit -n

  1. natural wit or intelligence

moth·proof ['mȯth-,prüf] -adj

  1. impervious to penetration by moths
    • mothproof wool

mothproof -vt, n

  1. to make mothproof

mo·tif [mō-'tēf] -n, adj

  1. a usu. recurring salient thematic element (as in the arts)
  2. a dominant idea or central theme
  3. a single or repeated design or color

mo·tile ['mō-tᵊl, -,tī(-ə)l] -adj, n

  1. exhibiting or capable of movement

motile -n

  1. a person whose prevailing mental imagery takes the form of inner feelings of action

mo·tion ['mō-shən] -n, adj, adv

  1. an act, process, or instance of changing place : movement
  2. an active or functioning state or condition
    • set the divorce proceedings in motion
  3. an impulse or inclination of the mind or will
  4. a proposal for action
  5. a formal proposal made in a deliberative assembly
  6. an application made to a court or judge to obtain an order, ruling, or direction
  7. a puppet show
  8. puppet
  9. mechanism
  10. an act or instance of moving the body or its parts : gesture
  11. activities, movements
  12. melodic change of pitch

motion ['mō-sh(ə-)niŋ] -vb

  1. to signal by a movement or gesture
    • the pitcher motion ed to the catcher
  2. to direct by a motion
    • motion ed me to the seat

motion picture -n

  1. a series of pictures projected on a screen in rapid succession with objects shown in successive positions slightly changed so as to produce the optical effect of a continuous picture in which the objects move
  2. a representation (as of a story) by means of motion pictures : movie

motion sickness -n

  1. sickness induced by motion (as in travel by air, car, or ship) and characterized by nausea

mo·ti·vate ['mō-tə-,vāt] -vt, adj, n

  1. to provide with a motive : impel
    • questions that excite and motivate youth

mo·ti·va·tion [,mō-tə-'vā-shən] -n, adj, adv

  1. the act or process of motivating
  2. the condition of being motivated
  3. a motivating force, stimulus, or influence : incentive, drive

mo·tive ['mō-tiv, 2 is also mō-'tēv] -n, adj, adv

  1. something (as a need or desire) that causes a person to act
  2. a recurrent phrase or figure that is developed through the course of a musical composition
  3. motif
  4. moving or tending to move to action
  5. of or relating to motion or the causing of motion
    • motive energy
  6. motivate

motive power -n

  1. an agency (as water or steam) used to impart motion esp. to machinery
  2. something (as a locomotive or a motor) that provides motive power to a system

mo·tiv·i·ty [mō-'ti-və-tē] -n

  1. the power of moving or producing motion

mot juste [mō-'zhᵫst] -n

  1. the exactly right word or phrasing

mot·ley ['mät-lē] -adj

  1. variegated in color
    • a motley coat
  2. composed of diverse often incongruous elements
    • a motley crowd

motley -n

  1. a woolen fabric of mixed colors made in England between the 14th and 17th centuries
  2. a garment made of motley
  3. the characteristic dress of the professional fool
  4. jester, fool
  5. a mixture esp. of incongruous elements

mot·mot ['mät-,mät] -n

  1. any of a family (Momotidae) of long-tailed mostly green nonpasserine birds of Central and So. American tropical forests

mo·to·cross ['mō-tō-,krȯs] -n

  1. a closed-course motorcycle race over natural or simulated rough terrain (as with steep inclines, hairpin turns, and mud)
  2. the sport of engaging in motocross races

mo·to·neu·ron [,mō-tə-'nü-,rän, -'nyü-; -'nu̇r-,än, -'nyu̇r-] -n, adj

  1. motor neuron

mo·tor ['mō-tər] -n, adj

  1. one that imparts motion
  2. prime mover
  3. : any of various power units that develop energy or impart motion: as
  4. a small compact engine
  5. internal combustion engine
  6. a gasoline engine
  7. a rotating machine that transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy
  8. motor vehicle
  9. automobile

