as [əz, (,)az] -adv

  1. to the same degree or amount
    • as soft as silk
    • twice as long
  2. for instance
    • various trees, as oak or pine
  3. when considered in a specified form or relation usu. used before a preposition or a participle
    • my opinion as distinguished from his
  4. as if
    • looks as he had seen a ghost -- S. T. Coleridge
  5. in or to the same degree in which
    • soft as silk
    usu. used as a correlative after an adjective or adverb modified by adverbial as or so
    • as cool as a cucumber
  6. in the way or manner that
    • do as I do
  7. in accordance with what or the way in which
    • quite good as boys go
  8. while, when
    • spilled the milk as she got up
  9. regardless of the degree to which : though
    • improbable as it seems, it's true
  10. for the reason that : because, since
    • stayed home as she had no car
  11. that the result is
    • so clearly guilty as to leave no doubt
  12. that, who, which used after same or such
    • in the same building as my brother
    • tears such as angels weep -- John Milton
    and chiefly dial. after a substantive not modified by same or such
    • that kind of fruit as maids call medlars -- Shak.
  13. a fact that
    • is a foreigner, as is evident from his accent
  14. like
    • all rose as one man
  15. like
    • his face was as a mask -- Max Beerbohm
  16. in the capacity, character, condition, or role of
    • works as an editor
  17. a bronze coin of the ancient Roman republic
  18. a unit of value equivalent to an as coin
  19. libra

As -abbr

  1. altostratus
  2. arsenic

AS -abbr

  1. after sight
  2. airspeed
  3. American Samoa
  4. Anglo-Saxon
  5. antisubmarine
  6. associate in science

asa·fet·i·da [,a-sə-'fe-tə-də, -'fē-; Southern also -'fi-tə-dē] -n

  1. the dried fetid gum resin of the root of several west Asian plants (genus Ferula) of the carrot family used as a flavoring esp. in Indian cooking and formerly used in medicine esp. as an antispasmodic and in folk medicine as a general prophylactic against disease

asa·na ['ä-sə-nə] -n

  1. any of various yogic postures

Asan·te [ə-'san-tē, -'sän-] -n

  1. ashanti

ASAP -abbr

  1. as soon as possible

asb -abbr

  1. asbestos

as·bes·tos [as-'bes-təs, az-] -n

  1. any of several minerals (as chrysotile) that readily separate into long flexible fibers, that cause asbestosis and have been implicated as causes of certain cancers, and that have been used esp. formerly as fireproof insulating materials

as·bes·to·sis [,as-,bes-'tō-səs, ,az-] -n

  1. a pneumoconiosis due to asbestos particles that is marked by thickening and scarring of lung tissue

asc- -comb form

  1. ascus
    • asco carp

ASCAP -abbr

  1. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers

as·ca·ri·a·sis [,as-kə-'rī-ə-səs] -n

  1. infestation with or disease caused by ascarids

as·ca·rid ['as-kə-rəd] -n

  1. any of a family (Ascaridae) of nematode worms that includes the common roundworm ( Ascaris lumbricoides) parasitic in the human intestine

as·ca·ris ['as-kə-rəs] -n

  1. ascarid

as·cend [ə-'send] -vb, adj

  1. to move upward
    • the balloon ascend ed
  2. to slope upward
  3. to rise from a lower level or degree
    • ascend to power
  4. to go back in time or in order of genealogical succession
  5. to go or move up
    • ascend a staircase
  6. to succeed to : occupy
    • ascend the throne

as·cen·dance [ə-'sen-dən(t)s] -n

  1. ascendancy

as·cen·dan·cy [ə-'sen-dən(t)-sē] -n

  1. governing or controlling influence : domination

as·cen·dant [ə-'sen-dənt] -n

  1. the point of the ecliptic or degree of the zodiac that rises above the eastern horizon at any moment
  2. a state or position of dominant power or importance
  3. a lineal or collateral relative in the ascending line

ascendant -adj, adv

  1. moving upward : rising
  2. directed upward
    • an ascendant stem
  3. superior
  4. dominant

as·cend·er [ə-'sen-dər, 'a-] -n

  1. the part of a lowercase letter (as b) that rises above the main body of the letter
  2. a letter that has such a part
  3. a device used for climbing rope that slides freely in one direction and grips the rope when pulled in the opposite direction

as·cend·ing [ə-'sen-diŋ] -adj

  1. rising or increasing to higher levels, values, or degrees
    • ascending powers of x
  2. mounting or sloping upward
  3. rising upward usu. from a more or less prostrate base or point of attachment

as·cen·sion [ə-'sen(t)-shən] -n

  1. the act or process of ascending

as·cen·sion·al [ə-'sench-nəl, ə-'sen(t)-shə-nᵊl] -adj

  1. of or relating to ascension or ascent

Ascension Day -n

  1. the Thursday 40 days after Easter observed in commemoration of Christ's ascension into Heaven

as·cen·sive [ə-'sen(t)-siv] -adj

  1. rising or tending to rise

as·cent [ə-'sent, a-] -n

  1. the act of rising or mounting upward : climb
  2. an upward slope or rising grade : acclivity
  3. the degree of elevation : inclination, gradient
  4. an advance in social status or reputation : progress
  5. a going back in time or upward in order of genealogical succession

as·cer·tain [,a-sər-'tān] -vt, adj, n

  1. to make certain, exact, or precise
  2. to find out or learn with certainty

as·ce·sis [ə-'sē-səs] -n

  1. self-discipline, asceticism

as·cet·ic [ə-'se-tik, a-] -adj, n, adv

  1. practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and esp. spiritual discipline
  2. austere in appearance, manner, or attitude

as·cid·i·an [ə-'si-dē-ən] -n

  1. any of a class (Ascidiacea) of solitary or colonial sessile tunicates having an incurrent and excurrent siphon called also sea squirt

ASCII ['as-(,)kē] -n

  1. a code for representing alphanumeric information

as·ci·tes [ə-'sī-tēz] -n, adj

  1. abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in the spaces between tissues and organs in the cavity of the abdomen

as·cle·pi·ad [ə-'sklē-pē-əd, a-, -,ad] -n

  1. milkweed

as·co·carp ['as-kə-,kärp] -n, adj

  1. the mature fruiting body of an ascomycetous fungus
  2. such a body with its enclosed asci, spores, and paraphyses

as·co·go·ni·um [,as-kə-'gō-nē-əm] -n

  1. the female sex organ in ascomycetous fungi

as·co·my·cete [,as-kō-'mī-,sēt, -,mī-'sēt] -n, adj

  1. any of a group (as class Ascomycetes or subdivision Ascomycotina) of higher fungi (as yeasts or molds) with septate hyphae and spores formed in asci

ascor·bate [ə-'skȯr-,bāt, -bət] -n

  1. a salt of ascorbic acid

ascor·bic acid [ə-'skȯr-bik-] -n

  1. vitamin c

as·co·spore ['as-kə-,spȯr] -n, adj

  1. any of the spores contained in an ascus

as·cot ['as-kət, -,kät] -n

  1. a broad neck scarf that is looped under the chin

as·cribe [ə-'skrīb] -vt, adj

  1. to refer to a supposed cause, source, or author

ascribed -adj

  1. acquired or assigned arbitrarily (as at birth)
    • ascribed social status

as·crip·tion [ə-'skrip-shən] -n

  1. the act of ascribing : attribution
  2. arbitrary placement (as at birth) in a particular social status

as·crip·tive [ə-'skrip-tiv] -adj

  1. relating to, marked by, or involving ascription

as·cus ['as-kəs] -n

  1. the membranous oval or tubular spore case of an ascomycete

as·dic ['az-(,)dik] -n

  1. sonar

ASE -abbr

  1. American Stock Exchange

ASEAN -abbr

  1. Association of Southeast Asian Nations

asep·sis [(,)ā-'sep-səs, ə-] -n

  1. the condition of being aseptic
  2. the methods of making or keeping aseptic

asep·tic [(,)ā-'sep-tik, ə-] -adj, adv

  1. preventing infection
    • aseptic techniques
  2. free or freed from pathogenic microorganisms
    • an aseptic operating room
  3. lacking vitality, emotion, or warmth
    • aseptic essays

asex·u·al [(,)ā-'sek-sh(ə-)wəl, -shü-əl, -'sek-shəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. lacking sex or functional sex organs
    • asexual plants
  2. involving or reproducing by reproductive processes (as cell division, spore formation, fission, or budding) that do not involve the union of individuals or gametes
    • asexual reproduction
    • an asexual generation
  3. produced by asexual reproduction
    • asexual spores
  4. devoid of sexuality
    • an asexual relationship

as far as -conj

  1. to the extent or degree that
    • is safe, as far as we know
    often used in expressions like as far as (something) goes and as far as (something) is concerned to mean with regard to (something)
    • we felt pretty safe as far as the fire was concerned -- Mark Twain
    or in expressions like as far as (someone) is concerned to mean in (someone's) opinion
    • as far as I'm concerned, it's a mistake
  2. with regard to : concerning
    • neatly groomed and, as far as clothes, casual looking -- N.Y. Times
    • as far as being mentioned in the Ten Commandments, I think it is -- Billy Graham
    chiefly in oral use

as for -prep

  1. with regard to : concerning
    • as for the others, they'll arrive later

As·gard ['as-,gärd, 'az-] -n

  1. the home of the Norse gods

asgd -abbr

  1. assigned

asgmt -abbr

  1. assignment

ash ['ash] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Fraxinus) of trees of the olive family with pinnate leaves, thin furrowed bark, and gray branchlets
  2. the tough elastic wood of an ash
  3. the ligature used in Old English and some phonetic alphabets to represent a low front vowel a
  4. something that symbolizes grief, repentance, or humiliation
  5. the solid residue left when combustible material is thoroughly burned or is oxidized by chemical means
  6. fine particles of mineral matter from a volcanic vent
  7. the remains of the dead human body after cremation or disintegration
  8. deathly pallor
    • the lip of ash es and the cheek of flame -- Lord Byron
  9. ruins
  10. to convert into ash

ashamed [ə-'shāmd] -adj, adv

  1. feeling shame, guilt, or disgrace
  2. feeling inferior or unworthy
  3. restrained by anticipation of shame
    • was ashamed to beg

Ashan·ti [ə-'shan-tē, -'shän-] -n

  1. a member of a people of southern Ghana
  2. the dialect of Akan spoken by the Ashanti people

ashblond ['ash-'bländ] -adj

  1. pale or grayish blond
    • ashblond hair

Ash·can ['ash-,kan] -adj

  1. of or relating to a group of 20th century American painters who depicted city life realistically
    • Ashcan school

ash can -n

  1. a metal receptacle for refuse
  2. depth charge

ash·en ['a-shən] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or made from ash wood

ashen -adj

  1. resembling ashes (as in color)
  2. deathly pale
    • a face ashen and haggard

Ash·er ['a-shər] -n

  1. a son of Jacob and the traditional eponymous ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel

ash·fall ['ash-,fȯl] -n

  1. a deposit of volcanic ash

Ash·ke·nazi [,äsh-kə-'nä-zē, ,ash-kə-'na-] -n, adj

  1. a member of one of the two great divisions of Jews comprising the eastern European Yiddish-speaking Jews

ash·lar ['ash-lər] -n

  1. hewn or squared stone
  2. masonry of such stone
  3. a thin squared and dressed stone for facing a wall of rubble or brick

ashore [ə-'shȯr] -adv

  1. on or to the shore

as how -conj

  1. that
    • allowed as how she was glad to be here

ash·ram ['äsh-rəm, -,räm; 'ash-,ram] -n

  1. a secluded dwelling of a Hindu sage
  2. the group of disciples instructed there
  3. a religious retreat

Ash·to·reth ['ash-tə-,reth] -n

  1. astarte

ash·tray ['ash-,trā] -n

  1. a receptacle for tobacco ashes and for cigar and cigarette butts

Ashur ['ä-,shu̇r] -n

  1. the chief deity of the Assyrians

Ash Wednesday -n

  1. the first day of Lent

ashy ['a-shē] -adj

  1. of or relating to ashes
  2. ashen

ASI -abbr

  1. airspeed indicator

Asi·a·go [,ä-zhē-'ä-(,)gō, ,ä-sē, -shē-] -n

  1. a pungent hard yellow cheese of Italian origin suitable for grating

Asian ['ā-zhən also -shən] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the continent of Asia or its people
  2. a native or inhabitant of Asia
  3. a person of Asian descent

AsianAmer·i·can [-ə-'mer-ə-kən] -n, adj

  1. an American of Asian descent

Asian elephant -n

  1. elephant

Asian flu -n

  1. influenza that is caused by a subtype (H2N2) of the orthomyxovirus causing influenza A and that was responsible for about 70,000 deaths in the U.S. in the influenza pandemic of 195758 called also Asian influenza

Asian pear -n

  1. any of various pears chiefly of Japanese and Chinese origin that have crisp juicy flesh, usu. resemble an apple in shape, and typically have yellow, brown, or green skin

Asian tiger mosquito -n

  1. a black-and-white striped Asian mosquito ( Aedes albopictus) that is a vector of several diseases (as dengue) and has been introduced into the U.S.

Asi·at·ic [,ā-zhē-'a-tik, -zē-] -adj, n

  1. asian

Asiatic cholera -n

  1. cholera of Asian origin that is caused by virulent strains of the cholera vibrio ( Vibrio cholerae)

Asiatic elephant -n

  1. elephant

aside [ə-'sīd] -adv

  1. to or toward the side
    • stepped aside
  2. away from others or into privacy
    • pulled him aside
  3. out of the way esp. for future use : away
    • putting aside savings
  4. away from one's thought or consideration
    • jesting aside
  5. beyond, past
  6. an utterance meant to be inaudible to someone
  7. an actor's speech heard by the audience but supposedly not by other characters
  8. a straying from the theme : digression

aside from -prep

  1. in addition to : besides
  2. except for

as if -conj

  1. as it would be if
    • it was as if he had lost his last friend
  2. as one would do if
    • he ran as if ghosts were chasing him
  3. that
    • it seemed as if the day would never end

as·i·nine ['a-sə-,nīn] -adj, adv, n

  1. extremely or utterly foolish
    • an asinine excuse
  2. of, relating to, or resembling an ass

ask ['ask, 'äsk; dial 'aks] -vb, n

  1. to call on for an answer
    • she ask ed him about his trip
  2. to put a question about
    • ask ing her whereabouts
  3. speak, utter
    • ask a question
  4. to make a request of
    • she ask ed her teacher for help
  5. to make a request for
    • she ask ed help from her teacher
  6. to call for : require
    • a challenge that will ask much of us
  7. to set as a price
    • ask ed 3000 for the car
  8. invite
  9. to seek information
  10. to make a request
    • ask ed for food
  11. look often used in the phrase ask for trouble

askance [ə-'skan(t)s] -adv

  1. with a side-glance : obliquely
  2. with disapproval or distrust : scornfully
    • they eyed the stranger askance

askesis [ə-'sē-səs] -n

(variant of ascesis)