motor -adj

  1. causing or imparting motion
  2. of, relating to, or being a motor neuron or a nerve containing motor neurons
    • motor fiber
  3. of, relating to, concerned with, or involving muscular movement
    • motor areas of the brain
  4. equipped with or driven by a motor
  5. of, relating to, or involving an automobile
  6. designed for motor vehicles or motorists
  7. to travel by automobile : drive
  8. to move or proceed at a vigorous steady pace
    • motor ed down the field for a touchdown
  9. to transport by automobile

mo·tor·bike ['mō-tər-,bīk] -n, vi

  1. a small usu. lightweight motorcycle

mo·tor·boat [-,bōt] -n

  1. a boat propelled usu. by an internal combustion engine

motor bus -n

  1. bus called also motor coach

mo·tor·cade ['mō-tər-,kād] -n, vi

  1. a procession of motor vehicles

mo·tor·car [-,kär] -n

  1. automobile
  2. a railroad car containing motors for propulsion

motor court -n

  1. motel

mo·tor·cy·cle ['mō-tər-,sī-kəl] -n, vi

  1. a 2-wheeled automotive vehicle for one or two people

motor home -n

  1. a large motor vehicle equipped as living quarters

mo·tor·ic [mō-'tȯr-ik, -'tär-] -adj, adv

  1. motor

motor inn -n

  1. motel
  2. a large multistory motel called also motor hotel

mo·tor·ise ['mō-tə-,rīz] -vt, n

(variant of motorize)

  1. to equip with a motor
  2. to equip with motor vehicles

mo·tor·ist ['mō-tə-rist] -n

  1. a person who travels by automobile

mo·tor·ize ['mō-tə-,rīz] -vt, n

  1. to equip with a motor
  2. to equip with motor vehicles

motor lodge -n

  1. motel

mo·tor·man ['mō-tər-mən] -n

  1. an operator of a motor-driven vehicle (as a streetcar or subway train)

mo·tor·mouth [-,mau̇th] -n, adj

  1. a person who talks excessively

motor neuron -n

  1. a neuron that passes from the central nervous system or a ganglion toward a muscle and conducts an impulse that causes movement called also motoneuron

motor pool -n

  1. a group of motor vehicles centrally controlled (as by a governmental agency) and dispatched for use as needed

motor sailer -n

  1. a motorboat with sailing equipment

motor scooter -n

  1. a low 2- or 3-wheeled automotive vehicle resembling a child's scooter and having a seat so that the rider does not straddle the engine

motor ship -n

  1. a seagoing ship propelled by an internal combustion engine

motor torpedo boat -n

  1. pt boat

mo·tor·truck ['mō-tər-,trək] -n

  1. an automotive truck used esp. for transporting freight

motor unit -n

  1. a motor neuron together with the muscle fibers on which it acts

motor vehicle -n

  1. an automotive vehicle not operated on rails
  2. one with rubber tires for use on highways

mo·tor·way ['mō-tər-,wā] -n

  1. superhighway

motte ['mät] -n

  1. mound, hill
  2. a hill serving as a site for a Norman castle in Britain

motte and bailey -n

  1. a medieval Norman castle consisting of two connecting ditched stockaded mounds with the higher mound surmounted by the keep and the lower one containing barracks and other buildings

mot·tle ['mä-tᵊl] -n, adj

  1. a colored spot
  2. a surface having colored spots or blotches
  3. the arrangement of such spots or blotches on a surface
  4. mosaic

mottle ['mät-liŋ, 'mä-tᵊl-iŋ] -vt, n

  1. to mark with spots or blotches of different color or shades of color as if stained

mottled enamel -n

  1. spotted tooth enamel caused by drinking water containing excessive fluorides during the time the teeth are calcifying

mot·to ['mä-(,)tō] -n

  1. a sentence, phrase, or word inscribed on something as appropriate to or indicative of its character or use
  2. a short expression of a guiding principle

moue ['mü] -n

  1. a little grimace : pout

mou·flon [mü-'flōⁿ] -n

  1. either of two wild sheep ( Ovis orientalisand O. musimon) of the mountains of Sardinia, Corsica and western Asia that have large curling horns in the males and are sometimes included in a single species

moujik [mü-'zhēk, -'zhik] -n

(variant of muzhik)