  1. self-discipline, asceticism

askew [ə-'skyü] -adv or adj, n

  1. out of line : awry
    • the picture hung askew

asking price -n

  1. the price at which something is offered for sale

ASL -abbr

  1. American Sign Language

aslant [ə-'slant] -adv or adj

  1. in a slanting direction : obliquely
  2. over or across in a slanting direction

asleep [ə-'slēp] -adj

  1. being in a state of sleep
  2. dead
  3. lacking sensation : numb
  4. inactive, dormant
  5. not alert : indifferent
  6. into a state of sleep
  7. into the sleep of death
  8. into a state of inactivity, sluggishness, or indifference

as long as -conj

  1. provided that
    • can do as they like as long as they have a B average
  2. inasmuch as, since
    • as long as you're going, I'll go too

aslope [ə-'slōp] -adj or adv

  1. being in a sloping or slanting position or direction

aso·cial [(,)ā-'sō-shəl] -adj

  1. : not social: as
  2. rejecting or lacking the capacity for social interaction
  3. antisocial

as of -prep

  1. on, at, from used to indicate a time or date at which something begins or ends
    • takes effect as of July 1

asp ['asp] -n

  1. aspen
  2. a small venomous snake of Egypt usu. held to be a cobra ( Naja haje)

as·par·a·gine [ə-'sper-ə-,jēn, -'spa-rə-] -n

  1. a nonessential amino acid C 4H 8N 2O 3that is an amide of aspartic acid

as·par·a·gus [ə-'sper-ə-gəs, -'spa-rə-] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Asparagus) of Old World perennial plants of the lily family having much-branched stems, minute scalelike leaves, and narrow usu. filiform branchlets that function as leaves
  2. one ( A. officinalis) widely cultivated for its edible young shoots

as·par·tame ['as-pər-,tām, ə-'spär-,tām] -n

  1. a crystalline compound C 14H 18N 2O 5that is a diamide synthesized from phenylalanine and aspartic acid and that is used as a low-calorie sweetener

as·par·tate [ə-'spär-,tāt] -n

  1. a salt or ester of aspartic acid

as·par·tic acid [ə-'spär-tik-] -n

  1. a crystalline amino acid C 4H 7NO 4found esp. in plants

ASPCA -abbr

  1. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

as·pect ['as-,pekt] -n, adj

  1. the position of planets or stars with respect to one another held by astrologers to influence human affairs
  2. the apparent position (as conjunction) of a body in the solar system with respect to the sun
  3. a position facing a particular direction : exposure
    • the house has a southern aspect
  4. the manner of presentation of a plane to a fluid through which it is moving or to a current
  5. appearance to the eye or mind
  6. a particular appearance of the face : mien
  7. a particular status or phase in which something appears or may be regarded
    • studied every aspect of the question
  8. an act of looking : gaze
  9. the nature of the action of a verb as to its beginning, duration, completion, or repetition and without reference to its position in time
  10. a set of inflected verb forms that indicate aspect

aspect ratio -n

  1. : a ratio of one dimension to another: as
  2. the ratio of span to mean chord of an airfoil
  3. the ratio of the width of a television or motion-picture image to its height

as·pen ['as-pən] -n

  1. any of several poplars (esp. Populus tremulaof Europe and P. tremuloidesand P. grandidentataof No. America) with leaves that flutter in the lightest wind because of their flattened petioles

as per ['az-,pər] -prep

  1. in accordance with : according to
    • as per your instructions

As·per·ger's syndrome ['äs-,pər-gərz-] -n

  1. a developmental disorder resembling autism that is characterized by impaired social interaction, by restricted and repetitive behaviors and activities, and by normal language and cognitive development called also Asperger's disorder

as·per·ges [ə-'spər-(,)jēz] -n

  1. a ceremony of sprinkling altar and people with holy water

as·per·gil·lo·sis [,as-pər-(,)ji-'lō-səs] -n

  1. infection with or disease caused (as in poultry) by aspergillus molds

as·per·gil·lum [,as-pər-'ji-ləm] -n

  1. a brush or small perforated container with a handle that is used for sprinkling holy water in a liturgical service

as·per·gil·lus [-'ji-ləs] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Aspergillus) of ascomycetous fungi with branched radiate sporophores including many common molds

as·per·i·ty [a-'sper-ə-tē, ə-, -'spe-rə-] -n

  1. rigor, severity
  2. roughness of surface : unevenness
  3. a tiny projection from a surface
  4. roughness of sound
  5. roughness of manner or of temper : harshness
    • asked with some asperity just what they were implying

as·perse [ə-'spərs, a-] -vt

  1. sprinkle
  2. to sprinkle with holy water
  3. to attack with evil reports or false or injurious charges

as·per·sion [ə-'spər-zhən, -shən] -n

  1. a sprinkling with water esp. in religious ceremonies
  2. a false or misleading charge meant to harm someone's reputation
    • cast aspersion s on her integrity
  3. the act of making such a charge : defamation

as·phalt ['as-,fȯlt also 'ash-, esp Brit -,falt] -n, adj

  1. a dark bituminous substance that is found in natural beds and is also obtained as a residue in petroleum refining and that consists chiefly of hydrocarbons
  2. an asphaltic composition used for pavements and as a waterproof cement

asphalt -vt

  1. to cover with asphalt : pave

asphalt jungle -n

  1. a big city or a specified part of a big city

aspher·ic [(,)ā-'sfir-ik, -'sfer-] -adj

  1. departing slightly from the spherical form esp. in order to correct for spherical aberration
    • an aspheric lens

as·pho·del ['as-fə-,del] -n

  1. any of various Old World herbs (esp. genera Asphodelusand Asphodeline) of the lily family with flowers in usu. long erect racemes

as·phyx·ia [as-'fik-sē-ə, əs-] -n

  1. a lack of oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide in the body that results in unconsciousness and often death and is usu. caused by interruption of breathing or inadequate oxygen supply

as·phyx·i·ate [-sē-,āt] -vb, n

  1. to cause asphyxia in
  2. to become asphyxiated

as·pic ['as-pik] -n

  1. asp

aspic -n

  1. a clear savory jelly (as of fish or meat stock) used as a garnish or to make a meat, fish, or vegetable mold

as·pi·dis·tra [,as-pə-'dis-trə] -n

  1. an Asian plant ( Aspidistra elatior) of the lily family that has large pointed basal leaves and is often grown as a foliage plant

as·pi·rant ['as-p(ə-)rənt, ə-'spī-rənt] -n

  1. one who aspires
    • presidential aspirant s

aspirant -adj

  1. seeking to attain a desired position or status
    • the pilot was an aspirant astronaut

as·pi·rate ['as-p(ə-)rət] -n

  1. an independent sound h or a character (as the letter h) representing it
  2. a consonant having aspiration as its final component
    • in English the p of pit is an aspirate
  3. material removed by aspiration
  4. to pronounce (a vowel or a consonant) with aspiration (sense 1a)
  5. to draw by suction
  6. to remove (as blood) by aspiration
  7. to take into the lungs by aspiration

as·pi·ra·tion [,as-pə-'rā-shən] -n, adj

  1. audible breath that accompanies or comprises a speech sound
  2. the pronunciation or addition of an aspiration
  3. the symbol of an aspiration
  4. : a drawing of something in, out, up, or through by or as if by suction: as
  5. the act of breathing and esp. of breathing in
  6. the withdrawal of fluid or tissue from the body
  7. the taking of foreign matter into the lungs with the respiratory current
  8. a strong desire to achieve something high or great
  9. an object of such desire

as·pi·ra·tor ['as-pə-,rā-tər] -n

  1. an apparatus for producing suction or moving or collecting materials by suction
  2. a hollow tubular instrument connected with a partial vacuum and used to remove fluid or tissue or foreign bodies from the body

as·pire [ə-'spī(-ə)r] -vi, n

  1. to seek to attain or accomplish a particular goal
    • aspired to a career in medicine
  2. ascend, soar

as·pi·rin ['as-p(ə-)rən] -n

  1. a white crystalline derivative C 9H 8O 4of salicylic acid used for relief of pain and fever
  2. a tablet of aspirin

ASR -abbr

  1. airport surveillance radar
  2. air-sea rescue

as regards -prep

  1. in regard to : with respect to
    • as regards our previous discussion

ass ['as] -n

  1. any of several hardy gregarious African or Asian perissodactyl mammals (genus Equus) smaller than the horse and having long ears
  2. an African mammal ( E. asinus) that is the ancestor of the donkey
  3. a stupid, obstinate, or perverse person
    • made an ass of himself
    often compounded with a preceding adjective
    • don't be a smart- ass
  4. buttocks often used in emphatic reference to a specific person
    • get your ass over here
    • saved my ass
  5. anus
  6. sexual intercourse
  7. used as a postpositive intensive esp. with words of derogatory implication
    • fancy- ass

as·sai [ä-'sī] -adv

  1. very used with tempo direction in music
    • allegro assai

as·sail [ə-'sāl] -vt, adj, n

  1. to attack violently with blows or words

As·sam [ə-'sam, a-] -n

  1. a black tea grown in northeastern India

As·sam·ese [,a-sə-'mēz, -'mēs] -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of Assam, India
  2. the Indo-Aryan language of Assam

as·sas·sin [ə-'sa-sᵊn] -n

  1. a member of a Shia Muslim sect who at the time of the Crusades was sent out on a suicidal mission to murder prominent enemies
  2. a person who commits murder
  3. one who murders a politically important person either for hire or from fanatical motives

as·sas·si·nate [ə-'sa-sə-,nāt] -vt, n

  1. to injure or destroy unexpectedly and treacherously
  2. to murder (a usu. prominent person) by sudden or secret attack often for political reasons

assassin bug -n

  1. any of a family (Reduviidae) of bugs that are usu. predatory on insects though some (as a kissing bug) suck the blood of mammals called also reduviid

as·sault [ə-'sȯlt] -n

  1. a violent physical or verbal attack
  2. a military attack usu. involving direct combat with enemy forces
  3. a concerted effort (as to reach a goal or defeat an adversary)
  4. a threat or attempt to inflict offensive physical contact or bodily harm on a person (as by lifting a fist in a threatening manner) that puts the person in immediate danger of or in apprehension of such harm or contact
  5. rape

assault -vt, n

  1. to make an assault on
  2. rape
  3. to make an assault

assault boat -n

  1. a small portable boat used in an amphibious military attack or in land warfare for crossing rivers or lakes

as·sault·ive [ə-'sȯl-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or tending toward assault
    • assaultive behavior
  2. having an intense or abrasive effect on the senses or emotions
    • loud and assaultive music

assault rifle -n

  1. any of various automatic or semiautomatic rifles with large capacity magazines designed for military use

assault weapon -n

  1. any of various automatic or semiautomatic firearms
  2. assault rifle

as·say ['a-,sā, a-'sā] -n

  1. trial, attempt
  2. examination and determination as to characteristics (as weight, measure, or quality)
  3. analysis (as of an ore or drug) to determine the presence, absence, or quantity of one or more components
  4. a test used in this analysis
  5. a substance to be assayed
  6. the tabulated result of assaying
  7. try, attempt
  8. to analyze (as an ore) for one or more specific components
  9. to judge the worth of : estimate
  10. to prove up in an assay

assed ['ast] -adv

  1. ass used in combination
    • sorry- assed state of affairs

as·se·gai ['a-si-,gī] -n

  1. a slender hardwood spear or light javelin usu. tipped with iron and used in southern Africa

as·sem·blage [ə-'sem-blij, for 3 also ,a-,säm-'bläzh] -n

  1. a collection of persons or things : gathering
  2. the act of assembling : the state of being assembled
  3. an artistic composition made from scraps, junk, and odds and ends (as of paper, cloth, wood, stone, or metal)
  4. the art of making assemblages

as·sem·blag·ist [-bli-jist, -'blä-zhist] -n

  1. an artist who specializes in assemblages

as·sem·ble [ə-'sem-bəl] -vb

  1. to bring together (as in a particular place or for a particular purpose)
  2. to fit together the parts of
  3. to meet together : convene

as·sem·bler [-b(ə-)lər] -n

  1. one that assembles
  2. a computer program that automatically converts instructions written in assembly language into machine language
  3. assembly language

as·sem·bly [ə-'sem-blē] -n

  1. a company of persons gathered for deliberation and legislation, worship, or entertainment
  2. a legislative body
  3. the lower house of a legislature
  4. a meeting of a student body and usu. faculty for administrative, educational, or recreational purposes
  5. assemblage
  6. assemblage
  7. a signal for troops to assemble or fall in
  8. the fitting together of manufactured parts into a complete machine, structure, or unit of a machine
  9. a collection of parts so assembled
  10. the translation of assembly language to machine language by an assembler

assembly language -n

  1. a programming language that consists of instructions that are mnemonic codes for corresponding machine language instructions

as·sem·blyline [ə-'sem-blē-,līn] -adj

  1. made by or as if by an assembly line
  2. lacking originality or creativity
    • bored by the novel's assemblyline plot

assembly line -n

  1. an arrangement of machines, equipment, and workers in which work passes from operation to operation in direct line until the product is assembled
  2. a process for turning out a finished product in a mechanically efficient manner
    • academic assembly lines

as·sem·bly·man [ə-'sem-blē-mən] -n

  1. a member of an assembly

Assembly of God

  1. a congregation belonging to a Pentecostal body founded in the U.S. in 1914

as·sem·bly·wom·an [-,wu̇-mən] -n

  1. a woman who is a member of an assembly

as·sent [ə-'sent, a-] -vi, n

  1. to agree to something esp. after thoughtful consideration : concur

assent -n

  1. an act of assenting : acquiescence, agreement

as·sen·ta·tion [,a-sᵊn-'tā-shən, ,a-,sen-] -n

  1. ready assent esp. when insincere or obsequious

as·sert [ə-'sərt, a-] -vt

  1. to state or declare positively and often forcefully or aggressively
  2. to demonstrate the existence of
    • assert his manhood -- James Joyce
  3. posit, postulate

as·sert·ed·ly [ə-'sər-təd-lē, a-] -adv

  1. by positive and usu. unsubstantiated assertion : allegedly

as·ser·tion [ə-'sər-shən, a-] -n

  1. the act of asserting
  2. declaration, affirmation

as·ser·tive [ə-'sər-tiv, a-] -adj, adv, n

  1. disposed to or characterized by bold or confident assertion
    • an assertive leader
  2. having a strong or distinctive flavor or aroma
    • assertive wines

assertiveness training -n

  1. a method of training individuals to act in a bold self-confident manner

asses [əz, (,)az] -adv

(variant of as)