  1. a Russian peasant

mou·lage [mü-'läzh] -n

  1. an impression or cast made for use esp. as evidence in a criminal investigation
  2. the taking of an impression for use as evidence in a criminal investigation

mould ['mōld] -n

(variant of mold)

  1. crumbling soft friable earth suited to plant growth : soil
  2. soil rich in humus
  3. the surface of the earth : ground
  4. the earth of the burying ground
  5. earth that is the substance of the human body
    • be merciful great Duke to men of mold -- Shak.
  6. distinctive nature or character : type
  7. the frame on or around which an object is constructed
  8. : a cavity in which a substance is shaped: as
  9. a matrix for casting metal
    • a bullet mold
  10. a form in which food is given a decorative shape
  11. a molded object
  12. molding
  13. an example to be followed
  14. prototype
  15. a fixed pattern : design
  16. to knead (dough) into a desired consistency or shape
  17. to give shape to
    • the wind mold s the waves
  18. to form in a mold
    • mold candles
  19. to determine or influence the quality or nature of
    • mold public opinion
  20. to fit the contours of
    • fitted skirts that mold the hips
  21. to ornament with molding or carving
    • mold ed picture frames
  22. a superficial often woolly growth produced esp. on damp or decaying organic matter or on living organisms by a fungus (as of the order Mucorales)
  23. a fungus that produces mold
  24. to become moldy

mould·ing ['mōl-diŋ] -n

(variant of molding)

  1. an object produced by molding
  2. a decorative recessed or relieved surface
  3. a decorative plane or curved strip used for ornamentation or finishing

moult ['mōlt] -vb, n

(variant of molt)

  1. to shed hair, feathers, shell, horns, or an outer layer periodically
  2. to cast off (an outer covering) periodically
  3. to throw off (the old cuticle) used of arthropods
  4. the act or process of molting
  5. ecdysis

mound ['mau̇nd] -vt

  1. to enclose or fortify with a fence or a ridge of earth
  2. to form into a mound
  3. hedge, fence
  4. an artificial bank or hill of earth or stones
  5. one constructed over a burial or ceremonial site
  6. the slightly elevated ground on which a baseball pitcher stands
  7. a rounded hill or natural formation
  8. heap, pile
    • mound s of work
  9. a small rounded mass
    • a mound of mashed potatoes

Mound Builder -n

  1. a member of a prehistoric American Indian people whose extensive earthworks are found from the Great Lakes down the Mississippi River valley to the Gulf of Mexico

mount ['mau̇nt] -n

  1. a high hill : mountain used esp. before an identifying name
    • Mount Everest
  2. earthwork
  3. mound
  4. rise, ascend
  5. to increase in amount or extent
    • expenses began to mount
  6. to get up on something above the level of the ground
  7. to seat oneself (as on a horse) for riding
  8. to go up : climb
  9. to seat or place oneself on
  10. to climb on top of for copulation
  11. to lift up : raise
  12. to put or have (as artillery) in position
  13. to have as equipment
  14. to organize and equip (an attacking force)
    • mount an army
  15. to launch and carry out (as an assault or a campaign)
  16. to set on something that elevates
  17. to cause to get on a means of conveyance
  18. to furnish with animals for riding
  19. to post or set up for defense or observation
    • mount ed some guards
  20. to attach to a support
  21. to arrange or assemble for use or display
  22. to prepare (as a specimen) for examination or display
  23. to prepare and supply with materials needed for performance or execution
    • mount an opera
  24. an act or instance of mounting
  25. an opportunity to ride a horse in a race
  26. : frame, support: as
  27. the material (as cardboard) on which a picture is mounted
  28. a jewelry setting
  29. an undercarriage or part on which a device (as a motor or an artillery piece) rests in service
  30. an attachment for an accessory
  31. a hinge, card, or acetate envelope for mounting a stamp
  32. a glass slide with its accessories on which objects are placed for examination with a microscope
  33. a means of conveyance
  34. saddle horse

moun·tain ['mau̇n-tᵊn] -n

  1. a landmass that projects conspicuously above its surroundings and is higher than a hill
  2. an elongated ridge
  3. a great mass
  4. a vast number or quantity