  1. to the same degree or amount
    • as soft as silk
    • twice as long
  2. for instance
    • various trees, as oak or pine
  3. when considered in a specified form or relation usu. used before a preposition or a participle
    • my opinion as distinguished from his
  4. as if
    • looks as he had seen a ghost -- S. T. Coleridge
  5. in or to the same degree in which
    • soft as silk
    usu. used as a correlative after an adjective or adverb modified by adverbial as or so
    • as cool as a cucumber
  6. in the way or manner that
    • do as I do
  7. in accordance with what or the way in which
    • quite good as boys go
  8. while, when
    • spilled the milk as she got up
  9. regardless of the degree to which : though
    • improbable as it seems, it's true
  10. for the reason that : because, since
    • stayed home as she had no car
  11. that the result is
    • so clearly guilty as to leave no doubt
  12. that, who, which used after same or such
    • in the same building as my brother
    • tears such as angels weep -- John Milton
    and chiefly dial. after a substantive not modified by same or such
    • that kind of fruit as maids call medlars -- Shak.
  13. a fact that
    • is a foreigner, as is evident from his accent
  14. like
    • all rose as one man
  15. like
    • his face was as a mask -- Max Beerbohm
  16. in the capacity, character, condition, or role of
    • works as an editor
  17. a bronze coin of the ancient Roman republic
  18. a unit of value equivalent to an as coin
  19. libra

as·sess [ə-'ses, a-] -vt, adj

  1. to determine the rate or amount of (as a tax)
  2. to impose (as a tax) according to an established rate
  3. to subject to a tax, charge, or levy
  4. to make an official valuation of (property) for the purposes of taxation
  5. to determine the importance, size, or value of
    • assess a problem
  6. to charge (a player or team) with a foul or penalty

as·sess·ment [ə-'ses-mənt, a-] -n

  1. the action or an instance of assessing : appraisal
  2. the amount assessed

as·ses·sor [ə-'se-sər] -n

  1. an official who assists a judge or magistrate
  2. one that assesses
  3. an official who assesses property for taxation

as·set ['a-,set also -sət] -n

  1. the property of a deceased person subject by law to the payment of his or her debts and legacies
  2. the entire property of a person, association, corporation, or estate applicable or subject to the payment of debts
  3. advantage, resource
    • his wit is his chief asset
  4. an item of value owned
  5. the items on a balance sheet showing the book value of property owned
  6. : something useful in an effort to foil or defeat an enemy: as
  7. a piece of military equipment
  8. spy

as·sev·er·ate [ə-'se-və-,rāt] -vt, n, adj

  1. to affirm or declare positively or earnestly
    • he always asseverated that he did not know -- G. K. Chesterton

ass·hole ['as-,(h)ōl] -n

  1. anus
  2. a stupid, incompetent, or detestable person
  3. the worst place used in phrases like asshole of the world

as·si·du·ity [,a-sə-'dü-ə-tē, -'dyü-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being assiduous : diligence
  2. persistent personal attention usu. used in pl.

as·sid·u·ous [ə-'sij-wəs, -'si-jə-] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by careful unremitting attention or persistent application
    • an assiduous book collector
    • tended her garden with assiduous attention

as·sign [ə-'sīn] -vt, n, adj

  1. to transfer (property) to another esp. in trust or for the benefit of creditors
  2. to appoint to a post or duty
    • assign ed them to light duty
    • assign ed me two clerks
  3. to appoint as a duty or task
    • assign s 20 pages for homework
  4. to fix or specify in correspondence or relationship
    • assign counsel to the defendant
    • assign a value to the variable
  5. to ascribe as a motive, reason, or cause esp. after deliberation
  6. to consider to belong to (a specified period of time)

assign -n

  1. assignee
    • heirs and assign s

as·si·gnat [,a-(,)sēn-'yä, 'a-sig-,nat] -n

  1. a bill issued as currency by the French Revolutionary government (178996) on the security of expropriated lands

as·sig·na·tion [,a-sig-'nā-shən] -n

  1. the act of assigning or the assignment made
  2. an appointment of time and place for a meeting
  3. tryst
    • returned from an assignation with his mistress -- W. B. Yeats

assigned risk -n

  1. a poor risk (as an accident-prone motorist) that insurance companies would normally reject but are forced to insure by state law

as·sign·ee [,a-sə-'nē, ,a-,sī-, ə-,sī-] -n

  1. a person to whom an assignment is made
  2. a person appointed to act for another
  3. a person to whom a right or property is legally transferred

as·sign·ment [ə-'sīn-mənt] -n

  1. the act of assigning
  2. a position, post, or office to which one is assigned
  3. a specified task or amount of work assigned or undertaken as if assigned by authority
  4. the transfer of property
  5. the transfer of property to be held in trust or to be used for the benefit of creditors

as·sim·i·la·ble [ə-'si-mə-lə-bəl] -adj, n

  1. capable of being assimilated
    • provides...information in a clear, assimilable fashion -- Times Lit. Supp.

as·sim·i·late [ə-'si-mə-,lāt] -vb, n

  1. to take in and utilize as nourishment : absorb into the system
  2. to take into the mind and thoroughly comprehend
  3. to make similar
  4. to alter by assimilation
  5. to absorb into the culture or mores of a population or group
  6. compare, liken
  7. to become assimilated
  8. something that is assimilated

as·sim·i·la·tion [ə-,si-mə-'lā-shən] -n

  1. an act, process, or instance of assimilating
  2. the state of being assimilated
  3. the incorporation or conversion of nutrients into protoplasm that in animals follows digestion and absorption and in higher plants involves both photosynthesis and root absorption
  4. change of a sound in speech so that it becomes identical with or similar to a neighboring sound
    • the usual assimilation of z to sh in the phrase his shoe
  5. the process of receiving new facts or of responding to new situations in conformity with what is already available to consciousness

as·sim·i·la·tion·ist [-sh(ə-)nist] -n, adj

  1. a person who advocates a policy of assimilating differing racial or cultural groups

as·sim·i·la·tive [ə-'si-mə-,lā-tiv, -lə-tiv] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or causing assimilation

as·sim·i·la·to·ry [ə-'si-mə-lə-,tȯr-ē] -adj

  1. assimilative

As·sin·i·boin [ə-'si-nə-,bȯin] -n

  1. a member of an American Indian people orig. of the area between the upper Missouri and middle Saskatchewan rivers