mountain ash -n

  1. any of various trees or shrubs (genus Sorbus) of the rose family with pinnate leaves and red or orange-red fruits

mountain bike -n, vi

  1. an all-terrain bicycle with wide knobby tires, straight handlebars, and typically 18 to 21 gears

mountain bluebird -n

  1. a bluebird ( Sialia currucoides) of western No. America having a blue-breasted rather than red-breasted male

mountain cranberry -n

  1. a low evergreen shrub ( Vaccinium vitis-idaea) of the heath family that is native to north temperate uplands and has red edible berries called also lingonberry

mountain dew -n

  1. moonshine

moun·tain·eer [,mau̇n-tə-'nir] -n

  1. a native or inhabitant of a mountainous region
  2. a person who climbs mountains for sport

moun·tain·eer·ing [,mau̇n-tə-'nir-iŋ] -n

  1. the sport or technique of scaling mountains

mountain goat -n

  1. a ruminant mammal ( Oreamnos americanus) of mountainous northwestern No. America that has a thick yellowish-white coat and slightly curved horns and resembles a goat

mountain gorilla -n

  1. a gorilla ( Gorilla gorilla beringei) inhabiting the Virunga mountain range

mountain laurel -n

  1. a No. American evergreen shrub or small tree ( Kalmia latifolia) of the heath family with glossy leaves and umbels of rose-colored or white flowers

mountain lion -n

  1. cougar

mountain mahogany -n

  1. any of a genus ( Cercocarpus) of western No. American evergreen shrubs or small trees of the rose family

mountain man -n

  1. an American frontiersman (as a trapper) at home in the wilderness

moun·tain·ous ['mau̇n-tə-nəs, 'mau̇nt-nəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. containing many mountains
  2. resembling a mountain : huge

mountain sheep -n

  1. any of various wild sheep (as bighorn, argali, or Dall sheep) inhabiting high mountains

mountain sickness -n

  1. altitude sickness experienced esp. above 10,000 feet (about 3000 meters) and caused by insufficient oxygen in the air

moun·tain·side ['mau̇n-tᵊn-,sīd] -n

  1. the side of a mountain

mountain time -n

  1. the time of the seventh time zone west of Greenwich that includes the Rocky Mountain states of the U.S.

moun·tain·top ['mau̇n-tᵊn-,täp] -n

  1. the summit of a mountain

moun·tainy ['mau̇n-tᵊn-ē, 'mau̇nt-nē] -adj

  1. mountainous
  2. of, relating to, or living in mountains

moun·te·bank ['mau̇n-ti-,baŋk] -n

  1. a person who sells quack medicines from a platform
  2. a boastful unscrupulous pretender : charlatan

mountebank -vt

  1. to beguile or transform by trickery
    • I'll mountebank their loves -- Shak.
  2. to play the mountebank

Mount·ie ['mau̇n-tē] -n

  1. a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

mount·ing ['mau̇n-tiŋ] -n

  1. mount

mourn ['mȯrn] -vb, n, adv

  1. to feel or express grief or sorrow
  2. to show the customary signs of grief for a death
  3. to wear mourning
  4. to murmur mournfully used esp. of doves
  5. to feel or express grief or sorrow for
  6. to utter mournfully

mourn·ful ['mȯrn-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. expressing sorrow : sorrowful
  2. full of sorrow : sad
  3. causing sorrow or melancholy : gloomy

mourn·ing ['mȯr-niŋ] -n

  1. the act of sorrowing
  2. an outward sign (as black clothes or an armband) of grief for a person's death
  3. a period of time during which signs of grief are shown

mourning cloak -n

  1. a blackish-brown nymphalid butterfly ( Nymphalis antiopa) that has a broad yellow border on the wings and is found in temperate parts of Europe, Asia, and No. America