as·sist [ə-'sist] -vb

  1. to give usu. supplementary support or aid to
    • assist ed the boy with his lessons
  2. to give support or aid
    • assist ed at the stove
    • another surgeon assist ed on the operation
  3. to be present as a spectator
    • the ideal figures assist ing at Italian holy scenes -- Mary McCarthy

assist -n

  1. an act of assistance : aid
  2. the action (as a throw or pass) of a player who enables a teammate to make a putout or score a goal
  3. official credit given for such an action
  4. a mechanical or electromechanical device that provides assistance

as·sis·tance [ə-'sis-tən(t)s] -n

  1. the act of assisting or the help supplied : aid
    • financial and technical assistance

as·sis·tant [-tənt] -n, adj

  1. a person who assists : helper
  2. a person holding an assistantship

assistant professor -n

  1. a member of a college or university faculty who ranks above an instructor and below an associate professor

as·sis·tant·ship [ə-'sis-tən(t)-,ship] -n

  1. a paid appointment awarded annually to a qualified graduate student that requires part-time teaching, research, or residence hall duties

as·sis·ted living [ə-'sis-təd-] -n

  1. a system of housing and limited care that is designed for senior citizens who need some assistance with daily activities but do not require care in a nursing home usu. hyphenated when used attributively
    • an assisted-living facility

assisted suicide -n

  1. suicide committed by someone with assistance from another person
  2. physician-assisted suicide

as·sis·tive [ə-'sis-tiv] -adj

  1. providing aid or assistance
  2. designed or intended to assist disabled persons
    • assistive technology

as·size [ə-'sīz] -n

  1. a judicial inquest
  2. an action to be decided by such an inquest, the writ for instituting it, or the verdict or finding rendered by the jury
  3. the former periodical sessions of the superior courts in English counties for trial of civil and criminal cases usu. used in pl.
  4. the time or place of holding such a court, the court itself, or a session of it usu. used in pl.

assn -abbr

  1. association

assoc -abbr

  1. associate; associated; association

as·so·ci·ate [ə-'sō-shē-,āt, -sē-] -vb

  1. to join as a partner, friend, or companion
  2. to keep company with : attend
  3. to join or connect together : combine
  4. to bring together or into relationship in any of various intangible ways (as in memory or imagination)
  5. to come or be together as partners, friends, or companions
  6. to combine or join with other parts : unite

as·so·ciate [ə-'sō-shē-ət, -sē-, -,āt, -shət] -adj

  1. closely connected (as in function or office) with another
  2. closely related esp. in the mind
  3. having secondary or subordinate status
    • associate membership in a society
  4. : one associated with another: as
  5. partner, colleague
  6. companion, comrade
  7. an entry-level member (as of a learned society, professional organization, or profession)
  8. employee, worker
  9. a degree conferred esp. by a junior college
    • associate in arts

associate professor -n

  1. a member of a college or university faculty who ranks above an assistant professor and below a professor

as·so·ci·a·tion [ə-,sō-sē-'ā-shən, -shē-] -n, adj

  1. the act of associating
  2. the state of being associated : combination, relationship
  3. an organization of persons having a common interest : society
  4. something linked in memory or imagination with a thing or person
  5. the process of forming mental connections or bonds between sensations, ideas, or memories
  6. the aggregation of chemical species to form (as with hydrogen bonds) loosely bound complexes
  7. a major unit in ecological community organization characterized by essential uniformity and usu. by two or more dominant species

association area -n

  1. an area of the cerebral cortex that functions in linking and coordinating the sensory and motor areas

association football -n

  1. soccer

as·so·ci·a·tion·ism [ə-,sō-sē-'ā-shə-,ni-zəm, -,sō-shē-] -n, adj

  1. a reductionist school of psychology that holds that the content of consciousness can be explained by the association and reassociation of irreducible sensory and perceptual elements

as·so·cia·tive [ə-'sō-shē-,ā-tiv, -sē-, -shə-tiv] -adj, adv, n

  1. of or relating to association esp. of ideas or images
  2. dependent on or acquired by association or learning
  3. of, having, or being the property of combining to the same mathematical result regardless of the grouping of an expression's elements given that the order of those elements is preserved
    • addition is associative since ( a b ) c a ( b c )

associative learning -n

  1. a learning process in which discrete ideas and percepts become linked to one another

associative neuron -n

  1. interneuron

as·soil [ə-'sȯi(-ə)l] -vt, n

  1. absolve, pardon
  2. acquit, clear
  3. expiate

as·so·nance ['a-sə-nən(t)s] -n, adj or n, adj

  1. resemblance of sound in words or syllables
  2. relatively close juxtaposition of similar sounds esp. of vowels
  3. repetition of vowels without repetition of consonants (as in stonyand holy) used as an alternative to rhyme in verse

as soon as -conj

  1. immediately at or shortly after the time that
    • call as soon as you get there

as·sort [ə-'sȯrt] -vb, n

  1. to distribute into groups of a like kind : classify
  2. to supply with an assortment (as of goods)
  3. to agree in kind : harmonize
  4. to keep company : associate

as·sor·ta·tive [ə-'sȯr-tə-tiv] -adj, adv

  1. being nonrandom mating based on like or unlike characteristics

as·sort·ed [-'sȯr-təd] -adj

  1. suited esp. by nature or character
    • an ill- assorted pair
  2. consisting of various kinds
    • assorted chocolates

as·sort·ment [-'sȯrt-mənt] -n

  1. the act of assorting
  2. the state of being assorted
  3. a collection of assorted things or persons

ASSR -abbr

  1. Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic

asst -abbr

  1. assistant
  2. assorted

asstd -abbr

  1. assented
  2. assorted

as·suage [ə-'swāj also -'swāzh or -'swäzh] -vt, n

  1. to lessen the intensity of (something that pains or distresses) : ease
    • unable to assuage their grief
  2. pacify, quiet
    • vainly strove...to assuage an implacable foe -- Edward Gibbon
  3. to put an end to by satisfying : appease, quench
    • assuaging his thirst

as·sua·sive [ə-'swā-siv, -ziv] -adj

  1. soothing, calming

as·sume [ə-'süm] -vt, n, adj, adv

  1. to take up or in : receive
  2. to take into partnership, employment, or use
  3. to take to or upon oneself : undertake
    • assume responsibility
  4. put on, don
  5. to place oneself in
    • assume a position
  6. seize, usurp
    • assume control
  7. to pretend to have or be : feign
    • assumed an air of confidence in spite of her dismay
  8. to take as granted or true : suppose
    • I assume he'll be there
  9. to take over (the debts of another) as one's own

as·sum·ing -adj

  1. pretentious, presumptuous

as·sump·sit [ə-'səm(p)-sət] -n

  1. an express or implied promise or contract not under seal on which an action may be brought
  2. a former common-law action brought to recover damages alleged from the breach of an assumpsit
  3. an action to recover damages for breach of a contract

as·sump·tion [ə-'səm(p)-shən] -n

  1. the taking up of a person into heaven
  2. August 15 observed in commemoration of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
  3. a taking to or upon oneself
    • the assumption of a new position
  4. the act of laying claim to or taking possession of something
    • the assumption of power
  5. arrogance, pretension
  6. an assuming that something is true
  7. a fact or statement (as a proposition, axiom, postulate, or notion) taken for granted
  8. the taking over of another's debts