mourning dove -n

  1. an American dove ( Zenaida macroura) with a pointed tail and a plaintive coo

mouse ['mau̇s] -n

  1. any of numerous small rodents (as of the genus Mus) with pointed snout, rather small ears, elongated body, and slender tail
  2. a timid person
  3. a dark-colored swelling caused by a blow
  4. black eye
  5. a small mobile manual device that controls movement of the cursor and selection of functions on a computer display
  6. to hunt for mice
  7. to search or move stealthily or slowly
  8. bite, gnaw
  9. to toy with roughly
  10. to search for carefully usu. used with out

mouseear ['mau̇s-,ir] -n

  1. a Eurasian hawkweed ( Hieracium pilosella) introduced into No. America that has soft hairy leaves and yellow flowers
  2. any of several plants other than mouse-ear that have soft hairy leaves

mouseear chickweed -n

  1. any of several hairy chickweeds (genus Cerastiumand esp. C. fontanum)

mouse pad -n

  1. a thin flat pad (as of rubber) on which a computer mouse is used

mouse potato -n

  1. a person who spends a great deal of time using a computer

mous·er ['mau̇-sər, US also & chiefly Brit -zər] -n

  1. a catcher of mice and rats
  2. a cat proficient at mousing

mouse·trap ['mau̇s-,trap] -n

  1. a trap for mice
  2. a stratagem that lures one to defeat or destruction
  3. trap

mousetrap -vt

  1. to snare in or as if in a mousetrap

Mous·que·taire [,mü-skə-'ter] -n

  1. a French musketeer
  2. one of the royal musketeers of the 17th and 18th centuries conspicuous for their daring and their flamboyant dress

mous·sa·ka [mü-'sä-kə, ,mü-sä-'kä] -n

  1. a Middle Eastern dish of ground meat (as lamb or beef) and sliced eggplant often topped with a seasoned sauce

mousse ['müs] -n

  1. a light spongy food usu. containing cream or gelatin
  2. a molded chilled dessert made with sweetened and flavored whipped cream or egg whites and gelatin
    • chocolate mousse
  3. a foamy preparation used in styling hair
  4. to style (hair) with mousse

mous·se·line [,mü-sə-'lēn, ,müs-'lēn] -n

  1. a fine sheer fabric (as of rayon) that resembles muslin
  2. a sauce (as hollandaise) to which whipped cream or beaten egg whites have been added
  3. mousse
    • salmon mousseline

mousseline de soie [-də-'swä] -n

  1. a silk muslin having a crisp finish

moustache ['məs-,tash, (,)mə-'stash] -n, adj

(variant of mustache)

  1. the hair growing on the human upper lip
  2. such hair grown and often trimmed in a particular style
  3. hair or bristles about the mouth of a mammal

moustachio [(,)mə-'sta-shē-,ō, -'stä-, -shō] -n, adj

(variant of mustachio)

  1. mustache
  2. a large mustache

Mous·te·ri·an [mü-'stir-ē-ən] -adj

  1. of or relating to a Middle Paleolithic culture that is characterized by well-made flake tools often considered the work of Neanderthal man

mousy ['mau̇-sē, -zē] -adj, adv, n

  1. : of, relating to, or resembling a mouse: as
  2. quiet, stealthy
  3. timid, retiring
  4. grayish brown

mouth ['mau̇th] -n, adj

  1. the natural opening through which food passes into the body of an animal and which in vertebrates is typically bounded externally by the lips and internally by the pharynx and encloses the tongue, gums, and teeth
  2. grimace
    • made a mouth
  3. an individual requiring food
    • had too many mouth s to feed
  4. voice, speech
    • finally gave mouth to her feelings
  5. mouthpiece
  6. a tendency to excessive talk
  7. saucy or disrespectful language : impudence
  8. : something that resembles a mouth esp. in affording entrance or exit: as
  9. the place where a stream enters a larger body of water
  10. the surface opening of an underground cavity
  11. the opening of a container
  12. an opening in the side of an organ flue pipe
  13. speak, pronounce
  14. to utter bombastically : declaim
  15. to repeat without comprehension or sincerity
    • always mouth ing platitudes
  16. to form soundlessly with the lips
    • the librarian mouth ed the word quiet
  17. to utter indistinctly : mumble
    • mouth ed his words
  18. to take into the mouth
  19. eat
  20. to talk pompously : rant often used with off
  21. to talk insolently or impudently usu. used with off
  22. to move the mouth esp. so as to make faces

mouth·breed·er ['mau̇th-,brē-dər] -n

  1. any of several fishes that carry their eggs and young in the mouth
  2. a No. African cichlid fish ( Haplochromis multicolor) often kept in aquariums

mouthed ['mau̇thd, 'mau̇tht] -adj

  1. having a mouth esp. of a specified kind often used in combination
    • a soft- mouthed fish

mouth·feel ['mau̇th-,fēl] -n

  1. the sensation created by food or drink in the mouth

mouth·ful ['mau̇th-,fu̇l] -n

  1. as much as a mouth will hold
  2. the quantity usu. taken into the mouth at one time
  3. a small quantity
  4. a very long word or phrase
  5. a comment or a statement rich in meaning or substance

mouth harp -n

  1. harmonica

mouth hook -n

  1. one of a pair of hooked larval mouthparts of some dipteran flies that function as jaws

mouth organ -n

  1. harmonica

mouth·part ['mau̇th-,pärt] -n

  1. a structure or appendage near the mouth (as of an insect) esp. when used in gathering or eating food

mouth·piece [-,pēs] -n

  1. something placed at or forming a mouth
  2. a part (as of an instrument) that goes in the mouth or to which the mouth is applied
  3. one that expresses or interprets another's views : spokesman
  4. a criminal lawyer

mouthtomouth -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being a method of artificial respiration in which the rescuer's mouth is placed tightly over the victim's mouth in order to force air into the victim's lungs by blowing forcefully enough every few seconds to inflate them

mouth·wash ['mau̇th-,wȯsh, -,wäsh] -n

  1. a usu. antiseptic liquid preparation for cleaning the mouth and teeth or freshening the breath

mouth·wa·ter·ing [-,wȯ-tə-riŋ, -,wä-] -adj, adv

  1. arousing the appetite : tantalizingly delicious or appealing
    • a mouthwatering aroma

mouthy ['mau̇-thē, -thē] -adj

  1. marked by bombast or back talk
  2. excessively talkative : garrulous

mou·ton ['mü-,tän, mü-'] -n

  1. processed sheepskin that has been sheared and dyed to resemble beaver or seal

mov·able ['mü-və-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. capable of being moved
  2. changing date from year to year
    • movable holidays

movable -n

  1. something (as an article of furniture) that can be removed or displaced

move ['müv] -vb

  1. to go or pass to another place or in a certain direction with a continuous motion
    • moved into the shade
  2. to proceed toward a certain state or condition
    • moving up the executive ladder
  3. to become transferred during play
    • checkers move along diagonally adjacent squares
  4. to keep pace
    • moving with the times
  5. to start away from some point or place : depart
  6. to change one's residence or location
  7. to carry on one's life or activities in a specified environment
    • move s in the best circles
  8. to change position or posture : stir
    • ordered him not to move
  9. to take action : act
  10. to begin operating or functioning or working in a usual way
  11. to show marked activity
    • after a lull things really began to move
  12. to move a piece (as in chess or checkers) during one's turn
  13. to make a formal request, application, or appeal
  14. to change hands by being sold or rented
    • goods that moved slowly
  15. evacuate
  16. to change the place or position of
  17. to dislodge or displace from a fixed position : budge
  18. to transfer (as a piece in chess) from one position to another
  19. to cause to go or pass from one place to another with a continuous motion
    • move the flag slowly up and down
  20. to cause to advance
  21. to cause to operate or function : actuate
    • this button move s the whole machine
  22. to put into activity or rouse up from inactivity
  23. to cause to change position or posture
  24. to prompt or rouse to the doing of something : persuade
    • the report moved us to take action
  25. to stir the emotions, feelings, or passions of
    • deeply moved by such kindness
  26. to affect in such a way as to lead to an indicated show of emotion
    • the story moved her to tears
  27. beg
  28. to make a formal application to
  29. to propose formally in a deliberative assembly
    • moved the adjournment motion
  30. to cause (the bowels) to void
  31. to cause to change hands through sale or rent
  32. the act of moving a piece (as in chess)
  33. the turn of a player to move
  34. a step taken esp. to gain an objective : maneuver
    • a move to end the dispute
    • retiring early was a smart move
  35. the action of moving from a motionless position
  36. one of a pattern of dance steps
  37. a change of residence or location
  38. an agile or deceptive action esp. in sports