as·sump·tive [ə-'səm(p)-tiv] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or based on assumption

as·sur·ance [ə-'shu̇r-ən(t)s] -n

  1. : the act or action of assuring: as
  2. pledge, guarantee
  3. the act of conveying real property
  4. the instrument by which it is conveyed
  5. insurance
  6. : the state of being assured: as
  7. security
  8. a being certain in the mind
    • the puritan's assurance of salvation
  9. confidence of mind or manner : easy freedom from self-doubt or uncertainty
  10. excessive self-confidence : brashness, presumption
  11. something that inspires or tends to inspire confidence
    • gave repeated assurance s of goodwill

as·sure [ə-'shu̇r] -vt

  1. to make safe (as from risks or against overthrow) : insure
  2. to give confidence to
    • and hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts -- 1 Jn 3:19(AV)
  3. to make sure or certain : convince
    • glancing back to assure himself no one was following
  4. to inform positively
    • I assure you that we can do it
  5. to make certain the coming or attainment of : guarantee
    • worked hard to assure accuracy

as·sured [ə-'shu̇rd] -adj, n

  1. characterized by certainty or security : guaranteed
    • an assured market
  2. self-assured
  3. self-satisfied
  4. satisfied as to the certainty or truth of a matter
    • rest assured we won't be late

assured -n

  1. insured

as·sured·ly [ə-'shu̇r-əd-lē] -adv

  1. without a doubt : certainly
  2. in an assured manner : confidently

as·sur·er [ə-'shu̇r-ər] -n

  1. one that assures : insurer

as·sur·gent [ə-'sər-jənt] -adj

  1. moving upward : rising
  2. ascendant

assy -abbr

  1. assembly

Assyr -abbr

  1. Assyrian

As·syr·i·an [ə-'sir-ē-ən] -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of ancient Assyria
  2. the dialect of Akkadian spoken by the Assyrians

As·syr·i·ol·o·gy [ə-,sir-ē-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. the science or study of the history, language, and antiquities of ancient Assyria and Babylonia

AST -abbr

  1. Alaska standard time

astar·board [ə-'stär-bərd] -adv

  1. toward or on the starboard side of a ship
    • put the helm hard astarboard

As·tar·te [ə-'stär-tē] -n

  1. the Phoenician goddess of fertility and of sexual love

as·ta·tine ['as-tə-,tēn] -n

  1. a radioactive halogen element discovered by bombarding bismuth with alpha particles and also formed by radioactive decay

as·ter ['as-tər] -n

  1. any of various chiefly fall-blooming leafy-stemmed composite herbs ( Asterand closely related genera) with often showy heads containing disk flowers or both disk and ray flowers
  2. china aster
  3. a system of microtubules arranged radially about a centriole at either end of the mitotic or meiotic spindle

as·te·ria [a-'stir-ē-ə] -n

  1. a gemstone cut to show asterism

as·te·ri·at·ed [-ē-,ā-təd] -adj

  1. exhibiting asterism
    • asteriated sapphire

as·ter·isk ['as-tə-,risk, esp in plural also ÷-,rik] -n, adj

  1. the character used in printing or writing as a reference mark, as an indication of the omission of letters or words, to denote a hypothetical or unattested linguistic form, or for various arbitrary meanings

asterisk -vt

  1. to mark with an asterisk : star

as·ter·ism ['as-tə-,ri-zəm] -n

  1. constellation
  2. a small group of stars
  3. a star-shaped figure exhibited by some crystals by reflected light (as in a star sapphire) or by transmitted light (as in some mica)

astern [ə-'stərn] -adv or adj

  1. behind a ship
  2. at or toward the stern of a ship
  3. sternforemost, backward

as·ter·oid ['as-tə-,rȯid] -n, adj

  1. any of the small rocky celestial bodies found esp. between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter
  2. starfish

asteroid -adj

  1. resembling a star
    • asteroid bodies in sporotrichosis
  2. of or resembling a starfish

asteroid belt -n

  1. the region of interplanetary space between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in which most asteroids are found

aster yellows -n pl

  1. a widespread disease affecting more than 40 families of plants, characterized esp. by yellowing and stunting, and caused by a phytoplasma transmitted by leafhoppers

as·the·nia [as-'thē-nē-ə] -n

  1. lack or loss of strength : debility

as·then·ic [as-'the-nik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or exhibiting asthenia : weak
  2. ectomorphic

as·theno·sphere [as-'the-nə-,sfir] -n, adj

  1. a zone of a celestial body (as the earth) which lies beneath the lithosphere and within which the material is believed to yield readily to persistent stresses

asth·ma ['az-mə, Brit 'as-] -n, adj or n, adv

  1. a chronic lung disorder that is marked by recurring episodes of airway obstruction (as from bronchospasm) manifested by labored breathing accompanied esp. by wheezing and coughing and by a sense of constriction in the chest, and that is triggered by hyperreactivity to various stimuli (as allergens or rapid change in air temperature)

as though -conj

  1. as if

as·tig·mat·ic [,as-tig-'ma-tik] -adj, n

  1. affected with, relating to, or correcting astigmatism
  2. showing incapacity for observation or discrimination
    • an astigmatic fanaticism, a disregard for the facts -- N.Y. Herald Tribune

astig·ma·tism [ə-'stig-mə-,ti-zəm] -n

  1. a defect of an optical system (as a lens) causing rays from a point to fail to meet in a focal point resulting in a blurred and imperfect image
  2. a defect of vision due to astigmatism of the refractive system of the eye and esp. to corneal irregularity
  3. distorted understanding suggestive of the blurred vision of an astigmatic person

astil·be [ə-'stil-(,)bē] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Astilbe) of chiefly Asian perennials of the saxifrage family that have simple or usu. compound leaves and are widely cultivated for their panicles of usu. white or reddish flowers

astir [ə-'stər] -adj

  1. exhibiting activity
  2. being out of bed : up

As·ti Spu·man·te ['äs-tē-spü-'män-(,)tē, 'as-tē-, -spü-'man-] -n

  1. a sweet sparkling white wine made in and around the village of Asti in Piedmont

ASTM -abbr

  1. American Society for Testing Materials

as to -prep

  1. as for, about
    • at a loss as to how to explain the error
  2. according to, by
    • graded as to size and color

as·ton·ied [ə-'stä-nēd] -adj

  1. deprived briefly of the power to act : dazed
  2. filled with consternation or dismay

as·ton·ish [ə-'stä-nish] -vt

  1. to strike with sudden fear
  2. to strike with sudden and usu. great wonder or surprise
    • was too astonished to speak

as·ton·ish·ing [-ni-shiŋ] -adj, adv

  1. causing astonishment : surprising
    • an astonishing discovery

as·ton·ish·ment [ə-'stä-nish-mənt] -n

  1. the state of being astonished
  2. consternation
  3. amazement
  4. something that astonishes : a cause of amazement or wonder