move in -vi

  1. to occupy a dwelling or place of work

move·less ['müv-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. being without movement : fixed, immobile

move·ment ['müv-mənt] -n

  1. the act or process of moving
  2. change of place or position or posture
  3. a particular instance or manner of moving
  4. a tactical or strategic shifting of a military unit : maneuver
  5. the advance of a military unit
  6. action, activity usu. used in pl.
  7. tendency, trend
    • detected a movement toward fairer pricing
  8. a series of organized activities working toward an objective
  9. an organized effort to promote or attain an end
    • the civil rights movement
  10. the moving parts of a mechanism that transmit a definite motion
  11. motion
  12. the rhythmic character or quality of a musical composition
  13. a distinct structural unit or division having its own key, rhythmic structure, and themes and forming part of an extended musical composition
  14. particular rhythmic flow of language : cadence
  15. the quality (as in a painting or sculpture) of representing or suggesting motion
  16. the vibrant quality in literature that comes from elements that constantly hold a reader's interest (as a quickly moving action-filled plot)
  17. an act of voiding the bowels
  18. matter expelled from the bowels at one passage

mov·er ['mü-vər] -n

  1. one that moves or sets something in motion
  2. one whose business or occupation is the moving of household goods from one residence to another

mover and shaker -n

  1. a person who is active or influential in some field of endeavor

mov·ie ['mü-vē] -n

  1. motion picture
  2. a showing of a motion picture
  3. the motion-picture medium or industry

mov·ie·dom ['mü-vē-dəm] -n

  1. filmdom

mov·ie·go·er [-,gō-ər] -n, n, often attrib

  1. filmgoer

mov·ie·mak·er [-,mā-kər] -n

  1. one who makes movies

moving ['mü-viŋ-lē] -adj, adv

  1. marked by or capable of movement
  2. of or relating to a change of residence
    • moving expenses
  3. used for transferring furnishings from one residence to another
    • a moving van
  4. involving a motor vehicle that is in motion
    • a moving violation
  5. producing or transferring motion or action
  6. stirring deeply in a way that evokes a strong emotional response

moving picture -n

  1. motion picture

Mov·i·ola [,mü-vē-'ō-lə] -trademark

  1. used for a device for editing motion-picture film and synchronizing the sound

mow ['mau̇] -n

  1. a piled-up stack (as of hay or fodder)
  2. a pile of hay or grain in a barn
  3. the part of a barn where hay or straw is stored
  4. to cut down with a scythe or sickle or machine
  5. to cut the standing herbage (as grass) of
  6. to kill or destroy in great numbers or mercilessly
    • machine guns mow ed down the enemy
  7. to cause to fall : knock down
  8. to overcome swiftly and decisively : rout
    • mow ed down the opposing team
  9. to cut down standing herbage (as grass)
  10. grimace
  11. to make grimaces

moxa ['mäk-sə] -n

  1. a soft woolly mass prepared from the ground young leaves of a Eurasian artemisia (esp. Artemisia vulgaris) that is used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine typically in the form of sticks or cones which are ignited and placed on or close to the skin or used to heat acupuncture needles

mox·i·bus·tion [,mäk-si-'bəs-chən] -n

  1. the therapeutic use of moxa

mox·ie ['mäk-sē] -n

  1. energy, pep
  2. courage, determination
  3. know-how

moyenage [mwä-ye-'näzh] -adj

  1. of or relating to medieval times

moz·za·rel·la [,mät-sə-'re-lə] -n

  1. a moist white unsalted unripened cheese of mild flavor and a smooth rubbery texture

moz·zet·ta [mōt-'se-tə] -n

  1. a short cape with a small ornamental hood worn over the rochet by Roman Catholic prelates