as·tound [ə-'stau̇nd] -adj

  1. overwhelmed with astonishment or amazement : astounded

astound -vt

  1. to fill with bewilderment or wonder

as·tound·ing [ə-'stau̇n-diŋ] -adj, adv

  1. causing astonishment or amazement
    • an astounding revelation

astr- -comb form

  1. star : heavens : outer space : astronomical
    • astro physics

astrad·dle [ə-'stra-dᵊl] -adv

  1. on or above and extending onto both sides : astride

astraddle -prep

  1. with one leg on each side of : astride

as·tra·gal ['as-tri-gəl] -n

  1. a narrow half-round molding
  2. a projecting strip on the edge of a folding door

as·trag·a·lus [ə-'stra-gə-ləs] -n

  1. talus
  2. the dried root of an Asian milk vetch ( Astragalus membranaceus) used esp. as a remedy in Chinese herbal medicine
  3. a preparation or extract of this root

as·tra·khan ['as-trə-kən, -,kan] -n

  1. karakul of Russian origin
  2. a cloth with a usu. wool, curled, and looped pile resembling karakul

as·tral ['as-trəl] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or coming from the stars
    • astral influences
    • unusual astral occurrences
  2. of or relating to a mitotic or meiotic aster
  3. of or consisting of a supersensible substance held in theosophy to be next above the tangible world in refinement
  4. visionary
  5. elevated in station or position : exalted

astray [ə-'strā] -adv or adj

  1. off the right path or route : straying
  2. in error : away from what is proper or desirable

astride [ə-'strīd] -adv

  1. with one leg on each side : astride a horse
    • she rode astride, not sidesaddle
  2. with the legs stretched wide apart
    • standing astride
  3. on or above and with one leg on each side of
    • astride a horse
  4. placed or lying on both sides of
    • towns lying astride a river
  5. extending over or across : spanning, bridging

as·trin·gen·cy [ə-'strin-jən(t)-sē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being astringent

as·trin·gent [-jənt] -adj, adv

  1. causing contraction of soft organic tissues : styptic, puckery
    • astringent lotions
    • an astringent fruit
  2. suggestive of an astringent effect upon tissue : rigidly severe : austere
    • dry astringent comments
  3. pungent, caustic

astringent -n

  1. an astringent agent or substance

as·tro·bi·ol·o·gy [,as-trō-(,)bī-'ä-lə-jē] -n

  1. exobiology

as·tro·cyte ['as-trə-,sīt] -n, adj

  1. a large star-shaped cell of the glia

as·tro·cy·to·ma [,as-trə-sī-'tō-mə] -n

  1. a nerve-tissue tumor composed of astrocytes

as·tro·dome ['as-trə-,dōm] -n

  1. a transparent dome in the upper surface of an airplane from within which the navigator makes celestial observations

astrol -abbr

  1. astrologer; astrology

as·tro·labe ['as-trə-,lāb also -,lab] -n

  1. a compact instrument used to observe and calculate the position of celestial bodies before the invention of the sextant

as·trol·o·ger [ə-'strä-lə-jər] -n

  1. a person who practices astrology

as·trol·o·gy [ə-'strä-lə-jē] -n, adj, adv

  1. astronomy
  2. the divination of the supposed influences of the stars and planets on human affairs and terrestrial events by their positions and aspects

as·trom·e·try [ə-'strä-mə-trē] -n, adj

  1. a branch of astronomy that deals with measurements (as of positions and movements) of celestial bodies

astron -abbr

  1. astronomer; astronomy

as·tro·naut ['as-trə-,nȯt, -,nät] -n

  1. a person who travels beyond the earth's atmosphere
  2. a trainee for spaceflight

as·tro·nau·tics [,as-trə-'nȯ-tiks, -'nä-] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, adj, adv

  1. the science of the construction and operation of vehicles for travel in space beyond the earth's atmosphere

as·tron·o·mer [ə-'strä-nə-mər] -n

  1. a person who is skilled in astronomy or who makes observations of celestial phenomena

as·tro·nom·i·cal [,as-trə-'nä-mi-kəl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to astronomy
    • astronomical observations
  2. enormously or inconceivably large or great
    • astronomical numbers

astronomical unit -n

  1. a unit of length used in astronomy equal to the mean distance of the earth from the sun or about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers)

as·tron·o·my [ə-'strä-nə-mē] -n

  1. the study of objects and matter outside the earth's atmosphere and of their physical and chemical properties

as·tro·pho·tog·ra·phy [,as-(,)trō-fə-'tä-grə-fē] -n

  1. photography involving astronomical objects and events

as·tro·phys·ics [,as-trə-'fi-ziks] -n pl but sing or pl in constr, adj, adv, n

  1. a branch of astronomy dealing esp. with the behavior, physical properties, and dynamic processes of celestial objects and phenomena

As·tro·turf ['as-trə-,tərf, -,trō-] -trademark

  1. used for artificial turf

as·tute [ə-'stüt, a-, -'styüt] -adj, adv, n

  1. having or showing shrewdness and perspicacity
    • an astute observer
    • astute remarks
  2. crafty, wily

As·ty·a·nax [ə-'stī-ə-,naks] -n

  1. a son of Hector and Andromache hurled by the Greeks from the walls of Troy

asun·der [ə-'sən-dər] -adv or adj

  1. into parts
    • torn asunder
  2. apart from each other in position
    • wide asunder

ASV -abbr

  1. American Standard Version

ASW -abbr

  1. antisubmarine warfare

aswarm [ə-'swȯrm] -adj

  1. filled to overflowing : swarming
    • streets aswarm with people

as well as -conj

  1. and in addition : and
    • brave as well as loyal
  2. in addition to : besides
    • the coach, as well as the team, is ready

aswirl [ə-'swər(-ə)l] -adj

  1. being in a swirl : swirling

aswoon [ə-'swün] -adj

  1. being in a swoon : dazed

asy·lum [ə-'sī-ləm] -n

  1. an inviolable place of refuge and protection giving shelter to criminals and debtors : sanctuary
  2. a place of retreat and security : shelter
  3. the protection or inviolability afforded by an asylum : refuge
  4. protection from arrest and extradition given esp. to political refugees by a nation or by an embassy or other agency enjoying diplomatic immunity
  5. an institution for the care of the destitute or sick and esp. the insane

asym·met·ri·cal [,ā-sə-'me-tri-kəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. not symmetrical
  2. bonded to four different atoms or groups

asymp·tom·at·ic [,ā-,sim(p)-tə-'ma-tik] -adj, adv

  1. presenting no symptoms of disease

as·ymp·tote ['a-səm(p)-,tōt] -n, adj, adv

  1. a straight line associated with a curve such that as a point moves along an infinite branch of the curve the distance from the point to the line approaches zero and the slope of the curve at the point approaches the slope of the line

asyn·ap·sis [,ā-sə-'nap-səs] -n

  1. failure of pairing of homologous chromosomes in meiosis

asyn·chro·nous [(,)ā-'siŋ-krə-nəs, -'sin-] -adj, adv

  1. not synchronous
  2. of, used in, or being digital communication (as between computers) in which there is no timing requirement for transmission and in which the start of each character is individually signaled by the transmitting device

asyn·chro·ny [-krə-nē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being asynchronous : absence or lack of concurrence in time

as·yn·det·ic [,a-sᵊn-'de-tik] -adj, adv

  1. marked by asyndeton

asyn·de·ton [ə-'sin-də-,tän, (,)ā-'sin-] -n

  1. omission of the conjunctions that ordinarily join coordinate words or clauses (as in I came, I saw, I conquered)